GB2206920A

GB2206920A - Door lock structure

Info

Publication number: GB2206920A
Application number: GB08813369A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Lionel Drew Goddard; David Alexander Whitworth
Original assignee: LAIDLAW THOMSON GROUP PLC
Current assignee: LAIDLAW THOMSON GROUP PLC
Priority date: 1987-06-05
Filing date: 1988-06-06
Publication date: 1989-01-18
Also published as: GB8713184D0; GB8813369D0

Abstract

A lever handle door lock structure comprises a rotatable spindle 14, 15 to which is connected a lever handle 12, 13, the spindle and lever handle being rotatably supported in a lock housing adapted to be secured to a door with the spindle operatively connected to the bolt of the lock. A spring-loaded slide 21A, 21B is disposed within the housing normally to engage a locking element 37 on the spindle to prevent rotation thereof. A locking plate is also alocated within the housing alongside the slide and magnetic plug 27 means are carried by the side and are engageable with the locking plate until released from such engagement by the insertion of a magnetic key card 31 into the housing alongside the magnetic plug means. A projection 22 or other formation on the slide is engageable by the magnetic key card to permit movement of the slide under the action of the magnetic key card to disengage the slide from the locking element to permit rotation of the spindle by the lever handle and consequent opening of the lock structure. <IMAGE>

Description

A DOOR LOCK STRUCTURE This invention relates to a door lock structure, in particular a magnetic key-operated door lock structure.

An example of such a lock structure is disclosed in U.S. Patent Specification No. 4133194 in which there is disclosed a magnetic card key actuated lock structure adapted to be employed with a conventional outside door knob. The lock structure comprises a rotatable spindle on which the knob housing is freely rotatable. Within the knob housing is a lockina plate alongside which is a springloaded slide releasably secured to the locking plate by magnetic pins which are adapted to be released from the locking plate by the insertion of the magnetic key card into a slot in the knob.The key card engages the released slide and bodily moves same to cause a projection carried thereby to engage in one of a plurality of slots defined by teeth on a member rotatably fast with the lock spindle thereby rotatably connecting the knob housing and the lock spindle to allow rotation of the latter to open the lock.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lever handle door lock structure adapted to permit opening by means of a magnetic card key.

According to the present invention there is provided a lever handle door lock structure comprising a rotatable spindle to which is connected a lever handle, the spindle and lever handle being rotatably supported in a lock housing adapted to be secured to a door with the spindle operatively connected to the bolt of the lock, a spring-loaded slide disposed within the housing normally engaging a locking element on the spindle to prevent rotation thereof, a locking plate within the housing alongside the slide, magnetic plug means carried by the slide and engageable with the locking plate until released from such engagement by the insertion of a magnetic key card into the housing alongside the magnetic plug means, and a projection or other formation on the slide engageable by the magnetic key card to permit movement of the slide under the action of the magnetic key card to disengage the slide from the locking element to permit rotation of the spindle by the lever handle and consequent opening of the lock structure.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a lever handle lock structure according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the lock structure of Fig. 1 in the direction of arrow "A" with a backplate omitted and the lever handle in the locked position; Fig. 3 is a view identical to Fig. 2 with the lever handle in the unlocked or released position; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through another lever handle lock structure according to the pres-ent invention; and Fig. 5 is a view of the lock structures of Fig.

4 in the direction of the arrow "B" with a backplate omitted and the lever handle in the locked position; and Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 the door lock structure is shown fitted to a door 10, the lock mechanism fitted into the door panel 10 being indicated generally at 11.

The door lock structure comprises two operating lever handles 12 and 13, the lever handle 12 for convenience hereinafter being referred to, when necessary, as "the inside lever handle" and the lever handle 13 as "the outside lever handle".

The two lever handles 12 and 13 have respectively operating spindles 14 and 15 connected through a split follower 16 whereby they are separately actuable to operate the lock mechanism 11.

The inside lever handle 12 cooperates with a faceplate 17 fitted in abutment with the door 10.

The outside lever handle 13 also cooperates with a faceplate 18 which defines with a backplate 19 a casing housing a magnetic card key operating arrangement as hereinafter described.

The faceplate 17 and the casing constituted by the faceplate 18 and backplate 19 are interconnected by bolts 20 which traverse the door 10.

The magnetic key operating machanism comprises a two-part slide 21A, 21B arranged within the casing 18, 19 with the upper slide part 21A having at its bottom a projection 22 directed towards the faceplate 18 and the lower slide part 21B having intermdiate its top and bottom a projection 23 also direction towards the faceplate 18. A spring 24 engages between the projection 23 and a lower ledge 25 on the inside of the faceplate 18 and acts to push the lower slide part 21B upwards, which, in turn, acts directly on the upper slide part 21A also to push the same upwards.

The upper slide part 21A is formed with pockets 26 each housing a magnetic plug 27.

Parallel with the upper slide part 21A is a pair of walls 28, 29 of non-magnetic material defining a slot, whereof the upper end has a lead-in formation 30 for a key card 31. The wall 28 is resiliently urged towards the wall 29 by a spring 32. Between the upper slide part 21A and the wall 29 is a plte 33 of magnetisable material, for example steel. This plate 33 has recesses 34 for receiving the magnetic plugs 27.

The walls 28, 29 and the plate 33 are stationary in the vertical plane.

The bottom slide part 21B has an aperture 35 with a radial inward projection 36 at its lower end.

The spindle 15 passes through this aperture 35 and is fitted within the aperture 35 with a locking element 37 having diametrically opposed recesses 38.

When the projection 36 is engaged in one of these recesses 38 rotation of the spindle 15 is prevented (see Fig. 2). When the projection 36 is moved clear of its accommodating recess 38 (see Fig.

3) rotation of the spindle 15 is possible.

A cover plate 39 is spring-loaded as indicated at 40 against the bottom slide part 21B.

Assuming the lock- structure is in the door securing position (see Figs. 1 and 2) the outside lever handle 13 and its spindle 15 cannot be turned.

To release the latter the magnetic key card 31 is inserted in the slot between the walls 28, 29, the wall 28 separating from the wall 29 against the action of the spring 32. This causes the magnetic plugs 27 to be repelled out of the recesses 34 in the plate 33 into the pockets 26 in the upper slide part 21A thus breaking the mechanical connection between the walls 28, 29 and plate 33 and the upper slide part 21A.

The magnetic key card then engages projection 22 to move the upper slide part 21A followed by the lower slide parts 21B downwards against the action of the spring 24. This action causes the projection 36 to move downwards also from the position in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 and the outside lever handle 13 and its spindle 15 can now be turned to disengage the locking tongue (not shown) of the lock structure for the keeper plate (also not shown) in the door jamb to permit the door 10 to be opened.

Removal of the magnetic key card 31 causes the lock structure to return to the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be manifest that the inside lever handle 12, due to the split follower 16 is always free to be turned to open or close the lock structure.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4 and 5 and parts similar to those of the lock structure of Figs. 1 to 3 are indicated- by the same references with the addition of the prefix "1".

The magnetic plugs, their pockets and recesses are not illustrated in this embodiment.

In this embodiment the inside handle takes the form of a door knob 40 which is connected to a spindle 41 secured to the door 110 by a circlip 42 or similar.

The operation of the lock structure is as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3.

The lock structure is not handed so that it can be used either left or righthanded depending on the direction of opening of the door.

The door 110 wil be provided with an emergency release mechanism so that it can be operated from inside at any time.

The faceplate 118 conceals the exterior fixing of the lock structure to the door 110 thereby providing increased security.

Claims

1. A lever handle door lock structure comprising a rotatable spindle to which is connected a lever handle, the spindle and lever handle being rotatably supported in a lock housing adapted to be secured to a door with the spindle operatively connected to the bolt of the lock, a spring-loaded slide disposed within the housing normally engaging a locking element on the spindle to prevent rotation thereof, a locking plate within the housing alongside the slide, magnetic plug means carried by the slide and engageable with the locking plate until released from such engagement by the insertion of a magnetic key card into the housing alongside the magnetic plug means, and a projection or other formation on the slide engageable by the magnetic key card to permit movement of the slide under the action of the magnetic key card to disengage the slide from the locking element to permit rotation of the spindle by the lever handle and consequent opening of the lock structure.

2. A lock structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the locking element has opposed recesses engagable with a projection directed inwardly of an aperture in the slide, the locking element being disposed within the aperture.

3. A lock structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the slide comprises upper and lower parts with the lower part being formed with the aperture and being spring loaded upwards when considering the lock structure fitted to a door.

4. A lock structure as claimed in claim 3 in which the upper slide part is releasably mechanically locked to a magnetisable locking plate by magnetic plugs housed in pockets in the upper slide part and engagable in recesses in the locking plate, the plugs being adapted to be repelled into the pockets by the magnetic key card to break the mechanical connection.

5. A lock structure as claimed in claim 4 comprising a pair of walls defining a slot for receiving the magnetic key card and disposed adjacent the locking plate.

6. A lock structure as claimed in claim 4 or 5 in which the upper slide part has a projection engagable by the magnetic key card to push both slide parts downwardly to break the mechanical connection.

7. A lever handle lock structure, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 to 3 or Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.