GB2471116A

GB2471116A - A lock cover

Info

Publication number: GB2471116A
Application number: GB0910459A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Lindley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-17
Filing date: 2009-06-17
Publication date: 2010-12-22
Also published as: GB0910459D0

Abstract

A lock having a locking mechanism 2 and a cover 4 held by a catch to conceal the user interface such as a keyhole to prevent ingression of dirt and provide deterrent to a larcenist. In a preferred embodiment cover 4 includes a sleeve 5 retained in the closed position by catch balls 14 engaging with a housing 7 wherein upon pushing in of an actuating pin 6 releases the catch balls 14 into an annular recess 6A of the pin wherein the cover is biased by spring 13 into an open position where it can be rotated to a non-obstructing position; to lock the cover it is simply pushed back into the closed position. The actuating pin is preferably only accessible through a small tool shaped opening in the cover to disguise its function. The cover is preferably located in a recess of the lock body to be flush with the outer surface.

Description

A Lock Cover The present invention was born from the idea that a lock cover may act not only as a means to protect the lock from the ingression of dirt and water, but also to provide an additional deterrent to a would-be larcener According to the invention there is provided a lock having a locking mechanism and a user interface associated with the locking mechanism to allow an authorised user to unlock the lock; a cover to cover the user interface; a catch means to hold the cover over the user interface and means to release the catch to uncover the user interface.

In a preferred embodiment the means to release the catch is operated by a push-in action. This push-in action can be provided by a depressible surface or point, somewhere within the periphery of a outward face of the cover, to release the catch.

The depressible surface or point is preferably located at the base of a recess so that its function is not easily guessed. To resist unauthorised opening of the cover, the recess may have an outer portion of non-circular profile shaped as if to receive a tool. This outer portion should preferably be wider than an inner portion so that an attempt to insert such a tool cannot operate the catch. It is possible, though not preferred, that the depressible surface or point be located elsewhere, outside of the periphery of the cover or may instead be the face of the cover itself It is preferred that the lock include means to move the cover in a direction substantially opposite the user interface upon release of the catch so that the cover can be rotated or otherwise moved out of the way of the user interface to provide access thereto.

The cover, when held by the catch over the user interface, may be partially or fully recessed within a body that houses the lock mechanism and/or user interface. To resist the cover from being jemmied away from the body and to create a sleeker appearance it is preferred that the cover is substantially flush with an outer face of the body.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following figures in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation partial cross section of a lock in which the key hole is covered; Figure 2 is side elevation partial cross section of a lock of Figure 1 illustrated with the cover in an open position so as to allow access to the key hole; Figure 3 is a side elevation partial cross section of an alterative embodiment in which the key hole is covered; and Figure 4 is a side elevation partial cross section of the lock of Figure 3 illustrated with the cover in an open position so as to allow access to the key hole.

In Fig 1 there is shown a body 1 of an object requiring a locking function such as a safe or cabinet door.

A barrel lock 2, inset in body 1, is coupled to an operating mechanism 3. The barrel lock 2 has a keyhole 2A which opens into a recess 1A defined by the body 1. Keyhole 2A accepts a key to unlock lock 2 and actuate operating mechanism 3 e.g. to open a door.

Access to the key hole 2A is obstructed by a cover 4 which, in a covering position as shown in Fig 1, is inset within recess 1A such that the outward face 4A of the cover 4 lies substantially flush with the outward face 1A of body 1 and is shaped to correspond to the opening of the recess 1A.

The cover 4 has an aperture into which is press fitted a sleeve S holding an actuating pin 6. The sleeve 5 is itself is mounted within a housing 7. The inner end of the sleeve S is closed by a retainer 8, held in place by circlip 9 which is held within an indent formed within the bore wall of sleeve S. A second circlip 10 retains a stop 11 S against the outside of the sleeve 5.

A spring 12 is held between the retainer 8 and the inner end of actuating pin 6 and acts to bias the pin 6 to a position towards the open end of the sleeve 5. Inward step 5A provided on the inner bore of the sleeve prevents passage of the actuating pin through the open end of the sleeve. Pin 6 has a neck portion 6A of narrowed width which together with the inside bore of the sleeve define a recess 6C. The neck portion 6A is connected to the remainder of the body of the pin 6 by sloped shoulders 6B. A second spring 13 is located around sleeve 5, held within a recess 7A of the housing 7 against inward face 4B of the cover 4.

Balls 14 are held within recesses SB in the sleeve S and recess 7B of the housing.

iS Outward movement of the sleeve S and pin 6 assembly is prevented by impingement of balls 14 against shoulder 7C.

At the end of the sleeve distal the retainer 8, the bore of the sleeve 5 is provided with a wider opening portion SB formed with inward step SC. The opening portion is shaped with a non-circular profiled wall SD, such as a hexagonal or cross shaped for the reception of a tool such as a hex key or screwdriver.

To access the key hole 2A the user inserts a tool into the bore of the sleeve S. The tool is, or has a portion that is, sufficiently narrow to pass into the sleeve S beyond the opening portion SB and to press against the outward face 6D of pin 6. This causes movement of pin 6 towards the retainer 9 and compression of spring 12. As the necked area 6A moves into a position adjacent recesses SB the balls 14 are urged into the recess area defined in part by the necked region as can be seen in Figure 2, thereupon the sleeve S cover 4 and pin 6 are urged outwards away from the body 1 by spring 13 until stop 11 contacts against housing 7. The cover 4, now in a popped-out' position, free from recess 1A, can be rotated together with the sleeve 5 about the body 1 so as to provide access to the key hole 2A.

To re-cover the keyhole 2A the cover 4 is realigned with recess 1A and pressed back into the recess 1A. The pin 6, which is locked by balls 14 in position relative to the S sleeve 5, also moves inwards with the sleeve S until the balls 14 are brought adjacent to recesses SB whereupon the outward biasing provided by spring 12 urges the shoulder 6B of operating pin 6 against balls 14 into recesses SB towards recess 7B.

Once balls 14 are fully homed into recesses SB 7B the pin 6 is free to travel outwards until face 6C impinges shoulders 5A.

The non-circular shaped opening portion 5B acts as a decoy to mislead those not aware of the true operation of the release mechanism. It appears that the cover 4 is releasable by using a tool appropriately fitted to correspond to the profile of the outer hole SB but an attempt to use such a tool can achieve nothing. Step SA, ensures that a tool being sufficient size to correspond to the profile of wall SD is too wide to be inserted sufficiently far to contact pin 6.

Figs 3 and 4 illustrate a variant lock cover. Like parts are similarly numbered. An end portion of the bore of sleeve 5', distal to the opening portion 5'B, is formed with a thread 5 E which corresponds and allows securement thereon of grub screw retainer 8'. Stop 11' defines an internal thread 11 A which is sized to allow the stop 11' to be secured onto a threaded outer wall portion 5'F of sleeve 5'. Stop 11' is formed with a smooth frustoconical outer wall to inhibit removal of the stop 11' from the sleeve 5' once secured thereon. To inhibit removal of the retainer 8' or stop 11', an adhesive can be applied both pairs of corresponding threads 8'A, S'E & 11 A, S'F.

It will be appreciated that there are numerous alternative embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention, for example the cylinder lock mechanism may be replaced with any other form of lock mechanism, similarly the lock may not require a key hole, but may rather take form such as a keypad, or biometric reader e.g. fingerprint reader or iris scanner.

Additionally, the cover and associated mechanism could equally be implemented into a self contained lock such as a padlock or the like. In such a case body 1 would comprises the body of the padlock.

Claims

Claims 1. A lock having a locking mechanism and a user interface associated with the locking mechanism to allow an authorised user to unlock the lock; a cover to cover the user interface; a catch means to hold the cover over the user interface and means to release the catch to uncover the user interface.
2. A lock according to Claim 1 wherein the means to release the catch is operated by a push-in action.
3. A lock according to Claims 1 or 2 including means to cause the cover to move in a direction substantially opposite the user interface upon release of the catch.
4. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein the means to release the catch comprises a surface located at the base of a recess, the surface when pressed inwardly causes the release of the catch.
5. A lock according to Claim 4 wherein an outer portion of the recess is wider than an inner portion of the recess.
6. A lock according to Claim 4 or 5 wherein the outer portion of the recess has a non-circular periphery.
7. A lock according to any claim 4 to 6 wherein the recess is located within the periphery of an outward facing surface of the cover.
8. A lock according to any previous claim wherein the cover, when held by the catch over the user interface is at least partially recessed within a body housing the lock mechanism and/or user interface.
9. A lock according to Claim 8 wherein the cover is fully recessed within the body housing the lock mechanism and/or user interface.
10. A lock according to Claim 8 or 9 wherein an outward face of the cover is substantially flush with an outer face of the body housing the lock mechanism and/or user interface.
11. A lock according to any Claim 8, 9, or 10 comprising means to cause the cover to move out from the recess upon release of the catch.
12. A lock according to any previous claim wherein the catch mechanism comprises a sleeve connected to the cover and moveable therewith relative to a body of the lock housing the lock mechanism and/or user interface, the sleeve housing an actuating member moveable between a first and second position, said actuating member being biased towards the first position, but when moved to the second position releases the catch means to allow the cover and sleeve to move away from the body.
13. A lock according to Claim 12 wherein the actuating member defines a narrowed portion which together with an inner wall of the sleeve defines a recess; the sleeve defining at least one recess; and a catching member which when the actuating member is in the first position is held within the recess of the sleeve and against the body to prevent movement of the cover outwards from the body, and when the actuating member is in the second position can move into the recess when the actuating member is such that when the actuating member is moved to the second position, catch members held by the actuating member in a locking position against the sleeve and the body, move into the recess to allow movement of the sleeve relative to the body.