1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lock assembly for selectively locking and unlocking a door using a key.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The lock assemblies of the prior art are typically used for locking a door or a window. An example of such a configuration for locking a door is shown in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0011239 to Lurie, et al. The lock assembly disclosed in this publication has multiple parts specific to either a first lock configuration or a second lock configuration. Typically, the first lock configuration is commonly referred to as a mortise cylinder and the second lock configuration is commonly referred to as a rim cylinder. The mortise cylinder includes a first actuator and a first drive member coupled to each other such that rotation of the first drive member rotates the first actuator to lock and unlock the door. The rim cylinder includes a second actuator and a second drive member coupled to each other such that rotation of the second drive member rotates the second actuator to lock and unlock the door. Meaning, each of the mortise and rim cylinders require a different drive member to lock and unlock the door.
Another example of a lock assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,033 to Deckert. The lock assembly disclosed in this patent includes a housing for mounting to a door. The lock assembly includes a drive member integral disposed on a plug for either a first lock configuration or a second lock configuration. Again, the first lock configuration is commonly referred to as a mortise cylinder and the second lock configuration is commonly referred to as a rim cylinder. The mortise cylinder includes a first actuator and the rim cylinder includes a second actuator. The first actuator is coupled to the drive member for the first lock configuration or the second actuator is coupled to the drive member in the second lock configuration independently from the first actuator. In either situation, since the drive member is integral with the plug, the housing must be removed from the door in order to remove the plug from the housing because the actuator coupled to the drive member cannot be pulled through the housing. Meaning, the first actuator or the second actuator must be detached from the drive member before the plug may be removed from the housing.
In addition, the housing defines a plurality of bores for receiving a plurality of pins and a plurality of springs which allow the plug to rotate when a key is inserted in a slot of the plug. However, the pins and springs are separate and distinct component from the plug. Therefore, to remove the pins and springs, the lock assembly must be disassembled which is difficult and time consuming.
Therefore, there remains a need to design a lock assembly having a universal drive member that accommodates both a first lock configuration and a second lock configuration while providing a way to detach the universal drive member from a core to allow the core to be replaced by a second core to lock and unlock the door without disassembling the lock assembly.
The present invention provides for a lock assembly having an arm coupled to a latch for selectively locking and unlocking a door using a key. The lock assembly includes a housing for mounting to the door with a core removably disposed in the housing. A first actuator is coupled to the housing for defining a first lock configuration and for engaging the arm to retract the latch to unlock the door. A second actuator is coupled to the housing independently from the first actuator for defining a second lock configuration and for engaging the arm to retract the latch to unlock the door. The core includes a keyway for receiving the key and is rotatable within the core between a locked position and an unlocked position. A universal drive member is coupled to the keyway and movable with the keyway between the locked and unlocked positions with the universal drive member interchangeably receiving the first actuator and the second actuator while the keyway remains in the core for interchanging the lock assembly between the first lock configuration and the second lock configuration.
The present invention therefore provides for a lock assembly having a universal drive member interchangeably receiving a first actuator and a second actuator while a keyway remains in a core for interchanging the lock assembly between a first lock configuration and a second lock configuration. In addition, the universal drive member is easily separable from the core to easily change the core with a second core without disassembling the lock assembly. Additionally, the lock assembly provides a way to reduce inventory by eliminating the need for multiple drive members and multiple housings for each of the first and second lock configurations, which ultimately reduces cost.
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a lock assembly 20 having an arm 22 coupled to a latch 24 for selectively locking and unlocking a door 26 using a key 28 is generally shown in
Referring to
Also referring to
Referring to
The core 62 includes a keyway 70 for receiving the key 28 and is rotatable within the core 62 between a locked position 74 and an unlocked position 76. More specifically, the keyway 70 defines a slot 72 for receiving the key 28 and is rotatable within the core 62 upon insertion of the key 28 within the slot 72. The keyway 70 further defines a plurality of orifices 78 and will be discussed below. As best shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The universal drive member 90 includes at least one protrusion 92 for receiving at least one of the first actuator 86 and the second actuator 88. The at least one protrusion 92 is further defined as a first protrusion 92a and a second protrusion 92b with the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b each defining a hole 94. As shown in
Referring back to
The universal drive member 90 further includes a first side 100 and a second side 102 opposing one another with the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b disposed on the first side 100 and the posts 98 disposed on the second side 102 and extending into the housing 30. The universal drive member 90 defines a plurality of openings 104 disposed through the first and second sides 100, 102 for receiving the posts 98. The first and second protrusions 92a, 92b are spaced from each other and spaced from the openings 104. The universal drive member 90 includes a periphery 106 with the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b disposed adjacent the periphery 106. The first and second protrusions 92a, 92b extend a predetermined distance away from the first side 100 of the universal drive member 90. More specifically, the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b extend transverse the periphery 106. Preferably, the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b are disposed between the periphery 106. The openings 104 of the universal drive member 90 are spaced from the periphery 106 and the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b such that the openings 104 are disposed between the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b.
The universal drive member 90 defines a groove 108 disposed between the first and second sides 100, 102 to define a recessed surface 110. More specifically, the groove 108 is disposed in the periphery 106 of the universal drive member 90. The flange 36 of the housing 30 is disposed in the groove 108 of the universal drive member 90 for retaining the universal drive member 90 to the housing 30. The second side 102 of the universal drive member 90 is disposed in the second chamber 34. More specifically, the second side 102 and the recessed surface 110 of the universal drive member 90 are disposed in the second chamber 34 with the second chamber 34 of the housing 30 complementary in configuration to the second side 102 and the recessed surface 110 of the universal drive member 90.
The universal drive member 90 includes the posts 98 and a first portion 112 having the first side 100, the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b, the recessed surface 110, the openings 104, and the periphery 106. The first portion 112 abuts the back side 40 of the housing 30 with the recessed surface 110 disposed in the second chamber 34 and abutting the flange 36. The universal drive member 90 further includes a plate 114 having the periphery 106 and the second side 102. The plate 114 abuts the first portion 112 and is spaced from the first side 100 of the first portion 112. Meaning the plate 114 is disposed adjacent the recessed surface 110. The plate 114 is disposed in the second chamber 34 and abuts the flange 36 with the second side 102 spaced from the flange 36. The posts 98 are disposed through the openings 104 in the plate 114 and disposed in the openings 104 of the first portion 112 to secure to the plate 114 to the first portion 112 and ultimately to retain the universal drive member 90 to the housing 30. Meaning the first portion 112 is coupled to the plate 114 by the posts 98. The posts 98 are disposed in the second chamber 34 of the housing 30 and pressed through the opening 104 of the plate 114 and pressed in the openings 104 of the first portion 112 for securing the plate 114 to the first portion 112. Meaning the posts 98 are press fit in the openings 104 of the plate 114 and the first portion 112. However, it is to be appreciated that the posts 98 may be secured to the first portion 112 by friction fit, interference fit, or any other method of attachment known in the art. The universal drive member 90 is retained to the housing 30 in such a way as to allow the universal drive member 90 to rotate freely relative to the housing 30.
Referring back to
The first actuator 86 includes an extension 120 spaced from the recess 116 for engaging the arm 22 to retract the latch 24 and unlock the door 26. The second actuator 88 includes a washer 122 defining the recess 116 and a tail member 124 extending from the washer 122. The tail member 124 includes a plurality of knobs 126 spaced from each other and coupled to the protrusion 92 with an elongated appendage 128 extending from the knobs 126 for engaging the arm 22 to retract the latch 24 and unlock the door 26. More specifically, the knobs 126 are disposed between the first and second protrusions 92a, 92b. The elongated appendage 128 of the tail member 124 is disposed through one of the cutouts 60 of the back plate 58. The cutout 60 of the back plate 58 allows the elongated appendage 128 to rotate freely without interference from the back plate 58. Preferably, the elongated appendage 128 is disposed between the rim fasteners 56. The washer 122 defines a passage 130 for receiving the elongated appendage 128 with the passage 130 extending transverse to the recess 116. More specifically, the passage 130 intersects the recess 116 of the washer 122.
Referring to
In this embodiment, the protrusion 92 is elongated and extends between the periphery 106 such that the second protrusion 92b is eliminated. The holes 94 are spaced from the protrusion 92 and are disposed in the first side 100 of the universal drive member 90. The first actuator 86 defines an aperture 132 complementary in configuration to the protrusion 92 for mounting the first actuator 86 to the protrusion 92 to allow the first actuator 86 to rotate with the universal drive member 90 when the keyway 70 rotates between the locked and unlocked positions 74, 76. More specifically, the aperture 132 is complementary in configuration to both the protrusion 92 and the fasteners 96.
The washer 122 of the second actuator 88 further defines a slit 134 transverse the recess 116 for receiving the tail member 124. The slit 134 is disposed on an opposite side from the recess 116 such that the slit 134 and the recess 116 do not intersect. The voids 118 are disposed in the slit 134 and through the washer 122. The fasteners 96 are disposed through the voids 118 and in the holes 94 of the universal drive member 90 for securing the washer 122 to the universal drive member 90. More specifically, the slit 134 of the washer 122 receives the knobs 126 of the tail member 124. The washer 122 further includes a backing 136 mounted to the washer 122 and defining the passage 130 for receiving the tail member 124. The slit 134 of the washer 122 and the passage 130 of the backing 136 are parallel to each other. The backing 136 and the washer 122 each define a plurality of hollows 138 with the hollows 138 of the backing 136 parallel to the hollows 138 of the washer 122 for securing the backing 136 to the washer 122 using a plurality of screws 140. However, it is to be appreciated that the backing 136 may be secured to the washer 122 in any acceptable method of attachment known in the art. The hollows 138 of the backing 136 are spaced from the passage 130 of the backing 136. In addition, the hollows 138 of the washer 122 are spaced from the voids 118 of the washer 122. More specifically, the hollows 138 are spaced from the slit 134 of the washer 122.
Below is a discussion of using the lock assembly 20 to lock and unlock the door 26 and will assume, for illustration purposes only, that the lock assembly 20 is mounted to the door 26 in the first lock configuration. The key 28 is inserted in the slot 72 of the keyway 70 while in the locked position 74, which cause the pins 66 and springs 68 within the core 62 move to the appropriate position to allow the keyway 70 to turn. The keyway 70 rotates when the key 28 moves from the lock position to the unlocked position 76, which rotates the posts 98 and the universal drive member 90. Rotation of the universal drive member 90 causes the first actuator 86 to rotate and engage the arm 22 which retracts the latch 24 to unlock the door 26. To lock the door 26, the key 28 is rotated back from the unlocked position 76 to the locked position 74 which rotates the first actuator 86, the universal drive member 90, and the keyway 70 back to the locked position 74.
Below is a discussion of the differences between the mortise cylinder and the rim cylinder. The first lock configuration is shown in
The second lock configuration is shown in
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards; thus, the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/782,943 filed Mar. 16, 2006.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3404549 | Best | Oct 1968 | A |
4075878 | Best | Feb 1978 | A |
4328690 | Oliver | May 1982 | A |
4444033 | Deckert | Apr 1984 | A |
4926670 | Deforrest, Sr. | May 1990 | A |
5036575 | Campion et al. | Aug 1991 | A |
5193372 | Sieg et al. | Mar 1993 | A |
5233851 | Florian | Aug 1993 | A |
5884512 | Wayne | Mar 1999 | A |
5970760 | Shen | Oct 1999 | A |
6109080 | Chen et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6314774 | Anderson | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6606890 | Widen | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6883356 | Wu | Apr 2005 | B1 |
6889533 | Fuller | May 2005 | B2 |
20050011239 | Lurie et al. | Jan 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20070227209 A1 | Oct 2007 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60782943 | Mar 2006 | US |