AU2014203281B2 - A locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking device (30) for an openable panel such as a door, window or similar includes a moveable engagement member (18), a handle (1) and a lock (19). The moveable engagement member (18) is moveable between an engagement position for securing the panel and a 5 disengaged position permitting opening of the panel. The handle (1) is operable to move the engagement member (18) between the engagement position and the disengaged position. A lock (19) is operable on the moveable engagement member (18) to lock the member (18) in the engagement position. The lock (19) is selectively operable by a key or, at the option of the user, by snib action without the use of a key. The snib action to snib and unsnib the lock is effected by 10 simple rotation of the handle (1), without any other movement of the handle (1).

Description

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

FOR THE INVENTION ENTITLED:

A locking device

Applicant:

CiiLOCK Engineering Pty Ltd

The invention is described in the following statement:

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A locking device

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a locking device for an openable panel such as a door window or similar and includes locks for pivotal and sliding doors and windows.

Background of the invention

It is known to provide handle and lock sets with the option of a snib. The snib takes the form of an actuator provided on the inside faceplate of the handle and lock set, enabling the user to lock or unlock the door from the inside without the use of a key. Due to aesthetic reasons as well as tight space constraints, this snib is generally quite small making it difficult for elderly or disabled people to operate the snib and consequently lock or unlock the door.

The object of the present invention is to overcome or at least ameliorate the above mentioned disadvantage. Another object is to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.

Summary of the invention

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a locking device for an openable panel such as a door, window or similar, the locking device including: a moveable engagement member moveable between an engagement position for securing a panel and a disengaged position permitting opening of the panel; a lock operable on the moveable engagement member to lock the member in the engagement position; a handle operable to move the engagement member between the engagement position and the disengaged position when the lock is unlocked, the handle having an at-rest position; wherein the lock is selectively operable by a key or, at the option of the user, by snib and unsnib action without the use of a key, wherein snib action and unsnib action to snib and unsnib the lock respectively is effected by simple rotation of the handle, without any other movement of the handle, with the unsnib action being effected by rotation in a

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2014203281 06 Jun2018 first direction from the at-rest position and the snib action being effected by rotation in a second direction from the at-rest position.

Thus, the handle is simply rotated in a first direction to unsnib the lock i.e. to unlock the engagement member and permit movement of the engagement member by the handle. The desired sequence of operation caused by motion of the handle in the first direction is as follows: the lock is unsnibed; and the engagement member is moved away from the engagement position.

Preferably, a first lost motion mechanism is provided to facilitate the sequencing.

The handle is simply rotatable in a second direction to snib the lock i.e. to lock the engagement member in the engagement position. The handle has a normal at-rest position and the first direction extends in one direction from the normal position and the second direction extends in the other opposite direction from the normal position.

The first lost motion mechanism means that for a first portion of the movement of the handle in the first direction, the handle is inoperable to move the engagement member, while at the same time the handle is operable to unsnib the lock. The first lost motion mechanism is preferably between the handle and the engagement member. More specifically, a latch cam is provided to withdraw the engagement member, the latch cam being driven by a spindle connected to the handle. In a most preferred form of the invention, the first lost motion mechanism is between the spindle and the latch cam. Most preferably, the lost motion mechanism is in the form of noncomplimentary cross sections between the spindle and the latch cam, allowing lost motion of the spindle before the spindle engages with the latch cam at an intermediate position part way along the handle’s first path of travel in the first direction.

In a second portion of movement in the first direction, the handle is operable in the normal fashion to withdraw the engagement member.

The first lost motion mechanism is also effective as the handle returns to the normal 25 position. The engagement member is preferably biased to return towards the engagement position which results in return of the latch cam towards the original position, while the spindle

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2014203281 17 Jun2014 is permitted lost motion within the latch cam to the same extent as with the movement of the handle in the first direction.

Preferably, there is a second lost motion mechanism between the handle and the lock during return of the handle to the normal position. This permits the handle to return to the normal position without affecting the lock. Preferably, a snib cam is operable to snib the lock, the snib cam being driven by an auxiliary spindle.

Preferably, the lost motion is between the snib cam and the auxiliary spindle. This may be in the form of non-complimentary cross sections of the auxiliary spindle and the snib cam enabling the auxiliary spindle to return to a position corresponding to the normal position of the handle without engagement with the snib cam.

While the handle is operating in the second direction to snib the lock, preferably the handle is inoperable to move the engagement member. For this purpose, preferably a third lost motion mechanism is provided to allow lost motion between the handle and the spindle when the handle is moving in the second direction from the normal position. This may be in the form of non-complimentary cross sections between the handle and the spindle.

For each of the non-complimentary cross sections of the first, second and third lost motion mechanisms, these may be of similar form or alternatively may incorporate different lost motion mechanisms. The most preferred form is for the spindle and the auxiliary spindle to have a square cross section while the non-complimentary sockets of the handle, snib cam, and the latch cam is of a cruciform shape. The cruciform shape has four similar branches each with side flanks. This square cross section of the spindle has a comer within a respective branch and the corner can rotate from one side flank to the other of the associated branch until the corner engages with the other side flank and ends the lost motion.

Preferably the handle is a manually operable handle. The handle might be a lever type handle. The normal position of the lever type handle may be substantially horizontal with the first direction being downwardly of the normal position and the second direction being upwardly of the normal position. In another type of arrangement, the lever type handle may have a normal position which is substantially upright. The first direction may be leftward of the normal position and the second direction may be rightward of the normal position. Preferably the handle is spring biased to return to the normal position.

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Other configurations of the handle are also possible. For example, the handle may be a rotatable knob. Alternatively, the handle may be in the form of a push/pull actuator.

There need only be one handle provided in the locking device and preferably this handle is for location on the inside of the dwelling or building or area to be secured. This handle which snibs the lock is also provided to unsnib the lock. There may also be a second handle for location on the outside. This second handle is effective to move the engagement member only when the lock is unsnibbed. The second handle is not effective to snib or unsnib the lock.

The locking device may also be in the form where the lock incorporates a deadlock. At the option of the user, this deadlock overrides the snib action and precludes unlocking without the key. So if the user opts for the deadlock condition, the lock will only be operable by a key.

The engagement member may be in the form of a latch such as a slidable latch tongue moveable between a retracted and an extended position. Preferably, the latch is biased into the extended position. A catch may be provided to prevent full extension of the latch tongue when the door is open. Alternatively, the latch could be in the form of a pivotal latch.

Preferably there are two spindles including a first spindle and an auxiliary spindle, both of which are driven by the handle. The auxiliary spindle may be driven by a gear set which is driven by the handle. The first gear of the gear set may be incorporated into the handle. For example, the handle and the first gear may be integrally formed. The second gear may be attached to the auxiliary spindle. In one form of the invention, the second gear and the auxiliary spindle may be integrally formed.

In a preferred form of the invention, the handle, auxiliary spindle and second gear may be incorporated into an inside handle set. This inside handle set may include an inside faceplate. The inside handle set may also include a return mechanism to bias the handle or spindle to the normal position. Preferably, the return mechanism, the second gear and the auxiliary spindle are incorporated into a housing or cartridge which is separable from the remainder of the inside handle set. This enables easy separation of the cartridge from the front plate and the handle in situations where it is desired to powder coat the inside face plate and handle, it being undesirable to heat treat the cartridge components. Providing these components in a separate cartridge enables easy separation by the customer.

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Preferably, a lost motion mechanism is provided between the handle and the engagement member such that for a first portion of handle movement in a first direction, the handle is inoperable to move the engagement member and for a second portion of handle movement in the same first direction, the handle is operable to move the engagement member.

In a preferred form of the invention, the handle is operable to unsnib the lock without the use of a key, during the first portion of handle movement. However, the handle effecting the snib action is not essential. Instead, the snib action may be effected by the use of a user operated actuator. The lost motion mechanism thereby enables use of the handle and the snib actuator at the same time. Additionally, use of a user operated snib actuator provides for one version of the product while a handle operated snib action provides for a second version of the product, enabling the internal mechanism to be substantially identical for both versions of the product.

As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term comprise and variations of the term, such as comprising, comprises and comprised, are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

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Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the figures in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the locking device according to a first aspect of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the inside handle set from Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an assembled view of the main components of the lock body from the locking device in Figure 1, shown in the normal at-rest position with the latch tongue extended and the lock snibbed;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, except shown with the latch tongue retracted and the lock unsnibbed;

Figure 5 is a cross-section through the lock body casing illustrating the locking device in the latched and snibbed condition;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, except showing the locking device in the unlatched and unsnibed condition i.e. with the handle held in the downward position;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, except showing the locking device in the latched and unsnibed condition; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative handle and separate gear.

Detailed description of the embodiments

Figure 1 is an exploded view of the locking device. The locking device 30 may be mounted on a door or window or similar openable panel (not shown). For the preferred embodiment, the locking device will be explained in the context of a door. Handle 1 is arranged on the inside of the door for opening of the door from the inside of the building. Parts 2, 11, 10,

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8, 3, 4, 5 and 7 are mounted on the inside face of the door. These parts, with the handle 1 make up the inside handle set.

The lock body is made up of parts 14 through to 15, heading from left to right in Figure 1. 14 comprises the left lock body casing and 15 comprises the right lock body casing. The parts between the left lock body casing 14 and the right lock body casing 15 are mounted between the casing halves 14,15 as will be understood from Figures 3 and 4. The left lock body casing 14 is provided with faceplate 14a. The lock body casing 14,15 is mounted internally of the door. Where the door is comprised of an extruded metal section, an aperture is made in the narrow side of the door and the lock body casing 14,15 is inserted therethrough with the faceplate 14a exposed. The faceplate 14a has an aperture provided therein (not shown) in the conventional manner and the latch tongue 18 projects through the aperture in the conventional fashion. The latch tongue 18 engages in a recess (not shown) on the door jamb in the conventional manner. With the latch tongue 18 thus engaged in the recess, the closed position of the door is defined and the door remains in this closed position while the latch tongue remains engaged in the recess.

The outside of the door is provided with an outside faceplate 12 and outside handle 13. It is noted at this point that the terms inside and outside are used for convenience and to indicate the usual mode of installing the locking device on a door. However, the locking device 30 may be used in a variety of different situations not limited to being an external door. The invention is therefore not limited to the locking device being mounted on an external door.

As explained above, the terms inside and outside are used for convenience to describe the sides of the door in which the locking device is mounted. On the other hand, the terms inner or outer are used with reference to inner being interior of the locking device, whereas outer is used in the opposite sense. Thus, the handle 1 and handle 13 are both outer, while handle 1 is on the inside and handle 13 is on the outside.

Handle 1 is a lever type handle having a gear la provided on its inner end. The gear la may be integrally moulded with the remainder of the handle 1. As shown in Figure 2, the handle 1 has an internal socket lb which receives the spindle 6. The spindle 6 extends from the handle 1, through the lock body and to the outside of the faceplate 12 to be received in a socket provided in handle 13.

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As can be seen, the socket lb is of a non-complimentary shape to the external cross section of the spindle 6. This provides a lost motion mechanism as will be explained subsequently. For the present purposes, it will be understood that as the handle 1 rotates in the first direction from the normal at-rest position shown in Figure 1 to a downward position, the handle 1 rotates the spindle 6.

Figure 8 illustrates and alternative form of the handle T where the gear la' is separate from the handle T. The handle T has a boss lc' which has an oblong external periphery. The gear has an opening having an internal periphery Id' which is complementary to the external periphery of the boss lc'. In all other respects the operation of the handle T and gear la' is the same as for the first embodiment. The feature of the gear la' being separate from the handle enables the handle T to be used without the gear in the budget version where the snibbing is manual as discussed further below.

The spindle 6 passes through an aperture 2a in the inside faceplate 2 and extends likewise through the cartridge made up of parts 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9. The cartridge is made up of a main cartridge body 3 having a large upper aperture 3a through which the spindle 6 passes. A peripheral seat 3b is provided around the opening of the aperture 3 a. Additionally, upper and lower curved recesses 3c are arranged above and below the aperture 3a, beyond the peripheral seat 3b and follow the curvature of the peripheral seat 3b.

The spring guide 4 is seated on the peripheral seat 3b. The spring guide 4 includes a guide recess 4b into which the spring 5 is received. The guide recess 4b of the spring guide 4 is defined by two spaced acuate rims 4c which define upper and lower openings 4d to the guide recess 4b.

The spring 5 is a circular shape with radially projecting tabs 5a and 5b. Upper tab 5a is received within the upper opening 4d of the spring guide 4. Lower tab 5b is received in the lower opening 4d of the spring guide 4.

Spring guide 4 has a star-shaped socket 4a which engages with the spindle 6. There is no lost motion between the socket 4a and the spindle 6. As the spindle 6 rotates, upon rotation of the handle 1, the spring guide 4 also rotates in the clockwise direction from the perspective of Figures 1 and 2. The upper shoulder 4e of the acuate rim 4c bears against the spring tab 5a during clockwise rotation. The limit of travel for the spring tab 5a and thus the spring guide 4

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2014203281 17 Jun2014 will be defined by the shape of the upper recess 3c in the main cartridge body 3. While the spring tab 5a is being moved in the clockwise direction, the spring tab 5b is stopped from further travel by the limit defined by the lower recess 3c. Thus, the spring 5 tightens during clockwise rotation of the spindle 6 and upon release of the handle 1 biases the spindle 6 to return to the normal position. While the handle 1 and the spindle 6 have non-complimentary cross-sections, the handle 1, when rotating in the first downward direction, rotates the spindle 6 by the same amount. Additionally, as the spindle 6 is biased to rotate in the anticlockwise direction, the cross-sections of the spindle 6 and the handle 1 will maintain the engaged condition and the handle will return to the normal at-rest position as the spindle rotates anticlockwise. The limit of travel of the spindle will be defined by the spring tab 5a bearing on the limits defined by the upper recess 3c in the main cartridge body 3.

The main cartridge body 3 is closed by a cartridge cover 7 and the spring 5 and the spring guide 4 are housed within together with a suitable amount of grease or other lubricant. As will be understood, the cartridge is easily removable from the spindle 6 and inside faceplate 2. This enables the cartridge to be separated from the faceplate when it is desired to powder coat the faceplate 2. As power coating comes with heat treatment, it is undesirable to heat the components of the cartridge and this easy separation avoids this problem.

The gear la projects through the faceplate aperture 2a so as to be housed inwardly of the inside faceplate 2. Meshing with the first gear la is second gear assembly 8 which includes second gear 8a and auxiliary spindle 8b. Thus, when the handle 1 and spindle 6 rotate in the clockwise direction, the auxiliary spindle 8b will rotate in the anticlockwise direction. The auxiliary spindle 8b also projects through a lower aperture 3d provided in the main cartridge body 3. The function of the second gear assembly 8 is to snib and unsnib the lock as will be understood from the discussion below.

Reverting to Figure 1, spindle 6 also passed through an aperture 15a in right lock body casing 15 and also passes through latch cam 16. Latch cam 16 has a body 16a having a through socket 16b. The socket 16b is of non-complimentary cross-section to the spindle 6 to provide a first lost motion mechanism as will be described shortly. The latch cam 16 is also provided with a tang 16c extending approximately diametrically from the body 16a. The tang 16c is disposed forwardly of a latch tongue tab 18a provided on latch tongue 18, as can be best seen in Figures 3 and 4.

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As shown in Figure 1, the latch tongue 18 includes a projecting tongue 18b and a latch tongue body 18c. The latch tongue body 18c has a channel 18d running in the direction of the projecting tongue 18b. A spring 22 is received in the channel 18d. The spring 22 biases the latch tongue 18 in a forward direction into the recess provided in the jamb (not shown). As will be understood, when the projecting tongue 18b is received in the recess in the jamb, the door will be retained in the closed position. When the door is not deadlocked, rotation of the handle 1 in the first downwards direction will cause the latch cam 16 to rotate in the clockwise direction, thereby acting on tab 18a and moving the projecting tongue 18b from the extended position shown in Figure 3 to the retracted position shown in Figure 4. However, there is some lost motion between the spindle 6 and the latch cam 16 for reasons to enable unsnibbing of the snib before the latch tongue is withdrawn as discussed below.

The auxiliary spindle 8b projects through a second aperture 15b provided in the right lock body casing 15 and is received by the snib cam 17. The snib cam 17 has a cylindrical body 17a having a through socket 17b. The through socket 17b and the auxiliary spindle 8b are of non15 complimentary cross-section providing a second lost motion mechanism as will be explained. The snib cam 17 has a diametrically projecting tang 17c. The tang 17c has a spigot 17d which engages in slot 19a of locking member 19. Locking member 19 has two spaced projections 19b which locate within corresponding slots 14a of left lock body casing 14. The engagement of projections 19b in corresponding slots 14a constrains the travel of locking member 19 to up and downward motion only. Thus, rotation of snib cam 17 will effect up and down movement of locking member 19.

The locking member 19 has an upper projection 19c which engages with the latch tongue 18 in the upper position of the locking member 19.

The operation of the locking device 30 for the downward movement of the handle 1 will now be described. See also Figures 5 to 7 as an aid to understanding the lost motion mechanisms.

Figure 5 illustrates the locking device 30 in the latched and snibbed condition. In the snibbed condition, the locking member 19 is in the uppermost position with the upper projection 19c engaging with the latch tongue body 18c. The lock is thus snibbed from the inside.

Therefore, even though outside handle 13 receives the outer end of the spindle 6, rotation of the

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2014203281 17 Jun2014 outside handle 13 will be prevented because the latch tongue 18 is held in a fixed position by virtue of engagement with the upper projection 19c of the locking member 19. On the outside, the user can use a key to move the locking member 19 to a downward position in the conventional fashion. As this will be understood by a person skilled in the art, this detail is not provided here.

However, the user, if located on the inside, can unsnib the lock by moving the handle 1 in the first downward direction. As will be appreciated from Figure 5, moving the handle in a downward direction will cause a corresponding amount of rotation on the auxiliary spindle 8b in the direction indicated by A. In the latched and snibbed condition of the locking device illustrated in Figure 5, the auxiliary spindle 8b bears against corresponding flanks of the cruciform-shaped socket 17b of the snib cam 17. Thus, the snib cam 17c will rotate in the direction of arrow A for a corresponding amount of rotation of auxiliary spindle 8b. However, after a portion of this movement, the locking member 19 will have moved a sufficient amount to withdraw upper projection 19c from the latch tongue 18 to free the latch tongue 18. The latch tongue can then move under the action of latch cam 16.

During this movement of the locking member 19, until the latch tongue 18 is free, it is undesirable for the latch cam 16 to attempt withdrawal of the latch tongue 18. Thus, the first lost motion mechanism is effective to allow rotation of the spindle 6 relative to the latch cam 16 until the snib cam 17 has rotated sufficiently to unsnib the lock. As can be seen in Figure 5, in the latched and snibbed condition of the locking device, the square sectioned spindle 6 is disposed so that its sides do not engage with the flanks of the cruciform-shaped cross-section of the socket 16b. Upon rotation of the handle 1 in the downward direction, the spindle 6 will rotate in the direction of arrow B. It will rotate for a certain amount, approximately 25° before the sides of the square section spindle 6 engaged with the flanks of the socket 16b. This 25° rotation of spindle 6 corresponds to the amount of rotation of auxiliary spindle 8, which sufficiently withdraws upper projection 19c to free latch tongue 18 as described in previous paragraph. Upon engagement, the tang 16c will rotate while bearing against the latch tongue tab 18a to withdraw the latch tongue 18. The projecting tongue 18b can be moved from the fully extended to the fully retracted position with only about 20° rotation of latch cam 16.

Figure 6 indicates the position reached when the handle is held in the lower most position. From this configuration, as handle 1 returns to the normal position, the auxiliary

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2014203281 17 Jun2014 spindle 8b will rotate in the direction of the arrow C of Figure 6. As the auxiliary spindle 8b rotates there will be lost motion between the auxiliary spindle 8b and the snib cam socket 17b. This defines the second lost motion mechanism. The spindle 8b can thus return to its original position corresponding to the handle’s normal position as shown in Figure 7, without resnibbing the lock. In other words, the snib cam 17 does not rotate as the auxiliary spindle 8b returns to its original position.

As already discussed, the spindle 6 is biased to return to its original position by virtue of the spring 5. Additionally, the latch tongue 18 is biased to return to an extended position by virtue of spring 22. Thus, referring to Figure 6, as spindle 6 rotates in the direction of arrow D, the latch cam 16 will be released and the latch tongue 18 will move to an extended position under the bias of spring 22. The latch cam 16 and latch tongue 18 will move for a certain amount, less than the spindle 6. However, the spindle 6 will continue to move in the direction of arrow D until it resumes its original position as indicated in Figure 7. Thus, the first lost motion mechanism is also effective for the return stroke of the handle 1.

Further, as will be appreciated from Figure 7 (shows the locking device in the latched and unsnibbed condition), another movement of the handle 1 in the downward direction will repeat the action in respect of the latch cam 16 and the latch tongue 18 enabling repeated opening and closing of the door. However, while the lock is in the unsnibbed condition, repeated movement of the handle in the downward position does not effect the snib cam 17. This is because the auxiliary spindle can rotate within the snib cam socket 17b, without affecting the configuration of the snib cam 17. This is the second lost most motion mechanism in effect.

The use of the handle 1 to resnib the lock will now be explained. When the handle 1 is moved in a second upwards direction, the third lost motion mechanism will come into effect. Due to the non-complimentary cross-sections between the handle 1 and the spindle 6, the handle

1 will be permitted a certain amount of rotation before the flanks of the socket lb engage with the sides of the spindle 6. Even if the handle 1 continues beyond this point to rotate the spindle in the direction of arrow E of Figure 7, there will be a further amount of lost motion provided by the first lost motion mechanism. Should rotation of the spindle 6 occur, the spindle 6 is biased to return to its original position by virtue of the spring 5. Where the spindle 6 rotates in a counter30 clockwise direction from the perspective of Figure 2, the spring tab 5b will eventually bear on the limit of the lower recess 3c in the main cartridge body 3, defining the limit of travel of the

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2014203281 17 Jun2014 handle in the upwards direction. The latch tongue 18 will not be effected by movement of the handle in the second upwards direction due to the lost motion mechanisms.

On the other hand, it will be understood that as the handle 1 rotates in the upward direction, the auxiliary spindle 8b will move in the direction of arrow F from the point of view of

Figure 7. Thus the sides of the auxiliary spindle 8b will bear against the flanks of the socket 17b and rotate the snib cam 17 in the corresponding direction. This moves locking member 19 to an upper position whereby the upper projection 19c engages with latch tongue 18 and thereby snibs the lock.

Some auxiliary features of the lock which are not essential to the understanding of the 10 invention will now be described. Locking devices of this type commonly have a feature which prevents the latch tongue 18 from extending to its fully extended position when the latch tongue is not received within the recess of the door jamb. This feature permits extension of the latch tongue only to a limited extent. Thereby, the ramped surface of the latch tongue is exposed so that when the ramped surface engages with the latch plate on the door jamb (not shown), the engagement therebetween will force the latch tongue inwardly. Otherwise, the latch tongue would not be retracted by striking the latch plate unless the handle was operated.

Catch 21 catches latch tongue 18 after release of the handle so that only the tip of the latch tongue protrudes beyond the opening provided in the lock body casing. Catch 21 is also biased outwardly by spring 23. When the catch 21 engages with the doorjamb it moves the catch

21 against the bias of the spring 23, disabling the catch 21 to release the latch tongue 18. The spring 22 then forces the latch tongue 18 to its fully extended position. The operation of catch 21 operating on latch tongue 18 does not affect the position of the spindle 6. On release of the handle, the spindle 6 returns to the original position under the action of spring 5. The latch cam 16 follows the rotation of the spindle to the extent permitted by catch 21 and when released by catch 21 returns to the position illustrated in Ligures 5 and 7. The first lost motion mechanism permits this independent movement, enabling the handle to return to the normal position even when the latch tongue is restrained.

Additionally, the user is able to deadlock the locking device by the use of a key, in which case, the user will not be able to unsnib the lock from the inside by the use of the handle 1. Parts

20 and 24 act on the locking member 19 so that it is unable to move downwardly under the

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2014203281 17 Jun2014 action of snib cam 17. By locking the device with a key, catch 20 which is attached near the bottom end of the locking member 19 is released and is pushed by spring 24 to hook on the protrusion 15c of the right lock body casing 15. Therefore, together with catch 20, the locking member 19 is unable to move downwardly under action of snib cam 17.

It will be appreciated that the present invention, at least according to the first aspect enables snibbing and unsnibbing of the lock through the use of the handle 1. The length of the handle 1 provides a greater leverage action than would be present in the use of a conventional snib. Therefore, elderly or disabled people will be more easily able to snib and unsnib the lock through the use of the handle. The handle permits the same degree of torque to be applied with a lesser degree of force to the handle compared with requirement of a conventional snib.

It will also be appreciated that the same mechanism may be employed in a locking device which has a conventional snib actuator in such a device. The second gear assembly 8 would be replaced by an auxiliary spindle leading to a snib actuator externally of the inside faceplate. Additionally, the handle 1 would be substituted for handle Γ illustrated in Figure 8. Most other respects of the locking device would remain the same. Thus the handle and the snib can be turned at the same time, unsnibbing the lock prior to withdrawal of the latch tongue. This enables product differentiation (e.g. deluxe and budget models) to be achieved without significant changes to the internal mechanism.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications may be made thereto without departing the scope of the present invention.

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Claims (15)

1. A locking device for an openable panel such as a door, window or similar, the locking device including:

a moveable engagement member moveable between an engagement position for securing 5 a panel and a disengaged position permitting opening of the panel;

a lock operable on the moveable engagement member to lock the member in the engagement position;

a handle operable to move the engagement member between the engagement position and the disengaged position when the lock is unlocked, the handle having an at-rest position;

10 wherein the lock is selectively operable by a key or, at the option of the user, by snib and unsnib action without the use of a key, wherein snib action and unsnib action to snib and unsnib the lock respectively is effected by simple rotation of the handle, without any other movement of the handle, with the unsnib action being effected by rotation in a first direction from the at-rest position and the snib action being effected by rotation in a second direction from the at-rest

15 position.

2. The locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein simple rotation of the handle in a first direction produces the following sequence of operation: the lock is unsnibed; and the engagement member is moved away from the engagement position.

3. The locking device as claimed in claim 2 wherein a first lost motion mechanism is 20 provided to facilitate the sequencing.

4. The locking device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a latch cam is provided to withdraw the engagement member, the latch cam being driven by a spindle connected to the handle and the first lost motion mechanism is between the spindle and the latch cam.

5. The locking device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the first lost motion mechanism 25 is in the form of non-complimentary cross-sections between the spindle and the latch cam, allowing lost motion of the spindle before the spindle engages with the latch cam at an intermediate position, part way along the handle’s first path of rotation in the first direction.

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6. The locking device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is spring-biased to return to the normal at-rest position.

7. The locking device of any one of the preceding claims further including a second lost motion mechanism between the handle and the lock during return of the handle to the

5 normal position after rotation in the first direction, to permit the handle to return to the normal position without affecting the lock.

8. The locking device of claim 7 wherein a snib cam is operable to snib or unsnib the lock, the snib cam being driven by an auxiliary spindle, the second lost motion being between the snib cam and the auxiliary spindle.

10 9. The locking device of claim 8 wherein the second lost motion mechanism is in the form of non-complimentary cross sections of the auxiliary spindle and the snib cam enabling the auxiliary spindle to return to a position corresponding to the normal position of the handle without engagement with the snib cam.

10. The locking device as claimed in claim 9 wherein a third lost motion mechanism

15 is provided to allow lost motion between the handle and the spindle when the handle is moving in the second direction from the normal position.

11. The locking device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the third lost motion mechanism is in the form of non-complimentary cross sections between the handle and the spindle.

20

12. The locking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the handle is a lever type handle with the normal at-rest position of the lever type handle being substantially horizontal with the first direction being downwardly of the normal at-rest position and the second direction being upwardly of the normal at-rest position.

13. The locking device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims where the lock

25 incorporates a deadlock with the deadlock being operable, at the selection of the user, to override the snib action and preclude unlocking without the key.

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2014203281 06 Jun2018

14. The locking device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the auxiliary spindle is driven by a gear set including a first gear which is driven by the handle and a second gear which is driven by the first gear.

15. The locking device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the handle, auxiliary spindle 5 and second gear are incorporated into an inside handle set including a return mechanism to bias the handle or spindle to the normal position, with the return mechanism, the second gear and the auxiliary spindle being incorporated into a housing or cartridge which is separable from the remainder of the inside handle set.

16. A locking device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a first lost motion mechanism is 10 provided between the handle and the engagement member such that for a first portion of handle movement in a first direction, the handle is inoperable to move the engagement member and for a second portion of handle movement in the same first direction, the handle is operable to move the engagement member.

2014203281 17 Jun 2014

2014203281 17 Jun 2014

2014203281 17 Jun 2014

FIG. 5

FlG. 4

2014203281 17 Jun 2014 if)

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2014203281 17 Jun 2014

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2014203281 17 Jun 2014