WO2006111762A2

WO2006111762A2 - A lock assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2006111762A2
Application number: PCT/GB2006/001460
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliver Ashbee
Original assignee: The Entryphone Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-04-22
Filing date: 2006-04-21
Publication date: 2006-10-26
Also published as: GB0722115D0; GB2440477A; WO2006111762A3; GB2440477B; GB0508109D0

Abstract

The present invention provides a lock assembly comprising a lock housing provided with a lock tongue movable between a retaining position wherein the tongue is retained within the housing to a locking position wherein the distal end of the lock tongue protrudes from the housing, the assembly further comprising a lock keep comprising means to lockingly engage the lock tongue when the lock tongue is in the locking position, magnetic means being movably mounted in the lock keep and operative to draw the lock tongue, using magnetic attraction, from the retaining position to the locking position when the lock housing and the lock keep are aligned, the magnetic means being moveable, in use, to a release position wherein the plane of contact between the magnetic means and the distal end of the lock tongue is at least flush with the lock keep.

Description

A LOCK ASSEMBLY

The present invention relates to a lock assembly and particularly but not exclusively relates to a lock assembly for use with a closure assembly of a building.

It is well known to provide a lock assembly comprising a lock housing mounted on a closure such as a door or the like, the lock housing containing a movable lock tongue. Such a lock assembly also comprises a lock keep mounted on the door frame, the lock keep being provided with a recess to receive the lock tongue to lock the door within the frame.

It has been proposed to provide a magnet in the lock keep to automatically draw the lock tongue into the lock keep when the door is aligned with the frame. Such a lock assembly is thus a form of latch which automatically latches the door against the frame when the door is shut. However it can be difficult to then release the lock tongue from the lock keep of such prior lock assemblies

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a lock assembly comprising a lock housing provided with a lock tongue movable between a retaining position wherein the tongue is retained within the housing to a locking position wherein the distal end of the lock tongue protrudes from the housing, the assembly further comprising a lock keep comprising means to lockingly engage the lock tongue when the lock tongue is in the locking position, magnetic means being movably mounted in the lock keep and operative to draw the lock tongue, using magnetic attraction, from the retaining position to the locking position when the lock housing and the lock keep are aligned, the magnetic means being moveable, in use, to a release position wherein the plane of contact between the magnetic means and the distal end of the lock tongue is at least flush with the lock keep.

This enables the distal end of the lock tongue to be slid apart from the magnetic means as the closure is opened. This sliding movement facilitates separation of the lock tongue and the magnetic means.

Preferably the magnetic means is biased away from the release position.

Preferably the magnetic means is biased away using a spring between the magnetic means and the lock keep.

Preferably the magnetic means comprises at least one permanent magnet. Alternatively the magnetic means comprises at least one electromagnet.

Preferably the magnetic means is slidably mounted in the lock keep.

Preferably the magnetic means extends transversely across the lock keep, each end of the magnetic means being received in a respective guide slot.

Preferably the lock assembly comprises a mortise lock assembly.

Preferably the lock housing comprises a handle on one side of the housing, and a key operated lock on the other side of the housing, the handle and the key operated lock each being operative to drive the lock tongue from the locking position to the retaining position.

In one embodiment the lock assembly comprises activation means operative to drive the lock tongue without requiring a user to manually use the handle or key operated lock. Preferably the activation means comprises a motor. Alternatively the activation means comprises a solenoid. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a lock keep comprising means to lockingly engage a lock tongue from a lock housing, magnetic means being movably mounted in the lock keep and operative to draw the lock tongue, using magnetic attraction, into the lock keep when the lock tongue and the lock keep are aligned, the magnetic means being moveable, in use, to a release position wherein the plane of contact between the magnetic means and the distal end of the lock tongue is at least flush with the lock keep.

Preferably the magnetic means is biased away from the release position.

Preferably the magnetic means comprises a permanent magnet. Alternatively the magnetic means comprises an electromagnet.

Preferably the magnetic means is slidably mounted in the lock keep.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a closure and closure frame comprising a lock assembly according to the first aspect of the invention, the lock housing being mounted on one of the closure and closure frame, the lock keep being mounted on the other of the closure and closure frame.

Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein. The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lock assembly in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of the lock assembly of Figure 1 in a first condition with parts of the assembly shown in phantom; and

Figure 3 is view corresponding to Figure 2 but showing the lock assembly in a second condition with parts of the assembly shown in phantom.

Referring to the Figures, a lock assembly 1 comprises a lock housing 3 and a lock keep 5.

The lock housing 3 comprises a mortise type housing for mounting in a slot formed in a door or the like (not shown) . However the housing 3 could alternatively comprise a housing adapted for mounting externally of the door.

The lock housing 3 comprises an oblong body 6 secured to a rectangular face plate 7 provided with a rectangular aperture 9 through which the distal end 10 of an oblong lock tongue 11 can protrude. The remainder of the lock tongue 11 is contained within the body 7 and is connected to a lock mechanism as is well known. The face plate 7 is mounted on the door so as to be flush with the surface of the door.

The lock tongue 11 is retained by a spring mechanism (not shown) as is well known. The spring biases the lock tongue 11 to a retaining position as shown in Figures 1 and 3 wherein the lock tongue 11 does not protrude from the face plate 7. The distal end 10 of the lock tongue 11 can be moved to a locking position wherein the distal end 10 of the lock tongue 11 protrudes from the face plate 7.

The lock keep 5 comprises a hollow body 15 secured to a rectangular face plate 17. The lock keep 5 is formed with an internal recess 18 the entrance to which comprises a rectangular aperture (not shown) formed in the face plate 17. The body 15 of the lock keep 5 is a mortise type keep adapted to be mounted in a slot formed in the door frame (not shown) with the face plate 17 flush with the outer margin of the door frame. The lock keep 5 could alternatively be of a type adapted to be mounted externally of the door frame.

The sides of the body 15 of the lock keep 5 are each formed with a rectangular slot 19 which together function as guide means for magnetic means comprising a magnet 21 which extends transversely across the body 15 of the lock keep 5, each end of the magnet 21 being received within a respective slot 19.

Each slot 19 is of greater length than the length of the magnet 21 so that the magnet 21 can slide for and aft within the slots 19, namely towards and away from the face plate 17 of the lock keep 5. The magnet 21 is biased away from the face plate 17 using resilient means which may comprise, for example, a coil spring 24 extending between the magnet 21 and a rear portion of the body 15.

The magnet 21 comprises an engaging portion 22 which fits within the aperture formed in the face plate 17 when the magnet 21 is in the forward-most position, namely when the magnet 21 is at the right hand end of the slots 19 as shown in Figure 2. When in the forward-most position the portion 22 of the magnet 21 is flush with the face plate 17 of the lock keep 5.

The lock assembly 1 is provided with release means comprising a handle (not shown) on one side of the lock housing 3 which is operative to drive the lock tongue 7 between the locking and retaining positions. The release means further comprises a key which can be inserted into a key hole (not shown) formed on the other side of the lock housing 3 to drive the lock tongue 11 from the other side of the housing 3. It is envisaged that the handle would be provided on the inside of the door, and the key hole on the outside of the door.

When the lock tongue 11 is in the retaining position, the door (and lock housing 3) can be aligned with the door frame (and lock keep 5) as shown in Figure 1. When so aligned the face plate 7 of the lock housing 3 is parallel with, and spaced a small distance apart from, the face plate 17 of the lock keep 5. The distal end 10 of the lock tongue 11 is aligned with the recess 18 of the door keep 5 and is therefore also aligned with the magnet 21 , and in particular is aligned with the engaging portion 22 of the magnet 21.

When so aligned the magnet 21 attracts the lock tongue 11 towards it causing the lock tongue 11 to move from the retaining position shown in Figure 3 to the locking position wherein the distal end 10 of the lock tongue 7 is contained in the recess 18 of the lock keep 5. The magnet 21 itself is spring biased towards the rear of the lock keep 5 and this can further draw the lock tongue 11 into the recess 18. When the lock tongue 11 is in the locking position, the lock tongue 11 engages the walls of the recess 18 of the lock keep 5 and thus resists attempts to open the door. The distal end 10 of the lock tongue is then in contact with the engaging portion 22 of the magnet 21. By turning the handle or the key the lock tongue 11 moves from the locking position to the retaining position wherein the distal end of the lock tongue 11 is flush with the exterior surface of the face plate 7 of the lock housing 3. The magnet 21 is attached to the distal end 10 of the lock tongue 11 by magnetic attraction and so moves with the lock tongue 11 as the lock tongue 11 moves to the retaining position. The magnet 21 moves with the lock tongue 11 until the plane of contact 25 between the magnet 21 and the lock tongue 11 is at least flush with the exterior of the face plate 17 of the lock keep 5. When so aligned the door can be opened, releasing the contact between the lock tongue 11 and the magnet 21 by sliding the lock tongue 11 from the engaging portion 22 of the magnet 21, namely in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the lock tongue 11

It is envisaged that activation means could be provided to move the lock tongue 11 automatically on receipt of a suitable activation signal from a user operated transmitter or key pad or the like. The activation means could comprise an electric motor such as a stepping motor, or a solenoid.

The magnet 21 could be a permanent magnet or an electro magnet 21. The lock tongue 11 could be formed of any suitable ferrous material or combination of materials that is suitably attracted to the magnet 21 , or there could be provided a ferrous material attachment secured to the lock tongue 11. The lock tongue 11 could alternatively comprise a magnetic material.

The lock assembly 1 above can be used in any suitable application including for any desired type of closure assembly including, for example a building door or window assembly.

Claims

1. A lock assembly comprising a lock housing provided with a lock tongue movable between a retaining position wherein the tongue is retained within the housing to a locking position wherein the distal end of the lock tongue protrudes from the housing, the assembly further comprising a lock keep comprising means to lockingly engage the lock tongue when the lock tongue is in the locking position, magnetic means being movably mounted in the lock keep and operative to draw the lock tongue, using magnetic attraction, from the retaining position to the locking position when the lock housing and the lock keep are aligned, the magnetic means being moveable, in use, to a release position wherein the plane of contact between the magnetic means and the distal end of the lock tongue is at least flush with the lock keep.

2. The lock assembly of claim 1 wherein the magnetic means is biased away from the release position.

3. The lock assembly of claim 2 wherein the magnetic means is biased away using a spring between the magnetic means and the lock keep.

4. The lock assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the magnetic means comprises at least one permanent magnet.

5. The lock assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the magnetic means comprises at least one electromagnet.

6. The lock assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the magnetic means is slidably mounted in the lock keep.

7. The lock assembly of claim 6 wherein the magnetic means extends transversely across the lock keep, each end of the magnetic means being received in a respective guide slot.

8. The lock assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the lock assembly comprises a mortise lock assembly.

9. The lock assembly of any one of the preceding claims wherein the lock housing comprises a handle on one side of the housing, and a key operated lock on the other side of the housing, the handle and the key operated lock each being operative to drive the lock tongue from the locking position to the retaining position.

10. The lock assembly of claim 9 comprising activation means operative to drive the lock tongue without requiring a user to manually use the handle or key operated lock.

11. The lock assembly of claim 10 wherein the activation means comprises a motor.

12. The lock assembly of claim 10 wherein the activation means comprises a solenoid.

13. A lock keep comprising means to lockingly engage a lock tongue from a lock housing, magnetic means being movably mounted in the lock keep and operative to draw the lock tongue, using magnetic attraction, into the lock keep when the lock tongue and the lock keep are aligned, the magnetic means being moveable, in use, to a release position wherein the plane of contact between the magnetic means and the distal end of the lock tongue is at least flush with the lock keep.

14. The lock keep of claim 13 wherein the magnetic means is biased away from the release position.

15. The lock keep of claim 14 wherein the magnetic means is biased away using a spring between the magnetic means and the lock keep.

16. The lock keep of any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the magnetic means comprises a permanent magnet.

17. The lock keep of any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein the magnetic means comprises an electromagnet.

18. The lock keep of any one of claims 13 to 17 wherein the magnetic means is slidably mounted in the lock keep.

19. The lock keep of any one of claims 13 to 18 wherein the magnetic means extends transversely across the lock keep, each end of the magnetic means being received in a respective guide slot.

20. A closure and closure frame comprising a lock assembly according to claims 1 to 13, the lock housing being mounted on one of the closure and closure frame, the lock keep being mounted on the other of the closure and closure frame.

21. A lock assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A lock keep substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A closure assembly substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.