AU2012100117A4 - Improvements in locks - Google Patents

Abstract

A lock includes a casing, a latch moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position, engaging means (07) located within the casing and moveable to cause the latch to be retained in the latched position and to enable the latch to be moved to the unlatched 5 position, and a switch means (10) that selectively moves laterally. A motion translating means (11, 12, 13, 071) translates lateral movement of the switch means (10) into longitudinal movement of the engaging means (07). The motion translating means includes a rotary member (12, 13) mounted for forward and reverse rotary movement, a driving arrangement (11) between the switch means and the rotary member so that lateral 10 movement of the switch means drives the rotary member to make its forward and reverse rotary movements, and a driven arrangement (071) between the rotary member and the engaging means so that forward rotary movement of the rotary member drives the engaging means from its release position to its retaining position and so that reverse rotary movement of the rotary member drives the engaging means from its retaining 15 position to its release position. The diving and driven arrangements comprise gear wheel and gear rack mechanisms.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKS Field of Invention This invention relates to locks and more particularly to improvements to door locks for fitting to sliding doors or hinged doors, 5 Background of the Invention There are a number of existing locks which enable doors to be deadlocked or disengaged from a deadlocked position without the use of a key. This is generally done by a button or knob and can be very useful in situations where a user does not immediately have access to the door key, but can deadlock a door to prevent access from, 10 for example, the outside or the other side of the door, Buttons or knobs of this type generally provide a twisting or rotary action that through some engagement means, such as a cam or arm, engage a slide plate to abut against and deadlock a latch bolt. Such twisting action can be difficult, particularly for elderly or disabled people or people having arthritic joints, as it requires gripping and 15 twisting the knob. This may be harder when such an action has to be done quickly. Another type of lock with a quick manual deadlocking mechanism is shown in Australian Innovation Patent no. 2009100523. That lock has a lateral sliding switch which can be easier to use, but the mechanism may not be able to be readily mounted to some doors, e.g. those having two spaced elongated slots where a lock is to be mounted 20 as the web between the two slots can interfere with the mechanism. The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art in Australia.

Object of the invention The present invention seeks to provide an alternative lock construction that can alleviate these disadvantages including making it easy for a user to quickly perform a deadlocking and releasing action. 5 Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lock including: a casing; a latch moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position; engaging means located within the casing and moveable in a longitudinal direction 10 between a retaining position in which the engaging means causes the latch to be retained in the latched position and a release position in which the engaging means enables the latch to be moved to the unlatched position; switch means selectively moveable laterally; and motion translating means for translating lateral movement of the switch means into 15 longitudinal movement of the engaging means, the motion translating means including a rotary member mounted for forward and reverse rotary movement, a driving arrangement between the switch means and the rotary member so that lateral movement of the switch means drives the rotary member to make its forward and reverse rotary movements, and a driven arrangement between the rotary member and the engaging means so that forward 20 rotary movement of the rotary member drives the engaging means from its release position to its retaining position and so that reverse rotary movement of the rotary member drives the engaging means from its retaining position to its release position, wherein the switch means is selectively moveable laterally to a first position whereby operative functioning of the driving arrangement, rotary member, and driven 25 arrangement translates the lateral movement of the switch means to longitudinal 2 movement of the engaging means so as to cause the latch to be retained in the latched position and the switch means is also selectively moveable laterally to a second position whereby operative functioning of the driving arrangement, rotary member, and driven arrangement translates the lateral movement of the switch means to longitudinal 5 movement of the engaging means so as to enable the latch to be moved to the unlatched position, In a preferred embodiment, the rotary member includes a geared member and wherein at least one of the driving arrangement and driven arrangement includes a gear rack respectively arranged in association with the switch means so as to be linearly 10 moveable therewith or arranged in association with the engaging means so as to be moveable longitudinally therewith. Preferably, both the driving arrangement and driven arrangement include respective gear racks, the gear rack of the driving arrangement being mounted for movement with the switch means so as to be moveable laterally therewith and thereby drive the rotary member to make its forward and reverse rotary movements, 15 the gear rack of the driven arrangement being mounted in association with the engaging means so that forward and reverse rotary movements of the rotary member drive the engaging means in the longitudinal direction between the retaining and release positions. In a preferred embodiment, the rotary member comprises a gear wheel with gear teeth around the periphery thereof and mounted in the casing for rotary movement about 20 a rotation axis generally orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction of movement of the engaging means and the lateral direction of movement of the switch means. In one such construction, the gear wheel has two co-axially mounted gear parts assembled together so as to be rotatable as a unitary member with the two gear parts being separated by an intermediate bearing section co-operating with a support bearing formation within the 25 casing. 3 Preferably, the engaging means in its retaining position directly engages with the latch in its latched position and prevents its movement to the unlatched position. However this is not essential and for example it may be possible for the engaging means to effect the latch retention and the latch release through the intermediate action of 5 another mechanism e.g. one that selectively interferes with the functioning of the operating handles, Where the lock is for use in locking a hinged wing such as door, preferably the latch comprises a slidable locking bolt or striker with a lateral opening located within the casing into which the engaging member enters in its retaining position to thereby prevent 10 retraction of the slidable locking bolt or striker from its latched position to its unlatched position. Where the lock is for use in locking a sliding wing, such as a sliding door, against movement, preferably the latch comprises a pivotable locking tongue or striker having a lateral opening concavity located within the casing and into which the engaging member 15 enters to prevent rotation of the pivotable locking tongue or striker when in its latched position to its unlatched position. Brief description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings wherein: 20 Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lock according to. a first embodiment of the invention, particularly adapted for hinged doors; Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view partly in section showing the main elements of the manual deadlocking mechanism of the lock of Figure 1; 4 Figures 3 and 4 are side sectional views of the lock of Figure 1 with the outer casing absent and showing the deadlocking mechanism in the latch bolt retaining and latch bolt release positions respectively; Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a lock according to second embodiment 5 of the invention, particularly adapted for sliding doors; Figures 6 and 7 are side sectional views of the lock of Figure 5 without the casing and showing the deadlocking mechanism in the latch hook release and latch hook retaining positions respectively; Figures 8 and 9 are simplified schematic sketches of alternative possible mechanisms 10 for translating the lateral movement of the switch means into longitudinal movement of the engaging means using an intermediate rotary member, Detailed description of the preferred embodiments Referring to Figures I to 4 there is shown a lock for use with hinged doors having handles 01, a casing having internal and external covers 04, 05 and the mechanism casing 15 components 02, 03. The lock also includes a key operated cylinder lock mechanism 17. A latch 06 in the form of a latch bolt is moveable between a latched position (Figs. 3 and 4) and an unlatched position (not shown) in which the bolt 06 is retracted into the casing. Further detailed description of the conventional elements of the lock is not necessary because they can be readily understood from the drawings and also because they are 20 unrelated to the present invention, The lock includes an engaging means 07 within the casing and moveable in a longitudinal direction between a retaining position (Fig. 3) in which the engaging means causes the latch bolt 06 to be retained in the latched position and a release position (Fig. 4) in which the engaging means 07 enables the latch bolt 06 to be moved to the unlatched 5 position, The key operated lock mechanism 17 can be operated to move the engaging means 07 in this manner. A switch means having a switch button 10 is selectively moveable laterally by a user to selectively deadlock or unlock the latch bolt 06. In particular the lock includes motion 5 translating means for translating lateral movement of the switch button 10 of the switch means into longitudinal movement of the engaging means 07. The motion translating means includes a rotary member 12, 13 mounted for forward and reverse rotary movement, a driving arrangement 11 between the switch means 10 and the rotary member 12, 13 so the lateral movement of the switch means drives the rotary member to 10 make its forward and reverse rotary movements, and a driven arrangement 071 between the rotary member 12, 13 and the engaging means 07 so that forward rotary movement of the rotary member drives the engaging means 07 from its release position to its retaining position and so that reverse rotary movement of the rotary member drives the engaging member from its retaining position to its release position. 15 In the embodiment of Figs, I to 4, the rotary member comprises a geared member, particularly shown as a gear wheel, The gear wheel is in two co-axial parts 12, 13 assembled together so as to be rotatable as a unitary member, e.g, by being assembled with a shaft 131 of the gear wheel part 13 having a non-circular cross-section (such as a flat on one side) fitted into a complementary bore 121 in gear wheel part 12. The gear 20 wheel pats 12 and 13 when assembled have between the geared pals a bearing section 122, best seen in Fig. 2, which is rotatable within a support bearing formation 025 within the casing. A further bearing formation 026 is provided for the outer end of the gear part 12. The driving arrangement 11 between the switch means 10 and the rotary member 25 gear part 13 is shown as including a gear rack 112 provided by the laterally moveable 6 driving member 111 which is provided behind the casing face plate 04 aligned with the slot 041 and the switch button 10 is fixed to the member 111. With this construction, lateral movement of the switch button 10 moves the driving member 111 and the associated gear rack 112 rotates the gear part 13. 5 The driven arrangement 071 between the rotary member 12, 13 and the engaging means 07 comprises the gear wheel part 12 in driving engagement with the gear rack 072 provided by the longitudinally moveable engaging means 07 so that rotational movement of the rotary gear part 12 translates to linear movement in the longitudinal direction of the engaging means 07. 10 With this arrangement, as best shown in Figs, 2 to 4, when the switch button 10 is selectively moved laterally from the position in Figs. 2 and 4 to a position shown in Fig. 3 i.e. a movement fully to the right, the movement in that direction causes the gear rack 112 to rotate the rotary gear pal 13 in the clockwise direction, and likewise causes clockwise rotational movement of the rotary gear 12 which, in turn, through its meshing 15 with the gear rack 072 causes the slidable engaging means 07 to move upwardly in the longitudinal direction whereby the operative end 075 projects into the lateral opening 065 in the latch bolt 06 and preventing its retraction into the casing. Reverse movement of the switch button 10 laterally from the position in Fig 3 to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 i.e. a movement fully to the left, causes the gear rack 112 20 to rotate the rotary gear part 13 in the anticlockwise direction, and likewise causes anticlockwise rotational movement of the rotary gear part 12 which, in turn, through its meshing with the gear rack 072 causes the slidable engaging means 07 to move downwardly in the longitudinal direction whereby the operative end 075 retracts from the lateral opening 065 in the latch bolt 06 and enables its retraction into the casing by 25 operation of the handles 01, 7 In Figs. 5 to 7 the construction and operation of the switch means 10 and motion translating means 11, 12, 13, 071 is essentially the same as in Figs. i to 4. In this second embodiment however the latch comprises a pivotable locking tongue or striker or hook 09 having a lateral opening concavity 091 located within the casing and into which the 5 engaging member 07 enters to prevent rotation of the pivotable locking tongue or striker or hook 09 when in its latched position to its unlatched position. The latch 09 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 in its latched position, although in Fig. 6 the engaging member 07 is lowered into its release position enabling the latch to be moved if required to the unlatched position by operating the handle 01 or 02. 10 In the illustrated embodiments of Figs 1 to 7, both the driving arrangement and driven arrangement include respective gear racks, However embodiments are possible in which the rotary member includes a geared member but in which only one of the driving arrangement and driven arrangement includes a gear rack. For example in Fig. 8 the switch button 10 moves the member I111 which has a projection 117 engaging in a socket is 137 of the rotary member 12, 13. The gear part 12 is substantially the same as in the earlier figures and drives the engaging means 07 through gear rack 072. In the further alternative in Fig. 8 the switch 10 and driving arrangement member 111, gear rack 112 and drive gear part 13 are as in earlier embodiments. However the rotary part 12 coaxially arranged with and movable by the gear part 13 has a projection 20 128 engaged in socket 078 of the engaging member 07 to translate the rotary movement of the rotary pat 12 into longitudinal movement of the member 07. It will be seen that the embodiments of the lock described and illustrated herein can be simple and effective to enable a used to quickly and effectively deadlock the lock mechanism without needing to use a key in the associated key barrel. Lateral linear 25 switching movement makes the manual operation simple and the translation to 8 longitudinal sliding movement of the latch engaging member keeps the mechanism compatible with known types of opening and locking mechanisms. It is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the preferred embodiments of the invention as herein described 5 without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 9

Claims (8)

1. A lock including: a casing; a latch moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position; 5 engaging means located within the casing and moveable in a longitudinal direction between a retaining position in which the engaging means causes the latch to be retained in the latched position and a release position in which the engaging means enables the latch to be moved to the unlatched position; switch means selectively moveable laterally; and 10 motion translating means for translating lateral movement of the switch means into longitudinal movement of the engaging means, the motion translating means including a rotary member mounted for forward and reverse rotary movement, a driving arrangement between the switch means and the rotary member so that lateral movement of the switch means drives the rotary member to make its forward and reverse rotary movements, and a 15 driven arrangement between the rotary member and the engaging means so that forward rotary movement of the rotary member drives the engaging means from its release position to its retaining position and so that reverse rotary movement of the rotary member drives the engaging means from its retaining position to its release position, wherein the switch means is selectively moveable laterally to a first position 20 whereby operative functioning of the driving arrangement, rotary member, and driven arrangement translates the lateral movement of the switch means to longitudinal movement of the engaging means so as to cause the latch to be retained in the latched position and the switch means is also selectively moveable laterally to a second position whereby operative functioning of the driving arrangement, rotary member, and driven 25 arrangement translates the lateral movement of the switch means to longitudinal 10 movement of the engaging means so as to enable the latch to be moved to the unlatched position.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein the rotary member includes a geared member and wherein at least one of the driving arrangement and driven arrangement includes a 5 gear rack respectively arranged in association with the switch means so as to be linearly moveable therewith or arranged in association with the engaging means so as to be moveable longitudinally therewith,

3. A lock as claimed in claim 2 wherein both the driving arrangement and driven arrangement include respective gear racks, the gear rack of the driving arrangement being 10 mounted for movement with the switch means so as to be moveable laterally therewith and thereby drive the rotary member to make its forward and reverse rotary movements, the gear rack of the driven arrangement being mounted in association with the engaging means so that forward and reverse votary movements of the rotary member drive the engaging means in the longitudinal direction between the retaining and release positions. 15

4. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rotary member comprises a gear wheel with gear teeth around the periphery thereof and mounted in the casing for rotary movement about a rotation axis generally orthogonal to both the longitudinal direction of movement of the engaging means and the lateral direction of movement of the switch means, 20

5. A lock as claimed in claim 4 wherein the gear wheel has two co-axially mounted gear parts assembled together so as to be rotatable as a unitary member with the two gear parts being separated by an intermediate bearing section co-operating with a support bearing formation within the casing. I1

6. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the engaging means in its retaining position directly engages with the latch in its latched position and prevents its movement to the unlatched position.

7. A lock as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lock is for use in locking a hinged wing 5 such as door and wherein the latch comprises a slidable locking bolt or striker with a lateral opening located within the casing into which the engaging member enters in its retaining position to thereby prevent retraction of the slidable locking bolt or striker from its latched position to its unlatched position.

8, A lock as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lock is for use in locking a sliding wing, 10 such as a sliding door, against movement, and wherein the latch comprises a pivotable locking tongue or striker having a lateral opening concavity located within the casing and into which the engaging member enters to prevent rotation of the pivotable locking tongue or striker when in its latched position to its unlatched position. 12