AU753084B2 - Multipoint door lock - Google Patents

Description

Title Multi-Point Door Lock.

Discussion of Prior Art Multi-point locks traditionally comprise a central or main lock that has a locking bolt and a key operable cylinder and at least one and usually two auxiliary or remote locks that are spaced remote from the central lock and include remote locking bolts that are operated simultaneously by the cylinder. The remote locks are often connected to the main lock by bars or rods, which connect to the top and bottom of the main lock. Australian Patents 574388 and 557075 disclose multi-point locks and Australian Patent 578811 and Application 55701/90 disclose other such locks.

Summary of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a lock A lock for a moveable wing supported relative to an opening, said lock being mountable to the wing whereby the said lock includes an upper and a lower operable engaging member to provide engagement with an element defining part of the opening to restrain the door from being moved in an opening direction, operating means including a hand operable operating member and slide means through which each engaging member is operably connected to the operating member, said slide means including an angularly displaceable rocker member and two counteracting slide members moveable simultaneously in opposite directions to each, said rocker member being inter-spaced between the said slide members and meshing with each, each said engaging member having a first end supported by a pivotal joint defined by a "horizontal pivotal axis disposed orthogonally to the face of the door and fixed in relation to the door 0 and having a second substantially opposite end characterized by a hooked portion displaceable towards the element defining part of the opening, to an extended position, to provide engagement with 25 the said element, the lock being configured such that within a first range of slide displacement, slide displacement causes the engaging arms to displace in opposite directions and within a second range of slide displacement, slide displacement causes the engaging arms to become deadlocked in the extended position, restrained from being displaced from the extended position by means other than .0*0 30 the operating means, said slides ofthe slide means being displaceable within the first and second ranges of slide displacement by operation of the operating member Preferably, the operating means includes a key operable cylinder, said slides of the slide means being displaceable within the first and second ranges of slide displacement by operation of the 1 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 schematic partial side view of a multi-point lock fixed to a door, Figure 2 is an internal isometric view of the locked fitted to the door, Figure 3 is a schematic partial side view of the lock illustrating drive from the central lock to remote locks, Figure 4 is a schematic partial edge view of an alternative drive means, Figures 5 and 6 are schematic partial side views illustrating the operation of a remote lock, and Figure 7 is an exploded partial isometric view illustrating the attachment of the drive means to the central lock.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments Door locks generally selectively restrain displacement of a door relative to an opening. Usually the lock is fitted to a door to be engageable with an engageable S• element, for example a strike plate or catch plate attached to the door opening so that when the two are in engagement the door cannot be opened without operating the lock.

Generally there is an engaging member of the lock, for example a bolt or S: .20 hook, which when in the engageable position can, if adjacent the engageable means, engage it to restrain the lock and door from displacing in the direction of door opening. It can also be said that the engageable position of the engaging member is So the operative position since a lock engages to be operative and the word "operative" is used herein synonymously with the word "engageable" and the term "operative lock" is used to mean a lock having the engaging member in the operative position.

When the lock is operated to open the door the engaging member is generally moved to a position where it does not engage with the engageable element.

If the lock and engageable element automatically engage when the door is closed then the lock is said to be self-latching and it would have, for example, a spring biased engaging member which may be a latch bolt or hooked member, which is urged by the spring to engage the engageable element.

S '.1 The multi-point lock described in this specification is an improvement to the lock described in the applicant's co-pending Australian Patent Application 55701/90. The disclosure of Patent Application 55701/90 is incorporated herein by reference.

An embodiment of the lock described in Patent Application 55701/90 incorporates a central lock that includes an engaging member comprising an angularly or pivotally displaceable latch bolt which is angularly displaceable by spring biasing means to an operative position in which it is engageable with a strike or catch plate. The latch bolt of this lock is held removed from the operative position by a detent controlled by an auxiliary bolt. When the auxiliary bolt engages the strike plate, as occurs when a door is being closed, the auxiliary bolt is driven inwardly to render the detent inoperative to allow the spring to drive the latch bolt to the operative position, an extended position, where in practise the latch bolt would 15 engage the strike plate. Thus it can be said that this lock provides latching engagement.

As outlined in 55701/90, a conventional latch bolt that merely slides out of a lock face only provides lateral engagement. Such a bolt would engage in the aperture of a strike plate such as that shown in Fig 2, 3 of 55701/90, to resist lateral relative 20 displacement with the strike plate, (relative displacement in a direction normal to the plane of the face of door).

A "beak type" engaging member having a leading portion comprising a hooked portion radially displaced from the pivotal axis, provides longitudinal engagement by having the hooked portion locate behind part of an engageable element. As the engaging member pivots towards the operative position the hooked portion moves forward and vertically in the direction of the leading portion to pass over and then move down behind a shoulder or edge of an engageable means. For example, the hooked latch bolt shown in Fig 2, 3 of 55701/90 locates behind an edge part of the hook or strike plate aperture to longitudinally engage it to resist longitudinal relative displacement, (relative displacement in a direction parallel to the plane of the face of the door). This engaging member comprising a hooked latch bolt is moveable between a disengageable position and a fully pivoted or angularly displaced operative position. It should be noted that the term angularly displace and pivot are taken herein to be synonymous.

An embodiment described in 55701/90 and shown in the drawings, employs a "beak type" hooked latch bolt to provide both lateral and longitudinal engagement and latching engagement. Other embodiments employing more conventional sliding latch bolts are also envisaged by the lock described in 55701/90 and a variety of bolt operations are also anticipated.

The central lock of lock 55701/90 incorporates a deadlocking slide which is moveable by both a key operable cylinder and a hand operable snib lever or turnscrew located on the inside of the door within the lever assembly. The slide has an arcular raised deadlocking shoulder which locates within a walled radial recess in the side of the bolt. When the bolt is fully extended the recess walls are displaced away from the deadlocking shoulder enabling the deadlocking shoulder to be moved S. to engage behind a part of the latch bolt to prevent it from being moved from the operative position.

The lock described in application 55701/90 provides a multi-point lock by including within the internal lever assembly a drive mechanism for two rods, which connect to an upper, and a lower remote lock mounted on the face of the door. The o .mechanism comprises a geared cam which is coupled to the snib lever shaft and which meshes with a second geared cam of smaller diameter mounted within the 20 lever assembly. This second cam has radially projecting arms that locate within recesses in slides that connect to the drive rods. In practice operation of the key would cause the deadlocking slide to move to cause the snib shaft to rotate to drive the gear train to move the arms to drive the drive arms. The remote locks included a remote engaging member that can pivot between an extended and a retracted position but which cannot deadlock.

The lock that is the subject of this application has remote locks 20 positioned one above and one below a central lock comprising a lock according to 55701/90.

The remote locks are connected to the central lock 30 by moveable elongated connecting members comprising the inner element of Bowden cables. The central lock has a deadlocking slide 60, which is driven by both an internal snib lever 112, Figure 2, and a keyed cylinder 113. The handles 111 operate the central latch bolt 121. When the lock is in the unlocked position the remote locks 20 are inoperative and the remote engaging members are in the disengageable position. To lock the i 4 door, either the snib 112 or the keyed cylinder 113 is operated to displace the deadlocking slide to deadlock the latch bolt and pivot the remote engaging members to the operative position.

As shown in Figure 3, Bowden cables 24, 25L are coupled to the central lock 30 via the drive means 70. As shown in Figure 7, the drive means 70 is driven by an extension 61 of the deadlocking slide 60 that forms part of the central lock 30. This drive means comprises a rectangular box 71 housing a slide 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 As shown in Figure 7, the Bowden cable 24 from the upper remote lock connects to the upper end 77 of the box 71 and the inner wire end is coupled to the slide plate 72 as shown in Figure 3 where a wire end portion 78 of increased diameter is shown located in a slot within the slide plate 72 said slot having an aperture to permit passage of the wire. Similarly the Bowden cable 25L from the lower remote lock connects to the lower end of the box 71 and the inner wire end is coupled to the slide plate 72 as shown in Figure 3 where a wire end portion of increased diameter 78 is shown located in a slot within the slide plate 72 said slot having an aperture to permit passage of the wire.

20 In the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 5 and 6 each remote lock comprises a rectangular casing 41 that supports a "beak type" locking bolt 42 having a hooked tongue portion 43 displaced radially from the pivotal axis and a return portion 51 located on the opposite side of the pivot point. The locking bolt 42 pivots about a pivot pin 44 at the middle of the lock casing 41. The locking bolt 42 can pivot from a disengageable, retracted position shown in Figure 5 where the bolt 42 is inoperative and withdrawn to a fully pivoted, operative position as shown in Figure 6 and in which position it may be deadlocked. A rocker 47 in the form of a triangular plate is mounted for pivotal movement about a pin 48 displaced vertically from the pin 44 as shown. The apex of the triangle has a projecting pin 49 that is a sliding fit within an elongated drive slot 50 in the side of the return portion 51 of the locking bolt. Referring to Figures 5 it can be seen that an upward vertical force applied to the forward corner of the rocker base or a downward vertical force applied to the back corner of the rocker base will effect an anticlockwise moment on the rocker causing it to rotate anticlockwise and in doing so to cause the pin 49 to move the slot 50 but about the axis 44 and hence to move the locking bolt in a clockwise direction and towards the operative position. Similarly that a downward vertical force applied to the forward corner of the rocker base or an upward vertical force applied to the rear corner of the rocker base will effect a clockwise moment on the rocker causing it to rotate clockwise and in doing so to cause the pin 49 to move the slot 50 but about the axis 44 and hence to move the locking bolt in an anticlockwise direction and towards the disengageable position.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5 it can be seen that the forward corner of the rocker base of the upper remote lock is connected to the cable 24 through a pin joint comprising a cylindrical wire end 52 located in a cylindrical recess in the rocker while the rear corner of the rocker base of the lower remote lock is similarly connected to cable 25L. The inner cable of Bowden cable 25L from the lower remote lock and the inner cable of Bowden cable 24 from the upper remote lock are 15 connected to the slide plate 72 as described above. As can be seen by comparing the same pin joint in Fig 5 and Figure 6, the pin joint accommodates angular displacement between the rocker and inner wire to allow the wire to move in a substantially vertical direction.

oo o The drive means slide plate 72 moves in unison with the deadlocking slide 20 60 to simultaneously move in unison the end portions of the inner cables connected to the slide plate to pull one cable end portion while pushing the other. The deadlocking slide 60 can be moved to deadlock the central lock while "simultaneously moving the inner cables to operate the rockers in the remote locks to S" cause the locking bolts to move to the operative position. Similarly, the deadlocking slide can be moved in the opposite direction to unlock the central lock while causing the rockers to move in the opposite direction to cause the locking bolts to move towards the disengageable position.

Each remote or auxiliary 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. The spring acts to urge the rocker to assume an over-center position on either side thereby assisting the throw of the lock bolt 42 in either direction. The drive slot of the locking bolt 42 has a smooth side a while side b is shaped such that, at two positions of the driving pin 49, a line normal to the surface of contact would pass f" behind the pin. The significance of this feature is that, at these two points a load applied to the locking bolt in retracting direction will not cause the locking bolt to drive the rocker 47 in an unlocking direction. In these two positions the locking bolt is deadlocked. In the first deadlocked position the locking bolt 42 is in the fully pivoted position while in the second deadlocking position the bolt is not fully pivoted.

Whilst the preferred embodiment employs remote engaging members comprising locking bolts with beaked tongues it is to be understood that conventional sliding tongues are also envisaged by this invention.

The Bowden cables are of conventional form comprising a semi-rigid outer sheath 25A which may comprise an elongated coiled tightly wound spring as is well known, while the inner moveable member may comprise a single strand of wire as shown in Figure 5 and is well known. The remote end of each outer sheath is S secured to the remote lock casing while the other end is connected to the adjacent 15 end of the drive box 71. It should be noted that the outer sheath while supporting the inner cable also acts to define the location of the remote locks in relation to the central lock.

Alternatively the inner member may comprise multi-stranded wire and preferably the remote locks are connected by Bowden cable 26 as shown in Figure 3.

20 The inner member of this cable directly connects and couples the rockers 47 of each remote lock as will be described below. Referring to Figures 3 to 6 it can be seen that the rear corner of the rocker of the upper remote lock is connected to the cable 26 through a pin joint as previously described and the forward corner of the rocker S" of the lower remote lock is similarly connected to cable 26. As described above, the slide plate 72 (which is connected to the extension 61 of the deadlocking slide that forms part of the central lock 30 to move in unison with the deadlocking slide simultaneously moves the end portions of the inner cables connected to the slide plate. Movement of the deadlocking slide towards the deadlocking position causes the cable 25L connected to the cylindrical wire end 53 of the lower remote lock to be pulled to cause the rocker to angularly displace and simultaneously to move the locking bolt towards the operative position while causing the cylindrical wire end 52 on the other side of the pivotal axis to move downwards to pull on the connected cable 26 to pull the cylindrical wire end 53 of the upper lock to which it is connected to simultaneously cause the locking bolt of the upper remote lock to move towards the operative position and to cause the wire end 52 to move upwardly to pull the cable 24 while the end portion of cable 24 is moved upwardly by the slide 72. The lock is configured so that when the central lock is deadlocked in the operative position by the key operable cylinder the locking bolts of both remote locks are in the operative position. During unlocking of the central lock the deadlocking slide, the cables and the rockers are moved in the opposite direction to cause the locking bolts to move towards the disengageable position.

In another format illustrated in Figure 4, the drive means 70 comprises a pair of slide plates 80, 81 supported within the casing 70 for slide movement one of which is attached to the deadlocking slide extension 61 in the manner described above. These slide plates 80, 81 include rack portions 82, 83 respectively as shown which mesh with a geared pinion 84 positioned between the plates. In this i. embodiment, the top end of each plate 80, 81 is connected to the upper remote lock 15 by two Bowden cables 25 and 24 respectively while the bottom end of each plate 81 is connected to the lower remote lock by two Bowden cables 24L and Srespectively. In a configuration where the plate 81 is attached to the deadlocking slide, (preferably by having a leg that clips onto the projecting studs 74 formed on S.the extension 61 of the deadlocking slide 60), displacement of the plate 81 by the deadlocking slide 60 causes equal and opposite displacement of the other plate .i through the rack and pinion gear train. By this means the rocker of each remote lock is connected to the centre lock by a pair of cables and deadlocking slide movement causes the end one of the cables to be pulled and the other to be pushed to cause the locking bolt to pivot. It can also be seen that movement of the deadlocking slide towards the deadlocking position causes rack 81 to pull the inner cable connected to the rocker in the lower remote lock while the other rack 82 pulls the inner cable connected to the rocker in the upper remote lock. Cables are configured such that movement of the deadlocking slide in a locking direction causes both remote lock bolts to move towards the operative position.

Whilst the preferred embodiment illustrates engaging members comprising locking bolts with beaked tongues it is understood that 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 and the positional prepositions such as up, down, rear which are used to assist in description of the preferred embodiments have in general no absolute significance.

:i°o p o* o

Claims (4)

1. A lock for a moveable wing supported relative to an opening, said lock being mountable to the wing whereby the said lock includes an upper and a lower operable engaging member to provide engagement with an element defining part of the opening to restrain the door from being moved in an opening direction, operating means including a hand operable operating member and slide means through which each engaging member is operably connected to the operating member, said slide means including an angularly displaceable rocker member and two counteracting slide members moveable simultaneously in opposite directions, said rocker member being inter-spaced between the said slide members and meshing with each, each said engaging member having a first end supported by a pivotal joint defined by a horizontal pivotal axis disposed orthogonally to the face of the door and fixed in relation to the door and having a second substantially opposite end characterized by a hooked portion displaceable towards the element defining part of the opening, to an extended position to provide engagement with the said element, S: •the lock being configured such. that within a first range of slide displacement, the slide displacement causes the engaging arms to displace in 20 opposite directions and within a second range of slide displacement, the slide displacement causes the engaging arms to become deadlocked in the extended position, restrained from being displaced from the extended position by means o0 S•other than the operating means, said slides of the slide means being displaceable within the first and second ranges of slide displacement by operation of the operating member.

2. A lock according to Claim 1, wherein the operating means includes a key operable cylinder, said slides of the slide means being displaceable within the first and second ranges of slide displacement by operation of the key.

3. A lock according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the lock is deadlockable by key such that the slides cannot be displaced by the operating member.

4. A lock according to any one of the above claims, wherein a deadlocked engaging member cannot be externally actuated to displace the slides. A lock according to any one of the above claims, wherein one engaging member is located above and one below the operating member. 6 A lock according to any one of the above claims, wherein each engaging member is engageable in horizontal longitudinal engagement. 7 A lock according to any one of the above claims, wherein each engaging member is engageable in horizontal lateral engagement. 8 A lock according to any one of the above claims, wherein the operating member comprises an angularly displaceable lever operably coupled to the slide means. 9 A lock according to any one of the above claims, wherein the operating member cannot be operated unless the door is in a pre-determined position, a closed position, in relation to the door opening. A lock according to claim 9, including an auxiliary bolt member which in relation to the door is spring biased towards the element defining part of the door opening and which o must be depressed to enable the operating member to be operated. DATED this 29th day of January, 2001 YARRA RIDGE PTY.LTD. By its Patent Attorneys: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE DAE hs 9hdyofJnar,20 YRARIGoTYLD B ts P te t At o ne s