AU2020202192B2 - Lock - Google Patents

Abstract

A lock comprising a lock housing retaining a lock bolt for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position relative the housing, an actuator operable from externally of the lock housing and capable of moving the lock bolt between its locking 5 position and unlocking position, by acting on a lock bolt driver coupled to or forming part of the lock bolt, a lock bolt lock that prevents said lock bolt moving from at least one of its locking position and unlocking position, yet operable by said actuator to a condition to free the lock bolt for movement, wherein the lock bolt driver is displaceable or deflectable by said actuator when said actuator is caused to move to the condition to free the lock 10 bolt for movement.

Description

LOCK FIELD OFTHEINVENTION

The present invention relates to a lock for use on sliding and hinged doors, windows, and other movable partitioning or closing members. More specifically, the present invention relates to deadlocks, particularly mortise deadlocks.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A mortise deadlock is a known locking mechanism, suitable for most types of hinging and sliding closures. The main components of a typical mortise deadlock include a housing, a bolt assembly, a bolt lock and an external driver mechanism via which the mechanism can be driving.

The bolt assembly is movable relative to the housing between a retracted position within the housing and an extended locking position, in which the bolt engages a recess in the door frame.

The external driver mechanism may comprise a lock cylinder that be operated by key or a turn knob or handle that may rotate an internal lever to cause the bolt to move between the retracted and extended positions.

The bolt lock serves the function of deadlocking the bolt at one or both extremes of bolt movement to that the bolt cannot be tampered with or be caused to move. As part of its movement, the internal lever causes the bolt lock to move to an unlocking position to allow the bolt to then be moved. Typically, the bolt lock registers with a catch that is appropriately positioned when the bolt is at one or both extremes of its movement. US 5317890 shows an example of such a lock.

However a known issue with these kinds of locks is that the mechanism can jam. This can arise because of a lack in dimensional tolerance between the bolt lock and its catch. This can result in the bolt lock and/or the bolt being positioned in a manner that prevents the external driver mechanism from actuating the bolt lock and/or bolt for movement.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved lock that addresses the above mentioned problem or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may be said to be a lock comprising: a lock housing retaining a lock bolt for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position relative the housing wherein the locking position corresponds to the lock bolt extending at least partially from the housing and the unlocking position corresponds to the lock bolt being at least partially retracted into the housing, an actuator operable from externally of the lock housing and capable of moving the lock bolt between its locking position and unlocking position, by acting on a lock bolt driver coupled to or forming part of the lock bolt, wherein the lock bolt driver is mounted by said lock bolt to move with said lock bolt between the locking and unlocking position, a lock bolt lock that prevents said lock bolt moving from both its locking position and unlocking position, yet the lock bolt lock is operable by said actuator via the lock bolt driver to a condition to free the lock bolt for movement from its locking position and unlocking position, wherein the lock bolt driver is displaceable or deflectable, against a bias, by said actuator relative to both the lock bolt and the actuator when said actuator is caused to move to the condition to free the lock bolt for movement, to facilitate alignment of the lock bolt lock with said actuator, wherein the lock bolt driver presents two driving surfaces, one for engagement by said actuator in moving the lock bolt towards the locking position and the other for engagement by the actuator in moving the lock bolt to the unlocking position, and wherein the actuator is movable into a space between the two driving surfaces of said lock bolt driver by displacing or deflecting said lock bolt driver relative to both the lock bolt and the actuator.

Preferably, said lock bolt driver is displaceable or deflectable by said actuator relative to the lock bolt when said actuator is caused to move to the condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

Preferably said lock bolt driver can displace or deflect to facilitate alignment of the lock bolt lock with said actuator to allow the lock bolt lock to be operable by said cam actuator to a condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

Preferably the lock bolt driver is displaceable by movement of said actuator when said actuator is caused to move to the condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

Preferably said actuator is a cam actuator and can slidingly engage said lock bolt lock to cause the lock bolt lock to move to said condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

Preferably the actuator is operable from externally of the lock housing and capable of moving the lock bolt between its locking position and unlocking position in both directions (preferably from and to, not just between), by acting on a lock bolt driver.

Preferably the lock bolt moves linearly between the locking and unlocking positions.

Preferably the lock bolt is a sliding bolt.

Preferably the lock is a mortise lock.

Preferably the lock bolt moves rotationally between the locking and unlocking positions.

Preferably unlocking position corresponds to the lock bolt being fully retracted into the housing.

Preferably the actuator is rotationally mounted relative and preferably directly by said housing.

Preferably the actuator rotates in one direction to cause the lock bolt driver to move towards its second position and rotates in an opposite direction to cause the lock bolt to move towards the first position.

Preferably the actuator in moving the lock bolt between the locking and unlocking positions, acts on the lock bolt driver that moves with said lock bolt.

Preferably the lock bolt driver is mounted for movement corresponding to the locking and unlocking positions of the lock bolt.

Preferably the lock bolt driver is mounted for movement corresponding to the locking and unlocking positions of the lock bolt yet is displaceable or deflectable by said actuator when said actuator is caused to move to the condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

Preferably the lock bolt driver is mounted for movement corresponding to the locking and unlocking positions of the lock bolt yet is displaceable or deflectable by said actuator when said actuator is caused to move to the condition where said actuator is operable with said lock bolt lock to free the lock bolt for movement.

Preferably the lock bolt driver is floatingly mounted by said lock bolt to move with said lock bolt between the locking and unlocking positions.

Preferably the lock bolt driver is mounted by said lock bolt in a manner to be movable, against a bias, by said actuator.

Preferably the lock bolt driver is mounted by said lock bolt in a manner to be displaced or deflected by said actuator upon the actuator moving in one direction and continued movement in said one direction subsequently causes said actuator and said driver to cooperate to move said lock bolt.

Preferably the actuator includes at least one arm provided and presented for actuation of said lock bolt lock and to drive said lock bolt driver.

Preferably the arm is a lever arm.

Preferably the lock bolt lock is mounted to move with said lock bolt driver at it moves between positions corresponding to the locking and unlocking positions of the lock bolt.

Preferably the lock bolt lock is mounted to move with said lock bolt between its locking and unlocking positions of the lock bolt.

Preferably the lock bolt lock is mounted by said housing to move between a position locking the lock bolt and a position unlocking the lock bolt.

Preferably said actuator includes a key barrel.

Preferably the actuator and driver are adapted and configured to ensure that the actuator rides over the driver when moving to a condition release the lock bolt lock.

Preferably the drivers moves from a first, driving position to a second, deflected position as the actuator moves to operate the lock bolt lock to free the bolt for movement.

Preferably the driver is biased to the driving position.

Preferably the driver in the driving position presents a surface for contact by said actuator to allow the actuator to move the bolt.

Preferably the actuator is rotationally mounted.

In a second aspect the present invention may be said to be an anti-clash mechanism for a deadbolt lock assembly, comprising: a first bolt driver to displace a lock bolt from a locking to an unlocking position when in a first condition where it presents a bearing surface for an actuator rotating in a first direction to push against and cause displacement of the lock bolt and to yield to the actuator when the actuator rotates in the second, opposite direction, a second bolt driver to displace the lock bolt from the unlocking to the locking position when in a first condition where it presents a bearing surface for the actuator rotating in the second direction to push against and cause displacement of the lock bolt and to yield to the actuator when the actuator rotates in the first direction.

Preferably wherein the bearing surface of the first bolt driver and the bearing surface of the second bolt driver are spaced apart from each other with a gap between in which at least part of the actuator can become located.

Preferably the first bolt driver and the second bolt driver are spaced apart and are in the locus of movement of the actuator.

In a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a lock comprising: a lock housing retaining a lock bolt that can move between a locking position and an unlocking position relative the housing, an actuator operable from externally of the lock housing and capable of moving a the lock bolt between its locking position and unlocking position, by acting on a lock bolt driver coupled to or forming part of the lock bolt, a lock bolt lock that prevents said lock bolt moving from at least one of its locking position and unlocking position, yet operable by said actuator to a condition to free the lock bolt for movement, wherein the lock bolt driver is adapted and configured to be able to yield to said actuator during movement of said actuator when said actuator is caused to move to the condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

Preferably the lock as described in the paragraph immediately above may include more detailed aspects as described herein above.

Preferably, the lock bolt driver is adapted and configured to be able to yield to said actuator relative to the lock bolt, during movement of said actuator when said actuator is caused to move to the condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a lock comprising: a lock housing retaining a lock bolt in a manner along the lock bolt to be moved between a locking position and an unlocking position relative the housing, an actuator operable from externally of the lock housing and capable of moving a sliding member between a first position corresponding to the lock bolt being in the locking position and a second position corresponding to the lock bolt being in the unlocking position, by acting on a lock bolt driver that is carried by said sliding member, said lock bolt driver capable of deflection by said actuator to allow the actuator to move into a alignment with said lock bolt driver for moving said sliding member, a lock bolt lock that comprises a detent movably supported relative said sliding member between (i) a lock bolt locking position when said lock bolt is in at least one of said locking position and said unlocking position and (ii) a position to allow said lock bolt to be moved, said actuator able to come into alignment with said detent to cause it to move to said position to allow said lock bolt to be moved.

Preferably the lock as described in the paragraph immediately above may include more detailed aspects as described herein above.

Preferably, said lock bolt driver is capable of deflection relative to the sliding member, to allow the actuator to move into alignment with said lock bolt driver for moving said sliding member.

In still a further aspect the present invention may be said to be a door that includes a lock as herein before described.

For convenience, the present invention is herein described with particular reference to doors, but it should be understood that the lock of the present invention has wider application.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting each statement in this specification and claims that includes the term "comprising", features other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective and partially exploded view of one embodiment of the lock of the present invention,

Figure 2a is a plan view of the lock shown in Figure 1, with one of the covers of the housing removed and showing the bolt assembly 10 in its extended position,

Figure 2b is another plan view of the lock shown in Figure 1, wherein the cam lobe has moved past an arm of the driving member, to be engaged with detent,

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the lock shown in Figure 1,

Figure 4a is a perspective view of a driving member and detent of the preferred form of the lock of the present invention, the driving member being of a unitary configuration,

Figure 4b is a perspective view from another direction of Figure 4a,

Figures 5a, 5b and 5c are schematic drawings showing alternative embodiments of the driving member and bolt, consisting of component parts,

Figure 5d and 5e show locked and unlocked views respectively of another alternative embodiment of the driving member consisting of two parts,

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment, in which the driving member 6 may be mounted for rotation relative to the lock housing rather than for the preferred linear movement,

Figure 7 shows an alternative embodiment where the lock bolt assembly comprises hooked latches which pivot between an unlocked and locked position,

Figure 8a illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the detent is mounted by the housing and the deadlocking surface or surfaces are provided by for example the driving member 6,

Figure 8b shows views of Figure 8a but wherein the cam actuator 4 and driving member 6 have been displaced,

Figure 9 is a schematic of another alternative embodiment wherein the cam actuator has two lobes, one for cooperation with the driving member 6 and one for cooperation with the detent,

Figure 10a and 10b show other alternative embodiments of the present invention where the driving member or members are presented to be able to yield by bending or flexing or otherwise displacing to the lobe as the lobe moves to a condition to become aligned for cooperation with a driving surface of the driving member or members,

Figure 11a and 11b show unlocked and locked views of a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, comprising two locking bolts, and

Figure 12a and 12 b show unlocked and locked views of a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, comprising four locking bolts

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, one preferred embodiment of the lock is a mortise deadlock generally indicated at 1. The lock may be mounted to a closure such as door or window or the like and can interact with a strike plate (not shown) on the door or window frame to lock the door or window shut.

The lock comprises a housing 2. It holds a bolt assembly 10 that can be moved between and locking position and an unlocking position. In the locking position, the bolt 10 extends from the housing. In the unlocking position, the bolt is retracted more into the housing. Preferably it is fully retracted into the housing in the unlocking position. The bolt can engage with a strike plate to lock the closure on which it is mounted. In the embodiment shown, the bolt is suitable for sliding doors due to the hooked bolt assembly. In alternative embodiments for hinged doors, the bolt could be a plain bolt.

The lock bolt assembly 10 is preferably mounted to slide relative the housing in a linear manner. Alternatively the bolt assembly may comprise latches which rotate between the locking and unlocking positions, as shown in Figure 7. As shown, the bolt assembly may comprise a hooked or jaw-like latch which pivots into a recess in the door frame when actuated. There may in fact be two such hooked latches that can be actuated for movement.

The lock includes a lock cylinder cam actuator 4. The cam actuator 4 can cause the lock bolt 10 to be moved between the locked and unlocked positions.

The cam actuator 4 is preferably able to be actuated externally of housing 2. Such actuation may be by way of a handle or latch or knob that is presented external of the housing. The user can grasp and move this part of the cam actuator to cause the cam actuator to actuate and thereby move the bolt 10.

The cam actuator 4 may also be movable by virtue of incorporation of a lock barrel with which a key is required to engage and thereby move the cam actuator. In the preferred form the cam actuator 4 is mounted for rotational movement. It can move between a position that corresponds to the lock bolt 10 being in the locked position and a position corresponding to the lock bolt 10 being in an unlocked position.

The cam actuator is preferably mounted in the housing for movement about an axis that is substantially normal to the primary surfaces of the door or window on which it is mounted. The bolt 10 is preferably mounted in the housing to move linearly in a direction that is parallel to the major surfaces of the door or window on which the lock 1 is mounted.

The cam actuator 4 preferably includes a lobe 5 that can swing through an arc in a manner to drive the lock bolt 10 between the locking and unlocking positions thereof.

In the preferred form the lobe 5 is able to move the lock bolt in both directions although in some forms it is envisaged that the lobe may only move the lock bolt in one direction and hence only one of the driving surfaces 7 or 8 needs to be presented for alignment with the lobe (as explained in further detail below).

The lobe 5 is able to engage with a driving member 6 that is itself mounted in a manner to move with the lock bolt 10 but is also able to move relative to the lock bolt 10. The driving member 6 in a preferred form is preferably of a unitary construction, as shown in Figures 1-4. However, in other embodiments, the driving member may be any assembly which is provided on the lock bolt to move relative to the lock bolt when actuated upon by the lobe 5 of the actuator 4.

Preferably, the driving member presents driving surfaces 7 and 8 with which the lobe 5 is able to engage and thereat cause the driving member to be displaced as the lobe is swept over the arc of its rotation, and hence move the lock bolt between its locking position and unlocking position. Alternatively, as discussed above, if the lobe 5 only moves the lock bolt in one direction, only one of the driving surfaces 7 or 8 needs to be provided accordingly. In the preferred form, driving surfaces 7 and 8 extend or protrude from the surface of the lock bolt for engagement with the lobe 5.

The driving member 6 is preferably able to yield to the lobe 5 when the lobe is moving, such that the lobe may be aligned with one or both of the driving surfaces 7 and 8.

For example, the driving member 6 yields during the rotation of the lobe from a first position (as shown in Figure 2a) to a second position, to enable the lobe to enter into slot 11, and (in the preferred embodiment) into contact with the detent 30, as shown in Figure 2b. Preferably, the driving member 6 yields by being displaced in a direction substantially normal to the direction of movement of the lock bolt between its locking and unlocking positions. This direction is also preferably parallel to the plane of the closure.

It can be seen that the driving member 6 is preferably mounted in a sliding manner relative to the lock bolt 10, preferably within a notch in the lock bolt. In this embodiment, the driving member 6 is therefore displaced (by the actuator) substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the lock bolt 10. A biasing element such as a spring 15 is provided to bias the driving member 6 to or towards its first position as shown in Figure 2a. Preferably the driving member 6 and the lobe 5 have complementary surfaces to allow for a cam-like action to be established therebetween.

Alternatively, the driving member 6 may be mounted otherwise on the lock bolt 10, for example in a rotating manner (as shown in Figures 5d, 5e) or a displaceable/yielding manner (as shown in Figure 10b). In these cases, the driving member may yield in more than one direction relative to the lock bolt 10, however, preferably one component of the displacement/yielding is transverse to the direction of movement of the lock bolt.

Preferably, regardless of manner of mounting, the driving member 6 is biased to return to its original position after it has been displaced by the lobe 5. The biasing mechanism may be via spring(s), gravity, resilience of the material of the driving member, etc. In the original position, the driving member provides a driving surface 7, 8, for the actuator to bear on when travelling in the opposite direction (as described in more detail below).

In the preferred form, the driving member 6 has surfaces 23 and 24 that are of a ramped configuration that can interact with the lobe 5 in an appropriate manner. The lobe is able to contact the ramped surfaces 23 and 24 of the driving member in order for the lobe to depress the driving member 6 against the bias 15.

Upon depressing the driving member 6, the lobe is able to move to a condition where it positions itself within the slot 11 of the driving member (Figure 2b) and thereat becomes aligned with the driving surface 7 or 8. When the lobe is in this position, the driving member 6 is free to return to its first or extended position. This ensures that during a substantial part of the subsequent arc of movement of the lobe 5, the lobe 5 is able to react against the driving surface 7 or 8, to drive movement of the bolt assembly 10.

After the lobe has reacted against the driving surface 7 or 8 in order to move the bolt assembly in one direction, it is released from the driving surface. This release preferably occurs as a result of the geometry and location of the lobe 5 relative to the driving member 6. As the lobe 5 reaches a certain position in the swing of its arc it may merely slide off the free end of one of the driving surfaces 7 and 8 and therefore no longer reacts with the driving member 6, and hence no longer causes a movement of the lock bolt 10.

The lobe 5 may be mounted so as to be able to continuously rotate the full 360 degrees in repeated rotations. As a result the lobe 5 may hence depart from contact with the driving member 6 at, for example, the driving surface 7 and continue its rotation to again engage with the driving member 6 at the surface 24 and therefrom proceed to become presented for alignment with the driving surface from this part of the driving member 6.

The driving member 6 may be mounted for the purpose of yielding to the lobe 5 by a sliding member that is mounted in a sliding manner relative to the housing. In the preferred form the sliding member is integrally formed with the lock bolt 10. Alternatively, the sliding member may be separate from the lock bolt 10 (not shown) and by way of a mechanism can transfer the force applied by the lobe 5 to the driving member via the sliding member to the lock bolt 10 to cause the lock bolt to move between its locked and unlocked positions. In fact, the mechanism of the lock may be such that there are multiple lock bolts provided, including shoot bolts that may be caused to move in a direction perpendicular to the lock bolt 10 of the preferred form of the invention. For example, Figures 11a and 11b show unlocked and locked views respectively of an embodiment of a lock having two lock bolts, namely a throw bolt 10 and a latch head 80. Figures 12a and 12b show another embodiment of a lock with four lock bolts: a throw bolt 10, a latch head 80, and two shoot bolts 81, 82.

The lock of the present invention also includes a lock bolt lock. In the preferred form, the lock bolt lock comprises a detent 30. Preferably, the detent 30 is able to cooperate with a surface or surfaces 12 that are presented by the lock housing 2. The surface or surfaces 12 are presented in a manner to capture the detent in certain positions of the lock bolt 10, to thereby prevent the lock bolt from being displaced. For example, this would prevent the situation where the lock bolt is in its locking condition and a person attempts to tamper with the lock by attempting to push the lock bolt 10 to or towards its unlocking position without legitimately moving the cam actuator to achieve such movement. This is therefore a security feature of the lock of the present invention and allows for the lock to be dead bolted, particularly when in its locking position.

It can be seen in Figure 3 that the housing surface at 12 presents two rebates within which a pin 31 of the detent can become located in a manner to thereby deadlock the lock. In the preferred form the detent 30 is mounted in a manner to be moveable by the cam actuator 4. In the preferred form, it is the lobe 5 of the cam actuator 4 that is able to move the detent 30 from a condition where it is in or biased towards a position for deadbolting the lock, towards a retracted, freed position where the detent allows the lock bolt 10 to be displaced. In the freed position, the lobe 5 has preferably depressed the detent to free it or clear it from the rebates of the surfaces 12. This action preferably occurs at, immediately prior to, or during the process of the lobe 5 moving into alignment with the driving member 6. That is, release from deadbolting by the cam actuator 4 occurs immediately prior to the cam actuator 4 moving to a position to cause the lock bolt to be displaced between its locking and unlocking positions.

In the preferred form the detent 30 is associated with the driving member 6. In the preferred form the detent is mounted inside slot 11 of the driving member 6. It is preferably positioned to be mounted for guided movement by the driving member 6. In a preferred embodiment, the detent and driving member 6 are preferably connected to each other but independently movable, for example via the slotted pin connection 22, shown in Figure 4. However, this connection is not necessary, as shown in Figure 9 (and explained in more detail below).

In the preferred form, detent 30 extends or protrudes out of the surface of the lock bolt for engagement with the lobe. As the lobe 5 proceeds from its position as shown in Figure 2a to the position shown in Figure 2b, the driving member 6 yields to the lobe 5 by being depressed against the bias of the spring 15. As soon as the lobe 5 becomes aligned with the slot 11, the driving member moves back to its extended position, at which point the lobe 5 has caused the detent 30 to move to a position to free the lock bolt 10 for its movement, and is subsequently presented in alignment with one or both of the driving surfaces 7 and 8.

The lock bolt may then be driven by the cam actuator 4 to its locking or unlocking positions, the lobe 5 releases from the driving member and the detent returns to a position such that the lock becomes deadbolted. In this position, the pin 31 of detent 30 is preferably captured in a rebate of the surfaces 12 to therewith engage to deadbolt the lock bolt 10.

If manufacturing tolerances are not high, the pin 31 may not be presented for alignment with one of the rebates of the surfaces 12. Yet the cam actuator 4 has released itself from contact with the driving member 6 and hence is no longer active to cause the detent to deadlock the lock bolt 10. This means that the lock bolt 10 is not deadlocked nor is it at one or the other of its locking and unlocking positions but is shy thereof.

However, due to the ability of the driving member to yield or be displaced relative to the lock bolt 10, the lobe 5 is still able to pick up alignment with the driving surfaces 7 and 8, regardless of the position that the lock bolt 10 is in over its range of movement between its locking and unlocking positions. Accordingly, the yielding/displaceable arrangement of the driving member prevents the lock from jamming.

The rebate surfaces 12 are preferably configured in a U-shaped configuration as seen in Figure 3. In this configuration the surfaces 12 are presented to allow for deadlocking of the lock bolt 10 to occur in both its locking and locking positions. However in an alternative form the surfaces 12 may merely be L-shaped and in this format the surfaces 12 may only deadlock the lock bolt 12 in one of the locking and unlocking positions of the lock bolt 10 (preferably in the locking position).

While the rebate surfaces 12 are preferably provided by the housing 2 of the lock 1, they may alternatively be provided by another component that may be mounted to or projecting from the housing.

Anti-slam functionality may also be built into the lock and this may be achieved by the use of an anti-slam mechanism 40 as seen in Figure 2.

With reference to Figure 5a, 5b and 5d it can be seen that the driving member 6 may comprise of two driving components 6a and 6b instead of the preferred unitary construction. This may allow for the driving component 6a and 6b to be moved independently of each other for the purpose of yielding to the lobe 5, yet still return to a condition for presenting a respective driving surface 7 or 8 to the lobe to allow the lobe to drive the bolt assembly.

As seen in the schematic of Figure 9, the driving member 6 and the detent 30 may in fact be separately mounted relative to the lock bolt 10 and/or its associated sliding member. In the example shown in Figure 9 the cam actuator 4 may rely on two lobes, 5a and 5b, one for the purposes of engagement with the driving member 6 and the other 5b for engagement with the detent 30.

In the example shown in Figure 9 the cam actuator 4 can cause both the detent to un-deadbolt the lock bolt 10 and drive the lock bolt for movement between its locking and unlocking positions. The driving member 6 is still able to yield in this example to the movement of the lobe 5a during its movement to become aligned with a driving surface of the driving member 6. The detent 30 is able to be depressed by the lobe 5b in order to allow for the lock bolt 10 to become un-deadbolted. Preferably, the geometry of the lobes 5a, 5b and the relative positions of the driving member 6 and detent 30 are configured for the appropriate sequence of activation. For example, to unlock the bolt, the detent will need to be un-deadbolted first, before the bolt can be driven by the lobe via driving member 6. In addition to or in alternative to the specific geometry, the configuration may include a lost motion mechanism to cause a suitable delay in the activation of the driving member 6 or detent 30, as required.

With reference to Figure 5c it can be seen that the driving member 6 may be mounted in a movable manner relative to the lock bolt 10 in a different manner to that shown in Figure 2. As with the preferred embodiment, the driving member 6 shown in Figure 5c can move in a direction lateral to the direction of movement of the lock bolt between its locking and unlocking positions and be biased towards an extended position yet move against the bias to yield to the lobe during the movement of the lobe to become aligned with a driving surface of the driving member 6.

Figure 6 shows a further variation where the driving member 6 is associated with a sliding member 60 that is rotationally mounted relative to the housing of the lock. In this example the sliding member 60 may be mechanically linked to the lock bolt (not shown) or may be integrally formed with a lock bolt that moves between its locking and unlocking positions in a rotational manner. The driving member 6 is again able to yield to the lobe 5 during the rotation of the lobe to become aligned with a driving surface of the driving member 6. A detent 30 may likewise be carried by the driving member and interact with a deadlocking surface or surfaces of the housing in a similar manner as hereinbefore described.

Figures 8a and 8b illustrate another variation of the driving member 6 and the detent 30. In this example the detent 30 is mounted by the housing and is able to interact with the driving member 6 and/or lock bolt or other component of the locking mechanism to cause the lock bolt to be deadbolted. In the example shown in Figure 8a and 8b the detent 30 can move in a direction X that is lateral to the direction Y that the lock bolt moves between its locking and unlocking positions, and relative to the driving member 6. This movement may be caused by the cam actuator so that while the detent is moved to a position away from the rebate 61, the cam actuator also causes the lock bolt to be displaced. As the lobe 5 sweeps through, it is able to depress the detent 30 for the detent to become held back sufficiently to clear the rebate 61 and therefore continued rotation of the lobe 5 can cause the driving member 6 to be displaced by the lobe 5. This is one example illustrating that the detent 30 may be movably supported or mounted to the housing, rather than with the driving member 6 and/or lock bolt 10.

Further alternative forms of the driving member are schematically shown in Figures 10a and 10b. In both examples, the driving members are resilient, and are able to yield to the lobe 5 during movement of the lobe to become aligned with a driving surface of the driving member. This resilient yielding is an alternative to the preferred embodiments described above where the driving member is actually displaced (against bias of spring 15).

Figure 10a illustrates driving members which are made of a resilient material, e.g. a resilient polymer. The driving members are suitably configured, e.g., with ramped surfaces, to allow for resilient yielding when engaged by the lobe in one direction, but to provide a reaction driving surface when engaged by the lobe in the opposite direction.

In Figure 10b, the driving member may be a made of a spring-like material such that the lobe is able to swing for example in a clockwise direction to deflect the arm 63 of the driving member 6 to allow it to then become aligned with the driving surface 8 to displace the lock bolt in the direction A and cause it to move to for example the locking position. The lobe may then slip off the surface 8 when the lobe reaches a location on its arc of rotation and the lock bolt has displaced sufficiently far for the lock lobe to then clear the distal end of the surface 8. It can be seen that the arm 63 may be mounted in a manner supported by the lock bolt or the sliding member such that the arm 63 deflects more readily inwards and less readily outwards. As a result the arm resists against yielding more when the lobe is pushing against the driving surface 9 to cause the lock bolt to be moved but yields more readily when the lobe is moved to become aligned with the driving surfaces. In an alternative embodiment, the arms 63 may be separate leaf springs attached to each side of the notch in the bolt.

The foregoing description of the invention includes preferred forms thereof. Modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (2)

1. Claims 1. A lock comprising: a lock housing retaining a lock bolt for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position relative the housing, wherein the locking position corresponds to the lock bolt extending at least partially from the housing and the unlocking position corresponds to the lock bolt being at least partially retracted into the housing, an actuator operable from externally of the lock housing and capable of moving the lock bolt between its locking position and unlocking position, by acting on a lock bolt driver coupled to or forming part of the lock bolt, wherein the lock bolt driver is mounted by said lock bolt to move with said lock bolt between the locking and unlocking position, a lock bolt lock that prevents said lock bolt moving from both its locking position and unlocking position, yet the lock bolt lock is operable by said actuator via the lock bolt driver to a condition to free the lock bolt for movement from its locking position and unlocking position, wherein the lock bolt driver is displaceable or deflectable, against a bias, by said actuator relative to both the lock bolt and the actuator when said actuator is caused to move to the condition to free the lock bolt for movement, to facilitate alignment of the lock bolt lock with said actuator, wherein the lock bolt driver presents two driving surfaces, one for engagement by said actuator in moving the lock bolt towards the locking position and the other for engagement by the actuator in moving the lock bolt to the unlocking position, and wherein the actuator is movable into a space between the two driving surfaces of said lock bolt driver by displacing or deflecting said lock bolt driver relative to both the lock bolt and the actuator.
2. 2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lock bolt driver is displaceable or deflectable to facilitate alignment of the lock bolt lock with said actuator to allow the lock bolt lock to be operable by said actuator to a condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

   3. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said actuator is a cam actuator and is slidingly engageable with said lock bolt lock to cause the lock bolt lock to move to said condition to free the lock bolt for movement.

   4. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lock bolt moves rotationally between the locking and unlocking positions.

   5. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuator is rotationally mounted relative and preferably directly by said housing.

   6. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lock bolt driver is floatingly mounted by said lock bolt to move with said lock bolt between the locking and unlocking positions.

   7. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lock bolt driver is mounted by said lock bolt in a manner to be displaced or deflected by said actuator upon the actuator moving in one direction and continued movement in said one direction subsequently causes said actuator and said lock bolt driver to cooperate to move said lock bolt.

   8. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuator includes at least one arm provided and presented for actuation of said lock bolt lock and to drive said lock bolt driver.

   9. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said actuator includes a key barrel.

   10. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuator and the lock bolt driver are adapted and configured to ensure that the actuator rides over the lock bolt driver when moving to a condition release the lock bolt lock.

   11. A lock as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lock bolt driver moves from a first, driving position to a second, deflected position as the actuator moves to operate the lock bolt lock to free the bolt for movement.

   12. A lock as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lock bolt driver comprises: a first bolt driving component to displace the lock bolt from the locking position to the unlocking position, the first bolt driver component presenting one of the two driving surfaces as a first bearing surface for the actuator rotating in a first direction to push against and cause displacement of the lock bolt, and wherein the first bolt driving component yields to the actuator when the actuator rotates in a second, opposite direction, a second bolt driving component to displace the lock bolt from the unlocking position to the locking position, the second bolt driver component presenting another one of the two driving surfaces as a second bearing surface for the actuator rotating in the second direction to push against and cause displacement of the lock bolt, and wherein the second bolt driving component yields to the actuator when the actuator rotates in the first direction.

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