AU2012209005A1 - A spacer for a lock assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a spacer for use with a lock assembly having a housing mountable onto a door. The spacer includes first and second elements. The first element is adapted to engage a first member of the housing. The second element in use is located s intermediate a second member of the housing and the door. The second element includes one or more calibrated removable portions. Jki IC) CT) r~ci

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: TNBT HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED Actual Inventosr: JONATHAN WOODCOCK and SIMON BUTT Address for Service: Chrysiliou IP Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 114-115 Biztek, 20 Dale Street Brookvale NSW 2100 Invention Title: A Spacer For A Lock Assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: o:\paients\applications\22566.doctp 22566 A Spacer for A lock Assembly Technical Field This invention broadly relates to a spacer for use in combination with a lock assembly mountable on a door. 5 Background of the invention It is desirable in the lock industry to provide a spacer between a housing of a lock assembly such as that described and shown in international patent application No. PCTIAU2011/000576 and a door on which the lock assembly is mounted such that the housing of the lock assembly can be kept at a certain distance from the door. 10 Spacers currently available in the marketplace however have the shortcoming that they are inherently incapable of assisting a user or installer to carry out customisation to suit doors having different thicknesses. As such, a fitter has to first measure the thickness of the door on which the lock assembly is to be mounted and then work out an appropriate thickness of the spacer based on the door thickness before sourcing a spacer with the desired thickness. 15 Also, it adds to the cost of lock makers having to create multiple moulds for manufacturing spacers with different thicknesses. It is an object of the present invention to provide a spacer which may overcome or at least ameliorate the above shortcomings or which will at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention 20 According to the present invention, there is provided a spacer for use with a lock assembly having a housing mountable onto a door, the spacer including: a first element adapted to engage a first member of the housing; and a second element in use being located intermediate a second member of the housing and the door; 25 wherein the second element includes one or more calibrated removable portions. Preferably, at least part of the second element in use is in contact with the door, the door contacting part having a thickness adapted to be varied by removal or addition of the or each removable portion. In a preferred embodiment, the first element includes an aperture adapted in use to receive 2 22566 the first member of the housing. The second element is preferred to be an elongate wing located on one side of the first element. Preferably, the one or more portions are located on one side of the wing. In a preferred embodiment, the door contacting part has an initial maximum thickness which 5 may be reduced by removal of the or each removable portion. Alternatively, the door contacting part has an initial minimum thickness which may be increased by addition of the or each removable portion. In this embodiment, the or each removable portion is preferred to include attachment means. Preferably, the or each removable portion is in the form of a layer having a calibrated 10 thickness. The calibrated thickness is preferred to correspond to a specific thickness of the door. Each layer may include a marking indicating the corresponding door thickness. The layers are preferred to be staggered to facilitate removal of the or each layer. The door thickness may range from substantially 0.4mm to 4.5mm. Preferably, the marked door thicknesses include one or more of the following; 0.4mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm, 3.5mm and m 4.5mm. In use, the layer or layers above the layer bearing the chosen corresponding door thickness is preferred to be removed. The removal may be effected by way of filing or cutting. The first member of the housing is preferred to be a shelter configured to accommodate a lock cylinder. Preferably, the second member is a casting from which the shelter stems. 20 The second element may also include a means adapted to facilitate gripping of the spacer during removal of the one or more portions. It is preferred that the means is a flange extending from another side of the wing. Preferably, the flange is located at the end of the wing capable of engaging a lateral side of the casting. The spacer is preferred to have a third element which is identical to the second element being 25 located on another side of the first element. Preferably, the third element mirrors the second element. Each of the second and third elements is preferred to include a pair of holes adapted to receive fastening means for securing the housing to the door. Brief Description of the Drawings The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of 3 22566 preferred embodiments, in which: Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a spacer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the spacer of Figure 1; 5 Figure 3 is a plan view of the spacer of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a front elevation of the spacer of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation of the spacer of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a plan view showing the spacer of Figure 1 mounted on a housing of a lock assembly; 10 Figure 7 is a front elevation showing the spacer of Figure 1 mounted on the lock assembly shown in Figure 8; Figure 8 is a perspective view of the spacer of Figure 1 mounted on the lock assembly shown in Figure 8; Figure 9 is a rear perspective exploded view of the spacer of Figure 1, the housing 1s shown in Figure 6 and a roller type door; Figure 10 is a magnified rear perspective exploded view of the spacer of Figure 1, the housing shown in Figure 6 and a part of the roller type door shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a rear perspective view showing an assembly of the spacer of Figure 1, the housing shown in Figure 6 and a part of the roller type door shown in Figure 9; and 20 Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of the assembly of Figure 11 including the spacer of Figure 1, the housing shown in Figure 6 and a part of the roller type door shown in Figure 9. Detailed Description of the Drawings Although the spacer is intended to be used in combination with a lock assembly which is 25 mountable onto a roller type door as described and shown in the exemplary embodiment herein, the spacer may be adapted to be fitted onto other types of lock assembly for mounting onto other types of doors. 4 22566 Referring to Figures I to 8, a spacer 10 for use with a lock assembly 12 (only partially shown herein, full details of the lock assembly can be found in the specification of international patent application No. PCT/AU2011//000576). The lock assembly 12 has a housing 14 which is mountable onto a door (refer to Figures 9 to 12). The spacer 10 has three main elements. s The first element 22 is located in the centre of the spacer 14 having two curved sections 18 and 20 defining an aperture 24 which in use engages by way of receiving the first member of the housing 14. The first member of the housing 14 is in the form of a shelter 26 (refer to Figures 6, 8 and 10) configured to accommodate a lock cylinder 28 (see Figures 6 to 8). The second element is identical to the third element, both in the form of elongate wings 30 io and 32. The first element 22 is flanked by the wings 30 and 32. As best shown in Figures 6 to 8, the second member is in the form of a rectilinear casting 34 from which the shelter 26 stems. Details of the casting 34 can also be found in the specification of international patent application No. PCT/AU2011/000576. Turning to Figures 9 to 12, in use, the wings 30 and 32 are located intermediate the casting 34 of the housing 14 15 and the door 16. Referring back to Figures 1 to 5, each of the wing 30, 32 has calibrated removable portions in the form of removable layers 38, 40, 42 and 44. Each of the wings 30 and 32 has a door contacting part 36 with an initial thickness indicated by A-A as shown in Figure 3. The initial thickness A-A in the present embodiment is the maximum thickness being reducible by 20 removal of one or more of the removable layers 38, 40, 42 and 44 of the wing 30, 32. As best shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the layers 38, 40, 42 and 44 are provided on door facing side of the wing 30, 32. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, each of the layers 38, 40, 42 and 44 has a calibrated thickness which corresponds to a specific thickness of the door 16. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, each of 25 the layers 38, 40, 42 and 44 bears a marking 46 indicating the corresponding door thickness indicated by B-B in Figure 12. Also, the layers 38, 40, 42 and 44 are staggered so as to facilitate viewing of the markings 46 and removal of the layers as desired. As shown by the markings 46 in Figures 1 and 4, the door thickness may range from substantially 0.4mm to above 4.5mm. For example, the marked door thicknesses include 0.4mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm, 3o 3.5mm and 4.5mm. In use, one or more of the layers 38, 40, 42 and 44 above the layer bearing the chosen corresponding door thickness is removed before the 'trimmed' spacer 10 is mounted onto the housing 14. Removal of the layers 38, 40, 42 and 44 may be effected by way of filing using a 5 22566 tool such as a powered belt sander. It will be appreciated that more than one layer may be removed in one go. It should be noted that other tools such as cutting knifes or choppers may also be used to remove unwanted layer(s). Turning to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5, each of the wings 30 and 32 also has a gripping means in 5 the form of a flange 48, 50. Each of the flanges 48 and 50 extends away from the door 16. The flanges 48 and 50 are located at the end of the respective wings 30 and 32. Once mounted onto the housing 14, each flange 48, 50 engages a lateral side of the casting 34. Although not shown in the drawings, finger grips are provided in each of the flanges 48 and 50. Once the spacer 10 is detached from the housing, the flanges 48 and 50 may be gripped i by the user to facilitate removal of the layers 38, 40, 42 and 44 in a level, firm and steady manner. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, wing 32 mirrors wing 30. Layers on the same level may therefore be removed simultaneously or independently, depending on the availability of the removal tool. Referring to Figures 9 to 11, each of the wings 30 and 32 has a pair of holes 52 and 54 15 configured to receive fastening means in the form of screws 56 and 58 for securing the housing 14 to the door 16. Turning to Figure 12, the spacer 10 is shown being mounted onto the housing 14 which in combination with a fascia 60 forms a the lock assembly 12 which is installed in the roller type door 16. 20. Although not shown in the drawings, it is contemplated that in an alternative embodiment, the door contacting part of each of the wings 30 and 32 has an initial minimum thickness which may be increased by addition of one or more removable layers. In such an embodiment, each layer requires one or more attachment means for connecting the added layer onto the door contacting part. The outermost layer then becomes the new door contacting part. 25 Now that preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in some detail, it will be apparent to a skilled person in the art that the spacer of the present invention may offer at least the following advantages: 1. it is easy to install and use; 2. it is suitable for use with doors of different thicknesses requiring minimal 30 adaptation; and 3. it saves manufacturing costs in mass production as only one mould is required. 6 22566 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For instance, the removable portions may be provided in a different way, form and orientation. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the present 5 invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description, 7

Claims (23)

1. A spacer for use with a lock assembly having a housing mountable onto a door, the spacer including: a first element adapted to engage a first member of the housing; and 5 a second element in use being located intermediate a second member of the housing and the door; wherein the second element includes one or more calibrated removable portions.

2. The spacer of claim 1, wherein at least part of the second element in use is in contact with the door, the door contacting part having a thickness adapted to be varied by 10 removal or addition of the or each removable portion.

3. The spacer of either claim I or 2, wherein the first element includes an aperture adapted in use to receive the first member of the housing.

4. The spacer of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second element is an elongate wing located on one side of the first element. 15

5. The spacer of claim 4, wherein the one or more removable portions are located on one side of the elongate wing.

6. The spacer of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the door contacting part has an initial maximum thickness which may be reduced by removal of the or each removable portion. 20

7. The spacer of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the door contacting part has an initial minimum thickness which may be increased by addition of the or each removable portion.

8. The spacer of claim 7, wherein the or each removable portion is preferred to include attachment means. 25

9. The spacer of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each removable portion is in the form of a layer having a calibrated thickness.

10. The spacer of claim 9, wherein the calibrated thickness corresponds to a specific thickness of the door. 8 22566

11. The spacer of either claim 9 or 10, wherein each layer includes a marking indicating the corresponding door thickness.

12. The spacer of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the layers staggered to facilitate removal of the or each layer. 5

13. The spacer of either claim 11 or 12, wherein the door thickness ranges from substantially 0.4mm to 4.5mm.

14. The spacer of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the marked door thicknesses include one or more of the following: 0.4mm, 1.5mm, 2Smm, 3.5mm and 4.5mm.

15. The spacer of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first member of the 10 housing includes a shelter configured to accommodate a lock cylinder.

16. The spacer of claim 15, wherein the second member is a casting from which the shelter stems.

17. The spacer of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second element includes a means adapted to facilitate gripping of the spacer during removal of the one or more 15 portions.

18. The spacer of claim 18, wherein the means is a flange extending from another side of the wing.

19. The spacer of claim 18, wherein the flange is located at the end of the wing capable of engaging a lateral side of the casting.

20 20. The spacer of any one of the preceding claims, which includes a third element being identical to the second element and located on another side of the first element.

21. The spacer of claim 20, wherein the third element mirrors the second element.

22. The spacer of either claim 20 or 21, wherein each of the second and third elements includes a pair of holes adapted to receive fastening means for securing the housing 25 to the door.

23. A spacer substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. 9