GB2139690A - Security device - Google Patents

Abstract

A security device 10 for insertion into a mortise 12 in the edge 14 of a door 16 comprises a locking member or bolt 22 which is telescopically displaceable in relation to an outer sleeve 20. The bolt 22 has a ball catch insert 42 which is a press fit in a corresponding hole 43 within the bolt. The ball catch has a spring- controlled ball 44 which projects through a hole in the insert. The ball 44 is adapted in use to engage one of a plurality of holes 46 disposed in the outer sleeve 20. The ball catch serves to restrain, at least initially, axial movement of the bolt at least at each of its fully retracted and partially protruding states. The ball may be replaced by a magnetic catch and the bolt may be driven by a cylinder lock instead of by handle 28. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Security device DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a security device and is particularly but not exclusively concerned with a security device for insertion into a mortice in the edge of a door, window or the like.

It is usual for external doors, e.g. front and back doors, of dwellings to be fitted with some form of security device, in addition to a mortice or cylinder lock. The additional secu rity device is often a barrel bolt, which com prises a metal rod sliding in cylindrical guides.

The cylindrical guides are either secured di rectly to the door via screws, or are mounted on a generaliy elongate backing plate which is also secured to the door via screws. It is sometimes necessary to cut away or mortise the architrave surrounding the door opening, in order to fit a receiving or striking cylindrical guide for the metal rod which is mounted on the door.

Disadvantages of barrel bolts are mainly that they can be visually unattractive, particularly when the barrel bolt is made from a common metal and then painted, for example black, and that they are potentially a security risk. The security risk arises because the bolt is secured to the door via screws, which can be forced by a jemmy or the like against the exterior of the door. The length of screws is of course dictated by the thickness of the door, and the screws are thus often of an insufficient length to prevent them being forced out of the door by an external, unauthorised force applied to the exterior of the door.

The present invention sets out to provide a security device which overcomes the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to the present invention, there is provided a security device for insertion into a mortise in the edge of a door, window or the like which comprises a locking member which is axially movable from a first relative position within said mortise to a second relative position at least partially protruding from said mortise, and means serving to restrain, at least initially, axial movement of the locking member at least at each of the first and second relative positions.

The locking member may be telescopically displaceable in relation to an outer sleeve which is preferably secured within said mortise.

In a preferred embodiment, the means may comprise a catch member, preferably a springcontrolled ball, which is urged into projection from, preferably the locking member, in to catching engagement with at least one cooperating receiving means, preferably a hole or recess located in the outer sleeve.

In one preferred embodiment the locking member, preferably an elongate metal rod, is movable by means of a handle or the like extending through, and movable within, a slot or the like in the inside surface of the door.

In a second preferred embodiment, the locking member is movable by means of a lock having, for example, one or more tumblers, such as in cylinder locks.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of part of a door side edge and its associated door jamb showing a security device according to the invention in its retracted position within the door edge: Figure 2 shows the security device of Figure 1 in a position at least partially protruding from the door edge; Figure 3 is an exploded view of a locking member of the security device; Figure 4 is a plan view in the direction A of part of the locking member shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side elevation of an outer sleeve of the security device; Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along VI-VI of Figure 4; and Figure 7 is a view of a striking plate for use with the locking member.

Referring to the drawings, a security device 10 is fitted within a mortise 1 2 in a side edge 14 of a door 16. The side edge 14 is shown abutting a door jamb 1 8.

The security device 10 comprises an outer sleeve 20 and a locking member or bolt 22, which is telescopically displaceable in relation to the outer sleeve 20. One end 24 of the outer sleeve is closed or blanked off to prevent movement of the bolt out through that end.

The bolt 22, which is cylindrical and chamfered at end 23, is connected at its end 26 adjacent the closed end 24 of the outer sleeve 20 to a handle 28. The handle 28 comprises a kob 30 of any suitable material, for example, brass, which is connected to a cylindrical shank or stud iron 32 (likewise, for example, brass) which is inserted into a tapped hole 34 (see Figure 4) in the bolt end 26.

The handle 28 extends through, and is movable within, a slot 36 in the inside surface 38 of the door 16.

The outer sleeve 20 has an axial slot 40 cut into its end 24 in which the handle can move.

The length of the slot determines the extent to which the bolt travels. The slot 40 in the outer sleeve 20 registers with the slot 36 in the inside surface 38 of the door 1 6.

The drawings, in particular Figure 1, 2 and 3, show that the bolt 22 has a detent, such as ball catch insert 42, which is a press fit in a corresponding hole 43 within the bolt. The ball catch has a spring-controlled ball 44, which projects through a hole (not shown) in the insert. The ball 44 is adapted in use to engage one of a plurality of holes 46 disposed in the outer sleeve 20. There are in fact two spaced holes, each hole defining the limit of movement of the bolt between its fully retracted state within the outer sleeve and the at least partially protruding state from the outer sleeve. The ball catch serves additionally to restrain, at least initially, axial movement of the bolt at least at each of its fully retracted and partially protruding states.The spacing between the holes 46 can of course be varied (as well as the length of the slot 40 in the outer sleeve), so as to vary the length of bolt travel.

The outer sleeve 20 has a metal end plate 48 (for example, of brass) which is secured to the edge 50 of the door via screws (not shown). The end plate 48 is positioned within a mortise so as to be flushed with the door edge 50.

A receiving or striking plate 52, which covers a hole in the door frame 18 for receiving the end of the at least partially protruding bolt, is positioned within a mortise in the door frame 1 8 so as to be flush with the door frame. The plate 52 (for example, of brass) is secured to the door frame via screws.

The bolt may be movable by means of a lock mechanism, for example by a cylinder lock having one or more tumblers. In such a case, the handle 28 would be omitted from the bolt.

It is possible to fit an escutcheon or cover plate (not shown) (for example, of brass) to the inside of the door in order to cover the slot 36 in the door.

Other suitable materials, as well as brass, can be used for the various parts of the security device, for example, stainless steel, bronze, or other alloys.

It is possible to use a magnetic catch to restrain axial movement of the bolt instead of the ball catch insert as described above. The magnetic catch may comprise a magnet or a retainer of magnetic material, normally permanently magnetised, which is disposed at the closed or blanked off end of the outer sleeve.

In fact, the magnet or retainer may be held against the end of the sleeve solely by the strength of a magnetic force between the magnet or retainer and the outer sleeve.

A further magnet or retainer of magnetic material, normally permanently magnetised, is disposed, say fixedly, at the end of the hole in the door frame for receiving the end of the at least partially protruding bolt.

The bolt, which is of a magnetic material, can thus be retained at each of the first and second relative positions by virtue of a magnetic force between the bolt and the respective magnet or retainer body. Thus, axial movement of the bolt is, at least initially, restrained.

Advantages of the present invention are that the device is concealed within a mortise in the door, and therefore the devicc does not visually detract from the door. Furthermore, as the device is fitted within a door, there is increased security aspect to the device, as there are no screws visible which can be forced. The device can also be fitted to internal doors, particularly the so-called honeycomb variety of substantially hollow construction, as there is sufficient timber on the edge of the door to take and hold the device in place.

Claims (9)

1. A security device for insertion into a mortise in the edge of door, window or the like comprising a locking member which is axially movable from a first relative position within said mortise to a second relative position at least partially protruding from said mortise, and means serving to restrain, at least initially, axial movement of the locking member at least at each of the first and second relative positions.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking member is telescopically displaceable in relation to an outer sleeve which is secured within said mortise.

3. A security device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the restraining means comprises a catch member which is urged into projection from the locking member into catching engagement with at least one cooperating receiving means located in the outer sleeve.

4. A security device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the catch member is a spring-controlled ball.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the receiving means comprises a hole or recess.

6. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking member is movable by means of a handle or the like extending through, and movable within, a slot or the like in the inside surface of the door.

7. A security device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the locking member is movable by means of a lock having one or more tumblers, such as in cylinder locks.

8. A security device as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein the locking member is an elongate metal rod.

9. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.