AU2005218020A1 - A new frame assembly for security screens - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: JIM REID Invention Title: A NEW FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR SECURITY SCREENS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 o A NEW FRAME ASSEMBLY FOR SECURITY SCREENS ci The present invention relates primarily to building security.

In a typical domestic application, to prevent burglary, unauthorised access through windows and doors can be prevented by providing burglar-proof windows and 0doors. Alternatively, specially designed security screens ci ocan be installed and these typically are made from an 00 10 outside frame with bars or other burglar-proof metal ci Scross-members extending across the interior of the frame o with insufficient space between adjacent metal frame Cl components to prevent unauthorised access.

Although the above described screen assemblies are effective in preventing unauthorised access, they provide an obstacle to unhindered views through the windows and doorways where they are located. Therefore, to deal with this problem a new type of security screen has solved the above problem by providing an outside frame which has an inwardly directed channel around the whole of its inner periphery. A steel mesh is place across the frame and is secured within the channel on all sides by either screws or rivets which pass through the frame and the steel mesh.

In the applicant's prior patent no. AU 200047349 a frame assembly for security screens is disclosed in which the frame assembly is constructed with at least two parts which are connected together to form a recess having inner opposing walls provided with teeth near the entry point to the recess. A security screen is able to be inserted between the opposing sets of teeth and the two parts of the frame assembly are able to be clamped together so that the teeth are able to grip and retain the security screen mesh within the recess.

The present invention relates to an alternative type of frame assembly which does not involve the use of opposing sets of teeth to grip a generally planar member \.ueB\ Keepspez P5306.do 22/09/05 3 o such as a security screen mesh.

0 According to the present invention there is a provided a frame assembly for security screens having at Sleast two parts including first and second parts which together provide a recess, a gripping means for gripping a generally planar member located in the recess, an urging means for increasing the force with which the gripping C means grips an end portion of the generally planar member o and wherein the gripping means comprises first and second 00 gripping portions with a deformable material on at least Sone face of one gripping portion, the deformable material oacting to resist removal of the generally planar member C from the recess.

Preferably the deformable material is resilient.

The deformable material may be soft and/or flat.

the deformable material may be made from a soft substance.

Preferably the deformable material has a high friction surface which resists relative lateral movement of the generally planar member when pressed thereagainst.

It should be understood that in the situation where a deformable material is provided on only one gripping portion, then it is the combined action of the deformable material and the other gripping portion which acts to prevent removal of the generally planar member when the gripping means grips the generally planar member.

The first and second gripping portions may each have the deformable material on one face opposite the generally planar member.

Preferably the first and second gripping portions comprise jaw portions of the frame portions.

The jaw portions may be located on the first and second parts respectively.

Each jaw portion may comprise a substantially straight inner wall.

At least one of the jaw portions may include a recess configured to retain the deformable material.

-v.dJoc 22/.9//O 4 O Preferably the recess prevents extraction of the 0 deformable material from the recess by lateral movement of the deformable material.

SThe deformable material may be glued to the outer surface of the jaw portion.

The deformable material may have engaging portions on a lower surface which are adapted to engage o with matching engaging portions on the upper surface or o outer surface of the jaw portion to which it is connected.

00 Each jaw portion may comprise a substantially Sstraight inner wall.

0 According to one embodiment, both jaw portions Ci have opposing surfaces which are substantially parallel.

According to an alternative embodiment, the jaw portions are curved or irregular in shape.

It is preferred that the inner walls of the jaw portion have matching configurations to allow for tight gripping of the generally planar material therebetween.

Preferably the first and second frame parts are connected together by a fastening means.

The fastening means may include a screw, bolt, clip etc.

The urging means may include the fastening means.

According to another embodiment of the invention, one of the jaw portions is provided with gripping teeth which in combination with the deformable material on the opposing jaw portion, grip the generally planar member.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the frame assembly comprises two main parts, each main part including the gripping means.

The two parts may be the first and second parts and may include a coupling portion which coupling portions are adapted to connect together.

At least one of the coupling portions includes a plurality of ridges or teeth.

According to one embodiment, one coupling portion includes a coupling wall with an outer end including the o coupling portion.

0g The frame assembly may include a tubular section L adapted to act as an outer frame of the frame assembly.

9 Preferably the frame assembly includes a coupling means for coupling the first and second parts.

The urging means may include the coupling means.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a 0g first part of the frame assembly includes a tubular outer Ssection, one of the gripping portions, a neck portion 00 10 separating the gripping portion and tubular section and a ci Scoupling portion for attaching the frame part to the other oframe part.

Ci It is preferred that the other frame part includes a coupling portion and the other gripping portion.

The coupling means preferably includes coupling portions on each part which coupling portions when coupled together connect both parts to form the frame assembly.

According to one embodiment, one coupling portion includes a coupling wall with an outer end including the coupling portion.

The coupling portion may include a bevelled end adapted to engage the ridges or teeth of the other frame part.

It is preferred that one part forms a cavity which is adapted to receive at least part of another part.

Preferably the coupling wall extends substantially at right angles towards the wall of the coupling portion of the other part.

According to an alternative embodiment, coupling walls of each part are adapted to extend substantially parallel to each other upon coupling.

At least one part has two parallel coupling walls each with coupling portions along their inner surfaces.

Preferably both parts have two parallel coupling walls, each with coupling portions along their inner surfaces.

H:\Si.eH\Yacpk~poca \~ErJv&doc 221C91vt 6 o One part may include a coupling wall having 0 coupling portions on parallel outer surfaces.

One part may include a coupling portion in the form of an elongate wall which is adapted to engage in a channel formed in the other part.

It is preferred that the coupling means include tightening means for altering the tightness of the 0coupling between coupling portions of opposing parts.

oThe tightening means may include urging means for 00 forcing engaging coupling walls together.

At least one part may have a slanted surface which is adapted to abut with a tightening portion of the Sother part.

The tightening portion may include an inwardly directed wall.

The inwardly directed wall may be spaced apart from the coupling wall(s).

It is preferred that the inwardly directed wall is substantially parallel to the coupling wall of the same part.

It is preferred that a channel is formed between the inwardly directed wall and the coupling wall. The coupling wall of the other part may be adapted to extend at least part way across the channel formed between the inwardly directed wall and the coupling wall.

Preferably the coupling wall of the other part includes an angled support wall on which the inwardly directed wall is adapted to slide during coupling.

The inwardly directed wall is preferably adapted to be located between the outer frame and the support wall.

A plurality of teeth are preferably provided on one part to enable an increasing gripping pressure on the generally planar member, due to a decrease in the width of the recess between the two parts.

The coupling means preferably connects the two parts together and urges the gripping means to grip the H:XSUe\Keep\ SpOC\lP53).JoC2 22/09/05 7 o generally planar member more tightly.

0Preferably the urging means is for decreasing the width of the recess.

The urging means may include a male portion on one part and a female portion on the other part.

Preferably the urging means includes interengaging teeth on opposing parts.

0A preferred embodiment of the present invention owill now be described by way of example with reference to 00 the accompanying drawings, in which: SFigure 1 shows a cross-sectional end view of a o two part security screen frame assembly according to a Ci first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows an end cross-sectional view of a two part security screen frame assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows an end cross-sectional view of a two part security screen frame assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows an end cross-sectional view of a two part security screen assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 shows an end cross-sectional view of a security screen assembly according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 shows an end cross-sectional view of a security screen assembly according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 7 shows an end cross-sectional view of a security screen assembly according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The security screen assembly shown in Figure 1 consists of an upper part 11 and a lower part 12 which parts may be made of steel, aluminium or plastics as well as other materials.

The lower part 12 consists of a rectangular tubular outer part 13 with a narrow web portion 14 formed H:\SiieB\Ihep\spec\P563'P.doc 22/O09/Q5 8 o to the right of its lower right corner 0g The narrow web portion 14 extends into a forked p wall section including an upwardly extending wall section S16 having a slight inclination away from a vertical orientation, and a lower elbow portion 6 which at its lower end extends upwardly to the right as a straight horizontal lower wall 17. The outer end of this lower 0 wall 17 has an inner surface 18 having a convex shape and oformed as a recess having inner and outer lips 19 and 00 The upwardly extending wall 16 has an elbow Ssection 21 which extends to the right in parallel with the o lower wall 17 as inner wall 22. The inner wall 22 c terminates in a bevelled end 23 which corresponds approximately to less than half of the length of the lower wall 17.

The upper part 11 consists of a generally nshaped first section 24 including a downwardly extending left wall 25 which fits into a gap 26 formed between the right side wall 27 of part 13 and the opposing upwardly extending wall The wall 25 extends at right angles to an upper horizontal wall 28 which itself extends at right angles to a downwardly extending right wall 29 which is generally parallel to wall The wall 29 is provided with two teeth 30 on its inner surface and a recess 31 formed between the two teeth is adapted to receive a bevelled end 23 therein.

The lower end of the wall 29 extends horizontally outwardly as outer wall 32. This wall 32 has an inner concave-shaped recess 33 having a matching shape to the convex surface 18. The recess 33 is defined by inner and outer side walls or lips 34,35 respectively.

The opposing upper and lower walls 32,18 form a pair of jaws and are provided with a soft deformable resilient material which is retained in each of the defined recesses.

The upper part 11 and lower part 12 fit together H: \SueB\Kccp\±pecl \P5.3C.'doc 22I/tY,5 9 o to form a snap-lock fit. A screw 34 extends through the 0 centre of walls 28 and 22 and tightens the upper and lower Cl a parts 11,12 together. Thus, the upper part 11 fits over Sthe lower part 12 so that the inner wall 22 fits into the space between wall 25 and wall 29. As upper part 11 is C placed over the upper wall 22 and its associated wall the lowermost end of wall 25 abuts against the outer oslanted wall 34 of wall 20. As the upper part 11 is Cl pushed downwardly, the lowermost end of wall 25 slides 00 along the slanted wall 34 and at the same time the outer ci Ssurface of the lowermost tooth 30 slides along the upper Ssurface of the opposing bevelled end 23.

C As upper part 11 is pushed further downwardly by tightening the screw, outermost end of the bevelled end 23 snaps into the recess 31 between the first and second teeth When a wire screen mesh is located in the space 37 between the deformable materials 35,36 the tightness with which the deformable materials engage the wire mesh is determined by how far upper part 11 is screwed downwardly into engagement with the lower part 12.

By having more teeth 30, the first part would be able to snap into additional positions by tightening of the screw 34.

The size of the teeth could be varied to provide a greater degree of variations and tightness between the snap-lock fitted upper part 11 and lower part 12 and thus the opposing inner walls 18,33 and their associated deformable material 35,36.

The deformable material which may be made from a polymeric material provides gripping of the security screen and has a particularly high coefficient of friction to any lateral movement of the security screen, ie.

withdrawal movement.

The greater the surface area of the deformable material which contacts the wire screen mesh, the greater the coefficient of friction and thus the force acting Il:\Sie\Kepf\Peci\ S03' .c P2/Il 9/11h 10 o against any force to withdraw the wire screen mesh from C the confines of the recess between the inner walls 18 and S33.

SThe deformable material may be stuck in the recess by an adhesive or the end walls of the recesses may be sufficient to prevent removal of the deformable material.

0 The space between the inner walls 18,33 may be in Sthe form of a curved channel between the two parts, which 00 channel may curve downwardly or upwardly.

SFigure 2 shows a variation to the embodiment oshown in Figure i. Thus, the inner walls 18 and 33 of the C first and second parts 11 and 12 are straight and parallel to each other.

In addition, the bevelled end 23 of inner wall 22 is inverted so that it slopes upwardly and outwardly to its more distal point 200. The opposing wall 201 of the upper part 11 has a single tooth or protuberance 202 which is angled downwardly at 450 with its upper surface of a matching configuration to that of the opposing surface of the bevelled end 23.

With the above embodiment, the tooth 202 is engaged underneath the bevelled end 23.

In the remaining Figures the inner surfaces and 33 are shown being straight and in parallel. However, it should be understood that they could have a curved configuration as shown in Figure 1 or an alternative irregular configuration, but one in which the opposing inner surfaces substantially match to allow for gripping of a wire mesh security screen therebetween.

In Figure 3 an alternative embodiment is shown in which the snap-lock arrangement shown in the previous Figures is replaced by an alternative snap-lock arrangement. Thus the upper part 80 has two downwardly extending walls 81 and 82 which on their inner surfaces and at their lower ends have opposing teeth 83,84.

The opposing teeth 83,84 form a narrow gap H:\SucE\K~cpc\C3o.oe\o3Eco Z2/6!JIJ5 11 o therebetween which is adapted to receive an upwardly C extending spigot wall 85 of the lower part 86. The a upwardly extending spigot wall 85 is provided with teeth 86 and 87 on opposing external surfaces thereof and has a Christmas tree-like configuration.

When the upper part 80 is pushed downwardly the teeth 83,84 of the walls 81 and 82 engage the teeth 86 and 0 87 of the upwardly extending spigot wall 85 to provide a Ssnap-lock fit between the two parts 80 and 88.

To the right of the engaging teeth 83,84, 86 and f 87, jaws 89 and 90 extend with inner opposing teeth in a osimilar configuration to the jaws 18 and 32 of Figure i.

C To the left of the engaging teeth 83,84,86 and 87 the downwardly extending wall 91 which corresponds to wall 25 of Figure 1 fits into a gap provided between the adjacent outer frame 92 and upwardly extending wall 93 of the lower part 88. Thus, there is no lateral pressure applied to the engaging parts 80 and 88 so as to increase the tightness between engaging teeth 83,84,86 and 87.

However, according to an alternative embodiment, walls 91 and 93 can be reconfigured so that they are similar to the walls 25 and 20 of Figure 1.

In Figure 4, another embodiment is shown in which essentially the reverse of the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Thus, the lower part 93 (which corresponds to the lower part 88 in Figure 9) has two upwardly extending walls 94 and 95 with teeth 95 and 97 respectively on their inner faces. The upper part 98 has a downwardly extending spigot wall 99 with a Christmas tree-like configuration similar to that shown in Figure 8. Teeth on the spigot wall 99 engage with the teeth 96 and 97 in a similar fashion to that of-the embodiment of Figure 3.

To the left of the snap-lock engagement components 94,95 and 96, a downwardly extending wall 100 fits into a gap 101 between the outer frame 102 and a vertically extending upper wall 103.

According to a further embodiment, as shown in ASUe6\Kep\pec1\E'j3O-doc U/of/id 12 o Figure 5, the snap-lock engagement between upper part 105 0 and lower part 106 is performed by opposing teeth 107 and a 108 of a downwardly extending wall 109 and an upwardly Sextending 110. To the left of the snap-lock arrangement of this embodiment, downwardly extending wall 111 fits into a gap 112 in a similar fashion to that of the embodiment shown in Figure 4.

SFigure 6 shows an embodiment similar to Figure 1 except that the fastener 34 extends all the way through 00 walls 28,22 and into wall 17 of the first part 12. In Saddition the snap-lock configuration has been removed.

o Figure 7 shows another embodiment which is very Ci similar to Figure 6 except that the end of wall 22 is extended downwardly to form an enclosed tubular channel 40. The purpose of this channel 40 is to provide greater structural integrity to the lower part 12. A fastener 34 in the form of a screw (not shown) is able to be screwed into the tubular part as in Figure 6 or Figure 1 and in this way does not contact the wire screen mesh if it happens to be forced deep into the interior of the frame assembly.

The soft deformable material may be a doublesided or single-sided foam tape made of any one of the following: acrylic carrier with acrylic adhesive; polyurethane carrier with acrylic adhesive or rubber adhesive; polyethylene carrier with acrylic adhesive or rubber adhesive.

Alternatively the deformable material may be single sided rubber tape as follows: rubber carrier with embossed silicone on one side and acrylic glue or rubber glue on the other side.

Double sided rubber tape as follows: rubber carrier with embossed silicone on both sides.

H:SitzeB\eerp s pecf-55i3'' .doc 2 2!99/.'5 13 o According to another aspect of the present 0 invention each of the embodiments previously described can L be modified to incorporate a plug between the outer end of Shorizontal lower wall 17 and the opposing wall 32 of frame component 11. The plug can be located in the space 37 in place of the deformable material 35,36. The plug can be retained between these two walls by any suitable fastening 0means including screws, clips, inter-engaging teeth etc.

oThe inside surfaces of the jaws of the plug can be 00 10 provided with the soft deformable material or teeth or a Scombination of both on one or both inside surfaces of the o jaws. Thus, in these embodiments the jaws will be closed c together around the wire screen mesh to grip it, when the frame members 11 and 12 are fastened together by any of the means previously described in Figures 1 to 7.

It should be noted that for each of the above embodiments, particular types of gripping surfaces are described. For each of those embodiments, alternative types of gripping faces may be included. Thus, where the gripping surfaces are a deformable material, the deformable material may be replaced by a gripping surface having rigid or flexible teeth or projections. The gripping surfaces may also include a combination of deformable material on one gripping face and teeth on the other gripping surface. Furthermore, in some embodiments where sufficient gripping pressure can be applied, a hard flat surface may act as one gripping surface as long as the other gripping surface comprises a soft deformable material or gripping teeth/projections.

For each of the previous embodiments, it should also be understood that a wire screen mesh has been used as a specific example. However, any form of security screen or generally planar member is also able to be gripped by the described frame assemblies.

H:"SueIKeep\s..pcctA-J"36.dOC 2Z/v9/u

Claims (28)

1. 3. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformable material is soft.
2. 4. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the deformable material has a high friction surface which resists relative lateral movement of the generally planar member when pressed there against. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second gripping portions each have the deformable material on one face opposite the generally planar member.
3. 6. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first and second gripping portions comprise jaw portions of the frame portions.
4. 7. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 6 wherein the jaw portions are located on the first and second parts respectively.
5. 8. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 7 wherein each jaw portion comprises a substantially straight inner wall.
6. 9. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein at least one of the jaw portions includes a recess configured to retain the deformable material. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 9 H:\sueL\eepSp9clPS6jS 6 &Oc 2/r9/v5 15 o wherein the recess prevents extraction of the deformable C material from the recess by lateral movement of the a deformable material.
7. 11. The frame assembly as claimed in claim wherein the deformable material is glued to the outer surface of the jaw portion.
8. 12. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 11 0wherein the deformable material has engaging portions on a o lower surface which are adapted to engage with matching 00 engaging portions on the upper surface or outer surface of Sthe jaw portion to which it is connected. 8 13. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 12 C wherein both jaw portions have opposing surfaces which are substantially parallel.
9. 14. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the inner walls of the jaw portion have matching configurations to allow for tight gripping of the generally planar material therebetween. The frame assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first and second frame parts are connected together by a fastening means.
10. 16. The frame assembly as claimed in claim wherein the urging means includes the fastening means.
11. 17. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein one of the jaw portions is provided with gripping teeth which in combination with the deformable material on the opposing jaw portion, grip the generally planar member.
12. 18. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frame assembly comprises two main parts, each main part including part of the gripping means.
13. 19. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 18, wherein the two parts are the first and second parts and include coupling portions which are adapted to connect together. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 19 wherein at least one of the coupling portions includes a FL \Sle\Eeep\pec\P!Th3(*irdoc 221)91,5l 16 o plurality of teeth.
14. 21. The frame assembly as claimed in claim wherein one coupling portion includes a coupling wall with an outer end including the coupling portion.
15. 22. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a tubular section adapted to act as an outer frame of the frame assembly.
16. 23. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 owherein the first part of the frame assembly includes a 00 10 tubular outer section, one of the gripping portions, a Sneck portion separating the gripping portion and tubular Ssection and a coupling portion for attaching the frame Spart to the other frame part.
17. 24. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein one coupling portion includes a coupling wall with an outer end including the coupling portion. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein the coupling portion includes a bevelled end adapted to engage the teeth of the other frame part.
18. 26. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein one part forms the cavity which is adapted to receive at least one part of another part.
19. 27. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein both parts have two parallel coupling walls, each with coupling portions along their inner surfaces.
20. 28. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein one part includes a coupling wall having coupling portions on parallel outer surfaces.
21. 29. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 28 wherein one part includes a coupling portion in the form of an elongate wall which is adapted to engage in a channel formed in the other part. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 29 wherein the coupling means includes tightening means for altering the tightness of the coupling between the coupling portions of opposing parts.
22. 31. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 17 o wherein the tightening means include urging means for 0 forcing engaging coupling walls together. ci S32. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 Swherein at least one part has a slanted surface which is adapted to abut with a tightening portion of the other part.
23. 33. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 32 o wherein the tightening portion includes an inwardly ci odirected wall. 00 10 34. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 33 ci Swherein the inwardly directed wall is spaced apart from Sthe coupling wall. C 35. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 34 wherein the inwardly directed wall is substantially parallel to the coupling wall of the same part.
24. 36. The frame assembly as claimed in claim wherein a channel is formed between the inwardly directed wall and the coupling wall, the coupling wall of the other part being adapted to extend at least partway across the channel formed between the inwardly directed wall and the coupling wall.
25. 37. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of teeth are provided on one part to enable an increase in gripping pressure on the generally planar member, due to a decrease in the width of the recess between the two parts.
26. 38. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 including a coupling means which connects the two parts together and urges the gripping means to grip the generally planar member more tightly.
27. 39. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the urging means includes a male portion on one part and a female portion on the other part. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the urging means acts to decrease the width of the recess.
28. 41. The frame assembly as claimed in claim 1 H: \SueB eer\pci\rS&3''Kdo~lc 22/4/ri 18 o wherein the urging means includes entering engaging teeth C- on opposing parts. Qa 42. The frame assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 7 as shown in the accompanying drawings. ci Dated this 29th day of September 2005 C JIM REID SBy his Patent Attorneys 00 GRIFFITH HACK ci t/f Fellows Institute of Patent and STrade Mark Attorneys of Australia ci H:\SUoB\KKep\pCl\p2)3Ej .doc 2SfP/OrL