SECURITY SYSTEMS

Abstract: A boarding up system for windows, doors and the like after damage as by burglars, includes a panel (14) to close off the door or window, and a like panel (16) or a beam (18) to span the door or window aperture on the other side. The beam and panel are connected together by a screwthreaded (20) stem fast with a first member (22) for location on one side of the space, the screwthreaded stem (20) extending through a large washer (40) on the other side of the space, and a nut (26) for clamping the panels between the first member and washer. Preferably a padlock bolt is provided for making the nut angularly fast on the outside so as to prevent the nut being released until the lock has been freed.

Description: SECURITY SYSTEMS This invention relates to security systems primarily for use in boarding up windows, doors and the like after damage as been effected for example by burglars. Usually the burglar has broken a window or a glass pane in a door in order to reach inside and release catches or bolts, or has jemmied open the door or window. In order to make the premises secure, as a temporary measure until such time as the door or window can be reglazed or renting or perhaps fresh bolts or locks fitted, it is usual to secure a panel of plywood, blockboard or the like over the door opening or window opening. The panel is held in position by a number of screws or nails which are driven into the door or window frame. A problem with this technique is that unsightly damage is done to the frame which needs either to be rejoined or replaced. An object of the present invention is to deal with these problems; to provide a system which is secure and does not damage the existing frame. According to the invention a boarding up system is provided for closing off access to a space comprising a first member for location against a first panel on one side of a space, a screwthreaded stem fast with the first member and extending through said space so as to be threadable through a second panel, one of which first or second panels operably closes off access to said space, a washer plate operably threaded by said stem, and a nut engageable with said stem so as to clamp said first and second panels between said first member and washer. Preferably the first panel is located externally of the space and acts to close off access to the space. Accordingly the second panel need only be a length of timber to span the internal side of the door or window frame. Thus the nut is located on the inside of the frame. However a problem even with this solution is that it requires the person effecting the boarding up to complete the operation from the inside of the room space in order to tighten the nuts on the bolts which effect clamping, since if the nuts were on the outside they could be released by an unauthorised person. The person effecting the boarding up consequently has to exit the room space and the building by another route and in the case of commercial premises this might involve cooperation of a keyholder to release and later relock a different door. If the keyholder is unavailable for any reason or in some cases where (he damaged door is the only one, as in smaller commercial or shop premises, difficulties remain. According to a preferred feature a locking device is provided on said washer for selectively preventing rotation of said nut. 3 Preferably the first member is provided with a plurality of spikes or other projections to embed in the panel spanning the door or window which is to be boarded up on the inside of the space and so as to render the stem angularly fast. Preferably the nut is a wing nut, and the large washer is provided with a channel member to trap the wing so as to render it angularly fast relative to the channel, and means are provided on the large washer to fix the channel thereto including a padlock or like means. The plate or washer diameter is at least ten times, and preferably about twelve times, the diameter of the stem. Another aspect of the invention provides a building comprising two spaces each boarded up by a system according to the invention where preferably one system is fitted with the first member external to the boarded-up space and frame, and another is fitted with the washer and locking device external. Thus the one system can be fitted first without a locking device and the second space boarded-up last using the system with a locking device. Beneficially the more expensive system with a padlock, or similar lock, only needs to be used once. Embodiments of the invention are now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Figure 1 is a section through a door or window which has been boarded up using the system of the invention; Figure 2 is an elevation to a larger scale of components a single version of the invention; Figure 3 is a view on an even further enlarged scale showing certain components for use with the invention; Figure 4 is a further increased scale fragmentary plan view of some of the components in use; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a tool used in the system. Turning now to Figure 1, the window or doorway which is to be boarded up includes frame members 10 on opposite sides of the space. The broken lines 12 indicate the location of the door which may have been forced off its hinges. The door opening is to be blocked using a panel 14 on the exterior side of the doorway and an associated panel 16 shown in broken lines on the inside of the doorway. Alternatively, panel 16 may be replaced by a length of timber such as 18 which extends across the doorway from side-to-side or top-to-bottom. The device provided by the invention essentially comprises the screwthreaded stem 20 which extends through the doorway or window space and which serves to clamp the panel 16 or beam 18 to the panel Turning now to Figure 2, the stem 20 is fast with a substantially circular plate 22 at one end which is to be located on the inside of the doorway or window space. Hence the stem 20 and plate 22 may form a generally Tee shape, or the plate 22 could be a disc. Opposite ends of the plate 22 or the periphery of the disc are provided with a series of tangs 24 for the purpose of embedding into the panel 16 or beam 18 so as to fix the angular position of the threaded stem 20. This is to prevent the stem 20 being rotated when the associated nut, shown with the reference numeral 26 is applied from the exterior and is tightened into position. The nut is preferably a wing nut as shown. Conveniently the nut is applied and rapidly spun along any unwanted length of the stem 20 into the desired position for tightening by use of a tool as shown in Figure 5. This tool has a solid end portion 30 apt to be gripped in the chuck of a cordless drill, a tubular body portion 32 which is a clearance fit on the stem 20, and a pair of claws 34,36 extending in opposite directions for engagement with the wings of the nut. Such drills are available with reversing motors, so that the same tool can be used whether the nut is to be applied and tightened or loosened and removed, at different stages and times. The nut 26 clamps on to a large washer 40 shown in one preferred form in Figure 2. This protects the panel 14 and allows for the possibility of wear if one and the same panel is used on a number of occasions, and also makes it more difficult for a subsequent intruder who might attempt to jemmy the washer or plate 40 and force the boarded up door. Preferably the diameter of the washer 40 and/or plate 22 is/are five times, are preferably ten times and more preferably still twelve times the diameter of the stem 20. The preferred form for the large washer 40 is shown in Figure 3. The central hole 42 shown in dotted line is a clearance fit on the stem 20. The washer is provided with a hasp loop 44 radially of the hole. Approximately diametrically located on the large washer is a pierced lug 46. Bolt 48 is a plate with an elongated slot 50, see also Figure 4 which is a plan view of this area, and a pair of lugs or abutment ribs 54,56 is disposed one on either side of the slot so that the hole 42 lies centrally between them when the parts are in the Figure 3 position. The bolt 48 has an upturned end portion 58 integral with a lug 60 extending in the ciiui erential direction of the washer 40 and lug 60 is apertured. The bolt can be manipulated to the Figure 3 position when the aperture in the lug 60 and the aperture in the lug 46 coincide so that they can be threaded by a padlock shown in broken line in Figure 3 with the reference 70 and also seen in Figure 1 with the same reference. In use, the loose washer without the bolt 48 is placed in position on the stem after the same has been threaded through an appropriate hole in the panel 14 and the wing nut is applied and tightened against the loose washer 40. The wing nut is left in a position in which the wings lie diametrically in alignment with the radius on which the hasp 44 lies. Bolt 48 can then be inariipulated so that the end 72 is about to enter the hasp 44 whilst the length of the bolt is inclined at an angle to the plate 40, typically of say 50 degrees and then the bolt can be lowered to the position sunilar to that in Figure 3 allowing the wing nut to enter the slot 50 and lie between the ribs 54,56 and then the bolt can be shot to the illustrated position, i.e. by movement along the diameter, to take the lug 16 to face-to-face contact with the lug 46 and allow the padlock to be placed in position. The wing nut is then angularly fast with the plate 40. It is possible to tighten the wing nut into good frictional engagement with the plate 40 so as to render it fast with the panel before the locking operation is effected, but to prevent any possibility of the wing nut itself being turned on the stem by toirning the whole plate bolt and padlock, the plate 40 may be provided with tangs or the like in the same way as the plate 22. It will be appreciated that a particularly large area for example a shop window may require a plurality of sets of the parts as described.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A boarding up system for closing off access to a space comprising a first member for location against a first panel on one side of a space, a screwthreaded stem fast with the first member and extending through said space so as to be threadable through a second panel, one of which first or second panels operably closes access to said space, a washer plate operably threaded by said stem, and a nut engageable with said stem so as to clamp said first and second panels between said first member and washer. 2. A system according to Claim 1 comprising a locking device on said washer for selectively preventing rotation of said nut. 3. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first member is provided with a plurality of spikes or other projections to embed in the fust and second panel spanning the door or window which is to be boarded up, so as to render the stem angularly fast therewith. 4. A system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3 wherein the nut is a wing nut. 5. A system as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the large washer is provided with a channel member to receive the wing nut and prevent the same being rotated relative to the channel, and means are provided on the large washer to fix the channel thereto including a padlock or like means. 6. A system as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the large washer is provided with a hasp loop at one position and with an apertured lug at a position substantially diametric thereto, and said channel member forms a bolt adapted to have one end engaged in said hasp and the other end provided in an apertured lug to be made captive with the lug on the washer by means of the padlock. 7. A system according to any preceding claim wherein the first member comprises a substantially circular plate. 8. A system according to Claim 7 wherein the diameter of the plate or washer is at least five times greater than the diameter of said stem. 9. A system according to Claim 8 wherein the plate or diameter is at least ten times, and preferably about twelve times, the diameter of the stem. 10. A building comprising two spaces each boarded up by a system according to any one of Claims 1 to 9. 11. A building according to Claim 10 wherein a first system is fitted with a nut positioned internally of the associated space, and a second system is fitted with a nut and locking device positioned externally of the associated space.

Inventors: POWELL HENRY, POWELL, HENRY
Applicants: POWELL HENRY, POWELL, HENRY
Application year: 1997
Main classification: E06B9
IPC codes: E05B67, E06B9