GB2515655A

GB2515655A - Key for a mortise lock

Info

Publication number: GB2515655A
Application number: GB1411207.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yoav Yakov Krochmal
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-06-24
Filing date: 2014-06-24
Publication date: 2014-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2034-06-24
Also published as: GB201313415D0; GB201411207D0; GB2519736A; IL227163B; GB2515655B

Abstract

A key 1 with an automatic lock indicator comprising a blade assembly 10 and a bow assembly 20 mounted on the blade assembly and capable of rotating through a limited angle relative to the blade assembly about a longitudinal axis. The blade assembly includes a blade (11 Fig 3) having a shank member (11a Fig 3), an integral blade handle and a blade cylinder (12 Fig 3), mounted on, or formed integrally with, the blade handle and rotatably received in the bow assembly, and an indicator pin (13 Fig 3), projecting from the blade cylinder. The bow assembly includes an opening (22a Fig 6) for receiving the indicator pin and having a greater width than the indicator pin such that the pin moves from one end of the opening to the other as the bow assembly is rotated relative to the blade assembly. The pin may also secure the blade assembly to the bow assembly. The bow assembly may be formed from two bow caps (22ts 22bs Fig 6). The indicator pin allows the user to see the status of last movement of the lock and thus whether it is locked or unlocked.

Description

KEY FOR A MORTISE LOCK

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a key for a mortise lock for which both the locking and unlocking operations require the use of a key.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A problem faced by some people using mortise locks is remembering whether they locked a door on leaving a car or a building. Several solutions have been proposed for this purpose.

A locked/unlocked indicator for a key is described in U.S. patent application publication No. 2003/0115918 of Hunter. The locked/unlocked indicator includes a slide mormbor which is shiftod from a stato indicating lockod to a state indicating unlocked and vice versa by the user's thumb when using the key for locking or unlocking. This indicator might fail if the user does not place the thumb in the right place relative to the slide member.

It would be advantageous to have a key equipped with a lock indicator that would automatically change from a "locked" position to an "unlocked" position upon unlocking a lock with the key and from an "unlocked" position to a "looked" position upon looking the lock that is highly reliable and has a long service life.

SU}ThARY OF THE INVENTION With a view to mitigating the foregoing deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a key as hereinafter set forth in Claim 1 of the appended claims.

Preferred features of embodiments of the invention as set out in the appended dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with referenoe to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective schematic illustration of an exemplary, illuscrative embodiment of an automatic lock indicator equipped key according to the present invention, Figure 2 is an exploded schematio illustration of an exemplary embodimen of the automatic look indioator equipped key according to the present invention, Figure 3 is an exploded schematic illustration of an exemplary embodimenc of a blade assembly according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a side view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodimenc of an indication pin according to the present invention, Figuro 5 is a sido viow schomatic illustration of an exemplary embodimenc of a blade cylinder according to the present invention, Figure 6 is an exploded schematic illustration of an exemplary embodimenc of a bow assembly according to the present invention, Figure 7 is a botom side view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bow cap acoording to the present invention, Figure 8 is a top side view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bow cap according to the present invention, The illustration marks detail A in a circle, which is magnified in the oircle on the bottom left side of the illustration, Figure 9 is a back side view of an automatic lock indicator equipped key in various turning positions according to the present invention, Figure 10 is a top side view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an automatic lock indicator equipped key according to the present invention upon which the section plane li-li is marked, and Figure 11 is a cross sectional view li-il of an exemplary embodiment of an automatic lock indicator equipped key according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is of an automatic lock indicator equipped key.

The principles and operation of an automatic lock indicator equipped key according to the present invention may be better understood wirh reference to the drawings and

the accompanying description.

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is ro be understood that the invontion is not limitod in its application to tho dotails of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, dimensions, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and are not intended to be limiting.

The following list is a legend of the numbering of the application illustrations: 1 automatic lock indicator equipped key blade assembly 11 blade ha shank member lAb blade handle hic blade indicator pin hole 12 blade cylinder h2a blade cylinder indicator pin hole l2D blade cylinder diameter 13 indicator pin 13D indicator pin diameter EL indicator pin length 20 bow assembly 20A turning angle 22 bow cap 22a bow cap indicator pin opening 22aW bow cap indicator pin opening width 22aa bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion 22aaW bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion width 22ae bow cap indicator pin opening end 22aL bow cap indicator pin opening length 22as bow cap indicator pin opening side wall is 22b bow cap slit 22bL bow cap slit lengTh 22bW bow cap slit width 22bs bow cap bottom sidc 22c bow cap unlock symbol 22d bow cap lock symbol 22e bow cap tenon 22f bow cap notch 22g bow cap blade cylinder opening 22gD bow cap blade cylinder opening diameter 22h bow cap ring loop 22bs bow cap bottom side 22ts bow cap top side M turning moment Si first direction S2 second direction LX longitudinal axis Hereinafter, embodimencs of the present invention are explained in detail by referring to the drawings.

Figure i is a perspective schematic illustration of an exemplary, illustrative embodiment of an automatic lock indicator equipped key i according to the present invention.

The automatic lock indicator equipped key 1 is composed of two main assemblies: a blade assembly 10 and a bow assembly 20. Between the blade assembly 10 and the bow assembly 20 there can be roational movement around a longitudinal axis LX.

As will be shown subsequently, this movement is limited by the component structure of the blade assembly 10 and the bow assembly 20.

Figure 2 is an exploded schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of the automatic lock indicator equipped key 1 according to the present invention.

The present figure depicts the two main assemblies of the automatic lock indicator equipped key 1: the blade assembly 10 and the bow assembly 20.

Figure 3 is an exploded schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a blade assembly 10 according to the present invention.

Thc blado asscmbly 10 is shown in tho proscnt figuro and comprises a blade 11, a blade cylinder 12 and an indicator pin 13. The blade 11 comprises a shank member ha, an integral blade handle lhb and a blade indicator pin hole llc located in the blade handle 11±.

Other embodiments of the current invention may include a blade 11 which is a single, solid object which comprises all of the above parts of the blade 11.

Figure 4 is a side view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an indication pin 13 according to the present invention.

The indication pin 13 has the following physical dimensions: an indicator pin diameter 13D and an indicator pin length 13L.

Figure 5 is a side view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a blade cylinder 12 according to the present invention.

The blade cylinder 12 has a blade cylinder indicator pin hole 12a in it and a blade cylinder diameter 125.

Figure 6 is an exploded schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bow assembly 20 according to the present invention.

The bow assembly 20 is composed of two bow caps 22.

Each bow cap 22 has two sides: a bow cap top side 22ts and a bow cap bottom side 22bs. On the bow cap bottom side 22bs, there are two bow cap tenons 22e, two bow cap notches 22f and a bow cap blade cylinder opening 22g, in the form of a recess having a semi-circular cross-section. On the bow cap top side 22ts there are: a bow cap unlock symbol 22c, a bow cap lock symbol 22d. A bow cap indicator pin opening 22a, two bow cap slits 22b and a bow cap ring loop 22h crossing each bow cap 22 from the bow cap top side 22ts to the bow cap bottom side 22bs, or to the bow cap blade cylinder opening 22g depending upon location. Both bow caps 22 can be substantially identical to each other so that there is no need to create two differenc kinds.

In tho assomblod stato, both bow caps 22 arc placod with their bow cap bottom sides 22bs facing each other. In this arrangement, one bow cap's 22 bow cap tenons 22e are inserted into the other bow capTs 22 bow cap notches 22f.

This creates a substantially circular bow cap blade opening 22g in the assembled bow assembly, which is used to retain the blade cylinder 12 in assembled key 1.

Some embodiments of the bow cap 22 may include an adhesive or melting of the wo bow caps 22 while others would rely solely on the friction between the bow cap tenons 22e of one of the bow caps 22 and the bow cap notches 22f of the other bow cap 22.

Additional options for the connection of the two bow caps 22 to each other are also included within the scope of the present invention. Likewise is a different structure such as a bow assembly 20 made as a single integrated component also included within the scope of the present invention. In this case, at the time of assembly, the blade cylinder 12 (not shown in the present illustration) is inserted into the bow cap blade cylinder opening 22g, and afterwards the indicator pin 13 (not shown in the present illustration) is assembled o the right place.

Figure 7 is a bottom side view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bow cap 22 according to the present invention.

As described previously, the bow cap 22 has a bow cap blade cylinder opening 22g in its bow cap bottom side 22bs.

The bow cap blade cylinder opening 22g has a bow cap blade cylinder opening diameter 22gD. The bow cap blade cylinder opening diameter 22gD is made slightly larger than the blade cylinder diameter 12D (not depicted in the current figure, described in figure 5) The ratio between these diameters is chosen so that rotational movement not reguiring a significant force relative to the force used for locking and unlocking a lock will be enabled on one side, between bow cap 22 and the blade cylinder 12 (not depicted in the current figure) howcvcr, on the othcr hand, thcrc will bc no vibration or significant lateral linear movement between them.

Figure 8 is a top side view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a bow cap 22 according to the present invention.

The illustration marks detail A in a circle, which is magnified in the circle on The bottom left side of the illustration.

In the bow cap 22 there is the bow cap indicator pin opening 22a and the two bow cap slits 22b. The bow cap indicator pin opening 22a has a bow cap indicator pin opening length 22aL and a bow cap indicator pin opening width 22aW. The bow cap indicator pin opening 22a also includes a bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion 22aa that creates a bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion width 22aaW.

The bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion 22aa is disposed upon one of the bow cap indicator pin opening side walls 22as at half the distance between both of the bow cap indicator pin opening ends 22ae.

The bow cap indicator pin opening 22a holds the indicator pin 13 (not depiced in the current figure, described in figure 4) in place. Therefcre, bow cap indicator pin opening width 22aW must be larger than the indicator pin diameter 13D.

The bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion 22aa prevents the indicator pin 13 from changing positions when such changing is not needed and therefore, the cap indicator pin opening protrusicn width 22aaW must be smaller than the indicator pin diameter 13D.

The bow cap 22 is made of a flexible material such as High Density Polypropylene (HDPP) . The use of a flexible material enables bow cap 22 to bend a little when the indicator pin 13 is moved from one position to the other.

When the Indicator pin 13 moves from one position to the other it pushes the bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion 22aa and the bow cap indicacor pin opening 22a flexes to a tho first diroction 31 and socond diroction 32 up to a point where the resulting bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion width 22aaW is at least equal to the indicator pin diameter l3D and the pin indicator 13 can change positions.

The bow cap slit length 22bL influence the ability of the bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion 22aa to open. A longer bow cap slit length 22bL would ease the opening of the bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion 22aa. The bow cap slit width 22bW is small relative to bow cap indicator pin opening width 22aW and The indicator pin diameter 13D, in a way that doesn't enable the indicator pin 13 (not shown in the present illustration) to penetrate the bow cap slit 22b. Furthermore, the dimension of the bow cap indicator pin opening length 22aL determines the maximum possible angle of rotational movement between the bow assembly 20 and the blade assembly 10 (both not shown in the present drawing) Figure 9 is a back side view of an automatic lock indicator equipped key 1 in various turning positions according to the present invention.

In the left part of figure 9, the automatic lock indicator equipped key 1 has been turned in the direction opposite of a turning momen: M, and the blade 11 (not depicted in the current figure, described in figure 3) has reached its final position within the lock, the bow assembly is still at a turning angle 20A. When using the key to unlock, an opening turning moment M is used that forces the indication pin 13 to push and open the bow cap indicator pin opening protrusion 22aa (no: depicted in the current figure, described in figure 8) as shown in the middle part of the drawing. Further application of the turning moment M would cause the bow assembly to turn an additional turning angle 20A, moving the indication pin 13 to the opposite position as shown in the right part of the drawing.

A typical size of an angle 20A is approximately 15 digress, however according no the present invention, other sizes are possible. The shape, dimensions, and types of matorials of certain compononts of tho automatic lock indicator equipped key 1 denermine the size of angle 20A and the dimension of the moment the user must apply for the indicator pin 13 to go from one state to the next. This moment should be smaller than the moments required for the opening and closing of the:cey's corresponding lock, however large enough to prevent an undesired from one state to the other.

Figure 10 is a top view schematic illustration of an exemplary embodiment of an automatic lock indicator equipped key 1 according to the present invention upon which the section plane 11-11 is marked.

In the current figure, the bow assembly 20 is in a middle position and the indication pin 13 is exactly in the middle of the bow cap indicator pin opening 22a.

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view 11-11 of an exemplary embodiment of an automatic lock indicator equipped key 1 according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the blade assembly 10 is a solid object whose design incorporates all of the blade assexmblyTs -10 -parts into a single object. Additionally, this fignre depicts the bow assembly 20 which is composed of two identical bow caps 22.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

C

Claims

-11 -CLAIMS1. A key equipped with an automatic lock indicator comprising: a blade assembly; and a bow assembly mounted on the blade assembly and capable of rotating through a limited angle in relation to the blade assembly about a longitudinal axis; wherein the blade assembly includes: a blade having a shank member and an integral blade handle; a blade cylinder mounted on, or formed integrally, with the blade handle and rotatably received in the bow assembly, and an indicator pin projecting from the blade cylinder; and wherein the bow assembly includes an opening receiving tho indicator pin and having a groator width than thc indicator pin such that the pin moves from one end of the opening to the other as the bow assembly is rotated relative to the blade assembly.
2. A key as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blade cylinder is formed separately from the blade handle and aligned holes are provided in the blade handle and the blade cylinder into which a pin is inserted, the pin serving to secure the blade cylinder to the blade handle and to act as the indicator pin.
3. A key as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the bow assembly comprises: two bow caps attached ro, or formed integrally with, one another, each bow cap comprising an inner side and an outer side, the inner side being provided a part-cylindrical recess to receive the blade cylinder and an elongate opening through the indicator pin projects.

-12 -
4. A key as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elongate opening has a central region that is narrower than the width of the opening at its opposite ends, the width of the central region being less than the diameter of the indicator pin so as to offer resistance to passage of the pin through the central region.
5. A key as claimed in claim 4, wherein each bow cap further includes at least one slit connected to the bow cap indicator pin opening, the bow cap slit having a width that is smaller than the indicator pin diameter.
6. A key as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, wherein at least one bow cap further includes a bow cap ring loop.
7. A key The automatic lock indicator eguipped key according to any preceding claim, wherein each one of the bow caps comprisco an clastic matcrial.
8. A key as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elastic material is High Density Poiypropylene.
9. A key as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein "locked" and "unlocked" symbols are provided on the bow assembly adjacent the opposite ends of the indicator pin opening.
10. A key comprising an automatic lock indicator constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.