ZA201007265B - Sliding bolt - Google Patents

Description

‘ oi i * ,

FIELD OF THE INVENTION TT

This invention relates to a sliding or drop bolt and its assembly. I | Il

Ne. pa

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional sliding or drop bolt assemblies include a plate for attachment to a door, window or the like, the plate having straps spaced apart and adapted to receive a bolt in sliding relationship. The bolt has one end that slides into a semi-circular strap on the door or window surround to prevent opening of the door or window, the other end having a lug that, when the first end is in the surround strap, can be rotated to a locking position-usually by means of registering orifices that correspond to receive the shaft or hook of a padlock.

The straps are generally welded or riveted in position, which introduces a cost factor as well as a weak zone/s with the result that the plate is often made of thin metal to reduce the overall cost. The welding or riveting operation can also result in unsatisfactory galvanising which results in unwanted erosion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet strong assembly that is easily manufactured and which also avoids the need to use welding or riveting.

THE INVENTION

According to the invention a blank for a sliding bolt assembly comprises a plate that includes cut out formations that are adapted to be bent out of the plane of the plate to a required angle, the formations having orifices that register when bent out, to receive a sliding bolt. .

In a preferred form of the invention, a pair of formations are provided that are bent to be transversely located on the blank (base) of the assembly and another pair of formations that are bent longitudinally and which provide a space for receiving a bent-over end of the bolt, the longitudinal formations having orifice for receiving a padlock that effectively prevents the bent over portion of the bolt from release or even being rotated beyond a certain degree of rotation.

The cut out formations may take the shape of an arch or straight-sided arch that is . aesthetically pleasing.

The longitudinal formations may be formed from a T-shaped piece extending from : the blank.

The bolt is preferably circular in cross-section.

Thus, a plate (blank) of substantial thickness is formed by cutting the arched formations and the orifices and the T-shaped piece, followed by simple bending operations to elevate the arched portions to a substantial vertical position and the top of the T-portions to be bent also to a substantial vertical position but longitudinally having regard to the blank.

Suitable orifices are provided in the plate and the T-portion for fixing screws. The : orifice in the T-piece may be located, when bent out, to be between the portions to receive a fixing screw that is inaccessible to any tool when the padlock is in position.

The sliding bolt may have a protrusion that permits complete withdrawal of the bolt only when the protrusion is rotated to a predetermined angle that permits it to pass through a nick in one of the arched portions.

It will be appreciated that the plate with its portions bent out is easily galvanised and that there are no corners that will resist galvanising. The bolt, which may also be galvanised, is then slid into position using the protrusion and nick, when in register, for assembly purposes.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the components of a sliding bolt assembly in its blank form;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the assembled bolt assembly;

Figure 3 is a side view thereof;

TEN

Co BE a0 oo 2010707265 . Figure 4 is an end view.

In Figure 1 the items include a plate 10 in its blank form and including a base portion 12 having arch portions 14 cut thereinto, the arches having orifices 16; and holes 18 are provided for screws.

A T-portion 20 is provided that is integral with the base by way of an isthmus portion 22. The arms of the T have orifices 24 and there is a hole 26 to receive a screw.

The bolt 30 includes a bent over portion 34 and a dimple 32 whose action is described below. A strap 36 with screw holes 38 is humped as shown in Figure 3 to receive the free end 40 of the bolt.

In Figure 4 the dimple is shown in its rotational position relative to a nick 42, in the arch portion so that the bolt can be removed when required. Otherwise the dimple abuts the rim of the arch portion to prevent removal of the bolt. The bolt is only removable when the bolt is drawn between the ears of the bent over T portions and rotated for the dimple to register with the nick.

The T-portion is bent as shown so that the orifices are in register to receive a padlock. The bent over portion of the bolt will generally lie horizontally after closing the padlock.

In the case of a drop bolt, the blank may be in two portions to allow for use of a long bolt and the two portion blank may also be useful in a horizontal sliding bolt where a long bolt is required.

For bathrooms the assembly may include a longitudinal slot so that a lug can be provided for use by a person inside the bathroom.

Claims (14)

1. ~ - mmm a m——— 2 A blank for a sliding or drop bolt assembly comprising a plate that includes cut out formations that are adapted to be bent out of the plane of the plate to a required angle, the formations having orifices that register when bent out, to receive a sliding bolt.
2. 2. A blank according to claim 1 in which a pair of formations are provided that are bent to be transversely located on the blank (base) of the assembly and another pair of formations that are bent longitudinally and which provide a space for receiving a bent-over end of the bolt, the longitudinal formations having an orifice for receiving a padlock that effectively prevents the bent over portion of the bolt from release or even being rotated beyond a certain degree of rotation.
3. 3. The blank according to either of the above claims in which the cut out formations take the shape of an arch or straight-sided arch.
4. 4, The blank according to any of the above claims in which the longitudinal formations are formed from a T-shaped piece extending from the plate.
5. 5. The blank according to any of the above claims in which the bolt is circular in cross- section.
6. - A blank according to any of claims 1 to 5 including suitable orifices in the plate and the T-portion for fixing screws.
7. 7. : A blank according to any of claims 1 to 5 or 8 in which the orifice in the T-piece is located, when bent out, to be between the portions, to receive a fixing screw that is : inaccessible to any tool when the padlock is in position.
8. 8. A blank according to any of the above claims in which the sliding bolt has a protrusion that permits complete withdrawal of the bolt only when the protrusion is rotated to a predetermined angle that permits it to pass through a nick in one of the arched portions.
9. 9. A method of manufacturing a sliding or drop bolt assembly including the steps of cutting the formations and the orifices followed by bending operations to elevate the formations to a substantial vertical position.
10. 10. A method of manufacturing a bolt assembly from a blank according to claim 4 including the step of bending the top of the T-portions to a substantial vertical position but longitudinally having regard to the blank.
11. 11. A method of manufacturing a bolt assembly substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. 12. A bolt assembly manufactured by the method according to any of claims 9 to 11.
13. A blank substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
14. 14. A bolt assembly substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 8 day of October 2010 t MORRISON MORRISON FORSTER INC. APPLICANTS’ PATENT ATTORNEYS