AU772488B2 - A lock for a sliding door or window - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: LOCKWOOD SECURITY PRODUCTS PTY

LIMITED

Zoran MIJUKOVIC CULLEN CO., Patent Trade Mark Attorneys, 239 George Street, Brisbane, QId. 4000, Australia.

Invention Title: A LOCK FOR A SLIDING

WINDOW

DOOR OR Details of Associated Provisional Applications: No. PQ2517 filed 27 August 1999 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us A LOCK FOR A SLIDING DOOR OR WINDOW FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a lock for a sliding door or window and particularly relates to a lock having rotating hook bolts which are held in a retracted position until the door or window is closed after which the hook bolts can be rotated to the extended latching position. The invention is particularly directed to a mechanism which will hold the hook bolts in this manner to 10 prevent the hook bolts from becoming damaged during closing of the door or window.

,,BACKGROUND ART Locks for sliding doors or windows commonly contain a rotating hook bolt. The door or window surround frame has a strike into which the 15 hook bolt can locate. It is well-known to have the hook bolt spring biased and always extending from the lock even when the door or window is in the open position. As the door or window is slidably closed, the hook bolt contacts the ;strike, rides over the strike (with an appropriately shaped hook bolt) and then engages to the strike. This is a simple design which prevents damage to the 20 hook bolt should the door or window be closed.

More recently, and typically for increased security reasons, locks for sliding doors or windows have a pair of rotating hook bolts which can rotate towards each or away from each other. Some attempts have been made to provide a mechanism to prevent damage to these hook bolts as the door or window is closed. It is found that simple spring biasing of the hook bolts is not always satisfactory as the security of the lock can be compromised.

Therefore, various attempts have been made to provide a mechanism in the lock body which can hold the hook bolts in a retracted position when the door or window is open, but, which will release the hook bolts when the door or window is closed. A known mechanism includes an actuator which is in the form of a spring biased button or finger which extends from the lock body and which initially contacts the strike as the door or window is closed. The actuator is depressed into the lock body upon further closing of the door or window and this in turn releases 'the hook bolts.

However, existing mechanisms suffer from a number of disadvantages which may include manufacturing and assembly costs, low reliability, excessive number of parts, excessively complex design and the like.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a lock which has a plurality of rotatable hook bolts (typically two) and where the hook bolts can be held in l ~an unlocking position using a simple and reliable mechanism.- It is an object of the invention to provide a lock for a sliding window which may overcome the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the public with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the invention resides in a lock for a sliding door or window, the lock having: a lock body, a plurality of rotating hook bolts pivotally connected to or relative to the lock body, and which are rotatable between a latching position where .i 20 the hook bolts latch against a strike, and a free position where the hook bolts :do not strike the strike when the door or window is closed, a slide plate which is mounted for reciprocal movement, and which is operatively connected to the hook bolts, the slide plate being slidably moveable between a first position where the hook bolts are held in the free position, and a second position where the slide plate can slide to rotate the hook bolts to the latching position, an actuator which is: biased to extend from the lock body, positioned to contact the strike when the door or window is closed, operatively connected to the slide plate, moveable between the biased extended position where the

S

actuator holds the slide plate in the first position, and a free position where the slide plate can move to the second position, the actuator being moveable by contact with the strike and closing of the door or window.

In this form of the invention, the hook bolts are manipulated by the slide plate and the slide plate itself is locked or released by the actuator.

In another form of the invention, there is provided a self latching lock having: a lock body, a plurality of rotating hook bolts pivotally connected to, or relative to, the lock body, and which are rotatable between a latching position where the hook bolts latch against a strike, and a free position where the hook bolts do not strike the strike when the door or window is closed, a slide plate which is mounted for reciprocal movement, and which is operatively connected to the hook bolts, the slide plate being slidably moveable between a first position where the hook bolts are held in the free position, and a second position where the slide plate can slide to rotate the hook bolts to the latching position, an actuator which is: biased to extend from the lock body, positioned to contact the strike when the door or window is closed, operatively connected to the slide plate, moveable between the biased extended position where the actuator holds the slide plate in the first position, and a free position where the slide plate can move to the second position, the actuator being moveable by contact with the strike and closing of the door or window, and biasing means to bias the slide plate to the second position.

In this form, a biasing means is provided to bias the slide plate to the second position which means that when the door or window is closed, and the actuator is moved to its free position, the biasing means will cause the hook bolts to spring out into their latching position without needing to manipulate any handle, snib, lock barrel and the like.

In a simpler form of the invention, there is provided a lock for a sliding door or window, the lock having: -a lock body, a plurality of rotating hook bolts pivotally connected to, or relative to, the lock body and which are rotatable between a latching position where the hook bolts latch against a strike, and a free position where the hook bolts do not strike the strike when the door or window is closed, and an actuator which is: biased to extend from the lock body, positioned to contact the strike when the door or window is closed, and moveable between the biased extended position where the actuator engages with the hook bolts to hold the hook bolts in the free position, and a free position where the bolts can be rotated to the latching 15 position, the actuator being moveable by contact with the strike and closing of the door or window.

In this form, the actuator directly engages with the hook bolts, and while a slide plate may be provided to extend or retract the hook bolts, the actuator itself does not lock or unlock the slide plate, but instead locks or 20 unlocks the hook bolts directly.

In the various forms of the invention; the lock is suitable for a sliding door, a sliding window, or other types of sliding wings. The lock has a lock body which can be of various shapes and sizes and made of materials to suit.

A plurality of hook bolts are pivotally connecfed to the lock body.

Preferably, a pair of hook bolts are provided which counter-rotate relative to each other and preferably counter-rotate away from each other, this providing improved security to any attempt to lift the door out of the strike. It is however envisaged that the hook bolts can also rotate towards each other.

The hook bolts rotate between a latching, position and a free position. In the latching position, the hook bolts extend from the lock body and engage with the strike. The strike can be of conventional design and is well-known in the art. In the free position, it is preferred that the hook bolts are totally or substantially within the lock body to minimise the possibility of a person striking and being injured by the hook bolts. The hook bolts, when in the free position, are such that they are not damaged should the door be closed. Thus, the hook bolts should be positioned to be free from any striking point in the strike.

The lock contains a slide plate which is mounted for reciprocal movement. The slide plate is typically positioned entirely within the lock body.

If the lock is positioned in a vertical manner (which is typical), the slide plate is S* 10l in a vertical orientation and can slide between lower and upper positions in :the lock body. Of course, the lock may also be used for double hung windows in which case the lock body will be positioned horizontally and the slide plate can slide horizontally within the lock body from one end of the lock body to the other end of the lock body.

15 The slide plate is operatively connected to the hook bolts. In **one form of the invention, the hook bolts are provided with extending buttons or pins which extend into recesses, cut-outs or slots in the slide plate to operatively connect the hook bolt to the slide plate.

The slide plate can slide between a first position in the lock body 20 and a second position in the lock body. In the first position, the arrangement .:between the slide and the hook bolts is such that the slide moves the hook bolts to the free position which is typically where the hook bolts are fully retracted within the lock body. In the second position, the slide is moved in such a manner to force the hook bolts to rotate out of the lock body and in latching engagement with the strike. Rotation of the hook bolts is therefore caused by sliding movement of the slide plate.

The lock further contains an actuator. The actuator may be in the form of a button or finger which is biased to extend from the lock body and which can extend sufficiently from the lock body such that the actuator is the first part of the lock to contact the strike. The actuator is biased to extend from the lock body and this can be done in any suitable manner such as by using a spring which may be a helical spring or a DCD (door closing detection) spring.

The actuator is operatively connected to the slide plate. In one form, the actuator may include a projecting button or pin which engages with the walls of a recess, cut-out or slot in the slide plate.

The actuator is naturally biased to extend from the body, but when the door or window is closed, the actuator contacts the strike and can be depressed or otherwise moved into or relative to the lock body. The actuator is therefore moveable between its biased extended position and a free position. In the biased extended position, the actuator holds the slide *l -10 plate in its first position, the first position being where the hook bolts are typically in the retracted position. When the actuator contacts the strike, the actuator is moved to the free position which releases the slide plate such that the slide plate can be moved to its second position which rotates the hook bolts out of the lock body and into engagement with the strike.

In the second form of the invention, the arrangement is as described above but a biasing means is provided to bias the slide plate into its second bolt releasing position. Thus, when the door or window is closed, and the actuator is depressed or otherwise moved its free position, the bolts will immediately spring out and into engagement with the strike by virtue of 20 the biasing means which will pull or push or otherwise slide the slide plate into the second position.

The lock may be associated with a snib, handle, cylinder barrel and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a lock according to a first form of the invention with Figure 1 illustrating the hook bolts in the retracted position and Figure 2 illustrating the hook bolts in the extended latching position.

Figures 3 and 4 show a lock similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 but including a biasing means to bias the slide plate into the hook bolt extending position.

Figures 5 and 5A illustrate a lock according to an alternative embodiment where the hook bolts are in the retracted position and illustrating a different type of biasing means to bias the slide plate into the hook bolt extending position.

Figures 6 and 6A illustrate the lock of Figures 5 and 5A but now with the hook bolts in the extended latching position.

Figure 7 illustrates a lock according to an alternative 10 embodiment.

Figure 8 illustrates a lock according to an alternative embodiment where the actuator is coupled directly to the hook bolts as S O opposed to the slide plate.

BEST MODE Referring to the drawings and initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is described a lock for a sliding door or window or other type of sliding wing.

The lock comprises a lock body 10 which is mounted to the sliding door or window. Inside the lock body and mounted relative thereto are two counteri 20 rotating hook bolts 11, 12. The hook bolts are mounted for rotation between *the retracted position illustrated in Figure 1 and the extended position illustrated in Figure 2. The hook bolts can be mounted in the lock body in a variety of fashions. In the extended position illustrated in Figure 2, the hook bolts extend through a suitable opening 13 in the front of the lock body and engage against a strike 14.

The lock body contains a slide plate 15 which can be made of metal and which can slide in the lock body between a first position illustrated in Figure 1 and a second position illustrated in Figure 2. Slide plate 15 is provided with a variety of recesses, cut-outs and slots which will be described in greater detail below.

Slide plate 15 is guided by abutments 16 in the lock body. The slide plate has cut-outs or recesses to accommodate abutments 16 and, as illustrated in Figure 2, the recesses also limit the travel of slide plate 15 by contact of abutment 16 with an and wall 17 of the slide plate (see for instance Figure 2).

The slide plate can slide within the lock body and in doing so will retract or extend the hook bolts 11, 12. Each hook bolt 11, 12 has a pair of opposed extending buttons or pins 18A, 18B which pass into recesses or slots in the slide plate.

Illustrated in Figure 1, slide plate 15 is in its first position. In this first position, pin 18B of each hook bolt is trapped by the corresponding slot in So 10 the slide plate and the arrangement is such that the hook bolts are pulled back or retracted into the lock body.

When slide plate 15 is moved to its second position illustrated in 9 0Figure 2, pins 18B are forced into a different part of the corresponding slot and in the process force the hook bolts to rotate out of the lock. The arrangement of the pins on the hook bolts and the corresponding slots is such that the hook bolts are unable to rotate except by movement of the slide So. plate. That is, in the position illustrated in Figure 2, the hook bolts cannot be retracted back into the lock body except by sliding movement of the slide plate back to the position illustrated in Figure 1.

20 The lock further contains an actuator in the form of a S"depressible button 20. Button 20 is attached to a slide block 21 (better illustrated in Figure 2) and a DCD spring 22 is positioned behind button 20 to spring bias the button into the extended position illustrated in Figure 1. In the extended position, the button extends out of the lock body.

Strike 14 has an abutment plate 23 which is positioned to strike button 20 as the door or window is closed. As this occurs, button 20 is depressed back into the lock body as illustrated in Figure 2.

Button 20 has an extending pin 24 which is trapped in a slot which is in slide plate 15. Slot 25 has a particular configuration which can approximate an L-shape and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. When button is biased out of the lock body, pin 24 sits within an upper portion of slot (see Figure 1) and in this position, slide plate 15 is locked in its first position and is unable to slide to its second position illustrated in Figure 2.

As button 20 is depressed, pin 24 moves into the larger part of the slot which allow the slide plate to move to its second position illustrated in Figure 2. As the slide plate moves, it causes the hook bolts 11, 12 to extend into the latching position.

In the arrangement of Figures 1 and 2, slide plate 15 is moved between its first position (Figure 1) and its second position (Figure 2) by a handle or snib (not illustrated). Thus, when the door or window is in the closed position, rotation of the handle or snib will slide the slide plate to extend or retract the hook bolts 11, 12. To unlock the door or window, the hook bolts are retracted and causes movement of the slide plate to cause pin 24 to again move to the smaller part of the slot and the spring 22 will force the *pin into the smaller part of the slot which will lock the slide plate in the first position where the hook bolts are retracted in the lock body. Further manipulation of the handle or snib will be unable to inadvertently cause the hook bolts to extend, and this will continue until the door or window is again closed in which case the actuator frees up the slide plate to allow the hook bolts to be extended into engagement with the strike.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a lock very similar to Figures 1 and 2 20 and like numbers have been used to denote like parts. The main difference is that the lock in Figures 3 and 4 has a self-latching mechanism which means that when the door or window is closed, and the actuator 20 is depressed, the lock bolts will shoot out automatically into the latching position without the requirement of rotating a handle or snib.

This is achieved by a mechanism which can be found in the right-hand side of the lock illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The mechanism includes a small slide member 26 which can reciprocate in the lock body and is guided by abutment 16 and the wall of the lock body. Slide member 26 can reciprocate between a first position illustrated in Figure 3 and a second position illustrated in Figure 4. Slide member 26 is connected to a spring 27 which sits underneath slide plate 15 and is therefore not visible in Figures 3 or 4. Spring 27 is illustrated as a separate part in Figure 4. Spring 27 has one end 28 mounted to the lock body and typically adjacent the left-hand side of the lock body. The other end 29 of spring 27 is attached to slide member 26 and functions to bias slide member towards the second position illustrated in Figure 4.

Slide member 26 is connected to a turn snib 30 which is pivotally connected to the lock body. Turn snib 30 has a pair of opposed projecting pins 31, 32. Pin 31 engages within a slot in slide member 26 while pin 32 engages in a recess in slide plate Therefore, if slide plate 15 is free to move, spring 27 will pull slide member 26 from the position illustrated in Figure 3 to the position :illustrated in Figure 4. This in turn will cause turn snib 30 to pivot or rock from the position illustrated in Figure 3 to the position illustrated in Figure 4 and in doing so, pin 32 will force slide plate 15 to move to the position illustrated in Figure 4.

The self-latching lock, when the door or window is in the open position is in the position illustrated in Figure 3 where hook bolts 11, 12 are in the free and retracted position. Slide plate 15 is locked against movement by actuator or button 20. When the door is closed, the button is depressed which will unlock slide plate 15. Slide plate 15 will then be pulled to the 20 position illustrated in Figure 4 by virtue of spring 27 which acts on slide member 26 and turn snib 30. Movement of the slide plate 15 in this manner will force the hook bolts 11, 12 to extend into the latching position. Thus, as soon as the window or door is closed, the hook bolts will spring out of the lock body and automatically latch with the strike 14. The hook bolts can be retracted by turning the turn snib 30 in the opposite direction to force the slide plate back to the position in Figure 3 which will cause the actuator 20 to be biased out of the lock body and which will lock the slide plate against sliding movement.

Figures 5, 5A, 6 and 6A show a different version of the lock but having the similar principle as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. The lock again contains a pair of rotating hook bolts 33, 34, an actuator 35 which is biased to extend from the lock body by a spring 36 but which can be depressed into the lock body (see Figures 6 and 6A). The lock body contains a slide plate 37 (illustrated in Figures 5A and 6A) and the slide plate is operatively connected to the hook bolts 33, 34 in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

One difference is that the lock body does not have a slide member 26 but instead the slide plate 37 is coupled directly to turn snib 38.

Turn snib 38 is spring biased by a self-latching spring 39 which is better shown in Figures 5 and 6. Spring 39 has one end engaging against a lock body and the other end engaging against a pin 40 on the snib. The spring is lO biased to naturally bias turn snib 38 into the position illustrated in Figures 6 and 6A.

The operation of this lock is similar to that described above in that actuator 35 is operatively connected to slide plate 37 in a manner similar to that described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Upon depression of the actuator against the bias of its spring 36, slide plate 37 is free to slide and as slide plate 37 is operatively connected to turn snib 38 through pin 40, the slide plate will be pulled to the position illustrated in Figure 6A by virtue of self-latching spring 39. This in turn causes the hook bolts 33, 34 to shoot out of the lock body and into engagement with strike 41. To unlock the lock, turn 20 snib 38 is rotated manually against the bias of the spring which will slide slide Splate 37 back to the position illustrated in Figures 5 and 5A which in turn will retract hook bolts 33, 34 and cause actuator 35 to spring out of the lock body and to lock the slide plate in place.

Figure 7 shows another version of the lock which operates on a similar principle. In this version, the lock again has a pair of hook bolts, 42, 43 which are rotatable between the retracted position illustrated in Figure 7 and an extended position not illustrated by a slide plate 44 (shown in outline).

Slide plate 44 is again operatively connected to a turn snib 45 and turn snib is biased by spring 46 in a manner similar to that described above.

An actuator 47 is provided which is spring biased by a helical spring 48 between an extended position illustrated in Figure 7 and a pushed in retracted position which frees up slide plate 44 and which results in the hook bolts 42, 43 shooting out of the lock body by virtue of spring 46 causing rotation of turn snib 45. In a simpler version, the lock illustrated in Figure 7 could be provided without a spring 46 which means that the lock is not a selflatching mechanism and needs to be latched manually.

Figure 8 illustrates a simple design of the lock. In this design, actuator 50 is again depressible into the lock body and is biased by spring 51.

Actuator 50 has a pair of extending arm members 52, 53 which engage with the pins 18B on the hook bolts 54, 55. Thus, when the actuator is in the extended position illustrated in Figure 8, the hook bolts are unable to rotate to the latching position as pins 18B will abut against the turned in end portions of arms 52, 53. However, when the actuator is depressed into the lock body, the pins 18B are freed from the arms 52, 53 and this will now allow a slide plate or other mechanism to rotate the hook bolts to the extended latching position. This mechanism may either be self-latching or manual.

It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

DATED this 22 nd day of August 2000 LOCKWOOD SECURITY PRODUCTS LIMITED 20 By their Patent Attorneys 4. CULLEN CO.

Claims (12)

1. A lock for a sliding door or window, the lock having: a lock body, a plurality of rotating hook bolts pivotally connected to, or relative to, the lock body, and which are rotatable between a latching position where the hook bolts latch against a strike, and a free position where the hook bolts do not strike the strike when the door or window is closed, a slide plate which is mounted for reciprocal movement, and which is S*o. 10o operatively connected to the hook bolts, the slide plate being slidably moveable between a first position where the hook bolts are held in the free position, and a second position where the slide plate can slide to rotate the hook bolts to the latching position, I.6": an actuator which is: S 15 biased to extend from the lock body, positioned to contact the strike when the door or window is closed, operatively connected to the slide plate, and, moveable between the biased extended position where the actuator holds the slide plate in the first position, and a free position where the slide plate 2o can move to the second position, the actuator being moveable by contact with o.I6 *the strike and closing of the door or window.

2. The lock of claim 1 which is a self latching lock having biasing means to bias the slide plate to the second position.

3. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a pair of hook bolts are provided.

4. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook bolts counter-rotate relative to each other. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook bolts counter-rotate away from each other.

6. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook bolts are totally or substantially within the lock body when in the free position.

7. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide plate is positioned entirely within the lock body.

8. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook bolts lO are provided with extending buttons or pins which extend into recesses, cut- outs or slots in the slide plate to operatively connect the hook bolt to the slide g .OO plate. 6 *000

9. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is in e0g.. 15 the form of a button or finger which is biased to extend from the lock body °0o0 0and which extends sufficiently from the lock body such that the actuator is the first part of the lock to contact the strike. 0 The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is 20 biased to extend from the lock using a spring such as a helical spring or a .i DCD (door closing detection) spring.

11. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the actuator is operatively connected to the slide plate by including a projecting button or pin which engages with the walls of a recess, cut-out or slot in the slide plate.

12. The lock of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lock is associated with a snib, handle, cylinder barrel and the like.

13. A lock for a sliding door or window, the lock having: a lock body, a plurality of rotating hook bolts pivotally connected to, or relative to, 16 the lock body and which are rotatable between a latching position where the lock hook bolts latch against a strike, and a free position where the hook bolts do not strike the strike when the door or window is closed, and an actuator which is: biased to extend from the lock body, positioned to contact the strike when the door or window is closed, and moveable between the biased extended position where the actuator directly engages with the hook bolts to hold the hook bolts in the free position, and a free position where the bolts can be rotated to the latching position, the actuator being moveable by contact with the strike and closing of the door or window.

14. The lock of claim 13, wherein actuator directly engages with a pin on each hook bolt the hook bolts. The lock of claim 13 or claim 14, wherein a slide plate is provided to extend or retract the hook bolts, and wherein the actuator itself does not lock or unlock the slide plate, but instead locks or unlocks the hook bolts directly. S 20 16. A lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the •drawings.