GB2549976A

GB2549976A - A multilock

Info

Publication number: GB2549976A
Application number: GB1607877.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Milbank Frederick
Original assignee: Milenco Ltd
Current assignee: Milenco Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-05
Filing date: 2016-05-05
Publication date: 2017-11-08
Anticipated expiration: 2036-05-05
Also published as: GB201607877D0; EP3241963B1; EP3241963A1; GB2549976B

Abstract

A door lock 10 comprises a base 12 comprising one or more screw holes 14 passing through the base 12, a locking bar 16 rotationally connected to the base 12 and extending beyond the base 12, the locking bar 16 having a locked position covering the one or more screw holes 14 such that mounting holes are inaccessible when it is locked and a open position not covering the one or more screw holes 14. A locking mechanism 18 when locked preventing rotation of the locking bar 16. The locking mechanism may be located in the locking bar and be key operated. Multiple different mounting plates may be provided for mounting on different surfaces. A gasket may be included between the base and the mounting surface. The door lock may be mounted to the outside of a caravan, the screw mounting holes being hidden and inaccessible when locked preventing tampering by thieves.

Description

1

DESCRIPTION

A MULTILOCK 5 This invention relates to a door lock and to a kit of parts including the door lock.

It is commonplace for doors for houses and vehicles to be provided with one or more locks, in order to prevent unauthorised access to the house or o vehicle. Many different types of lock are available and it is relatively common to use more than one lock on a particular door, particularly if the contents of the house or the vehicle being secured are valuable. Caravans are usually provided with a single lock on the door that can be locked to prevent unauthorised access to caravan. However, simple mortice and deadlocks do 5 not necessarily provide sufficient protection for many caravan doors, as they can be easily forced open by determined criminals. The construction of most caravan doors is such that they can be easily bent or pressed such that the conventional lock, which may only have a small 2cm engagement with the door frame, can be forced. o United Kingdom Patent GB 2489912 B discloses an improved door lock.

This Patent discloses a door lock, preferably for a caravan, that comprises a front plate, a locking bar rotationally connected to the front plate and extending beyond the front plate and pivotable from an unlocked position to a locked position where it extends across the joint between the door and the frame; a 5 back plate connected to and behind the front plate; a locking mechanism mounted in the front plate and when locked preventing rotation of the locking bar relative to the front plate; a locking handle mounted on the back plate and when locked preventing rotation of the locking bar relative to the front plate and an opening handle mounted on the back plate and connected to the o locking bar for rotating the locking bar relative to the front plate. The two handles are preferably located inside the caravan and allow the externally mounted locking bar to be locked/unlocked. While this door lock has many 2 advantages, the door lock can only be fitted where direct access to the back of the portion that is to mount the door lock is possible. This means that the door lock cannot always be used, if access to the necessary area is not possible. 5 It is therefore an object of the invention to improve upon the known art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door lock comprising a base comprising one or more screw holes passing through the base, a locking bar rotationally connected to the base and extending beyond the base, the locking bar having a first locked position o covering the one or more screw holes and a second open position not covering the one or more screw holes, and a locking mechanism, when locked preventing rotation of the locking bar relative to the base.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit comprising a door lock comprising a base comprising one or more screw 5 holes passing through the base, a locking bar rotationally connected to the base and extending beyond the base, the locking bar having a first locked position covering the one or more screw holes and a second open position not covering the one or more screw holes, and a locking mechanism, when locked preventing rotation of the locking bar relative to the base, a first plate o comprising a flat portion of a similar size and shape to the base of the door lock and a fixing portion connected to the flat portion and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flat portion, a second plate comprising a flat portion of a smaller size than the base of the door lock and a fixing portion connected to the flat portion and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flat portion, 5 and a planar third plate comprising a flat portion of a similar size and shape to the base of the door lock.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to provide a door lock that can be used, for example on a caravan, which does not require access to the rear of the area (such as a door frame) to which the door lock is to be mounted. The o provision of the screw holes through the base of the door lock, which are only accessible when the locking bar is open, means that the door lock can be front mounted through these screw holes, without any lack of security, since the 3 screw holes (and therefore the screws in those holes) are not accessible once the locking bar is in its locked position. The door lock can be provided as a kit of parts, with additional plates of different shapes and sizes that will facilitate the mounting of the door lock in other situations, for example where rear 5 access is possible or where the door lock must be mounted on the side of the door frame. The kit provides a door lock that can be mounted in multiple different configurations, which provides the end user with a usable door lock, no matter how the door lock has to be mounted. o Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view from behind of a door lock in its closed configuration,

Figure 2 is a front view of the door lock in its open configuration, 5 Figure 3 is a perspective view from behind of the door lock mounted with a first plate,

Figure 4 is a perspective view from behind of the door lock mounted with a second plate,

Figure 5 is a perspective view from behind of the door lock mounted o with a third plate, and

Figure 6 is a front via of the door lock mounted on a door frame of a door.

Figure 1 shows a door lock 10 comprising a base 12 comprising one or 5 more screw holes 14 passing through the base 12, a locking bar 16 rotationally connected to the base 12 and extending beyond the base 12, the locking bar 16 having a first locked position covering the one or more screw holes 14 and a second open position not covering the one or more screw holes 14, and a locking mechanism 18, when locked preventing rotation of the locking bar 16 o relative to the base 12. In this Figure, the locking bar 16 is shown in its locked position. The locking mechanism 18 is located in the locking bar 16 and is operated by a key 19. 4

The locking bar 16 is mounted on one side of the base 12 and the base 12 further comprises one or more additional screw holes 20 located on the opposite side of the base 12 to the locking bar 16, the additional screw holes 20 not passing through the base 12. The door lock 10 further comprises a 5 gasket 22, the gasket 22 of a similar size and shape to the base 12 and comprising one or more holes 24, the position of the holes 24 in the gasket 22 matching the position of the screw holes 14 and/or additional screw holes 20 in the base 12. The gasket 22 is made of rubber or other similar material is used to provide a water seal, when the door lock 10 is in use. o The door lock 10 is intended to be used to lock a door that opens outwards, as a retro fit to the door frame, rather than to the door that is being protected. The door lock 10 can be fixed in position in a number of different ways, using different combinations of the components that are supplied with the door lock 10, in order to protect the door in question. Which combination of 5 components is used will depend upon the structure and position of the door frame. The Figure 1 arrangement is a front screwed fixing of the door lock 10, using screws 21, that does not require any access to the rear of the frame to which the lock 10 is being fitted.

Figure 2 shows the door lock 10 with the locking bar 16 in its open o position, rotated by 90 degrees relative to its closed position. A door is protected by the door lock 10, with the door lock 10 being mounted on a door frame. When the locking bar 16 is in the open position, then the screw holes 14 in the base 12 are accessible from the front of the door lock 10. This allows the door lock 10 to be fixed to the frame from the front, when the door lock 10 5 is first mounted. The screws 21 can be located in the screw holes 14 to fasten the door lock in position, but are not accessible when the locking bar 16 is in its locked position.

The location of the screw holes 14 in the base 12 allow the door lock 10 to be front mounted, without any access to the rear of the door frame 102 o required when the door lock 10 is first installed. To mount the door lock 10 from the front, then the locking bar 16 is turned to its unlocked position, as shown in Figure 2, which provides access to the screw holes 14. This allows 5 an installer access to the screw holes 14, to screw the base 12 to the door frame. Once the door lock 10 is screwed in position, then the locking bar 16 will be turned to cover the screw holes 14 to prevent the door lock 10 being unscrewed. 5 The door lock 10 is provided with a locking mechanism 18, which is operated with the key 19. The key 19 is turned to lock the locking mechanism 18 and can be removed. The locking mechanism 18 forms part of the locking bar 16 and when the locking mechanism 18 is locked by the key 19, then locking bar 16 cannot be rotated relative to the base 12. A user of the door o lock 10 moves the locking bar 16 to the desired position and then locks the locking bar 16 in that position by turning the key 19 to lock the locking mechanism 18, which prevents any further rotation of the locking bar 16.

Figure 3 shows an alternative mounting of the door lock 10. In this example, the door lock 10 is not front mounted as the screw holes 14 in the 5 base 12 are not used. This configuration uses a first plate 26. The first plate 26 comprises a flat portion 28 of a similar size and shape to the base 12 and a fixing portion 30 connected to the flat portion 28 and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flat portion 28, the flat portion 28 comprising one or more holes 32, the position of the holes 32 in the flat portion 28 matching the o position of the screw holes 14 and/or additional screw holes 20 in the base 12, the fixing portion 30 comprising one or more holes 34.

To mount the door lock 10 using the first plate 26, then the first plate 26 is screwed to the back of base 12 using screws 27 that pass through holes 32 in the flat portion 28 of the first plate 26 and mate with the additional screw 5 holes 20 in the rear of the base 12. The door lock 10 and first plate 26 can then be mounted onto a door frame by using screws 29 through holes 34 in the fixing portion 30 of the first plate 26. The door lock 10 is therefore side mounted, with door lock being robustly connected to the door frame via the fixing portion 30 of the first plate 26. o The screws 29 are not accessible to a third party once the door lock 10 has been mounted in position and the door being protected has been closed. This means that the door lock 10 can secure a door while being side mounted 6 onto the door frame and the user of the door lock can then interact with the lock 10 in the same manner as any other mounting of the door lock 10. The user unlocks the door lock 10 with the key 19 in the locking mechanism 18. This allows the locking bar 16 to be rotated into a position where it is no longer 5 preventing the door in question from opening.

Figure 4 shows another configuration of the door lock 10, which is similar to that shown in Figure 3, except a second plate 36 is used in place of the first plate 26. The second plate 36 is smaller than the first plate 26 and this second plate 36 is provided in order to support the mounting of the door lock o 10 in a wider variety of different situations, for example where space is limited around the door frame to which the door lock 10 is being affixed. A support plate 37 can also be provided that can be used to adjust the position of the second plate 36, if needed.

The second plate 36 comprises a flat portion 38 of a smaller size than 5 the base 12 and a fixing portion 40 connected to the flat portion 38 and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flat portion 38, the flat portion 38 comprising one or more holes 42, the position of the holes 42 in the flat portion 38 matching the position of the screw holes 14 and/or additional screw holes 20 in the base 12, the fixing portion 40 comprising one or more holes 44. o Screws 39 are used to fix the base 12 to the second plate 36 and screws 41 are then used to fix the door lock 10 to the frame of a door.

The configuration shown in Figure 4, similar to that of Figure 3, allows the door lock to be mounted on the side of a door frame, allowing the door lock 10 to be fixed in place where no access is available to the front or rear of the 5 door frame. The provision of the two different plates 26 and 36 gives the user of the door lock flexibility on how they will install the door lock, in this situation where they must mount the lock using screws that pass into the side of the door frame. In the Figure 4 configuration, a smaller plate 38 is used than in the Figure 3 configuration. o Figure 5 shows a yet further configuration of the door lock 10, this time fixed in place using a third plate 46 and cover 52. The planar third plate 46 comprises a flat portion 48 of a similar size and shape to the base 12, the flat 7 portion 48 comprising one or more holes 50, the position of the holes 50 in the flat portion 48 matching the position of the screw holes 14 and/or additional screw holes 20 in the base 12. This configuration further comprises a cover 52, the cover 52 of a similar size and shape to the base 12 and for fixing to the 5 planar third plate 46.

The configuration of the door lock 10 shown in Figure 5 is a rear mounted fixing of the door lock 10, which can be used if the installer of the lock 10 has access to the rear of the surface that is mounting the door lock 10. The lock 10 is fixed into position by using screws 54 through the holes 50 in the o third plate 46 and into the rear of the base 12 of the door lock 10. The gasket 22 can also be used in this configuration, which will be fixed between the base 12 and the door frame to which the door lock is being mounted.

The door lock 10 is supplied as a kit of parts with the main component being the locking bar 16 connected to the base 12 as a single integral 5 component made from plastics coated metal, with the various plates and screws supplied in addition that can be used to mount the door lock 10 in the desired configuration, depending upon the structure of the door and door frame to which the door lock is being mounted. In general, rear fitting is the most secure (as shown in Figure 5) but if the installer cannot access the rear o of the door frame, then front or side fitting is supported, without any loss of security.

Figure 6 shows the door lock 10 in use, being located to protect a door 56. The door lock 10 is mounted on the door frame 58 and is shown in the Figure with the locking bar 16 in its open position. The door 56 is hinged on 5 the right and opens outwards (towards the viewer of the Figure). The door lock has been front mounted, as per the Figure 1 configuration of the door lock 10. When the locking bar 16 is rotated into its locked position, turned 90 degrees anti-clockwise from the open position shown in the Figure, then the door 56 cannot be opened. The locking mechanism 18 can then be locked by the key o 19 and this prevents unauthorised opening of the door 56, by the provision of the retrofitted door lock 10.

Claims

1. A door lock (10) comprising: • a base (12) comprising one or more screw holes (14) passing through the base (12), • a locking bar (16) rotationally connected to the base (12) and extending beyond the base (12), the locking bar (16) having a first locked position covering the one or more screw holes (14) and a second open position not covering the one or more screw holes (14), and • a locking mechanism (18), when locked preventing rotation of the locking bar (16) relative to the base (12).

2. A door lock according to claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism (18) is located in the locking bar (16).

3. A door lock according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking bar (16) is mounted on one side of the base (12) and the base (12) further comprises one or more additional screw holes (20) located on the opposite side of the base (12) to the locking bar (16), the additional screw holes (20) not passing through the base (12).

4. A door lock according to claim 1,2 or 3, and further comprising a gasket (22), the gasket (22) of a similar size and shape to the base (12) and comprising one or more holes (24), the position of the holes (24) in the gasket (22) matching the position of the screw holes (14) and/or additional screw holes (20) in the base (12).

5. A door lock according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a first plate (26) comprising a flat portion (28) of a similar size and shape to the base (12) and a fixing portion (30) connected to the flat portion (28) and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flat portion (28), the flat portion (28) comprising one or more holes (32), the position of the holes (32) in the flat portion (28) matching the position of the screw holes (14) and/or additional screw holes (20) in the base (12), the fixing portion (30) comprising one or more holes (34).

6. A door lock according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a second plate (36) comprising a flat portion (38) of a smaller size than the base (12) and a fixing portion (40) connected to the flat portion (38) and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flat portion (38), the flat portion (38) comprising one or more holes (42), the position of the holes (42) in the flat portion (38) matching the position of the screw holes (14) and/or additional screw holes (20) in the base (12), the fixing portion (40) comprising one or more holes (44).

7. A door lock according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a planar third plate (46) comprising a flat portion (48) of a similar size and shape to the base (12), the flat portion (48) comprising one or more holes (50), the position of the holes (50) in the flat portion (48) matching the position of the screw holes (14) and/or additional screw holes (20) in the base (12).

8. A door lock according to claim 7, and further comprising a cover (52), the cover (52) of a similar size and shape to the base (12) and for fixing to the planar third plate (46).

9. A kit comprising: • a door lock (10) comprising a base (12) comprising one or more screw holes (14) passing through the base (12), a locking bar (16) rotationally connected to the base (12) and extending beyond the base (12), the locking bar (16) having a first locked position covering the one or more screw holes (14) and a second open position not covering the one or more screw holes (14), and a locking mechanism (18), when locked preventing rotation of the locking bar (16) relative to the base (12), • a first plate (26) comprising a flat portion (28) of a similar size and shape to the base (12) of the door lock (10) and a fixing portion (30) connected to the flat portion (28) and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flat portion (28), • a second plate (36) comprising a flat portion (38) of a smaller size than the base (12) of the door lock (10) and a fixing portion (40) connected to the flat portion (38) and in a plane at right angles to the plane of the flat portion (38), and • a planar third plate (46) comprising a flat portion (48) of a similar size and shape to the base (12) of the door lock (10).