GB2232197A - Latching device for double swing doors - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is for releasably fastening double swing doors having a central gap between opposing door ends. It comprises a latching lever consisting of a pair of pivotable opposed latching arms (1, 1), fixing means (213) for fixing the opposed arms (1, 1) rigidly to each other and holding means (10, 10) for holding the latching lever in a position wherein the gap is in the open position. The device is fixed to the double swing doors (15, 16) so that the arms (1, 1) are fixed rigidly by the fixing means (213) to one another on the outside and inside respectively of the swing doors (15, 16) whereby the latching lever in a horizontal position spans the gap between the doors (15, 16) to close the doors (15, 16) and when the latching lever is pivoted from a horizontal position into a vertical position the lever is held by the holding means (10, 10) enabling the doors (15, 16) to be opened. <IMAGE>

Description

TITLE Latching Device for Double Swing Doors The present invention relates to a latching device for double swing doors.

In the interests of safety for children and others it is often necessary or desirable to be able to latch double swing doors, e.g. double swing doors such as fire doors, doors in public buildings and church halls, so as to deny temporarily access to children and others who are not intended to be admitted through such doors at certain times.

The present invention provides a simple latching device which may take various forms and can be readily applied to latch such double swing doors. It is often desirable not to deface either door or bore any hole through a door and with this invention it is not necessary to deface the door in any way. However where such defacement is permissible the invention is also applicable.

According to the present invention there is provided a latching device for releasably fastening double swing doors having a central gap between opposing door ends, the device comprising a latching lever consisting of a pair of pivotable opposed latching arms, fixing means for fixing the opposed arms rigidly to each other and holding means for holding the latching lever in a position wherein the said gap is open, the device being adapted to be fixed to the double swing doors in such a manner that the opposed latching arms are fixed rigidly by the said fixing means to one another on the outside and inside respectively of the swing doors whereby the latching lever in a horizontal position spans the gap between the doors to close the doors and when the latching lever is pivoted from a horizontal position into a vertical position the lever is held by the said holding means enabling the doors to be opened.

Preferably the said holding means may comprise frictional pads on the inside of the latching arms or spring biasing means on the inside of the latching arms.

One expedient holding means comprises one or more holes in one or each latching arm, the said hole or holes adapted to engage a corresponding ball catch arranged in said door or doors when said latching arms are in the vertical position.

The latching device may comprise a pair of latching arms rigidly fixed to one another by a fixing rod or bar for serving as a pivot for the latching arms. The latching device may be fixed to a double door by a holding plate fixed to a door end. If desired, the latching lever may be arranged to be pivotable in one rotational sense only from said horizontal position to said vertical position. The holding plate may take the form of a resilient stirrup member.

By way of example preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of the inside of a latching arm, Figure 2 is a front view of a holding plate and a rod to be held by the plate, Figure 3 shows a view of a threaded end of a rod and a nut for engagement therewith, Figure 4 shows an end of a rod which is not threaded, the upper figure being a side view and the lower figure being a plan view from above, Figure 5 shows two forms of locking means for locking the latching device to one of the double doors to which the latching device is adapted to be fixed, Figure 6 shows in perspective pin means for securing a rod used in the latching device against relative rotation, Figure 7 shows a resilient stirrup member serving as a holding plate, Figure 8 shows a sectional view of a latching device fixed to double doors in one way, Figure 9 is a front view of the fixed latching device shown in Figure 8, Figure 10 shows a sectional view of a latching device fixed to double doors in a second way, Figure 11 is a front view of the fixed latching device shown in Figure 10, Figure 12 shows a simplified sectional view of part of a latching device fixed to double doors in a third way, Figure 13 is a sectional view of the latching device of Figures 10 and 11 to which a locking means has been applied, and Figure 14 is a front view of a similar latching device to that of Figure 11 but with a padlocking means applied.

Figure 1 shows a latching arm 1 (one of a pair which is required) which needs to be rigidly fixed to the other latching arm 1 of the pair. A rod or bar such as member 3 (serving as a pivot) seen in Figure 2 will be used to join the two latching arms 1, 1 to each other. Such rod or bar will pass through aperture 2.

As seen more clearly in Figure 6 to safeguard against any relative rotation of a bar or rod such as member 3 (Figure 2) a pin 11 may be introduced into aperture 9 to abut against member 3. Frictional pads 10 are shown mounted on the inside surface of lever arm 1 to serve as the said holding means to hold the latching lever in a vertical position. Other equivalent holding means may be used, for instance a spring loaded ball catch wherein the ball of the ball catch will always be urged against the opposing surface of the door.

Figure 2 shows a metal holding plate 7 with holes 8 enabling the plate 7 to be mounted on the end face of one of the doors and retaining the fixing rod or bar 3.

Latching arms 1 such as shown in Figure 1 will be rigidly fixed to each other by suitable means employing fixing rod or bar 3.

Figure 3 shows one end of a fixing rod or bar 18 which may be secured to a latching arm 1 by means of a nut 6.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of one end of the rod or bar 3 shown in Figure 2. Each end 4 is flattened and a hole is provided at 5 to receive appropriate securing means (not shown).

Figure 5 shows suitable locking means enabling a rod or bar 13 or 113 to be passed through latching arms 1 and through one door and secured by a wing nut 14 or provided with a hole 114 for a padlock 17 (such as shown in Figure 15).

Figure 6 has been referred to when describing Figure 1.

Figure 7 shows a resilient stirrup member 12 which can be fixed to the edge of one of the doors and used to mount a pair of latching arms 1 (as shown in Figure 1) by means of a fixing rod or bar (as shown in Figure 2) passing through holes 14 (only one hole 14 visible in Figure 7). The advantage of such a fixing is that it is a temporary one and does not deface a door in any way.

Figures 8 and 9 show a latching device applied to a pair of double doors 15 and 16. Any desired fixing rod or bar 213 may be used to secure latching arms 1 rigidly to each other. Frictional pads 10 are provided and metal holding plate 7 is used - this avoids the need to bore a hole through the door.

Figures 10 and 11 are similar to Figures 8 and 9 but a hole has to be bored through door 16 to accommodate rod or bar 213 but no holding plate 7 is required. In the embodiment shown in Figure 14, a further bore is required for door 16 to allow rod or bar 13 to be passed through the door and each latching arm 1 to provide locking means as provided by wing nut 7 compare Figure 5. In the embodiment shown in Figure 15, a further bore is again required for the same purpose as in Figure 14 but the locking means uses a rod or bar 113 provided with hole 114 (as shown in Figure 5) and a padlock 17.

Figure 12 is similar to Figures 10 and 11 but employs a temporary fixing as described with reference to Figure 7.

Although not shown the latching arms 1 which may be of wood, metal or plastics material, may be reinforced in any manner desired to provide additional rigidity or strength.

A further embodiment will now be described with reference to Figures 15 to 18 of the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 15 shows a perspective view of a latching device, Figure 16 shows in end view the latching device fitted to a door, Figure 17 shows a front view of the fitted latching device closing the opening between the doors, and Figure 18 shows a perspective view of the fitted latching device in a vertical position allowing passage through the doors.

Latching arms 31 are rigidly fixed to one another by a rod or bar 33 (serving as a pivot). An L-shaped metal holding plate 37 with holes 38 enables the plate 37 to be mounted on the end face of one of the doors 36 (the other door 35 is shown in Figure 17) and retains the fixing rod or bar 33. The plate 37 is L-shaped so that the latching lever can only be rotated one way (as shown by the curved arrow seen in Figures 17 and 18) to move the latching lever into the vertical position, i.e.

when the doors 35, 36 are in the openable position.

The one way operation is advantageous in certain circumstances. Holes 39 in one of the latching arms 31 are provided. One hole 39 is arranged to engage a ball catch 40 so as to hold the latching device in the vertical position, i.e. when the doors 35, 36 are in the openable position. If desired, both holes 39 may be arranged to engage a corresponding ball catch 40.

Claims (10)

1. A latching device for releasably fastening double swing doors having a central gap between opposing door ends, the device comprising a latching lever consisting of a pair of pivotable opposed latching arms, fixing means for fixing the opposed arms rigidly to each other and holding means for holding the latching lever in a position wherein the said gap is open, the device being adapted to be fixed to the double swing doors in such a manner that the opposed latching arms are fixed rigidly by the said fixing means to one another on the outside and inside respectively of the swing doors whereby the latching lever in a horizontal position spans the gap between the doors to close the doors and when the latching lever is pivoted from a horizontal position into a vertical position the lever is held by the said holding means enabling the doors to be opened.

2. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the said holding means comprise frictional pads on the inside of the latching arms.

3. A device according to Claim 1, wherein the said holding means comprise biasing means on the inside of the latching arm.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the pair of latching arms are rigidly fixed to one another by a fixing rod or bar serving as a pivot for the latching arms.

5. A device according to any preceding claim, which is adapted to be fixed to a double door by a holding plate fixed to a door end.

6. A device according to Claim 5, wherein the holding plate takes the form of a resilient stirrup member.

7. A device according to Claim 1 or to any one of Claims 4 to 6 not appendant to Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the said holding means comprises one or more holes in one or each latching arm, the said hole or holes adapted to engage a corresponding ball catch arranged in said door or doors when said latching arms are in the vertical position.

8. A latching device according to any preceding claim, wherein the latching lever is arranged to be pivotable in one rotational sense only from said horizontal position to said vertical position.

9. A latching device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A latching device substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 15 to 18 of the accompanying drawings.