WO2011051991A1

WO2011051991A1 - Device for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock

Info

Publication number: WO2011051991A1
Application number: PCT/IT2010/000428
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco Azzali
Original assignee: Franco Azzali
Priority date: 2009-10-27
Filing date: 2010-10-25
Publication date: 2011-05-05

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of keys for locks and relative accessories. In particular, the invention relates to a device for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock, comprising a body (2) arranged for being associated with a key (3), or for covering it at least partially or for being incorporated therein, wherein said body comprises: - a selector (4, 5) arranged for reaching two operating positions; - visual signalling means (6', 6") intuitively correctable to the opening or closing condition of said lock, wherein each of the two operating positions of the selector (4, 5) is arranged for cooperating unequivocally with said visual signalling means (6\ 6") to permanently indicate the current condition of the lock.

Description

DEVICE FOR SIGNALLING THE OPENING OR CLOSING CONDITION OF A LOCK

****

The invention relates to the field of keys for locks and relative accessories.

In particular, the invention relates to a device for signalling the opening or closing (unlocked or locked) condition of a door lock, which can be applied directly to a key or associated therewith, and can also be consulted at a distance from the lock.

No device associable with a key and capable of providing a permanent indication of whether the respective lock is locked or unlocked currently exists.

In practice, no memory exists which is capable of storing this information and making it available to the user each time he/she wishes to check whether he/she has performed the action of locking said lock.

Inconveniently, the user remains with the gnawing doubt of whether he/she performed this action and is sometimes obliged to return to the lock to check in person the effective condition thereof.

The aim of the invention is therefore to record the current condition of the lock, namely whether it is in opening or closing condition, and make this information permanently available to the user each time he/she requires confirmation, as the information is permanent and associated directly with the key.

Further aim of the invention is to simplify recording of this information and therefore make correlation between the action of closing or opening a lock and visual signalling of the corresponding condition immediate.

These aims are achieved with a device for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock comprising a body arranged for being associated with a key, or for covering it at least partially or for being incorporated therein, characterized in that said body comprises:

- a selector arranged for assuming two operating positions;

- visual signalling means intuitively correctable to the opening or closing condition of said lock,

wherein each of the two operating positions of the selector is arranged for cooperating unequivocally with said visual signalling means to permanently indicate the current condition of the lock.

According to possible aspects of the invention, said selector comprises a slide slidingly associated with a guide, or a pushbutton.

In particular, said guide comprises retaining means to help to maintain the position reached by said slide.

According to a further aspect of the invention, said body comprises a shell composed of two valves arranged for embracing the bow portion of said key.

Advantageously, said valves comprise a connection acting as hinged constraint to allow the mutual rotation thereof.

According to an aspect of the invention, said body is provided with a slit through which said key emerges.

In a preferred embodiment, said slit is positioned to correspond with said connection acting as hinged constraint.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, movement of said selector activates an electronic device for opening or closing said lock.

The device according to the invention has a great advantage: it retains the indication of the current condition of a given lock, i.e. if it has been locked or if it has remained unlocked, and makes this information available to a user even when the user is at a distance from this lock.

Advantageously, said selector alternatively occupies the two operating positions simply accompanied by the user while performing the action of opening or closing the lock.

Even more advantageously, said visual signalling means are intuitively correlatable to the current condition of the lock, in a rapid and immediate manner.

In the embodiment according to the invention that provides for the use of a selector with slide and guide, said retaining means ensure that the selector remains in position, even when the device is handled repeatedly or subjected to rubbing, for example when placed inside a pocket, without the risk of said selector moving to the incorrect operating position.

In a particular embodiment, when the device according to the invention is totally incorporated inside a key, as might be the case for an electronic key of a vehicle lock, movement of the selector cooperates directly with the electronic device contained therein, and it is this selector that controls opening and closing of the lock and simultaneously records and stores the current condition.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the more detailed description set forth below with the aid of the figures, which represent preferred embodiments thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

Figs. 1a and 1 b represent, in a top view, a device for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock according to the invention associated with a key for a generic lock, in the two possible operating positions;

Fig. 1c represents, in a bottom view, the device of Fig. 1 a or 1 b without distinction;

Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c represent, in a front view and in a cross section view, the device of Fig. 1a before being associated with a key;

Fig. 3 represents, in a side view, the assembled device of Fig. 1 without a key;

Fig. 4 represents, in a top view, a device for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock according to a possible embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 5a and 5b represent, in a side view, the assembled device of Fig. 4 without a key, in the two possible operating positions;

Figs. 6a and 6b represent, in a top view, a device for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock according to the invention associated with a key for security door locks, in the two possible operating positions;

Figs. 7a and 7b represent, in a front view and in a side view, the device of Fig. 6a before being associated with a key;

Fig. 8 represents, in a side view, the assembled device of Fig. 6a without a key;

Figs. 9a and 9b represent, in a top view, a device for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock according to the invention associated with a key for vehicles, in the two possible operating positions;

Figs. 10a, 10b and 11 represent, in a top view, devices for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock associated with keys for vehicles, according to possible embodiments of the invention;

Figs. 12a, 12b, 13 and 14 represent, respectively in a top view, a bottom view, a side view and a perspective view, the device according to a further possible embodiment of the invention, usable as a key ring. With reference to Figs. 1 -3, there is illustrated a device 1 for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock.

Said device 1 comprises a body 2, usually made of plastic material, arranged for at least partially covering a key 3 of a generic lock.

In particular, said body 2 covers the bow of said key 3.

Said body 2 also comprises a selector and visual signalling means 6' and 6" arranged for mutually cooperating, intuitively correlatable to the opening or closing condition of said lock.

Said selector is produced by means of a slide 4, or a slider, which is slidingly constrained to a guide 7 provided in said body 2, and is arranged for reaching two alternative operating positions, corresponding to the closing condition and to the opening position of the lock.

Sliding of the slide 4 can take place either perpendicularly or parallely to the blade of the key.

Each of the two operating positions of the slide 4 is therefore arranged for cooperating unequivocally with said visual signalling means 6', 6" to permanently indicate the current condition of the lock.

Said guide 7 comprises retaining means 8 to help to maintain the position reached by the slide 4.

Said retaining means 8 comprise a wedge-shaped projection along the profile of the guide 7, or a portion in relief again positioned inside said guide 7 and oriented crosswise with respect to the direction of movement of said slide 4.

Said body 2 comprises a shell composed of two valves 9', 9" arranged for embracing the bow portion of said key 3.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1-3, said valves 9', 9" are circular in shape and are mutually associated by means of a connection 10 which involves a portion of their circumference.

Said connection 10 is arranged for acting as hinged constraint to allow mutual rotation of the two valves 9' and 9".

Said connection 10 is provided with a slit 11 , in the form of a slot, through which said key 3 emerges.

A first valve 9" has along its circumference a series of pins 12 arranged for being inserted into corresponding holes 13 provided on the circumference of the second valve 9' to produce stable closing of the body 2 on the bow of said key 3.

Said first valve 9" also comprises, along the circumference thereof, a tooth 16 arranged for cooperating with a corresponding groove 17 provided on the circumference of said second valve 9'.

Said tooth 16 delimits said guide 7 laterally and acts as a limit stop for said slide 4, while said groove 17 allows insertion of said slide 4 into the guide 7 during assembly of the device.

With particular reference to Figs. 4-5, the device 1 for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock comprises a pushbutton selector 5.

Said "butterfly" shaped pushbutton 5 is positioned to rock about a fulcrum 14 provided on said body 2, to assume the two possible operating positions corresponding to the current condition of the lock.

The surface of said pushbutton 5 in fact has visual signalling means 6' and 6" correctable to said two positions to permanently indicate the current condition of the lock.

With reference to Figs. 6-8, these show a device 1 for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock according to the invention associated with a particular key 3 for security door locks.

In this case, the body 2 has a rectangular geometry, is provided with two valves 9' and 9" mutually joined with a connection portion 10 and mutually associable by means of appropriately positioned pins 12 and holes 13, and comprises a slit 11 inside which the blade of said key 3 can be inserted.

The selector is produced by means of a slide 4 sliding inside a specific guide 7 and is maintained in the operating position by retaining means 8. In the same manner as set forth above, the selector can be produced by means of a pushbutton .

Figs. 9-11 instead illustrate devices for indicating the opening or closing condition of a lock associated with keys for vehicles , according to possible embodiments of the invention.

The body 2 of the device 1 is totally incorporated in said key 3.

The devices of Figs. 9a and 9b, 10a and 10b comprise a sliding selector 4, positioned according to two possible directions of sliding, while the device of Fig. 11 instead comprises a "butterfly" shaped pushbutton selector 5 rocking on a suitable pin 14.

Besides signalling the current condition of the lock, movement of said selector 4 and 5 directly activates the electronic device for opening or closing said lock, advantageously combining the two functions.

Figs. 12-14 illustrate a device 1 for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock associable with a key 3, with the function of key ring.

On a first face of said key ring there is associated a selector, of the slide 4 or pushbutton 5 type, arranged for alternatively reaching two operating positions identifying the current condition of the lock, while on a second face there is affixed a label 15, protected with transparent plastic, on which references or addresses can be written, and already normally used on conventional key rings. With reference to the figures in general, said visual signalling means 6' and 6" are represented by a closed padlock and by an open padlock engraved on said body inside said guide 7 or on the surface of said pushbutton 5. Alternatively, said visual signalling means can comprise other symbols, words or coloured portions, always intuitively correctable to the opening or closing condition of said lock according to a logical correlation and according to common sense. For example, the colour green can identify the opening condition of the lock, while the colour red can indicate the closing condition thereof, or vice versa.

Use of the invention is described below.

The device 1 according to the invention is associated with a key 3.

The user holds said key 3 and inserts it into the lock of a door.

During rotation of said key 3 to lock the door, the user uses the same movement to move, with his/her thumb, the selector to the operating position corresponding to the current condition of the lock.

Acting on the slide 4 and moving it along the guide 7, the user selects the closing position of the lock, leaving the corresponding visual indicator means, for example the closed padlock 6', uncovered.

In the same manner, pressing the pushbutton 5 and making use of the rocking movement thereof, the user lowers the portion of pushbutton 5 corresponding to the closing position of the lock, i.e. the portion provided, for example, with the closed padlock symbol 6'.

At this point, after moving away from the door, by observing the device associated with the key, the user can, at any time, be certain of the current condition of the lock, dispelling any gnawing doubt he/she may have.

Naturally, without prejudice to the principles of the invention, the embodiments, the materials used, the dimensions and the constructional details can be widely varied with respect to those described and illustrated as a function of application requirements, without however departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A device (1 ) for signalling the opening or closing condition of a lock comprising a body (2) arranged for being associated with a key (3), or for covering it at least partially or for being incorporated therein, characterized in that said body comprises:

- a selector (4, 5) arranged for reaching two operating positions;

- visual signalling means (6', 6") intuitively correctable to the opening or closing condition of said lock,

wherein each of the two operating positions of the selector (4, 5) is arranged for cooperating unequivocally with said visual signalling means (6', 6") to permanently indicate the current condition of the lock.

2. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said selector comprises a slide (4) slidingly associated with a guide (7).

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that said guide (7) comprises retaining means (8) to help to maintain the position reached by said slide (4).

4. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said selector comprises a pushbutton (5).

5. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said body (2) is provided with a slit (11 ) through which said key (3) emerges.

6. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said body (2) comprises a shell composed of two valves (9', 9") arranged for embracing the bow portion of said key (3).

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized in that said valves (9', 9") comprise a connection (10) acting as hinged constraint to allow the mutual rotation thereof.

8. A device according to claims 5 and 7, characterized in that said slit (11) is positioned to correspond with said connection (10) acting as hinged constraint.

9. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that movement of said selector (4, 5) activates an electronic device for opening or closing said lock.

10. A key comprising a device according to at least one of the preceding claims.

11. A key ring comprising a device according to at least one of the preceding claims.