Patent Application
20200291678
The present disclosure generally relates to latch mechanisms, and more particularly but not exclusively relates to latch mechanisms for locksets.
In situations in which electronic access control to a doorway is desired, there are typically two primary options that may be pursued. The first option is to install an electronic access control device such as an electric strike to the doorframe, while the second option involves installing an electronic access control device such as an electrified lockset to the door itself. While electric strikes allow for a more seamless push/pull operation of the door by removing the need to rotate a door handle, electric strikes can be difficult and costly to retrofit into existing doorframes. Conversely, electronic locksets can easily be installed to an existing door, but typically require that the user rotate the handle in order to retract the latchbolt even when the lockset is in the unlocked state. For these reasons among others, there remains a need for further improvements in this technological field.
An exemplary latchbolt assembly includes a latchbolt, a locking sleeve, and a roller engaged between the latchbolt and the locking sleeve. The latchbolt is configured to drive the roller from a first position to a second position as the latchbolt moves from a projected position to a depressed position. The locking sleeve includes a blocking surface and a recessed portion. When the blocking surface is aligned with the roller, the locking sleeve retains the roller in the first position, thereby retaining the latchbolt in the projected position. When the recessed portion is aligned with the roller, the locking sleeve permits movement of the roller from the first position to the second position, thereby enabling depression of the latchbolt. Further embodiments, forms, features, and aspects of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
Although the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described herein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the present disclosure and the appended claims.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. It should further be appreciated that although reference to a “preferred” component or feature may indicate the desirability of a particular component or feature with respect to an embodiment, the disclosure is not so limiting with respect to other embodiments, which may omit such a component or feature. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
Additionally, it should be appreciated that items included in a list in the form of “at least one of A, B, and C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (B and C); (A and C); or (A, B, and C). Similarly, items listed in the form of “at least one of A, B, or C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (B and C); (A and C); or (A, B, and C). Further, with respect to the claims, the use of words and phrases such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” and/or “at least one portion” should not be interpreted so as to be limiting to only one such element unless specifically stated to the contrary, and the use of phrases such as “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” should be interpreted as encompassing both embodiments including only a portion of such element and embodiments including the entirety of such element unless specifically stated to the contrary.
In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown certain in specific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should be appreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not necessarily be required. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged in a different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures unless indicated to the contrary. Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in a particular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required in all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may be omitted or may be combined with other features.
With reference to
The lockset 100 is mounted to the door 80, and generally includes an inside assembly 110 mounted to the inner side 81 of the door 80, an outside assembly 120 mounted to the outer side 82 of the door 80, a chassis 130 mounted within the cutout 83, a latchbolt assembly 140 operably connected with the chassis 130 and operable to extend beyond a swinging edge 84 of the door 80, and a control assembly 150 operable to transition the latchbolt assembly 140 between a locking state and an unlocking state. As described herein, the lockset 100 has a locked state in which the latchbolt assembly 140 is in its locking state and the door 80 cannot be opened from the outer side 82, and an unlocked state in which the latchbolt assembly 140 is in its unlocking state and the door 80 can be opened from the outer side 82.
The inside assembly 110 includes an inside actuator 112 that is operably connected to the chassis 130 such that the inside actuator 112 is at least selectively operable to actuate the latchbolt assembly 140. In the illustrated form, the inside actuator 112 is provided in the form of a handle, and more particularly as a lever. In other embodiments, the inside actuator 112 may be provided in another form, such as that of a knob, a thumbturn, a pushbar mechanism, a lock cylinder, or a fixed pull-handle. As described in further detail below, the inside actuator 112 is operably connected with the latchbolt assembly 140 via the chassis 130 such that the inside actuator is operable to drive a latchbolt 142 of the latchbolt assembly 140 from an extended position to a retracted position, even when the latchbolt assembly 140 is in its locking state. The inside assembly 110 further includes a lock state selector 114 operable to transition the lockset 100 between the locked state and the unlocked state. As described herein, the lock state selector 114 is connected with the control assembly 150 and is operable to cause the control assembly 150 to transition the latchbolt assembly 140 between its locking and unlocking states.
The outside assembly 120 includes an outside actuator 122 that, in the illustrated form, is provided in the form of a handle, and more particularly as a lever. In other embodiments, the outside actuator 122 may be provided in another form, such as that of a knob or a fixed pull-handle. The outside assembly 120 may further include a credential reader 124 in communication with the control assembly 150. The credential reader 124 may, for example, take the form of a card reader, a keypad, or a biometric credential reader. During operation of the lockset 100, presentation of an appropriate credential to the credential reader 124 (e.g., by inputting a code or presenting a card, a fob, or a biometric input) causes the control assembly 150 to transition the latchbolt assembly 140 from the locking state to the unlocking state. As described in further detail below, the outside assembly may further include a lock cylinder operably coupled with the latchbolt assembly 140 such that the lock cylinder is operable to mechanically override the electronic operation of the latchbolt assembly.
The chassis 130 is mounted within the door cutout 83 and includes a retractor 132 that connects the inside actuator 112 with the latchbolt assembly 140 such that the inside actuator 112 is operable to move the latchbolt assembly 140 from a locking state to an unlocking state. The chassis 130 may, for example, take the form of a mortise-format chassis, a cylindrical-format chassis, or a tubular-format chassis, the features of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In certain embodiments, the chassis 130 may be omitted, and the latchbolt assembly 140 may be directly connected with the inside actuator 112.
The latchbolt assembly 140 includes a latchbolt 142 having a projected position and a depressed position. With the latchbolt 142 in the projected position and the door 80 in the closed position, a nose 143 of the latchbolt 142 extends into the strike pocket 94. When the latchbolt assembly 140 is in the unlocking state, the latchbolt 142 is free to move from its projected position to its depressed position during push/pull operation of the door 80. Thus, when the door 80 is pushed or pulled toward its open position, the strike plate 93 contacts the nose 143 and urges the latchbolt 142 toward its depressed position. When the latchbolt assembly 140 is in the locking state, the latchbolt 142 is prevented from moving to its depressed position, but the latchbolt assembly 140 is capable of being moved to its unlocking state by operating the inside actuator 112. Thus, push/pull operation of the door 80 is prevented, but the latchbolt 142 is nonetheless capable of being depressed when the inside actuator 112 is manipulated appropriately.
As used herein, the term “push/pull operation of the door” indicates that the door 80 is merely being pushed or pulled without the user rotating or otherwise manipulating either manual actuator 112, 122. Thus, when push/pull operation of the door is enabled, the door 80 can be opened merely by pushing or pulling the door 80 without requiring the user to rotate or otherwise manipulate either manual actuator 112, 122.
With additional reference to
In certain embodiments, the inside assembly 110 includes a touch sensor (e.g., a capacitive touch sensor) in communication with the control assembly 150. For example, the lock state selector 114 may comprise the touch sensor, and may be installed to the inside actuator 112. In such forms, the control assembly 150 may cause the latchbolt assembly 140 to transition to the unlocked state in response to detecting a touch via the touch sensor. Such embodiments may provide for seamless and transparent push/pull operation from the inside of the door 80 while maintaining the door 80 in a locked state when no user is grasping the inside actuator 112. The inside assembly 110 may include a mechanical override feature (e.g., a thumbturn) to ensure functionality of the lockset 100 in the event of power failure. The outside assembly 120 may similarly include a mechanical override feature (e.g., a lock cylinder) in addition or as an alternative to the credential reader 124.
With additional reference to
The housing assembly 210 includes a faceplate 212, an outer housing 214 mounted to the faceplate 212, and an inner housing 216 mounted to the faceplate 212 and positioned within the outer housing 214. The faceplate 212 defines an opening 213, and is configured for mounting to the free edge 84 of the door 80. The outer housing 214 extends distally from the faceplate 212, and the locking sleeve 220 and the actuator assembly 240 are movably mounted within the outer housing 214. The inner housing 216 also extends distally from the faceplate 212, and the latchbolt 230 is movably mounted within the inner housing 216. The inner housing 216 includes an aperture 218 in which the roller 208 is seated. The first spring 204 is seated in the outer housing 214 and is engaged with the actuator assembly 240, and the second spring 206 is seated in the inner housing 216 and engaged with the latchbolt 230.
The latchbolt 230 is selectively movable relative to the inner housing 216 between a projected position and a depressed position. With the latchbolt 230 in its projected position and the door 80 is in its closed position, the latchbolt 230 projects into the strike pocket 94. In this state, the door 80 can be moved to the open position by moving the latchbolt 230 to its depressed position, which may be accomplished by urging the door 80 toward its open position such that the strike 93 urges the latchbolt 230 toward its depressed position. As described herein, movement of the latchbolt 230 from the projected position to the depressed position is selectively prevented by the locking sleeve 220 and the roller 208.
In the illustrated form, the roller 208 is generally spherical. In other embodiments, the roller 208 may be cylindrical or have another shape. Additionally, while four rollers 208 are illustrated in the Figures, it is to be appreciated that more or fewer rollers 208 may be utilized.
In certain embodiments, the latchbolt assembly 200 may include a single roller 208. For ease and convenience of description, certain descriptions hereinafter will be made with reference to a single roller 208 and corresponding features. It is to be appreciated, however, that such descriptions may be equally applicable to embodiments in which the latchbolt assembly 200 includes plural rollers 208. For example, while the inner housing 216 is described herein as including an aperture 218 operable to receive the roller 208, such a description should also be appreciated to indicate that the inner housing 216 may include a plurality of apertures 218, each operable to receive a corresponding and respective one of a plurality of rollers 208.
The locking sleeve 220 is movably seated in the outer housing 210, and includes a recessed portion 222 (
In the illustrated form, the recessed portion 222 includes a first recess 223 and a second recess 224, which respectively correspond to a first unlocking position and a second unlocking position. More particularly, the first recess 223 is aligned with the roller 208 when the locking sleeve 220 is in the first unlocking position (
The latchbolt 230 includes a nose 232, a body portion 234 from which the nose 232 extends, and an annular channel 236 formed in the body portion 234. Unlike traditional latchbolts, which have a tapered side and a flat side, the nose 232 includes two tapered sides. In certain forms, the nose 232 may be generally conical, while in other forms, the nose 232 may be wedge-shaped. The annular channel 236 is configured to partially receive the roller 208, and defines a ramp 237 configured to drive the roller 208 radially outward as the latchbolt 230 is urged from its projected position to its depressed position. When the roller 208 is blocked from moving to its radially-outward position, interference between the ramp 237 and the roller 208 prevents depression of the latchbolt 230, thereby retaining the latchbolt 230 in its projected position. In the illustrated form, the latchbolt 230 includes an annular channel 236 operable to partially received each of the rollers. In other embodiments, the latchbolt 230 may include one or more discrete dimples, each of which is operable to partially receive a corresponding and respective roller 208.
When the latchbolt 230 is in its projected position, the annular channel 236 is aligned with the aperture 218 and is operable to partially receive the roller 208. As the latchbolt 230 is urged toward its depressed position (e.g., by the strike 93 as the door 80 is urged from its closed position toward its open position), the ramp 237 urges the roller 208 radially outward. If the locking sleeve 220 is in either unlocking position when this occurs, the roller 208 is free to move radially outward and into the recessed portion 222. However, if the locking sleeve 220 is in the locking position when the latchbolt is urged toward its depressed position, the roller 208 instead contacts the blocking surface 226, which prevents radially outward movement of the roller 208, thereby preventing depression of the latchbolt 230. Thus, the locking sleeve 220 and the roller 208 cooperate to permit depression of the latchbolt 230 when the locking sleeve 220 is in either unlocking position, and retain the latchbolt 230 in its projected position when the locking sleeve 220 is in its locking position.
The actuator assembly 240 is seated in the outer housing 210, and generally includes an actuating sleeve 242 and a motor 244 including a body portion 245 and a shaft 246 that is engaged with the locking sleeve 220 such that the motor 244 is operable to rotate the locking sleeve 220. The actuator assembly 240 is operably connected with the locking sleeve 220 such that the actuator assembly 240 is operable to move the locking sleeve 220 between its locking position and its unlocking positions. The motor 244 is in communication with the control assembly 150 such that the control assembly 150 is operable to cause the motor 244 to rotate the locking sleeve 220 between its locking position (
The motor 244 is configured to drive the locking sleeve 220 from its locking position to its first unlocking position in response to an unlock signal received from the control assembly 150, and to drive the locking sleeve 220 from its first unlocking position to its locking position in response to a lock signal received from the control assembly 150. In the illustrated form, the motor 244 is provided in the form of a rotary motor, such as a stepping motor, and the body portion 245 is configured to rotate the output shaft 246 to rotate the locking sleeve 220 between its locking position and its first unlocking position. It is also contemplated that the motor 244 may be another form of rotary actuator, such as a rotary solenoid.
With additional reference to
With the door 80 in the closed position, the latchbolt assembly 200 may be in a locking state in which the latchbolt assembly 200 prevents push/pull operation of the door 80. In this state (
With the door 80 in the closed position, the latchbolt assembly 200 may be in a first unlocking state in which the latchbolt assembly 200 permits push/pull operation of the door 80. In this state (
When the latchbolt assembly 200 is in its locking state (
With additional reference to
In certain embodiments, the cam 133 may be coupled to a spindle or a tailpiece of a mechanical override such that the mechanical override is operable to unlock the latchbolt assembly 200 regardless of whether the control assembly 150 has placed the latchbolt assembly 200 in the unlocked state. As one example, the mechanical override may include the inner actuator 112, such as a rotatable handle or thumbturn. Additionally or alternatively, the mechanical override may include a lock cylinder, such as one included in the outside assembly 120. In either event, actuation of the mechanical override serves to move the locking sleeve 220 from its locked position to its second unlocking position in the manner described above.
With additional reference to
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions are desired to be protected. It should be understood that while the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or more preferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.
