GB2236789A - Security clip for retaining a glazing member in a frame - Google Patents

Abstract

A security clip (2) for retaining a glazing member (10) in a frame (6), which security clip (2) comprises a first end portion (36) for abutting against a face (38) of the glazing member (10), an intermediate portion (40) for extending adjacent an edge (42, 44) of the glazing member (10), and a second end portion (46) which extends back towards the first portion (36) and at an angle to the intermediate portion (40), the security clip (2) being such that the second end portion (46) is able to be forced towards the intermediate portion (40) for the purpose of inserting the security clip (2) in position in the frame (6), whereafter the second end portion (46) is able to spring away from the intermediate portion (40) and to locate behind an abutment member (48) in the frame (6) in order to retain the glazing member (10) in the frame (6). <IMAGE>

Description

A SECURITY CLIP FOR RETAINING A GLAZING ME#MBER IN A FRAME This invention relates to a security clip for retaining a glazing member in a frame.

Glazing members such for example as sealed units are often held in frames by beads. It may occur that burglars wishing to gain entrance to premises may attempt to remove the glazing member by removing the beads.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, this invention provides a security clip for retaining a glazing member in a frame, which security clip comprises a first end portion for abutting against a face of the glazing member, an intermediate portion for extending adjacent an edge of the glazing member, and a second end portion which extends back towards the first end portion and at an angle to the intermediate portion, the security clip being such that the second end portion is able to be forced towards the intermediate portion for the purpose of inserting the security clip in position in the frame, whereafter the second end portion is able to spring away from the intermediate portion and to locate behind an abutment member in the frame in order to retain the glazing member in the frame.

The security clip of the present invention has several uses. The main use of the security clip is for security. Once the glazing member is held in position in the frame with several of the security clips, it is very difficult to remove the glazing member even if the beads normally retaining the glazing member in position are removed. The clips cannot easily be compressed together for removal purposes and, whilst it is possible to remove the security clips with difficulty for authorised maintenance or repair work, time is taken to remove the security clips and potential burglars do not usually have available time.

A second advantageous use of the security clip is that it facilitates installatiovn of the glazing member in the frame. Often persons installing the glazing member in the frame may be standing on a ladder and it is usually a two person job to insert the glazing member in the frame and then to locate the beads in position. With the security clip of the present invention, it is possible for one person to locate the glazing member in the frame and to then push in position one or more of the clips to hold the glazing member in the frame. The person is then able to have both hands free for the purpose of fixing the beads in position.

A third advantageous use of the security clip is that as it is pushed in position, due to its springy nature, it clicks into position and this gives a positive sound and a positive feel to persons using the security clip.

Preferably, two of the security clips are located at the top of the frame and two of the security clips are located at the bottom of the frame. More or less security clips may however be employed. Also, if desired, the security clips may be located along the sides of the frame as an alternative to or in addition to locating the security clips at the top and bottom of the frame.

The security clips will usually be inserted from the outside of the frame since potential burglars wishing to gain entry into a building will be on the outside of the building and will thus be attacking the frame from the outside. If desired, for example for reasons of convenience of installation, the security clips may also be inserted on the inside of the frame.

Usually, the first end portion will extend substantially at right angles to the intermediate portion.

Preferably, the security clip includes a pair of lugs which are positioned on the intermediate portion adjacent the first end portion and which extend substantially in the opposite direction to the first end portion.

The use of the pair of lugs helps to securely locate the security clip in position. If a potential burglar should endeavour to pull on the glazing member, it might be that the security clip could tend to twist in some frames. The lugs act to prevent this twisting and thus act to prevent the pulling out of the glazing member by causing the security clip to tilt such that the second end portion comes free of the abutment member.

Usually, the security clip will be made of metal.

A presently preferred metal is spring steel. The security clip may however be made of other suitable and appropriate materials such for example as some plastics materials. Metal is presently preferred since it is easily cut and bent to shape. The glazing member may be a sealed unit. Thus, for example, the glazing member may be a doubled glazed sealed unit or a triple glazed sealed unit. If desired, the glazing member may also be a single sheet of glass.

The frame will usually be an extruded frame. Thus the frame may be made of a plastics material such for example as uPVC. Alternatively, the frame may be made of a metal such for example as aluminium. Any desired and suitable material may be used for the frame.

The frame may form part of a window, a patio door or a residential door. The patio door will usually be a sliding door and the residential door will usually be a hinged door. Other arrangements may however be employed.

Generally, the security clip may be used with any glazed unit which is held in position by beads.

The present invention also extends to the combination of a glazing member in a frame, the glazing member being held in position by one or more of the security clips.

The glazing member will usually also be held in position by one or more beads as mentioned above. Also as mentioned above, the glazing member can be a window, a patio door or a residential door.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a view showing a cross section through a horizontal member and a vertical member forming part of a frame; Figure 2 is an isometric view of a security clip used in the frame shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of a piece of material prior to being formed into the security clip shown in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a side view of the piece of material shown in Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a security clip 2 located in a bottom horizontal member 4 of a frame 6.

There is also shown a security clip 2 located in a vertical member 8 of the frame 6. The horizontal member 4 and the vertical member 8 are both shown in cross section.

The horizontal member 4 may be regarded as a transom and the vertical member 8 may be regarded as a mullion.

The frame 6 is of standard construction and it is made of uPVC. The frame holds a double glazed sealed unit 10. The sealed unit 10 comprises an inner sheet of glass 12, an outer sheet of glass 14, an aluminium sheath spacer member 16 and a rubber sealing member 18. The sealed unit 10 is basically of a standard known construction.

The sealed unit 10 is held in position on its inside by a gasket 20. The gasket 20 has a bead portion 22 which locates in a groove 24 in the frame 6.

The outside of the sealed unit 10 is held in position by a bead 26. The bead 26 has a main extruded plastics portion 28 which clips under shoulders 30, 32 in the frame 6. The bead 26 also comprises a sealing strip 34 which rests against the outer sheet of glass 14 and which is usually made of the same type of rubber material as the gasket 20. For ease of illustration and understanding, the bead 26 has only been shown in position on the horizontal member 4 and it has not been shown in position on the vertical member 8.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the security clip 2 comprises a first end portion 36 for abutting against a face 38 of the outer sheet of glass 14. The security clip 2 further comprises an intermediate portion 40 for extending adjacent an edge 42, 44 of the sealed unit 10.

The security clip 2 further comprises a second end portion 46 which extends back towards the first end portion 36 and at an angle to the intermediate portion 40 as can best be seen from Figure 1.

The security clip 2 is such that the second end portion 46 is able to be forced towards the intermediate portion 40 for the purpose of inserting the security clip 2 in position in the frame 6. As the security clip 2 is pushed into position, the second end portion 46 springs away from the intermediate portion 40 and locates behind an abutment member 48 forming part of the frame 6. Thus, even if the bead 26 is removed, the sealed unit 10 cannot be pulled out of the frame 6 because the second end portion 46 will merely abut against the abutment member 48.

The security clip 2 is such that the first end portion 36 extends substantially at right angles to the intermediate portion 40 as shown. The second end portion 46 may make any desired and appropriate angle with the intermediate portion 40. Very approximately, the first end portion 36 may be one third of the length of the intermediate portion 40. Also very approximately, the second end portion 46 may be two thirds the length of the intermediate portion 40.

The security clip 2 is provided with a pair of lugs 50 which are positioned as shown on the intermediate portion 40 and which extend substantially in the opposite direction to the first end portion 36. The lugs 50 tend to engage the abutment member 48 if an attempt is made to pull the sealed unit 10 out of the frame 6. The engagement of the lugs 50 with the abutment member 48 stops twisting of the security clip 2 if an attempt is made to pull the sealed unit 10 out of the frame 6. By avoiding the twisting, the second end portion 46 is prevented from riding over the abutment member 48. Thus the lugs 50 make the security clip 2 a good secure fit in the frame 6, even when attempts are being made to pull the sealed unit 10 out of the frame 6.

The security clip 2 is made from spring steel which is preferably spring stainless steel. Other materials may however be employed.

In addition to holding the sealed unit 10 securely in position in the frame 4, the security clips 2 can initially hold the sealed unit 10 in position on blocks (not shown) in the frame 6 prior to locating the beads 26 in position. This enables a single person to instal the sealed unit 10, whereas two persons are usually required, at least at the stage where the sealed unit 10 is to be offered up to the frame 6 and the beads 26 located all around the frame 6.

Figures 3 and 4 show the shape of a steel block 52 which can then be bent to form the security clip 2.

Preferred measurements in millimetres are shown in Figures 3 and 4 although other measurements may be employed if desired.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the lugs 50 may be positioned away from the first end portion 36 of the security clip 2.

Claims (6)

1. A security clip for retaining a glazing member in a frame, which security clip comprises a first end portion for abutting against a face of the glazing member, an intermediate portion for extending adjacent an edge of the glazing member, and a second end portion which extends back towards the first end portion and at an angle to the intermediate portion, the security clip being such that the second end portion is able to be forced towards the intermediate portion for the purpose of inserting the security clip in position in the frame, whereafter the second end portion is able to spring away from the intermediate portion and to locate behind an abutment member in the frame in order to retain the glazing member in the frame.

2. A security clip according to claim 1 in which the first end portion extends substantially at right angles to the intermediate portion.

3. A security clip according to claim 1 or claim 2 and including a pair of lugs which are positioned on the intermediate portion adjacent the first end portion and which extend substantially in the opposite direction to the first end portion.

4. A security clip for retaining a glazing member in a frame, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

5. The combination of a glazing member in a frame, the glazing member being held in position by one or more of the security clips as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

6. The combination according to claim 5 in which the glazing member is also held in position by one or more beads.