WO2008043150A1

WO2008043150A1 - Lock assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2008043150A1
Application number: PCT/AU2007/001545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Donald John Newman
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Australia Pty Limited
Priority date: 2006-10-13
Filing date: 2007-10-12
Publication date: 2008-04-17
Also published as: AU2007306929A1; AU2007306929B2; TW200827521A; TWI429821B; NZ576761A

Abstract

An actuator assembly (1) for use as part of a lock assembly (2). The actuator assembly (1) includes an inner drive means (thumb turn 1 1) and an outer drive means (cylinder lock 18) operable to rotate a driven means (15). A clutch device (15, 24, 14) includes a detent (24) to provide a driving interaction between the thumb turn and the driven means. If the thumb turn is held fixed and the driven means is rotated, the detent will disengage and the clutch will slip enabling the cylinder lock to be turned independently of the thumb turn.

Description

LOCK ASSEMBLY

This invention relates to an actuator assembly for use as part of a lock assembly and a lock assembly including the actuator assembly. The lock assembly has a bolt movable relative to a housing between an extended position and a retracted position. Such locks are often used to secure movable members such as doors and the like in a closed position. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention with particular reference to its use with doors, however it is to be understood that the invention has other uses.

A lock assembly having an inner turnknob or the like operable from an inner side to move the bolt to the extended position, may be used by a person occupying a room to secure the door in a closed position while they are in the room. Alternatively the bolt may be moved by operation an additional knob and the turnknob operates a lock mechanism to render the additional knob inoperable. This form of lock assembly is often called a privacy lock and is used on rooms where the occupant would prefer a degree of privacy.

Privacy locks often have an outer actuator for enabling movement of the bolt to the release position being operable from the outer side. This may be required when, for example the occupant is no longer capable of operating the turnknob. Alternatively the controller of the room may need to override the occupant's desire for privacy. One form of outer actuator includes a rectangular slot for receiving a head of a screw driver. Rotation of the screwdriver will move the bolt to the release position. Alternatively a key controlled actuator is provided to enable the controller to operate the additional knob.

A problem with this form of outer actuator is that the occupant can hold onto the turnknob and supply a greater force to resist rotation than can be supplied by the controller regardless of whether the controller is using a screwdriver or a key. This may be unacceptable depending on the environment in which the lock is installed. It would be preferable to provide a lock assembly that enabled the occupant to maintain a degree of privacy while providing a controller with means to override the occupant.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an actuator assembly for use in operating a locking mechanism within a lock assembly, the actuator assembly including: an inner drive means operable from an inner side of the lock assembly that is rotated about an axis; an outer drive means operable from the outer side of the lock assembly; a driven means that is rotated about the axis between a first position and a second position to operate the locking mechanism; and a detent that when in an active condition the detent provides a driving interaction between the inner drive means and the driven means so that rotation of the inner drive means causes rotation of the driven means, and when the detent is in an inactive condition the driven means can be rotated by operation of the outer drive means relative to the inner drive means.

It is preferred that the detent includes two detent elements each detent element being equidistant and on opposing sides of the axis. It is further preferred that each detent element moves in the direction of the axis between an active position and an inactive position which corresponds to the active condition and the inactive condition of the detent respectively. It is further preferred that the detent includes biasing means for urging each detent element towards the active position.

It is preferred that the inner drive means includes a drive element which has a surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the axis whereby the surface interacts with the detent. It is further preferred that the surface includes a formation that accommodates at least part of the detent when the detent is in the active condition. It is still further preferred that the drive element includes rotation limiting means for limiting the degree of rotation of the drive element to a select range. The preferred select range is 90°. It is further preferred that the inner drive means includes a hand engageable element that has a shaft in driving engagement with the driving element.

It is further preferred that the driven means includes a driven element that has a surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the axis whereby the surface interacts with the detent. It is still further preferred that the driven means includes a fixing element that fixes the driven element to the inner drive means so as to limit axial movement of the driven element relative to the inner drive means. The fixing element and driven element are preferably configured to permit rotation of the driven element relative to the drive element. It is further preferred that the driven element is configured to interact with the locking mechanism. It is preferred that the driven element includes a slot which receives a tail bar of the lock mechanism so that rotation of the driven element causes rotation of the tail bar. It is further preferred that the outer drive means is operable so as to rotate the tail bar about the axis. It is still further preferred that the outer drive means includes a key operated cylinder lock having a barrel that is rotated about the axis so as to rotate the tail bar

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided a mortice lock assembly including an actuator assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in greater detail by reference to the accompanying drawings showing an example embodiment of the invention. The particularity of the drawings and the related detailed description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1 is a front elevation view, of a preferred embodiment of the actuator assembly forming part of the lock assembly affixed to a door.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through section A-A of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through section B-B of figure 2. Figure 4 is a rear view of the actuator assembly detached from the door shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of the actuator assembly shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a front elevation view of a preferred form of mortice lock forming part of the lock assembly.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the actuator assembly 1 forming part of a lock assembly 2 which is affixed to a door 3. The lock assembly 2 illustrated preferably includes a mortice lock assembly 30 (see figure 6) having a bolt 4 that is movable relative to the door 3 between an extended position and a retracted position. An additional actuator assembly 5 is included that is operable to move the bolt 4 from the extended to retracted position. The function of the actuator 1 in the embodiment shown is to control operation of the additional actuator assembly 5 rather than move the bolt 4. It ought to be appreciated however that, it may alternatively control movement of the bolt 4 or control movement of an additional bolt (not shown).

Referring now to Figure 2 which illustrates both the actuator assembly 1 and additional actuator assembly 5 in cross section. The additional actuator assembly 5 includes a hand engageable turn knob 6 that is rotated about an axis X-X. A shaft 7 extending from the rear of the turn knob 6 extends in the axial direction. A drive element 8 is connected to a distal end of the shaft 7 which rotates with the shaft 7 and turn knob 6. A bushing 9 is located in a hole formed in the furniture plate 10 which provides a cylindrical sleeve to support the shaft 7. A spindle (not shown) is located in the shaft and preferably interacts with a hub 31 (see figure 6) of the mortice lock assembly in a manner that will be appreciated by those in the lock industry. In this preferred arrangement rotation of the spindle cause rotation of the hub to retract the latch bolt 4. This form of additional actuator is merely a preferred example and the invention is not limited to use with an additional actuator 5 of this form. Referring still to Figure 2, the actuator assembly 1 includes a hand engageable turn knob 1 1 with a shaft 12 extending from the rear side thereof. The form of turn knob 11 illustrated is not essential and may vary. The shaft 12 is located within a bushing 13 positioned within a hole formed in the furniture plate 10. Again the bushing 13 provides support for the shaft 12 while enabling the shaft 12 to rotate within the bushing 13. The turn knob 1 1 combines with a drive element 14 to form an inner drive means. The drive means is rotatable about the axis Y-Y.

The drive means is connected to a driven means. The driven means includes a driven element 15 and a fixing pin 16 which fixes the driven element 15 to a free end of the shaft 12. This arrangement maintains the axial position of the driven element 15 relative to the drive element 14. The fixing pin 16 is retained in position relative to the driven element by a circlip 17. Other means for retaining the fixing pin 16 are clearly possible.

The drive means is connected to the driven means by an arrangement that allows limited rotation of the driven means relative to the drive means. This enables an outer drive means 18, (see figure 5), to operate without resulting in rotation of the inner drive means. This arrangement is often referred to as a loss motion arrangement. This may be achieved by any suitable arrangement, however in the arrangement illustrated the driven element 15 includes an internal void within which the fixing pin 16 is free to move between abutments. The void 19 is more clearly illustrated in figure 3 which shows the abutments 21 defining in part each sector 20 of the void 19. The relative angular spacing of each abutment of each sector 20 determines the degree of loss motion, which in the arrangement illustrated is 90°. This degree of loss motion may vary depending on the requirements of the lock assembly 2. A stop pillar 22, (see figure 4) interacts with arms 23 of the drive element 14 so as to limit the degree of rotation of the drive means to 90° in line with the loss motion limit.

A detent 24 provides a driving interaction between the drive element 14 and driven element 15. The detent 24 is more clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The detent illustrated includes a pair of detent elements 25 each being located equi spaced from the axis Y-Y on opposing sides thereof. This location is preferred as it provides balance to the pressure that the detent 24 applies to the drive element 14. Each detent element 25 is urged by a compression spring 26 to locate in a recess formed in the surface of the drive element 14. This enables the driving interaction to occur between the drive element 14 and driven element 15, so that rotation of the turn knob 1 1 will result in rotation of the driven element 15.

Rotation of the driven element 15 will cause rotation of the tail bar 28, as shown in Figures 2 and 5, which will result in the performance of some operation of a locking mechanism (not shown) within the mortice lock assembly

30 shown in figure 6. The tailbar 28 preferably interacts with the cam member

32 of the mortice lock assembly 30 in a manner that will be appreciated by those in the lock industry. This tail bar 28 may alternatively be rotated from an outer side of the lock assembly 2 by operation of, for example, a cylinder lock

18. In the event that the occupant on the inner side retains the turn knob 1 1 in its position while the outer actuator 18 is operated the detent 24 will adopt an inactive condition. More specifically each detent element 25 will move out of their respective recess 27 allowing the driven element 15 to rotate relative to the drive element 14, which in turn permits rotation of the tail bar 28.

It ought to be appreciated that the actuator assembly provides a simple yet effective assembly for providing controller with means to override an occupant.

Various alterations and/or additions may be introduced into this specification without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An actuator assembly for use in operating a locking mechanism with a lock assembly, the actuator assembly including: an inner drive means operable from an inner side of the lock assembly that is rotated about an axis; an outer drive means operable from the outer side of the lock assembly; a driven means that is rotated about the axis between a first position and a second position to operate the locking mechanism; and a detent that when in an active condition the detent provides a driving interaction between the inner drive means and the driven means so that rotation of the inner drive means causes rotation of the driven means, and when the detent is in an inactive condition the driven means can be rotated by the outer drive means relative to the inner drive means.

2. An actuator assembly according to claim 1 wherein the detent includes two detent elements each detent element being equidistant from and on opposing sides of the axis.

3. An actuator assembly according to claim 2 wherein each detent element moves in the direction of the axis between an active position and an inactive position which corresponds to the active condition and the inactive condition of the detent respectively.

4. An actuator assembly according to claim 3 wherein the detent includes biasing means for urging each detent element towards the active position.

5. An actuator assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the inner drive means includes a drive element which has a surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the axis whereby the surface interacts with the detent.

6. An actuator assembly according to claim 5 wherein the surface includes a formation that accommodates at least part of the detent when the detent is in the active condition.

7. An actuator assembly according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the drive element includes rotation limiting means for limiting the degree of rotation of the drive element to a select range.

8. An actuator assembly according to claim 7 wherein the select range is 90°.

9. An actuator assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 8 wherein the inner drive means includes a hand engageable element that has a shaft in driving engagement with the driving element.

10. An actuator assembly according to any one of claims 5 to 9 wherein the driven means includes a driven element that has a surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the axis whereby the surface interacts with the detent.

1 1. An actuator assembly according to claim 10 wherein the driven means includes a fixing element that fixes the driven element to the inner drive means so as to limit axial movement of the driven element relative to the inner drive means.

12. An actuator assembly according to claim 11 wherein the fixing element and driven element are configured to permit rotation of the driven element relative to the drive element.

13. An actuator assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the driven element is configured to interact with the locking mechanism.

14. An actuator assembly according to claim 13 wherein the driven element includes a slot which receives a tail bar of the lock mechanism so that rotation of the driven element causes rotation of the tail bar.

15. An actuator assembly according to claim 14 wherein the outer drive means is operable so as to rotate the tail bar about the axis.

16. An actuator assembly according to claim 15 wherein the outer drive means includes a key operated cylinder lock having a barrel that is rotated about the axis so as to rotate the tail bar.

17. A mortice lock assembly including an actuator assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.