GB2130288A - Door handle locks - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking apparatus for preventing the unauthorized opening of vending machines of the type using either T-handle locks 76 or cam locks, including a retractable latch 36 for preventing operation of the door handle of lock 76 until the retractable latch is retracted, a mechanical combination lock 32 and flexible interconnecting means 39 between the retractable latch and the combination lock for retracting the latch when the correct combination is entered into the combination lock. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Locking apparatus This invention relates to locking apparatus for securely locking a door to a cabinet to prevent unauthorized access to the cabinet, particularly but not exclusively a vending machine cabinet.

Vending machine locks are well-known and usually take the form of draw locks as described in U.S. Patents 3,111,833, 3,122,012 and 3,089,330. These locks generally are of the T-handle type in which, upon opening a lock in the T-handle, the Thandle springs outwardly from a recess, coupling the T-handle to a screw threaded lock shaft and enabling the T-handle and lock shaft to be rotated to unscrew the lock shaft from an internally threaded aperture in a bracket mounted in the vending machine cabinet.

Another well-known form of vending machine lock is the cam lock in which the L-shaped handle is turned to move a cam of a cam latch into and out of locking engagement with a bracket in the vending machine cabinet.

The locks in such T-handles and cam handles are generally tubular locks which recently have become very easy to pick by newly available and inexpensive devices.

Two known devices for preventing unauthorized access to vending machines having locks and handles of the above types are described in U.S. Patents 4,167,104 and 3,834,198.

Both systems use a dead bolt or shear pin controlled by a second locking means to prevent the handle from springing out when the lock in the handle is unlocked. In 4,167,104 the second locking means is a solenoid, and in 3,834,198 it is a second key lock which is provided with an anti-pick device.

Viewed from one aspect the present invention provides a locking apparatus for locking a cabinet door to a cabinet, comprising: (a) a door latching device having a movable member that must move from an inoperable position to an operable position before the latch can be operated to open the door; (b) a retractable latching means mounted adjacent said movable member for retractable movement into and out of latching. engagement with said movable member for preventing said movable member from moving to its said operable position until said retractable latching means has been retracted; (c) means for bising said retractable latching means into latching engagement with said movable member;; (d) a mechanical combination lock mounted on either said door or said cabinet and including a rotatable control shaft which is locked agaist rotational movement until the correct combination has been inserted into the combination lock; and (e) flexible interconnecting means connected between said control shaft and said retractable latching means for converting rotational movement of said control shaft into retracting movement of said retactable latching means, whereby said latching means can be retracted out of engagement with said movable member by entering the correct combination into said combination lock and rotationally moving said control shaft, and said door latching device can then be operated to open said door.

Viewed from another aspect the invention provies apparatus for locking a cabinet door to a cabinet, the door having a latch with a movable member required to move to render the latch operable, comprising: (a) a retracable latch adapted to be mounted adjacent said movable member; (b) means for biasing said latch in its latching direction.

(c) a mechanical combination lock including a rotatable control shaft; and (d) flexible interconnecting means operatively connected between said latch and said lock for retracting said latch.

Viewed from a further aspect the invention provides a method of providing locking apparatus for locking a cabinet door to a cabinet, where the cabinet door includes a door latching device having a movable member that must move from an inoperable position to an operable position before the latch can be operated to open the door, comprising the steps of: (a) mounting a retractable latch adjacent said movable member in latching engagement therewith; (b) biasing said retractable latch into latching engagement with said movable member; (c) mounting a combination lock having a rotatable control shaft either on said door or on said cabinet; and (d) operatively connecting said retractable latch to said control shaft with a flexible interconnecting element.

Thus the present invention provides a method and apparatus, whereby a cabinet door can be securely locked to a cabinet of the type using latching devices such as Thandles or cam handles, which devices include a movable member (the handle itself in the T-handle and cam handle devices) that must move before the latching device can be used to open the door, the locking apparatus preventing the movable member from moving, thus ensuring the integrity of the cabinet against unauthorized entry or access.

A preferred locking apparatus of this invention includes a retractable secondary latch for preventing the movable member from moving, means for biasing the retractable latch into engagement with the movable member, a mechanical combination lock mounted on the door and including a rotatable control shaft which is locked against rotation until the cor rect combination has been inserted into the combination lock, and a flexible interconnecting means connected between the control shaft and the retractable latch for converting rotating movement of the control shaft into retracting movement of the retractable latch, whereby such latch can be retracted by entering the correct combination into the combination lock and then rotating the control shaft, after which the door handle can be used to open the door.The support means for the retractable latch is mounted directly to the door latch device rather than to a part of the cabinet or door. The retractable latch in the Thandle embodiment is a dead bolt which is thus easily provied in perfect alignment with the holes in the T-handle and its casing. The retractable latch in the cam latch embodiment is a rotatable latch located in perfect relationship to the end of the cam latch shaft. The combination lock can be located at any convenient place without concern for any criticality because of the flexible interconnecting means.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a perspective view of a vending machine incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged, partial view of the vending machine of Fig. 1 showing the Thandle and the push buttons of the combination lock; Figure 3 is a view of the vending machine of Fig. 1 showing the door in its open position; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the locking apparatus of the vending machine of Figs.

1-3; Figures 5 and 6 are partly cross-sectional views showing the dead bolt of Fig. 4 in its engaged and retracted positions, respectively; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a locking apparatus according to this invention as applied to a cam handle latch for a vending machine.

With reference now to the drawings, Figs.

1-3 show a vending machine 10 including a cabinet 1 2 and a cabinet door 14. The machine 10 is of the type using a T-handle lock device 1 6 which includes a lock 1 8 in a Thandle 1 9. A key 20 unlocks the lock 18. The lock 18 includes a draw rod 22 having a threaded distal end portion that threadingly engages an internally threaded opening 26 in bracket 28 mounted in the cabinet 12. Such a lock 1 8 has in the past been the sole locking means for this type of vending machine.

A first embodiment of the present invention, which provides a secure locking apparatus 30 for the vending machine 10, will now be described in detail with reference to Figs.

2 and 4-6. The locking apparatus includes: (1) a mechanical combination lock 32 with a key activator 44 (see Fig. 2), (2) a retractable dead bolt 36 (Fig. 4) for preventing the Thandle 19 from springing out (as described for example in U.S. Patents 3,122,012 and 3,834,198) into its unlatching condition when the T-handle lock 18 has been unlocked (by key 20), (3) a spring 38 for biasing the dead bolt 36 into latching engagement with the T-handle 19, and (4) a flexible interconnecting means 39 connected between the dead bolt 36 and the combination lock 32.

The mechanical combination lock 32 can be any one of a number of well-known devices, such as, for example, the Simplex high security combination, automatic, locking push button Model S.M. End Throw lock sold by Simplex Security Systems, Inc. Such lock has a plurality of push buttons 42 (Fig. 2) which, when pushed in the correct order and sequence, unlock a lock chamber 34 allowing the key activator 44, upon being inserted into an opening 46 (Fig. 2), to rotate or turn a control shaft 48 (Fig. 4). The combination lock 32 can be mounted at any desired location on the vending machine because its only necessary connection to the dead bolt 36 is the flexible cable 40. However, the lock 32 is preferably connected to the door 14 adjacent to the T-handle lock device 16, as by mounting posts 50 on a mounting plate 52. A drill plate 51 can be added, if desired.

The retractable dead bolt 36 is mounted on a bracket 54 by a mounting bolt 56 to a mounting bracket 58 for the T-handle lock device 16. The bracket 54 includes a Ushaped cable adjusting plate 60. The dead bolt 36 is mounted for retracting movement through a pair of coaxial openings in flanges 66 and 68. The return spring 38 biases the dead bolt 36 into locking engagement with the T-handle 19, as described in more detail below with reference to Figs. 5 and 6. The spring 38 extends between the fiange 68 and washer 72. The washer 72 abuts against a guide bushing 74 for the dead bolt 36 The bushing 74 also extends through an opening in the T-handle casing 76. The dead bolt 36 is an adjustable two-part element so as to provide an adjustment for the cable length, and includes a male and a female portion and a cable connector 78 at the distal end of the male portion. A locking nut 80 locks the two parts together after they have been adjusted to provide the desired cable length and tautness. A cable 40 also passes through a cable guide 81 in the other flange 83 of the cable adjusting plate 60.

The flexible interconnecting means 39 includes a cam 82 locked to the control shaft 48, a connector plate 84 mounted on a mounting plate 85 for reciprocating movement thereon, and a pair of cam followers 86 and 88 on the conector plate 84. Thus, clockwise rotation of the control shaft 48 by the key activator 44 will be converted into linear (downward in Fig. 4) movement of the connector plate 84. The connector plate is connected by the cable 40 to the dead bolt 36, so that downward movement of the plate 84 pulls the cable 40 down and retracts the dead bolt 36 out of latching engagement with the T-handle 1 9 thus allowing the T-handle to spring out and then be used to open the door 14.

In operation, the lock 1 8 in the T-handle 1 9 is unlocked by the key 20; however, the Thandle 1 9 cannot automatically spring out because the dead bolt 36 latches it in place.

The correct combination is then inerted into the combination lock 32, allowing the activator key 44 to rotate the control shaft 48, thus retracting the dead bolt 36 and allowing the T-handle 1 9 to spring out. The door 14 can now be opened in the normal way.

Figs. 5 and 6 show the dead bolt 36 in locking engagement with the T-handle 1 9 and in retracted position, respectively.

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment in which a locking apparatus according to the invention is used with a standard well-known cam handle lock device (such as the "Vendo" cam lock) for a vending machine. In this type of lock device, a cam is used in place of the threaded draw rod of the T-handle lock device. The cam handle (not shown) is an Lshaped handle that springs out when the cam handle lock is unlocked, thus allowing the cam handle to rotate a latch shaft 101, thus also rotating a cam 103 which interconnects with a bracket (not shown) on the cabinet, allowing the door to be opened.

Fig. 7 shows a combintion lock 98 including a lock chamber 100, and a control shaft 102 thereof which can be rotated by an activator key 104 after the correct combination has been inserted into the lock 98. A flexible interconnecting means 106 is connected between the combination lock 98 and a latch 108 which prevents the cam handle (not shown) from springing out when the cam handle lock is unlocked. It is noted that in this embodiment, the combination lock 98 is located above the door handle rather than below it as in the embodiment of Fig.. 4.

The combination lock 98 is mounted by posts 110 (only one of which is shown) to a mounting plate. The control shaft 102 is connected to a cam 112, the rotation of which causes a connector plate 114 to move linearly by means of a pair of cam followers 116 and 118 on the plate 114.

The cam handle (not shown) is connected to the cam handle shaft 101 which also springs out when the cam handle springs out. The distal end of the standard, well-known shaft 101 usually has an E-clip attached thereto. In this apparatus, such E-clip is replaced (for purposes to be described below) by a bushing 1 22 by means of set screws engaging a groove in the shaft 101.

The flexible interconnecting means 106 includes the rotationally movable latch 108 which abuts against the bushing 1 22 and which is connected to the connector plate 114 by a cable 126. The latch 108 is mounted for rotation on a bracket 1 28 by means of a shaft 1 30 and is biased into engagement with the bushing 1 22 by a torsion spring 131. The bracket 128 is connected by two existing screws 1 32 and 1 34 to the cam handle lock device 99. A guide roller 1 36 is also connected to the bracket 1 28 for guiding the cable 1 26 from the connector plate 84 to the latch 108.The cable 1 26 is connected to the latch 108 by means of a link 1 38 pivotally connected at one end thereof to the latch 108. The other end of the link 1 38 includes a cable connector 140 portion of a cable adjustor 142. A nut 143 locks the two parts of the link 1 38 together after the cable tautness has been adjusted.

In operation, the cam handle lock (not shown, but similar to lock 18 in T-handle 1 9 of Fig. 4) is unlocked by a key 144, which would allow the cam handle and the shaft 101 to spring out, except for the latch 108 engaging the bushing 1 22. The correct combination is then inserted into the combination lock 98 allowing a key activator 104 to rotate the control shaft 102, thus rotating the latch 108 out of contact with the bushing 1 22 and allowing the cam handle to spring out. The cam handle can now be rotated to rotate the cam 103 and unlatch the door.

The two locking apparatuses described above can be retrofitted on existing vending machines and can also be used on new machines. As mentioned above, since the combination lock provides the security, the lock in the T-handle and in the cam-handle can be omitted, if desired.

The retrofitting operation can be easily and quickly accomplished by the delivery man because there are no critical operations involved as there would be if, for example, the cam in Fig. 4 were connected directly to the dead bolt. The placement of the cam in that case would be very critical because if the connector plate and the dead bolt were not precisely coaxial with the openings in the brackets, the dead bolt would bind up and become inoperable. In this apparatus the latch that prevents the handle (either the T-handle or the cam handle) from springing out is mounted directly to the handle mounting bracket itself by an existing bolt or screw, rather than to another part of the door by drilling new holes.For example, a direct connection arrangement that would work to achieve coaxial alignment in one machine would not necessarily work in another machine because even a small difference in thick ness of the door wall would be enough to cause misalignment and consequent binding.

Thus, a method according to this invention includes connecting the latch directly to the handle mounting bracket at existing fastener locations, mounting the combination lock at any desired location, and then providing the flexible interconnection. In the T-handle embodiment, a hole is drilled through the Thandle and its casing, and this is easily and simply done on the site with a proper fixture.

In the cam handle embodiment, since the initial movement of the latch 108 causes the bushing 122 and the shaft 101 to move axially inwardly into the cabinet, the latch is located a small distance outwardly af the innermost position that the bushing can occupy, so that when the latch is rotated, the bushing can move axially inwardly the necessary distance, whereby binding will not occur.

In the cam handle embodiment, the E-ring on the end of the shaft 101 is replaced with the bushing 122. The combination lock 98 is then installed without regard ta any criticality of position.

While the features of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to two preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various changes and modifications therein can be made without departing from the scope af the invention as set forth in the claims. For example, while the specification refers to vending machines, and particularly shows a vending machine for soft drink cans or bottles, it is to be understood that the locking apparatus of this invention can be used in any type of cabinet door arrangement or any type of housing and closure arrangement, particularly those using T-handle locks and cam handle locks. It is noted that the combination lock can be placed on the cabinet rather than on the door, if desired, by virtue of the flexible cable interconnection means.

Further, while the control shaft of the combination lock and the latch 108 only move arcuately, such movement is to be included and intended by the simpler phrase rotational movement.

It will thus be seen that at least in its preferred embodiments the present invention provides a secure locking apparatus for a cabinet door such as that of a vending machine, which locking apparatus that can be esily and quickly installed without any critical tolerances, without the need for a skilled craftsman, and wherein the retractable latch thereof will not bind during operation.

Claims (25)

1. A locking apparatus for locking a cabinet door to the cabinet, comprising: (a) a door latching device having a movable member that must move from an inoperable position to an operable position before the latch can be operated to open the door; (b) a retractable latching means mounted adjacent said movable member for retractable movement into and out of latching engagement with said movable member for preventing said movable member from moving to its said operable position until said retractable latching means has been retracted; (c) means for biasing said retractable latching means into latching engagement with said movable member; (d) a mechanical combination lock mounted on either said door or said cabinet and including a rotatable control shaft, which is locked against rotational movement until the correct combination has been inserted into the combination lock; and (e) flexible interconnecting means connected between said control shaft and said retractable latching means for converting rotational movement of said control shaft into retracting movement of said retractable latching means, whereby said latching means can be retracted out of engagement with said movable member by entering the correct combination into said combination lock and rotationally moving said control shaft, and said door latching device can then be operated to open said door.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said door latching device includes a lock.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said flexible interconnecting means includes a cable.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said flexible interconnecting means includes a cam connected to said control shaft, a connector plate having cam followers operatively connected to said cam, and wherein one end of said cable is connected to said connector plate.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said combination lock includes a lock chamber for locking said control shaft and an activator key for turning said control shaft when unlocked.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said movable member, said retractable latching means and said combination lock are all mounted on said door.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said door latching device includes a mounting brcket and wherein said retractable latching means is mounted on said mounting bracket.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said latching means is mounted on said bracket by the same fastener means used to mount said door latching device.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said door latching device is a T-handle lock including a T-handle mounted inside a casing and wherein said retractable latching means is a dead bolt extending into latching engagement with said T-handle through said casing.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein said door latching device is a cam handle lock device including a cam handle connected to an axially movable shaft having a bushing on its distal end, said retractable latching means is a rotatable latch in latching engagement with said bushing.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said rotatable latch is mounted on said cam handle lock device.

1 2. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said cabinet is a vending machine for soft drinks.

1 3. Apparatus for locking a cabinet door to a cabinet, the door having a latch with a movable member required to move to render the latch operable, comprising: (a) a retractable latch adapted to be mounted adjacent said movable member; (b) means for biasing said latch in its latching direction; (c) a mechanical combination lock including a rotatable control shaft; and (d) flexible interconnecting means operatively connected between said latch and said lock for retracting said latch.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said flexible interconnecting means includes a cable.

1 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 3 or 14, wherein said combination lock includes a lock chamber for locking said control shaft and an activator key for turning said control shaft when unlocked.

16. A method of providing locking apparatus for locking a cabinet door to a cabinet, wherein the cabinet door includes a door latching device having a movable member that must move from an inoperable position to an operable position before the latch can be operated to open the door, comprising the steps of: (a) mounting a retractable latch adjacent said movable member in latching engagement therewith; (b) biasing said retractable latch into latching engagement with said movable member; (c) mounting a combination lock having a rotatable control shaft either on said door or on said cabinet; and (d) operatively interconnecting said retractable latch to said control shaft with a flexible interconnecting element.

1 7. A method as claimed in claim 1 6, wherein said retractable latch mounting step comprises mounting said retractable latch on the mounting element for said movable member.

1 8. A method as claimed in claim 17, including mounting said retractable latch on said movable member by means of fastener means already present.

19. A method as claimed in any of claims 16 to 18, wherein said element is a cable.

20. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 6 to 19, wherein said door latching device is a T-handle lock device and said retractable latch is a dead bolt.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, including mounting said dead bolt on Thandle mounting means.

22. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 6 to 19, wherein said door latching device is a cam handle including a cam handle shaft and said retractable latch is a rotatable latch, and including mounting said retractable latch in latching engagement with a bushing on the distal end of said cam handle shaft.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, including mounting said retractable latch on cam handle mounting means.

24. Locking apparatus as claimed in claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

25. Methods as claimed in claim 16, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.