GB2531877A

GB2531877A - Security device

Info

Publication number: GB2531877A
Application number: GB1514427.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Zimmer Mark
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-08-26
Filing date: 2015-08-13
Publication date: 2016-05-04
Also published as: GB201514427D0; GB201415086D0

Abstract

A security device for reinforcing the closed state of a latch with a moveable espagnolette projection engaging with a keep attached to a window or door frame, comprising a slider 1 movable by the espagnolette projection, the slider having an aperture 7 or indent at an edge for its movement by the espagnolette projection, at least one slot 8 for receiving a fixture to secure the slider to the sash or door and at least one engagement element 2 6. At least one fixed member 4 is fixed to the window or door frame having one or more holders 3 complementary to the engagement elements. When the slider is moved by the projection the engagement elements engage the holders on the fixed member thus actually as an additional locking means. The engagement element may be a tang, and may be integral with the slider. The fixed members may be pressed loops or hooks.

Description

SECURITY DEVICE

The present invention relates to a security device for reinforcing the closed state of a latch, in particular though not exclusively for windows and doors.

uPVC, as opposed to wooden, windows have comparatively weak latches. Typically, these comprise a pair of espagnolette projections which are slidable with their backing strips longitudinally, by a handle, at the edge of an opening sash for engagement in a corresponding pair of keeps. The keeps are normally die cast and as such are weak.

In this specification, the following terminology is used: "window frame" means a frame fixable in a window aperture in a wall. A door frame has an analogous meaning; "head" means a top normally horizontal member of a window frame; "sill" means a bottom normally horizontal member of a window frame; " jamb" means a normally vertical side member of a window frame. Each frame normally has two jambs; "mullion" means a normally vertical central member of a window frame; "sash" means an openable frame fitting and normally side, top or bottom hinged, within an opening in a window frame; "stile" means a normally vertical side member of a sash. Each sash normally has two stiles "profile" means a cross-sectional shape of a frame, sash or like member, normally of extruded uPVC, machined wood and metal; "projection" means a plain lug, mushroom cam or roller cam projection which is slidable with a backing strip or bar longitudinally, by means of a handle, at a stile of a sash for engagement in a keep on a jamb or mullion of a window frame.

The uPVC window sashes and doors normally fit at least partially into rebates in the frame members surrounding their openings. The profiles of the sash and doors members normally provide outer lips or rims abutting the window frame.

This invention is also applicable to French windows, that is windows normally having two door sized sashes. In this instance, analogous terminology is used.

As mentioned above, uPVC sashes and doors are usually secured with espagnolette projections. These are obscured by the outer lip or rim of the sash or door over laying the frame jambs or mullion with which the stile engages when the sash or door is closed. The jambs or mullion or indeed the stile of a pair of French window sashes is provided with keeps having over-hung slots or recessed te sockets in which the corresponding projections engage.

Such securement arrangements, even where the handles are provided with locks, are vulnerable to a jemmy or the like used to lever the sash open by engagement between the outer frame and the sash lip or rim either disengaging the espagnolette projections from the keeps or fracturing them.

The object of the present invention is to provide a security device for reinforcing the closed state of a latch.

According to the invention there is provided a security device for reinforcing 20 the closed state of a latch having an espagnolette projection movable at the edge of a window sash or a door for engagement with a keep attached to a window frame or door frame, the security device comprising: * a slider movable by the espagnolette projection, the slider having: * an aperture or indent at one of its edges for its movement by the espagnolette projection, * at least one slot for retention of the slider on the sash or door with a fixture in the slot and * at least one engagement element and * at least one fixed member to be fixed to the window or door frame having one or more holder(s) complementary to the or each respective engagement element for reinforcing the closed state of the sash or door with respect to the frame, when the slider is moved, by the projection in a latch closure action, to engage the element(s) with the fixed member.

The security device is adapted to be used with new windows or retro-fitted to existing windows.

Whilst the engagement member will normally be a formation of the slider it can be a tang added to the slider. Whilst the slider could have only one slot for one retaining fixture, preferably it has two slots on respective opposite sides of the aperture or indent. Conveniently the or each slot is sized to receive a screw fixture holding the locking strip to the sash or door.

The aperture can be aligned with the slots along the length of the slider. However in certain embodiments, the aperture can be offset from alignment with the slots. In other embodiments, other fixtures can be used in the slots for retaining the slidable member on the sash or door. Such an arrangement is suitable where an indent is provided in the slider in place of a slot. Conveniently two apertures or indents can be used for flexibility in use with various designs of latch.

Normally two engagement tangs will be provided one at each end of the slider. They can be formed by bending projections integral with either the ends of the slider or with the sides of it at the ends. It can also be envisaged that the tangs could be loops.

The fixed members can be pressed loops or hooks. They and the tangs can have returned lips for enhancing security.

To help understanding of the invention, various specific embodiments thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a slider of a security device in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a fixed member for use with the slider of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional end view of the members inter-engaged in securing a window sash to its frame; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a slider of a second security device in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a fixed member for the second security device; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 of the members of the second security device engaged with each other; Figure 7 is an end view of a window mullion fitted with keeps to co-operate with the lock; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a window sash with a lock fitted at its stile; Figure 9 is an end view similar to Figure 8 with fixed members of Figure 2 fitted; and Figure 10 Is an end view of the sash of Figure 7 with the slider of Figure 1 fitted; Figure 11 is a slider with multiple engagement tangs at the distal ends Figure 12 is a fixed member for use with the slider of Figure 11; Figure 13 is a cross-sectional end view of members inter-engaged in securing a window sash to its frame; Figure 14 is a slider with an added engagement member which engages with its respective fixed member.

Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings show a security device having a thin rectangular sliderl formed as a steel pressing, suitably stainless or plated. It has four engagement tangs 2, a respective one formed at each edge and each end of the pressing, for engaging with holders 3 of a fixed member pressing 4.

The engagement tangs 2 of the slider are folded upwards from a rectangular flat 5 of the member and bent inwards at a right angle to form hooks 6. The flat has two circular apertures 7 spaced apart from each other at the centre of the flat 5, the apertures being for moving the slider, and two extended slots 8 for retaining the slider on a window sash for instance.

The fixed member is a shorter, narrower, fixture pressing with bent up and out lips 9, half way along the pressing. It has fixture apertures 10. Use of the device is described below with reference for Figures 7 to 10.

Figures 4 to 6 show an alternative fixed member 30, having tangs 31 bent up from the ends of the flat 32 with one extending back over the flat and one extending on beyond the flat. The flat is provided with apertures 33 and retaining screw slots 34. The corresponding fixed member 35 is a short length of rectangular section tube sized to receive the tangs 31. The fixed members are cross drilled for fixture screws. The members are fitted and operate in like manner to those of Figures 1 to 3.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, a conventional double-glazed PVC extrusion window has a sash 11 and a frame 12, only partially shown. The sash has a conventional lever 13 operated latch which is connected via a spindle to a gearbox let into the stile 15. The gearbox has gears for meshing in racket and pinion manner, with a bar 14 extending along the stile. Two espagnolette projections 16 are slidable axially of the bar by the handle. When the sash is closed, hey engage keeps (which can be a light alloy moulding) 17 on a mullion 18 in the jamb 19. The keeps are the weak point as regards security of the window. Often they can be broken by levering the sash open with a gemmy. (It should be noted that keeps usually have six slots for receiving a projection. Two only are shown in Figures 8 & 10, for simplicity.) In order to reinforce the closed state of the latch and to make it more secure, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, two fixed members 4 are screwed to the mullion 18 of the frame. The slider 1 is movably secured to the stile 15 by screws 20 normally retaining the bar 14, with one of the projections 16 engaging in one of the apertures 7. In practice two sliders can be fitted -one at each projection. Operation of the handle 13 moves the slider longitudinally of the stile with the projections, outwards from the gearbox, one up and one down along the stile. These in turn move the members longitudinally of the stile with the projections. Once the window is closed, as the projections engage with the inner slots of their respective keeps, at the same time the tangs 2 of the sliders engage with the holders 3 of their respective fixed members, as shown in Figure 3. This strengthens the security of the window by increasing the difficulty with which it can be broken open with a jemmy from outside.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiments. For instance as indicated in Figure 4, the flat 32 can be provided with a side tab 40, having projection apertures 41. The tab can be on either side and can be provided with cut-outs 42 open to the edge of the tab, as opposed to closed apertures. The ends 43 of the tangs can be tapered to easy entry of them into the holders in case of any misalignment. Further additional or alternative tangs can be provided at intermediate ends of the slider, as in Figures 11 and 12, which show a slider 50 and a fixed member 51 with multiple engagement tangs 53 at the distal ends.

As shown in Figure 13, the holders 55 of the slider 54 and the lips 57 of the fixed member 56 can be bent to acute angles to enable them to inter-lock when 10 engaged.

As shown in Figure 14, the slider 58 can be provided with a mushroom head engagement member 59 and the fixed member 60 can be provided with a complementary engagement slot 61.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A security device for reinforcing the closed state of a latch having an espagnolette projection movable at the edge of a window sash or a door for engagement with a keep attached to a window frame or door frame, the security device comprising: * a slider movable by the espagnolette projection, the slider having: * an aperture or indent at one of its edges for its movement by the espagnolette projection, * at least one slot for retention of the slider on the sash or door with a fixture in the slot and * at least one engagement element and * at least one fixed member to be fixed to the window or door frame having one or more holder(s) complementary to the or each respective engagement element for reinforcing the closed state of the sash or door with respect to the frame, when the slider is moved, by the projection in a latch closure action, to engage the element(s) with the fixed member.
2. A security device according to claim I, wherein the device is adapted to be used with new windows or retro-fitted to existing windows.
3. A security device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the engagement member is a formation of the slider.
4. A security device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the engagement member is a tang added to the slider.
5. A security device according to claim 4, wherein two engagement tangs are added to the slider, one at each end of the slider.
6. A security device according to claim 5, wherein the tangs are formed by bending projections integral with either the ends of the slider or with the sides of it at the ends.
7. A security device according to claim 4, claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the or each tang has a returned lips for enhancing security.
8. A security device according to claim 5, wherein the tangs are loops.
9. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the slider has two slots on respective opposite sides of the aperture or indent.
10. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the or each slot is sized to receive a screw fixture holding the locking strip to the sash or door.
11. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the aperture is aligned with the slots along the length of the slider or the aperture is offset from alignment with the slots.
12. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the slider has two apertures or indents.
13. A security device according to any preceding claim, wherein the fixed members are pressed loops or hooks.
14. A security device according to claim 13, wherein the fixed members have returned lips for enhancing security.