Closure fasteners – Keepers
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-04
2001-01-23
Pham, Teri (Department: 3627)
Closure fasteners
Keepers
C292S033000, C292S340000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176527
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a security locking mechanism for enhancing the security provided by a lock carried by a wing such as a door or window.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has always been advantageous to provide a door, window or the like with a number of locking devices so as to deter or prevent a would-be intruder. Conventionally, this has been achieved by installing on the wing, or indeed on a frame associated with the wing, a plurality of separate locking devices each requiring a separate key or handle. Naturally, the operation of such a system is a relatively arduous and time consuming task.
DE 19723361 discloses a novel and simple locking system that has, to some extent, alleviated the problems associated with the aforementioned system. This document describes a system wherein the insertion of a single bolt from a door into a keeper in the associated frame simultaneously causes the extension of auxiliary bolts from the frame member into housings provided on the door. This system enhances the security between, and the engagement of, the door and the frame.
Although door security is improving continuously, the majority of the development carried out in this field is primarily concerned with improving the strength of the door or, as discussed in DE 19723361, improving the strength of engagement between the door and its frame.
Insofar as the applicant is aware, there has not been a comparable improvement in the security provided between the door frame and the surrounding masonry to which it is affixed. A member of the public may choose to install a system such as that disclosed in DE 19723361 into a door and its associated frame. This undoubtedly would improve the strength of engagement between the two members and any force exerted on the door would be transmitted directly to the frame. However, repetitive forcing or barrage of the door induces stress within the frame and eventually the frame, which is normally quite a weak member, would yield.
Accordingly, the present invention seeks to redress the problems discussed above by providing an easy to use and cost effective locking mechanism which improves the security between the frame and the surrounding masonry as well enhancing the strength of engagement of the door and the frame. The mechanism reduces the stress induced in the frame by transmitting a substantial proportion of the force exerted on the door directly to the masonry surrounding the frame. Furthermore, this new locking device can be retrofitted to existing doors without the need for providing a new lock.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A security locking mechanism for enhancing the security provided by a lock carried by a wing such as a door or window, the security locking mechanism comprising an auxiliary bolt mechanism for mounting in a frame for the wing and an auxiliary keeper for mounting in the wing, wherein extension of a bolt of the lock into a keeper of the auxiliary bolt mechanism causes extension of an auxiliary bolt of the auxiliary bolt mechanism into the auxiliary keeper against a resilient bias, the auxiliary bolt mechanism comprising a metal housing which in use is received in a recess in the frame and an actuating lever which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in the housing, is pivotally connected at one end portion to a keeper plate positioned to be depressed by extension of the bolt into the keeper, and is pivotally connected at the opposite end portion to the auxiliary bolt, wherein the auxiliary bolt is slidable in a tubular metal anchorage which projects rearwardly from the metal housing and in use is received in and anchored by the masonry or other structural support for the frame; and when extended against the resilient bias the auxiliary bolt has one end portion received in the tubular metal anchorage and the other end portion received in the auxiliary keeper of the wing.
Preferably, the keeper plate is fast to a shaft which is axially slidable in a tubular metal guide which projects rearwardly from the metal housing and in use is received in and anchored by the masonry or other structural support for the frame.
The security locking mechanism may be used in association with a surface-mounted lock, wherein the keeper in use is located outside the width of the frame alongside the surface-mounted lock, and the keeper plate bridges the width of the frame and the keeper so that extension of the bolt of the lock into the keeper outside the width of the frame is communicated by the keeper plate to the lever and auxiliary bolt within the width of the frame. Such a surface-mounted lock is one which has as its sole bolt a latch bolt.
Alternatively, the security locking mechanism may be used in association with a lock which has both a latch bolt and a deadbolt, wherein the keeper plate is positioned in the housing so as to be depressed by extension of either the latch bolt or the deadbolt into the keeper.
Preferably, the auxiliary bolt mechanism comprises a second actuating lever on the opposite side of the keeper plate to the actuating lever, the second actuating lever being pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in the housing, being pivotally connected at one end portion to the keeper plate and being pivotally connected at its opposite end portion to a second auxiliary bolt which is slidable in a second tubular metal anchorage which projects rearwardly from the metal housing and in use is received in and anchored by the masonry or other structural support for the frame.
The security locking mechanism may further comprise a metal face plate securable to the front of the metal housing. Additionally, a pair of tubular metal structural members can be secured to the back wall of the metal housing and extending from the back wall to the metal face plate, and in alignment with the tubular metal structural members fixing holes formed through the face plate and the back wall of the metal housing, for fixing the face plate and housing directly to the masonry or other structural support for the frame by means of securing screws or bolts passing through the fixing holes, the tubular metal structural members and the frame and obtaining an anchorage in the masonry or other structural support.
The housing may be provided with a deformable member or housing portion in the region of the keeper plate, positioned so that if an attempt is made to force open the wing while it is locked, the deformable member will bend into a position blocking keeper plate movement, in which position it prevents the keeper plate from returning from its depressed condition even when the bolt is withdrawn.
Additionally, the security locking mechanism can be provided with a release mechanism connected to the actuating lever and passing through a side wall of the housing and in use through the frame to one side only of the frame, for moving the actuating lever so as to disengage the auxiliary bolt mechanism in the event that the mechanism sticks in the locking condition.
The security locking mechanism may be extended using a supplementary locking mechanism. Such a supplementary locking mechanism can be used for securing the door to the frame, and includes: a supplementary bolt, housed within and extensible from the door, for spanning the gap between the door and the frame, the supplementary bolt being resiliently biased to a retracted condition in which the door is movable relative to the frame; a supplementary actuating lever pivotally mounted at a position intermediate of its ends in the door and having one end portion engagable with the supplementary bolt to move the supplementary bolt against the resilient bias to a position spanning said gap, the other end portion of the supplementary actuating lever being engagable with the auxiliary bolt of the security locking mechanism such that extension of the auxiliary bolt into the auxiliary keeper in the wing causes pivotal rotation of the supplementary actuating lever to move the supplementary bolt against the resilient bias for receipt within a keeper formed in the f
Cherskov & Flaynik
Florin Investments Limited
Pham Teri
LandOfFree
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