GB2521254A

GB2521254A - Security Door

Info

Publication number: GB2521254A
Application number: GB1417826.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carole Rose Jevons; Steven Jevons; Jason Charles Robbins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-09
Filing date: 2014-10-08
Publication date: 2015-06-17
Also published as: GB201417826D0; GB201317879D0

Abstract

A security door (10, Fig.1) has at least two superimposed layers of sheet material, one being a decorative layer (21, 22), the other being a reinforcing layer of high strength material 20 that includes an edge formation 23 having a pair of connected spaced apart support surfaces (26, 27) which provide a cavity 24 that contains a door locking mechanism. The fortifying layer may be a high strength steel, and there may be more than one layer which can surround acoustic or thermal insulation, or more reinforcing material that interconnects the layers. A tubular or box structure may be integrally formed by an interconnection section extending between the support surfaces, and the reinforcing layer may have a plurality of reinforcing bars (37-42, Fig.7a) secured to it. A hinge (13, Fig.1) may be attached to a support block (35, Fig.3) that is secured to the reinforcing layer.

Description

SECURITY DOOR

This invention relates to a security door and in particular, though not exclusively, to a security door of a type particularly suitable as a replacement for a conventional timber door as used in domestic and commercial premises.

Various constructions of high security type doors are well established for use in specialist applications such as strong room doors. However these known high security doors generally are unsuitable for use in domestic and commercial premises because of their unattractive appearance as well as their high weight and cost. Typically they are of a welded construction and/or comprise thick metal sheets such that they are too heavy for ease of installation in conventional domestic and commercial premises.

In addition to security doors for use as external doors of domestic and commercial premises there is an increasing demand for security doors for use internally, for example to protect a room containing valuables or give assured night time security to occupants of a bedroom. Especially for internal security doors there is a need to provide a high level of strength and resistance to intrusion without rendering the door unduly heavy or unattractive.

The present invention seeks to provide a security door which addresses at least some of the disadvantages of known high security doors.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a security door comprising at least two layers of sheet material superimposed one relative to the other, one layer being a reinforcing layer of a high strength material such as sheet steel or the like and the other layer being a decorative layer wherein the high strength reinforcing layer comprises an edge formation which defines a pair of spaced apart support surfaces which are secured relative to one another and which define therebetween a cavity which contains a door locking mechanism.

The reinforcing layer may be a layer of high strength sheet steel or other material such as another metal or a plastics material which exhibits a deformation and penetration resistance similar to that of sheet steel and in particular similar to that of mild steel.

The material of the reinforcing layer preferably has a thickness less than 10 mm, more preferably no more than 5 mm.

The door may comprise more than one reinforcing layer of high strength material. It may comprise a reinforcement of two layers of high strength material arranged in a spaced apart and superimposed relationship. The space between two superimposed and spaced apart reinforcing layers may contain thermal and/or acoustic insulation material and/or additional reinforcement material such as metal or other material and which may serve to interconnect the two layers of high strength material. Additional reinforcement material may comprise solid section or tubular metal members.

Said edge formation may be a formation which extends substantially continuously along substantially the whole of the length of an edge of the door. The edge formation may comprise one or more discreet openings in a section of the formation which interconnects the spaced apart support surfaces, the or each said opening being positioned aligned with a locking mechanism, or part of a locking mechanism, whereby a bolt operable by the locking mechanism may be advanced through the opening to engage with a door frame, or retracted into the locking mechanism.

The cavity defined between the spaced apart support surfaces may be employed to contain one or more parts of a multi-point locking mechanism of a type known per se. The section of an edge formation that extends substantially continuously along substantially the whole of the length of the edge of the door may comprise a plurality of openings each of which is aligned with a respective one of the locking mechanism bolts.

The outward facing surface of the edge formation may be employed to support the part(s) of a multi-point locking mechanism which extends lengthwise along an edge of the door. Thus the outer, cover strip of a multi-point locking mechanism may be secured to the edge formation, with the conventional slidable control bar of the locking mechanism positioned securely between that cover strip and the outward facing surface of the edge formation.

It is not essential that the edge formation extends substantially continuously along substantially the whole of the length of the door. In an alternative the edge of the door may comprise an edge formation comprising one or more pairs of spaced apart support surfaces which extend along only part of the length of an edge of the door.

The or each pair of support surfaces may be interconnected by an interconnection section which extends between two support sections of high strength material to form a tubular or box like structure which is open at one or two sides lying perpendicular to the reinforcing layer. The tubular or box like structure may be a component which is secured to the reinforcing layer of high strength material or one of said two support surface sections may be an integral part of said reinforcing layer. Thus the spaced apart surfaces and interconnection section may be integrally formed or, in an alternative construction, said surfaces and interconnection section may be defined by a tubular or box shaped component which provides a housing for all or part of a locking mechanism and which is permanently secured to the layer of high strength material.

The tubular or box shaped component may lie wholly to one side of the reinforcing layer. Alternatively it may extend outwards from both faces of the reinforcing layer and particularly, but not necessarily, in that case may be secured to the reinforcing layer at least in part as a mechanical interlock.

A tubular or box shaped component may be secured in position by welding, and in that case preferably it is secured by a plurality of localised welds such as spot welds thereby to minimise the risk of the welding causing distortion of the reinforcing layer. A component for housing all or part of a locking mechanism may be adapted to co-operate with a castellated profile on the reinforcing layer and be held in position by a plurality of localised welds.

Preferably the locking mechanism is secured to or in close contact with each of the confronting surfaces of the edge formation, irrespective of whether that edge formation is of a continuous type or, for example, comprises a plurality of separate components or sections spaced along the length of the door edge.

The reinforcing layer of high strength material preferably has secured thereto a plurality of reinforcing bars. More preferably it comprises at least one reinforcing bar which extends in a direction parallel with the axis about which the door is hinged and at least one reinforcing bar which extends at an inclined angle, preferably at right angles, relative to said hinge axis. The or each reinforcing bar preferably is secured to the reinforcing layer by mechanical retention means such as screws or bolts thereby to avoid the need for welding.

For at least one edge of the door the end of the or each reinforcing bar proximate that edge preferably terminates inwards of that edge whereby the end of the reinforcing bar may be covered by decorative material.

Conventionally the locking mechanism will be provided at an outer edge of the door which is spaced from but substantially parallel with the hinge axis of the door and, in accordance with this invention, the aforedescribed edge formation may be covered by the lengthwise extending cover strip of a multi-point locking mechanism. Preferably one or more reinforcing bars are positioned to extend at right angles relative to said hinge axis and be substantially aligned with a bolt opening in the edge formation. It is further preferred that a reinforcing bar extending in that direction is aligned with a hinge position.

The door may comprise at least two, more preferably at least three bolt positions defined by the edge formation and at least two, preferably at least three hinges.

The door may comprise a hinge mounted directly on the reinforcing layer of high strength material but preferably the or each hinge is secured to a support block which is permanently attached to the reinforcing layer of high strength material. Thus for strength purposes the hinge may comprise a hinge leaf which is secured to a side face of the support block to lie in an plane perpendicular to that of the layer of high strength material. A support block preferably is secured to the reinforcing layer of high strength material by mechanical retention means such as screws or bolts thereby to avoid the need for a welded connection.

Each face of the high strength layer may be covered by a layer of decorative material. The edge formation which defines the pair of spaced apart support surfaces may lie wholly to one side, a first side, of the high strength layer and the decorative layer at the other, second side, may be thinner than that at the first side.

The decorative layer at said first side may have a flat surface which, for example, bears against the reinforcing bars or it may be contoured to provide recesses which accommodate the bars and hinge blocks such that the decorative layer may bear directly against and be secured relative to the high strength layer.

The or each decorative layer may be secured in position by means of an adhesive and/or, for example, by means of retention screws.

Mechanical retention means, such as screws may be positioned to extend into a decorative layer in a direction parallel with the plane of the decorative layer.

That is, for example, screws may extend into side edges of the decorative layer through a part of an edge formation and/or through a hinge support block. Thus the screws may then lie underneath and be concealed by a component part of the door, such as a locking strip and/or a hinge leaf.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a security door assembly comprising the combination of a security door of the present invention and a door frame comprising a metal frame member to which the door hinges are secured and which can be engaged by the door locking mechanism.

The door frame may be substantially wholly of metal or it may comprise a metal frame member adapted to support and be substantially wholly covered by a layer of a decorative material such as wood veneer.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: -Figure 1 is a perspective view of a security door in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the metal reinforcing layer of the door of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line X-X of Figure 1; Figure 3a is an enlarged detail view of part of the view of Figure 3; Figure 4 is a section on the line Y-Y of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a section on the line Z-Z of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a view in the direction of the arrow A of Figure 1; Figures 7a, 7b, and 7c are front, end and side views of the reinforcement of Figure 4 with Figure 7a additionally showing the position of reinforcing bars, and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the metal reinforcing layer of a door in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

A security door 10 (see Figures 1 to 7) is of a rectangular shape and comprises a hinged edge 11 and an opposite, outer edge 12.

The hinged edge has three hinges 13 secured thereto and the outer edge has a three point locking mechanism 8 which extends along the outer edge 12 and comprises a cover strip 9 provided with three openings 7for allowing advancing and retraction of locking bolts 15 which enable the door to be secured in a closed position relative to a door frame.

As considered in the vertical direction of the door, being the direction parallel with the hinge axes, the bolt openings 7 are aligned with the hinges 13.

The door comprises a reinforcement of a layer of high strength steel 20 (see Figure2, 3 and 3a) which is sandwiched between a first decorative timber layer 21 at the external side of the door, opposite the hinge axis position, and a second decorative timber layer 22 at the other side, being the hinge axis side.

The steel layer is substantially planar but at the outer edge 12, underneath the locking mechanism cover strip 9, is shaped to define an edge formation 23 which defines a cavity 24. That is, a cavity 24 is formed between the portion of the steel sheet which has been bent back on itself to provide a pair of confronting surfaces 26, 27 which are maintained spaced apart by the interconnecting and integral edge section 28.

The edge section 28 is formed with three said openings 14 which align with cover strip openings 7 and the positions of the bolts 15 of the multi point locking mechanism 8 (see Figures 3 and 4) whereby the bolts 15 are each retractable to that part 30 of the locking mechanism lying within the cavity 24, between the confronting surfaces 26, 27.

The bent back portion 25 additionally is provided with spindle and key apertures 31,32 to operate the locking bolts 15 in a conventional manner via a slide bar 29 slideably mounted between the cover strip 9 and the outer face of the edge formation 28. Similar, aligned apertures are formed in the confronting surface region 26 of the steel sheet 20.

The hinged edge 11 of the steel sheet has bolted thereto three hinge support blocks 35. A hinge leaf 36 is secured to a side face 37 of each support block.

The steel sheet additionally has bolted thereto a pair of vertically extending solid section reinforcing bars 38, 39 positioned respectively one close to the cavity 24 and one adjacent the support blocks 35.

Three solid section reinforcing bars 40, 41, 42 extend in a horizontal direction, perpendicular to the hinge axis, between the vertical bars 38, 39 and are bolted to the steel sheet and said vertical bars.

The second decorative, timber layer 22 is contoured at that face which confronts the steel sheet so as to provide a longitudinally extending edge rebate to accommodate the edge formation 23 of the steel sheet, channels to accommodate the reinforcing bars 38 -42 and recesses to accommodate the hinge support blocks 35. Thus the timber layer 22 has a contoured face which is in contact with and is adhesively secured to the confronting surface of the steel reinforcing sheet.

The thickness of the second decorative layer 22 is greater than that of the first decorative layer 21 and is dimensioned such that, at the outer edge of the door, the outer edge face 43 of the rebated edge region may be of the same thickness as the edge 44 of the first layer 21 or of a thickness less than or intermediate that of the first layer and the non-rebated part of the second layer. Thus the outer edge of the door may have the locking mechanism cover strip 9 sandwiched substantially centrally between the timber layers to result in a neat overall appearance.

In a second embodiment of the present invention (see Figure 8) a security door 50 is constructed substantially as described in respect of the first embodiment except that instead of the steel sheet being bent to form the longitudinally extending edge formation 23 the edge of the sheet 56has permanently secured thereto three boxes 51 each of which defines a pair of confronting support surfaces between which a part of a door locking mechanism is positioned, within the box. A central one of the three boxes is provided with apertures 52,53 for access of a lock spindle and key.

Each box is open sided at that side 54 which faces away from the hinged edge 55 and is secured by bolts or screws to the reinforcing steel sheet. Each box is positioned to align with and provide secure location for parts of a multipoint locking mechanism which comprise three retention bolts such that each locking bolt may be securely retracted to within a box when the door is unlocked.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that in contrast to the known constructions of heavy high security doors, the present invention provides a security door which is of a lighter weight and more pleasing appearance while still providing an effective security function.

The door construction may be of a type which avoids the need for any welding which might distort the reinforcing layer. Thus the reinforcing layer is able to retain a planar and undistorted face to which a decorative layer may be secured without itself becoming distorted.

Claims

Claims.1. A security door comprising at least two layers of sheet material superimposed one relative to the other, one layer being a reinforcing layer of a high strength material and the other layer being a decorative layer wherein the high strength reinforcing layer comprises an edge formation which defines a pair of spaced apart support surfaces which are secured relative to one another and which define therebetween a cavity which contains a door locking mechanism.
2. A security door according to claim 1 wherein the reinforcing layer is layer of high strength sheet steel.
3. A security door according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the reinforcing layer has a thickness less than 10mm.
4. A security door according to claim 3 wherein the reinforcing layer has a thickness no more than 5mm.
5. A security door according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising at least two reinforcing layers.
6. A security door according to claim 5 wherein said two reinforcing layers are arranged in a spaced apart and superimposed relationship.
7. A security door according to claim 6 wherein at least one of thermal and acoustic insulation material is provided between the two superimposed and spaced apart reinforcing layers.
8. A security door according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein reinforcement material is provided in the space between two superimposed and spaced apart reinforcing layers.
9. A security door according to claim 8 wherein said reinforcement material interconnects the two reinforcing layers.
10. A security door according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said edge formation extends substantially continuously along substantially the whole of the length of the edge of the door.
11. A security door according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the edge formation comprises at least one opening in a section of the formation which interconnects the spaced apart support surfaces and through which opening a part of a locking mechanism may extend.
12. A security door according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cavity defined between the spaced apart support surfaces contains a multipoint locking mechanism.
13. A security door according to claim 12 wherein the edge formation extends substantially continuously along substantially the whole of the length of the edge of the door and comprises a plurality of openings each of which is aligned with a respective one of a plurality of locking mechanism bolts.
14. A security door according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the edge formation has secured thereto an outer cover strip of a multipoint locking mechanism.
15. A security door according to claim 14 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a slideable control bar and said control bar is positioned between said cover strip and the outward facing surface of the edge formation.
16. A security door according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the edge of the door comprises an edge formation comprising at least one pair of spaced apart support surfaces which each extend along only part of the length of an edge of the door.
17. A security door according to claim 16 wherein the or each pair of support surfaces are interconnected by an interconnection section which extends between two support sections of reinforcing material.
18. A security door according to claim 17 wherein said interconnection section and two support sections form a tubular or box like structure which is open at at least one side that is perpendicular to the reinforcing layer.
19. A security door according to claim 17 wherein said tubular or box like structure is integral with part of said reinforcing layer.
20. A security door according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein said tubular or box shaped structure is positioned wholly to one side of the reinforcing layer.
21. A security door according to any one of claims 17 to 19 wherein the tubular or box shaped structure extends outwards from both faces of the reinforcing layer.
22. A security door according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the reinforcing layer of high strength material has a plurality of reinforcing bars secured thereto.
23. A security door according to claim 22 and comprising a hinge mechanism, at least one reinforcing bar extending in a direction parallel with the hinge axis of said hinge mechanism.
24. A security door according to claim 22 or claim 23 and comprising a reinforcing bar which extends in a direction inclined relative to the hinge axis of said hinge mechanism.
25. A security door according to any one of claims 22 to 24 wherein the end of a reinforcing bar terminates inwards of an edge of the door and is covered by decorative material.
26. A security door according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising a hinge mechanism which comprises a hinge leaf secured to a support block secured to the reinforcing layer, with a leaf of said hinge being arranged to lie in a plane perpendicular to that of the reinforcing layer of high strength material.
27. A security door according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each outer face of the reinforcing layer or of a pair of said layers is covered by a layer of decorative material.
28. A security door according to claim 27 and comprising a single reinforcing layer wherein the edge formation which defines the pair of spaced apart support surfaces lies wholly to one side, a first side, of the reinforcing layer and the decorative layer at the other, second side, is thinner than that at the first side.
29. A security door according to claim 27 and comprising a single reinforcing layer wherein the decorative layer at said first side has a substantially flat surface to bear against reinforcing bars interposed between said decorative layer and the reinforcing layer.
30. A security door according to claim 27 or claim 28 wherein a decorative layer at said first side is contoured to form recesses which accommodate at least one of reinforcing bars and hinge blocks provided between the decorative layer and reinforcing layer.
31. A security door according to claim 28 wherein the decorative layer bears directly against and is secured relative to the reinforcing layer.
32. A security door according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising mechanical retention means, such as screws, which extend into a decorative layer in a direction parallel with the plane of the decorative layer.
33. A security door according to claim 32 wherein said mechanical retention means is concealed by a component part of the door.
34. A security door according to claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.
35. A security door assembly comprising the combination of a security door according to any one of the preceding claims and a door frame comprising a metal frame member to which door hinges are secured and with which the door locking mechanism is engagable.
36. A security door assembly according to claim 35 and substantially as hereinbefore described.