AU674481B2 - A lock assembly - Google Patents

Description

S F Ref: 251737D3

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

-I Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Aichin Long Group Pty 46-48 Redfern Street Wetherill Park New South

AUSTRALIA

Ltd t/as Doric Products I Wales 2164 Michael Brian Alchin Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia A Lock Assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845 1A A LOCK ASSEMBLY FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to locks and more particularly to the movement of lock tongues. The present invention also relates to locks for sliding and pivotally mounted 6 doors.

PRIOR ART Known locks employ a lock tongue which is movable between an extended and a retracted position. In the extended position, the lock tongue projects into a door jamb to prevent opening of the door. The extent to which the tongue projects into the door jamb lo is an important factor in determining the safety of the lock. The further the tongue projects into the door jamb, the more difficult it is to forcefully overcome the lock.

Accordingly for security reasons, the greater the depth of penetration of the lock tongue the more secure the lock. However, a drawback to this is the operation of the lock. For ease of operation it is desirable to have a shallow penetration of the door jamb.

Known locks have suffered from the disadvantage that they are either provided with a tongue which projects a considerable distance into the door jamb, and therefore suffer from operating difficulties, or alternatively have a shallow penetration and are therefore vulnerable.

Locks to be used in conjunction with pivoting doors have generally employed a S: 20 linearly movable lock tongue. In contrast thereto, locks intended to be used with sliding doors have used a pivotally mounted lock tongue. The operating mechanisms are considerably different and therefore it has been necessary to produce and stock two different types of locks.

Locks have generally been manufactured from cast metal bodies onto which there is attached the various operating (movable) parts of the lock, From a security and strength point of view it has been undesirable to use locks with the body manufactured from a plastics material as the body is easily penetrated and the lock manipulated, Locks have therefore been generally precluded from employing cheaper technology in respect of the use of plastics materials.

30 For security reasons, there is a demand for a multi point lock. Such multi point locks have included a central lock which is provided with a handle and key operable cylinder lock. There is also provided at least one remote lock assembly which has a lock tongue, which remote lock tongue is operated by the deadlock mechanism of the central lock assembly. These previously known multi point locks are difficult to install.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages.

LNALIB1TrOO729:LMM II 2 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION There is disclosed herein a multi point lock assembly comprising: a main lock assembly including a body, a main lock tongue movably mounted on the body, actuator means also mounted on the body and adapted to move the lock tongue s between an extended position at which the lock tongue projects through a front edge face of the assembly and a retracted position positioned within the body, and a movable deadlock member operable to prevent movement of the lock tongue from the extended position to the retracted position; a remote lock assembly including a remote body, and a remote lock tongue movably 1 o mounted on the remote body so as to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position; a connecting member extending between the deadlock member and the remote tongue so that the remote tongue is moved with the deadlock member, said remote tongue being moved from its extended position to its retracted position when the deadlock member is moved to release the main lock tongue for movement to its retracted position; and wherein said deadlock member includes a coupling portion adjacent a rear face of the main body, and said connecting member includes connecting means to engage said coupling portion so as to be moved thereby with said deadlock member.

20 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS S'A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation of a lock employing a linearly movable lock tongue; S: 25 Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the lock of Figure 1, configured so as to have a multi-point lock; Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of the lock of Figure 2, modified to have a pivoting tongue; Figures 4 and 5 are schematic side elevations of the lock as depicted in Figure 3, in two operative positions; Figure 6 is a schematic parts exploded perspective view of the mounting and lock tongue of Figures 3, 4 and Figure 7 is a schematic end elevation of the lock of Figures 1, 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In Figure 1 there is schematically depicted a lock assembly 10, The lock assembly has a casing (body) 11 which slidably guides a lock tongue 12. The lock tongue is operatively associated with a handle coupled to a shaft 13. Surrounding the shaft 13 is a sleeve 14 which has a central aperture 15 shaped to co-operate with the shaft 13. The [N:\LIBTTJ00729:LMM 3 sleeve 15 is fixed to a lever 16. When the handle is operated, the lever 16 is caused to rotate and retract the tongue 12 from an extended position (projecting from within the casing 11) to a retracted position located substantially within the casing 11. The tongue 12 is biased to its extended position by means of a spring 17. The tongue 12 moves along a substantially linear path and is received within a generally rectangular hollow 68 defined between parallel surfaces 69 which guide the tongue 12.

The extremity of the lever 16 is provided with a curved cam surface 18 which cooperates with internal surfaces 19 of the tongue 12, to cause movement of the tongue 12.

Mounted on the tongue 12 is a pawl lever 20 which is movable between a first and lo second position. In its first position, the lever 20 is generally contained within the tongue 12. In the second position, the lever 20 projects laterally of the tongue 12 to abut the surface 21 of the casing. The second position of the lever 20 is illustrated in the drawing.

The tongue 12 has three operative positions. The first position is the fully extended position (not illustrated), the second position is a retracted position (not illustrated) with the tongue 12 substantially located within the casing 11. The third position of the tongue 12 is an intermediate position (illustrated in the drawing) where the tongue 12 is located between its extended and retracted positions. The intermediate position is defined by the abutment of the lever 20 with the surface 21.

Under normal operation of the handle, the tongue will be moved between its intermediate position and its retracted position by causing pivoting of the lever 16.

The casing 10 is adapted to receive a lock barrel in the aperture 22. The lock barrel co-operates with a deadlock bar 23 which is slidably guided in the casing 11. The bar 23 is movable from an inoperative position (as depicted in the drawing) and an operative position projecting up into the tongue 12 to prevent movement of the tongue 12 from a S 25 fully extended position to its retracted position. In the deadlock position, the forward end 24 3f the bar 23 engages the lever 20 and moves the lever to its first position permitting the tongue 12 to move to its fully extended position. The lock barrel would have a projection engaged within the recess 25 and engage the surfaces 26 to cause movement of the bar 23.

The lock assembly 10 would also be provided with a snib which operates a further lever 27, again engaged with the bar 23 via a recess 28. The lever 27 would engage surfaces 29 bordering the recess 28. Operation of the snib would cause movement of the bar 23 between its deadlock and inoperative po.itions.

It should further be appreciated that there is a certain degree of lost motion between the shaft 13 and the sleeve 14 due to the configuration of the aperture 15 and the crosssection of the shaft 13.

If so required, the leading portion of the tongue 12 may be chamfered.

The bar 23 has a locator 30, which cooperates with a pivotally mounted arm 31 (shown in Figure The arm 31 has a pointed projection 32 which engages the concave [N:\LIBTr]00729:LMM 4 portion of the locator 30. The arm 31 is spring loaded by means of the spring 33 to engage the locator 30. The arm 31 maintains the bar 23 in its inoperative position.

In Figure 2, the lock 10 is modified so as to operate two remote slave lock mechanisms 34.

As seen in Figure 1, the bar 23 is slidably received between a forward face 35 and a rear face 36, of the casing 11.

The lock of Figure 1 is further modified so as to provide, not only a mounting for the linearly movable tongue 12, but also a mounting for a pivotally movable tongue, as seen in Figure 3. Accordingly the modified lock as seen in Figure 2 provides for a lo linearly moxable tongue 12 while the lock of Figure 3 has a pivotally mounted tongue.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, a cylinder lock 35 is illustrated, having a barrel 36 and projection 37 which is caused to move angularly upon operation of the key in the barrel 36. The projection 37 is engaged within the recess 25 to cause linear movement of the bar 23.

As a further modification, the bar 23 is of a configuration so as to have an elongated body portion 38 and a curved end portion 39 (best seen in Figure The bar 23 has a projection 70 which engages a bar 40. The bar 40 is generally retained in position by the configuration of the door extrusion within which the lock 10 is mounted.

The bar 40 terminates with eyelets 41 which in turn engage rods 42. The rods 42 actuate the remote lock mechanisms 34.

The mechanisms 34 include a body 43 which pivotally supports a lock tongue 44, The lock tongue 44 is of a curved configuration and pivots about a shaft or post 45. The bar 42 is attached to a link 46 which engages a pin 47 on the lock tongue 44. The link 46 is guided for sliding linear movement relative to the body 43. The pin 47 engages in an elongated slot 68, to accommodate the angular movement of the tongue 44.

Accordingly, the remote lock mechanisms 34 are actuated when the bar 23 is moved. Accordingly when the lock 10 is operated so that the bar 23 is located in a position retaining the lock tongue 12 in its extended position, the tongues 44 are similarly extended. When the bar 23 is moved to release the lock tongue 12, the tongues 44 are 30 retracted back within their respective bodies 43.

e:ote In installing the lock 10 of Figure 2, the remote lock mechanisms 34 are installed together with the links 42 and bar 40. Thereafter, the lock 10 may be inserted. Coupling of the lock 10 (via the projection 70) with the bar 40 is easily achieved by merely inserting the projection 70 in an associated aperture (socket) 48 in the bar 40. This greatly simplifies installation.

As mentioned previously, the lock of Figure 2, although having a linearly movable tongue 12, is adapted also to receive a pivotally mounted tongue. More particularly, the body is provided with a cavity and mountings 49.

In Figure 3, a still further modified form of the lock 10 is illustrated. Basically it is the same as the lock 10 of Figures 1 and 2, however the mountings 49 are utilised. The [NAL1TrJ00729tLMM lever 16 is no longer employed, and the handle shaft 13 no longer required. There is provided a mounting body 50 which engages the mountings 49. In Figures 2 and 3, the mountings 49 include shaped recesses. However the recesses could be of a straight rectangular configuration as shown in Figures 4 and 5, The mounting body 50 has projections 51 which are received within shaped recesses 52 forming part of the mountings 49. In the lock of Figures 4 and 5, the projections 51 are of a rectangular configuration. In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3, the projections 50 are of a "T" configuration.

The mounting body 50 has a generally cylindrical recess 52 which receives the axle lo 53 of the lock tongue 54. More particularly, the body 50 has a curved portion 55 ending with stop surfaces 56 which engage stop surfaces 57 on the lock tongue 54 to limit the angular movement thereof. The lock tongue 54 has a bar 58 which engages the bar 59 of a striker 60. More particularly, the bar 58 has an inclined surface 61 which engages a ramp surface 62 on the striker 60, Extending between the surfaces 57A and 56A is a spring 63 which biases the tongue 54 to pivot to its lock position engaging behind the bar 59, to retain the bar 59 within the lock The lock tongue 54 has a square passage 64 into which passes a handle shaft which is operated by the user to cause pivoting of the tongue 54 to release the striker In this embodiment (Figures 3 to 6) the bar 23 has its forward end 24 positionable to retain the lock tongue 54 in a lock position retaining the striker 60. Operation of the Scylinder lock 35 therefore releases or deadlocks the lock tongue 54.

As can be seen from the above description, the one basic lock configuration is adaptable for both pivoting and sliding doors; the lock of Figure 2 being adapted for a pivoted door, while the lock of Figure 3 is adapted for a sliding door.

The lock 10 of the above described preferred embodiments has a body 11. The body 11 is formable from plastics material and more particularly would be moulded from reinforced plastics material. The plastics material would be reinforced by ceramic, glass or carbon fibre. Encompassing the body 11 is a metal envelope 64, of generally "Ushaped" configuration, having a front face 65 and two side faces 66 and 67. The face 67 30 would be provided with sufficient apertures to accommodate the various handle shafts and f the cylinder lock 35. The envelope 64 is preferably formed of stainless steel and provides a shield for the operating mechanism of the lock 10 mounted on the body 11. The front face 65 would be provided with an aperture through which the tongue 12 would pass, or through which the striker would pass to be engaged by the lock tongue 54.

By having the body 11 formed of plastics material, the overall cost of the lock is substantially reduced. By having the envelope 64, the security of the lock is substantially enhanced relative to previously known locks.

When employing a body of plastics material, the various portions of the lock mechanism can be assembled on the body 11 and thereafter the envelope 54 slidingly moved over the body 11 to retain the lock mechanism in place.

[NAL1BT00729:LMM 6 The envelope (shield) 64 would have end flanges through which fasteners would pass to secure the lock 10 within a door opening.

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Claims (4)

1. A multi point lock assembly comprising: a main lock assembly including a body, a main lock tongue movably mounted on the body, actuator means also mounted on the body and adapted to move the lock tongue between an extended position at which the lock tongue projects through a front edge face of the assembly and a retracted position positioned within the body, and a movable deadlock member operable to prevent movement of the lock tongue from the extended position to the retracted position; a remote lock assembly including a remote body, and a remote lock tongue movably lo mounted on the remote body so as to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position; a connecting member extending between the deadlock member and the remote tongue so that the remote tongue is moved with the deadlock member, said remote tongue being moved from its extended position to its retracted position when the deadlock member is moved to release the main lock tongue for movement to its retracted position; and wherein said deadlock member includes a coupling portion adjacent a rear face of the main body, and said connecting member includes connecting means to engage said coupling portion so as to be moved thereby with said deadlock member.

2. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein said coupling portion and connecting member engage by a projection and socket. ,o

3. The lock assembly of claim 2, wherein said coupling portion includes said S projection, and said connecting member includes said socket.

4. The lock assembly of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein said connecting member includes a ba. slidably abutting said rear face. The lock assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said remote tongue is Spivotally mounted in said remote body for pivoting movement between a retracted position located in said remote body, and an extended position protruding from said remote body. 30 6. A multi point lock assembly, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings. Dated 20 September, 1995 Alchin Long Group Pty Ltd t/as Doric Products Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [N:\LIBTT]00729:LMM A LOCK ASSEMBLY Abstract A multi point lock assembly including a main lock assembly (10) having a lock tongue (12) which can be retained in the extended position by means of a deadlock bar The bar (23) has a projection (70) which is engaged within a socket in a bar mounted adjacent the rear edge face of the lock body The bar 40 operates remote lock assemblies each remote lock assembly (34) including a pivotally mounted lock tongue (44). 0 0 I 6 i* S a 0 [N:\LIBTT]00729:LMM