GB2572395A

GB2572395A - Building-entrance door-lock system

Info

Publication number: GB2572395A
Application number: GB1805079.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cook Bernard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-03-28
Filing date: 2018-03-28
Publication date: 2019-10-02
Also published as: GB201805079D0

Abstract

A door lock system 10 for locking a door 22 to a door frame 20, comprises a keep 12 having a switch 14 operable by a door bolt 24 when received in the keep 12, and a frame mountable locking device having at least one secondary locking member 18. In use, the secondary locking member 18 is operable by the said switch 14 to extend from a door frame 20 to engage an associated door 22. The frame mounted lock may be electrically or mechanically operated and may be biased to the unlocked condition. One side of the keeper may be openable, preferably remotely. There may also be a sensor for determining whether the door is open/closed. There are also methods of locking or unlocking the door using the lock system. The lock system allows one lock to be actuated but multiple bolts to be thrown.

Description

The present invention relates to a building-entrance door-lock system for locking an entrance/exit door of a building to a door frame. The invention further relates to a method of locking a door to a frame in a plurality of spaced apart positions by the locking of a single bolt. The invention also relates to a method of unlocking a door without operating a bolt.

Access through the entrances to buildings, such as residential, commercial or industrial buildings, is typically via an openable and closable door. Doors are often required to be locked into a closed position for security so as to prevent or limit unauthorised access to a given building.

Such doors can be locked in multiple positions which increases the security of the door by requiring multiple locks to be overcome in order to gain access.

It can be beneficial to allow doors to be released electrically or electronically. This is especially true in social housing as electrical door releases can allow authorised personnel, such as maintenance persons or cleaners, to access the building without the resident or occupant being present at that time, and without the need to possess duplicate keys.

Magnetic door releases are a present option for electrically releasable doors. However, in the event of a power failure these doors will automatically unlock, allowing unauthorised access to the building. Alternatively, electric or electronic door releases can be retrofitted to a door, or fitted as part of a bespoke system. In this latter case, these typically require a battery based power supply to operate, which can be quickly depleted and so leaving the door lock system inoperable.

Additionally, in the event of a severe hazard and a power cut, which can occur during a fire, it is important that the door is able to be unlocked and opened without the use of electricity, so as to allow the occupants to escape.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to these problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a building-entrance door-lock system for locking an entrance/exit door of a building to a door frame, the locking system comprising: a keep having a switch therein operable by a door bolt when received in the keep; a frame-mountable locking device having at least one secondary locking member which in use is extendable from a door frame to engage an associated door and which is operable by the said switch.

A switch being in the keep and operable by a door bolt allows for the switch to be activated when a door bolt is received in the keep. Such a situation occurs when a typical, known or traditional door is locked. The frame-mountable locking device being operable by this switch allows for the door to be locked by both the door bolt and keep combination along with the frame mountable locking device all with only the operation of a door bolt. Therefore, the door can be locked at multiple spaced-apart positions on the frame whilst only locking one typical, known or traditional locking means.

Preferably, the keep and the secondary locking member may be spaced apart which provides greater security as the locking means must be broken in two separate positions in order to gain access to the building.

Advantageously, the frame-mountable locking device may be electrically operated. Electrical operation, as opposed to purely mechanical operation, allows for the framemountable locking device to be operated with minimal manual force provided by a user.

Alternatively, the frame-mountable locking device is mechanically operated. Mechanical operation may remove or limit the requirement for the frame mountable locking device to be connected to an external power source.

Beneficially, the frame-mountable locking device may be spring biased to an unlocked condition. In the event of a power failure any electrical operation of frame-mountable locking device may not be able to occur. Therefore, in order to ensure the door is unlockable, and therefore to provide a potential escape route, spring biasing can cause the frame mountable locking device to change to an unlocked condition and so any electrically operated locking members can disengage with the door.

Additionally, the building-entrance door-lock system may further comprise a door bolt. The door bolt, in combination with the keep, provides a locking means and a means for operation of the switch, which may be mechanical or electrical.

Optionally, the door bolt may be manually operated. In the event of a power failure, the manually operated door bolt remains operational. Therefore, if the door bolt and keep combination and the frame-mountable locking device were in a locked condition and a power failure occurred, the door bolt would remain in a locked condition whilst the framemountable locking device may change to an unlocked condition. The door would thereby remain locked even in the event of a power failure.

Advantageously, the frame-mountable locking device is operable remotely. In a preferable embodiment, at least one side of the keep may be openable. Preferably, at least one side of the keep is openable remotely. One side of the keep being openable remotely allows for the door bolt to move out of the keep and so the door bolt and keep combination can be unlocked without operating the bolt. Similarly, the frame-mountable locking device could be unlocked without operating the bolt. Therefore, if a maintenance or cleaning person were required to enter the building, the door could be fully unlocked without possession of any key required to operate the bolt.

Beneficially, the building-entrance door-lock system may further comprise a sensor for determining if the door is open/closed. If the door is not positioned fully into a closed condition, such that the door could not be locked, and, for example, a user attempts to lock the door via the remote operation of the frame-mountable locking device, then an alarm can be raised, alerting the user. This can prevent or limit the user from assuming that the door has been successfully locked. The same circumstance can apply for locking the bolt.

Additionally, the building-entrance door-lock system may further comprise a battery. If the door-lock system is electrically operated, the battery provides a backup to allow the door-lock system to remain operational in the event of a grid power failure. If the doorlock system is primarily mechanically operated, a battery would allow for electrical override operation of the door-lock system without requiring connection of the door-lock system to an external power network or grid.

Optionally, the secondary locking member may be a bolt.

Alternatively, the secondary locking member may be a pivotable lever or a slidable pin.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for locking a door to a frame using a building-entrance door-lock system, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, in a plurality of spaced apart positions by the positioning of the door bolt into the keep, the method comprising: positioning the door in a closed position with respect to the frame; positioning the bolt into the keep so as to lock the door to the frame; the bolt activating the switch; and the switch, having been activated, operating the frame-mountable locking device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for remotely locking a door using a building-entrance door-lock system, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, without operating the door bolt, the method comprising; positioning the door into a closed position with respect to the frame and remotely positioning the frame-mountable locking device to a locked condition.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for unlocking a door using a building-entrance door-lock system, preferably in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, without operating the door bolt, without operating the door bolt, the method comprising; remotely positioning the framemountable locking device to an unlocked condition; and remotely opening at least one side of the keep.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a cross section of an embodiment of the building-entrance door-lock system, in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, in use in a closed and locked condition with a door and frame; and

Figure 2 shows a top cross-section of the building-entrance door-lock system of Figure 1 through line A.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an in use building-entrance door-lock system 10 comprising a keep 12, a switch 14 and a frame mountable locking device 16 having two secondary locking members 18. The building-entrance door-lock system 10 is in use mounted onto a frame 20 of a door 22, the door 22 having a door bolt 24 positioned at or adjacent to a lock-side stile 26 of the door 22.

The keep 12 here takes the form of a hollow cuboid with one or part of one of the elongate faces removed. Thus, the keep 12 preferably comprises five complete, contiguous and preferably rectangular surfaces arranged such that the door bolt 24 may be received between the faces. Although the keep is described as having five complete, contiguous, rectangular surfaces it may in fact have any number of sides, the sides being of any shape and may be continuous or discontinuous. In use, the keep 12 is positioned and/or embedded within the in use frame 20, preferably in a jamb 28 of the frame 20 which the lock-side stile of the in use door 22 closes to. The keep 12 is oriented such that a longitudinal extent of the keep 12 aligns with a longitudinal extent of the jamb 28. The five surfaces of the keep 12 may therefore be a building interior facing surface 30, a building exterior facing surface, a frame facing surface 32 and a top and bottom surface 34, 36.

The keep 12 is preferably further positioned within said jamb 28 such that an open face 38 of the keep 12 is at a door facing surface of the jamb 28. The open face 38 of the keep 12 is therefore not, at least fully, overlain, covered or enclosed by the jamb 28. Additionally, the open face 38 should, at least in part, be collinear with the door bolt 24 of the door 22. Similarly, the building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 is at a building interior facing surface of the jamb 28 such that the building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 is not overlain, covered or enclosed by the jamb 28. Additionally or alternatively, the keep 12 may be positioned within the jamb 28 such that the building exterior facing surface of the keep 12 is at a building exterior facing surface of the jamb 28 such that the building exterior facing surface of the keep 12 is not overlain, covered or enclosed by the frame 20.

At least part of the building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 is preferably hingably attached to an edge portion of the keep 12 which is not proximal to the in use door 22. Therefore, at least part of the building interior facing surface 30 may be hingably attached to either a top or bottom edge portion 40, 42 or an edge portion of the building interior facing surface 30 which is proximal to the frame facing surface 44. The building interior facing surface 30 is additionally remotely lockable with respect to the keep 12, therefore there may be a remotely retractable bolt or block which is able to restrict or limit the motion of the building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 when desired. The means for remotely locking the building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 may be connected to a wireless receiver 46 by inductors 50 such that when a given signal is received from the wireless receiver 46, the means for remotely locking the building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 is unlocked.

Additionally or alternatively, the building exterior facing surface of the keep 12 may be similarly attached and arranged with respect to the keep 12 as the building interior facing surface 30 is.

Whilst the building interior and/or exterior facing surfaces of the keep are described as being hingable and remotely or electronically lockable, it is appreciated that either surface may in fact take the form of a retractable bar or pin. In this way, whilst extended and locked, the bar or pin would prevent the door bolt from being moved from the keep however, if desired, may be retracted to allow the bolt to be moved out of the keep and so the door at least partially unlocked.

A switch 14 is positioned within the keep 12 and may be at or adjacent to any of the interior surfaces of the keep 12. The switch 14 can be electrically, electronically, optically, radio frequency or mechanically activated or can have any other kind of activation means. The switch 14 is preferably in an active condition when the door bolt 24 is received within the keep 12.

A frame mountable locking device 16 is positioned at or adjacent to the frame 20 or is embedded into the frame 20. Here the frame mountable locking device 16 comprises an electric motor 48 which may be positioned within or at or adjacent to the in use frame 20. The electric motor 48 is in electrical communication with the switch 14, by means of inductors 50, such that when the switch 14 is changed to an active condition the electric motor 48 is activated. The electric motor 48 may be additionally connected to the or another wireless receiver 46 by inductors 50 such that when a given signal is received from said the or another wireless receiver 46, the electric motor 48 is activated.

The frame mountable locking device 16 further comprises an elongate connector bar 52. The connector bar 52 is located within, at or adjacent to the aforementioned jamb 28, and here has a circular cross-section, although any other shaped cross-section may be considered. A longitudinal extent of the connector bar 52 is preferably parallel to a longitudinal extent of the jamb 28. The connector bar 52 may be operatively connected to a shaft of the electric motor 48 such that, if the electric motor 48 is activated, the connector bar 52 rotates about a central axis X of the connector bar 52. A preferable pinion 54 is here circumferentially positioned around each of an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the connector bar 52.

Two bolt-receiving apertures 56a are preferably located within the said jamb 28. Movably received within each bolt-receiving aperture 56a is a secondary locking member 18. In Figure 1, this secondary locking member 18 takes the form of an elongate locking bolt

18. A longitudinal extent of each elongate locking bolt 18 is oriented laterally to the connector bar 52 and within a plane parallel to a plane of the entrance. In one example, at least a portion of each locking bolt 18 may comprise a rack 58 such that the bolt 18 has a number of teeth 60 which correspond to, and are interdigitatable with, teeth 62 of the pinion 54. Each locking bolt 18 is positioned at or adjacent to a pinion 54 such that when the connector bar 52 is rotated about axis X, each locking bolt 18 moves in a direction away from the connector bar 52 and is extendable outwards from the opening of the boltreceiving aperture 56a and away from the frame 20.

Within an in use door 22 are two further bolt-receiving apertures 56b. The further boltreceiving apertures 56b may be collinear with the bolt-receiving apertures 56a when the door 22 is in the closed condition, such that the secondary locking members 18 may extend from the frame 20 and be received into the door 22.

Although two bolt-receiving apertures 56a and secondary locking members 18 are described, there may in fact only be one secondary locking member 18, or more than two, such as three or four.

A return spring 64, such as a torsion spring for example, may beneficially be attached at one end to the top edge of the connector bar 52 and a further return spring 64 may similarly be attached to the bottom edge of the connector bar 52. Each return spring 64 is also fixed at another end to a separate point on the aforementioned jamb 28. The return springs 64 are arranged such that, when the frame mountable locking device 16 is in an unlocked, passive condition and each locking bolt 18 is fully or substantially fully received within the bolt-receiving aperture 56a, the return spring 64 is in a neutral state. When, however, the connector bar 52 is rotated about X by the electric motor 48, each return spring 64, by virtue of being connected to the rotating connector bar 52 at one end and to the static jamb 28 at the other end, is twisted into an active condition. Each return spring 64 is therefore biased to return to the neutral condition and, in the event of no further rotational force provided by the electric motor 48, will revert to the neutral position and condition.

A sensor 66 may be positioned on the frame 20 and/or the door 22 such that the sensor 66 is able to determine whether the in use door 22 is closed. This sensor 66 may for example comprise a reed switch 68 and magnet 70. A reed switch 68 may be positioned at or adjacent to a door facing surface 72 of the jamb 28 and a magnet 70 may be positioned on the lock-side stile 26 of the door 22 and be adjacent to the reed switch 68 when the door 22 is closed. When the door 22 is in a closed position and the magnet 70 is proximal to the reed switch 68, the switch 14 is closed and in a “on” position. When the door 22 is opened, the magnet 70 is moved away from the reed switch 68 and the switch 68 is opened and in an “off’ position. The reed switch 68 may be electrically communicable with a wireless emitter 74 such that when the switch 68 is in an “off’ position, a wireless signal is outputable by the wireless emitter 74.

Although the reed switch is described as being positioned on the frame and the magnet on the in use door, it is appreciated that the positions may be inverted. Alternatively, the sensor or other suitable switching device may take other forms such as an infrared proximity sensor or a manual or electrical switch on the frame and/or door.

The sensor 66, the electric motor 48, the wireless receiver 46, the wireless emitter 74 and the means for remotely locking the building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 may be attached to a power supply 76 to provide electricity to operate. This power supply 76 may be a mains or grid electricity supply, however a battery back-up may also be provided to ensure full functionality in the event of a loss of current to the building-entrance doorlock system 10.

The in use frame 20 which surrounds the entrance to the building may be a conventional door frame 20, such as one made of wood or plastics, for example uPVC, or may alternatively merely be formed of the material of the building, for example concrete or brick and mortar. The door 22 is preferably attached to a jamb of the frame 20 via hinges along a hinge stile of the door 22.

Although non-essential to the operation of the invention, the in use door 22 may have a door handle 78 and a latch 80 which is activated by the door handle 78. A further keep 82 may be positioned within the frame 20 to receive the latch 80. Furthermore, the door bolt 24 may be activated by a lock requiring a key and therefore a keyhole 84 may be present on the door 22. The lock to activate the door bolt 24 may be any kind of lock such as a pin-tumbler lock, a lever tumbler lock or a night latch or rim lock. In the event that a night latch or rim lock is utilised, the door bolt would be mounted to the surface of the door and the keep mounted to the surface of the frame.

Whilst the door bolt is described as being manually activated by a key, it will be appreciated that the door bolt may be moved from an unlocked to a locked condition or vice versa through electrical operation. For example, the door bolt may be retractable and/or extendable by electrically operable solenoids.

In use, to lock the building-entrance door-lock system 10, the door 22 is moved to a closed position with respect to the frame 20 such that the lock-side stile 26 of the door 22 is at or adjacent to the aforementioned jamb 28 of the frame 20. Any latch 80 on the door 22 may be received within the further keep 82. The door bolt 24 is then moved into a locked condition such that it extends from the door 22, into the frame 20 and is received through the open face 38 of the keep 12. This movement may be caused by the operation of a key in a lock.

Having been received in the keep 12, the door bolt 24 may engage or otherwise activate the switch 14 so as to change it to the active condition which in turn energises the electric motor 48. The shaft of the energised electric motor 48 causes the connector bar 52, and therefore each pinion 54, to rotate around axis X. Each pinion 54 thereby drives its respective elongate locking bolt 18, via the associated rack 58, in a direction away from the connector bar 52 and each locking bolt 18 extends out of each bolt-receiving aperture 56a and into each further bolt-receiving aperture 56b positioned in the door 22. The return spring 64 is at the same time twisted to an active condition by the movement of the connector bar 52. When the locking bolts 18 have been received within the door 22, the locking bolts 18 are stopped from extending further. This may be achieved by the rotational force of the connector bar 52, provided by the electric motor 48, being equal and opposite to a restorative force of the return spring 64 such that the locking bolt 18 does not move and/or a block or stop to the locking bolt 18 or connector bar 52 prevents further motion. Alternatively, when the locking bolts 18 are received in the door 22, the locking bolts 18 or connector bar 52 may be latched into place and the electric motor 48 deactivated. The door 22 is thereby locked in multiple positions to the frame 20 and is therefore a multipoint locking door 22.

In order to unlock the building-entrance door-lock system 10 to open the door 22, the door bolt 24 is removed from the keep 12. This may be achieved by a key operating the lock. When the door bolt 24 is removed from the keep 12, the switch 14 is changed from the active condition to a passive or ‘off condition. The electric motor 48 may therefore be deactivated, deenergised or disengaged. A rotational force is therefore no longer provided to the connector bar 52 and the restorative force provided by the return spring 64 causes the connector bar 52 to rotate in an opposite direction about axis X to the direction it rotated in to achieve the locked condition. Through its connection to the connector bar 52, each pinion 54 also rotates and thereby drives each locking bolt 18 in a direction towards the connector bar 52 which causes each elongate bolt 18 to be removed from the further bolt-receiving aperture 56b of the door 22 and be fully or substantially fully received within the bolt-receiving aperture 56a of the frame 20. The locking bolt 18 is stopped in its initial, unlocked condition when the return spring 64 returns to the neutral state. Any door handle 78 may then be operated and the latch 80 retracted. The door 22 is now unlocked and openable.

In the instance of a loss of current to the building-entrance door-lock system 10, such as in a power cut, the electric motor 48 would be deactivated. This would result in the return springs 64 retracting the secondary locking members 18 from the door 22 and so the frame mountable locking device 16 would change to an unlocked condition. However, if the door bolt 24 had been previously locked, the door bolt 24 is retained within the keep 12 and so the door 22 would remain locked and access to the building by unauthorised personnel would be prevented or limited. This door bolt 24, may still be retracted by authorised personnel having the means to operate the door bolt 24, for example a key, and so, in the event of an emergency and a power cut such as during a fire, the door 22 remains openable and the entrance may be an escape route.

In order to enable the return spring 64 to drive the connector bar 52 against the direction it was rotated in to achieve the locked condition, a clutch arrangement may be required on the electric motor 48. Alternatively, the electric motor 48 may be allowed to freewheel if not energised and thus the shaft of the electric motor 48 may rotate in the opposite direction to that which it rotates in to cause the secondary locking members 18 to achieve a locked condition.

The frame mountable locking device 16 may be locked, remotely or otherwise, without operation of the door bolt 24. In this scenario, the door 22 should first be positioned into a closed position with respect to the frame 20. A signal may then be emitted from a user, for example via a handheld electronic device, for example a smart phone, or via a remote keyless system such as a short-range radio transmitter. This signal may take the form of an encrypted, designated, distinct digital identity code. When the signal is received by the wireless receiver 46 the electric motor 48 is activated which thereby causes the locking of the secondary locking member 18 as previously described. To remotely or otherwise unlock the door 22, the or a second signal may be emitted by the user and received by the wireless receiver 46. The electric motor 48 is then deactivated which causes the unlocking of the frame mountable locking device 16 as previously described.

In the event that the door 22 is not first positioned into a fully closed position, the sensor 66 determines that the door 22 is not closed. If a locking signal is then received from the user, a wireless signal can then be outputted from the wireless emitter 74 which may cause an alert informing the user that the door 22 is not closed and therefore the building entrance door-lock system 10 is unlockable. This alert may take the form of a visual, audible or vibrational alert on the user’s handheld electronic device.

The building-entrance door-lock system 10 may be unlocked from a multipoint locked condition without operating the door bolt 24. This may be achieved by the user remotely or otherwise unlocking the frame mountable locking device 16 as previously described. Simultaneously, after or before, the user may emit a signal to the or another wireless receiver 46. The wireless receiver 46, upon receiving the signal, may trigger the unlocking or retraction of the means for remotely locking the building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 to the keep 12, such as the remotely retractable block or bolt. The building interior facing surface 30 of the keep 12 is therefore only hingably attached to the remainder of the keep 12. In the event that the door 22 is openable inwards into the building, the door bolt 24, whilst still extending into the frame 20, is therefore free to move out of the keep 12 when the door 22 is moved inwards and therefore the door 22 can be unlocked. In the event that the door 22 is openable outwards away from the building, the building exterior facing surface of the keep 12 can be similarly unlocked and the door bolt 24 may be free to move out of the keep 12 in this direction without being retracted first.

The ability to lock and unlock the door 22 without operating the door bolt 24 may be advantageous in the instance of social housing or for property management companies, particularly where there are tens, hundreds or thousands of buildings involved. In instances similar to these, it may be required for maintenance personnel, such as plumbers or electricians, to enter the building to perform routine maintenance, for example boiler maintenance, or regular, such as annual, inspections. By providing a door locking system with the above arrangement, such maintenance personnel would be able to access such buildings without requiring a duplicate key for the locks of each building.

The building-entrance door-lock system 10 may be suitable for both retrofitting on existing entrances/exits and for bespoke integration into the initial construction of the entrance/exit.

Although the above invention is described with the secondary locking members being housed in the frame and extendable into the door, it is appreciated that their positions may in fact be inverted. In this way, the secondary locking members, the connecting bar and the electric motor may be positioned in the door and any necessary electrical or communication wiring or inductors may be routable to the locking means by way of the door hinges.

The above invention has been described as having a keep taking the form of a multisided chamber, however it is appreciated that the keep may take the form of a strike plate mounted on the frame with at least part of the underlying frame removed to allow the bolt to be received within the frame. The building interior and/or exterior facing surface of the strike plate may be retractable and a channel formed within the frame so as to allow passage of door bolt out of the keep if required. This would allow the door to be unlocked from a locked condition without operation of the door bolt.

Whilst the secondary locking members are described as being received within the door, each secondary locking member may in fact be replaced by a pair of secondary locking members positioned either side of the door so as to restrict the doors motion.

Despite the connector bar being described and shown, the connector bar may in fact be replaced by an electric motor for each secondary locking member to individually drive each secondary locking member into a locked position. There may additionally be a return spring for each secondary locking member to retract each bolt when the door is to be unlocked and/or in the event of a power failure.

The elongate locking bolts and the bolt receiving apertures may both be screw threaded and therefore the locking bolts may rotate when moving to achieve a locked or unlocked condition. This would allow each locking bolt to be more easily directly driven by an electric motor, for example if a connector bar were not present.

Instead of being elongate locking bolts, the secondary locking members may in fact be pivotable levers which are housed within the frame when in an unlocked condition. When moving to a locked condition, the pivotable levers may pivot about a point within the frame and extend from the frame and into appropriately sized apertures within the door so as to lock the door to the frame.

Alternatively, the secondary locking means may be pins positioned on the frame which are slidable is a longitudinal direction of the frame. These pins may be slidably receivable in a vertical direction within recesses positioned in the door so as to lock the door to the frame. The pins may then be vertically slidably removed from the recesses so as to unlock the door.

Despite the frame mountable locking device being described as having an electric motor, the frame mountable locking device may in fact be entirely or solely mechanical. In this way, the secondary locking members may be operatively connected to the door bolt such that when the door bolt is moved to a locked condition, the secondary locking members extend from the door into the frame. The operative connection may take the form of a series of sliders, bolts, gearing and/or levers. Alternatively, the frame mountable locking device may be mechanically and/or electrically operated. For example, the secondary locking members may be mechanically operable in typical operation, as above, but may be electrically overridable by a motor, as described initially, in emergency situations or when access is required by authorised personnel.

Although a wireless receiver is described for alternative operation of the frame mountable locking device and the means for remotely locking the building interior facing surface of the keep, these features may in fact be operated by a local electronic operation means. This local electronic operation means may take the form of a key pad entry system or a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Near-Field Communication (NFC) verification device.

The secondary locking members of the above in use building-entrance door-lock system are described as extending from a jamb of a frame and into the lock stile of the door, however it is appreciated that these secondary locking members may be positioned elsewhere. For example, the secondary locking members may extend form the frame into the top or bottom rail of the door. Alternatively or additionally, the secondary locking members may extend into the hinge stile of the door to prevent unauthorised removal of the door via removal of the door hinges.

It is therefore possible to provide a building-entrance door-lock system which allows for the multipoint locking of a door to a frame through the operation of a typical door bolt.

The system also allows for the door to be locked and unlocked without the operation of the door bolt. Additionally, despite being electrically activated, in the event of a power failure, the building-entrance door-lock system remains locked whilst still being unlockable.

The words ‘comprises/comprising’ and the words ‘having/including’ when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in 10 the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various 15 other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the field without departing from the scope of the invention as defined herein.

Claims

1. A building-entrance door-lock system for locking an entrance/exit door of a building to a door frame, the locking system comprising:

a keep having a switch therein operable by a door bolt when received in the keep;

a frame-mountable locking device having at least one secondary locking member which in use is extendable from a door frame to engage an associated door and which is operable by the said switch.

2. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the keep and the secondary locking member are spaced apart.

3. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the frame-mountable locking device is electrically operated.

4. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the frame-mountable locking device is mechanically operated.

5. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame-mountable locking device is spring biased to an unlocked condition.

6. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a door bolt

7. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the door bolt is manually operated.

8. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame-mountable locking device is operable remotely.

9. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one side of the keep is openable

10. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said at least one side of the keep is openable remotely

11. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a sensor for determining if the door is open/closed.

12. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a battery.

13. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the secondary locking member is a bolt.

14. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the secondary locking member is a pivotable lever.

15. A building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the secondary locking member is a slidable pin.

16. A method for locking a door to a frame using a building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in a plurality of spaced apart positions by the positioning of the door bolt into the keep, the method comprising:

positioning the door in a closed position with respect to the frame; positioning the bolt into the keep so as to lock the door to the frame; the bolt activating the switch; and the switch, having been activated, operating the frame-mountable locking device.

17. A method for remotely locking a door using a building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 without operating the door bolt, the method comprising:

positioning the door into a closed position with respect to the frame; and remotely positioning the frame-mountable locking device to a locked condition.

18. A method for unlocking a door using a building-entrance door-lock system as claimed in any one claims 1 to 15 without operating the door bolt, the method comprising:

remotely positioning the frame-mountable locking device to an unlocked condition; and remotely opening at least one side of the keep.