This invention relates to a security window.

One conventional method of securing windows is to provide bars or other security screen members over the windows. The bars or security screen members are permanently fixed in place and whilst they do offer a significant degree of security they suffer from the drawbacks of being somewhat unsightly.

The object of this invention is to provide a security window which overcomes the above drawback.

The present invention may be said to reside in a security window including: a first window portion moveable relative to a window opening to selectively open and close the window, the first window portion being movable between a fully open position and a fully closed position; and a security member fixed to the first window portion so that when the first window portion is moved from the fully closed position towards the fully open position the security member is drawn by the first window portion to occupy the open space in the window opening to prevent unauthorised access through the window.

Since the security member is connected to the window portion, when the window portion is fully closed the security member can be hidden in a wall cavity or behind a wall so that it is not visible from outside the building and therefore the window has a pleasant aesthetic appearance. However, if it is desired to open the window whilst still providing a degree of security, the window can be opened thereby drawing the security member into the window opening to prevent unauthorised access through the window opening.

Preferably the security member is of a length which is less than the length of the open space in the window opening when the first window portion is in the fully open position, the window further including: locking means for locking the first window portion in an intermediate position between the fully open and fully closed position so that in the intermediate position the security member fully occupies the open space in the window opening to prevent unauthorised access through the window and wherein when the first window portion is opened to the fully opened position, an open space is present below the security member to enable emergency exit through the window if necessary. This aspect of the preferred embodiment of the invention ensures that it is possible to open the window to the intermediate position thereby providing an open window and the required degree of security but at the same time enables a person to exit through the window, from a building, in the event of an emergency condition in the building such as a fire or the like, by simply releasing the locking means and opening the window to the fully open position.

Preferably the window is a double sash window and the first portion of the window is a bottom window portion of the double sash window.

Preferably the security member is connected to a bottom sash of the first window portion.

Preferably the locking means includes a plurality of locking positions so that the window can be locked in a plurality of different intermediate positions between the fully opened position and the fully closed position.

Preferably the security member comprises a plurality of bars fixed to a plate which is connected to the bottom sash of the window.

Preferably the bars are accommodated in a wall cavity below the window when the window is in the fully closed position.

Preferably the wall cavity includes a plurality of tubes or sleeves for accommodating the bars and preferably the tubes or sleeves have sealing members for allowing the bars to slide within the tubes or sleeves and for preventing egress of water into the tubes or sleeves.

In one embodiment of the invention the security member is permanently fixed to the first window portion. However, in an alternative embodiment of the invention the security member is releasably fixed to the first window portion so that the security member can selectively be secured to the first window portion for movement with the first window portion or released from the first window portion so that the security member remains in a withdrawn position when the first window portion is moved to open the window so that the security member does not occupy the window opening.

In the alternative embodiment of the invention, locking means is provided for selectively fixing the security member to the first window portion.

In the alternative embodiment, rather than providing tubes within the wall cavity for accommodating the bars of the security member, the window opening is provided with a plate which includes a plurality of openings for guiding the bars during opening of the first window portion when the security member is fixed to the first window portion.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly cross- sectioned, showing an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of a second embodiment of the invention showing the locking mechanism for locking a window in an open position;

Figure 3 is a side view showing a locking mechanism of figure 2;

Figure 4 is a view of yet a further embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a view of a still further embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the drawing a double sash window 10 is shown which is installed in a window opening of a building. The building has an outer wall 12 formed from brick or any other suitable material and an inner wall 14 which may be a plaster wall or the like.

The double sash window 10 has a first bottom portion 16 and an upper portion 18. The bottom portion 16 can be moved vertically in the window opening to open and close the window. The double sash window is of conventional design and therefore further details are not required.

Connected to a bottom sash 20 of the first window portion 16 is a security member 22. The security member 22 comprises a plurality of vertical bars 24 which are connected to a plate 26. The plate 26 is permanently fixed to a bottom of the sash 20 and most preferably in a recess (not shown) in the bottom sash 20 so that the plate 26 is not accessible from outside the window.

When in the closed position shown in figure 1, the bars 24 are accommodated in a cavity 30 between the outer wall 12 and inner wall 14 of the building. A plurality of tubes or sleeves (not shown) can be mounted in the cavity 30 and secured to a bottom window frame 32 so that when in the closed position the bars 24 are each accommodated in a tube or sleeve. The tubes and sleeves can be provided with

seals at their upper ends which allow movement of the bars 24 into and out of the tubes and which, when the bars are removed from the tubes, seal the top of the tubes to prevent water from entering the tubes.

The bars 24 are of a height which is approximately half of the height of the bottom window portion 16. That is, half of the height of the window opening when the bottom portion 16 is in the fully opened position. The window 10 has a locking mechanism (not shown) for locking the window in an intermediate position between the fully opened position and the fully closed position. Most preferably, a number of different intermediate positions are provided so the window can be locked in any one of those intermediate positions. When the window is opened to any one of those intermediate positions, in the direction of arrow A, the security bars are drawn upwardly in the direction of arrow A and fully occupy the window opening when the window is in the intermediate position. Thus, when the window is fully closed, the normal degree of security provided by a locked and closed window is provided. When it is desired to open the window, for example at night while a person is sleeping or the like, the window can be opened to an intermediate position with the security bars occupying the entire window opening so that security is provided and unauthorised access cannot be gained through the window opening.

If an emergency situation occurs where an occupant of the building is required to escape through the window, the window portion 16 can be opened to the fully opened position thereby drawing the bars 24 upwardly in the direction of arrow A, past the intermediate positions to the fully opened position so that the bars 24 do not occupy the entire window opening and therefore a person is able to escape through the window opening between the bottom window frame 32 and the bottom of the bars 24.

Thus, the window according to the preferred embodiments of the invention not only provides a window which has a normal aesthetic appearance when the window is open, a degree of security when the window is partly opened but also allows an emergency exit through the window by opening the window to its fully opened position.

With reference to figures 2 and 3 which show a further embodiment of the invention and which detail the locking arrangement for locking the bottom window portion 16 in an open position. In this embodiment of the invention the security member 22, which comprises a plurality of vertical bars 24, connected to a plate 26 is, like the embodiment of figure 1, permanently fixed to the bottom sash 20 of the window 16. The plate 26 has upstanding edge portions 27 which extend adjacent to side sashes 29 of the window 16 for added security and strength.

The bars 24 extend through holes 31 in a plate 33 which is fixed to the bottom window sill 35 of the window opening. The holes 31 guide the bars 24 as the window 16 is opened and closed so that the bars 24 are drawn into the window opening when the window is open and are accommodated in wall cavity 30 when the window 16 is closed.

The window portion 16 has a conventional key lock 50 and one of the window stiles 52 in which the windows 16 and 18 are guided is provided with a strip 56 having a plurality of holes 54. The strip 56 is permanently connected to the stile 52 and the window 16 can be locked in an open position by opening the window to a desired position and actuating the lock 50 by means of key 55 so that a bolt (not shown) of the lock 50 is received in one of the holes 54 to lock the window in the open position.

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the security member 22 is releasably connected to the

bottom sash 20 of the window portion 16. In this embodiment bars 24 of the security member 22 are connected to an L-shaped plate 60. The -shaped plate 60 has a horizontal section 62 and a vertical section 64. The bottom corners (only one shown) of the window portion 16 are reinforced by a metal boot 80 which has a rear face 82, a side face 84 and a bottom face 86. A lock 70 is fixed to the rear face 82 of the boot 80. The lock 70 includes an upper portion 88 fixed to, and mounted flush with rear face 82 of the boot 80 and a lower portion 89. The lower portion 89 is connected to the upper portion 88 and is spaced away from the rear face 82 of the boot 80 so that a space exists between the lower portion 89 and the rear face 82. The portion 89 carries a locking bolt (not shown) and a key 72. The vertical section 64 is provided with a hole therethrough which is aligned with the bolt in the lock 70 and a hole is also provided through the rear face 82 and in the bottom sash 20 of the window 16. A lock identical to the lock 70 is also provided at the other bottom corner of the window (not shown) so that the security member 22 can be selectively locked to the window portion 16 or released from the window portion 16.

In order to lock the security member 22 to the window 16 the window is closed so that the vertical section 64 of the plate 60 is received in the spaces between the sections 89 of the lock and the rear faces 82 of the boots 80. The key 72 of each lock 70 is then manipulated so that the bolt (not shown) of the bolt passes through the openings in the vertical section 64, rear face 82 and bottom sash 20 to lock the plate 60 and therefore the bars 24 of the security member 22 to the window portion 16. When the window portion 16 is opened the security bars 24 are therefore drawn with the window to occupy the window opening. If it is desired not to use the security member 22 then the locks 70 can be unlocked by the keys 72 so that the vertical section 64 of the plate 60 is released from the window

portion 16 so that when the window portion 16 is opened the security member 22 remains in the withdrawn position in the wall cavity 30.

Thus, in this embodiment the security member 22 can be releasably secured to the window 16 for movement with the window 16 as in the earlier embodiments or can be released by unlocking the lock 72 so that when the window 16 is opened the bars 22 remain within the wall cavity 30 and the plate 60 rests on the windowsill 33 or on the plate 31 (described with reference to figures 2 and 3) . Thus, according to this embodiment, a user has the option of using the security member 22 by locking the security member 22 to the window sash 20 or has the option of leaving the security member 22 in a withdrawn condition or selectively releasing the security member 22 from the window 16 so that in the event of an emergency, occupants of the building can escape through the window. The embodiment of figure 4 has particular application in instances where the window opening may be small and insufficient space may be provided for an occupant to escape beneath the security member 22 even when the window 16 is fully opened. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention the security member 22 can be simply released from the window 16, the window 16 opened and the occupant can escape through the opened window. The ability to unlock the security member 22 from the window 16 so that the security member 22 remains withdrawn within the wall cavity 30 also provides the option of not using the security member 22 when security is not required thereby maintaining the usual aesthetics of the window without the intrusion of the security member 22.

With reference to Figure 5, a further embodiment of the invention is shown in which like parts look straight like components of those previously described. In this embodiment of the invention, the plate 26 is replaced by angle iron 26a which has a front face 26b which secures

onto the front face of the bottom sash 20 of the window 16. The other face 26c of the angle iron 26a secures to the bottom of the sash 20. L-shaped brackets 71 and 72 are secured to the angle iron 26a and are spaced slightly outwardly from the front face 26b of the angle iron 26a. A pair of locks 27 are secured generally in alignment with the brackets 71 with the locks 27 intended to be received between the brackets 71 and the front face 26a of the angle iron 26a. The brackets 71 have holes 73 for receiving a bolt 75 of the locks 71 to secure the security screen section 22 to the window 16. The locks 27 are manipulated by a key (not shown) so that the bolt 75 projects outwardly through the hole 73 to secure the security section 22 to the window 16. In order to release the security section 22 from the window 16, the key is turned to retract the bolt 75 to release the bracket 71 from the locks 27.

In an alternative arrangement, the angle iron 26a may be replaced by a flat plate section which is either secured to the bottom of the sash 20 or to the front face or rear face of the sash 20 and the brackets 71 extend into a space between the locks 27 and the sash 20. In this arrangement, the bolt 75 moves in the opposite direction to locate in the holes 73 to secure the security section 22 to the window 16.

The use of the angle iron section 26a or the plate which secures to the front or rear face of the sash 20 enables the bars 24 to be offset slightly relative to the vertical plane of the window 16 in case the wall cavity 30 is offset somewhat to the pane of the window.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.