AU689882B2 - Securing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

~r~la~araaea~ermar~ls~ipruarrurr~ s~s~ WO 95/29316 PCT/AU95/00247 1 "SECURING APPARATUS" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to securing apparatus and it has particular reference to securing apparatus for closures such as slidable windows and sliding doors.

Many types of locks are available for locking windows and doors, including sliding windows and sliding doors, in the locked attitude. In addition, plunger type locks are available for maintaining closures in a selected open position. For this purpose, a locating aperture is formed in the supporting structure to receive a locating plunger to maintain the associated closure in a selected part open or fully open position.

A disadvantage of such plunger type locks is that the user must accurately align the plunger of the lock with the locating aperture and then physically force the plunger into the locating aperture. This may be difficult for some people and particularly where the slidable closure is a heavy door.

Furthermore the part open position of the closure is set by the locating aperture and cannot be readily varied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION-- The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide securing apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use.

With the foregoing in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in securing apparatus for securing a closure member which is selectively moveable between open and closed positions in an opening in a structure, said securing apparatus including:mounting means on either the closure member or the structu:,. and latching means supported by the mounting means in engagement with the other of the closure member or the structure and blocking movement of the closure member towards the open direction.

-ga- 3 1'C" I- I WO 95/29316 'CT/AU95/00247 2 The mounting means may be separate from the closure member or structure or it may be integral with or constituted by a frame or outer portion of the closure member or structure. In a preferred form the mounting means is adapted for attachment to an accessible part of a sliding door or window frame adjacent one of the supporting tracks.

It is also preferred that the latching member cooperates with a track or the like formed in the path of movement of the mounting means. For this purpose the track may be a part circular track arranged concentrically with the pivot axis of a pivotable closure or it may be the linear sliding track of a slidable closure. The latching member may be in the form of an inclined pivotable latch or sprag having a free end part which engages operatively with the track so as to resist movement in an opening direction. The pivotable latch may be formed with an end which co-operates with a ratchet type rack formed or connected to the track or it may be formed with a sharp end part or a high friction contact which engages non-slidably with the track in the direction of opening of the closure so as to block movement of the closure member towards the open direction.

Preferably the latching means is in the form of jamming means which jams the closure member against movement of the closure member towards the open direction. In such arrangement it is preferred that the Jamming engagement increases with increasing force applied in the opening direction. For example, the jamming means may be an inclined jamming lever which tends to move over-centre upon opening movement but is prevented from doing so by jamming of the closure member in the support structure therefore, or it may be wedging member or a locking ball/roller and ramp assembly.

In preferred embodiments of the invention which utilise an inclined pivotable jamming lever, the securing apparatus may also include limiting means on the closure member for limiting movement of the closure member in a direction I U I~L, st LBIPIIV~C~b~ dl) WO 95/29316 PCT/AU95/00247 3 substantially at right angles to the opening/closing direction and resulting from Jamming engagement of the Jamming lever with the other of the closure member or the structure.

In a simple form of the invention, the latching means comprises a pivotable latch pivotally secured to the frame of a closure member and pivotable from an operative locking position at which it inclines away from the vertical in the direction of opening for engagement of its lower end with the track and which is pivotable to a position beyond the vertical where it is stably supported in a disabled position.

In such embodiment, when the pivotable latch is lowered, any opening movement will be resisted by engagement of the lower end of the latch with the track while movement to the closed position will not be resisted. The latch may be a jamming lever or its lower end may cooperate with stops spaced along the track.

Preferably however, the securing apparatus is provided with disabling means for disabling the latching member. The disabling means is suitably any means for maintaining the Jamming member in a non-operative attitude. For example in the case of a jamming lever the disabling means may maintain the lever spaced from the track. In the case of a locking ball/roller and ramp arrangement, the disabling means may be holding means for maintaining the ball/roller remote from the track so that it does not move to a jamming relationship upon movement of the closure in the opening direction.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the mounting means includes a key operable actuator for maintaining the pivotable latch in the blocking and/or disabled attitudes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS-- In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate typical embodiments of the invention and wherein:na I mF-s~~ be~ Igrssrs PC/AU 9'5 1 '0 U Z 4 RECEIVED 0 8 MAR 1996 4 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of securing apparatus and co-operating limiting member associated with a sliding window; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the securing apparatus and co-operating limiting member of FIG. 1; FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate alternate forms of securing apparatus and having a locking engagement similar to Fig. 1; FIG. 5 illustrates a further form of limiting member adapted for co-operation with the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a form of securing apparatus adapted for clamping engagement with a longitudinal rib; FIGS. 7 and 8 collectively illustrate in side and end views the clamping foot portion of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, both engaged with and disengaged from the rib; FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate further embodiments of the invention; FIG. 12 illustrate a remote cable operated pin and ramp type securing apparatus, and FIG 13 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT-- The securing apparatus 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is attached to the lower portion of the frame member 11 of a slidable closure assembly 12 which moves in the direction 13 to its open attitude along the upper and lower tracks 14 and respectively. The securing apparatus 10 includes a mounting body 16 which is screwed to the frame member 11 by screws 17 passing through the apertures 18, only the upper one being shown, and into the frame 11. Either one of the screws 17 may constitute a connecting screw which secures the corner joint of the aluminium window or door frame 19.

The mounting body 16 is provided with mounting bosses at and 21 to support a pivotable latching member in the form of a jamming lever 23 and biassing means in the form of a AMENDED SHEET T O' IPEA/AU %~W1~B~BISB~a*~sm~pramaraerssa~ WO 95/29316 PCT/AU95/00247 coiled torsion spring 24 which acts to pivot the lower end of the Jamming lever 23 in a latching direction opposing the opening direction. A key operated barrel locking assembly 26 is adapted to override the spring 24 when in the locked attitude so as to maintain the Jamming lever 23 in its latchinq position. For this purpose, the locking assembly 26 is provided with an eccentrically mounted pin 27 which protrudes from the back face of the mounting body 16 and is adapted to contact the back face 28 of the latch 23 against which the spring tongue 25 engages.

The Jamming lever 23 extends upwardly from the boss mounting 20 beyond the mounting body 16 to form a finger rest 22 whereby, provided the locking assembly 26 is unlocked, the lever 23 may be pivoted against the spring bias to move its foot portion 29 in the direction of opening. It will be seen that the mounting body 16 includes a vertical mounting face adapted for mounting against the outer end face 31 of the window frame member 11 and that the jamming lever 23 inclines downwardly and away from said mounting face 30. This enables the securing apparatus to be secured on the window frame 11 remote from the window opening so that it can not be externally accessed through a partially opened window.

A resilient sole member 32 is located in the foot portion 29 and the length of the lever 23 from the underside of its foot portion 29 to its pivot axis is greater than the vertical distance from the pivot axis to the base wall 37 of the lower track 15 such that the jamming lever 23 contacts the lower track 15 at a position which trails the pivot axis relative to a closing movement of said closure member. Thus upon release of pressure from the finger rest 22, the foot portion will be urged downwardly into non-slip engagement with the base wall 37 through the resilient sole member 32 such that any effort made to slide the frame 19 in an opening direction will cause the mounting body 16, and thus the frame member secured thereto, to move upwardly into jamming I I lr I~klPs aWlrsllslsrarwa~i~F~lllasnrsPatslsau~ WO 95/29316 PCT/AU95/00247 6 engagement between the upper and lower frame members 14 and This is assisted by the provision of a co-operating limiting assembly 33 fixed to the frame member 11 at the opposite end to the securing apparatus If pressure is applied to the finger rest 22 this will move the foot portion 29 in the direction of opening which will lift the foot from the base wall 37. This will enable the frame member 19 to slide freely along the upper and lower tracks 14 and 15 in either direction.

Of course when the barrel locking assembly 26 is locked the lever 23 can not be moved against the spring bias and the frame 19 will remain locked against movement to the open position. However at any time it may be moved in a closing direction as such movement will not tend to move the jamming lever over-centre or thus move the frame 19 towards jamming engagement with the upper track.

The limiting assembly 33 includes a moulded plastics pawl member 34 having its lower end nested within a part circular saddle 35 whereby it may pivot in the saddle 35 and being biassed by an integral leaf spring 36 to a forwardly inclined attitude as illustrated. This arrangement enables easy assembly of the limiting assembly 33 by simply sliding the pawl member 34 through the opening 48 in the saddle A spacer 38 is provided at the opposite end of the frame 19 to maintain the relative parallel attitudes between the frame 19 and tracks 14 and 15. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the opposing parts of the mounting body 16 are secured together by screws 39 passing through the mounting bosses 20 and 21.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate key actuated securing assembly 40 and 41 in which the eccentrically mounted pin 42 of the locking barrel 43 of a key operated lock cooperates with respective resilient keepers 44 and 45 associated with respective latching members 46 and 47. In their unlocked attitudes, the pins 42 hold the members in an elevated inoperative position, while in their locked attitudes, I IOBYraP ~ar~e~aPsagl;n~a~n~a~ WO 95/29316 PCT/AU95/00247 7 wherein the pins 42 are rotated to a lower position, the resilient keepers 44 and 45 bias the latching members to a lower position at which their lower sharp corner parts are maintained in contact with the bottom wall of the associated lower track.

As in the previous embodiment these securing assemblies 44 and 45 can be used to prevent movement of a part opened door or window to a further opened position. An associated limiting member may be of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or as illustrated in Fig.3. In the latter embodiment the limiting member 50 mounts to the upper corner of a sliding frame and positions a pair of sharpened barbs 51 in an upwardly extending position for non-slip engagement with the underside of the top wall of an upper track.

Both jamming members are retained in position by a screw passing into a side face of the frame so that each can be attached after the sliding door or window has been located in the upper and lower tracks. In the Fig. 5 embodiment the securing screw passes through the slot 53 whereby the vertical disposition of the jamming member 50 relative to the frame 11 may be adjusted. The barbs 51 may be disposed as illustrated or they may be set side by side at the same distance from the front edge of the jamming member 50 or a single barb may be used. In the Fig. 1 embodiment, the pawl member 34 is inserted after the saddle member 35 is secured to the frame, clearance being provided for this purpose.

In both cases securing of the jamming members to the frames and the associated guide members 38 after operative location of the frames in the tracks prevents subsequent opening thereof by freeing the frames from their tracks.

This provides an additional security against unauthorized or forced entry.

In operation, when the securing apparatus 40/41 is unlocked, the respective latching member 46/47 is retained in an elevated attitude and the closure may be moved freely in parr ~ITa~o-- WO 95/29316 PCT/AU95/00247 8 either direction. When the key operated lock is set in a locked attitude, the respective latching member 46/47 is biased into engagement with the associated lower track wall.

This engagement will not prevent any movement of the closure locked in the closing direction but will bite into the surface 32 to resist opening movement. Furthermore if the closure is forced in the opening direction, the pivotable latching member 32 will tend to move over-centre towards a vertical attitude accompanied by elevation of the closure member 12 and engagement of the barbs 51 with the upper track whereby the closure will jam in the locked position. The force of engagement between the barbs 51 with the upper track and the latching member 46/47 with the lower track will increase with an increase in the force applied to move the closure towards its open position.

Thus in use, once the securing apparatus 40/41 is locked, a user can simply slide the closure to any part-open position from which it cannot be further opened. The closure may be moved to the closed or locked position at which the securing apparatus 10 may be used in conjunction with the conventional securing apparatus to lock the closure in its closed position.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8 utilises a ball and ramp arrangement to jam the pivotable latching assembly 60 about an upstanding web 61 of a track for a slidable closure (not illustrated). In this embodiment a captive ball 62 is retained within the inverted U-shaped housing 63 which has a straight flange 64 on one side and a bowed flange 65 on the opposite side such that the ball 62 may move to a central position in the bowed flange 65 at which it does not engage the web 61.

The ball 62 is associated with a spring member 66 which urges the ball towards the web 61 but which may be disabled by a manual override means 67 which pulls the spring to the bowed shape of the flange 65. When the override means is

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WO 95/29316 PCT/AU95/00247 9 released, the ball 62 is forced into engagement with the web 61 such that sliding movement will cause the ball to roll along the web 61 until it jams in the narrowing space between the web 61 and the end of the flange If desired in lieu of the override means 47 ilustrated in FIG. 9, the clamping action may be overridden by simply pivoting the securing apparatus 40 away from engagement with the web 41 about its pivot mounting aperture 68.

The securing apparatus 70 illustrated in FIG. 9 includes jamming means in the form of a ramp member 71 pivotally attached to an actuating lever 72 and biased by spring 73 into contact with the lower face of a roller 74 supported for rotation about its axes on the mounting body The spring bias urges the ramp member 71 under the roller 74 such that any attempt to move the frame to an open position in direction 76 will result in the roller 74 riding up the ramp 71 and jamming the frame 77 in its support structure. The actuating lever extends upwardly to provide a finger grip portion 78 which may be moved towards the frame 77 to free the ramp member 71 from the roller 74 and thus enable the frame to be freely slid in its mounting tracks in either direction.

The securing apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 is also a roller and ramp arrangement however in this embodiment the ramp member 81 is fixed to the sliding closure frame 82 and the roller is a split roller assembly 83 which engages either side of an upstanding rib 84 on the lower track member The split roller assembly 83 is supported at the lower end of a rocker assembly 86 pivotally connected to the body 87 which is integral with the ramp part 81. The rocking member is provided with a central slotted pivot aperture such that it may be pinned to the body 87 through aperture 87 by the pivot pin 89 whereby it may move longitudinally as well as pivotally about the mounting pin 89.

The upper end of the rocker assembly 86 cooperates with r~ s I ~s~EII~BueaENI81~--~crs~ WO 95/29316 PCT/AU95/00247 a further ramp portion 91 at the upper end of the body 87. A cover 92 incorporating a release button substantially conceals the workings of the apparatus 80 and is provided with a release button 93 adapted to bear against the upper end 94 of the rocker 86 to push it inward against a leaf spring 95 fixed to the body 87 and biassing the upper end 94 away from the body 87.

In use the biasing leaf spring 95 urges the roller assembly 83 underneath the ramp 81 such that any attempt to open the window will cause the ramp to ride upwards over the roller assembly 83 and jam the window within its support tracks. When it is required to slide the window in an opening direction the operator depresses the release bar 93 which forces the upper end 94 into engagement with the ramp 91 urging the body 87 and associated frame member 82 upwardly free of the track 85 such that the closure member may be slid freely along the track on the roller assembly 83. Upon release of the bar 93? the roller assembly is immediately biased into engagement with the ramp 81 to prevent further opening of the closure member.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which is particularly adapted for sliding doors and the like and is thus provided with a remote cable operation which may be mounted on the door at a convenient hand height for transmitting a release action by a suitable handle member to the securing apparatus 100 mounted at the base or head of the door assembly.

In this embodiment the jamming action is a sideways jamming action of the securing apparatus which is adapted to jam between the opposed side flanges 105 of the upper or lower track. The securing apparatus 100 includes a mounting body 101 provided with spaced ramp members 102 which accommodate a dumbbell shaped roller element 103 which can roll along the ramps 102. An actuating member 104 engages in the slot between the ramps 102 and incorporates a cutout 106 PCr/AU 95 00247 RECEIVED 0 8 MAR 1996 11 which locates about the central waisted portion of the roller 103 such that any movement of the roller 103 is transmitted to longitudinal movement of the actuating member 104.

The remote end of the actuating member 104 supports a compression spring 107 in an aperture 108 wh%- by the opposite side portions of the spring 107 protrude from the opposite sides of the member 104. The protruding parts of the spring are accommodated in curved recesses 110 on the inner faces of the respective ramp members 102 such that the actuating member 104 is biased by reaction of the spring 107 between the end wall 111 of the actuating mem ar 104 and the opposing end walls 112 of the recesses 110.

The front end 113 of the actuating member 104 is provided with a cable connector 115 adapted for clamping connection to an inner cable 116 of a flexible actuating cable in which the outer sheath is terminated at the end block 118 towards which the actuating member 104 may be pulled by actuation of the inner cable. It will be seen that if the inner cable is released, the spring 107 urges the actuating member 104 and thus the roller 103 rearwardly up the ramps 102 until the actuating member 104 and the body 101 are urged into abutting engagement with the side wall 105.

An opening force applied to the sliding door to which the body 101 is connected will tend to provide longitudinal separation of the actuating member 104 and the body 101 and thus jamming between the spaced webs 105 as such action forces the roller assembly 103 further along the ramp members 102. Thus until the actuating member 104 is retracted by the operating cable, the associated sliding door may be held in a part open position for ventilation purposes and from which it cannot be further opened without release of the cable actuator.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig 13, the Jamming lever 120 is supported by the mounting body 16 and cooperates with a lower track 15 formed in the path of movement 4, AMENDED SHEET

IPEA/AU

"/AU 9 U U 4 4 RECEIVED 0 8 MAR 1996 12 of the mounting body 16. A ratchet type rack 121 is provided at the base of the lower track 15 and the jamming lever 120 is in the form of an inclined pivotable sprag lever pivotable about the post 123 and having a toothed free end part 124 which engages positively with ratchet type rack 121 so as to resist movement of the slidable closure assembly 12 in an opening direction. The jamming lever 120 is biassed by the coil spring and lever 126 to its engaged attitude as illustrated.

It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is defined in the appended claims.

AMENDED

SHEET

IPEA/AU

Claims (19)

1. Securing apparatus for securing a closure member which is selectively moveable between open and closed positions in an opening in a structure, said securing apparatus including:- mounting means adapted for mounting to either the closure member "or the structure, and latching means supported by said mounting means for jamming engagement with the other of said closure member or said structure and adapted to block movement of the closure member towards the open direction, said latching means being configured such that said jamming engagement increases with increasing force applied to said closure member in the opening direction.

2. S-,uring apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latchir,, means is a jamming lever and said mounting means provides a pivotal support for said jamming lever whereby the jamming lever contacts the other of the closure member or the structure at a position which trails said pivotal support relative to a closing movement of said closure member.

3. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said mounting means includes a vertical mounting face adapted for mounting against the outer end face of a window or door frame and said jamming lever inclines downwardly and away from said mounting face.

4. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, oherein said jamming levr includes a resilient sole member for non-slip engagement with said other of the closure member or the structure.

5. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 and including limiting means on the closure member for A), \w 0 T o AMENDED SHEET IPEA/AU 'II R- PCI/AU Y U uV C. I RECEIVED 0 3 MAY 1996 14 limiting movement of the closure member in the plane of the closure member in a direction substantially at right angles to the opening/closing direction and resulting from jamming engagement of the jamming lever with the other of the closure member or the structure.

6. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said latching means includes a wedging member for effecting said jamming engagement.

7. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said latching means includes a locking ball/roller and ramp assembly for effecting said jamming engagement.

8. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said locking ball/roller and ramp assembly is adapted for sideways expansion for effecting jamming engagement with the opposite flanges of a channel shaped track.

9. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including biassing means for biassing said latching means into engagement with said other of the closure member or the structure.

Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and further including disabling means for disabling the latching member.

11. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said disabling means is manually operable to force said latching means away from said other of the closure member or the structure.

12. Securing apparatus as claimed in any one of the -NT AME!r- 'HE T ~NT A-Vim U: U U V 4 ff I RECEIVED 0 3 MAY 1996 preceding claims and further including locking means for locking said latching means in engagement with said other of the closure member or the structure.

13. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said locking means is a key operable lock operative to bar movement of said latching means out of engagement with said other of the closure member or the structure.

14. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said locking ball/roller and ramp assembly through a flexible cable assembly.

Securing apparatus for securing a closure member which is retained between upper and lower guide means for sliding movement between open and closed positions in an opening in a structure, said securing apparatus including:- mounting means adapted for mounting to either the closure member or the structure, and latching means supported by said mounting means for engagement with the other of said closure member or said structure and adapted to jam the closure member between the upper and lower guide means to prevent movement of said closure towards the open direction.

16. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein said latching means is configured such that said engagement engagement increases with increasing force applied to said closure member in the opening direction.

17. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said latching means is a Jamming lever and said mounting means provides a pivotal support for said jamming lever whereby the Jamming lever contacts the other of the closure member or the structure at a position which trails said pivotal support AMENDED SHEET IPEAI/AU PCT/AU I U V e. 'RECEIVED 0 3 MAY 196 16 relative to a closing movement of said closure member.

18. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said mounting means includes a vertical mounting face adapted for mounting against the outer end face of a window or door frame and said jamming lever inclines downwardly and away from said mounting face.

19. Securing apparatus as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18, wherein said jamming lever includes a resilient sole member for non-slip engagement with said other of the closure member or the structure. AMENDED SHEET IPENAU