SECURITY CLOSURE WITH ENHANCED UTILITY AND APPEARANCE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a security closure such as a security gate for controlling access by way of an access opening or a security closure for any other opening such as a window or the like wherein the security closure has both an enhanced utility and appearance when compared to conventional security gates and grilles that are typically made of metal.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Security requirements in modern times dictate that security closures such as security gates and grilles, which are typically made of metal, be employed for the purpose of closing possible access openings such as doorways, gateways, windows and like openings in buildings or other structures, at least during certain times of the day.

Such security closures are generally made of metal, as indicated above, and may assume many different forms such as a closure consisting of a series of parallel rods interconnected by transverse bars or other frame members, or both; bent metal rods and bars welded together to form a generally more ornate lattice and generally referred to as wrought iron; or laterally collapsible series of metal bars pivotally connected together so as to be collapsible in lazy tong fashion.

None of the above are, in applicant's view, particularly aesthetically appealing and none of them serve any other purpose than to securely close off an access opening.

The only other alternative to the types of security closures referred to above and of which applicant is aware are solid security types of doors that have limited functionality and typically obscure the entire access opening both from a visual point of view and a ventilation point of view.

Other types of closures that are used for access openings are generally not considered to be security closures as their intruder resistance is generally inadequate. Such types of closures include shutters such as those comprising a series of parallel inclined slats or louvers, and in particular, plantation shutters, wherein the inclination of the louvers is adjustable in unison so that at least controlled ventilation through the closure can be achieved.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a security closure having enhanced utility and appearance when compared to the types of security closures indicated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a security closure comprising a metal frame to which is secured a series of spaced parallel rods spanning the area within the frame to form a security closure, the security closure being characterised in that a series of louver slats is supported on the said spaced parallel rods with each rod passing longitudinally through a louver slat.

Further features of the invention provide for the spaced parallel rods to be secured to the metal frame by welding; for the frame itself to be of a welded construction; for each louver slat to be rotatable about the associated rod to render its inclination adjustable relative to the plane of the frame; for the

louver slats to be arranged in sets of adjacent louver slats that are interconnected so as to be rotatable in unison about their respective rods; for the rods and louver slats to extend in a generally horizontal direction in the operative position; for the frame members of the frame to have an outer sheath fitted thereto in order to provide the metal frame with an aesthetically pleasing outer appearance; and for the metal frame to be of a tubular construction in which case the rods pass through both opposite walls thereof and are secured to the outer wall, typically by welding.

In a preferred security closure according to the invention, the louver slats are composed of cut lengths of an extrusion of a suitable plastic type of material that could be a so-called poly wood compound (a reconstituted timber product in which the timber particles are bonded together by way of a polymer compound), a more conventional plastic or synthetic resin material that may optionally be fibre reinforced, or a foam filled plastics material typically having an integral skin with a foamed core.

A sheath for enclosing the frame members is preferably extruded from the same material in order that an aesthetically pleasing and uniform overall appearance is achieved. The sheath can be extruded in two parts, a first component in the form of a strip adapted to cover one surface of the frame members, typically the innermost surface, and a second component of generally inwardly lipped U-shape covering the balance of the outer surface of the frame members.

The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a generally rectangular security closure as defined above wherein a metal frame is assembled with two opposite sides of the frame comprising frame members provided with aligned holes for receiving rods passing through; metal rods are passed through the aligned holes and at that time through a longitudinally extending locating formation provided in a louver slat and into corresponding

holes in the opposite frame member; and the free ends of the metal rods are welded to the metal frame at least at the outermost ends thereof.

Further features of the method defined above provide for a sheath to be installed to cover the exposed surface of each of the frame members; for the sheath to include a first component in the form of a cover strip provided with holes corresponding to those in the frame members that receive the rods in which instance the cover strip is installed by threading the rods through the holes in the cover strip at the time of installing the rods in the frame in which case the balance of the sheath, being a major component of the sheath, is constituted by a generally inwardly lipped channel shaped extrusion that clips over the relevant frame member with the gap between the free edges of the inwardly directed lips being closed by the cover strip.

The slats, sheath, and cover strip are all preferably made as extrusions of substantially identical material. They may, however, also be formed of any other material. The sheath and cover strip could, for example, even be machined strips of wood suitably configured to enclose the frame members. In such an instance the louver slats would generally be of a similar material.

As an alternative to welding the rods to the frame, the rods themselves can be rotatable about their own axes relative to the frame provided that they are adequately locked in position such as by using circlips locating the ends of the rods on the inside of a wall of the frame members or, alternatively, by means of enlarged headed formations welded or otherwise secured to the rods to render them not removable from the frame.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a partly broken away elevation of a single panel security gate constructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the broken away portion illustrated in Figure 1 showing more clearly the detail of the construction of the security gate frame;

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken through a frame member at the position where a rod passes through it and showing the sheath in position;

Figure 5 is an elevation showing a multiple panel security closure according to the invention;

Figure 6 shows the cross-section of an extrusion used for forming the louver slats;

Figure 7 shows the cross-section of an extrusion used for forming the minor component of the sheath namely the cover strips;

Figure 8 shows the cross-section of an extrusion used for forming the major component of the sheath; and,

Figure 9 shows the cross-section of a variation to the cover strip assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In this embodiment of the invention a security closure in the form of a single panel rectangular security gate (1) comprises a metal frame (2) to the two upright frame members (3) of which is secured a series of operatively horizontal spaced parallel metal rods (4) spanning the area within the frame to form a basic security closure. Each of the metal rods supports a louver slat (5) with the metal rods passing longitudinally through a bore (6) (see

Figure 6) formed during the extrusion of the louver slat that is described more fully below.

The adjacent louver slats may be divided into two or more different sets thereof that may be separated by means of a transverse brace (7) that serves to structurally reinforce the frame.

The slats of each set are rotatable about their associated metal rods in unison with each other in order to open and close the effective passageway through the louver assembly by varying the inclination of the slats. Any known mechanism can be used to interconnect the slats and to achieve the adjustment indicated and such mechanism will not be described any further herein as it is irrelevant to the operation of the invention.

Each of the frame members is enclosed within a composite sheath (see in particular Figures 3 and 4) that is composed of minor sheath component consisting of a cover strip (8) covering the central region of the inwardly directed faces of the upright frame members and a major sheath component (9) of inwardly lipped channel shape in cross-section that covers the rest of the outer surface of each frame member. The edges of the inwardly directed lips are arranged to substantially engage the side edges of the cover strip to form a complete sheath to the frame members, as shown in Figure 4.

In the instance of the cover strips utilised for the inwardly directed surfaces of the upright frame members (3) the cover strips are provided with holes corresponding to those in the frame members that receive the rods.

The manufacture of the security closure described above is carried out by firstly welding together the frame, generally with the upright frame members (3) predrilled with aligned holes through the opposite side walls (10) thereof for receiving the rods.

The rods are then threaded through the holes in one of the upright frame members; through the holes in the adjacent cover strip; longitudinally through the bore in a louver slat; then through an appropriate hole in the cover strip associated with the opposite upright frame member; and then through the corresponding holes in the opposite upright frame member itself.

At this stage both of the free ends of the rods are welded to the outer wall (10) of the upright frame members and finished off, typically by a grinding process. The arrangement is such that the cover strip and louver slats are capable of withstanding any elevated temperature that may reach them by thermal conduction during the welding process. As a result of the fact that the cover strip and louver slats are in their operative positions at this stage, it is not practical, or necessary, to weld the rods to the inner wall of each of the tubular upright frame members.

The major component (9) of the sheath is then clipped in position by way of inwardly directed lips (11) formed integral with the extruded channel shaped component. The arrangement is such that, as indicated above, the gap between the free edges of the inwardly directed lips is operatively closed by the cover strip.

As indicated above, the slats, sheath, and cover strip are all preferably made as extrusions of substantially identical material thereby ensuring that a

consistent, uniform and attractive aesthetic appearance is achieved. In each case, appropriate lengths of an extrusion of one of the types illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 is cut off for use as the appropriate component described above. As already indicated, the materials from which these components can be made includes so-called poly wood compound, a more conventional plastic or synthetic resin material, a foam filled plastics material typically having an integral skin with a foam core; and fibre reinforced plastics materials.

It will be quite apparent to those skilled in the art that any required locks and shoot bolts can be built into the security closure and further details of such items are not considered to be of any relevance to the present disclosure.

It will be understood that security panels made as described above can be used in many different forms and for many different purposes. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 5, a plurality of security panels (12) as described above could be hinged together by means of hinges (13) for use as a multiple panel closure that could be suspended on roller mechanisms (14) at appropriate upper corners with guide pins (15) extending coaxially out of the lower ends. Such a multiple panel assembly could fold in the well-known concertina configuration in order to open a substantially wide access opening as and when required.

Numerous variations may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above without departing from the scope hereof, the described example simply being illustrative of the invention. Thus, simply by way of example, the louver slats need not necessarily be installed in the manner described and the slats could be configured to be capable of being clipped onto the rods after they have been welded to the frame. Alternatively, the louver slats could be made in two parts that clip together with the rods passing through accommodating cooperating recesses provided in each of the two parts.

As regards the cover, the edges of the inwardly directed lips of the major component may be provided with a rebate that operatively registers and cooperates with a rebate on the edges of the cover strip, as indicated by numeral (16) in Figure 9, such that the inwardly directed lips hold the cover strip captive in its operative position.

Numerous other variations and formats of security closure are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.