GB2578027A

GB2578027A - Lock mechanism and method

Info

Publication number: GB2578027A
Application number: GB1918417.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Scott Healey Christopher; Wakeham Carl
Original assignee: Diselon Ltd
Current assignee: Diselon Ltd
Priority date: 2017-05-26
Filing date: 2017-05-26
Publication date: 2020-04-15
Also published as: GB201918417D0

Abstract

A striker 2, for a locking mechanism, with one or more gaps 16 arranged so that, by moving the striker, a lock can be mechanically released by moving the gap to a position that no longer provides blocking of a slam latch and/or bolt. In the locked position the bolt hits blocking element 14. Plural strikers may be arranged to release respective plural doors by being moved by a common moving mechanism and there may be a guiding arrangement to aid its movement. The moving mechanism may comprise a rod (20 Fig 4) coupled to each striker, with a cam (18) which engages a cut out (22) on the striker such that rotation of the rod provides a sliding movement e.g. upwards, to the striker. The rod may be locked in the open position using a spring loaded fixing detent (46 48 Fig 8) which is operated by a knob (50). Dead bolts may also be included in the locking system. This lock can be used in prisons for releasing multiple doors simultaneously.

Description

LOCK MECHANISM AND METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lock mechanisms and methods of operating lock mechanisms.

BACKGROUND

For providing a primary locking function, conventional mechanical locks typically use movement of one or more bolts and/or latches into respective fixed strikers.

In electronic locks, it is known to provide, for the primary locking function, as an alternative to movement of the one or more bolts and/or latches, electronic movement of strikers. As stated, this is for the primary locking/unlocking activity, and is instead of using movement of the one or more bolts and/or latches. Typically the strikers are moved in a rotational manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a striker, for a locking mechanism, as claimed in claim 1.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism, as claimed in claim 3.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a mechanical striker mechanism, as claimed in claim 9.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a striker as claimed in claim 28.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism as claimed in claim 29. -2 -

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a mechanical striker mechanism as claimed in claim 30.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of centrally and mechanically releasing a plurality of locks, as claimed in claim 31.

Further aspects are as claimed in the dependent claims.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a striker, for a locking mechanism, in which one or more gaps are provided and arranged so that, by moving the striker, a lock can be mechanically released by moving the one or more gaps to a position that no longer provides blocking of one or more to respective slam latches and/or bolts of the lock. Plural strikers may be arranged to release respective plural doors by being moved by a common moving mechanism, which may comprise a rod to which each striker is coupled, with a cam provided for each striker such that rotation of the rod provides a sliding movement, for example upwards, to the striker.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows an example of a striker; and Figures 2 to 12 show an example of striker release mechanisms, which may include the striker of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a striker 4 that may be included in an embodiment of a striker release mechanism, for example an embodiment of a striker release mechanism as shown in Figures 2 to 12.

In this embodiment the striker release mechanism comprises the following features: a striker 2, an extrusion 4, and a support 6.

In this embodiment the striker 2 is a stainless steel striker, the extrusion 4 is an anodized aluminium extrusion 4, and the striker 2 is mounted in the extrusion 4. In this embodiment, the extrusion 4 is bolted to the support 6 at the -3 -edge of a door opening. In this embodiment, the extrusion 4 becomes part of the door frame and has a built in door stop.

In this embodiment, in operation, in a first mode of use, which is typically a "normal" or "standard" mode of use, the striker 2 is in a first position relative to one or more bolts 8 of a lock 10 and/or slam latches 12 of the lock 10, and acts in conventional fashion as a fixed striker for the lock 10 which is fitted in the edge of a door, in particular by blocking elements 14 of the striker 2 being thereby aligned level with respective bolts 8 and/or slam latches 12 of the lock. In a second mode of operation, for example in an emergency, the striker 2 is lifted to expose gaps 16 in the striker 2 which are thereby aligned level with the respective bolts 8 and/or slam latches 12 of the lock. Hence the respective bolts 8 and/or slam latches 12 can pass through the striker 2 thereby enabling the door to be pushed, pulled or otherwise moved open. In other words, this may be considered as the striker being opened.

In this embodiment, the striker release mechanism further comprises a cam 18 and a rod 20. Also, the striker 2 comprises a cut out 22 in the top of the striker 2. In this embodiment, the rod 20 is a stainless steel rod of diameter 16mm.

In this embodiment, the cam 18 is fitted to the cut out 22 in the top of the striker 2. The other end of the cam 18 is attached to the rod 20. In this embodiment the rod 20 has a keyway 24 cut in it in which the cam 18 locates. In operation, the striker 2 is thus is lifted (opened) by means of the rod 20 being rotated around its axis resulting in the cam 18 being rotated.

In this embodiment, there are plural cams 18 fitted to the rod 20, each coupled to a respective striker 2, with one striker 2 for each of a plurality of doors, such that each of the doors have their respective striker 2 lifted/opened when the rod 20 is rotated.

For example, the rod 20 may run parallel to and above a plurality of doors that are in straight line with respect to each other. The cams 18 may be fed along the rod 20 in assembly allowing for any tolerances in the width of individual door openings to be accommodated. The cams 18 may then locked in -4 -place on the rod 20 and respective striker 2 by a fixing plate and separate cap that allow for movement to take account of flexing of the body, but tend to prevent the cam 18 from disengaging from the striker 2.

The rod may be fixed to supports by split housings, which may enclosing a bearing 28, for example a brass bearing.

The rod may be attached to a handle 30, so that the handle 30 may be gripped and moved by a user to rotate the rod 20. For example, in one embodiment, rotating the rod 20 by approximately 700 using a handle 30 which is attached to the rod 20 lifts the strikers opening a run doors at the same time.

Another possibility is that a gear mechanism 32 may be used.

Thus an embodiment of a striker release mechanism is provided, including an embodiment of a striker, which allows mechanical release of one or more locks of plural doors to be released in a simple mechanical manner at the same time as each other, and moreover remote from the actual locks themselves. This may be advantageous in many situations, for example in an emergency door opening situation, for example in a night club, a prison, or secure hospital.

Other advantages of the above arrangement that tend to be provided are as follows. Regarding maintenance and repair, exchanging strikers, should it be needed, is simple. Releasing the cam holding plate and cap and then unbolting the aluminium extrusion, replacing the striker in the extrusion and refixing the extrusion, cam holding plate and cap can all be done without a major disassembly of the system and without special tools.

In other embodiments, the extrusion may be replaced by other channelling or guiding means, which may be continuous or may comprise e.g. spaced apart plates. In yet further embodiments, the extrusion or other guide for the striker may be omitted entirely if sufficiently controlled movement or positioning occurs anyway, e.g. due to short runs or very stable layouts. However, when the extrusion or other guide is used, it tends advantageously to allow the lock face to be in line with the door edge giving a maximum throw of the slam latch and/or dead bolts to engage in the striker. -5 -

In other words, at least some of the above embodiments provide an arrangement for at least one door, and preferably plural doors, with (for each of the doors) a sliding striker plate that in normal operation acts as a fixed striker that the door lock operates in conjunction with in conventional fashion.

However, in an emergency, or other situation or use where it is desired to open the doors remotely and at the same time as each other with a single operation, each sliding striker is lifted up to enable the lock slam latch and/or bolts to pass through gaps that are cut in in the striker. The strikers are linked by a cam attached to each striker to a (e.g. circular) rod running the length of the doors such that when the rod is rotated this operation lifts the strikers into the release position.

Further embodiments of a striker release mechanism and operation thereof will now be described, again with reference to Figures 1 to 12. It will be appreciated that where elements or actions are described below that were not described for the embodiments described above, those elements may be included as yet further options on the above mentioned earlier embodiments. Correspondingly, any elements or actions that were described in the above earlier embodiments that are not included in the following further embodiments may optionally be included in the following embodiments.

Operation is as follows.

1. A striker 2 with e.g. four gaps in it sits in an extrusion 4 which is the height of the door. The extrusion 4 is bolted to the door frame. In normal day to day operation the striker 2 is in the down position (as shown, for example, in Figure 4) allowing the door with the lock 10 mounted in its edge to be slammed shut and held shut by means of the lock's spring loaded slam latch 12 which locates itself behind the striker 2. To fully lock the lock 10 in conventional fashion a key is turned which extends three dead bolts 8 behind the striker 2. To unlock the door in conventional fashion the key is turned in the opposite direction to withdraw the dead bolts 8 and slam latch 12. In an emergency when all doors in a run of doors are required to be opened at once without requiring each door to be individually unlocked the strikers 2 are raised as follows.

2. Above the extrusion 4 a cam 18 locates in a partially closed semicircle in the striker 2 and is free to rotate in the striker 2. The cam 18 is positioned over the striker 2 by means of a plate fixed to the door frame and a cap 34 to prevent movement 3. The other end of the cam 18 has a hole with a 'bump' 36 in the hole of the cam to locate in the groove (keyway) 24 machined in a rod 20 that runs above the doors.

4. Rotating the rod 20 allows the cams 18 to raise the strikers 2 (into an up position, as shown for example in Figure 5) in the extrusions 4 so that gaps 16 in the striker 2 line up with statically positioned gaps 38 in the extrusion 4, and the (in this example) three dead bolts 8 and (in this example) single slam latch 12 in the lock 10.

5. This allows the doors to be pushed (or pulled) open because the dead bolts 8 and slam latch 12 can exit through the gaps 16 in the raised striker and the gaps 38 in the extrusion 4.

6. The rod 20 may optionally be mounted above the doors by means of split housings 26 with a bearing 28 allowing free rotation of the rod 20.

7. The rod 20 may optionally be held in either the open or closed position by a spring loaded (by virtue of spring 40) detent button 42 whose housing is mounted to the end of the run of doors and acts against a collar 44 mounted to the rod 20.

8. The collar 44 may have an adjuster so the angular fixing position of the collar 44 relative to the groove (keyway) 24 in the rod 20, and as a consequence the angular fixing position of the activating handle 30, can be varied to give the optimum position of the handle to suit operating requirements.

9. Rotating the rod 20 by means of a handle 30 fixed to its end, or a linkage fixed to its end which allows the handle to be remotely mounted, or a gear mechanism 32, which may be operated optionally be a key or in other examples by hand, may be mounted at the end of the rod, or along its length between doors, thereby raises and lowers the strikers.

10. Once the doors are opened, for example in an emergency, the dead bolts 8 are still in the locked position and protruding from the edge of the door. To prevent doors being slammed shut against a striker 2 that has been inadvertently lowered potentially damaging the lock 10 or striker 2 before the locks 10 are unlocked and the dead bolts 8 retracted into the lock 10, an optional spring-loaded (by virtue of spring 46) fixing detent 48 may be included.

11. One such example of a spring-loaded fixing detent 48 locks the rod 20 in the open position locking the strikers 2 in the open position preventing the handle 30 being turned to release the strikers 2 to the down, locked, position. The fixing detent 48, which may preferably have a square end, may be mounted at or near the end of the rod 20 and may be provided with a knob 50 that is pulled to allow manual release of the fixing detent 48 to release a detent bolt 50 from a groove (for example the groove/keyway 24) in the rod 20.

12. A door closer can be added to partially close the door after the above descried operation. The door closer may have a limiter on it so that the pressure of the closer to shut the door will cease with the door only partially closed eliminating the potential of the door closing forcefully on anyone in transit through the door.

In all the above embodiments, the use of a rod above the doors onto which the cams are slid before fixing above the strikers allows for considerable latitude in the build-up of tolerances in the manufacture of doors and their frames.

In the above embodiments, the default position is that the striker is positioned to perform its role in a conventional locking process, but is then raised to allow its gaps to allow opening of the door(s). However, in other embodiments, the elements may be arranged such that the striker is lowered to allow opening of the doors.

A stated, in the above embodiments, the default position is that the striker is positioned to perform its role in a conventional locking process, but is then raised (or lowered as per the preceding paragraph) to allow its gaps to allow opening of the door(s). However, in other embodiments, the striker may -8 -be routinely positioned in its open position, and then raised (or lowered as per the preceding paragraph) to provide a centrally locked operation.

In the above embodiments, the striker, with modified gaps and so on as described, is a stand-alone item, and also in some embodiments a stand-alone extrusion or other guiding arrangement is provided, as described for example above. However, in other embodiments, such a modified striker and/or extrusion or other guiding arrangement can instead be provided in an integrated form, for example integrated with, or permanently attached to, one or more other parts of a conventional arrangement doorframe and door-locking arrangement (e.g. may to be integrated with part or all of a doorframe).

For convenience, and with reference to the Figures, a parts list is included on the next page. -9 -

Parts List: 1 -striker mechanism 2 -striker 4-extrusion 6 -support 8-bolt 10-lock 12-slam latch 14 -blocking element 16-gap (in striker) 18-cam -rod 22 -cut-out 24 -keyway 26-split housings 28 -bearing 30 -handle 32 -gear mechanism 34 -cap 36 -bump 38 -gap (in extrusion) -spring 42 -spring-loaded detent button 44 -collar 46 -spring 48 -fixing detent 50 -knob

Claims

-10 -CLAIMS1. A striker, for a locking mechanism, in which one or more gaps are provided and arranged so that, by moving the striker, a lock can be mechanically released by moving the one or more gaps to a position that no longer provides blocking of one or more respective slam latches and/or bolts of the lock.
2. A lock mechanism comprising plural strikers according to claim 1, with the plural strikers arranged to release respective plural doors by being moved by a common moving mechanism.
3. A centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism comprising plural strikers arranged to be moved by a common moving mechanism, so that when the strikers are so moved, gaps provided in the strikers align with one or more latches and/or bolts of respective locks for respective doors such that the doors are unlocked at the same time as each other by a single shared moving operation.
4. A centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the common moving mechanism comprises a rod to which each striker is coupled.
5. A centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism according to claim 4, wherein a cam is provided for each striker such that rotation of the rod provides a sliding movement to the striker.
6. A centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the sliding movement is upward.
7. A centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the movement of the striker is guided by a guiding arrangement.
8. A centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the guiding arrangement comprises an extrusion.
9. A mechanical striker mechanism, comprising a striker with gaps in it arranged in an extrusion along a door.
10. A mechanical striker mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the extrusion is fixed to a door frame.
11. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 10, wherein in a first mode the striker is in the down position allowing the door with the lock mounted in its edge to be slammed shut and held shut by means of the lock's spring loaded slam latch which locates itself behind the striker.
12. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein to fully lock the lock in conventional fashion a key is turned which extends one or more dead bolts behind the striker, and to unlock the door in conventional fashion the key is turned in the opposite direction to withdraw the one or more dead bolts and/or slam latch.
13. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein when required, for example in an emergency, when all doors in a run of doors are required to be opened at once without requiring each door to be individually unlocked, the strikers are slid, for example raised.
14. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein above the extrusion a cam locates in a partially space, for example a semicircle, in the striker and is free to rotate in the striker.
15. A mechanical striker mechanism according to claim 14, wherein the cam is positioned over the striker by means of a plate fixed to the door frame, with preferably a cap to prevent movement.
16. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 15, wherein the other end of the cam has a hole with a bump in the hole of the cam to locate in a groove (keyway) machined in a rod that runs above the doors.
17. A mechanical striker mechanism according to claim 16, wherein rotating the rod allows the cams to raise the strikers into an up position in the extrusions so that gaps in the striker line up with statically positioned gaps in the extrusion, and the one or more bolts and/or slam latch in the lock, thereby allowing the doors to be pushed (or pulled) open because the one or more dead bolts and/or slam latch can exit through the gaps in the raised striker and the gaps in the extrusion.
18. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 17, wherein the rod is mounted above the doors by means of split housings with a bearing allowing free rotation of the rod.
19. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 18, wherein the rod is held in either the open or closed position by a spring loaded detent button whose housing is mounted to the end of the run of doors and acts against a collar mounted to the rod.
20. A mechanical striker mechanism according to claim 19, wherein the collar has an adjuster so the angular fixing position of the collar relative to the groove (keyway) in the rod, and as a consequence the angular fixing position of the activating handle, can be varied to give the optimum position of the handle to suit operating requirements.
21. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 20, wherein rotating the rod by means of a handle fixed to its end, or a linkage fixed to its end which allows the handle to be remotely mounted, or a gear mechanism, which may be operated optionally be a key or in other examples by hand, may be mounted at the end of the rod, or along its length between doors, thereby raises and lowers the strikers.
22. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 21, wherein to prevent, once the doors are opened, the doors being slammed shut against a striker that has been inadvertently lowered, a spring-loaded fixing detent is included.
23. A mechanical striker mechanism according to claim 22, wherein the spring-loaded fixing detent locks the rod in the open position locking the strikers in the open position preventing the handle 30 being turned to release the strikers 2 to the down, locked, position.
24. A mechanical striker mechanism according to claim 23, wherein the fixing detent has a square end
25. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 23 and 24, wherein the fixing detent is mounted at or near the end of the rod.
26. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 23 to 25, wherein the fixing detent is provided with a knob that is pulled to allow manual release of the fixing detent to release a detent bolt from a groove in the rod.
27. A mechanical striker mechanism according to any of claims 9 to 26, further comprising a door closer to partially close the door after the above claimed operation.
28. A method of manufacturing a striker as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, comprising providing the recited elements.
29. A method of manufacturing a centralised mechanical remote locking mechanism as claimed in any of claims 3 to 8, comprising providing and coupling the recited elements.
30. A method of manufacturing a mechanical striker mechanism as claimed in any of claims 9 to 27, comprising providing and coupling the recited elements.
31. A method of centrally and mechanically releasing a plurality of locks, comprising sliding a striker with gaps therein to align the gaps with one or more latches and/or bolts of the lock.
32. A method of centrally and mechanically releasing a plurality of locks as claimed in claim 31, further comprising rotating a rod to which the strikers are coupled so as to perform the sliding when the rod is rotated.
33. A method of centrally and mechanically releasing a plurality of locks as claimed in claim 33, wherein each striker is slid by virtue of operation of respective cams attached to the rod.