GB2295573A

GB2295573A - Window security

Info

Publication number: GB2295573A
Application number: GB9522789A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Domenic Angelo Rossano
Original assignee: HEYWOOD WILLIAMS PLASTICS Ltd
Current assignee: HEYWOOD WILLIAMS PLASTICS Ltd
Priority date: 1994-11-30
Filing date: 1995-11-07
Publication date: 1996-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2015-11-07
Also published as: GB2295573B; GB9424188D0; GB9522789D0

Abstract

A security device 14 has a base portion 15 engageable with a UPVC window frame profile, and an upstanding retaining portion 16, to engage, in use, a glazing panel 13. The glazing panel 13 is additionally retained by a shuffle bead 24. The security device acts to hinder or prevent the removal of the shuffle bead 24. However, should the shuffle bead 24 nevertheless be removed, the security device acts further to prevent the removal of the glazing panel. The security device is formed by extrusion or pultrusion, as an elongate profile, which is then cut to the required length. This manufacturing method has several advantages over earlier methods. <IMAGE>

Description

WINDOW SECURITY This invention relates to window security, in particular to security devices, to their manufacture, and to window assemblies incorporating security devices.

Most window assemblies are externally beaded. That is to say, the glazing panel (which may be a single pane of glass or an assembly of two or more panes) is positioned from the outside, and then retained in place by means of external beads. However, it is relatively easy for an intruder to gain entry to a property, following the removal of the external beads.

Many proposals have been made to remedy this deficiency. One approach has been to propose the use of additional security devices, which commonly are located in place to retain the glazing panel, before the beading is secured, and such as either to make it difficult to remove the beading and/or to make it difficult to remove the glazing panel, should the beading be removed.

One example of a security device that works in this manner is described in our earlier patent GB 2262127B. In this specification, there is described a security device which provides both of the security features described in the previous paragraph - that is, it makes it very difficult to remove the glazing bead (in that particular case, the type of glazing bead known as a "shuffle bead"); and, should the shuffle bead nevertheless be removed, it makes it very difficult to remove the glass panel.

In general such security devices have a base plate or main portion which cooperates with a frame member, typically being firmly secured to the edge of the frame J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES member, in alignment with an edge of the glazing panel; and, upstanding from the base plate or main portion, a retaining portion to overlie the edge region of the surface of the glazing panel which faces towards the glazing bead - that is, externally of the glazing panel, when the glazing bead is external. As well as our own earlier patent GB 2262127B, other examples include GB 2254096A, GB 2257739A and GB 2233697A.

Most earlier such devices are formed of steel plate, cut and pressed to the required shape. Examples are described in GB 2262127B and GB 2233697A. Other examples may be injection moulded, for example as in GB 2257739A.

It has now been determined, surprisingly, there are very considerable advantages in manufacturing security device of the type described above from a "longitudinally formed" material. By "longitudinally formed", we mean formed by methods such as extrusion and pultrusion, where material is pushed or drawn through a dye.

Security devices thus formed may be considerably cheaper than similar devices formed of pressed steel, or by injection moulding, where the dye costs may be very substantial. Unlike security devices of pressed steel, the roots of the security device may be radiussed to reduce stress; and the security device may be made thick in regions where high strength is required. Furthermore, a security device manufactured in accordance with the present invention can easily be made without any rough or sharp edges. In contrast, a pressed steel plate tends to be rough or sharp along the cut edges, and in practice, this has lead to chipping of the edge of the glazing panel contacted by such security devices.

J495 - snecification APPLEYARD LEES Further still, one advantage that security devices of the present invention have over security devices made by both earlier methods, is that the security devices may be cut to the required length. In many situations, it may be adequate to cut security devices to a length of, say, 20 60mm. However, in certain large window frames it may be desired to have longer security devices - the longitudinally formed profiles may then simply be cut into longer pieces. In contrast, with pressed steel devices, and injection moulded devices, completely separate manufacture would be required.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, therefore, there is provided a security device having a base or main portion and, upstanding from the base or main portion, a retaining portion adapted to retain a glazing panel, the security device being formed from an elongate profile formed by an elongate manufacturing method, and then cut or otherwise shortened to the required length.

Suitably, such a security device has a base or main portion adapted for secure cooperation with a frame member, preferably so as to be aligned with the edge of the glazing panel.

Preferably, the main portion and the retaining portion are both generally planar.

Preferably, the roots of the security device are radiussed. In particular, at the base of the retaining portion, the root radii are large, preferably in the range 1 - 3 mm, most preferably about 2 mm.

J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES Preferably, the retaining portion tapers towards its free edge, that is, it is widest adjacent to the main portion.

Preferably, the security device has a leading detent rail which is a continuation from the main portion, beyond the retaining portion, in like manner to the security device of GB 2262127B, and which is adapted to abut, in use, a glazing bead. Preferably the detent rail and the main portion are co-planar. In the present invention, the detent rail preferably tapers towards its free edge.

Preferably, the face of the retaining portion which is to bear against a glazing panel in use, carries a strip of a compliant material, to prevent contact between the body of the security device itself, and the glazing panel.

The strip could be, for example, a fabric such as felt, but is preferably a plastics foam strip.

Preferably, the retaining portion projects from the base or main portion generally upwardly, but slightly towards the glazing panel, in use, at an angle slightly less than perpendicular, the angle preferably being 80-88 , measured between the centre lines of the retaining portion and the base or main portion.

Preferably, a security device of the present invention is of structure generally described in our earlier patent GB 2262127B, and in this respect the preamble, description and claims of that patent may be regarded as incorporated into the present specification.

The primary difference is in its method of manufacture.

Equally, however, the manufacturing method which underlines the present invention could be used, with J495 - sDecification APPLEYARD LEES similar advantage, for the manufacture of any security device of the type generally described, presently manufactured by any other method.

Security devices of the present invention may be manufactured by pultrusion of a reinforced resin material.

Alternatively, and preferably, security devices of the present invention may be manufactured by extrusion. In such cases the material of the security devices is preferably of high strength engineering grade aluminium alloy.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is described a window assembly, incorporating security devices as herein defined and described.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of making security devices as herein defined and described, comprising forming an elongate profile by an elongate manufacturing method, and cutting or otherwise dividing the profile into a plurality of security devices of the required length.

In accordance with the present invention there will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an end view of a security device in accordance with the invention; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the security device in use.

The security device shown in the drawings is very similar to the security device described in our earlier J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES patent GB 2262127B. The reader is referred to that earlier specification and accordingly it is not necessary to provide a very detailed description here. Briefly, however, the security device is to provide security against removal of a double glazing panel 13, which is laid within a window frame so that is rests against the four upstanding walls 12, of extruded UPVC profiles formed into a rectangular frame. A security device 14 in accordance with the invention is located at each of the four peripheral edges of the panel 13.

The security device comprises a generally planar main portion 15, rectangular in plan view. At a position towards, but not at, one edge of the main portion 15, projects upwards a glazing panel retaining portion 16, at an angle slightly less than a right angle to the main portion. The face of the retaining portion which is to bear against a glazing panel in use carries a foam strip 17. The retaining portion itself tapers towards its free edge. A continuation from the main portion 15 beyond the retaining portion 16 comprises a detent rail 18, which tapers towards its free edge. The roots at the base of the retaining portion, adjacent the detent rail to one side of it, and the main portion to its other side, are both gently radiussed, the radii being about 2mm.It will be seen that the security device has a preferentially thickened form, where the retaining portion, meets the main portion.

The edge of the main portion 15 remote from the detent rail 18 is cranked downwardly, as indicated at 19.

The free edge of the portion 19 is enlarged and rounded, at 20.

J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES From an intermediate region of the main portion 15 there is a short L-shaped extension 21, this extension projecting in a generally opposite direction to the retaining portion 16. The extension has a small raised portion 22 extending longitudinally, facing towards, and formed on, a surface parallel to the main portion 15.

As shown in Fig. 2, the portions 20 and 21 are designed to cooperate with conformations of the frame member to provide a firm fit, with the raised portion 22 firmly engaging the frame member. (It should be noted that, in contrast, our earlier pressed steel device described in GB 2262127B required short cranked portions, to achieve a close firm fit).

The retaining device is a length, in this embodiment of about 28 mm, cut from an elongate extrusion. The material is an engineering grade aluminium alloy, having an ultimate tensile strength (UTS) approaching that of mild steel.

It should be noted that the security device is so designed that each of the roots are radiussed, to avoid stress concentrations. As described above the roots at the base of the retaining portion are of radius 2 mm. The other roots are all of radius 0.5 mm, except for the root 23 within the cranked portion 19, where the radius is 1 mm.

With each security device in the position shown in Fig. 2, a shuffle bead 24 can be located as shown, and exactly as described in our earlier patent GB 2262127B.

Therefore, the construction and fit of the shuffle bead will not be described in detail.

J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES The window assembly as shown in Fig. 2 is almost complete. After the shuffle beads have been inserted, flexible wedge gaskets (not shown) are forced between the glazing panel 13 and the upstanding wall 12 of each frame member. This has the effect of pushing the glazing panel 13 away from the upstanding wall 13, and against the upstanding retaining portion 16, and sealing fins 28 of the shuffle bead.

It will be appreciated that the shuffle bead cannot be easily removed from the assembly. To remove the shuffle bead it is necessary to slide it inwardly, whereupon it can be tilted up, and out. However, it cannot slide inwardly because it abuts the forward edge of the detent rail 18. Moreover security device cannot slide inwardly because it is engaged against the glazing panel 13, whose inward movement is substantially prevented by the gasket located between the glazing panel and the upstanding wall 12.

Even if a potential intruder attempts to facilitate the displacement of the shuffle bead by cutting away the flexible sealing fins 28 of the shuffle bead, he is still prevented from removing the glazing panel 13 from the frame since it is retained by the retaining portions 16 of the security devices.

Therefore, the glazing panel can only be removed easily by first removing the internal wedge gasket, located between the glazing panel 13 and the upstanding wall 12, and accessible of course, only from the interior of the building.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

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.

J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A security device having a base or main portion and, upstanding from the base or main portion, a retaining portion adapted to retain a glazing panel, the security device being formed from an elongate profile formed by an elongate manufacturing method, and then cut or otherwise shortened to the required length.
2. A security device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the base or main portion is adapted for secure cooperation with a frame member, preferably so as to be aligned with the edge of the glazing panel.
3. A security device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the roots of the security device, at the base of the retaining portion, are radissued.
4. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the retaining portion tapers towards its free edge.
5. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, having a leading detent rail which is a continuation from the main portion, beyond the retaining portion, and which is adapted to abut, in use, a glazing bead.
6. A security device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the detent rail tapers towards its free edge.
7. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the face of the retaining portion which is to bear against a glazing panel, in use, carries a foam strip of a compliant material.

J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES
8. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the base or main portion, the retaining portion and the detent rail are all generally planar, and the base or main portion and the retaining portion are generally co-planar.
9. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the retaining portion projects from the base or main portion generally upwardly, but towards the glazing strip, in use, at an angle slightly less than perpendicular.
10. A security device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the elongate profile is manufactured by pultrusion of a reinforced resin material.
11. A security device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the elongate profile is manufactured by extrusion.
12. A security device as claimed in Claim 11, of high strength engineering grade aluminium alloy.
13. A window assembly, incorporating security devices as claimed in any preceding claim.
14. A method of making security devices as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising forming an elongate profile by an elongate manufacturing method, and cutting or otherwise dividing the profile into a plurality of security devices of the required length.
15. A security device, or window assembly, or method of making security devices, substantially as J495 - specification APPLEYARD LEES hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

J495 - secification APPLEYARD LEES