WO1993002270A1

WO1993002270A1 - Improvements in security grilles

Info

Publication number: WO1993002270A1
Application number: PCT/AU1992/000385
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles William St. George
Original assignee: St George Charles William
Priority date: 1991-07-25
Filing date: 1992-07-24
Publication date: 1993-02-04

Abstract

A security grille assembly comprising a bar support member (1) and an opposed locking member (2), both of which are adapted to be applied to opposed surfaces of an aperture in a building or the like which requires securing against unwanted intrusion. Between the support member and the locking member extend bars (3), the opposed ends of which engage within appropriately located receiving apertures in the opposed support member (1) and locking member (2). Included within the locking member (2) is a slide (8) which is slidingly movable within and guided by the interior of locking member (2) under the influence of a lock (6) by the intermediary of a cam (13).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN SECURITY GRILLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to security grilles and in particular internally mounted removable security grilles. BACKGROUND ART

Many types of security grilles are presently available including those that are fitted onto the outside of a building thereby preventing access through the opening in case of emergency, preventing access for cleaning and inhibiting the opening of some kinds of windows.

Some security grilles have readily accessible connecting means such as visible screws and rivets and the like and thus there is a need to provide a grille which may be assembled across any existing window, door or other opening in which all fastening means are concealed whereby entry through a window or door can only be gained by forcing the security bars. Furthermore, conventional security grilles are usually custom made and fitted onto the outside of the building so as to be exposed to the elements and therefore require maintenance. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there iε provided a security grille assembly for securing an opening against unwanted intrustion therethrough comprising opposed first and second support members adapted to fit against respective opposed surface portions of said opening; said assembly further including a plurality of bar members assemblable into and extending between said first and second support members.

Preferably, the first support member includes first engagement means for releasably retaining first ends of said bars and said second support member includes second engagement means operable between a bar locked position and a bar unlocked position whereby second ends of said bars are mechanically retained by said second support member when in said bar locked position and are releasable from said second support member when in said bar unlocked position.

It is also preferred that the second engagement means is actuable by means accessible only from one side of said opening. The means by which said housing is attached to said opening may be mechanically shielded when the plurality of said bar members is fixed in the housing.

The security grille may further include a locking slide slideably mounted inside one of said support members, openings in the first and second support members to accept the ends of the bars, and locking means to retain the slide in a first position when the slide is in the first position, notches in the slide to fit a cam pin of a lock, allowing the slider to be cut into any length. Provision may be made to allow for application of the first and second support members to uneven surfaces whereby the chances of the slide jamming is reduced. For example, the slide may comprise a plurality of like slide segments which are connected to each other in an articulated manner whereby the individual slide segments can slide within the support member even if the support member becomes warped as a result of its application to an uneven surface. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the security grille according to one embodiment of the invention incorporating a locking member and a support member, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the grille shown in Fig. 1 in the locked position,

Fig. 3A is a front elevational view of a stud and tube before they are fastened together to form a security bar, Fig. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the stud fastened into a tube which makes up the security bars, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lower housing showing the slide member in the open position, Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but in the locked position, Fig. 6 is an underneath view of the lower housing showing the locking arrangement in the open position to accept the studs, Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. 6 but with the locking arrangement in a locked position,

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the support bolt for the slidably mounted slide, Fig. 9 is a perspective view from above of the lower housing showing the bar openings and openings for the slidably mounted slide support bolts, Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 of an alternative design for the lower housing formed from an extrusion,

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a security grille according to a second embodiment of the invention shown in the locked position. Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the stud portion of the bars, lower member and slider of the grille shown in Fig. 11, Fig. 13A is a cross-sectional view of the lower member of the grille shown in Fig. 11, Fig. 13B is an exploded perspective of the slider shown in Fig. 13A,

Fig. 14A is a plan view of a portable tool for punching the key lock hole in the lower member , Fig. 14B is a cross-sectional view of the tool shown in Fig. 14A, Fig. 15 is a perspective view of one form of an articulated slide, Fig. 16 is a side view of the articulated slide shown in Fig. 15. Fig. 17A is a side sectional view of a lock barrel assembly held against inadvertent rotation by a clip, and, Fig. 17B is an exploded perspective view of the lock barrel assembly shown in Fig. 17A. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A first embodiment of the security grille assembly of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 9 includes a first or upper bar support member 1 and an opposed locking or lower support member 2, both of which are adapted to be applied to opposed surfaces of an aperture in a building or the like which requires securing against unwanted intrusion. Bar members 3 extend between the support member 1 and the locking member 2 with the opposed ends of the bars 3 engaged within appropriately located receiving apertures in the support member 1 and locking member 2.

In this instance, the bar members are tubular members and at the bottom of each tubular bar 3 there is a stud 9 which has a neck 9a against which the end of the bar 3 is swaged (see Fig. 3B) . The stud 9 has an end flange 9b, a narrow neck 9c and shoulder 9d. Within the locking member 2 there is a slide 8 (see Fig. 2 and Figs. 4 and 5). The slide 8 is slidingly movable within and guided by the interior of locking member 2 under the influence of a lock 6 by the intermediary of a cam 13^" as shown in Fig. 2.

Receiving apertures comprising a plurality of holes 18 each adjoined to a slot 19 are located in the surface of the slide 8 which abuts against and slides with respect to the bar receiving surface of the locking member 2 (see Figs. 6 and 7). The hole 18 is of a sufficiently large diameter to receive an end flange 9b of a stud 9 fitted to the ends of the bars 3. The narrow neck 9c of the bar 3 is only just accommodated by slot 19. When a stud 9 is inserted so as to protrude into hole 18 of the slide 8 then the stud can be locked into the locking member 2 by sliding the slide 8 with respect to the locking member 2 until slot 19 engages the neck 9c of the stud.

A locking mechanism of this nature is required only for one end of the bars 3 because the locking mechanism securely locks the stud 9 in a manner which prevents any sliding movement of the bar 3 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of sliding movement of the slide 8 within the locking member 2.

In order to place the bars 3 between the support member 1 and locking member 2, it is necessary that the support member 1 be able to accommodate the end of the bar 3 which is to be located within apertures within it by being initially slidable a sufficient distance into the interior of the support member 1 to allow the other end of the bar 3 (with the stud 9 affixed thereto) to be located over and then slid into the corresponding apertures in the locking member 2.

The support for the slide 8 within locking member 2 is provided by bolt 4 which fits through hole 23 (see Fig. 8) .

The bolt 4 has a square shoulder under its head which locates into square hole 23 in the locking member 2 to prevent rotation during securing of spacer 16 with nut 17. The spacer 16 controls the limit of movement of the slide 8 as its movement is limited by slot means 20 in the slide 8 into which a reduced shoulder 16a on spacer 16 fits.

Fig 6 shows lower housing member 2 in open position allowing entrance of stud 9 into hole 18. Cam 13 on lock 6 rotates cam 13 through an arc providing movement to actuator 14 connected to slide 8 by means of rod 15. Fig. 7 shows the lock rotated into the locked position and in so doing slot 19 in slide 8 has moved into the neck 9c of stud 9 thereby securing stud 9 into the lower housing member 2. The slide 6 is movable between limits determined by the engagement of slots 20 with spacer 16. The movement of the slide is provided by a cam 13 attached to a barrel of a lock, rotatable by locking pins being released by key 5 (in known manner). The slide 8 has keyhole apertures 19 arranged so as to have the larger portion aligned with the holes 18 in the lower housing member 2 when the slide is in the open position as in Fig. 6 and Fig. 4 which shows the cam 13 and its connection to slide 8 via actuator 14. -β-

The stud shoulder 9d limits the penetration of the stud 9 into the lower housing 2 and at the same time aligns the slide keyhole apertures 19 with neck 9c. From Fig. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the functioning of the device is evident, namely when the slide 8 is located so as to allow studs 9 to pass into the housing through holes 18 and slots larger portion 19 and so align grooves 25 with the keyhole apertures 19. The slide 8 is moved into the locked position by actuation of cam 13 and thereby engages the smaller portion of the keyhole aperture 19 in the groove 25 to prevent the withdrawal of the stud end of the bars 3.

The support members 1 and 2 are secured to a surface by fastening means passing through holes 18 and to provide access to securing plate 10 having hole 11 through which is inserted an appropriate fastener. Access to holes 18 and hence the fastening means is through holes 11 in securing plate 10 and thus the retaining means is inaccessible from outside the support members when the studs/bars are in place. This is a security feature of the device. The support members 1 and 2 may be formed from an uncomplicated rolled channel and as is the slide 8 and may be provided in long sections, suitable or any length window or door or any other application that requires such long secured areas. A spring 22 around rod 15 provides spring bias to actuator 14 allowing disengagement of actuator 14 from cam 13 for assembly and disassembly purposes. The spacer 21 provides the actuator 14 with pivoting means for connection to cam 13 during assembly of the slide 8 into the lower support member 2.

Fig. 10 shows an alternative form of the lower support member 2 which has sliding support ribs 24 to support a slide and obviating the holes 23 slots 20 bolts 4 spacer 16 and nut 17 of the earlier embodiment. The limit of movement of the slide can also be provided by the cam 13 and actuator 14 via rod 15 mounted in the slide. Upper support member 1 is provided with larger holes to accommodate the bars or tubes 3 as shown in Fig. 2. Once the slide has been moved to the unlocked position (Fig. 4 and Fig. 6) the bar or tube can be moved into and upward into the upper support member 1 clearing the stud 9 from the lower support member 2 and removed. A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs.

11 to 14. The locking device of this embodiment includes a lower locking or support member 102 and an upper support member 101. The locking member 102 comprises a hollow housing having flanges 124 which provide support for the slide 108. Stud 109 at the bottom of bar member 103 fits through hole 118 in locking member 102 when slider 108 is in its open position. The narrow portion 119a of slider hole 119 is then able to move into the locked position by moving into the reduced portion or neck 125 of stud 109. The slide movement is provided by cam pin 115 attached to the barrel of a lock 106 as shown in Figs. 13A and 13B. Cam 115 is shown with the slider in locked position in Fig. 13B and the dotted position of cam 116 is the open position. The slide 108 is movable between limits determined by the lock.

The movement of the slide 108 is provided by a cam 113 (Fig. 13) attached to a barrel of a lock 106, rotatable by locking pins being released by key 105 (in known manner). The lock is retained in the lower housing 102 by a spring clip 104. The slide 108 has keyhole apertures 119 arranged so as to have the larger portion aligned with the holes 118 in the lower housing member 102 when the slide is in the open position. Fig. 13 shows the connection of the cam pin 115 in a slider notch 114. The slide 108 has notches 114 repeated along its entire length, providing ample lock positioning along the entire length of the lower housing 102.

As shown in Fig. 12, stud 109 is provided with a reduced diameter portion 125 to form a shoulder into which the smaller portion of slide slot 119 engages as it slides through its movement. The bottom of the bar member 103 limits the penetration of the stud portion of bar into the lower housing 102 and at the same time aligns the keyhole apertures 119 of the slide 108 with grooves 125. The functioning of the device is evident from Figs. 11, 12, 13A and 13B. When the slide 108 is located so as to allow studs 109 to pass into the housing 102 through holes 118 and the larger portion of slots 119 whereby each groove or neck 125 is aligned with a keyhole apertures 119. The slide 108 is then moved into the locked position by cam pin 115 thereby engaging the smaller portion of the keyhole aperture 119 in - ¬

the groove 125 to prevent the withdrawal of the stud end of the bars .

The upper and lower members 101 and 102 are secured to a base plate 110 which is itself secured to a surface by fastening means passing through holes 111. The base plate 110 is first fastened to the surface and secured thereto by fasteners passing through holes 111. The housing member 101 or 102 is then pushed against the base plate 111 which forces the edges 120 of the housing member apart over and onto securing faces 130 provided in the base plate. Thus the retaining means is inaccessible from outside the housing.

The housings 101, 102 and the slide 108 may be formed from a custom rolled channel or from an extrusion and may be provided in long sections, pre-punched, pre-keyholed and pre- notched for ease of installation, suitable for any length window or door or any other application that requires long secured areas.

Upper housing member 101 is provided with larger holes to accommodate bar 103 as shown in Fig. 11. Once the slide has been moved to the unlocked position, the bar can be moved into and upward into the upper housing 101 clearing the stud 109 from the lower housing surface 102 and removed.

A special portable tool for forming the hole for the lock 106 is shown in Fig. 14. The tool slides along the lower housing 102 and pegs 121 fit into housing slots 118 for correct positioning of pitch X (Fig. 14) . The tool has a die 122 and an outside punch 123 supported by housing 127. Rotation of knob 128 pushes punch 123 through wall of housing 102 to provide a hole in the desired position. Lock body 106 can now be inserted into the lower housing 102 and retained in an assembled position by spring retainer 104. This assembly method provides a system that is capable of being installed quickly and efficiently.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 15 and 16 in which slide 8 of earlier embodiments is provided in an articulated form and comprises a plurality of like segments 201, 202, 203 joined in an articulated manner with each other by a tongue 204, 205, 206 engaging in a corresponding slot 207, 208, 209 of an adjacent like segment.

Each segment 201, 202, 203 has a downwardly depending member 210, 211, 212 having rib engaging slots 213, 214, 215 which are adapted to engage with cam lock pin 115 of the key lock.

Each segment is sufficiently small and sufficiently well articulated with respect to adjacent segments that the interlinked segment assembly can perform the function of previously described slide 8 but without the risk of jamming in the event that the locking member 2 should become warped through its application to an uneven surface.

The slide segments may be stamp pressed out of suitable steel and either case hardened or hardened and tempered. The hardened slide segments resist hacksawing or other attempts at destruction.

Such a segmented slide arrangement also allows for an easily assembled do it yourself kit system wherein the slide can be made of any length merely by joining together the appropriate number of slide segments.

The slide segments may be identical and a plurality of like segments may be used with respective ends locking into each other and held in place by the channel member. A modified lock clip 301 having specially widened flanges 302, 303 is shown in Fig. 17. The flanges are sufficiently wide that they will wedge a flattened surface 304 of the key lock barrel 305 against an underside of rib 306 within locking member 2. The arrangement prevents inadvertent rotation of the key lock barrel 305 and therefore allows a circular hole to be drilled (as opposed to being punched according to earlier embodiments) at the appropriate location in the side of locking member 2. A drilling operation is a simpler operation then the punching operation previously described and can be carried out with commonly available tradesman's tools.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention-

Claims

1. A security grille assembly for securing an opening against unwanted intrusion therethrough comprising opposed first and second support members adapted to fit against respective opposed surface portions of said opening; said assembly further including a plurality of bar members assemblable into and extending between said first and second support members.

2. A security grille as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first support member includes first engagement means for releasably retaining first ends of said bars and said second support member includes second engagement means operable between a bar locked position and a bar unlocked position whereby second ends of said bars are mechanically retained by said second support member when in said bar locked position and are releasable from said second support member when in said bar unlocked position.

3. A security grille as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second engagement means is actuable by means accessible only from one side of said opening.

4. A security grille as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means by which said housing is attached to said opening are mechanically shielded when said plurality of said bar members are fixed in said housing.

5. A security grille as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first engagement means comprises an elongate support member having apertures therein adapted to receive and engage resnective ones of said first ends of said bars.

6. A security grille as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second engagement means comprises an elongate slide member slidably engaged within elongate slide support means and movable one with respect to the other between said bar unlocked position and said bar locked position under the influence of actuation means.

7. A security grille as claimed in claim 6 wherein said second ends of said bars are receivable within apertures located both in said elongate slide member and in said elongate slide support means, said apertures being aligned when said assembly is in said bar unlocked position; said apertures being partially misaligned when said assembly is in said bar locked position whereby said second ends of said bars are locked within said elongate slide support means.

8. A security grille as claimed in claim 6 wherein said elongate slide member is articulated.

9. A security grille as claimed in claim 8 wherein said slide member comprises a plurality of identically shaped segments, each segment including bar end receiving means and further including means by which each said segment can be linked in an articulated manner to adjacent segments.

10. A security grille as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means accessible only from one side of said opening by which said second engagement means is actuable comprises a barrel lock which drives a cam lock pin and wherein said second engagement means comprises an elongate slide member which engages with said cam lock pin. -15-

11. A security grille as claimed in claim 10 wherein the barrel of said lock includes a flat surface engageable with a lock clip having a flange which engages an inner surface of said second support member thereby preventing said barrel lock from inadvertent rotation within said second support member.