GB2164384A

GB2164384A - Locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2164384A
Application number: GB08522840A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barry Herbert Gwynne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-09-15
Filing date: 1985-09-16
Publication date: 1986-03-19
Also published as: AU4747985A; GB2164384B; GB8522840D0; AU571735B2; NZ208163A

Abstract

A latch 1 mounted in a housing 2 engages or disengages an aperture 13 in a keeper 9 passing through a slot 5 in the housing to allow a closure member, e.g. a gate or door, to be locked in juxtaposition with an abutment or to be movable relative thereto. The latch 1 can be moved when a coded magnetized key card is inserted in a slot 7 in an operating member 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A locking means for a closure This invention relates to a locking means for a closure, for example, a gate or door.

At present only a limited number of types of locking means for closures, for example, doors, gates and the like are available. The most common type of lock used on gates is, of course, a padlock used with either a latching mechanism or length of chain.

A recent innovation used in the security industry and introduced into New Zealand originated in the United States of America and uses as a key a plastics or metal card with magnetizable points impregnated therein. The key operates a locking device openable when a correct key card is inserted. The product is sold under the trade mark COR-KEY and was designed by Bruce Sedley of America. This key and its associated lock has a large number of combinations which depend on the orientation of the magnetised points on the card and in the lock. The key card is usable with a lock operating device which has a slot in an operating lever or member thereof, The operating member normally freely rotates when no card is in the slot. When a correctly coded card is inserted and the card pressed into the operating device the rotational movement thereof operates a latching mechanism of the lock.An incorrectly coded card when inserted in the slot allows the operating member to freely rotate without activation of the latching mechanism. The latching mechanisms with which the product has been used include electrical systems and most forms of mechanical door hardware.

An object of the present invention is to provide a locking means for a closure, for example, a gate or door which locking means is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.

According to the present invention there is provided a locking means for locating a closure relative to an abutment means, the locking means including a latch mounted within a housing or locking block and a catch member with a least one aperture or recess therein, the arrangment being such that the housing or the catch member is mounted to either an abutment means or a closure member so that, in use, the part of the catch member with the aperture or recess therein can be engaged in a slot in the housing so that the latch therein can engage or disengage with the aperture or recess in the catch member to allow the closure member to be locked in juxtaposition with the abutment means or movable relative thereto.

The latch can operate a lock within the housing via a key or card. For example, the card can be a coded magnetized plastics or metal card insertable in a slot in an operating member connected to move the latch.

The catch can be an arm, bar or chain which, in use, is fixed to the abutment means or closure member.

The abutment means can be a post, wall, frame or gate member adjacent to which the movable closure member is swung or slides.

The movable closure member can be a gate, door or other means adapted to pivot or slide into juxaposition with the abutment means.

The catch member can be mounted relative to a first gate member and the housing mounted relative to a second gate adapted to move into juxtaposition with the first gate.

Further aspects of the present invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following descriptions which are given by way of example only.

Examples of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: shows a perspective view from the front of an example of locking means showing a catch member which operates therewith in a position spaced therefrom; Figure 2: shows a side view partly sectioned of the locking means and catch member shown in Figure 1 with the catch member locked in association with the locking means; Figure 3: shows a perspective view from the front of a second example of locking means showing a catch member which operates therewith in a position spaced arcuately therefrom; Figure 4: shows a side view partly sectioned of the locking means and catch member shown in Figure 1 with the catch member engaged in association with the locking means; Figure 5: shows a plan view of the locking means and catch member shown in Figure 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 located in position relative to a post or first gate and a closure member wherein the catch member is fixed relative to the closure; and Figure 6: shows a plan view of the locking means and catch member shown in Figures 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 located in position relative to a post and closure respectively wherein the locking member is free to pivot relative to its mounting.

In the examples the locking means will be described with reference to its use in a situation where it is used to lock a pair of gates together. It is to be appreciated that with minor modifications the invention can alternatively be used to lock any closure member relative to an adjacent post, wall, frame or abutment member.

The locking means as shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a latch bar 1 mounted within a housing 2. The housing 2 is formed, for example, from a length of rolled hollow section (RHS) steel with plates covering the top 3 and bottom 4 respectively or from lengths of channel section the ends of which are closed by plates welded into the ends of the channel sections. In a configuration where the housing is a length of RHS the plate covering the top 3 is preferably welded into position whereas the plate covering the bottom can be removed to allow access to the interior of the housing 2 for maintenance and repair purposes. When the housing is formed from two lengths of channel section the two halves are fixed together by fixing means extending between the back and front face of the housing. The front of the housing 2 has a transverse slot 5 therein and an operating member 6 thereon.

The operating member 6 being operable by a plastics key card with a magnetized code therein or thereon. The key card being inserted in a slot 7 in the operating member 6 which is normally free to rotate relative to cover 8 which is fixed to the front of the housing 2 and within which is an operating linkage (not shown) which activates a lock 15 within the housing 2 and from which the latch bar 1 can extend. The rotation of the operating member 6 with the key card inserted, providing the code is correct, operates the lock 15 to move the latch bar 1 to its open or closed position. If the incorrect key card is used the operating handle 6 continues to freely rotate and the latch bar 1 remains stationary.

The lock 15 can be fixed within the housing 2 by fixing means 16 extending between the bottom 17 of the lock 15 and threaded holes 18 in the top 3 of the housing 2. The lock 15 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a lock of the type which when in its down position (Figure 2) acts as a dead bolt. The latch bar 1 has in association therewith an activating rod 19 which normally moves with the bar 1 unless it is retained in its raised position (Figure 2) in which the lock 15 acts as a deadlock.

In practice the code of both key cards and the operating member 6 within the cover 8 can be easily and quickly changed by use of a proprietary tool which is designed to change the magnetized lay out on the key card and the lock cylinder which is within the cover 8.

The locking means operates in association with a catch member, arm or bar generally indicated by arrow 9.

The catch member 9 can be mounted in a number of ways to suit particular methods of operation. In the example shown in Figure 1 the catch member 9 has a shaped aperture 13 through which the bar 1 can extend to lock the locking means and member 9 together.

In Figures 1 and 2 the catch member 9 is Lshaped, in plan, with the aperture 13 in the short arm of the L. The longer arm 20 can be of any length so that the invention when sold as a kit and when the locking means is fixed in position the length required for the arm 20 of the catch member 9 can be measured and any excess 20' (dotted) cut off.

Alternative examples of the way in which such a kit can be installed are shown in Figures 5 and 6 and will be described hereafter.

In the example of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 the locking means and catch member 9 are generally the same as those shown in Figures 1 and 2. Similar parts thereof are referenced by the same numerals.

In this example the lock 15 has a circular, in cross section, latch bar 1 which, in use, engages in a circular hole 13 in the catch member 9. The catch member 9 is mounted at its end 21 via a pin 22 to a block 10. The block 10 can be fixed to a gate post, frame or wall so that arcuate movement of the catch member 9 moves the end of the short arm through the slot 7 and into position relative to the housing 2 so that the bar 1 extends through the hole 13. The pin 22 is fitted within a recess 23 in the block and the top 24 of the pin 22 can be welded to the top of the member 9.

The catch member 9 and locking means can be mounted in a number of ways and examples are shown in Figures 5 and 6.

in Figure 5 the catch member 9 is fixed relative to a gate 33 by welds 25 to a vertical post 26 of a tube and wire gate. The locking means 27 being welded at 28 to a gate post 29 alongside which the post 26 is situated.

In Figure 6 the catch member 9 has fixed relative thereto a connector member 30 the curved edge 31 of which is welded to a vertical post 26. The member 30 has a hole therethrough into which a pin 32 extends. The pins 32 may be a bolt the head of a nut of which is tack welded to the member 9. The pin 32 and member 9 being free to rotate relative to the hole in the member 30. This allows the member to be pivoted arcuately in the direction of arrow 34 for use, for example with a sliding door or gate.

In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4 the mounting 10 includes a pivot pin 12 about which the arm 9 rotates to allow the engaging end 11 to enter the slot 5 of the housing 2.

The end 11 having an aperture 13 in which the latch bar 1 can engage. It is to be appreciated that the arcuate movement of the locking arm 9 can be in a horizontal plane as shown or in a vertical plane or in association with sliding movement of the arm 9 in an elongate housing.

In use the locking means and the catch 3 bar can be mounted on a set of gates, or on the side edge of one gate where it is to be closed against a post. Either the locking means or catch bar can be fitted to the post or gate. In the case of a set of pipe gates with netting covering the locking means or locking bar can be welded to the gate and/or post.

The present invention can be used in a variety of situations for example on the gates of a car park and the like. An advantage of the invention is that the ease with which the combination on either the cards and/or the latching means can be changed allows for frequent changes as required.

Thus by this invention there is provided a locking means for a closure which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use and which is of the type in which a locking combination thereof can be readily changed.

Particular examples of the invention have been described herein by way of example and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications can take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A locking means for locating a closure relative to an abutment means, the locking means including a latch mounted within a housing or locking block and a catch member with a least one aperture or recess therein, the arrangment being such that the housing or the catch member is mounted to either an abutment means or a closure member so that, in use, the part of the catch member with the aperture or recess therein can be engaged in a slot in the housing so that the latch therein can engage or disengage with the aperture or recess in the catch member to allow the closure member to be locked in juxtaposition with the abutment means or movable relative thereto.

2. A locking means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch operates a lock within the housing via a key or card.

3. A locking means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the card is a coded magnetized plastics or metal card insertable in a slot in an operating member connected to move the latch.

4. A locking means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the catch member is an arm, bar or chain which, in use, is fixed to the abutment means or closure member.

5. A locking means as claimed in claim 4 wherein the abutment means is a post, wall, frame or gate member adjacent to which the movable closure member is swung or slides.

6. A locking means as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the movable closure member is a gate, door or other means adapted to pivot or slide into juxaposition with the abutment means.

7. A locking means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the catch member is mounted relative to a first gate member and the housing mounted relative to second gate adapted to move into juxtaposition with the first gate.

8. A locking means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the catch member is an L-shaped member with the aperture formed in the short arm thereof, the long arm of the member being connected either directly to a gate or post or via a connector member.

9. A locking means as claimed in claim 8 wherein the connector member is fixed relative to both the gate or post and the catch member.

10. A locking means as claimed in claim 8 wherein the connector member and catch member are linked by a pin so that the catch member can pivot relative to the connector member.

11. A locking means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is a length of rolled hollow section steel one end of which is closed by a top plate welded thereon while the opposite end has a removable plate fixed thereto after a lock is mounted thereon with the latch thereof aligned with the longitudinal axis of the section.

12. A locking means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the housing is formed in two halves each of which is a length of channel section the ends of which are closed by plates welded therein, the halves being fixed together after a lock is fixed in one half with the longitudinal axis of the latch of the lock aligned with the longitudinal axes of the two halves.

13. A locking means for locating a closure relative to an abutment means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.