WO2011092506A1

WO2011092506A1 - A locking arrangement for a door

Info

Publication number: WO2011092506A1
Application number: PCT/GB2011/050139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Service
Original assignee: Robert Service
Priority date: 2010-01-28
Filing date: 2011-01-28
Publication date: 2011-08-04
Also published as: GB201001360D0

Abstract

A locking arrangement (1, 31, 81) for a door (2) having a mounting arrangement (3, 73, 83) for mounting the locking arrangement (1, 31, 81) to a support surface (4, 84) proximal to the door handle (5). A handle engaging member (6, 45) for engaging the door handle (5) of the door (2) is provided and an arrangement (7) for coupling the handle engaging member (6, 45) to the mounting arrangement (3, 73,83) is also provided. The coupling arrangement (7) is connected to the handle engaging member (6, 45) and has a length adjustment arrangement (9), the length adjustment arrangement (9) being movably connected to the mounting arrangement (3, 73, 83) and having a first state where the handle engaging member (6, 45) is secured tightly on the handle (5) and a second state where the handle engaging member (6, 45) is removed from the handle (5) when the door (2) is in a closed position only.

Description

A LOCKING ARRANGEMENT FOR A DOOR

The present invention relates to a locking arrangement for a door and in particular to a locking arrangement for a PVC door.

Crime in general and burglaries appear to be on the rise and burglars appear to be targeting the elderly community in particular. Elderly people in general are unable to put up much of a struggle against burglars and this makes them a more vulnerable group. In a percentage of burglaries, the criminal gains access to the premises by calling disguised as gas or electric men to get the door initially opened and subsequently force their way into the premises by pushing the door in past the person behind it. A lot of solid wood doors are provided with a chain holder on the door for engaging a chain which is bolted to the nearest support surface. The chain holder and chain allow the owner to open the door a small amount to check the credentials of the caller and in the event the burglar tries to force entry the door will only open as far as the length of the chain.

However, because of the nature of PVC doors there are no chain restrictors designed for these doors as the door would be destroyed by screwing a chain holder to the PVC door. Additionally, the manufacturers will invalidate the warranty if a screw is placed in the frame or the door and as the cost of a PVC door is high an owner is unwilling to fix anything to the door, especially if it does not look aesthetically pleasing to the eye. PVC doors are notoriously easy to gain access through by drilling the lock which takes 15 - 20 seconds or alternatively a thief or intruder can get easy access with the use of a jimmy bar.

Furthermore, as PVC doors do not generally carry additional locks mounted on their inside surface for aesthetic reasons, they are also easier to force than traditional solid wood doors with additional locking members fitted thereto. Therefore, PVC doors are targeted for regular burglaries as well as the cold calling burglaries which are now also commonplace because of these perceived security weaknesses.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the problem of PVC doors not being suitable for mounting chain type locks. Accordingly, the present invention provides a locking arrangement for a door having mounting means for mounting the locking arrangement to a support surface proximal to the door handle, handle engaging means for engaging the door handle of the door and means for coupling the handle engaging means to the mounting means, the coupling means being connected to the handle engaging means and having length adjustment means, the length adjustment means being movably connected to the mounting means and having a first state where the handle engaging means is securable tightly on the handle and a second state where the handle engaging means is removable from the handle when the door is in a closed position only.

Ideally, in the first state or position, the length adjustment means is fixed to the mounting means.

Preferably, in the second state or position, the length adjustment means is movable relative to the mounting means.

Ideally, the length adjustment means has chain means at on end connected to the handle engaging means.

Advantageously, the length adjustment means of the locking arrangement works to restrict the length of the chain so that the door can only open a small distance when the length adjustment means is in the first position. This means that an elderly person for example can open the door to check a caller's ID with the door only very slightly open.

Furthermore, it also means that the handle engaging means can only be removed off the handle when the door is in the closed position. This means that a burglar is unable to force their hand through the small opening to try and take the handle engaging means off the handle as the combined length of the length adjustment means and the chain means is set so that the handle engaging means will only come off the handle when the door is in the closed position. Therefore, it is impossible for someone from the outside to gain entrance to the house even if the door is slightly open on the chain.

Preferably, the locking arrangement is to be mounted on PVC doors.

Ideally, the mounting means has a hook for engaging the length adjustment means. Ideally, the mounting means is formed for engaging a lock keeper of a door frame. Advantageously, the mounting means comprises a pair of perpendicular mounting plates, the first mounting plate being formed for engaging the lock keeper and the second mounting plate being formed for carrying the length adjustment means.

Ideally, the first plate has an inverted L shape defining a quadrangular aperture together with an edge of the second plate for receiving the lock keeper.

Preferably, the second plate has a hook for engaging the length adjustment means. Ideally, the length adjustment means comprises a chain restrictor member being movably coupled to the hook at one end and being movably coupled to the chain at the other end and having an arrangement mounted intermediate the ends of the chain restrictor member to fix or release the chain restrictor member to or from the mounting plate.

In a first embodiment, the fixing arrangement comprises a slot in the chain restrictor member and a rotatable knob fastened to the mounting plate through the slot. In use, the knob is normally in engagement with a portion of the chain restrictor member locking the chain restrictor member into contact with the mounting plate to secure the handle engaging means on the handle. The rotatable knob is rotatable into alignment with the slot in the chain restrictor member to allow the chain restrictor member to be hinged out and away from the mounting plate about the hook to release the handle engaging means from the handle when the door is in a closed position.

In a second embodiment, the fixing arrangement comprises a slot in the chain restrictor member having an expanded portion, preferably at one end and a stud fastened to the mounting plate having an expanded head, the expanded head being dimensioned so as to only fit through the expanded portion of the slot. In use, the expanded head of the stud is normally in engagement with a portion of the chain restrictor member locking the chain restrictor member into contact with the mounting plate to secure the handle engaging means on the handle. The chain restrictor member is slidable relative to the stud so that the expanded head of the stud is brought into alignment with the extended end of the slot in the chain restrictor member to allow the chain restrictor member to be hinged out and away from the mounting plate about the hook to release the handle engaging means from the handle when the door is in a closed position.

Preferably, the chain means comprises a plurality of chain links, most preferably three links.

Ideally, the handle engaging means comprises a ring for mounting on the handle. Preferably, the ring has a tab for lifting and handling.

Ideally, the ring has a protective inner grommet of rubber or similar material to prevent damage to the door handle when sliding the ring onto or removing it from the handle.

Ideally, the ring is a red colour to improve visibility, especially for the elderly.

Preferably, the chain restrictor member has a magnet for retaining the ring in place. Advantageously, the magnet prevents the ring swinging around and keeps the ring tidily in place when not mounted on the door handle such as when a person leaves the building or room.

Preferably, a magnet is provided for fixing to the escutcheon of the door handle to prevent the ring swinging around on the door handle damaging paint.

Preferably, fixing means are provided for fixing the mounting means onto the door frame

Ideally, fixing means are provided for fixing the mounting bracket onto the door frame.

Preferably, the fixing means comprises double sided tape fixable to the back of the mounting bracket and the corresponding location of the door frame. Advantageously, the mounting bracket is prevented from moving laterally by the lock keeper engaging an edge of the inverted L shaped plate. Furthermore, the only time it would be beneficial for a burglar to try and remove the mounting bracket by moving it vertically up wards would be when a person has the ring on the handle when they are inside. In this circumstance, the mounting bracket will be prevented from being moved vertically upwards by the tape and also by the fact that the ring is mounted on the door handle providing a greater resistance to upward movement of the locking arrangement. Ideally, the mounting plate fixing means are provided by a lip on the L-shaped mounting plate which is beatable behind at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the lock keeper. Advantageously, this lip comes into play when fitting the locking arrangement to the lock keeper. The fitter loosens the lock keeper's screws and slides lip of the the L-shaped mounting plate down the back of the lock keeper. The operator then tightens the lock keeper's screws up tightly into position whereby the lock keeper catches the lip and secures the mounting member in place. This will fix the mounting member in position and will make it more difficult to bypass from a thief's point of view.

In an alternative arrangement, fixing means are provided for fixing the mounting means to a wall proximal to the door handle.

Ideally, the fixing means are provided for fixing the mounting means to a door reveal.

Preferably, the fixing means are provided by bolts or screws for fixing a mounting plate to a wall via apertures in the mounting plate.

Ideally, the mounting member, the hook, the chain restrictor member, the chain links and the ring are manufactured from steel.

Ideally, an alternative arrangement of mounting means is formed for engaging at least one recess in the lock keeper of the door frame.

Preferably, the mounting member has a pair of perpendicular plates, the first plate having at least one and most preferably a pair of locating members protruding from the first plate for securely locating the mounting member on one or more recesses of the lock keeper of the door frame.

Ideally, the locating members have a first component substantially parallel to the first plate resting flush with the portion of the door fame housing the lock keeper and a second component substantially orthogonal to the first component for insertion into an opening of the lock keeper formed for receiving a door latch or lock member. The specific design features such as length, width and thickness of the locating members can be readily modified to accommodate design variations of specific types of door frames currently on the market. The second plate is formed for carrying the length adjustment member. This firmly secures the mounting member against lateral movement.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an adapter formed for mounting on a wooden door, the adapter having an arrangement for engaging with a modified handle engaging element of the locking arrangement of the present invention.

Ideally, the adapter has a fastener mounted on the outside of the wooden door and a support plate mounted on the inside of the wooden door.

Preferably, the fastener has a tubular portion with an internal threaded bore. The support plate has an aperture.

Ideally, the fastener and the support plate are located on opposing ends of a through bore passing through the wooden door.

Preferably, an adapter head having a bolt receiving aperture is mechanically coupled to the support plate by a bolt having a threaded end.

In use, the bolt passes through the bolt receiving aperture of the adapter head, through the aperture of the support plate and into the through bore and is threadingly connected to the threaded bore of the tubular portion of the fastener at the other end of the through bore to secure the adapter onto the wooden door. A cover member is driven in to the door by spikes or similar anchor members and covers the exposed end of the fastener.

Ideally, the adapter head has a reduced thickness neck portion located between a body formed for sitting flush against the support plate and a head member formed for receiving a modified handle engaging member.

Preferably, the adapter head has two mutually opposing slots formed for receiving two correspondingly located tongues protruding radially inwardly from the inner

circumference of the modified ring. In use, when an operator wants to mount the modified ring on the adapter head, they align the tongues with the slots and slide the modified ring past the adapter head onto the reduced neck portion. The operator then rotates the modified ring so that the tongues are trapped behind the adapter head. The slots are substantially horizontal in use. The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show by way of example only two embodiments of an apparatus in accordance with the invention. In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of locking arrangement on a door frame in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is front elevational view of the locking arrangement mounted on a door handle;

Figure 3 is a partial end view of the locking arrangement of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of locking arrangement in accordance with the invention;

Figure 5 is a second partial perspective view of the second embodiment of locking arrangement of Figure 4 mounted on a door frame;

Figure 6 is an elevation view of the second embodiment of locking arrangement;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of locking arrangement;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of locking arrangement;

Figure 9 is a partial sectional view of a fourth embodiment of locking arrangement;

Figure 10 is a detail view of the ring of Figure 9;

Figure 1 1 is a detail view of a ring connector of Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an elevation view of the fourth embodiment of locking arrangement;

Figure 13 is a detail view of a bolt connector of Figure 9 and 12; and

Figure 14 is a perspective view of a plate member of Figure 9 and 12.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 to 3, there is shown a locking arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 for a door 2 having a mounting member 3 for mounting the locking arrangement 1 to a support surface 4 proximal to the door handle 5. A handle engaging element 6 is provided for engaging the door handle 5 of the door 2 and an arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 7 for coupling the handle engaging element 6 to the mounting member 3. The coupling arrangement 7 has a chain 8 connected at one end to the handle engaging element 6 and has a length adjustment member 9 connected to the other end of the chain 8. The length adjustment member 9 is movably connected to the mounting member 3 between a first position where the length adjustment member 9 is fixed to the mounting member 3 so that the handle engaging element 6 is secured tightly on the handle 5 and a second position where the length adjustment member 9 is movable relative to the mounting member 3 so that the handle engaging element 6 is removed from the handle 5 when the door 2 is in a closed position only.

Advantageously, the length adjustment member 9 of the locking arrangement 1 works to restrict the length of the chain 8 so that the door 2 can only open a small distance when the length adjustment member 9 is in the first position. This means that an elderly person for example can open the door 2 to check a caller's ID with the door 2 only very slightly open. Furthermore, it also means that the handle engaging element 6 can only be removed off the handle 5 when the door 2 is in the closed position. This means that a burglar is unable to force their hand through the small opening to try and take the handle engaging element 6 off the handle 5 as the combined length of the length adjustment element 9 and the chain 8 is set so that the handle engaging element 6 will only come off the handle 5 when the door 2 is in the closed position. Therefore, it is impossible for someone from the outside to gain entrance to the house even if the door 2 is slightly open on the chain. The locking

arrangement 1 is mounted on a PVC door frame 54.

The mounting member 3 is formed for engaging the lock keeper 14 of the door frame 54. Advantageously, the mounting member 3 has a pair of perpendicular plates 15, 16, the first plate 15 being formed for engaging the lock keeper 14 and the second plate 16 being formed for carrying the length adjustment member 9. The first plate 15 has an inverted L shape defining a quadrangular aperture 18 see especially Figure 3 together with an edge 19 of the second plate 16 for receiving the lock keeper 14. This firmly secures the mounting member 3 against lateral movement. The second plate 16 has a hook 21 for engaging an aperture 23 formed in the length adjustment member 9. The length adjustment member 9 is movable around the hook 21 via the aperture 23. The length adjustment member 9 is a chain restrictor member 24 movably coupled to the hook 21 at one end and the chain restrictor member 24 is coupled to the chain 8 at the other end. The chain restrictor member 24 has an arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 25 mounted intermediate the ends of the chain restrictor member 24 to fix or release the chain restrictor member 24 to or from the mounting plate 16.

In the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, the fixing arrangement 25 has a slot 27 in the chain restrictor member 24 and a rotatable knob 28 fastened to the mounting plate 16 through the slot 27 via screw 29. In use, the knob 28 is normally in engagement with a portion of the chain restrictor member 24 locking the chain restrictor member 24 into contact with the mounting plate 16 to secure the handle engaging element 6 on the handle 5. The rotatable knob 28 is rotatable into alignment with slot 27 in the chain restrictor member 24 to allow the chain restrictor member 24 to be hinged out and away from the mounting plate 16 about the hook 21 to release the handle engaging element 6 from the handle 5 when the door 2 is in a closed position.

In a second embodiment of locking arrangement 31 shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 all of the other components of the locking arrangement 31 are identical to the locking arrangement 1 described above apart from the fixing arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 32 and therefore the same reference numerals have been used to refer to the same part on both embodiments. In Figure 5, only part of the locking arrangement 31 is shown with the chain 8 and the ring 45 omitted. In Figure 6, the locking arrangement 31 is shown mounted on the door 2 with the door 2 is in a closed position. The fixing arrangement 32 has a slot 33 in the chain restrictor member 24 having an expanded end 34 and a stud 35 fastened to the mounting plate 16 having an expanded head 37. The expanded head 37 is dimensioned so as to only fit through the expanded end 34 of the slot 33. In use, the expanded head 34 of the stud 35 is normally in engagement with a portion of the chain restrictor member 24 locking the chain restrictor member 24 into contact with the mounting plate 16 to secure the handle engaging element 6 on the handle 5. The chain restrictor member 24 is slidable relative to the stud 35 so that the expanded head 34 of the stud 35 is brought into alignment with expanded end 34 of the slot 33 in the chain restrictor member 24 to allow the chain restrictor member 24 to be hinged out and away from the mounting plate 16 about the hook 21 to release the handle engaging element 6 from the handle 5 when the door 2 is in a closed position. In both embodiments, the hook 21 is vertically above the slot 27, 33 in use so that the slot aligns up with the stud 35 or rotatable knob 28 when hanging naturally. However, in order to bring the expanded end 34 of the slot 33 into alignment with the expanded head 37 of the stud 35 to fix the chain restrictor member 24 to the mounting plate 16 or to remove the chain restrictor member 24 from the mounting plate 16, the operator must lift the chain restrictor member 24 up vertically to align them. For this purpose a slot 13 is also provided in the chain restrictor member 24. At this position the operator can mount or remove the chain restrictor member 24 to the mounting plate 16. When mounting the chain restrictor member 24, the expanded head 37 passes through expanded end 34 of the slot 33 as the chain restrictor member 24 moves towards the mounting plate 16 and after clearing the expanded head 37 the chain restrictor member 24 slides down the narrower shaft of the stud 35 to secure the chain restrictor member 24 in place. In order to remove the chain restrictor member 24, the steps are reversed. The end of the chain restrictor member 24 distal to the hook 21 has a gripping portion 39 bent out of the main plane of the chain restrictor member 24 at a suitable angle away from the mounting plate 16 in use.

Referring especially to Figure 4, a fixing lip 61 is provided on two inner edges 62, 63 of the L-shaped mounting plate 16 and this fixing lip 61 is located behind the peripheral edge of the lock keeper 14 in use. Advantageously, this lip 61 comes into play when fitting the locking arrangement 1 to the lock keeper 14. The fitter loosens the lock keeper's screws 1 13 and slides the fixing lip 61 of the L-shaped mounting plate 16 down the back of the loose lock keeper 14. The operator then tightens the lock keeper's screws up tightly into position whereby the lock keeper 14 sandwiches the fixing lip 61 between itself and the door frame 54 and secures the mounting member 3 in place. This will fix the mounting member 3 in position and will make it more difficult to bypass from a thief's point of view. Fixing members 55 are provided for fixing the mounting member 3 onto the door frame. The fixing member 55 is double sided tape fixable to the back of the perpendicular plates 15, 16 of the mounting member 3 and the corresponding location of the door frame 54. Advantageously, the mounting member 3 is prevented from moving laterally by the lock keeper 14 engaging edges of the inverted L shaped plate 15. Furthermore, the only time it would be beneficial for a burglar to try and remove the mounting member 2 by moving it vertically up wards would be when a person has the ring 45 on the handle 5 namely when they are inside. In this circumstance, the mounting member 3 will be prevented from being moved vertically upwards by the tape and also by the fact that the ring 45 is mounted on the door handle 5 providing a greater resistance to upward movement of the locking arrangement 1 , 31 .

Referring to the drawings and now to Figure 7, there is shown another embodiment of mounting member 73 formed for engaging the recesses 72 in the lock keeper 14 of the door frame 54. Advantageously, the mounting member 73 has a pair of perpendicular plates 75, 76, the first plate 75 having a pair of locating members 77 protruding from the first plate 75 for securely locating the mounting member 73 on the lock keeper 14 of the door frame 54. The locating members 77 have a first component 78 substantially parallel to the first plate 75 resting flush with the portion of the door fame 54 housing the lock keeper 14 and a second component 79 substantially orthogonal to the first component 78 for insertion into an opening 72 of the lock keeper 14 formed for receiving a door latch or lock member. The specific design features such as length, width and thickness of the locating members 77 can be readily modified to accommodate design variations of specific types of door frames currently on the market. The second plate 76 is formed for carrying the length adjustment member 9 and chain 8.

Referring to the drawings and now to Figure 8, there is shown another embodiment of locking arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 81 for a door 2 having a mounting member 83 for mounting the locking arrangement 81 to a support surface 84 proximal to the door handle 5. In this embodiment, the support surface 84 is a door reveal which are generally masonry material. Advantageously, the masonry reveal 84 allows the locking arrangement 81 to be firmly fixed by rawl plugs or similar fixing members to the wall. A handle engaging element 6 is provided for engaging the door handle 5 of the door 2 and an arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 7 is provided for coupling the handle engaging element 6 to the mounting member 83. In the embodiment shown the mounting member is provided by a flat steel plate member 83 reducing the manufacturing costs. The coupling arrangement 7 has a chain 8 connected at one end to the handle engaging element 6 and has a length adjustment member 9 connected to the other end of the chain 8. The length adjustment member 9 is movably connected to the mounting member 83 between a first position shown in the drawing where the length adjustment member 9 is fixed to the mounting member 83 so that the handle engaging element 6 is secured tightly on the handle 5 and a second position where the length adjustment member 9 is movable relative to the mounting member 3 so that the handle engaging element 6 is removed from the handle 5 when the door 2 is in a closed position only.

In all of the embodiments, the chain 8 comprises three chain links 41 although chain links can be added/removed where required and the handle engaging element 6 comprises a ring 45 for mounting on the handle 5. The ring 45 has a tab 46 for lifting and handling and is provided with a protective inner grommet 47 of rubber or similar material to prevent damage to the door handle 5 when sliding the ring 45 onto or removing it from the handle 5. The ring 45 can be a red colour to improve visibility, especially for the elderly.

The chain restrictor member 24 has a magnet 49 for retaining the ring 45 in place. Advantageously, the magnet 49 prevents the ring 45 swinging around and keeps the ring 45 tidily in place when not mounted on the door handle 5 such as when a person leaves the building or room. Another magnet 51 is provided for fixing to the escutcheon 52 of the door handle 53 to prevent the ring 45 swinging around when mounted on the door handle 5 damaging paint.

The mounting member 3, the hook 21 , the chain restrictor member 24, the chain links 41 and the ring 45 are manufactured from steel. Referring to the drawings and now to Figures 9 to 13, there is shown an adapter 91 formed for mounting on a wooden door 93, the adapter 91 having an arrangement for engaging with a modified handle engaging element 296 of a locking arrangement. The adapter 91 has a fastener 92 mounted on the outside of the wooden door 93 and a support plate 94 mounted on the inside of the wooden door 93. The fastener 92 has a tubular portion 131 with an internal threaded bore. The support plate 94 has an aperture 99. The fastener 92 and the support plate 94 are located on opposing ends of a through bore 95 passing through the wooden door 93. An adapter head 96 having a bolt receiving aperture 101 is

mechanically coupled to the support plate 94 by a bolt 102 having a threaded end 104. The bolt 102 passes through the bolt receiving aperture 101 of the adapter head 96, through the aperture 99 of the support plate 97 and into the through bore 95 and is threadingly connected to the threaded bore 98 of fastener 92 to secure the adapter 91 onto the wooden door 92. A cover member 107 is driven in to the door 93 by spikes 108 or similar anchor members and covers the exposed end of the fastener 92.

The adapter head 96 has a reduce thickness neck portion 1 1 1 located between a body 1 12 formed for sitting flush against the support plate 94 and a head member 1 14 formed for receiving a modified handle engaging member 296. The adapter head 96 has two mutually opposing slots 121 formed for receiving two correspondingly located tongues 124 protruding radially inwardly from the inner circumference of the modified ring 296. In use, when an operator wants to mount the modified ring 296 on the adapter head 96, they align the tongues 124 with the slots 121 and slide the modified ring 296 past the adapter head 96 onto the reduced neck portion 1 1 1. The operator then rotates the modified ring 296 so that the tongues 124 are trapped behind the adapter head 96. The slots 121 are substantially horizontal in use.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description or the following drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing a disclosed function, or a method or a process of attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may separately, or in any combination of such features be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) for a door (2) having mounting means (3, 73, 83) for mounting the locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) to a support surface (4, 84) proximal to the door handle (5), handle engaging means (6, 45) for engaging the door handle (5) of the door (2) and means (7) for coupling the handle engaging means (6, 45) to the mounting means (3, 73,83), the coupling means (7) being connected to the handle engaging means (6, 45) and having length adjustment means (9), the length adjustment means (9) being movably connected to the mounting means (3, 73, 83) and having a first state where the handle engaging means (6, 45) is securable tightly on the handle (5) and a second state where the handle engaging means (6, 45) is removable from the handle (5) when the door (2) is in a closed position only.

2. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the first state or position, the length adjustment means (9) is fixed to the mounting means (3, 73, 83).

3. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in the second state or position, the length adjustment means (9) is movable relative to the mounting means (3, 73, 83).

4. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length adjustment means (9) has chain means (8) at one end connected to the handle engaging means (6, 45).

5. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means (3, 73, 83) has a hook (21 ) for engaging the length adjustment means (9).

6. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means (3, 73, 83) is provided by a mounting plate (15. 16, 75, 76, 83).

7. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the length

adjustment means (9) comprises a chain restrictor member (24) being movably coupled to the hook (21 ) at one end and being movably coupled to the chain (8) at the other end and having an arrangement (25, 32) mounted intermediate the ends of the chain restrictor member (24) to fix or release the chain restrictor member (24) to or from the mounting plate (15. 16, 75, 76, 83).

8. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the fixing

arrangement (32) comprises a slot (33) in the chain restrictor (24) member having an expanded portion (34), preferably at one end and a stud (35) fastened to the mounting plate (15. 16, 75, 76, 83) having an expanded head (37), the expanded head (37) being dimensioned so as to only fit through the expanded portion (34) of the slot (33).

9. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein fixing means are provided for fixing the mounting means (15. 16, 75, 76) onto the door frame (54).

10. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein fixing means are provided for fixing the mounting means (83) to a wall (84) proximal to the door handle (5).

1 1 . A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the fixing means are provided for fixing the mounting means (83) to a door reveal (84).

12. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the mounting means (15. 16, 75, 76) is formed for engaging a lock keeper (14) of a door frame (54).

13. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mounting means (15. 16, 75, 76) comprises a pair of perpendicular mounting plates (15, 16), the first mounting plate (15) being formed for engaging the lock keeper (14) and the second mounting plate (16) being formed for carrying the length adjustment means

(9).

14. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first plate (15) has an inverted L shape defining a quadrangular aperture (18) together with an edge (19) of the second plate (16) for receiving the lock keeper (14).

15. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second plate (16) has a hook (21 ) for engaging the length adjustment means (9).

16. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, wherein the mounting plate fixing means are provided by a lip (61 ) on the L-shaped mounting plate (15) which is beatable behind at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the lock keeper (14).

17. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein an alternative arrangement of mounting means (77) is formed for engaging a recess (72) in the lock keeper (14) of the door frame (54).

18. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle engaging means (6, 45) comprises a ring (45) for mounting on the handle (5).

19. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the ring (45) has a tab (46) for lifting and handling.

20. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the ring (45) has a protective inner grommet (47) of rubber or similar material to prevent damage to the door handle (5) when sliding the ring (45) onto or removing it from the handle (5).

21 . A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 20, wherein the chain means 98) comprises a plurality of chain links, most preferably three links.

22. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the mounting

member (15. 16, 75, 76, 83), the hook (21 ), the chain restrictor member (24), the chain links (8) and the ring (45) are manufactured from steel.

23. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) is to be used with PVC doors.

24. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein an adapter (91 ) is provided for mounting on a wooden door (93), the adapter (91 ) having an arrangement for engaging with a modified handle engaging element (296) of the locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ).

25. A locking arrangement (1 , 31 , 81 ) substantially as hereinbefore described with

reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.