AU6555999A - Conduits for locks - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

99 99. 9 9* 9 9 9 9 0 9 *99 *b 9 9 9999 Applicant: BACOZ DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD Actual Inventor: Brian Arthur Cook Title: Conduits for Locks 9. 9 t 9 s9 99999.

9 *9 9.

9 99 9 9 99 9 99 Priority: Refer PP2820 6 April 1998 Address for Service: Bacoz Developments Pty Ltd P 0 Box 207 North Shore 3214 Conduits for Locks The present invention relates to means for servicing internal parts of fastening and locking mechanisms installed in buildings, security containers and without removing an installed mechanism or dismantling it.

A significant and time consuming problem encountered with door bolting and fastening mechanisms and door locks in general is the need to service the components within a housing containing the locking mechanism. The cleaning and lubrication of components within a lock housing can be achieved by removing the housing from the door to which it is installed and dismantling a part of the housing and/or parts of the mechanism. The proper removal, disassembly, reassembly and reinstailation of a door securing mechanism in this fashion generally requires the presence of experienced and skilled personnel. Which has made the maintenance of locking mechanisms an expensive and often uneconomical process, to the extent that it is often neglected and it can be more economical to discard locks rather than pay to have them serviced.

For the main part, locks for securing doors are manufactured so that when properly maintained they have a longevity which can exceed that of the door to which they are installed. The present invention enables a local operator not necessarily skilled in the disassembly, servicing and reassembly of securing mechanisms in general, or locks in particular to perform maintenance of such mechanisms simply, at minimal cost and .i on a timely basis, which is a highly desirable outcome for both the users and the manufacturers of door locks and securing mechanisms. Particularly where a mechanism is rim mounted, installed into a mortise or contained within a door, the o o facility to lubricate the mechanism without requiring its disassembly or removal from the door offers significant economies in time and resources.

In its broadest form, the present invention provides a fastening or locking mechanism used for the securing of doors, windows, hatches, covers, lids and other like structures wherein, a number of its constituent parts are contained within a casing, compartment, cell or similar enclosure (hereinafter referred to as a "housing") accommodating or supporting at least one member accessible externally of the housing; wherein, the member has a suitable configuration including at least one penetration, cavity, aperture, hole, groove, recess, passageway or the like able to function as one or a number of connected arteries, tubes, channels or canals (hereinafter referred to as Page 1 Conduits for Locks "conduits"), whereby fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) supplied to the conduits externally of the housing can be delivered to at least one point within the housing, or vice versa; and wherein, the at least one member is one component or an assembly, apparatus or device.

In a number of preferred forms of the present invention the at least one member is a locking or latching bolt or bar operable by the mechanism. In simple embodiments, the suitable configuration can be a penetration passing through, or a groove or channel formed along, the locking or latching bolt or a part of it. For example, a latch bolt often comprises two components, a beveled head passing through an aperture in one edge of a lock case or housing and a support plate, attached to the head, which engages with a part of the mechanism within the lock case. A hole passing through the head could form a conduit intersecting with the area of its attachment to the support plate, thereby providing a means to enable lubricant to be delivered within the 15 housing. A latch bolt is often centrally located within a lock case and engages a follower situated below it, so that some lubricant delivered through the head of the latch would tend to flow along its support plate and then onto the follower, thereby lubricating major working parts of the mechanism within the housing. A basic S.arrangement of this type would enable the economical delivery of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) into a housing, and users of the present invention could modify components and/or their arrangement of them within the housing to better utilise the 'available lubricant, for example. Transverse holes in the head of a latching or locking bolt would extend the conduits, enabling delivery of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to the sides of the head in contact with the bottom of a housing and its cap and/or the bevel which contacts the striker plate areas subject to friction and wear. In more complex embodiments, the suitable configuration can include a main artery or channel and subsidiary conduits which intersect with it either laterally or longitudinally of it to direct delivery of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to more than one point within the housing. An operator could supply a quantity of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) at a point external to the housing which would pass into the main artery, for example, and depending upon the relative sizes and lengths of the subsidiary conduits, similar or different quantities of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) would be delivered to various parts of the mechanism within the housing. Just as the sizes and lengths of different subsidiary conduits may vary, so the cross section of the main artery and the Page 2 Conduits for Locks subsidiary conduits can be variable, being larger at some points along their length when compared with others.

Where it is desirable that a quantity of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) supplied to the main artery be delivered to various parts of the mechanism over a period of time, this may be achieved by creating an area within the conduits to function as a reservoir for the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s). The inclusion of restrictions in the intersections between the main artery and subsidiary conduits would allow relatively small amounts of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to be drawn from the reservoir to feed them. Where a reservoir is provided, then the action of a locking or latching bolt accelerating from rest, undergoing an amount of travel, then coming to a stop, in at least one direction can be employed to move amounts of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) from the reservoir when the mechanism is operated. Delivery of lubrication, for example, would then be generally commensurate with the rate of usage of the mechanism. Parts of the housing 15 can also be adapted to improve the delivery of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to part(s) of the mechanism and/or to act as reservoirs for amounts of the fluid(s) and/or "lubricant(s) delivered by the conduits, whereby delivery of those amounts to parts of the mechanism is delayed. For example, a concave plate may be attached to the cap of a lock case so that it partially divides the interior of the housing, interrupting the gravitational flow of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) delivered by the at least one member. The rate of emptying of the reservoir created thereby could be dependent upon the size of one or more bleed holes in the concave plate. It will be understood that many mechanisms are only serviced once a year or, by default, at much greater periods and usually do not need large quantities of lubrication. Accordingly, release of lubricant would typically be needed over an extended period of time, in relatively small quantities and a reservoir of lubricant need not be large to provide effective delivery or collection of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s). For some parts of a mechanism, the presence of a reservoir of lubricant would be sufficient to provide an atmosphere sufficient to lubricate them because the interior of many lock casings or housings is a more or less a sealed environment. The frequency of lubrication required by a mechanism is generally dependent upon the frequency of its use and the circumstances in which it is used. For example, mechanisms used in low and high temperatures and those used in dirty or otherwise adverse conditions will require more frequent servicing than those used in an office environment. However, in both Page 3 Conduits for Ldcks situations the disruption to business and the costs of servicing a mechanism by removing it from a door, dismantling it, reassembling and reinstalling it can be reduced using the present invention.

According to the present invention, the housing can be a lock case comprising an enclosed base, for example, which contains the components of the mechanism and maintains them in an operating relationship the base itself being closed by the mounting of a cap. Alternatively, the housing may be a cavity or compartment in a door structure within which components of the mechanism are contained, thereby obviating the need for a lock case. Or the housing containing components of the mechanism can be a part of a larger structure containing components of more than one mechanism, or containing one or more different types of mechanisms, devices or apparatus. The housing may be of any suitable form to contain components of the ~mechanism, whether or not the enclosure is a separate component or a compartment, cell, recess or cavity within a larger structure or contained within a different :compartment or cavity.

In some preferred forms of the present invention, the at least one member can contain 0or have attached to it, one or more components enabling a wider spread of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s). Or a component having a relatively wide area for collecting the "fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) supplied from the member and a relatively small i distribution.point so that a collected amount of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) may be supplied to a specific point or to a component of the mechanism. Users of the present invention may choose to alter the shape, configuration and/or operation of components within a mechanism so as to take further advantage of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) being delivered to the mechanism, thereby enabling those components to become active in distributing the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) within the mechanism.

Preferred forms of the present invention can include a device or assembly connected to a part of a mechanism, whereby it is activated by or operated during operation of the mechanism. The activation or operation of the device or assembly may always be immediate to the operation of the mechanism or its activation or operation may be selectable by the operator. The additional cost involved in supplying and installing a device or component such as a pump, for example, may only be justifiable in Page 4 Conduits for Locks circumstances in which a gravitational feed of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) or feed subject to motion of a locking or latching bolt, for example, is deemed to be insufficient to deliver the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) appropriately. A situation which may arise in a mechanism of relatively large size or having components with very small operating clearances, making the delivery of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) under some amount of pressure to be desirable. In a simple embodiment of this form of the present invention, the stem of a pin or piston installed into a hole contained within a locking or latching bolt, for example, could contact the side of its housing when the bolt is moved to the inner limit of its travel. The pin or piston would be moved further into the bolt (as it moves inwardly) so that it acts as a rudimentary mechanical pump and discharges a small quantity of a lubricant from a reservoir in the bolt to the interior of the housing. This arrangement is of particular advantage for mechanisms operated only occasionally. Alternatively, the at least one member being a device, apparatus or assembly for pumping fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) can be installed within 15 a housing so that it is actuated by a latching or locking bolt, for example. It is possible .:"that delivery of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) can be effected by the intervention of an operator activating a pump, for example, or turning a valve. In some circumstances such arrangements may be desirable, but in general a major benefit can be derived by users of the present invention in employing the at least one member to function automatically.

various forms of the present invention, a suitable configuration can be achieved by manufacturing a locking or latching bolt of a door lock with an aperture or grooved S•section passing along or through the bolt to form the conduits. In the case of a bolt made substantially from a brass or steel rod, the bolt can be manufactured using a commercially available hollow bar, which would avoid the drilling of a long, small diameter hole, for example. Or the bolt may be an extruded section aluminium and brass suggest themselves as suitable materials in this regard. Should the drilling of a hole be necessary, then the manufacturing process can be improved by staging the bore of the hole in progressively smaller diameters. A suitable cap may be installed into or onto the outer end of a larger section so that a portion of the hole may also function as a reservoir. The larger bore could also be utilised to enable the insertion of a drill and saw resistant hardened insert into the bolt, thereby improving its overall security. The composition of the suitable configuration is a design option available to Page Conduits for Locks users of the present invention and may vary according to priorities set by those users and the characteristics of the lock or securing mechanism being treated. Similarly, the method of manufacturing the suitable configuration is selectable and while some shapes, sizes, lengths and/or cross sections of holes, grooves, cavities and the like forming the conduits may be thought desirable in one application, they may not be universally applicable. For example, a longitudinal groove along the uppermost portion of a locking bolt may be sufficient to convey lubricant into a lock case, the cross section of the groove decreasing as it approaches the innermost end of the locking bolt or it may intersect with an annular groove in the bolt, thereby causing lubricant to spill from the longitudinal groove and onto surrounding areas of the locking bolt and beyond. This arrangement would have the disadvantage that lubricant might spill out of the groove before reaching the intended portion of the groove, debris would readily collect in the groove and the presence of the groove would imply o that locks fitted with locking bolts of that type may be handed. In some situations, the cost savings in manufacturing the conduits in this way might outweigh these ":disadvantages. But in the foyer of a five star hotel, for example, the spillage of lubricant and consequent damage to the door, carpet and clothing would be intolerable. It will be understood that the best interests of users of the present invention can be served by achieving a balance between arrangements which more or less specifically control the delivery of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s), and the costs incurred when introducing them to the design of a lock or securing mechanism and in S°manufacture. A wide range of materials may be used to manufacture the at least one member, such as those presently used in the manufacture of parts for securing mechanisms. And it is anticipated that use of the present invention will often be S 25 available by including an extra stage in an existing manufacturing process, rather than necessitating the introduction of a completely different procedure.

A primary advantage derivable from the present invention is the delivery of lubrication to a lock or securing mechanism while it is operating and/or operatively mounted. To improve the delivery of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to the conduits the suitable configuration can include a nipple, cap, plug, insert or similar component or assembly, whereby an operator can employ a spout, nozzle, adapter, coupling or like configured part of a container or a tool for supplying fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to the conduits. For example, an arrangement of this type would enable the operator to better Page 6 Conduits for Locks control the quantity of lubricant and reduce the possibility of spillage. A further advantage can be derived by employing the present invention for the delivery of cleaning fluids (including compressed air) to the mechanism. Albeit, that an accumulation of debris on the working components of a mechanism which is for the main part sealed within a housing and which is regularly lubricated would be expected to be minimal, or at least insufficient to adversely affect performance of the mechanism. However, a manufacturer using the present invention may recommend that from time to time the operator should "flush" the components with a suitable cleansing fluid. The amount of fluid passed into the mechanism need not be large as it is would be very specifically directed. And another at least one member can be installed to the housing to drain the excess fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) from it so that they are not inadvertently transferred to other parts of the structure to which the mechanism is installed. The additional member would usually be situated near the bottommost part of the housing (when installed), whereby the gravitational flow of 15 spent fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) would collect prior to their discharge from the housing. This member may be drained at the time of"flushing" the mechanism or at some time thereafter.

There are many variations within the scope of the present invention ranging from 20 simple holes to more complex conduits comprising a series of interconnecting passageways, and sophisticated devices and assemblies for distributing the fluid(s) S"and/or lubricant(s) with a mechanism. However, many of the advantages the present invention offers can be achieved by employing relatively simple engineering and machining principles to create a member having useful conduits. It is not usually 25 desirable that the means of utilising the present invention begins to approximate the complexity of the mechanism it serves, because additional cost is incurred during manufacture and the result may tend to be less durable or demand more regular maintenance than the lock or securing mechanism it is intended to serve.

In the applicant's earlier Australian patent 681560 there is provided a bolt which undergoes at least in part simultaneous rotational and linear movement which can be directly applied to at least one of the components in a mechanism according to the present invention. Alternatively, a component of the type may be external to the mechanism but be driven by the mechanism; or a device or apparatus employing the Page 7 Conduits for Locks patent may be used to drive the mechanism. An advantage achievable in employing the patent within a mechanism having means according to the present invention would be a more even distribution of the fluid or lubrication and its ready adaptation to operate an ancillary device or apparatus for better distributing the fluid or lubrication.

The applicant's copending application 23561/99 provides a mechanism for use with door fastening and securing systems, these can be surface mounted or internally mounted to doors and like structures. As these systems are relatively complex and lubrication of them generally involves the dismantling a large number of parts installed over a significant proportion of a door, there is a significant advantage to be derived from the provision of conduits allowing the cleaning and/or lubrication of such systems without requiring their removal and/or disassembly.

There are practical limitations to the relative size of parts of the conduits formed 15 within a locking or latching bolt, for example, before the physical strength of the component is significantly affected and its securing function seriously compromised.

In this regard, it is a matter of selection by users of the present invention as to the number, size and type of the penetrations made into, through or along a component. It may be decided that any penetration would be inappropriate and a groove or recess or 20 similar would be more appropriate to convey the desired amount of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s). An alternative provided by the present invention is the inclusion of at least one member apart from a locking or latching bolt to conduct the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s). However, because this would involve additional cost and may not be able to be more or less centrally located within the housing, it may be an option of last 25 resort rather than one of first choice.

The selection of the most suitable configuration by users of the present invention will be partially dependent upon the choice of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to be used with the mechanism. There are a wide variety of products available for use with the present invention and that range of available product is likely to increase in the future.

Accordingly, users of the present invention will probably be able to specify components designed to suit products having specific performance characteristics. For example, some fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) are designed to be more fluid within a range of temperatures than others, a characteristic that can be useful in situations in Page 8 Conduits for Locks which door locks installed to exterior doors are subject to a relatively wide range of temperature variation. Except for the point(s) of entry of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to the at least one member, delivery of those fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) can be considered to be within a more or less sealed mechanism, which enables users of the present invention to be fairly precise in their selection of suitable lubricant(s), for example, and the configuration of the component(s) used.

Brief Description of Drawings In order that the present invention may be understood in more detail, description is now directed to the accompanying drawings. The particularity of those drawings and the associated description does not supersede the generality of the preceding broad description of the present invention.

15 In the drawings: Figure 1 is an isometric view of a lock casing containing a locking bolt according to the present invention 20 Figure 2 is a side elevation of a locking bolt according to the present invention Figure 3 is an isometric view of a lock casing and a locking bolt having a simple piston pump which is partially contained within a locking bolt according to the present invention Figure 4 is an isometric view of a lock casing containing a locking bolt and two members according to the present invention Figure 5 is a cross sectional side elevation of a door bolting mechanism according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Page 9 Conduits for Locks Figure 1 shows a door lock 10 with its cap removed and, for the sake of clarity, most of its components are not shown. Casing 11 contains a locking bolt 12 having a bight 14 toward its inner end engaging with follower 13. Locking bolt 12 also contains a longitudinally extending hole 15 that intersects with a part of bight 14. Lubricant supplied to hole 15 at the outer end of locking bolt 12 can pass into the bight 14 and onto follower 13. As follower 13 is pivoted so locking bolt 12 is moved to project beyond casing 11 or is drawn into casing 11 to a greater or to a lesser extent. When door lock 10 is installed to a pedestrian door, edge 16a of casing 11 would be at the lowest point and flow of lubricant supplied to hole 15 would be gravity fed toward edge 16a, edge 16a of casing 11 would be adjacent to the leading edge of the door.

This arrangement enables the delivery of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) from a position adjacent edge 16b external to casing 11 (and the door to which it is installed) to its interior and parts of the door locking mechanism contained therein without necessitating the dismantling of door lock 10 or its removal from the door. The 15 amount of lubricant, for example, supplied to hole 15 may vary indiscriminately, however, some control on the possible over supply of lubricant would be available by ensuring that the intersection between hole 15 and bight 14 has a small cross sectional area, thereby restricting the flow of lubricant into casing 11. It would be desirable for a cap or plug to be mountable to hole 15 at the outer end of locking bolt 12 to avoid 20 leakage of lubricant from hole 15 during operation of door lock 10. It may also be thought desirable to include a collection means within casing 11 and adjacent edge 16a to absorb or contain used lubricant, so that it does leak beyond casing 11 and damage the door or its surroundings.

25 Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of locking bolt 12. Hole 15 has been enlarged to contain an outer portion 17a, an intermediate portion 17b and a portion 17c which intersects with bight 14 forming bleed hole 18. Into portion 17a a cap or plug may be installed. This may be a single component or an assembly of simple or more complex form, its primary function being that of a blocking means to inhibit the leakage of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) from hole 15 subsequent to these being supplied to it. The cap, plug or insert may be a solid that would necessitate its removal prior to the supply of lubricant, for example, to hole 15 and its replacement afterward. Or, it may be a flexible component having an aperture so that it can function as a gland or valve allowing entry of the lubricant and/or the nozzle of a tool to hole 15 and restricting the Page Conduits for Locks passage lubricant from it. Alternatively, an assembly such as an oiling nipple having a sprung ball may be mounted to portion 17a, which would allow lubricant to enter hole by depressing the ball and prevent its leakage as the ball returns to its seat. Portion 17a may be plain, it may have a thread form, an annular groove or any other configuration suitable to enable the installation of a control means. As shown, portion 17a extends for a relatively short distance within locking bolt 12, but this is a matter for selection by users of the present invention and will to be some degree be determined by the choice of the cap, plug or insert to be mounted into it.

Portion 17b is shown as having a lesser diameter than portion 17a, however, this need not be the case. The function of portion 17b is to contain an amount of lubricant, for example, supplied through portion 17a and prior to its supply to portion 17c. As shown, most (if not all) of the available lubricant is free to flow from portion 17a to portion 17b and vice versa. But the lesser cross sectional dimension of portion 17c 15 when compared with that of portion 17b, would impede the gravitational flow of a significant volume of the lubricant from portion 17b to portion 17c, and due to its length and cross sectional area portion 17b functions as a main reservoir of lubricant, a part of which would immediately flow to portion 17c until the level within portion 17b reaches that of bleed hole 18. As shown, this arrangement could allow about one half of the volume of portion 17b to gravitationally flow to portion 17c, but in practice the flow would amount to any supply of lubricant in excess of the reservoir level in portion 17b- there being no innate restriction on the amount of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) able to be supplied through portion 17a. While control of the supply would be possible, the simplest means of controlling the supply of available lubricant, for example, would be the issuing of operator instructions.

The intersection of portion 17c and bight 14 is shown as a fine bore bleed hole 18 into a side of bight 14, and this arrangement would partially inhibit the oversupply of lubricant, for example, to hole 15 within a relatively short period of time. Otherwise, the slow leakage of lubricant through bleed hole 18 over an extended period would allow the supply of an indefinite amount of lubricant. But in practical terms, such a restriction in the conduits may be regarded as an economically desirable inhibitor of possible operator error. The arrangement shown would allow a relatively large volume of lubricant to be supplied to hole 15, the majority of which would be stored within portion 17b, of which a major portion would flow through portion 17c and be Page It Conduits for Locks delivered through bleed hole 18 to part(s) of the locking mechanism operating locking bolt 12. Once the level of bleed hole 18 has been reached, the gravitational flow of lubricant would cease. However, because locking bolt 12 is subject to rapid acceleration and deceleration as it is moved to lock or unlock the door to which lock 10 is installed, the inertia of the mass of the lubricant stored within locking 12 will tend to force some of it against the conical end of portion 17c and a little of through bleed hole 18, thereby further lubricating the locking mechanism as it is operated over a period of time. Locking bolt 12 is shown as operating without being subject to a biasing element, such as a compression spring included in may door latches.

Accordingly, as shown the acceleration and deceleration of locking bolt 12 will be less than it would be if it were projected beyond casing 1 1 by a spring. The former is indicative of a deadbolt lock, which are generally operated less often than a door latches, represented by the latter example. And the relative flows of lubricant would be appropriate to general usage of these different types of door securing mechanisms, whether contained within the same housing or in separate casings. A further :sophistication of delivery of lubricant by these means, would be the inclusion of a simple check valve being installed into portion 17c, comprising a ball or other component seated against its conical end and subject to a bias element installed within portion 17c. Each time locking bolt 12 is operated to its extended position, a part of 20 follower 13 would contact the check component, depressing it against the bias element and allowing the delivery of a small amount of lubricant to the mechanism.

Figure 2, shows no penetrations of locking bolt 12 extending laterally of its longitudinal axis. While this may be desirable in reducing manufacturing cost, the 25 delivery of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to more than one point within a housing may be necessary for some locking mechanisms. However, users of the present invention will generally find better advantage in using the features of existing products to compliment the required suitable configuration, and vice versa. In considering discussion of these embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood that reference is made to only the more common elements of door locking and fastening mechanisms. Many mechanisms are far more complex than the simple examples shown, however, even in extremely complicated mechanisms the latching and/or locking bolts in particular are of relatively simple construction because their utility lies in their physical strength and resistance to force. Accordingly, the provision of a Page 12 Conduits for Locks suitable configuration to these simple components does not usually create any major design problems, even when such changes are to be made to existing products. Albeit, that the suitable configuration according to the present invention of a latching or locking bolt is at least to some extent dependent upon the type of material from which the bolt is made and the effect removal of some material from the bolt may have on its overall utility. In many cases, a locking or latching bolt made from a hollow section is not significantly weaker than that of solid material of similar dimensions.

In Figure 3, a door lock 20 is shown having a casing 21 and containing a locking bolt 22 containing a hole 24 and affected by the rotational movement of a follower 23.

Locking bolt 22 also has a hole 28 within its inner end (not shown) accommodating a conical spigot 26 mounted on a boss 25 which bears against the adjacent side of casing 21. As locking bolt 22 is moved further within casing 21 by the action of follower 23, conical spigot 26 passes further into hole 28 and a part of conical spigot 15 26 comes to seat within an ring assembly mounted in hole 28. Hole 24 extends longitudinally within locking bolt 22 and does not intersect with bight 27 but passes o above it to intersect with hole 28 that does intersect with bight 27. A lubricant, for example, supplied to hole 24 would flow along locking bolt 22 and enter hole 28 accommodating conical spigot 26 where it would collect, being contained by the "0" 20 ring assembly. As locking bolt 22 is operated, conical spigot 26 functions as an inefficient piston which only pumps a small amount of lubricant into bight 27, to lubricate the bearing points between locking bolt 22 and follower 23. The efficiency of a piston arrangement such as this may be varied so that more or less fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) are delivered to the mechanism each time locking bolt is withdrawn 25 further within casing 21 i.e. the door to which it is installed is unlocked. If conical spigot 26 was manufactured to have a more or less constant cross section approximating that of hole 28 then the quantity of lubricant, for example, delivered with each withdrawal of locking bolt 22 would be increased. A small diameter hole extending laterally of hole 28 to the side of locking bolt 22 would allow lubricant to be delivered to the upper part of the casing 21. A capillary tube mounted into this lateral hole and extending further toward the edge of casing 21 would delivery the lubricant beyond the side of locking bolt 22. Lubricant contained in the capillary tube would tend to flow back into hole 28 and by selecting an appropriate length for the capillary tube, a satisfactory amount of lubrication would be pumped from it with Page 13 Conduits for Locks each withdrawal of locking bolt 22. Where these arrangements would interfere with other parts of the mechanism (not shown) contained in casing 21, users of the present invention could select to mount another at least one member to function as a pump for the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) delivered through hole 24. This device or assembly may contain a reservoir from which lubricant is drawn, for example, or it may rely upon a progressive delivery of lubricant from a reservoir within locking bolt 22. Or the device or assembly may be supplied with lubricant directly through a penetration in casing 21 adjacent the leading edge of the door to which it is installed. The point of access to the another at least one member can be another side of casing 21, however, it would generally be more convenient that the access point is immediately adjacent the leading edge of the door.

Figure 4 shows a door lock 30 having a casing 31 containing a locking bolt 32 operatively engaged with a follower 33, and members 34a and 34b which are S 15 positioned at the top and bottom of casing 31 respectively when it is properly installed to a door. Locking bolt 32 has a plate 39 attached to its innermost end extending toward member 34a and travels across hole 37b in member 34a during the operation of locking bolt 32. Member 34a has a longitudinally extending hole 35a intersecting with a transverse hole 37a intersecting with longitudinal groove 36, and the other transverse hole 37b. Fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) supplied to hole 35a can flow into 37a and into slot 36, then down the cap (not shown) for casing 31, causing their general distribution within casing 3 1. Some of the portion of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) which flow into hole 37b would flow more or less directly onto follower which has a niche 38b to receive some and direct them into groove 38a with which S 25 it intersects. As locking bolt 32 moves to its projected position relative to casing 31 plate 39 passes across hole 37b collecting some fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) on its angled end, which can then drop onto components of the mechanism located below it and/or onto locking bolt 32. Member 34b has a longitudinally extending hole which intersects with transverse holes and/or a longitudinal extending groove (not shown) similar to groove 36. Fluid(s) and or lubricant(s) delivered to casing 31 will tend to gravitationally flow toward member 34b which can function as a reservoir for these used materials, hole 35b containing a plug or insert to prevent escape of these until it is removed. Holes 35a and 35b can coincide with the fastening points for the forend plate of door lock 30 the removal of one of these allowing the supply of Page 14 Conduits for Locks lubricant to member 34a and the removal of the other allowing the draining of spent materials (including debris) from door lock 30. It will be understood that this arrangement represents but one of many possible variations available to users of the present invention to achieve the delivery and recovery of fluid(s) and or lubricant(s) in a door lock. Using such an arrangement would allow relatively large volumes of fluid(s) and or lubricant(s) to flow through a lock, so that flushing the lock case with cleansing fluid would be a practical, enabling the cleaning of a locking mechanism without requiring its removal from the door.

In Figure 5 a door bolting system 40 is shown to comprise a casing 41 containing a pivoting member 42 operatively engaged with drive bolts 47a and 47b by means of spigots 43a and 43b respectively engaging in holes 44a and 44b. Drive bolt 47a extends toward the top of a door when bolting system 40 is installed and drive bolt S'47b extends toward the leading edge of the door. Drive bolt 47a contains a transverse 1 hole 46a intersecting with a longitudinally extending hole 45a intersecting with another transverse hole 46b, enabling fluid(s) and or lubricant(s) supplied to hole 46a to flow gravitationally along hole 45a and into hole 46b, onto spigot 43a and onto pivoting member 42, along spigot 43b and into hole 44b intersecting with longitudinally extending hole 45b within member 47b. Hole 45b would function as a .0 20 reservoir for used fluid(s) and or lubricant(s) and drained when a plug or insert is removed from its outer end. The respective pivoting and reciprocating motion of the f parts of such a mechanism would facilitate the further distribution of fluid(s) and or lubricant(s) with casing 41. Drive bolt 47a would usually have a connecting rod attached to it, however, drive bolt 47b would usually be utilised as door securing bolt .i 25 without any extension being installed to it. This arrangement would suffice when bolting system 40 is installed to the surface of a door, however, when it is contained within a door an alternative arrangement would provide grater convenience to the operator. If the casing shown in Figure 5 were to be rotated through 180 degrees, then drive bolt 47a would extend toward the bottom of the door. By omitting hole 46b and extending hole 45a to intersect with hole 44a, fluid(s) and or lubricant(s) supplied to hole 45b could flow within casing 41, then into hole 44a and through hole 45a into a hollow connecting rod to the socket receiving a door securing bolt end having a longitudinally extending hole through it to drain used fluid(s) and or lubricant(s).

Page Conduits for Locks Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangements of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or the ambit of the present invention.

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Claims (19)

1. The present invention provides a fastening or locking mechanism used for the securing of doors, windows, hatches, covers, lids and other like structures wherein, a number of its constituent parts are contained within a casing, compartment, cell or similar enclosure (hereinafter referred to as a "housing") accommodating or supporting at least one member accessible externally of the housing; wherein, the member has a suitable configuration including at least one penetration, cavity, aperture, hole, groove, recess, passageway or the like able to function as one or a number of connected arteries, tubes, channels or canals (hereinafter referred to as "conduits"), whereby fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) supplied to the conduits externally of the housing can be delivered to at least one point within the housing, or vice versa; and wherein, the at least one member is one component or an assembly, apparatus or device.

2. A mechanism according to claim 1 wherein, the at least one member is a part or the whole of a locking or latching bolt or similar door fastening or securing bolt or bar containing the conduits, whereby fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) can be delivered into its 20 housing.

3. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 2 wherein, the at least one member is one of the said constituent parts of the mechanism apart from a locking or S. S. latching bolt or similar door fastening or securing bolt or bar.

4. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 3 wherein, the at least one member is a component, assembly or device apart from the said constituent parts.

A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 4 wherein, the at least one member is attached to a part of the housing.

6. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 5 wherein, the conduits include a main artery or canal and lesser or subsidiary passageways or channels, at least some of which intersect with the main artery or canal. Page 17 Conduits for Locks

7. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 6 wherein, the suitable configuration includes at least one cavity which is able to serve as a reservoir for the storage of a quantity of fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) prior to their delivery to the housing, or vice versa.

8. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 7 wherein, the at least one member contains or has a component, device, apparatus or assembly attached to it or operatively engaged with it.

9. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 8 wherein, the housing accommodates two or more of the at least one member.

10. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 9 wherein, at least one of the 15 said constituent parts forms at least a portion of the conduits.

1 1. A mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein, operation and/or the operative capacity of an at least one member is selectable by an operator, either throughout an operational range and/or to enable and/or disable the delivery of S. 20 fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to or from one or more parts of the housing.

12. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 11 wherein, the suitable configuration includes provision for the mounting of a cap, plug, insert or similar component, device, apparatus or assembly to a part of the conduits.

13. A mechanism according to any of the claims I to 12 wherein, the suitable configuration includes provision for the mounting of a nipple, cap, plug, insert or similar component or assembly to receive the spout, nozzle, adapter, coupling or like configured part of a tool or a container for supplying fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to the conduits.

14. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 13 wherein, the suitable configuration includes provision for control means to restrict the rate of delivery of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) into or from the housing.

Page 18 (L t Conduits for Locks A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 14 wherein, the housing is adapted to affect the delivery of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) to at least some parts of the mechanism.

16. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 15 wherein, one or more parts of the housing function as reservoirs to contain at least some of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) prior to or subsequent to their delivery to parts of the mechanism.

17. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 16 wherein, the suitable configuration is at least in part determined by the nature or characteristics of the fluid(s) and/or lubricant(s) intended for supply to the conduits.

18. A mechanism according to any of the claims 1 to 17 wherein, the housing is a lock case or other enclosure accommodating all of the constituent parts of the mechanism.

19. A mechanism for a door securing, fastening, or locking system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated: 23 December 1999 Author: Brian Arthur Cook V o V Page 19