GB2608162A

GB2608162A - Improved escutcheon plate

Info

Publication number: GB2608162A
Application number: GB2109096.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Jeffrey William
Original assignee: SMART SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: SMART SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-24
Filing date: 2021-06-24
Publication date: 2022-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 2041-06-24
Also published as: GB2608162B; GB202109096D0

Abstract

The escutcheon plate 10 comprises a plate with a key aperture 22, a wall 26 extending substantially perpendicularly from a rear side 25 and two tabs 28,30 extending outwardly from the wall. In use, the wall and tabs are inserted through a keyhole aperture in a frame and rotational or sliding movement of the escutcheon plate against the frame causes the tabs to engage behind the frame. The tabs may extend in opposite directions. The aperture may be circular, optionally with a parallel-sided slot 24 extending from it. Optionally a part-circular wall is concentric with the circular aperture, e.g. extending 270 to 300 degrees around it. The spacing between the sides of the tabs may be substantially equal to the aperture diameter. First and second tabs may extend from respective first and second walls, optionally either side of the parallel-sided slot. Optionally a lock, e.g. a euro lock, can be positioned in the aperture.

Description

IMPROVED ESCUTCHEON PLATE

The present invention relates to an improved escutcheon plate, and particularly to an improved escutcheon plate suitable for an extruded door frame, for example, of aluminium or plastics.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Historically, an escutcheon plate is a metal plate, which is fastened around a keyhole to provide a guide for a key into the keyhole, to provide protection to a wooden surface around the keyhole, and to provide a decorative trim around the keyhole.

Historically, escutcheon plates have been face-fixed using screws. This method of fixing is still used and is a time-consuming process and sometimes the screws may not hold very well, particularly in extruded frames. The screws may also corrode over time.

In higher security locks, back-to-back fixings may be provided in the form of machined screw threaded rods which pass through the door between the rear surfaces of a pair of escutcheon plates. These can be difficult to fit and are and expensive.

To avoid the problem of having visible screws and to speed up fitting time, adhesive has also been utilised. The adhesive is pre-applied to the rear of the escutcheon plate and a release paper is removed to enable the plate to be pressed into position. A problem with the adhesive held escutcheon plates is that they often detach in use, particularly if a door is heavily used.

Another way to avoid visible screws is to have a first concealed escutcheon plate which is screwed into position and a second cover escutcheon plate, which clips onto the rear plate. Again, this is time consuming to install and requires double the parts. It is uneconomic.

It is an object of the present invention to reduce or substantially obviate the aforementioned problems.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an escutcheon plate comprising a plate member having an aperture therethrough for a key, the plate member having an outward side and a rear side, the rear side having at least one wall member extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and first and second tabs extending outwardly from the wall member, in use, the wall member and tabs being inserted through a keyhole aperture in a frame until the rear side of the escutcheon plate lies against the frame, rotational or sliding movement of the escutcheon plate against the frame causing the first and second tabs to engage behind the frame for holding the escutcheon plate in place.

The escutcheon plate is primarily intended for extruded aluminium and plastics door frames, but it can be used with any frame with a hollow core. Advantageously, the escutcheon plate can be twisted or slid into position and is securely held. It is very quick to install, is low cost and provides a secure and ergonomic solution. No separate fasteners are required.

The first and second tabs may extend in opposite directions.

The opposing tabs secure the escutcheon plate in a balanced and secure manner, preventing withdrawal from the keyhole aperture.

The aperture may be a circular aperture. Alternatively, the circular aperture may adjoin an integral parallel sided slot extending from a circular aperture to form a keyhole shaped aperture.

The wall member may be part-circular and concentric with the circular aperture.

The part-circular wall member may extend around the aperture for between 270 and 300 degrees.

The fact that the circular wall extends between the opposing tabs on one side, provides additional strength, whilst still allowing insertion of the tabs and wall through the aperture prior to twisting or sliding.

The distance across the sides of the first and second tabs may be substantially equal to the diameter of the aperture.

There may be first and second wall members, the first tab extending from the first wall member and the second tab extending from the second wall member.

The first and second wall members may extend from either side of the parallel sided slot.

The outer edges of the first and second tabs are curved and lie on a circle.

In use, the escutcheon lines up with a lock cylinder, for example a euro lock cylinder, which further prevents the escutcheon plate from moving.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A shows a front perspective view of a twist-in escutcheon plate; Figure 1B shows a rear perspective view of the twist in escutcheon plate of Figure 1A; Figure 1C shows a plan view from below of the twist in escutcheon plate of Figure 1A; Figure 2A shows a front perspective view of a slide in escutcheon plate; Figure 2B shows a rear perspective view of the slide in escutcheon plate of Figure 2A; Figure 3A shows a front perspective view of an alternative twist-in escutcheon plate; Figure 3B shows a rear perspective view of the twist in escutcheon plate of Figure 3A; Figures 4A and 4B show front perspective views of the twist in escutcheon plate of Figure 1A being installed on a door in before and after positions; Figures 5A and 5B show a front perspective view of the slide in escutcheon plate of Figure 2A being installed on a door in before and after positions; and Figures 6A and 6B show perspective part cut-away views of the twist in escutcheon plate of Figure 1A installed on a door frame, together with a lock.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring firstly to Figures 1A to 1C, a first embodiment of escutcheon plate is indicated at 10. The front of the escutcheon plate 10 has an elongate central section 12 with rounded ends, an upper end 14 and lower end 16. A central region 18 of the front face is substantially flat and has a decorative element 20 cut into it in a lower region. A circular aperture 22 extends through the escutcheon plate 10 in an upper region. The peripheral edges of the plate are rounded from the edges of the plate onto the central region 18.

The rear surface 25 of the escutcheon plate 10 is substantially flat, but has an elongate cutaway 24 extending into the through aperture 22.

A wall member or flange 26 extends perpendicularly from the flat rear surface 25 and extends in a part-circle around the through aperture 22. First and second tabs 28,30 extend from the outer edge of the flange 26. The tabs 28,30 oppose one-another, ie extend in opposite directions. A space is therefore disposed between the flat rear of the plate 25 and the spaced tabs 28,30, which engages a wall of an extruded door, in use, as described further below.

Referring in particular to Figure 10, it can be seen that a conical detent 32 extends from the surface of the tabs 28,30 facing the rear surface 25 of the plate 10. The detents 32 are used to arrest rotation when fitting and to lock the escutcheon plate in position, as described further below.

Referring now to Figures 2A and 2B, a second embodiment of escutcheon plate is indicated at 40. The escutcheon plate 40 is circular with a rounded edge on the outer circumference of the front face 42. A keyhole slot 44 aperture including a circular part 46 and a straight slot part 48 extends through the centre of the plate 40.

A pair of wall members or flanges 50,52 extend perpendicularly from the rear side of the plate. The flanges 50,52 are positioned on the straight slot part 48, immediately adjacent the join the with circular part 46 of the keyhole slot. The flanges are aligned to the edge of the slot.

First and second tabs 54,56 extend from the outer edge of the flanges 50,52 respectively. The tabs 54,56 oppose one-another, ie extend in opposite directions. A space is therefore disposed between the flat rear of the plate and each of the spaced tabs 54,56, which engages a wall of an extruded door, in use, as described further below.

Referring now to Figures 3A and 3B, a third embodiment of escutcheon plate is indicated at 60. The escutcheon plate 60 is circular, with a central circular aperture 62 therethrough. The periphery of the escutcheon plate 60 is rounded off. The rear surface 64 of the escutcheon plate 60 is flat and has a part-circular wall member or flange 66, similar to that described in relation to the first embodiment. The flange 66 extends through around 270 to 300 degrees, ie around 3/4 of the circle.

Tabs 68, 70 extend perpendicularly from the free end of the flange and oppose one another. That is, they are opposite one-another and extend in opposite directions. The tabs 68, 70 have substantially parallel sides, which are also aligned across the tabs.

Referring now to Figures 4A and 4B, the escutcheon plate 10 is shown being inserted and fixed in position on an extruded door member, for example, a latch stile 72. A typical door will include, for example at least one central panel, top and bottom rails, and hinge and latch stiles. Other panels, rails, stiles and mullions may be included in the door construction, depending on the style of the door.

A slotted aperture 74 is provided in the door stile 72. As can be seen in figure 4A, the escutcheon 10 is positioned at 90 degrees to its rest position, enabling the tabs 28,30 to pass through the aperture 74. The flange 26 sits inside the aperture 74 and the rear surface 25 of the escutcheon plate 10 rests against the front surface of the door stile 72. The escutcheon plate 10 is then rotated by 90 degrees clockwise, to align with the slotted aperture 74. The tabs 28,30 are designed to sit behind the front wall of the door stile 72 to hold it firmly in position. In this case, the detents 32 provide engagement with the rear surface of the door stile 72 and may engage in slight recesses, positioned on either side of the slot. This effectively holds the escutcheon plate 10 against rotation and a position of the wall of the door stile 72 around the slot 74 is retained between the rear face of the plate and the front face of the tabs 28,30.

The use position of the escutcheon plate is illustrated in Figure 43. In other words, the escutcheon plate 10 is pushed into the aperture and rotated, ie in a twist connection.

A lock 76 may then be arranged to sit in the through aperture 22 of the escutcheon plate, for example, as shown in Figures 6A and 63.

Referring also to Figures 5A and 5B, the escutcheon plate 40 is shown being fitted to an extruded door stile 82. A keyhole shaped slotted aperture 84 is cut through the face of the stile 82. The escutcheon plate 40 is pushed into the circular part of the keyhole aperture 84, enabling the tabs 54,56 to pass through the slot. The escutcheon plate can then be slid downwardly. The keyhole slot has a narrower width at the bottom than at the top (as viewed and as is conventional) and the tabs 54,56 move down the rear side of the slot. The side walls of the slot are engaged between the tabs 54,56 and the rear surface of the escutcheon plate.

When in position, rotational movement is prevented, because the flanges 50, 52 are flat on their sides and engage the side wall of the aperture 84.

As in the previous embodiment, once retained in position by the tabs, a lock can be introduced to line up with the escutcheon plate. The lock locates in the keyhole slot 44 in the escutcheon plate 40.

The escutcheon plate 60 is intended to be rotated into position after passing through an aperture in door stile, in similar manner to the plate 10 of Figures 1 and1A. Again, the tabs 68,70 hold the escutcheon plate in position and prevent forward and backward movement relative to the face of the door stile, which is engaged between the tabs and rear face of the plate.

It will be appreciated that the escutcheon plates 10,40 and 60 can be utilised with any extruded door stile, which has a planar surface of a suitable thickness with an aperture behind. The distance between the tabs of the escutcheon plate and its rear surface need to be matched to the thickness of the escutcheon plate, thus enabling the escutcheon plate to be slid or rotated into position whilst gripping the wall member of the stile. It will be further appreciated that no external fasteners are required.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of example only, and various changes and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An escutcheon plate comprising a plate member having an aperture therethrough for a key, the plate member having an outward side and a rear side, the rear side having at least one wall member extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and first and second tabs extending outwardly from the wall member, in use, the wall member and tabs being inserted through a keyhole aperture in a frame until the rear side of the escutcheon plate lies against the frame, rotational or sliding movement of the escutcheon plate against the frame causing the first and second tabs to engage behind the frame for holding the escutcheon plate in place.
2. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 1, in which the first and second tabs extend in opposite directions.
3. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the aperture is a circular aperture.
4. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 3, in which the circular aperture adjoins an integral parallel sided slot extending from a circular aperture to form a keyhole slot.
5. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the wall member is part-circular and concentric with the circular aperture.
6. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 5, in which the part-circular wall member extends around the aperture for between 270 and 300 degrees.
7. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 6, in which the distance across the sides of the first and second tabs is substantially equal to the diameter of the aperture
8. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which there are first and second wall members, the first tab extending from the first wall member and the second tab extending from the second wall member.
9. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 8, when dependent on claim 4, in which the first and second wall members extend from either side of the parallel sided slot.
10. An escutcheon plate as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the outer edges of the first and second tabs are curved and lie on a circle.
11. An escutcheon plate as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a lock can be positioned in the aperture.
12. An escutcheon plate as claimed in claim 11, in which the lock is a euro lock.