The present invention relates to locks for doors and other closable panels and, in particular, it concerns a door or other closable panel with a lock-actuating linkage which ensures a locking element is in its locked state whenever the panel is closed.
It is known to provide a wide range of locking arrangements for hinged or sliding doors or panels. In some cases, locking arrangements may be designed to automatically return to a locked state whenever the door is closed.
One particular family of locking mechanisms relevant to certain embodiments of the present invention is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,625.
The present invention is a door or other closable panel with a lock-actuating linkage which ensures a locking element is in its locked state whenever the panel is closed.
According to the teachings of an embodiment of the present invention there is provided, an apparatus comprising: (a) an opening bounded by a frame including a strike jamb; (b) a panel mounted relative to the opening so as to be displaceable between an open position in which the panel is separated from the strike jamb to leave at least part of the opening open and a closed position in which the panel closes against the strike jamb; (c) a locking element associated with the strike jamb or the panel, the locking element being displaceable between a locked state in which the locking element engages between the panel and the strike jamb in a closed position of the panel to prevent separation of the panel from the strike jamb and a released state in which the panel can be separated from the strike jamb; and (d) a linkage associated with the locking element and deployed so as to be displaced by a terminal part of a closing motion of the panel against the strike jamb from the open position to the closed position, the linkage being deployed so that displacement of the panel through the terminal part of the closing motion applies an input force to the linkage, the linkage being configured to direct at least part of the input force to generate an output force applied to the locking element, the output force acting to displace the locking element towards the locked state.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the input force is applied to the linkage in a first direction, and wherein the output force is applied to the locking element in a second direction, non-parallel to the first direction.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the linkage is configured such that a first displacement of the panel within the terminal part of the closing motion results in a second displacement of at least part of the locking element towards the locked state, the second displacement being larger than the first displacement.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the linkage comprises at least one pivotally-mounted link.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the linkage further comprises a panel-abutment region deployed to be acted upon by the panel and a locking element actuating region deployed to act on the locking element, wherein the locking element actuating region is located further from the axis than panel-abutment region.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the pivotally-mounted link is mounted on a spring-loaded pivot axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, displacement of the locking element between the released state and the locked state is a pivotal displacement about a locking element rotation axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the output force is applied to the locking element at a bearing surface, and wherein the locking element has a panel engaging surface for engaging the panel, a distance from the bearing surface to the rotation axis being smaller than a distance from the panel-engaging surface to the rotation axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the linkage comprises a pivotally-mounted lever arm pivotally mounted about a linkage pivot axis that is parallel to, but spaced apart from, the locking element rotation axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, displacement of the locking element between the released state and the locked state is a linear displacement.
There is also provided according to the teachings of an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprising: (a) an opening bounded by a frame including a strike jamb; (b) a panel mounted relative to the opening so as to be displaceable between an open position in which the panel is separated from the strike jamb to leave at least part of the opening open and a closed position in which the panel closes against the strike jamb; (c) a locking element associated with the strike jamb or the panel, the locking element being displaceable between a locked state in which the locking element engages between the panel and the strike jamb in a closed position of the panel to prevent separation of the panel from the strike jamb and a released state in which the panel can be separated from the strike jamb; and (d) a linkage having a locking-element actuating region deployed to act on the locking element and a panel-abutment region deployed so as to be displaced by a terminal part of a closing motion of the panel against the strike jamb from the open position to the closed position, the linkage being configured such that displacement of the panel through the terminal part of the closing motion displaces the panel-abutment region through a first displacement, and wherein the first displacement of the panel-abutment region results in a second displacement of the locking-element actuating region acting on the locking element, thereby displacing the locking element towards the locked state.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the first displacement occurs in a first direction, and wherein the second displacement occurs in a second direction, non-parallel to the first direction.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the second displacement is larger than the first displacement.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the linkage comprises at least one pivotally-mounted link pivotable about a pivot axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, a distance from the locking element actuating region to the pivot axis is greater than a distance from the panel-abutment region to the pivot axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the pivotally-mounted link is mounted on a spring-loaded pivot axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, displacement of the locking element between the released state and the locked state is a pivotal displacement about a rotation axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the locking-element actuating region acts on a bearing surface of the locking element, and wherein the locking element has a panel engaging surface for engaging the panel, a distance from the bearing surface to the rotation axis being smaller than a distance from the panel-engaging surface to the rotation axis.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the linkage comprises a pivotally-mounted lever arm pivotally mounted about a linkage pivot axis that is parallel to, but spaced apart from, the rotation axis of the locking element.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, displacement of the locking element between the released state and the locked state is a linear displacement.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the locking element and the linkage are integrated with the strike jamb.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the locking element and the linkage are integrated with the panel.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the panel is hingedly mounted relative to the frame.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the panel is slidingly mounted relative to the frame.
There is also provided according to the teachings of an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprising: (a) an opening bounded by a frame including a strike jamb; (b) a panel mounted relative to the opening so as to be displaceable between an open position in which the panel is separated from the strike jamb to leave at least part of the opening open and a closed position in which the panel closes against the strike jamb; and (c) a mechanism associated with the strike jamb or the panel, the mechanism comprising a locking element displaceable between a locked state to prevent separation of the panel from the strike jamb and a released state in which the panel can be separated from the strike jamb, wherein the mechanism provides a panel abutment region deployed so as to be displaced by a terminal part of a closing motion of the panel against the strike jamb from the open position to the closed position, the mechanism being configured such that displacement of the panel abutment region by the terminal part of the closing motion of the panel results in a displacement of the locking element towards the locked state, and wherein, when displaced towards the locked state, the locking element passes a critical point of engagement between the panel and the strike jamb such that an opening force applied to the panel results in geometrical or frictional locking between the panel and the locking element opposing displacement of the locking element towards the unlocked state.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mechanism is configured such that completion of the closing motion of the panel can only occur when the locking element assumes the locked state.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is a door or other closable panel with a lock-actuating linkage which ensures a locking element is in its locked state whenever the panel is closed.
The principles and operation of doors and other panel closures according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
Referring first generically to all of
Thus, referring generically to all of the exemplary embodiments, apparatuses 10, 100, 200 and 300 relate to a panel closure for an opening bounded by a frame which includes a strike jamb 12. A panel 14 is mounted relative to the opening so as to be displaceable between an open position in which panel 14 is separated from strike jamb 12 to leave at least part of the opening open and a closed position in which panel 14 closes against strike jamb 12.
An example of an overall context of implementations of the present invention is illustrated in
Panel 14 is illustrated here as a door, and the terms door and panel will be used herein in the description interchangeably for convenience. It should be noted however that the present invention may be used to advantage with any type of opening and panel, including hinged and sliding windows. Furthermore, although illustrated in the context of a rectangular panel closing a rectangular opening, the invention may be applied to other standard and non-standard shapes of openings and panels. The features of embodiments of the present invention described below are best illustrated in enlarged, partial views of panel 14 and strike jamb 12, so other parts of the panel and frame have generally been omitted from the rest of the drawings.
Turning now again generically to
Also included in the apparatus is a linkage 22. Linkage 22 is deployed so as to be displaced by a terminal part of a closing motion of panel 14 against strike jamb 12 from the open position to the closed position. Linkage 22 is configured such that completion of the closing motion of panel 14 can only occur when locking element 20 assumes its locked state. Most preferably, linkage 22 is deployed such that force applied to displace panel 14 through the terminal part of the closing motion results in a force applied to locking element 20 to displace it towards its locked state.
The effect of the above structure according to various particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention is that the final part of the closing motion of the panel results in locking element 20 being reliably engaged to achieve a locked state of the panel. Conversely, if anything prevents the locking element from reaching its locked state, the panel cannot reach its fully closed position. This provides an immediate visual indication to the user of whether the door is properly locked: if the door is fully closed, it is known to be locked; if it is unlocked, it is visibly displaced from its fully closed position. This and other advantages of various preferred embodiments of the present invention will be better understood by reference to more detailed description below.
Linkage 22 here has panel-abutment region 30 against which the panel presses during the terminal portion of its closing motion and a locking element actuating region 32 which interacts with locking element 20. Regions 30 and 32 may be implemented as solid surfaces which abut directly against surfaces of panel 14 and locking element 20, respectively. Alternatively, one or both of these regions may be implemented with a friction-reducing contact configuration, such as bearing-mounted rollers 130 and 132 illustrated in
Linkage 22 may be a multi-link linkage employing various arrangements of rigid links (rods or the like) and pivots to achieve a desired conversion between (i.e., linking of) motion of the panel and motion of the locking element. However, in a preferred subset of implementations illustrated herein, it has been found particularly reliable and effective to employ a single, angled lever arm pivoted about an axis 34. (Lever arms with friction-reducing contact configurations such as the aforementioned rollers 130 and 132 that do not significantly alter the geometry of the interaction between linkage 22 and the abutting elements are also referred to herein as a single, angled lever arm.) The geometry of the angled lever arm is preferably chosen such that abutment regions 30 and 32 are positioned relative to axis 34 to redirect a force applied to panel 14 urging it towards its fully closed position into a force applied to locking element 20 displacing it towards its locked state. In the preferred but non-limiting examples illustrated here, linkage 22 is a roughly L-shaped lever arm, but it will be appreciated that the function of linkage 22 is determined primarily by the relative locations of abutment regions 30 and 32 and axis 34 such that the shape of the arm can be varied considerably without changing its function.
Most preferably, linkage 22 is configured to achieve some degree of mechanical motion amplification, meaning that a first displacement of the region of panel 14 contacting panel-abutment region 30 during the terminal part of the closing motion of the panel results in a second, larger displacement of at least part of locking element 20 towards its locked state. In certain implementations, this mechanical motion amplification is achieved wholly or in part by configuring linkage 22 so that locking element actuating region 32 undergoes a larger motion than panel-abutment region 30. In the single lever arm implementation, this is achieved by ensuring that locking element actuating region 32 is located further from axis 34 than panel-abutment region 30.
Additionally, or alternatively, the aforementioned motion amplification may be generated by the geometry of the interaction between locking element actuating region 32 and locking element 20. An example of such a geometry is seen in the sequence of
In order to ensure reliable locking when panel 14 is closed to the end of its motion, linkage 22 and locking element 20 are preferably configured to bring locking element to a critical point at which effective locking occurs prior to linkage 22 reaching the end of its motion. The “critical point” is defined here as a position of locking element 20 at which a force applied to reopen the panel will be effectively opposed by the locking effect of locking element 20. The locking effect achieved when locking element reaches or passes the critical point may occur through geometrical locking, where an opening force applied to the panel does not generate any component of force on locking element 20 towards its unlocked state. Alternatively, it may rely upon frictional locking, where the angle between a plane of surface contact between locking element 20 and the cooperating surface(s) of panel 14 (or in panel-mounted embodiments, between locking element 20 and the cooperating surfaces of strike jamb 12) is inclined to the direction of force applied by an opening motion of the panel by less than the angle of friction between the surfaces. In certain cases, the geometry of the surfaces cooperating with locking element 20 is implemented such that the critical point of locking occurs as soon as there is overlap between the surfaces.
In order to allow opening of the door or panel when desired, an opening mechanism (not shown) is typically associated with locking element 20 so as to allow selective displacement of locking element 20 away from its locked position towards its unlocked position. The opening mechanism may be any one or combination of a mechanical handle, a key operated mechanism, or an electronic actuation system. In one particularly simple implementation illustrated in
In the case of the pivotally-mounted locking elements of apparatuses 10, 100 and 200, locking element 20 is preferably formed with an inclined external surface such that the locking element is pushed aside during closing motion of panel 14. As a result, it is not typically critical whether the resting state of the assembly is with locking element 20 in the locked position (e.g., as in
Turning now briefly to apparatus 100 (
Turning now briefly to apparatus 200 (
Turning now to
In order to accommodate the pivotal-to-linear motion conversion between the pivotal motion of linkage 322 and the linear motion of locking element 320, a pin-in-slot or extra connecting linkage 338 may be provided.
Although preferred implementations of the invention maintain rigid mounting of linkage 322 about pivot axis 334 that is fixed in relation to panel 314 (or in a strike jamb-mounted embodiment, in fixed relation to the strike jamb) during closing of the panel, certain embodiments may provide an option of displacing pivot axis 334, for example in a slot 340 against a spring 342, to facilitate disengagement of locking element 320 during unlocking of the apparatus. This displacement is most preferably locked by a releasable retainer except during operation of an unlocking mechanism.
To the extent that the appended claims have been drafted without multiple dependencies, this has been done only to accommodate formal requirements in jurisdictions which do not allow such multiple dependencies. It should be noted that all possible combinations of features which would be implied by rendering the claims multiply dependent are explicitly envisaged and should be considered part of the invention.
It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16181409 | Nov 2018 | US |
Child | 16597865 | US | |
Parent | 15925784 | Mar 2018 | US |
Child | 16181409 | US | |
Parent | 14953356 | Nov 2015 | US |
Child | 15925784 | US |