WO2009072032A1

WO2009072032A1 - Bolt arrangement and lock incorporating such bolt arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2009072032A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/054955
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter John Duncan
Original assignee: Peter John Duncan
Priority date: 2007-12-05
Filing date: 2008-11-26
Publication date: 2009-06-11

Abstract

This invention relates to a bolt arrangement suitable for use as a locking bolt (20) or latching bolt of a mortise lock, or to a locking bolt for use in a double action security lock. The bolt arrangement includes an actuating section (21), in use being slideably displaceable inside the lock, and a bolt section (22) for selectively engaging an external structure. The actuating section and the bolt section are integrally formed from a unitary section of sheet metal.

Description

BOLT ARRANGEMENT AND LOCK INCORPORATING SUCH BOLT

ARRANGEMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

THIS invention relates to a bolt arrangement and to a lock incorporating the bolt arrangement. More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a bolt arrangement suitable for use as a locking bolt or latching bolt of a mortise lock, or to a locking bolt for use in a double action security lock.

Many different types of locks are known in industry for preventing relative displacement between a closure, such as a door, and a stationary external structure, such as a frame or a jamb.

One well known type of lock is a so-called mortise lock. A mortise lock generally comprises a mortise body, which is located inside a pocket formed in an edge zone of the closure, and a complementary strike plate, which overlies an opening formed in an adjacent stationary structure, such as a frame or a jamb. The mortise body typically includes two displaceable bolts, being a spring loaded latching bolt that is displaced by the actuation of a handle operatively connected to the mortise body, and a locking bolt that is displaced by rotation of a key inside the mortise lock.

A similar type of lock is a so-called double action security lock, which also includes a locking bolt similar to the locking bolt of the mortise lock, but which typically does not include a spring-loaded latching bolt. A security lock is often used in security gates.

The bolts of the locks described above all share the common denominator of having an actuating section and a bolt section. In use, the actuating section is engaged either by the handle associate with the lock or by a key of the lock, so as to result in linear displacement of the actuating section. The displacement is transmitted to the bolt section, which is then urged to protrude from the mortise body so as to engage a complementary opening adjacent the lock.

In known bolt arrangements, the actuating sections and the bolt sections are manufactured separately, typically from different materials, and then secured to one another so as to form the assembled bolt arrangement. This method of manufacturing may be costly due to the two parts of the bolt arrangement being manufactured separately, and then secured to one another in a further separate manufacturing step, thus rendering the bolt arrangement expensive and time-consuming to manufacture. In another known bolt arrangement, the actuating section and the bolt section may be integrally formed, but in this case the bolt arrangement is cast, typically from a Zinc alloy, which is again expensive and time consuming. It should be taken into account that in the manufacturing of metal parts, the cost of a component is directionally proportional to the weight of the component, and in this context a solid casting is often not the most cost effective solution.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a bolt arrangement that will, at least partially, alleviate the above disadvantages. It is also an object of the invention to provide a bolt arrangement which will be a useful alternative to existing bolt arrangements.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a lock incorporating a new bolt arrangement that will, at least partially, alleviate the above disadvantages, and/or will be a useful alternative to existing locks. SUIVIMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a bolt arrangement, suitable for use in a mortise lock or a security lock, the bolt arrangement including: an actuating section, in use being slideably displaceable inside the lock, and a bolt section for selectively engaging an external structure; characterized in that the actuating section and the bolt section are integrally formed from a unitary section of sheet metal.

The unitary section of sheet metal may be in the form of an elongate metal strip.

The bolt section may be defined by a first distal zone of the elongate metal strip being folded back onto a proximal zone of the metal strip.

The first distal zone may be secured to the proximal zone to provide structural rigidity to the bolt section. In one embodiment the first distal zone may be secured to the proximal zone by way of a latch formation extending from the first distal zone engaging an aperture provided in the proximal zone. In another embodiment a part of the distal zone may be welded to the proximal zone, and more preferably spot-welded to the proximal zone.

There is further provided for the bolt section to be substantially cylindrical when formed. The cylindrical bolt section may be rectangular, square or triangular in cross-section.

An insert may be beatable inside the cylindrical bolt section.

The actuating section may be defined by a second opposing distal zone of the metal strip.

There is provided for the actuating section to include at least one engagement formation that extends transversely from the second distal zone. In a preferred embodiment there is provided for the engagement formation to be in the form of a lug extending from the second distal zone, which lug is bent substantially perpendicular relative to the second distal zone.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided an actuating section of a bolt arrangement, the actuating section being in the form of a section of sheet material having at least one engagement formation extending therefrom, characterized therein that the engagement formation is in the form of a lug that extends from the section of sheet material, and which has been bent substantially perpendicularly to the section of sheet material.

According to a still further embodiment of the invention there is provided a lock including a bolt arrangement as described above, and a lock including an actuating section of a bolt arrangement as described above.

According to a further feature of the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a bolt arrangement, the method including the steps of: providing a section of sheet material; and - bending a first distal zone of the section of sheet material back onto a proximal zone thereof in order to form a bolt section of the bolt arrangement.

The method may also include the step of securing the first distal zone to the proximal zone.

The method may furthermore include the step of forming engagement formations that extend transversely from a second distal zone of the section of sheet material, wherein lugs that extend from the second distal zone is bent through ninety degrees so as to stand proud of the second distal zone. The section of sheet material may be an elongate metal strip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described by way of non- limiting examples, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a mortise lock;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a bolt arrangement in the form of a locking bolt in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a bolt arrangement in the form of a latching bolt in accordance with the invention; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a further bolt arrangement in the form of a locking bolt in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like features, non- limiting examples of a bolt arrangement in accordance with the invention are generally indicated by reference numerals 20, 30 and 40.

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a mortise lock 10 incorporating a locking bolt 20 and a latching bolt 30. The mortise lock 10 comprises a housing 12 in which all the components of the lock are housed. The housing includes a key-hole 13 for receiving an end of a key theretrough, as well as a handle engagement formation 14, which is operatively linked to a handle (not shown) used in combination with the lock, and which is rotatable relative to the housing 12. In addition, the lock 10 includes a plurality of levers (not shown) that are configured to mate with the particular profile of the key so as to allow the key to turn inside the lock. The particular design and configuration of the levers may differ, and are not of importance insofar as this invention is concerned. As such, and for the sake of clarity, the levers are not shown in figure 1.

In use the latching bolt 30 is actuated, and hence linearly displaced, by actuation of the handle, and thus rotation of the handle engagement formation 14. The latching bolt is biased, by way of a spring 15, towards a position in which it protrudes from the housing. The locking bolt 20 is in turn actuated by the rotation of the key inside the housing, once the levers (not shown) have been displaced as described above. The locking bolt 20 is not spring-biased, and rotation of the key in a first direction will cause linear displacement of the locking bolt 20 in a first direction, whereas rotation of the key in an opposite direction will result displacement of the locking bolt 20 in a second, opposite direction, thus resulting in the locking bolt 20 being displaceable between lock and unlocked positions.

The bolt arrangement in accordance with the invention is now described with reference to figures 2, 3 and 4. The bolt arrangements of Figures 2 and 4 are both in the form of locking bolts, and will therefore be described collectively.

Referring then to Figures 2 and 4, each locking bolt (20, 40) comprises an actuating section (21 , 41) and a bolt section (22, 42). The locking bolt is made of a unitary section of sheet metal that includes a first distal zone (23, 43), a proximal zone (24, 44) and a second distal zone (24, 45). The bolt section (22, 42) is formed by bending the first distal zone (23, 43) back onto the proximal zone (24, 44) so as to form a bolt section that is of a substantially cylindrical configuration, and which is substantially rectangular or square when viewed in cross-section. A plastic insert (not shown) may be secured inside the cavity (29, 49) defined by the cylindrical bolt section (22, 42). A part of the first distal zone (23, 42) is secured to the proximal zone (24, 44) so as to provide structural rigidity to the bolt section (22, 42) and to prevent the first distal zone (23, 43) from being displaced from the proximal zone (24, 44). In the embodiment shown in Figure 2 the first distal zone 23 is secured to the proximal zone 24 by way of a lug 26 extending form the first distal zone 23 engaging an aperture 27 provided in the proximal zone 24. When the bolt section 22 is manufactured the lug 26 is pushed through the aperture 27, and then bent back towards the bolt section 22 so as to securely engage the proximal zone 24. In addition, the aperture 27 may be of at least partially tapered configuration further to enhance the integrity of the connection.

The actuating sections (21 , 41) of the locking bolts (20, 40) shown in Figures 2 and 4 is also made of the same section of sheet metal, and is more particularly defined by a second distal zone (25, 45) opposite the first distal zone (23, 43). Of particular importance is that the actuating section (21 , 41) includes engagement formations (28, 48) that extend from the second distal zone (25, 45) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second distal zone (25, 45). The engagement formations (28, 48) are in the form of lugs that extend from the second distal zone (25, 45) and which have been bent through ninety degrees in order for the lugs to stand proud of the second distal zone (25, 45) and thus the actuating section (21 , 42). It should be noted that the configuration and design of the engagement formations (28, 48) required on the actuating section is in itself new and inventive, and it is foreseen, although not in a preferred embodiment, that there will also be scope for using the new and improved actuating section with separate, known bolt sections, even if this means securing the bolt section to the actuating section after the separate manufacture of the two sections.

A further embodiment of the bolt arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown in Figure 3, which depicts a latching bolt 30 that is used in a mortise lock 10. The construction of the latching bolt 30 is fundamentally the same as that of the locking bolts (20, 40) described hereinbefore, in that it also made of a unitary section of sheet metal, and that it also includes an actuating section 31 and a bolt section 32. In this case the bolt section 32 is substantially triangular in cross-section, and the actuating section 31 is of different shape and configuration due to the different actuating mechanism required to displace the same.

All the embodiments above share the same common denominator of being manufactured in one single process from a unitary section of sheet metal, and in particular from a metal strip. In a preferred embodiment the metal used is mild steel. The elongate strip of material is fed into a suitable manufacturing machine, and is formed into the required bolt arrangement in a predetermined sequence of punching and bending steps.

The inventor believes that the bolt arrangement described above will greatly simplify the manufacturing process of locks utilizing locking and latching bolts.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A bolt arrangement, suitable for use in a mortise lock or a security lock, the bolt arrangement including: an actuating section, in use being slideably displaceable inside the lock, and a bolt section for selectively engaging an external structure; characterized in that the actuating section and the bolt section are integrally formed from a unitary section of sheet metal.

2. The bolt arrangement of claim 1 wherein the section of sheet metal is in the form of an elongate metal strip.

3. The bolt arrangement of claim 2 wherein the bolt section is defined by a first distal zone of the elongate metal strip being folded back onto a proximal zone of the metal strip.

4. The bolt arrangement of claim 3 wherein the first distal zone is secured to the proximal zone to provide structural rigidity to the bolt section.

5. The bolt arrangement of claim 4 wherein the first distal zone is secured to the proximal zone by way of a latch formation extending from the first distal zone engaging an aperture provided in the proximal zone.

6. The bolt arrangement of claim 4 the first distal zone is secured to the proximal zone by way of a part of the distal zone being welded to the proximal zone.

7. The bolt arrangement of any one of the preceding claims wherein the bolt section is substantially cylindrical when formed.

8. The bolt arrangement of claim 7 wherein the bolt section is substantially rectangular, square or triangular in cross-section.

9. The bolt arrangement of any one of the preceding claims wherein an insert is located inside an aperture in the bolt section.

10. The bolt arrangement of any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuating section is defined by a second opposing distal zone of the metal strip.

11. The bolt arrangement of any one of the preceding claims wherein the actuating section includes at least one engagement formation that extends transversely from the second distal zone.

12. The bolt arrangement of claim 11 wherein the engagement formation is in the form of a lug extending from the second distal zone, which lug is bent substantially perpendicular relative to the second distal zone.

13. A lock including a bolt arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. An actuating section for a bolt arrangement, the actuating section being in the form of a section of sheet material having at least one engagement formation extending therefrom, characterized therein that the engagement formation is in the form of a lug that extends from the section of sheet material, and which has been bent substantially perpendicularly to the section of sheet material.

15. A lock including a bolt arrangement having an actuating section as claimed in claim 14.

16. A method of manufacturing a bolt arrangement, the method including the steps of: providing a section of sheet material; and bending a first distal zone of the section of sheet material back onto a proximal zone thereof in order to form a bolt section of the bolt arrangement.

17. The method of claim 16 including the step of securing the first distal zone to the proximal zone.

18. The method of claim 16 or claim 17 including the step of forming engagement formations that extend transversely from a second distal zone of the section of sheet material, wherein lugs that extend from the second distal zone is bent through ninety degrees so as to stand proud of the second distal zone.