GB2270336A - Security cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A security cover for the occlusion of openings in disused buildings, comprising a panel for covering the outside of the opening, at least one anchoring member (40, 41) for spanning the opening on the inside of the wall and a connecting member extending between the anchoring member and at least one attachment point on the inside of the panel. The connecting members can be tightened by rachets 46. <IMAGE>

Description

"Security Cover" This invention relates to a security cover.

It is especially although not exclusively adapted for use in the secure occlusion of window openings in empty buildings to prevent unauthorised access to the building.

Previous designs of covers of this type consist essentially of steel or rigid composite plastics sheets fastened in window openings by various methods ranging from simply nailing the sheet to the frames of the window, to technically complex clamping means.

Such designs are vulnerable to attack from the exterior of the cover; the nails holding the sheet can simply be extracted and the sheet removed from the window opening. In addition, the technically complex designs are expensive to manufacture.

According to the present invention, there is provided a security cover for occlusion of an opening in a wall of an enclosure, the cover comprising a panel which, in use, is disposed on the external face of the enclosure such that the panel occludes the opening, the panel having a plurality of attachment points thereon, an anchor member for spanning the opening and for engaging the internal face of the enclosure adjacent the opening, and a connector to extend between at least one of the attachment points and the anchor member, the connector being engagable with its attachment point in a manner preventing movement of the connector across the panel.

The attachment points are preferably provided on one or more attachment members which are preferably attached to the panel. The preferred attachment member comprises a mesh which may extend over the internal face of the panel. Alternatively the attachment member(s) may comprise one or more substantially parallel bars extending only across selected areas of the face. Preferably three generally parallel bars are provided and additional bars may be provided which extend between the parallel bars in a generally perpendicular arrangement thereto. The attachment members may be welded to said face of the panel and/or may be fixed thereto by brackets and/or may be welded to a side wall of the panel.

The connector may comprise one or more rigid steel rods extending between the attachment points and the anchor members. Alternatively, the connector may comprise one or more flexible members such as wire ropes which may have suitable tensioning means at one end thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view of a panel of a security cover according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig 2 is a perspective view of a panel of a security cover according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig 3 is a perspective view of a panel of a security cover according to a third embodiment of the invention; Fig 4 is a perspective view of one of a pair of anchor bars; Fig 5 is a perspective view of a mesh of the panel shown in Fig 1.

Fig 6 is a perspective view of an assembled security cover.

Fig 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the features shown in box A of Fig 6.

Fig 8 is an perspective view of the panel shown in Fig 3, including an additional bar for extra attachment points.

Referring now to the drawings, a security cover according to a first embodiment of the invention has a panel 1 comprising a planar sheet of steel 3 and having perforations 5 therein to allow the passage of light through the panel 1. The sheet 3 has side walls 10 which extend from the circumference of the sheet 3 at an angle of 90 thereto. The side walls 10 have inwardly extending rim sections 15 which extend perpendicular to the side walls 10.

The panel 1 is provided with attachment members in the form of a wire mesh 20 which is welded to an inner surface of the rim sections 15. The mesh 20 is generally planar at 20a with end sections 20b extending at an angle of 90 from the planar section 20a. The mesh 20 provides numerous attachment points for connector rods 24 which can hook onto the mesh 20 at any suitable point thereon.

Turning now to Fig 2, a second embodiment of the invention has a panel comprising a sheet 3, perforations 5, side walls 10 and rim sections 15 as previously described. The attachment members in the second embodiment comprise two pairs 26, 28 of parallel bars which are welded to the sheet 3. Bars 28 are also welded to the side walls 10 and bars 26 are welded to the bars 28.

The bars 26, 28 have apertures 30 to provide attachment points for connector rods (not shown) of a different design to that shown in Fig 1 as 24.

Turning now to Fig 3, a third embodiment of the invention has a panel 1 comprising a sheet 3, perforations 5, side walls 16 and rim sections 15 as previously described. Additionally, the panel 1 has attachment members comprising three parallel bars 35, fixed to the sheet 3 by brackets 37 which are welded thereto. The bars 35 have apertures 38 to provide fixing points for T-headed connector rods (not shown).

Other apertures 39 are also provided on the bars 35 allowing different designs of connector rods to be used.

On the rim sections 15 there are provided lip sections 16 which extend therefrom parallel to the side walls 10 towards the sheet 3. These can abut firmly against the bars 35, allowing no movement of the bars 35, or can be selected to have a size which allows slight movement of the bars 35 in the brackets 37 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet 3, thereby abutting against the bars 35 only when force is applied to the bars to pull them away from the sheet 3, thereby strengthening the arrangement. Similarly, the size of the brackets 37 can be selected to allow or prevent movement in a direction perpendicular to the sheet 3.

Fig 8 shows an example of a preferred additional bar 36 to provide extra attachment points at apertures 38.

The bar 36 is retained at each end by 'L' sections 47 which, in use, engage the bars 35. The bar 36 may be disposed at a number of desired locations along the axis of the bars 35 to provide additional attachment points at apertures 38.

Anchor members for all embodiments described herein comprise anchor bars 40, 41. The anchor bars 40, 41 may be of a general top-hat shape (40) or boxconstruction (41) to provide strength and resistance to bending, and have apertures 42 in their central portions 43 to provide fixing points for connector rods.

Advantageously, the design used for the fabrication of attachment members 35 may also be used for the anchor bars 41, thereby reducing outlays in design and manufacture.

In use, the panel 1 is located over an external face of a disused building or other structure adjacent to a window opening or other aperture. The panel is selected to have dimensions greater than the window opening so as to overlap the window opening. Connector rods are then attached to the attachment means (20; 26/28; or 35 according to the embodiment described) at a suitable position to transmit force evenly over the panel; the location of the attachment point on the attachment members can be selected to be most convenient for a given situation.

Anchor bars 40, 41 are located on the opposite face of the structure in relation to the panel 1 adjacent to the window opening. The anchor bars 40, 41 may be disposed either horizontally or vertically (or diagonally) in use in relation to the window opening and are selected to have a length greater than the height or width (or diagonal length) of the window opening. In each case, the anchor bars 40, 41 and the panel 1 are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the structure adjacent to the window opening and the jambs and horizontal members defining the window opening are disposed between the panel 1 and the anchor bars 40, 41.

The connector rods are then passed through apertures 42 on anchor bars 40 and are tightened by conventional screw thread and nut means thereby clamping the jamb of the window opening between the panel 1 and the anchor bars 40 thereby securing the panel 1 in place.

The panel 1 thus occludes the window opening in a secure manner and protects the connector rods from attack from the external surface of the panel 1.

Alternatively, the flexible steel connector ropes 45 shown in Figs 6 and 7 may be used to connect the panel to the anchor bars 40, 41. In this embodiment, one end of the rope 45 is fitted with a T-headed ring attachment for fixing to the attachment point at the apertures 38 in the bars 35. The other end of the rope 45 is passed through an aperture 42 in the bar 41 and a ratchet fitting 46 is used to tension the rope 45 to clamp the panel in place. It will be appreciated that any laterally flexible member which resists extension may be used instead of wire rope.

The security cover of the invention may be manufactured in three heights and two widths as follows: Range A 1200 X 1000 or 400 X 75 mm Range B 1700 X 1000 or 400 X 75 mm Range C 2200 X 1000 or 400 X 75 mm The preferred material construction of the panel 1 is 18G galvanised steel plate (gal BS 2989) or Zintac (BS 1449). The attachment bars 35 are preferably manufactured from 16G (or heavier) galvanised steel plate (gal BS 2989) with 50 mm X 12 mm slots at 125 centres. Likewise, the anchor bars 41 may be manufactured to the same specification and may cut to appropriate size as required.

All welds and mild steel plates are painted with cold galvanising primer or fully painted with a stove enamelled powder coat.

The connector rods preferably comprise 3/8" whitworth threaded rods in two lengths (460 mm and 600 mm) with a T bar for locking at one end to the attachment bars 35 and a wing nut and washer at the other end for attachment to the anchor bars 40, 41. Alternatively, the flexible connector 45 may comprise a T-bar attached to a galvanised hook with a wing nut to secure to the attachment bar 35, and a galvanised 18G strap with 12 mm diameter holes attached to the hook and bolted to the anchor bars 40, 41.

The use of flexible connectors with the cover of the invention confers additional benefits in that the flexible connectors may be used to connect two points, respectively on the anchor bars 40, 41 and the attachment bars 35 where a rigid connector may not be used, eg. where a jamb or other aspect of the opening lies between the two points.

All the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying Claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying Claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, although described herein with specific reference to the occlusion of window openings, the invention is not restricted thereto and can equally well be applied to door openings, roof access hatches or similar openings either internal or external to a building or other structure.

Claims (15)

1. A security cover for occlusion of an opening in a wall of an enclosure, the cover comprising a panel which, in use, is disposed on the external face of the enclosure such that the panel occludes the opening, the panel having a plurality of attachment points thereon, an anchor member for spanning the opening and for engaging the internal face of the enclosure adjacent the opening, and a connector to extend between at least one of the attachment points and the anchor member, the connector being engagable with its attachment point in a manner preventing movement of the connector across the panel.
2. 2 A security cover as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the attachment points are provided on one or more attachment members which are fixed to the panel.
3. 3 A security cover as claimed in Claim 2, wherein, in use, the attachment member or members are isolated from the external face of the panel with respect to the enclosure.
4. 4 A security cover as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the attachment member comprises a mesh extending over at least part of a face of the panel.
5. 5 A security cover as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the mesh extends substantially over the internal face of the panel with respect to the enclosure.
6. 6 A security cover as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein the attachment member or members comprise one or more elongate bars having discrete attachment points thereon.
7. 7 A security cover as claimed in Claim 6, wherein a plurality of elongate bars are provided and are arranged in a substantially parallel array on the panel, and at least one additional bar extends between the substantially parallel bars, the additional bar having attachment points thereon.
8. 8 A security cover a claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the connector member comprises a rigid metal rod.
9. 9 A security cover as claimed in any one of Claim 1 to 8, wherein the connector is laterally flexible.
10. 10 A security cover as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a plurality of connectors are provided.
11. 11 A security cover as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, including ratchet means to tighten the connector.
12. 12 A security cover substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in Fig 1 of the accompanying drawings.
13. 13 A security cover substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in Fig 2 of the accompanying drawings.
14. 14 A security cover substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in Figs 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
15. 15 A security cover substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as shown in Figs 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.