GB2310449A - Lockable turnbuckle blocking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A security device for use with a window or door comprises a base (2) adapted for fixing to the window or door adjacent its frame, or vice versa, and a latch bar (8) pivotally mounted on the base (2). The latch bar (8) is movable between an operative position, in which opening of the window or door is prevented, and an inoperative position in which the window or door may be opened. A separable blocking device (12) is lockably engageable with the base (2) when the latch bar (8) is in the operative position to prevent movement of the latch bar (8) to the inoperative position.

Description

Title This invention relates to a security device for use with windows or doors.

Security is a matter of increasing concern in residential and commercial properties. Potentially weak points in the security of any building are the window and door openings, and there is therefore considerable interest in the provision of devices which prevent or inhibit unauthorised opening of windows or doors.

One simple form of device which has been proposed comprises a pivotally mounted latch bar.

When used with, for example, an inwardly opening hinged window, the device is secured to the window frame such that when the window is closed the latch bar may be pivoted through 90" so as to engage the window sash and prevent opening of the window. Similarly, for an outwardly opening window, the device is secured to the sash such that the bar can be pivoted to engage the window frame.

Devices of the type described are effective, but suffer from the disadvantage that an intruder can relatively easily disengage the latch bar, for example by breaking the window, and hence the window can be opened.

There has now been devised an improved form of security device for use with windows or doors which overcomes or substantially mitigates the above-mentioned disadvantage.

According to the invention, a security device for use with a window or door panel movable within a frame between opened and closed positions comprises a base adapted for fixing to the panel adjacent the frame, or vice versa, a latch bar mounted pivotally on the base for pivotal movement between an operative position in which opening of the panel is prevented and an inoperative position in which the panel may be opened, and a blocking device lockably engageable with the base unit when the latch bar is in the operative position to prevent movement of the latch bar to the inoperative position.

The security device according to the invention is advantageous primarily in that it is simple and easy to use, yet provides considerably enhanced security to doors and windows to which it is fitted. The device may normally be used without the blocking device, the latch bar providing added security whilst not representing a serious impediment to egress, eg in the event of an emergency. When desired, for example if the residents are to be absent from a property for a prolonged period, the blocking device may be engaged with the base to further increase the security of the door or window.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a security device according to the invention in an operative position, with no blocking device fitted; Figure 2 is a view on arrow II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view on arrow III in Figure 1; Figures 4 to 6 are views similar to Figures 1 to 3, but with a blocking device fitted; Figure 7 is a side view of a blocking device and key; Figure 8 is a view on arrow VIII in Figure 7; Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view on the line IX-IX in Figure 8, with the key omitted; and Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a base unit forming part of the device of Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure 1, a security device (generally designated 1) for use with, for example, a hinged window comprises a diecast zinc alloy base 2 provided with two fixing holes 4,6 by which the base 2 may be secured to the window sash or frame, as required, using conventional screw fixings. In use, one fixing hole 6 may be closed by a plastics plug 7 (see Figure 4) for improved appearance. Pivotally mounted on the base 2 is a latch bar 8, again diecast from zinc alloy. The latch bar 8 is rotatable from the operative position shown in Figure 1 along the direction of the curved arrow to an inoperative position in which the latch bar 8 is aligned with the base unit 2. From the inoperative position, the latch bar 8 may be rotated through 90 in either direction, the angular range of movement thus being 1800. Rotation of the latch bar 8 beyond this range is prevented by the edges of an upstand 2a formed integrally with one end of the base unit 2.

For use on an inwardly opening window (or door) the base unit 2 is fixed to the window frame adjacent the opening sash. When the latch bar 8 is rotated to the operative position it prevents opening of the sash. As shown most clearly in Figure 3, a plastics plug 10 is fitted to the underside of the latch bar 8, eg by having a projection with a friction fit with a blind bore in the underside ofthe latch bar 8. The depth ofthe plug 10 is chosen such that it matches the spacing between the surface of the window sash and the underside of the latch bar 8. A variety of different sizes of plug 10 may be supplied with the device 1.

In normal use, the device 1 may be used without a blocking device 12 shown in Figures 4 to 6.

When the window is closed, the latch bar 8 is rotated to the operative position, thereby preventing forced opening of the window. Nonetheless, in the event of, for example, emergency egress being necessary, the latch bar 8 is quickly and easily rotated to the inoperative position.

For added security, the device 1 may be used in conjunction with the blocking device 12, as depicted in Figures 4 to 6. The blocking device 12 is shown in greater detail in Figures 7 to 9, from which it can be seen that the blocking device 12 comprises a body 14, again diecast in zinc alloy, with a generally central cavity which houses a rotatable, downwardly depending and generally cylindrical barrel 16, the lower end of which carries a pair of diametrically disposed locking lugs 18. The barrel 16 is captivated within the cavity by a closure plate 20 which is retained by crimping over two downwardly depending ribs 15 formed on the underside of the body 14. A spring washer 22 is interposed between the upper surface of the barrel 16 and the underside of the cavity in the body 14 to create a frictional engagement between those two components which inhibits rotation ofthe barrel 16 within the cavity.

A keyhole 24 is formed in the upper surface of the body 14 through which the tip of a key 26 may be inserted to engage a correspondingly formed recess 28 in the upper surface of the barrel 16. The barrel 16 can thus be rotated by insertion ofthe tip ofthe key 26 into the recess 28 and rotation ofthe key 26. The range of rotation ofthe barrel 16 is restricted to 90 by engagement of a peripheral projection on the head of the barrel 16 with a corresponding formation on the internal face of the cavity in the body 14.

As can be seen from Figure 1, one of the fixing holes 4, is formed with a pair of diametrically opposed channels 5. The channels 5 extend approximately one-half the depth of the base unit 2 (see Figure 10) and then extend as arcuate channels Sa (shown as hidden detail in Figure 1) around the fixing hole 4, each arcuate channel 5a subtending approximately 90".

With the key 26 inserted and rotated anti-clockwise to the greatest possible extent, and the latch bar 8 in the operative position, the barrel 16 has the orientation shown in Figure 7, with the lugs 18 extending transversely. The barrel 16 can then be inserted into the channels 5 and the blocking device 12 engaged with the base unit 2. The body 14 has a pair of downwardlydepending skirts 30 which lie adjacent the sides of the base unit 2 and prevent rotation of the blocking device 12. By turning of the key 26 through 90 , the lugs 18 pass into the arcuate channels 5a and the key 26 can be removed from the blocking device 12. The blocking device 12 is thus secured to the base unit 2 and prevents rotation of the latch bar 4.

When it is desired to remove the blocking device 12 from the base unit 2, the key 26 is inserted into the keyhole 24 and rotated clockwise through 90 . As well as releasing the blocking device 12 from the base unit 2, this action captivates the tip ofthe key 26 in the blocking device 12, enabling the blocking device 12 and key 26 to be stored together and reducing the likelihood of the key 26 being mislaid.

Claims (13)

Claims

1. A security device for use with a window or door panel movable within a frame between opened and closed positions comprises a base adapted for fixing to the panel adjacent the frame, or vice versa, a latch bar mounted pivotally on the base for pivotal movement between an operative position in which opening of the panel is prevented and an inoperative position in which the panel may be opened, and a blocking device lockably engageable with the base unit when the latch bar is in the operative position to prevent movement of the latch bar to the inoperative position.

2. A security device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the blocking device comprises a body housing a rotatable barrel, an exposed end of the barrel having locking formations adapted to engage the base when the latch bar is in the operative position.

3. A security device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the locking formations are a pair of diametrically opposed lugs.

4. A security device as claimed in claim 2, wherein engagement and disengagement of the blocking device with the base is carried out using a key.

5. A security device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the blocking device has an opening through which the tip of a key may be inserted to engage a corresponding recess in the barrel.

6. A security device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the key is captivated in the blocking device when the blocking device is disengaged from the base, and the key is removable from the blocking device when the blocking device is engaged with the base.

7. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the blocking device has depending skirts which overlie the base to prevent rotation of the blocking device on the base.

8. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the latch bar carries a plug of plastics material with a depth chosen to match the spacing between the underside of the latch bar and the surface of the window or door panel or frame when the latch bar is in the operative position.

9. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the latch bar is pivotable from the inoperative position through 90O in either direction, when the blocking device is disengaged from the base.

10. A security device as claimed in claim 9, wherein pivoting movement of the latch bar is limited by an upstand formed integrally with the base.

11. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base is provided with fixing holes by which the base may be secured to the door or window panel or frame using screws.

12. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base latch bar and/or the blocking device comprise diecast metal.

13. A security device substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying Figures.