Patent Application
20090113955
The present invention is directed toward deadbolt devices for doors and, more particularly, toward a deadbolt device having a biasing mechanism biasing the deadbolt to a locked position.
Deadbolts may be provided in combination with doors to ensure a door can be locked. Some deadbolts may be provided near the bottom of the door, away from the handle. One such deadbolt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,406. Such deadbolts use locking bolts that extend from a shoe of the door into a recess located in the floor adjacent the door to lock the door.
The deadbolt disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,406 requires a user to manipulate the deadbolt near the top or bottom of a door, which can be difficult for some users to operate. Further, deadbolts usually require a user to place the door in a closed position prior to moving the deadbolt into a locked position. When the user wishes to open the door, the user typically has to manually manipulate the deadbolt to an unlocked position prior to opening the door, and then also has to manually manipulate the deadbolt again to relock the door.
Users may often forget to relock a deadbolt after opening a door to leave a room or building. Such forgetfulness can expose residents to unwanted visitors that may gain access to a room or building through such an unlocked door. In some cases, the residents may be physically or financially harmed by such visitors.
A deadbolt is needed that is biased to a locked position so a user does not have to relock a door the user just exited. Preferably, the deadbolt is sized and configured so the door is automatically locked by the deadbolt after a user exits a room or building.
The present invention includes a deadbolt device that has a handle, a linkage assembly, a lock housing, a locking member, a biasing mechanism and a dogging member. The linkage assembly is operatively enclosed within the handle and extends from a first end within the handle to a second end. The second end of the linkage assembly is sized and configured to fit within a corresponding latching recess in the floor, the header or the door jamb to lock the door. The linkage assembly is moveable from a locked position at which the second end is extended from the handle to an unlocked position at which the second end is substantially retracted within the handle. The lock housing extends through the door and is operatively connected to the handle. The lock housing includes a guide channel that extends from the interior side of the lock housing (on the interior side of the door) to the exterior side of the lock housing (on the exterior side of the door). A locking member is provided within the lock housing and, at one end, is operatively connected to the linkage assembly. At least a portion of the locking member is within the guide channel of the lock housing.
The locking member is moveable from a locked position to an unlocked position. The locking member actuates the linkage assembly to its locked position when the locking member is in its locked position. Similarly, when the locking member is moved to the unlocked position, the locking member actuates the linkage assembly to its unlocked position.
The biasing mechanism is provided within the lock housing and is operatively connected to the locking member. The biasing mechanism biases the locking member to its locked position, which, in turn, biases the linkage assembly to its locked position.
The dogging member is moveably connected to the lock housing such that the dogging member can move from a dogged position to an undogged position. In its dogged position, the dogging member maintains the locking member in its unlocked position. In is undogged position, the dogging member allows free movement of the locking member.
In some embodiments, the second end of the linkage assembly may be substantially retracted within the handle such that the entire second end is within the handle. In other embodiments, the second end of the linkage assembly may be substantially retracted such that the second end of the linkage assembly is not fully retracted within the handle.
The dogging member or locking member may be, for example, a generally C-shaped bar or rod. The dogging member may have a first dogging pin connected to a top end of the generally C-shaped bar or rod and a second dogging pin connected to a bottom end of the generally C-shaped bar or rod. When the dogging member is in the dogged position, the first dogging pin may extend from the lock housing. When the dogging member is in the undogged position, the second dogging pin may extend from the lock housing. Thus, by actuating either pin a user can change the position of the dogging member. Of course it should be understood that the first dogging pin may extend from the bottom end of the generally C-shaped bar or rod and the second dogging pin may extend from the top end of the generally C-shaped bar or rod without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The dogging member may be configured so that a projection extends from the dogging member through a corresponding slot formed in the locking member when the dogging member is in the dogged position. When the dogging member is in the undogged position, the projection does not extend into the corresponding slot formed in the locking member. In one embodiment, the projection of the dogging member may be sized and configured to fit within the slot formed in the locking member when the locking member is in its locked position. When the dogging member is moved from the undogged position to the dogged position, the dogging member can be sized and configured to cause the locking member to move from its locked position to its unlocked position and thus be maintained in its unlocked position by the dogging member.
In some embodiments, the biasing mechanism is located within the guide channel formed in the lock housing.
A first actuating mechanism is disposed rotatably in the lock housing at the interior side thereof. The first actuating mechanism may be turned by a key (not shown) or may be turned via a thumb turn (also not shown) that may be grasped and turned by a user. The first actuating mechanism includes a butt, or cam, that is rotatable therewith and which engages a first slot formed in the locking member to move the locking member between its locked and unlocked positions.
In some embodiments, a second actuating mechanism is disposed rotatably in the lock housing at the exterior side thereof. Since security is a concern, typically the second actuating mechanism may only be turned by a key (not shown). The second actuating mechanism includes a butt, or cam, that is rotatable therewith and which engages a corresponding second slot formed in the locking member to move the locking member between its locked and unlocked positions.
In some embodiments, the first end of the linkage assembly includes an angled slot. The locking member is moveably connected to the angled slot such that an end of the locking member is positioned at the top end of the angled slot when the locking member is in its unlocked position and is positioned at the bottom end of the angled slot when the locking member is in its locked position. Movement of the locking member between the top and bottom ends of the angled slot in turn moves the linkage assembly between its unlocked and locked positions.
It should be understood that the biasing mechanism may be, for example, an elastic body or a spring.
Preferably, the locking member moves in a direction transverse to the movement of the linkage assembly and the dogging member. Movement of the dogging member may be substantially parallel to that of the linkage assembly. However, other movement directions of the linkage assembly, dogging member and locking member may be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Other details, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.
Certain present preferred embodiments of the inventive deadbolt device are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
A lock housing 13 extends through the door 1 and is operatively connected to the handle 3. The lock housing 13 includes an interior side 22 located on the interior face of the door 1 and an exterior side 23 located on the exterior face of the door 1.
The lock housing 13 includes a guide channel 20 that extends from the interior side 22 to the exterior side 23. A locking member 10 is provided within the lock housing 13 and is operatively connected to a linkage assembly 2 at one end. The linkage assembly 2 is enclosed within the handle 3, as shown in
A biasing mechanism 11 is provided which biases the locking member 10 in the locked position, which is shown in
When the locking member 10 is in the locked position, the end of the locking member 10 is located adjacent the bottom 9 of the angled slot, which places the linkage assembly 2 in a locked position, as shown in
When the locking member 10 is in the unlocked position, the end of the locking member 10 is located adjacent the top 8 of the angled slot, which moves the linkage assembly 2 to the unlocked position, as shown in
A dogging member 14 is operatively connected to the lock housing 13 and is moveable from an undogged position, which is shown in
The projection 17 of the dogging member 14 may be sized and configured so that the projection 17 can only fit within the first slot 12 when the locking member 10 is in the unlocked position. Other embodiments may have a dogging member 14 with a projection 17 that is sized and configured to engage the first slot 12 of the locking member 10 when the locking member 10 is in the locked position. For example, either the first slot 12 or projection 17 can be sized and configured at an angle so that when the dogging member 14 is moved to the dogged position, the projection 17 can operatively engage the slot 12 in the locking member 10 and move the locking member 10 to the unlocked position as the dogging member 14 is moved to the dogged position. Once in the dogged position, the dogging member 14 maintains the locking member 10 in the unlocked position.
The dogging member 14 may be moveably connected to the lock housing 13 such that the movement of the dogging member 14 is in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the movement of the locking member 10, as shown in
It should be noted that the locking member 10 may be a bar, a rod or have some other shaped body.
A first actuating mechanism 26 may be rotatably provided in the interior side 22 of the lock housing 13. The first actuating mechanism 26 may be rotated via a key (not shown) or may be rotated via a thumb turn (also not shown) that may be grasped and turned by a user. The first actuating mechanism 26 includes a butt, or cam, 33 that is rotatable therewith and which engages the slot 12 formed in the locking member 10 to move the locking member 10 to an unlocked position as the first actuating mechanism 26 is rotated in a clockwise direction.
A second actuating mechanism 18 is rotatably provided in the exterior side 23 of the lock housing 13. The second actuating mechanism 18 is rotatable between a first position shown in
A guide body 27 may also be provided positioned within the guide channel 20 between the locking member 10 and the biasing mechanism 11, as shown in
While certain present preferred embodiments of the deadbolt device have been shown and described and certain present preferred methods of making and using the same have been illustrated, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.
