GB2565116A

GB2565116A - Security device for limiting opening of door or window

Info

Publication number: GB2565116A
Application number: GB1712446.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Piper Stuart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-08-02
Filing date: 2017-08-02
Publication date: 2019-02-06
Also published as: GB201712446D0

Abstract

A security device 2 for securing a door or window 50 comprises mounting 8 which is fitted to the frame if the wing opens inwards (Fig 2) or to the wing if it opens outwards (Fig 5) and a locking member 20 which is moveable from a projecting position which limits the wing to a partial opening and a retracted position which allows full opening. Preferably the locking member is hinge mounted and is biased by a butterfly spring SP to the blocking position. A sliding release plate 100 can be used to retract the locking member. The release plate engages with an inclined face (14 Fig 4a). The locking member can also be is electrically operable by an actuator (e.g. a solenoid) which may be controlled by a wireless signal from a key fob transmitter or from an indoor transmitter. Two such security devices can engage upper and lower edge regions of the wing near the hinged side.

Description

Security Device for limiting opening of Door or Window

The present invention relates to a security security device for limiting the opening of a door or window. The invention also relates to a door or window arrangement provided with such a security device, and to a kit of parts. The invention is applicable to both inwardly and outwardly-opening doors and windows.

It is known to provide a security device which allows a door to be securely partially opened, in order to safely view and identify a caller outside of the door. The door is limited to opening only a small amount, and cannot be opened fully, so that a caller cannot enter through the doorway.

One such conventional device is a door chain, extending between a door frame and an area adjacent to the door handle at the free edge of the door. This has the disadvantage that the chain is relatively weak, and so may be broken if a caller exerts a force on the door. The fastenings connecting the chain to the door and the door frame are also relatively weak. Thus, an unwanted caller may be able to break through a partially open door secured with a chain.

UK Patent GB 2,422,403B and GB2491578A (both naming the present inventor) disclose a security devices for securing a door or window pivotally mounted in a frame, the security devices comprising vertically slidable bars mounted on the inside surface of the door or window which can engage stops mounted on the frame near the hinged side of the door or window to limit opening of the door or window, typically to a maximum of about 100mm.

Any impact on the door or window (typically on the free edge of the door or window, ie away from the bar, and door hinges) will be absorbed by the flexing of the door or window and will not impinge directly on them. Accordingly the risk of impact damage to the bar, hinges and end stop is reduced.

However the bars must be quite substantial in order to provide sufficient strength to resist forcing of the door or window, they add to the cost, and are visually obtrusive. Furthermore is is not always feasible to mount sliding bars or the like on the interior of a door or window.

It is also known to provide outwardly-opening windows with a safety latch for limiting opening (eg to prevent a young child falling out of the window). However such known safety latches can be accessed from the outside and therefore do not provide security against intruders.

An object of the present invention is to provide a security device in which some or all of the above disadvantages are overcome or alleviated.

Accordingly, in one aspect the invention provides a security device for securing a door or window pivotally mounted in a frame, the security device comprising:

a) a mounting which, if the door or window opens inwardly, is fixed with respect to the frame and, if the door or window opens outwardly, is fixed with respect to the door or window and

b) a locking member carried on the mounting and spaced inwardly from the plane of the frame, the locking member being movable between a projecting position in which projects from the mounting to allow only partial opening of the door or window and a retracted position in which it allows full opening of the door or window, the locking member being movable by a userto the retracted position.

This arrangement has the advantage that little or no modification of the door or window is required. Furthermore it is easier to operate and less visually obtrusive than a conventional door chain.

Preferably, particularly if the door or window opens inwardly, the locking member is mounted in a position closer to the hinged edge of the window or door than the free edge of the window or door. This allows the locking member to be located close to the plane of the door or window frame and also allows the natural resilience of the door or window to absorb much of the shock of any attempted forced entry. Furthermore it is harder for a would-be intruder to reach the locking member if it is near to the hinge side of the door or window where the opening is much narrower than at the free edge of the door or window.

Preferably the locking member is biased to the projecting position. This feature has the advantage that the protection against forced entry is always on. The user can release the door by moving the locking member to the retracted position.

Preferably the locking member is mounted on a hinge and is movable in an arc between said projecting and retracted positions such that openingforce applied to the door or window is on a radius of the arc. This feature improves security because any such force will not have an appreciable circumferential component tending to push the locking member to its retracted position. It also enables a compact mounting arrangement and avoids sliding motion of the locking member which is liable to involve undue friction and wear.

Preferably the locking member is biased to the projecting position by a butterfly spring fitted on the hinge. Again, this feature allows a compact mounting arrangement.

Preferably the hinge has a pivot axis which is inclined inwardly relative to the plane of the frame. This feature enables the locking member to be aligned with the partially open door or window so as to improve retention of the door or window in the partially open position.

In one embodiment said means operable by a user for moving the locking member to the retracted position comprises a release member which in use engages a surface of the locking member.

Preferably the release member is a sliding member and said surface is inclined relative to the sliding axis of the sliding member.

In another embodiment said means operable by a user for moving the locking member to a retracted position comprises an electrically-powered actuator responsive to a control signal. The actuator may be a solenoid for example.

Optionally the actuator is responsive to a wireless control signal.

Optionally the security device further comprises a handheld wireless transmitter operable by an indoor user to generate said control signal.

Optionally the security device further comprises a handheld wireless transmitter operable by an outdoor user to generate said control signal. Preferably this handheld wireless transmitter is incorporated in a key for unlocking the door or window.

The invention also provides a door or window arrangement, the arrangement comprising a door or window and at least one security device as defined above, said at least one security device being arranged to allow only partial opening of the door or window except when the locking member is moved to the retracted position by the means operable by the user.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for the security device or the door or window arrangements defined above.

Other preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

Three embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the interior side of a door provided with security devices in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic partial plan view showing the door frame and the upper security device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevation partly in section of the door frame and upper security device in the arrangement of Figure 1;

Figure 4A is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the action of a release plate utilised in the security devices of Figures 1 to 3;

Figure 4B is a similar diagrammatic side elevation showing the subsequent action of the door in sliding under the release plate to allow full opening of the door;

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partially in section, of an other embodiment of a security device in accordance with the invention fitted to an inwardly-opening window, and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the interior side of a door provided with security devices in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a door 50 is conventionally hinged by vertical hinges 51 to a door frame 52 (Figure 2). A conventional handle assembly 10 is provided on the inner face of the door 50 (and a similar handle assembly on the outer face of the door, not shown) are connected to a latch spindle on the unhinged (ie free) side of the door which operates a spring-loaded latch bolt L. Thus latch bolt L can be withdrawn by operating the handles of either handle assembly 10, or the similar handle assembly on the outside of the door 50 to allow opening of the door. Either or both of these handle assemblies is provided with a handle 19 and a keyhole (not shown) for operating an associated mortice lock in a conventional manner.

As shown in Figure 1, two security devices 2 are provided near the hinge (left hand) side of the door 50, i.e. closer to the hinged edge than the free (right hand) edge of the door. As explained below, these devices normally prevent the door from being opened by more than about 100mm.

Referring to Figure 2, which shows the upper security device 2 of Figure 1 in detail, a thick mounting plate 8 is securely screwed to the upper part of door frame 52 and carries on its upper surface a hinge H which is screwed or otherwise firmly secured to the upper surface of mounting plate 8. Hinge H is mounted with its hinge axis HA parallel with but spaced apart from the inner edge of the door 50 in its partially open position (maximum opening about 100mm), i.e. it is inwardly inclined with respect to the plane of the door frame. The partially open position is determined by engagement of a locking member 20 (secured to the underside of the hinge H) which engages the inside of the door near the upper edge and acts as a stop. The locking member 20 is disposed on the inside of the mid-plane P of the door frame 52.

As best seen in Figures 4A and 4B, locking member 20 is trapezoidal in profile. Its largest face (15 - see Figure 4A and Figure 4B) bears against the inside face of the door 50 in the partially open position shown in Figure 2.

In order to minimise the tendency of the inside face of the door 50 to slide over the inside face of the locking member 20, the locking member is spaced apart from the hinge axis HA such that it moves in an arc between its projecting position as shown in Figure 2 and a retracted position in which it allows the door 50 open fully. It will be seen that any inward force applied to the door during an attempted forced entry' will be substantially radial to the arc and will not therefore have a significant component acting along the circumference of the arc which would tend to push the locking member 20 to a retracted position.

As shown in Figure 3, a release plate 100 is slidable in a mounting formed by plate 8 so as to engage an inclined surface 14 of locking member 20.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4A, hinge H is resiliently biased to its fully open (flat) position by a butterfly spring SP. In the fully flat (open) position the largest face 16 is parallel to the inner face of door 50, as best seen in Figure 4A. In this position the inclined face 14 of the locking member is contactable by sliding the release plate 100 towards the door as indicated by arrow S in Figure 4A. This lifts the locking member 20 and its associated leaf of hinge H as indicated by arrow R, closing the hinge and tilting the door-contacting face 15 to the position shown in Figure 4B so that in this configuration, partial opening of the door 50 (indicated by arrow D) now allows the upper edge of the door to slide over face 15 and close hinge H further. In this manner the upper edge of door 50 is enabled to slide under the locking member 20 and open fully.

Thus the sliding of the release plate 100 under the inclined face 14 of the locking member 20 inclines face 15 and consequently enables the door to slide over the face 15 and open fully.

The above description of the upper security device 2 applies equally to the lower security device 2, except that the latter is inverted as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 shows a double-glazed casement window 50’ mounted on un upper hinge 51 in a frame 52’. A locking member 20 is mounted on a hinge H whose inner flap is secured to the lower portion of the frame of window 50’. A butterfly spring SP urges the hinge open and hence urges the locking member downwardly to engage the inner surface of frame 52’. Accordingly, opening of the window (in the direction indicated by arrow O) is limited. Only by raising the inner flap of hinge H (in the direction indicated by arrow R) can the locking member 20 be lifted out of engagement with the frame 52’ to allow full opening of the window.

Because the locking member is located inside the frame 52’ (ie inside its mid-plane P) it is difficult or impossible for a would-be intruder on the outside (right-hand side in the drawing) of the window to reach the locking member or its hinge mounting. Hence the window cannot be opened from the outside.

Figure 6 shows another embodiment in which the release plate is dispensed with and the locking member 20 of each security device 2’ is operated by an electricallypowered actuator such as a solenoid. Each solenoid is controlled by a wireless signal received by a radio receiver transmitted by a local transmitter TX mounted on the interior of the door 50. In this manner a communications link CL is established between door-mounted transmitter TX and each security device 2’. Transmitter TX has a switch (not shown) operated by the user indoors which is used to transmit signals instructing the solenoids to retract the locking members 20 from their default projecting position (in which only partial opening of the door is possible) to a retracted position in which full opening of the door is possible. In a variant the indoor user may be provided with a small wireless transmitter device which he/she can use to transmit signals instructing the solenoids to retract the locking members 20 from their projecting position to a retracted position.

An outdoor user is provided with a key 12 having a key fob transmitter and this can be used to send similar signals to the radio receivers and their associated solenoids of security devices 2, instructing them to retract the locking members 20 to allow full opening of the door 50. Accordingly an authorised user can then use the key in an external keyhole of a mechanical lock (not shown) of handle assembly 10 to open the door, even if the security devices are in their projecting position to prevent full opening of the door, in this manner, unlike a conventional door chain, the security devices 2 can be disabled by an authorised key holder who is coming home, for example.

In a variant the transmitter TX could be replaced by a handheld wireless device operated by an indoor user

In a further variant, the security devices 2 or 2’ could be fitted to a hinged window rather than a door.

In a further variant, the hinges 51 could be on the right of the door 50 (or window), rather than on the left as shown in Figure 2.

In a further variant the hinge could be along any edge of the door or window, eg a horizontal edge.

All the described embodiments and variants can be provided in the form of a kit of parts, eg for retro-fitting to an existing door or window.

Claims

1. A security device for securing a door or window pivotally mounted in a frame, the security device comprising:

b) a locking member carried on the mounting and spaced inwardly from the plane of the frame, the locking member being movable between a projecting position in which projects from the mounting to allow only partial opening of the door or window and a retracted position in which it allows full opening of the door or window, the locking member being movable by a user to the retracted position.

2. A security device according to claim 1, wherein the locking member is mounted in a position closer to the hinged edge of the window or door than the free edge of the window or door.

3. A security device according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the locking member is biased to the projecting position.

4. A security device according to any preceding claim wherein the locking member is mounted on a hinge and movable in an arc between said projecting and retracted positions such that inward force applied to the door or window is on a radius of the arc.

5. A security device according to claim 4 as dependent on claim 3 wherein the locking member is biased to the projecting position by a butterfly spring fitted on the hinge.

6. A security device according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the hinge has a pivot axis which is inclined inwardly relative to the plane of the door frame.

7. A security device according to any preceding claim wherein the locking member is movable by a user to the retracted position by a release member which in use engages a surface of the locking member.

8. A security device according to claim 7 wherein the release member is a sliding member and said surface is inclined relative to the sliding axis of the sliding member.

9. A security device according to any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the locking member is movable to a retracted position by an electrically-powered actuator responsive to a control signal.

10. A security device according to claim 9 wherein said actuator is responsive to a wireless control signal.

11. A security device according to claim 9 or claim 10, further comprising a switch operable by a user to generate said control signal.

12. A security device according to claim 9 or claim 10, further comprising a handheld wireless transmitter operable by an indoor user to generate said control signal.

13. A security device according to claim 9 or claim 10, further comprising a handheld wireless transmitter operable by an outdoor user to generate said control signal.

14. A security device according to claim 13, wherein said handheld wireless transmitter is incorporated in a key for unlocking the door or window.

15. A door or window arrangement, the arrangement comprising a door or window and at least one security device as claimed in any preceding claim, said at least one security device being arranged to allow only partial opening of the door or window except when the locking member is moved to the retracted position by the means operable by the user.

16. A door or window arrangement according to claim 15 wherein there are two such security devices which engage opposite edge regions of the door or window, a hinged edge of the door or window extending between said opposite edge regions.

17. A door or window arrangement according to claim 16 wherein said security devices engage upper and lower edge regions respectively and said hinged edge is substantially vertical.

18. A kit of parts for a security device or for a door or window arrangement, the security device being as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14 or the door or window arrangement being as claimed in any of claims 15 to 17.