AU2004203171B2

AU2004203171B2 - Cylinder Lock

Info

Publication number: AU2004203171B2
Application number: AU2004203171A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Paul Mcneill
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2003-07-17
Filing date: 2004-07-14
Publication date: 2008-10-02
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-14
Also published as: NZ534164A; AU2003903747A0; AU2004203171A1

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: CYLINDER LOCK Applicant: LOCKWOOD SECURITY PRODUCTS PTY LIMITED The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 W:\shamn\brad\Spec\Cylinder Lock Front Page.doc 2 CYLINDER LOCK This invention relates to cylinder locks. The invention is particularly suited for use with a mortice latch assembly and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with reference to mortice latch assemblies. It should be appreciated that the invention has wider application to other latch assemblies such as rim locks and other surface mounted latch assemblies. It should also be appreciated that the invention is applicable to assemblies having a deadbolt rather than a latchbolt, and that a reference in this specification to a latchbolt is intended to include all forms of bolt.

Mortice latch assemblies are normally positioned in a hollowed out (morticed) cavity made in an edge of a door for controlling opening of the door relative to a frame or the like. The manner in which the latch assembly operates to control opening of the door can vary. The latch assembly will include a latchbolt that must be moved to a retracted position to allow the door to be opened. In some situations the latch assembly is provided with an actuator operated by a lever or turnknob for retracting the latchbolt. The latch assembly may also be provided with a snib lock operable from one side only for rendering the actuator inoperable or fixing the position of the latchbolt. The latch assembly may also be provided with a lock cylinder to limit control of operation of the latch assembly to a user with an appropriately configured key. The lock cylinder may control the operation of the snib lock, the actuator, retraction of the latchbolt, the latchbolt or a combination of these. Alternatively lock cylinder may be the only means for moving the latchbolt where the latch assembly does not include an actuator.

Where the cylinder lock provides the sole means for retracting the latchbolt, the user must always locate the key before operating the latch assembly. This can present difficulties operating the latch assembly particularly where the key is not easily located. This encourages the user to leave the key in the cylinder lock substantially negating the increase in security provided by including the cylinder lock.

W:sharon\brad\Speci[LOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECIdoc 3 It is not always clear whether the user will have need for the snib function, in which case they may be paying for an over functional latch assembly to keep their options open. Alternatively, the user may opt for the latch assembly with no cylinder lock and no snib function only to find the snib function would be useful. In this case the user is normally required to buy an entirely new latch assembly.

The above discussion of documents, acts, materials, 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 relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia before the priority date of each claim of this application.

It would be advantageous to provide a cylinder lock that addressed these problems and in particular provides the user with increased functionality and options for controlling operation of the latch assembly.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a cylinder lock for use in controlling operation of a latch assembly, the cylinder lock including: a cylinder body; an actuator assembly mounted in the cylinder body being operable in use to control operation of the latch assembly; and a lock means that when in a locked condition renders the actuator assembly inoperable, the lock means formed in part by a barrel assembly mounted in the cylinder body, the barrel assembly being rotatable about a barrel axis relative to the cylinder body to enable the lock means to assume the locked condition, the barrel assembly including a barrel member housing a plurality of tumblers that when active obstruct rotation of the barrel assembly relative to the cylinder body, the tumblers being responsive to manipulation by an appropriately configured key to be rendered inactive thereby.

It is preferred that the actuator assembly include a shaft extending through the cylinder body, with a tail piece connected to a distal end of the shaft W:sharon\brad\SpeciLOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECI.doc so that rotation of the shaft about an actuation axis rotates the tail piece to in use control operation of the latch assembly.

It is preferred that the actuator assembly include a turn snib connected to a proximal end of the shaft to facilitate rotation of the shaft.

It is preferred that the lock means includes a snib mechanism formed in part by the barrel assembly, the snib mechanism including a detent which is brought into locking engagement with the actuator assembly when the locking means is in the locked condition. It is further preferred that the snib mechanism include a snib cam forming part of the barrel assembly being rotatable therewith to move the detent into locking engagement with the actuator assembly.

It is preferred that the barrel assembly include a lost motion means acting between the barrel member and the snib cam. It is particularly preferred that the lost motion means function so that rotation of the barrel member through 3600 rotates the snib cam through 1800. It is preferred that the lost motion means include a geared driver that drives a driven gear associated with the snib cam, there being 1800 of play between the geared driver and the driven gear to provide the lost motion function.

It is preferred that the actuator assembly include a tail member rotatable with the tail piece and having a recess formed in an external surface thereof into which the detent is seated to lockingly engage the actuator assembly when the tail piece is in a preferred rotational position. It is preferred that the actuator assembly includes snap positioning means for positively locating the tail piece in the preferred rotational position. It is preferred that the snap positioning means includes a biased ball bearing locatable in a further recess formed in the external surface of the tail member into which the ball bearing snaps under the biasing force when the tail piece is in the preferred rotational position.

In a preferred embodiment the tumblers are pin tumblers and the locking means further includes pin chambers formed integrally with the cylinder body and the barrel member.

W:%sharon~brad\SpeciLOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECl.doc The cylinder lock may also include a plug locatable in the cylinder body, the shaft extending through the plug to releasably retain the plug in location in the cylinder body. It is preferred that the plug be located adjacent the pin chambers in the cylinder body so as to expose those pin chambers when the plug is removed.

The invention has the advantage of being able to affect operation of the latch assembly, whether that operation is latchbolt retraction, rendering the lever actuator inoperable or some other function, without the use of a key and yet be ultimately controllable by the key.

A preferred embodiment of the cylinder lock will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated that the drawings are illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the cylinder lock and that the various features as shown are not to be understood as limiting on the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a latch assembly, a morticed door and cylinder lock for operating the latch assembly.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cylinder lock according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cylinder lock from Figure 1 with part of the cylinder body removed.

Figure 4 is a reverse perspective view of the cylinder lock from Figure 3 showing the details of the connection of the shaft to the tail piece.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the cylinder lock shown in Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an end perspective of the cylinder lock showing the locking means in an unlocked condition.

Figure 7 is an end perspective of the cylinder lock showing the locking means in a locked condition.

W:sharonVbrad SpeciALOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECI.doc Referring now to Figure 1 which illustrates a door 1 having a morticed cavity 2 formed through an edge 3 of the door 1. Access to the cavity 2 from a surface 4 of the door 1 is via an aperture 5 formed therethrough. Figure 1 also illustrates a latch assembly 6, or more specifically a latch casing 7, which in use is located in the morticed cavity 2. The latch assembly 6 may be fixed in position in the cavity 2 by any means suitable. Figure 1 also illustrates a latchbolt 9 in the extended position extending through an aperture in a face plate 8. It is to be understood that the type of latchbolt illustrated is an example only, and the invention is in no way limited for use with a latch assembly having this type of latchbolt. The latch assembly illustrated is in its simplest form in that movement of the latchbolt between extended and retracted positions is controlled by a cylinder lock 10. The invention is not limited to use with this type of latch assembly as it is also suitable for use with the latch assembly of the type including a lever or turnknob operated actuator for retracting the latchbolt.

Referring now to Figure 2 which illustrates the cylinder lock 10 and in particular a cylinder body 11 viewed from a proximal end thereof. A front surface, and in particular a keyway 12 extending through a front surface of a barrel member 13 is shown at the proximal end of the cylinder body 11. The operation of the barrel member 13 is best illustrated in subsequent figures and will be described hereinafter with reference to those figures.

A turn snib 14 is also illustrated at a proximal end of the cylinder body, rotation of which rotates a tail piece 15 illustrated at a distal end of the cylinder body 11. The turn snib 14 and tail piece 15 form part of an actuator assembly 16 the operation of which is best illustrated in subsequent figures, and the functionality of those features will be described with reference to those figures.

Referring now to Figure 3 which illustrates the cylinder lock 10 with a portion of the cylinder body 11 removed so as to expose a barrel assembly 17 and the actuator assembly 16. The barrel assembly 17 is located within a bore (best appreciated with reference to figure 5) of the cylinder body for rotation about a barrel axis BB. The barrel assembly 17 includes a snib cam 18 connected to the barrel member 13 via a lost motion means. The preferred form W:\sharon\brad\SpecLOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECl.doc of lost motion means is a geared driver 19 that drives a driven gear (not shown in Figure 3) associated with the snib cam 18, the operation of which will be described later in this specification with reference to Figures 6 and 7.

The proximal end of the barrel assembly and in particular a portion of the barrel member 13 adjacent the front face thereof, is located in an annular groove 20 formed in the cylinder body 11. This facilitates locating the axial position of the barrel member 13 to the suitable depth in the cylinder body 11. In order to retain the barrel member 13 in this axial position the geared driver 19 interacts with a pin 21 to provide a means of axial retention. The outer surface of the geared driver 19 illustrated includes a part channel which combines with a part channel in the barrel member 13, the walls of the channel providing stops engaged by the pin 21. It should be appreciated that the form of channel illustrated is merely preferred, and that the channel may be formed in a different way, possible formed entirely in the barrel member 13 or the geared driver 19.

The pin 21 illustrated is substantially cylindrical and includes a pair of surfaces that face surfaces of the walls of the channel and extend substantially parallel therewith. Clearly other forms of pin are possible.

The geared driver 19 is preferably attached to the barrel member 13 by way of a pair of screws (not shown), however other means for attaching the geared driver 19 may be possible. Alternatively, the geared driver 19 may be integrally formed with the barrel member 13.

Referring now to Figure 4, the cylinder lock 10 includes a lock means that when in a locked condition renders the actuator assembly 16 inoperable.

The lock means is formed in part by the barrel assembly 17, and includes a detent 23 which is locatable in a recess 24 formed in a tail member associated with the tail piece The lock means illustrated in Figure 4 also includes a plurality of pin chambers 26 formed in the cylinder body 11 for receiving pins 27 to obstruct rotation of the barrel member 13 relative to the cylinder body 11. The pins 27 W:\sharon\brad\SpecILOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECl.doc may be manipulated by an appropriately configured key inserted in the keyway 12 to be rendered inactive in a manner understood by the industry. It should be appreciated that whilst the illustrated embodiment includes pin tumblers 27, the invention is also applicable to other forms of tumblers such as disc tumblers.

The actuator assembly illustrated in Figure 4 shows a shaft extending through a plug 28 and into the tail member 25 and tail piece 15. As is shown in Figure 5, the plug 28 can be removed from the cylinder body 11 by first removing the shaft 29. In turn the shaft 29 is retained in position by a circlip located at a distal end thereof. It should be appreciated that by having the plug 28 removable from the cylinder body 11 provides greater access to the pin chambers 26 to facilitate reconfiguration of the combination provided by the pins 27.

Referring still to Figure 5 which also illustrates a ball bearing 31 below the detent 23. As is shown in Figure 6 the ball bearing is locatable in a further recess 32 formed on the exterior surface of the tail member 25. The ball bearing 31 is resiliently biased by a biasing means 22 forming part of the plug 28. This facilitates snap positioning, as opposed to locking, of the rotational position of the tail member when it approaches a preferred rotational position to facilitate operation of the lock means. Other forms of snap positioning means are clearly possible.

Figure 6 illustrates the locking means 33 in an unlocked condition whereby the actuator assembly 16 is free to rotate. Whilst this illustration shows the detent 23 spaced from the tail member 25, the detent 23 may alternatively abut the tail member 25 and be free to move vertically in response to rotation of the tail member The locking means 33 illustrated in Figure 7 is in the locked condition whereby the barrel assembly 17 and in particular the snib cam 18 have been rotated to urge the detent 23 into locking engagement with the tail member In this position no gap exists between the detent 23 and the snib cam 18, or more specifically a cam surface 34 of the snib cam 18. The radial dimension of W: sharon\brad\SpeciLOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECl.doc the cam surface 34 increases over 1800. Clearly other rotational ranges are possible.

In order to remove the key from the keyway 12 pin chambers 35 (see Figure 4) of the barrel member 13 must be aligned with the pin chambers 26 of the cylinder body 11. Accordingly, it is preferred that the barrel member 13 be rotated through at least 3600. Rotation of the snib cam 18 through 360' would result in zero displacement of the cam surface, thus the lost motion means has been provided. The geared driver 19 includes a gear 36 that engages the driven gear 37 of the snib cam 18, there being 1800 of play between the gear 36 of the geared driver and the driven gear 37.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a relatively simple cylinder lock that allows operation of some function of an associated latch assembly without the use of a key and yet ultimately controllable by the key. The removable plug held in position by the shaft is also considered an elegant improvement.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the cylinder lock previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

W:Asharon\braMdlSpeciALOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECl.doc

Claims

1. A cylinder lock for use in controlling operation of a latch assembly, the cylinder lock including: a cylinder body; an actuator assembly mounted in the cylinder body being operable in use to control operation of the latch assembly; and a lock means that when in a locked condition renders the actuator assembly inoperable, the lock means formed in part by a barrel assembly mounted in the cylinder body, the barrel assembly being rotatable about a barrel axis relative to the cylinder body to enable the lock means to assume the locked condition, the barrel assembly including a barrel member housing a plurality of tumblers that when active obstruct rotation of the barrel assembly relative to the cylinder body, the tumblers being responsive to manipulation by an appropriately configured key to be rendered inactive thereby.

2. A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein the actuator assembly includes a shaft extending through the cylinder body, a tail piece connected to a distal end of the shaft so that rotation of the shaft about an actuation axis rotates the tail piece to in use control operation of the latch assembly.

3. A cylinder lock according to claim 2 including a turn snib connected to a proximal end of the shaft to facilitate rotation of the shaft by a user.

4. A cylinder lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lock means includes a snib mechanism formed in part by the barrel assembly, the snib mechanism including a detent which is brought into locking engagement with the actuator assembly when the locking means is in the locked condition. A cylinder lock according to claim 4, wherein the snib mechanism includes a snib cam forming part of the barrel assembly being rotatable therewith to move the detent into locking engagement with the actuator assembly.

W:Asharon\brad\SpeciALOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECIdoc

6. A cylinder lock according to claim 5, wherein the barrel assembly includes a lost motion means acting between the barrel member and the snib cam.

7. A cylinder lock according to claim 6, wherein the lost motion means functions so that rotation of the barrel member through 3600 rotates the snib cam through 1800.

8. A cylinder lock according to claim 7, wherein the lost motion means includes a geared driver that drives a driven gear associated with the snib cam, there being 1800 of play between the geared driver and the driven gear to provide the lost motion function.

9. A cylinder lock according to claim 8, wherein the actuator assembly includes a tail member rotatable with the tail piece and having a recess formed in an external surface thereof into which the detent is seated to lockingly engage the actuator assembly when the tail piece is in a preferred rotational position.

A cylinder lock according to claim 9, wherein the actuator assembly includes snap positioning means for positively locating the tail piece in the preferred rotational position.

11. A cylinder lock according to claim 10, wherein the snap positioning means includes a biased ball bearing locatable in a further recess formed in the external surface of the tail member into which the ball bearing snaps under the biasing force when the tail piece is in the preferred rotational position.

12. A cylinder lock according to claim 11, wherein the tumblers are pin tumblers and the locking means further includes pin chambers formed integrally with the cylinder body and the barrel member. W:sharonraSpecLOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPECl.doc 12

13. A cylinder lock according to claim 12 including a plug locatable in the cylinder body, the shaft extending through the plug to releasably retain the plug in location in the cylinder body.

14. A cylinder lock according to claim 13, wherein the plug is located adjacent the pin chambers so as to expose the pin chambers when the plug is removed. DATED: 14 July 2004 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: LOCKWOOD SECURITY PRODUCTS PTY LTD 0 W:\sharon\brad\SpecJLOCKABLE TURN SNIB CYLINDER SPEC.doc