GB2591427A

GB2591427A - Lock cylinder

Info

Publication number: GB2591427A
Application number: GB1912306.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mccarthy Bruce
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Ltd
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-28
Filing date: 2019-08-28
Publication date: 2021-08-04
Also published as: WO2021038217A1; GB201912306D0

Abstract

The lock cylinder 10 comprises a cam 16 located to a first side of a pin assembly 14 and at least one spacer 22 engaged with a second side of the pin assembly, such that the length of the lock cylinder is increased. The spacer may comprise engagement arms located within grooves in its external housing. The lock may comprise an electrically operated motor. Also claimed is a method of installing a lock cylinder in a door and a kit of parts comprising a lock cylinder. Also claimed is a key 50 for a lock cylinder, comprising a key shaft 56 and bow 54, the shaft comprising a coded terminal portion to interact with a pin assembly and an extended portion 52 between the terminal portion and the bow, the length of the extended portion corresponding to the maximal length added to a lock cylinder by a spacer.

Description

Lock Cylinder

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a lock cylinder. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention concerns an adjustable lock cylinder. The invention also concerns a lock comprising an adjustable lock cylinder.

Background of the Invention

Various lock cylinders may be used when installing a lock in a door. Different doors may have different thicknesses, and as a result different sized cylinders may be required for different doors. Providing a series of different sized cylinders may increase the cost of a lock product range. Alternatively or additionally, it may also make it more difficult when installing locks where the door thickness is not immediately known.

The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved lock cylinder.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a lock cylinder comprising: a pin assembly and a cam, the cam located to a first side of the pin assembly; and at least one spacer engaged with a second side of the pin assembly, such that the length of the lock cylinder is increased.

The use of at least one spacer engaged with a second side of the pin assembly allows the length of the lock cylinder to be easily adjusted, for example by using one or more spacers, or different length spacers. Engaging the at least one spacer with a second side of a pin assembly, away from the first side to which the cam is located, allows the spacer to be engaged with the pin assembly in a straightforward manner.

The pin assembly and cam may be housed in a one-piece pin assembly housing, for example a cast or machined housing. The pin assembly and a cam are maintained at a constant distance from one another. As such, the lock cylinder may be lengthened without requiring any modification to the relationship between the pin assembly and the cam for normal operation of the lock cylinder.

The pin assembly may comprise a pin assembly housing. The one or more spacers may be configured for engagement with the pin assembly housing.

The use of at least one spacer will increase the length of the lock cylinder such that the lock cylinder may be installed in a number of different thickness doors.

Advantageously, a user may take a single pin assembly and cam arrangement, along with the at least one spacer, for installation in a door when the thickness of that door is unknown. Preferably, when the thickness of the door is unknown, a plurality of spacers may be provided, for example, alternative sized spacers, and/or spacers configured to be used in combination to provide alternative spacings.

The cam may be rotated via rotation of the pin assembly in order to move the cam into and out of engagement with a lock box and strike plate, for example in a door frame. The rotation of the pin assembly is controlled by inserting a suitable key into the pin assembly, with an appropriate coding cut into the end of the key which moves the pins into an appropriate position for rotation of the pin assembly. Such an arrangement will be well understood by the person skilled in the art, and no further description is required. The pin assembly and the cam are located at a fixed distance from each other. This distance remains constant even when one or more of the at least one spacers is engaged with the pin assembly to increase the overall length of the lock cylinder.

The at least one spacer may comprise an internal core and an external housing.

The internal core may be arranged to allow passage of a key and rotate within the external housing. The external housing may comprise engagement arms, the engagement arms extending from the external housing towards the pin assembly. The engagement arms may be arranged for location within grooves located on the pin assembly, for example grooves located in the pin assembly housing. A removable fastener may be used to secure the external housing of the at least one spacer to the pin assembly. The removable fastener may be a clip or a screw, for example a grub screw, or any other suitable fixing arrangement as would be understood by a skilled person. A number of removable fasteners may be used. Advantageously, providing extensions arms to engage the at least one spacer with the pin assembly means that once the lock cylinder is installed, there is no indication that the lock cylinder has been extended in length. The at least one spacer may present the same external appearance as the pin assembly. The lack of any external indications that the lock cylinder has been extended may improve the aesthetics of the lock cylinder when installed in a door. Providing a fastening mechanism which is not accessible from outside the door when the lock cylinder is installed may improve the security of the lock cylinder. For example, if the at least one spacer was secured to the pin assembly by a mechanism that was accessible once the lock cylinder is installed, an attacker may attempt to gain access to the internals of the lock cylinder by removing the at least one spacer.

In order to allow for the increase in length of the lock cylinder, a key may be provided with an extended body portion. The length of the extended body portion may be such that the key may be used with the lock cylinder at the minimal, non-extended length, and the maximum extended length when all of the plurality of spaces have been used.

The lock cylinder may comprise a second pin assembly located to the opposite side of the cam to the first pin assembly, and at least one spacer engaged with the second pin assembly away from the cam, such that the length of the lock cylinder is increased.

The lock cylinder may comprise an electronically operated motor. The lock cylinder may comprise an electronically operated motor for rotating the cam into and out of engagement with a lock box and strike plate. The electronically operated motor may be controlled by a wireless control signal, which may, for example be sent by a smart device such as a smart phone. Such arrangements are well understood by the person skilled in the art, and as such, detail explanation of their working is not required. With such an arrangement a user may lock and/or unlock a door using a smart device rather than requiring a physical key.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a key for a lock cylinder, the lock cylinder as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the key comprises a key shaft and a key bow, the key shaft comprising a coded terminal portion to interact with pin assembly and the key shaft further -4 -comprising an extended portion between the terminal portion and the key bow; the length of the extended portion corresponding to the maximal possible length added to the lock cylinder by the said at least one spacer.

According to a third aspect, the invention may provide a method of installing a lock cylinder in a door, the lock cylinder as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the steps of: measuring the thickness of the door, selecting the one or more spacers to provide a lock cylinder of suitable length for installation in the door, engaging the one or more of the plurality of spacers with the lock cylinder, and installing the lock cylinder within the door.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention may provide a kit of parts comprising a lock cylinder comprising a pin assembly and a cam, the cam located to a first side of the pin assembly, and a plurality of spacers, each of the spacers configured for engagement with a second side of the pin assembly It will of course be appreciated that features described in relation to one aspect of the present invention may be incorporated into other aspects of the present invention. For example, the method of the invention may incorporate any of the features described with reference to the apparatus of the invention and vice versa.

Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a partially exploded schematic view of a lock cylinder according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the lock cylinder of figure 1, with alternative rear spacers provided; Figure 3 shows a plurality of different sized spacers which may form part of the lock cylinder shown in figure 1; Figure 4 shows a key which may be used in a lock system according to the present invention, with different length lock cylinders; Figure 5 shows a schematic view of a lock cylinder according to a second embodiment of the invention; and -5 -Figure 6 shows a partially exploded schematic view of the lock cylinder according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 shows a lock cylinder 10. The lock cylinder 10 comprises a pin assembly 14 and a cam 16, the cam 16 located to a first side of the pin assembly 14. A suitable key may be inserted into the pin assembly 14 such that rotation of the key causes rotation of the cam 16 into or out of a lock box and strike plate. If a suitable key is not inserted, the pin assembly 14 is arranged such that the pin assembly 14 cannot be rotated. The lock cylinder 10 is typically located to be accessed from the outside of a door to which the lock system 10 is installed For ease of reference, this may be referred to as the front side of a door, and the pin assembly 14 may be considered to form a front part of the lock cylinder 10. In this embodiment, the cam 16 is also associated with a tail bar 18 and a clutch 19 which controls whether the tail bar 18 or the pin assembly 14 is engaged with the cam 16. Rotation of the tail bar 18, when suitably controlled by the clutch 19, results in the rotation of the cam 16 into or out of a lock box and strike plate. The tail bar 18 may be engaged to a thumb turn or electronically controlled motor positioned on the inside of a door to which the lock system 10 has been engaged. For ease of reference, this side of the door may be referred to as the rear side of a door, and the tail bar 18 and clutch 19 may be considered to form a rear part of the lock cylinder 10.

The lock cylinder 10 includes a spacer 22, located to a second side of the pin assembly 14, which may be used to adapt the lock cylinder 10 for use with doors of different thickness. In particular, the spacer 22 is engaged with the second side of the pin assembly 14 to increase the length of the lock cylinder 10 at the front of the lock cylinder 22. Figure 1 shows a spacer 22 comprising an external housing 23 and an internal plug 24. The internal plug 24 allows passage of a key into the pin assembly 14. The internal plug 24 may be rotated by said key within the external housing 23.

The external housing 23 comprises a pair of engagement arms 26, which are shaped and configured to slide into corresponding receiving portions 28 of the lock cylinder 14. The receiving portions 28 are located approximately in line with the pin assembly 14 at the front of the lock cylinder 10. The engagement arms 26 include a series of -6 -grooves which may be aligned with a corresponding groove within the receiving portions 28. A U-clip 30 may be inserted into aligned grooves to hold the external housing of the spacer 22 in various different positions with respect to the receiving groove 28. In this case, three grooves are provided on each engagement arm 26, allowing three adjustments of the length of the lock system 10 by varying which of the grooves of the engagement arm 26 are aligned with the grooves of the receiving portions 28 and held in position by the U-clip 30. In an alternative embodiment, the engagement arms 26 may comprise a series of threaded apertures, which may be aligned with a corresponding aperture on the pin assembly 14 and through which a grub screw may then be inserted to secure the spacer 22 in position.

Figure 4 shows alternative three spacers 22, each of which may be engaged with the lock cylinder 12. The spacers each have a different thickness, as measured from a rear face which is arranged to abut or be placed close to the pin assembly and a front face which is located to the front of the lock cylinder 10, and may be chosen to be engaged with the lock cylinder 10 in dependence on the thickness of the door into which the lock cylinder 10 is to be installed. Example thicknesses of the body of the spacer may be 50mm, with the grooves on the extension arms spaced at 5mm, allowing the 50mm spacer to also be used for a 55mm and 60mm spacing. A 65mm spacer may be provided, with the extension arms providing a 70mm and 75mm spacing. An 80mm spacer may be provided, also allowing for an 85mm and 90mm spacing. Corresponding internal plugs may be provided at 50mm, 65mm, and 80mm. The plugs may be adjustable in length or the lock system may comprise a greater number of plugs than external housings of the spacer 22, so that each of the variations of the spacing provided by the external housings of the spacer 22 is provided for. As can be seen, providing three different sized spacers 22, each of which can be installed in three different positions provides nine different potential extension length options. To provide even more potential length options, one or more spacers 22 may be engaged together, prior to be engaged to the pin assembly 14. Such an arrangement may be provided by a similar groove system for receiving the engagement arms as is provided on the pin cylinder 14.

Figure 2 shows the lock cylinder 10 as shown in figure 1, with the rear part of the lock exploded. As can be see, the tail bar 18 includes a number of indents, or apertures. Three spacers 32, 34, 36, are provided at the rear of the lock cylinder 10 -7 -extending backwards from the clutch 19. The tail bar 18 extends through the spacers 32, 34, 36, and the spacers 32, 34, 36, are secured in position through use of a screw 40. The screw 40 may be adjustable in length by providing snap off portions, or several screws of different length may be provided. Such an arrangement allows for a different number of spacers to be secured. The spacer 32 is 5mm thick, the spacer 34 is lOmm thick, and the spacer 36 is 15mm thick. Various different thicknesses of door may be adapted for by use of different combinations of the spacers 32, 34, and 36. In the embodiment shown, the extension provided by use of all three spacers 32, 34, 36, is 35mm. Depending on the extension provided by the spacers used at the rear of the lock cylinder 10, the tail bar 18 may be adjusted in position by engaging a pin forming part of the lock cylinder 10 with a detent or aperture 42 on the tail bar 18. Figure 4 shows a key 50 which may be used with various different lock cylinders according to the invention, regardless of the thickness of those lock cylinders. As can be seen in the figures and description above, the pin cylinder 14 remains in a constant position relative to the cam 16, regardless of the final thickness of the lock cylinder 12. When a spacer 22 is used to extend the length of the lock cylinder 12, the key 50 has to pass through the spacer 22 in order to access the pin cylinder 14. Therefore, the key 50 comprises an extended middle section 52 (or shoulder) between the key bow 54 and an encoded blade section 56 which engages the pin cylinder 14.

Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the invention. Shared elements between the embodiments may not be described again, and will be well understood by a skilled person. A lock cylinder 10' comprises a spacer 22' with an external housing 23' and an inner core 24'. The external housing 23' comprises engagement arms 26' which may be located in corresponding receiving portions 28' in the pin housing 14'. The receiving portions 28' each comprise an aperture 44 through which a grub screw 46 may be inserted, such that the grub screw 46 engages with one of a plurality of threaded apertures located in the engagement arms 26'. Provision of a plurality of threaded apertures located in engagement arms 26' allows for the position of the spacer 22' to be adjusted in a similar way to the spaced grooves on the spacer 23 of the first described embodiment. Depending on the position at which the engagement arms 26' are secured to the receiving portions 28', an appropriate inner core 24' is chosen. It may be required, as shown in figure 8, for the -8 -inner core 24' to comprise two elements, wherein the combination of the two elements provide the required extension to match the extension provided by the external house 23' of the spacer 22'.

Figures 5 and 6 also show an alternative tail bar 18', which as can be seen includes a forked end piece. The forked end piece may be engaged with a motor drive unit located on the inside of a door to which lock cylinder 10' is engaged.

Whilst the present invention has been described and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention lends itself to many different variations not specifically illustrated 10 herein.

Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that such optional integers or features, whilst of possible benefit in some embodiments of the invention, may not be desirable, and may therefore be absent, in other embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1. A lock cylinder comprising: a pin assembly and a cam, the cam assembly located to a first side of the pin 5 assembly; at least one spacer engaged with a second side of the pin assembly, such that the length of the lock cylinder is increased.
2. A lock cylinder system as claimed in claim 1, wherein pin assembly comprises a pin assembly housing, and the at least one spacer is engaged with the pin assembly housing.
3. A lock cylinder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least one spacer comprises an internal core and an external housing.
4. A lock cylinder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the internal core is arranged to allow passage of a key and rotate within the external housing.
5. A lock cylinder as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the external housing 20 comprises engagement arms, the engagement arms extending from the external housing towards the pin assembly.
6. A lock cylinder as claimed in claim 5, wherein the engagement arms are located within grooves located on the pin assembly.
7. A lock cylinder as claimed in claim 6, further comprising at least one removable fastener securing the external housing of the at least one spacer to the pin assembly.
8. A lock cylinder as claimed in claim 7, wherein the removable fastener is a clip.
-10 - 9. A lock cylinder as claimed in claim 7, wherein the removable fastener is a screw.
10. A lock cylinder as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a second pin assembly located to the opposite side of the cam to the first pin assembly, and at least one spacer engaged with the second pin assembly away from the cam, such that the length of the lock cylinder is increased.
11. A lock cylinder as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, further comprising an electronically operated motor.
12. A lock cylinder as claimed in claim 11, further comprising at least one spacer located between the cam assembly and the electronically operated motor, such that the length of the lock cylinder is increased.
13. A method of installing a lock cylinder in a door, the lock cylinder as claimed in claim I, the method comprising the steps of: measuring the thickness of the door, selecting the one or more spacers to provide a lock cylinder of suitable length for installation in the door, engaging the one or more of the plurality of spacers with the pin assembly, installing the lock cylinder within the door.
14. A key for a lock cylinder, the lock cylinder as claimed in any of claims Ito 12, wherein the key comprises a key shaft and a key bow, the key shaft comprising a coded terminal portion to interact with pin assembly and the key shall further comprising an extended portion between the terminal portion and the key bow; the length of the extended portion corresponding to the maximal possible length added to the lock cylinder by the said at least one spacer.A kit of parts comprising a lock cylinder comprising a pin assembly and a cam, the cam located to a first side of the pin assembly, and a plurality of spacers, each of the spacers configured for engagement with a second side of the pin assembly.