NZ760156A - A strike for a door lock bolt and a kit for installation on a door jamb - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a strike for a door lock bolt and a kit for installation on a door jamb.

Description

A STRIKE FOR A DOOR LOCK BOLT AND A KIT FOR INSTALLATION ON A DOOR JAMB Technical field The disclosure herein generally relates to a strike for a door lock bolt and a kit for installation on a door jamb, and particularly but not exclusively to a strike for a sliding door lock.

Background A door lock mounted on a door may have a bolt receivable by a door lock strike mounted on a door jamb. Due to installation error, wear and/or deformation, the door lock may be laterally offset with the door lock strike. In this case, when the door is closed, the bolt may not enter the door lock strike, but rather impact the body of the strike. This may cause damage and may make it difficult or impossible to lock the door. This problem may be present for a door lock and door lock strike for a hinged door or a sliding door.

It may be desirable to reduce the effects of installation error, wear and/or deformation on the function of door locks, particularly but not exclusively sliding door locks.

Summary A first aspect of the present invention provides a strike for a door lock bolt, the strike defining a cavity that widens at an opening thereof for guiding the door lock bolt therein.

In an embodiment, the strike comprises a plurality of laterally opposite lock bolt guiding walls that define at least in part the cavity that widens at the opening thereof.

An embodiment comprises a latch member movably mounted and movable to a door lock bolt latching position for latching the sliding door lock bolt.

An embodiment comprises a transversely mounted locking pin disposed in the cavity.

An embodiment comprises a flap on one side of the opening and another flap on another side of the opening. The flap and the other flap may at least in part define a narrowing passage.

An embodiment comprises a longitudinally orientated first wall and a longitudinally oriented second wall that are spaced apart to at least in part define the cavity. The longitudinally orientated first wall may comprise the flap and the longitudinally orientated second wall may comprise the other flap.

In an embodiment, the longitudinally orientated first wall and the longitudinally orientated second wall each define a notch.

An embodiment comprises a front wall configured to be attached to a door jamb and a plurality of packers for inserting between the front wall and the door jamb when so attached.

In an embodiment, the plurality of packers comprises a first packer and a second packer, wherein the first packer and second packer are differently configured for being disposed on opposite sides of the cavity. The first packer may be smaller than the second packer.

In an embodiment, at least one of the plurality of packers comprises at least one thread for at least one fastener.

An embodiment comprises a cover plate attachable to the at least one of the plurality of packers using the at least one thread and the at least one fastener.

In an embodiment, at least one of the plurality of packers comprises location means. The location means comprises at least one protuberance.

In an embodiment, at least one of the plurality of packers comprise relief portions.

In an embedment, the strike is for a sliding-door lock bolt. Alternatively, the strike is for a hinged-door lock bolt.

A second aspect of the invention provides a kit for installation on a door jamb, wherein the kit comprises a strike in accordance with the above disclosure.

A third aspect of the invention provides a plurality of packers for inserting between a front wall of a strike in accordance with the above disclosure.

An embodiment comprises a first packer and a second packer, wherein the first packer and second are differently configured for being disposed on opposite sides of the cavity. The first packer may be smaller than the second packer.

Any of the various features of each of the above disclosures, and of the various features of the embodiments described below, can be combined as suitable and desired.

Brief description of the figures Embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 includes a side elevational view of an embodiment of a strike for a sliding door lock, examples of optional cover plates, and orthogonal x-y-z axes.

Figure 2 includes a perspective view corresponding to figure 1.

Figure 3 includes a front elevational view corresponding to figure 1.

Figure 4 includes an exploded perspective view corresponding to figure 1, with a portion of a casing of the strike cut away.

Figure 5 includes a perspective view of the strike of figure 1 mounted within a door jamb with the optional cover plates attached.

Figure 6 includes a front elevational view corresponding to figure 5.

Figure 7 includes a perspective view corresponding to figure 5, with a portion of the door jamb cut away.

Figure 8 includes a perspective view of the strike of figure 1 mounted within a door jamb, with a portion of the door jamb cut away, the example optional cover plates, and an example of the sliding door lock.

Figure 9 includes a side elevational view corresponding to figure 8.

Figure 10 includes a rear perspective view of the strike of figure 1, and examples of two optional packing plates.

Figure 11 includes an exploded perspective view of the strike of figure 1, an example of two optional packing plates, and example optional cover plates.

Figure 12 includes a perspective view corresponding to figure 11.

Figure 13 includes a perspective view of the strike of figure 1 within a door jamb, with a portion of the door jamb cut away, the two optional packing plates of figure 11, and the example optional cover plates.

Figure 14 includes an exploded perspective view of the strike of Figure 1, another example of two optional packing plates, and the example optional cover plates.

Figure 15 includes a partially exploded view corresponding to figure 14.

Figure 16 includes a perspective view corresponding to Figure 14.

Figure 17 includes a perspective view of the strike and the other two optional packing plates of figure 14 mounted within a door jamb, with a portion of the door jamb cut away, and the example optional cover plates.

Figure 18 includes a rear perspective view of the other two optional packing plates of figure 14.

Figure 19 includes an exploded perspective view of the strike of Figure 1, the two optional packing plates of figure 11, the two optional packing plates of figure 14, and the example optional cover plates.

Figure 20 is a partially exploded view of the strike corresponding to figure 19.

Figure 21 includes a perspective view corresponding to figure 19.

Figure 22 includes a perspective view of the strike of Figure 1, the two optional packing plates of figure 11, and the two optional packing plates of figure 21 mounted within a door jamb, with a portion of the door jamb cut away, and the example optional cover plates.

Figure 23 includes an exploded perspective view of the strike of figure 1 with packing plates, cover plates, and strike attachment fasteners.

Figures 24-26 respectively include a perspective view, an exploded perspective view and a front elevational view of another embodiment of a strike for a hinged-door lock bolt.

Description of embodiments Figures 1 – 4 include various views of an embodiment of a strike for a door lock bolt in the form of a sliding door lock bolt, the strike being generally indicated by the numeral 10. The strike defines a cavity 18. The cavity 18 widens at of opening 20 thereof (“flared cavity”) for guiding the sliding door lock bolt therein. The strike 10 comprises a movably mounted latch member 22 for latching the sliding door lock bolt. An alternative embodiment may not comprise the latch member. An alternative embodiment may be configured to receive or comprise, for example, an alternative keeper in the form of a bar or lip, for example, for the sliding door lock bolt to engage.

The strike 10 defines a longitudinal axis 12 parallel to a z-axis shown in figure 1. The strike 10 comprises a longitudinally orientated first wall 14 and a longitudinally orientated second wall 16 (“side walls”), that are laterally opposite and which act as guiding walls. The first wall 14 and the second wall 16 are spaced apart to at least in part define the cavity 18. The strike 10 comprises a casing 62. The casing 62 comprises the first wall 14 and second wall 16, and a front wall 64 presenting a front face 66 of the strike 10. The front wall 64 comprises internal threads 72,74 (figure 3) for engaging fasteners 76,78 in the form of screws, best seen in figure 5. The fasteners are for attaching the strike 10 to a door jamb.

The first wall 14 comprises a flap 24 in the form of a turned out or out-of-plane flap, and the second wall 16 comprises another flap 26 in the form of another turned out or out-of-plane flap.

The flaps 24,26 are integrally joined with the first and second walls 14,16, however they may alternatively be separate parts that are attached to the side walls 14,16 for example. The separation of distal edges 28,30 of the out-of-plane flaps 24,26 is greater than that of proximal portions of the out-of-plane flaps 24,26 – that is the cavity 18 narrows inwardly. The first wall 14 and the second wall 16 comprise metal in the form of a spring steel. In this embodiment, the spring steel is 65MN steel, however generally any suitable form of metal, glass reinforced polymer, other suitable material, or a combination of these may be used as suitable and desired.

The casing is die cut and pressed, however it may be alternatively cast, moulded, machined or generally formed in any suitable way. The flaps 24,26 have been outwardly bent, which results in creases or joints 32 in the first wall 14 and the second wall 16. When so outwardly bent, the flaps 24,26 are no longer in a plane defined by a major wall portion 34 (and so “out-of-plane”).

In an alternative embodiment, the side walls 14 and 16 may be alternatively or additionally tapered. For example, the casing 62 may be die cast and the side walls formed tapered during the die cast process.

The latch member 22 is longitudinally orientated and is in the form of a elongated bar comprising a ramped end 25. The latch member 22 is biased into the cavity 18 to a door lock bolt latching position by at least one of gravity and a biasing element in the form of a resilient biasing member, a magnetic biasing member, an electro-mechanical biasing member or generally any suitable form of biasing. The latch member is in the present embodiment slidably mounted for sliding parallel to the z-axis, into and out of the cavity 18. When the door lock bolt enters the cavity 18, the ramped end 25 of the latch member 22 is moved by the door lock bolt out of the path of the door lock bolt to ride over the door lock bolt. The latch member 22 is disposed within a latch housing 23, which is disposed in the casing 62. The latch housing 23 comprises plan bearing that receive the latch member 22. Disposed in the latch housing 23 is a latch biasing member in the form of a compression spring, which is operably coupled to the latch member 22 for biasing the latch member into the cavity 18. The latch housing 23 is attached to the casing 62 by fasteners in the form of rivets. The latch member 22 is slidably mounted within the latch housing. In an alternative embodiment, the latch member is pivotably mounted and is pivoted out of the path of the door lock bolt by the door lock bolt when the door lock bolt enters the cavity 18.

Shown in figures 1 to 4, for example, are optional cover plates 36,38, which in use are disposed in an opening cut into the door jamb 40. The door jamb 40 shown in figures 5-7, for example, comprises an aluminium extrusion defining an interior cavity 42 in which the strike 10 is disposed, however it may be a wooden jamb with a mortice cut into it, or generally any suitable type of jamb.

As best seen with reference to figures 8 and 9, a sliding door lock 44, which in use is mounted to a sliding door and operationally coupled to a lock cylinder 46 operable using a key 50, comprises an example sliding door lock bolt 48 in the form of a rotatably mounted hook bolt (“hooked swing bolt”). The distal end 52 of the sliding door lock bolt 52 is convex, which may better allow the latch member 22 to ride over the distal end 52 and be received within a cavity 53 defined by the sliding door lock bolt 52.

The strike 10 comprises a mounting bracket 54 located at the same side as the opening 20. The mounting bracket 54 comprises an internal thread 58 (figure 2) for engaging a fastener 56 (figure 23, for example) that may penetrate the door jamb 40 and so provide attachment, which may be additional to attachment using internal threads 72,74 (figure 3) of the front wall 64. The strike 10 comprises another mounting bracket 60 located at the same side of the opening 20, which has the same configuration as the mounting bracket 54 in this but not necessarily in all embodiments.

The opening 20 and casing 62 of the strike 10 are intermediate the mounting bracket 54 and the other mounting bracket 20. The mounting bracket 54 and the other mounting bracket 60 each comprise angle 68 removably attached to the casing 62 with at least one fastener 70 in the form of at least one screw, and so providing a flange with a front face flush with the front face 66 of the front wall 64. The mounting brackets 54,60 may be removed when, for example, the strike is disposed in a mortice formed in a wooden door by removing fastener 70, for example. In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the mounting bracket 54 and the other mounting bracket 60 is integral with the casing 62.

The door jamb 40 may be optionally countersunk for seating screws 76,78 flush with the surface of the door jamb 40. The door jamb 40 may also be optionally countersunk for seating screws that engage the mounting brackets 54,60. The countersinking may weaken the door jamb at the point of attachment, however this may be at least in part compensated by having additional attachment provided by the mounting brackets 54,60.

When the strike 10 is installed within an extruded door jamb 40, the front wall 64 can abut an interior surface thereof. The relative position of the latch member 22 and the lock bolt 48, when the sliding door to which the lock 44 is mounted is closed against the door jamb 40, can be changed by inserting optional packers 80,82,84,86 between the interior surface of the extruded door jamb 40 and the front wall 64 of the stike10, for example in figures 10-16. This can be helpful when, for example, the thickness of the extruded door jamb 40 is insufficient.

Figure 10 shows a rear perspective view of the strike 10 and the packers 80, 82. A rear face 81,83 of each packer 80,82 comprises a protuberance 71,73 in the form of a raised boss, which in use are received in location apertures 85,87. This may make assembly easier. In figures 10-13, packers 80,82 are each in the form of a plate, and comprises through holes for passage of door jamb attachment fasteners 76,78 and, optionally, cover plates fasteners 88. Cover plate fasteners 88 have a length such that in use they do not pass through the front wall 64. Around the apertures 77,79 for fasteners 76,78 and around the apertures 89, 91 for fasteners 88 are internal threads for engagement with the fasteners 76,78,88. The packers 80,82 comprise a first packer 82 and a second packer 80, wherein the first packer 82 and second pack 80 are differently configured for being disposed on opposite sides of the cavity 18. The first packer 82 is smaller than the second packer 80. The first packer 82 and the second packer 80 are not integral. Integral first and second packers may require a web connecting the first and second packer, which may cover the flared flaps 24,26 and interfere with their operation.

In Figures 14-17, packers 84, 86 are each in the form of a plate comprising relief portions 98 (as in portions that stand out from the surface) such that the packers 84,86 are thicker than packers 80,82. Plates were pressed to create the relief, however the configuration or a functionally equivalent configuration may be created generally any suitable way, for example by attachment of shims. The packers 84,86 comprise through holes for passage of door jamb attachment fasteners 76,78. Figure 18 shows a rear view of packers 84,86, revealing protuberances in the form of bosses 93,95 defining an aperture therein and location means 103 in the form of a boss which in use is located in strike aperture 102 or packer aperture 106. The bosses 93,95 comprise internal threads for engaging the cover plate fasteners 88 disposed in packer through holes. That is, the cover plates 36,38 can be attached to the packer 84,86 with fasteners 88, in preference to the strike 10. The packers 84,86 may be attached to casing 62 with packer fasteners 94. The cover plate fasteners 88 have a length such that in use they do not penetrate the strike 10. Only a single fastener 94 may be used to attach packer 84 in view of interference with strike internals.

The boss 102 when received in strike aperture 104 prevents revolution of the packer 84 around fastener 94. Packer 86 may comprise at least one arm 90, in this embodiment two arms 90, that is received within at least one side wall notch 92, which may stop rotation of the packer 86.

Figures 19-22 show the packers 84,86 and the packers 80,82 inserted between the interior surface of the extruded door jamb 40 and the front wall 64. Packer 82 defines corner notches 100 for clearance of arms 90. Fasteners 88 are configured to, in use, engage internal threads of packer 84,86 but do not penetrated the strike 10.

Embodiments of a strike may be for a hinged door lock bolt (that is a lock bolt for a door that is hung on at least one hinge) or generally any form of suitable door lock. Examples of such lock bolts include pivotably mounted lock bolts (“swing bolts”). Figures 24-26 respectively include a perspective view, an exploded perspective view and a front elevational view of another embodiment of a strike 110 for a hinged door lock bolt, where parts similar or identical in form and/or function to those in preceding figures are similarly numbered. The strike 110 defines a cavity 18. The cavity 18 widens at of opening 20 thereof for guiding a pivotably mounted lock bolt bolt therein, for example in the case of installation error, wear and/or deformation. The strike 110 does not have a retractable latch member, but alternative embodiments may. The strike 110 has a keeper in the form of a transversely mounted locking pin 112 disposed in the cavity 18. In use, a pivotably mounted lock bolt having a hooked end is swung into the cavity 18 and into hooked engagement with the transversely mounted locking pin 112. The pivotably mounted lock bolt need not have a hooked end, and another embodiment of the strike for a hookless lock bolt does have the locking pin 112, although other embodiments may.

An embodiment of a kit for installation on a door jamb is now described. The kit comprises a strike 10,110. Optionally, the kit may optimally comprise at least one cover plate 26, 38.

Optionally, the kit may optimally comprise a plurality of packers 80,82,84,86. Optionally, the kit may optimally comprise a plurality of fasteners 88,76,78,94.

Now that embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated that some embodiments may have some of the following advantages: • Misalignment between the strike and the door lock bolt may be managed by the widening cavity opening, which may guide the door lock bolt into the cavity.

• Packers may be used to adjust the distance of the latch member from the edge of the door jam to compensate for different extrusion wall thickness or door lock bolt lengths.

Variations and/or modifications may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention. For example, the fasteners may take any suitable form, including screws, bolts, rivets, and clips. Alternatively or additionally, adhesive may be used.

The widening of the cavity may be alternatively achieved, for example by having longitudinally orientated walls of tapering thickness for example, or generally any suitable way. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Reference to a feature disclosed herein does not mean that all embodiments must include the feature.

Prior art, if any, described herein is not to be taken as an admission that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises" or “comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, that is to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Claims (20)

Claims 1.

1. A strike for a door lock bolt, the strike defining a cavity that widens at an opening thereof for guiding the door lock bolt therein.

2. A strike for a door lock bolt defined by claim 1, wherein the strike comprises a plurality 5 of laterally opposite lock bolt guiding walls that define at least in part the cavity that widens at the opening thereof.

3. A strike defined by either one of claim 1 and claim 2 comprising a latch member movably mounted and movable to a door lock bolt latching position for latching the door lock bolt. 10

4. A strike defined by claim 1 comprising a transversely mounted locking pin disposed in the cavity.

5. A strike defined by any one of the claims 2, 3 and 4 comprising a flap on one side of the opening and another flap on another side of the opening.

6. A strike defined by claim 5 wherein the flap and the other flap at least in plart define a 15 narrowing passage.

7. A strike defined by any one of the preceding claims comprising a longitudinally orientated first wall and a longitudinally oriented second wall that are spaced apart to at least in part define the cavity.

8. A strike defined by either one of claim 5 and claim 6 comprising a longitudinally 20 orientated first wall comprising the flap and a longitudinally orientated second wall comprising the other flap.

9. A strike defined by any one of the preceding claims comprising a front wall configured to be attached to a door jamb and a plurality of packers for inserting between the front wall and the door jamb when so attached. 25

10. A strike defined by claim 9 wherein the plurality of packers comprises a first packer and a second packer, wherein the first packer and second packer are differently configured for being disposed on opposite sides of the cavity.

11. A strike defined by claim 10 wherein the first packer is smaller than the second packer.

12. A strike defined by any one of the claims 9 to 11 wherein at least one of the plurality of packers comprises at least one thread for at least one fastener.

13. A strike defined by claim 12 comprising a cover plate attachable to the at least one of the plurality of packers using the at least one thread and the at least one fastener. 5

14. A strike defined by any one of the claims 9 to 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of packers comprises location means.

15. A strike defined by claim 14 wherein the location means comprise at least protuberance.

16. A strike defined by any one of the claims 9 to 15 wherein at least one of the plurality of packers comprise relief portions. 10

17. A kit for installation on a door jamb, the kit comprising: a strike defined by any one of the preceding claims.

18. A plurality of packers for inserting between a front wall of a strike defined by any one of the claims 1 to 16 and a door jamb.

19. A plurality of packers defined by claim 18 comprising a first packer and a second packer, 15 wherein the first packer and second are differently configured for being disposed on opposite sides of the cavity.

20. A plurality of packers defined by either one of the claims and 19 wherein at least one of the plurality of packers comprises location means.