GB2351754A

GB2351754A - Cat flap for use in a glass sliding door

Info

Publication number: GB2351754A
Application number: GB0011892A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-18
Filing date: 2000-05-18
Publication date: 2001-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2020-05-18
Also published as: GB9911363D0; GB0011892D0; GB2351754B

Abstract

A cat flap (27) for use in a preferably glass sliding door (10) is formed as part of a larger panel (20). When the sliding door (10) is partially open, the panel (20) is fitted into the door frame (11) and is then secured to the sliding door (10). The panel can be locked (36) to the sliding door (10) where the lock may be operable only from the inside of the door (10) and the sliding door (10) can be locked (18) to the frame (11). Handles (35) can be present on the panel (20) to assist in placing the panel (20) in the frame (11) of the sliding door (10). A portion of the panel (20) can be telescopic to allow it to be reduced in size.

Description

2351754 ACCESS ADAPTER This invention relates to an access adapter

suitable for adapting the access facility provided by an access structure such as a door or window. It relates in particular, though not exclusively, to an access adapter for use with an access structure comprising a slideable member movable between a closed position and an at least partly open position.

The invention relates also to a method of adapting the access facility provided by an access structure, in particular, though not exclusively, the access facility provided by an access structure of a kind wflich comprises a slideabie member.

The adaptor and method of the present invention are of particular value for adapting an access structure to allow pets such as cats and dogs to pass therethrough whilst still maintaining the security provided by the access structure Wien in a normally closed condition.

It is known to insert a small hinged flap in a wooden door panel to allow a pet to move into and out of a building as and when it wishes. Whilst that is effective for wooden door panels which can relatively readily be cut to allow the flap to be fitted, it is not conveniently applicable to panels of glass.

More especially, although a small glass panel could be replaced by a wooden panel, any such replacement is not appropriate in the case of large glass panels such as those of patio doors.

The present invention seeks to provide improved means whereby an access structure such as a door or window may be adapted to provide a selective, restricted access facility.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention a method of selectively providing for restricted access through an access structure comprises providing an access adapter to substantially wholly occupy an opening formed in an access structure when that structure is in an at least partly open condition, said access adapter comprising a closure member having a boundary portion 2, adapted to interengage with that part of the access structure which defines the opening and the closure member having associated therewith an access aperture to permit said restricted access, said method further comprising positioning said adapter with the boundary portion thereof interengaging with the opening and operating locking means whereby the adapter is held securely in the opening.

The step of operating locking means may comprise operating locking means which locks a movable part of the access structure substantially directly to a frame or other fixed part of the access structure. Alternatively or additionally, the step of operating locking means may comprise operating locking means which locks the adapter to at least one of a movable part of the access structure and a frame of the access structure, whereby the movable part is secured relative to a fixed part via the adapter.

The method may comprise use of a key operated locking means so as to provide security against movement of the movable part of the access structure by an unauthorised person from either one or both sides of the closure member, or use may be made of, for example, a simple latch or other mechanical interlock device operable from one side only of the closure member.

The invention provides also an access adapter comprising a closure member for substantially wholly occupying an opening in an access structure, said adapter closure member having a boundary portion adapted to interengage with part of the access structure which defines the opening, and said closure member having associated therewith an access aperture to allow movement through the adapter.

The access aperture preferably is normally closed by a cover member such as a sliding member or a hinged flap which is easily swung to an open position by a pet such as a cat or dog seeking to move through the access adapter.

In the case of a slideably mounted cover member, the closure member may be provided with tracks in which the cover member, in use, is vertically slideable. The closure member may comprise retention means operable temporarily to secure the cover member in a raised position in which the access aperture is open.

The closure member may be of a substantially rectangular shape and have a pair of opposed edges, being the longer edges of the rectangular profile, adapted one to interengage with an edge of a door or window frame and the other to interengage Wth a confronting edge of a movable part of the door or 3.

window structure. Said other edge may be adapted to interengage with the edge of a movable part which is of a kind slideable between a normally closed position and an open condition.

The interengagement of the edges, especially in the case of use with a movable part which is slideable, preferably is arranged to hold the adapter captive against movement at least in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the closure member.

One or both of the shorter edges of the boundary of a rectangular closure member also may be adapted to interengage with fixed parts of the access structure, e.g. a door or window frame.

The adapter of the present invention is of particular value for use with a sliding patio door (or a sliding window). It can, however, also be used in conjunction with hinged doors and windows.

The invention envisages that typically the adapter will have a length (usually in a vertical "height" direction) towidth ratio of at feast 3A, moreespecially atleast5A. Fora door installation it is envisaged that the ratio will beat least7A. It is further envisaged that the access aperture defined by the closure member may have a length (height) which is less than one third, typically less than one fifth, the length of the adapter in the case of an adapter for use with the length direction extending vertically. Preferably the access aperture is located substantially adjacent an end of the adapter, particularly for an access structure In which a slideable part is slideable in a horizontal direction and the length direction of the adapter is substantially vertical.

At least part of the closure member may be of a material which is opaque, or transparent, or of an open form which allows for through-flowing ventilation air without prejudicing security.

The adapter may comprise lock means to allow it to be secured to at least one of a movable part and a fixed part of an access structure. The lock means may be of a key operated type, or, for example, a simple interlock device such as a latch operable from only one side of the adapter.

4.

The adapter may comprise handle means to assist movement of boundary portions of the adapter into and out of engagement with an access structure. Handle means may provide support for lock means.

Boundary portions of the adapter may be provided with a weather seal, e.g. an elastomeric seal for engaging and sealing against surfaces of the access structure.

The adapter may be of variable, (e.g. reduceable) length whereby one initial size of adapter may be modified to fit one of a range of access structures of different length dimensions. It may comprise a telescopic portion, or a portion, such as a boundary frame portion, which can be removed temporarily to allow that and another portion to be cut or otherwise reduced in size.

The invention teaches also the provision of a series of adapters to accommodate the potential requirements of a wide range of doors or windows of different sizes, wherein adapters are of different widths and, optionally, for each width the adapters are of variable length.

The present invention further provides an access structure comprising movable and fixed parts, and an adapter of the present invention selectively positioned in an opening formed by movement of said movable part. The access structure may comprise lock means which operates substantially directly between the movable and fixed parts wflereby the size of the opening cannot be reduced and it can therefore be ensured that an adapter which interengages with the access structure is held captive against unauthorised displacement.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying dravAngs wherein:- Figure 1 is an isometric view of a part of a patio door structure fitted with an access adapter of he present invention', Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow X of figure l., Figure 3 is a view in the direction of arrow Y of figure 1.1 Figures 4 and 5 are sections on the lines A-A and B-B respectively of figure 3, and 5.

Figures 6 and 7 are sections on the lines C-C, and D-D respectively of figure 3.

An access structure in the form of a sliding patio door 10 comprises a UPVC frame 11 fixed to a building structure 12, and a UPVC slideable glazed door section 13.

The glazed door section 13 runs in upper and lower guide channels 14, 15, and one of the vertical door edges 16 has a section profile which engages with the vertical section 17 of the UPVC frame 11.

Key releasable push locks 18 allow the slideable door section 13 to be secured in any desired position relative to the frame 11.

An access adapter 20 comprises a boundary having one vertical edge 22 (see figure 4) and at least one (lower) horizontal edge 23 (see figure 7) which can interengage vAth edges of the UPVC frame to be restrained against movement in the X and Y directions of figure 1.

The adapter comprises a transparent plastics sheet 28 that defines the boundary of the adapter and supports a hinged pet flap unit 27 of a kind known per se. The vAdth of the sheet 28 is selected to be sufficient to surround and thereby provide support for the flap unit 27.

Security handle bars 35 are secured to the adapter sheet 28 and allow the adapter to be more easily positioned in engagement vAth the door frame 11. The handle bars each extend, at one end, into the vertical section 17 of frame 11 and at a second end the bars have a U section channel shape 34 to embrace the door edge 16. At the second end the bars are provided with lock screws 36 to secure to the door edge 16 and thereby provide support to the sheet 28 and security of location of the adapter.

In use the door 13 is opened by a distance a little greater than the width of the adapter. The adapter is then dropped into the base section 15 of the frame 11 with one 22 of the vertical edges of the adapter then being slid into the vertical frame recess 17. Door 13 is then closed to interengage the edges thereof and of the frame 11 vAth the confronting vertical edges of the adapter. Lock screws 18 are then operated to secure to the door 13. In the resulting installation the adapter 20 is held against unauthorised movement, but the pet flap unit 27 remains operable to allow restricted access for a pet to enter or exit from the building as and when it \Mshes.

6.

Optionally, though not specifically illustrated, the boundary of the closure member may be defined by an adapter frame such as a UPVC frame having section profiles that will interengage with the confronting edge of the slideable door and vertical and base edges of the frame 11. An adapter frame may, for example, be glazed with a double glazed seated unit or, for lightness, with a single thickness of toughened glass.

M-GB-DE2 7.

Claims

Claims.

A method of selectively providing for restricted access through an access structure comprising providing an access adapter to substantially wholly occupy an opening formed in an access structure when that structure is in an at least partly open condition, said access adapter comprising a closure member having a boundary portion adapted to interengage with that part of the access structure which defines the opening and the closure member having associated therewith an access aperture to permit said restricted access, said method further comprising positioning said adapter with the boundary portion thereof interengaging with the opening and operating locking means whereby the adapter is held securely in the opening.
2. Method according to Claim 1, wherein the step of operating locking means comprises operating locking means which locks a movable part of the access structure substantially directly to a frame or other fixed part of the access structure.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the step of the operating locking means comprises operating locking means which locks the adapter to at least one of a movable part of the access structure and a frame of the access structure, whereby the movable part is secured relative to a fixed part via the adapter.
4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises use of a key operated locking means to provide security against movement of the movable part of the access structure by an unauthorised person from either one or both sides of the closure member.
5. Method according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wflerein it comprises use of a mechanical interlock device operable from one side only of the closure member to provide security against movement of the moveable part of the access structure by an unauthorised person at the other side of the closure member.

8.
6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the access structure comprises a slideably mounted member and said method comprises sliding said slideably mounted member to an at least partly open condition thereby to form said opening in the access member.
7. Method according to Claim 6, wherein said slideably mounted member is a glazed member.
8. Method according to Claim 7, wherein said slideably mounted member is a glazed panel of one of a patio door assembly and a window.
9. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said access aperture in the closure member is opened or closed by sliding of the slideably mounted cover member.
10. Method according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described.
11. An access adapter comprising a closure member for substantially wholly occupying an opening in an access structure, said adapter closure member having a boundary portion adapted to interengage with part of the access structure which defines the opening, and said closure member having associated therewith an access aperture to allow movement through the adapter.
12. An access adapter according to Claim 11, wherein the access aperture preferably is normally closed by a cover member.
13. An access adapter according to Claim 12, wherein said cover member is mounted for sliding movement relative to the closure member.

9.
14. An access adapter according to Claim 12, wherein said cover is a hinged member hingedly secured to the closure member.
15. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 14, wherein the closure member is of a substantially rectangular shape and has a pair of opposed edges, being the longer edges of the rectangular profile, adapted one to interengage with an edge of a door or window frame and the other to interengage with a confronting edge of a movable part of the door or window structure.
16. An access adapter according to Claim 19, wherein said other edge is adapted to interengage Mh the edge of a movable part which is slideable between a normally closed position and an open condition.
17. An access adapter according to Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein interengagement of the edges is arranged to hold the adapter captive against movement at least in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the closure member.
18. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 15 to 17, wherein one or both of the shorter edges of the boundary of a rectangular closure member are adapted to interengage with fixed parts of the access structure, such as fixed parts of a door or window frame.
19. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 18 wherein the adapter has a length to width ratio of at least 31.
20. An access adapter according to Claim 19, wherein said ratio is at least 5:1.

10.
21. An access adapter according to Claim 20, wherein said ratio is at least 7-1.
22. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 21, wherein the access aperture has a length less than one third of the length of the adapter.
23. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 22, wherein the access aperture is located substantially adjacent an end of the adapter.
24. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 23, wherein the closure member comprises a material which is one of opaque or transparent or of an open form that allows through-flow of ventilation air.
25. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 24, wherein it comprises lock means whereby the adapter may be secured to at least one of a movable part and a fixed part of an access structure.
26. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 25, wherein it comprises handle means for movement of boundary portions of the adapter into and out of engagement with an access structure.
27. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 26, wherein boundary portions of the adapter are provided with a weather seal for engaging and sealing against surfaces of the access structure.
28. An access adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 27, wflerein the adapter is of variable length whereby one size of adapter may be modified to fit one of a range of access structures of different length dimensions.
29. An access adapter according to Claim 28, wherein it comprises a portion which is either telescopic or can be removed temporarily to allow that or another portion to be reduced in size.
30. An access adapter according to Claim 11 and substantially as hereinbefore described.
31. A series of access adapters each according to any one of Claims 11 to 30 and being of different widths.
32. An access structure comprising movable and fixed parts, and an adapter according to any one of Claims 11 to 30 selectively positioned in an opening formed by movement of said movable part.
33. An access structure according to Claim 32, wherein it comprises lock means which operates substantially directly between the movable and fixed parts whereby the size of the opening cannot be reduced, thereby to ensure that an adapter which interengages with the access structure is held captive against unauthorised displacement.
34. An access structure according to Claim 32 and substantially as hereinbefore described.

JB-GB-CL1