Cable release and latch

• US 4,258,504 A
• Filed: 11/02/1978
• Issued: 03/31/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry H. Hicks
• Original Assignee: Harry H. Hicks
• Inventors: Hicks, Harry H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Downey, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US05/956,915
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 49/50, 49/56, 49/62, 49/63, 292/166, 292/171, 292/225, 70/417
• US Class Current: 49/56
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/1033 emergency release of windows, window grills, escape hatches or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E06B 9/02 Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0992 Flexible

Abstract

A cable release and latch for a security guard hinged to a window or the like has a spring loaded plunger swedged into an outer frame thereof. An armored cable with a flexible inner cable is connected to the spring loaded plunger and extends to a foot treadle operator and shield which may be mounted on the floor inside the opening. Sufficient length of cable is provided to allow free movement of the guard about its hinges. The security guard may thereby be quickly and easily opened without a key by stepping on the foot treadle operator. If the armored cable is severed, the spring loaded plunger advances further into the keeper which retracts the flexible cable within the armored housing to prevent the manual operation of the latch without further dismantling of the cable.

Claims

1. In a security guard for a window or the like, a keyless latch suitable for repeated opening and closing of said security guard, means to rapidly operate said keyless latch from one side of said guard, said operation means having means to prevent operation of said latch from the opposite side of said guard, means connecting said operation means with said latch, said connection means including an armored cable extending between said latch and said operating means, said armored cable including an inner flexible cable surrounded by an armored housing and means to prevent unauthorized operation through severing said armored cable and manually moving said flexible cable, said connection means being suitable for installation outside of any supporting walls or structure within which said window or the like is mounted, the operation means including a foot treadle switch, said switch including a platform pivoted about an end thereof, means connecting an end of the flexible cable to an end of said platform opposite said pivoted end, a shield extending around said platform to prevent unauthorized operation thereof, the armored housing ending at and secured to said shield, a spacer surrounding the flexible cable and extending between said end of said armored housing and said platform to adjust and limit the movement of said flexible cable, and means to secure said switch to a support.

2. In a hinged security guard having a frame and spaced apart bars with a striker bar or the like, a cable release and keyless latch to permit the rapid and repeated opening of said latch from only one side of said security guard, said cable release and latch comprising a spring loaded plunger, means defining a hole in the frame for receiving and retaining said spring loaded plunger, a keeper in said striker bar having means defining a plunger hole which matches and lines up with said spring loaded plunger, an armored cable having an inner flexible operating cable, said spring loaded plunger being attached to said flexible operating cable, a foot treadle switch comprising a foot platform and a shield, said foot platform pivotally connected to said shield, an end fitting secured to an end of said armored housing, means securing said end fitting to said shield, means securing said flexible cable to said foot platform, a spacer surrounding said flexible cable and extending between said foot platform and said shield, and means mounting said foot treadle switch to a floor so that depressing said foot platform retracts the flexible cable inside the armored housing thereof, said flexible cable thereby retracting said plunger from within said plunger hole to release the hinged security guard and permit it to be swung away from said window or the like.

3. In a security guard for a window or the like, a keyless latch comprising a spring loaded plunger, means defining a hole in said window for receiving the plunger, a remote operating means, an armored cable comprising an armored housing and an inner flexible operating cable, said armored cable extending between and connected to the keyless latch and the operating means to permit remote operation of the keyless latch, the operating means including a pivoted platform, means connecting an end of the flexible cable to an end of said platform, means connecting the armored housing to the operating means, and a spacer surrounding the flexible cable and extending between an end of the armored housing and the platform to adjust and limit the movement of the flexible cable to thereby permit the flexible cable to retract inside the armored housing through the force of the spring loaded plunger should the armored cable be severed.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the position of the spring loaded plunger is adjusted by the spacer to be in a spaced apart relationship with the bottom of the plunger hole when the operating means is released.

6. The device of claim 3 or 5 wherein said latch includes a plunger and keeper, said spring means advancing said plunger into said keeper as said cable is severed.

7. The device of claim 3 or 5 wherein said latch further comprises a spring loaded plunger, said security guard further comprising a striker bar having a plunger hole which matches and lines up with said plunger and wherein said plunger extends less than all the way into said plunger hole during normal operation so that if the armored cable is severed the spring in said plunger further extends said plunger into the plunger hole, thereby retracting the flexible cable inside the armored housing.

8. The device of claim 3 or 5 wherein said operating means includes a foot treadle switch and shield suitable for floor mounting.

5. A cable release and keyless latch for a security guard covering a window or the like, said keyless latch comprising a spring loaded plunger, a remote operating means, an armored cable comprising an armored housing and an inner flexible operating cable, said armored cable extending between and connected to the keyless latch and the operating means to permit remote operation of the keyless latch, the operating means including a pivoted platform, means connecting an end of the flexible cable to an end of said platform, means connecting the armored housing to the operating means, and a spacer surrounding the flexible cable and extending between an end of the armored housing and the platform to adjust and limit the movement of the flexible cable to thereby permit the flexible cable to retract inside the armored housing through the force of the spring loaded plunger should the armored cable be severed.