GB2346647A

GB2346647A - Door reinforcement

Info

Publication number: GB2346647A
Application number: GB9902997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Malcolm Fullard
Original assignee: FULLEX Ltd
Current assignee: FULLEX Ltd
Priority date: 1999-02-11
Filing date: 1999-02-11
Publication date: 2000-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-11
Also published as: GB9902997D0; GB2346647B

Abstract

A reinforcement means 14 is provided at the nose region of a door 1, and comprises an elongate substantially channel-shaped member. The base of the channel of the reinforcement means 14 can have a hole therein to allow a mortice of a locking mechanism to pass through. Alternatively, the channel-shape of the reinforcement 14 may house a locking mechanism. In one embodiment the reinforcement means 14 grips the nose of the door 1 and edges 21 of facing panels 13 of the door 1 are turned around the edges of the reinforcement means 14 to grip it. Another embodiment (figure 6) has the channel-shape closed off by a cross member (25). The reinforcement means 14 can be constructed by extrusion and can be plastic or metal, for example aluminium. Preferably the reinforcement means 14 is supplied with a Euro-groove 15.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO DOOR SECURITY The invention relates to door security, particularly but not exclusively security of a reinforced door, to resist forced opening of the door.

The value of security to owners of homes, buildings or other property is more relevant now than ever. Owners of property will do everything they can to prevent their property from break-ins and associated damage from attempted break-ins. Many owners will include reinforced doors in their property to try to prevent burglaries. Steel faced doors, i. e. doors faced with steel layers are being fitted for this purpose.

Too often the owner of the property is let down, however, by the door, even a steel faced door, failing under applied force at the part of the door containing the lock because the fitting of the lock to the door has weakened the structure of the door.

In their drive to combat burglary the police have launched a"secure by design"scheme in which the security of doors is tested by a"pass 24" test. This test involves the application of force on a locked door by a hydraulic ram to try to open the door. In the case of a steel faced door the force is 4500-6000N. The door must be able to resist the force and not burst open in order to pass the test.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shown a prior art security door which is susceptible to these problems. The door 1 is basically of a timber construction reinforced by steel layers 13 secured on its outer and inner surfaces 8,9. The door is hinged in the usual way at one edge 2 by hinges 3,4 to a frame 5 and its opposite edge 6 contains a locking mechanism 7 which co-operates with a keeper 12 on the frame 5. The locking mechanism, a mortice lock, is fixed in the nose edge 6 of the door. The edge 6 and proximal regions of adjacent surfaces, an area generally defined in the drawing by the hatched area within the dotted line, is known as the"nose"of the door. It is the nose which is most susceptible to damage should force be applied to the door to try to open it. This is so even with the reinforcement of the steel layers 13.

If a strong ramming force is exerted on the outside of the locked door, the door may well remain intact because of its steel reinforcement, and the lock may not yield, but, nevertheless, there may be splitting and weakening of the timber of the door in the region of the nose, as indicated at D, sufficient for the engagement of the lock with its keeper 12 on the frame 4 to be disconnected, and the door opened.

It is the aim of the present invention to reinforce a door to enhance its security when locked, and as aid to meeting the requirements of the "pass 24"test for security.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide reinforcement means for a door having locking means at the nose thereof, said reinforcement means comprising an elongate member having a substantially channel-shaped cross-section comprising a face and first and second portions which extend substantially perpendicular to the face, the elongate member being adapted to be secured along and to the nose of the door with the nose located between the first and second portions such that the edge of the nose engages or is proximal to the face of the elongate member.

The term"door"is intended to include, but is not limited to, other panels such as windows or hatches comparable to a door.

The reinforcement means preferably includes a recessed portion or groove at its face corresponding to the so-called"Euro Groove"now commonly provided in doors for shoot bolts of locking mechanisms. The recessed portion or groove may insert into a Euro Groove in the nose of the door to which the reinforcement means is fitted for use. A hole may be provided in the face of the elongate member through which a locking mechanism can be inserted into a mortice in the nose of the door to which the reinforcement means is applied for use. Alternatively, the reinforcement means may be adapted to receive a locking mechanism within the channel-shaped cross section of the elongate member.

The substantially channel-shaped member reinforces the door to which the reinforcement means is applied for use in the region of the nose so as to prevent or reduce damage to the nose of the door when force is applied to the locked door to try to open it.

The elongate member may be provided with a third portion which extends substantially parallel to said face and connects the first and second portions.

The first and second portions preferably grip the nose of the door between them. At least one of the portions may include at a region on a face thereof which engages with a surface of the nose of the door, teeth or teeth-like projections which are intended to bite into the surface to increase the friction between the nose and elongate member.

The reinforcement means may be manufactured from metal, for example aluminium or from a suitable plastics material. The elongate member may be extruded.

If there is a hole in the face of the elongate member, through which a locking mechanism can be inserted into a mortice in the nose of the door to which the reinforcement means is applied for use, the first and second portions of the elongate member can reinforce the material of the door in the region of the nose proximal to the mortice to reduce or prevent damage in the region of the nose of the door in the event of force being applied to the door to try to open it.

If the reinforcement means is adapted to receive a locking mechanism within the cross-section of the elongate member, the member should locate and support the locking mechanism securely against any movement of the mechanism, other than operating movement, relative to the elongate member. In this way, the locking mechanism itself must fail, or the integrity of the main portion of the door (the part of the door which is not the nose) must be breached in order for the door to be forced open. If the door is reinforced as described above by reinforcing layers on its inner and outer surfaces, then such a breach is most unlikely.

Preferably the reinforcement means extends substantially along the full longitudinal length of the nose of the door to which it is applied for use.

Alternatively, it may reinforce the region of the nose where the locking mechanism of the door is located, and so therefore be of shorter length and cheaper to manufacture, and possibly easier to install.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of reinforcing a door for security which comprises fitting and securing to the nose of the door reinforcement means in accordance with the foregoing first aspect of the present invention set forth, the elongate member thereof being secured such that the nose is located between the first and second portions and the edge of the nose engages or is proximal to the face of the elongate member.

The door which is reinforced by the method according to the second aspect of the invention may be steel faced or have other reinforcing facing for security, on one or both of its outer and inner surfaces. When applied to such a door the reinforcement means is preferably secured to the nose so that the elongate member is overlapped by the facing. If the door has facing on both surfaces, preferably the elongate member is secured so that it is sandwiched between the facing on the two surfaces. The elongate member may have one or more recesses or grooves into which an edge portion of the or each facing may be received at or adjacent to the face of the elongate member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention we provide a door having a nose including a locking mechanism and reinforced by reinforcement means according to the foregoing first embodiment of the invention.

We have found that a steel faced door modified to include the reinforcing means now provided by the method according to the second aspect of the invention, or made to include the reinforcing means in accordance with the third aspect of the invention, is able to withstand the aforesaid "pass 24"test to comply with the"secure by design"scheme.

There now follows by way of example only a detailed description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 shows a prior art door which is susceptible to damage in the nose region; Figure 2 shows a steel-faced door which incorporates an example of reinforcement means according to the first aspect of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a steel-faced door which incorporates another example of reinforcement means according to the first aspect of the invention; Figure 4 shows a partial, enlarged cross-section of the door of Figure 2 along the line 4-4; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the reinforcement means shown in Figure 4 ; and Figure 6 shows a partial, enlarged cross-section of the door of Figure 3 along the line 6-6.

The reinforcement means can be fitted to an existing security door or be fitted as a component of a new door during the door's manufacture.

Preferably the doors are reinforced on their outer and inner surfaces, preferably by a metal, for example steel facing, but otherwise may be of a conventional timber construction and fitted at the nose with a mortice lock. The reinforcement means prevents, or at least provides substantial resistance to, damage to the timber surrounding the mortice in which the lock is located, by reinforcement of the nose of the door in this region.

Figure 2 shows a new steel-faced door 1 including reinforcement means 14 at the nose edge. The door, which is of conventional timber construction, is fitted at the nose with a mortice lock, not shown, and a handle mechanism 10 and is formed with a keyhole 11 to the mortice lock.

A Euro Groove 15, Figure 4, is formed in the nose edge. Steel facings 13 cover the outer and inner surfaces of the door.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary cross-section through the nose of the door in Figure 2. As shown in that Figure and also in Figure 5, the reinforcement means comprises an elongate member 14 of substantially channel-shaped cross-section comprising a face 16 and parallel first and second portions 17,18 which extend perpendicularly from opposite sides of the face. The face 16 is formed with an inwardly stepped, longitudinal channel 19 which is dimensioned to fit into the Euro Groove 15 in the nose edge of the door. The face is also formed with two longitudinally extending recesses 20 spaced at either side of, and extending parallel to the channel 19, the recesses being shallower and narrower than the channel. An opening, not shown, is formed in the face 16 to register with the locking mechanism.

The elongate member 14 is fitted over the nose edge of the door, inside the steel facing 13 so that the first and second portions 17,18 closely straddle the outer and inner side faces of the nose, and the face 16 abuts the nose edge, the channel engaging in the Euro Groove 15 and the parts of the face containing the recesses 20 penetrating into the nose edge at either side of the Euro Groove. The elongate member is fixed to the timber of the nose by screws, not shown.

When the elongate member 14 is secured in position, the steel facings 13 are secured over the elongate member. Edge portions 21 of the facings 13 are folded round onto the face 16 and into the recesses 20.

The fit of the edge portions 21 of the facing 13 into the recesses 20 further secures the elongate member 14 of the reinforcement means to the nose of the door. Additionally, the folding of the facings 13 around the face 16 and into the recesses 20 helps to prevent tampering with the reinforcement means by intruders when the door is closed and locked.

Access to the reinforcement means is restricted as the nose edge of the door, and hence the retaining means, will not be visible to the potential intruder.

Figure 3 of the drawings shows a steel faced door having at its nose another example of reinforcement means 22 which is shown in detail in Figure 5.

The reinforcement means again comprises an elongate member which has a face 16, similar to that of the example described above, and parallel first and second portions 23,24 extending perpendicularly from opposite sides of the face. In this example the first and second portions 23,24 are extended further away from the face 16 than the first and second portions of the first-described example.

A connecting member 25 extends between and is joined to the first and second portions 23,24 at an intermediate position towards, but spaced from, the ends of the portions remote from the face. The elongate member thus has a box-section defined by the face 16, the connecting member and the sections of the first and second portion between those two parts. A locking mechanism can be located within the box-section.

On inner faces of the extrusions of the first and second portions 23,24 beyond the connecting member 25 teeth-like ridges 26 extend longitudinally of the elongate member. The extrusions of the first and second portions and the connecting member define a channel section 27 of the elongate member.

In this case the door may also be of timber construction for the main part but the reinforcement means forms the nose of the door. The channel section 27 is fitted over the adjoining edge portion of the timber structure of the door with the extensions of the first and second portions closely straddling that edge portion, which is shallowly rebated to receive the extensions, and the connecting member 25 abutting the end edge of the timber structure. The elongate member is fixed to the timber structure by screws, not shown.

Steel facings 13 are secured over the outer and inner surface of the door and overlap the reinforcement means. As before edge portions 21 of the facings are folded round onto the face 16 and into recesses 20 in the face so as to further secure the elongate member in the door structure and prevent tampering with the reinforcement means when the door is closed and locked.

In the two examples described the elongate members are each made as extrusions of aluminium and they extend for the full length of the doors.

They may be made of another metal such as steel or of a suitable plastics material.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Reinforcement means for a door having locking means at the nose thereof, said reinforcement means comprising an elongate member having a substantially channel-shaped cross-section comprising a face and first and second portions which extend substantially perpendicular to the face, the elongate member being adapted to be secured along and to the nose of the door with the nose located between the first and second portion such that the edge of the nose engages or is proximal to the face of the elongate member.
2. Reinforcement means according to claim 1, in which the reinforcement means includes a recessed portion or groove at its face corresponding to a"Euro Groove"of a door.
3. Reinforcement means according to claim 2 in which the recessed portion or groove inserts into a Euro Groove in the nose of the door to which the reinforcement means is fitted for use.
4. Reinforcement means according to any preceding claim, in which a hole is provided in the face of the elongate member through which a locking mechanism can be inserted into a mortice in the nose of the door to which the reinforcement means is applied for use.
5. Reinforcement means according to claim 4, in which the first and second portions of the elongate member reinforce the material of the door in the region of the nose proximal to the mortice to reduce or prevent damage in the region of the nose of the door in the event of force being applied to the door to try to open it.
6. Reinforcement means according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the reinforcement means is adapted to receive a locking mechanism within the channel-shaped cross section of the elongate member.
7. Reinforcement means according to claim 6, in which the elongate member locates and supports the locking mechanism securely against any movement of the mechanism, other than operating movement, relative to the elongate member.
8. Reinforcement means according to any preceding claim, in which the elongate member is provided with a third portion which extends substantially parallel to said face and connects the first and second portions.
9. Reinforcement means according to any preceding claim in which the first and second portions are adapted to grip the nose of the door between them.
10. Reinforcement means according to claim 9, in which at least one of the portions includes, at a region on a face thereof which engages with a surface of the nose of the door, teeth or teeth-like projections which are intended to bite into the surface to increase the friction between the nose and elongate member.
11. Reinforcement means according to any preceding claim in which the reinforcement means is manufactured from metal.
12. Reinforcement means according to claim 11, in which the metal is aluminium.
13. Reinforcement means according to any preceding claim, in which the reinforcement means is manufactured from a suitable plastics material.
14. Reinforcement means according to any one of claims 11 to 13, in which the elongate member is extruded.
15. Reinforcement means according to any preceding claim, in which the reinforcement means extends substantially along the full longitudinal length of the nose of the door to which it is applied for use.
16. Reinforcement means according to any one of claims 1 to 14 in which the reinforcement means reinforces the region of the nose where the locking mechanism of the door is located.
17. Reinforcement means substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying Figures 2 to 6.
18. A method of reinforcing a door for security which comprises fitting and securing to the nose of the door reinforcement means in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 17, the elongate member thereof being secured such that the nose is located between the first and second portions and the edge of the nose engages or is proximal to the face of the elongate member.
19. A method according to claim 18, in which the door which is reinforced is steel faced or has other reinforcing facing for security.
20. A method according to claim 19, in which the reinforcement means is preferably secured to the nose of the door so that the elongate member is overlapped by the facing.
21. A method according to claim 20, in which the door has facing on both surfaces and the elongate member is secured so that it is sandwiched between the facing on the two surfaces.
22. A method according to claim 20 or claim 21 in which the elongate member has one or more recesses or grooves into which an edge portion of the or each facing may be received at or adjacent to the face of the elongate member.
23. A door having a nose including a locking mechanism and reinforced by reinforcement means according to any one of claims 1 to 17.
24. A door substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying Figures 2 to 4 and Figure 6.