GB2492464A

GB2492464A - Multi-point locking mechanism with secondary lock

Info

Publication number: GB2492464A
Application number: GB201211354A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Robinson; Crispin Jedrzejewski
Original assignee: Sapa Building Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Hydro Building Systems UK Ltd
Priority date: 2011-06-29
Filing date: 2012-06-26
Publication date: 2013-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2032-06-26
Also published as: GB201111074D0; GB201211354D0; GB2492464B

Abstract

A multipoint locking system for a door has a primary locking mechanism for throwing a locking bolt and operating a sliding drive bar 5 to operate additional remote latches and includes a secondary auxiliary latch/lock bolt 1 received in an aperture in the drive bar when the drive bar aligns with the auxiliary lock 1and an aligned aperture in a face plate fixed to the door. When in the extended position inserted into the slot in the drive bar the auxiliary lock prevents movement of the drive bar. The auxiliary lock 1 may be retracted by a key or thumb-turn, preferably a sliding spring catch 25 retains the lock bolt 1 in the retracted position until the drive bar is moved to unlock the remote latches at which point the drive bar subsequently releases catch to disengage the lock bolt which abuts the misaligned drive bar primed for automatic locking once the drive bar is next aligned.

Description

Title: Multi-point Locking Systems

Description:-

This invention relates to a multi-point locking system of the kind described in our co-pending European PatentApphcation No. 09251111.2 (published as EP 2 128 362 Al).

The standard locking procedure for a typical multi-point locking system requires use of a handle to operate drive bars which actuate throw hooks or bolts. A key operated cylinder lock is then operated to lock out the multi-point lock mechanism.

However, cylinder type locks are susceptible to numerous and emerging methods of attack.

The provision of an auxiliary lock, advantageously a deadlock and more particularly a 5-lever deadlock, having a retractable bolt which locks the drive bar to a relatively fixed overlying face bar provides significantly enhanced security provided always that the lock is manually locked.

In use of the multi-point locking system described in EP 2 128 362 oversight or inexperience on the part of a user may lead to omission of the step of manually locking the auxiliary lock, thereby unintentionally leaving the door insecure.

It is an object of this invention to ensure that the auxiliary lock system may be fully engaged and locked without any further procedure in addition to that required to throw the hooks or bolts into locking engagement on a standard multi-point lock such positive user action to engage the auxiliary lock system also reducing the risk of an accidental lock out by the user.

In one aspect this invention consists of a multi-point locking system comprising a locking mechanism operable to retract and extend a bolt and to move a drive bar to retract and extend a latch remote from the locking mechanism, the drive bar including a receiver which is overlaid by a face bar that is fixed relative to the locking mechanism, the face bar including a receiver that is in register with the receiver in the drive bar when the drive bar has extended the associated latch, an auxiliary lock being located at a position spaced from the locking mechanism and being operable to extend a bolt into the registering receivers of the drive bar and the face bar when the drive bar is extended, to lock the drive bar against movement, the bolt being retractable to unlock the drive bar to allow movement thereof characterized in that means are provided to urge the bolt into the receivers of the face bar and drive bar when the receivers are in register Preferably, the auxiliary lock bolt is adapted to selectively engage catch means for retaining the bolt in its extended and retracted positions respectively.

Preferably, the catch means comprises a retractable catch which selectively holds the bolt in its locked position and subsequently in the unlocked position as the bolt is retracted before the central locking handle of the multi-point locking system is turned.

Preferably, the bolt is provided with first and second spaced-apart formations to engage the catch in its extended and retracted positions to hold the urged bolt in its extended and retracted positions respectively.

Preferably, in use, the retractable catch is mounted below the bolt so as to be selectively engageable with the respective first and second formations provided on the bolt.

Preferably, the catch means is spring biased towards engagement with respective first and second formations on the bolt.

Preferably, means for urgedly propelling the bolt into registered receivers of the face S bar and drive bar comprises spring means.

It is advantageous to provide means for limiting the bolt projection to substantially no more than is required to enter the receivers of the drive bar and fixed bar of the auxiliary lock, and no further, to deny a point of attack against the auxiliary lock bolt.

Preferably, means are provided for keyless unlocking of the auxiliary lock from the interior to facilitate ease and speed of egress from a building.

Preferably, a thumb turn is provided for keyless unlocking from the interior.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one embodiment of an auxiliary lock for use with a multi-point locking system of the kind referred to will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Fig. A is a schematic partial side elevation of an auxiliary lock for a multi-point locking system showing the lock in the locked position and at rest; Fig. A' is a view in the direction A-A shown in Figure A illustrating a portion of the drive bar; Fig. B is a view similar to Figure A showing the device in the process of unlocking; Figure C is a view similar to Figures A and B showing the device in the unlocked position and at rest; Fig. D is a view similar to the preceding Figures showing the device in a position about to lock.

Referring to the drawings, Figure A shows the auxiliary lock bolt 1 in the locked position extending through a receiver S formed in drive bar 5. A face bar, not shown which in use is fixed to the edge of the door, has a matching receiver which is aligned in register with the receiver 3. In this position, the distal outer end portion of lock bolt 1 passes through receiver 3 and enters the receiver of the fixed face bar.

The drive bar is thereby fixed to the face bar ensuring that the multi-point locking system cannot be unlocked.

Spring means in the form of spring 17 is seated between the inner end portion of the lock bolt 1 and the lock casework is provided to urgedly propel the outer end portion of the bolt into the receivers in the drive bar and face bar as the drive bar slides, by operation of a handle, to bring the receivers into register.

Retractable catch means are provided in the form of catch 19, disposed in use below the bolt 1, and biased upwardly towards bolt 1 by spring 21, has limb 19a engaging a first inner abutment surface 23 provided on the lower side of the lock bolt 1. In this position, limb 19a limits the projection of the outer distal end portion of bolt 1 to no more than required to enter the registered receivers.

A conventional key turn 27 provided in this embodiment on both the external and internal sides of the lock body and a thumb turn mechanism, on the interior side, not shown, are provided to withdraw the lock bolt from the locked position as shown in Figure A The internal thumb turn mechanism, in particular, provides keyless means for ease and speed of egress from a building in the event of an emergency.

Referring to Figure B, the key turn has been used to withdraw the bolt almost completely from the drive bar receiver. As the bolt retracts, the bias of spring 21 maintains contact between the bolt 1 and upper end portion of limb 1 9a which, accordingly, slides from engagement with abutment surface 23 before extending by urging of the spring 21 into engagement with a second abutment surface 25 on the bolt. The abutment surfaces 23 and 25 constitute first and second spaced-apart formations retaining the catch to selectively hold the bolt in its locked position and subsequently in its unlocked position. In the position shown in Figure B, catch 19 is holding the retracted bolt 1 against the force of spring 17 exerted along the axis of sliding movement of the bolt 1. The drive bar has been decoupled from the fixed face bar which is now free to be moved by the multi-point locking system handle for the release of multiple locking catches actuated by the drive bar.

Figure C shows the configuration of the parts after the multipoint locking handle has been operated to pull down the drive bar 5. Receiver 3 of drive bar 5 has moved downwardly away from alignment with the bolt 1. The bolt 1 is accordingly held in a retracted position by the drive bar against the fully compressed spring 11. As the drive bar is moved down, the horizontal limb 19b of lower catch 19 is engaged by the upper end of slot 29 in the drive bar 5 and is completely retracted from contact with the lock bolt 1.

Figure D shows the configuration of the auxiliary lock when the multi-point locking system is activated by raising the multi-point lock handle to extend the drive bar to engage multi-point locking catches. The raising of the drive bar actuates catch 19.

The catch 19 is carried vertically up by the drive bar 5 to a position where it is positioned to engage the abutment 23 of lock bolt 1. When the drive bar reaches a position where its receiver is in register with the receiver in the fixed face bar the fully compressed spring 17 rapidly propels the distal end portion of bolt 1 through the registered receivers thus automatically locking the drive bar to the fixed face bar without use of a key or the like to secure a multi-point locking system.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. A multi-point locking system comprising a locking mechanism operable to retract and extend a bolt and to move a drive bar to retract and extend a latch remote from the locking mechanism, the drive bar including a receiver which is overlaid by a face bar that is fixed relative to the locking mechanism, the face bar including a receiver that is in register with the receiver in the drive bar when the drive bar has extended the associated latch, an auxiliary lock being located at a position spaced from the locking mechanism and being operable to extend a bolt into the registering receivers of the drive bar and the face bar when the drive bar is extended, to lock the drive bar against movement, the bolt being retractable to unlock the drive bar to allow movement thereof characterized in that means are provided to urge the bolt into the receivers of the drive bar and face bar when they move into register.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A system according to claim I in which the bolt is adapted to selectively engage with spring biased catch means for retaining the bolt ri its extended and retracted positions respectively.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A system according to Claim 2 in which the catch means comprises a retractable catch which selectively hoids back the bolt in its locked position and subsequently in the unlocked position when the bolt is retracted.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A system as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which the bolt has two spaced apart formations to hold the catch in extended and retracted positions respectively.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A system as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the retractable catch in use is mounted beneath the bolt so as to be co-operable with the first andSsecond spaced-apart formations respectively provided on the lower side of the bolt.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A system as claimed in Claim 2-5 in which the the catch means are spring biased towards engagement with the respective spaced-apart formations on the bolt 7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which means for urgedly propelling the bolt into the registered receivers comprises spring means 8. A system as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein keyless unlocking means are provided to facilitate ease and speed of egress from interior of a building.9. A system as claimed in Claim 8 in which the keyless unlocking means comprises a manually operable thumb turn.1O.A system substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.</claim-text>