GB2204087A

GB2204087A - Lock mechanisms

Info

Publication number: GB2204087A
Application number: GB08710117A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip Wortley Sparke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-04-29
Filing date: 1987-04-29
Publication date: 1988-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 2007-04-29
Also published as: GB2204087B; GB8710117D0

Abstract

A lock mechanism comprises a plug member (8) and a socket member (8) for receiving the plug member (8). The socket member has engagement means (17) for engaging and catching the plug member (8) and magnetically responsive inhibiting means in the form of iron core (16) for permitting disengagement of said engagement means (17) from the plug member (8) in response to a magnetic field. <IMAGE>

Description

LOCK MECHANISMS The present invention relates to lock mechanisms.

The invention is applicable to a lock for furniture to secure doors, covers, lids or drawers of suchfurniture against opening by babies or young children.

Lock for furniture make it possible to secure doors, covers, 'lids or drawers of such furniture against unauthorised opening through the use of a mechanical or electro-mechaflical locking.mechanism comprising of a bolt activated directly or indirectly by a key mechanism. In the locking state the bolt protrudes from the locking mechanism usually installed in the moving part of the furniture concerned and engages into either the frame or a jam installed usually in the fixed part or frame of the furniture, thus inhibiting the door, cover, lid or drawer from being opened. In most case-s the locking mechanism is mounted out of view on the inside of a door, cover, lid or drawer, on the moving part.Therefore, to allow actuation of the locking mechanism by the inser-tion and/or rotation -and/or other use of a key, a keyhole must be made by appropriately boring and cutting into the furniture.

If furniture is not initially supplied or designed with a locking mechanism, it is difficult to install at a later date b someone without the necessary skills and without modifying the furniture concerned. Yet this may be required, for example, to stop babies or young children obtaining access to potentially dangerous items or materials stored in such furniture.

An object of the invention is to provide a lock mechanism which can be installed in furniture without the need to provide a keyhole.

According to the invention, there is provided a lock mechanism comprising: a plug member; and a socket member for receiving the plug member; the socket member -having engagement means for engaging and catching the plug member; and magnetically responsive inhibiting means for permitting disengagement of said engagement means from the plug member in response to application of a magnetic field.

Preferably, said inhibiting means comprises a movable member arranged for movement from a first position preventing said disengagement to a second position permitting said disengagement in response to said magnetic field.

Coupling means is preferably provided for moving said movable member from said second position to said first position in response to insertion of said plug member into said socket member.

Preferably, said coupling means comprises at least one pivotably mounted member engaged with said movable member and pivotable in response to insertion of said plug member.

Preferably, said engagement means comprises a receiving member mounted for limited movement within said socket member.

It is preferred that the receiving means is interlocked with said movable member by said coupling means whereby movement of said receiving member or said movable member in a first direction causes movement of the movable member or the receiving member in the opposite direction.

Expediently,-each of said socket member and said plug member is provided with at least one self-adhesive pad. This may enable the mechanism to be installed without the use of additional fixing devices such as screws.

One way of carrying out the invention is described in detail below with reference to drawings which illustrate one specific embodiment of the invention and in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plug member; Figure 2 is a plan view of the plug member; Figure 3 is a front view of the plug member; Figure 4 is a sectional view along line C - "C" of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a side elevation of a socket member; Figure 6 is a plan view of the socket member; Figure 7 is a sectional view through the socket member along the line B - "B" of Figure 8; Figure 8 is a sectional view through the sock-et, along the line A - "A" of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a view partially in section along lin-eE - "E" of Figure 10, of a hand-held lock-disabli-ng element;; Figure 10 is a side elevation partially in section along the -line D - "D" of Figure 9 of the hand-held magnetic lock-disabling element; Figure 11 shows a typical installation of the plug member engaged with the socket member with a door, cover, lid or drawer of an article of furnitu-re shown in the closed position; Figure 12 shows section B - "B" through the socket member in a typical installation with the plug member engaged with the door, cover, lid or drawer of the furniture open as far as the lock will let it; and Figure 13 shows a section B - "B" through the socket member in a typical installation and a section along line D - "D" of Figure 9 through the hand-held magnetic lock-disabling element with cover removed in close proximity to the socket member with the door, cover, lid or drawer of the furniture in the process of being opened.

The Figures show a magnetically actuated lock for furniture- to secure doors, covers, lids or drawers of such furniture against opening by babies or young children, comprising essentially a plug member and a socket member. The plug member 27 consists of a lock engagement shaft 8 with lock nut 7, a lock engagement shaft holder 2 into which lock engagement shaft 8 is screwed, a lock nut 3 and a base 4 into which the lock engagement shaft holder 2 is screwed, and self-adhesive mounting strips 1,6 and 5. The socket member 28 consists of cover 15 with a conical entrance aperture screwed into a housing 11 having self-adhesive mounting strips 9,10 and 14 and containing an outer sliding lock mechanism 16,16A,,16B,16C and 16D with a soft iron core 20, an inner sliding lock mechanism 17,17A,17B and 17C, interlock levers 13,19A and 19B, and two interlock lever pivot shafts 12 and 18.A hand-held magnetic lock-disabling element 30 is also provided and consists of a cover 24, a soft iron pole shoe 25 and a housing 22 containing a permanent magnet 23.

The lock engagement shaft 8 of the plug member 27 consists of a shaft threaded from one end for 3/4 - of its entire length with a diamond shaped nipple at the other end for engaging into the socket member 28.

The engagement s-haft -8 is able to be screwed in and out of the engagement holder to allow adjustment -in the horizontal plane to provide for a certain amount of tolerance in installation. Lock nut 7 enables the engagement shaft to be locked in position. The engagement shaft holder 2 is able to screw in and out of the base 4 to allow adjustment in the vertical plane to allow for a certain amount of tolerance in ins-tallation. Lock nut 3 enables the engagement shaft holder 2 to be locked in position. The base 4 is designed to counteract forces expected to be exerted on the engagement shaft holder 2 whilst held in place only by the self-adhesive strips 1,5 and 6.

The inner sliding lock mechanism 17 of the socket member 28 consists of a conical socket 17B, four latching arms 17A and four guide rails 17C, which can reciprocate in slots in the inside wall of the housing 11. The outer sliding lock mechanism 16, (consisting of four blocking arms 16A,16C and 16D, the soft iron core holder 16B and the soft iron core 20) interlocks with the inner sliding lock mechanism 17 by means of levers 13 and 19A pivoting on pivot shafts 12 and 18 which are held in slots in the inside wall of the- housing 11. Levers 19A and 13 engage into two of the blocking arms 16A and 16C with lugs 19B. The inner sliding lock mechanism 17 and outer sliding lock mechanism 16 are free to move up and down the inside of the housing 11 but their movements are not independent owing to the interlocking levers l9A and 13.When either one is in the fully down (or in) position then the other must be in the fully up (or out) position. Both the inner sliding lock mechanism 17 and the outer sliding lock mechanism 16 are confined within the housing 11 by the cover" 15 which screws on to the housing 11 and has a central conical aperture through which the engaging shaft 8 of the plug member 27 enters the socket member 28 and then engages into the inner sliding mechanism 17. The housing 11 may be held in place on the furniture by self-adhesive strips 9,10 and 14.

The following sequence of events takes place when the door, cover, lid or drawer of the furniture in which the lock is installed is closed: The plug-member 27 and socket member 28 approach one another until eventually the diamond-shaped nipple on the end of the engagement shaft 8 is caught and guided by the aperture in the middle of the cover 15 into the middle of the socket member 28. As the engagement shaft 8 is pushed deeper and deeper inside the socket member it eventually contacts the inner sliding lock mechanism 17 and then begins to shunt it inwards whilst at the same time forcing the outer sliding mechanism 16 outwards due to the action of the interlocking levers 13 and 19.This continues until the movement of the inner sliding lock mechanism 17 is inhibited simultaneously by the soft iron core holder 16B and the end stops of the slots in the housing 11 in which the sliding rails 17C of the inner sliding lock mechanism are guided. At this point, further inward movement of the diamond-shaped nipple on the end of the engagement shaft 8 causes the latching arms 1-7A to be forced elastically outwards until the widest diameter of the diamond-shaped nipple on the end of the engagement shaft 8 passes the peaks of the latching arms 17A at which point the tension in these arms forces the arms to close inwards towards one another. This forces the inner- sliding lock mechanism to latch on to the diamond-shaped nipple by forcing the nipple inwards into the socket 17B until it can move no further.At this point the outer sliding lock mechanism 16 has reached the outer limit of its travel and the blocking arms 16A and 16D are resting close to the cover 15 with the door, cover, lid or drawer 29 of the furniture is closed.

If an attempt to open the door, cover, lid or drawer 29 is made without using the hand-held magnetic lock disabling element the following sequence of events takes place: the engagement shaft 8 begins tto withdraw from the socket member 28 and the inner sliding lock mechanism, which is still latched on to the diamond-shaped nipple on the end of the engagement shaft 8, is withdrawn with it until the inner sliding lock mechanism 17 is obstructed by the cover 15. At this point, further withdrawal of the engagement shaft causes. the latching arms to be forced open by the increasing diameter of the nipple, but the latching arms themselves are eventually inhibited from opening by the inward facing tips of the blocking arms 16A and 16D of the outer sliding lock mechanism.Since the latching arms 16A and 16D thus cannot be forced outward to make way for the largest diameter of the diamond-shaped nipple on the end of the engagement shaft 8, the nipple and engagement shaft 8 remain locked inside the socket member 28. This in turn presents the door, cover, lid or drawer 29 of the furniture from being opened any further.

If the door, cover, lid or drawer 29 of the furniture is opened with the use of the hand-held magnetic lock-disabling element 30 the following sequence of events takes place: as the hand-held magnetic lock disabling element 30 is brought into very close proximity and directly behind the socket member 28 mounted on the inside of the door, cover, lid 9r drawer 29 of the furniture, the resulting presence of the strong magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet 23 contained within the hand-held lock-disabling device 30 will cause the iron core or suitably polarised permanent magnet 20 in the outer sliding lock element 16. to be attracted towards the element 30, thus disabling the locking mechanism.

If, at the same time, the door, cover, lid or drawer 29 of the furniture is slowly opened, the outer sliding lock mechanism 16 will be forced to move inwards in the direction of the element 30.

Eventually, when the door, cover, lid or drawer 29 has been opened far enough, the outer sliding lock element 16 will be forced to the floor of the housing 21 by -the magnetic field produced by the hand-held lock-disabling element 30. Meanwhile, the inner sliding lock element 17 has been drawn outwards by the nipple of the engagement shaft 8 still clasped by the latching arms 17A.

Eventually the inner sliding lock element 17 reaches the cover 15 and is stopped from moving any further outwards. Now if opening continues the latching arms 17A of the inner sliding element 17 will be forced open and sideways by the increasing diameter of the nipple on the end of the engagement shaft 8. This time, since the blocking arms 16A of the outer sliding lock element are now at their lowest point in the housing 11, the latching arms 17A meet with no resistance and continue to be forced open until the largest diameter of the nipple passes the peaks of the latching arm and is released from the inner sliding lock element 17. The engagement shaft 8 may now be completely withdrawn from the socket member 28 thus enabling the door, cover, lid or drawer to be completely opened.

In order for the magnetically-actuated locking mechanism to operate efficiently when the hand-held magnetic lock-disabling element is brought into close proximity (e.g. a distance of 2cm) the locking mechanism must be free to move. Therefore it should not be subjected to load, which would make it very difficult to move, unless an attempt is made to open the door, cover, lid or drawer on which it is mounted.

Since the locking mechanism is disabled magnetically by bringing the hand-held lock-disabling element into close proximity and not mechanically by using any type of key, no keyholes need to be made. This therefore enables the lock to be installed without damaging or modifying the furniture in any way, thus simplifying the installation of the lock.

Since the lock is aimed at inhibiting access' by babies and young children to the contents of the furniture, the lock only needs to demonstrate- a relatively small anti-dislodgement force sufficient only to counteract the expected force applied by such babies or young children when making an attempt to open the door, cover, lid or drawer of the furniture concerned. The self-adhesive strips designed to hold the lock elements in place will demonstrate adequate resistance against such dislodgement force. This therefore further simplifies installation of the lock as screws or other additional fastening means will not be required. Of course, the scope of the invention is not such as to exclude the use of screws or other fastening means when necessary or desirable.

Since the male member/plug is adjustable on 2 axes at 90 degrees to one another this allows for a certain amount of tolerance in installing the lock.

The main advantages therefore offered by this lock are that the lock can be mounted on to most types of furniture, including that made out of glass, and there is no need for any modification of the furniture.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that in a simpler embodiment of the invention it is not essential to make the inner sliding lock mechanism 17 movable. In such a case, the levers 13 and 19 are unnecessary. In a very simple embodiment, the invention requires only a movable member corresponding to the outer sliding lock mechanism 16, which member in one position allows disengagement of the plug member and in another position inhibits withdrawal of the plug member, the movable member being movable between the two positions by a magnetic field. Of course, it should in any event be ensured that the movable member is in its inhibiting position when an unauthorised attempt is made to withdraw the plug member. This can be achieved however by the use of a biassing means, such as a weak spring for example.

The scope of the invention extends to all such modifications as are covered by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lock mechanism comprising: a plug member; and a socket member for receiving the plug member-; the socket member having engagement means for engaging and catching the plug member; and magnetically responsive inhibiting means for permitting disengagement of said engagement means from the plug member in response to application of a magnetic field.

2. A lock mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said inhibiting means comprises a movable member arranged for movement from a first position preventing said disengagement to a second position permitting said disengagement in response to said magnetic field.

3. A lock mechanism according to claim 2 wherein coupling means is provided for moving said movable member from said second position to said first position in response to insertion of said plug member into said socket member.

4. A lock mechanism according to claim 3 wherein said coupling means comprises at least one pivotably mounted member engaged with said movable member and pivotable in response to insertion of said plug member.

5. A lock mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said engagement means comprises a receiving member mounted for limited movement within said socket member.

6. A lock mechanism according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 3 or 4 wherein said receiving member is interlocked with said movable member by said coupling means whereby movement of said receiving member or said movable member in a first direction causes movement of the movable member or the receiving member in the opposite direction.

7. A lock mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each of said socket member and said plug member is provided with at least one self-adhesive pad.

8. A lock mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. Any features of novelty, whether taken singly or in combination with other features, of the lock mechanisms hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.