WO2007089135A1

WO2007089135A1 - Lock device with safety actuating grip and safety actuating grip

Info

Publication number: WO2007089135A1
Application number: PCT/NL2007/000018
Authority: WO
Inventors: Koen Maria Dyonisius Van Laerhoven
Original assignee: Van Laerhoven, Bart
Priority date: 2006-02-02
Filing date: 2007-01-22
Publication date: 2007-08-09
Also published as: EP1979562A1; NL1031055C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a lock device comprising a locking element such as a bolt and actuating means for causing movement of the locking element, these locking means comprising a drive element coupled to the locking element and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a first handgrip mounted rotatably about the longitudinal axis relative to the drive element, and coupling means engaging on the drive element on one side and on the handgrip on the other, wherein the coupling means engaging on the handgrip comprises an actuating member guided movably in the direction of the longitudinal axis, further comprising arresting means for fixing the handgrip in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The invention also relates to a handgrip and drive element for a lock device, wherein the drive element defines a longitudinal axis, the handgrip can be mounted rotatably about the longitudinal axis, and coupling means are arranged engaging on the drive element on one side and on the handgrip on the other, wherein the coupling means engaging on the handgrip comprises an actuating member guided movably in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and further comprising arresting means for fixing the handgrip relative to the drive element in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

Description

LOCK DEVICE WITH SAFETY ACTUATING GRIP AND SAFETY ACTUATING GRIP

The invention relates to a lock device of the type as described in claim 1.

Such a lock device is known from the German Gebrauchsmuster DE-203 05 870. Such actuating means are applied in a lock device of the present type in those cases where it is undesirable for children to be able to open the doors, windows and the like provided with such a lock device because a risk zone is for instance situated behind them, for instance stairs down which the child could fall.

It is also known that some pets, such as dogs or cats, can open doors and windows provided with usual lock devices by moving the actuating means . These lock devices are therefore usually applied for a relatively limited period and the actuating means of the present type must then be replaced by usual actuating means.

The actuating means known from said Gebrauchsmuster comprise positioning means which are integrated into an associated cover plate. This cover plate must be screwed onto the door or the window instead of an existing cover plate.

When the device according to the invention is arranged, unsightly screw holes of the original cover plate are therefore usually revealed. After the cover plate has been removed again to be replaced by the original one, screw holes of the temporary cover plate will moreover also remain visible. The known device is therefore disadvantageous in use due to the defacing damage which becomes visible on the door or the window. It is however important to apply positioning means so that the handgrip of the actuating means is always in a position in which it can be grasped easily.

The object of the invention is now to provide a device of the type specified in the preamble which can be used temporarily or for a longer period of time without disadvantageous damage to the door or the window on which it has to be applied.

This object is achieved according to the invention with the measures described in claim 1.

Because the positioning means comprise a spring, which engages on the handgrip on the one side and on the drive element on the other, it is not necessary to replace the cover plate of an existing actuating device. Only the handgrip and associated elements need be exchanged in order to achieve the desired favourable effect.

An additional advantage is that the positioning means according to the invention can have a much greater free stroke or a free rotation angle than the known device .

The measure of claim 2 is preferably applied. A suitable embodiment is characterized in claim 3. A very compact construction with the correct and desired functionality is achieved by applying a spiral spring. A very suitable embodiment of the arresting means is characterized in claim 4. The cotter can for instance be formed by a bolt to be screwed transversely into the shaft part of the handgrip. The handgrip can be removed from the drive element by loosening the bolt.

A favourable further invention is ^' characterized in claim 6. The cotter can be brought into engagement with an end of the groove by rotating the handgrip round the drive element, so that the lock device can be actuated, even without the coupling means being used for this purpose. In the case of malfunction of the coupling means the lock device can thus still be opened in certain manner.

The measure of claim 7 is preferably applied herein. The handgrip must be rotated through a three- quarter turn before engagement is brought about. This is an unusual movement and young children and pets will not be able to carry it out, so that the safety aspect of the lock device according to the invention is not hereby compromised.

The drive element is preferably embodied as characterized in claim 8. The square part of the drive element can engage in usual manner in a known lock so that such a known and existing lock can be readily converted to a safety lock device according to the invention.

The protruding part, in particular the part of the square part of the drive element protruding through for instance a lock, can bear a conventional doorhandle in usual manner. The door or the like can then be opened in normal manner from the other side.

It is noted however that it is also possible to embody the lock device according to the invention such that a handgrip as described is applied on either side. The arresting means can be embodied in various appropriate ways. A further development of the arresting means is characterized in claim 10. Both the handgrip and the drive element are in this way fixed in the direction of the longitudinal axis. A random other doorhandle or a handgrip as specified above can be readily applied on the other side of the drive element. Another suitable option is characterized in claim 11. The drive element is urged in the direction of the coupling means by the spiral spring so that a properly reliable coupling will take place at all times. The invention also relates to and provides a handgrip and drive element for a lock device with one or more of the specific features as specified above.

The invention will be further elucidated in the following description with reference to the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the actuating means for a lock device of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section according to arrow H-II.

Figure 3 shows a cross-section according to arrow HI-III.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section according to arrow IV-IV. Figure 5 shows a cross-section of another embodiment partially corresponding to figure 1.

Figure 6 shows a cross-section according to arrow VI-VI in figure 5.

Figure 7 shows a cross-section according to arrow VII-VII in figure 5.

The lock device comprises a lock, not shown in detail here. Such a lock, as for instance is applied in doors, windows and the like, is generally known and does not require further discussion here. The actual lock is actuated with actuating means 2, which comprise a handgrip 3 and a drive element 4. On its right-hand end shown in figure 1, drive element 4 has a square cross-section and in this exemplary embodiment engages therewith in a square hole of the per se known lock.

Handgrip 3 is shown here as a doorhandle and has a shaft part 5 and a grip part 6. The shaft part extends in the direction of longitudinal axis 16, around which drive element 4 is rotatable. Grip part 6 extends transversely of shaft part 5 and can be gripped with the hand for the purpose of rotating the shaft part, and thereby drive element 4.

Drive element 4 is however only driven when coupling means 7 are brought into engagement. When these coupling means 7 are not in engagement, the handgrip can rotate to a certain extent freely round drive element 4, which will be elucidated further, so that the lock cannot be actuated in this situation. Coupling means 7 comprise a first coupling means 8 which is connected to the handgrip. Coupling means 8 is received in a central bore 9 in shaft part 5, into which the left-hand part of drive element 4, which in this embodiment has a round cross-section, also protrudes. Coupling means 8 is connected to handgrip 3 in that a groove 10, into which a cotter bolt protrudes, is formed in coupling means 8. Coupling means 8 is therefore non-rotatable, although mounted in handgrip 3 for sliding in the direction of longitudinal axis 16. Coupling means 8 is provided with a protruding pin 12, on the end of which is arranged screw thread 13. A push button 14 is screwed onto this threaded end 13. A spring 15 is accommodated between push button 14 and the bottom of the relevant bore of handgrip 3. Owing to this construction push button 14 can be pressed in counter to the action of spring 15 in the direction of longitudinal axis 16. Coupling means 8 is herein displaced in the direction toward drive element 4. On its end directed toward drive element 4 the coupling means 8 is provided with a protrusion 21 which fits into a groove 20 in the end surface of drive element 4.

It will be apparent that, as soon as coupling means 8 is displaced so far to the right by means of operating push button 14 that protrusion 21 engages in groove 20, the drive shaft 4 can be rotated by turning handgrip 3. In this way the lock can thus be opened normally.

Pressing push button 14 in the direction of the longitudinal axis is an operation which is very easy to perform since, when grip part 3 of handgrip 3 is grasped, the thumb of the hand with which the grip part is grasped is already located at the position of push button 14. Pressing the push button 14 is therefore a very natural and easy-to-perform operation. Engaging of coupling means 7 can thus take place in a very natural and comfortable manner.

For children and for instance pets it is however not easily possible to press the push button 14 and simultaneously grasp and rotate grip part 6. This is already difficult or almost impossible for children because they have smaller hands and the thumb of a child's hand is not located at the position of push button 14 when grip part β is grasped. Pressing of push button 14 would then have to take place with the other hand. With a suitable choice of the strength of spring 15 this will however be difficult or practically impossible for a child. Push button 14 will herein first have to be pressed in order to cause protrusion 21 to fall into groove 20 before grip 6 is rotated. This sequence of operations cannot be carried out by a child.

The actuating means further comprise arresting means 24 which fix handgrip 3 relative to drive element 4 in the direction of longitudinal axis 16. This means that, owing to arresting means 24, handgrip 3 cannot slide off the drive element and drive element 4 cannot be pulled out of handgrip 3, while a relative rotation of handgrip 3 relative to drive element 4 is still possible. In this exemplary embodiment the arresting means are formed by a groove 22 in the periphery of drive element 4 and a cotter bolt 23 which protrudes therein and which is screwed into shaft part 5 of handgrip 3. According to a very favourable embodiment, which can be seen as a separate invention, groove 22 does not run all around but extends over a part of the periphery of drive element 4, in this exemplary embodiment over three-quarters of the periphery, as shown in more detail in figure 3. Handgrip 3 can hereby be turned through a three-quarter rotation until the other end of groove 22 comes into contact with cotter bolt 23.

Additional safety is in this manner obtained which makes it possible to still open the lock if coupling means 7 are not functioning in some way or other. After turning handgrip 3 through a three-quarter rotation, engagement with drive element 4 is brought about and the lock can be opened by turning handgrip 3 further.

The actuating means further comprise positioning means 30, which can also be deemed a separate invention. These positioning means 30 ensure that handgrip 3 is held in a rest position, in which the grip part extends in a desired position. In the exemplary embodiment shown and described here this rest position is the position in which the grip part extends substantially horizontally. The grip part can hereby easily be directly gripped without for instance first having to be rotated into a suitable position. The construction is preferably further such here that, in this rest position, coupling means 7 can come into direct engagement. The actuating means can hereby thus be used immediately to open the lock without any pre-adjustments .

In this exemplary embodiment positioning means 30 comprise a spiral spring 31 which engages with one bent end 33 in a groove 32 in drive element 4, and engages with another bent end 35 round a pin 34 arranged in shaft 5. When gripping part 6 is turned, spiral spring 31 is tensioned and, as soon as the grip is once again released, it springs back into the horizontal rest position. In the embodiment drawn here it is also possible to mount spiral spring 31 with a slight bias and to have the determination of the rest position be further also defined by cotter bolt 23 coming into contact with the end of groove 22. The embodiment shown in figure 5 has differently embodied arresting means and positioning means.

In this embodiment 40 there is arranged in shaft part 41 a groove 43 into which protrudes a cotter bolt 44 arranged in drive element 42. Cotter bolt 44 is retained in recess 43 using a locking spring 45 arranged in the shaft part.

The handgrip is thus retained in axial direction relative to drive element 42.

The positioning means here also comprise a spiral spring 46. This engages with a bent end 48 in a groove 49 formed in shaft part 41. The other end of spiral spring 46 has a bent end which is placed around a pin 50 which protrudes from a collar 47 fixed on drive element 42 using a locking screw 51. Through use of collar 47 the handgrip and the drive element form a whole which can be applied in a standard lock provided with a standard cover plate 52.

In this embodiment the coupling means can be applied in the same manner as those of the embodiment of figure 1.

Claims

1. Lock device comprising a locking element such as a bolt and actuating means for causing movement of the locking element, these actuating means comprising a drive element coupled to the locking element and rotatable about a longitudinal axis, a first handgrip mounted rotatably about the longitudinal axis relative to the drive element, and coupling means engaging on the drive element on one side and on the handgrip on the other, wherein the coupling means engaging on the handgrip comprises an actuating member guided movably in the direction of the longitudinal axis, further comprising arresting means for fixing the handgrip in the direction of the longitudinal axis and positioning means engaging on the handgrip for resiliently holding the handgrip in a rest position, wherein the positioning means comprise a spring which engages with one end on the handgrip and with another end on the drive element.

2. Lock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one end engages on the shaft.

3. Lock device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the positioning means comprise a spring placed with its windings round the drive element.

4. Lock device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the arresting means comprise a groove extending at least over a part of the periphery in either of the drive element or the handgrip, and a cotter connected to the other of these and protruding into the groove.

5. Lock device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cotter is formed by a bolt screwed transversely of the longitudinal axis.

6. Lock device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein the groove is arranged such that in the rest position of the handgrip the cotter is situated substantially in an end of the groove, and the groove extends from this end in the direction of the movement of the handgrip from the rest position to an active position.

7. Lock device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the groove extends substantially over three-quarters of the periphery of the drive element.

8. Lock device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the drive element is a rod with a circular section at the position of the handgrip and a square section outside the handgrip.

9. Lock device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a conventional doorhandle is arranged on the part of the drive element of square section.

10. Lock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking element is received in a housing and the arresting means further comprise means for fixing the drive element relative to the housing in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

11. Lock device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a second handgrip is arranged on another end of the drive element and the arresting means comprise a coil spring which is accommodated in this second handgrip and which resiliently urges the drive element in the direction of the first handgrip.

12. Handgrip and drive element for a lock device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the drive element defines a longitudinal axis, the handgrip can be mounted rotatably about the longitudinal axis, and coupling means are arranged engaging on the drive element on one side and on the handgrip on the other, wherein the coupling means engaging on the handgrip comprises an actuating member guided movably in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and further comprising arresting means for fixing the handgrip relative to the drive element in the direction of the longitudinal axis.