EP1088143A1

EP1088143A1 - Mechanism for authorising a control member movement by forming a code

Info

Publication number: EP1088143A1
Application number: EP99957185A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jacques Paul Breton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-22
Filing date: 1999-06-18
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-18
Also published as: PT1088143E; AU4269999A; FR2780173A1; ATE234990T1; WO1999067485A1; EP1088143B1; ES2194530T3; FR2780173B1; DE69906071T2; DE69906071D1

Abstract

The invention concerns a mechanism for authorising a control member movement by forming a code, comprising a body (20), several stop elements (24) each arranged in a hole of the body (20), an elongated slide (28) sliding in a sliding space and having a series of cuts along each of its lateral edges, push-buttons (14) for moving a corresponding stop element and bearing different signs displayed outside the mechanism such that the sequential control corresponds to a series of signs forming a code, a return tilting plate, and a linking device for transforming a control member movement into a movement translating the slide (28). The invention is applicable to locks.

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanism for authorizing a movement of a control member by composition of a code, and more specifically, it relates to a mechanism useful for controlling a lock.

The invention is described in its application to the control of a lock allowing the opening of a door, for example an office door. However, it has other applications and is suitable for controlling access to premises in general.

Code devices are already known which are intended to authorize or prohibit the opening of a door, for example used at the entrance to a building where a keyboard is incorporated near the door. The person who wants to enter dials a code on the keyboard which usually has a dozen keys. If the code entered is suitable, an electrical circuit triggers the door strike, mounted on the frame of the door, so that the person can enter by pushing the door.

These systems have several drawbacks. The most important thing is that their installation is complicated because there is an electrical connection between the keyboard, the strike and an electrical supply. In addition, the keypad and the strike are spaced from each other and must be connected by electrical wiring. When the passage through the door must be authorized freely, the strike must be able to operate continuously. Consequently, in the event of a power supply failure, access to the door may be impossible. The change of code and the setting to a free passage state require a remote operation of the door. Consequently, such an installation is expensive. Given the drawbacks of these electrical devices, it is advantageous to use a mechanism which does not require an electrical supply. Such a mechanism does not require modification of the keeper or of the door frame, or of the door lock. In addition, it is desirable that such a mechanism should have a small width so that it can be mounted on a glass door with a narrow frame.

Mechanisms are already known for controlling a lock using a code composed purely mechanically. Documents WO 90/13 721 and CH-A-437 035 thus relate to locks in which keys allow movement of racks allowing the operation of a handle. However, these locks have drawbacks. The main ones are on the one hand the complexity of the mechanism which is consequently relatively expensive, not very robust and not very reliable, and on the other hand the difficulty of changing the combination which controls the mechanism.

Consequently, it is desirable to provide a mechanism for authorizing the movement of a control member, for example a lock handle, by composing a code, which does not have these drawbacks, that is to say -to say whose mechanism is simple and robust and whose change of combination is easy. In addition, it is desirable that this mechanism can be made with a small width so that it can be mounted on a frame of small width, for example a glass door frame.

The invention relates to an authorization mechanism which has all the aforementioned advantages and which implements an original mechanism of great simplicity and above all of great robustness.

More specifically, the invention relates to a mechanism for authorizing a movement of a control member by composition of a code, which comprises a body forming a guide slide in translation and delimiting an elongated sliding space having two lateral parts , the body having two series of stop guide holes, each series comprising several holes each partially intersecting one of the lateral parts of the sliding space, several stops, each arranged in a hole of a series of holes of the body, each stop having an effective length greater than the length of the corresponding hole in which it can slide and having a clearance such that, in a first locking position, part of the stop is in the sliding space, and, in a second passage position, the clearance is at the corresponding lateral part, so that no part of 1 stop is then found 1 inside the sliding space, an elongated slide guided by the slide so that it slides in the elongated sliding space and having a series of notches along each of its lateral edges, the arrangement of the notches being such that, in a first position of the slide, the notches are opposite the holes in the body so that the stops can move freely in the corresponding holes without being hindered by the slide, this first position being a position for blocking the slide when at least part of a stop is in the sliding space, and such that, in a second position for the slide, parts of the edge of the slide penetrate into the clearances of the stops so that the slide can move in translation in the sliding space, pushers movable relative to the body so that each pushbutton can move a corresponding stop in a first direction in the corresponding hole in the body, the pushers carrying different signs appearing outside the mechanism so that their sequential operation corresponds to a series of signs making up a code, a tilting return plate movable between two extreme positions such that, when the plate switches to one of its extreme positions, it pushes the stops placed in a first series of body holes, in the opposite direction to the first direction, and, when the plate switches to the other from its extreme positions, it pushes the stops placed in the other series of body holes, in the opposite direction to the first direction, the tilting of the insert being controlled by the movement of a stop when the latter is pushed by the corresponding pusher, and a connecting device intended to transform a movement of one control member into a movement of translation of the slide, and such that, when the slide is in its first position and at least part of a stop is in the sliding space, the movement of one control member is blocked. Preferably, the slide is an elongated plate of practically constant thickness, each stop is a cylindrical spindle of circular section, and the release of a stop is a groove formed at the periphery of the spindle and having a height slightly greater than the thickness of the slide plate.

It is advantageous that the stops are interchangeable, so that the modification of the combination of the code to be composed simply involves the exchange of the positions of the stops in their hole. Preferably, the tilting return plate is then removable so that it easily allows the change of the code combination.

Preferably, the slide displacement stroke comprises a first part in which the control member performs its control, for example of a lock, and a second part which extends the first, and the mechanism comprises a resetting device intended to prevent the sliding movement of the slide in the second part of its travel.

In a first embodiment, the resetting device comprises a member for blocking the sliding of the slide. Preferably, the blocking member is released from its blocking position by the return plate when it is tilted.

In a second embodiment, the reset device comprises a reset member intended to move at least one stop so that part of the stop is in the sliding space.

In an exemplary embodiment, the resetting member is then constituted by the tilting return plate which is moved by tilting to one side at least during resetting.

In another embodiment, the return plate is moved in translation during the second part the stroke of the slide, preferably by controlling the translational movement of a support of the wafer.

It is advantageous for the mechanism to further include a free passage device intended to prevent the reset device from operating. Preferably, the free passage device comprises a projection and a clearance intended to cooperate in order to limit the travel of the slide to its first part.

In one embodiment, the movement of the control member is a rotation which controls a lock. It is therefore particularly advantageous that the connecting device intended to transform a rotational movement of the control member into a translational movement of the slide is reversible, that is to say can be mounted for rotation in one direction or in the other direction.

It is advantageous that, in the locked position, the rotation of the control member is prohibited by contact of the latter with the slide in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slide. In another exemplary embodiment, in the blocking position, the rotation of the control member is prohibited by contact of the slide with at least one stop.

In an advantageous embodiment, the mechanism further comprises a cover having through holes for the pushers, and, preferably, the pushers do not all have the same dimension in their direction of movement.

Preferably, each pusher is recalled by a spring placed between the body and itself, and the signs carried by the pusher are alphanumeric signs. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of exemplary embodiments, made with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a code authorization mechanism incorporated in a lock control member; Figure 2 is a rear view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of part of the elements contained in the mechanism of Figures 1 and 2, showing certain elements of the mechanism; Figure 4 is a section of the mechanism of Figures 1 to 3 illustrating the principle of operation of the mechanism; FIG. 5 shows an example of a control member of the mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 to 4; Figure 6 is a very schematic view showing another control device; Figure 7 shows part of the control system of the second embodiment; and FIG. 8 is a section through part of a system in which the resetting of the mechanism is obtained by displacement of the tilting return plate. We first describe an example of a mechanism in which pushers control stops that allow or not the translational movement of a slide.

More specifically, the mechanism comprises a cover 10 on which is mounted a handle 12 intended to control a lock by means of a usual square, as indicated by the cavity 18 of square section shown in FIG. 2, on the back of the mechanism. The cover shows pushers 14 which, although this characteristic is not shown, each bear a sign, for example a number or a letter.

The reference 16 designates two push-buttons intended to control a free passage mechanism described below. In this embodiment, no other element appears on the front face. FIG. 2, which represents the rear of the lock, indicates a part of the internal mechanism which is best represented in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The mechanism has a body 20, the shape of which appears more clearly in FIG. 4. The body 20 has several holes 22 in which the stops 24 can move which each have a circular groove 26 forming a clearance.

Reference 28 designates a slide which has the shape of a plate of practically constant thickness. This plate at a width greater than the width separating the holes 22 formed in the body. However, as shown in Figure 4, when the clearances formed by the grooves 26 of the stops 24 are aligned on the slide, the latter can move longitudinally. The slide has notches, not shown because they are hidden, through which the stops 24 can pass when the notches are aligned with the stops 24.

In the mechanism according to the invention, the stops 24 have different lengths and their grooves 26 have different locations along their length. In the example shown, all the stops 24 have a length greater than the thickness of the body 20. Consequently, when the grooves of all the stops 24 are aligned with the sliding space of the slide 28, so that the latter can move longitudinally, all the stops 24 extend more or less on one side and the other of the body 20.

When the mechanism is controlled, a push-button of a series, right or left, is pressed, this push-button corresponding to the first digit or sign of the code. This pusher is associated with the longer stop 24 of this series. Consequently, this stop pushes the tilting return plate 32 as far as possible, which then pushes all the stops 24 of the other series so that their lower ends, in FIG. 4, are all at the surface of the body 20. Then , the pusher associated with the longest stop 24 of the other series is pressed, and it places all the stops 24 of the first series in a position tangent to the lower surface of the body 20. These two operations have already placed the stops the shortest in the position in which their groove is at the level of the sliding space of the slide 28.

Then, the next longer length stop of the first series is pushed so that it causes the wafer 32 to tip less. At this time, the wafer positions a stop of the second series so that its groove is at the level of the sliding space. Then, the depressing of the second longest pusher of the second series causes the positioning of another stop 24 of the first series so that its groove is at the level of the sliding space.

These operations continue with an increasingly reduced tilting of the plate 32, and finally the grooves of all the stops 24 are aligned on the sliding space. At this time, the slide can move longitudinally.

In a first position of the slide 28, the notches thereof are aligned with the holes in which the stops can slide. It suffices that a single stop has its groove not aligned on the sliding space of the slide so that the latter cannot be moved longitudinally. In this position, the slide prevents rotation of the control member and the opening of the associated door. When the operation of the pushers has caused the alignment of the grooves of all the stops on the sliding space, the slider 28 is moved to another position by the control member which can then rotate the lock square and open the door. The slider thus describes a control stroke.

It is noted in FIG. 4 that springs 30 are placed between the body and each pusher so that they recall the plungers towards their external position. If all the push-buttons were the same length, it would be possible, by depressing a push-button of one series, to determine the order of the lengths of the stops of the other series and to simplify the discovery of the command code of the lock. Consequently, in this mechanism, the pushers have different lengths and, preferably, three different lengths, and they are placed in any position on the cover. In this way, it is not possible to determine the order of lengths of the stops by simply pressing the pushers. An advantageous feature of the mechanism of the invention is the convenience of changing the combination of the control code. FIG. 4 indicates that the tilting plate 32 is articulated on an axis 34 which is carried by two supports 36 which are integral with the body 20. A spring mounted in the support 36 pushes the plate 32 towards the other support 36. When the combination has to be modified, the plate is pushed towards the spring so that its axis can come out of the other support. When the plate is removed, the pins 34 can be removed from their hole and placed in another hole, by exchanging the position of the stops. The stops carry at the end a chi fre which indicates their order of operation and the order of the combination formed. Consequently, when the combination must be modified, it suffices to dismantle the door mechanism and remove the plate 32, exchange the stops, and reassemble the plate, then the mechanism on the door.

When all the stops have been aligned with their grooves opposite the sliding space, they are held in position by springs 38, shown in FIG. 3, so that the slider 28 can then be moved. Thus, when the code has been composed, the mechanism can then be operated indefinitely. This characteristic is a drawback when the mechanism used must prevent the opening of the associated door without requiring a specific locking operation. Consequently, according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the mechanism has a reset device. Two different embodiments of the reset device are described below. The first reset device prevents the slide from moving, without moving the stops, and the second reset device moves the stops so that the combination is scrambled.

In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 3, it is noted that the slide, after its travel in which it has allowed the operation of the control member, moves a cursor 40 which then protrudes rearward, on the side of the wafer 32. When it returns from the end of its travel (second part), the slider 28 drives a spring 42 which passes over the slider 40 and is blocked behind the latter. In this way, even if the stops 24 are suitably aligned, with their groove in the sliding space, the slider is retained by the cursor 40 and can no longer describe its race. It can only be released by moving this cursor 40. This movement is obtained when, at the start of code composition, a pushbutton placed on the side opposite the cursor is pressed and causes the wafer to topple, which then pushes the cursor 40 back. slide is no longer blocked by the cursor, but on the other hand it is blocked by the stop which has been moved. The operation of the control member therefore requires a new composition of the code by the pushers.

This rearming can be rendered inoperative when the stroke of the slide 28 is limited so that the latter does not move by the cursor 40. This limitation of the stroke then allows free operation of the control member. This function is called "vested benefits". It is obtained by means of the pushers 16 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. At least one of these pushers, which are analogous to the combination of a stop and a pushbutton, has a groove which can align with the sliding space to allow free movement of the slide 28 or which can deviate therefrom. In this case, the slide 28 can only move over a limited stroke which corresponds to a notch of suitable length formed on its edge at the level of the pusher 16.

In this first embodiment, in which the reset device operates by stopping the slide with a slider, it is desirable to limit the force applied to the slider. Consequently, the control device advantageously comprises, as indicated in FIG. 5, a plate which displaces a triangular lever which pushes an operating part 51 of the slide by means of a spring 53 which makes it possible to limit the force applied to the cursor. FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the reset device. In this device, the slider is pushed by a spring so that, as soon as the appropriate code has been composed, the slider moves in translation and frees the control member which can then rotate (as described in more detail below with reference to Figures 6 and 7). The supports 36 which are integral with the body in the first embodiment are replaced by supports 43 which are movable in translation in the body. These supports 43 have a hole 44 for housing the axis 34 of the wafer 32. Springs 46, in the form of Belleville washers, push the support 43 towards the rear of the slide 28. In its normal position, the slide maintains the springs compressed so that the plate 32 is distant from the body. In this way, it can tilt, as described above, to move the stops. At the end of the stroke of the slide, the end 50 of the support 43, of frustoconical shape, can penetrate into a truncated hole 48 of the slide. Consequently, the two supports 43 are brought closer to the body 20 and the plate pushes all the stops whose grooves are therefore no longer aligned on the sliding space. For this purpose, the notches of the slide 28 are slightly elongated, their length corresponding to the range of movement of the end of the slide travel, ie 3 mm for example. In this embodiment, it is the tilting plate itself which constitutes the reset member.

Obtaining this resetting movement requires a stroke of the slider which comprises two parts, a first part in which the control member can rotate the lock square, and a second resetting part.

Figures 6 and 7 show another control member which allows obtaining such a stroke. FIG. 6 represents a plate 52 having a square hole corresponding to the control square of the lock, and having a finger 54. The finger 54 pushes a first arm of a lever 56 articulated on an axis 58 secured to the body 20. The another arm of the lever overlaps an axis 60 integral with the slide 28. When the plate 52 rotates to the right, in FIG. 6, it causes the slide 28 to move in translation in the first and the second part of its travel. FIG. 7 represents a part of the control device comprising a sliding part 62 returned by a spring 64 on a hub 66 along which it can slide. The part 62 delimits a rectangular recess whose edge 68 hooks onto the end of the slide 28. Consequently, when the operating member rotates, the part 62 comes to be applied perpendicularly against the slide 28 which therefore practically does not undergo no longitudinal force, for example being able to act on stops. On the other hand, if the code has been composed, the slide has already been moved by the associated spring and has come out of the recess. The control member can then rotate.

The mechanism according to the invention optionally gives the free passage function, described above with reference to the pushers 16. In the second embodiment, this function can be obtained by using a device which prevents the slide from describing the second part of its stroke (rearmament). This device may simply comprise a projection and a clearance, placed respectively on the body or the cover and on the slide and intended to cooperate to limit the travel of the slide to its first part.

An advantageous characteristic of the mechanism according to the invention, when used with a lock, is that it is reversible, that is to say that it can be controlled by a handle (control member) rotating either right or left. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, this reversibility is obtained by turning and mounting the lever 56 on the opposite side of the body and by turning the plate 52.

It is understood that the invention has only been described and shown as a preferential example and that any technical equivalence may be made in its constituent elements without going beyond its ambit.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Mechanism for authorizing a movement of a control member by composition of a code, characterized in that it comprises a body (20) forming a guide slide in translation and delimiting an elongated sliding space having two lateral parts, the body (20) having two series of stop guide holes (22), each series comprising several holes (22) which each partially overlap one of the lateral parts of the sliding space, several stops (24), each arranged in a hole in a series of holes (22) in the body (20), each stop (24) having an effective length greater than the length of the corresponding hole in which it can slide and having a clearance ( 26) such that, in a first locking position, part of the stop is in the sliding space, and, in a second passage position, the clearance (26) is at the level of the corresponding lateral part , so good q uno part of the stop is then located inside the sliding space, an elongated slide (28) guided by the slide so that it slides in the elongated sliding space and having a series d '' notches along each of its lateral edges, the arrangement of the notches being such that, in a first position of the slide (28), the notches are opposite the holes (22) of the body (20) so that the stops

(24) can move freely in the corresponding holes (22) without being hindered by the slide (28), this first position being a blocking position of the slide (28) when at least part of a stop ( 24) is in the sliding space, and such that, in a second position of the slide (28), edge portions of the slide (28) penetrate into the recesses (26) of the stops (24) so that the slide (28) can move in translation in the sliding space, pushers (14) movable relative to the body (20) so that each pushbutton can move a corresponding stop in a first direction in the corresponding hole of the body (20), the pushers (14) carrying different signs appearing on the outside of the mechanism so that their sequential operation corresponds to a series of signs making up a code, a tilting plate (32) for returning mobile between two extreme positions such that, when the plate (32) switches to one of its extreme positions, it pushes the stops (24) placed in a first series of holes (22) in the body (20), in the opposite direction to the first direction, and, when the plate (32) switches to the other from its extreme positions, it pushes the stops (24) placed in the other series of holes (22) of the body (20), in the opposite direction to the first direction, the tilting of the plate (32) being controlled by the movement of a stop (24) when the latter is pushed by the corresponding pusher, and a connecting device intended to transform a movement of the control member into a movement of translation of the slide (28), and such that, when the slide (28) is in its first position and at least part of a stop (24) is in the sliding space, the movement of the control member is blocked.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement of displacement of the slide (28) comprises a first part in which the control member performs its control, and a second part which extends the first, and the mechanism comprises a resetting device intended to prevent the displacement in translation of the slide (28) in the second part of its travel.

3. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the reset device comprises a reset member intended to move at least one stop (24) so that part of the stop is in the sliding space.

4. Mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the resetting member is constituted by the tilting plate (32) of return.

5. Mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that the resetting device comprises a member for blocking the sliding of the slide (28).

6. Mechanism according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises a free passage device intended to prevent the operation of the reset device.

7. Mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement of one control member is a rotation which controls a lock.

8. Mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that the connecting device intended to transform a rotational movement of the control member into a translational movement of the slide (28) is reversible.

9. Mechanism according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that, in the locked position, the rotation of one control member is prohibited by contact of the latter with the slide (28) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slide (28).

10. Mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanism further comprises a cover (10) having through holes for the pushers (14), and the pushers (14) do not all have the same dimension in their direction of movement.