GB2265664A - Security device for doors and windows - Google Patents

Abstract

A security device comprises a first C-shaped plate (2) providing reinforcement to an opening member such as a door or window in the proximity of a locking means, and a second plate (10) for providing reinforcement to the frame or jamb surrounding the door or window. The security device may also include protected chain bars for supporting a chain between the opening member and its surround. The jamb plate may be flat, or C-shaped so as to surround the shape of the jamb. <IMAGE>

Description

"SECURITY DEVICE" This invention is in the field of security devices and particularly relates to a means of strengthening or providing reinforcement to locks located in doors or windows or the like.

A common method of providing locking means in a door or window or the like, hereinafter referred to as opening members, is to cause a metal bar housed within an opening member to protrude into a receiving aperture located within the frame or door jam or the like surrounding said opening member such as to prevent the opening member from movement.

However, it is found in practice that thieves or burglars are able to gain forced entry through an opening member by chiselling or otherwise breaking the locking means and thus opening the respective door or window. It is also possible to quickly cut round a lock such that the locking means is detached from the opening member.

In the past, in order to overcome this problem, it has been common to use a multiple number of locks such that each lock must be broken or cut around in order to gain access. Yet, for each lock or each locking means provided in an opening member there is required a separate hole for location of the locking bar The plurality of holes or apertures weakens the door or window and reduces the force required to "kick in" the opening member by tearing of the timber or surrounding material away from the locking bars.

According to the present invention a security device comprises a first plate adapted to be attached, and provide reinforcement, to an opening member in the proximity of a locking means, wherein said first plate is in the form of a C-channel having front, orthogonal and rear sides, said first plate being adapted to partially surround a front, end, and rear side of said opening member.

Optionally, said first plate also includes a horizontal side spanning the respective upper or lower edges of the front and rear sides, wherein said horizontal side is adapted to partially surround a respective upper or lower horizontal side of said opening member.

The first plate may include at least one aperture suitably located in the orthogonal or horizontal side and sized for surrounding a locking bar or bolt; alternatively the first plate may incorporate one or more locking means.

Preferably, said first plate includes a plurality of apertures for the location of fastening members, such as screws, for fastening said first plate to said opening member.

Preferably, said first plate includes further apertures to prevent interference with handles, protruding locking mechanisms and so on.

Preferably, said security device also includes a second plate adapted for attachment and reinforcement to a frame or jam surrounding the opening member.

Preferably, the second plate also includes an aperture suitably sized and located for receiving a locking bar or bolt.

The second plate may be in the form of a C-channel having front, orthogonal and rear sides, said second plate being adapted to partially surround a front, end and rear side of a frame or jam surrounding the opening member; alternatively the second member may be a flat plate for attachment to the end of a frame or jam.

Preferably, the security means also includes a first chain bar attachable to the opening member and partially overlapped by said first plate.

Preferably, the invention also includes a second chain bar which is attachable to the jam or surround of the opening member.

Preferably, said second chain bar is partially overlapped by said second plate.

Preferably, a chain or other detachable securing means is attachable between said first and second chain bars.

Preferably, said second chain bar is provided with a resting means for resting said chain thereon when chain is dettached from said first chain bar.

Alternatively, one or both of the chain bars-are welded to the respective first and second plates.

Preferably, the plates are made from a metal material.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 is a pictorial view of a first plate in accordance with the invention, without an incorporated locking means; Fig 2 is an end view of a plate shown in Fig 1; Fig 3 is a pictorial view of a second plate in accordance with the invention; Fig 4 is a front view of a security device in accordance with the invention positioned on a door; Fig 5 is a pictorial view of a further security device in accordance with the present invention with a chain attachment; Fig 6 is a pictorial view of a yet further security device in accordance with the present invention with a chain attachment; Fig 7 is a flat second plate member with a chain attachment and overlapping door-stop member in accordance with the present invention;; Figs Sa and 8b are end views of first plate members with various lock, handle and chain attachment arrangements in accordance with the invention; and Fig 9 is a chain bar used in an embodiment of the invention A security device for strengthening and reinforcing doors and windows and the like, together with their surrounding frames, in proximity to their locking mechanisms includes a first plate 2. Embodiments of the first plate are shown in Figs 1, 6, 8a and 8b. In these embodiments the plate is substantially formed in the shape of a C-channel having a front side 3, and a rear side 4 opposing the front side 3 together with a third orthogonal side 5 separating the front 3 and rear 4 sides. The embodiment shown in Figure 6 further includes a horizontal side 50, spanning the upper edges of the front 3 and rear sides 4.

The first plate 2 is sized such that it is adapted to fit snugly over the end of a door or window. Thus, the internal distance between the front 3 and rear 4 sides the plate 2 approximate the width of the door or window at the location required for reinforcement.

The front and rear sides of the plate 2 may be of any suitable height and width in order to reinforce and strengthen the door or window in the proximity of as many locking mechanisms as required. It is appreciated in the invention that the larger the size of the front and rear sides of the plate, the greater the area of the door or window over which any external stresses imposed on the lock, door, window or plate may be absorbed. Furthermore, the front and rear sides of the first or second plate need not be rectangular, and there is no limit to the shape which may be employed for functional and aesthetic reasons.

Additionally, the front and rear sides or the plate 2 include small apertures 6 for screwing or otherwise attaching said plate 2 to the door or window. Again, the greater the number of such fastening means, the less stress required to be absorbed by each and therefore, the less risk of the door or window being ripped away from a lock or locks.

In the embodiments, the front and rear sides of the plate also include apertures 7 through which keys may be inserted for unlocking or locking any locking mechanism located in the door or window. Further apertures 20 may be provided for handles 30 or the like. Yet further apertures 8 are provided in respect of each locking bar and these apertures are located-in the orthogonal side of the plate. The plate may alternatively include an incorporated locking means which is placed in a recessed area of the door or window (not shown).

Turning now to Fig 3, a second plate 10 is provided and has a profile in accordance with a frame of jam or the like surrounding an opening member such as a door or window. Similar to the first plate, the second plate 10 includes a front side 11 and a rear side 12.

Further orthogonal sides 13, 14 are provided in order to correspond to the profile of the frame or door jam.

An alternative embodiment of the second plate is shown in Fig 7. This second plate is a flat plate which is placed on the internal orthogonal side of a frame or jam. The orthogonal sides are provided with apertures 15, which correspond in size and location to apertures 8 included in the first plate and location and size of locking bars comprised in any locking mechanisms included in the opening member.

Thus, each locking bar when in a locking position, such as shown in Fig 4, is reinforced by the orthogonal side 5 on the first plate 2 and an orthogonal side 13 or 14 on the second plate 10. The reinforcement provided by the combination of the orthogonal plates ensures that a locking bar 21 may not be easily ripped through an opening member or its surrounding frame.

Fig 5 shows the security device in situ with a chain 31 attached to the first and second plates to enable the door or window to be opened slightly to see (in the case of a door) or talk to a person on the other side of the door or window without loss of security.

The chain 31 is attached to chain bars 32 shown in Figs 5, 8a and 8b and 9, these chain bars are welded to the first and second plates. In an alternative embodiment they may be recessed into the frame or opening member and then overlapped by the first and second plates.

Fig 7 shows an alternative form of attachment member 33 used with a flat second plate member. This attachment member is in the form of a bar situated between the second plate member and the door or window portion projecting with an aperture 34 to which the chain 31 may be attached. Fig 7 also shows a door stop member 35, preferably of wood overlapping the second plate member to provide additional strength and to reduce noise when closing the door.

In an alternative embodiment a first plate may comprise front, orthogonal and rear sides adapted to be snugly located over an opening member which does not, as yet, include a locking mechanism. Accordingly, a locking mechanism, such as a bolt, may be attached to the exterior of the first plate, suitable locating or holding means for the bolt or the like being attached to the exterior of a second plate on the frame or surrounding of the opening member.

The invention may also include ornate coverings to hide or camouflage bolt heads and the like. These can be incorporated into the design of a shield or badge, but are of course not limited to any particular design in the invention.

It may be seen that the invention may be easily manufactured and adapted to suit any locking mechanism and any opening member with surrounding frame. This includes the application where the door may have an internal locking system as illustrated in Figure 6. In such doors, the locking bolt or mechanism may extend into the frame or jam vertically from the top of the opening member, or alternatively into the floor from the bottom of the opening member. In order tq provide protection for such arrangements the first plate includes a horizontal edge 50 which has an aperture for receiving the loching bolt therethrough. Thus for a wide variety of locking systems and at a relatively low cost a significant improvement may be made to the security of a house or building or the like.

The invention may be made of any suitable material having required strength properties, such, for example, as steel, aluminium, various alloys thereof and even certain tough plastics.

It is also realised in the invention that should it not be aesthetically or otherwise desirable to include a front or rear side on either of the first or second plates, then such sides may be omitted. While this may result in some detraction of the strength of the security device, the general purpose and spirit of the device is still possible.

Claims (18)

1. A security device comprising a first plate adapted to be attached, and provide reinforcement, to an opening member in the proximity of a locking means, wherein said first plate is in the form of a C-channel having front, orthogonal and rear sides, said first plate being adapted to partially surround a front, end, and rear side of said opening member.

2. A security device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said first plate also includes a horizontal side spanning the respective upper or lower edges of the front and rear sides, and wherein said horizontal side is adapted to partially surround a respective upper or lower horizontal side of said opening member.

3. A security device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first plate includes at least one aperture suitably located in the orthogonal or horizontal side and sized for surrounding a locking bar or bolt.

4. A security device as claimed in Clam 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first plate incorporates one or more locking means

5. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first plate includes a plurality of apertures for the location of fastening members, such as screws, for fastening said first plate to said opening member.

6. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first plate includes further apertures to prevent interference with handles, protruding locking mechanisms and so on.

7. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said security device also includes a second plate adapted for attachment and reinforcement to a frame or jam surrounding the opening member.

8. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second plate also includes an aperture suitably sized and located for receiving a locking bar or bolt.

9. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second plate may be in the form of a C-channel having front, orthogonal and rear sides, said second plate being adapted to partially surround a front, end and rear side of a frame or jam surrounding the opening member.

10. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second member is a flat plate for attachment to the end of a frame or jam.

11. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims also including a first chain bar attachable to the opening member and partially overlapped by said first plate.

12. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims also including a second chain bar which is attachable to the jam or surround of the opening member.

13. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein said second chain bar is partially overlapped by said second plate.

14. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a chain or other detachable securing means is attachable between said first and second chain bars.

15. A security device as claimed in Claim 14 wherein said second chain bar is provided with a resting means for resting said chain thereon when chain is dettached from said first chain bar.

16. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein one or both of the chain bars are welded to the respective first and second plates.

17. A security device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the plates are made from a metal material.

18. A security device substantially as described or illustrated hereinbef ore