AU5189101A - Improvements in locks - Google Patents

Description

1 Title: Improvements in Locks Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a lock for a moveable wing comprising a hollow frame supporting an in-fill portion and defined by an interior and an opposed exterior side, the manual lock including an engageable means, a casing, engaging means including at least one engaging member supported by the casing and displaceable to a latched configuration to be engaged with the engageable member, to restrain the wing from displacing in an opening direction operating means to cause each engaging member to displace to and from the latched configuration including a hand operable interior-operating member operably connected by a rocker to each engaging member by slide means including a S.rectilinearly displaceable slide, S. 25 the operating means further including a cylinder having a key operable barrel operably coupled to a first pinion, the first pinion and slide being operably connected by a drive recess of the slide disposed towards the first pinion and defined by a first drive shoulder and the second drive shoulder and a protruding third drive shoulder of the first pinion radially disposed from the axis of rotation of the first pinion and which locates between the first and second drive shoulders to couple the slide and first pinion whereby displacement of one causes displacement of the other, the slide being displaceable to and from a latching position corresponding to each engaging member being latched by operation of the interior-operating member S 35 to cause the rocker to displace to cause the slide to displace and by operation of the cylinder to cause the first pinion to displace to cause the slide to displace, 2 the manual lock being displaceable to a first locked configuration characterized by the slide being in the latching position, each engaging member being latched and the first pinion being in a further displaced position wherein the third drive shoulder has left the drive recess to abut the surface of the exit shoulder which is then defined by a normal vector which passes through the axis of rotation of the first pinion, the slide thereby being unable to exert a moment on the first pinion to cause the first pinion to rotate to thereby be restrained from displacing by the first pinion.

Preferably the slide includes a sub-slide portion which is displaceable relative to the remainder slide portion between limits comprising an undisplaced position towards which it is biased, and a fully displaced position, the second drive shoulder and exit shoulder comprising part of the sub-slide, the first locked configuration being further characterized by the sub-slide being in the fully displaced position with the third drive shoulder abutting the exit shoulder to retain the sub-slide in the fully displaced position.

Preferably the operating means includes a cylinder comprising an exterior cylinder having a key operable barrel operably coupled coaxially to a rearwardly disposed offset pinion meshing with a spindle pinion, and a first-spindle having passage through the frame to coaxially and operably interconnect the spindle pinion and the first pinion, the manual lock being further characterized by increased room to operate the key facilitated by the axis of rotation of the cylinder barrel being offset and rearward S. o 25 of the axis of rotation of the first spindle and rearward of the hollow portion of the frame.

Preferably, the engageable means comprises a catch plate, the engaging means comprises a pair of counteracting engaging arms supported relative to the casing 30 each having a free end with a hooked portion displaceable from a retracted configuration where it is substantially within the casing to a latched configuration where it protrudes from the casing to engage the catch plate, each angularly displacing in the opposite direction to the other, and wherein the slide means comprises counter-acting rectilinearly displaceable slides interconnecting the upper 35 and the lower engaging arm to the rocker, one of said slides including the first and second drive shoulders and exit shoulder, each engaging arm and associated slide cooperating in the latched configuration to deadlock the engaging arm to restrain the 4 lt,.

engaging arm from being displaced from the latched configuration by means other than the operating means.

Preferably the lock includes control means to restrain each engaging member from being displaced to engage the catch plate unless the catch plate and wing are relatively positioned to enable the said engagement including an outwardly biased plunger supported in the casing to be displaceable from a fully extended position in which it simultaneously protrudes from the casing while engaging a slide to restrain the slide means from displacing.

According to the invention there is provided a lock for a moveable wing defined by an interior and an exterior side, said manual lock including a casing, an engageable means, engaging means including at least one engaging member supported by the casing and displaceable to a latched configuration to be engaged with the engageable means to restrain the wing from displacing in an opening direction, operating means to cause the engaging member to displace to and from the latched configuration including a hand operable interior-operating member and a hand operable exterior-latching member, the manual lock being displaceable to and from the latched configuration by the interior-operating member, the manual lock being displaceable to but not from the latched configuration by the exterior exterior-latching member.

According to the invention there is provided a lock for a moveable wing comprising a hollow frame supporting an in-fill portion and defined by an interior and an exterior 25 side, the manual lock including, an engageable means, a casing, engaging means including at least one engaging member supported by the casing and displaceable to a latched configuration to be engaged with the engageable means to restrain the wing from displacing in an opening direction, operating means to cause each engaging member to displace to and from the 30 latched configuration including a hand operable interior-operating member operably connected to a first pinion and each engaging member, the operating means further including a rearwardly disposed exterior cylinder S having a key operable barrel operably coupled coaxially to a rearwardly disposed offset pinion meshing with a spindle pinion, and a first-spindle having passage 35 through the frame to coaxially interconnect the spindle pinion and the first pinion, the interior-operating member being displaceable by hand to and from a latching configuration corresponding to a latched manual lock with each engaging e0 member being in a latched configuration and by operation of the exterior cylinder to cause the first pinion to displace to cause the interior-operating member and each engaging member to displace, and with the interior-operating member remaining in the latching configuration, the first pinion being further displaceable by operation of the exterior cylinder to restrain the interior-operating member from being displaced from the latching configuration.

the manual lock being characterized by increased room to operate the key facilitated by the axis of rotation of the cylinder barrel being offset and rearward of the axis of rotation of the spindle and rearward of the axis of rotation of the first spindle and rearward of the hollow portion of the frame.

In an embodiment the casing comprises an interior casing attachable to the interior side of the frame and each engaging member is supported in the interior casing.

In an embodiment the lock includes a mortise casing portion attachable within the frame and wherein each engaging member is supported in the mortise casing.

According to the invention there is provided a lock for a moveable wing comprising a hollow frame supporting an in-fill portion and defined by an interior and an exterior side, the self-latching lock including an engageable means, a casing, engaging means including at least one engaging member supported by the casing and displaceable to a latched configuration corresponding to a latched lock to be engaged with the engageable means, to restrain the wing from displacing in an 25 opening direction, operating means to cause each engaging member to displace from the latched configuration including a hand operable interior-operating member and a hand operable exterior-operating member each operably connected by a rocker to each engaging member by slide means including a rectilinearly displaceable slide, 30 locking means including a deadlocking slide comprising a support slide, a cylinder having a key operable barrel operably coupled to a first pinion and an interior-snibbing member operably coupled to the deadlocking slide by a locking-cam having an arm with an end shoulder, the first pinion and deadlocking slide being operably connected by a drive 35 recess of the deadlocking slide disposed towards the first pinion and defined by a first drive shoulder and a second drive shoulder and a protruding third drive shoulder radially disposed from the axis of rotation of the first pinion and which locates between the first and second drive shoulders to couple the deadlocking slide and first pinion whereby displacement of one causes displacement of the other, the deadlocking slide being displaceable to and from a locking configuration corresponding to a latched lock by operation of the interior-snibbing member to cause the cam to rotate to cause the deadlocking slide to displace and by operation of the cylinder to cause the first pinion to displace to cause the deadlocking slide to displace, the lock being so lockable to a second locked configuration characterized by the third drive shoulder being within the drive recess and the arm end shoulder being adjacent to a portion of the slide defined by a normal vector which passes through the axis of rotation of the locking-cam, the slide thereby being unable to exert a moment on the locking-cam to cause the locking-cam to rotate, the slide thereby being restrained from displacing from the locking configuration, the lock being lockable to a first locked configuration from which it can only be unlocked by the cylinder, the first locked configuration being characterized by the first pinion being further displaced to have caused the third drive shoulder to leave the drive recess and to abut the surface of the exit shoulder which is then defined by a normal vector which passes through the axis of rotation of the first pinion, the deadlocking slide thereby being unable to exert a moment on the first pinion to cause the first pinion to rotate to thereby be restrained from displacing 'Preferably the deadlocking slide includes a subsidibary sub-slide which is displaceable relative to the other deadlocking slide portion between limits comprising an undisplaced position towards which it is biased, and a fully displaced position, the second drive shoulder and exit shoulder comprising part of the sub-slide, 25 the first locked configuration being further characterized by the sub-slide being in the fully displaced position with the third drive shoulder abutting the exit shoulder to retain the sub-slide in the fully displaced position.

"iPreferably, the locking means includes a cylinder comprising a rearwardly disposed exterior cylinder having a key operable barrel operably coupled coaxially to a rearwardly disposed offset pinion meshing with a spindle pinion, and a first-spindle having passage through the frame to couple and coaxially interconnect the spindle pinion and a first pinion, the self-latching lock being characterized by increased room to operate the 35 key facilitated by the axis of rotation of the cylinder barrel being offset and rearward of the axis of rotation of the first-spindle and rearward of the axis of rotation of the first spindle and rearward of the hollow portion of the frame.

6 Preferably the engageable means comprises a catch plate, the engaging means comprising a pair of counteracting engaging arms supported relative to the casing each having a free end with a hooked portion displaceable from a retracted configuration where the free end is substantially within the casing to a latched configuration where the free end protrudes from the casing to engage the catch plate, each angularly displacing in the opposite direction to the other, and wherein the slide means comprises counter-acting rectilinearly displaceable slides interconnecting the upper and the lower engaging arms to the rocker, said slide means being biased towards the configuration corresponding to the latched configuration, each engaging arm and associated slide cooperating in the latched configuration to deadlock the engaging arm to restrain the engaging arm from being displaced from the latched configuration by means other than the operating mean Preferably the lock includes control means to restrain each engaging arm from being displaced to engage the catch plate unless the catch plate and wing are relatively positioned to enable the said engagement including an outwardly biased plunger supported in the casing to be displaceable from a fully extended position in which it simultaneously protrudes from the casing while engaging a slide to restrain the slide means from displacing.

According to the invention there is provided a lock for a moveable wing comprising a hollow frame supporting an in-fill portion and defined by an interior and an exterior side, the self-latching lock including, an engageable means, a casing, 25 engaging means including at least one engaging member supported by the casing and displaceable to a latched configuration corresponding to a latched lock to be engaged with the engageable means to restrain the wing from displacing in an opening direction, operating means to cause each engaging member to displace from the latched configuration including a hand operable interior-operating member and a hand operable exterior-operating member each operably connected to each engaging member, locking means to restrain the operating means from displacing each engaging member from the latched configuration including an interior-snibbing member, a 35 rearwardly disposed exterior cylinder having a key operable barrel operably coupled coaxially to a rearwardly disposed offset pinion meshing with a spindle pinion, and a first-spindle having passage through the frame to coaxially interconnect the spindle pinion and a first pinion, the interior-snibbing member being displaceable by hand to displace the latched lock to a second locked configuration, the exterior cylinder being operable to displace the first pinion to displace the latched lock to a second locked configuration, the first pinion being further displaceable by operation of the exterior cylinder to restrain the lock from being displaced from the second locked configuration, the self-latching lock being characterized by increased room to operate the key facilitated by the axis of rotation of the cylinder barrel being offset and rearward of the axis of rotation of the first-spindle and rearward of the axis of rotation of the first spindle and rearward of the hollow portion of the frame.

Preferably the casing comprises an interior casing attachable to the interior side of the frame and each engaging member is supported in the interior casing.

Preferably the lock includes a mortise casing portion attachable within the frame and wherein each engaging member is supported in the mortise casing.

According to the invention there is provided a handle including a first handle portion and hollow boss portion protruding from the rear of the handle to accept a screw, the boss portion and screw cooperating to retain the handle attached to a wing, the handle being characterized by a portion of lesser strength between the boss portion and first portion and by which the boss portion is joined to the first portion.

Preferably the boss portion comprises a domed head portion joined to the first portion 25 by an annular ring of reduced thickness and defined by an annular recess.

oooo* According to the invention there is provided a handle is substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings .*00 30 According to the invention there is provided a lock with the bosses According to the invention there is provided a blocking means to render a lock inaccessible to be unlocked from the exterior once a spindle operably connecting the exterior to the lock has been removed.

Preferably the blocking means includes a biased shutter with an aperture to provide passage for the spindle 8 According to the invention there is provided a handle substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings According to the invention there is provided a lock including blocking means 'According to the invention there is provide an auxiliary lock comprising an auxiliary mechanism connected to at least one remote, said auxiliary mechanism including a drive cam defined by an undisplaced position with an arm supporting a sideways protruding pin which locates within a drive recess of a rectilinearly vertically displaceable driver slide which is directly coupled by an interposed pinion to a counteracting rectilinearly displaceable slave slide, the drive recess comprising a drive shoulder and an angled opening comprising an exit shoulder, one of the slides is connected to a remote lock by a cable which is joined to an outwardly biased control member displaceable by the cable from an undisplaced position within the remote assembly, the remote assembly comprising a remote casing including internal engageable shoulders, a tongue displaceable between a fully extended position and a retracted position in which it is substantially within the remote casing, said tongue supporting a locking arm engageable with the engageable shoulders to restrain the lock in a locked configuration and operably connected to the control member, the auxiliary lock being configured such that a drive cam in the undisplaced position corresponds to a retracted tongue, a control member displaced against •.*.biasing means and a disengaged locking arm, the auxiliary lock being further 25 characterized by a locking configuration in which the locking cam is in a locking configuration, the locking arm is engaged with the engageable shoulders and the control member is undisplaced.

Preferably, the locking arm comprises an angularly displaceable arm supported at a o 30 pivot axis, the control member comprises a control slide, said control slide and locking arm being connected by pivotal joints to a control arm, said control arm being disposed from the horizontal in the locked configuration.

According to the invention there is provided an auxiliary lock, substantially as 35 described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings According to the invention there is provided a lock including an auxiliary lock According to the invention there is provided a lock including an auxiliary lock 9 Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the lock and wing when viewed from the interior of the wing; Fig.2 is a perspective view of the lock and wing when viewed from the exterior of the wing; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lock without the wing when viewed from the rear of the lock; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the interior lock portion of the manual lock with the lid removed, when viewed from the interior side; Fig. 5 is the view of Fig 4 with the lid and slides removed; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the interior lock portion of the manual lock with the lid and casing removed, when viewed from the exterior side; Fig. 7 is a schematic, partial side view of the sub-slide and first pinion when the subslide is relatively undisplaced; Fig. 8 is a schematic, partial side view of the sub-slide and first pinion when the subslide is fully displaced and the third drive shoulder abuts the exit shoulder; Fig. 9 is a perspective, partially exploded partial view of the interior lock portion of the manual lock with the lid removed and casing removed, when viewed from the interior side; Fig. 10 is a perspective, partially exploded partial view of the pinions, first-spindle and cylinders when viewed from the interior side; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the interior casing, lid and handle, when viewed from the interior side; Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the exterior handle of the manual lock, exterior- 25 latching member and first-spindle and second-spindle, when viewed from the exterior side; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the exterior handle of the manual lock and firstspindle and second-spindle, when viewed from the underside side of the external handle; 30 Fig. 14 is an exploded view of the exterior handle of Fig 12; Fig. 15 is a perspective, exploded view of the catch plate, when viewed from the interior and rear; Fig. 16 is a schematic side view of the plunger for the self-latching lock Fig. 17 is a perspective, partially exploded view of the exterior handle of the self- 35 latching lock, the exterior-locking member, the exterior-operating member and first- *:***spindle, second-spindle and third-spindle, when viewed from the exterior side; Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the interior lock portion of the self-latching lock with the lid removed, when in the unlocked configuration, when viewed from the interior side with the lever underside outwardly to show the circlip groove; Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the interior lock portion of the self-latching lock with the lid removed, when in the first locked configuration, when viewed from the interior side; Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the manual lock showing the interior lock portion with the lid removed, and an additional mortise lock portion with the lid removed, when viewed from the interior side; Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the self-latching lock showing the interior lock portion with the lid removed, and an additional mortise lock portion with the lid removed, when viewed from the interior side; Fig. 22 is a perspective, cut-away view of the exterior handle showing the construction of the fixing boss, when viewed from the exterior side; Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the interior casing with the shutter included, when viewed from the underside of the interior casing; is a perspective view of the additional mechanism with the lid removed, when viewed from the interior side; Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a remote lock with the lid removed, when viewed from the interior side; Fig.27 is a schematic side view of the lower remote lock when configured in the extended configuration and the additional mechanism correspondingly configured; Fig.28 is a schematic side view of the lower remote lock when configured in the S•retracted configuration and the additional mechanism correspondingly configured; t* **i o *o ao ooo a...o aoo V. i.

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11 Description of the Preferred Embodiments The invention provides multiple improved locks and improvements in locks that are transportable into other locks and locking devices without being limited to the applications described herein.

The improved lock range references two types of locks; a manual lock where the engaging members are moved between an extended, latching position and a retracted, disengaged, position by manipulation of a key or hand operable operating member; and a self latching lock in which the engaging members are moved to the extended position by biasing means and moveable to the retracted position by manipulation of an operating member. Many of the components employed in the manual lock are also employed in the self-latching lock.

The manual lock is described in detail first and the self-latching lock is then described relative to this manual lock. Within this invention the words "meshes with" means, in the direction of engagement, engaging with but without free movement. For example, meshing between an angularly displaceable shaft and a recess in an angularly displaceable pinion ensures that they both angularly displace the same, though the shaft is permitted to displace longitudinally in relation to the pinion.

In preferred embodiments of the manual and self-latching locks there is a lock body mountable to a displaceable wing suspended adjacent to an opening and an engageable means associated with an element defining part of the wing opening such that when the lock body and engageable means are engaged with each other, 25 the wing is restrained from being moved in an opening direction; the wing comprising a substantially hollow frame supporting an in-fill material such as glass or expanded mesh.

In the preferred embodiment, as shown in Fig 1 to 3, the lock body comprises an interior assembly 1 for mounting to the interior surface 2 of a hollow frame element characterized by a hollow portion2A and in-fill retaining portion 28, said lock body comprising an interior casing 3, shown in Fig 4, supporting one but preferably two engaging members; an upper engaging members 4 and a lower engaging member and preferably a hand operable interior-operating member preferably comprising an 35 interior-operating lever 6 by which to displace the engaging members, and electively -o°an interior cylinder 7 having a key operable barrel 8.

12 The engageable means in preferred embodiments comprises a catch plate 9 engageable by the engaging members 4 and 5. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the engageable means comprises adaption of the element 10 comprising part of the opening to provide engageable shoulders.

In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig 2, there is mounted to the exterior face of the door an exterior assembly 11, which includes a cylinder 12 having a key operable barrel 13, and an exterior handle 14 by which the wing can be displaced.

The interior assembly, as shown in Fig 1 and Fig 3, includes a handle 15, preferably a D-shaped handle, by which the wing can be displaced. The interior casing 3 is defined by a front wall 16 disposed towards the catch plate 9, an opposed rear wall 17 an outer side comprising a casing lid 18, shown in Fig 11, to which the handle is integrally connected, an opposed underside 19 adjacent to the interior surface 2 of the frame, a top, (or upper) wall 20 and a bottom, (or lower) wall 21 which in turn define the positional prepositions.

The interior assembly, as shown in Fig 4 and 9, comprises the upper and lower engaging members 4, 5 respectively, each having a free end 22 with each free end having an engaging element that in preferred embodiments comprises a hooked portion 23 but in other embodiments comprises sideways protruding shoulders. Each engaging member has an opposite supported end 24 supported in the casing at a pivotal axis 25 defined by a substantially cylindrical shaft preferably comprising a steel rivet 26, which has passage through, to be supported by, an aperture 27 in the casing, as shown in Fig 11 the rivet being coaxial with the axis of rotation of the engaging member and preferably substantially orthogonal to the surface of the wing.

In preferred embodiments, as shown in Fig 9, each engaging member has a slotted recess 28 adjacent to but radially disposed from the pivotal axis 25 which in a first part 29 is substantially radial to the axis of rotation and in a second part 30, (which may be curved), has an operative portion which is inclined to the vertical when the engaging member is retracted, undisplaced and which is substantially vertically S: disposed when the engaging member is extended.

35 In preferred embodiments of the manual lock, the lock only requires three through apertures in the wing to accommodate bosses, as shown in Fig 3, that are spaced at the distances commonly employed for glass patio doors this distance being 13 approximately 82 mm. The upper aperture in the wing accommodates bosses 31 and 32 being extensions of the interior and exterior casings respectively, and the lower aperture in the wing accommodates bosses 33 and 34 being extensions of the interior and exterior casings respectively. Fixing screws 93, shown in Fig 11, having clearance through apertures in the interior bosses pass through the wing to engage in threaded recesses in the exterior bosses. A central aperture provides passage for a first-spindle 35, the only member operably connecting the cylinder 12 in the exterior assembly to the interior assembly 1 of the basic manual lock.

Supported within the interior casing by a circular aperture in the interior casing underside 19, is an angularly displaceable first pinion 36, as shown in Fig 5, 6 and comprising a disc-like portion 36A having an axis of rotation orthogonal to the surface of the wing and having substantially parallel sided drive slots 40 radially disposed from the axis of rotation of the first pinion, each having a profiled opening.

The first pinion has a shaft-like axial extension 40A supported in a recess in the underside of the casing lid 18.

This first pinion is directly angularly coupled, without free movement, to an adjacent, overlapping second pinion 37, (supported by a shaft-like axial extension housed in a recess 96 in the underside of the interior casing, as shown in Fig 11), the second pinion 37 being supported coaxially with barrel 8 of the interior locking cylinder 7 with which the second pinion 37 is coupled with free movement, and by which the second pinion is supported adjacent to the internal underside 19 of the casing. The second ***pinion has sideways protruding drive pins 41 radially disposed from the axis of 25 rotation of the second pinion and configured such that at any one time there is at least one drive pin 41 within a drive slot 40 and where angular displacement of either drive pin 41 or slot 40 causes a corresponding angular displacement of the other and so in this respect, acting similarly to meshed helically geared pinions. The first pinion has on the underside, as shown in Fig 6, a slotted recess 52 in which the first-spindle 35 engages without significant free movement preferably in splined engagement to accommodate a variety of distances between the interior and exterior assemblies.

As shown in Fig 10, the first pinion 36 is coupled by the first-spindle 35 to a spindle Spinion 38 within the exterior casing comprising a disc-like portion having an axis of 35 rotation orthogonal to the surface of the wing and having substantially parallel sided drive slots radially disposed from the axis of rotation of the first pinion, each having a profiled opening. The spindle pinion is directly coupled to an adjacent offset pinion 39 supported in the exterior casing coaxially with barrel 13 with which it is directly coupled without free movement, and by which the offset-pinion is supported adjacent to the lid 74 of the exterior casing. The second pinion has sideways protruding drive pins disposed from the axis of rotation of the second pinion and configured such that at any one time there is at least one drive pin within a drive slot and where angular displacement of either the drive pin or drive slot causes a corresponding angular displacement of the other.

The first and second pinion and first-spindle 35 comprise a directly coupled angularly displaceable first transmission train that is coupled with free movement to the third and offset pinion and exterior barrel, which together comprise a directly coupled second transmission train. The first transmission train is characterized by an "undisplaced configuration" corresponding to retracted engaging members and a "latched configuration" corresponding to extended engaging members and a "first locking configuration" also corresponding to extended engaging members. This will be explained below.

The barrel in the interior cylinder can be rotated from an "undisplaced position" defined as the key removal position, to positions causing the first transmission train to rotate between configurations and then be returned to the barrel undisplaced position.

The second transmission train, including the exterior barrel can be rotated from an undisplaced configuration" to cause the first transmission train to angularly displace 25 between its respective configurations and then returned to the undisplaced configuration. As can be seen from Fig 10, the rectangular shaped first-spindle locates in a shouldered cylindrical recess 38A in the underside of the spindle pinion to provide coupling with free movement between the two.

It should be observed that the inclusion of the pinion trains enables the key apertures in the barrels to be positioned an extended distance from the front edge of the lock to 0. °provide greatly improved accessibility to the key aperture.

The free movement referred to above between the interior barrel and the adjacent pinion, pinion 2, (common to many security door locks), enables the key to be inserted in the barrel when the barrel is undisplaced, the key and barrel to be rotated to operate the first transmission train from the undisplaced configuration to the latched configuration and then the key turned a further small amount to lock the lock to the first locked configuration by displacing the sub-slide. The key can then be reversed to the undisplaced barrel position to enable the key to be removed, while leaving the transmission train in the locking configuration. The free movement between the first-pinion 35 and recess 38A is configured such that if the first transmission train is undisplaced then any movement of the second transmission in a locking/latching direction immediately causes the first transmission train to commence displacing, and if the first transmission train is in the first locking configuration then any movement of the second transmission in an unlocking/unlatching direction immediately causes the first transmission train to commence displacing towards the undisplaced configuration.

In preferred embodiments, diagonally opposed barrel pins 42 protrude longitudinally from the interior barrel internal end to locate in respective arcular recesses 43 in the second pinion said recesses being defined by substantially radial shoulders 44 which are engageable by the barrel pins. Diagonally opposed barrel pins 42 also protrude longitudinally from the exterior barrel internal end to locate in cylindrical recesses in the offset pinion.

Supported within the interior casing, as shown in Fig 4 to 6, are two rectilinearly vertically displaceable counteracting slides; an upper slide 45 and a lower slide 46 between which there is an angularly displaceable rocker 47 by which the two slides are coupled so that each displaces equally and simultaneously but in the opposite S* •direction. These slide are supported by vertically elongated finned portions of the 25 casing and the lid 18 and the front wall. The rocker 47 has in relation to its axis of rotation, diagonally opposite arms, a forward protruding rocker arm 48 which straddle the lower slide 46 and a rearward protruding rocker arm 49 which straddles the upper slide 45, the arms being coupled to the respective adjacent slide by a sideways •protruding rocker pin 50 which locates in a horizontally elongated slide slot 51 in the slide the protrusions preferably comprising cylindrical protrusions having a longitudinal axis parallel with that of the rocker and barrels. The interior operating member 6 is connected to the rocker 47 by a shaft that meshes, engages without free movement), in the axial rocker recess 88A the shaft preferably being an extension of a shaft portion of the interior-operating member.

The upper slide 45, as shown in Fig 5 to 8, supports on the underside a relatively moveable spring biased sub-slide 53 that is biased towards an undisplaced position 16 relative to the upper slide by a spring 54. The sub-slide has upper and lower extensions 55, 56 respectively, which locate in slotted recesses 58, 57 respectively in the underside of the upper slide and by which the sub-slide is supported adjacent to the first pinion.

In the underside of the sub-slide disposed towards the first pinion is a concave cam recess 59 defined by an upper or first drive shoulder 60 and a lower or second drive shoulder 61 between which a third shoulder 63 of the first pinion locates to couple the upper slide and therefore the rocker and lower slide, to the first transmission train. In alternative embodiments, the upper shoulder comprises part of the upper slide, (or the support slide described below), and the lower drive shoulder comprises part of the sub-slide and is relatively displaceable.

Because of the coupling, the upper slide, from a nominal undisplaced position corresponding to retracted engaging members, can be displaced by cylinder or lever 6 operation to a position corresponding to the latched configuration with extended engaging members. While unlocked, the first transmission train, ("first train"), can cause the upper slide, rocker and interior operating lever to correspondingly rotate and the operating lever can cause the rocker, upper slide and first train to correspondingly rotate and so the first train is moveable in either angular direction, towards and from the latched configuration, by either a key or the operating lever.

When the lock is in the latched configuration, as shown in Fig 8, the first train can be further displaced in a locking direction to displace the sub-slide relative to the upper 25 slide, against spring biasing means while the upper slide remains substantially unmoved, to lock the lock in the first locked configuration this can be done by turning the key in either cylinder.

In preferred embodiments the sub-slide can only be displaced against the spring a pre-determined distance relative to the upper slide, this distance being defined by a shoulder portion adjacent to the recess 57 which acts as a sub-slide stop. Only when the upper slide is fully displaced downwardly to the latching configuration and the sub-slide has been displaced to be adjacent to the sub-slide stop can the shoulder 63 be rotated to depart from the recess between the drive shoulders 60 and 61.

In this locked configuration there is no coupling between the first train and interioroperating member and slides and the interior-operating member cannot be rotated to '17 cause the slides to displace to cause the pinions to rotate in this configuration the upper slide is rendered immovable by shoulder 63 in cooperation with an arcular exit shoulder 62 of the sub-slide the surface of which then lies substantially orthogonal to the pivotal axis of the first pinion. In this configuration a leading edge 64 of the shoulder 63 preferably comprising an arcular edge, (with respect to the axis of rotation of the first pinion), abuts the exit shoulder having been displaced from between the drive shoulders to slide over the exit shoulder 62 without moving the support slide. Attempted displacement of the upper slide upwardly causes the subslide to be urged upwardly to cause the surface of the exit shoulder to exert a force on the shoulder 63 which is defined by a vector passing through the pivotal axis of the first pinion without giving rise to a moment on the first pinion.

The upper slide 45, as shown in Fig 6 and 9, extends from the rocker 47 to connect to the upper engaging member 4; the lower slide 46 extends from the rocker 47 to connect to the lower engaging member 5. Each slides has a sideways protruding slide pin 65 that locates in a slotted recess 28 in the associated engaging member the pin and slotted recess being coupled in cam-follower relationship.

As each slide pin drives the associated engaging arm to the extended position, it slides within the first part 29 in a manner defined by a slide-follower relationship.

When the engaging members are in the fully extended positions, (in a preferred embodiment disposed 90 degrees to the side of the interior casing), the slide pin displaces further to deadlock the engaging member in which position the slide pin abuts the operative portion of the second part 30 of the slotted recess which is then 25 vertically disposed. The significance of the operative portion being vertical when the engaging members are extended is that attempted rotation of the engaging arm from the extended position causes the recess 30 wall to exert a horizontal force on the slide pin which is resisted by the wall of the interior casing and rotation of the .*engaging member is prevented, the arrangement in effect deadlocking the engaging member.

In a preferred embodiment the engaging members, have drive portions 66 mirror images about a horizontal line through the first pinion, these portions including the recesses 31.

Preferably, the interior assembly includes a detent including a plunger 67, as shown in Fig 4, 5 and 6, supported between horizontally elongated finned portions 71 of the 18 casing and outwardly biased by spring 70 which abuts an inwardly protruding shoulder of the plunger 67A and which is also supported between the horizontally elongated fins 71, as shown in Fig 5. The plunger has a side protruding shoulder 68, which can locate in an underside detent recess 69 in the upper slide to restrain the upper slide from displacing from the position corresponding to retracted engaging members. The lock is configured such that when the upper and lower slides are undisplaced, i.e. the engaging members are retracted, the plunger protrudes from the interior casing while the shoulder 68 is within the detent recess 69 restraining the upper slide and therefore restraining the directly coupled further mechanism from being displaced from the undisplaced configuration. Depression of the plunger, through engagement with the catch plate as the wing is closed causes displacement of the shoulder 68 from the detent recess 69 enabling the slides to be displaced.

The engaging members are configured so that they move simultaneously in opposite directions and in the direction of the hooks. In a preferred embodiment they move towards each other and the hooked portions move towards each other to be engageable behind shoulders of the catch plate.

The exterior second assembly, as shown in Fig 12 to 14, preferably comprises a hollow shaped exterior casing 72 of which the exterior handle 73 is an integral part and an underside exterior lid 74 attachable by removable screws 75 the lid having an aperture 76 through which the first-spindle 35 has passage and by which the spindle-pinion 38 is supported. The first-spindle meshes, engages without free movement), within an axial aperture 78 in the spindle pinion and has a headed 25 portion 77 preventing it from leaving the exterior assembly. Directly above this head is a hardened steel disc 79 to protect the third cam from external attack through the adjacent to casing wall. The offset pinion is supported adjacently by a shaft-like protrusion 79A, as shown in Fig 10 that locates to be supported in the aperture 80 in the exterior lid 74. There is a cylinder recess in the casing that connects to the aperture 81 is the exterior casing and through which the cylinder barrel head protrudes to be accessible.

In alternative preferred embodiments of the manual lock, the exterior assembly includes an angularly displaceable hand operable member for displacing the 35 engaging members to the latched configuration. It preferably comprising a exteriorlatching member 82 supported between an aperture 83 in the lid 74 and an aperture 84 in the casing through which a head portion 85 is accessible to be operable.

"19 Preferably this head portion has an accessible slotted recess 86 to accept a key or other tool. The exterior-latching member has on the underside another slotted recess which meshes with a second-spindle 87, said second-spindle having passage through a fourth aperture in the door to locate in aperture 88, as shown in Fig 6, in the underside of the rocker. The exterior-latching member has a sideways protruding shoulder comprising stop 89 that locates in an arcular recess 89A coaxial with the latching-lever and in which the stop shoulder can freely rotate between limits defined by radial shoulders that define the limits of the arcular recess.

The stop 89 and arcular recess are configured such that when the slides are in the undisplaced configuration and the exterior-latching member, (and second-spindle), is in an undisplaced configuration, the stop abuts one end of the arcular recess, and from this position the exterior-latching can be rotated to drive the second-spindle to cause the rocker to displace to the position corresponding to the latched configuration of the lock and then the exterior-latching member can be returned to the undisplaced position, (and no further) while leaving the lock in the latched configuration. Because of the limits set on rotation of the latching exterior-member by the radial shoulders, it cannot be rotated to displace the lock from the latched configuration.

The aperture 88 in the rocker has two inwardly protruding opposed longitudinally shoulders 90 defining two opposed arcular recesses in which the blade-like secondspindle 87 can rotate with free movement. Each shoulder is configured such that the t99 •undisplaced position of the second-spindle corresponds with the second-spindle being adjacent to a first side of each shoulder 90 from which the second-spindle can be rotated to urge each first shoulder to rotate to cause the rocker to displace to the latched position the exterior-latching member can then be rotated to the undisplaced position without engaging an opposed other, second side of each shoulder 90 to cause the rocker to rotate.

The interior handle, as shown in Fig 11, preferably comprises a lid portion 18 of the interior casing having an upper and lower inwardly protruding boss 91 each locating in a shouldered recesses 92 in the interior casing that is located substantially co-axially with the fixing screws 93. The shouldered recess 92 and the boss 91 are together intersected by a transverse recess 94 through which a transverse screw has passage to fasten the boss 91 within the recesses 92 by which it is preferably surrounded. When the door is closed these screws 95 are inaccessible. The boss 91 preferably comprises a horizontally elongated protruding oval blade.

The second pinion is supported in the interior casing by a shaft-like protrusion that locates in the recess 96. Supported between this pinion and a cylinder recess in the lid portion 18 is the exterior cylinder 12. The cylinder recess connects to a barrel aperture 97 in the wall of the lid through which the head of the interior barrel 8 protrudes to be accessible. Preferably the handle 15 comprises an outer portion generally hollow in form and a handle back 98 which is attached by screws 99 to the outer portion.

Where either cylinder is omitted, exteriorly or interiorly, a plug is preferably employed to occupy the cylinder space: to protect the associated pinion from tampering, to support the pinion, and to improve the appearance which otherwise would be compromised by a visible aperture.

The manual lock preferably includes a torsion springs 100, as shown in Fig 4, having arms which attach to, to act on each slide to urge the upper and lower slides simultaneously towards their extreme outwardly disposed or inwardly disposed limits of displacement. In so doing, acting as an over-centre device.

The catch plate 9, as shown in Fig 3 and 15, has a forward wall 101 disposed towards the front edge of the interior assembly with openings 102, as shown in Fig 3, to provide passage for the engaging members to recesses 103 into which the hooked i 25 portion of the engaging arm extends. The catch plate preferably comprises a vertically elongated catch casing 104 which supports a forward wall comprising a separate channel 105, restrained relative to the casing by two spaced springs 106 located between the catch casing and channel. There are two spaced vertically elongated apertures 106 in the channel through which headed fasteners preferably comprising screws 107 have passage to attach the channel to the catch casing by •engaging in threaded apertures 108 in the catch casing.

Screws 107 are adjustable in and out to selectively set the distance between the channel and catch casing as is required and to accommodate small deviations in the wing 2 and element The catch casing can be attached to the element defining the wing opening in two different ways: screws 109, including the head can be passed through apertures 110 in the channel to be inserted in vertically elongated first fixing apertures 111 in the catch casing to be fastened to the element 10 the catch plate being vertically adjustable because of the elongation of the fixing recesses. Alternatively, screws 112 may be passed from the outer face of the catch casing through vertically elongated second fixing apertures 113 in the catch casing to be fastened into element 10 the catch plate again being vertically adjusted because of the elongation of the fixing recesses.

After fixing, plugs 114 are inserted within the second fixing apertures. Each second fixing aperture is intersected by transverse apertures 115 commencing at the front edge of the catch casing and support a grub screw 116 which threadedly engage the walls of the recesses. After the insertion of each plug the grub screw is tightened to bite into the plug to retain the plug in the second fixing recesses to render the screw 112 inaccessible.

At each end of the channel is an end shoulder 117 overhanging the recesses 103 to provide in-part a forward wall of the recess 103 and by so doing providing a counterlevered engageable shoulder behind which the hooked portions 23 of the engaging member can locate so that the hooked portion cannot be withdrawn horizontally from behind the shoulder 117 this action corresponding to attempting to open a wing with a latched lock.

25 Preferably the channel comprises an elongated steel channel. Preferably the casing comprises a single casting to provide increased strength. Preferably the casting comprises a substantially elongated first plate-like portion 118 integrally attached at right angles to another substantially second elongated plate-like portion 119 S. (corresponding in this embodiment to the base of the casing), each providing for the other a web-like portion to resist bending of the catch casing.

As well as adjustment through elongation of the fixing holes, further adjustment is provided through elongation of the apertures 106 whereby the channel is vertically adjustable up and down from a nominal central position relative to the catch casing.

35 So as the engaging members move to the extended position one of them would contact a shoulder 117 of a misaligned channel and move the channel to be vertically aligned with the engaging members. The springs 106 then maintain the channel relative to the catch casing.

In preferred embodiments of the self-latching lock, as shown in Fig 17 to 19, the torsion spring is omitted and the upper and lower slides are biased towards each other by a tension spring 120 having an end connected to each said slide. There is a hand operable exterior-operating member supported in the exterior casing and which is directly coupled without free movement to the rocker, both the rocker and exterioroperating member meshing with opposite ends of an operating shaft- the lock being displaceable to the unlatched configuration by rotation of either operating member.

The self-latching lock has a compound plunger 121 comprising a first plunger 122 supported entirely within the interior casing and having a side protrusion with a substantially vertical shoulder 123 and a detent shoulder 124 identical to shoulder 68.

Mounted adjacently and outwardly biased to protrude from the front of the interior casing is a second plunger 125 having a side protrusion with a substantially vertical shoulder 126 disposed towards side shoulder 123 and a downwardly angled tail 127 which is engageable with a horizontal fin 128 emanating from the rear edge 17 of the casing to be displaceable away from the first plunger 122. The leading portion of the second plunger is supported in a casing aperture 129 in the front wall of the interior casing while the tail end of the second plunger is biased towards the first plunger but free to be displaced vertically as occurs through contact with the finned portion 128.

:•The rectilinearly displaceable spring 130 and first plunger 122 are supported between 0 @9 25 the horizontallyelongated finned horizontal protrusion of the casing 71 and a side °0 wall of the shouldered recess 92 and the spring is located behind the plunger to urge it outwardly. The rectilinearly displaceable spring 131 and a vertically elongated blade-like shoulder 132 that protrudes from the underside of the second plunger are supported between the finned protrusions 71 of the interior casing, the spring locating behind the shoulder 132 to urge it outwardly.

*0eV If we consider a lock ready for latching, the second plunger 125 is undisplaced protruding from the casing while being substantially horizontal and shoulder 126 lies adjacent to and forward of shoulder 123. Depression of the second plunger causes shoulder 126 to contact and urge shoulder 123 rearward to release the shoulder 124 from recess 69 to allow the slides to be displaced by spring 120 to cause the engaging members to be driven to the extended position.

23 Further inward displacement of the second plunger during closing of the wing, causes the tail 127 to slide down the fin 128 to cause the shoulders 123 and 126 to move relatively apart and the shoulder 123 to be released whereupon the first plunger moves outwardly under the action of spring 130 till the shoulder 124 abuts the edge of the upper slide by which it is restrained from displacing further.

During unlatching by interior-operating member 6 or a key, the upper and lower slides are moved to the undisplaced position allowing the first plunger 122 to move forward so that the shoulder 124 enters recess 69 to restrain the slides, (recess 69 in latching embodiments being a little higher up the upper slide than in manual locks).

When the wing is subsequently opened, the second slide moves outwardly until shoulder 132 contacts a face portion 133 on the inside of the casing front wall adjacent to the opening 129. This shoulder has at a lower extreme, a forward projecting nib 134 disposed below the longitudinal axis of the spring 131 so that when the nibl 34 contacts the face portion 133 a moment is exerted on the second plunger urging it to rotate about the casing aperture 129 and towards the first plunger by which it is restrained. In this configuration the shoulder 126 is disposed forward of shoulder 123 and the mechanism is again ready for latching.

Once the lock is in the latched configuration it can be locked to a second locked configuration by using a key in either barrel to cause a support slide to displace downwardly and it can be locked to a first locked configuration by further rotating the *key to displace the sub-slide 53 against biasing means to enable the leading edge 64 25 to abuts the exit shoulder 62.

In other preferred self-latching locks, as shown in Fig 17 tol9, there is a hand operable interior-snibbing member 135 for locking the lock to the second locked configuration; the sub-slide is supported on a separate rectilinearly displaceable support slide 136 located adjacently the upper slide and between the upper slide and first pinion, and a shaft 137 by meshing with both, connects the rocker 47 to an exterior-operating lever 138, as shown in Fig 17 the lock being displaceable to the unlatched configuration by use of either the interior-operating or the exterioroperating member. In this embodiment the support slide, which is supported by the upper slide and extensions of the casing, is operably connected to the first train by the sub-slide in the same way that the upper slide is connected to the first train in manual locks. This embodiment requires four apertures through the wing; two for fixing screws, one for first- spindle 35 and one for the shaft 137.

The interior-snibbing member 135 is supported in an aperture in the casing lid 18 in the say way that the operating members are supported; a cylindrical shank portion 139 of each member is within a respective circular aperture in the respective casing, and a circlip is attached to a circlip groovel40 within each shank portion internally within the respective casing.

The shank portion 139 has a substantially coaxial cylindrical recess 141 with axial channels 142. This recess 141 mates with a substantially cylindrical boss 143 having axial finned protrusions 144, as shown in Fig 18, the boss portion supporting a locking arm 145 which lies in a plane parallel that of the underside of the casing, adjacent to the support slide and in-part in the same plane as part of the upper slide which acts to restrain the locking arm from displacing when the upper slide is in the undisplaced position; the locking arm and upper slide having respective edges 146 and 147 configured to abut when the upper slide and interior-snibbing member are undisplaced, as shown in Fig 18.

The locking arm has at a free end disposed from the boss 143, an inwardly protruding shoulder, preferably comprising an elongated pin 148, which overlaps the support slide to locate in a horizontally elongated recess 149 in the support slide and disposed towards the upper end of the support slide to operably couple the locking arm and support slide in slide-follower relationship whereby angular displacement of 25 the locking arm causes the support slide to displace while displacement of the support slide causes the locking arm to displace.

When the lock is in the latched configuration, as shown in Fig 19, the edge 147 is disposed from the boss 143 and the interior-snibbing member 135 can be rotated to cause the locking arm 145 to rotate to cause the support slide to displace to a position corresponding to a second locked configuration, (the support slide can also be displaced to this position by rotating either key). In this second locked configuration the free end of the locking arm is disposed towards the edge 147 of the upper slide and the edge 147 is configured such that in this locking configuration the point on the edge 147 adjacent to the free end of the locking arm is substantially orthogonal to the pivotal axis of the locking arm. Attempted displacement of the upper slide upwardly causes the edge 147 to exert a force on the free end which is defined by a vector passing through the pivotal axis of the locking arm without giving rise to a moment so that the locking arm remains undisplaced restraining the upper slide against displacement, as shown in Fig 19.

In other preferred embodiments of the self-latching lock, as shown in Fig 17, the exterior assembly includes an angularly displaceable hand operable member for locking the lock to the second locked configuration, preferably comprising an exteriorlocking member 150 similar to the exterior-latching member 82 of the manual lock.

The exterior-locking member 150 is supported between an aperture 151 in the exterior lid and an aperture 152 in the exterior casing through which a head portion 153 is accessible to be operable. Preferably this head portion has an accessible slotted recess 154 to accept a key or other tool. The exterior-locking member has on the underside another slotted recess that meshes with a third-spindle 154 which has passage through an aperture in the door to locate in an axial aperture 155 in the boss 143. The boss 143, third-spindle and exterior-locking member150 are coaxially supported.

The exterior-locking member has a sideways protruding shoulder comprising a stop 156 that locates in an arcular recess coaxial with the exterior-locking member and in which the stop can freely rotate between limits defined by radial shoulders that define the limits of the arcular recess. The stop shoulder and arcular recess are configured :°oo such that when the lock is in the undisplaced, unlatched configuration and the exterior-locking member, (and third-spindle), is in an undisplaced position, the stop abuts one end of the arcular recess. From this position the exterior-locking member 25 can be rotated to drive the third-spindle to cause the boss 143 to displace to the "position corresponding to the second locked configuration and then be returned to the undisplaced position of the exterior-locking member, (and no further) while leaving the lock in the second locked configuration. Because of the limit on rotation of the exterior-locking member it cannot be rotated to displace the lock from the second locked configuration. The aperture in the boss 143 has two inwardly protruding opposed shoulders 157 engageable by the third shaft and defining two opposed arcular recesses in which the blade-like third-spindle can rotate. Each shoulder 157 is configured such that the undisplaced position of the third-spindle corresponds with the third-spindle being adjacent to a first side of each shoulder 157 from which position the third-spindle can be rotated to urge each first shoulder 157 to rotate to cause the boss to displace to a position corresponding to the second locked position the exterior-locking member can then be rotated back to the undisplaced position without engaging an opposed other, second side of each shoulder to cause the boss 143 to rotate.

As for the manual lock, a key can be operated to lock the first locked configuration.

When the support slide and first pinion are positions corresponding to the second locked configuration, a key can be operated to cause the first pinion to rotate to displace the sub-slide to enable and cause the leading end 64 to abut the exit shoulder 62 to thereby prevent unlocking by the exterior-locking member 150 or interior-snibbing member 135. This embodiment of the latching lock may be locked to and from the first and second locked configurations by key, be locked to the second locked configuration by exterior-locking member, be locked and unlocked from the second locked configuration by interior-snibbing member 135, but only unlocked from the first configuration by key.

In preferred embodiments the sub-slide can only be displaced against the spring a pre-determined distance relative to the support slide, this distance being defined by a shoulder portion adjacent to the recess 57 which acts as a sub-slide stop. Only when the support slide is fully displaced downwardly to the second locking configuration and the sub-slide has been displaced to be adjacent to the sub-slide stop can the shoulder 63 be rotated to depart from the recess between the drive shoulders 60 and 61.

Each cylinder is preferably a substantially conventional pin cylinder having a number S. of transverse pin chambers in a cylinder housing with each chamber extending from 25 the outer surface of the housing to meet coaxially with a pin chamber in the barrel S"when the key is removed.

In yet other preferred embodiments of the manual and self latching-latching lock, the engaging members and a plunger are supported in a mortise casing attachable within the hollow frame In the mortise lock embodiments, the interior casing described above comprises a first casing portion 159 while the mortise casing 158 comprises a second casing portion, the mortise casing being defined by a front wall 160, a rear wall 161, an upper wall, a lower wall, a side and a lid. The lid and side of the mortise casing have circular apertures to support a rocker first portion, to support the steel rivets 162 that support the engaging members 163, and to provide passage for spindles, shafts and screws. The mortise casing has rectangular apertures 164 and 165 respectively in the front wall to provide passage for the plunger 166 and engaging members while these are omitted from the first casing portion. The rocker previously described comprises a rocker first portion 167 supported within the mortise casing and including the previously described opposed arms protruding from the boss and the underside recess 88; while a second rocker portion 168 resides in the interior casing and comprises a rearward rocker arm 169 and the recess 88A within the boss as described above. The two portions are directly connected by a shaft 170 to be coupled without free movement to act as one and within the invention be considered as a single component with the operable relationships described above, maintained Similarly, the upper slide comprises a first upper slide portion 171 substantially as described above supported within the interior casing, however the drive pin, drive slot, and detent recess may be omitted from the first upper slide portion since they are not employed in mortise embodiments. A second upper slide portion 172 including a drive pin on one end, a drive slot on the other end, and a detent recess between as described previously is supported in the mortise casing. The two upper slide portions are directly operably coupled by the rocker comprising two portions to be coupled without free movement to act as one and within the invention be considered as a single component with the operable relationships described above, maintained.

Other minor adaptions are required to provide a practical lock. The interior-operating member connects to, to be coupled without free movement, to the second rocker 25 portion. The exterior-operating member connects to, to be coupled without free movement, to the first rocker portion by shaft. The interior casing does not have apertures to provide passage for the engaging members and plunger.

In yet other embodiments, each engaging member displaces between a retracted position where it is substantially within the interior casing and a latched configuration where it is also substantially within the interior casing and an operative shoulder of is substantially vertical. In these embodiments the catch plate preferably comprises multiple outwardly extending hooked portions each having a substantially vertical shoulder, which in the closed position of the wing, protrudes through an opening in 35 the front casing wall into the interior of the casing to be engageable by the operative shoulder of the associated engaging member.

In yet other embodiments, there is one only an upper engaging member supported at a undefined position within the casing.

Configurations, which will be used most commonly, are as described below.

However, possible configurations and those embraced by this invention are not limited to those described below or above.

Manual Lock An interior and exterior cylinder without an interior-operating member, each being operable to displace the lock to and from the latched configuration and each being key operable to lock and unlock from the first locked configuration.

A single, exterior cylinder and interior-operating member, each being operable to displace the lock to and from the latched configuration, the cylinder also being key operable to lock and unlock from the first locked configuration.

An interior-operating member and no cylinders, the member being operable to displace the lock to and from the latched configuration.

A single, interior cylinder, the cylinder being key operable to displace the lock to and from the latched configuration and to lock and unlock the lock from the first locked configuration.

Locks configured as above but in which there is also an exterior-latching member which is operable to displace the lock to the latched configuration.

Self-Latching Lock An interior-operating member and an exterior-operating member and an interior-snibbing member, either operating member being operable to displace the lock from the latched configuration, the interior-snibbing member being ooie operable to lock and unlock the lock from the second locked configuration.

SAn interior-operating and an exterior-operating member, an interior-snibbing member and an interior cylinder, either operating members being operable to displace the lock from the latched configuration, the interior-snibbing member being operable to lock and unlock the lock from the second locked configuration, the cylinder being operable to lock and unlock the lock from the first and second locked configurations An interior-operating member and an exterior-operating member, and interior and exterior cylinders, either operating members being operable to displace the lock from the latched configuration, either cylinder being operable to lock and unlock the lock from the first and second locked configurations An interior-operating and an exterior-operating member, and interior and exterior cylinders, an interior-snibbing member, either operating members being operable to displace the lock from the latched configuration, either cylinder being operable to lock and unlock the lock from the first and second locked configurations, the interior-snibbing member being operable to lock and unlock the lock from the second locked configuration Locks configured as above but in which there is also an exterior-locking member, which is operable to displace the lock to the second locked configuration.

The invention also provides a means of retaining the exterior bosses in place, even after the exterior furniture has been smashed off the wing or broken as commonly occurs in attempted forced entry though a patio door lock. Because the interior lock is fastened to the wing by screws that fasten into exterior bosses it is important that the exterior bosses remain uncompromised in their fastening role. Preferably, each of the bosses 32 and 34 comprise a portion of a handle casting, as shown in Fig 22, each boss having a domed head 173 and an elongated shank 174 having a longitudinal recess to accept a screw. Each boss 32 and 34 is integrally connected to the adjacent exterior casing wall by an annular web 175 defined by an annular channel 176, the annular web being of thinned material to create an annular weakened zone similar to the weakened zone around the lid of a ring-pull lid. During forcible removal of the exterior handle the thinned portions fracture leaving the domed headed bosses 25 left in-situ to support the interior lock assembly.

Where the exterior casing is a plastic moulding, the bosses 32 and 34 comprise cast bosses 177, as shown in Fig 23 which are embedded within the plastic moulding. They have a domed head 178 with apertures 179 which connect to an annular recess 180 in the underside of the dome and an elongated shank portion having a recess to accept a screw. During moulding the bosses are placed in the mould and material is injected to flow through the apertures 179 and into the recess under the head. By so doing the bridges, (connected to the balance of the handle), are formed that connect to an annular disc under the domed head. During forcible :I 35 removal of the exterior handle, the bridges can fracture to enable the bosses to separate from the handle to leave the bosses in place to support the interior assembly.

Preferably the shanks of all the bosses have outwardly protruding side fins 180 which form channels in the sides of the apertures in the wing at the time of fitting engagement between the fins channels preventing rotation of the bosses.

Preferably, the lock includes a tamper resistant device to prevent access to, and operation of, the first pinion through the first first-spindle aperture in the wing that, in attempted forced entry, is often rendered accessible, as shown in Fig 24. The device includes a vertically elongated underside recess 181 defined by vertical at least one and preferably opposed finned extensions 182 of the interior casing to house and provide passage for a rectilinearly displaceable shutter 183 biased from the position shown in Fig 24, providing passage to the first pinion and biased downwardly and free to be displaced by gravity. The shutter includes an aperture 186 which is aligned with the first pinion at fitting and through which the first spindle has passage. And It has, where other spindle are employed, other apertures coaxial with those spindles to provide passage for the other spindles. Removal of first first-spindle, (and other spindles if employed), by removal of the exterior casing causes the shutter to drop down over the first pinion recess 52, (and other spindle apertures in the interior assembly if employed), to render it inaccessible. Displacement of the shutter in either vertical direction renders the first pinion recess, (and other spindle apertures in the interior assembly if employed), inaccessible allowing the mechanism to function irrespective of which end of the lock is fitted upside. The shutter preferably comprises steel hardened to be resistant to drilling.

25 In yet other embodiments, as shown in Fig 25 to 28, remote locking is provided at the top and bottom of the door by an auxiliary mechanism 184 mounted between the interior and exterior assemblies within the frame of the wing, the mechanism being operably connected, to be coupled without free movement, to the first-spindle 35 the spindle having passage though a mating aperture 185 in an actuating cam 186 supported within the auxiliary mechanism. It should be noted that as with other lock improvements, this auxiliary mechanism and portions thereof, can be included in locks and locking devices other than those described in detail in this description of preferred locks.

S* 35 The auxiliary mechanism 184 provides, what is often referred to as vent locking whereby a sliding wing is secured in a partly opened position by a locking tongue 187 which protrudes through an end of the wing frame member comprising the closing 31 edge of the wing, the edge supporting the lock body) the tongue being able to project into an aperture 188 in an adjacent fixing plate 189 secured to an element defining the opening. The auxiliary mechanism in an embodiment drives counteracting rods which themselves or extensions to themselves comprising bolts can be displaced to protrude through the upper and lower end of the closing edge frame and to engage in apertures in upper and lower fixing plates.

Preferably the lock functions as follows: each tongue is outwardly biased, and when released by the auxiliary mechanism to be ready for engagement, abuts the associated fixing plate to be restrained by the fixing plate from displacing outwardly into one of multiple discreet apertures in the fixing plate. When the wing is displaced to a position corresponding to the tongue being axially aligned with an aperture it becomes unrestrained to displace through the aperture to secure the door. There is preferably, an upper tongue, an upper fixing plate and a lower tongue and a lower fixing plate as described above.

The auxiliary mechanism is configured such that displacement of the first-spindle corresponding to latching the lock causes the auxiliary mechanism to firstly displace from a restraining configuration to a free configuration to release the outwardly biased counteracting top and bottom tongues to allow the tongues to displace to abut the respective fixing plate to be subsequently displaced through an aperture in the respective fixing plate. The auxiliary mechanism is further configured such that displacement of the first-spindle to then displace the lock to the first locked configuration ensures that each tongue has become deadlocked whereby to resist an 25 end load without displacing significantly into the door frame and whereby .displacement of the first-spindle to the position corresponding to an undisplaced firstspindle ensures that each tongue has been withdrawn to a position substantially within the wing, an undisplaced position .The auxiliary mechanism is further oo configured such when each tongue automatically becomes deadlocked when released irrespective of the distance it has moved to protrude from the respective casing in which it is supported.

ll..

The auxiliary mechanism, as shown in Fig 27, comprises a casing 190 comprising a hollow box-like member with a lid, not shown, each having circular side apertures by which to support opposed boss portions 191 of the actuating cam 186 and opposed boss portions 192 of a slave pinion 193. A driver slide 194 is located adjacent the actuating cam having a drive recess 195 disposed towards the actuating cam defined "4 by a driving shoulder 196 joined to an angled exit shoulder 197. The driver slide is vertically elongated to include a geared portion, rack 198 and opposed to this is a rack 199 of a slave slide 200 and between them and meshing with both is the slave pinion which couples the slides so they move equally in opposite directions. The slave pinion has an axis of rotation parallel with that of the actuating cam which shares the same pivotal axis as the first pinion. The actuating cam has a protruding radially disposed arm 201 that overlaps the drive recess which has with a sideways protruding extension comprising a pin 202 that engages in the drive recess to connect the actuating cam and driver slide in cam-follower relationship.

When the actuating cam is orientated to a position corresponding to the undisplaced first-spindle the auxiliary mechanism is in the restraining configuration and the pin 202 is removed from the drive recess to abut the exit shoulder, as shown in Fig which in this configuration the pin point of contact on the surface of the exit shoulder has a surface defined by a vector which intersects the axis of the actuating cam.

In a preferred embodiment, the slave slide 200 is connected by a lower cable 203 to the a lower remote lock while the driver slide 194 connects to an upper cable 204 which connects to an upper remote lock. Each tongue comprises part of a remote lock 205 comprising a remote casing 206 that is attachable within the frame at an upper or lower extremity.

.ooo.i A compression spring 207 located between the casing 206 and tongue to outwardly the tongue. The cable within this invention, in the prefered embodiment, being 25 an elongated member that is, with regard to the forces which it is subjected to in the °invention, a substantially inextendible.

Each tongue comprises a compound tongue having a control arm 208 connected to a Scontrol slide 209 that is connected to the associated cable, a locking arm 210 that has an engaging end shoulder 211 which can to protrude from the body of the tongue to engage with multiple engaging shoulders 212 of the casing inner wall comprising a saw-tooth portion 213 tio Within the tongue disposed towards the central auxiliary mechanism is a vertically 35 elongated slot 214. The locking arm is angularly displaceable being supported on a pin 215 protruding from the side of the tongue. The locking arm is connected by a pin joint 216 to the control arm 208 which has an other end connected by pin joint 217 to 33 the control slide constrained to slide relative to and within the slot 214. This control slide is biased from the inner end of the tongue by a spring 218 interposed between the tongue inner end and the control slide. The device being configured such that if the cord 219 attached to the control slide is free, i.e. not in tension, the spring 218 causes the control slide to be relatively fully displaced within the slot to cause the control arm to cause the locking arm to be fully displaced from the tongue to be engaged with the saw-tooth portion of the casing. The spring 207 simultaneously causes the tongue to be displaced fully from the casing or as far as the bottom fixing plate or other constrictions allow.

The remote lock is further configured such that if the locking arm is in engagement with the saw-tooth portion and then displaced outwardly under the action of spring the locking arm is able to displace from the saw tooth area to enable this displacement this being a result of the particular geometry corresponding to the locking arm being in engagement with the saw-tooth portion, wherein the pivot axis 217 is vertically above the pivot axis 216 which is above the pivot axis 215 and where these axii are collinear with the locus of movement of the control slide. The remote lock is further configured such the outwardly disposed faces 219 of the particular saw-tooth in engagement with the locking arm is substantially defined by a normal vector which passes through the pivot axis215 so that inwardly directed forces on the tongue cannot give rise to a moment to cause the locking arm to displace to disengage the saw-tooth portion.

To accommodate variations in fitting conditions, the cable is configured to allow the 25 tongue to displace to the fully extended position although in practise it is anticipated that the tongue will abut the bottom of the recess in the fixing plate before full travel is reached, When the cable is displaced towards the auxiliary mechanism, and after any free cable has been taken up, the control slide displaces to compress the spring 214 to withdraw the locking arm out of engagement while the tongue remains, being undisplaced retained extended by the stronger spring 207. When the control slide is adjacent the inner end, further cable displacement causes the whole lower tongue to be displaced towards the retracted position within the wing frame.

The remote locks, cables and auxiliary mechanism are configured such that when movement of the slides towards each other has drawn the cables to cause the 34 remote tongues to be in the retracted position, the pinned protrusion 202 of the arm 201 is at the junction between the drive shoulder 196 and the exit shoulder 197 so that further rotation of the cam 191 causes the pin to abut the exit shoulder, in which position a vector defining the normal to the surface of the exit shoulder passes through the axis of rotation of the cam 191.

The auxiliary lock is further configured such that the following correspondingly occur: the first-spindle and cam 191 being in an undisplaced position, the pin 201 abutting the exit shoulder, the tongues of the remote locks being in the retracted position, the manual lock or self-latching being in the unlatched configuration Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the positional prepositions such as rear, forward are used to assist in description of the preferred embodiments and have in general no absolute significance.

Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires •oooOS S- otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", e will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but 25 not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the positional prepositions such as rear, forward are used to assist in description of the preferred embodiments and have in general no absolute significance.

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