EP3749818B1

EP3749818B1 - Adjustable spring latch for locks

Info

Publication number: EP3749818B1
Application number: EP18720024.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matteo Fabbri
Original assignee: CISA SpA
Current assignee: CISA SpA
Priority date: 2018-02-07
Filing date: 2018-02-07
Publication date: 2022-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 2038-02-07
Also published as: ES2915509T3; EP3749818A1; WO2019155498A1

Description

The present invention relates to an adjustable spring latch for locks. Locks are generally constituted by a box-like body that contains a plurality of kinetic mechanisms actuated by a cylinder (a cylinder lock) and/or by a handle for moving a sliding latch and a spring latch.
The door leaf (the door, for example) on which the lock is installed can therefore be opened only by acting on the cylinder and/or on the handle: if the sliding latches are extracted, it will be necessary to make them return (via the rotation of the key in the cylinder or, in particular technical solutions, with a specific movement of the handle) and, in any case, it will be necessary to act specifically to make the spring latch return (specific rotation of the key in the cylinder and/or rotation of the handle). If the spring latch does not enter into the shape of the box-like body of the lock (therefore exiting from the respective opening present in the strike plate of the jamb) then the door leaf cannot be opened.
Obviously, at the time of installation of the lock, the presence of plays (gaps of imprecise breadth) between the door leaf and the frame can determine the non-insertion or partial insertion of the spring latch into the respective accommodation cavity defined in the frame (on the jamb).
For this reason the use is known of locks in which it is possible to adjust the protrusion of the spring latch, which is coupled to a cursor, accommodated inside the box-like body, which is designed to move it, by way of a screw engaged in a corresponding threading present in a longitudinal hole of the spring latch proper.
By screwing and unscrewing such screw it is possible to adjust the protrusion of the front of the spring latch from the box-like body and, in particular, from the door leaf of installation.
Such adjustable spring latches are known from US 5 489 128 , FR 2 628 782 or FR 2 597 539 .
This implementation solution results in some problems, which in some cases can be considerable.
In particular, when the spring latch is adjusted in the configuration of minimum protrusion from the box-like body, it can happen that the screw can end up in protrusion with respect to the shape of the spring latch, thus compromising the correct operation of the lock.
Furthermore, if the lock is to be inverted (thus mirror-symmetrically inverting the respective direction of opening), then the spring latch will need to be removed: in such configuration the screw remains facing outward and, given its narrow diameter, it can be easily damaged as a consequence of involuntary impacts. Damage to the screw on which the spring latch is coupled can render the entire lock unusable.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing an adjustable spring latch for locks that can be easily arranged in any configuration comprised between that of maximum protrusion and that of minimum protrusion.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an adjustable spring latch for locks that can easily be inverted without exposing any delicate part of the lock during such operations.
Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable spring latch for locks that permits adjustments of the protrusion even to a considerable extent.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable spring latch for locks which is low cost, easily and practically implemented and safe in use.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by an adjustable spring latch for locks that comprise a box-like body inside which lever mechanisms are functionally associated for actuating at least one spring latch and at least one sliding latch, both of which can move from a retracted configuration to a protruding configuration with respect to said box-like body, said adjustable spring latch comprising a through hole, aligned with the direction of sliding within the lock, for rotatably accommodating a tubular element which is provided with an internal threading, a fixed threaded pin, integral with a respective lever mechanism for actuating said spring latch, being externally threaded for coupling to said tubular element, the screwing and the unscrewing of said tubular element on said threaded pin causing the sliding of said spring latch between a configuration of maximum protrusion and a configuration of minimum protrusion with respect to said box-like body, said tubular element is externally grooved, said through hole of said spring latch being intercepted by a transverse channel for accommodating a locking prong for locking said tubular element, in the locked configuration said prong being interfering with the at least one groove of said tubular element, preventing translations thereof and permitting rotations thereof about its axis of symmetry.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the adjustable spring latch for locks according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional front elevation view taken along a vertical plane of a spring latch according to the invention installed in the respective lock;
Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view from above taken along a horizontal plane of the spring latch in Figure 1.

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an adjustable spring latch for locks A.
The locks A comprise a box-like body B inside which lever mechanisms are functionally associated for actuating at least one spring latch and at least one sliding latch, both of which can move from a retracted configuration to a protruding configuration with respect to the box-like body B.
The spring latch 1 comprises a through hole 2, aligned with the direction of sliding within the lock A, for rotatably accommodating a tubular element 3 which is provided with an internal threading.
A fixed threaded pin 4, integral with a respective lever mechanism for actuating the spring latch 1, is externally threaded for coupling to the tubular element 3.
In particular, the screwing and unscrewing of the tubular element 3 on the threaded pin 4 causes the sliding of the spring latch 1 between a configuration of maximum protrusion and a configuration of minimum protrusion with respect to the box-like body B.
The tubular element 3 is externally grooved.
The through hole 2 of the spring latch 1 is intercepted by a transverse channel 5 for accommodating a prong 6 for locking the tubular element 3.
In particular, when the condition in which the element 3 is locked arises (in reality it would be more correct to say that it is a constrained condition, in that the element 3 can rotate with respect to its own axis but cannot translate) the prong 6 interferes with the at least one groove 7, 8 of the tubular element 3, preventing translations thereof and permitting rotations thereof about its axis of symmetry.
The external grooves 7, 8 of the tubular element 3 can positively be at least two in number, for accommodating a portion of a respective prong 6, inserted into the channel 5 of the spring latch 1, according to different locked configurations which correspond to different protrusions of the spring latch 1 from the box-like body B.
In particular, referring to the example shown in the accompanying figures (which constitutes only one of the possible implementations, and does not place any limitation on the scope of protection defined by the claims), if the portion of prong 6 is accommodated inside the groove 7 then the protrusion of the spring latch 1 from the box-like body B will be considerable, while if the prong 6 is accommodated inside the groove 8 then the protrusion of the spring latch 1 will be less.
Obviously, with respect to the conditions of protrusion determined by the groove of the element 3 that accommodates a portion of the prong 6, an additional adjustment of the protrusion will be possible via the screwing/unscrewing of the element 3 on the pin 4.
By virtue of such mode of construction, the possibility exists of adjusting the protrusion of the spring latch 1 from the box-like body B within very wide margins (there will be an adjustment range that is substantially broader than that offered by conventional implementation solutions).
With particular reference to the possible implementation of the present invention, it should be noted that the tubular element 3 can positively present, on its front directed toward the outside in the configuration of use, a shaping, of the type preferably selected from at least one notch (9), a toothing, a predefined shape structure and the like.
The particular shaping that is present on the end front of the element 3 will enable the corresponding mating with a tool, of substantially complementary shape and dimensions, which is adapted to adjust the protrusion of the spring latch 1 from the box-like body B (through the rotation of the element 3, with consequent screwing or unscrewing thereof with respect to the pin 4).
In terms of implementation it should be noted that the tubular element 3 can advantageously be made of material preferably selected from metals, metal alloys, polymers, composite materials, ceramic materials, sintered materials and combinations thereof.
Furthermore, it should be noted that the through hole 2 of the spring latch 1 has its axis coinciding with the straight line according to which the median sagittal plane and the front plane of the spring latch 1 proper intersect.
Such particular symmetrical and central arrangement of the hole 2 ensures that the spring latch 1 can be conveniently insertable into the respective cavity of the box-like body B according to two separate, mutually mirror-symmetrical configurations.
The spring latch 1 can, that is to say, be mounted according to one of the two possible directions of opening of the door leaf in which the lock A will be installed.
When the spring latch 1 is removed for its inversion (in order to change, that is to say, the direction of opening of the lock A in which the spring latch 1 is installed) in reality a set of components comprising the spring latch 1 proper, the tubular element 3, and the prong 6 is extracted from the lock A. The threaded pin 4 will not protrude from the box-like body B when the aforesaid set of components is removed, and therefore it will be protected from accidental impacts that could occur during the operations to invert the spring latch 1.
It should be noted that the threaded pin 4 is conveniently integral with the rod C (generally known in the sector as a spring latch rod) which can slide within the box-like body B as a result of actuating at least one component selected from the handle and the key inserted in the rotor of the actuation cylinder.
Advantageously the present invention solves the above mentioned problems, by providing an adjustable spring latch 1 for locks A that can be easily arranged in any configuration comprised between that of maximum protrusion and that of minimum protrusion.
As seen previously, such adjustment can be carried out by way of screwing/unscrewing the element 3 on the pin 4 and/or by way of coupling the element 3 to the spring latch 1 using different grooves 7, 8 which are present on the element 3 and are adapted to engage a portion of the prong 6 inserted into the channel 5 (which interferes with the hole 2).
Conveniently the spring latch 1 according to the invention can be inverted easily without exposing any delicate part of the lock A during such operations: as seen previously the pin 4 remains within the shape of the box-like body B.
Conveniently the adjustable spring latch 1 according to the invention also makes it possible to adjust the protrusion to a considerable extent, by virtue of the possibility of coupling the element 3 to the hole 2 according to different configurations corresponding to the different grooves 7, 8 that are present on the element 3 proper (which partially accommodate the prong 6 for coupling the element 3 to the spring latch 1).
Positively the adjustable spring latch 1 for locks described up to this point is easily and practically implemented and is low cost: such characteristics make the spring latch 1 according to the invention an innovation that is certain to be safe in use.
The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.
In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.
Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and/or signs, those reference numerals and/or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and/or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and/or signs.

Claims

An adjustable spring latch for locks (A) that comprise a box-like body (B) inside which lever mechanisms are functionally associated for actuating at least one spring latch (1) and at least one sliding latch, both of which can move from a retracted configuration to a protruding configuration with respect to said box-like body (B), said adjustable spring latch comprising a through hole (2), aligned with the direction of sliding within the lock (A), for rotatably accommodating a tubular element (3) which is provided with an internal threading, a fixed threaded pin (4), integral with a respective lever mechanism for actuating said spring latch (1), being externally threaded for coupling to said tubular element (3), the screwing and the unscrewing of said tubular element (3) on said threaded pin (4) causing the sliding of said spring latch (1) between a configuration of maximum protrusion and a configuration of minimum protrusion with respect to said box-like body (B),
characterized in that said tubular element (3) is externally grooved, said through hole (2) of said spring latch (1) being intercepted by a transverse channel (5) for accommodating a locking prong (6) for locking said tubular element (3), in the locked configuration said prong (6) being interfering with the at least one groove (7, 8) of said tubular element (3), preventing translations thereof and permitting rotations thereof about its axis of symmetry.
The adjustable spring latch according to claim 1, characterized in that said external grooves (7, 8) of said tubular element (3) are at least two in number, for accommodating a portion of a respective prong (6), inserted into said channel (5) of said spring latch (1), according to different locked configurations which correspond to different protrusions of said spring latch (1) from said box-like body (B).
The adjustable spring latch according to claim 1, characterized in that said tubular element (3) presents, on its front directed toward the outside in the configuration of use, a shaping, of the type preferably selected from at least one notch (9), a toothing, a predefined shape structure and the like, for mating with a tool, of substantially complementary shape and dimensions, which is adapted to adjust the protrusion of said spring latch (1).
The adjustable spring latch according to claim 1, characterized in that said tubular element (3) is made of a material preferably selected from metals, metal alloys, polymers, composite materials, ceramic materials, sintered materials and combinations thereof.
The adjustable spring latch according to claim 1, characterized in that said through hole (2) of said spring latch (1) has its axis coinciding with the straight line according to which the median sagittal plane and the front plane of said spring latch (1) intersect, said spring latch (1) being insertable into the respective cavity of said box-like body (B) according to two separate, mutually mirror-symmetrical configurations.
The adjustable spring latch according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said threaded pin (4) is integral with the rod (C) of the spring latch which can slide within said box-like body (B) as a result of actuating at least one component selected from the handle and the key inserted in the rotor of the actuation cylinder.