AU2013101033B4

AU2013101033B4 - Lock mechanism

Info

Publication number: AU2013101033B4
Application number: AU2013101033A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Daryl Stuart
Original assignee: IRS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: IRS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-01
Filing date: 2013-07-31
Publication date: 2013-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-31
Also published as: AU2013101033A4

Abstract

A lock mechanism is disclosed for use with a T-handle type lock for use in sealing or securing an opening. The lock mechanism of the present invention is adapted to provide a latch for communicating with and engaging a strike plate or other aperture. A rotation of the T-handle of the present invention between a first position and a second position provides a movement of the latch along a linear path between an engaged and a disengaged position. The lock mechanism having biasing means for biasing the latch in the engaged position. The latch also adapted to move independently to the T-handle such that the latch may communicate with and engage a strike plate while the T-handle is in the first position.

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A INNOVATION PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO: LODGED: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED: ACCEPTED: PUBLISHED: RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: IRS Pty Ltd ACTUAL INVENTOR: Daryl Stuart ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of PO Box 530, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, AUSTRALIA. INVENTION TITLE: "LOCK MECHANISM" DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number 2012903297 filed on 1 August 2012 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 TITLE "LOCK MECHANISM" FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a lock mechanism, and in particular to a T handle lock mechanism. BACKGROUND [0002] It is known to use T handle locks on vehicles, buildings machinery or other lockable doors or compartments to limit access and improve security. The handle of a T handle lock can often be folded into a stowed position flush with the lock trim or housing for keeping the handle safe from unintentional impact while not in use as well as improving use of space and aesthetics. Known T handle lock mechanisms are provided with a latch fixed to a base, the latch being rotatable between an extended position and a retracted position by turning the T handle. While a door is closed and the lock mechanism is moved to the extended position the latch is rotated and accommodated within an aperture within a striking plate or door jamb for example thereby locking the door from opening until the T handle is turned again to the retracted position. [0003] Problems arise with prior art T handle lock mechanisms when a door is open and the T handle lock mechanism in the locked position. Because the latch of the known T handle lock mechanism is arranged to rotate into a locked position any attempt to close a door with the lock mechanism in the incorrect position will be hampered by the latch engaging with the doorjamb or striking plate which can result in damage to the door, the striking plate, or the latch. [00041 The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous T handle lock mechanisms.

3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a T handle lock mechanism comprising a housing configured to be attached to a surface, an interconnecting portion rotatably supported by the housing and arranged to engage a movable latch, and a T handle fixed at a first end of the interconnecting portion, the T handle movable between a first position where the latch is in an extended position to a second position where the latch is in a retracted position, wherein the latch is configured to move along a linear path as the T handle is rotated between the first position and the second position. [0006] Preferably the lock mechanism is adapted such that the latch is permitted to move independently to the T handle. Preferably the independent movement of the latch is limited to occur when the T handle is in the first position. [0007] Preferably the latch comprises an angled surface for engaging a striking plate and urging a linear movement of the latch. [0008] Preferably the interconnecting member comprises a spindle adapted to drive a cam member, the cam member arranged to abut with a cam engaging portion of the latch for transferring a rotational movement of the T handle into a linear movement of the latch. [0009] Preferably the cam engaging portion of the latch comprises an upstanding pin. [0010] Preferably the lock mechanism comprises means to bias the latch in the extended position while the T handle is in the first position. [0011] Preferably the T handle is adapted to be to be moved to a folded position when the T handle lock mechanism is un-used. Preferably the handle is lockable in the un-used position.

4 A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0013] Figure 1 is a top view of a T handle lock mechanism with the T handle in a stowed position; Figure 2 is a side view of the T handle lock mechanism of Figure 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a side view of the lock mechanism of Figure 2 with the T handle in use in a first position; Figure 4 shows the lock mechanism of Figure 3 with the T handle in a second position; Figure 5 is a simplified bottom view of the T handle lock mechanism of Figure 3 showing the latch in an extended position; and Figure 6 is a simplified bottom view of the T handle lock mechanism of Figure 4 showing the latch in a retracted position. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0014] Referring to the Figures, there is shown a lock mechanism 10 comprising a lock housing 12, handle portion 14 and lock trim 16. The lock mechanism 10 further comprises an interconnecting portion spacing apart and connecting together the handle portion 14 with a latch 18. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the handle portion 14 comprises a T handle generally configured to be in the shape of a "T" as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 4. [0015] It should be understood that the lock trim 16 shown in the Figures may be of any desirable shape or configuration and is not limited to the design shown in the Figures. [0016] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the interconnecting portion comprises a spindle 22 and a cam member 24. The spindle 22 having a first end and a 5 second end. The first end of spindle 22 is adapted to be driven by the handle portion 14 such that when the handle portion 14 is turned by an operator the spindle 22 rotates within the lock mechanism 10. The spindle 22 is also adapted to have drive means adapted to drive the cam member 24 such that when the spindle 22 rotates within the lock mechanism 10 the cam member 24 also rotates. Preferably the spindle 22 drive means comprises a length of square section (not shown) which is complementary to a square aperture within the cam member (not shown). Thereby as the handle portion 14 is turned the spindle 22 is rotated about its longitudinal axis and the cam member 24 is also urged to also rotate about a longitudinal axis of the spindle 22. It is to be understood that other drive means may also be used as would be understood by a skilled addressee. [0017] As shown in Figure 2, a preferred embodiment of the present invention further comprises a spring 44, spring retainer washer 42 and a nut 40 disposed at an opposed second end of the spindle 22. The spring 44, spring retainer washer 42 and nut 40 permit the spindle 22 to have an axial movement along the longitudinal axis as is required for folding the handle portion 14 between an in use position and a stowed position. As is generally known in the art the handle portion 14 is pivotally connected to the first end of the spindle such that the handle portion 14 may be moved relative to the spindle 22 to the stowed position in which the handle portion is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle 22 as seen in Figures 1 and 2. [0018] The latch 18 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a body 50 having a peripheral end 52 with an angled surface 54 adapted to engage a strike plate (not shown). The latch 18 body 50 has means to engage the cam member 24, in the preferred embodiment the means to engage comprise an upstanding pin 56 as seen in Figure 5. In the preferred embodiment the upstanding pin 56 is adapted to protrude through a slot 58 of the lock housing 12, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, such that the pin 56 can engage with the cam member 24 proximal an external surface 23 of the lock housing 12. It should be understood that the means to engage may have other configurations such as a geared or levered arrangement for example which would provide a similar function and would be evident to a person skilled in the art.

6 [0019] The cam member 24 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an outer edge having a first detent 25 (see Figure 6) and second detent 29 (see Figure 5) adapted to engage at least in part the pin 56. The first and second detents 25,29 being spaced apart by an angle of substantially 90 degrees and connected together by an arcuate portion 27 arranged to contact and guide the pin member 56 as the cam member 24 is rotated along with the spindle 22. The first detent 25 and the second detent 29 are disposed at different distances from the longitudinal axis of the spindle 22 such that the first detent 25 is proximal the spindle 22 and the second detent 29 is distal to the spindle 22. This configuration thus permits moving and retaining the pin 56 closer to or further away from the spindle 22 and in effect moving the latch 18 between an extended position as seen in Figures 3 and 5 when the pin 56 is seated in the fist detent 25 and a retracted position as shown in Figures 4 and 6 when the pin is seated in the second detent 29. [0020] It should also be understood that the latch 18 has means to bias, such as for example a spring (not shown), arranged to bias the latch 18 toward the extended position as shown in Figure 3 while the handle portion 14 is in the first position. The means to bias also ensures the pin 56 is substantially in contact with the arcuate portion 27 as the handle portion 14 is moved between the first and second positions. [0021] As seen in Figures 3 and 5 the latch 18 is in a fully extended position when the pin member 56 is seated in the first detent 25. Conversely, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the latch 18 is in a fully retracted position when the pin member 56 is seated in the second detent 29. It should be understood that at a point midway between the first and second positions the pin member 56 will be biased into an abutting and sliding relationship with the arcuate portion 27 and the latch 18 will be guided into or out of the lock mechanism 10 depending on which direction the operator turns the handle portion 14. [0022] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the latch 18 is moved from 7 the first extended position to the second retracted position by an anti-clockwise movement of the handle portion 14, however this arrangement could be reversed such as by a re-configuration of the cam member 24 for example. [0023] As seen in Figure 3 with the handle portion 14 in the first position the latch 18 is biased in the extended position by the means to bias, however it should be appreciated that a suitable force applied to the angled surface 54 of the latch 18 may enable the latch 18 to move independently to the spindle 22 and cam member 24 in a direction against the spring (not shown). [0024) In use, the lock mechanism 10 of the present invention may be used with to any door, compartment, drawer, hatch or other closeable opening or access point with the latch arranged to be engaged by a portion of a frame or a strike plate (not shown) for example as is known in the art. Once fitted, an operator may open the lock mechanism 10 in the usual way placing the handle portion 14 into the in-use position and turning the handle portion 14 from the first position to the second position. By turning the handle portion 14 the spindle 22 is urged to rotate about its longitudinal axis and thus drives the cam member 24. The latch 18 pin 56 is dislodged from the first detent 25 and moved along the slot 58 by the arcuate portion 27 of the cam member 24 until the pin 56 is seated in the second detent 29 at which point the latch 18 is in the retracted position, the lock mechanism is disengaged and the door may be opened. [0025] Due to the linear movement of the latch 18, the T handle lock mechanism 10 may be closed regardless of the position of the handle portion 14. If the handle portion 14 is in the first position and the latch 18 is extended, the angled surface 54 engages with a strike plate (not shown) urging the latch 18 to move against the means to bias and into the retracted position. Thereby the present invention allows the lock mechanism to be closed when the handle portion 14 is in either the first or the second position, Once the lock mechanism 10 is in the closed position the means to bias will urge the latch 18 to extend again so that it may be engaged by the door frame or strike plate (not shown).

8 [0026] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A lock mechanism, having a single side provided for operator access, the lock mechanism comprising: a housing configured to be mounted to a surface such that the single side forms part of the surface and is thereby accessible by the operator, an interconnecting portion rotatably supported by the housing and arranged to engage a movable latch, the latch being movable along a linear path, and a t-handle connected with a first end of the interconnecting portion and in use substantially projecting from the single side, the t-handle being rotatable between a first position wherein the latch is in a substantially extended position, and a second position wherein the latch is in a substantially retracted position, wherein the lock mechanism is arranged to provide for a movement of the latch that is independent to a rotation of the t-handle.

2. A lock mechanism according to claims 1, wherein the t-handle is pivotably connected to the interconnecting portion such that at least a portion of the t-handle may be selectively moved, independent to the interconnecting portion, between an in-use position and a stowed position.

3. A lock mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the t-handle is substantially received into the single side of the housing when moved to the stowed position.

4. A lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a means to bias is arranged to bias the latch toward the extended position, the independent movement of the latch actuated by a force acting against the means to bias, the force being applied to the latch while the t-handle is substantially in the first position.

5. A lock mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the interconnecting portion comprises a spindle adapted to drive a cam member, the cam member is arranged to abut with a cam engaging portion of the latch for transferring a rotational movement of the t-handle into a movement of the latch along the linear path.