GB2301141A

GB2301141A - Locking device

Info

Publication number: GB2301141A
Application number: GB9510299A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Antony Lee Hughes; Gregory Charles Head
Original assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Current assignee: Epwin Group PLC
Priority date: 1995-05-22
Filing date: 1995-05-22
Publication date: 1996-11-27
Also published as: GB9510299D0

Abstract

The invention provide a locking device for locking together two relatively movable members, and a system, such as a door or window system, comprising two such members to which the locking device has been secured. The device comprises a lock body (1) carrying a locking mechanism (21) and securable, by means of a mounting element (13), to one of the two movable members; and a strike body securable, again by a suitable mounting element (25, 27), to the other of the two members, which strike body can be engaged by the locking mechanism so as to lock the members together. In use, when the strike body is engaged by the locking mechanism, one of the bodies at least partially obstructs disengagement of a mounting element (13) by which the other body is secured to its respective member.

Description

LOCKING DEVICE The present invention relates to a locking device suitable e.g. for use with a door or window system.

Home security is a factor of great importance in designing window and door systems. Not only is it important to install new door and window systems which provide enhanced security, it is valuable also to provide locking devices which can be fitted to door or window systems which are already in place, a process known in the art as "retrofitting".

Most currently available retrofit products have been designed to be suitable for fitment to door or window systems including wood or aluminium frames. To date very little effort has been made to provide security devices specifically designed to suit window and door systems in which the frames are formed from PVC-U members. This is particularly important due to the great variation in the profile shapes of such "PVC-U" systems, which is much greater than in equivalent wood or aluminium systems.

At its most general level, the present invention provides a locking device having any combination of the features described below which make it particularly suitable for use in this application. Such a locking device provides a high level of security, while remaining easy to operate and customer friendly.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a locking device for locking together two relatively movable members. On one of the members is a lock body carrying a locking mechanism and on the other member is a strike body which, when the two members are to be locked together, is engaged by the locking mechanism so as to be locked thereto. In any such arrangement, the lock body and the strike body must each be secured by a suitable mounting element to its respective member. According to the present invention, one of the bodies obstructs the disengagement of a mounting element of the other body.

Preferably, the strike body has a strike which, when locked to the lock body, lies immediately over the mounting element of the lock body thereby preventing any access to it. In this way, removal of the mounting element, by an authorized third party, is prevented when the members are locked together.

Specifically, in this aspect, the invention may provide a locking device for locking together a fixed member and a movable member, the locking device comprising: a lock body having a base element, two shoulder elements projecting from the base element and between the two shoulder elements a mounting aperture in the base element for receiving a mounting element, for mounting the lock body on a first one of said fixed member and said movable member; a strike body for mounting on a second one of said fixed member and said movable member and having a strike defining an aperture for location between the shoulder elements of the lock body; and a locking pin securable in a locking position between said shoulder elements in which position the locking pin passes through said strike aperture and obstructs insertion or removal of a mounting element into said mounting aperture, whereby following mounting of said lock body on said first member using a mounting element threaded through said mounting aperture and of said strike body to said second member, the first and second members can be locked together by locating said strike between said shoulder elements and securing the locking pin in the locking position, the locking pin obstructing removal of the mounting element from the mounting aperture.

Normally, where the relatively movable members are parts of a window or door, so that the window or door is the movable member and the frame is the fixed member, the locking device is mounted on the movable member and the strike body on the fixed member. This is done because it provides easier access to the locking mechanism of the lock body.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a locking device in which a lock body and a strike body, mounted respectively on different ones of a fixed member and a moving member, can be locked together by operation of a control element mounted on the locking body and mutually unlocked using a key. A locking device according to the second aspect can be locked and unlocked more conveniently and rapidly than a conventional "screw down" device, i.e. a device in which the components are interlocked using a tool such as a screwdriver or a drive key.

Preferably, the lock of the lock body is spring loaded, so that the lock body can be locked to the strike body simply by depression or other movement of the control element. The lock is also preferably a multi-pin cylinder lock which is inherently more secure than for example a single pin lock.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a window or door system fitted with a locking device according to the first or second aspects of the invention.

Preferably, when the door or window opens outwards, as in the case of a traditional English casement window, the lock body is fixed to the window sash or door leaf, while the strike body is fixed to the outer frame.

Conversely, when the window or door opens inwardly into a room, as in normal entrance doors and continental style tilt and turn windows, the lock body is preferably mounted on the fixed outer frame and the strike body on the moving framing of the window sash or door leaf.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a locking device according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows in cross section a portion of a first window system being prepared for attachment of the locking device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of Fig. 1 attached to the window system of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the window system of Fig. 2 being prepared for attachment of the locking device of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the locking device of Fig.

1 attached to the window system of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a locking device according to the invention; Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of a portion of a second window system being prepared for attachment of the locking device in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 shows the embodiment of Fig. 6 attached to the window system in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the window system of Fig. 6 being prepared for attachment of the locking device of Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a plan view of the locking device of Fig.

6 attached to the window system of Fig. 7.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, a locking device according to the invention includes a lock body 1 and a '20 degree' strike body 3. The lock body 1 comprises a base element 5 from which protrude two shoulder elements 7,9. Between the shoulder elements 7,9 is a mounting aperture 11 for receiving a screw threaded mounting element 13 for securing the lock body to a movable door or a window sash or its outer frame.

The strike body 3 includes a strike 15 defining an aperture 17. The strike 15 may be positioned between the shoulder elements 7,9 and locked there by securing a locking pin (not shown) in a locking position in which it passes through the aperture 17 and is secured at respective ends to the shoulder elements 7,9. In this position, the strike 15 obstructs insertion into or removal from the mounting aperture 11 of the mounting element 13.

The locking pin is located within the shoulder 7 and can be extended from the shoulder 7 through the strike aperture 17 to the shoulder 9 by depression of a button 21 in the direction in which the locking pin is to be moved. Subsequently a spring loaded lock retains the locking pin in the locking position. The locking pin can be retracted following unlocking of the spring loaded lock using a key 23 insertable into the button 21.

Button 21 is a die-casting which houses a lock cylinder and locking means at one end, and has a cylindrical portion at its opposite end which constitutes the locking pin.

The strike body 3 can be mounted on the window sash or door, or its fixed frame, using self tapping screws 25,27 which extend through a screw plate 29, then through apertures defined by the window/door or its frame, and into holes (not shown) in the strike body 3. In addition to the mounting element 13, the lock body 1 can be mounted using a screw 31, which passes through an aperture 33 in the lock body 1. The screw 31 can only be inserted into the lock body 1 when the button 21 is depressed, i.e. the device is in its locked configuration. A self adhesive screw cover 35 is provided to cover the aperture 33 once the screw 31 is in place. Cavity fixing plugs 37,39 are deformed outwardly when the screws 13,31 are inserted and tightened into them.

Turning now to Fig. 2, a cross section is shown of a portion of a window sash 41 and its fixed outer frame 43.

A jig 50 is shown positioned on the window system, so that a first portion 51 of the jig 50 is in contact with the window sash 41, and a second portion 53 of the jig 50 is in contact with the outer frame 43. The jig 50 has holes through which the aperture in the window system may be drilled, so that provided the jig 50 is not moved during the drilling process, all apertures in the window system will be formed at positions appropriate for the mounting of the locking device.

Fig. 3 illustrates how the locking device is attached to this window system. The mounting elements 13,31 are extended through the lock body 1 into the sash 41. The strike body 3 is mounted to the outer frame 43 via screws 25,27, which extend between the screw plate 29, through the material of the outer frame 43 and into respective screw threaded apertures in the strike 3.

Thus all the fitting elements to the device are concealed: the screws 13,31 are screwed from the inner side of the window and covered while the locking device is locked, while all screws 13,25,27,31 are located in separate steel components added to or forming part of the window and door system profile. The lip 19 of the strike body fits against a surface of the outer frame 43.

Turning now to Figs. 4 and 5, Fig. 4 illustrates the formation of the apertures by which the strike 3 is connected to the outer frame 43 using screws 25,27 and the apertures by which the lock body 1 is connected to the sash 41. The jig 50 is positioned on the window system as shown in Fig. 2 and the apertures in the window system are drilled through the holes in the jig 50. To form the apertures used for mounting the first embodiment of the locking device, only the holes A of the jig are used.

Fig. 5 shows the lock fitted to the window system of Figure 2.

Figures 2-5 have illustrated how the first embodiment of the locking device can be connected to a right hand hung window. However, it is equally possible to position the locking device on a left hand hung window. In doing this, the position of the jig 50 can be reversed, so that the opposite ends of the holes A,B contact the window system. Holes A in the jig 50 are again the only ones used for forming the apertures in the window system for mounting the first embodiment of the locking device.

The locking device is generally mounted in side hung situations so that the key 23 is inserted into the lock body 1 from above. In top hung situations, i.e. when the locking device is mounted to the upper edge of the window or door, the orientation of the jig 50, and thus of the hole produced, is selected such that insertion of the key is made most convenient.

Turning now to Fig. 6, a second embodiment of the locking device is shown, differing from first embodiment only in that a different strike body is used. In the '90 degree' strike body 103 of this second embodiment, the lip 119 is formed to project orthogonally from the surface the strike body 103.

Figure 7 shows a window system for which the second embodiment of the locking device is particularly suitable. The window includes a sash 141 and an outer frame 143. A jig 50, which is the same jig described above with reference to Figures 2 and 4, is used to form holes in the window system of Figure 7. Figure 8 illustrates the second embodiment of the locking device attached to the window system of Fig. 7. The lip 119 of the strike body 103 fits against.a side surface of the sash 141.

Figure 9 corresponds to Figure 4 used to describe the first embodiment. Figure 9 illustrates how the jig 50 may be used to form apertures in the window system appropriate for the mounting of the second embodiment of the locking device. For this embodiment, only holes B are used to form the apertures.

Figure 10 illustrates the second embodiment of the locking device attached to the window system of Figure 7.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A locking device for locking together two relatively movable members, the device comprising a lock body carrying a locking mechanism and being securable by means of a suitable mounting element to one of the relatively movable members; and a strike body, securable by means of a suitable mounting element to the other of the two members, which strike body may be engaged by the locking mechanism so as to lock together the two members, the arrangement being such that, when the strike body is engaged by the locking mechanism in use, one of the bodies at least partially obstructs disengagement of a mounting element by which the other body is secured to its respective member.

2. A locking device according to claim 1, wherein the strike body has a strike which, when engaged by the locking mechanism in use, lies immediately over a mounting element by which the lock body is secured to its respective member, thereby preventing access to the mounting element.

3. A locking device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the strike body may be engaged with the locking mechanism by operation of a control element mounted on the lock body, and disengaged using a key.

4. A locking device according to claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism of the lock body is spring loaded, so that the strike body may be engaged with the locking mechanism by movement of the control element against the action of the spring.

5. A locking device according to claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a multi-pin cylinder lock.

6. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising: (a) a lock body having a base element, two shoulder elements projecting from the base element and between the two shoulder elements a mounting aperture in the base element for receiving a mounting element for securing the lock body on a first one of the two relatively movable members; (b) a strike body for securing to the second of the two relatively movable members and having a strike, in which an aperture is defined, for location between the shoulder elements of the lock body; and (c) a locking pin securable in a locking position between the shoulder elements of the lock body, in which position the locking pin passes through the strike aperture and obstructs insertion or removal of a mounting element into the mounting aperture, whereby following securing of the lock body to the first member using a mounting element passing through the mounting aperture, and of the strike body to the second member, the first and second members may be locked together by locating the strike between the shoulder elements and securing the locking pin in the locking position, the locking pin thereby obstructing removal of the mounting element from the mounting aperture.

7. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims in which, in normal use, most of the mounting elements used to secure the lock body and the strike body to their respective members are concealed and inaccessible.

8. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, in combination with mounting elements by which the lock body and the strike body may be secured to their respective relatively movable members in use.

9. A locking device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

10. A locking system comprising two relatively movable members fitted with a locking device according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A locking system according to claim 10, which is a door or window system.

12. A locking system according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the two relatively movable members comprise a movable member and a fixed member.

13. A locking system according to claim 12, wherein the lock body is secured to the movable member and the strike body is secured to the fixed member.

14. A locking system according to claim 10, which is a door or window system in which one of the two relatively movable members is a fixed door or window frame and the other is part of an outwardly opening door or window, wherein the lock body is secured to the movable door or window part and the strike body is secured to the fixed frame.

15. A locking system according to claim 10, which is a door or window system in which one of the two relatively movable members is a fixed door or window frame and the other is part of an inwardly opening door or window, wherein the lock body is secured to the fixed frame and the strike body is secured to the movable door or window part.

16. A locking system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.