GB2457451A

GB2457451A - Security shutter locking assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2457451A
Application number: GB0802582A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carl Acton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-02-12
Filing date: 2008-02-12
Publication date: 2009-08-19
Also published as: GB0802582D0

Abstract

A locking system for a security shutter 1 includes a locking assembly 23 and a channel 3A in which the security shutter is slidable. The security shutter 1 and the channel 3A include alignable apertures 17, 19, 21. The locking assembly 23 has a shoulder 33 at one end of a shaft 25 and a retractable bolt 29 at the other end of the shaft. In use the shaft 25 is arranged to extend through the apertures 17, 19 and 21 such that the shoulder 33 abuts the front side wall 13 of the channel 3A and the bolt 29 abuts the rear side wall 15 of the channel 3A. The bolt 29 is retractable into the shaft 25 in order to facilitate insertion and removal of the locking mechanism 23.

Description

SECURITY ShUTTER LOCKING ASSEMBLY The present invention relates to a security shutter locking assembly For locking a security shutter in a position in a channel in which the security shutter is slidahie, to a security shutter system including such a locking assembly, a locking shutter and a channel, and to a method of locking a security shutter.

Security shutters are used widely, for example to secure retail premises that have a large glass frontage Such security shutters typically comprise a multiplicity of elongate rectangular metal plates that are attached to one another by hinges extending longitudinally between the plates The thickness of the plates is selected to provide sufficient strength for security purposes. J'he height of the plates is selected to be sufficiently small to allow the plates to be wound around a spindle when the security shutter is open in order to provide an uninterrupted view through the glass Irontage of the retail premises. Fixed to the frontage of the premises is a pair of oppositely facing U-shaped channels for each roller shutter provided. The pairs of channels arc spaced apart such that the opposite ends of the plates of the roller shutter arc received in the U-shaped channels so that the roller shutter can slide vertically within the 1)-shaped channels but the U-shaped channels prevent significant movement of the roller shutter plates in directions other than the sliding direction.

A mechanism is required to secure the shutter in a closed position.

Conventionally, padlocks are typically used to fix the roller shutter in position in each of the channels. Such an arrangement tends to be awkward to use and is unsightly.

Embodiments of the present invention aim to provide an improved locking arrangement for a security shutter.

In one aspect the present invention provides a security shutter locking assembly for locking a security shutter in a position in a channel in which the security shutter is slidable, wherein the security shutter and the channel include alignable apertures, the locking assembly comprising a main body portion having a shoulder generally at a rear end thereof and a retractable bolt at generally a front end thereof with a shaft extending therebetween, the shaft, in use, being arranged to extend through the apertures of the security shutter and the channel when aligned such that the shoulder is adjacent a first side of the channel and the bolt is adjacent a second, opposite side of the channel in order to lock the shaft in position and fix the shutter in position relative to the channel.

S

In a further aspect the present invention provides a security shutter system S including a locking assembly, a security shutter and a channel in which the security shutter is slidable, wherein the security shutter and the channel include alignable apertures, the locking assembly comprising a main body portion having a shoulder generally at a rear end thereof and a retractable bolt at generally a front end thereof with a shaft extending therebetween, the shaft, in use, being arranged to extend through the apertures of the security shutter and the channel when aligned such that the shoulder is adjacent to a first side of the channel and the bolt is adjacent to a second, opposite side of the channel in order to lock the shaft in position and fix the shutter in position relative to the channel.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of locking a security shutter in a position in a channel in which the security shutter is slidable, wherein the security shutter and the channel include alignable apertures, the method including: providing a locking assembly comprising a main body portion having a shoulder generally at a rear end thereof and a retractable bolt at generally a front end thereof with a shaft extending therebetween, passing the shaft with the bolt in the retracted position through the apertures in the security shutter and the channel when aligned until the shoulder is adjacent a first side of the channel and the bolt is adjacent a second, opposite side of the channel, and extending the bolt into a locking position in order to lock the shaft in position and fix the shutter in position relative to the channel.

The security shutter in the embodiment to be described in more detail below is a roller shutter.

The locking assembly in the embodiment includes means for retracting the bolt from a locking position to a retracted position. The bolt may be substantially cylindrical, although other elongate forms of bolt may also be used, such as a bolt square or rectangular in cross-section or elliptical in cross-section. The distal end of the bolt is advantageously chamfered.

The shaft in the embodiment is substantially cylindrical, although other elongate forms of shaft may also be used, such as a shaft square or rectangular in cross-section or elliptical in cross-section. The front end of the shaft may be advantageously chamfered. The shoulder in the embodiment is of the same cross-sectional configuration as the shaft but has a larger diameter than the shaft. In the embodiment the shaft and the shoulder are axially aligned. The shoulder may conveniently have an outer surface adapted for gripping by a user, such as a knurled surface.

In the embodiment the channel is substantially U-shaped. The channel has a base from opposite sides of which extend a front wall at a first side of the channel and a rear wall at a second side of the channel. In the embodiment a first channel is provided at one side of the shutter and a second channel is provided at the opposite side of the shutter. The channels are positioned such that the bases of the channels face opposite to each other. In the embodiment the apertures of the channels are formed in alignment in the front wall and in the rear wall. This allows the locking assembly to pass through the aperture in the front wall, through the corresponding aperture in the security shutter and thence through the aperture in the rear wall.

For a better understanding of the present invention, a security shutter locking assembly, a security shutter system and a method of locking a security shutter, embodying the invention, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a security shutter assembly; Figure 2 shows a partial perspective view of a security shutter, a security shutter channel and a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a locking assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows a front end elevational view of the locking assembly; Figure 5 shows a side elevational view of the locking assembly; Figure 6 shows another side elevational view of the locking assembly; Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the locking assembly taken along the lines X-X of Figure 6 and also a cross-sectional view through the security shutter and security shutter channel as the locking mechanism is inserted for locking the security shutter; and Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 7 but with the locking mechanism deployed to lock the security shutter in position relative to the security shutter channel.

In the Figures like elements are generally designated with the same reference signs.

S

A security shutter assembly is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The security shutter assembly comprises a security shutter I which slides in the direction of arrow X within a pair of oppositely facing channels 3A and 3B. The security shutter 1 comprises a plurality of generally rectangular plates 5.

Each plate 5 is joined to its adjacent plate or plates by a hinge or other suitable type of joining mechanism. The thickness of the plates 5 is selected to provide sufficient strength for security purposes. The security shutter is movable between a stowed or open position in which it is wound around a spindle 7 and in which the space 9 between the channels 3A and 3B is open, and a closed position in which the security shutter 1 is unwound from the spindle 7 and closes the space 9 between the channels 3A and 3B. The height of the plates 5 is selected to be sufficiently small to allow the plate 5 to be wound around the spindle 7 when the security shutter 1 is open (e.g. in order to provide an uninterrupted view through the glass frontage of retail premises). In Figure 1 the security shutter 1 is shown in the position half way between the open and closed position.

The spindle 7 rotates about axis 9 and is covered by a cover II positioned at the top of the channels 3A and 3B. The bottom of the channels 3A and 3B * typically lie on the surface of the ground. The space 9 bounded by the ground, the channels 3A and 3B and the cover 11 may be the glass frontage of a shop typically, although this could be any space that requires protection -for example, an opening into a vehicle garage or warehouse, a window or door of domestic premises etc. The channels 3A and 3B are typically bolted or attached by some other secure mechanism to a wall.

The arrangement of the shutter I and the channel 3A is shown more clearly in Figure 2, which is an enlarged view of region A encircled by dashed lines in Figure 1 but with the shutter 1 in a position closer to its closed position.

The channel 3A is generally U-shaped. The channel 3A comprises a base 11 which extends perpendicularly to the plates 5 of the security shutter I between the cover 11 and the ground. Generally parallel front wall 13 and rear wall 15 extend from opposite sides of the base 11. The front and rear side walls 13,15 extend generally parallel to the plates 5 of the security shutter 1. The configuration of the channel 3B is the same as the configuration of the channel 3A.

* The channels 3A and 3B are located in a facing relationship on opposite sides of the security shutter I. with the mouths of the channels facing one another. The bases I 1 of the channels 3A and 3B are spaced apart by a distance slightly larger than the length of' the security shutter plates 5. i'he front and rear side walls 13.15 of'cach of the channels 3A and 313 extend to overlie opposite faces of the security plates 5. l'he channels 3A and 313 provide for sliding of the security shutter Sin the vertical direction indicated by arrow X but substantially prevent movement of the security shutter I in other directions.

In accordance with this embodiment of the invention, thc penultimate plate of the shutter I has an aperture 17 formed therein. In the embodiment the aperture is a circular hole through the plate but the aperture may have any other suitable configuration. An aperture 19 of corresponding configuration IS is formed in the rear side wall 15 of each of the channels 3A and 3E3. An aperture 21 also of similar configuration is formed in the front side wall 13 of each of the channels 3A,3B. The apertures 1 7,19 and 2 1 arc positioned so that they are brought into alignment when the security shutter I is in the closed position with the bouom plate 5 positioned at or near the ground.

When the security shutter I is in the closed position and the apertures 17,19 and 21 are in axial alignment, a respective locking mechanism shown J0 generally at 23 is passed first through the aperture 21 m the front side wall 13 of each of' the channels 3A,3B. then through the aperture 17 at each opposite side of the security shutter I, and finally through the aperture 19 in the rear side wall 15 of each of'the channels 3A and 3B.

The locking mechanism 23 is shown in more detail in Figures 3.4.5 and 6 of' the drawings. I'hc locking mechanism 23 comprises a generally cylindrical shaft 25 although a shaft of other cross-section may he used. Ihe front end of the shaft 25 is chamfered at region 27 to facilitate ease of' insertion of the locking mechanism through the apertures 1 7,19 and 21. At the front end of the shaft 25 a locking bolt 29 is provided. In the embodiment the locking bolt 29 is generally cylindrical and has a chamfered region 3 1 at its distal end 30. although other configurations of locking bolt may he used. The locking bolt 23 has a shoulder 33 formed at the rear end of the shall 25. In the embodiment the shoulder 33 is generally cylindrical and is formed or mounted in axial alignment with the shaft 25, although this is not essential.

The shoulder 33 includes a face 35 for lying adjacent to or abutting the front face 13 of the channels 3A,3B. The shoulder 33 has a diameter larger than the diameter of' the shaft 25 ftc shaft 25 has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the apertures 17,19 and 21 The diameter of the shoulder 33 is larger than the diameter of the apertures 17,19 and 21 so that the shoulder 33 cannot pass through those apertures. The shoulder 33 * includes a circumferential gripping surface 37 for ease of handling by the user The gripping surface 37 may he knurled A chamfered region 39 is provided between the face 35 and the gripping surface 37.

The locking bolt 29 is movable between a locking position and a retracted position. I'his will now be described in more detail with particular reference to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings. The locking bolt 29 is shown in the locking position in Figures 3,4,5,6 and 8, and in the retracted position in Figures 2 and 7. In the locking position, the locking bolt 29 extends in a JO direction P (Figure 3, 1 8) perpendicular to the direction Q of the central axis of the shaft 25 In the locking position the locking bolt 29 extends from the shaft for a distance d (Figure 4) corresponding to the distance from the circumferential edge of the shall 25 to the circumferential edge of the shoulder 33 However, these distances need not be the same.

In the retracted position, the locking bolt 29 is drawn inside the shaft 25 such that the distal end 30 of the locking bolt lies flush with the surface of the shaft 25 The distal end 30 may he curved to correspond to the curvature ol the shaft 25 (as shown in Figure 4).

As shown in Figures 7 and 8 the shaft 25 is hollow and includes a space 41 into which the locking pin 29 can be drawn. The space 41 also houses the mechanism for allowing controlled movement of the locking pin 29 between its locking position and its retracted position. This mechanism does not form part of the present Invention. The mechanism may he operated by a key 43 shown which engages pins 45, and where rotation of' the key 43 causes movement of member 47 which in turn causes movement of the locking pin 29 between the retracted position and the locked position.

In order to secure the space 9 (Figure 1), the security shutter is pulled downwards in the direction of arrow X so that it touches or lies adjacent to the ground at the base of the channels 3A and 3B A hole 17 at opposite sides of the security shutter (in the penultimate plate 5) arc then in alignment with the holes 19 and 21 formed in the side walls 13,15 of the channels 3A and 3B. The locking pin 29 of the locking mechanism 23 is then moved into the retracted position (if it is not already in this position) so IS that the end lies generally flush with the surface of the shaft 25. The locking pin 29 is shown in this position in Figures 2 and 7. The shaft 25 can then be inserted through the aperture 21 of the front side or 13 of the channel 3A, through the aperture 1 7 in the plate 5 of the security shutter I and through the aperture 19 in the rear side wall 15 of the channel 3A When the locking mechanism 23 is pushed through each of the apertures I 7. 19 and 21 into the position shown in Figure 8, where the face 35 of the shoulder 33is adjacent to or abuts the front side wall 13 of' the channel 3A.

the locking bolt 29 is moved into its locking position As shown in Figure 8 the locking bolt 29 moves parallel to the surface of the rear side wall 15 of the channel 3A and lies adjacent to or abuts that surface. Ihe locking mechanism is fixed in position and cannot mo've in the direction Q because movcmert in that direction is constrained by the shoulder 33 and the locking pin 29. and cannot move in the direction P because this is constrained by the apertures 17,19 and 21. The security shutter 5 is thereibre locked in position and cannot be raised or lowered. When the key 43 is removed from the locking mechanism 23, the locking mechanism is inconspicuous. The tO locking mechanism is also relatively straightforward to operate and to insert and remove in order to lock and unlock the security shutter 1.

The opposite side of the security shutter I is locked by passing a corresponding locking mechanism 23 through an aperture 17 on the IS opposite side of the security shutter I and through corresponding apertures 19 and 21 in the corresponding front and rear side walls of the channel 313 Satisfactory security may be provided by providing a locking mechanism 23 at only one of the channels but it is currently thought advantageous to provide enhanced security by fitting the locking mechanism to each of the channels 3A,3B.

Although only one embodiment of the invention has been described by way of examples it should be appreciated that any variation to the embodiment may he made. The shape and configuration of' elements of the locking mechanism may he changed whilst retaining the functionality described.

Claims

I. A security shutter locking assembly for locking a security shutter in a position in a channel in which the security shutter is slidahic. wherein the security shutter and the channel include alignable apertures, the locking assembly comprising a main body portion having a shoulder generally at a rear end thereof and a retractable bolt at generally a front end thereof with a shaft extending therebetween, the shaft, in use, being arranged to extend through the apertures of the security shutter and the channel when aligned such that the shoulder is adjacent a first side of the channel and the bolt is adjacent a second, opposite side of the channel in order to lock the shafi in position and fix the shutter in position relative to the channel
2. The locking assembly of claim 1, including means for retracting the IS bolt from a locking position to a retracted position.
3. The locking assembly of claim I or 2, wherein the shaft is substantially cylindrical.
4. i'he locking assembly of any one of claims I to 3, wherein the bolt is substantially cylindrical.*
5. The locking mechanism of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the front end of the locking assembly is chamfered.

S
6. The locking assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the distal end of the bolt is chamfered.
7. The locking assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shoulder is generally cylindrical.
8. The shutter of any one of claims I to 7 wherein the shoulder has an outer surface adapted for gripping by a user.
9. The locking assembly of claim 8, wherein the outer surface is knurled.
10. A security shutter system including: a locking assembly, a security shutter and a channel in which the security shutter is slidable, wherein the security shutter and the channel include alignable apertures, * the locking assembly comprising a main body portion having a shoulder generally at a rear end thereof and a retractable bolt at generally a front end thereof with a shaft extending therebetween, the shaft, in use, being arranged to extend through the apertures of the security shutter and the channel when aligned such that the shoulder is adjacent to a first side of the channel and the bolt is adjacent to a second, opposite side of the channel in order to lock the shaft in position and fix the shutter in position relative to the channel.
11. The security shutter system of claim 10, including means for retracting the bolt from a locking position to a retracted position.
12. The security shutter system of claim 10 or 11, wherein the shaft is substantially cylindrical.
13. The security shutter system of claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the bolt is substantially cylindrical.
14. The security shutter system of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the front end of the locking assembly is chamfered.
15. The security shutter system of any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the distal end of the bolt is chamfered.
16. The security shutter system of any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the shoulder is generally cylindrical.
17. The security shutter system of any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the shoulder has an outer surface adapted for gripping by a user.
18. The security shutter system of claim 17, wherein the outer surface of the shoulder is knurled.
19. The security shutter system of any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein the shutter is a roller shutter.
20. The security shutter system of any one of claims 10 to 19, wherein the channel is substantially U-shaped and has a base from Opposite sides of which extend a front wall at the first side of the channel and a rear wall at the second side of the channel.
21. The security shutter assembly of claim 20, wherein the apertures of the channel are formed in alignment in the front wall and in the rear wall.I
22. The method of locking a security shutter in a position in a channel in which the security shutter is slidable, wherein the security shutter and the channel include alignable apertures, the method including: providing a locking assembly comprising a main body portion having a shoulder generally at a rear end thereof and a retractable bolt at generally a front end thereof with a shaft extending therebetween, passing the shaft with the bolt in the retracted position through the apertures in the security shutter and the channel when aligned until the shoulder is adjacent a first side of the channel and the bolt is adjacent a second, opposite side of the channel, and extending the bolt into a locking position in order to lock the shaft in position and fix the shutter in position relative to the channel.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the locking assembly is as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.
24. The security shutter locking assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially as illustrated in any one of or any combination of the accompanying drawings.
25. A security shutter system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially as illustrated in any one of or any combination of the accompanying drawings.
26. A method of locking a security shutter, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or substantially as illustrated in any one of or any combination of the accompanying drawings.