GB2205886A

GB2205886A - Security barriers

Info

Publication number: GB2205886A
Application number: GB08813924A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald Laurence Haines
Original assignee: TOWNHILL SECURITY GROUP PLC
Current assignee: TOWNHILL SECURITY GROUP PLC
Priority date: 1987-06-13
Filing date: 1988-06-13
Publication date: 1988-12-21
Also published as: GB8813924D0; GB8713936D0

Abstract

A security barrier broadly similar to that of specification 2196044 caters for fitting to different sizes of opening by having two panel members 1, 4 which adjustably overlap one another by bolts 26 and slots 27. Also securing bolt 33, which passes directly through the frame 31 of the window or door is adjustable in vertical slot 34 to cater for different size of opening. <IMAGE>

Description

Security Barriers This invention relates to a security barrier.

Security barriers are becoming increasingly required to secure premises against unauthorised entry.

Security barriers available generally consist of a reinforced panel which is adapted to be secured to substantially parallel opposed surfaces on both sides of a doorway or window opening so that the barrier bridges the gap between the opposed surfaces. One such security barrier is disclosed in British Patent Application No. 8718659. Occasionally, instead of bridging the gap between opposed surfaces, the barrier may be secured to the wall surface on both sides of a window or door and cover the window or door itself.

A drawback of existing security barrier systems is that several different sizes of barriers have to be provided to accommodate doorways or windows of different sizes and it is an aim of the invention to overcome this drawback.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a security barrier which is adapted to be attached to two substantially parallel surfaces on opposite sides of an opening such as a window or doorway, the barrier comprising first and second panel members and security means for securing the panel members together, the. panel members being engageable with one another in an overlapping manner and being slidably movable relative to one another when they are not secured together.

When the security barrier of the present invention is installed for use a first one of the panel members is attached to the appropriate surface at one side of the window or doorway and the second panel member can then be moved relative to the first panel member until the whole barrier is of the correct size.

The panel members are then secured together and the second panel member is attached to the appropriate surface at the opposite side of the window or doorway.

In this manner the security barrier can be adapted to accommodate windows or doorways of different widths.

The panel members of the security barrier may be slidably guided for relative movement in any convenient manner. Preferably, one of the panel members is of channel section and the other panel member is slidable within the channel section.

The means for securing the panel members together may take any convenient form. In a preferred construction elongate slots are provided in one panel member and the panel members are secured together by securing elements such as bolts extending through the elongate slots and through corresponding holes provided in the other panel member.

Each of the panel members is preferably adapted to be attached to a jamb which is in turn adapted to be secured to a respective one of the surfaces at opposite sides of the window or doorway. In a preferred embodiment, the first panel member is hingedly connected to a first one of the jambs by hinge means, a releasable locking means is provided for attaching the second panel member to the second jamb and the panel members extend to cover the hinge means and the locking means in the manner described in the afore-mentioned British Patent Application No. 8718659.

The substantially parallel surfaces to which the security barrier is attached at the sides of the opening may be opposed surfaces, for instance of a window reveal or doorway recess, or co-planar vertical surfaces such as of the wall surrounding a window opening or doorway. The present invention also provides a security barrier for covering a window or door which can be attached directly to the frame of the window or door by means of securing means extending through the frame itself and adapted to engage the front and rear surfaces of the frame or the wall surrounding the frame.

Hitherto, it has not been known to attach a security barrier directly to a window frame or door frame.

According to another aspect of the invention then there is provided a method and means of covering a window opening or door opening with a security barrier, in which the barrier is attached by way of a frame of the window or door, comprising securing means extending through the frame itself and adapted to engage the front and rear surfaces of the frame or the wall surrounding the opening.

The method comprises drilling holes through the frame, at least one hole substantially to opposite sides of the opening, generally two such holes to each opposite side frame, otherwise to top and bottom or side frame members, through which holes the securing means passes. The method preferably further comprises inserting ferrules into said holes. The securing means may conveniently comprise a threaded bolt and means engageable therewith and which are thereby brought into engagement with the frame or surrounding wall. Such means may comprise a jamb of the security barrier usually for engagement directly with a frame front face, although a spacer or packing piece may be interposed therebetween.A rear face is engaged by a nut threadingly engaged with the bolt, or other abutment part, such as a plate, washer or beam engaging the rear face of the frame, or even as a beam extending across the opening to engage rear wall faces.

The cooperation of the securing means with the security barrier conveniently comprises for each side, one fixed part and one adjustable part for the securing means. The adjustment may be vertical or horizontal by receipt of the securing means (say in the form of a headed bolt) in an elongate slot. This adjustment allows any one size of barrier to be fitted to a range of sizes of opening. The ajdustable nature of the securing means can cater for adjustment in one direction, whilst adjustment in the other direction, perpendicular to the first, can be by way of adjustable fixing of the security barriers to the jamb, by means of bolts and elongate slots. The barrier may comprise any convenient material, be it wood or metal, although we find it particularly convenient to use the translucent material known by the Trade Mark Armaglaze, probably registered.

The barrier may be constructed as two overlapping slidable panels as hereinbefore described or as one panel fixed to one jamb and preferably adjustably secured to a second jamb.

The fixing system 'has the advantage that the window does not have to be broken for fixing the barrier in place. Furthermore, on removal of the security barrier the holes may be simply blocked by use of blocking means such as round-headed bolts.

The present invention will now be described further hereinafter by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first panel member of a security barrier in accordance with the present invention hingedly connected to a first jamb adapted to be secured to a surface at one side of a window; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second panel member and of releasable locking means for locking the panel member to a second jamb adapted to be secured to a surface at the opposite side of the window; Figure 3 is a view of the first and second panel members secured together to form the barrier which is shown in a closed and locked condition; Figure 4 is a section of the line IV-IV of Figure 3 showing the first jamb secured to one side of the reveal of a window opening;; Figure 5 is a section on the line V-V of Figure 3 showing the second jamb secured to the opposite side of the reveal shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a section on the line VI-VI of Figure 3 showing the first jamb secured to the wall at one side of a window opening; Figure 7 is a section on the line VII-VII of Figure 3 showing the second jamb secured to the wall at the opposite side of the window opening shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a section on the line VIII-VIII of Figure 3; Figure 9 is a sketch of a modified second panel member; Figure 10 is a rear perspective view such as the first panel member and first jamb; Figure 11 is a horizontal section showing the first jamb secured to a window frame; Figure 12 is a perspective view showing a modified fixing for the first jamb and window frame shown in Figure 11; and Figures 13 and 14 are sectional and perspective views respectively of accessories for the window frame shown in Figures 11 and 12.

The security barrier illustrated in Figures 1 to 9 of the drawings comprises first and second panel members 1 and 4 formed of a tough material such as "Armadillo" sheet fabric, which are attached respectively to first and second jambs 2 and 3 consisting of angle iron posts that are arranged to be secured to surfaces at opposite sides of a window or doorway.

The security barrier shown in the drawings is primarily intended to form a barrier for a window or window opening and the jambs 2 and 3 may be secured to appropriate surfaces at the sides of a window in a variety of different ways depending on the form of the window. By way of example, Figures 4 and 5 show the jambs 2 and 3 bolted to opposed surfaces 5a and 5b of a window reveal and Figures 6 and 7 show the jambs 2 and 3 bolted to wall surfaces 5c and 5d on opposite sides of a window opening. Alternatively, the jambs may be secured to a window frame itself in a manner which will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 1 and 10 to 12.

In the fully assembled barrier, as is best shown in Figure 3, the first panel member 1 overlaps the second panel member 4. The panel members are secured together by securing means in the form of bolts 25 (Figure 8) which extend through holes 26 in the first panel member 1 and through elongate slots 27 in the second panel member 4. An upper iron bracket 28 of channel section and a lower bracket 29 of angle iron are bolted to the top and bottom edges respectively of the panel members 1 and 4 in the fully assembled barrier as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. In a modified constrUction shown in Figure 9 upper and lower brackets 28 and 29 of the second panel member 4 are of C-shaped channel section and the first panel member 1 is slidably guided for movement relative to the second panel member 4 by being received within the upper and lower brackets 28 and 29.

When the first and second jambs 2 and 3 have been secured to appropriate surfaces on opposite sides of a window opening, the security barrier illustrated in the drawings may be installed in the opening first by connecting the first panel member 1 to the first jamb 2 by hinge means so that the first panel member 1 is movable between a closed position and an open position (shown by broken lines in Figure 4), then by securing the overlapping panel members 1 and 4 together when the barrier is of the appropriate width to extend across the window opening and, finally, by attaching the second panel member to the second jamb 3 by releasable locking means (Figures 2, 3, 5 and 7).

The first panel member 1 is connected to the first jamb 2 by hinges 6 of the hook and band type. As is best shown in Figures 3 and 4, each hinge 6 comprises a hook 7 welded to a T-shaped iron member 8 bolted to the rear surface of the first panel member 1 and a pin 10 extending upwards from a plate 11 welded onto the jamb 2. The bolts for securing the T-shaped iron member 8 to the first panel member 1 are received in slots 9 in the T-shaped member 8 which are elongated to allow a certain degree of adjustment when assembling the barrier. As shown in Figures 1 and 3 there are three hinges 6 and the gaps between the hinges 6 are occupied by iron plates 12 welded to the jamb 2 (Figure 6).

The releasble locking means for locking the second panel member 4 to the second jamb 3 comprises a locking shaft 13 slidable in a guide member 14 of U-shaped channel section secured to the second panel member 4 and locking elements in the form of hooked rods 15 provided on one side of the locking shaft 13 and which are adapted to be received in complementary locking elements in the form of steel cups 16 welded to the second jamb 3. The locking shaft 13 is restrained within the guide member 14 by stops welded across the mouth of the channel. As shown in Figure 2, the hooked rods 15 extend through slots 18 in the guide member 14 and an elongate aperture 19 is provided in the limb of the U-shaped guide member 14 which is secured to the second panel member 4.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the guide member 14 is secured to the panel member 1 by three metal plates 20, 21 and 22 bolted and tack welded to the rear surface 9 of the panel member 1. The upper metal plate 20 carries auxiliary locking means in the form of a five-lever mortice dead lock 23 which is used to lock the locking shaft 13 and guide member 14 against relative movement when the hooked rods 15 are received in the cups 16 on the door jamb.

In order to operate the locking means when the barrier is in its closed position the locking shaft 13 is moved downwards from the position shown in Figure 2 by a detachable, screw-threaded operating rod 24 which is inserted through a narrow opening or slit cut into the second panel member 4 and through the elongate aperture 19 where it is received in a screw-threaded recess in the locking shaft 13. Downward movement of the locking shaft 13 is accompanied by movement of the locking rods 15 into engagement with the cups 16 on the second jamb. The mortice dead lock 23 may then be employed to prevent the shaft 13 from subsequently being moved upwards within the guide member 14. The security door can then only be opened by a person who possesses the correct key to open the mortice dead lock 23 and the appropriate operating rod 24.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, 5 and 7 the second panel member 4 extends beyond the guide member 14 so that the locking elements 15 and 16 are completely hidden from view from the front of the door when it is closed. Similarly, the first panel member 1 hides the hinges 6 from view from the front of the barrier, and the gap between the first panel member 1 and the outer limb 2a of the jamb 2 is only just sufficient to enable the barrier to be opened. Thus it is very difficult to tamper with the hinges 6 or the locking means of the security door in accordance with the invention. As will be understood from Figures 4 to 7 of the drawings, whilst the security barrier is closed it is also impossible for access to be gained from the front of the security barrier to the bolts securing the jambs 2, 3 to the walls 5a and 5b or 5c and 5d.

Figures 1 and 10 to 12 illustrate a way of securing the first jamb 2 to the frame 31 of a window itself. However, it is to be understood that the fixing means is equally applicable to securing a simply constructed security barrier comprising say one panel covered by first and second jambs and the description hereinafter is to be interpreted accordingly.

Tubular ferrules 32 are inserted into holes extending through the window frame 31 and threaded bars 33 are passed through apertures 34 and 35 in the jamb 2 and through the ferrules 32 in the window frame 31. Nuts 36 engage with the threaded bars 33 on the inside of the frame 31 to secure the jamb 2 to the frame (Figure 11). As shown in Figures 1 and 10 the upper aperture 34 is elongated so that the barrier can accommodate windows of different heights. If necessary, the jamb 2 may be secured to the parts of the frame above and below the window rather than at the side of the window.

Instead of the simple fixing arrangement shown in Figure 11, a more complicated clamping arrangement is shown in Figure 12 involving a locking nut 37 and a blocking piece 38 disposed against the inside face of the window frame 31 and locking nuts 39 on both sides of a steel clamping bracket 40 of T-section.

When the security barrier is not required, accessories in the form of blocking bolts 41 with locking nuts 42 and plastic press-on caps 43 (Figure 13) may be fitted into the ferrules 32 in the window frame. Alternatively, complementary screw-threaded tubular members 44 and 45 as shown in Figure 14 may be used instead of the bolts 41 and nuts 42 of Figure 13 to block off the holes in the window frame 31.

Claims

1. A security barrier which is adapted to be attached to two substantially pararllel surfaces on opposite sides of an opening such as a window or doorway, the barrier comprising first and second panel members and security means for securing the panel members together, the panel members being engageable with one another in an overlapping manner and being slidably movable relative to one another when they are not secured together.

2. A security barrier as claimed in claim 1 in which one of the panel members carries channels to receive slidably the other panel member.

3. A security barrier as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the securing means for securing together the panel member comprise securing elements such as bolts extending through elongate holes provided in one panel member and through corresponding holes provided in the other panel member.

4. A security barrier as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which each of the panel members is adapted to be attached to a jamb which is in turn adapted to be secured to a respective one of the surfaces at opposite sides of the window or doorway.

5. A security barrier as claimed in claim 4 in which the first panel member is hingedly-connected to a first one of the jambs by hinge means, a releasable locking means is provided for attaching the second panel member to the second jamb and the panel members extend to cover the hinge means and the locking means.

6. A security barrier constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of covering a window opening or door opening with a security barrier, in which the barrier is attached by way of a frame of the window or door comprising securing means extending through the frame itself and adapted to engage the front and rear surfaces of the frame or the wall surrounding the opening.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 comprising drilling holes through the frame and inserting ferrules to receive the securing means.

9. A method of covering a window opening or door opening with a security barrier as described with reference to the accompanying drawing of Figure 10 or as modified by any one of Figures 11 to 14.

10. A security barrier for covering a window opening or door opening which can be attached directly by way of the frame of the window or door comprising barrier means, securing means carried directly or indirectly from the barrier means and extending through the frame itself and adapted to engage the front and rear surfaces of the frame or the wall surrounding the opening.

11. A security barrier as claimed in claim 10 in which the barrier means is connected by two spaced jambs and the seucring means comprise for each jamb at least two spaced bolts extending -from the jamb and at least one of which is adjustable for alignment with holes in the frame.

12. A security barrier as claimed in claim 11 in which the adjustment is by way of an elongate slot in the jamb.

13. A security barrier for covering a window opening or door opening by attachment directly to the frame and constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.