EP2642048B1

EP2642048B1 - Reinforced lock device

Info

Publication number: EP2642048B1
Application number: EP13159876.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nefad Avdic
Original assignee: Assa Oem AB
Current assignee: Assa Oem AB
Priority date: 2012-03-20
Filing date: 2013-03-19
Publication date: 2018-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-19
Also published as: EP2642048A2; SE536338C2; SE1250268A1; EP2642048A3

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a lock device comprising a lock case and a forend, which lock case is arranged for mortise mounting in a door leaf. The invention relates specifically to a lock device of this kind which has high security and resistance to forced break-open attempts.

Background and prior art

Many locks which are intended for outer doors and entrance doors, in which relatively high security is desired, are configured as so-called mortise locks. In such mortise mounting, the door leaf has a recess which is disposed between the inner and outer side of the door leaf and which opens out into that narrow side of the door leaf which is facing towards a striking plate disposed in the door frame. The mortise locks usually comprise a lock case, which, in mounted position, is accommodated in the recess in the door leaf, and a forend, which is fixed to the lock case. The forend is usually recessed in the narrow side of the door leaf, so that it does not project from the door leaf in the direction of the frame.
The lock case is usually configured as a cuboid and comprises two opposing first walls, which are parallel with the principal plane of the door leaf and which constitute the wide sides of the door leaf. Extending between the two first walls are four wall portions, which are situated opposite one another in pairs and constitute the narrow sides of the lock case. The wall portions of the lock case define an inner space in which various lock components are accommodated and mounted. The two first walls can respectively each be disposed in a lock case half, which lock case halves can be separably mounted to form the lock case. The parts which form the lock case are usually made of bent plate. The lock case is sometimes referred to as lock casing and the two lock case halves can then be termed the casing bottom and casing cover respectively.
The forend is usually constituted by a high-strength flat iron. According to the prior art, the forend can be fixed to the lock case in different ways. For example, a forend in the form of a flat iron can be fixed to the lock case by means of screws, which extend through the forend and which are threaded into the wall portions of the lock case which extend parallel with and along the forend. In another example, the lock comprises a so-called forend unit, which is constituted by a flat iron, and a U-beam, which is fixed by its bottom side to the flat iron by means of, for example, rivets, screws or welding. The forend unit can be fixed to the lock case by means of screws, which extend through the wide sides of the lock case and the side members of the U-beam. EP1436475B1 gives an example of such a configuration.
FR 2 787 488 A1 discloses a mortise lock comprising a lock case and a forend which is fixed to a reinforcement element arranged inside the lock case and fixed to the lock case.
In modern locks of this type, in which high security is desired, the lock bolt can be configured as a hook bolt, which is pivotably mounted in the lock case. In the locked position, the hook bolt encloses a corresponding part of the striking plate, wherein an engagement between bolt and striking plate, which engagement is very resistant to attempts to break open the door, is achieved. Also at other bolt types, such as linearly movable dead bolts and latch bolts, in modern locks and striking plates a relatively strong engagement between bolt and striking plate is achieved. Even though such strong engagement between bolt and striking plate is often, of course, an advantage in security terms, it gives rise to increased requirements with regard to security and strength in the other parts and components of the lock device.

Summary of the invention

One object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved lock device comprising a lock case and a forend.
Another object is to provide a lock device of this kind which offers high strength and improved security.
A further object is to provide a lock device of this kind which has high resistance to break-open attempts.
Yet another object is to provide a lock device of this kind which has high resistance to deformation of the lock case.
One more object is to provide a lock device of this kind with which the risk of the lock bolt and/or the forend being separated from the lock case is reduced.
A further object is to provide a lock device of this kind which is simple and relatively cheap to produce.
These and other objects are obtained with a lock device of the type which is specified in the introductory part of Claim 1 and which has the special technical features specified in the characterizing part of the claim. The lock device comprises a lock case and a forend. The lock case is arranged for mortise mounting in a door leaf and defines an inner space, in which a number of lock components are accommodated. The forend is fixed to the lock case and to a first reinforcement member, which is accommodated in the inner space. According to the invention, the first reinforcement member has means for fixing the reinforcement member to the door leaf.
Essentially, in comparison to the prior art, two advantages are hereby achieved. Since the forend is fixed to the first reinforcement member, which in turn is fixable directly to the door leaf, a substantially improved securement of the forend is achieved. Such firm securement of the forend ensures that the lock bolt does not come loose from the lock device so as thereby to allow the door to be broken over when the bolt is in engagement with a striking plate. Moreover, the first reinforcement member constitutes a stiffening of the lock case, which helps to prevent the lock case from being bent or otherwise deformed when the locked door is subjected to a break-open attempt.
Modern locks and striking plates achieve a strong engagement between bolt and striking plate. A common way of attempting to break open doors is to introduce a crowbar, such as a jemmy or the like, into the door chink between the door leaf and the frame piece provided with the striking plate. When a force is applied to the crowbar in a direction for forcing the door leaf in the direction of opening, the bearing contact between a side face of the bolt and striking plate will generate a turning force upon the lock case. This force endeavours to bend the lock case along a line extending through the lock case, in parallel with the forend and just inside the forend. Where the bolt is constituted by a hook bolt which, in locked-out position, extends through a lock bolt opening in the forend and is in hooked engagement with the striking plate, in the event of a break-open attempt, moreover, a force which endeavours to pull the hook bolt in the direction out of the lock case, through the lock bolt opening in the forend, is generated. Since, in the event of such withdrawal, the inner parts of the hook bolt, which are larger in size than the lock bolt opening, force the forend outwards, it can happen that the fixing of the forend to the lock case gives way, whereupon the hook bolt comes loose from the lock case and door can be opened.
By virtue of the first reinforcement member, which according to the present invention is disposed in the lock case, both of these drawbacks are countered in an effective, secure, space-saving, simple and relatively cheap manner.
The means for fixing the first reinforcement member to the door leaf may comprise a fixing hole which is made in the first reinforcement member and which is arranged in accordance with at least one corresponding opening in the lock case for reception of a fixing member which can be received by the first reinforcement member and by the door leaf. This allows the use of a simple fixing member which extends from the door leaf through at least one lock case wall to the first reinforcement member.
Such a fixing hole may be through penetrating and arranged in line with two openings made in the lock case on either side of the reinforcement member. Firm fixing is hereby enabled in a simple manner by fixation of the reinforcement member in two parts of the door leaf which are disposed on either side of the lock case.
The lock device may comprise a fixing member which is configured to extend through the door leaf, the openings in the lock case and the fixing hole of the reinforcement member. A single fixing member can hereby be used to securely fix the first reinforcement member in the door leaf on either side of the lock case. If the fixing member extends continuously through the door leaf, the fixing member can be easily fitted from the inner side of the door leaf.
The forend may be fixed to the first fixing member by means of a screw which extends through the forend and which is threaded into the first reinforcement member. A simple and yet secure fixing of the forend to the first reinforcement member is hereby achieved.
The first reinforcement member is expediently made of metal. In this way, a high strength of the first reinforcement member is achieved, whereby both bending of the lock case and possible separation of the forend from the lock case are effectively prevented.
The first reinforcement member is expediently of solid configuration. The strength of the first reinforcement member is hereby further increased.
The first reinforcement member may extend a distance from the forend into the inner space. A reinforcement of the lock case precisely in those portions which, in the event of a break-open attempt, are subjected to high forces intent on bending the lock case around a line extending in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the forend is hereby effectively obtained.
The forend is expediently fixed to the first reinforcement member in the vicinity of a lock bolt opening disposed in the forend. Securement of the forend to the lock case is hereby achieved precisely at the point where the lock bolt will force the forend in the direction of the striking plate should a break-open attempt succeed in destroying or deforming other means by which the lock bolt is fixed to the lock case.
The forend can further be fixed to a second reinforcement member extending a little way from the forend into the inner space. A further reinforcement of the lock case, which combats bending of the lock case, is hereby achieved.
The second reinforcement member can be fixed to the lock case by means of at least one projecting pin disposed on the second reinforcement member, which pin engages with a corresponding recess in the lock case. In this way, the forend is also prevented from being separated from the lock case, for example in the event of a break-open attempt.
The forend can be fixed to a third reinforcement member extending a distance from the forend into the inner space. An even better reinforcement of the lock case, which combats bending of the lock case, is hereby achieved.
In order to provide a secure lock device which is relatively simple to produce and mount, the lock case may comprise two mutually opposing first wall portions, which are arranged to, in mounted position, extend substantially in parallel with the principal plane of the door leaf.
Each of the two first wall portions may in this case be disposed on a respective lock case half, which lock case halves are separably joined together.
The lock case may further comprise a number of mutually opposing second wall portions, which extend between the first and second wall portion.
The inner lock space can in this case be defined by the first and second wall portions.
The forend is in this case expediently fixed to at least one of the second wall portions which extend along the forend.
In order to offer a secure and strong engagement between the lock bolt and the striking plate, the lock device may comprise a hook bolt, which, in a position projecting from the lock case, extends through a lock bolt opening in the forend.
Further objects and advantages of the invention emerge from the following detailed description and from the claims.

Description of the figures

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the figures, of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a part of a door leaf on which a lock device according to one embodiment of the invention is disposed,
Fig. 2 is a perspective view on enlarged scale of the lock device shown in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 is a perspective view corresponding to that in Fig. 2 and shows the same lock device with one lock case half removed,
Fig. 4 is an exploded diagram in perspective view of the lock device shown in Figs. 1-3,
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of three details forming part of the lock device shown in Figs. 1-4.

Detailed description of illustrative embodiments

In Figs. 1-5 is shown a lock device 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 illustrates how the lock device 10 is fitted by so-called mortise mounting in a door leaf 1. In the figure, the door leaf 1 is shown from its inner side. To the door leaf 1, a door reinforcement fitting 2 is additionally fixed by means of four screws 2a. A handle 3 is fixed to the door leaf 1 by means of a handle rosette 4. A lock cylinder 5, which extends through an opening in the door reinforcement fitting 2, is fixed by means of fixing screws (not shown) to the lock device 10. The lock device comprises a forend 11, visible in Fig. 1, which is fixed to the door leaf in customary manner by means of screws 12 which extend through the forend and which are threaded into the door leaf 1.
The lock device according to the invention is now described in greater detail below with reference to all Figures 1-5. The lock device 10 also comprises a lock case 13. As can most clearly be seen from Fig. 4, the lock case is formed of two lock case halves 14, 15. One lock case half 14 constitutes a so-called casing bottom and has a first wall 14a, which, in mounted position, is parallel with the principal plane of the door leaf. The lock case half 14 further comprises two pairs of parallel and mutually opposing second wall portions 14b, 14c, 14e, 14d. The second wall portions 14b-d are substantially perpendicular to the first wall 14a. The second lock case half 15 constitutes a so-called casing cover and comprises a first wall which is parallel with and opposite to the first wall 14a of the lock case half 14. The second lock case half further comprises a second wall portion 15b, which is parallel with two of the second wall portions 14b and 14c of the first lock case half 14. The wall portions 14b and 15b overlap and bear against each other, and constitute an, in places, double wall portion of the lock case 13, which wall portion faces towards the forend 11. The two lock case halves 14, 15 are formed in customary fashion of bent metal plates.
The first 14a, 15a and second 14b-e, 15b wall portions define an inner lock case space, in which a number of lock components are accommodated.
In the shown illustrative embodiment, these lock components comprise a handle follower unit 16, to which the handle 3 is coupled, and a cylinder follower unit 17, to which the lock cylinder 5 shown in Fig. 1 and a corresponding lock cylinder (not shown), disposed on the outer side of the door, are coupled. A lock bolt, which in the shown example is constituted by a pivotable hook bolt 18, is rotatably fixed to the lock case by means of a screw and bushing joint 19a, 19b passing through the lock case. The two first walls 14a, 15a of the lock case have for this purpose corresponding continuous screw and bushing openings 19c. The hook bolt is rotatably movable such that it can be unscrewed through lock bolt openings 22, 23, 24 made in the two second wall portions 14b, 15b and in the forend 11. The illustrative lock device further comprises a pair of traction rods or drivers 20a, 20b, which are coupled to the handle follower unit 16 and to the hook bolt 18 for manoeuvring of the latter. A latch bolt 21 is disposed in the inner space and is axially displaceable through latch bolt openings which are made in the two second wall portions 14b, 15b and in the forend 11.
The two second wall portions 14b and 15b, which are arranged in overlap, parallel with and alongside the forend 11, have screw openings 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b, which are arranged in pairs in line with each other and with corresponding screw openings 27a, 27b of the forend 11. The forend 11 is fixed to the lock case 13 by means of fixing screws 28a, 28b, which extend through the screw openings 27a, 26a, 25a, and 27b, 26b, 25b respectively.
According to the invention, a first reinforcement member 30 is disposed in the inner space of the lock case 13. The first reinforcement member 30 is generally L-shaped and has a first branch 31 and a second branch 32. The two branches 31, 32 are mutually substantially perpendicular and arranged in parallel with the general plane of extent of the first walls 14a, 15a and of the door leaf. The first branch 31 has a threaded screw hole 33, which extends in parallel with the normal to the forend 11, from that end of the first branch 31 which is facing towards the forend 11, a little way into the first branch 31. The second branch 32 has a first continuous fixing hole 34, which extends in parallel with the normal to the general plane of extent of the first walls 14a, 15a and of the door leaf 1. In the vicinity of the connection between the first 31 and the second branch 32 is disposed a second continuous fixing hole 35, substantially in parallel with the first fixing hole 34.
The first reinforcement member 30 is configured as a piece made of solid metal, which in the shown example is constituted by steel. The first reinforcement member 30 further has a form which is adapted to the other components of the lock device and to their motional paths. For example, a recess 32a is made in the second branch 32, which recess 32a is configured to receive a part of the hook bolt 18 and to thereby allow unrestricted mobility for the hook bolt 18.
The forend 11 is fixed to the first reinforcement member 30 by means of a screw 36, which extends through a corresponding hole 36a in the forend and corresponding openings through the second wall portions 14b, 15b and which is threaded into the screw hole 33 in the first branch 31 of the first reinforcement member. The first reinforcement member 30, once the lock device 10 is mounted on a door leaf 1, is in turn fixed directly to the door leaf 1. This fixing to the door leaf 1 is realized by means of a fixing member in the form of a fixing screw 60, which extends continuously through the door reinforcement fitting 2 on the inner side of the door leaf, the door leaf 1, the two first walls 14a, 15a of the lock case and the first fixing hole 34 of the first reinforcement member 30. For this purpose, the two first walls 14a, 15a of the lock case 13 are provided with continuous openings 37. The fixing screw 60 is not, however, accessible from the outer side of the door leaf. That end of the fixing screw 60 which is disposed on the outer side of the door leaf 1 is instead accommodated in a threaded sleeve-shaped part (not shown) of a door reinforcement fitting disposed on the outer side (not shown), which sleeve-shaped part projects into the door leaf 1.
A significant reinforcement of the lock case 13, which combats bending of the lock case, for example around a line which is parallel with the forend 11, is hereby achieved. With the first reinforcement member 30, a secure fixing of the forend 11 is achieved, moreover. This fixing prevents the hook bolt 18, for example in the event of breakage or deformation of the screw-bushing joint 19a, 19b, from dragging along the forend such that both the forend 11 and the hook bolt 18 come loose from the lock case 13.
The first reinforcement member 30 is also used to achieve an improved cohesion of the two first walls 14a, 15a of the lock case 13. For this purpose, a screw-bushing joint 38a, 38b is disposed on the lock case. The screw-bushing joint 38a, 38b extends through custom-made openings 39a, 39b made in the two first walls 14a, 15a, and through the second continuous fixing hole 35 made in the first reinforcement member 30. A further improved deformation resistance and cohesion of components of the lock case 13 is hereby achieved.
The lock device exemplified in the figures further has a second reinforcement member 40. The second reinforcement member 40 is accommodated in the inner space of the lock case and is fixed to the lower part thereof, in the vicinity of the forend 11. The second reinforcement member 40 is made of a solid piece of metal, which in the shown example is constituted by steel. The second reinforcement member 40 is generally cubic and has a threaded screw hole 41, which extends in parallel with the normal to the forend 11. The second reinforcement member 40 also has two projecting pins 42, which are disposed on opposite sides of the second reinforcement member 40 and which are engaged with corresponding openings 43 in the two first walls 14a, 15a of the lock case 13. The forend 11 is fixed to the second fixing member 40 by means of the locking screw 28b, which extends through the opening 27b in the forend and the two openings 25b, 26b in the second wall portions 15b, 14b and which is threaded into the screw hole 41. By virtue of this screw connection and the engagement between the pins 42 and the openings 43, a further reinforcement of the fixing of the forend 11 to the lock case is achieved. Moreover, the second reinforcement member 40 constitutes a further stiffening of the lock case 13, which combats bending and other deformation of the lock case, for example when the door leaf 1 is subjected to break-open attempts.
A third reinforcement member 50 is accommodated in the inner space of the lock case 13 and disposed on the upper part of the lock case, in the vicinity of the forend 11. The third reinforcement member 50, too, is made solidly of metal, which in the shown example is constituted by steel. The third reinforcement member 50, like the second reinforcement member 40, has a threaded screw hole 51 extending in parallel with the normal to the forend 11. The forend 11 is fixed to the third reinforcement member 50 by means of the screw 28a, which extends through the openings 27a, 26a, 25a and which is threaded into the screw hole 51. A further improved fixing of the forend 11 to the lock case 13 is hereby achieved, since the threaded engagement between the screw 28a and the screw hole 51 can be made substantially longer than if, as in the prior art, the screw 28a were only in threaded engagement with the holes 26a and 25a in the second wall portions 14b and 15b. Moreover, a force which endeavours to pull the forend 11 in the direction of its normal away from the lock case is distributed over the relatively large contact surface which is formed between the third reinforcement member 50 and the second wall portion 14b or 15b. Corresponding reinforcement is achieved, furthermore, also in respect of the second reinforcement member 40, in addition to the reinforcement achieved by the engagement of the pins 42 with the openings 43 in the lock case walls 14a, 15a.
Apart from achieving an improved fixing of the forend to the lock case, the third reinforcement member 50 also helps to provide increased stiffness of the lock case. This stiffening further helps to prevent the lock case from being bent or otherwise deformed, for example when the door leaf is subjected to a break-open attempt by means of a jemmy or other breaking tool which is introduced between the door leaf 1 and the frame piece provided with a striking plate.
The fixing of the forend 11 by means of screws 28a, 28b, 36 threaded into one or more of the first 30, second 40 and third 50 reinforcement member further allows these screws to be made with larger dimensions than was previously possible or expedient. As a result, higher strength, and thus security, is also obtained with the lock device according to the invention.
Above, illustrative embodiments of the invention have been described. The invention is not limited to the given description, but can freely be varied within the scope of the following claims. For example, the lock case, instead of being provided with a hook bolt and a latch bolt, can comprise other types of bolts and combinations of bolts. Instead of the lock case being formed of bent metal plates, it can be constituted by other types of components, such as flat wall portions which are welded or otherwise joined together. The lock case can also be constituted by castings or otherwise preformed parts which have been joined together.

Claims

Lock device comprising a lock case (13) and a forend (11), which lock case (13) is arranged for mortise mounting in a door leaf (1) and defines an inner space, in which a number of lock components are accommodated, and which forend (11) is fixed to the lock case (13) and to a first reinforcement member (30), which is accommodated in the inner space, characterized in that the reinforcement member (30) has means for fixing the reinforcement member (30) to the door leaf (1).
Lock device according to Claim 1, in which the means for fixing the first reinforcement member (30) to the door leaf (1) comprises a fixing hole (34) which is made in the first reinforcement member (30) and which is arranged in accordance with at least one corresponding opening (37) in the lock case (13) for reception of a fixing member which can be received by the first reinforcement member (30) and by the door leaf (1).
Lock device according to Claim 2, in which the fixing hole (34) is through penetrating and arranged in line with two openings (37) made in the lock case (13) on either side of the reinforcement member (30).
Lock device according to Claim 3, comprising a fixing member which is configured to extend through the door leaf (1), the openings (37) in the lock case (13) and the fixing hole (34) of the reinforcement member (30).
Lock device according to any one of Claims 1-4, in which the forend (11) is fixed to the first reinforcement member (30) by means of a screw (36) which extends through the forend (11) and which is threaded into the first reinforcement member (30) .
Lock device according to any one of Claims 1-5, in which the first reinforcement member (30) is made of metal.
Lock device according to any one of Claims 1-6, in which the first reinforcement member (30) extends a distance from the forend (11) into the inner space.
Lock device according to any one of Claims 1-7, in which the forend (11) is fixed to the first reinforcement member (30) in the vicinity of a lock bolt opening (24) disposed in the forend.
Lock device according to any one of Claims 1-8, in which the forend (11) is fixed to a second reinforcement member (40) extending a distance from the forend (11) into the inner space.
Lock device according to Claim 9, in which the second reinforcement member (40) is fixed to the lock case (13) by means of at least one projecting pin (42) disposed on the second reinforcement member (40), which pin (42) engages with a corresponding opening (43) in the lock case (13).
Lock device according to Claim 9, in which the forend (11) is fixed to a third reinforcement member (50) extending a distance from the forend (11) into the inner space.
Lock device according to any one of Claims 1-11, in which the lock case (13) comprises two mutually opposing first wall portions (14a, 15a), which are arranged to, in mounted position, extend substantially in parallel with the principal plane of the door leaf (1).
Lock device according to Claim 12, in which each of the two first wall portions (14a, 15a) is disposed on a respective lock case half (14, 15), which lock case halves (14, 15) are separably joined together.
Lock device according to Claim 12 or 13, in which the lock case (13) comprises a number of second wall portions (14b, 14c, 14d, 14e, 15b), which extend between the first and second wall portion (14a, 15a).
Lock device according to Claim 14, in which the forend (11) is fixed to at least one of the second wall portions (14b, 15b) which extend along the forend (11).