GB2335693A

GB2335693A - A method of fitting a security device to a hinged panel and a security device therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2335693A
Application number: GB9806337A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Anthony Wellman
Original assignee: J Banks and Co Ltd
Current assignee: J Banks and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1998-03-25
Filing date: 1998-03-25
Publication date: 1999-09-29
Also published as: GB9806337D0

Abstract

The invention is concerned with a method of fitting a security device to a hinged panel, and a security device therefor. According to the invention an elongate peg or pin (20) is mounted preferably on the hinged side of the frame (10) surrounding the panel (14), whereby it corresponds with a recess (22) in the panel. The pin is mounted on the frame by creating an aperture through a part of said frame, and then driving the pin through the aperture so that the end closest to the panel is received in the recess when the panel is in the closed position. The method of fitting the security device may include the step of drilling an aperture through the hinge edge of the frame and into the frame edge of the panel. It is also disclosed that the relative positions of the recess and pin can be reversed, so that the pin engages with a recess in the frame member. The frame can be any one of a number of different types, and may have a reinforcing member through which the aperture and pin passes.

Description

2335693 1 METHOD OF FITTING A SECURITY DEVICE AND SECURITY DEVICE THEREFOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of fitting a security device, and to a security device therefor. The invention relates in particular to a method of fitting a security device to a hinged panel or to the frame of the hinged panel.

The invention is likely to find particular utility with hinged panels such as windows and doors which are made from wood, aluminium or plastics, including for example PVCu. Accordingly, much of the following description will relate to such use; however the use of the invention for other applications is not thereby excluded.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Hinged windows are typically located in a fixed frame, and are usually rectangular - comprising a hinge edge and an opposed locking edge joined by two connecting edges. The frame surrounding the window is correspondingly rectangular, and for simplicity its edges will also be referred to as the hinge edge, locking edge and connecting edges respectively.

Many types of hinge are known for interconnecting the hinge edge of a window and the hinge edge of its frame. However, it is a typical feature of many windows that they have a peripheral lip overlying a part of the frame, which lip precludes the use of many of the conventional types of hinge such as a butt hinge. The lip is provided to carry a seal, which when the window is closed contacts the hinge edge of the frame, the seal helping to ensure adequate weather sealing for this type of window.

2 Thus, for windows having a peripheral lip the action of the hinge is necessarily complex, since the hinge edge of the window must be moved wholly away from the hinge edge of the frame as the window is opened. The increasing popularity of windows having a peripheral lip, has resulted in the development of a particular type of hinging component known as a "friction stay".

Typically, there are two such stays fitted to an opening window, the stays being fitted to the connecting edges of the window and frame rather than the hinge edges. If the window opens about a substantially horizontal hinge axis the stays are fitted to the vertical connecting edges of the window and frame; if the window opens about a substantially vertical hinge axis the stays are f itted to the top and bottom (horizontal) connecting edges of the window and frame.

It has become widely recognised, however, that such stays offer less restraint than conventional hinges against an intruder intent on forcing a gap between the hinge edges of the window and frame; thus, since the action of the friction stays permit a gap to be created between the hinge edges of the window and frame when the window is opened, the intruder can utilise this additional freedom when seeking unauthorised entry. Usually, the intruder will seek to force a gap between the window and frame sufficient to insert a hand and arm by which to manipulate the opening handle and/or locking device of an adjacent window.

In addition, there has been considerable development and inprovement of the locking systems for such windows, rendering an attack on the locking edge less likely to succeed, so that intruders are believed increasingly to be targeting the hinge edge when seeking to gain unauthorised entry.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Devices which seek to prevent the forcing of the hinge edge of the window away from the hinge edge of the frame are known, and one such device is disclosed in patent application GB 2,312,913. In this device, a bracket mounting a peg is f ixed to the hinge edge of the frame, the peg projecting towards the centre of the frame. A bracket having a hole to receive the peg is fixed to the hinge edge of the window, such that when the window is closed the peg is located within the hole. Attempts to force the hinge edge of the window away from the corresponding frame part are resisted by the peg engaging a side of the hole.

A major disadvantage of this device is that the brackets are af f ixed by screws to the respective f rame and window hinge edges. With certain plastics windows in particular there may be inadequate material, or inadequate reinforcement, to support the screws in the event that forcing of the window is attempted. In addition, the correct positioning of the screw holes is critical, and is not always easy to achieve in practice; thus, the brackets must be correctly aligned when in the closed window condition, but can only be fitted whilst the window is in its open condition. If the brackets are incorrectly fitted adjustment is time consuming and may not always be possible if for example a necessary part of the wall of the frame of window hinge edge has been damaged or removed by the previously-sited screw hole. Furthermore, the size and positioning of the device is to some extent determined by the profile to which it is fitted, i.e. the bracket must not foul any supporting ridges or other features present in the profile.

When using such a device with a wooden window, it is known that the grain of the wood can f orce one or both of the screws to move away f rom its intended path, so that despite 4 best efforts to accurately align the peg and hole, this may not always be achieved in practice.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

We have recognised that the above-stated disadvantages can be avoided or reduced by a novel method of affixing the peg to the hinge edge of the window or frame.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of mounting a security device for panel which is hingedly connected to a frame, the security device including an elongate peg, the method including the steps of mounting the peg to the hinge edge of one of the frame and panel, providing a corresponding recess in the hinge edge of the other of the frame and panel, the recess being adapted to receive a part of the peg in the closed condition of the panel, characterised by the steps of (i) creating an aperture through a part of said one of the f rame and panel, and (ii) driving the peg through the aperture.

Preferably, the aperture passes through the hinge edge of said one of the frame and panel.

Accordingly, in the fitted condition the peg can be supported in the aperture along a substantial part of its length, preferably a part of its length corresponding to the thickness of the hinge edge of said one of the f rame and panel, and it is not necessary to affix the peg by screws to the hinge edge. if an attempt is made to force the hinge edge of the panel away from the hinge edge of the frame, the force on the peg is likely to be in the lateral direction, in which direction the peg is supported by a considerable thickness of hinge edge material.

Preferably, the hinge edge includes a reinforcing member, and the aperture (and so the fitted peg) passes through the reinforcing member also. In such embodiments, the reinforcing member provides additional su pport for the peg.

Desirably, the peg has an enlarged head, the head being of larger dimension than the aperture. Accordingly, if an attempt is made to forcibly remove the peg, the head will engage material of the hinge edge and so resist such forced removal.

Usefully, the peg is located in the hinge edge of the frame and engages a recess in the hinge edge of the panel.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of mounting a security device including a peg, the method including the steps of (i) providing a frame with a panel hingedly mounted thereupon, {ii) closing the panel relative to the frame; and (iii) drilling an aperture through the hinge edge of the f rame and into the f rame edge of the panel.

According to this aspect of the invention, the alignment of the peg and recess can be ensured since the aperture through the hinge edge of the frame (for example) is continued into the hinge edge of the panel during a single drilling operation. Thus, alignment of the peg and recess is effected in the closed panel condition, and so can be more accurately ensured than the prior screw fixing arrangements.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a security device for use in the method as herein defined, the security device including an elongated peg of a length at least as great as the thickness of the hinge edge of the frame or panel through which it is to be passed.

6 Preferably, the peg is cold formed. It will readily be understood by those skilled in the art that a cold formed peg is far easier and thus cheaper to manufacture than an integral peg and bracket arrangement such as that required for the prior art device described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a security device fitted to a PVCu panel and frame; is a sectional view of a security device fitted to a wooden panel and frame; and is a sectional view of a security device fitted to an extruded aluminium panel and frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In the PVCu embodiment of Fig. 1, the hinge edge 10 of the f rame is adapted to be secured in an opening in a wall or the like, with the face 12 adjacent with the bricks or blocks or other structural materials making up the wall.

The panel in this embodiment is a window, and its hinge edge 14 is hingedly mounted by way of friction stays (not seen) to the frame in known f ashion. Glazing is mounted to the panel, specifically adjacent face 16, again in known fashion.

Upon hinged movement of the panel relative to the frame, the hinge edge 14 of the panel moves away from the hinge edge 10 of the frame along an arcuate path as denoted by line P. It 7 will be understood by those skilled in this art that this path of movement makes it possible for an intending intruder to insert a housebreaking jemmy or the like into the gap 18, and seek to force the panel hinge edge 14 away from the frame hinge edge 10, i.e. directly to increase the size of the gap 18 to permit the insertion of a tool or the housebreaker's arm, for example, between the panel hinge edge 14 and the frame hinge edge 10. The security device 10, in common with other similar security devices, seeks to, prevent such forced separation of the panel and frame hinge edges.

The security device in Fig.1 comprises an elongate peg 20 and a cup 22. In this embodiment the peg 20 is of cold formed steel, and the cup 22 is a steel pressing, both being of circular cross-section. In alternative embodiments the cup can be made as a zinc die casting or from a plastics material of suitable hardness.

In the method according to the invention, the panel and frame are placed into their "closed" condition (as drawn), and an aperture is drilled through the frame hinge edge 10 along the line and in the direction shown by arrow A. The drilling is continued through the frame hinge edge 10 and into the panel hinge edge 14. Ideally, the aperture is sized so that the peg 20 is an interference fit therein (i.e. no further enlargement of the aperture in the frame hinge edge 10 is required before the peg 20 can be pressed thereinto, and once pressed into the aperture the peg 20 is retained therein by friction). However, in embodiments such as that shown wherein a cup 22 is f itted, the aperture in the panel hinge edge 14 will require subsequent enlargement before the cup 22 can be placed thereinto; when drilling out a larger hole it will be understood that it is easy to ensure that the larger hole is concentric with the initial hole, so that alignment between the peg 20 and cup 22 is ensured.

8 Clearly, the cup 22 is not mandatory, i.e. the peg could fit directly into an aperture in the panel hinge edge 14. However, a cup 22 is preferred so that the security device does not rely upon the strength of a small section of the (plastic) panel hinge edge 14. In Fig.1, the panel hinge edge 14 has an additional recess 24 to receive the head of the cup 22.

Following drilling of the apertures in the frame and panel hinge edges, the peg 20 is driven into the aperture until its enlarged head 26 engages the hinge edge 10. The enlarged head 26 is not mandatory, but provides for ease of fitment, i.e. if the head 26 was not present some other means for ensuring that the peg is not driven too far into the aperture would be required.

As shown, the peg 20 has a tapered end 28, which is the leading end in use, and serves as a lead-in to the cup 22 when the panel is being moved from its open condition to its closed condition.

In common with many PVCu window panels and frames, the hinge edges 10, 14 (and also the corresponding lock edges and connecting edges which make up the complete panel and frame) have metallic reinforcing members 30 and 32 respectively, the reinforcing members serving to add strength and rigidity to the frame and panel. It will be clear from Fig.1 that the aperture for the peg 20 passes through the reinforcing member 30, and the aperture for the cup 22 passes through the reinforcing member 32, so that the reinforcing members also add strength and rigidity to the fitted security device.

In the embodiment of Fig.2, a similar peg 20 and cup 22 are fitted to a respective frame hinge edge 40 and panel hinge edge 42 respectively. In this embodiment the hinge edges 9 40,42 are of wood, and are thus of solid construction rather than being of hollow profile. In all material respects, however, the method of fitting the security device, and the form of the security device and its components, can be identical to the embodiment of Fig.1, so that it is not necessary to be repeated.

In the embodiment of Fig.3, a similar peg 20 and cup 22 are fitted to a respective frame hinge edge 44 and panel hinge edge 46 respectively. In this embodiment the hinge edges 44,46 are of extruded aluminium, and are thus of hollow profile somewhat similar to that of the PVCu embodiment of Fig.l. However, because of the inherent strength of aluminium, it is not usually necessary to fit reinforcing members to an aluminium profile panel and frame, and these are not present in the embodiment of Fig.3. Again, in all material respects the method of fitting the security device, and the form of the security device and its components, can be identical to the embodiment of Fig. 1, so that it is not necessary to be repeated.

In all of the embodiments, it would be possible to reverse the position of the peg (and cup, if fitted), i.e. to provide the peg aperture through the panel hinge edge and to provide the cup aperture in the f rame hinge edge. However, whilst this would be acceptable to many manufacturers, some manufacturers are believed to object to an aperture through the panel hinge edge which terminates adjacent the glazing; accordingly, for such manufacturers the arrangement shown in the drawings would be required.

it is expected that the simplicity of use of the method according to the invention, together with the relative cheapness of the security device, will result in the device being fitted to many more windows and doors than is the case with the prior devices; accordingly, it is expected that the invention will greatly increase the usage of such security devices, so benefitting large numbers of consumers for whom the prior devices were not suitable or were not commercially justifiable.

11

Claims

A method of mounting a security device for a panel which is hingedly connected to a frame, the security device including an elongate peg, the method including the steps of mounting the peg to the hinge edge of one of the frame and panel, and providing a corresponding recess in the hinge edge of the other of the f rame and panel, the recess being adapted to receive a part of the peg in the closed condition of the panel.. characterised by the steps of fi) creating an aperture through a part of said one of the frame and panel, and {ii) driving the peg through the aperture.
2. A method according to claim 1 in which the aperture passes through the hinge edge of said one of the f rame and panel.
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which a cup member is provided for fitment into the recess.
4. A method according to claim 3 in which both the peg and cup are of circular cross-section.
A method according to any preceding claim in which the hinge edge includes a reinforcing member, and the aperture passes through the reinforcing member.
6. A method according to any preceding claim in which the peg has an enlarged head, the head being of larger dimension than the aperture.
A method according to any preceding claim in which the peg is located in the hinge edge of the f rame and is receivable in a recess in the hinge edge of the panel.
8. A method of mounting a security device, the security device including a peg, the method including the steps 12 of {i) providing a frame with a panel hingedly mounted thereupon, {ii) closing the panel relative to the frame; and {iii) drilling an aperture through the hinge edge of the frame and into the frame edge of the panel.
A security device for use in the method according to any preceding claim, the security device including an elongated peg of a length at least as great as the thickness of the hinge edge of the frame or panel through which it is to be passed.
10. A security device according to claim 9 in which the peg is cold formed.
11. A security device according to claim 9 or claim 10 further including a cup member adapted to receive a part of the peg.
12. A security device constructed and arranged substantially as described in relation to Fig. 1, 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.