IL120146A - Security door - Google Patents

Abstract

A security door comprising: (a) a door frame; (b) a door (130) arranged to close within said frame, said door having a door handle (132); (c) a locking mechanism mounted in said door frame and including a bolt (20() seated in a groove along the edge of at least one portion of said door frame; and (d) an actuating mechanism (140) including at least one toothed wheel, the actuating mechanism being arranged selectively to actuate said locking mechanism to move said bolt transversely partially out of said groove in said door frame and partially into a groove in one edge of said door, and to actuate said locking mechanism to move said bolt transversely partially out of said groove in one edge of the door and partially into a groove in said door frame, said actuating mechanism being located on said door. 1080 י" ב בסיון התשס" ב - May 23, 2002

Description

SECURITY DOOR 849-96AP.DOC D-2 2.2.1997 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to security locking mechanisms, in general, and, in particular, to a locking mechanism for security doors having bolts which extend through the door and the door frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Security doors having locking mechanisms including a plurality of bolts which extend radially from the center of the door into the door frame around the door have long been known in the art. Such doors generally are formed of two steel plates with the locking mechanism disposed between the two plates. Upon turning a key in the lock, a number of cylindrical rods, generally three or four, extend outwardly from apertures in the edges of the door and seat in complementary recesses in the door frame.

This structure suffers from a number of disadvantages. First, the rods generally have a relatively small diameter, so it is possible to cut through them between the door and the frame and open the door. Second, since the locking mechanism is located between the two plates of the door, the door cannot be made of wood, nor can it be coated with wood without forming a door of unacceptable thickness.

Israel Patent 81151 attempts to solve the first problem by providing a security door including a locking mechanism consisting of a solid bar positioned in a groove along at least one edge of the door and adapted to be transversely moved out of the groove by a bolt of the lock into a second groove in a corresponding portion of the door frame. The mechanism includes guide means to keep the solid bar in parallel alignment with the door edge. This door, too, has the disadvantage that the locking mechanism is located in the door, thereby dictating the thickness and structure of the door.

Accordingly, there is a long felt need for a security locking mechanism, particularly for security doors, including a door locking mechanism which engages a substantial portion of the edge or edges of the door and the corresponding door frame, but which is not located inside the door, so as to permit variations in the design of the door. Furthermore, it would be very desirable to have such a security door which is actuated by the door handle, rather than by a separate lock, and which can include an added safety latch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to security closures, in general, which are referred to herein, for purposes of the specification and claims, as security doors. It will be appreciated that, as used herein, the term "security door" is also applicable to windows, the lid of a box, a manhole, or any other similar opening which includes a closure portion and a surrounding frame and which requires a secure closure.

According to the present invention, there is provided a security door including a door frame, a door arranged to close within the frame, a bolt seated in a groove along at least one portion of the door frame, and an actuating mechanism arranged to move said bolt transversely partially out of the door frame and partially into a groove in one edge of the door, the actuating mechanism being located on the door.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating mechanism includes the door handle.

Further according to a preferred embodiment, the security door further includes a safety latch mechanism for locking the actuating mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be further understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a partially cut-away plan view of a security door including a locking mechanism constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 120146/2 Fig. 2 is a detailed illustration of an actuating mechanism and an associated portion of a locking mechanism for a security door constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figs. 3a to 3e and 3f to 3j are respective plan and schematic sectional illustrations of various stages during locking and unlocking of the locking mechanism of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the locking mechanism of the security door of Fig. 1 in the unlocked orientation; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the locking mechanism of Fig. 4 in a locked orientation; Fig. 6A is a schematic plan view of a safety latch release mechanism according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6B is a sectional view of the release mechanism of Fig. 6A; Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of a locking mechanism constructed and operative in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is a sectional illustration of a wooden security door constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9A is a schematic sectional illustration of a locking mechanism according to another alternative embodiment of the invention in an unlocked orientation; Fig. 9B shows the locking mechanism of Fig. 9A in the locked orientation; Fig. 10A is a schematic illustration of a locking mechanism according to yet another alternative embodiment of the invention in a locked orientation; and Fig. 10B shows the locking mechanism of Fig. 10A in an unlocked orientation. 120146/1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The security closures of the present invention include a bolt or bar mounted along the length of at least one, and preferably several, portions of the frame, i.e., in the case of a door, in one or both door jambs and/or the lintel. The bolt is adapted to move transversely into a groove in the corresponding edge of the door, so as to be fixed between the 3a two. Movement of the bolt is caused by an actuating mechanism which is located in the door, not in the frame.

It is a particular feature of the invention that the bolt or bolts are located in the door frame rather than in the door itself, as in conventional security doors. This permits the door itself to be designed in any desired fashion, and of any desired thickness. Preferably, it is formed of two steel plates which can be mounted with little or no space between them, to which wooden panels or other decorative finishes can be attached.

It is a further particular feature of the invention that the actuating mechanism is located in the door, and not in the frame adjacent the locking mechanism itself. This permits convenient locking and unlocking of the door in the conventional manner. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the door handle itself is utilized as part of the actuating mechanism, thus providing locking without need of a key .

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an additional safety latch is provided which prevents unlocking of the door from the outside without a key.

Referring now to Fig. 1 , there is shown a partially cutaway plan view of a security door 1 0 mounted in a door frame 1 2 with a conventional latch bolt 1 1 and including a locking mechanism 1 4 constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Locking mechanism 1 4 is actuated by an actuating mechanism 1 6 , illustrated in detail as reference numeral 50 in Fig. 2 , and described in detail hereinbelow.

In this embodiment, as seen in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 , locking mechanism 1 4 includes a bolt 20 , preferably a solid bar, mounted in a groove 22 in each edge of the door frame 1 2 , and a mechanism 26 for pushing bolt 20 partially out of groove 22 and into a complementary groove 27 in the edge of door 1 0 . It will be appreciated that, alternatively, the door can be provided with a bolt 20 in only one or two edges of the door frame. 4 Mechanism 26 for pushing bolt 20 may include a rotatable pole 30 with pairs of links 32, 34 along the length of bolt 20, or a rod 40 which is translated longitudinally and is pivotably coupled by links 42 to bolt 20, as seen in Figs. 9A and 9B, or any other mechanism which causes bolts 20 to move partially from the frame into the door in response to the actuating mechanism. Transmission means 28 in each corner serves to transfer the motion of one bolt 20 and pole 30 or rod 40 to all the others.

Referring now to Fig. 2, there is shown an actuating mechanism 50 and an associated portion of a locking mechanism 14 constructed and operative in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the door is latched, i.e., latch bolt 11 extends into the door jamb, but the door is unlocked.

Actuating mechanism 50 includes an actuating member 52 coaxially mounted about the spindle 51 of the door handle (not shown) for pivotal motion therewith. Actuating member 52 engages a pin 53 on a hook member 54. Hook member 54 defines an outward facing hook on one end thereof in register with one bolt 20'. When bolt 20' is in the locked orientation, it abuts against hook 54. Thus, pivoting actuating member 52 clockwise about its axis causes hook 54 to engage and push bolt 20' out of its locked orientation. Movement of one bolt 20' from groove 27 in the door is transmitted to all the other bolts 20 by transmission element 28, so all the bolts 20 are moved into the open orientation substantially at the same time.

The other side of actuating member 52 engages a pin 55' coupled to a rod 56' . Rod 56' is in register with a rod 56 which has a pin 55 engaging one wing 62 of a transfer link 60 which is pivotably mounted between a base plate 61 and a cover plate 63 of locking mechanism 14. The second wing 64 of transfer link 60 is coupled to a pin 66 on a rod 68 which is in registration with bolt 20'. Clockwise rotation of transfer link 60 causes rod 68 to contact and push bolt 20' into the door. Movement of one bolt 20' from groove 27 in the door is 5 transmitted to all the other bolts 20 by transmission element 28, so all the bolts 20 are moved into the locked orientation substantially at the same time, thereby securely bolting the door. Transfer link 60 also includes a stop pin 69 on one side of wing 62, whose function will be described hereinbelow.

Locking mechanism 14 further includes a reciprocating plate 70 slideably mounted between base plate 61 and a cover plate 63. Reciprocating plate 70 includes two pins 71 which are slideably mounted in two slots 73 in cover plate 63. Reciprocating plate 70 defines, at one end thereof, a rod receiving groove 72. Reciprocating plate 70 widens to define a pair of parallel shoulders 74 which are adapted to be engaged by a pair of guide members 75 on base plate 61.

The other end of reciprocating plate 70 tapers inwardly to define a shoulder 76, 78 on each side. A pair of projecting members 80, 82 are pivotably fixed to base plate 61 and coupled to one another, as by means of a spring 84. Reciprocating plate 70 also includes a key-hole shaped aperture 86 in which a stud 88 of transfer link 60 is seated.

It is a particular feature of the invention that reciprocating plate 70 with its key-hole shaped aperture serves as a safety latch which automatically locks the actuating mechanism upon locking of the door and permitting the door to be opened only by means of an unlocking or release mechanism. Alternatively, any other suitable safety latch means, whether automatic or not automatic, can be utilized to lock the actuating mechanism.

A safety latch release mechanism 90 is preferably provided in the security door of the present invention. Release mechanism 90 is shown in detail in respective plan and side sectional views in Figs. 6A and 6B, and includes a rod 92 which is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis 93 in a housing 94 mounted in one side of the door frame. One end of rod 92 is seated in rod receiving groove 72 of reciprocating plate 70. The other end is spring biased by means of a spring 6 96 coupled to housing 94 and abuts against a sliding pin 102 on a sliding link 100 mounted in housing 94.

Sliding link 100 is a Y-shaped link arranged for limited reciprocating sliding movement when actuated by a lock and key. Sliding link 100 is illustrated in Fig. 6A as including actuation by either of two different locks. A conventional cylinder lock (not shown) can be inserted in aperture 103 in housing 94. Rotation of the cylinder in a clockwise direction causes the cylinder tongue (not shown) to push sliding link 100, which causes sliding link 100 to slide towards rod 92. A return link 104, which is preferably spring loaded and pivots about a pivot point 105, may be provided to return the cylinder tongue to its rest orientation.

A sliding pin 102, which extends from a portion of the base 106 of sliding link 100, is arranged to slide in a longitudinal groove 108 in housing 94. As sliding pin 102 slides in groove 108, rod 92 pivots counterclockwise about its pivot axis 93.

Alternatively, or in addition, a coded lock 110 can be provided. Coded lock 110 may be any conventional coded lock which, when the appropriate code is punched in, causes rotation of a lever 112 which abuts against a sliding pin 114 coupled to the second arm 116 of sliding link 100. Sliding pin 114 is mounted in a longitudinal groove 118 in housing 94. Clockwise rotation of lever 112 causes sliding link 100 to slide as described above with regard to the cylinder lock, whereby sliding pin 102 causes rod 92 to pivot counterclockwise about its pivot axis 93.

It will be appreciated that a key is required to release the safety latch and unlock the door only from the outside. From the inside, the safety latch can be released by manually lowering a handle 92' of rod 92 which extends from the door in a direction away from the sliding link.

The operation of locking mechanism 14 will now be described with reference to Figs. 3a to 3e and 3f to 3j, which are respective plan and schematic sectional illustrations of various stages during locking and unlocking 7 of locking mechanism 14. Figs. 3a and 3f illustrate the locking mechanism 14 in the locked orientation with the safety latch on. In this orientation, reciprocating plate 70 is in its most extended orientation relative to base 61 (upwards, in the sense of the illustration). In this orientation, rod 92 is seated in rod receiving groove 72 with spring 96 urging rod 92 in the clockwise direction, thereby causing extension of reciprocating plate 70. Reciprocating plate 70 is prevented from extending further by means of guide members 75 on base plate 61 which act as stop members and engage shoulders 74. Projecting member 80 is pushed outwards by stop pin 69 on transfer link 60 to keep it from engaging reciprocating plate 70. Projecting member 82 abuts against the edge of reciprocating plate 70.

In this orientation, stud 88 on transfer link 60 is seated in the neck portion of key-hole shaped aperture 86 and cannot be rotated. Bolts 20 are all extended partially out of grooves 22 and into grooves 27 (Fig. 5).

Figs. 3b and 3g illustrate the release of the safety latch 90. A key actuates one of the locks 103 or 110 causing sliding link 100 to pivot rod 92 in a counterclockwise direction. This retracts reciprocating plate 70 relative to base 61 (downwards, in the sense of the illustration), thereby releasing the safety latch. The distance from the extended orientation to the retracted orientation may be on the order of 10 mm. Projecting member 80 is still pushed outwards by stop pin 69 on transfer link 60 to prevent it from engaging reciprocating plate 70, while projecting member 82 now engages shoulder 78 of reciprocating plate 70, retaining it in the retracted orientation.

As can be seen, in this orientation, stud 88 is seated in the circular portion of key-hole shaped aperture 86. It will be appreciated that stud 88 has a slightly smaller diameter than the circular portion of key-hole shaped aperture 86.

The door can now be opened, as illustrated in Figs. 3c, 3d, 3h, and 3i. The door handle (not shown) is rotated 8 clockwise (Fig. 2), causing hook 54 of actuating member 52 in actuating mechanism 50 to push bolts 20 and 20' out of grooves 27 in door 10 and into grooves 22 in the frame 12 (Fig. 4). Pivoting of actuating member 52 causes rod 56 to slide in a slot 59 in cover plate 63. Rod 52 is coupled to a groove 57 in wing 62 of transfer link 60, thereby causing transfer link 60 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. Rotation of transfer link 60 causes pin 66 to slide in a slot 67 away from the actuating mechanism pulling rod 68 into the door frame as bolt 20 moves into the door frame.

In Figs. 3c, 3d and 3h, 3i, it can be seen that, while this is taking place, stop pin 69 moves away from projecting member 80 which is pulled towards projecting member 82 by spring 84. Stop pin 69 now pushes projecting member 82 out of engagement with shoulder 78, thus releasing reciprocating plate 70 until projecting member 80 engages shoulder 76. In this orientation, the door is open.

When it is desired to lock the door, the door handle is raised, causing actuating member 52 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. As seen in Figs. 3e and 3j, this pushes 56' which, in turn, causes rod 56 to slide in a slot 59 in cover plate 63 away from actuating mechanism 50, causing clockwise rotation of transfer link 60. Clockwise rotation of transfer link 60, in turn, causes rod 68 to slide in slot 67 and extend in the direction of the door, thereby pushing bolt 20' into the locked orientation. At the same time, stop pin 69 releases projecting member 82 and rotates until it pushes projecting member 80 away from shoulder 76, thus releasing reciprocating plate 70. Release of reciprocating plate 70 permits spring 96 (Fig. 6A) to urge rod 92 to pivot in a clockwise direction, which causes reciprocating plate 70 to extend until shoulders 74 are stopped by guide members 75, and the door is once again locked with the safety latch on.

It will be appreciated that any alternative actuating and locking mechanism for moving the bolts 20 partially from the door frame and partially into the door, where the 9 120146/2 actuating mechanism is in the door and the locking mechanism in the door frame, can also be utilized.

According to one embodiment of the invention, shown in Fig. 7, the bolts 20 are spring loaded so as to automatically pull back into grooves 22 in the door frame upon release of the safety latch.

It is a particular feature of the invention that the security door can be formed of any material and designed in any desired fashion, as seen clearly in Figs. 4 and 7. An alternative example is shown in Fig. 8. The door 120 itself is formed of two steel plates 122, as in conventional security doors. However, since the locking mechanism is not inside the door, these plates can be close to one another with the main portions 124 of the door made of wooden panels affixed to the plates, as by screws 126, or in any other method. It is a further particular feature of this embodiment that the screws are hidden from view, so that the door cannot be easily taken apart by burglars.

Referring now to Figs. 10A and 10B, there is shown a schematic illustration of a locking mechanism according to yet another alternative embodiment of the invention in respective locked and unlocked orientations. According to this embodiment, the actuating mechanism includes a plurality of toothed wheels which cause the bolts to engage and disengage the door.

Fig. 10A shows a door 130 according to the invention including a conventional handle 132 and latch 134. Pivoting handle 132 opens latch 134, as known. A locking mechanism including bolts 20' substantially as described hereinabove and selectably engagable with a link 136 is provided.

An actuating mechanism, generally designated 140, is provided inside door 130. Actuating mechanism 140 includes a locking bar 142, an unlocking bar 144, and a transmission system 146 for transferring movement of a key in a keyhole 148 to the locking and unlocking bars 142 and 144. In the 10 120146/2 illustrated embodiment, five toothed wheels are provided. A first toothed wheel 150 is rotated by means of a key (not shown) in key hole 148. First toothed wheel 150 is drivingly coupled to a large diameter toothed wheel 154 to which is affixed a small diameter toothed wheel 156. Drivingly coupled between small diameter toothed wheel 156 and locking and unlocking bars 142 and 144 are two medium diameter toothed wheels 158 and 160.

Operation of this embodiment is as follows. When it is desired to unlock the door, a key is rotated clockwise (in the illustrated embodiment) in keyhole 148. This causes first toothed wheel 150 to rotate in a clockwise fashion. First toothed wheel 150 causes large diameter toothed wheel 154 and affixed small diameter toothed wheel 156 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. This, in turn causes medium toothed wheel 158 to rotate clockwise, causing locking bar 142 to retract into door 130, thereby releasing link 132. At the same time, medium toothed wheel 160 rotates clockwise, causing unlocking bar 144 to extend and push bolt 20' out of engagement with door 130 and back into the door frame, as shown in Fig. 10B. The door can now be opened by turning the handle and opening the latch.

When it is desired to lock the door, the door is closed and the key is inserted into key hole 148. The key is rotated counterclockwise, which causes first toothed wheel 150 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. First toothed wheel 150 causes large diameter toothed wheel 154 and affixed small diameter toothed wheel 156 to rotate in a clockwise direction. This, in turn causes medium toothed wheel 158 to rotate counterclockwise, causing locking bar 142 to extend, causing link 132 to pivot and engage bolt 20' , thereby to push bolt 20' out of the door frame and into engagement with door 130. At the same time, medium toothed wheel 160 rotates counterclockwise, causing unlocking bar 144 to retract into 11 120146/2 door 130, thereby permitting bolt 20' to enter partially into door 130, as shown in Fig. 10A. The door is now locked.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what has been described hereinabove merely by way of example. Rather, the invention is limited solely by the claims which follow. 12 120146/2

Claims (17)

1. CLAIMS A security door comprising: (a) a door frame; (b) a door arranged to close within said frame, said door having a door handle; (c) a locking mechanism mounted in said door frame and including a bolt seated in a groove along the edge of at least one portion of said door frame; and (d) an actuating mechanism including at least one toothed wheel, the actuating mechanism being arranged selectively to actuate said locking mechanism to move said bolt transversely partially out of said groove in said door frame and partially into a groove in one edge of said door, and to actuate said locking mechanism to move said bolt transversely partially out of said groove in one edge of the door and partially into a groove in said door frame, said actuating mechanism being located on said door.

2. The security door of claim 1, wherein said actuating mechanism includes the door handle.

3. The security door of either of claims 1 and 2, and further comprising a safety latch mechanism for locking said actuating mechanism when said locking mechanism is in a locked orientation.

4. The security door of claim 3, wherein said safety latch mechanism is automatically engaged when said locking mechanism is in a locked orientation.

5. The security door of claim 1, wherein said actuating mechanism includes a locking bar arranged for selectable engagement of said bolt, an unlocking bar arranged for 13 120146/3 selectable engagement of said bolt, and a transmission system selectably/alternately coupling said locking bar with said bolt and said unlocking bar with said bolt.

6. The security door of claim 5, wherein said transmission system includes a plurality of toothed wheels mounted in said door.

7. The security door of either of claims 5 and 6, wherein said transmission system includes a first toothed wheel actuable by a key, a second toothed wheel coupled to said locking bar, a third toothed wheel coupled to said unlocking bar, and at least a fourth toothed wheel coupling said first toothed wheel with said second and third toothed wheels.

8. The security door of any of the preceding claims, wherein said door includes: (a) two steel plates coupled to one another; (b) a wooden panel affixed to each steel plate.

9. A method of locking a security door including a door frame defining a groove in which an elongate bar is seated, and a door having a door handle, the door being adapted to close within said frame, the method comprising the steps of operating an actuation mechanism in the door which actuates a locking mechanism in the door frame, wherein said step of actuating includes: selectively rotating at least one toothed wheel to push said bar transversely partially from a groove in at least one portion of the door frame and partially into a complimentary groove defined in the door; and selectively rotating said toothed wheel in the opposite direction to push said bar transversely 14 120146/2 partially out of said groove in one edge of the door and partially into said groove in said door frame.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of operating includes turning the door handle which actuates said locking mechanism.

11. The method of any of claims 9-10, further including the step of engaging a safety latch mechanism to prevent actuation of said actuating mechanism.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of engaging includes automatically engaging said safety latch mechanism when said door is locked.

13. The method of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein said step of actuating includes actuating a toothed wheel transmission in the door.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of actuating includes rotating a first toothed wheel by means of a key, causing said first toothed wheel to rotate at least second and third toothed wheels coupled respectively to a bolt locking bar and a bolt unlocking bar.

15. The safety door of any of claims 1-8 and substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 1 to 10B.

16. The safety door of any of claims 1-8 and substantially as illustrated in any of Figs. 1 to 10B.

17. The method of any of claims 9-14 and substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figs. 1 to 10B. 15 120146/1 The method of any of claims 9-14 and substantially illustrated in any of Figs. 1 to 10B. AGENT FOR APPLICANT 849-96am.doc D-2 16