AU694581B2

AU694581B2 - Multi-point lock

Info

Publication number: AU694581B2
Application number: AU40311/95A
Authority: AU
Inventors: David Lugton; John Russell Watts
Original assignee: Austral Lock Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Austral Lock Industries Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1991-06-03
Filing date: 1995-12-11
Publication date: 1998-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-03
Also published as: AU7749598A; AU4031195A; AU714565B2; AU7749498A; AU714448B2

Description

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AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION U Name of Applicant:

S

S S Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: AUSTRAL LOCK INDUSTRIES PTY.LTD.

42 Export Drive, City-Link Estate, Brooklyn, 3025, Victoria, Australia.

JOHN RUSSELL WATTS and DAVID LUGTON DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "Multi-Point Lock" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1- 951211,q:\oper\rs17383-92.divI -I MULTI-POINT LOCK This invention relates to a lock system and more particularly to a multi-point lock. Preferably the invention relates to a multi-point lock that can be 10 used in security screen doors with deadlocking capacity.

Multi-point locks traditionally comprise a central or main lock casing that has a locking bolt and a key operable locking cylinder and at least one and usually two auxiliary locks that are spaced from the central lock to include separate locking bolts that operate in unison with the locking bolt of the central lock. The auxiliary locks are interconnected to the main lock by driving means such as a bar. It is usual to provide a deadlocking slide on the central lock the effect of which is to control displacement of the bar to in turn deadlock the auxiliary locks. Australian Patents 574388 and 557075 disclose multi-point locks of this kind.

Australian Patent 578811 and Application 55701/90 also disclose

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PAOPUR I ul I40311.95SP 14/$PV -3various configurations of multi-point locks, The locks of the prior art use a bar or rod to actuate the auxiliary locks. For smooth and efficient operation, it is thus essential that the length of bar or rod is configured to accord with the distance at which the auxiliary lock is spaced from the central lock. Variations in this length can cause malfunctioning of the auxiliary locks.

It is these problems that have brought about the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lock for a door or the like, including locking means including a key operable cylinder, a main latching means displaceable against resilient biassing means between an engageable configuration and a disengaged configuration and restrainable by the locking means against disengagement in the engageable configuration, at least one remote lock separated from the locking means, said remote lock including a casing and operable engaging means mounted to the casing, and drive transmitting means comprising cable means operably interconnecting the engaging means and the locking means whereby the engaging means is operable by the locking means to displace between an operative engageable configuration corresponding to restraint of the main latching means and a disengaged configuration.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a multi-point lock comprising drive means and a pair of remote locks at opposite sides of the drive means, each remote lock including a casing and a locking bolt displaceable between retracted and extended positions relative to the casing, each remote lock being coupled to the drive means by cable means such that actuation of the dlrive means causes displacement of the cable means to effect displacement of the remote locking bolt.

In one embodiment each remote lock comprises a rocker that drives the locking bolt.

The rockers of the two remote locks are interconnected by a cable and each rocker is coupled to the drive means by a respective cable.

•In another embodiment, the drive means comprises a pair of racks interconnected by S. a geared pinion whereby the first rack is driven by a deadlocking member to cause the same displacement of the second rack through its engagement via the pinion, both racks being coupled to the remote locks by cables.

In a preferred embodiment, the remote locks are actuated from a main key operated Slock, and the locking tongues of the main and remote locking bolts have -4a beaked configuration whereby the bolts pivot from the retracted position to the fully extended locked position. The bolt of the main lock is preferably driven by a spring to a lockable position and a detent activated by a remote bolt controls release of the main bolt. The locking bolt of the main lock may be driven by handle assemblies positioned on either side of the lock to cause the locking bolt to be moved to the retracted position. The main lock may be provided with a snib on at least one side of the lock, rotation of the snib causing displacement of a deadlocking member to deadlock the bolt of the main lock while driving the remote bolts to their operative deadlocked positions.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side on view of a multi-point lock located within a security screen door, S 15 Figure 2 is a perspective view of one side of a central o C 941117,p:\opcr'shl243011_pe,4 p 11:041\01\t03119H3i1 -w16M lock body fitted to the door, Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view illustrating drive from the central lock body to auxiliary locks, Figure 4 is an enlarged elevational view of an alternative form of drive, Figures 5 and 6 are elevational views illustrating the operation of an auxiliary lock, and Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the attachment of the drive means to the central lock body.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments The multi-point lock described in the specification is an improvement to the lock described in the applicant's Australian Patent Application 55701/90. The disclosure of Patent Application 55701/90 is incorporated herein by reference. The lock described in Patent Application 55701/90 incorporated a central lock body that includes a locking bolt with a tongue of beaked profile. The locking bolt is displaceable from a fully retracted position to a fully extended locked position. A spring is used to urge the locking bolt into the fully operative engagable position and a detent controlled by an auxiliary locking bolt controls release of the locking bolt. As disclosed in Patent Application 55701/90, the locking bolt therefore constitutes latching means which is subject to a spring bias. The central lock casing incorporates a deadlocking slide which is operable by either a key cylinder or a snib or turnscrew positioned on at least one side of the lock. Displacement of the deadlocking slide "has the effect of causing the slide to prevent return of the locking bolt to the retracted position thus deadlocking the lock. Application 55701/90 also uses the central, locking case in a multipoint lock whereby a rotational cam is positioned behind the lock casing to be actuatable by the snib or the keyed cylinder. The cam is coupled to a drive mechanism that drives a pair of rods extending from either side of the central lock casing, the rods being connected to distantly placed auxiliary locks that include an auxiliary locking bolt with a tongue of beaked configuration that can pivot between an inoperative and operative position on displacement of the rod.

The invention that is the subject of this application has the auxiliary locks positioned one on either side of the central lock and interconnected to the central lock 30 by use of a pair of Bowden cables 24,25.

The design and operation of each auxiliary lock 20 is shown in particular detail with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Each auxiliary lock 20 comprises a rectangular casing 41 that houses a locking bolt 42 with a beaked tongue 43. The locking bolt 42 is arranged to pivot about a pivot pin 44 at the middle of the lock casing 41. The locking bolt 42 can pivot from a retracted position shown in Figure 5 where the bolt 42 is contained within the casing to a fully extended deadlocked position shown in Figure 6 where the beaked tongue 44 of the bolt projects out of the front of the casing. A rocker 47 in the form of a triangular plate is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 48. The apex of the triangle has a downwardly projecting pin 49 that is a sliding fit within a~n elongate drive slot 50 formed in one end 51 of the locking bolt.

The opposite corners 52,53 of the triangular plate of the rocker 47 are coupled to the ends of the inner cable of Bowden cables 24 and Thus, when the lock is in the retracted position shown in Figure 5 and the inner cable of Bowden cable 25 is pulled downwardly the rocker 47 pivots about the pivot 48 causing the pin 49 to force-the locking bolt 42 to pivot from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 6 at which the tongue 43 of the locking bolt 42 is thrown out of the casing to the operative and deadlocked position shown in Figure 6. To return the tongue to the retracted position shown in Figure 5, the inner cable of the other Bowden cable 25 has to be pulled thereby causing the rocker 47 to pivot back to the position shown in figure 5 causing the bolt to return to the position shown in Figure 5. Thus, alternative pulling on the Bowden cables 24 and 25 causes operation of the auxiliary lock.

Each aulihary lock 20 includes a spring not shown positioned between the pin 44 on the locking bolt 42 and the drive pin 49 on the rocker 47. T'he spring acts to urge the rocker to assume an over-centre position on either side thereby assisting the throw of the locking bolt 42 in either direction. The drive slot 50 of the bolt 42 has a smooth side and the side opposite thereto is shaped such that, at two positions of the driving pin 49, a line normal to the surface of contact would pass behind the pin. The significance of this feature is that at these two points a load applied to the bolt iu retracting direction will not cause the bolt to drive the rocker 47 in an unlocking direction. In these two positions the bolt is deadlocked. In the first position the bolt 42 is fully extended while in the second deadlocking rosition the bolt is substantially but not fully extended.

The Bowden cables 24 and 25 are of conventional form comprising a coiled spring outer cable 25A which is secured at either end and a single strand or multi-stranded piece of wire extending through the outer cable to be displaceable relative thereto. As shown in Figure 3, the Bowden cable 25 is interconnected from one auxiliary lock 20 to the other with the inner cable directly coupling the rockers 47 of each lock. The other Bowden cable 24 extends from the upper auxiliary lock to be 15 secured to an upper end of the drive means 70. The other auxiliary lock 20 is coupled to the other end of the drive means by attaching *ooo the inner cables to a slide plate.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, one Bowden cable 24 is coupled to the central lock 30 via drive means 70. The other 20 Bowden cable 25 interconnects the auxiliary locks 20. As shown in Figure 7 the drive means 70 is driven by an extension 61 of a deadlocking slide 60 that forms part of the central lock One form of the drive means 70 is illustrated with reference to Figures 3 and 7. A rectangular box 71 houses a slide 25 plate 72 which has a leg 73 that clips onto projecting studs 74 •formed on the extension 61 of the deadlocking slide 60. The box 71 also has a flanged bracket 75 that slides into a profiled means 76 formed on the casing 65 of the central lock 30. As shown in Figure 7, one end of the Bowden cable 24 locates in an upper end 77 of the box 71 with the wire (not shown) coupled to the slide plate 72.

The other end of the cable 24 is similarly attached to the opposite side of the box 71 with the inner cable also coupled to the slide plate 72.

In the embodiment that is shown in Figures 3 and 7, a single slide plate 72 is connected to the extension 61 of the deadlocking slide 60 and the inner Bowden cable 24 from both auxiliary locks is connected to the slide plate. The other Bowden -e~ cable 25 interconnects the rockers 47 of both auxiliary locks so that movement of the slide plate 72 caused by movement of the deadlocking slide 60 has the effect of moving the inner Bowden cables. The drive means slide plate 72 moves in unison with the deadlocking slide 60 which when moved pulls an inner cable to cause the rocker in an auxiliary lock to rotate. Since the other end of the rocker is connected to the inner cable of the other Bowden cable a pull is placed on this cable which in turn pulls the rocker in the other auxiliary lock causing the rocker to rotate. Drive means slide movement and rocker movements are substantially simultaneous. Movement of the deadlocking slide in the other direction cause a direct pull on the second rocker which rotates and pulls the other inner cable which cause the first rocker to rotate.

In another format illustrated in Figure 4, the drive means 70 comprises a pair of slide plates 80,81 one of which is attached to the deadlocking slide. These slide plates 80,81 are interconnected by racks 82,83 formed on each member which drive a meshing pinion 84. In this embodiment, each plate 80,81 is 20 connected to Bowden cables coupled to each auxiliary lock. Thus, displacement of the plate 81 by the deadlocking slide 60 causes equal and opposite displacement of the other plate 80 through the rack and pinion gear.

When the deadlocking slide 60 is moved one rack pulls the inner cable connected to the rocker in one remote lock while the other rack 82 pulls the inner cable connected to the rocker in the other remote lock. Cables are configured such that movement of the deadlocking slide in a locking direction causes both remote lock bolts to move to an operative position.

-a I':\'iti\11 iNM O 1.9.167 I l/9 The central lock 30 is of the kind described in Australian Patent Application 55701/90. The deadlocking slide 60 is driven either by an external snib 112 (Figure 2) or keyed cylinder 113. The lock has latching means which, in the embodiment shown, is in the form of a central locking tongue 121, the latching means being subject to a spring bias which as disclosed in Application 55701/90 biases the latching means to an engagable position. An auxiliary bolt 31 acts as a trigger to enable latching engagement to occur, as disclosed in Application 55701/90. The handles 111 that drive the central locking tongue 121 do not drive the locking slide 60 and thus when the lock is in the unlocked position the auxiliary locks are inoperative. To lock the door, either the snib 112 or the keyed cylinder 113 is actuated to displace the deadlocking slide to the deadlocked o o C

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position whereby it abuts behind the bolt 123 in the central lock while simultanec~sly displacement of the auxiliary lock bolts via the Bowden cables 24,25 to bring the locking bolts 42 of the auxiliary locks 20 into the extended locked position. In this manner, the three-point lock is deadlocked and it is not possible to force a lock open by pressure against any of the lock tongues 43.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the Bowden cables 24 and 25 may be located within a single outer core member so that a neat solitary cable extends from the drive means to each auxiliary lock. It is also understood that the cables can be partially interconnected especially with the embodiment shown in Figure 1 to tidy the appearance and more efficiently organise the routing of the cables. The advantage of the system described above is that the cables can bend and still operate satisfactorily. Thus, the length of the cables is not critical which means that the auxiliary :9 **locks can be positioned in a variety of positions in a door and still operate satisfactorily without having to adjust Ithe reposition the cables. in prior art locks where the auxiliary :*20 locks are driven by bars or rods careful consideration has to be given to the positioning of the auxiliary locks and the length of the bar or rods to ensure efficient drive. A further advantageous feature of the assembly described above is the design of the drive means and its simple attachment to pins on an elongated leg of the deadlocking slide. The assembly has been designed so that it can be simply adapted for attachment to existing locks which enables a security screen door to be converted from a single point to a multi-point lock without having to replace all the locks. Whilst the preferred embodiment illustrates locking bolts with beaked tongues it is understood that move conventional sliding tongues are also envisaged by this invention.

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

Claims

1. A lock for a door or the like, including locking means including a key operable cylinder, a main latching means displaceable against resilient biassing means between an engageable configuration and a disengaged configuration and restrainable by the locking means ,,,ainst disengagement in the engageab' .nfiguration, at least one remote lock separated from the 'ocking means, said remote lock including a casing and operable engaging means mounted to the casing, and drive transmitting means comprising cable means operably interconnecting the engaging means and the locking means whereby the engaging means is operable by the locking means to displace between an operative engageable configuration corresponding to restraint of the main latching means and a disengaged configuration.

2. A lock according to claim 1, wherein the locking means includes a hand operable knob.

3. A lock according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the main latching means is restrainable by operation of the cylinder.

4. A lock according to claim 3 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the main latching means is restrainable by operation of the hand operable knob.

5. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engaging means of the or each remote lock is operable by the cylinder. o o

6. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims when dependent on claim 2, S* wherein the engaging means of the or each remote lock is operable by the hand operable knob. 0

7. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the or each remote lock I A includes a pivotally displaceable rocker coupled to the cable means, said rocker being PA0111OW(M 1~M0311Q,0Al R 141501 -11- movable by movement of a cable of the cable means.

8. A lock according to claim 7, wherein the engaging means of the or each remote lock includes an engaging member displaceable by the rocker to a position in which an end portion is engageable behind a portion of an engageable member fixed to a frame of the door or the like.

9. A lock according to claim 8, wherein the rocker has a protruding pin on a first arm which engages in a slot within the engaging member whereby angular displacement of the rocker causes the engaging member to displace.

A lock according to any one of c,'ims 1 to 7, wherein the engaging means of the or each remote lock includes an engaging member having a hooked end portion, the engaging member being pivotally mounted to the casing and displaceable to a position in which the end portion is engageable behind a portion of an engageable member fixed to a frame of the door or the like.

11. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the engaging means of the or each remote lock is deadlockable in an operative position such that the application of a load to the engaging means to move the engaging means out of said operative position will not cause the engaging means to move.

12. A lock according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the cable means associated with the or each remote lock comprises a pair of cables, wherein each cable of the pair is connected to the rocker on opposite sides of an axis of pivotal movement of the rocker such that drawing one cable causes the rocker to pivot in one direction to displace the engaging means in one direction and drawing the other cable causes the rocker to pivot in the opposite direction to cause the engaging means to displace in the opposite direction.

13. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two said remote c PA:\OPIUI(SI IV431.Isp-n 14// 12- locks, wherein the locking means is interspaced between both remote locks and operates each simultaneously and correspondingly.

14. A lock according to claim 13, further comprising a cable extending between the two remote locks to link the engaging means of the two locks.

A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cable means comprises Bowden cables.

16. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means forms part of a main lock including a main casing, the main latching means being supported by the main casing.

17. A lock according to claim 16 when dependent on claim 2, wherein the locking means comprises a deadlocking slide, said deadlocking slide being coupled to a cable of the or each cable means associated with the or each remote lock and movable by turning of the cylinder key or hand operable knob to drive the cable to operate the engaging means of the or each remote lock, the main latching means being restrained from disengagement by the deadlocking slide when the or each engaging means has been moved to the operative position.

18. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main latching means comprises a pivotally displaceable bolt with a hooked end displaceable to a position where the hooked end is engageable behind a portion of an engageable member fixed to the frame of the o door or the like. *I 0 0 I L PAOMWIUSIV4O3iW).000i- 14/S I1f 13

19. A lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 14th day of May, 1998. AUSTRAL LOCK INDUSTRIES PTY.LTD. By its Patent Attorneys: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE ABSTRACT A multi-point lock comprising drive means and a pair of remote locks spaced one on each side of the drive means, each remote lock including a lock case and locking bolt displaceable between retracted and extended positions, each remote lock being coupled to the drive means by cables such that actuation of the drive means causes displacement of the cables to cause displacement of the remote locking bolts. The drive means may comprise part of a central lock so that operation of a deadlocking slide of the central lock causes operation of the drive means to activate the remote locking bolts. *eee S as S o U e i