GB2540340A

GB2540340A - Improvements in or relating to security

Info

Publication number: GB2540340A
Application number: GB1510287.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ridgway Nigel
Original assignee: SECURITY HARDWARE Ltd
Current assignee: SECURITY HARDWARE Ltd
Priority date: 2015-06-11
Filing date: 2015-06-11
Publication date: 2017-01-18
Also published as: GB201510287D0

Abstract

The blocker 1 has a base 2 and a pivoting bar (fig2,3), in use the base is mounted on the frame of a window or door and the bar is rotated from an unblocking position to a blocking position where it overlaps the sash preventing it from opening; a key operated lock 4 allows the bar to be locked in the blocking position without a push button or spring loading, and remains locked if the key is removed. Preferably the blocker is lockable in up to three positions, at least one of which does not block the sash. The bar may have a pin 3a receivable in a hollow post in the base, the post and lock preferably each have concave portions (fig5,2d,2e,2f,4b) which co-operate. The sash blocker may for part of a window or door assembly in a building or structure.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SECURITY

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to security and is more particularly but not exclusively concerned with window or door furniture or security hardware.

Many window or door units (more particularly UP VC units) are fitted with security devices known in the trade as ‘sash blockers’ or ‘sash jammers’. Such known blockers/jammers may be of a locking or non-locking type and will usually have an elongate base on which is centrally, pivotally mounted a handle portion in the form of a rotatable, sash-opening restricting bar.

The elongate base of the sash blocker may be attached, in use, to one side of a fixed window or door frame by two screw fixings, with an opening sash window/door being mounted in the fixed frame. The elongate base of the sash blocker may be fixed or surface mounted to the surrounding frame of the opening window/door by screws received in holes at either end of the elongate base.

When in a sash unblocking position, the restricting bar will usually be arranged parallel and overlying the elongate base and free of any overlap with the opening sash. In a sash blocking position, the restricting bar will usually be arranged at right angles to the elongate base, overlapping the opening sash, thereby preventing opening of the sash.

The rotatable handle portion can be rotated (usually through 90°) between an unblocking position, in which the window or door sash can be opened, to a sashopening blocking position, in which the restricting bar overlaps the sash preventing opening thereof.

Some sash blockers of this type may be non-locking, with the restricting bar simply being pivotable between the unblocking position and the blocking position as desired for an additional security measure preventing opening of the window/door even though an associated window/door catch has been released. A stop may be provided to prevent the restricting bar being pivoted beyond the blocking position. Since the restricting bar is not lockable in the blocking position, it tends to be disadvantageous that an unauthorised person may choose to remove the blocking, thus allowing the window/door to be opened once the catch has been released.

In order to increase security and to prevent such unauthorised access, the sash blocker may be of a key-operated locking type.

In locking sash blockers of this type, a key operated cylinder lock may be provided within the restricting bar to lock and prevent the handle portion from being rotated back to an unblocking position, when the lock has been operated/tumed by the key to the locking position. The arrangement may be that the restricting bar is freely pivotable from the unblocking position to the blocking position, whilst the key is removed from the lock, and the restricting bar becomes automatically locked once it has been turned through 90° to the blocking position.

In the aforementioned arrangement, once the key has been removed from the lock, in the unblocking position, a spring-loaded locking bar of the lock is urged into contact with the outer periphery of a central, cylindrical, hollow locking post upstanding from the elongate base of the blocker. Contact is maintained with said outer periphery as the restricting bar is turned to the blocking position until the restricting bar has been turned through 90° when an end of the locking bar is automatically urged by said spring loading into locking engagement with a notch/slot in said locking post. \

The key has to be inserted into the lock and turned through 90° to withdraw the end of the locking bar from the notch/slot and thereby unlock the sash blocker. The restricting bar can only then be returned to its original unblocking position whilst the key remains in the lock, at least until the locking bar is re-engaged with the outer periphery of the locking post, free of said notch/slot. Removal of the key from the lock in the blocking position automatically re-engages the end of the locking bar in the locking notch/slot preventing the restricting bar from being returned to its original position.

Similarly, once the restricting bar has been returned to its original unblocking position, the key has to be turned through 90° in order to release the key from the lock, thereby automatically urging the locking bar back into spring-loaded contact with the outer periphery of the locking post.

It is possible that the locking post is provided with two diametrically opposed notches/slots allowing for rotation of the restricting bar in the opposite sense to a second blocking position (perhaps for an opposite handed opening window or door sash) with the end of the locking bar automatically engaging in the second notch/slot in a second blocking position in a similar manner as hitherto described in relation to the first notch/slot. Thus, the locking sash blocker may offer two diametrically opposed locking positions.

Whilst it is believed that a locking sash blocker of this type offers an improvement over a non-locking type, it is believed that, in some circumstances, there tend to be certain disadvantages associated with the locking type.

Firstly, the restricting bar cannot be moved to an unblocking position without the key being inserted in the lock, turned to an unlocking position and retained therein until the restricting bar is rotated in an opposite sense towards the unblocking position, at least until the locking bar is re-engaged with the outer periphery of the locking post.

Thus, somewhat disadvantageous^, if the key is lost, mislaid or broken the restricting bar of the sash blocker could not be turned from the blocking position to the unblocking position.

Also, the restricting bar cannot be locked to the elongate base, for example by engagement with the locking post, in the unblocking position, thereby possibly disadvantageous^ allowing an unauthorised user to pivot the restricting bar from the unblocking position to the blocking position where it is automatically locked to the base.

Furthermore, it is believed that, disadvantageous^, the design of such sash blockers may require more parts than might be necessary with another, different design, which different design once again may obviate the need for a spring loaded locking arrangement. Spring loading may be disadvantageous since the lock should become inoperative if the spring breaks.

In another design of spring loaded sash blocker, the restricting bar has a push button locking mechanism co-operable with a key to effectively provide a double locking, said key enabling or disabling the action of the push button to release locking of the restricting bar in the sash-opening blocking position. In such an arrangement, the restricting bar is lockable in the sash opening blocking position and in a position in which it has been rotated through 180° but not in the unblocking position i.e, at right angles to said blocking position. The push button mechanism automatically locks the restricting bar in the blocking position as the bar is pivoted to that position (a spring loaded latching member/lever urged into engagement with the upper surface of an elongate base of the sash blocker automatically drops into a notch in said base during locking). The push button may be depressed to release said locking unless a key has been inserted into the push button and turned to disable the action of the push button. The arrangement allows the push button of the restricting bar to be locked or unlocked whilst in the blocking position, without the key necessarily being retained in the push button and the restricting bar itself can be pivoted with or without the key being in the push button.

The push button sash blocker as described tends to be unreliable, the spring is breakable and the blocker may have more component parts than might be necessary with other designs.

Overall, it is believed that the design of such locking type sash blockers has not been optimised and that they are not as versatile as could be the case.

It is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate one or more of the aforementioned, or other, disadvantages associated with sash blockers or with other types of security devices.

According to the present invention there is provided a sash blocker having a base and a pivotable sash-opening restricting bar, the base, in use, being mountable on a fixed window or door frame with the restricting bar being pivotable from an unblocking position, free of overlap with an opening sash received in said fixed fame, to a blocking position overlapping the sash thereby preventing opening of said sash, said restricting bar being lockable in the blocking position, the sash blocker being provided with a key-operated lock allowing the restricting bar to be locked or unlocked whilst in the blocking position, without a key being retained in the lock, said locking of the restricting bar in the blocking position being without the aid of a push button and/or without the aid of spring loading.

In this manner, advantageously, a first choice can be made by the user to leave the restricting bar unlocked in the blocking position, without a key being retained in the lock, or instead a second choice can be made to leave the restricting bar locked in the blocking position without a key being retained in the lock, thus requiring a key to be inserted in the lock with the restricting bar in the blocking position, in order to unlock the restricting bar.

Thus, it is believed the present invention offers a significant improvement over the known type of locking sash blocker as previously described in which as the restricting bar is pivoted to the blocking position, without the key in the lock, it is automatically locked in the blocking position necessarily requiring the use of a key to unlock it, said key necessarily being retained in the lock during unlocking, at least until the restricting bar has been turned out of the blocking position.

The sash blocker may be lockable in any one of two or three positions. The sash blocker may be lockable in at least one unblocking position.

The sash blocker may be locked or unlocked in the unblocking position, without a key being retained in the lock.

In one embodiment of the sash blocker, the restricting bar has a pivot pin received in a hollow post in the base, said hollow post being shaped, preferably by being provided with at least one arcuate (concave) portion, to cooperate with a rotatable lock member of the lock, said lock member preferably being provided with at least one arcuate (concave) portion.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a sash blocker for blocking opening of a window or door sash received in a frame, said blocker being both lockable in a blocking position and unlockable in the blocking position without the aid of a push button and/or without the aid of spring loading, without a) a key being retained in the lock and/or without b) the blocker being automatically locked in the blocking position and/or with c) the blocker being lockable in an unblocking position and/or d) the sash blocker being lockable in any one of three positions and/or e) the sash blocker having any feature derivable from this description and drawings.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a window or door assembly having at least one sash blocker as described in the immediately preceding paragraph or as related in the statement of invention on page 6 of this specification.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a building or structure having at least one window or door assembly as described in the immediately preceding paragraph.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a sash blocker having a base and a pivotable sash-opening restricting bar, the base, in use, being mountable on a fixed window or door frame with the restricting bar being pivotable from an unblocking position, free of overlap with an opening sash received in said fixed frame, to a blocking position overlapping the sash thereby preventing opening of said sash, said restricting bar being lockable in the blocking position, the sash blocker being provided with a lock allowing the restricting bar to be locked or unlocked whilst in the blocking position, the restricting bar having a pivot pin received in a hollow post in the base, said hollow post being shaped, preferably by being provided with at least one arcuate (concave) portion, to cooperate with a rotatable lock member of the lock, said lock member preferably being provided with at least one arcuate (concave) portion.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a window or door assembly having at least one sash blocker as described in the immediately preceding paragraph.

Many advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings.

An embodiment of a security device of a type generally known as a sash blocker in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following simplified diagrammatic drawings, in which: FIGURE A shows a plan perspective view of a known sash blocker of a lockable type with a handle portion in the form of a sash-opening restricting bar turned to a blocking position; FIGURE B shows a side perspective view of the sash blocker shown in FIGURE A with the handle portion in the form of the sash-opening restricting bar turned to an unblocking position; FIGURE C shows a side perspective view of an elongate base per se of the sash blocker shown in FIGURES A and B; FIGURE D shows a perspective underside view of the restricting bar of the sash blocker as shown in FIGURES A and B; FIGURE 1 shows an embodiment of a sash blocker, in accordance with the present invention, in a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view, with a restricting bar in an unblocking position on an elongate base and FIGURE 1A shows a perspective view of a slightly modified sash blocker; FIGURE 2 shows views of the restricting bar shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 3 shows views of an elongate base of the sash blocker shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4 shows a lock of the sash blocker shown in FIGURE 1; FIGURE 4A shows an exploded sectional view of the various components of the sash blocker shown in FIGURE 1A and FIGURE 4B shows a sectional view of the assembled components of the sash blocker of FIGURE 1A but with the lock still awaiting assembly; FIGURE 5 shows diagrammatic views of the locking engagement of the sash blocker shown in FIGURES 1 or 1A in different angular positions of the restricting bar; FIGURE 6 shows diagrammatically a plan view of the sash blocker shown in FIGURE 1 in a locked, unblocking position, and FIGURE 7 shows the sash blocker in an unlocked, unblocking position; FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 but with the restricting bar having been turned through 45°; FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 but with the restricting bar turned through 90° in an unlocked, sash blocking position, and FIGURE 10 is a view similar the FIGURE 9 but with the restricting bar in a blocking and locked position; FIGURES 11 and 12 show two differently modified versions of the sash blocker as shown in FIGURES 1 to 10, when fitted to a section of UPVC frame and door section, each sash blocker having an elongate base of a different height.

As shown in FIGURES A to D, a lockable sash blocker/jammer 100 known per se has an elongate base 101 on which is centrally pivotally mounted a handle portion 102 in the form of a sash-opening restricting bar.

The elongate base 101 may be fixed, in use, in known manner, by surface mounting to a side of a window or door frame (not shown) by means of two screws (not shown) passed through receiving holes 101a and 101b at respective ends of the base 101. Handle portion 102 has a finger grip 102a of narrower width than the remainder of the handle portion 102, which grip 102a extends from key-operated cylinder lock 103 to the free end of said portion. FIGURE A shows the restricting bar 102 locked in the blocking position at right angles to the base 101. FIGURE B shows the restricting bar 102 in the unblocking position, overlying and axially parallel to the elongate base 101.

In use of the sash blocker 100, the restricting bar 102 can be turned without the key (not shown) in the lock 103 through 90° relative to the base 101 from the position shown in FIGURE B (in the direction of arrow X in FIGURES A and B) to the blocking position shown in FIGURE A. As the restricting bar 102 is moved to the blocking position it is automatically locked to the hollow cylindrical locking post 101c of the base 101 in a manner to be described. FIGURE D shows the underside of the handle portion 102 with a projecting end of a spring loaded locking bar 103a of the lock 103 being urged into surface contact with pivoting pin 102b, which pin is integrally formed with the handle portionl02 and which, in use, extends into and pivots within the hollow post 101c of the base 101. In this position, the projecting end of locking bar 103a extends into engagement with notch or slot 1 Old in the locking post (see FIGURE C) preventing rotation of the restricting bar 102 relative to base 101.

During rotation of the restricting bar 102 from the unblocking position to the blocking position, the end of locking bar 103a is urged into surface contact with the outer periphery lOle of the hollow post 101c until the locking bar passes over the notch/slot lOld into which it automatically engages in a locking manner that can only be released by turning the key in the lock.

Once the key has been turned in the lock 103 through 90° to release the end of locking bar 103a from the notch/slot 1 Old the key is held retained to the lock whilst the restricting bar is pivotally returned to the unblocking position. The key can only be removed by reverse rotation through 90° freeing the locking bar 103 into surface contact with the outer periphery of the post by the spring loading. It is to be noted that it is not possible to lock the sash blocker 100 in the unblocked position.

Thus, an unauthorised person could move (pivot) the restricting bar 102 from the unblocking position to a locked, blocking position without the aid of a key. FIGURES 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings show an embodiment of the sash blocker/jammerl of present invention that may enable disadvantages of the arrangement 100 shown in FIGURES A to D to be obviated.

The general format of the lockable sash blocker 1 is similar to sash blocker 100, the main differences being in the locking arrangement employed.

Sash blocker 1 has an elongate base 2 on which is centrally pivotally mounted a handle portion 3 in the form of a sash opening restricting bar.

As with sash blocker 100, the elongate base 2 can be fixed by surface mounting to a side of a window or door frame (not shown) by means of two screws (not shown) passed through receiving holes 2a,2b at respective ends of the base 2. Handle portion 3 has a finger grip portion 3a of narrower width than the remainder of the handle portion 3, which grip 3a extends from key operated cylinder lock 4 (shown separately in FIGURE 4). FIGURE 1 shows how the components of the sash blocker 1, namely elongate base 2, restricting bar 3 and lock 4, fit together. FIGURE 1 shows the restricting bar 3 in the unblocking position, overlying and axially parallel to the elongate base 2.

In use, of the sash blockerl, the restricting bar 3 can be turned with or without the key (not shown) in the lock 4 through 90° relative to the base 2 from the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 5 to the position (locked, blocking position) shown in FIGURE 9.

The restricting bar 3 has a downwardly depending pivot pin 3a, integrally formed with the restricting bar, which pin, in use, extends into and pivots within part cylindrical hollow post 2c of base 2.

It is to be noted that the external shape of the hollow post 2c is critical to the locking function of the sash blocker; said external shape being chosen to co-operate with locking components of the lock 4, in a manner to be described and which should be apparent, more particularly from FIGURES 4 to 9 of the drawings.

The external walling of hollow post 2c is provided with arcuate cut out portions 2d,2e,2f (see FIGURE3) extending approximately half way down the post (see lower view of FIGURE 3). Arcuate portions 2d and 2f lie opposed each other at the top and bottom of the central view of FIGURE 3 and portion 2e lies to the right of that view. Arcuate portions 2d, 2e, 2f are designed to cooperate with lock 4 to provide 3 possible locking positions, in a manner to be described.

Lock 4 had a central, part cylindrical member 4a that can be rotated relative to the remainder of the lock body with use of the key (not shown). Member 4a has an arcuate cut out portion 4b that can be rotated as required relative to hollow post 2c to allow/disallow turning of the restricting bar 3 relative to the base 2.

The top view of FIGURE 4 shows a locked orientation of member 4a and hollow post 2c. Any attempt to rotate the whole of the lock 4 contained within restricting bar 3 (as e.g.in trying to turn the restricting bar in direction A or in the reverse direction ) about axis X would be negated by convex external surface 4a' abutting concave arcuate surface 2e.

In the middle view, there is a similar locking restriction in place but in the lower view locking member 4a has been turned to an unlocked position allowing concave, arcuate cut out portion 4b to pass safely over the convex external surface of hollow post 2c, in a manner which should be readily discernible from FIGURE 4. FIGURES 5 to 10 show in more detail the relative positions of the restricting bar, elongate base 2, hollow post arcuate portions 2d,2e,2f and lock member 4a in combination with key slot positions SI, S2 as the restricting bar is moved from and unblocking, locked position all the way through to a locked, blocking position.

It is to be noted more particularly in FIGURES 1 and 2 that the elongate base 2 is higher on one side (the left side as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2). The higher side of base 2 overlaps the retaining arm 3 in the height direction providing a raised stop tl for prevention of continued pivoting of the arm 3 beyond the blocking position, in a manner which should be evident from Figures 1 and 2. Similarly, a stop t2 is provided opposite stop tl to limit pivoting of the retaining arm in the opposed sense of rotation from the blocking position to 180°.

In the modified sash blocker 1M as shown in FIGURES 1 A, 4A and 4B a modified or alternative elongate base 2m is provided being symmetrical and, advantageously, having the same height on each side of the retaining arm so that no visible stops tl and t2 are provided (rather the raised part of the post 3a' forms an internal stop replacing the function of stops tl and t2). FIGURE 1A shows the underside of retaining arm 3 fitted with a removable circular resilient plastics or nylon plug g (not shown in FIGURES 1 or 2) having an upstanding central stem (not shown) being a push fit in receiving hole H shown in FIGURES 1,2,4A and 4B of the FIGURES of the drawings. In use, the lower surface of plug g can cushion against a window or door. FIGURE 4A is an exploded view of the components of the sash blocker 1M (shown assembled - except for lock 4 - in FIGURE IB) including star washer sw, base washer bw, nylon washer nw, and steel retainer washer rw. FIGURE 11 shows a view of a modified sash blocker 1" fitted to a section of UPVC frame F and door section D'. The modification includes an elongate base 2" having a greater height dimension (of about 21 mm) in order to accommodate the overlap/projection in height of the UPVC door leaf D' section in a manner which should be evident in the drawings. The underside of the retaining arm 3 is provided with plug g to cushion against the outer surface of door D\ FIGURE 12 shows a sash blocker Γ incorporating a different modification suited to an arrangement having a timber or composite door D. The modification includes an elongate base 2' having a lesser height dimension (of about 8mm) to accommodate the lack of overlap/projection in height of the timber/composite door leaf D section in a manner which should be evident in the drawings. The underside of the retaining arm 3 is provided with a removable circular resilient plastics or nylon plug G having an upstanding central stem (not shown) being a push fit in receiving hole H. It is to be noted that the height of plug G is different to plug g in order to accommodate different height dimensions.

The elongate base 2,2', 2", 2m may be provided with a registration stacking spacer 500 as shown in FIGURE 13. The spacer may be positioned in between the elongate base 2,2', 2", 2m and the frame (e.g. F) on which it is mounted, in use. The spacer 500 has an overall periphery slightly larger than the periphery of the base and opposed upper and lower arcuate raised flanges fl, f2 to seat the base, thereby restricting or helping to prevent slippage of said base relative to the frame in a manner which should be self evident.

It is believed that the operation, locking and unlocking of the sash blocker 1, Γ, 1" should be apparent from the FIGURES of the drawings.

Thus, importantly, embodiments of the present invention may provide as sash blocker having:- a) key locking b) optional deadlocking (the blocker can be used without the need for deadlocking) c) a locking mechanism which is an integral part of the assembly d) a mechanism that can be locked in any one of 3 positions e) the key is not retained in the lock in any position f) the locking mechanism is unique in this application.

It is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be unduly limited by the particular choice of terminology and that a specific term may be replaced or supplemented by an equivalent or generic term. For example, the term ‘arcuate’ could be replaced by ‘depression’ or ‘concave’ or ‘convex’; ‘handle portion’ may be replaced by ‘grip portion’ or ‘handle grip portion’. Further it is to be understood that individual features, method or functions relating to the security device or combinations thereof might be individually patentably inventive. The singular may include the plural and vice versa. Additionally, any range mentioned herein for any parameter or variable shall be taken to include a disclosure of any derivable sub-range within that range or of any particular value of the variable or parameter arranged within, or at an end of, the range or sub-range.

Claims

1. A sash blocker having a base and a pivotable sash-opening restricting bar, the base, in use, being mountable on a fixed window or door frame with the restricting bar being pivotable from an unblocking position, free of overlap with an opening sash received in said fixed frame, to a blocking position overlapping the sash thereby preventing opening of said sash, said restricting bar being lockable in the blocking position, the sash blocker being provided with a key-operated lock allowing the restricting bar to be locked or unlocked whilst in the blocking position, without a key being retained in the lock, said locking of the restricting bar in the blocking position being without the aid of a push button and/or without the aid of spring loading.

2. A sash blocker as claimed in Claim 1 which is lockable in any one of two or three positions.

3. A sash blocker as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 which is lockable in at least one unblocking position.

4. A sash blocker as claimed in Claim 2 can be locked or unlocked in the unblocking position, without a key being retained in the lock.

5. A sash blocker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the restricting bar has a pivot pin received in a hollow post in the base, said hollow post being shaped, to cooperate with a rotatable lock member of the lock.

6. A sash blocker as claimed in claim 5 in which the hollow post is shaped by being provided with at least one arcuate (concave) portion.

7. A sash blocker as claimed in claim 5 or 6 in which said lock member is provided with at least one arcuate (concave) portion.

8. A sash blocker substantially as herein described with reference Figures 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings or when modified substantially in accordance with Figure 11 or 12 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A sash blocker for blocking opening of a window or door sash received in a frame, said blocker being both lockable in a blocking position and unlockable in the blocking position without the aid of a push button and/or without the aid of spring loading, without a) a key being retained in the lock and/or without b) the blocker being automatically locked in the blocking position and/or with c) the blocker being lockable in an unblocking position and/or d) the sash blocker being lockable in any one of three positions and/or e) the sash blocker having any feature derivable from this description and drawings. !0. A window or door assembly having at least one sash blocker as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

11. A building or structure having at least one window or door assembly as claimed in Claim 10.

12. A sash blocker having a base and a pivotable sash-opening restricting bar, the base, in use, being mountable on a fixed window or door frame with the restricting bar being pivotable from an unblocking position, free of overlap with an opening sash received in said fixed frame, to a blocking position overlapping the sash thereby preventing opening of said sash, said restricting bar being lockable in the blocking position, the sash blocker being provided with a lock allowing the restricting bar to be locked or unlocked whilst in the blocking position, the restricting bar having a pivot pin received in a hollow post in the base, said hollow post being shaped to cooperate with a rotatable lock member of the lock.

13. A sash blocker as claimed in claim 12 in which the hollow post is shaped by being provided with at least one arcuate (concave) portion.

14. A sash blocker as claimed in claim 12 or 13 in which said lock member is provided with at least one arcuate (concave) portion

15. A window or door assembly having at least one sash blocker as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15.

16. A building or structure having at least one window or door assembly as claimed in claim 15.