WO2003050373A1

WO2003050373A1 - A locking device

Info

Publication number: WO2003050373A1
Application number: PCT/IE2002/000171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vivion Glynn
Original assignee: G-Lock (Patents) Limited
Priority date: 2001-12-13
Filing date: 2002-12-13
Publication date: 2003-06-19
Also published as: IES20011065A2; AU2002348701A1; EP1456491A1

Abstract

Locking device (10) for sliding closure member such as a door, includes an activation means (1) and two locking members to engage with frame (20). Each locking member has at least two locking elements (6, 17). One locking element (6) is engageable between the fixed closure section or the sliding closure section and the frame and the other (17) is engageable between the sliding closure section and the fixed closure section. On operation of the activation means, the locking elements (6, 17) lock the sliding closure section to both the frame and the fixed closure section.

Description

A LOCKING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a locking device, in particular a locking device for use with closure members such as doors and windows.

Exterior sliding doors are common place in houses or apartments and generally take the form of patio doors allowing an occupier entry to a patio, garden or balcony. Sliding windows are also installed in the house however less frequently than sliding doors. A fundamental problem with these sliding doors and windows is lack of security. It is relatively easy for a person to lever a sliding door/window upwards, thereby lifting the door/window off it's runner and providing an entry gap at the base of a door through which a small person for example a child can fit. That person is then free to unlock and open windows or doors where possible, allowing other persons to enter. Alternatively, the smaller person passes articles of value out through the gap at the base of the sliding door.

There is a major weakness in the design of the aforementioned sliding doors and windows. In order to explain this flaw clearly and succinctly, reference will be made to a sliding door only however it should be noted that the problem exists for sliding windows also.

A sliding door is supported on a frame which comprises two vertical and two horizontal members. Positioned interior the frame is the sliding section and a fixed section, where both sections are orientated such that the vertical length of each is the longest length and each occupy half the available area. The sliding section is placed on a runner which is situated interior or exterior the frame on the lower horizontal member. Generally the fixed section is positioned such that it abuts one vertical member and the upper and lower horizontal member of the frame i.e. if the fixed member is positioned on the left hand side of the frame, the left vertical sides of both the fixed member and frame are touching. The sliding member is positioned such that when the sliding member is closed the opposite vertical member of the frame is adjoined by the corresponding vertical side of the sliding member. The runners on which the sliding member slides, are positioned on the upper and lower horizontal frame member slightly forward or rearward the plane of the fixed member. Thus upon opening, the sliding member slides across either in front or behind of the fixed member.

Generally when a sliding door and frame set is incorporated into a building in Ireland the sliding door is placed exterior the fixed member. In order to assist when opening and closing the sliding member, there is a handle positioned on the sliding member that abuts the vertical member of the frame. In most sliding doors a locking mechanism which locks the door to the frame is incorporated adjacent the handle. The locking mechanism comprises a lock that prevents the sliding member from being slid into an open position however it does not prevent the sliding member from being lifted upwards.

It is the object of the present invention to seek to alleviate the aforementioned problems.

The present invention provides a locking device for a sliding closure member which includes a frame, a fixed closure section and a sliding closure section, the locking device comprising activation means and a plurality of locking members, where each locking member comprises at least two locking elements, one of which is engageable between the sliding closure section and the frame the other of which is engageable between the sliding closure section and the fixed closure section whereby on operation of the activation means the locking elements lock the sliding closure section to both the frame and the fixed closure section.

As before, for the purpose of clarity, when explaining this invention reference shall only be made to a sliding door. It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to a sliding door.

Ideally, as previously stated a sliding door apparatus comprises a frame, a fixed member and a sliding member. Preferably the frame is composed of two vertical and two horizontal members which are joined together such that each pair of vertical members and each pair of horizontal members positioned in the same plane and are parallel whilst each vertical and horizontal member are mutually perpendicular in the same place forming a rectangular shape. Ideally the vertical members are longer than the horizontal members.

Advantageously, on engaging the activation means of the invention, a pair of vertical locking elements are pushed in different directions until they engage with keepers on the upper and lower horizontal members of the frame preventing the sliding element from moving left to right and vice versa within the interior of the frame, this is defined as the "locked" position. The vertical locking element is not limited to being held securely in position by keepers, any suitable method known to a person skilled in the art can be used. For example, a unit which fits over the vertical locking element may be attached to the upper and lower horizontal members of the frame, where on engaging the activation means the vertical locking element may be pushed into the unit thus securing the sliding element in position.

It is preferable for the horizontal locking element to be pushed into a "locked" position simultaneously with the vertical locking element. Advantageously, one or more horizontal locking elements protrude from the vertical locking elements. Ideally, in an "open" position the or each horizontal locking element are positioned at an angle. In a preferred embodiment, the movement of the vertical locking member pushes the or each horizontal locking member into the "locked" position, where the or each horizontal locking member protrudes at an angle that approaches a right angle from the vertical locking members. Ideally, the or each horizontal locking member is engaged with a keeper on the sliding member preventing movement in an upward or downward direction.

Ideally, the activation means of the invention comprises a locking handle. However, the invention is not limited to this activation means, any suitable activation means known to a person skilled in the art can be used. For example, a key which starts a small motor which generates enough power to push the locking elements into position. The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example only, two embodiments of a locking device according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a truncated perspective view of a first embodiment of a locking device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the upper end of the locking device of Figure 1 in an open position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the upper end of the locking device of Figure 1 in a closed position;

Figure 4 is a front view of the upper end of the locking device of Figure 1 in an open position;

Figure 5 is a front view of the upper end of the locking device of Figure 1 in a closed position;

Figure 6 is a front view of a sliding door with the locking device of the invention attached;

Figure 7 is a perspective view from one side showing the door of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a front view of a second embodiment of a locking device according to the invention with the locking elements in the open position;

Figure 8A is a rear view of the second embodiment of locking device shown in Figure 8; Figure 9 is a front view of the second embodiment of locking device with the locking elements in the closed position;

Figure 9A is a rear view of the second embodiment of locking device as shown in Figure 9;

Figure 9B is a second rear view of the second embodiment of locking device with the operating handle removed; and

Figure 10 is an enlarged front view of the operating handle of the second embodiment.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1, there is shown a perspective view of the locking device indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. In this preferred embodiment there is an activation means comprising a locking handle 1, a connecting rod 2, a washer 3 and a turning mechanism (not shown) contained within housing 4. The housing 4 is secured to the vertical edge 9 of the fixed member central the interior of the frame of the sliding door apparatus by means of screws 5. Two u-shaped lengths 6 protrude from opposite sides of the housing 4. The U-shaped lengths 6 comprise the vertical locking elements and are further held securely in position by bracket 7 and screws 8.

As the handle 1 is rotated through an angle θ, the two vertical locking elements 6 are pushed out of the housing 4, where each vertical locking element 6 travels in an opposite direction to the other vertical locking element 6. The distance the vertical locking element travels is dependent on the angle θ the handle 1 is rotated through. In this preferred embodiment, both vertical locking elements 6 travel to their maximum distances when the handle 1 is turned through an angle θ of 180°. The invention is not limited to the handle 1 being turned through 180°, for example, in an alternative embodiment, it may be advantageous for the handle 1 to turn through an angle of 360° to achieve the maximum distance travelled by the vertical locking element 6. Figure 2 is a cross sectional side view of the upper end of the locking device 10 of Figure 1 attached to the vertical edge 9 of the fixed member central the interior frame of the sliding door apparatus. Also seen in Figure 2 is the upper end of the sliding member 30, there is a panel 33 contained within the centre of the sliding panel. This panel may be composed of a heavy duty acrylic plastics material or a material that is suitable and is known to a person skilled in the art. The horizontal support member 20 of the frame retains both the fixed member and the sliding member 30 in position. The fixed member and the sliding member 30 contain keepers 11 and 31 respectively that are formed out of the upper surfaces. Runners 22 and 23 on the horizontal support member 20 of the frame fit into the keepers 11 and 31. The fixed member is further secured by an outer lip 21b present of the horizontal support member 20 of the frame whilst the sliding member 30 is further secured by an outer lip 21a horizontal support member 20 of the frame.

As the handle 1 is engaged, the turning mechanism contained within the housing 4 pushes the upper vertical locking member 6 upwards. The horizontal locking element 17 protrudes from the upper vertical locking member 6. The horizontal locking element 17 is secured to the vertical edge 9 of the fixed member by means of a screw 15 and spring 16, where the spring is attached to the horizontal locking element 17 by means of a screw 17a. The screw 17a also secures the horizontal locking element 17 to the upper vertical locking member 6. Therefore as the upper vertical locking member 6 moves in an upward direction so too does the horizontal locking element 17. As the leading front edge of the horizontal locking element 17 moves upwards in comes in contact with the bracket 7 which forces the horizontal locking element 17 to protrude from the vertical locking element 6 at an angle approaching 90°. The horizontal locking element 17 engages with the keepers 32 in the sliding member 30. Meanwhile the leading edge 6a-6b of the upper vertical locking element 6 is pushed into a keeper on the runner 22 on the horizontal support member 20 of the frame. Figure 3 is a cross sectional side view of the upper end of the locking device 10 of figure 1 in a "locked" position, where both the vertical locking element 6 and the horizontal locking element 17 are engaged with the keepers on the horizontal support member 20 of the frame and the sliding member 30 respectively. The horizontal locking element 17 connects the vertical locking element 6 to the sliding member 30. The vertical locking element secures the sliding member 30 to the fixed member thus prevents the sliding element from moving along the runner 23. The horizontal locking element also prevents the sliding member 30 from moving in an upwards or downwards direction thus prevents the sliding member from being lifted off the runner 23.

Figure 4 is a front view of the upper end of the locking device of figure 1 in an open position, whilst figure 5 is a front view of the upper end of the locking device of figure 1 in a closed position. The keepers 22a positioned on the runner 22 attached to the horizontal support member 20 of the frame is clearly shown. The vertical locking element 6 is attached to the vertical edge 9 of the fixed member using bracket 7 and screws 8. Figure 4 shows the vertical locking element 6 in an open position. The activation means pushes the vertical locking element 6 continually upwards until the vertical locking element reaches the final "locked" position seen in figure 5 where the leading edge 6a enters the keeper 22a and abuts the horizontal support member 20 of the frame. The vertical locking member 6 cannot move to either the left or right of the frame as it is attached to the fixed member of the sliding door apparatus, however the runner 22 with keeper 22a acts as a further method of preventing movement of the vertical locking member 6.

The method of operating and the process by which the locking device 10 operates has been described above with reference to the upper vertical and horizontal locking elements 6 and 17 respectively only. It is to be understood that the lower vertical locking element operates in a similar way. Furthermore, the preferred embodiment contains two horizontal locking elements, one horizontal locking element attached to the upper vertical locking element and one horizontal locking element attached to the lower vertical locking element. Both horizontal locking elements operate in the same way. The invention is not limited to this number of horizontal and vertical locking elements, if preferred the invention may have one or a plurality of horizontal and vertical locking elements. Further advantages of this locking device are that the locking device is non accessible from the exterior and does not have to have a traditional lock and key mechanism. The locking device is positioned on the vertical edge 9 of the fixed member, where the fixed member is positioned interior the sliding member. The invention could posses an activation means that is operated by a key, however as the locking device is positioned on the interior, a person cannot gain access to the key insert to pick it in order to deactivate the locking device.

As shown in Figure 6 the sliding member 30 is locked in the frame 35 and to the fixed member 25 by the second embodiment locking device 110. Like parts of the locking device 10 and of the locking device 110 are given like numerals in the drawings. The activator 40 comprises a pinion 42, racks 44 and 45, pivotal handle 46, locking pin 47 and retaining orifice 48.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A locking device for a sliding closure member which includes a frame, a fixed closure section and a sliding closure section mounted in the frame, the locking device comprising activation means and a plurality of locking members, each of which comprises at least two locking elements, one of which is engageable between the sliding closure section and the frame and the other of which is engageable between the fixed closure section or the sliding closure section and the fixed closure section, whereby on operation of the activation means the locking elements lock the sliding closure section to both the frame and the fixed closure section.

2. A locking device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the frame comprises at least two vertical and two horizontal members which are joined together, so that each pair of vertical members and each pair of horizontal members are positioned in the same plane and are parallel, whilst each vertical and horizontal member are mutually perpendicular in the same plane forming a rectangular shape.

3. A locking device for a sliding closure member as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which a pair of the vertical locking elements are operable to be moved in different directions until they engage with keeper means on the upper and lower horizontal members of the frame preventing the sliding element from moving within the interior of the frame, thereby defining a "locked" position.

4. A locking device for a sliding closure member as claimed in Claim 3, in which a horizontal locking element is operable to be moved into a "locked" position simultaneously with each vertical locking element.

5. A locking device for a sliding closure member as claimed in any one of the preceding claim in which one or more horizontal locking elements protrude from the vertical locking elements and in an "open" position the or each horizontal locking element is positioned at an angle to the horizontal element.

6. A locking device as claimed in Claims 3, 4 or 5 in which movement of the vertical locking member pushes the or each horizontal locking member into the "locked" position, whereby the or each horizontal locking member protrudes substantially at right angles from the vertical locking member.

7. A locking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the or each horizontal locking member is engagable with the keeper means on the sliding member preventing movement in an upward or downward direction.

8. A locking device for a sliding closure member as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the activation means comprises a lockable handle, a connecting rod and a rotatable mechanism.

9. A locking device for a sliding closure member as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, in which the activation means comprises a motorized means operable to move the locking elements into and out of engagement with the keeper means.

10. A locking device for a sliding closure member as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, in which the rotatable mechanism comprises a rack and pinion arrangement.