EP2107191B1 - Lock with a selector element for changing the operational properties of the lock - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lock for a door, a window or the like, comprising a lock housing having a forend, wherein in the lock housing a locking mechanism is received with a locking element and a driver element for interacting with a lock cylinder, further comprising a selector element which is manually between at least two selector positions for the conversion of the functional properties of the castle is movable.

A lock according to the above-mentioned embodiment is intended for use in doors or windows, the lock comprising a lock housing in which a locking mechanism is received. The locking mechanism forms the specific function of the lock, which can be performed by a locking element and a driver element, wherein the locking element is operable by rotation of the driver element. The driver element itself is designed to interact with a lock cylinder and can be rotated by a key in the lock cylinder. By a rotation of the driver element, the locking element between at least one retracted and a protruding position can be moved. The locking element may relate to a door latch, which is movable by a door handle, or may relate to a bolt which is movable only by a key in a lock cylinder.

In addition, locks can be designed with a selector element, wherein the selector element is intended for the conversion of the functional properties of the castle. The selector element can by Hand can be moved and is switchable between different selector positions, while the lock is mounted within a door leaf or a window leaf. Lock housings are usually made with a forend, the selector element having a release means which must be activated by hand to release the selector element for switching the selector element between the Selektorpositionen. The functional properties of the lock may involve a locking of the door latch or the door handle or it is possible to influence the properties of the lock mechanism. The locking of the door latch blocks the door latch in a retracted position, wherein the door latch can only be transferred to the protruding position again when the selector element is switched back to the associated selector position to release the door latch, eg GB 2 257 196 A discloses such a lock, according to the preamble of claim 1.

If many locks are provided within a building such as a hotel building, a hospital building or a public building, it may be necessary to control the operation of the selector element within the lock. As already known, the selector element can be blocked by release means in order to prevent the operation of the selector element, if the functional properties of the lock are not to be changed. However, if a large number of different locks are provided within a building as mentioned above, a person such as a caretaker can not be expected to control each lock with respect to the position of the selector element. Consequently, an extended range of functions of the lock is required by which the operation of the selector and in particular the selector position can be controlled.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, it is the task of present invention to provide a lock with a selector element, which has an extended range of functions with respect to a control of the selector element and which has an alternative release of the selector element.

This object is achieved by a lock with a selector element for the conversion of the functional properties of the lock according to the teaching of claim 1 of the present invention. A preferred embodiment of the invention is indicated by the subclaims.

The invention includes the technical teaching that an electrical means for interaction with the selector element is provided and the locking mechanism comprises a handle element for releasing the selector element, such that the handle element must be activated before the selector element is movable between the Selektorpositionen. The handle element is movably received in the selector element, wherein the direction of movement of the handle element is aligned perpendicular to the direction of movement of the selector element.

According to the inventive arrangement of at least one electrical means, a control of the selector element is made possible. The electrical means may relate to any type of mechanically-electrically interactive means to provide an electro-mechanical interaction between the electrical means and the selector element. The interaction between the electrical means and the selector element may involve a direct interaction or interaction, for example via a release means for releasing the selector element. The arrangement of the electrical means may provide electrical information via the selector element, wherein in addition to information about the selector position, the electrical means may be adapted to directly influence the operation of the selector element. Consequently, an external connection is provided by a wiring to the lock, which may be connected to a peripheral, external device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrical means is part of the closing mechanism executed, which is arranged within the lock housing. Alternatively, the electrical means can be arranged outside the lock housing, provided that an interaction with the selector element is made possible. The electrical means can be arranged in any mounting position within the lock housing.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an electrical means configured as electrical detector means to detect the selector position of the selector element. In addition to the recognition of the selector position, the activation of the release means for releasing the selector element can be detected. The release means for releasing the selector element to operate around the selector element may comprise a handle element which can be operated by hand.

According to a further embodiment, the release means for releasing the selector element comprise a stop element, which is displaceable by the operation of the handle element. Thus, a notch-hook engagement geometry may be provided between the selector element and the stop member. When the handle member is manually operated, the engagement between the selector member and the stop member can be released to allow the selector member to be switched between different selector positions. Consequently, the electrical means may detect the movement of the stop member or, preferably, the engagement between the hook and the notch.

Advantageously, the electrical detector means comprises a tactile detector element which detects the selector position of the selector element. The tactile detector means relates to an embodiment of the electrical detection means as a sensor device, which is based on a mechanical sensing of the selector position. In addition to one tactile detector element, the electrical detector means comprises a contactless detector means such as a magnetic proximity sensor. A further contactless detector means can be provided by an inductive proximity sensor for detecting the selector position or preferably the engagement situation of the release means.

Another embodiment of a contactless detector means may be implemented as a Hall sensor, wherein any type of non-contact detector means such as optical detector means may be disposed within the lock housing.

As for another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electrical means is designed as an electrical switching means to activate or deactivate the function of the selector element. As an alternative to the above-mentioned electrical detection means for detecting the switching state or the functional status of the selector element or the release means, the electrical means may be designed as a switching means to activate or deactivate the selector element or preferably the release means. Consequently, the electrical switching means may be designed to enable or disable the function of the handle element. The lock may comprise a positive engagement element which engages in the handle element, and the handle element may in Result can not be pressed into the release position. Only when the electrical switching means is activated and the positive engagement element is retracted from the positive locking position, the handle element can be operated and the selector element can be released to change its position.

The electrical means may be connected to an external control unit for controlling the switching status of the selector element. In particular, in a building with a large number of different locks with associated selector elements, a control unit may for example be provided in a center of the building, and the control unit may control the operating status of the selector element or the release means, as an alternative, the selector position of the selector element are displayed on a display can. According to a further embodiment, the external control unit may be adapted to disable or enable the selector means release means, wherein the selector member switching status may be disabled or enabled, the switch function being connected to a control function for controlling the actual position of the selector member can.

According to another embodiment, the electrical means within the lock is galvanically isolated with respect to the external control unit. The information about the actual status of the selector element or the information on the activation or deactivation of the selector element or the release means can be transmitted between the external control unit and the electrical means within the lock housing by galvanically isolated means such as a magnetic or an optical transformation.

According to a further embodiment, the electrical means may be connected to the device by means of a transponder technology (RSID technology) communicate external control unit, which forms another type of contactless communication with a galvanic isolation.

A further embodiment of the present invention can be seen in various embodiments of the locking element, which may be formed as a door latch, as a door latch or as a thumb turning unit. In particular, when the selector element is switched to a certain position, the door latch can be locked in a retracted position to disable the door latch.

Fig. 1

ein Ausführungsbeispiel des erfindungsgemäßen Schlosses mit einem Schlossgehäuse zeigt, in dem ein elektrisches Mittel angeordnet ist, das als eine Art Detektor- oder Schaltmittel ausgeführt sein kann;

Fig. 2

ein Ausführungsbeispiel des Schlosses gemäß Figur 1 zeigt, wobei das elektrische Mittel als elektrisches Detektormittel ausgebildet ist und

Fig. 3

ein Ausführungsbeispiel des Schlosses gemäß Figur 1 zeigt, wobei das elektrische Mittel als elektrisches Schaltmittel ausgeführt ist.

Further details, features and advantages of the subject matter of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and the following description of the associated figures, which are shown by way of example only. The figures show preferred embodiments of the invention described in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

an embodiment of the lock according to the invention with a lock housing shows, in which an electrical means is arranged, which may be designed as a kind of detector or switching means;

Fig. 2

an embodiment of the castle according to FIG. 1 shows, wherein the electrical means is designed as an electrical detection means and

Fig. 3

an embodiment of the castle according to FIG. 1 shows, wherein the electrical means is designed as electrical switching means.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the lock 1 according to the present invention. The lock 1 has a lock housing 2, wherein the Top cover is removed to show the locking mechanism, which is housed within the lock housing 2. The lock housing 2 has a face plate 3 which forms the front side of the lock 1 in an assembled state, for example within a door leaf. The locking mechanism has a locking element and a driver element 4, wherein the locking element (not shown) in the lock housing 2 by a rotation of the driver element 4 is retractable. Furthermore, the locking mechanism has a selector element 5, which is displaceable between different selector positions A, B and C, wherein the selector element 5 is shown in its first position A. Depending on the selector position A, B or C, the lock 1 may have different functional properties, which may relate to a blocking of the mechanical connection between the transmission element 4 and the locking element, a blocking of the door latch, etc.

The displacement of the selector 5 can be carried out by an activation of the release means, which comprises a handling element 7, which can be understood as part of the closing mechanism and which is arranged within a recess in the forend 3. The handling element 7 projects out of the forend and is manually movable between an engagement position and a release position, wherein the handling element 7 can be pressed by hand vertically into the forend. Only when the handle member 7 is pressed into the forend 3, the selector element 5 can be switched between the positions A, B or C.

In order to recognize the position of the selector element 5 or to enable or prevent the switching of the selector element 5 between the selector positions A, B or C, an electrical means 6 for interaction with the selector element 5 is provided. The selector element 5 has a connecting part 8 to to provide a mechanical-electrical connection between the selector element 5 and the electrical means 6. As shown, the connecting part 8 may be an extended part of the selector element 5, which extends into the electrical means 6, wherein the connecting part 8 is moved with the selector element 5. Consequently, the electrical means 6 for detecting the selector position A, B or C is carried out, wherein the electrical means 6 is alternatively designed for switching the selector element 5 between the positions A, B or C. The electrical means 6 has a wiring 9, wherein the wiring is led out of the lock housing 2, for example, to an external control unit out.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the electrical means 6, which is designed as a contactless electrical detector means 6a. The contactless detector means may be embodied as a magnetic proximity sensor, as an inductive proximity sensor, as a Hall sensor or in accordance with any other type of contactless sensor for determining the position of the selector element 5. The electrical detector means 6a cooperates with a detector element 10, the electrical means 6 being mounted in an immovable position within the lock housing 2 and the detector element 10 being mounted on the selector element 5 and following the movement of the selector element 5. Consequently, the distance between the detector element 10 and the electrical detection means 6a depends on the selector position A, B or C, and the electrical detection means 6a can provide information about the selector position by measuring the distance to the detector element 10.

The release means with the handle element 7 is shown in an activated state, wherein the handle element 7 is pressed into the forend 3 of the lock housing 2. The release means comprises a stop element 11, wherein between the stop element 11 and the Selector element 5 an engagement geometry with different notches 12 a, 12 b and a hook 13 is formed. When the stopper member 11 is activated to release the selector member 5, the hook 13 of the selector member 5 does not engage any one of the notches 12a, 12b, and the selector member 5 is movable between the various selector positions A, B or C. As an alternative, the detector element 10 may be accommodated on the stubble core 11, and the release state of the stop element 11 can be detected by the electrical detector means 6a. The stop member 11 is pivotable about a pivot axis 14, and the electrical detector means 6a can provide information about the selector position or the activation state of the release means via the wiring 9 to an external control unit.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the lock according to the invention with a lock housing 2, in which an electrical means 6 is arranged, which is designed as electrical switching means 6b. By way of example only, the electrical means 6b is disposed between the face plate 3 and the selector element 5 and cooperates with an engagement element 15 arranged to engage the handle element 7. By engagement of the engagement element 15 in the handle element 7 a positive connection between the element 15 and the element 7 is formed, and the handle element 7 can not be pressed into the forend 3. Consequently, it is not possible to activate the release means for releasing the selector element, and the selector position A, B or C can not be switched.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth above, which are given by way of example only, and may be embodied in various ways within the scope of the present invention as defined by the dependent claims is determined to be changed. Consequently, the invention is also applicable to various embodiments of the lock 1, for example with a linearly movable door latch, with a pivoting door latch or with a thumb turn unit or with a handle, which cooperates with a transmission element 4.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

lock

2

lock housing

3

stulp

4

dogging

5

selector element

6

electrical means

6a

electrical detector means

6b

electrical switching means

7

Handle element

8th

connecting part

9

cabling

10

detector element

11

stop element

12a, 12b

score

13

hook

14

swivel axis

15

engaging member

A

first selector element

B

second selector element

C

third selector element

Claims (13)

1. A lock (1) for a door, a window or suchlike with a lock housing (2) which has a sleeve (3), whereby arranged within the lock housing (2) are a locking mechanism with a bolt element and a catch element (4) for interacting with a locking cylinder, and also comprises a selector element (5) which can be manually moved between at least two selector positions (A, B, C) in order to change the functional properties of the lock (1), characterised in that
   at least one electrical device (6) for interacting with the selector element (5) is provided and the locking mechanism comprises an operating element (7) to release the selector element (5) in such a way that the operating element (7) has to be activated before the selector element (5) can be moved between the selector positions (A, B, C), whereby the operating element (7) is accommodated in a movable manner within the selector element (5).
2. The lock (1) in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the electrical device (6) is designed as part of the locking mechanism and is accommodated within the lock housing (2).
3. The lock (1) in accordance with any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the electrical device (6) is designed as an electrical detector device (6a) in order to determine the selector position (A, B, C) of the selector element (5).
4. The lock (1) in accordance with claim 3, characterised in that the electrical detector device (6a) comprise a tactile detector element that recognises the selector position (A, B, C) of the selector element (5).
5. The lock (1) in accordance with any one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the electrical detector device (6a) comprises a contactless detector device such as a magnetic proximity sensor.
6. The lock (1) in accordance with any one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the electrical detector device (6a) comprises an inductive proximity sensor in order to recognise the selector position (A, B, C) of the selector element (5).
7. The lock (1) in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the direction of movement of the operating element (7) is perpendicular to the direction of movement of the selector element (5).
8. The lock (1) in accordance with claim 1 or 7, characterised in that the interaction between the electrical device (6) and the selector element (5) takes place via the operating element (7), whereby the electrical device (6) is arranged to recognise an activation of the operating element (7).
9. The lock (1) in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the electrical device (6) is designed as an electrical switching device (6b) in order to activate or to deactivate the function of the selector element (5).
10. The lock (1) in accordance with claim 9, characterised in that the electrical switching device (6b) is designed to release or to block the function of the operating element (7).
11. The lock (1) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electrical device (6) can be combined with an external control unit in order to control the switching mode of the selector element (5).
12. The lock (1) in accordance with claim 11, characterised in that within the lock (1) the electrical device (6) is galvanically separated from the external control unit.
13. The lock (1) in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bolt element is designed as a door handle, whereby the functional properties of the lock (1) relate to a calmped door handle position in order to fix the door handle in a retracted position when the selector element (5) is switched into a certain position (A, B, C).

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