GB2205889A - Security device for door - Google Patents

Abstract

The security device comprises a first elongated member 20 passing through the door frame and into the surrounding structure and a second elongated member 10 mounted within the door and generally co-axially with the said first member; and a co-operating pin and socket arrangement 11,21 with co-operating contoured surfaces carried at the opposed ends of the first and second members whereby the members engage one another as the closure member pivots into the closed position and secure the hinge edge of the closure member against lateral movement with respect to the frame. The pin may be the tip of the member 20. Several such devices may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE: SECURITY DEVICE FOR AN ACCESS OPENING The present invention relates to a security device for an access opening, notably to a recessed securing pin for the hinge side of a door or window pivotting within a frame.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Unauthorised entry through breaking down an entry door is a frequent occurence for owners of buildings, notably business and commercial premises, and many attempts have been made to render such premises more secure. Typically, such attempts have centred on the use of sensors for detecting the presence of the intruder or of damage caused to a window or door during forced entry by the intruder. However, these systems are often actuated only after the intruder has gained entry to the building and therefore operate too late to prevent some theft or damage.

It has also been proposed to incorporate special security locks and the like to prevent forcing of the door or window. However, such methods are not effective when an intruder forceably breaks down the door or removes the hinge pins of the door without tampering with the lock mechanism.

An increasing number of forced entries are made in this manner.

It has also been proposed to mount a pin or stud on the door at the hinge side thereof which then engages with a hole in a plate mounted in or on the frame to provide a measure of security against the hinge edge of the door being removed from the frame. However, such a pin or stud can be readily detected by an intruder and removed by chiselling a comparatively small amount of wood from the door and/or frame surrounding the plate in the frame or door.

Furthermore, an intruder can merely kick in the whole door and frame, thus negating the security mountings at the door. Alternatively, since the pins are often made from aluminium or mild steel and are fixed, they can readily be cut through by an intruder.

It has been proposed in GB 2,178,095 -A to provide a pin member passing through the door frame and anchored in the wall surrounding the frame. The pin protrudes through apertures cut in the leaves of a special hinge extending the length of the door and having one leaf formed with a flange which engages in a corresponding groove in the other leaf.

However, the pin does not extend to any significant distance into the door since its free end would foul the hinge leaf if it did; and the pin can be readily exposed by cutting away a small area of the door. It is the long hinge and the interlocking of the flange and groove which provide the major security element in that design.

I have now devised a form of security device for a door which reduces the above problems. Furthermore, my invention can be applied to an existing door and frame without the need for specialist skills or the replacement of the existing hinges of the door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: Accordingly, the present invention relates to a device for securing a closure member within a frame defining an access into a building, which closure member pivots from a closed to an open position about an axis within or adjacent the frame, the frame being secured to the structure of the building around the frame, which device comprises the combination of: a. a first elongated member adapted to pass transversely through the said frame and into the surrounding structure along a line generally parallel to the plane of the frame so as to secure the frame against lateral movement with respect to the surrounding structure of the building; b. a second elongated member adapted to be mounted within the structure of the closure member generally parallel to the plane thereof and extending inwardly from the pivot edge of the closure member and generally co-axially with the said first member; and c. a co-operating pin and socket arrangement carried at the opposed ends of the first and second members whereby the members can engage another as the closure member pivots into the closed position and secure the hinge edge of the closure member against lateral movement with respect to the frame; said pin and the interior walls of said socket having co-operating contoured surfaces whereby the operative end of the pin can enter said socket following an arcuate entry path, preferaby without fouling the interior walls of the socket.

Preferably, the first member is sufficiently long to pass through the frame and that end exposed at the frame carries the socket; and the pin is carried by the second member and protrudes from the pivot edge of the closure member. In a particularly preferred design, the pin and socket have co-operating generally parabaloid surfaces and the operative end of the pin is a close fit within the socket. The use of the contoured surfaces to the pin and socket permits a longer length of the pin to enter the socket along an arcuate entry path as the closure member closes than would be possible with conventional cylindrical configurations to the pin and to the bore of the socket. As a result, an intruder would have to cut away more of the door to remove the socket and release the operative end of the pin.The operative part of the pin and/or the socket can be made so that they are rotatable about their longitudinal axis to prevent thie being cut by an intruder. Since the device of the invention does not require special hinges it can readily be fitted to an existing door without the need to remove the door and/or to fit new hinges.

It has been proposed to secure the door of a safe or strong room by pins which engage a socket when the door is closed.

However, in such mechanisms, the pins are reciprocated from a retracted position in which they lie flush with the face of the door or its frame to an operative position in which they extend from the door or frame and into their socket.

Such a mechanism requires a costly and complex mechanism for moving the pins axially and is only appropriate for high cost applications. Furthermore, since the pins move along a straight entry path into the sockets the pins and sockets have a conventional cylindrical configuration.

In the present invention, the pin is static within the frame or closure member and is not retracted or extended. The invention relies upon the shaping of the operative tip thereof and of the socket to ensure that they engage as the closure member pivots into the closed position and requires no actuating mechanisms to engage the pin and the socket.

The invention thus provides a simple and effective securing means suitable for use where simple low cost security is required.

The present invention is primarily applicable to buildings which are habited by humans, rather than to safes or strong rooms which are not habitable and the aperture served by the closure member is a door or window opening. and the invention further provides a building for human habitation provided with a door or window fitted with a security device of the invention.

The term human habitation is used herein to denote a building in which it intended that one or more humans should live or work and therefore requires suitable lighting and ventilation. The term is not to include safes and strong rooms which are completely closed structures within which a human may enter but which are not suitable for habitation by a human.

The device of the invention finds widespread use in all types of doors or windows, notably those which pivot about one edge thereof, for example the vertical hinge edge thereof in the case of a door, and can be applied, for example, to wooden window frames which pivot about a horizontal or vertical axis in a window frame. For convenience, the invention will be described hereinafter in terms of a wooden door pivotting about a vertical axis in a wooden door frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: To aid understanding of the invention, it will be described with relation to the preferred form thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the door in its frame; Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of part of the door of Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 are sectional plan views of alternative forms of the device of Figure 2; and Figures 5a to 5d are sectional views of the door of Figure 3 showing the door in various stages of closing.

The door 1 is located in a frame 2 which is secured, for example by being built in or by screws, bolts or other means, to the fabric the building. Typically, frame 2 and door 1 are wooden structures of the conventional type. Door 1 is pivotted by means of hinges at one side thereof about a vertical axis, so that it can pivot from a closed position at which it closes the opening encompassed by frame 2, to an open position at which a person can pass through the opening. The door can be a single leaf door, as shown, or a double leaf door, with the door being hung upon two or more hinges (not shown) located at the hinge edge 3 to the door.

A pin 10 passes transversely through the frame 2 as shown and extends into the brickwork around the frame, thus securing the frame against being forced out of the wall.

The pin is typically a cylindrical length of steel, notably a toughened steel, and its length and diameter can be selected to provide the desired degree of support. Thus, for a conventional single accommodation door, the pin 10 can extend from 1 to 6 inches into the brickwork. For wider and/or more heavy duty doors, it may be desired that the pin 10 extend further into the brickwork. The pin can incorporate anchoring means, eg. a radially expandable section, or can be axially splined to secure the pin in position. Typically, the pin 10 is a cylindrical pin machined from solid steel, although other shapes of cross-section for the pin may be used.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the end of the pin exposed at the inner face of the frame can be provided with an operative tip to engage a socket carried at the hinge edge of the door; or can carry the socket to receive a tip carried by the hinge edge of the door as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. For convenience, the invention will be described hereinafyer in terms of the device as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The operative tip can be formed as an integral part of pin 10, for example as a machined end to a solid pin. However, it is particularly preferred that the tip be formed separately from the body of pin 10 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this case, the tip can be mounted on the body of the pin by any suitable means, for example by means of a bolt or other axial securing means. It is particularly preferred to provide the exposed end of pin 10 with an axial socket into which a separate tip piece 11 is journalled. This enables the tip to be formed from a hardened steel and to be rotatable with respect to the body of the pin. The tip piece 11 can be a free fit within the socket or can be secured within the socket, for example by means of a circlip or an 0 ring engaging circumferential grooves on the tip 11 and within the socket as shown in Figure 4.

The operative tip 11 fits into a socket 20 carried on the hinge edge of the door so that the socket 20 extends co-axially with the piece 11 when the door is closed. When piece 11 is located into socket 20, this provides a physical linkage between the door, the frame and the brickwork surrounding the frame so that the three are secured against lateral movement when an intruder tries to break down the door. Since the pin 10 extends into the brickwork, the frame 2 cannot readily be forced out of the brickwork and since tip 11 extends into the door, the door is secured within the frame, even if the hinges for the door are removed. The socket 20 can be formed so that it would be difficult for an intruder to separate the socket from the door to release tip 11- and pin 10.

The tip 11 and the interior surfaces of recess 20 are shaped so that as the door closes and the two are bought into engagement with one another1 the tip is a sliding or clearance fit into the recess. As shown dotted in Figure 2 the locus of the end of tip 11 sweeps out a comparatively wide arc as the door closes. With a conventional cylindrical configuration for the tip end and the bore in socket 20, there would have to be a comparatively large clearance between the tip and the bore to accommodate this arc. This would result in the use of an excessively thin tip and/or in the use of a very short pin. Either of these would give a device which provides minimal security against blows from an intruder.

In the invention, the tip 11 and the socket 20 are configured so as to accommodate this arc as the pin enters the socket along an arcuate line of travel as the door closes. It will usually be preferred that the tip 11 has a bullet shaped end, notably a generally parabaloid shape.

Where the tip and recess can be mounted in a fixed orientation with respect to one another, the tip 11 can be formed with a square cut, tapered or rounded end, and the mouth of the bore of the socket 20 can be formed with the radially outward face with respect to the arc of travel of the tip 11 cut away to allow the pin to enter the socket and then to bear against the radially inward wall of the socket as the door closes, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. Where the relative orientation of the tip 11 and the socket 20 is not fixed, the cut away can be formed as a volume of rotation at the mouth of the socket, eg. to give it a belled mouth as shown in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that the shapes of the wall of the socket 20 may be more complex than a simple parabaloid, as indicated in Figure 5.

The optimum shaping for the co-operating faces of the tip and socket will depend upon the geometry and dimensions of the particular door/frame combination and can readily be established by trial and error.

The tip 11 can be a close, ie. a sliding fit, within the bire of socket 20 so that there is a minimum of play between the door hinge edge and the frame when the door is closed.

However, it is proferred that the tip 11 is a loose fit within the socket 20 to accommodate minor inaccuracies in mounting the pin 10 and the socket on the frame and door or vice versa.

As indicated above, the tip piece 11 is preferably formed as a separate component from pin 10 and is journalled within an axial socket in pin 10 so that it can rotate about a common longitudinal axis with respect to pin 10. This renders it difficult for an intruder to cut through the tip 11 where it is exposed at the intersection between the door and the frame. Preferably, such a detachable tip is formed as a cylindrical member having the desired end shape, which cylinder is journalled in an axial bore in the body of pin 10 as shown in Figure 2. The tip 11 desirably extends at least 2.5, typically 4 to 10 cms into pin 10 to impart rigidity to the tip.

The socket 20 is conveniently formed as a blind axial bore in the end of a second pin 21 which is let into the door as shown in Figure 1. One side of the bore is cut away as shown in Figures 4 and 5 or the mouth of the recess is belled, as shown in Figure 2, to accommodate the arcuate line of travel of tip 11 as the door closes. The pin 21 typically extends at least 2.5, eg 4 to 10, cms into the door to impart rigidity to the mounting of the socket. The pin 21 can be provided with radial extensions, transverse flanges or other features which secure it upon or within the door and would require an intruder to remove large areas of the door before the pin 21 can be released from the door.

The securing means of the invention is readily fitted to an existing door merely by drilling a suitable bore for the pin 10 in the frame and supporting brickwork using a conventional drill. The pin is then driven home until its free end is flush with the surface of the frame. Where the pin 10 carries the tip 11 as an integral part, a cap or other means should be used to protect the tip when the pin is driven home. It will usually be preferred to provide the exterior of pin 10 with knurling, splines or the like to enable it to grip the frame as it is driven home.

Alternatively, pin 10 can carry a terminal radial flange by which it is secured to the frame 2. If desired, adhesive, grouting or a mastic filler can be applied to the pin 10 before it is inserted to secure it in position. Where it is formed as a separate component, tip piece 11 is then inserted and secured in position in the axial bore in the exposed end of pin 10.

Pin 21 is mounted in a corresponding bore in the hinge edge of the door to provide the socket 20 in register with the pin 11.

As can be seen from Figures 5a to 5d, the device of the invention operates automatically as the door is closed when tip 11 is brought into engagement with socket 20. There can be a number of the pins 10 and 21 carried by the door and frame to enhance the security of the hinge side of the door and it particularly preferred to mount a pin/socket assembly adjacent the top and bottom edges of the door where they will be least accessible to an intruder. The engagement of the tips 11 and sockets 20 secures the hinge side of the door. An intruder may be able to locate the presence of the securing means, but where the tips 11 are of hardened steel and are rotatable, he will find it extremely difficult to cut through the tips to release the door. Since pins 10 extend into the brickwork surrounding the frame, the intruder will not be able to kick down the door and framer and since the pin 21 extends a distance into the structure of the door, typically 4 to 8 cms, it will not be possible for the intruder to release those pins merely by cutting away a small amount of the door as with prior proposals.

Claims (10)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A device for securing a closure member within a frame defining an access into a building, which closure member pivots from a closed to an open position about an axis within or adjacent the frame, the frame being secured to the structure of the building around the frame, which device comprises the combination of: a. a first elongated member adapted to pass transversely through the said frame and into the surrounding structure along a line generally parallel to the plane of the frame so as to secure the frame against lateral movement'with respect to the surrounding structure of the building; b. a second elongated member adapted to be mounted within the structure of the closure member generally parallel to the plane thereof and extending inwardly from the pivot edge of the closure member and generally co-axially with the said first member; and c. a co-operating pin and socket arrangement carried at the opposed ends of the first and second members whereby the members engage one another as the closure member pivots into the closed position and secure the hinge edge of the closure member against lateral movement with respect to the frame; said pin and the interior walls of said socket having co-operating contoured surfaces whereby the operative end of the pin can enter said socket following an arcuate entry path.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first elongated member carries the socket and the second member carries the pin of the pin and sochket arrangement.

3. A device as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the pin has a generally parabaloid shaped tip and the mouth of the socket is at least partially cut away to accommodate the arcuate path of travel of the tip as it enters the socket.

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims wherein the pin is formed as a separate component and is journalled within a corresponding axial bore in that member carrying the pin.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pin is removably mounted within the bore.

6. A device for mounting with one part within the structure of a door and extending inwardly from the hinge edge of the door and with a second part extending outwardly through the frame within which the door is pivotably mounted by one or more hinges, wherein: a. the said first part comprises a socket member adapted to be secured within a bore in the door structure and having an axial bore therein, and a pin member journalled in said axial bore and having an operative tip extending beyond the mouth of the axial socket, the operative tip having a generally parabaloid shapes and b. the said second part comprising a pin member adapted to be secured within a bore passing through the frame and into the structure surrounding the frame, that end of the pin to be exposed to the hinge edge of the door at the frame being provided with a co-axial socket adapted to receive the operative tip of said first part, the interior wall of the mounth of the coaxial socket being shaped so as to accept the said tip as it follows an arcuate path of travel.

7. A device as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims substantially as hereinbefore described.

8. A device as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims substantially as hereinbefore described with respect to and as shown in any one of the accompanying drawings.

9. A closure member pivotting within a frame mounted in a building fitted with a device as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims.

10. A closure member as claimed in claim 9 wherein the socket of the pin and socket arrangement is carried by the frame and the operative tip of the arrangement is carried by the hinge edge of the door.