IES990916A2

IES990916A2 - Improvements in locking assemblies

Info

Publication number: IES990916A2
Application number: IE19990916A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Eamonn William Joseph Kelly
Original assignee: Eamonn William Joseph Kelly
Priority date: 1999-11-03
Filing date: 1999-11-03
Publication date: 2001-05-16
Also published as: IE20000880A1; GB2356017B; GB0026673D0; GB2356017A

Abstract

A locking assembly (1) which can be used for a variety of purposes such as locking gates, doors, shutters and the like is disclosed. It comprises a slide member (3) which is slidable in a housing (1) and which at one end can be inserted into a receiver (2). The receiver (2) has an open mouth (4) to accept the slide member (3) but it is closed at the opposite end (5) to deter tampering. A locking mechanism is mounted inside the housing, alongside the slide member (3). The locking mechanism is preferably a mortise-type lock. <Figure 1>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCKING ASSEMBLIES Field of the Invention This invention relates to locking assemblies which can be used for a variety of purposes, such as locking doors, gates, shutters and the like, more particularly for doors pf transport vehicles.

'O it, λ. Ή o r k ires c r A ΓΚ Background to the Invention y s Locking assemblies based on a slidable bolt which engages a fixed receiver have been known for many years, particularly for locking doors to supporting structures (such as door frames) or for locking one door to another. Such assemblies require an : auxiliary locking mechanism such as a padlock for securing the bolt in the closed portion. One problem with these arrangements is that the padlock (and often the bolt itself) is open to interference by unscrupulous persons. There is also a risk of loss of the '.padlock when it is separated from the bolt, and it is necessary to attach the padlock to Kthe locking assembly before it possible to secure the assembly in either an open or closed position.

It is an object of the invention to provide a locking assembly that will be robust, that will protect the locking mechanism from interference by unscrupulous persons, and that can be locked in both the open and closed positions. It is a further object to provide a locking assembly that can be fitted on existing structures without requiring substantial modifications to the existing structure or hindering existing locking mechanisms. It is a further object to provide a locking device, whose application is varied, and which, depending on the angle of fitting, can be used to lock structures in vertical or horizontal positions.

In GB 2 327 967 A the present inventor has described a locking assembly for use with a receiver having an open mouth, comprising: a) a housing for a slide member, b) a slide member dimensioned to fit slidably in both the housing and the receiver, the slide member being movable between a bolted position in IE990916 which it bridges the receiver and the housing and an unbolted position in which it is disengaged from the receiver, and, c) means for locking the slide member in both the bolted and unbolted positions, said locking means comprising a locking mechanism inside the slide member having a lock bolt which can be extended from the slide member to engage the housing in both the bolted and unbolted positions of the slide member.

However, this assembly had a long slot in the housing, in order to allow access for a key to the locking mechanism in both the bolted and unbolted positions of the slide member. It has been found that when this assembly is used on road transport vehicles the slot allows entry of rain water and salt and sand from road surfaces into the interior of the housing, where the water is trapped, leading in some cases to corrosion of the locking mechanism.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.

Summary of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention provides a locking assembly for use with a receiver having an open mouth, the assembly comprising: a) a housing for a slide member and a locking mechanism, b) a slide member dimensioned to fit slidably in both the housing and the receiver, the slide member being movable between a bolted position in which it bridges the receiver and the housing and an unbolted position in which it is disengaged from the receiver, c) means for locking the slide member in the bolted position, the locking means comprising a locking mechanism enclosed inside the housing beside the slide member and having a lock bolt which can be extended towards the slide member by operation of a key from outside the housing, the slide member having at least one locking box to engage the extended lock bolt when the slide member is in the bolted position.

The invention provides a secure locking assembly in which the locking mechanism is shielded from tampering and is protected from the weather and other environmental conditions.

IE990916 According to one particular aspect of the invention, the slide member has two locking box positions spaced apart by a distance equal to the desired travel of the slide member between the bolted and unbolted positions, so that the extended lock bolt can engage the slide member in both of the bolted and unbolted positions.

The provision of a slide member with a dual position locking box is believed to be novel and unique in the field of locking assemblies of this kind.

Each locking box position may suitably be formed by an opening in a hollow wall of the slide member. However, other forms of recess in the slide member or a structure on the slide member may be used, subject only to the conditions that it can receive the lock bolt and that it does not interfere with sliding movement of the slide member.

Preferably the locking mechanism comprises a mortise-type lock i.e. a lock of the kind which can be accommodated in a mortise in a door or the like. A mortise-type lock generally has very slim dimensions which make it suitable to be enclosed in a housing adjacent to the slide member. However, other types of locking mechanism having a lock bolt which is extendible from and retractable into a lock body can be used, e.g. a 7 lever safe lock.

Preferably the lock bolt is directly acted upon by a key. A pin tumbler cylinder such as that known by the name “Eurocylinder” may be used to operate the lock bolt, but preferably it is in direct contact with the mechanism of the mortise-type lock.

In this embodiment part of the cylinder is outside the housing but the locking mechanism for the assembly is enclosed inside the housing.

In the preferred embodiments, the locking mechanism is mounted inside the housing in a position such that the lock bolt is centrally located relative to the walls of the housing in the direction of travel of the slide member. This has the advantage that the slide member can be installed in either of two orientations in the housing, which provides flexibility for the purchaser and installer of the locking assembly.

The assembly can be installed with the slide member horizontal or vertical or in any chosen orientation through 360° relative to the substrate. The locking mechanism can be located above, below or alongside the slide member when the assembly is installed.

IE99O916 Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example: Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front and side of a locking assembly with receiver, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figures 2 is a view from the rear of the locking assembly of figure 1 in a dismantled condition, Figure 3 is a view of the rear of the assembly of figure 1 in the bolted position, with the backing plate removed, Figure 4 is a view from the rear of the mechanism of figure 1 in the unbolted position with the backing plate removed, Figure 5 is a perspective view from the front and side of a locking assembly with receiver, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 is a view similar to figure 2 of the assembly of figure 5.

Detailed Description of the Drawings Figures 1 to 4 show a bolt-type locking assembly, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. It comprises a slide member 3 which is slidable in a housing 1 and which at one end can be inserted into a receiver 2. The receiver 2 has an open mouth 4 to accept the slide member 3 but it is closed at the opposite end 5 to deter tampering. A locking mechanism 30 is mounted inside the housing, alongside the slide member 3. The locking mechanism is preferably a mortise-type lock, such as the type manufactured by Chubb Security Pic.

The housing has a front plate 6, side walls 7, and end walls 8 and a removable backing plate 9. Openings 10 are cut in the end walls 8 to receive the slide member 3 and to allow it to travel to-and-fro. The locking mechanism 30 is secured to the front plate 6 by bolts 11 passing through the face plate 12 of the lock and into flanges 13 standing up from the front plate 6. An optional U-shaped bracket 14 welded or secured in some similar fashion at each end to the front plate 6 helps to retain the body of the locking mechanism securely in position. The backing plate 9 is held in place by positioning screws 12c through holes 12b in the backing plate 9 and co-operating holes 12a in the bracket 14, although other means of attaching the backing plate may also be used.

IE990916 The front plate 6 may be secured to the backing plate 9, and further secured onto the substrate (not shown) that requires locking, by passing conventional bolts (not shown) through apertures 40 in the front plate 6, co-operating apertures 41 in the backing plate 9 and subsequently engaging them with the substrate (not shown).

The slide member 3 consists of a hollow bar of rectangular cross section. It has two slots 15,16 cut in one narrow face, adjacent to the locking mechanism, and separated by a remaining bridge portion 17. The opposite narrow face carries a projecting lug 18 which abuts against one or other of a pair of stops 19 welded to the front plate 6 of the housing. The slide member 3 has a handle 20 at one end.

The locking mechanism 30 has a lock bolt 21 which can be extended from or retracted into the face plate 12 by operation of the lock. The lock bolt 21 is moved positively in both directions by the locking mechanism. The bolt 21 engages the slot 15 when the slide member is in the bolted position (with the end of the slide member in the receiver 2 as shown in figure 3) and engages the slot 16 when the slide member is in the unbolted position (with the end of the slide member withdrawn from the receiver 2 as shown in figure 4).

The mortise-type lock 4 is operated by a key 31 inserted through a keyhole 32 in the front plate 6. It engages the conventional keyhole 32a in the lock body. An escutcheon plate (not shown) may suitably be provided to close over the keyhole 32 when the key is not present.

The travel of the slide member 3 is determined by the separation of the stops 19. The slide member can be locked in both the bolted and unbolted positions but due to the bridge portion 17 between the slots 15,16 the lock bolt 21 cannot be extended when the slide member is not located in one or other of its end positions. The slots 15,16 are cut to a size which is only marginally larger than the lock bolt 21, so that the assembly is positively and firmly locked in both of its bolted and unbolted positions. The end walls 8 do not have any function in relation to the extent of travel of the slide member, so that even if the end walls are damaged by attempted tampering such damage is unlikely to affect the operation of the locking assembly. The locking mechanism is totally enclosed in the housing, so that it is not vulnerable to tampering. The lock bolt 21 is further protected because a substantial part of it is enclosed inside the slide member when the assembly is in the bolted position. The slide member is held in the bolted position by a side of the lock bolt, so that the lock bolt cannot be forced to a retracted position by force applied on the slide member.

IE990916 The lock bolt 21 maybe centrally located between the two end walls 8 so that the slide member can be installed in the housing with the handle at either end of the housing.

Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment which is similar to the first embodiment except that the mortise-type lock is used with a pin tumbler lock 22.

Similar numerals are used for similar parts. A key-operated pin tumbler lock 22, particularly a European profile deadlock (or its U.S. equivalent), is used to move the mechanism of the mortise lock instead of a key. The pin tumbler lock 22 is secured by a long screw 23 passing through the body of the locking mechanism from the face plate 12 and entering into a threaded bore (not shown) in the pin tumbler lock. The pin tumbler lock 22 extends through an opening 24 in the front plate 6 of the housing. This opening is cut to the shape of the pin tumbler lock 22. In practice when assembling the unit, the mortise lock would be installed in the housing and the pin tumbler lock 22 would be inserted via the opening 24, after which the pin tumbler lock would be secured by means of the long screw 23 (only the head of which is shown in Figure 6). If desired, a shield (not shown) may be provided on the front face of the front plate 6, surrounding the projecting part of the pin tumbler lock 22. The pin tumbler lock can be of any suitable design and may, for example, have an oval outline as compared to the “tear-drop” outline as illustrated for the second embodiment.

Any openings in the housing are occupied by the pin tumbler lock or by fixing bolts which secure the housing to a substrate. Entry of water and corrosive fluids into the interior of the housing is thus kept to a minimum.

The second embodiment works in the same way as the first embodiment and has the same advantages.

In a third embodiment (not shown) the mortise-type lock which is used has a spring-loaded bolt, which is retracted by the locking mechanism but which moves to an extended position by action of the spring. The slide member has only one slot, in which the lock bolt engages when the slide member is in the bolted position. In order to move the slide member, the lock bolt is retracted by turning a key in the locking mechanism so that the lock bolt is disengaged from the slot. After the slide member has been moved, the lock bolt can be released but it is pressed by the spring against the adjacent face of the slide member and it cannot extend any further. If the slide member is then moved back towards the bolted position, the lock bolt slides against the face of the slide IE990916 member until it reaches the slot, when it snaps into engagement in the slot. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to use the key to lock the slide member in the bolted position. The key is only required when the assembly is to be unbolted. This is an additional convenience as compared to the first two embodiments. The locking engagement is achieved by butting of the slide member against a side of the lock bolt, and so there is no force tending to cause the lock bolt to retract. The lock bolt is sheltered inside the slide member when the assembly is locked, and so unscrupulous persons cannot gain access to it to push the lock bolt out of engagement with the slide member.

The third embodiment has other features similar to those of the first two embodiments and shares the same advantages.

There is sufficient space inside the housing of any of the embodiments herein described for electrical or alarm equipment to be contained in a secure manner therein.

In a further alternative embodiment (not shown) the locking mechanism with the spring-loaded bolt can be used in conjunction with the slide member having two slots 15,16 as in the first two embodiments, so that the lock bolt slips into engagement with the slide member in both in its bolted and unbolted position.

In the first embodiment, the extended bolt is positively locked because it cannot be retracted until a key is used to move the levers and open the gate of the mortise-type lock, after which the key acts directly on the lock bolt to cause it to move, In the second embodiment, the pin tumbler cylinder also acts directly on the mechanism of the mortise lock.

In the first embodiment, a second keyhole can be provided in the backing plate so that the assembly can be opened by insertion of a key from either the front or the rear. Likewise in the second embodiment, a double cylinder can be used and an opening can be cut in the backing plate as well as the front plate so that the cylinder extends rearwardly as well as forwardly and can be operated from either direction.

Claims

1. A locking assembly for use with a receiver having an open mouth, the assembly comprising: a) a housing for a slide member and a locking mechanism, b) a slide member dimensioned to fit slidably in both the housing and the receiver, the slide member being movable between a bolted position in which it bridges the receiver and the housing and an unbolted position in which it is disengaged from the receiver, c) means for locking the slide member in the bolted position, the locking means comprising a locking mechanism enclosed inside the housing beside the slide member and having a lock bolt which can be extended towards the slide member by operation of a key from outside the housing, the slide member having at least one locking box to engage the extended lock bolt when the slide member is in the bolted position.

2. The locking assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the slide member has two locking box positions spaced apart by a distance equal to the desired travel of the slide member between the bolted and unbolted positions, so that the extended lock bolt can engage the slide member in both of the bolted and unbolted positions.

3. The locking assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the locking mechanism comprises a mortise-type lock.

4. The locking assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lock bolt is directly acted upon by a key, or a pin tumbler cylinder is used to operate the lock bolt.

5. A locking mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, or as shown in, figures 1 to 4 or figures 5 to 6.