GB2536652A

GB2536652A - Door arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2536652A
Application number: GB1504964.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Morse Howell
Original assignee: MORGAN MARINE Ltd
Current assignee: MORGAN MARINE Ltd
Priority date: 2015-03-24
Filing date: 2015-03-24
Publication date: 2016-09-28
Also published as: GB201504964D0

Abstract

The arrangement for preventing access through an opening in an enclosure comprises a door 2, a hinge 4, a first shoulder 14 fixed relative to the enclosure, and a second shoulder 16 projecting from the door, wherein the shoulders abut if the door is withdrawn perpendicularly to the plane of the opening. The arrangement may have a frame 10 secured to the enclosure adjacent the opening. The first shoulder may be aligned with the hinge, and extend into the opening from a majority or the entire peripheral edge of the frame. The arrangement may have a locking arrangement 18 comprising a spring 22 and handle 20. The door may comprise a composite material including a body 34 encased by a skin 30. There may be reinforcing elements 32, 36 between the body and the skin. Also claimed is an enclosure wherein the door arrangement occludes an opening in the enclosure.

Description

Door Arrangement The present invention relates to a door arrangement for enabling and preventing access to an opening in an enclosure, particularly for an enclosure that requires optional access for 5 services for example but requires a high level of security.

It is often necessary to provide openings in enclosures, structures or building to allow access from outside to internally of the enclosure for the purposes of utilities or venting. Whilst this is easily achieved by making an aperture in an enclosure this provides a weak point for unauthorised access. The openings and doors for enabling temporary services to pass through into and out of an enclosure are typically relatively small. Current doors for occlusion of an opening in an enclosure where increased security is required may comprise a "dog bolt" securing arrangement as presented in Figure 1. In Figure 1 the door 2 hinges about hinge 4 and is shown in Figure 1 in the partially open configuration. The hinge 4 comprises a first hinge portion 6 secured to the peripheral edge of the door 2 and the hinge further comprises a second hinge portion 8 secured to the wall of the enclosure 10. The door 2 can therefore open and close about the axis of rotation provided by the hinge 4. For security purposes a protrusion 12 protrudes outwardly from the second hinge portion 8 and is received in the closed door configuration into an aperture provided in the first hinge portion 6 and the door 2. The aperture is not visible in Figure 1. As such when a door is in the closed configuration the protrusion 12 is received through the first hinge portion 6 and into the door 2 meaning that in the event of damage or destruction of the hinge 4 the protrusion 12 means that the door 2 cannot be removed.

A problem with such an arrangement is that if the hinge 4 is removed an attacker can force the first and second hinge portions 6, 8 apart giving access to the protrusion 12 which can be deformed or destroyed. As such access to the enclosure can be achieved The present invention provides a significantly improved arrangement with much improved 30 security capability.

According to the present invention there is a door arrangement for allowing and preventing access through an opening in an enclosure comprising: - a door; - a hinge to enable the door to pivot between an open and a closed configuration; -a first shoulder arranged to be fixed relative to the enclosure to provide a first abutment surface; - a second shoulder projecting from the door to provide a second abutment surface; wherein the first and second shoulders are configured to allow pivotal movement between 10 the open and closed configuration and the first and second abutment surfaces abut in the event of withdrawal of the door in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the opening.

The present invention provides a secure access port to an enclosure that is particularly suitable for use for allowing services, for example water, power etc into the enclosure. The door arrangement according to the present invention however ensures that when in the closed configuration access into the enclosure is resisted. This is due to the provision of the combination of the first shoulder projecting from the frame and the second shoulder projecting from the door. This combination effectively prevents opening of the door even in the event of complete destruction of the hinge. The first shoulder forms a bather to attack inwardly of the hinge. If the hinge is removed or damaged, the claimed configuration means that the first shoulder is not easily accessible for further attack. Known door arrangements would be susceptible to opening in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the opening, however the present invention prevents this with the engagement of the first and second shoulders even if there is complete destruction of the hinge.

The first shoulder preferably projects into the opening. The first shoulder beneficially projects rearwardly of the door. The second shoulder preferably projects rearwardly of the first shoulder.

The frame of the enclosure around the opening is generally planar and the first shoulder also extends in generally the same plane.

The hinge is typically the first point of attack if unauthorised access to the enclosure is attempted. Even if the hinge of the present invention is attacked and partially or fully destroyed, access to the enclosure in which the door arrangement is sited is still prevented.

The door beneficially hinges outwardly to the open configuration As such the hinge is open to the exterior of an enclosure.

The door arrangement may comprise a frame for securing to the enclosure. The first shoulder is preferably secured to the frame, preferably via a web portion. The frameweb 10 portion and first shoulder preferably comprises an 'S' shape.

The first shoulder preferably projects into the opening. The first shoulder preferably extends into the opening from a majority of the peripheral edge of the frame, and preferably substantially the entire peripheral edge of the frame. The first shoulder and abutment surface thereof therefore prevents the door being pushed inwardly if attacked, with the first shoulder preferably a continuous shoulder.

The first shoulder is beneficially substantially aligned with the hinge in an alignment axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the opening. The plane of the opening is preferably defined between opposing peripheral edges of the frame around the opening. This ensures that destruction or removal of the hinge cannot lead to access to the enclosure due to the provision of the first abutment surface of the first shoulder..

The second shoulder is preferably substantially aligned in the alignment axis rearwardly of 25 the first shoulder when the door is in the closed configuration. In the event the hinge is damaged or removed, the abutment surface of the second shoulder abutting the abutment surface of the first shoulder prevents removal of the door forwardly.

The locking arrangement preferably comprises an engagement element arranged to engage 30 with the first shoulder in the locked configuration. It will be appreciated that this is actuated from inside an enclosure. The locking arrangement preferably further comprises a biasing element arranged to bias the engagement element to the locked configuration.

It will be appreciated that the hinge is accessible from the outside of the enclosure when the door arrangement is mounted in an enclosure. The hinge preferably projects outwardly.

The door preferably comprises a composite material, and beneficially comprises a body material and a skin for encasing the body. The skin preferably comprises an outwardly facing skin portion and a reinforcing element is preferably provided rearwardly of the outwardly facing skin portion.

The present invention extends to an enclosure including a door arrangement as hereinbefore described, mounted to occlude an opening in the enclosure.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the 15 accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a prior art door arrangement.

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a door arrangement according to an 20 exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic rearward view of a door arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 2 and 3 a door arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is presented. There is presented a door 2 which is mounted to an enclosure 10 via a hinge 4. The hinge 4 is secured to the door 2 by a hinge portion 6, and a hinge portion 8 is secured to the frame 10. The frame may comprise a flange 10 secured by welding or other fixings to the inside of an enclosure. The frame 10 is configured to be generally of an 'S' shape configuration arid includes a web portion 12 against which abuts the second hinge portion 8. The hinge portion 8 is preferably welded to the web portion 12 and the hinge 4 extends along die entire length of the top of the door 2. The hinge 4 is a continuous hinge providing strength and resistance to the external environment.

A first shoulder 14 projects from the web portion 12 substantially perpendicular to the web portion 12. The web portion 12 is preferably substantially perpendicular to the general plane of a wall of enclosure, and to the plane of the opening which the door 2 is designed to occlude. The first shoulder 14 extends rearwardly of the hinge 4 and is aligned with the hinge 4 such that in the event of removal of the hinge 4 thereby leaving the first and second hinge portions 6, Sin place an attacker would then be faced with the shoulder 14 and a very small gap between the first and second hinge portions 6, 8. Rearwardly of the shoulder is provided a second shoulder 16 which includes reinforcing portions 18. Therefore, in the event the hinge 4 was removed, if the door 2 was pulled outwardly (in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the opening in the enclosure) an abutment surface 16a of the second shoulder 16 would abut the abutment surface 14a of the first shoulder 14 and it would not be possible to remove the door arrangement to enable access to the inside of the enclosure. It will be appreciated that in a preferred embodiment the shoulder 14, as better presented in Figure 3, extends substantially around the entire opening.

It will be appreciated that the first shoulder 14 also forms a shoulder against which the locking arrangement abuts in the locked configuration. The locking arrangement 18 comprises a handle 20 arranged to be retracted vertically against the spring 22. The hinge 24 is then withdrawn from abutment against the shoulder 14. A packing element 26 may be provided to space apart the pin 24 and the first shoulder 14. As presented in Figure 3 more than one locking arrangement 18 may be provided and as shown in Figure 3 a pair of locking arrangements are provided for improved security purposes. The locking arrangements are secured to the rearward face of the door 2 via a plurality of fastening elements 28. The locking arrangements may be termed "shot bolts" in one embodiment.

The door 2 is welded to the first hinge portion 6 at an upper peripheral edge of the door 2. 30 The door 2 itself comprises a skin 30 facing outwardly strengthened in one embodiment through the provision of a plate 32. This improves security by strengthening the door 30 itself. There is further provided an insulating material 34 inwardly of plate 32 and the door 2 then comprises an internal plate 36 which is welded to the internal skin 40. This provides for a high strength attack resistant door 2 of laminate structure.

Referring to Figure 3 in particular the flange 10 is secured, via welding or otherwise fixing 5 through bolls for example to the enclosure.

It will be appreciated utilising the present invention unauthorised access through the door into an enclosure into which the door arrangement is secured is extremely difficult. The first shoulder 14 in combination with the second shoulder 16 and locking arrangement 18 ensure that the door 2 cannot be removed outwardly even if the hinge 4 is damaged or destroyed and cannot be forced inwardly through the provision of the shoulders in the event the hinge is removed. This provides a significantly improved arrangement with low associated manufacturing cost but with a high security provision.

The present invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims I. A door arrangement for allowing and preventing access through an opening in an enclosure comprising: a door; - a hinge to enable the door to pivot between an open and a closed configuration; - a first shoulder arranged to be fixed relative to the enclosure to provide a first abutment surface; -a second shoulder projecting from the door to provide a second abutment surface; wherein the first and second shoulders are configured to allow pivotal movement between the open and dosed configuration and the first and second abutment surfaces abut in the event of withdrawal of the door in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the opening.
2. A door arrangement according to claim I wherein the door hinges outwardly to the open configuration.
3. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the first shoulder projects into the opening.
4. A door arrangement according to claim 3 wherein the door arrangement comprises a frame for securing to the enclosure adjacent the opening, and wherein the first shoulder extends into the opening from a majority of the peripheral edge of the frame, and preferably substantially the entire peripheral edge of the frame.
A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the first shoulder is substantially aligned with the hinge in an alignment axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the opening.
6. A door arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the second shoulder is substantially aligned in the alignment axis rearwardly of the first shoulder when the door is in the closed configuration.
7. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim comprising a locking arrangement for locking the door in the dosed configuration.
8 A door arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the locking arrangement comprises an engagement element arranged to engage with the first shoulder in the locked configuration.
9. A door arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the locking arrangement further comprises a biasing element arranged to bias the engagement element to the locked configuration.
10. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the hinge is accessible from the external of an enclosure when the door arrangement is mounted in an enclosure.
11. A door arrangement according to any preceding claim wherein the door comprises a composite material.
12. A door arrangement according to any claim 11 wherein the door comprises a body material and a skin for encasing the body.
13 A door arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the skin comprises an outwardly facing skin portion and a reinforcing element is provided rearwardly of the outwardly facing skin portion.
14. A door arrangement as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. An enclosure including the door arrangement according to any preceding claim mounted to occlude an opening in the enclosure.