1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to door locks, and, more particularly, to a lock assembly having a secured setscrew configuration to prevent unauthorized handle removal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A typical exterior lockset includes a handle for operating a retractable latch bolt. In some lock configurations, the handle may be readily removed from the exterior side of the door with the use of a simple tool.
What is needed in the art is a lock assembly configured to resist unauthorized handle removal from the lock assembly. The present invention provides such a solution.
The present invention provides a lock assembly configured to resist unauthorized handle removal from the lock assembly.
The invention, in one form thereof, is directed to a lock assembly. The lock assembly includes a latch assembly having a retractable bolt. A spindle assembly is operatively coupled to the latch assembly. A coupling mechanism is connected to the spindle assembly. The coupling mechanism has an outer sleeve rotatable around a first axis and has a longitudinal interior opening that extends along the first axis. A lockset includes an operator handle, a setscrew, and a keyed lock core. The operator handle includes a proximal lock core opening, and a distal shaft portion having an axial opening configured to receive the outer sleeve. The distal shaft portion and the outer sleeve are configured to define a through path oriented across the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve. A portion of the through path at the outer sleeve is configured to threadably receive the setscrew to fasten the operator handle to the outer sleeve. A keyed lock core has a tailpiece and is configured for insertion into the proximal lock core opening of the operator handle. The tailpiece is positioned in the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve to obstruct the through path and block access to the setscrew via the through path to prevent unauthorized removal of the operator handle.
The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a lock assembly. The lock assembly includes a latch assembly having a retractable bolt. A spindle assembly is operatively coupled to the latch assembly. A coupling mechanism is connected to the spindle assembly. The coupling mechanism has an outer sleeve rotatable around a first axis. The outer sleeve includes a sleeve side wall having an exterior surface and a longitudinal interior opening. The sleeve side wall has a sleeve threaded bore that extends through the sleeve side wall and a sleeve through hole that extends through the sleeve side wall. The sleeve through hole and the sleeve threaded bore are located along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and the sleeve through hole is diametrically opposed to the sleeve threaded bore across the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve. An exterior lockset is configured to be selectively coupled to the spindle assembly via the coupling mechanism. The exterior lockset includes an exterior operator handle, a set screw and a keyed lock core. The exterior operator handle includes a handle body having a proximal lock core opening and a distal shaft portion. The distal shaft portion includes a handle side wall having an exterior surface, and an axial opening that is longitudinally oriented and extends distally from the proximal lock core opening along the first axis. The axial opening is configured to receive the outer sleeve in a snug sliding fit. A handle through hole extends through the handle side wall in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and the axial opening. The axial opening defines an interior surface having a recess. The recess is at a location that is diametrically opposed to the handle through hole across the axial opening. The handle through hole and the recess of the handle body are axially aligned with the sleeve through hole and the sleeve threaded bore of the outer sleeve along the second axis when the exterior operator handle is installed on the outer sleeve of the coupling mechanism. The setscrew is configured to be received in the sleeve threaded bore of the outer sleeve. The setscrew has a distal end configured to protrude outwardly from the exterior surface of outer sleeve toward the distal shaft portion to engage the recess of the interior surface of the distal shaft portion of the handle body, so as to fasten the exterior operator handle to the outer sleeve of the coupling mechanism. The keyed lock core is configured for insertion into the proximal lock core opening of the handle body. The keyed lock core has a keyed rotatable cylinder and a tailpiece that is attached to and extends distally from the keyed rotatable cylinder. The tailpiece is positioned in the longitudinal interior opening of the outer sleeve so as to obstruct a through path along the second axis, wherein the tailpiece blocks access to the setscrew though the handle through hole of the handle body and the sleeve through hole of the outer sleeve of the coupling mechanism to prevent unauthorized removal of the exterior operator handle.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to
Referring to
Interior lockset 14 is configured such that interior operator handle 22 is always operatively coupled to latch assembly 18 during normal operation, such that a rotation of interior operator handle 22 always will result in a retraction of bolt 32.
Referring again to
One way to achieve the unlocked condition is for a valid credential, e.g., an RFID card, to be read by credential reader 28, which in turn sends a signal to control electronics module 24. Control electronics module 24 then compares the read credential to a database of stored authorized credentials, and if a match is found, responds by operatively coupling the exterior operator handle 26 to latch assembly 18 via a coupling mechanism 36 connected to spindle assembly 34.
Referring now also to
Coupling mechanism 36 includes an outer sleeve 48, which is rotatably mounted in exterior lockset 16, and extends outwardly from door 12 along an axis 50. Outer sleeve 48 includes a generally cylindrical side wall 52 having an exterior surface 54 and a longitudinal interior opening 56. A threaded bore 58 extends through side wall 52 from exterior surface 54 to longitudinal interior opening 56 in a direction that is generally perpendicular to axis 50 and longitudinal interior opening 56. A through hole 60 extends through side wall 52 from exterior surface 54 to longitudinal interior opening 56 in a direction that is generally perpendicular to axis 50 and interior opening 56. Through hole 60 is diametrically opposed to threaded bore 58 across longitudinal interior opening 56 of outer sleeve 48. Outer sleeve 48 may include a flat 62 on exterior surface 54 that coincides with the location of threaded bore 58. Flat 62 may be one of multiple flats on exterior surface 54.
Handle body 40 of exterior operator handle 26 includes a distal shaft portion 64 that includes a side wall 66 having an exterior surface 68 and a longitudinally oriented axial opening 70. Axial opening 70 is located distal to lock core opening 42, which combine to form a continuous longitudinal opening in exterior operator handle 26 along axis 50. Axial opening 70 is sized and shaped to receive the exterior surface 54 of outer sleeve 48 in a snug sliding fit, and includes a flat 72 that corresponds to flat 62 of outer sleeve 48.
As best shown in
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7-10, when handle body 40 of exterior operator handle 26 is properly positioned over outer sleeve 48, then through hole 74 and recess 78 of handle body 40 will be axially aligned with through hole 60 and threaded bore 58 of outer sleeve 48, with respect to an axis 80 that is perpendicular to axis 50, to define a through path to recess 78, in the absence of tailpiece 46.
Referring to
When setscrew 82 is tightened by the hex wrench 88, exterior operator handle 26 is restricted from longitudinal motion along axis 50, and thus restricted from removal so long as setscrew 82 is tightly engaged with recess 78 of distal shaft portion 64 of handle body 40.
In order to prevent unauthorized removal of exterior operator handle 26 and/or tampering with setscrew 82, handle body 40 and outer sleeve 48 are configured such that when keyed lock core 38 is installed in exterior operator handle 26, tailpiece 46 is positioned in the longitudinal interior opening 56 of outer sleeve 48 so as to obstruct the through path along axis 80, and thus tailpiece 46 blocks access to setscrew 82 though the through hole 74 of handle body 40 and through hole 60 of outer sleeve 48. Accordingly, access to setscrew 82 is prevented so long as keyed lock core 38 and tailpiece 46 are in their respective installed positions in exterior operator handle 26. Thus, after exterior operator handle 26, keyed lock core 38 and tailpiece 46 are installed, exterior operator handle 26 cannot be removed from outer sleeve 48 without first removing keyed lock core 38 and tailpiece 46.
The interchangeable keyed lock core 38 is configured with a retractable mounting feature 90 (see
Thus, only authorized individuals with a control key 94 can remove keyed lock core 38 and tailpiece 46 from exterior operator handle 26 to gain access to setscrew 82 that secures exterior operator handle 26 to outer sleeve 48 of exterior lockset 16. This adds additional security to lock assembly 10 on the keyed (exterior) side of door 12, while still permitting exterior handle replacement without having to remove the entire exterior lockset 16 to do so.
While this invention has been described with respect to embodiments of the invention, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/738,975, entitled “LOCK ASSEMBLY HAVING SECURED SETSCREW CONFIGURATION TO PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED HANDLE REMOVAL”, filed Dec. 18, 2012, from which priority is claimed, and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61738975 | Dec 2012 | US |