NZ739386A - An improved lock for sliding doors - Google Patents

Abstract

lock, comprising a housing for mounting on a sliding door; a locking element having a beak portion, the locking element being mounted to a portion of the housing and configured to be moveable between a retracted state and a locking state in which the beak portion is in an extended position for lockingly engaging a corresponding strike plate mounted on a door frame or an adjacent sliding door in use; and a driver moveable within the housing relative to the locking element, the driver being configured to operatively engage and exert a force over a portion of the locking element such that relative movement of the driver along a length of the locking element causes the locking element to move between the retracted and locking states. kingly engaging a corresponding strike plate mounted on a door frame or an adjacent sliding door in use; and a driver moveable within the housing relative to the locking element, the driver being configured to operatively engage and exert a force over a portion of the locking element such that relative movement of the driver along a length of the locking element causes the locking element to move between the retracted and locking states.

Description

An improved lock for sliding doors The entire disclosure of the specification of Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2017900936 as originally filed on 17 March 2017 is incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to an improved lock for sliding doors, and more specifically a hook- type lock assembly for cavity sliding doors.

Conventional hook, or parrot-beak, type locks for locking sliding doors comprise a pivotally-mounted hook for engaging a corresponding strike when the door is closed and when the lock is adjacent the strike opening. The hook typically pivots upwards or downwards to catch an edge of the strike in its locked state and is held in this state by way of a spring arrangement to lock the sliding door along its track.

However, a conventional hook-type lock is prone to security issues as the hook could be easily deflected to disengage the lock. A further problem with this type of conventional lock is its tendency to sustain damage over time as the pivotable hook is often left in its “locked state” when hitting the strike plate, causing prolonged damage to the hook and its locking components and thereby reducing the lock’s ability to reliably catch the strike opening. In addition, pivotable hooks of the conventional locks tend to have a very limited catch on the strike.

The applicant has determined that it would be advantageous to provide a hook-type lock set for sliding doors with security and reliability improvements made to the locking mechanism. The present invention, in its preferred embodiments, seeks to at least in part alleviate the above-identified problems.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lock, comprising a housing for mounting on a sliding door; a locking element having a beak portion, the locking element being mounted to a portion of the housing and configured to be moveable between a retracted state and a locking state in which the beak portion is in an extended position for lockingly engaging a corresponding strike plate mounted on a door frame or an adjacent sliding door in use; and a driver moveable within the housing relative to the locking element, the driver being configured to operatively engage and exert a force over a portion of the locking element such that relative movement of the driver along a length of the locking element causes the locking element to move between the retracted and locking states.

Preferably, the driver is actuated by a rack and pinion arrangement mounted within the housing. Preferably, the rack and pinion arrangement is driven by a lock gear, which is configured to be actuable by the relative rotation of an associated keyed lock or handle in use. Preferably, the driver is located at a distal end of a pinion portion of the rack and pinion arrangement. Preferably, the driver is integrally formed with the pinion portion.

Preferably, the driver is configured to move slideably beneath the length of the locking element so as to push the locking element and the beak portion upwards into the locking state from the retracted state.

Preferably, the driver is configured with a chamfer or a radial edge for engaging the locking element. Alternatively, the driver is in the form of a wheel rollable along the length of the locking element.

Preferably, the lock further comprises a carriage portion mounted to the housing for guiding the locking element, the carriage portion being configured to move slideably with the locking element between the retracted state in which the carriage portion resides substantially within the housing and the locking state in which the carriage portion extends from the housing for guiding the locking element into a corresponding strike chamber mounted on a door frame or an adjacent sliding door in use.

Preferably, the carriage portion is in the form of a tongue configured to fit through a complementarily dimensioned opening of the strike chamber. Preferably, the locking element is mounted within the carriage portion, and wherein the carriage portion is configured with an opening to allow the beak portion to extend out of the carriage portion when in the locking state. Preferably, the locking element is pivotally mounted to the carriage portion.

Preferably, the locking element is biased to the retracted state. Preferably, the locking element is configured with its length portion being longer than the beak portion.

Preferably, the locking element is configured substantially in the shape of ‘L’.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lock in combination with a strike, comprising a lock as described above for mounting on a sliding door and a corresponding strike for mounting on a door frame or an adjacent sliding door, the strike comprising a complementarily configured strike plate and strike chamber for engaging the lock.

Further aspects of the present invention and further embodiments of the aspects described in the preceding paragraphs will become apparent from the following description.

In the description and drawings of the embodiments, same reference numerals are used as have been used in respect of the first embodiment, to denote and refer to corresponding features.

While aspects of the present invention will be described below for use in combination with each other in the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is to be understood by a skilled person that some aspects of the present invention are equally suitable for use as standalone inventions that can be individually incorporated into other locks not described herein.

The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1A is a side sectional view of the lock according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the lock in its retracted state; Figure 1B is a side partial sectional view of the lock of Figure 1A showing the external shell of the carriage portion; Figure 2 is a side sectional view showing the lock in a transient state; Figure 3A is a side sectional view showing the lock in its locking state; Figure 3B is a side partial sectional view of the lock of Figure 3A showing the external shell of the carriage portion; Figure 4 is a perspective exploded view showing the lock of Figure 1A in its retracted state; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lock of Figure 1A and an installation tool; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lock and tool of Figure 5 showing the tool in an inserted position inside the lock; Figure 7 is a perspective exploded view of the lock showing the lock gear, the lock and the installation tool; Figure 8 is a perspective partially assembled view of the lock of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a rendered front perspective view of an assembled lock and a strike according to preferred embodiments of the present invention showing the assembled lock in its locking state; and Figure 10 is a rendered back perspective view of the assembled lock and strike of Figure 4.

Figures 1 to 3 show a lock assembly 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention having mounting plates 100 for mounting to a door, a lock housing 110, a carriage portion 170 mounted in the housing 110 for guiding a locking member 150, a driver 140 for actuating the locking member 150 and a rack and pinion arrangement 130, 146 for actuating the driver 140. Figures 1 to 3 also show a corresponding strike 180 for mounting on a door frame or an adjacent sliding door, the strike 180 having a strike chamber 182 for receiving the carriage portion 170 and two strike plates 184 for engaging the locking member 150 even if the locking member 150 is inverted on installation. This lock configuration advantageously provides greater travel of the locking member 150 in addition to the locking member 150 being positively engaged by the driver 140, thereby resulting in an improved lock that is more secure and reliable. Details of preferred embodiments of the present invention are now described below.

The lock assembly 1 has two opposing mounting plates 100 for mounting to each side of a door (now shown) and the lock housing 110 located between the opposing mounting plates 100. The lock housing 110 is aligned with the mounting plates 100 by way of mounting bosses 102 and further secured by way of suitable fasteners. The position of the mounting plates 100 with respect to the lock housing 110 can be adjusted based on the thickness of the door. The lock housing 110 is assembled from two opposing elongated housing shell portions 112 which house the locking member 150, the carriage portion 170 and the driving mechanism, including the driver 140 and the rack and pinion arrangement 130, 146. The elongated housing portion 112 extends horizontally between the mounting plates 100 and terminates at the distal end with a suitable flange or mounting plate formation 116 for mounting the lock assembly 1 to a door. In one configuration, the keyed lock 120 and the lock gear 125 are mounted directly to the mounting plate 100. The lock 120 is configured to drive the lock gear 125 which is in turn adapted to drive other internal locking components of the lock, including the rack and pinion arrangement 130, 146. The lock gear 125 can be operated by an associated keyed lock 120, 106. The rack and pinion arrangement 130, 146 and hence the lock assembly 1 can also be operated by a door snib 104 and/or door handle associated with the arrangement (as seen in Figure 4).

The lock housing 110 houses the carriage portion 170, which can be in the form of a rectangular tongue and adapted to move slidingly with respect to the elongated housing portions 112. In one embodiment, the carriage portion 170 has a projection in the form of a pin 176 located on each side of an external wall 171 for engaging a complementary track 114 running along one or both of the housing portions 112 for guiding the movement of the carriage portion 170 in and out of the housing portion 112. In one configuration, the carriage portion 170 is biased to a position in which the carriage portion 170 resides substantially within the housing portion 112. The carriage portion 170 is also dimensioned to fit through a complementary shaped strike opening 186 and receivable within the strike chamber 182 in an extended position relative to the housing portion 112.

In one configuration, the locking member 150 comprises an elongated portion 154 and a distal angled portion 152 in the form of a hook or beak for latching onto the strike plate 184. The elongated portion 154 of the locking 150 can have a length that is longer than the angled portion 152 such that it can be said to be configured substantially in the shape of ‘L’. In other embodiments, the elongated portion 154 has a length that is the same or shorter than the angled portion 152. The locking member 150 is mounted to the carriage portion 170 and configured to be pivotably moveable between a retracted state in which the locking member 150 is located substantially within the carriage portion 170, and a locking state in which the angled portion 152 is in an extended position for latching onto the strike plate 184 so as to stop the sliding door from moving away from the strike 180 along its track. The carriage portion 170 is configured with an opening 172 to allow the angled portion 152 to extend out of the carriage portion 170 in the locking state. In another arrangement, the locking member 150 is mounted to the housing portion 112. The locking member 150 is configured to be biased to the retracted state by way of a mounted spring 160. In some configurations, the locking member 150 is not pivotally mounted to the carriage portion 170 or the housing portion 112, but rather mounted so that the locking member 150 engages the strike plate 184 via translational movement of the locking member 150 instead.

The locking member 150 and the carriage portion 170 are actuated by the driver 140, which is in turn actuated by a rack and pinion arrangement 130, 146. The driver 140 is located within the housing portion 112 and slideably movable relative to the locking member 150. The driver 140 is configured to operatively engage and exert a force over a portion of the locking member 150 (i.e. along its length 154) such that relative movement of the driver 140 along the length 154 of the locking member 150 causes the locking member 150 to move between the retracted and locking states. As seen in Figures 1 to 3, the driver 140 moves slideably beneath the length 154 of the locking member 150 in use, so as to push the locking member 150 and its angled portion 152 upwards into the locking state from the retracted state. It should be appreciated that, by moving the driver 140 along and beneath the length 154 of the locking member 150, the locking member 150 becomes positively engaged and its angled portion 152 would not retract from the locking state without further actuation of the driver 140, thereby making the lock embodying the present invention much more secure over the conventional hook-type locks. The driver further comprises a projection 176 adapted to actuate the carriage portion 170 by way of driving a complementary track 178 of the carriage portion 170, whereby both the carriage portion 170 and the locking member 150 are driven into the strike 180 from the housing portion 112 by rectilinear movement of the driver 140. It is to be appreciated that this configuration provides the locking member 150 with greater travel (reach), which improves reliability of the locking engagement between the locking member 150 and the strike plate 184. Additionally, as the locking member 150 resides within the housing portion 112 and shielded by an end 174 of the carriage portion 170 in its normally biased retracted state, any risk of inadvertent damages to the locking member 150 from hitting the strike is mitigated.

In some configurations, the driver 140 indirectly engages and exerts a force over the length 154 of the locking member 150. In other embodiments, the driver 140 is in the form of a wheel rollable along the length 154 of the locking member 150. The driver 140 can be further provided with a chamfer 141 or a radial edge for engaging the locking member 150 so that any damage between the contact portion of the driver 140 and the locking member 150 is reduced. The driver 140 may also be provided with a sloping portion 142 in line with the angle of the chamfer 141.

The driver 140 is actuated by the rack and pinion arrangement 130, 146 mounted within the housing 110. The arrangement comprises a pinion gear 130 operatively engaged with the lock gear 125 and the rack 146. In one embodiment, the driver 140 is integrally formed at the distal end of the rack 146. It is to be understood that any other suitable arrangements can be used to actuate the driver 140.

Figures 4 and 5 show an assembled lock 1 and a strike 180 according to a preferred embodiments of the present invention with the assembled lock 1 shown in its locking state.

It is to be appreciated that the mounting plate 100 can be a mounting plate of any suitable configuration. The assembled lock 1 can be configured such that both sides of the lock is provided with a suitable actuating means to operate the lock assembly 1, for example, one side of the lock can be provided with a door snib 104 or handle to actuate the pinion gear 130 while another side of the lock can be provided with a keyed lock 120, 106 to drive the lock gear 125. It is to be appreciated that the door snib 104 or handle on one side of the lock is associated with the pinion gear 130 such that its action duplicates the action of a key in the keyed lock 120, 106 to enable locking and unlocking of the lock assembly 1.

In one configuration, the lock gear 125 has the ability to free-wheel so that it does not impinge on the rotation of the pinion gear 130 even when the lock 120 is engaged. Due to the free-wheeling property of the lock gear 125, the lock 120, lock gear 125 and the pinion drive arrangement (130, 146, 140) (together, the "locking mechanism") must be synchronised on installation of the lock assembly 1. Synchronisation of the locking mechanism can be achieved during installation of the mounting plates 100 to a door by moving the driver 140 and its associated rack and pinion 130, 146 to its retracted state while holding the lock gear 125 to the lock 120 in its locked position. In one embodiment, a tool 200 in the form of an elongated tab as illustrated in Figures 5 to 8 can be inserted through both the lock 120 and a recess 127 of the lock gear 125, thereby locking relative movement of the lock 120 and lock gear 125 together during installation. In one configuration, the tool 200 comprises an elongated portion 210 and a handle 220 at a proximal end of the elongated portion 210. The elongated portion 210 may be provided with a curved configuration which enables the tool 200 to be retained within the lock 120 and the recess 127 by way of friction engagement.

In use, a user activates the lock by moving the door with the lock assembly 1 adjacent the door frame or the adjacent door with the corresponding strike 180 and turning the keyed lock 120, which engages and rotationally actuates the lock gear 125. Rotational movement of the lock gear 125 turns the pinion gear 130, which is configured to move the rack 146 so that the driver 140: (1) moves along the length 154 of the locking member 150 while pushing the locking member 150 upwards, and (2) moves the carriage portion 170 outwards from the housing portion 112 so that both the locking member 150 and the carriage portion 170 are in their extended, locking states. Alternatively, the user could operate the snib 104 or handle which is directly associated with the pinion gear 130 to operate the lock assembly 1. The user would disengage the lock or unlock the door by performing the reverse action, which would result in the driver 140 reversing its course and the locking member 150 and the carriage portion 170 returning to its biased retracted state.

Although the lock assembly 1 and the corresponding strike 180 have been described to be applicable for use with a sliding door, it is to be understood that they will be equally suitable for use with sliding windows.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims (6)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A lock, comprising: a housing for mounting on a sliding door; 5 a locking element having a beak portion, the locking element being mounted to a portion of the housing and configured to be moveable between a retracted state and a locking state in which the beak portion is in an extended position for lockingly engaging a corresponding strike plate mounted on a door frame or an adjacent sliding door in use; and a driver moveable within the housing relative to the locking element, the driver 10 being configured to operatively engage and exert a force over a portion of the locking element such that relative movement of the driver along a length of the locking element causes the locking element to move between the retracted and locking states.

2. A lock according to claim 1, wherein the driver is actuated by a rack and pinion 15 arrangement mounted within the housing.

3. A lock according to claim 2, wherein the rack and pinion arrangement is driven by a lock gear, which is configured to be actuable by the relative rotation of an associated keyed lock or handle in use.

4. A lock according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the driver is located at a distal end of a pinion portion of the rack and pinion arrangement.

5. A lock according to claim 4, wherein the driver is integrally formed with the pinion 25 portion.

6. A lock according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver is configured to move slideably beneath the length of the locking element so as to push the locking element and the beak portion upwards into the locking state from the retracted 30 state. H:\azh\Interwoven\NRPortbl\DCC\AZH\16330106_1.docx-24/