GB2489065A

GB2489065A - Door with emergency access door

Info

Publication number: GB2489065A
Application number: GB1120142.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Aravindan Surendrakumar
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-11-22
Filing date: 2011-11-22
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Also published as: GB201120142D0

Abstract

A door 100 comprising a body 102 having an aperture in it, a member 104 closing the aperture and releasable from the body and at least one key operated lock by which the member is secured to the body. Preferably the aperture is dimensioned to allow a person to pass through the door in an emergency or when the door is obstructed or faulty via the aperture. This is useful in old peopleâ s homes where the elderly may fall against a door from the inside. Preferably, more than one lock is used to secure the inner member which then lift off (see Fig. 9). The lock or locks can be star key mortice bolts, a further lock may be used to secure the door to a surrounding door frame. Also claimed is a method of manufacturing and installing the door, a method of renovating a door assembly by using a door within a door, and a kit of parts for the door.

Description

Access Door The present invention relates to a door, and in particular a door providing both a degree of security and ease of access to a room.

As is well known a door provides a closure which can be used to secure a room. A variety of types of door are known, including sliding doors, rotating doors and hinged doors. Hinged doors are generally hung on a door frame by hinges to allow the door to pivot. In some cases, the hinges and door frame may allow the door to pivot in both directions but in many instances the door is capable of pivoting in only a single direction.

In some buildings doors are required to pivot into the room they provide access to, rather than out from the room. This may be for a variety of reasons, for example because of the size of the room or because the room is on a corridor and allowing the door to open into the corridor is not acceptable for building regulations and health and safety reasons. The latter is often the case in buildings having a large number of rooms on corridors, such as hotels, hospitals, care homes and similar.

Doors are often provided with a lock so as to provide a degree of security or privacy to the occupant of the room. For example, an occupant may lock the door at night before going to bed to help prevent burglary or intrusion.

However, if the door is locked by an occupant of the room, and the door can only open inwardly to the room, then this can cause significant problems if access is rapidly required to the room. This may be the case if there is some emergency in the building, such as a fire, or if the occupant suddenly becomes ill. If the occupant is incapacitated, for example, by smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning or because they have suffered a heart attack, then they will not be able to unlock the door from the inside. The door may also be prevented from opening if an individual has collapsed against the door or if the door has been barricaded. Further, if the door only opens inwardly, then it may be very difficult to try and wrench or otherwise force the door open in an outward direction. Furthermore, if an attempt is made to try and force the door open in an inward direction, there is a risk that the occupant may be harmed, for example, if they have collapsed against the inner side of the door.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to be able to provide a door which provides a degree of security while also providing ease of access in emergency situations.

A first aspect of the invention provides a door, comprising: a body having an aperture therein; a member closing the aperture and releasable from the body; and at least one lock by which the member is secured to the body.

The lock provides a degree of security, while allowing the member to be released from the body in a non-destructive manner to expose the aperture which then provides access through the door. Hence, an emergency responder can be provided with access to a room without having to use force which may harm the door or an occupant of the room when near the door.

Preferably the lock is a key operable lock. A key operable lock provides enhanced security as it may only be operated by a person having the key. The key may be a simple key, such as a star key, a tool, such as s screw driver, or some other commonly available instrument. Alternatively, the key may be a more secure key, such as cut key for a level type lock or a tumbler type lock.

The door can further comprise a plurality of key operated locks by which the member is secured to the body. Preferably four locks are provided. Preferably the same key or type of key can be used to operate all of the locks. Hence, the member can be released using the same key, rather than needing different keys and potentially delaying removal of the member.

The or each lock may be installed in the member or the body, or one or more locks in the body and one or more locks in the member. Preferably the locks are located in the member or body so as to be adjacent the periphery of the aperture.

The door can further comprise at least one hinge arranged to allow the door to pivot in a first direction. The door can further include a mechanism arranged to allow the member to be removed from the body in a single direction only. The single direction can be opposite to the first direction. The mechanism can be one or more formations. The one or more formations can include a lip, ledge or flange extending partially or wholly around the periphery of the aperture. The one or more formations can be provided by a part or parts of the body and/or the member. The one or more formations can be a trim part or trim parts. The trim part or trim parts can be positioned so as to cover a gap between the outer periphery of the member and an edge of the body surrounding the aperture.

The aperture can be dimensioned to allow a person to pass through the door via the aperture.

The aperture can have a height or length along a longer axis of at least O.5m, preferably at least im, preferably at least l.Im and more preferably at least 1.5m. The height or length of the aperture along a longer axis can be in the range of about O.Sm to 2m, preferably about im to 2m and more preferably about l.lm to l.8m.

The aperture can have a width of at least O.3m, preferably at least O.4m, and more preferably at least O.5m to O.6m. The aperture can have a width of about O.4m to O.7m and more preferably a width of about O.5m to O.6m.

The body includes a lower portion and the height of the lower portion can be sufficient to at least partially support a person collapsed against the door. The lower portion can extend from a lower edge of the door to a lower edge of the aperture. The height of the lower portion can be at least O.3m, preferably at least O.4m and more preferably at least O.6m. The height of the lower portion can be in the range of about O.3m to O.7m The door can further comprise a further lock in the body for securing the door in a door frame. Hence, the door can be locked by a user in use.

The door can be a fire door. The door can include one or more parts of intumescent material. The one or more parts may be one or more strips of intumescent material. The strip or strips of intumescent material may be located partially or wholly around the body and/or around the aperture and/or around the member. The intumescent material can be in thc form of a strip extending at least partially or wholly around an edge of the body or the member.

Preferably, the or each key operated lock is a star key mortice bolt. The or each lock can be installed in the member. A respective keeper for the bolt of the or each lock can be installed in the body.

A second aspect of the invention provides an entrance, comprising a door according to first aspect of the invention and a door frame. The door can be hung by at least one hinge to pivot in the door frame. The hinge or hinges can be arranged to allow the door to pivot into a room. The door can be arranged to allow the member to be removed from the body only outwardly from the room.

A third aspect of the invention provides a kit of parts for assembling into a door, comprising a body having an aperture therein; a member dimensioned to close the aperture; and at least one lock for securing the member to the body.

The kit of parts can further comprise one or more hinges for hanging the door in a door frame.

The kit of parts can further comprise instructions for assembling the parts into a door and/or hanging the assembled door.

The kit of parts can include other parts corresponding to preferred features of the first or second aspects of the invention A fourth aspect of the invention provide a method for making a door, comprising: creating a body with an aperture therein; providing a member dimensioned to close the aperture; and installing at least one key operated lock in the body or the member to releasably secure the member to the body.

Creating the body can include building the body from a plurality of pieces. Hence, the body can be newly made.

Creating the body can include cutting an aperture in an existing door. Hence, the body can be made from an existing door.

The member can be provided by material of the existing door which has been cut from the existing door to make the aperture. Hence, the member can be made from a part or parts cut from the existing door. In this way the method allows the door of the invention to be made wholly or in part by converting an existing door.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a method of installing a door, comprising: assembling a door frame around an entrance to a room; and hanging a door according to the first aspect of the invention using at least one hinge in the door frame. Hence, the door of the invention can be provided in new buildings.

A sixth aspect of the invention provides a method of renovating a door, comprising: removing a door from a door frame around an entrance to a room; and hanging a door according to the first aspect of the invention by at least one hinge in the door frame.

Hence, the door of the invention can bc provided as a retrofit modification when renovating or otherwise modifying an existing building.

In either the fifth of sixth aspects, the door can be hung so as to open only into the room.

A seventh aspect of the invention provides a method of using a door, comprising: operating at least one lock to release a member; and moving the member to expose an aperture in the door.

The method can further comprise entirely removing the member from the door.

The or each lock can be a key operable lock. The method can further comprising operating a plurality of key operable locks using the same key to release the member.

The same key can be the same physical key, or the same type of key, e.g. a star key.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front view of a door leaf frame part of the invention; Figure 2 shows a front view of a closure member part of the invention; Figure 3 shows a rear view of the door leaf frame shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a rear view of the closure member shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 shows a front view of the door leaf frame showing some internal detail; Figure 6 shows a side view of the door leaf frame; Figure 7 shows a front view of the closure member showing some internal detail; Figure 8 shows a side view of the closure member; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the door of the invention in use; and Figure 10 shows a cross sectional view from above of the door of the invention.

Similar items in the difference Figures share common reference signs unless indicated otherwise.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 there are shown the two major components of a door according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows a front view of a body 102 of the door, also referred to herein as a door leaf frame. Figure 3 shows a view of a rear side of the body 102. Figure 2 shows a view of the front side of a member used to close an aperture in the body 102. Figure 4 shows a rear view of the member 104. The closure member 104 is also referred to herein as a panel. However, it will be appreciated that the closure member can be constructed in other ways and is not limited to the specific construction of a panel.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the main body of the door 102 has an aperture 106 within it. In the described embodiment, the aperture 106 is generally rectangular and has a width of approximately 500 to 600mm. For access reasons, to be described below, the aperture should ideally have a width not less than 400mm. The height of the aperture will in practice depend on the size of the door, but again, for access reasons, it is preferably no less than 1. lmetres. As illustrated in Figure 3, a trim 108 is provided on the rear side of the door leaf frame 102 extending around the periphery of the aperture.

As can be seen in Figure 1, trim 108 overlaps the aperture defined by the inner edge of the door leaf frame 110 and so presents a ledge or flange extending around the periphery ofthe aperture 106.

Closure member 104 is generally in the form of a rectangular panel. The panel 112 has substantially the same height and width as the height and width of the aperture 106. The closure member 104 also has a trim 116 on a front side (as illustrated in Figure 2) and which extends around the periphery of the panel 112 and slightly overlaps the edge 114 of the panel, as best illustrated in Figure 4.

Trims 116 and 108 serve two purposes. Firstly, trims 116 and 108 hide the gap between the inner edge of the door leaf frame 110 and the outer edge 114 of the panel 112, when the panel is inserted in aperture 106. Also, as trims 116 and 108 provide a flange extending beyond the edge of the door leaf frame and panel respectively, the panel is prevented from passing through the aperture 106 and fttrther can only be removed from the aperture in a first direction. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 the panel can only be removed in the direction coming out of the page for the door shown in Figures 1 and 2. Removal of the panel from the door leaf frame is illustrated schematically in Figure 9.

It will be appreciated that only one of trims 108, 116 is required in order to provide unidirectional removal of the panel. However, in practice, both trims 108 and 116 may be provided for aesthetic reasons.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the closure panel 104 also includes first 120, second 122, third 124 and fourth 126 key operated locks, with each lock being disposed towards a respective corner of the panel and substantially adjacent the side edges of the panel. The key operated locks 120 can be in the form of a star key mortice bolt. Four keeper plates (not shown) are provided in the inner edge 110 of the door leaf frame in registration with the position of the lock bolts. The lock bolts can be operated by a star key to securely lock the panel within the aperture 106. The star key can then be used to disengage the bolts from their respective keepers to allow the panel to be released from the door in a non-destructive manner.

The door may be wooden or of any other suitable material, such as plastic, or a combination of suitable materials. Whatever construction of the door, the panel can be firmly and securely mounted in the door leaf frame. The door can be used as a normal internal door or as a fire door. Where used as a fire door, it should be constructed of the appropriate materials to provide fire resistance and may also be fitted with intumescent strips, as described in greater detail below.

The door leaf frame 102 may have a solid core or a hollow core construction. If a solid core construction is used, then there will be no need for any further strengthening of the door leaf frame 102. If a hollow core construction is used, then an internal structure within the door leaf frame is used to strengthen the structure and also to provide a secure mounting for the panel. Figure 5 illustrates some internal structure of a hollow core construction of the door leaf frame 102.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, a lower portion 130 of the door leaf frame has a height of approximately 0.6metres from the lower edge of the door leaf frame. This degree of height of the lower portion of the door leaf frame allows easy access through the aperture 106 but also provides sufficient height to act as a support for an individual but may have collapsed against the inner side of the door when the panel is removed. A height of approximately 0.6metres is considered optimal, however, a height of at least 0.3metres is preferably provided in order to provide some degree of support to an individual collapsed against the inner side of the door.

The panel 104 can also be provided with a solid core or hollow core construction. If solid core construction is used then there is no need for any further strengthening of the panel. However, ideally, the panel should be made lightweight in order to facilitate its handling. If a hollow core construction is used, then an internal structure within the panel is provided in order to strengthen the structure. Figure 7 shows an example internal S construction of a hollow core panel. The internal structure should provide sufficient rigidity and the internal frame should also give sufficient depth so as to receive an appropriate locking mechanism.

Figures 5 to 8 show the internal structure of a hollow core construction of the door leaf frame 102 and closure member 104. As best illustrated in Figure 5, the internal structure of the door leaf frame 102 includes first and second side members 130, 132, an upper member 134 joining the top ends of the side members and a pair of lower braces 136, t38 and support struts 140, 142. A thin sheet of panelling, such as veneer 144 is used to cover the internal structure. As illustrated in Figure 6, the door leaf frame trim 108 may include a recessed or chamfered portion 146 to provide clearance to a door handle.

Closure member 104, as illustrated as a partial cutaway in Figure 7, is also constructed from first and second side members 150, 152 and top 154 and bottom 156 members.

Again, a sheet of veneer 158 is attached to the internal structure. The positions of the keyholes for the four locks 120, 122, 124, 126 can be seen in Figure 7 and Figure 8 shows a side view in which the bolts of locks 122 and 124 are illustrated. A recessed or chamfered portion 160 may be provided in closure trim 116 to provide clearance for a door handle.

Figure 10 shows a cross sectional view from above a door 100 according to the invention hung by a hinge 170 to a door frame 172 surrounding an opening in a wall 174. Door includes a door handle 176. As illustrated in Figure 10, hinge 170 is arranged to allow the door 100 to open in a first direction, illustrated by arrow 178 which is inward toward space 180 being a room. As described above, door trim 108 and panel trim 116 are arranged to allow the closure panel 104 to be removed from the door leaf frame 102 in a second direction, illustrated by arrow 182, opposite to the direction in which the door can be opened. Hence, closure member 104 can be removed from the door leaf frame 102 only in direction 182 towards space 184 being a corridor. Hence, Figure 10 illustrates an entrance to a room also according to an aspect of the invention.

Use of the access door 100 of the invention will now be described.

An occupant of the room 180 closes door 100 and may lock the door 100 using a lock in the door leaf frame 102. In other examples, the door may be prevented from opening in the conventional manner for other reasons, such as being barricaded shut. If an emergency occurs, such that access is required to room 180, but the occupant is not in a state so as to be able to unlock door 100 themselves, then a person in corridor 184 can use a star key to operate locks 120, 122, 124, 126 so as to unlock the closure panel 104 and then remove the closure panel 104 from the door leaf frame 102 to expose aperture 106. The person in the corridor 184 may then gain entry to the room 180 via aperture 106. As mentioned above, the lower portion 130 of the door leaf frame has a significant height and may act as a support, should the occupant have collapsed against the door while trying to unlock the door. As also mentioned above, the dimensions of the aperture 106 arc sufficient to allow easy access for an adult person through aperture 106 so that they may enter the room and attend to the occupant. Additionally, or alternatively, the occupant may be passed through aperture 106, if it is not possible to easily unlock door 100 from inside the room 180, for example because the occupant has hidden the key or there is a fault or problem with the door leaf or door lock.

Alternatively, or additionally, after removing panel 104, the person in the corridor 184 may simply observe whether the occupant would be in danger of being harmed should the door leaf frame 102 be forced open in direction 178 into the room. Trim 116 and / or 108 act as a mechanism to allow the panel 104 to be removed in direction 182 only.

Hence, when the panel is unlocked to be released from the door leaf frame, it is prevented from falling into the room 180 and potentially harming an occupant collapsed near the door.

Different types of locks can be used to releasably secure the panel to the door leaf frame, depending on the level of security required. Preferably, a key, or other tool, operated lock is used so as to prevent simple access, for example by finger operated locks, by a casual passing thief Star keys are widely available and may be provided to staff members and / or emergency responders so as to easily operate the panel locks.

Alternatively, the panel locks may be operable using other simple tools, such as a flat bladed or Philips bladed screwdriver. In other embodiments, a conventional key may be used but with multiple copies, widely available to staff members of the facility so that any available staff member could easily unlock and remove the panel to gain access to the room.

Hence, the access door 100 of the invention provides a reasonable degree of security for the room 180 while also allowing easy access in an emergency situation while minimising the chances of harm being caused to an occupant of a room 180 when gaining access to the room.

There are a number of methods by which the access door of the invention can be provided in a building or facility. In a new build, the door 100 can be easily installed. A door frame 172 is provided around the entrance to a room. A door 100 according to the invention is then hung on the door frame using one or more hinges 170 arranged to allow the door to open inwardly to the room. Hence, the advantages of the access door can be provided in a new build facility.

Alternatively, the door can be provided as a retro-fit when renovating or upgrading an existing building. In this method, an existing door leaf is removed from the door frame.

The existing hinges, or new set of hinges, are then used to hang a door 100 according to the invention in the existing door frame. The hinges are configured to allow the door to open inwardly to the room and the door is arranged to allow the panel 104 to be removed in the opposite direction only. Other door furniture, such as door handles and door locks may also be provided in the door leaf frame in a known manner.

The door 100 of the invention may be provided in a number of forms. The door 100 may be provided in kit form, comprising the parts of the door leaf frame, or the door leaf frame is self assembled, the closure panel, the locks for securing the closure panel to the body, one or more hinges and any other ancillary door furniture, such as handles or further locks for the door leaf frame. Written instructions can be provided on packaging or on an insert explaining how to fit the locks to the closure member and also how to configure the hinges when hanging the door.

The door of the invention may itself be constructed using a number of methods. In a first method, the door leaf frame is constructed anew and similarly, the closure member is constructed anew and then locks fitted to the panel and any keepers added to the door leaf frame. In an alternative method, an existing door may be used to provide the door of the invention. Firstly, aperture 106 is cut in the existing door. The material removed from the existing door to create aperture 106 may then itself be used to manufacture the panel.

Alternatively, a panel may be made anew to fit the aperture cut in the existing door.

Trim 108 and / or 116 may be added to the door leaf frame and / or closure member and locks installed in the panel.

It will be appreciated that although the above embodiment has been described key operated locks being installed in the panel, in alternative embodiments, the lock or locks may be installed in the door leaf frame so as to interact with a keeper or other formation in the closure member.

The access door can be used as a conventional internal door or may also be used as a fire door. When used as a fire door, it is made from suitable materials to provide a degree of fire resistance. A strip of intumescent material may also be provided extending around the outer edge of the closure panel 104. Alternatively, a strip of intumescent material may be provided round the inner edge of the door leaf frame which defines aperture 106.

Additionally or alternatively, a strip of intumescent material may be provided around the edge of the door leaf frame 102 itself, or within the door frame within which the door is to be hung. Hence, there is a great degree of flexibility in installing the door of the invention 100 either in new builds or when renovating existing buildings. Further, there is great flexibility in how the door of the invention is constructed. It may be constructed on site, or provided pre-assembled. Further, the door may itself be constructed from specially designed parts or using one or more parts of an existing door.

It will be apparent that various modifications and variations to the specific embodiments described will be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in thc art from the description above.

Claims

CLAIMS: I. A door, comprising: a body having an aperture therein; a member closing the aperture and releasable from the body; and at least one key operated lock by which the member is secured to the body.
2. The door as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising, a plurality of key operated locks by which the member is secured to the body.
3. The door as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and further comprising: at least one hinge arranged to allow the door to pivot in a first direction; and a formation allowing the member to be released from the body only in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
4. The door as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the aperture is dimensioned to allow a person to pass through the door via the aperture.
5. The door as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the aperture has a height of at least I. lrn and/or a width of at least 0.4m.
6. The door as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body includes a lower portion and the height of the lower portion is at least 0.3m.
7. The door as claimed in any preceding claim, and further comprising: a further lock in the body for securing the door in a door frame.
8. The door as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the door is a fire door and includes an intumescent material.
9. The door as claimed in claim 8, wherein the intumescent material is in the form of a strip extending at least partially around an edge of the body or the member.
10. The door as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each key operated lock is a star key mortice bolt.
11. An entrance, comprising: a door as claimed in any preceding claim; and a door frame, wherein the door is hung by at least one hinge to pivot in the door frame.
12. A kit of parts for assembling into a door, comprising: a body having an aperture therein; a member dimensioned to close the aperture; and at least one key operated lock for securing the member to the body.
13. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 12 and further comprising one or more hinges for hanging the door in a door frame.
14. The kit of parts as claimed in claim 12 or 13 and further comprising instructions for assembling the parts into a door and/or hanging the assembled door.
15. A method for making a door, comprising: creating a body with an aperture therein; providing a member dimensioned to close the aperture; and installing at least one key operated lock in the body or the member to releasably secure the member to the body.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the body includes building the body from a plurality of pieces.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein creating the body includes cutting an aperture in an existing door.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the member is provided by material of the existing door which has been cut from the existing door to make the aperture.
19. A method of installing a door, comprising: assembling a door frame around an entrance to a room; and hanging a door as claimed in any of claims ito 10 by at least one hinge in the door frame.
20. A method of renovating a door, comprising: removing a door from a door frame around an entrance to a room; and hanging a door as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 by at least one hinge in the door frame.
21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein the door is hung so as to open only into the room.
22. A method of using a door, comprising: operating at least one key operable lock to release a member; and moving the member to expose an aperture in the door.
23. The method of claim 22, ftzrther comprising entirely removing the member from the door.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising operating a plurality of key operable locks using the same key to release the member.
25. A door or kit of parts substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
26. A method of making a door substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
27. A method of installing or renovating a door substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.
28. A method of using a door substantially as hereinbefore described and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.