EP0677132A1

EP0677132A1 - Improvements in universal locks

Info

Publication number: EP0677132A1
Application number: EP94928732A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ladislav Stephan Karpisek
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-10-06
Filing date: 1994-10-05
Publication date: 1995-10-18
Also published as: WO1995009958A1; EP0677132A4; NZ274117A

Abstract

A door lock (1) including a casing (3) in which there is mounted an arcuately movable locking bolt (8) and latch means (12) to releasably retain the locking bolt (8) in a position intermediate a fully extended and a retracted position and an elongated deadlock member (29) positionable by longitudinal movement in one or other of a deadlock position where retracting movement of the locking bolt (8) is prevented and a non-deadlock position.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN UNIVERSAL LOCKS.

This invention relates to moving bolt locks of the type used commonly on all forms of doors including security doors of the type including a rectangular frame made from aluminium extrusions with an infill of expanded metal mesh. The lock of this invention is however not limited to use on security doors.

Locks for the above purpose desirably have several characteristics including, (i) an ability to be used in right hand or left hand opening doors,

(ii) a moving bolt which normally has a short projection configuration so that only a small force acting on the closing door will cause the bolt to retract as the nose of the bolt engages the striker plate on a door jamb, this allows an automatic door closer of low operating power to be fitted to the door, (iii) an automatic change to a long projection configuration when the tongue is aligned with the aperture in the striker plate on a door jamb,

(iv) an automatic return of the bolt to the short projection configuration on retraction of the bolt back into the lock body by a lock operating handle in a door opening operation,

(v) provision of deadlock means to deadlock the bolt but only when in the extended projection configuration, (vi) multiple means to both activate and deactivate the deadlock means, including a manual means operational from what would be the inside of the door and key operated means operable from both sides of the door and which will over-ride the manual means, (vii) a security means to retain the deadlock means in its operative position to thereby prevent unauthorised release of the deadlock means.

The above features in various combinations are to be found in several known locks. However, an inspection of the mechanisms of the known locks (many of which are patented) reveals the known locks rely on reasonably complex interactions between numerous lock components in order to provide the desired characteristics. The present applicant has set out to provide a lock which will provide all of the desirable characteristics referred to above but with fewer and simpler components than is the case with the known locks.

The lock of this invention can be readily adapted to provide an optionally useable, feature whereby multiple bolt actuation to secure a door at spaced apart locations is possible. An example of a typical arrangement would be one in which there is a mid-height main lock according to this invention and associated lower and/or higher supplemental locking bolts, the design of which does not form part of this invention.

A principle feature of the present lock is that it can be fitted to either a sliding door or a hinged door, a feature which is not known by the inventor to be available in other door locks having the desirable features listed above.

Broadly stated the present invention provides a door lock including a casing for mounting in or on a door; said casing having mounted therein, an arcuately movable locking bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position and biassed to the extended condition; latch means to releasably retain the locking bolt in a position intermediate its extended and retracted positions; and an elongated deadlock member positionable by longitudinal movement in one or other of a deadlock position where retracting movement of the locking bolt is prevented and a non-deadlock position.

Presently preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig.l is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention, with a cover plate removed, showing the locking bolt and latch member as they appear when the lock is in the normal position ready for use, the locking bolt being in the short projection condition, the lock is provided with a remote bolt actuator or a first form,

Fig.2 is a view similar to Fig.l with the locking bolt retracted as would be the case when a door fitted with the lock is being closed, the locking bolt having been retracted manually or by engagement with a striker plate .

Fig.3 is a view similar to Fig.l showing the locking bolt in the long projection condition with the deadlock member 'snib' operated.

Fig.4 is a view similar to Fig.3 where the deadlock is key operated,

Fig.5 is a view similar to Fig.l with the remote lock actuator removed.

Fig.6 is a back view of the remote lock actuator of Fig.l,

Fig.7 is a view similar to Fig.l showing a remote lock actuator of a second form.

Fig.8 is a back view of the actuator of Fig.7, Fig.9 is a view similar to Fig.l showing a remote lock actuator of a third form,

Fig.10 is a fragmentary view showing a locking bolt and a latch member of a form different to that shown in Fig.l, the locking bolt being in the short projection condition, Fig.11 is a view similar to Fig.10 showing the locking bolt fully retracted,

Fig.12 is a view similar to Fig.10 with the locking bolt in the long projection condition.

Fig.13 is a fragmentary view showing a locking bolt and a latch member arrangement where the latch member differs from that shown in Fig.10,

Fig.14 is a view similar to Fig.13 showing the locking bolt fully retraced and Fig.15 is a view similar to Fig.13 showing the locking bolt in the long projection condition.

In Fig.l there is shown a lock casing 1 having a mounting plate 2 and a body 3. The body 3 is defined by walls 4,5,6 upstanding from a panel 7 such that the walls 4,5,6 and the mounting plate 2 enclose a cavity in which the lock working parts are housed. There are other lugs and walls upstanding from the panel 7 of a shape and size and for purposes as are hereinafter !0 described.

The principal operating member of the lock is a pivotally mounted hook shape locking bolt 8 with a nose 9 which is rounded or angled to allow the nose to smoothly engage a striker plate on a door jamb. The bolt 8 has a primary leg 10 with upper and lower bosses 11 engaged in holes in the panel 7 and a cover plate to be mounted over the cavity defined by the walls 2,4,5,6 thereby providing the pivotal mounting for the bolt 8.

There is a latch member 12 slidably mounted in a 20 slot in the casing 3 defined by surface 13 and a lug 14. The latch member 12 is biassed to an extended position by a spring which urges a lug 16 on the upper face of the latch member 12 against a stop shoulder 17 in the slot. On the underside of the latch member 12 there is a latch lug 18 engaged as shown in a notch 19 in the upper edge of the bolt leg 10. As can be seen from the Fig.l the engagement of the lug 18 in the notch 19 places the front face 20 of the latch member 12 out of alignment with the front face 9 of the latch member 12 for reasons to be explained.

The latch member 12 is biassed to the extended configuration by a spring 21 housed in a face groove 22 in the boss 11 of the latch member 12 where one end is engaged with an end 22 of the slot and the other spring end abuts a pin 21a which will project into the slot from the cover plate when affixed. It is to be noted that there is a first radial leg 23 on the boss 11 and the leg 23 has a lug 24 standing above an edge face 25 of the leg 23. It is to be noted further that there is a second radial leg 26 on the boss 11 and the leg 26 has a lug 27.

Mounted in the cavity defined by the walls 2,4,5,6 there are two sliding elements. One is a deadlocking element numbered 28 and the other is a remote bolt actuator 29. The deadlocking element 28 can be moved by the tongue 30 of a key lock 31 acting on the faces 32,33 of a notch in the element 28 to cause it to slide longitudinally a maximum extent. The deadlocking element 28 can also be moved longitudinally (but to a lesser extent) by a snib member comprising a bossed arm 34 engaged in a slot 35 in the element 28 where the bosses supporting the arm 34 are pivotally engaged in holes in the panel 7 and in the cover to be fitted over the cavity.

The element 28 is supported laterally by the cavity wall 2 and rib 36 and such other means as may be considered desirable, although in practice other lateral supporting means has not proved essential. In the event other lateral supporting means were to be provided it could be in the form of a rib upstanding from the panel 7 in juxtaposition to an inner edge of the element 28. There is a pin 38 which passes through a slot 39 in the element 28 and pin 38 is threaded into a further rib 40 upstanding from the panel 7 and entered into the lock 31 to retain it in place.

The actuator 2-9 in the form shown is for the operation of remote locks by both snib and key operation of the deadlock element 28. The actuator 29 is housed at its lower end in a pocket formed by ribs 41 and 42 upstanding from the panel 7 and at its upper end the actuator 29 is engaged against an abutment in the form of a stop rib 43 upstanding from the panel 7. The actuator in Fig.l is shown biassed upwardly by a spring 44 so the upper end 45 of the actuator 29 abuts the rib 43 and is biassed laterally by a spring 46 to cause the actuator to bear against the boss 11. There is a cam face 47 on the actuator 29 and there is a correspondingly cam face 48 on an arm 49 on the deadlocking element 28. It is to be noted that at the upper end of the actuator 28 there is a projecting lug 50.

In a working seguence, where the lock is on a door and the door is closed to cause the end 9 of the bolt to be engaged with a striker plate there will be an initial retraction of the bolt 8 with a freeing of the engagement of the lug 18 with the notch 19. When the end 20 of the latch member 12 engages the striker plate both the latch member 12 and the bolt 8 will be moved back into the lock casing to the position shown in Fig.2. In this condition the arm 27 has engaged the shoulder 51 of the actuator and has compressed the spring 44 thereby separating the stop 43 and the end 45 of the actuator. This facilitates one mode of activation of the actuator as will be explained later.

Fig.3 shows the following stage where the bolt 8 is aligned with the bolt opening of the striker plate allowing the bolt 8 to adopt the long projection configuration, however the latch member 12 remains retracted as it is still bearing on the striker plate. To deadlock the bolt 8 in the Fig.3 configuration the deadlock can be activated by rotation of a key in the mechanism 31. This aligns the lugs 24 and 50 and prevents the clockwise releasing rotation of the bolt 8. At the same time the cam faces 47 and 48 will engage applying a lateral force to the actuator 29 to move the actuator end 45 left of the rib 43 and the result is that stored energy in the spring 44 will cause the actuator 29 to rise and pass behind the rib 43. This can occur only when the locking bolt is in the Fig.3 condition with the arm 26 and lug 27 free of the shoulder 51 to allow the actuator 29 to move under the influence of the spring 44. As a consequence, if a remote lock device is in use with a pin 52 passing through an aperture in the back wall 5 of the casing into a clearance hole 53 in the actuator 29, the remote lock mechanism will be operated.

If a deadlock by key operation the lock 31 would be operated and the lock tongue 30 acting on the shoulder 32 of the deadlocking element 28 will drive the deadlocking element 28 fully up to align the lug 50 with the notch 25 behind the lug 24 of the bolt leg 23, see Fig.4. This prevents forced opening rotation of the bolt 8.

As can be seen from Fig.l the deadlocking element 28 is operable in both directions by the snib 34. However, if the deadlocking element 28 is operated by the key in the mechanism 31 the snib will lie as shown in Fig.3 in a recess 27 in the element 28 thereby preventing the deadlocking element 28 being released by the snib 34. It will be noted that there is a detent means to hold the deadlocking element 28 in a selected position. The detent means comprises notches 56 in the face of the case wall 2 and a spring loaded ball 57 housed in the deadlocking element 28. The positions of the notches 56 correspond with the positions of the deadlocking element 28 as shown in Fig.l (deadlocking element 28 inoperative), in Fig.3 (deadlocking element 28 moved by the snib 34) and Fig.4 (deadlocking element 28 moved by operation of the keylock 31).

It is to be noted also that when the deadlocking element 28 is fully raised by operation of the key the end 60 of the element 28 is positioned over the top end 61 of the rib 36 and in spaced relationship therewith. Any forced downward movement of the element 28 will cause engagement between 60 and 61 thereby preventing the element 28 being moved to an undeadlocked condition for the locking bolt 8. The lateral movement of the element 28 to achieve the above position results from the resilient bias acting on the ball 62 and the removal of the lock element 30 from the notch defined by faces 32,33. The lateral movement is limited by the engagement of the lug 63 with the body of the lock 31. In the down movement of the element 28 the introduction of the lock element 30 into the notch in the element 28 will result in the end 64 of the lock element 30 engaging the bottom 65 of the notch to align the element end 60 with the top 61 of the rib 36. Continued rotation of the element 30 in the anti-clockwise direction will cause engagement with the face 33 to lower the element 28.

Referring now to Fig.5, this is an embodiment where the remote lock actuator 29 is not provided. The functioning of the deadlocking element 28 as before described applies, that is, it can be operated by snib and by key locking.

Fig.6 shows the side of the actuator 29 not viewable in Fig.l and illustrates a cutout 54 to accommodate a cam 55 on the boss 11.

Fig.7 varies from Fig.l in that the faces 47 and 48 are closely adjacent when the bolt 8 is in the short projection configuration. It follows from the foregoing description that with the Fig.7 arrangement the operation of the snib 34 will activate the actuator 29 whereas with the Fig.l arrangement the snib operation of the deadlock element 28 will not activate the actuator. Thus in Fig.l arrangement the remote locks are only aσtuatable by the key lock whereas with the Fig.7 arrangement the remote locks are actuated by both operation of the snib and the key lock. It is to be noted that the actuator is provided with the cutout 54.

Fig.8 illustrates the side of the actuator not viewable in Fig.7 where there is a cutout 59.

Fig.9 illustrates the arrangement where the remote locks are actuated every time the bolt 8 moves to the extended projection configuration. This is achieved by the lateral movement of the actuator 29 by the cam 55 pressing against the side of the actuator 29, which does not have the cutout 59 of the Figs.6 and 8 embodiments.

The foregoing description as related to the hook bolt 8 and the latch member 12 is of one arrangement of several that can be utilised. In a variation as shown in Figs.10 to 12 the latch lug 18 and the latch lug notch 19 are replaced by an arrangement involving shoulders and a latching element such as a bar or ball.

Specifically, the top edge of the hook bolt is stepped to provide a shoulder 58 separating top edge faces 59 and 66. The latch bolt member 12 on its underface is provided with a shoulder 67 separating two faces 68 and 69. A bar or ball 69 is housed in a recess 70 and it has a thickness which is approximately equal to but no greater than the distance between the faces 59,69 and 66,68, which distances are approximately the same in magnitude.

The latch bolt member 12 is urged to an extended position as before by the spring 15 and its projection beyond the casing is limited by the engagement of the shoulder 67 with the bar 71 in the front plate 2. This is the equivalent of the travel limit shoulder engagement shown in Fig.l.

In the 'rest' position for the latch bolt member 12 the extension of the hook bolt 8 from the casing is limited to its short projection configuration by the engagement of the shoulder 58 of the hook bolt with the bar 70, which is held in the depressed position shown by engagement with the face 69 of the latch bolt member 12.

In a door closing operation the end 9 of the hook bolt 8 would engage the striker plate on a door jamb causing the bolt 8 move arcuately inwardly into the casing. There is additionally contact between the end 20 of the latch bolt member 12 with the striker plate and the latch bolt member 12 is moved linearly inwardly into the casing along the angled path shown. The position shown in Fig.11 is that achieved immediately before the hook bolt 8 aligns with the bolt aperture of the striker plate 72. When that alignment is achieved the hook bolt is urged into the aperture under the influence of the spring 21 to achieve the long projection configuration of Fig.12. This is possible because of the position of the latching element 12 with its end 20 bearing on the striker plate and the face 69 out of alignment with the bar 70. As can be seen the shoulder 58 can now pass under the bar 70 and lift it into proximity with the face 68 of the latch member 12. In a reverse sequence, the hooked bolt 8 has to be retracted to release it from the aperture in the striker plate 72 in order to open the door. In so doing the roller will overlie and drop onto the surface 59 allowing the latch member 12 to be moved forward by its spring 15 to the position shown in Fig.10. When the handle operating the hooked bolt 8 is released the hooked bolt 8 will be moved anti-clockwise by its spring 21 until its progress is prevented by the engagement of the shoulder 58 with the bar 70 thereby returning the mechanism to the Fig.10 configuration. Another and similar arrangement to that shown in Figs.10 to 12 is shown in Figs.13 to 15. In this arrangement the latch member 73 is curved and it can move along a curved path. It is urged to an extended position by the spring 15 and as before it has a shoulder 67 between faces 68 and 69, except that in this arrangement the faces are curved and all are concentric with the axis 'X' . In the previous arrangement the latch member was caused to retract by end engagement with the striker plate 72, in the present arrangement the latch member is caused to retract by movement of the hook bolt 8. This is achieved through engagement between a hooked end 75 of a tail 74 of the latch member 73 which lies in the path of travel of the rear end recessed corner 76 of the hooked bolt 8.

The function of the arrangement is the same as that of the embodiment shown in Figs.10 to 12 in so far as the engagement of the end 20 of the latch member 73 with the striker plate as the hooked bolt moves to the long extension configuration, however, it is to be noted that inward movement of the latch member 73 follows from movement of the hooked bolt 8 and not from engagement of the latch member 73 with the striker plate.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A door lock including a casing for mounting in or on a door; said casing having mounted therein, an arcuately movable locking bolt movable between an extended position and a retracted position and biassed to the extended condition; latch means to releasably retain the locking bolt in a position intermediate its extended and retracted positions; and an elongated deadlock member positionable by longitudinal movement in one or other of a deadlock position where retracting movement of the locking bolt is prevented and a non-deadlock position.

2. A door lock as claimed in claim 1 said deadlock member when in said deadlock position lies in the path of travel of a first arm on said locking bolt which would be traversed as said locking bolt is moved from its extended position to its retracted position.

3. A door lock as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the deadlock member is movable by manual means and key operated means.

4. A door lock as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said locking bolt has an edge surface concentric with the axis about which the locking bolt arcuately moves and said latch means includes a latch member linearly movable between a rest position where it extends from the casing and a retracted condition, and wherein said linear movement is in a direction which is tangential to the edge surface of said locking bolt, means to bias the latch member to the extended condition, co-operating lug and notch means on said locking bolt edge surface and said locking bolt which disengage as said locking bolt and said latch member move in unison into said casing.

5. A door lock as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said locking bolt has an edge surface including a forward portion adjacent a nose of the locking bolt which extends from said casing and a rear portion, said portions both being concentric with the axis about which the locking bolt arcuately moves and being separated by a shoulder with the forward portion having a radius of curvature less than that of the rear portion, and said latch means includes a latch member linearly movable between a rest position where a nose of the latch member extends from the casing and a retracted condition, a lower edge on said latch member comprised of a first straight part adjacent the nose of the latch member and separated from a second straight part by a shoulder with a height substantially equal to that of the shoulder between said forward and rear portions of said locking bolt edge and with the spacing between said forward portion of the locking bolt edge surface and the first part of the latch member edge greater that the spacing between said second portion of said locking bolt edge surface and said second part of said locking bolt and latch member, a latching element held captive within said casing but movable in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement of said latch member and disposed between the edge surface of the locking bolt and the lower edge of the latch member, the thickness of the latching element is greater than the height of one of said shoulders and less than the spacing between the forward portion of said locking bolt edge and the second part of said latch member lower edge when in an overlying condition.

6. A door lock as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said locking bolt has an edge surface including a forward portion adjacent a nose of the locking bolt which extends from said casing and a rear portion, said portions both being concentric with the axis about which the locking bolt arcuately moves and being separated by a shoulder with the forward portion having a radius of curvature less than that of the rear portion and said latch means includes a latch member with a lower edge juxtaposed the edge surface of the locking bolt and including a first curved part adjacent the nose of the latch member and separated from a second curved part by a shoulder with a height substantially equal to that of the shoulder between said forward and rear portions of said locking bolt edge surface, said first and second curved parts are concentric with the axis about which the locking bolt arcuately moves and the radius of curvature of the first part is greater than that of said second part, said latch member is mounted in and movable along a curved track also concentric with said axis, the spacing between said forward portion of the locking bolt edge surface and the first part of the latch member edge is greater that the spacing between said second portion of said locking bolt edge and said second part of said latch member, a latching element held captive within said casing but movable in a radial direction with respect to said axis and disposed between the edge surface of the locking bolt and the lower edge of the latch member, the thickness of the latching element is greater than the height of one of said shoulders and less than the spacing between the forward portion of said locking bolt edge surface and the second part of said latch member lower edge when in an overlying condition, said latch member further including a hook end which lies behind a rear face of the locking bolt to provide a means whereby said latch member is retracted into said casing by said locking bolt as said locking bolt is retracted into said casing.

7. A door lock as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 including an elongated remote lock actuator, said actuator is mounted for longitudinal and limited lateral movement in said casing and is biased is a longitudinal direction against longitudinal movement preventing abutment means and is biased in a lateral direction against actuator lateral positioning abutment means, the actuator when so biased occupying a position corresponding to the "off" position for one or more remote locks to which said actuator can be coupled, a cam face on said actuator engagable by a cam face on said deadlock member said cam faces co-operating when said deadlock member is moved to said deadlock position to laterally move said actuator and disengage the actuator from said longitudinal movement preventing abutment means whereupon the bias acting on said actuator longitudinally moves said actuator to a position corresponding to the "on" position for one or more remote locks to which said actuator can be coupled, and including a second arm on said locking bolt which is engagable with a shoulder on said actuator whereby when said deadlock member is moved to the undeadlocked position and said locking bolt is moved by a locking bolt moving means said second arm will move said actuator longitudinally to the position corresponding to the remote lock "off" position and aid lateral bias will engage said actuator with said longitudinal movement preventing abutment means.

8. A door lock as claimed in claim 7 wherein said actuator has drive means aligned with an aperture in said casing whereby a remote lock or locks can be coupled to said drive means.

9. A door lock as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.