AU683149B2 - Lock with single action for multiple locking points - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION .:too: .4 0*00e .t STANDARD PATENT Title of Invention: LOCK WITH SINGLE ACTION FOR MULTIPLE LOCKING POINTS Name of Applicant: DOWELL AUSTRALIA LIMITED The following description is a full description of this invention, including the best method of lierforming it known to me:- SJS C: VVINWOROSTAC-YWPM5542PO.DOC 1 A 2 LOCK WITH SINGLE ACTION FOR MULTIPLE LOCKING POINTS This invention relates to a lock in which a single action is able to release or secure two or more locking points. The lock has been particularly designed for use in relation to windows or similar panel-like structures and for convenience reference will be made throughout this specification to the application of the lock to a window. It is to be understood however that the lock of the invention may readily be applied to other uses.

For many windows which must be secured against unauthorised opening, it has been found that at least two locking points are desirable. This is particularly so where relatively deep windows are concerned, as sections of the window frame which are not reasonably adjacent to a locking point are found to be more liable to flex and thus provide a means whereby the window can be levered out of its surrounding frame. However, the inconvenience and difficulty of having to 15 open separately two or more locking points often means that only one such point will be locked, thus making the non-locked points ineffective. Separate locking points often involve the need to carry and recognise separate keys and also 0*e increase the time required to open or lock the windows concerned and create a safety hazard.

S. 20 It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock which provides two or more locking points controllable by a single locking action and which S"overcomes or reduces disadvantages of current locking systems.

In accordance with the invention, a lock is provided including a housing incorporating a cavity extending generally along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends, and a lock actuator including a shaft member and two stud members, the shaft member extending into the cavity intermediate the first and1 second ends and having a shaft axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, a first portion of the cavity being defined between the shaft and the first end of the cavity, and a second portion of the cavity being defined between the shaft and the second end of the cavity, one of the stud members being disposed ii in each of the first and second portions of the cavity, each stud member being movable within the cavity along the longitudinal axis between a retracted and an 3 extended position, wherein the shaft member is rotatable about the shaft axis and operable to lock the stud members in their extended position.

Preferably the shaft member is rotatable about the shaft axis from a first position, allowing movement of the stud members between their retracted and extended positions, and a second position wherein the shaft member is operable to lock the stud members in their extended position. Whilst the shaft member may be rotatable through any suitable angle from the first or second position, preferably this angle is 900 The relatively limited 900 movement of the shaft member is normally brought about by a key which releasably controls movement of the shaft and this limited movement has particular advantages in the application of the lock of the present invention to window security. These advantages include greater ease of operation for disabled persons and the fact that the lock may be mounted and useable on a window where access is limited, Preferably the shaft incorporates a plurality of radially extending S 15 projections angularly spaced around the axis of the shaft. The shaft is arranged to be rotatable about the shaft axis to align these projections along the :longitudinal axis to thereby lock the stud members in their extended position.

The stud members are accommodated within the cavity of the lock and are preferably biased outwardly from the shaft member into their extended position, S 20 for example by spring action between a housing for the shaft member and the body of the stud member.

The stud members once in their extended position can be arranged to actuate respective locking functions of the lock. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the lock may be configured to include further portions of the cavity each including a further stud member to thereby enable the lock to actuate more than two locking functions. For example, three or more portions of the cavity may extend radially outwardly from the shaft member to respective ends of the cavity.

Preferably the locking functions are in the form of locking bore arrangements incorporating a locking pin. A respective one of the locking bore arrangements is located in each portion of the cavity and includes at least one locking bore which is located through the housing of the lock and extends into the i cavity transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity. Preferably each locking bore arrangement includes a second locking bore which is located through the housing and extends into the cavity transverse to both the longitudinal axis of the cavity and the first locking bore.

Preferably each locking bore arrangement is associated with a retaining member located in the cavity. Each retaining member is movable from an engaging position wherein the retaining member extends into the locking bore arrangement to which it is associated, and a remote position wherein the retaining member is remote from that locking bore arrangement. The position of the retaining members are responsive to the position of the stud members such that the retaining members are caused to be in their engaging position when the stud members are in their extended position and are movable to their remote position when the stud members are movable to their retracted position.

Preferably a locking pin is associated with each locking bore arrangement 15 and slidable within the or each bore of that locking bore arrangement between a locked position and an unlocked position. Preferably each locking pin includes a recess arranged to align with the respective retaining member when the locking "pin is in the locked position and wherein when in that position, the retaining member is operable to retain the locking pin through movement of the retaining S 20 member to its engaging position wherein the retaining member extends into the recess. Preft ably in the locked position, an end portion of the locking pin protrudes from the lock housing and is arranged to extend into a recess defined in the frame or other member within which a window frame associated with the lock is to be secured. In the open position, the locking pin is removable from the recess and may remain partly within the lock body or may also be removed from it.

With this arrangement, the lock is operable to lock the locking pin of each locking bore arrangement in its locked position through rotation of the shaft member to lock the stud members in their extended position. Furthermore, the retaining members are operable to control movement of the locking pin of each locking bore arrangement by virtue of each retaining member being required to be i i moved to its remote position on movement of the respective locking pin from its locking position to its unlocked position.

Preferably each locking pin includes a second recess arranged to align with the respective retaining members when the locking pin is in its unlocked position and wherein when in that position, the retaining member is operable to retain the locking pin through movement of the retaining member to its engaging position wherein the retaining member extends into the second recess.

Preferably each locking recess includes opposed side surfaces, one such surface opposing further movement of the locking pin against the entered portion of the retaining member. The other opposed side surface of the locking recess is inclined to provide a cam surface so as to allow movement of the locking pin when the retaining member is released from its engaging position.

"Depending on the arrangement of the lock, the retaining member in at least one of the portions of the cavity may form part of the stud member located in 15 that portion of the cavity or may be formed separately.

In a particularly preferred arrangement, the lock is formed from an actuator body and at least one separate auxiliary lock. The actuator body includes a cavity incorporating the actuator lock wherein the auxiliary lock includes a cavity and one of the locking bore arrangements. Both the actuator body and the 20 auxiliary lock include an opening and wherein the cavities of the actuator body and the auxiliary lock are in communication through the respective openings and are aligned to form at least part of the cavity of the lock. Preferably the actuator body and the auxiliary lock have respective mounting bosses extending around these respective openings.

Furthermore in a preferred arrangement, one of the auxiliary locks is remote from the actuator body. In this arrangement the remote auxiliary lock incorporates a retaining member which is responsive to a respective one of the stud members in the actuator body through a push rod interconnecting that stud member and that retaining member. In one arrangement the push rod is integrally formed with the stud member or the retaining member whereas in an alternative form, each of the retaining member, stud member and push rod are separately formed, The stud member and the push rod are arranged to 6 interconnect with the stud member through the respective openings in the auxiliary lock and the actuator body.

Preferably the lock further includes a push rod housing having a cavity extending between first and second open ends. The push rod housing is arranged to interconnect the actuator body and the remote auxiliary lock with the open ends of the push rod housing aligned with the respective openings in the actuator body and the auxiliary lock such that the cavity of the lock includes the cavities in each of the actuator body, remote auxiliary lock, and the push rod housing. Preferably the push rod housing is mounted on the mounting boss surrounding the openings of the actuator body and auxiliary lock.

Lock constructions in accordance with the invention may include an actuator body between two auxiliary locks. In this form of construction, the actuator body will having a mounting boss at each end connected to respective push rod housings. Stud members at each end of the actuator body contact respective push rods which extend within the push rod housings to the respective auxiliary locks.

i :In another embodiment of the invention, more than one auxiliary lock may be connected through appropriate push rods and push rod housings to either or each portion of the actuator body. In such embodiments, the form and relative 20 location of the push rods and the locking pins may require modification to permit transmission of the lock actuation to the outer auxiliary lock bodies.

One preferred form of lock construction will now be describe with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is to be appreciated however that this description is given by way of example only and that the generality of the foregoing description is not to be limited by reference to the specific example now described.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of lock construction in accordance with this invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the actuator body of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the auxiliary lock of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a section view along section line IV-IV of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view to an enlarged scale of a stud member of the lock of Figure 1; Figure 6 is an elevation view of the stud member of Figure Figure 7 is a plan view to an enlarged scale of a stud member retainer of the lock of Figure 1; and Figure 8 is a plan view of a locking pin of the lock of Figure 1.

In the drawings, a lock 10 is illustrated having a housing 11 formed from three separate components, namely an actuator body 12, an auxiliary lock 13 and a push rod housing 14. The push rod housing 14 interconnects the actuator body 12 and the auxiliary lock 13 and is mounted on mounting bosses 15, 16 located on a respective inner end of the actuator body and auxiliary lock.

The lock 10 includes a cavity 17 which extends through the three components of the lock in a longitudinal direction between a first end 18 located in the actuator body and a second end 19 located in the auxiliary lock. Each of 15 the actuator body, auxiliary lock and push rod housing incorporates a cavity 21, 22) which forms part of the cavity 17 of the lock. Further, each of these individuals cavities is in communication with its adjacent cavity through openings (23, 24, 25 and 26).

Countersunk holes 27 and 28 are located at an outer end portion of the S 20 lock 10 adjacent the first end 18 and the second end 19 of the cavity 17. These countersunk holes are adapted for screw attachment of the lock to an associated window frame (not shown).

.5.5.5 A key operated actuator 29 is located in the actuator body 12 and extends through the lock housing 11. The actuator 29 includes a key mechanism 30 and shaft 31. The shaft is rotatable about an axis 32 which extends into the cavity transverse to the longitudinal direction of the cavity. The shaft 31 includes a plurality of radially extending projections 33 which are movable into the longitudinal direction of the cavity on rotation of the shaft 31 about its axis 32.

The shaft 31 separates the cavity 17 into a first portion 34 and a second portion 35. The first portion extends from the shaft 31 to the first end 18 of the cavity and the second portion 35 extends from the shaft 31 to the second end 19 of the cavity 17.

i I Stud members 36 and 37 are located adjacent the shaft 31 in respective portions of the cavity. The stud members are retained in place by retaining plates 38. Countersunk holes 39 in the retaining plates allow for screw attachment of the retaining plates into screw cavities 40 in the lock housing 11.

The stud members 36 and 37 are capable of limited movement within the cavity 17 in the longitudinal direction. The stud members are movable from an extended position wherein the trailing end 41 of the respective stud members is located just clear of an outer edge of the projections 33 when aligned in the longitudinal direction of the cavity 17, to a retracted position wherein the stud members are located against the shaft 31 in between the adjacent projections 33.

The stud members are biased into their extended position by compression springs (not shown) which bear against a portion of the key operated actuator 29 and the trailing end 41 of the respective stud members 36 and 37.

A further stud member 42 is located within the cavity 21 of the auxiliary lock and is capable of limited movement therein between an extended position and a retracted position. A further retaining plate 38 ensures that the stud member 42 is retained within the auxiliary lock 13. This further stud member 42 is responsive to movement of the stud member 37 by virtue of a push rod 43 which extends in the cavity 17 within the push rod housing 14 between a leading end 44 20 of the stud member 37 and a trailing end 45 of the stud member 42. In this way, the stud member 42 located in the auxiliary lock is biasec! into its extended position when the stud member 37 is located in its extended position and is 4 movable into its retracted position when the stud member is movable into its retracted position.

Both the actuator body and the auxiliary lock including a locking bore arrangement (46, 47). Each locking bore arrangement includes transverse bores (48, 49, 50, 51) which extend through the lock housing 11 and into the cavity 17.

The lock 10 is configured such that a respective one of the stud members is associated with each of the locking bore arrangements. In the illustrated arrangement, stud member 36 is associated with locking bore arrangement 46, and stud member 42 is associated with locking bore arrangement 47. In this arrangement, a leading end (52, 53) of the respective stud members is arranged to extend into respective transverse bores when the stud members are in their extended position. When in their retracted position, these stud members are arranged to be remote from these bores.

A locking pin 54 is receivable in the transverse bores of the locking bore arrangements 46, 47 and movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking pin includes a plurality of recesses 55 and 56 which are positioned such that the recess 55 is located within the cavity 17 when the locking pin is in its locked position and the recess 56 is located within the cavity when the locking pin is in its unlocked position. When in its locked position, the locking pin is adapted to project from the lock 10 to be received in a recess in a window frame to secure the frame.

Movement of the locking pin 54 is controlled by the stud members as the stud members are required to be in their retracted position to enable movement of the locking pin through a respective one of the bores. Furthermore, the locking .0.0 i 15 pin is retained in either of its locked or unlocked position by the leading end of the stud members moving to its extended position and extending into a respective one of the recesses.

Each recess of the locking pin includes a retaining surface 57 on its outer side and a camming surface 58 on an inner side. Each camming surface 57 is 20 configured to engage a respective one of the stud members and on movement of the pin provide a force to that stud member to bias it from its extended position to its retracted position. This biasing force acts against the spring biasing force and 000000 is operable on movement of the locking pin between its locked and unlocked position. The retaining surface 58 is move steeply sloped than the camming surface and does not provide the biasing effect of the camming surface. In thisway, movement of the locking pin outside its locking and unlocking position is restricted.

In assembling the lock 10, one section of the push rod housing 14 is secured to the associated window frame. The push rod 43 of appropriate length is slidably inserted within the opening 23 into the cavity of the actuator body 12.

The actuator body is then fixed in position by screw attachment to the associated window frame. One free end of the longitudinal push rod is inserted into the la I I opening 24 into the auxiliary lock 13 cavity at the same time as the auxiliary lock is mounted to the other end of the bottom section of the push rod housing 14.

The auxiliary lock is fixed in position by screw attachment to the associated i window frame. The remaining section of the push rod housing is then snap fitted to the bottom section to form the completed lock.

In operation of the lock 10, a locking pin 54 is associated with each locking bore arrangement. To enable movement of the locking pin between its locked and unlocked position, it is necessary that the shaft 31 is rotated about the shaft axis on operation of the key mechanism to its unlocked position wherein the stud members 36, 37 are able to move to their retracted position between adjacent projections. Once in this position, the locking pins are able to move between their respective locked and unlocked positions. Once in either the locked or unlocked "v*position, the stud members move into their extended position under the influence of the spring bias wherein the leading edge (52, 53) of the respective stud S. 15 members (36, 42) extend into a respective one of the recesses (35, 56) of the locking pin. The locking pin can then be locked in this position by rotation of the shaft to its locked position wherein the projections extend along the cavity 17 and 9. 9° prevent the stud members from moving to their retracted position.

A lock formed in accordance with the present invention has the advantage S" 20 of being able to lock multiple locking points with a single action, is inexpensive to manufacture and is simple to install. A further advantage of the lock is that the spacing between the actuator body and the or each remote auxiliary lock can be determined on site with the onsite assembly enabling the push rod and the push rod housing to be able to be cut to an appropriate length for the particular application concerned. Further, the lock 10 is of a construction which enables the push rod 43 and the push rod housing 14 to be of the same length. This isan advantage as it facilitates cutting of these components providing for convenient onsite assembly of the lock It should be appreciated however that if designed, the push rod may be formed to extend directly through the cavity of the auxiliary lock until it protrudes into the locking bore arrangement of the auxiliary lock. While this alternative, construction eliminates the need for the stud member within the cavity of the 11 auxiliary lock, factory construction and preassembly is desirable to form a rounded end portion of the push rod which is to enter the auxiliary lock and greater accuracy in determining the length of the push rod may also be desirable.

Finally, it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction and arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

0 0* a* i

Claims (16)

1. A lock including a housing incorporating a cavity extending generally along a longitudinal axis between first and second ends, and a lock actuator including a shaft member and two stud members, the shaft member extending into the cavity intermediate the first and second ends and having a shaft axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, a first portion of the cavity being defined between the shaft and the first end of the cavity, and a second portion of the cavity being defined between the shaft and the second end of the cavity, one of the stud members being disposed in each of the first and second portions of the cavity, each stud member being movable within the cavity along the longitudinal axis between a retracted and an extended position, wherein the shaft member is rotatable about the shaft axis and operable to lock the stud members in their extended position. 15 2. A lock according to claim 1, wherein the shaft member is rotatable about the shaft axis from a first position, allowing movement of the stud members between their retracted and extended positions, and a second position wherein the shaft member is operable to lock the stud members in their extended position.

3. A lock according to claim 2, wherein the shaft member is rotatable through 20 900 about the shaft axis from the first to the second position.

4. A lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the shaft incorporates a plurality of radially extending projections angularly spaced around the axis of the shaft, the shaft member being rotatable about the shaft axis to align the projections along the longitudinal axis to lock the stud members in their extended position. A lock according to any preceding claim, wherein the stud members are biased into their extended position.

6. A lock according to any preceding claim, further including a locking bore arrangement located in each portion of the cavity, each locking bore arrangement including a first locking bore located through the housing and extending into the cavity transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity. II- 13

7. A lock according to claim 6, wherein each locking bore arrangement includes a second locking bore located through the housing and extending into the cavity transverse to both the longitudinal axis of the cavity and the first locking bore.

8. A lock according to either claim 6 or 7, wherein each locking bore arrangement is associated with a retaining member located in the cavity, each retaining member being movable from an engaging position wherein the retaining: member extends into the locking bore arrangement to which it is associated, and a remote position wherein the retaining member is remote from that locking boreI.. arrangement, the position of the retaining members being responsive to the position of the stud members such that the retaining members are caused to be in their engaging position when the stud members are in their extended position and oo i are movable to their remote position when the stud members are movable to their e retracted position. 15 9. A lock according to claim 8, wherein a locking pin is associated with each locking bore arrangement and sliceable within the or each bore of the locking bore arrangement between a locked position and an unlocked position, each locking pin including a recess arranged to align with the respective retaining member when the locking pin is in the locking position and wherein when in that S 20 position, the retaining member is operable to retain the locking pin through movement of the retaining member to its engaging position wherein the retaining member extends into said recess. A lock according to claim 9, wherein the lock is operable to lock the locking: pin of each locking bore arrangement in its locking position through positioning of the shaft member to lock the stud members in their extended position.

11. A lock according to either claim 9 or 10, wherein the retaining members are operable to control movement of the locking pin of each locking bore arrangement by virtue of each retaining member being required to be rmoved to its remote i position on movement of the respective locking pin from its locking position to its unlocked position.

12. A lock according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the retaining members are operable to retain the locking pin of each locking bore arrangement 14 in the unlocked position, each locking pin including a second recess arranged to align with the respective retaining member when the locking pin is in its unlocked position, and wherein when in that position, the retaining member is operable to retain the locking pin through movement of the retaining member to its engaging position wherein the retaining member extends into said second recess.

13. A lock according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein tho retaining member in at least one of the portions of the cavity forms part of the stud member located in that portion of the cavity.

14. A lock according to any one of claims 8 to 13, wherein the retaining member in at least one of the portions of the cavity is separate from the stud member in that portion of the cavity.

15. A lock according to any one of claims 8 to 14, wherein the lock is formed from an actuator body and at least one auxiliary lock, the actuator body including a cavity incorporating the actuator lock, and the auxiliary lock including a cavity 15 and one of the locking bore arrangements, both the actuator body and the_ auxiliary lock including openings communicating with their respective cavities: awherein, the cavities of the actuator body and the auxiliary lock are in communication through the respective openings and are aligned to form at least- part of the cavity of the lock. 20 16. A lock according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the auxiliary locks is i remote from the actuator body, the remote auxiliary lock incorporating a said i ,a retaining member as part of the locking bore arrangement which is responsive to a respective one of the stud members in the actuator body through a push rod interconnecting that stud member and that retaining member.

17. A lock according to claim 16, wherein the push rod is integrally formed withl I at least one of the stud member or retaining member.

18. A lock according to claim 16, wherein each of the retaining member, stud i member and push rod are separately formed. A lock according to any one of claims 16 to 18, further including a push rodi housing having a cavity exteriding between first and second open ends, the push rod housing being arranged to interconnect the actuator body and the remote auxiliary lock with the open end-3 the push rod housing aligned with tihe respective openings in the actuator body and the auxiliary lock such that the cavity of the lock includes the cavities in each of the actuator body, remote auxiliary lock, and push rod housing, the push rod being arranged to located within the cavity of the lock and interconnect the stud member and the retaining member. A lock according to claim 19, wherein the actuator body and auxiliary lock i i including mounting bosses at the respective openings, the mounting bosses being arranged to be received within the cavity of the push rod in assembly of the lock.

21. A lock according to any one of claims 16 to 19, wherein the lock io ajapted to be assembled on site.

22. A lock according to claim 21 when dependent on claim 19, wherein the i VV 6 push rod housing and the push rod are adapted to be cut to size to provide a said lock having the actuator body and the auxiliary lock at a predetermined spacing. 15 23. A lock according to either claim 21 or 22, wherein the length of the push is substantially the same as the length of the push rod housing.

24. A lock substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. P DATED: 11 May, 1995 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK P Attorneys for: DOWELL AUSTRALIA LIMITED i: .i I- r ABSTRACT A lock 10 is disclosed having a housing 11 formed from three separate components, namely an actuator body 12, remote auxiliary lock 13 and push rod housing 14. A cavity 17 extends through the housing 11 and locking bore arrangements (46, 47), located in the actuator body and auxiliary lock extend through the housing and into the cavity 17. Stud members 36, 42 are associated with each locking bore arrangement and are each movable within the cavity between an extended position and a retracted position and are controlled by a key operated actuator 29 which locks the stud members in their extended position. The stud members are operable to lock a locking pin 54 associated with "each locking bore arrangement in either a locked position or an unlocked position by engagement of the respective stud members with one of two recesses formed in locking pin. The lock 10 has particular application for use in a window requiring 15 multiple locking points. ••el 0