Abstract:
In safes and security doors of the swing and slide type the door edge slides in and out of a slot in order to prevent it being pried open. The slide motion is supplied by a rotatable handle on the door itself. The action of sliding into the slot is accompanied by the extension of multiple bolts which shoot from the door edge into keepers in the safe body or door frame. The rotation of the handle is coupled to a cam which retracts the bolts first and slides the door to the position where it is ready to open in a defined sequence. Likewise, the door swings shut, contacts a landing surface, slides into the slot and the bolts extend. A variant for a door with slots which rides on a group of pins is described. The cam is locked by a key or digital lock.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of Australian Provisional Application No. 2008904078 filed on Aug. 11, 2008. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention concerns security door and frame construction and relates primarily to safes but is applicable to security doors. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0005]    In our co-pending application for Patent No. 2003252867, we describe security door constructions of the swing and slide type. The door frame has an upright for supporting the door on an offset hinge assembly and the upright of the frame opposite the offset hinge assembly has a slot capable of receiving the closing edge of the door, which upon closing slides into the slot and upon opening, slides out of the slot. In addition, the door has a rotatable handle which turns a link and the link reacts against the hinge assembly causing the door to slide in and out of the door slot. This type of security door is hereafter referred to as a security door of the type described. 
         [0006]    The slide motion of the door precedes the opening swing and it is this retraction of the door from the slot which intruders try to achieve. The door is free to slide on the hinges and must be retained in the locked position by door bolts. We describe hook and slot formations in the above application which resist prying forces applied to the door. In co-pending Australian application no. 2004231234, we describe a horizontal bar which slides across the width of the door when the safe is locked and abuts the safe wall adjacent the door hinge. Prying forces tending to slide the door open are transmitted to the safe wall and resisted. 
         [0007]    In co-pending Australian Application No. 2005901184, we describe door mounted rise and fall hooks which drop into vertical slots in the closing stile of the door frame when the door is locked. These are both effective measures for resisting forces exerted by prying bars applied to the door frame, that is between the door and the closing style. 
         [0008]    In safes such as gun safes which are made from plate 2-3 mm thick, the above devices exert locking force at various sites and the metal between these sites could be bent. It would be desirable to resist prying by increasing the difficulty of inserting the prying bar into the gap between the door and the closing style so that effective leverage cannot be applied. 
         [0009]    The prior art includes safes with a swing and slide action which do not rely on a double hinge. Such safes instead have a single pivot axis for a swinging frame upon which a door is mounted with freedom to slide left and right. The slide motion of the door allows the door to project into a door slot in the body of the safe. This invention is applicable to this type of swing and slide door motion. 
         [0010]    This specification describes embodiments of swing and slide safes which combine features shown by testing to resist attack most effectively in relation to the cost of machinery operations required to provide resistance to attack. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The apparatus aspect of the invention provides a swing and slide security door of the type described for a safe having a handle, the motion of which both (a) imparts sideways slide motion to the door, and (b) actuates at least one door mounted locking assembly which engage and disengage the body of the safe, wherein initial handle motion imparts sideways slide motion to the door toward the CLOSED position, whereafter further handle motion causes the locking assembly to lock and initial handle motion in the opposite direction causes the locking assembly to unlock whereafter further handle motion imparts sideways motion to the door toward the OPEN position. 
         [0012]    Preferably the handle has link to a reaction surface on the hinge assembly of the door rotation of which causes the door to slide sideways. 
         [0013]    The locking members may be one or more bolts which move in and out of engagement with a corresponding number of bores in the adjacent body or frame. 
         [0014]    Instead of being directly connected to the handle like or latch, the locking assembly may include a connecting link which joins a bolt adjacent the edge of the door to the handle which may be more centrally placed. The link may in turn be connected to one or more further links which transfer handle motion to a gang of bolts disposed adjacent the door edge. Thus the handle acts like a crank and the link acts like a connecting rod. 
         [0015]    The sitting of bolts along the door edge considerably strengthens resistance to prying. 
         [0016]    Such multiplication of movement makes it easy to include locking assemblies with bolts which enter and leave the body or frame around the door. 
         [0017]    The handle crank may be a disc or plate with an arcuate slot intended for engagement with a bolt extending from the bolt link. The disc or plate may also have projections intended to be obstructed by one or more locks requiring a key or keypad to operate. These locks control the rotation of the handle and are the point of entry for the operator. 
         [0018]    The disc or plate is connected to a reaction link which extends across the width of the door to the hinge assembly where the upright rod or tube acts as a reaction surface. The reaction link enables the operator to impart slide motion to the door, whereas the bolt follower link transfers motion to the bolts. 
         [0019]    The safe may have a closing style which provides a landing surface for the safe door and a pocket for housing the closing edge of the door, wherein the door has an outwardly turned closing edge for the purpose of denying access to the door edge by a pry tool inserted between the door and the closing style. 
         [0020]    The closing style may have a portion against which the outward face of the door is intended to abut in the closed position and the pocket has a ramp surface adjacent the landing surface which the closing edge contacts as the door slides to the closed position in which locking follows and passage of the closing edge over the ramp surface forces the front face of the door against the portion of the closing style. 
         [0021]    The inclined portion of the slot may have a front inclined wall and a rear inclined wall. The rear inclined wall acts as a ramp surface contacted by the rear surface of the door edge as the door closes causing the door edge to abut the door stile tightly. 
         [0022]    The outwardly turned closing edge may form a narrow flange. 
         [0023]    The front inclined wall acts as a ramp surface for the flange, directing the door away from the door stile toward the landing surface when the door is slid open. 
         [0024]    The front inclined wall may be formed by bending the free edge of the closing style. 
         [0025]    The landing surface may be provided by a wall parallel to the door but projecting from the safe wall adjacent the closing style. 
         [0026]    The rear inclined wall may extend from the projecting wall to the closing style. 
         [0027]    It is convenient if the rear inclined wall is part of a component of modified channel section which permits reinforcement of the hollow door style. Reinforcement is made possible by giving the component a profile which partly matches the door style profile and during manufacture putting the component inside the channel part of the door style so that the component and channel fit face to face and increase the stiffness of the closing style. 
         [0028]    The flange may be formed by bending the door edge and may be 5-15 mm deep, preferably 10 mm deep. In this specification the term “flange” is intended to include a lip made by bending a single plate at 70-90°; a projection at 90° made by fabricating bent sections; a lip with an integral incline which is intended to assist the exit of the door from the door pocket. The flange may be of constant or tapering thickness. 
         [0029]    The second aspect of the invention provides a security door of the type having a door which slides left and right on a swinging frame having a handle, the motion of which both (a) imparts sideways slide motion to the door, and (b) actuates at least one door mounted locking assembly which engages and disengages the body of the safe, wherein initial handle motion imparts sideways slide motion to the door toward the closed position, whereafter further handle motion causes the locking assembly to lock and initial handle motion in the opposite direction causes the locking assembly to unlock whereafter further handle motion imparts sideways motion to the door toward the open position. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    One embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a rear view of the door of a safe with the door in the CLOSED position and locked. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 1  with the bolts in the locked position and the door engaging the door slot as far to the right as the door will slide. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is the same view as  FIG. 2  but with the bolts partially retracted and the door beginning to slide to the left. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is the same view as  FIG. 2  with the bolts fully retracted and the door fully retracted to the left allowing the door to swing open. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the parts according to  FIG. 2 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a variant of the version shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a simplified variant relying on both latch and bolts for locking shown in the locked condition. 
           [0038]      FIG. 7   a  is a rear view of the operation of the door of the safe as shown in  FIG. 7  in the unlocked condition. 
           [0039]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of a door assembly of the type wherein no double hinge is present. Instead the door slides left and right on the projecting bolts of a swinging door frame. 
           [0040]      FIG. 8   a  is a rear view of the operation of the door of the safe as shown in  FIG. 8  showing the sliding of the door. 
           [0041]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of a safe door with bolts in the lock position. 
           [0042]      FIG. 10  is the same as  FIG. 9  with the bolts in the unlock position. 
           [0043]      FIG. 11  is a perspective of a corner of the safe body with the door open. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0044]    The safe body and door are constructed substantially according to the embodiment described in PCT/AU03/01321 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,363), incorporated herein by reference. The body has a channel section door style and a closing style which defines a slot into which the door slides once the door has swung into the closed position. When the door is opened it first slides sideways in order to retract the closing edge of the door from the slot, whereafter it is free to swing on an offset hinge assembly. In this specification the components which are common to our earlier applications show the same earlier numerals. The components which are extra and comprise the features of this invention are given their own numerals. 
         [0045]    Referring now to the drawings, a door  16  is mounted on door hinges  22 ,  24  which are carried on a vertical steel tube  30 . Tube  30  is free to rotate in frame hinges  26 ,  28 . A reaction bar  58  is connected at one end to tube  30  and at the opposite end to a link  210 . A handle  52  turns a disc or cam  212  on an axle which passes through the thickness of door  16 . Disc  212  has a profiled slot  214  engaged by a bolt  216  of a lifter bar  218  which acts as a follower. When disc  212  is turned by the handle it acts as a crank. Profiled slot  214  is of shallow M shape. The ends of slot  214  curve downward and are joined by a central inverted bow. When handle  52  is in the locked position, bolt  216  lies in the center of the central inverted bow as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0046]    As reaction bar  58  remains static, the only part which is free to slide is the door  16 . Door  16  slides left or right as the operator turns handle  52 . The parts shown in the drawing except tube  30  and frame hinges  26 ,  28  are supported on the rear face of door  16 . 
         [0047]    Lifter bar  218  actuates double arm lever  220  which, like disc  212  is mounted on the rear face of door  16 . One arm transfers motion to upper bolt  222  via rod  224  and identical motion in the reverse direction to lower bolt  226  via rod  228 . 
         [0048]    Bolts  222 ,  226  are 30 mm in diameter and shoot into bores  230  in the safe wall. Rotation of disc  212  moves bolt  216  through about 80°.  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4  show disc  212  and door  16  progressing from the locked position in  FIG. 2  to the left while reaction bar  58  remains static. 
         [0049]    In  FIGS. 2-4 , door  16  slides from right to left as door  16  is slid open, but an important sequence also occurs. When handle  52  rotates counterclockwise out of the locked position, the bow of slot  214  pushes bolt  216  upwards and lifter bar  218  immediately retracts bolts  222 ,  226 . As handle  52  rotates further, the downwardly curved portion reaches bolt  216  and the lifting effect stops, but bolt  216  remains where it is while link  210  drops and door  16  slides to the left. In  FIG. 2 , the initial rotation of disc  212  pushes lifter bar  218  upwards causing immediate retraction of both bolts  222 ,  226 . The first few degrees take up the play in the linkage whereupon bolts  222 ,  226  quickly retract and disengage from bores  230 . 
         [0050]    Next, further rotation of disc  212  pulls door  16  to the right and door  16  begins to leave door slot  14  but is not yet free to open as seen in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0051]    Still further, rotation of disc  212  moves bolts  222 ,  226  to the position shown in  FIG. 4  where bolts  222 ,  226  are clear of the door edge and the door edge is clear of the frame edge leaving door  16  free to swing open. 
         [0052]    The locking sequence of door  16  is the reverse of the operation discussed above. The entry of the door edge into door slot  14  is concluded by bolts  222 ,  226  engaging bores  230 . 
         [0053]    Referring again to  FIGS. 2-4 , disc  212  has a sector with a circumferential projection  232  which carries an arcuate stop  234 . Arcuate stop  234  lies in the arc of disc  212  as shown in  FIG. 2  and is adjustable by a fastener such as a screw. Projection  232  rotates between the position shown in  FIG. 2  to reach arcuate stop  234  in  FIG. 4 . A key operated lock  236  obstructs stop  234 . A keyboard operated solenoid  238  also obstructs stop  234 . Key operated lock  236  and keyboard operated solenoid  238  permit manual opening by the operator in the event of battery failure between keyboard and solenoid. The handle allows manual force to move all the levers, carriers and bolts, but lock  236  allows the operator to insert a key from outside and cause a tongue  237  to emerge and block the rotation of disc  212  in both directions. Lock  238  is solenoid operated and has an armature  239  which emerges to block rotation of disc  212 . This is operated by a battery (not shown) in a keypad lock (also not shown) on the door outside the safe. All safes have locks but it is novel to use locks for keeping disc  212  or a cam in the required position. Unlocking is achieved by reversing the condition so tongue  237  and/or armature  239  retract inside respective locks  236 ,  238 . 
         [0054]    In a variant construction door  16  is 500 mm wide and bolts  222 ,  226  are arranged on a vertical axis 75 mm from the closing edge. Bolts  222 ,  226  are 25-35 mm in diameter and project 35-50 mm into the body of the safe. If multiple bolts are used they are arranged with equal spacing around the edge of door  16 . 
         [0055]    In  FIG. 6 , bolts  222 ,  226  are extended and retracted by a C-shaped bolt carrier  250  which slides left and right on bolts  252 . Bolts  222 ,  226  slide in pockets  254 . Rods  224 ,  228 , which actuate bolts  222 ,  226 , ride in inclined slots  256  cut in the corners of carrier  250 . The vertical leg of carrier  250  carries a pair of horizontal bolts  258  which enter the wall  2  of the safe. 
         [0056]    Carrier  250  is slid left and right by follower  260  mounted on a horizontal pivot  262 . Follower  260  has bolts (unlabeled) at both ends and is rotated by the engagement with the profiled slot  214 . As disc  212  rotates around the center marked + by handle  52  (see  FIG. 5 ), bolts  222 ,  226 ,  258  immediately retract in order to move inside the door perimeter. As profiled slot  214  rotates the door slide motion increases and door  16  clears door slot  14 . 
         [0057]    In  FIG. 7  and  FIG. 7   a , disc  212  is replaced by a T-shaped latch  264  which rotates about the center marked +. T-shaped latch  264  includes a latch leg  266  which engages lock  236  in the locked position as shown in  FIG. 7 . Lock  236  can be key operated or keypad operated as a solenoid as mentioned above. T-shaped latch  264  also includes a latch mouth  265  as shown in  FIG. 7   a . Latch mouth  265  engages a square bracket  268  attached to door edge  14  in the locked position. When key lock  236  is open, latch leg  266  is unobstructed and T-shaped latch  264  is free to rotate from the locked position into an unlocked position by having latch mouth  265  disengage square bracket  268 . As soon as key lock  236  is opened, T-shaped latch  264  lifts away from bracket  268  and at the same time rods  224 ,  228  retract bolts  222 ,  226 . After initial rotation of T-shaped latch  264  to retract bolts  222 ,  226 , then further rotation of T-shaped latch  264  slides door  16  out of door slot  14 .  FIG. 7   a  shows the operation of this embodiment with the tongue (not shown) of lock  236  retracted and latch  264  and bolts  222 ,  226  withdrawn but the door edge is still within slot  14 . 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 8   a , the door  16  slides left and right on five bolts or horizontal door pins  270  which project from door  16  and end in retaining heads  272 . Door  16  is mounted on a modified steel E-frame  274  which swings around vertical hinge bolts  276 . A steel plate  278  is secured to the door face by posts  280  which plate mounts disc  212  and locks  236  and  238 . In addition, a pair of followers  282  is free to rotate on horizontal bolts  284  which extend from plate  278 . Followers  282  overlap above common bolt  216 . As profiled slot  214  progresses as shown in  FIG. 8   a , followers  282  rotate about horizontal bolts  284  and transfer sideways motion to bolts  286  fixed to mid arms  288  of frame  274  as shown in  FIG. 8   a . Frame  274  swings on vertical hinge bolts  276  and the slide motion of door  16  is realized through five bolts  270  sliding left and right on the slots cut in frame  274 . As frame  274  can swing but not slide, the handle rotation causes door  16  to slide left or right and to move in and out of door slot  14  in the safe body. 
         [0059]    In  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 10 , carrier  250  is T-shaped, the T-bar ending in rectangular plates  290 , each with a vertical slot  292 . The leading edge of carrier  250  has a 90° flange  294  from which horizontal bolts  258  project. Carrier  250  may be made out of sheet metal. 
         [0060]    Disc  20  of the earlier embodiments is modified to a fan shape, the vertex being connected to link  210  and the corners abutting stops  236 ,  238 . Slot  214  comprises two identical arcs so that follower  218  produces mirrored motion when handle  52  rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. In this way disc  20  acts as a cam producing precise, reliable locking and unlocking. 
         [0061]    The rise and fall motion imparted to the bolts (only  222  is shown) is shown in  FIG. 10 . Rods  224 ,  228  of  FIG. 6  are replaced by a radius arm  296  pivoted to a mount  298  on the inside face of door  16  and a bolt arm  300  pivoted to the proximal end of bolt  222 ,  226 . The opposite ends of arms  300  are joined for articulation and support a pin  302  which rides in a vertical slot  292 . As carrier  250  moves left and right, the bolt arm  300  moves in an arc and pin  302  slides in slot  292  extending and retracting the vertical bolts  222 ,  2226  while carrier  250  moves horizontal bolts  258  directly. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the inside of door  16  has a continuous rectangular raised wall  304  which forms a shallow box. Bolts  222 ,  226 ,  258  project through raised wall  304 . The box is closed by a cover (not shown) pivoted to an upright edge of the box. The lower part of the box is occupied by shelves. 
         [0063]      FIG. 11  shows that where the safe body relies on bolts for security, the upstands and hooks in our earlier patent applications as referenced herein are not required. Instead the styles are joined by a top and bottom strip  306  (only one shown) which has a bore  308  to receive bolt  226 . 
         [0064]    It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.