Patent Application
20050011239
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a lock assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a lock assembly which is convertible between a mortise lock assembly and a rim cylinder lock assembly and includes a removable core.
2. Background of Related Art
Lock assemblies including removable cores are well known in the art. By providing a removable core in a lock assembly, replacement of the entire lock assembly is not required if, for example, a key is lost or misplaced. Rather, only the removable core need be replaced, and this can be accomplished quickly and inexpensively using a control key in a manner also known in the art. Thus, the use of removable core lock assemblies results in savings in both time and expense. These savings may be substantial for businesses that use hundreds of locks on a daily basis, e.g., department stores.
Mortise lock assemblies are typically used for entrance way door locks, for example, business door locks, and rim cylinder lock assemblies are typically used for deadbolt locks on, for example, residential apartments or homes. When it is necessary to change these locks, e.g., when a key is lost or a new resident moves into an apartment, the entire lock must be removed from the door or support structure and replaced. Such replacement can be time consuming and expensive and may result in damage to the support structure during mounting of the new lock assembly.
Mortise lock assemblies typically include a threaded housing which is threaded directly into a support structure such as a door and a rotatable actuator having a radially extending arm for actuating a bolt of the lock assembly. Rim cylinder lock assemblies typically include a non-threaded housing which is secured to a support structure with screws and includes a longitudinally extending actuator. As such, locksmiths routinely maintain an inventory of both mortise and rim cylinder lock assemblies to ensure that they will have the proper hardware when called upon by a consumer.
Accordingly, a continuing need exists for a convertible rim cylinder/mortise lock assembly having a removable core. A continuing need also exists for a lock assembly which can be adapted for use as both a mortise lock assembly or a rim cylinder lock assembly. This would allow consumers, e.g., locksmiths, to maintain smaller inventories at reduced expense while providing the benefits associated with removable core locks.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a convertible mortise/rim cylinder lock assembly having a removable core is provided. The lock assembly includes a lock housing defining a longitudinal bore, a removable core positioned within the lock housing longitudinal bore, a drive member releasably engaged with the removable core, an actuator, and a securement member. The drive member is axially retained in the longitudinal bore of the lock housing by a drive member retainer assembly which includes a screw, a detent and a biasing member. The biasing member urges the detent into the drive member also to prevent rotation of the drive member independent of the removable core.
The lock assembly includes a core retainer member which extends radially from an outer surface of the removable core. When the removable core is in its locked position, the core retainer member is positioned behind a shoulder formed along a surface defining the longitudinal bore of the lock housing to prevent removal of the removable core from the lock housing. In one embodiment, the core retainer member includes a pin which may be formed from hardened steel.
The actuator and securement member may be selected to provide a mortise lock assembly or a rim cylinder lock assembly. The securement member is adapted to fixedly secure the actuator to the rear end of the drive member. A kit may be provided which includes a mortise drive member, actuator, and securement member, and a rim cylinder drive member, actuator and securement member to allow configuration of the lock assembly for mortise or rim cylinder lock use.
The lock housing may be constructed from hardened steel to prevent tampering with and/or bypassing the lock assembly. Alternately, other materials of construction may be used.
Various embodiments of the presently disclosed convertible mortise/rim cylinder lock assembly with removable core are described herein with reference to the drawings, wherein:
a is a side view of the removable core and drive member of the rim cylinder lock assembly shown in
b is a side view of the removable core and drive member shown in
c is a side perspective view with parts separated of the removable core and drive member shown in
d is a front view of the lock housing of the rim cylinder lock assembly shown in
Various embodiments of the presently disclosed convertible mortise/rim cylinder lock assembly with removable core will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views.
Removable core 14 includes a substantially cylindrical body 30 having a key slot (not shown) formed thorough a front face(not shown) thereof. The key slot is configured to receive an operating key 31a (
A core retainer member 17 is positioned partially within a bore 36 formed in removable core 14, i.e., retainer member 17 extends from bore 36. In one embodiment, core retainer member 17 includes a pin formed of hardened steel. Pin 17 extends from bore 36 and is dimensioned to be received within an annular channel 38 defined between a pair of annular walls 39 formed about longitudinal bore 24 (
As discussed above, drive member 40 is rotatably positioned within longitudinal bore 24 of lock housing 12. A threaded radial bore 52 is formed through lock housing 12 and communicates with longitudinal bore 24. Bore 52 is dimensioned to receive drive member retainer assembly 16 therein as will be discussed in further detailed below.
Drive member retainer assembly 16 includes a screw 54, a biasing member 56, and a detent 58. Biasing member 56, which may be in the form of a coil spring, is positioned within bore 52 between screw 54 and detent 58. Detent 58 is dimensioned to extend into annular channel 50 of drive member 40 and engage a concavity or opening 90 formed in drive member 40. Biasing member 56 urges detent 58 into concavity 90 of channel 50 to maintain the axial position of drive member 40 within longitudinal bore 24. The force exerted by biasing member 56 on detent 58 and translated to the force of detent 58 on drive member 40 should also be sufficient to prevent drive member 40 from rotating within longitudinal bore 24 independently of rotation of removable core 14 and the operating key. Such may occur when core 14 has been removed and the lock assembly is shaken, e.g., during door closure, and may affect operation of the lock assembly.
The rear face of drive member 40 includes a pair of intersecting linear slots 60 which define a t-shaped recess. Actuator 42, which may be in the form of an elongated tail member, includes a pair of transversely extending fingers 62 which are dimensioned to be received within a linear slot 60. An annular, threaded securement member 44 is slidable over actuator 42 and is threadably received on threaded rear end 48 of drive member 40 to fixably secure actuator 42 to drive member 40.
In use, when an operating key is inserted into removable core 14 and turned to rotate core 14, the operating key extends beyond removable core 14 into engagement with drive. member 40 to effect rotation of drive member 40, which in turn, effects rotation of actuator 42. Actuator 42 communicates in a known manner with a bolt (not shown) of the lock assembly such that rotation of actuator 42 operates the bolt of the lock assembly to lock or unlock the lock assembly.
The additional components comprising the mortise lock assembly include an actuator 70 and a securement member 72. Actuator 70 includes a circular cam body 72 having a cutout 74 and a radially extending arm 75. Cutout 74 is dimensioned to receive a rectangular protrusion 76 formed on a rear face of modified drive member 40′, such that rotation of drive member 40′ effects corresponding rotation of actuator 70. Securement member 72 may be in the form of a circular plate having at least one, and preferably two, bores 76 for receiving screws 78 for securing securement member 72 and actuator 70 to the rear face of drive member 40′. The rear face of drive member 40 includes threaded bores 80 for receiving screws 78.
In use, when an operating key is inserted into the keyslot of removable core 14 and turned to rotate core 14, drive member 40′, via engagement member 32, is rotated to effect rotation of actuator 70. When actuator 70 rotates, arm 75 is rotated to operate the bolt of the lock assembly in a known manner.
The above described lock assembly may be provided in kit form wherein the kit includes at least one lock housing 12, at least one removable core 14, at least one drive member 40, at least one drive member 40′, at least one of actuators 42 and 70 and at least one of securement members 44 and 72. Such a kit would allow a person, e.g., a locksmith to selectively create a mortise lock assembly or a rim cylinder lock assembly using a simple lock housing and removable core.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the components of the lock assembly can be formed of any material having the required strength characteristics. Further, the configurations of the drive member, removable core and/or the actuator may varied from that shown without departing from the teachings of this disclosure. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of disclosed embodiments. Those skilled in the are will envision other modifications within the scope and spirit of the claims appended here to.
This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/475,046, filed May 30, 2003, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60475046 | Jun 2003 | US |
