GB2335225A

GB2335225A - Security assembly for windows etc.

Info

Publication number: GB2335225A
Application number: GB9805263A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kim Donald Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-03-13
Filing date: 1998-03-13
Publication date: 1999-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-13
Also published as: GB9805263D0; GB2335225B

Abstract

A blind assembly for fitting to a window comprises a pair of opposed mounting rails (20,30), which can be U-shaped ,and a plurality of vanes (10) carried by respective bars which have their opposite ends mounted to the respective mounting rails. Each bar comprises a tubular outer member (42) and a tubular inner member (46) which is free rotate within the tubular outer member (42). The vanes which can work in unison, are rotatable so that open and closed positions can be obtained. The assemble can be mounted both horizontally or vertically in a window aperture. The assembly is secure in that if an intruder saws through the outer member, the saw blade will rotate the inner member backwards and forwards rather than cut it.

Description

2335225 SECURITY ASSERBLY FOR WINDOWS ETC.

The present invention relates to an assembly for windows, which provides security against unauthorised entry.

Windows are often f itted with a series of metal bars in order to provide security against unauthorised entry: however, 5 such bars are generally unsightly.

I have now devised an assembly for fitting to windows, which provides security but at the same time is of attractive appearance.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a blind assembly for fitting to a window, the assembly comprising a pair of opposed mounting rails and a plurality of vanes carried by respective bars, said bars having their opposite ends mounted to the respective said mounting rails, and each said bar comprising an outer member and an inner member which is free to turn within the outer member.

It will be appreciated that in use of this assembly, the bars will carry the vanes from a secure barrier against unauthorised entry to the premises. Moreover, should an intruder attempt to saw through any of these bars, and if he succeeds in sawing through the outer member of the bar, he will be unable to saw through the inner bar: the saw blade will simply turn the inner bar backwards and forwards.

The outer members of the bars may be mounted for rotation so that the vanes can be turned between "open" and "closed" positions: alternatively, the vanes may be rotatably mounted on the bars.

Each vane may comprise a base member having a tubular portion through which its bar is fitted. Preferably each vane comprises a pair of covers fitted to the opposite sides of the base member: preferably each cover comprises a piece of sheet material the opposite edges of which are engaged in grooves provided at or adjacent the opposite edges of the base member.

Preferably the base member of at least one vane has a series of groove formations at different positions across its width and is arranged so that it can be severed or broken along a line immediately outwardly of each of these formations.

2 Accordingly, the last vane of the assembly can be reduced in width, if necessary, to suit the width of the window in which the assembly is to be fitted.

Preferably one of the mounting rails is formed with a series of matches along its front edge, into which the corresponding ends of the vanesupporting bars can be engaged: one or more cover members are then provided for fitting to the front of this mounting rail, to lock the vanesupporting bars in position. The arrangement allows the vanes and their supporting bars to be removed for cleaning and then replaced.

The assembly may be arranged for the vanes and their mounting bars to extend vertically: instead however, the assembly may be arranged for the vanes and mounting bars to extend horizontally.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of a security blind assembly in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 comprises views of a top rail and a bottom rail of the assembly of Figure 1 and also views of locking and sliding covers for the bottom rail; FIGURE 3 comprises views of a base member of and a cover for each of the vanes of the blind assembly; FIGURE 4 is a view of a pivot and security bar f or each vane of the assembly; FIGURE 5 comprises views of a coupling rail and one of the pins used for coupling the vanes together for turning in unison; and FIGURE 6 is a diagram showing arrangements for preparing an end vane of the assembly to suit the width of the window in which the assembly is to be fitted.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a blind assembly in accordance with this invention comprises a plurality of vertical vanes 10 mounted between upper and lower rails 20,30 which are, in use, secured within a window aperture. As shown in Figure 2, the upper rail 20 comprises a hollow rectangular metal extrusion formed in its underside with a series of holes 22 to receive the upper ends of metal bars 40, one of which is 3 shown in Figure 4. The bottom rail 30 (also Figure 2) comprises a U- section metal extrusion which is open along its front but with its front edges directed inwardly to form opposed lips 31,32: a series of notches or cut-aways 33 are f ormed in the upperside of the bottom rail, extending inwardly from its front edge; the bottom of the bottom rail is formed with a series of formations, e.g. indentations, 34 to receive and locate the bottom ends of the bars 40.

It will be appreciated that the upper ends of the bars 40 can firstly be inserted into the holes 22 in the upper rail, then their lower ends can be engaged into the notches 33 in the bottom rail and located within the indentations 34. The covers 36,38 can then be used to lock the lower ends of the bars 40 in place. Cover 36 has grooves 37 extending along its opposite edges, to receive the lips 31,32 of the bottom rail: cover 36 is permanently fitted to the bottom rail, but may be slid along this rail to uncover one set of the notches 33 and so allow the corresponding bars 40 to be fitted, and then slid back to lock these bars in position and free the remaining notches 33 to receive their bars 40. The cover 38 is used to lock the latter set of bars 40 in position: cover 38 has a groove 37 in one edge, its opposite being formed as a rebate; the cover 38 is furthermore provided with locks 39. The cover 38 can therefore be placed in position, with its groove 37 engaged with the lip 31 of the bottom rail, and then its locks 39 are operated to lock the lower edge of the cover to the lip 32 of the rail. Referring to Figure 3, each vane 10 of the assembly comprises a generally flat base member 12 which may be formed of plastics material. The base member 12 has a central tubular 30 portion 13 to receive a respective bar 40. Its outer edges 14 are formed with a V-section formation, each providing an inwardly-facing groove on each side of the member 12. The vane is completed by a pair of covers 16, one such cover being shown in Figure 3 plastics) the cover 16 is formed of sheet material (e.g. having some degree of flexible resilience and somewhat wider than the width of the base member 12. Each cover 16 is then f itted to one side of its base member by flexing it and engaging its opposite edges within the grooves provided at the opposite edges 14 of the base member.

4 Referring to Figure 4, each security bar 40 comprises an outer metal tube 42 having outward ly-pro j ect ing pegs 43, adjacent its lower end, for supporting the bottom end of the tubular portion 13 of the vane base member 12. The outer metal tube 42 has an end cap 44 fitted to its bottom end. Further however the security bar 40 has a metal inner rod or tube 46 positioned within the outer tube 42, the inner rod or tube 46 being free to turn relative to the outer tube 42.

The vanes 10 of the assembly are coupled together, so that they will turn in unison between "open" and "closed" positions, by a rail 50 which is formed with a series of holes 52 receiving respective pins 54: each pin 54 has a slot 55 by which it is engaged with the top edge of its corresponding vane base member 12. Figure 1 shows the coupling rail 50 fitted to couple the vanes 10 together at their top edges: an identical rail is preferably fitted to couple the vanes together at their bottom edges also.

The top and bottom rails of the assembly are preferably cut to length to suit the width of the window in which the assembly is to be fitted. In this way, however, the vane at one or both ends of the assembly may need reducing in width. Accordingly, and referring to Figure 6, the base member 12 of each vane may be formed with a series of V-section formations 14a at different locations across its width: once the required width of the base member has been determined, having regard to the adjacent end frame 60, the base member 12 may be severed or broken off at the outer edge of an appropriate one of the formations 14a. The covers 16 for the vane are then cut to appropriate width and fitted accordingly.

It will be appreciated that the blind assembly which has been described provides a high degree of security. The rails 20,30 and covers 36,38 are all of metal and cannot be cut at all easily. The bars 40 are also of metal but further resist being cut because of their construction: thus, if an intruder saws through the outer tube 42 until the saw blade engages the inner rod or tube 46, the inner rod or tube 44 will simply be turned backwards and forwards by the saw blade and will not be cut by it.

1

Claims

1) A blind assembly for fitting to a window, the assembly comprising a pair of opposed mounting rails and a plurality of vanes carried by respective bars, said bars having their opposite ends mounted to the respective said mounting rails, and each bar comprising an outer member and an inner member which is free to turn within the outer member.

2) A blind assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said outer members of said bars are mounted for rotation to turn said vanes between open and closed positions.

3) A blind assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said vanes are rotatably mounted on the respective said bars for turning between open and closed positions.

4) A blind assembly as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which said vanes are coupled together to turn in unison between said open and closed positions.

5) A blind assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which one of said mounting rails is formed with a series of notches along a front edge thereof, into which the corresponding end portions of respective said bars are engaged, and one or more cover members are fitted to the front of said one mounting rail to lock said bars in position.

6) A blind assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which said one mounting rail is of U-shape in crosssection, said notches being formed in one said of said rail and the opposite side of said rail being provided with formations for locating the ends of the respective said bars.

7) A blind assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each vane comprises a base member having a tubular portion through which the respective said bar is fitted.

8) A blind assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which each 6 vane further comprises a pair of covers fitted to the opposite sides of the respective said base member.

9) A blind assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which each said cover of each vane comprises a piece of sheet material having its opposite edges engaged in grooves provided at or adjacent the opposite edges of the respective said base member.

10) A blind assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which said base member of at least one said vane is provided with a series of cover-receiving groove formations at different positions across its width, said base member being arranged to be severed or broken along a line immediately outward of each said groove formation.

11) A blind assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which case said bar comprises a metal tube forming said outer member and a road or tube forming said inner member.

12) A blind assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged for said mounting bars and vanes to extend vertically.

13) A blind assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, arranged for said mounting bars and vanes to extend horizontally.

14) A blind assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.