EP4183972A1 - Access locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an access locking device comprising:- a panel (1) articulated on a ladder structure by one of its edges between a first state of release of access to the ladder and a second locking state of this access, and provided with means for returning it to its second state, - a lock comprising a first element (2) carried by the panel and a second element carried by the ladder structure, engaged one with the the other in the second state of condemnation of the device so as to block the panel in this second state, characterized in that it comprises two members (3,4) for maneuvering one (2) of said elements to release it from the other against the effect of a return member (F) tending to maintain the aforesaid state of engagement, the first (3) being made maneuverable by the user by opening a padlock, to open the locking panel (2) and which can be rendered non-operable by the same user by closing said padlock (8) after he has opened the panel and the second (4) being freely maneuverable by the user having crossed the sentence.

Description

The present invention relates to an access locking device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is very common to have to forbid access. In fact, certain places protected because they are dangerous, or secure, can only be reached by authorized persons, that is to say having clearance or authorization to access the protected place. In most cases, access is prohibited by means of a locking device which comprises at least one panel or door. Authorization generally consists of holding a key, a badge, a code, etc., which allows the holder to release a lock which retains the panel in its state where it constitutes a normally impassable obstacle for a person without this authorization. Once the panel is unlocked, the user can then maneuver it to clear access to the protected area. The maneuver can be a pivoting, a sliding, a displacement...

The field of the invention is the locking of access to a ladder, either from the ground to climb it, or from an upper platform to access a lower level, in particular below ground level. In what follows, reference will essentially be made to controlling access to a ladder "to climb" but it is not outside the scope of the invention to apply the teaching given below to ladders "to to come down ".

There are many embodiments of the lock and its means of release, from the simplest (the padlock installed between the panel and a fixed structure whose opening is ensured by a key or a code cylinder mechanical) to the most sophisticated (high security locks with electrical or digital control, together with all kinds of means of recognition of the holder of the authorization) ...

In addition, access control devices meet different requirements. For example, certain recommendations or recommendations require that the locking can be or, more demandingly, must be reactivated by the user authorized to cross it, so as to prevent another crossing. In this case, the device should be able to be deactivated by this user when he wishes to leave the protected zone. It has been found that the most widely used lock, because the simplest and least expensive, and of almost universal use, is a panel associated with a padlock. It requires, in fact, no external energy input other than that of the user. The limit of use of this lock resides in the need to be close to the padlock to open or close it. The possibility or, even more, the obligation of a reactivation of the condemnation after the crossing of the access by the user is not possible.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention resides in the means offering at least the possibility, for a locking device with padlock, of a reactivation of this locking behind the user who has just crossed it and by this user himself.

Secondary objectives are also achieved by the invention, in particular that of establishing a constraint for the user so that he can only cross the access after having placed the device in a state which allows automatic activation of locking behind him.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

• un panneau articulé sur une structure d'échelle par l'un de ses bords entre un premier état de dégagement de l'accès à l'échelle et un second état de condamnation de cet accès, et pourvu de moyens de son rappel dans son deuxième état,
• un verrou comportant un premier élément de verrou porté par le panneau et un second élément de verrou porté par structure d'échelle, engagés l'un avec l'autre dans le second état de condamnation du dispositif de manière à bloquer le panneau dans ce second état.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an access locking device comprising:

• a panel articulated on a ladder structure by one of its edges between a first state of release of the access to the ladder and a second state of locking of this access, and provided with means for its return in its second state,
• a latch comprising a first latch element carried by the panel and a second latch element carried by the ladder structure, engaged with each other in the second locking state of the device so as to lock the panel in this second state.

The device comprises two operating members of one of said lock elements to disengage it from the other of said lock elements against the effect of a return member tending to maintain the aforesaid state of engagement . The first maneuvering member is arranged to be made maneuverable by the user by opening a padlock, to open the locking panel, and can be made non-manoeuvrable by the same user by closing said padlock after it opened the panel. The second operating member is arranged to be freely maneuverable by the user having crossed the condemnation.

It is possible to envisage numerous embodiments of the device according to the invention and in particular of the aforementioned lock elements.

Thus, the lock element provided with the maneuvering member is either mounted movable relative to the structure of the ladder, or mounted movable relative to the panel.

In different embodiments of the device of the invention, the lock element equipped with the operating member is movable relative to the panel. These embodiments are the preferred ones of the invention because they lend themselves better to equipping ladder locking devices, in particular with crinoline, which consist of a panel surmounted by a cover, at the level of which the second maneuvering member of this lock element is formed by a release pedal.

In one of these embodiments, the first lock element comprises a bolt mounted to slide on the panel so as to project under the effect of a return member outside the edge of the panel opposite to its articulation in order to be able to penetrate into said second latch element in the form of a keeper carried by the ladder structure. This bolt is provided with a first abutment for a first movable drive abutment carried by said first member for maneuvering the bolt against the effect of its return member, and a second abutment for a second abutment mobile drive also against the effect of its return member, coupled by means of a transmission chain, such as a linkage, to a pedal which is located at the top of the panel and which forms said second operation, the first drive stop being immobilized on the panel by means of the aforesaid padlock. According to a first variant, the padlock is placed between a fixed lug of the panel and a lug secured to the first operating member of the bolt.

According to a second variant, the padlock constitutes the locking means of a cover which folds over a pull tab of the first operating member projecting from the outer face of the panel.

The embodiments above illustrate devices which offer the user the possibility, of a reactivation by the user himself of the blocking that he has just unlocked and is about to cross. The invention also relates to more complete devices which meet the requirement, not only of a possibility, but of an obligation of reactivating the condemnation when it has just been deactivated. Thus, in the embodiment which provides for a bolt mounted sliding on the panel to protrude under the effect of a return member outside the edge of the panel opposite to its articulation in order to be able to penetrate into a keeper carried by the ladder structure, said bolt being provided with a first abutment, according to this new embodiment, the aforesaid first drive abutment belongs to a bolt which slides relative to the panel when the padlock is withdrawn, over a fraction of the race, less than that necessary for complete release of the bolt from the striker, limited for this purpose by a latch carried by said panel and movable between two states, one active reached when the padlock is removed and the other inactive when the padlock is put back in place and closed after the bolt has traveled said fraction of the race, then authorizing the continuation of its race until the complete release of the bolt from the striker is obtained.

In this embodiment, the panel comprises a fixed sheath in which slides a bolt locking lug. The lug is pushed into an active state by the handle of the padlock passing through the sheath and into an inactive retracted state under the effect of a return spring, the lug cooperating with a pawl carried by the bolt opposing the sliding of the latter in the direction of the unlocking of the device and escaping the lug in a reverse sliding of the latch, the aforesaid latch having an operating pusher located near the sheath to be pushed back by the body of the closed padlock whose handle is engaged in the sheath and thus maintain the latch in its second inactive state. The latch is thus maintained in its inactive state when the padlock, the handle of which is engaged in the sheath, is closed and the body of which acts on the pusher of the latch.

Of course, the invention also relates to embodiments functionally reversed with respect to those mentioned above, namely that the fixed striker is replaced by a fixed bolt and that the movable bolt is replaced by a sliding wall of the striker.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description given below of examples illustrating without limitation devices in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• La figure 1 est un premier schéma du mécanisme de base de l'invention ;
• La figure 2 illustre une première réalisation de ce mécanisme de base dans laquelle l'organe de manœuvre possède une patte pour son cadenassage sur le panneau, cette exemple de réalisation illustrant l'invention dans sa version qui permet sans obligation de recondamner l'accès par l'usager avant qu'il le franchisse ;
• La figure 3a illustre une deuxième réalisation dans laquelle l'organe de manœuvre est rendu inaccessible par un capot cadenassable sur le panneau, cette exemple de réalisation illustrant également l'invention dans sa version qui permet sans obligation de recondamner l'accès par l'usager avant qu'il le franchisse ;
• La figure 3b illustre une deuxième réalisation dans laquelle l'organe de manœuvre est rendu inaccessible par un capot cadenassable sur le panneau, cette exemple de réalisation illustrant également l'invention dans sa version qui permet sans obligation de recondamner l'accès par l'usager avant qu'il le franchisse ;
• La figure 4 illustre par une vue extérieure une réalisation du mécanisme de l'invention répondant à l'obligation de recondamnation par l'usager avant qu'il n'ait franchi l'accès ;
• La figure 5 illustre des détails de la réalisation de la figure 4 ;
• La figure 6 illustre des détails de la réalisation de la figure 4 ;
• La figure 7 illustre des détails de la réalisation de la figure 4 ;
• La figure 8 illustre des détails de la réalisation de la figure 4 ;
• La figure 9 enfin illustre par une vue extérieure une autre variante de réalisation.

The invention will be better understood from the description and the drawings given below. Reference will be made to the figures in which:

• There figure 1 is a first diagram of the basic mechanism of the invention;
• There figure 2 illustrates a first embodiment of this basic mechanism in which the maneuvering member has a lug for padlocking it on the panel, this example embodiment illustrating the invention in its version which allows the user to recondemn access without obligation before he crosses it;
• There picture 3a illustrates a second embodiment in which the maneuvering member is made inaccessible by a padlockable cover on the panel, this embodiment also illustrating the invention in its version which allows without obligation to recondamn access by the user before he crosses it;
• There figure 3b illustrates a second embodiment in which the maneuvering member is made inaccessible by a padlockable cover on the panel, this embodiment also illustrating the invention in its version which allows without obligation to recondamn access by the user before he crosses it;
• There figure 4 illustrates by an external view an embodiment of the mechanism of the invention responding to the obligation of reconviction by the user before he has crossed the access;
• There figure 5 illustrates details of the realization of the figure 4 ;
• There figure 6 illustrates details of the realization of the figure 4 ;
• There figure 7 illustrates details of the realization of the figure 4 ;
• There figure 8 illustrates details of the realization of the figure 4 ;
• There figure 9 finally illustrates by an external view another alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To the figure 1 , the drawing shows the part of the locking mechanism of the invention without the panel, that is to say the lock as mentioned above. This part is arranged behind panel 1, visible to figures 2 to 4 , like an ordinary lock. This panel is articulated on the fixed structure of the ladder around a horizontal or vertical edge axis, located opposite the edge carrying the lock

This latch comprises a bolt 2 which protrudes outside the edge la of the panel 1 to engage in a keeper 24 carried by the fixed structure E of the ladder. The bevel 2a of this bolt allows its automatic engagement in the striker under the effect of a return member symbolized by the arrow F when the panel folds against the ladder, either manually or by means of a return member (spring hinges, cylinder, etc.) in a known manner .

The bolt 2 has a first stop 2b and a second stop 2c. The stop 2b cooperates with a first movable drive stop 3a carried by a bolt 3 which forms the first element for maneuvering the bolt against the effect of its return member F. This bolt 3 is also subject to the effect of a member G of its return to a state of rest which allows its immobilization with respect to the panel 2 by means of a padlock shown in the following figures. A second stop 2c, cooperates with a second movable stop 4, shown here schematically because it is a well-known mechanism for opening the locking panel which comprises a pedal P located at the top of this panel and a chain 5 of motion transmission with return to transform a depression of the pedal P into a movement of the bolt against its return member F. The motion transmission chain 5 may comprise a linkage but also flexible links such as a cable or a chain, or rotating elements like pulleys or gears. The bolt 3 comprises a pull tab 6 which passes through the panel 2 so that it can be padlocked and/or manipulated by a user.

There figure 2 thus illustrates the pull tab 6 secured to a tab 7 secured to the panel 2 by a padlock 8. Access can therefore only be unlocked by the holder of the key or holder of the padlock opening code. The pull tab 6 can then be moved to the left of the figure and drive the bolt 2 by the stop 2a in order to disengage it from the striker where it is located. The user having opened the panel 1, releases the pull tab 6 and the latter as well as the bolt 2 return to their initial state in which the pull tab can be padlocked. The user can then cross the access and the panel 1 can be folded down on the ladder after the passage of the user. Locking is then active because no unauthorized person can unlock access. It is understood from these figures that the user who descends from the ladder can, by acting on the ad-hoc pedal, push back the bolt 2 by the action of the movable stop 4 on the stop 2c and thus de-condemn the access to take the ladder.

THE figure 3a And 3b illustrate a variant in which the pull tab 6 is made inaccessible by being hidden by a cover 9 which can be lifted or folded down on the panel 2 around a hinge 9a, the folded down cover also being able to be padlocked on a tab 7a of the panel ( figure 3b ).

It will be noted that with these embodiments of the locking device, the re-locking is not automatic: it requires the intervention of the user who has un-locked. In the following embodiments of the figures 5 to 9 , the first unlock can only be completed if the re-lock is activated

To figures 4 and 5 , the panel 1 not being visible on the latter, the bolt 3 has a cylindrical pull tab 6a. The panel 1 is equipped with a sheath 10. The latter has a through hole 11 which can accommodate the handle 12 of a padlock such as 8. Under the sheath 10, the panel comprises a box 13 under which the body of the padlock 8 can come into contact when the handle is locked.

As depicted at figure 6 , the bolt 3 comprises a light 14 and a pawl 15 hinged at 15a on the rear face of the bolt 3 for, in a low position defined by a stop 16, its beak 15b interferes with the light 14. It also comprises a notch stepped bottom 17 with a deep part 17a and a less deep part 17b for reasons explained below.

There figure 7 is a horizontal section of the figure 5 along the mean plane of the bolt 3 passing through the slot 14 (the panel having been omitted) and the figure 8 is a vertical section of this figure 5 by a plane passing through the axis of the sleeve 10. Note the presence in the sleeve 10 of a lug 18 for locking the bolt 3. This lug 18 is biased back by a spring to project into the through hole 11 of sheath 10.

A latch 19 in the form of a small lever, bent in L, tilting is articulated in the casing 13 around an axis 20 whose normal position, by the play of an end imbalance or a suitable spring, is such that the end 19a of this latch bears against the bottom of the deep part 17a of the notch 17 while its other end 19b projects downwards from the housing 13 to form a pusher.

In the state of the device shown in figures 4 to 8 , locking is active and, for example, panel 1 folded down on the ladder. The handle 12 of the padlock is housed in the orifice 11 of the sheath 10, pushing the lug 18 into the slot 14. The lug 18 is thus trapped (see figures 6 and 7 ) between one end of the light and the end 15b of the pawl 15. The bolt 3 is thus blocked by the lug 18. As the padlock 8 is closed, its handle 12, suspended from the sheath, is engaged in the body of the padlock so that the latter is as close as possible to the sheath 10 and therefore to the case 13 and, as illustrated by the figure 6 , pushes the end 19b of the angled latch 19 upwards, which has the effect of tilting its end 19a downwards, therefore at the level of the part 17b of the notch 17 of the bolt 3.

When the user removes the padlock, the extraction of the handle 12 releases the lug 18 which is extracted from the light 14 under the effect of its recall organ. This lug 18 no longer being engaged, the pawl 15 is no longer in abutment and the bolt 3 can be moved to the right of the figures, thus allowing a partial withdrawal of the bolt 2 from the striker. This release is only partial because the absence of a padlock has released the latch 19 so that its end 19a is housed in the part 17a of the notch and in this state, forms a stop for the continuation of the movement of the bolt by coming to rest on the shoulder which connects the two parts of the notch 17. It is therefore necessary to put the padlock back in its place and to close it to act on the pusher 19b and push the latch 19 upwards, therefore lower its end 19a to allow additional movement of the bolt 3 in order to completely disengage the bolt 2 from the striker. In this state of the mechanism, the lug 18 is again projecting into the opening 14 of the bolt 3 but it has passed the pawl 15. It is then possible to open the panel. When the user no longer maneuvers the pull tab and under the effect of their return device, the bolt 2 and the bolt 3 return to their first state, that is to say projecting from the edge of the panel for the bolt which can therefore engage in the keeper when the panel 1 is folded down while the bolt can pass the lug 18 by lifting the pawl 15 which falls in front of the lug to block it again. The user was therefore only able to pass the condemnation after the latter had been reactivated by him, which satisfies the normative requirement if it exists.

It will be noticed on the figure 4 , the presence of two lugs 21 which help the correct positioning of the padlock when it comes to re-activating the locking.

To the figure 9 finally, an alternative embodiment has been illustrated in which the bolt 3 is associated with a hook 22 which grips a rung 23 of the ladder. This hook 22 cooperates with the bolt as well as with the upper control maneuvering device (pedal) recalled to the figure 1 , in the same way as the bolt 2.

Other embodiment variants can easily be envisaged within the scope of the invention. One can in fact place the bolt 2 on the fixed structure of the ladder and equip the panel with a keeper with a mobile wall associated with the maneuvering members described above and this in their different variants. Similarly, the operating pedal mentioned below can be replaced by any manually operated means. Mention will also be made of a variant in which the lock of the invention with its maneuvering members is entirely attached to the fixed structure of the ladder, the panel being simply provided with a strike plate to receive a bolt controlled according to the invention.

Claims (6)

Access locking device comprising: - a panel (1) articulated on a ladder structure by one of its edges between a first state of release of access to the ladder and a second state of locking of this access, and provided with sound means reminder in its second state, - a lock comprising a first lock element (2) carried by the panel and a second lock element carried by the ladder structure, engaged with each other in the second locking state of the device so as to lock the panel in this second state,
characterized in that it comprises two members (3, 4) for maneuvering one (2) of said lock elements to disengage it from the other of said elements against the effect of a return member (F) tending to maintain the aforesaid state of engagement, the first maneuvering member (3) being made maneuverable by the user by opening a padlock (8), to open the locking panel (1) and which can be made unmaneuverable by the same user by closing said padlock (8) after he has opened the panel and the second maneuvering member (4) being freely maneuverable by the user having crossed the condemnation, including when the padlock is in place. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the first lock element is fitted with the first maneuvering member and comprises a bolt (2) mounted to slide relative to the panel (1) so as to project under the effect of the return (F) to the outside of the edge of the panel opposite its articulation in order to be able to enter said second bolt element in the form of a striker plate carried by the ladder structure, this bolt (2) being provided with a first stop (2b) for a first movable drive stop (3a) carried by said first member (3) of operation of the bolt (2) against the effect of the return member (F), and of a second stop (2c) for a second mobile drive stop (4) also against the effect of the return member (F), the second movable drive stop being coupled by means of a transmission chain (5) to a pedal which is located at the top of the panel and which forms the said second maneuver, the first drive stop (3a) being immobilizable relative to the panel (1) by means of the aforesaid padlock (8). Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the padlock (8) is placed between a fixed lug (7) of the panel (1) and a pull tab (6) secured to the first member (3) for maneuvering the bolt. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the padlock (8) constitutes the locking means of a cover (9) which folds over a pull tab (6) of the first operating element (3), projecting from the face exterior of the panel (1). Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the first drive stop (3a) belongs to a bolt forming the first operating member (3) which slides relative to the panel (1) when the padlock is withdrawn, over a fraction of the race, less than that necessary for the complete release of the bolt (2) from the striker plate, limited for this purpose by a latch (19) carried by the said panel and movable between two states, one of which is active when the padlock ( 8) is withdrawn and the other inactive when the padlock (8) is put back in place after the bolt (3) has traveled the said fraction of travel, then authorizing the continuation of its travel until the complete release of the bolt (2) out of the strike. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that the panel (1) comprises a fixed sheath (10) in which slides a lug (18) for blocking the latch (3), the pin being pushed into an active state by the handle (12) of the padlock (8) passing through the sheath (10) and into an inactive retracted state under the effect of a return spring, the lug (18) cooperating with a pawl (15) carried by the bolt (3) opposing the sliding of the latter in the direction of unlocking of the device and escaping the lug in a reverse sliding of the bolt (3) , the aforesaid latch (19), having an operating button (19b) located close to the sheath, being maintained in its inactive state when the padlock (8), the shackle of which is engaged in the sheath (10), is closed and whose body acts on the pusher (19b).

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