EP0755477B1

EP0755477B1 - A lock mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP0755477B1
Application number: EP95916892A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lars Urby
Original assignee: Assa AB
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Opening Solutions Sweden AB
Priority date: 1994-04-14
Filing date: 1995-04-12
Publication date: 1999-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-12
Also published as: DE69514220D1; HUT76584A; HU221767B1; FI964042A; NO964341L; SK129996A3; NO964341D0; SK284518B6; HU9602844D0; WO1995028541A1; PT755477E; FI964042A0; EP0755477A1; SE9401274D0; ATE188271T1; SE9401274L; CZ297096A3; FI109820B; SE505779C2; PL177584B1

Abstract

A lock mechanism includes a lock bolt mechanism (6), for instance a key actuated mechanism, having a lock bolt (20a) and a latch bolt mechanism (4) including a latch bolt (9) and actuated by a follower lever (17). Movement of the lock bolt (20a) between its terminal positions is generated and stepped-up, or geared, through the medium of a connecting rod (24) and a transmission lever (22). The mechanism also includes a locking lever (32) and a coupling lever (27) and a dogging lever (31) by means of which the follower lever (17) of the latch mechanism (4) can be actuated to retract the latch bolt (9), for instance by turning a key. The lock mechanism is constructed in accordance with a module system for adaptation to different backsets and centre distances, cylinder/knob. The lock mechanism is adapted to suit differing backsets by using one or more connecting rods (24) having one or more alternative points (24a) of pivotal attachment to the transmission arm. The remainder of the lock bolt mechanism remains essentially unchanged when making such adjustments, possibly with the exception of the coupling lever (27). With regard to the latch bolt mechanism, a press rod (10) having a length commensurate with a relevant backset is exchangeably mounted in position while the remainder of the latch mechanism (4) remains essentially unchanged. Quick-release levers (39) of different lengths commensurate with different cylinder-knob centre-to-centre distances can be exchangeably mounted on a pivot shaft (38) in the region of the edge of the lock housing distal from the latch and lock bolts.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a lock which includes a latch bolt mechanism and a lock bolt mechanism.

The latch bolt mechanism of such locks is normally activated by means of a knob or like handle through the medium of a follower and follower lever. The lock bolt mechanism includes a lock bolt which is often activated by means of a cylinder lock from outside the door to which the lockset is fitted and by means of a knob or corresponding device from inside the door. The bolt mechanism may also be activated in other ways, for instance by means of a cylinder lock on both sides of the door in conjunction with a quick-exit or quick-release function.

One or both lock mechanisms are often adapted for motor operation, in which case one or both bolts can be moved to their respective locking and/or release modes in response to a start pulse delivered to the motor. Also known to the art are motor operated lock mechanisms which are only opened, or released, by the motor.

Different countries have different standards with regard to the number of times that a key need to be turned in a lock in order to fully extend the lock bolt, e.g. the deadbolt. Swedish and other Nordic standards require the key to be turned only once, to which end the dogging means of the cylinder lock and of the knob respectively activate the bolt through the medium of a gear mechanism which amplifies movement of the dogging means. It is therewith necessary to ensure that upon completion of a locking movement, the bolt will be located in a precisely defined position so that, for instance, after having removed the key from the lock and thereafter reinserting the key, the dogging means of the cylinder lock is able to find engagement at the intended location, which will not be the case if the bolt mechanism has been permitted to adopt an intermediate position between times. This problem is particularly accentuated in the case of locks that are motor operated or provided with a quick-release escape function.

The standards of other countries require the key to be turned twice in order to fully extend the bolt. In this regard, it is possible to "half lock", i.e. to remove the key after only one turn of the key, while "locking for the night" by turning the key through two revolutions.

Other problems are that locks which are used for different purposes and in different connections must, of necessity, have different so-called backset or lock depths and different centre-to-centre distances between knob and the plug of the cylinder lock. (By backset is meant here the distance from the bottom of the hole in which the lockset is fitted to the centre axis of the handle or knob, while by lock depth is meant the distance from the back plane of the lockset to said axis) Different countries have also different standards for such depths and c-c distances and it will be understood that the adaptation of a lockset to meet with different standard measurements will often require the reconstruction of vital parts of the lockset, particularly when it is necessary, at the same time, to adapt the bolt mechanism so that the bolt will be fully extended with one turn of the key.

The work entailed in adapting locks to meet different standards is also complicated by the fact that other special requirements and wishes are often placed on lock constructions of the kind intended here, for instance, the required lock construction may be one in which after locking the lock bolt mechanism with the cylinder lock key, it shall be possible to also lock the latch bolt by continuing to turn the key.

In some cases, locksets that are intended for public locations and local amenities, such as cinemas, etc., are required to have some form of quick-exit mechanism. For instance, a lock mechanism whose bolt action is locked from outside must be capable of being opened in response to a simple knob or handle movement from the inside of the door, e.g. in the case of an emergency. This quick release facility will require a different type of connecting means between the latch mechanism and the bolt mechanism. The adaptation of locks to meet varying standards of backsets (this term also including lock depths) and c-c distance in accordance with the above is beset with difficulties with regard to constructing lock mechanisms with which the aforesaid separate functions can be achieved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

An article entitled "Schlage Mortise Locks" given on pp. 23-27 of the May 1993 issue of "The National Locksmith", describes a number of characteristic features of a lock of the kind in question, and also a number of tests carried out on the lock. Among other things, there is mentioned the possibility of changing the lock side of the lock unit without dismantling the lock. This change can be effected by moving a screw from one side of the lock housing to the other.

The lock construction is relatively complicated and includes a plurality of components. The article does not disclose how this lock construction can be adapted readily to a changed or standard backset and c-c distance knob cylinder lock, and it will be realized that the compact design of the lock mechanism would require drastic reconstruction of the mechanism as a whole when, for instance, decreasing the backset.

DE-A1-34 00 618 (Karrenberg), DE-C2-30 37 018 (Fliether) and EP-A1-0 535 497 (C.I.S.A) teach lock constructions of the kind with which the present invention is concerned, wherein the latter publication also describes a lock mechanism which includes a quick-release function. None of these publications, however, suggest a constructive procedure for altering the backset and/or c-c distance of knob-actuated cylinder locks.

Further examples of the standpoint of techniques are to be found in US-A 4,516,798 (Bergen), US-A 4,671,089 (Fleming, et al) and DE-A1-3 540 848 (Schindler).

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates more specifically to a lock having a lock mechanism of the kind defined in the preamble of Claim 1.

A basic concept of the invention is to construct a lock mechanism of this kind in accordance with a module concept, and more specifically to a concept wherein when adapting the lock mechanism to different backsets, the major part of the lock mechanism components will be left unchanged while a few of the lock parts can be readily exchanged and adapted to facilitate backset changes.

The basic inventive concept also includes the possibility of fulfilling one or more of the aforesaid special requirements placed on a lock mechanism of this kind, for instance such requirements as a single key-turn locking facility and functional adjustments to adapt the lock to different particular wishes or requirements, such as a facility in which the latch bolt can be activated with the lock key, and a facility which will enable the lock to be released quickly via the knob, handle, etc.

Correspondingly, one object of the invention is to construct, in accordance with a module system, a lock mechanism which can be adapted readily to variations in backsets.

Another object is to provide a lock mechanism with which single key-turn activation of the cylinder lock affords the possibility of activating a latch-bolt function via the cylinder lock, and when desired or required a quick release function by virtue of enabling the bolt to be retracted with the aid of the knob or handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock mechanism of the aforesaid kind with which, in a preferred embodiment, it is ensured that the lock bolt will be located in its release position when the cylinder-lock dogging means approaches the recess on the connecting rod or bar with which it is intended to coact in moving the bolt to its extended locking position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are fulfilled by an inventive lock mechanism having essentially the features set forth in the characterizing clause of Claim 1.

Because the connecting rod transmits movement of the cylinder-lock dogging means to the transmission arm which directly activates the bolt and effects transmission of the movement of the dogging means, with regard to the bolt mechanism all that is required to adjust the lock mechanism to different backsets is to exchange the fitted connecting rod for another appropriate rod or to change the active length of the rod, which in the case of small changes to the backset merely requires the transmission arm to be connected to another, matching pivot point on the connecting rod, said rod carrying a number, e.g. four, such pivot attachment points.

Thus, an important characteristic of an inventive lock mechanism is the provision of a connecting rod which is activated by the cylinder-lock dogging means and which can be easily exchanged and/or which affords alternative connection possibilities with coacting elements and therewith permit geared transmission of the dogging means movement.

In the case of large backset changes, it is normally necessary to replace the entire connecting rod, this replacement rod having principly the same design as the replaced rod and also conveniently having several alternative pivot points that can be used to meet different backset requirements.

Claim 2 defines an advantageous embodiment of an inventive lock mechanism which includes a favourable geared transmission function. The torque required to retract the latch bolt and the lock bolt when turning the key is very small in comparison with the torque required with known lock mechanisms, due to the parallelogram mechanism.

Claim 3 defines an arrangement which will ensure that the lock is in a locking mode even should the connecting rod become located in an intermediate position when turning in either direction.

It is preferred with a lock mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention that the remainder of the bolt mechanism, possibly with the exception of the connecting arm, remains essentially unchanged. Thus, a connecting arm of longer length may be required in the case of larger backsets.

For the purpose of adapting the latch mechanism to meet different backset requirements, it is preferred that a press rod having a length adapted to the backset in question is fitted replaceably between the follower and the follower lever with the remainder of the latch mechanism essentially unchanged.

In the case of particularly large backsets, the lock housing may be provided with a separate guide means, since otherwise the distance between the latch piston rod and the follower bearing element, where the piston guide is normally located, would be excessively large.

In order to enable the lockset to be adapted to different centre distances between the knob of the latch mechanism and the cylinder-lock plug of the bolt mechanism, the lock mechanism will preferably be constructed as defined in

Claims

6 and 7.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth in subsequent Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lock housing fitted with a handle and a cylinder lock and housing an inventive lock mechanism.

Fig. 2 illustrates the lock housing of Fig. 1 from above with the housing cover removed. The lock housing and associated lock mechanism is intended for relatively small backsets or lockset depths and often occurring centre distances between handle and plug axis. The latch bolt and lock bolt mechanisms are both shown in their respective latching and locking modes.

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to the view of Fig. 1, but shows the lock bolt in its retracted or lock-release position, this state being achieved with the aid of the cylinder lock key.

Fig. 4 is a view corresponding to the views of Figs. 2 and 3 and shows the state of the lock mechanisms after continued turning of the key, during which the latch bolt is also moved to its release position.

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to the views of Figs. 2-4 and illustrates the situation in which from a starting position according to Fig. 2 the handle of the latch mechanism has been activated to move the latch bolt to its release position while, at the same time, the quick-release lever has activated the coupling rod of the bolt mechanism so as to also move the bolt to its release position.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to the view of Fig. 5 and shows the situation that prevails when the handle of the latch mechanism has been released, such that the latch bolt takes a latching position. The resultant state of the lock mechanisms corresponds to the state shown in Fig. 2, in which a corresponding state has been achieved, however, by moving the bolt to its release position from the starting position shown in Fig. 1 with the aid of the key.

Fig. 7 illustrates the inventive lock mechanism when used in a lock housing intended for much larger backsets, wherein both lock mechanisms are in a state corresponding to the starting state shown in Fig. 1, i.e. with the latch bolt and the lock bolt in a locking position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figs. 1-6 illustrate an inventive lockset 1 accommodated in a lock housing 2 which includes a lock post 3 and which houses a handle or knob operated latch mechanism 4 and a bolt mechanism 6, e.g. a deadbolt mechanism, which is operated by a cylinder lock 5. The two

lock mechanisms

4 and 6 are designed to coact with one another and are constructed in accordance with a so-called module system to enable the lockset to be readily adapted to backsets of different sizes and different centre distances between the handle 8 of the latch mechanism and the axis of the cylinder lock plug 7. The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-6 is intended to match a relatively small backset and normally occurring, i.e. frequently occurring, c-c distances. The module construction of the lockset means that the majority of the components housed in the lock housing will have the same design and dimensions for use with varying backsets and c-c distances. Only a few of the components need to be exchanged in order to match the lockset with the backset in question. As described in detail below, one and the same connecting rod can be used to adapt the lockset to four different backsets, while with deeper backsets the connecting rod can be exchanged for a longer connecting rod of principly the same design, for instance in accordance with the embodiment shown in Fig. 7.

The latch mechanism 4 housed in the housing 2 includes a bearing element 12 for a follower 13 having a square-section shaft 13e which receives a handle 8. The follower 13 has an abutment lug or shoulder 13a which engages one end of a press rod or bar 10, the other end of which engages a follower lever 17 pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 18. The upper end 17a of the follower lever engages between two shoulders 11a, llb mutually spaced on a piston rod 11 which carries a latch bolt 9 on one end thereof. The other end of the piston rod 11 is received in a guide 12a provided in the follower bearing element 12.

The handle actuated follower 13 rotates or swings against the action of a spring 14 mounted in a spring holder 15.

The follower lever 17 is also actuated by a spring 19 which lies against the pivot shaft 18 of the follower lever 17 and also against a lever part 17b. The spring, however, may be positioned differently to that shown or may be in direct abutment with the abutment shoulder 11a.

The follower 13 has a further abutment shoulder 13b which actuates a so-called quick-release lever 39 pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft 38 at the bolt-distal end of the housing 2 and functioning to enable the bolt mechanism to be retracted by means of the handle 8 in a manner hereinafter described.

The lock bolt mechanism 6 housed in the housing 2 is actuated by a cylinder lock 5. The mechanism 6 may alternatively be actuated by other means, from the inside and the outside of the door respectively.

In the illustrated embodiment, the lock bolt mechanism includes a lock bolt means 20 which is guided for rectilinear movement in a guide groove or channel 20c. The lock bolt means includes a lock bolt 20a and two abutment shoulders 20b.

The mechanism also includes a connecting rod 24 which has a recess 24b for engagement with a dogging member 7a belonging to the cylinder lock plug 7, said dogging member functioning to move the connecting rod 24 between two terminal positions.

Pivotally connected to the connecting rod 24 is a transmission lever 22 which is pivotal at one end on a pivot shaft 21. The transmission lever 22 has a part 22a which engages between the two abutment shoulders 20b on the bolt means 20. The transmission lever 22 functions to transmit movement of the connecting rod 24 to the bolt means 20 in a manner which steps-up (gears) the movements of the dogging member 7a. This stepping-up, or gearing, of dogging member movement enables the lock bolt 20a to be fully extended to a securely locking position with only one turn of the cylinder lock key 5 (not shown).

As illustrated, the connecting rod 24 is provided at one end thereof with four holes 24a. These holes can be used alternatively to adapt the lockset to different backset requirements, by connecting a central pivot pin 22c on the transmission lever 22 in a relevant hole. When the backset is larger than the backset for which the illustrated lockset is adjusted, the left hole of said holes 24a can be used, while the right hole 24a is used in the case of a smaller backset requirement. When the backset is larger than the backset that can be accommodated by the illustrated lockset, it is necessary to replace the illustrated connecting rod 24 with a longer connecting rod 24' which includes a further number of holes 24'a, in accordance with the Fig. 7 embodiment.

The connecting rod 24 also coacts with a locking lever 32 for the lock bolt means 20, said lever 32 being pivotal on a pin 43 fitted in a channel 20c in the bolt 20. When the lock bolt 20 is in its locking position, the locking arm 32 functions to prevent the bolt from being pressed inwards. As the transmission lever 22 pivots to release the bolt 20, the locking lever 32 is actuated by a shoulder 22b provided on the inside of the lever 22, wherewith the locking lever 32 is swung upwards about the pin 43 so as to enable the bolt to be retracted to its release position.

The connecting rod 24 also coacts with a coupling lever 27 which is pivotally mounted at one end on a pivot shaft 26 and which carries an abutment shoulder 27a. The coupling lever 27 is movable together with the connecting rod 24, such that when the bolt 20 moves to its locking position, the rod 24 and the lever 27 will move to a position in which the abutment shoulder 27a can be passed by the cylinder-lock dogging member 7a.

When the bolt 20 is in its lock-release position, the coupling lever 27 is located in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the abutment shoulder 27a is hit by the dogging member as the dogging member 7a continues to rotate past the position in which the bolt is fully retracted. After the dogging member 7a and the abutment shoulder 27a on the coupling lever have engaged one another, the coupling lever 27 is swung about the pivot shaft 26 as the coupling lever 27 and the dogging member 7a continue to rotate, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The lock mechanism also includes a dogging lever 31 which forms a transmission link through which the latch mechanism can be actuated by the lock mechanism so as to release the latch bolt. The dogging lever 31 is pivotal about a pivot shaft 30 and has at one end thereof a projection 31a which is actuated by the coupling lever 27 as the lever rotates under the influence of the dogging member 7a. Under the driving influence of the dogging member, the dogging lever 31 is swung about its pivot pin 30 and an abutment member 31b at the upper end of the dogging lever is brought into engagement with the lower part 17c of the follower 17, such that rotation of the dogging lever 31 will retract the latch bolt 9 through the medium of the follower 17.

The bolt mechanism also includes a control lever 34 which is mounted pivotally at one end on a pivot shaft 33 and which has at its other end a pivot pin 23 which is connected to the rear end of the connecting rod 24 opposite the transmission lever 22. The connecting rod 24 thus forms part of a parallelogram link mechanism which includes the four

pivot points

21, 22c, 33, 23. The connecting rod 24 will therewith be moved essentially rectilinearly when actuated by the dogging member 7a, which engages in the recess 24b as the key is turned in the cylinder-lock plug 7.

The control lever 34 also has the important function of ensuring that the connecting rod will be located in its terminal position when the dogging member 7a is to engage the recess 24b in the connecting rod 24, i.e. to prevent the connecting rod from taking an intermediate position which would render such engagement impossible.

To this end, the control lever 34 includes a recess 34a with which the dogging member 7a engages in the event of the connecting rod being located in an intermediate position during rotation of the dogging member. When the dogging member meets a projection 34a on the control lever 34, the lever is swung about its pivot shaft 33 so that the pivot shaft 23 connecting the control lever 34 to the coupling rod 24 will move to the right in the Figures and the connecting rod 24 will take its terminal position in which the lock mechanism is retracted fully to its lock-release position and the dogging member 7a is able to engage the recess 24b in the connecting rod 24, possibly to activate the mechanism to its locking state.

When withdrawing the lock bolt from the position shown in Fig. 2, wherewith the dogging member 7a is rotated clockwise, the dogging member is brought into engagement with the recess 24b on the connecting rod.

As explained above, as the locking mechanism is moved to its locking mode, the connecting lever 27 and its abutment shoulder 27a move to the left in the Figures, i.e. the dogging member 7a passes and possibly engages the abutment shoulder 27a. The bolt is pressed to its terminal locking position during this passage of the dogging member 7a, i.e. so as to ensure the locking state of the bolt. As the bolt mechanism is brought to its lock-release state, in which the bolt 20a and the coupling lever 27 are in the position shown in Fig. 3, continued rotary movement of the dogging member 7a will cause the member to strike the abutment shoulder 27a, therewith moving the latch bolt to its released position, through the medium of the dogging lever 31 and the follower 17, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 illustrates how the latch bolt 9 and the lock bolt 20a are both retracted by actuating the handle of the latch mechanism. In this regard, the lock bolt mechanism is actuated via the quick-release lever 39 located at the edge of the lock housing distal from said bolts, said quick-release lever 39 being actuated by the abutment shoulder 13b on the follower for rotation about the pivot shaft 38. The bottom end 39b of the quick-release lever 39 will therewith engage an abutment surface 24e on the connecting rod 24 and therewith move the lock bolt 20a to its lock-release position.

The quick-release lever 39 can be omitted or removed when the quick-release function is not required.

It will be seen that when adapting the lock to different centre distances with regard to the handle and the cylinder lock, both the latch mechanism and the lock bolt mechanism may be left essentially unchanged and that the only components that need be adjusted are the dogging lever 31 and the quick-release lever 39. The concept of the invention as defined in the following Claims also includes other designs in which certain additional components, such as the follower lever 17, are alternatively exchanged or exchanged together therewith.

In the case of the Fig. 7 embodiment, the backset is much greater than the backset of the embodiments shown in the other Figures. The latch mechanism 4 and the bolt mechanism 6 are essentially unchanged in the Fig. 7 embodiment, despite the larger backset.

With regard to the latch mechanism 4, only the press rod 10 has been changed for a longer press rod, here referenced 10'. In addition, the mechanism has been provided with a separate guide 41 for the piston rod 11 of the latch bolt 9, since the piston rod 11 will not reach its "standard" guide comprising the recess 12a in the bearing element 12.

As mentioned in the aforegoing, with regard to the bolt mechanism, the connecting rod 24 of the earlier embodiments has been replaced with a longer connecting rod, 24', which includes a larger number of holes, 24'a, for coaction with the pivot pin 22c on the transmission lever 22. The coupling lever 27 of the earlier embodiments has also been replaced with a longer coupling lever, 27', which is formed generally by providing an extension part on the forward end of a coupling lever of the same design as that used in the earlier embodiments according to Figs. 1-6.

As with the earlier embodiments, should the bolt 20 of the Fig. 7 embodiment be located in an intermediate position, the dogging member 7a when rotated will actuate the projection 34a on the control lever 34 so as to fully retract the bolt 20 to its lock-release position. The lock can then be brought to its locking mode in the normal manner.

It will thus be seen that the lockset can be adapted to meet substantially larger backset requirements while leaving both the latch mechanism and the lock bolt mechanism essentially unchanged. This has been made possible by constructing the lock in accordance with an adapted module system.

The described and illustrated locksets also provide the advantages mentioned in the introduction, i.e. the lock bolt can be fully extended to its locking position with only one turn of the key, and the lockset includes a control function which will ensure that the dogging member can always be driven from an intermediate position to a lock-release position. The mechanisms also include advantageous transmission means which generate low torque when actuated by the lock key, particularly when the latch bolt 9 is moved to its lock-release position through the medium of the dogging arm 31, in accordance with Fig. 4.

An inventive lock mechanism can therefore be readily adapted for motor operation, while substantially eliminating the risk of a malfunction at the same time.

When the lockset is adapted for motor operation (not show in the drawings), an electric motor is mounted in the lock housing 2, for instance in the space available at the top of the housing. An output shaft of the motor may be provided with a hinge or like means so that a part of the shaft will follow the rear edge of the lock housing when the bottom end of the shaft is joined to the control lever 34 and swing the control lever, and therewith the lock bolt mechanism 6 and, in applicable cases, the latch bolt mechanism 4 between their respective terminal positions. The motor output shaft will also include a freewheel coupling which ensures that the motor is disengaged when actuating the lock bolt mechanism manually with the aid of the key.

When the motor-operated lock includes a quick-release function, it is necessary that this disengagement can be effected extremely quickly at any time during motor operation. A quick-release lever 39 designed for a motor-operated lockset will therefore include an idling means between its bottom part 39b and the abutment shoulder 24e on the connecting rod 24. When idling, a join on a press-and-pull device is snapped apart. The arrangement reconnects or attempts to reconnect until the limit positions plus time coincide with the lock opening or lock closing command.

In the case of a motor-operated lockset, the control lever 34 cannot actuate the latch mechanism 4 to retract the latch bolt 9 to its lock-release position. The lock bolt mechanism 6 of the motor-operated lock will therefore actuate the dogging lever so that the latch bolt 9 will be moved to its lock-release position at the same time as the lock bolt 20a.

Furthermore, in the case of a motor-operated lockset, it shall not be possible to start the motor when the dogging member 7a has left its parking position, shown for instance in Figs. 2, 5 and 6.

In the aforedescribed and illustrated embodiments of the invention, the bolt mechanism is actuated via a cylinder lock and/or a motor. It will be understood, however, that the mechanism can be actuated in other ways, for instance with the aid of a knob or handle from one side of the lockset. In the case of locks provided with a quick-release function, i.e. locks which use a quick-release lever 39, current regulations prohibit the knob or handle actuation of the lock.

One important characteristic of the described and illustrated embodiments is that the coupling lever 27 provided with the abutment means 27a is driven by the control lever 34, or vice versa, and that the coupling arm 27 can be used for several backsets. The abutment means 27a has been given the configuration shown in the drawing to provide space and to provide a large transmission step-up (gear) effect with a single turn of the key. It is also important that the locking lever 32 is able to drop, despite the movement of the lock bolt means 20 being retarded when bringing the bolt to its locking mode. This provides effective positive control when moving the bolt to its locking position. The arrangement also ensures that the dogging member 7a will not be located in the recess 24b in the connecting rod 24 when a quick-release is effected at the same time as the lock is released with a key from the outside, i.e. when the mechanism is actuated by one person on each side of the door to which the lockset is fitted.

The person skilled in this art will understand that other embodiments of the invention are possible within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the following Claims.

Claims

A lock mechanism comprising

a) a latch bolt (9) which is actuated by means of a knob or handle through the medium of a spring-actuated follower (13), a press rod (10) and a follower lever (17),

b) a lock bolt mechanism (6) which is actuated via a cylinder lock (5) and associated dogging member (7a) and which includes

c) a lock bolt means (20) which is guided for rectilinear movement and includes a lock bolt (20a) and abutment means (20b),

d) a connecting rod (24) which includes a recess (24b) for engagement with the dogging member (7a) to move the connecting rod (24) between two terminal positions,

e) a transmission lever (22) which is pivotally mounted at one end on a pivot shaft (21) and which is pivotally connected to the connecting rod (24) and which has a part (22a) which engages between the abutment means (20b) on the lock bolt means (20) for transmitting and stepping-up movement of the connecting rod (24) to the lock bolt means (20),

f) a locking lever (32) which coacts with the lock bolt means (20) and also with the transmission lever (22) and which is pivotally mounted on a pivot pin (43), wherein when the lock bolt means is in its locking mode, the locking lever (32) will prevent depression of said means and when the transmission arm pivots to withdraw the lock bolt means (20) swings to a release position which allows said lock bolt means to be withdrawn to its lock-release position,

g) a coupling lever (27) which is provided with an abutment means (27a) and which is pivotally mounted at one end on a pivot shaft (26) and is movable together with the connecting rod (24) such that when the lock bolt means (20) moves to its locking position, the coupling lever will move to a position in which the abutment means (27a) can be passed by a dogging member (7a) effecting rotary movement of the cylinder lock (5) and ensure that the lock bolt means (20) is in its extended locking position and, when the lock bolt means (20) is moved to its lock-release position, takes a position in which upon continued rotation of the dogging member in the lock-release direction the abutment means (27a) will be engaged by said dogging member so as to swing the coupling lever (7) about its pivot shaft (26) at one end of said lever,

characterized in that

h) the lock mechanism is constructed in accordance with a module system adapted for different backsets, wherein with the intention of enabling the lock mechanism to be adjusted for different backsets, the connecting rod (24) includes one or more alternative points (24a) of pivotal attachment to the transmission lever (22), or the mechanism includes several connecting rods (24, 24') of different lengths, each having one or more such alternative pivotal attachment points (24a, 24'a), said connecting rod or rods being exchangeably connectable to the transmission lever (22).
A lock mechanism according to Claim 1, characterized by a control lever (34) which is pivotal about a shaft (3) at one end thereof and which carries at its other end a pivot pin (23) which is connected to the rear end of the connecting rod (24) opposite the transmission lever (22), such that the connecting rod (24) will form part of a parallelogram-link mechanism having four pivot points (21, 22c, 33, 23).
A lock mechanism according to Claim 2, characterized in that the control lever (34) includes a projection (34a) which is so positioned that when a key is turned to bring the lock mechanism to its locking mode and the mechanism has not been completely released, the lock bolt mechanism (6) is actuated by the dogging member (7a) such that the control lever (34) will drive the lock bolt mechanism to a fully lock-released position in which engagement between the dogging member (7a) and the recess (24b) on the connecting rod (24) is ensured.
A lock mechanism according to any one of Claims 1-3, characterized in that when adjusting to different backsets, the lock bolt mechanism (6) remains essentially unchanged in other respects, possibly with the exception of the coupling lever (27).
A lock mechanism according to any one of Claims 1-4, characterized in that a press rod (10) having a length adapted to a relevant backset is exchangeably mounted between the follower (13) and the follower lever (17), with the remainder of the latch mechanism (4) remaining essentially unchanged at different backsets.
A lock mechanism according to any one of Claims 1-5, characterized by an exchangeable dogging lever (31) which is pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft (30) and which has a length adapted to a relevant centre-to-centre distance to adapt the mechanism to different centre distances between the handle or knob of the latch mechanism and the cylinder-lock plug of the lock bolt mechanism (6).
A lock mechanism according to Claim 6 which includes a quick release lever (39) between the latch mechanism follower (13) and the connecting rod (24) of the bolt mechanism (6), characterized in that quick release levers (39) of mutually different lengths can be exchangeably mounted on a pivot shaft (33) located in the region of the edge of the lock housing distal from the latch and lock bolts.
A lock mechanism according to Claim 6 or Claim 7, characterized in that the pivotal dogging lever (31) carries at one end a member, for instance a projection (31a), which is actuated by the coupling lever (27) as it swings under the influence of the dogging member (7a), so as to swing the dogging lever (31), said dogging lever (31) carrying at its other end an abutment means (31b) for engagement with the follower (17) which actuates the latch bolt (9), so that pivoting of the dogging lever (31) will cause the latch bolt (9) to be retracted.
A lock mechanism according to any one of Claims 1-8 which includes a motor operating facility and which includes an electric motor housed in the lock housing (2), characterized in that a motor output shaft is connected to the control lever (34) via a disengagement coupling means for pivoting the control lever and therewith the lock bolt mechanism (6) and possibly also the latch bolt mechanism (4) between its/their terminal positions.
A lock mechanism according to Claim 9, characterized in that the disengagement coupling means functions to ensure that the motor will be disengaged when the lock bolt mechanism (6) is actuated manually by means of a key.