NZ563185A - Lock assembly adaptor - Google Patents

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an adaptor 14 for use with a lock assembly 1. The adaptor includes a mount 15 which is fixed in position relative to a housing 12 of the lock assembly 1. A detent 18 is movable relative to the mount 15 between an inactive position whereby the bolt is movable relative to the housing to an extended lock position, and an inactive position whereby the bolt is not movable relative to the housing to a lock position. The adaptor also includes biasing means 20 for urging the detent 18 towards the active position.

Description

/ • 1 0 i . NOV. 2007 13:46 . PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK NO, 9865 P, 6 *10054986247* Patent Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 6 3 7 8 5 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION title: lock assembly adaptor We ASSA ABLOY Australia Pty Limited, of 235 Huntingdale Road, Oakleigh, Victoria, 3166, Australia, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. -5 NOV 2007 RECEIVED . NOV. 2007 13:46 PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK NO. 9865 "P. 7 2 lock assembly adaptor This invention relates to an adaptor for use with a lock assembly having an actuator which moves a boll from a retracted position to an extended 5 position and back to the retracted position, and a lock assembly including such an adaptor. Such lock assemblies are often used to secure a movable member such as a door and the like in a closed position. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with particular reference to its use with a door lock assembly, however it is to be understood that the invention may have other 10 applications.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe and define the invention with reference to its preferred in use orientation, and terms such as inner side and outer side should be construed in light of this orientation. However it should be appreciated that other orientations are equally possible and that consequential 15 changes in terms such as those above may be required in light of the other orientations for a proper understanding of the invention, The actuator of the lock assembly of the foregoing kind may be operated by a range of components such as door handle or by another cylinder lock. One combination of components often used in public environments is a cylinder lock 20 operable from the outer side and a handle operable from the inner side. One specific environment where this combination is used is the school classroom whereby the teacher will use a key to retract the bolt so as to open the door at the start of the lesson and to extend the bolt to lock the door at the end of the lesson. The handle is provided on the inner side for safety purposes so that any 25 student inadvertently locked in the classroom can stil! open the door particularly in an emergency. This combination is also often installed in shops.

A problem with this combination is that it is vulnerable to misuse. In particular a child playing with the handle may inadvertently lock the door closed effectively baring entry to the shop. Alternatively a teacher may momentarily 30 step out of the classroom and be locked out by an uncooperative student. Furthermore the teacher may remain locked out as the torque produced by the key is unlikely to exceed the torque produced by the handle.

WttbararlUaradtamlriHG AoplcafcmUSSA • kick AssflfWNii -MfipW 21 Oa Wdw . NOV. 2007 13:46 ~ PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK NO. 9865 P. 8 3 The above discussion of acts, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field 5 relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of this invention. t It is an object of this invention to provide an adaptor for use with a lock assembly that reduces the vulnerability of the lock assembly to misuse by unauthorised persons.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an adaptor for use with a lock assembly to limit the operation of the lock assembly, the lock assembly includes a housing, a bolt mounted on the housing so as to be movable relative thereto between a release position whereby it is substantially retained within the housing and a locked position whereby the bolt extends from 15 the front face of the housing, a first actuator being operable from an outer side of the assembly to cause said movement of the bolt, and a second actuator operable from an inner side of the assembly to cause said movement of the bolt, the adaptor including; a mount which in use is fixed in position relative to the housing, 20 a detent movable relative to the mount between an inactive position whereby both the first and second actuators are operable, and an active position whereby the first actuator is operable and the second actuator is operable to move the bolt from the locked position to the release position only; and biasing means for urging the detent towards the active position, It is preferred that "the mount is fixed to the housing via a fixing element that is inserted through the front face of the housing, the fixing element locating in a bore formed in the mount, It is preferred that the mount is located in use in an aperture formed in 30 the side wall of the housing, whereby the aperture is capable of accommodating a cylinder lock housing. It is further preferred that the mount includes a flange that in use abuts the side wall of the housing. It is also further preferred that the WaaiOTffliraWanplBH ABPfeMWMWA' LB* HMffbly Wwrar iiOa 0M»e . NOV. 2007 13:47 PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK NO. 9865 P. 9 4 detent includes an arm that is pivotally connected to the mount to enable the detent to pivotally move between the active and inactive positions. Alternatively the detent includes an arm that is associated with the mount to enable the detent to move rectilinearly between the active and inactive positions.

It is preferred that the detent includes a head at a free end of the arm that when the detent is in the active position the head engages at least one element of the lock assembly so that the second actuator is operable to move the bolt from the locked position to the release position and inoperable to move the bolt from the release position to the lock position, It is preferred that the second actuator includes a hub member that rotates to enable said movement of the bolt, whereby the head is brought into engagement with the hub so that the second actuator can not rotate to move the bolt from the release position to the lock position.

It is preferred that the first actuator includes a cam that is rotated by a 15 key controlled lock cylinder, the first actuator shares the hub with the second actuator whereby rotation of the cam causes rotation of the hub and movement of the bolt, the rotation of the cam also causes the cam to engage the head and move the detent to the inactive position so as to allow rotation of the hub.

It is preferred that the head includes at least one ramped surface along 20 which the cam slides when moving the detent to the inactive position. It is also further preferred that the head includes a pair of ramps being located on opposing sides of the head so as to enable the adaptor to be used on a lock assembly installed on either a right handed edge or left handed edge of the door.

It is preferred that the biasing means is a compression spring which acts between the mount and the arm.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a lock assembly including an adaptor as herein before defined.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in greater detail 30 by reference to the accompanying drawings showing an example embodiment WtahaWMMtflGomplne AC0k»i«nrtA5£A. U4* AflMmfaly Adaptor 30 09 tf-JKG . NOV. 2007 13:47 PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK NO. 9365 P. 10 of the invention. The particularity of the drawings and the related detailed description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a swing bolt lock assembly with the bolt 5 in the release position without the adaptor installed.

Figure 2 is the lock assembly from Figure 1 with the bolt in the lock position.

Figure 3 is a part view of the lock assembly from Figures 1 and 2 with an adaptor according to the invention fixed to the housing.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of an adaptor according to the invention.

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the adaptor from Figure 4 with the detent in the active position.

Figure 6 Illustrates the adaptor from Figure 5 with the detent in the inactive position.

Figure 7 illustrates part of the lock assembly with the adaptor installed and the detent in the active position.

Figures 8 and 9 are all illustrations of the interaction of the cam with the detent.

Figure 10 illustrates the cam interacting with the hub.

Figure 11 illustrates the detent held in the inactive position by the plunger.

Figure 12 illustrates the lever handle rotating the hub to move the bolt to the release position.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 which illustrates a lock assembly 1 including a swing bolt 2. The swing bolt 2 is shown in a release position and it is movable to lock position as shown in Figure 2 by operation of either a first actuator 3 or a second actuator 4. When the lock assembly 1 is installed in a door (not shown) WJihernnSB-MWoffiim AppHoMASSA ■ Lock AiMWy Mumr» Oa 07, Dot , NOV, 2007~13:47 PHILLIPS ORMONDE A FITZPATRICK NO, 9865 P. M 6 the first actuator 3 would normally be positioned for operation on the outer side of the door while the second actuator 4 would be operable from the inner side of the door. The arrangements of actuators shown in the Figures renders the lock assembly suitable for installation on the right hand edge of the door. It should 5 be appreciated that reversing the actuator would render the lock assembly suitable for location on the left hand edge of the door.

The first actuator 3 illustrated includes a cylinder lock 5 which includes a barrel 6 that receives a key within a keyway 7 formed in the barrel 6. Rotation of the barrel 6 causes movement of a earn 8 attached to the rear of the barrel 6. 10 The cam 8 engages a hub 9 which rotates about an axis to move the swing bolt 2. There is lost motion between the cam 8 and the hub 9 so that 360 degrees of rotation of the barrel 6 results in only approximately 90 degrees of rotation of the hub 9. This enables the key to be retracted from the keyway 7.

The second actuator 4 includes a lever handle 10 which is connected to 15 the hub 9 via a spindle (not shown) so that 90 degrees of rotation of the lever handle 10 results in 90 degrees of rotation of the hub 9. The illustrations show both the first and second actuator 3,4 along the hub 9, however this could vary.

The lock assembly 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 requires operation of either the first or second actuator 3.4 to move the bolt 2 from the lock position to 20 the release position and from the release position to the lock position. More specifically the lock assembly 1 does not include biasing means for urging the bolt 2 towards the locked position only as in the case of a latch bolt. Instead the lock assembly 1 includes a plunger 11 which acts on the hub 9 to urge the hub 9 and in turn the bolt 2 to occupy either lock position or release position. While 25 the illustrations show a swing bolt 2, the invention is also applicable to a deadbolt that is movable rectilinear relative to the housing 12.

Referring now to Figure 3 which illustrates the adaptor 14 of the invention fixed in position within the housing 12. The adaptor 14 includes a mount 15 that is fixed in position by a fixing pin 16 that extends into a bore 17 of the mount 15. 30 A detent 18, shown in an active position, is fixed to the mount 15 by a pin 19 which can be more clearly seen in Figure 4. The adaptor 14 also includes biasing means 20 which in the embodiment illustrated is in the form of a WMumtaKflCwitolei* ^caMon^S^- lech Adaptor 26 Oei 97jgc . NOV. 2007 13:48 PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK MO. 9365 P, 12 7 compression spring 20. The compression spring 20 acts between the mount 15 and the detent 18 to urge the detent 18 towards the active position.

Referring now to Figure 5 which shows the adaptor in an assembled form with the detent 18 including an arm that is fixed to the mount 15 by the pin 19.

This fixture allows the detent 18 to pivot about the pin 19. The detent 18 could however be fixed to the mount 15 in a manner that allowed rectilinear movement of the detent 18 and that the invention is not limited to pivoting movement. A free end of the arm includes a head 22 which is movable with the arm 21 relative to the mount 15. The head 22 includes a pair of ramped 10 surfaces 23 which interacts with the cam 8 of the cylinder lock in a manner that will be more clearly described with reference to at least Figure 7. Figure 5 shows the detent 18 in an extended or active position while Figure 6 shows the detent in the retracted or inactive position. The terms active and inactive will be more fully explained later in the specification.

Referring now to Figure 7 which shows part of the lock assembly 1 with the head 22 of the detent 18 engaging the hub 9 which stops the hub 9 from being rotated. This corresponds to the detent being in the active position.

Referring now to Figure 8, the cam 8, which is not shown in Figure 7 is rotated to engage the head 22 of the detent 18 and slide along one of the ramp 20 surfaces 23, This depresses the head 22 of the detent to move the detent to the inactive position. This result of the rotation can be seen in side elevation with reference to Figure 9. Further rotation of the cam 8 as shown in Figure 10 allows the cam 8 to engage gears of the hub 9 so as to rotate the hub 9 to move the bolt 2. The movement of the hub 9 moves the plunger to a position 25 engaging the head 22 of the detent to retain the detent in the inactive position. This can be seen in Figure 11 and note the cam 8 has been removed from this illustration. This allows the lever 10 to stii! operate the second actuator 4 rotating the hub 9 to thereby move the bolt 2 back to the retracted position as illustrated in Figure 12.. 3D It ought to be appreciated that once the plunger 11 has moved from on top of the head 11 the detent wil! return to the active position. Once in the active Vf !\ahM>tfiW0VCciTiplW AMPHiQnAASSA • 1Mb AHTMly Adaptor 2ft Oe 07.doc . NOV. 2007 1 3:48 PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK NO. 9865 P. 13 S position the detent will stop operation of the second actuator from returning the bolt to the extended position.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that an adaptor as herein before described provides a relatively simple means for limiting the 5 functionality of a lock assembly. The ability of the adaptor to operate in both a left handed and right handed lock assembly is a particular advantage.

Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangement of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. imAatomWSSA - Adaptor 210« 07 ,«s

Claims (14)

5. NOV, 2007 1 3:48 PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK' NO. 9865 P. 14' 9 THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An adaptor for use with a lock assembly to limit the operation of the lock 5 assembly, the lock assembly includes a housing, a bolt mounted on the housing so as to be movable relative thereto between a release position whereby it is substantially retained within the housing and a locked position whereby the bolt extends from the front face of the housing, a first actuator being operable from an Outer side of the assembly to cause said movement of the bolt, and a second 10 actuator operable from an inner side of the assembly to cause said movement of the bolt, the adaptor including; a mount which in use is fixed in position relative to the housing, a detent movable relative to the mount between an inactive position whereby both the first and second actuators are operable, and an active 15 position whereby the first actuator is operable and the second actuator is operable to move the bolt from the locked position to the release position only; and biasing means for urging the detent towards the active position.

2. An adaptor according to claim 1 wherein the mount is fixed to the 20 housing via a fixing element that is inserted through the front face of the housing, the fixing element locating in a bore formed in the mount.

3. An adaptor according to claim 2 wherein the mount is located in use in an aperture formed in the side wall of the housing, whereby the aperture is capable of accommodating a cylinder lock housing. 25 4.. An adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mount includes a flange that in use abuts the side wall of the housing. 5. An adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the detent includes an arm that is pivotally connected to the mount to enable the detent to pivotally move between the active and inactive positions.

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5. NOV. 2007 13:48 PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK 'NO, 9865 P. 15 10

6. An adaptor according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the detent includes an arm that is associated with the mount to enable the detent to move rectilinearly between the active and inactive positions.

7. An adaptor according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the detent includes a head 5 at a free end of the arm that when the detent is in the active position the head engages an element of the lock assembly so that the second actuator is operable to move the bolt from the locked position to the release position and inoperable to move the bolt from the release position to the lock position.

8. An adaptor according to claim 7 wherein the second actuator includes a 10 hub member that rotates to enable said movement of the bolt, whereby the head is brought into engagement with the hub so that the second actuator can not rotate to move the bolt from the release position to the lock position.

9. An adaptor according to claim 8 wherein the first actuator includes a cam that is rotated by a key controlled lock cylinder, the first actuator shares the hub 15 with the second actuator whereby rotation of the cam causes rotation of the hub and movement of the bolt, the rotation of the cam also causes the cam to engage the head and move the detent to the inactive position so as to allow rotation of the hub.

10. An adaptor according to claim 9 wherein the head includes at least one 20 ramped surface along which the cam slides when moving the detent to the inactive position.

11. An adaptor according to claim 10 wherein the head includes a pair of ramps being located on opposing sides of the head so as to enable the adaptor to be used on a Jock assembly installed on either a right handed edge or left 25 handed edge of the door.

12. An adaptor according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the biasing means is a compression spring which acts between the mount and the arm.

13. A mortice lock assembly including an adaptor according to any one of 30 claims 1 to 12. WfetaqrityadUftmpleie AppfemionXtt$$A ■ Lpdt AaawiMy Adaptor 29 Pd Vt.fai 5. NOV, 2007 13:49 PHILLIPS ORMONDE & FITZPATRICK NO. 9865—P, 16 11

14. An adaptor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the illustrations. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY \ OFFICE OP W.Z. -5 NOV 2007 RErFIVF.DJ W:\1rwtrAbrMtC4mptal AwllCWifiMMSSA * Loch Assembly Adaptor 24 00 G'.PW