EP4361384A1

EP4361384A1 - Dual lock adapter module

Info

Publication number: EP4361384A1
Application number: EP22203218.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christer Austrell; Jonas RONDUNG
Original assignee: NoWay Security AB
Current assignee: NoWay Security AB
Priority date: 2022-10-24
Filing date: 2022-10-24
Publication date: 2024-05-01

Abstract

A dual lock adapter module (2) configured to be mounted at a door, the adapter module (2) comprises a module housing (4) provided with at least two openings, a first opening (12), and a second opening (14), the first opening (12) leads to a first lock cylinder cavity (16), and the second opening (14) leads to a second lock cylinder cavity (18), within the module housing (4). wherein the first lock cylinder cavity (16) is configured to receive a first lock cylinder (20), and the second lock cylinder cavity (18) is configured to receive a second lock cylinder (22). The adapter module (2) also comprises a lock transfer mechanism (24) arranged within a mechanism cavity (25) in the module housing (4), and that said lock transfer mechanism (24) comprises a lock operating member (26) configured to operate a lock mechanism in the door when the adapter module (2) is mounted at a door, to set the lock mechanism in a locked state and in an unlocked state. The lock transfer mechanism (24) further comprises a first transfer member (28) and a second transfer member (30). A presumption to transfer a lock activity and an unlock activity by one of the first and second transfer members (28, 30) to the lock operating member (26), is that the other transfer member is in a neutral state. The lock operating member (26), the first and second transfer members (28, 30) comprise cogwheels arranged in a common plane, wherein the cogwheel of said lock operating member (26) is provided with cogs around its entire circumference, and the cogwheels of said first and second transfer members (28, 30) have a predetermined length of their entire circumferences not provided with cogs.

Description

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to a dual lock adapter module configured to be mounted at the outside of a door, and to cooperate with the lock originally installed in the door.

Background

There are many occasions where other persons than an authorized user, e.g. the owner of a house or apartment, should have access to a location closed and locked by a door provided with a lock. Examples are health care personnel for elderly people, service people, care takers, etc. that should enter the location. Normally, an extra key for the locked door is then required for the other person who should access the location, e.g. when no one is at home, or for elderly or disabled persons. Handling of extra keys have many drawbacks, in particular to keep track on those extra keys.
There are solutions with two-lock systems to be mounted outside of the door, and configured to cooperate with the lock originally installed in the door. These solutions often comprise a module having two lock cylinders, a first lock cylinder being the lock cylinder for the authorized user that could use the key for the original lock cylinder, and a second lock cylinder configured to be operated such that the lock installed in the door may be unlocked and locked. To open and close the second lock cylinder a different key is required. One such solution is disclosed in EP373399 related to a dual cylinder lock arrangement. This known arrangement is provided with cylinder bores adapted to receive lock cylinders that in turn cooperate with a lock mechanism of a door via a transmission arrangement. Other solutions are known from US3203210 , that relates to a cylinder lock of the type having two key operated cylinders, either of which when operated, is effective to operate a latch mechanism of the lock, and from US4069694 , that discloses a double-barrel double-plug cylindrical lock having approximately the same size and shape as lock cylinders normally applied, so that the lock may be readily mounted into existing mortise door hardware to replace existing cylindrical locks.
A lock cylinder may be locked and unlocked by using a conventional key, i.e. a mechanical operation. As an alternative, a lock cylinder may be locked and unlocked by an eletromechanical operation, e.g. by a small step motor arranged in, or in connection with, the lock cylinder being remotely activated by a paired device.
An object of the present invention is to achieve an improved dual lock module.
More particularly, the improved dual lock module should be easy to use, in particular in connection with existing lock cylinders of various brands and sizes, it should be easy to mount, and being provided with a reliable mechanical lock transmission mechanism. A specific object is to achieve an improved dual lock module which readily may be retrofitted with existing mortise lock casings.

Summary

The above-mentioned objects are achieved by the present invention according to the independent claim.
Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.
The present invention relates to aspects defined in the independent claim. More particularly, a dual lock adapter module is provided comprising a module housing structured such that at least two lock cylinders may be mounted within the housing, and provided with a mechanism cavity where a lock transfer mechanism is mounted. The lock transfer mechanism is robust and reliable as few moveable parts are involved. It is furthermore space-efficient as the various parts of the transfer mechanism are mounted in a common plane within the module housing. Both mechanical and electromechanical lock cylinders may be mounted, and lock cylinders of various sizes may advantageously be used due to a set of lock cylinder mounting adapters.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a front view of a module housing according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a perspective view of a module housing according to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a view from behind of a module housing according to the present invention.
Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along line A in figure 3 of a module housing according to the present invention.
Figure 5 is a front view of a module housing according to an embodiment of the module housing according to the present invention.
Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating the dual lock adapter module according to the present invention.
Figures 7-10 show front views of the lock transfer mechanism according to embodiments of the present invention.
Figure 11 shows a front view of the dual lock adapter module mounted to a door according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 12 shows a perspective view of the dual lock adapter module mounted to a door shown in figure 11.
Figure 13 shows a front view of the dual lock adapter module mounted to a door according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 14 shows a perspective view of the dual lock adapter module mounted to a door shown in figure 13.

Detailed description

The dual lock adapter module will now be described in detail with references to the appended figures. Throughout the figures the same, or similar, items have the same reference signs. Moreover, the items and the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
The present invention relates to a dual lock adapter module 2 configured to be mounted at a door 3. The module 2 mounted at a door 3 is shown in figures 11-14, that illustrates various embodiments of the module. In figures 11 and 12, one mechanical lock cylinder is mounted (the upper), and one electromechanical lock cylinder is mounted (the lower). In figures 13 and 14, both lock cylinders are mechanical.
With references to figures 1-4, and 6, the adapter module 2 will now be described. The adapter module 2 comprises a module housing 4 made from a hard and intrusion resistant material to protect and to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the module housing. The module may be made from metal, e.g. aluminium or an alloy, e.g. by a moulding procedure, preferably combined with a machining procedure, e.g. milling and drilling.
The module housing 4 comprises a front side 6 being accessible for a user, and a rear side 8 facing the door and in contact to the door when the adapter module 2 is mounted at the door, and side surfaces 10 connecting the front side 6 to the rear side 8. The rear side of the module housing is provided with mounting bores (not shown) into which mounting screws may be received to mount the housing at the door.
The front side 6 is provided with at least two openings, a first opening 12, and a second opening 14. Preferably, the openings are circular openings, but other shapes are naturally possible. The first opening 12 leads to a first lock cylinder cavity 16, and the second opening 14 leads to a second lock cylinder cavity 18, within the module housing 4.
The first lock cylinder cavity 16 is configured to receive a first lock cylinder 20 (see figure 7), and the second lock cylinder cavity 18 is configured to receive a second lock cylinder 22 (see figure 7).
The adapter module 2 also comprises a lock transfer mechanism 24 arranged within a mechanism cavity 25 in the module housing 4. The lock transfer mechanism 24 comprises a lock operating member 26 configured to operate a lock mechanism in the door when the adapter module 2 is mounted at a door, wherein the lock operating member 26 is configured to set the lock mechanism in a locked state and in an unlocked state. The lock operating member 26 is provided with an elongated member (not shown), normally being an elongated flat member, arranged to engage a follower of the lock mechanism in the door.
The lock transfer mechanism 24 further comprises a first transfer member 28 and a second transfer member 30, see figures 6-10.
The first transfer member 28 is structured to receive and transfer a lock activity and an unlock activity from a first lock cylinder 20 mounted in the first lock cylinder cavity 16, and said second transfer member 30 is structured to receive and transfer a lock activity and an unlock activity from a second lock cylinder 22 mounted in the second lock cylinder cavity 18, to the lock operating member 26 and then to the look mechanism in the door. The lock and unlock activities, and the corresponding engagement of the lock mechanism in the door are illustrated in figure 6 by arrows.
Each of the first and second transfer members 28, 30 are structured to be set in a neutral state and in an active state, wherein a presumption to transfer a lock activity and an unlock activity by one of the first and second transfer members 28, 30 to the lock operating member 26 by setting it in an active state, is that the other transfer member is in a neutral state.
With references to figures 7-10, the lock operating member 26, the first and second transfer members 28, 30 comprise cogwheels arranged in a common plane. The cogwheel of the lock operating member 26 is provided with cogs around its entire circumference, and the cogwheels of said first and second transfer members 28, 30 have a predetermined length of their entire circumferences not provided with cogs. Preferably, the predetermined length is approximately 15 - 25 % of the entire circumference length.
By using cogwheels arranged in a common plane, a very robust and reliable operation is achieved, as no complicated mechanical structure is required. The cogwheels are preferably made from plastic, or from metal.
According to one embodiment, when the first and second transfer members 28, 30 are in their neutral states, the cog free parts of the circumferences of their cogwheels face the cogwheel of the lock operating member 26, i.e. the cogs of the first and second transfer members, when in their neutral states, do not engage with the cogs of the lock operating member 26.
According to another embodiment, the three cogwheels are circular and are configured to rotate around parallel axles perpendicularly oriented to a plane of the front side 6, and the axles are arranged along a common line in a plane parallel to the plane of the front side 6. Preferably, the three cogwheels have essentially the same size.
According to still another embodiment, the cogwheels of the first and second transfer members 28, 30 are provided with operating members 32, 34 structured to receive locking and unlocking movements from the first and second lock cylinders 20, 22, respectively. These operating members 32, 34 are shown in figures 8-10 and are preferably recesses adapted to cooperate with mating members from the lock cylinders in order to receive rotational movements.
The embodiments illustrated in figures 7-10 will now be described in detail.
In figure 7, the first and second lock cylinders 20, 22 are shown. The first transfer member 28 has been activated by a rotational movement from the first lock cylinder 20, and thereby rotated the lock operating member 26, that in turn engages the lock mechanism in the door. The second transfer member 30 is in its neutral state. Figure 9 illustrates the same operational state as in figure 7, except that the lock cylinders are not shown.
In figure 8, the first and second transfer members 28, 30 are in their neutral state, i.e. the cog-free parts of the cogwheels of those transfer members face the cogwheel of the lock operating member 26. It should be noted that when a lock cylinder is in its neutral state the key may be inserted and withdrawn, which thus is only possible when the transfer member is in its neutral state.
Figure 9 illustrates an operational state similar to the one illustrated in figure 9, with the difference that the second transfer member 30 is in its active state and the first member is in its neutral state, thus, the lock operating member 26 is operated by the second lock cylinder 22 instead.
In a further embodiment the lock adapter module comprises a set of lock cylinder mounting adapters configured to be used when mounting the first and second lock cylinders 20, 22 in the first and second lock cylinder cavities 16, 18, respectively. The set of lock cylinder mounting adapters comprises lock cylinder mounting adapters having different sizes, adapted to used first and second lock cylinders 20, 22.
According to a further embodiment, the first and second lock cylinder cavities 20, 22 are identical. Advantageously, the first and second lock cylinder cavities 20, 22 have circular cylindrical shapes having a circular cross-section being parallel to the plane of the front side 6. The lock cylinder cavity having a circular shape has a diameter that preferably corresponds to a diameter of one type of lock cylinder that is commonly applied.
One common type of lock cylinder is illustrated in figure 7 having an elongated cross-section with essentially circular ends. Other types are lock cylinders having circular cross-sections of various diameters.
One important advantage of the dual lock adapter module according to the present invention is that the module may be used for a plurality of different-sized lock cylinders using an appropriate mounting adapter.
The set of lock cylinder mounting adapters may comprise adapters shaped such that they fill up the empty space of the lock cylinder cavity when the lock cylinder is mounted therein. The adapter may be made from a plastic or rubber material, or from a metal.
Figure 5 illustrates one embodiment where the front side 6 of the module housing 4 is provided with three openings, the first opening 12, the second opening 14, and a third opening 38 for a door knob (see figures 11-14).
The present invention is not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appending claims.

Claims

A dual lock adapter module (2) configured to be mounted at a door, the adapter module (2) comprises a module housing (4) made from a hard and intrusion resistant material to protect and to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the module housing, the module housing (4) comprises a front side (6) being accessible for a user, and a rear side (8) facing the door and in contact to the door when the adapter module (2) is mounted at the door, and side surfaces (10) connecting the front side (6) to the rear side (8), the front side (6) is provided with at least two openings, a first opening (12), and a second opening (14), the first opening (12) leads to a first lock cylinder cavity (16), and the second opening (14) leads to a second lock cylinder cavity (18), within the module housing (4), wherein the first lock cylinder cavity (16) is configured to receive a first lock cylinder (20), and the second lock cylinder cavity (18) is configured to receive a second lock cylinder (22), the adapter module (2) also comprises a lock transfer mechanism (24) arranged within a mechanism cavity (25) in the module housing (4), and that said lock transfer mechanism (24) comprises a lock operating member (26) configured to operate a lock mechanism in the door when the adapter module (2) is mounted at a door, wherein the lock operating member (26) is configured to set the lock mechanism in a locked state and in an unlocked state, characterized in that that the lock transfer mechanism (24) further comprises a first transfer member (28) and a second transfer member (30), wherein said first transfer member (28) is structured to receive and transfer a lock activity and an unlock activity from a first lock cylinder (20) mounted in the first lock cylinder cavity (16), and said second transfer member (30) is structured to receive and transfer a lock activity and an unlock activity from a second lock cylinder (22) mounted in the second lock cylinder cavity (18), to the lock operating member (26) and then to the look mechanism in the door, wherein each of said first and second transfer members (28, 30) are structured to be set in a neutral state and in an active state, wherein a presumption to transfer a lock activity and an unlock activity by one of the first and second transfer members (28, 30) to the lock operating member (26) by setting it in an active state, is that the other transfer member is in a neutral state, and wherein said lock operating member (26), said first and second transfer members (28, 30) comprise cogwheels arranged in a common plane, wherein the cogwheel of said lock operating member (26) is provided with cogs around its entire circumference, and the cogwheels of said first and second transfer members (28, 30) have a predetermined length of their entire circumferences not provided with cogs.
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined length is approximately 15 - 25 % of the entire circumference length.
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when said first and second transfer members (28, 30) are in their neutral states, the cog free parts of the circumferences of their cogwheels face the cogwheel of said lock operating member (26).
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein said three cogwheels are circular and are configured to rotate around parallel axles perpendicularly oriented to a plane of said front side (6), and wherein said axles are arranged along a common line in a plane parallel to the plane of the front side (6).
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein said three cogwheels have essentially the same size.
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to any of claims 1-5, wherein said cogwheels of the first and second transfer members (28, 30) are provided with operating members (32, 34) structured to receive locking and unlocking movements from said first and second lock cylinders (20, 22), respectively.
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to any of claims 1-6, comprising a set of lock cylinder mounting adapters configured to be used when mounting the first and second lock cylinders (20, 22) in the first and second lock cylinder cavities (16, 18), respectively, wherein the set of lock cylinder mounting adapters (36) comprises lock cylinder mounting adapters (36) having different sizes adapted to used first and second lock cylinders (20, 22).
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the first and second lock cylinder cavities (20, 22) are identical.
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the first and second lock cylinder cavities (20, 22) have circular cylindrical shapes having a circular cross-section being parallel to the plane of the front side (6).
The dual lock adapter module (2) according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the front side (6) of the module housing (4) is provided with three openings, said first opening (12), said second opening (14), and a third opening (38) for a door knob.