AU681560B1 - Securing device - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Related Art: Name of Applicant: Bacoz Developments Pty Ltd Actual Inventor(s): Brian Arthur Cook Address for Service: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Invention Title: SECURING DEVICE Our Ref 464887 POF Code: 286626/286626 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 4 II -2- SECURING DEVICE TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a securing means and in particular to a sliding bar type securing means which of itself may be employed in a form suitable for use as a simple fastening means for attachment to a door, window, gate, drawer or other usually movable structure for locking the structure to an adjacent structure or employed as a component driven or actuated by another mechanism, alternatively actuating or driving another mechanism, or employed as a component integral to another mechanism.

BACKGROUND

Known fastening means include a bolt which slides within a mounting means for the bolt between a retracted and a projected position. The mounting means may be a housing, or series of saddles or bolt guides and generally the bolt includes a handle or knob for manually manipulating the bolt relative to its mounting means, Movement of the bolt behvtween its retracted and projected positions is linear in the direction of its longitudinal axis, although in some forms it is known to impart rotational movement, usually of about 90 0 to the bolt whilst it is at its retracted or its projected position for locating the bolt in a blocking position relative to its mounting means, or for moving it to an unblocking position to allow its linear movement between a retracted and projected position.

The frictional forces involved with the sliding motion of these known bolts in the housing or guides for the bolt can be quite large and thus render it difficult to slide the bolt between its retracted and projected positions. Wear of the parts due to friction is also uneven as it mostly occurs at the contacting surfaces.

An object of the present invention is to provide a versatile securing device which allows for a reduction in the frictional forces encountered by the sliding of an elongate member in a mounting means. Hereinafter the term "bar" is to be read as meaning "elongate member".

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ASTEN DOC DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the invention there is provided a securing device including at least one member (herein referred to as a "movable member"), which has a longitudinal axis of a length greater than dimensions of the movable member laterally of said axis, and means for mounting the at least one movable member for movement, wherein the movable member and the means for mounting the movable member include cooperative means for guiding the motion of the at least one movable member, and wherein the cooperative means includes: at least one formation, comprising a recess or aperture which at least in part forms a groove, slot, profiled edge or other suitable configuration, and at least one guiding means, comprising a pin, projection or other suitable means, for engaging at least in part with the formation, whereby said movement involves travel of the at least one movable member relative to said mounting means from a starting position to a position which achiev',s a resultant longitudinal displacement, resultant rotational displacement on said axis or a resultant longitudinal and rotational displacement on said axis of the at least one movable member, and whereby the at least one movable member in moving relatively between the two positions is constrained such that it undergoes at least in part synchronous longitudinal and rotational movement.

The invention involves imparting rotational movement to the movable member. That member preferably has an elongate form (such as a bar which, in some instances, is also referred to as an "elongate member" or a "bolt") The rotational movement is imparted in moving it to and from, for example, its retracted or projected positions such that a component of rolling friction, rather than only ego sliding friction as in the prior art, is involved in the movement. Indeed, the invention is a departure from conventional thought wherein efforts are made in the design and manufacture of slide bolts to limit the amount of rotation. This is because allowing for freedom of rotation of the bolt may compromise the utility or locking function of the fastening device in that there is an increased likelihood the bolt may slip from its retracted or projected position. That is, the surety of retention of the bolt at either of its positions would be removed. In specific 'IR embodiments of the invention, to be described below, provision is m1de for positive retention of the bar of the device at either end of its travel, the imparting of a rotational component to its movement to either end of its travel.

It will be appreciated that the resultant spiral action of the bar due to its simultaneous rotational and sliding movement makes it easier to operate the bar and more evenly distributes the wear on the components and thus improves the durability of the fastening means. The extent of the rotation of the bar may vary from a few degrees to 3600 or more, depending on the particular field of application of the invention. For example, it might vary from say 10° to 380°.

The elongate member may comprise a series of operatively linked sections, these links may permanent or temporary (such that the links can be separated), for example a chain comprisiFr plates and jointing pins, which may be guided i

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-4through an arcuate mounting means or a similar adjacent but separate component. The jointing between the links may be a unitary or universal jointing depending upon the nature of the links and the arcuate forms it is desirable that the member operatively achieve. The motion of one link relation to another may be a direct relationship or may involve a lost motion coupling or involve a time delay. Alternatively, the member may be a cable or wire or other suitable component which due to its innate flexibility may approximate or exceed the operational characteristics ascribed to a series of operatively linked sections.

An elongate member may include a universal coupling or be operatively joined to another component or device by a universal coupling. The coupling may involve direct transfer of motion or may involve a loss of motion and/or a time delay in transferring that motion.

Within the one mounting means there may be more than one elongate member, either operating separately or together. If operatively connected, the operation of each may be in unison or there may be a lost motion connection. In the former case, for example, two members might be ganged together, whether or not their motion or resultant linear or rotational displacement is in the same plane or direction, so that the action of the members is either complimentary or supplementary depending upon the arrangement of the respective guiding means.

In the latter case, for example, a lost motion coupling between two members would cause a sequential operation to eventuate, thus, a device operatively connected to one member could be operated before a device connected to the other member. Arrangements on these principles may vary considerably in their complexity and involve a securing device including a number of members, which may also be operatively connected to other securing devices and/or to other devices and/or, mechanisms or components.

All portions of the elongate member may share the same axial alignment or some portions may be in different alignments. For example, there would be economies in manufacture to employ a portion of the member as a guiding means in the operation of the device, by bending one end of the member at a right angle to the remaining portion of the member. Alternatively, one end of the member might have an angled bend with whiich another component operatively connects, DG C\W1NWORDDEULAWPROVAST'N OC I I- thus, imparting a lateral motion to the member which in turn by virtue of the guiding means is translated into rotary and linear motion. Another example, would involve the forming of a crank at one or the other of the ends to achieve similar advantages. Alternatively, a double crank may be included in an intermediate portion of the member, so as to form a saddle for the imparting of motion. In general, the overall shape or configuration of the member may be of any suitable form for a particular application in so far as it allows the essential functionality of the invention.

Preerlthe bar and the means for mounting it include co-operative means for guiding the motion of the bar. Thus in one particular embodiment the means for mounting the bar may be a housing and the co-operative means may comprise a groove or slot in the housing an'd a pin or the like on the bar for engaging in the groove or slot. In this embodiment, the groove or slot may be profiled as desired to impart a desired motion to the bar, for example the groove or slot may be linear (and thus at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the bar to provide the rotational component of movement), or arcuate, or be composed of linear and/or arcuate sections. In another embodiment the pin may be located in a housing or other mounting means and the slot or groove included in the bar.

The invention encompasses any configuration of the groove or slot that imparts a, rotational movement to the bar as part of its motion between its two positions and this movement need not be constant either in rate or direction.

The co-operative means for guiding the motion of the bar may also provide for a reciprocating movement of the bar that includes a rotational component for "•each reciprocation. For example, for a pin and groove or slot arrangement, the groove or slot may be shaped to some extent like a thus providing four reciprocations, each of which involves at least some rotation of the bar.

Alternatively the co-operative means may be a profile associated with the bar mounting means against which an element of the bar is cammed to impart the o desired linear and rotational movement. A similar but obverse embodiment may have the profile contained within the bar against which a portion of the housing may be cammed.

I -6- A further embodiment may have more than one groove or profile or a combination of a groove and profile or a combination of more than one groove and/or profile, such that at an intermediate position during the travel of the bar, the body or the bar (as the case may be) may cease to be affected by at least one of these and become affected by another. In another embodiment the bar or the body may have more than one camming element for affecting the motion and/or travel of the bar, which elements may be affected by the same groove or profile or by a combination of different grooves and profiles.

In a preferred form of the invention, it is provided that a circular or elliptical bar may be contained within suitable mounting means. However, in other forms of the invention, the use of polygonal shaped bars is available in so far as they can be made to operate in a manner described by the invention. The bar may be of solid material or a hollow section. it may be of constant diameter or contain different diameters and cross sections depending on the particular application.

Similarly, the bar may be as long or as short as required by each particular application. For example, as a part of an independent securing device, the bar may be of a length which at some point in its operation extends beyond its mounting means, although this need not necessarily be the case. Whereas, if mounted within a larger mechanism or assembly, the lineal action of a securing device may not be of great consequence in its utility to the mechanism of which it forms a component part, thus the bar may be very short. The only limiting factor p.

I *on either the longness or shortness of the bar being an entirely practical consideration of achieving the required rotary and linear motion when using the bar.

S 25 Preferably the means for mounting the bar includes an element or elements for retaining the bar at either end of its travel or at one or more intermediate positions. In an embodiment that includes a housing having a groove or slot and a bar having a pin that moves along the groove or slot, the element for retaining the bar at either end or an intermediate position may be a divergent part of the groove or slot, or a notch or the like, within which the pin seats to provide the bar retention function. Alternatively the bar retention element(s) could be an external component.

OG C WNWORDOEULJPROWASTEN DOC r -7- In one preferred form the bar is biased to one end of its travel. A means for biasing the bar into this position may comprise a spring within a housing within which the bar is moved. Thus the bar is moved to the opposite end of its travel against the spring bias. Such a spring could, for example, be a helical compression spring. It will be realised that an embodiment of the invention that includes this preferred feature may have an element for retaining a bar only at said opposite end of its travel. In another preferred form the bar is biased in the opposite direction and may have a bar retaining element at an opposite position.

Other biasing arrangements for the bar are also possible. For example, a bias means in the form of a frictional leaf spring or the like could be provided.

Alternatively, a counterweight effected either by the mass of the bar or by a separate component could be provided. Semi-automatic movement of the bar may also be combined with an asynchronous action for separate portions of the bar (which asynchronous action is described in more detail below and wherein the separate bar portions may include a guide pin section and a projecting section of the bar) and may involve the use of a compression spring to drive one section (eg.

the projecting section) forward under pressure from the other section (eg. the guide pin section) to overcome the resistance of an opposed compression spring.

Retraction would occur when the guide pin section is moved, thus reducing the effect of the first compression spring.

In an embodiment of the invention in which the securing device is a .oo.

fastening device having a bar which retracts into and alternatively projects from a mounting means, the bar may be biased into its retracted position. This embodiment is particularly suitable for use on fire rated doors. For example, it 25 may be used to fasten the secondary leaf of fire rated doors on plant rooms, or fire rated doors or hinged hatches on ducts and similar service walkways and stairwells. That is, a fastening device which is so biased can be designed for the bar to fail in its projected position wherein, in the event of a fire, the bias means (which may be a compression spring) will soften and gravity and inertia will ensure that the bar remains projected such that the door or hatch to which it is fitted will remain fastened.

Do CA\ NWORDEULLAWROVTASTEN DOC II-I I rll-~ -8- The bar may be manually operable in which case, in the above described embodiments including a pin associated with the bar for guiding movement of the bar according to the profile of a groove or slot, the pin may constitute or comprise part of a handle means which projects through an appropriately shaped slot in a housing for the bar. Alternatively the bar may include a handle means that is separate from the pin.

It is also possible for the bar to be operable other than manually, for example by a biased element and/or by an electromagnetic or electromechanical means. The invention includes arrangements wherein the bar may be operated by any suitable external member, whether this be an operator's hand, or foot, or a door frame, a strike, a lock bolt or latch bolt, or any other fixed or movable component that is part of an animal, person, lock, door or machine. A fastening device according to the invention can be an independent device or a slave device subject to the action of another mechanism. The invention also includes use of the device to drive another component, mechanism, electromechanical device or the like.

The bar of the invention may also comprise a compound structure having at least two portions. In one embodiment, one portion and the means for mounting the bar include co-operative means for guiding the motion of that one portion both linearly and rotationally which in turn moves the other portion to the projected position. The movement of the two portions may be synchronous, or it may be asynchronous wherein the two portions may include a "lost motion" interconnection. For example, the movement of the first portion could be translated into a compressive force upon a bias element such that the potential for projection of the bar is maintained by the compression of the bias element until an opportunity for the second portion of the bar to enter a socket in a frame is see* presented. In another embodiment the bar may have an anti-friction component which may assist in the engagement of an end of the bar with a strike plate and improve the direct application of the device as a panic exit device for example. A further embodiment may include the introduction of a simple or compound bearing component at either end or at an intermediate position within or mounted onto the bar, thereby improving its engagement with a strike, an actuating component of OG C XWINWORD\DELILAIPROV\FASTEN.DOC I I -I -9another mechanism or the sliding and/or rotating action of the bar. Other embodiments may include other means suitable for improving the utility and/or versatility and/or ease of operation of the device.

A securing device according to the invention which is in the form of a fastening device may be attached to the surface of a door, or rim mounted so as, to be flush with a door surface, or be mortised into a door. When installed in any of these ways, the action of closing the door may be used to operate the bar for example, in an embodiment employing a guide pin that moves along a slot, the horizontal motion of closing the door when contacting the guide pin may be translated by the incline of the guide slot to a resultant vertical linear motion.

Alternatively, a strike on the door frame may contact a rolling bush on the guide pin, causing a rotation of the bar and its motion to a projected position. The bar may be made seff-opening by spring bias or the gravitational force on the mass of the sliding bar. Similarly, the closing of the second of a pair of doors may perform the same motive force as the door frame in operating a bar of a fastening device according to the invention which is installed on the adjoining leaf. In this arrangement, as the second leaf is closed, the other leaf is fastened automatically by the action of the bar moving to a projected position.

A securing device according to the invention either in tho form of an independent assembly, for example a sliding bolt mechanism or as a component integral to another assembly, for example a detaining latch within a mortise lock, *0 may be subject to actuation by another mechanism. Its function being the conversion of lateral movement to rotary and/or linear motion in another direction at any desirable angle to the direction of the lateral movement. The obverse also being true, that of converting linear action to a lateral action. Lateral action indicates any moment applied at any angle to the axial alignment of the bar, for example the moment imparted by the action of a push plate, pull handle or a camming plate operatively connected to a lever handle or knob. Alternatively, a rotary moment applied to the bar would be converted to linear motion; or a linear moment applied to the bar would be converted to rotary motion and employed to move another component in a like fashion or to operate a similar device.

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The securing device according to the invention may also be lockable by means of, for example, a padlock, a key cylinder, a push-pull pin or cam arrangement, magnetic or electromechanical means. Thus movement of the bar may be restrained by an integral and/or external lockable means, or by interference by part of a mechanism of a lock of which a .,-,i;Uring device according to the invention forms a part. It is also to be understood that the bolt of a lock mechanism as disclosed in the applicant's prior application No. 20391/95, the disclosure of which is to be taken as incorporated herein by this crossreference, may have a rotary component imparted to its motion according to the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows an example fastening device with the bar in its projected 0*0 position, Fig. 2 shows the fastening device of Fig. 1 with the bar in its retracted position, 20 Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show further example fastening devices with Fig 4 showing an example used as a panic exit device, and Fig. 6 shows an example of a rotary cam imparting action to a securing device.

25 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The fastening device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 includes a bar in the form of a bolt 2 and means in the form of a housing 4 on a back plate 6 for mounting the bolt 2 for movement between a retracted position (see Fig. 2) and a projected position (see Fig. The back plate 6 includes apertures 8 for fixing the device to a structure, which may be a movable structure such as a door, for use of the DG C \W'WORDEULAHROWFASTEN DOC I ill ly I -11 device to lock that structure to another structure. Back plate 6 may also include front and rear flanges 9 and According to the invention, the bolt 2 is arranged such that it undergoes both linear and rotational movement between its retracted and projected positions.

This is achieved by the provision of a slot 12 in the housing 4 within which a pin 14, which is operatively associated with the bolt 2, travels. The slot 12 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is linear and extends at an angle to the longitudinal axis of bolt 2 and it will be appreciated that the slot 12 acts as a guide for the pin 14. That is, as the pin 14 moves along slot 12, the bolt 2 will have a rotational component of movement imparted to it. The pin 14 includes a handle means in the form of a knob 16 to facilitate manual movement of the bolt.

The invention includes the use of slots having other profiles, for example, the slot may be arcuate or be composed of linear and arcuate sections which may be contained within a single plane or two or more planes, (the slot 12 of Figures 1 and 2 for example is contained in three planes as defined by the walls of housing The guide slot could be a spiralling slot provided in a suitable means for 9o mounting a bar. Otherwise, one section of a slot could be linear in one plane and r .ooo may be arcuate in a second plane, or the slot may contain one or more angular variations such as a right angle if it is formed in a rectangular hollow section 20 housing 4 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A linear slot may have a constant incline primarily with respect to the main axis of the sliding bar in a first plane or be composed of sections which have different rates of incline. An arcuate slot may have a rate of curvature that is constant, or which iries for different sections of the slot. The beginning of a slot may be arcuate, the middle section ICear at an 25 angle to the bolt axis and the end section of the slot linear at another angle, or the obverse of this arrangement. Thus the slot may contain various sections, each of which may provide a different rate or direction of rotation to the others whilst also providing for linear displacement of the bar along its major axis.

Instead of a slot such as 12, the housing 4 may include an internal groove within which a pin such as 2 engages. This arrangement would require a means to operate the bolt 2 other than a handle associated with the pin because the pin will not project through the housing.

00 C W NWORD ELWAJOJROVFASTEDC -12- The housing 4 also includes a helical compression spring (not shown) which acts between the end flange 9 and the bolt 2 to bias the bolt towards its retracted position. Also, slot 12 incluJes a notch 18 at its "inner" end for seating the pin 14 to retain the bolt 2 at its projected position. It will be appreciated that notch 18 extends a short distance in the direction of the spring bias acting on the bolt to provide for positive retention of the bolt in its projected position. However, a fastening device according to the invntion includes notches or the like having different configurations, for example, it may be a short angled extension of the slot 12. The slot 12 may also include a notch or the like at its other end for similarly retaining the bolt 2 in its retracted position.

A securing device according to the invention may be a self-contained mechanismr. For installed as a component of another mechanism, for example, two fastening devices (one acting vertically upward, the other downward) installed co-operatively with a standard rim or mortise mounted door lock can be used to 15 automatically operate both bars in unison by the act of turning a key.

Alternatively, a securing device in the form, for example, of a purpose soecific module with a housing for mounting a section of one or more bar(s) be...e provided such that the turning of a key, handle, push or pull plate, or other suitable means operates a cam or other component, which bears on pin(s) associated with 20 the one or more bar section(s) and may thus operate the bars and, for example, thereby lock or unlock a door, hatch, cover directly if the securing device is an independent device, or indirectly, by its action in locking or unlocking one or more components of another mechanism with which it may be associated.

Figure 3 illustrates a further example of the invention wherein parts that correspond with parts shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have been accorded the same reference numerals. The parts and operation of this securing device wil! be evident from an inspection of the Figure in the light of the preceding description and Figures 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 shows application of a securing device according to the invention as a panic exit device on a door 20. The device includes a housing 22 containing a bar in the form of a sliding bolt 24 having a pin/handle arrangement 26 protruding through guide slot 28 in the housing 22. The longitudinal axis of the bolt 24 is O NWOR D EJLAWRrOFAEN DOC I-1 -13horizontally oriented and its end may be chamfered (or radiused) 30 to facilitate its latching. The bolt end may also include a simple bearing or be fitted with an antifriction latch or other suitable component to further facilitate the ease of engagement and disengagement with its strike. Alternatively, the bar may not directly engage the strike, but act upon a latch assembly oper tively adjacent to the bar, thus retracting the latch by operation of the pin/handle arrangement. The handle 26 is orientated upwardly so that as an operator pushes downward on the handle, the pin will travel down the incline defined by s!ot 28, thus retracting the bolt 24. This downward push by an operator also provides an outward component of force for opening the door 20, that is, the one action by an operator both unlocks and opens the door. The handle may have other shapes to that shown in Fig. 4. Thus it could be in the form of a horizontal push bar as in existing exit devices, a paddle, push pad or the like.

Fig. 5 shows a variation for the device that is illustrated in Fig. 3. The 15 variation involves the use of a strike plate 30 having a key-hole shaped aperture 2 for entry and retention of a spigot 34 on the end of the bolt of the fastening device. This variation provides for additional security and although a spigot is shown for ease of illustration, the same end might be achieved in a number of ways of realising an interlocking between the strike and bar. The width of the 20 additional arcuate bight 36 in the strike 30 which accommodates the spigot 34 Odd 0determines the tolerance in the proximity of the strike to the bolt, the increased utility of a wider bight being traded off against greater security available from a lesser bight. It is to be understood that this variation may be adapted for a securing device according to the invention in any of a variety of rim and mortise S 25 locks wherein the device is used either as an auxiliary locking component or the main locking component.

The securing device shown in Fig. 6 comprises a bar 40 mounted for movement within a housing 42 which includes a guide slot 44 within which a pin 46 on bar 40 travels. An end 48 of bar 40 is formed to operatively engage with a rotary cam 50 for turning the bar 40 in the direction, for example, shown by arrow A. This causes the pin 46 to travel along the slot 44 and consequentially impart DO CAWNMORD)UELAWPROVFAS'MWOC I, I -14movement to a linear component 52 as shown by arrow B and to a rotary component 54 as shown by arrow C.

A securing device according to the invention may be made from any suitable materials such as metal or plastic and different components of the device may be made from different materials, or a component may be made from a composite of materials either in a laminated or inserted form or in the form of an amalgam or alloy of materials.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

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Claims (23)

1. A securing device including at least one member (hereinafter referred to as a "movable member"), which has a longitudinal axis of a length greater than dimensions of the movable member laterally of said axis, and means for mounting the at least one movable member for movement, wherein the movable member and the means for mounting the movable member include cooperative means for guiding the motion of the at least one movable member, and wherein the cooperative means includes: at least one formation, comprising a recess or aperture which at least in part forms a groove, slot, profiled edge or other suitable configuration, and at least one guiding means, comprising a pin, projection or other suitable means, for engaging at least in part with the formation, whereby said movement involves travel of the at least one movable member relative to said mounting means from a starting position to a position which achieves a resultant longitudinal displacement, resultant rotational displacement on said axis or a resultant longitudinal and rotational displacement on said axis of the at least one movable member, and whereby the at least one movable member in moving relatively between the two positions is constrained such that t undergoes at least in part synchronous longitudinal and rotational motion.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the resultant rotational displacement of the at least one movable member is a predetermined absolute angle of between zero degrees to more than 360 degrees.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cooperative means includes at least two formations and at least one guiding means for 25 engaging at least in part with the formations,

4. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein at least one formation is formed in the means for mounting the at least one movable member and the at least one guiding means extends from the at least one movable o :member.

5. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one formation is formed in the at least one movable member and the at least one "C 6 C.e fWNWlNoRokSlN.ONE sYDNErAASTE UCAr gG -lu guiding means extends from the means for mounting the at least one movable member.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein there is at least one structure selected from a pin, guiding means, other protrusion and projection apart from the cooperative means.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the at least one movable member is subject to a biasing means.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for mounting the at least one movable member include means for retaining it at one or both ends of its travel.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for mounting the at least one movable member include means for retaining it at at least one intermediate position between the ends of its travel.

A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the whole of the at least one movable member has a common axial alignment.

11. A device as claimed in any one of claims I to 9 wherein at least two portions of the at least one movable member have differing axial alignments.

12. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the at least one movable member is a compound structure comprising at least two segments, and 20 wherein movement of at 'east one segrnent affects the movement of at least one other segment.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the movement of at least one segment in relation to at least one other segment includes either lost motion or a time delay. 25

14. A device according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the at least one movable member includes at least one series of operatively linked segments in a common linear alignment or having at least in part an arcuate alignment.

A device according to claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein the at least one movable member contains at least one universal joint coupling.

16. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the device also serves as an operative coupling or connection for at least one other C mechanism. CAWINWRD SIMONESYNEYIFASTENDOC

17. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the at least one movable member is manually movable.

18. A device according to any preceding claim wherein the device is a bolt type fastening, latching, locking or escape device for a door, window, or like wing type structure.

19. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the at least one movable member is segmented and the device in effect acts as a bolt type fastening, latching, locking or escape device for a door, window, or like wing type structure.

20. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the de,'ce is a component of a fastening, latching, locking or escape mechanism.

21. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the at least one movable member has an elongate form.

22. A securing device as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

23. A securing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 6. DATED: 19 June 1997 S 20 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: 3ACOZ DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD S* *o sI C C WINWRD\SIMONElSYDNEYWASTENDOC I ABSTRACT A securing device includes an elongate member, which may be a manually operable bar 2 and means for mounting the elongate member, which may be a housing 4-6, for movement both longitudinally and rotationally. The device includes means, which may be a pin 14 and slot 12 arrangement, for guiding the movement of the elongate member. The elongate member may be a segmented component wherein one segment is caused to move asynchronously with another, for example it may involve lost motion or a time delay. The elongate member may be subject to a biasing means. The movement guiding means may include a cam and profile arrangement. Many options are disclosed for the components of the device and the movement of the elongate member. Also many options are disclosed for use of device, for example the securing device may be a bolt type locking device operating in its own right or part of another mechanism either operating or operable by that mechanism. 00 CA\WNWORDDEUULAPROWASTEN.DOC