GB2174750A - Multiple bolt securing mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A fire door assembly 10 comprises a securing mechanism 14 operated by a hand lever 26 operating a bolt bar 28 carrying three laterally projecting bolts 32, 34, 36 and which is laterally slidable by means of guides 37, 39. A pin and slot connection 54, 56 between lever 26 and the bolt bar 28 provides for simple actuation of the assembly, which is applicable to fire doors, security doors and other relatively lightweight door assemblies. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Securing Mechanism This invention relates to securing mechanisms suitable for use, for example, in relation to doors such as fire doors, for securing same in relation to a door frame and permitting subsequent release.

Many door securing and latching mechanisms have been proposed and are known, but we have found that there is a considerable need for an improved securing mechanism which has such qualities as being of simple lever operation, easily maintainable, operated in a simple manner, and having a minimum of moving parts.

An object of the invention is to provide a securing mechanism for a door or the like offering improvements in relation to one or more of the requirements identified above or generally.

According to the invention there is provided a securing mechanism for a door or the like comprising one or more of the following features in any suitable combination or sub-combination.

Firstly, the securing mechanism comprises one or more, preferably two or three, bolts arranged to be operated by an actuating mechanism. The bolts are simultaneously operated by said mechanism. The latter comprises a single manually operable lever.

The lever is connected through a simple lever type actuator with lost motion to a slide member which itself operates the bolts. The bolts themselves are mounted on a bolt bar extending lengthwise of the door, whereby the bolts themselves are widely spaced along the length of the door.

The door itself is of mild steel construction and cladded with a first resistant material, or other thermal insulation.

Provision is madeforthe bolts to be locked in their secured or released positions by means of a padlock or other key-type locking mechanism.

The invention also provides a securing mechanism comprising any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein.

An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows an elevation view of a fire door; Fig. 2 shows a view on the arrow II in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a top end view of the door, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow Ill; Fig. 4 shows, on a larger scale, an actuating mechanism of the door of Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 5 shows an elevation view of a door frame assembly for use with the door of Figs. 1 to 4; Figs. 5 and 6 show side and end elevation views of the door frame of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 shows a scrap view on the section line VIll-VIll in Fig. 5.

As shown in the drawings, a fire door assembly 10 comprises a fire door 12 and a securing mechanism 14forthe door, and hinge assemblies 16, 20, these assemblies having hinge pins 22 to be received in complementary hinge sockets provided on the door frame assembly of Figs. 5 to 7.

As shown in Fig. 1, the actuating mechanism 14 comprises a lever mechanism 24 operated by a hand lever 26 and operating the bolt bar 28. The latter carries three laterally projecting bolts 32, 34 and 36. The bolt bar is laterally slidable underthe control of connector 30, by means of guides 37,39.

Turning now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, it will be seen th < the door frame comprises an angle-section door frame member 40 having a stop and weather strip 42 secured thereto and against which the door 12 seats.

The door itself is swingably mounted on the doo frame by inserting hinge pins 22 into pockets or sleeves 44,46 and 48 mounted on the frame. A sto and weather strip 42 is likewise mounted on the frame to perform these two identified functions.

Turning now to the actuating mechanism showr in Fig. 4, it will be seen that lever 26 is connected tc an actuating lever 50 for angular movement about pivot axis 52, and the actuating lever 50 is connect by means of a slot 54 receiving a pin 56 attached tc member 30, whereby angular movement of lever i is converted to reciprocating sliding movement of actuating member 30 and hence of the bolt bar 28.

Guides 58 and 60 serve to maintain the linear slidir movement of member 30.

In use the bolts 32,34 and 36, are extended and retracted simply by angularly moving lever 26 as shown in Fig. 1 thereby securing and reieasing the door 12.

It will be seen that in the above embodiment we have provided a simple and secure locking mechanism for a fire door, the locking mechanism having a simple lever operation to actuate bolts extending into the frame.

The door is manufactured from mild steel plate which may be cladded with a fire resistant materia or other thermal insulation. Provision is made for the inclusion of key locks or padlocks to secure the door in a desired condition. In Fig. it can be seen that a bracket 62 on the bolt bar 28 enables the latt to be secured to a fixture 64.

The simplicity of the locking mechanism also contributes to its ease of maintenance. The mild steel construction of the door provides a reasonab light yet very secure door. The provision of three bolts enhances security. The securing mechanism simple and easily maintained.

It will be appreciated that the securing mechanic and door assembly described above is of the relatively lightweight structure suitable for use in relation to fire doors and security doors, and is nol to be compared with the enormously heavy and thick door structures provided for safes, bank vaul and the like. The embodiment provides a relative} lightZeight door assembly employing a single par as the main structural member and by virtue of thr combination of this with the cost effective locking mechanism offers a product suitable for the large scale market for fire doors and security doors.For this market, the arrangements employed in the above-mentioned heavy duty doors are of little relevance either technically or with respect to cost By mounting the locking mechanism on one sidle of the single panel door, with a single central main guide assembly having upper and lower guides fo the bolt bar, a simple and cost effective locking arrangement is provided. The other guides for the bolt barthereby need only be in the form of simple generally channel shaped retaining members.

By providing a single bolt-carrying member mounted for movement laterally with respect to one edge of the door, the need for a relatively sophisticated arrangement of oppositely sliding bolt members is avoided. Moreover, means for locking by use of a padlock can be provided in a simple way by means of a simple lug or the like mounted on the door panel and having an aperture for alignment with a corresponding aperture in the bolt bar.

Claims (10)

1 A securing mechanism for a door comprising two or more bolts, the bolts being arranged to be simultaneously operated by an actuating mechanism, the actuating mechanism comprising a manually operable lever, the lever being connected to a slide member which itself operates the bolts.

2. A securing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the manually operable lever is pivotally mounted and connected to the slide member by lost motion connection means, and said lost motion connection means may comprise a pin and a slot.

3. A securing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said slide member is connected to a bolt member extending lengthwise of one edge of the door, and said bolts being spaced lengthwise of the bolt member.

4. A securing mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said bolt member is mounted for sliding movement in a lateral direction with respect to said one edge of the door by means of said slide member and two spaced guide means.

5. A securing mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said spaced guide means comprise generally channel shaped retaining members defining, with the door itself, slots within which the bolt member can bodily move.

6. A securing mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said bolt member is provided with locking means comprising an apertured lug or the like to be secured to the door and alignable with an aperture in the bolt member for the insertion of a padlock.

7. A securing mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A securing mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a relatively lightweight door structure, as defined herein, the securing mechanism being mounted on one side of the main structural member of the door.

9. A door according to claim 8 in combination with a doorframe assembly having aperture means to receive said bolts.

10. A securing mechanism and door assembly substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.