IE84537B1 - Lock assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A lock assembly for a door includes a casing (1) for mounting on the door; a locking bolt (2) mounted in the casing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position; a first locking arrangement suitable for operation from outside the door and actuable to change the lock assembly form a locked condition to 21 released condition; an actuator (4) suitable for operation from inside the door for moving the locking bolt (2) from the extended position to the retracted position; a second locking arrangement (5), suitable for operation from inside the door, having a locked condition for locking the actuator (4) to prevent it moving the locking bolt (2) from the extended position to the retracted position, and a released condition for allowing the actuator (4) to move the locking bolt (2) from the extended position to the retracted position. A trigger signal generating assembly is arranged such that, if the second locking arrangement is in the locked condition and the door is opened, the assembly responds to opening of the door by moving the second locking arrangement form the locked condition to the released condition. Fig‘ 1 to accompany abstract

Description

Lock Assembly This invention relates to a lock assembly for a door.

For security reasons it is desirable for a lock on a door to have a facility to allow the door to be locked from the inside; that prevents an intruder who may have gained access by another route (or may have broken a glass panel near to the lock) from simply opening the door from the inside. At the same time it is desirable, for example having regard to fire safety, that steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of an occupier of the building being trapped on the inside of the door because the door is locked on the inside and the key is not available.

In order to mitigate this problem it has been proposed to provide a door with what may be referred to as a “kick- off” feature. WO 97/30256 describes one such arrangement with reference to the drawings therein. In that case, a lock is provided on the outside of the door for moving a bolt between locked and unlocked positions and a handle is provided on the inside of the door also for moving the bolt between locked and unlocked positions. A lock is provided in the handle on the inside of the door and is movable between a locked position in which it activates a blocking means to prevent rotation of the handle and an unlocked position in which the blocking means is deactivated and the handle is free to rotate to move the bolt between locked and unlocked positions. The lock on the outside of the W 84537 door is also arranged to deactivate the blocking means (if actuated) whenever it is operated to move the bolt to the unlocked position. A person can therefore lock the handle from the inside but whenever a person enters from the outside the handle becomes unlocked and the person can only re—lock the handle on the inside by using a key. Such a kick—off feature is helpful in providing a good combination of security and safety. A later document, WO 01/69015, describes a similar arrangement.

We have found that a kick-off facility of the kind described above is useful but it does have some limitations; for example, it relies upon operation of the lock on the outside to deactivate the blocking means. As a result it does not, for example, deal with a situation in which a remote access facility is provided and opening of the door from the outside is accomplished not by rotating the bolt but by retracting the keeper that receives the bolt when the bolt is in its extended position.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved lock assembly.

According to the invention there is provided a lock assembly for a door including: a casing for mounting on the door; a locking bolt mounted in the casing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position; a first locking arrangement suitable for operation from outside the door and actuable to change the lock assembly from a locked condition to a released condition; an actuator suitable for operation from inside the door for moving the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position; a second locking arrangement, suitable for operation from inside the door, having a locked condition for locking the actuator to prevent it moving the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position, and a released condition for allowing the actuator to move the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position, and a trigger signal generating assembly for being arranged such that, if the second locking arrangement is in the locked condition and the door is opened, the assembly responds to opening of the door by moving the second locking arrangement from the locked condition to the released condition. with a lock assembly according to the invention it is ensured that every time the door is opened the “kick-off” feature is activated.

The trigger signal generating element preferably comprises a sensor element for detecting opening of the door and a lock releasing element which is movable in response to the sensor element detecting opening of the door and, if the second locking arrangement is in the locked condition, moves the second locking arrangement to the released condition.

The sensor element may take a variety of forms; for example it is within the scope of the invention for the sensor element to be an electronic sensor such as a proximity sensor which detects the proximity of a door frame when the door is closed and thereby detects when the door is opened and the sensor moves away from the door frame. In such a case the sensor element is conveniently mounted in or on the casing of the lock assembly but it may be mounted on another part of the door, or even on the door frame or elsewhere.

Preferably, the sensor however, element is a mechanical element which is moved as result of opening the door; more preferably the sensor element projects from the lock casing for engaging a part of the door frame, for example for engaging a keeper on the door frame, which keeper may also be engaged by the bolt in its extended position. The sensor element is preferably resiliently biased outwardly from the lock casing. The sensor element is preferably an auxiliary bolt, which may be dedicated to the function of acting as a sensor element but may have one or more further functions which may be known per se. For example the auxiliary bolt may also control movement of the locking bolt from the retracted position to the extended position when the door is closed, and in that respect may operate in a manner known per se.

The lock releasing element may be mechanically coupled to the sensor element and in a preferred embodiment of the invention the lock releasing element and the sensor element are fixed together, preferably as integral parts of the same member.

Preferably the lock assembly includes a lock control member movable between a locking position in which the actuator is locked and a releasing position in which the actuator is able to move the bolt from the extended position to the retracted position. The lock control member is preferably a linearly movable shuttle, which may be mounted in the lock casing.

The lock releasing element may be arranged to move the lock control member from the locking position to the releasing position by engagement of the lock releasing element with a reaction element coupled to the lock control member. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the reaction element is pivotably mounted on the lock control member. Preferably the lock releasing element and the lock control member are arranged such that the lock releasing element is in effect coupled to the lock control member in one direction of movement, being movement of the lock releasing element in a direction to move the lock control member into the releasing position, but is in effect decoupled from the lock control member in an opposite direction of movement of the releasing element. With such an arrangement the lock releasing element is effective to move the lock control member into the releasing position but does not itself cause the lock releasing element to move back into the locking position.

The actuator is preferably a handle, which is preferably rotatable, preferably about an axis substantially perpendicular to the door, for moving the bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the locking bolt is caused automatically to move into the extended position upon closing of the door, for example as a result of being resiliently biased into the extended position and allowed to move under that resilient bias as a result of movement of an auxiliary bolt as the door is closed; the invention is also applicable, however, to an arrangement in which the locking bolt is manually moved into its extended position after the door is closed, for example by rotation of the handle.

The second locking arrangement, suitable for operation from inside the door, preferably comprises a key operated lock, preferably a key operated cylinder. In the case where the actuator is a rotatable handle, the key operated lock may be a key operated cylinder disposed on the axis of rotation of the handle.

The first locking arrangement, suitable for operation from outside the door may comprise a key operated lock, which may be a key operated cylinder, and it may be actuable to move the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position to unlock the assembly.

As already described above movement of the locking bolt from the retracted position to the extended position may occur automatically upon closing of the door, but it is also possible to provide for the locking bolt to be moved from the retracted position to the extended position by operation of the first locking arrangement. In an embodiment of the invention described below the keeper of the locking bolt is immobile and fixed on the door frame.

The invention is, however, also applicable to locks which are designed, for example, for electrical operation and where the lock assembly can be changed from a locked condition to a released condition by retracting the keeper, or releasing the keeper to allow it to move, and thereby allow movement of the locking bolt away from the keeper even though the locking bolt remains in an extended position.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention described below the locking bolt is a square bolt, being caused to move into an extended position as the door is closed through operation of an auxiliary bolt. As will be understood, the invention is also applicable to a lock assembly in which the locking bolt is of other forms, for example, a chamfered bolt of the kind often used in a latch. The locking bolt is preferably mounted in the casing for linear movement between the extended and retracted positions.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention described below the lock assembly comprises a rim lock. It is also possible to apply the invention to other forms of lock, for example mortice locks.

The present invention further provides a door fitted with a lock assembly as defined above. The present invention still further provides a doorway including a door as just defined and a door frame.

The present invention still further provides a method of operating a lock assembly including a casing mounted on the door, a locking bolt mounted in the casing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position, a first locking arrangement operable from outside the door to change the lock from a locked condition to a released condition, an actuator operable from inside the door to move the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position and a second locking arrangement operable from inside the door, having a locked condition in which the actuator is locked and prevented from moving the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position, and a released condition in which the actuator is able to move the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position, and a trigger signal generating assembly which, when the second locking arrangement is in the locked condition and the door is opened, moves the second locking arrangement from the locked condition to the released condition. The lock assembly may be in any of the forms defined above and the method may incorporate method features corresponding to the features of the lock assembly defined above.

By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a lock assembly for a door, Fig. 2a is a schematic view from the rear of the lock assembly of Fig. l, with the casing not shown, of a locking arrangement for locking the handle against rotation, with the locking arrangement shown in a released position and the door open, Fig. 2b is a schematic View similar to Fig. 2a, but with the locking arrangement shown in a locked position and the door open, Fig. 2c is a schematic view similar to Figs. 2a and 2b, but with the locking arrangement shown in a locked position and the door closed, and Fig. 2d is a schematic View similar to Figs 2a to 2c, but with the locking arrangement shown in the released position and the door open.

The lock assembly shown in Fig. 1 is a rim lock for fitting to the inside of a door and generally comprises a casing 1, a square locking bolt 2, an auxiliary bolt 3, a handle 4, and a key—operated lock cylinder 5 fitted within the handle 4. The lock assembly further includes another key-operated lock cylinder, not shown in Fig. 1, which is fitted to the outside of the door.

The parts of the lock referred to above are all provided on a known look. In use, the lock—casing 1 is fitted to a door by screws passing through holes 6 in a plate portion 7 of the casing 1 and engaging in the edge portion of the door.

If the handle 4 is rotated clockwise as seen in Fig. l, or if the key—operated lock cylinder on the outside _10_ of the door is operated by rotating the key, the locking bolt 2 is retracted and the door can then be opened. As the door is opened, the auxiliary bolt 3 moves out of the casing 1 to its extended position. As will be understood, in Fig. 1 both the locking bolt 2 and the auxiliary bolt 3 are shown in their extended positions; in their retracted positions both bolts are contained entirely within the casing 1. Once the square locking bolt 2 is in its retracted position, it is held in that position by a latch arrangement within the casing 1. When the door is closed again, the locking bolt 2 is initially retracted but, as the auxiliary bolt 3 makes Contact with a strike-plate on the frame of the door, it is pressed inwardly into the casing 1 and this action releases the latching of the locking bolt 2 which then moves out of the casing 1 into its extended position. The movement of the auxiliary bolt 3 may also, if desired, be arranged to actuate a deadlock for the locking bolt 2.

The key-operated lock cylinder 5 is fitted within the handle 4 co-axial with the axis of rotation of the handle 4. As will be described in more detail below, but as is also known per se the lock cylinder 5 can be operated by a key to lock the handle against rotation and can also be operated by the key to unlock the handle and allow its rotation. Locking the handle makes the lock more secure because the door cannot then be unlocked from the inside without a key. _.ll__ The arrangement described above is broadly of a kind already known and both WO 97/30256 and WO O1/69015 describe such arrangements, although in the case of the lock illustrated in the drawings of WO 97/30256 there is no auxiliary bolt and the locking bolt is a chamfered bolt rather than a square bolt.

In both WO 97/30256 and W0 01/69016, a mechanism is provided to reduce the risk of the handle on the inside of the door remaining locked when a person re-enters a building. In both cases, an arrangement is provided so that if the lock on the outside of the door is operated to retract the locking bolt, the locking of the handle on the inside of the door is automatically released so that the door can only then be re—locked on the inside if the user has the key. In the embodiment of the present invention described below, there is again a mechanism provided to reduce the risk of the handle on the inside of the door remaining locked when a person re-enters a building, but it is a different kind of mechanism.

Referring now also to Figs 2a to 2d, there is shown the locking arrangement that locks the handle 4 against rotation and also what is referred to herein as a trigger signal generating assembly that includes the auxiliary bolt 3, the front end 8a of which may be regarded as a sensor element for detecting opening of the door and the rear end 8b of which projects transversely.

The lock cylinder 5 in the handle 4 is a conventional pin tumbler lock carrying a cam 9 on its end. The handle 4 _]_2_ has a cylindrical base 10 which rotates with the handle. A locking bar 11 is slidably mounted in a radially extending passageway 12 in the base 10 of the handle, and is biased radially inwardly by a spring 13 but is movable from an inner position, shown for example in Fig. 2a, to an outer position shown in Fig. 2b, in which the locking bar projects radially outwardly from the base 10 of the handle and engages a recess (not shown) in fixed relationship to the casing 1, thereby locking the handle against rotation.

The position of the locking bar 11 is controlled by a slidable shuttle 14 on which a reaction plate 15 is pivotally mounted. The shuttle 14 is mounted for linear movement between a releasing position shown in Fig. 2a, in which a relatively large recess 16 in the bottom of the shuttle 14 receives the radially inner end of the locking bar 11, and a locking position shown in Fig. 2b in which a much smaller recess 17 in the bottom of the shuttle 14 receives the radially inner end of the locking bar 11. The shuttle 14 is also formed with a cam-follower recess 18 in its top face, and this is shaped so that if the cam 9 is rotated one revolution anti—clockwise (as seen in Figs. 2a to 2d) from the position shown in Fig. 2a, a radially- projecting arm 9A of the cam engages the recess 18 and moves the shuttle to the right (as seen in Fig. 2a) from the position shown in Fig. 2a to the position shown in Fig. 2b. Similarly, subsequent rotation of the cam 9 one revolution clockwise (as seen in Figs. 2a to 2d) will move the shuttle 14 back to the left from the position shown in _l3_ Fig. 2b to the position shown in Fig. 2a. As the shuttle moves from the positions shown in Figs. 2a and 2b so the locking bar 11 is driven out of one of the recesses 16, 17, and into the other so that the handle is locked or unlocked.

In addition to moving the shuttle 14 to the right and to the left by the action of the cam 9, it is also possible to move the shuttle to the left (as seen in Figs. 2a to 2d) by the action of the auxiliary bolt 3, although it should be noted that reverse movement of the auxiliary bolt 3 does not move the shuttle to the right. The auxiliary bolt 3 is resiliently biased by a spring (not shown) to bias the bolt 3 into its extended position shown in Figs. 2a and 2b. when the door is closed, however, the auxiliary bolt 3 is caused to move against its resilient bias into its retracted position shown in Fig. 2c, where the shuttle 14 is shown in it locking position (the position that is to the right as seen in Figs. 2a to 2d). A reaction plate 15 is pivotally mounted by a pivot 20 on the shuttle 14 and is spring biased in a clockwise direction (as seen in Figs. 2a to 2d) by a spring 21 which is mounted on the pivot 20 and of which only the end is visible in the drawings. The reaction plate 15 is shown at the limit of its clockwise rotation but is movable anti—clockwise from the position shown against the bias of the spring 21.

As can be seen in Fig. 2c, if the auxiliary bolt 3 is allowed to move back to the left into its extended position, starting from the position shown in Fig. 2c, then the rear end 8b of the auxiliary bolt 3 will engage the reaction plate 15 and move the shuttle 14 to the left (as seen in Figs. 2a to 2d) causing the locking bar 11 to move to the unlocked position; the auxiliary bolt 3, the reaction plate 15, the shuttle 14 and the locking bar 11 will then be in the positions shown in Fig. 2d.

Typical operation of the locking arrangement will now be described with reference to Figs. 2a to 2d. It will be assumed that a person is leaving or entering by opening the door and wishes to leave the door locked with the handle locked against rotation for additional security. It is convenient to commence a cycle of description from the stage at which the door is open, with the result that the auxiliary bolt 3 is to the left (as seen in Figs. 2a to 2d), and the handle 4 is unlocked so the shuttle is to the right (as seen in Figs. 2a to 2d).

With the door still open, the person uses a key in the inside lock cylinder 5 to rotate the cam 9 one revolution clockwise. During this rotation, the projecting arm 9A engages in the recess 18 in the shuttle to move the shuttle to the right (as seen in Fig. 2a); while the arm 9A is in the recess 18, it bears down against the pivoted reaction plate 15 to the left of the pivot 20, pivoting the reaction plate 15 anti-clockwise (as seen in Fig. 2a) against the bias of the spring 21, and causing the other end of the plate 15 to rise up over the end 8b of the auxiliary bolt.

After the rotation of the cam 9 through one revolution, as described above, the parts are in the positions shown in _ 15 - Fig. 2b. It may be noted that the auxiliary bolt 3 is still in an extended position, because the door is open, but the locking bar 11 is now in a locked position, preventing rotation of the handle.

The person now closes the door, causing the auxiliary bolt to move to the right (as shown in Fig. 2b). The end 8b of the auxiliary bolt cammingly engages the underside 15A of the right—hand end of the reaction plate 15 causing the plate 15 to rotate anti—clockwise against the bias of the spring 21, until the end 8b clears the plate 15 which then pivots back to its previous position. After this movement of the auxiliary bolt, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2c, the door is closed and the handle 4 is locked against rotation.

If now a person opens the door from the outside using the key~operated lock, the action of opening the door causes the auxiliary bolt 3 to move to the left (as shown in Fig. 2c) and the end 8b of the bolt 3 engages the reaction plate 15 which in turn moves the shuttle 14 to the left causing the locking bar 11 to move from its locked position to its unlocked position. The position of the parts after these movements is shown in Fig. 2d and it can be seen that the action of opening the door has caused the handle 4 to be released so that it is free again to rotate to move the locking bolt 2 of the lock assembly. It can also be seen that the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2d is the same as that of Fig. 2a. _]_6_.

As will be understood from the description above, it is a feature of the described embodiment of the invention that the action of opening the door releases the handle 4 if it was locked. As will also be understood, if the handle is not locked before the door is open then it will remain unlocked with the door open. It is thereby ensured that, whenever the door is opened, the handle is released.

Nonetheless, if a person wishes to have the extra security of the handle being locked, it is simply necessary for them to lock the key-operated lock cylinder 5 on the inside of the door while the door is open. That will lock the handle, which will remain locked when the door is closed, and will continue to be locked until either the door is opened or the key-operated lock 5 on the inside of the door is unlocked.

Of course, if the person is entering from the outside, then whilst they can lock the key—operated lock cylinder 5 while the door is open, they can also lock the cylinder 5 after they have closed the door.

Throughout the description, the term “door” is used.

It should be understood that the invention is applicable to a wide variety of situations and whilst the great majority of those applications will relate to objects which a skilled person would naturally refer to as a “door”, it is also possible to apply the invention to other similar objects which are sometimes collectively referred to as “wings” and the term “door” as used herein should be understood accordingly.

In the embodiment described above, unlocking of the lock from the outside using the key—operated lock cylinder has no effect on the state of the second locking arrangement (determined by the position of the shuttle 14).

Should it be desired, it would be possible to arrange also for unlocking of the lock from the outside using the key- operated lock cylinder to release the second locking arrangement; that would be in addition to the release mechanism provided in the described embodiment by the auxiliary bolt 3.

Claims (29)

Claims:

1. A lock assembly for a door including: a casing for mounting on the door; a locking bolt mounted in the casing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position; a first locking arrangement suitable for operation from outside the door and actuable to change the lock assembly from a locked condition to a released condition; an actuator suitable for operation from inside the door for moving the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position; a second locking arrangement, suitable for operation from inside the door, having a locked condition for locking the actuator to prevent it moving the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position, and a released condition for allowing the actuator to move the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position, and a trigger signal generating assembly for being arranged such that, if the second locking arrangement is in the locked condition and the door is opened, the assembly responds to opening of the door by moving the second locking arrangement from the locked condition to the released condition.

2. A look assembly according to claim 1, in which the trigger signal generating element comprises a sensor element for detecting opening of the door and a lock releasing element which is movable in response to the sensor element detecting opening of the door and, if the second locking arrangement is in the locked condition, moves the second locking arrangement to the released condition.

3. A lock assembly according to claim 1 or 2, in which the sensor element is mounted in or on the casing.

4. A look assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the sensor element is a mechanical element which is moved as result of opening the door.

5. A lock assembly according to claim 4, in which the sensor element projects from the lock casing for engaging a part of the door frame.

6. A lock assembly according to claim 4 or 5, in which the sensor element is resiliently biased outwardly from the casing.

7. A lock assembly according to any of claims 4 to 6, in which the sensor element is an auxiliary bolt.

8. A lock assembly according to claim 7, in which the auxiliary bolt also controls movement of the locking bolt from the retracted position to the extended position when the door is closed.

9. A lock assembly according to claim 2 or any of claims 3 to 8 when dependent on claim 2, in which the lock releasing element is mechanically coupled to the sensor element.

10. A lock assembly according to claim 9, in which the lock releasing element and the sensor element are integral parts of the same member.

11. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the lock assembly includes a lock control member movable between a locking position in which the actuator is locked and a releasing position in which the actuator is able to move the bolt from the extended position to the retracted position.

12. A lock assembly according to claim 11, in which the lock control member is a linearly movable shuttle.

13. A lock assembly according to claim 12, in which the lock control member is mounted in the casing.

14. A lock assembly according to any of claims 11 to 13, when dependent upon claim 2, in which the lock releasing element is arranged to move the lock control member from the locking position to the releasing position by engagement of the lock releasing element with a reaction element coupled to the lock control member.

15. A lock assembly according to claim 14, in which the reaction element is pivotably mounted on the lock control member.

16. A lock assembly according to claim 14 or 15, in which the lock releasing element and the lock control member are arranged such that the lock releasing element is in effect coupled to the lock control member in one direction of movement, being movement of the lock releasing element in a direction to move the lock control member into the releasing position, but is in effect decoupled from the lock control member in an opposite direction of movement of the lock releasing element.

17. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the actuator is a handle.

18. A lock assembly according to claim 17, in which the handle is rotatable.

19. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the second locking arrangement, suitable for operation from inside the door, comprises a key operated lock.

20. A lock assembly according to claim 19, in which the second locking arrangement is a lock cylinder.

21. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the first locking arrangement, suitable for operation from outside the door, comprises a key operated lock.

22. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the lock assembly can be changed from a locked condition to a released condition by retracting the keeper, or releasing the keeper to allow it to move and release the locking bolt.

23. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the locking bolt is a square bolt.

24. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the lock assembly comprises a rim lock.

25. A lock assembly substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

26. A door fitted with a lock assembly according to any preceding claim.

27. A doorway including a door according to claim 26 and a door frame.

28. A method of operating a lock assembly including a casing mounted on the door, a locking bolt mounted in the casing for movement between an extended position and a retracted position, a first locking arrangement operable from outside the door to change the lock from a locked condition to a released condition, an actuator operable from inside the door to move the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position and a second locking arrangement operable from inside the door, having a locked condition in which the actuator is locked and prevented from moving the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position, and a released condition in which the actuator is able to move the locking bolt from the extended position to the retracted position, and a trigger signal generating assembly which, when the second locking arrangement is in the locked condition and the door is opened, moves the second locking arrangement from the locked condition to the released condition.

29. A method according to claim 28, in which the lock assembly is as claimed in any of claims 1 to 25.