Lock sensor detection system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6441735
  • Patent Number
    6,441,735
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, February 21, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 27, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
Apparatus for providing a signal in response to the actuation of an internal lock mechanism for a door latch to a locked condition of the door latch and for detecting the locked condition when the door is in a closed position with the door latch bolt in the door jamb. Detection apparatus is located in the door jamb and senses the lock signal and in turn can provide a signal locally or to a remote security or surveillance system indicating the locked or unlocked condition of the latch bolt when the door is in the closed position.
Description




FIELD OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to sensor systems for detecting the locked or unlocked condition primarily for openings such as doors for homes and buildings.




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




It is well established to provide means to detect the locked or unlocked condition of a door and to transmit a signal indicative of this condition to a central or local alarm or surveillance system. With doors such sensing is commonly done by detection of the position of a dead bolt. Many conventional locks for doors, however, do not utilize dead bolts for locking but instead provide locking by an internal lock of the door latch bolt or door knob. In the present invention a simple system is provided in which a signal is generated upon actuation of the lock for the latch bolt. At the same time, however, detection apparatus is provided in the door jamb in the door frame such that the locked condition is sensed only when the door is closed and the latch bolt is located in the door jamb. Now the signal can be readily transmitted to a central alarm or surveillance system or a local display whereby an indication will be provided of the locked or unlocked condition of the latch bolt and hence of the door when the latch bolt is engaged in the door jamb.




The apparatus of the present invention being of a relatively simple construction can be made to readily replace existing door latch assemblies as a retrofit. In addition it can be applied to some existing door latch assembly designs.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In one form of the present invention, the signal generating and detecting apparatus utilizes a permanent magnet which is pivotally mounted in a door latch assembly within the door. Upon actuation of the lock for the latch bolt the magnet is pivoted into alignment with a magnetic circuit that extends through the latch bolt. A detector, such as a reed switch, is located in that part of the magnetic circuit in the door jamb and will sense the presence and locked condition of the latch bolt when the magnetic field is energized by the pivotal location of the magnet into the magnetic circuit in response to actuation of the lock.




In a preferred form of the invention, magnetic signal generating detection apparatus is used in a compact construction readily adaptable for a conventional door latch assembly. However, as will be seen other forms of non-contact signal generating and detecting apparatus may be used.




Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a contactless detection system for a door latch assembly for detecting and providing a signal upon closure of a door and placing the latch bolt in a locked condition.




It is another object of the present invention to provide a contactless detection system utilizing a magnetically actuated circuit for detecting and providing a signal upon closure of a door and placing the latch bolt in a locked condition.




It is still another object of the present invention to provide a contactless detection system adaptable for use with door latch assembly designs of generally conventional constructions and for detecting and providing a signal upon closure of a door and placing the latch bolt in a locked condition.




Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The present invention will become more fully understood and apparent from the detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

is a top elevational view of a generally conventional door latch assembly modified to include the lock sensor alarm system of the present invention with some parts shown in section and others shown broken away and with a reed switch shown in phantom and includes a pair of door knob subassemblies with a key lock actuated door knob subassembly shown on one side and a non-key, ribbed pivot button lock actuated subassembly shown in phantom on the opposite side;





FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the door latch assembly of

FIG. 1

showing only the key actuated door knob subassembly;





FIG. 3

is an exploded perspective view of the portion of the door latch assembly of

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 4

is a top elevational view of the key lock actuated door knob subassembly of

FIG. 1

in the locked condition;





FIG. 5

is a sectional view of the door knob subassembly of

FIG. 4

taken along the lines


5





5


in FIG.


4


and showing the lock in the actuated locked condition with a sensor actuating pivot plate shown in phantom in its locked sensing position;





FIG. 6

is a top elevational view similar to

FIG. 4

with the key lock deactuated to the unlocked condition with the sensor actuating pivot plate shown in phantom in its unlocked sensing position;





FIG. 7

is a sectional view taken along the lines


7





7


in FIG.


6


and showing the lock in the deactuated condition;





FIG. 8

is a side elevational view of the door latch assembly of

FIG. 1

taken generally along the lines


8





8


in FIG.


1


and with some elements shown in section;





FIG. 9

is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view taken in the Circle


9


in FIG.


8


and depicting a part of the magnetic actuator;





FIG. 10

is an end view of the door latch assembly taken generally in the direction of the Arrow


10


in

FIG. 1

but with the opposite door knob apparatus shown in solid lines and also showing the location of the reed switch used to detect a locked or unlocked condition; and





FIG. 11

is a side elevational view of the door latch assembly similar to

FIG. 8

showing the key actuated door knob apparatus in the closed and locked condition with the magnetic detection apparatus in the locked condition and with the magnetic circuit shown in shaded lines and with the related elements of the door latch assembly shown in phantom lines.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Looking now to the drawings, it can be seen that the basic construction of the door latch assembly is of one well known in the art. As will be seen, however, the present invention provides a unique lock sensor detection system for use in general with basic door latch assemblies with relatively minor changes. In this regard the door latch assembly shown by way of example, has the basic construction of a form made by D.S. & A. Inc. and sold under Part No. 51073 and except for the changes as described is of that basic construction. A similar unit is made and sold by Kwikset Corporation.




In

FIG. 1

, the door latch assembly


10


is shown mounted to a door


12


(shown in phantom) and includes a first door knob subassembly


14


mounted on one side of the door


12


and a second door knob subassembly


16


(shown in phantom) mounted on the opposite side of the door


12


. The first door knob subassembly


14


includes a rotatable door knob


18


mounted to the door


12


by connection with a generally circular face plate


20


. Similarly, the second door knob subassembly


16


includes a rotatable door knob


22


mounted to the door


12


by connection with a second generally circular face plate


24


. In this regard, the first and second knob subassemblies


14


and


16


are held to the door


12


in operative alignment with each other by means of the interconnection of two threaded bolts


26


extending through face plate


24


and being threadably engaged with two internally threaded studs


28


connected to the face plate


20


. The face plates


20


and


24


are formed with relatively shallow cavities on their inner sides.




Looking now to

FIGS. 1-3

and


8


, a semicircularly shaped rotator shaft


30


is rotatably connected to the first knob


18


and extends through the door


12


and into rotatable engagement with the second knob


22


. In this way rotation of either door knob


18


,


22


will rotate the other by way of the rotator shaft


30


. As will be seen the diametrically opposite edges


31


of the rotator shaft


30


are used for engagement with driving components with the door knobs


18


,


22


and also with selectively actuable locking components, to be described, whereby rotation of door knobs


18


,


22


will be prevented when the door latch assembly


10


is placed in its locked condition.




A latch assembly


29


includes an elongated latch bolt


32


supported in a housing subassembly


40


. Either of the door knob subassemblies


14


and


16


are mounted for driving a latch assembly generally indicated at


29


within the door


12


to move a latch bolt generally indicated at


32


and an anti-tamper rod generally indicated at


33


from extended to retracted and from retracted to extended positions at a door edge generally indicated at


35


, again, all in a usual manner. The anti-tamper rod


33


is resiliently movable relative to the latch bolt


32


to inhibit tampering with the latch bolt


32


from outside of the door


12


. As pointed out, the principles of the present invention relate to a lock sensor detection system so that the door knob subassemblies


14


and


16


, and the latch assembly


29


including the latch bolt


32


and anti-tamper rod


33


may generally be of conventional constructions adaptable for satisfying the interaction of the combinations but with modifications for the sensing operation to be described and thus certain details thereof have been omitted for purposes of simplicity and brevity.




The latch bolt


32


has a nose portion


38


adapted to be movably located in an opening


34


in a door jamb


36


whereby the door


12


can be opened or closed. In this regard the outer nose portion


38


is tapered on one side to facilitate closure from one side and is substantially flat on the opposite side to block opening of the door


12


by pushing in that direction when located in the door jamb opening


34


. In this regard a molding


39


is fixed to the wall of the door jamb


36


in a position to engage the door


12


on the tapered side of the nose portion


38


to prevent excessive movement of the door


12


in that direction after the nose portion


38


is located in the door jamb opening


34


. As can be seen in

FIGS. 1 and 3

the latch bolt


32


is supported in housing subassembly


40


with the nose portion


38


operatively connected to an inwardly extending, generally flat extension plate


52


which in turn is movably connected to a generally flat drive plate


42


. The anti-tamper rod


33


is of a conventional construction noted and does not interact with the lock sensor detection system and hence the details thereof have been omitted.




The housing subassembly


40


includes a generally cylindrical housing section


44


in which the latch bolt


32


is slidably supported. The drive plate


42


has an elongated center opening or slot


41


to provide clearance with the outer one of the threaded studs


28


. The extension plate


52


of the latch bolt


32


is attached to the inner end of the latch bolt nose portion


38


and extends axially inwardly therefrom and into the housing section


44


. At the same time the extension plate


52


has a stud


55


which extends transversely into the slot


41


whereby the extension plate


52


and hence latch bolt


32


will be moved to the retracted position by inward movement of the drive plate


42


. The latch bolt


32


is normally resiliently biased with its nose portion


38


extending outwardly by a spring (not shown) inside of the cylindrical housing section


44


to bias it outwardly. In this regard the connection of the drive plate


42


to the latch bolt extension plate


52


by engagement of the stud


55


in the slot


41


provides a lost motion type connection which permits the latch bolt


32


to be moved inwardly, independently of movement of the drive plate


42


, to its retracted position against the bias of the spring. In this regard, the extension plate


52


has an open slot


53


at its inner end to provide clearance with the outer stud


28


when in the retracted position. Thus the nose portion


38


is resiliently movable inwardly relative to the drive plate


42


to facilitate closure of the door


12


without need to actuate the door knob subassemblies


14


or


16


. The drive plate


42


has a generally semi-circular opening


56


which receives in mating engagement the semi-circular contour of the rotator shaft


30


with engaging contact of the edges


31


with the flat ends


57


of the semi-circular opening


56


. Thus rotation of the rotator shaft


30


in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction by either door knob


18


or


22


will result in rearward movement of the drive plate


42


causing retraction of the latch bolt


32


and movement of the nose portion


38


out from the door jamb opening


34


whereby the door


12


can be opened. At the same time the rotator shaft


30


and hence the drive plate


42


are normally biased by a coil spring


54


to their neutral, non-actuated positions to permit the latch bolt


32


with its nose portion


38


to be resiliently maintained in its normally outwardly extended position from the cylindrical housing section


44


for closure. End arms


58


extend radially oppositely from the body of the coil spring


54


to engage stop brackets


59


secured to the face plate


20


within its cavity.




The door latch assembly


10


is adapted to be locked by a key


64


applied through a key hole in the door knob


18


(keyhole not shown). Here the key


64


, upon insertion into the key hole, will be in operative engagement with a lock shaft


60


. The lock shaft


60


is of a tubular construction and has a generally square shaped engagement opening


62


. A key actuated connector


63


is matably connected to the adjacent end of the lock shaft


60


and is adapted to be rotated by rotation of the key


64


to selectively rotate the lock shaft


60


to a locked or unlocked position. At the same time the opposite door knob subassembly


16


has a rotatable ribbed pivot button


69


in the door knob


22


which is connected to the opening


62


at the opposite end by a mating lock shaft


73


. Thus the lock apparatus can be actuated from either side of the door


12


. However, it should be noted that the key actuated door knob subassembly


14


will be located on the outer side of the door


12


while the pivot button actuated door knob subassembly


16


will be on the inner side of the door


12


. It should again be noted that the actuating connection between the door knob subassemblies


14


and


16


, the latch bolt


32


and the lock apparatus can be of a conventional structure well known in the art, such as in the Part No. 51073 previously noted. Thus since the specific details of such actuating connection and lock apparatus do not constitute a part of the present invention such details have been omitted with the actuating connection and lock apparatus shown mainly generally for purposes of brevity and simplicity.




In the locked condition the rotator shaft


30


will be blocked from rotation. Looking now to

FIGS. 4 and 5

, this occurs by radially outward movement of a pair of locking tabs


66


by rotation of the lock shaft


60


by the key


64


or pivot button


69


. The locking tabs


66


will be moved radially outwardly to opposite sides of the axially innermost end of the base


65


of the inner stud


28


. The locking tabs


66


are part of a slidable lock plate


67


which is rotatably supported in a drive housing assembly


75


. The lock plate


67


, however, is connected to the lock shaft


60


by a cam type engagement member


81


whereby rotation of the lock shaft


60


by key


64


or pivot button


69


will move the lock plate


67


with the locking tabs


66


in translation radially outwardly to a locked condition or radially inwardly to an unlocked condition. In

FIG. 11

the cam engagement member


81


is shown in the locked condition with the unlocked condition shown in phantom lines. The drive housing assembly


75


in turn is in rotatable engagement with the edges


31


of the rotator shaft


30


. Thus the lock plate


67


will also be rotated by the rotator shaft


30


. However, when the lock plate


67


is actuated to move the locking tabs


66


into locked engagement with the base


65


of the stud


28


, rotational movement of the drive housing assembly


75


and hence of the rotator shaft


30


is prevented thereby locking the latch bolt


32


from actuation by the door knobs


18


and


22


. It should be noted that the opposite door knob


22


could be provided with a similar keyhole and connection to a key actuated rod whereby the door latch assembly


10


can be key locked or unlocked from either side of the door


12


. Such construction is well known in the art and hence is not shown.




The housing subassembly


40


includes a generally Ushaped channel section


68


which is attached at its open end to the inner end of the cylindrical housing section


44


. The channel section


68


has a slot


70


at its closed end and a through bore


71


spaced from its open end both of which are adapted to receive the studs


28


to facilitate alignment and support of the housing subassembly


40


with the knob subassemblies


14


and


16


. At the same time the channel section


68


has enlarged, generally semi-circular, in line through openings


77


to receive in clearance relationship the rotator shaft


30


and lock shaft


60


. In this regard the openings


77


terminate in generally flat edges


79


which are engaged by the edges


31


of the rotator shaft


30


at the end of full rotation to provide a stop when the latch bolt


32


has been fully withdrawn from the door jamb opening


34


.




Again, as noted, the above described construction is well known in the art and hence specific details thereof have been omitted for purposes of brevity and simplicity. In this regard as noted, the present invention is directed to a contactless detection system for detecting the locked or unlocked condition of the door latch assembly and also to facilitate use of such detection in a central or local alarm or surveillance system.




Looking now to

FIG. 3

, the magnetic detection apparatus as shown includes a support plate


74


which is of a generally C-channel section and has a pair of flanges


76


at its open side adapted to hold the plate


74


onto the channel section


68


for selective slidable movement. The support plate


74


can thus be selectively and readily moved to the desired position by the sliding engagement. See

FIGS. 2 and 8

. The support plate


74


has a central bore


78


adapted to receive the rotator shaft


30


and the lock shaft


60


in clearance relationship. An actuating arm


80


has a magnet carrier arm portion


82


and an engagement arm portion


87


extending angularly from the carrier arm portion


82


. The actuating arm


80


is pivotally secured by a fastener


83


to the upper surface of the support plate


74


at the juncture of the carrier arm portion


82


and engagement arm portion


87


. A permanent magnet


84


is secured to the outer end of the magnet carrier arm portion


82


by means of its location in a central slot in the magnet


84


. The magnet


84


is polarized with its north pole (N) on its upper surface and its south pole (S) on its lower surface. See FIG.


9


. As noted the magnet carrier arm portion


82


is angulated relative to the engagement arm portion


87


such as to locate the magnet carrier arm portion


82


and hence magnet


84


in the desired actuated and deactuated positions to be described. In this regard, a coil spring


85


is connected from a stud


89


on the carrier arm portion


82


to a stud


95


at the corner on the top of the support plate


74


. The connecting studs


89


and


95


are selectively angularly offset from each other such that the spring


85


will normally bias the actuating arm


80


and hence the magnet carrier arm portion


82


and magnet


84


to the deactuated position.




As biased, the engagement arm portion


87


extends axially towards the face plate


20


and has a pivot plate


88


connected at its inner end which plate


88


is located in line with one of the locking tabs


66


. See

FIGS. 5 and 7

. Now when the lock shaft


60


is key actuated to the locking position it moves the lock plate


67


and hence tabs


66


radially outwardly with the one tab


66


moving into engagement with the pivot plate


88


. This overcomes the bias of the spring


85


and moves the pivot plate


88


outwardly causing the actuating arm


80


to pivot the magnet carrier arm portion


82


and magnet


84


to the actuated position in a magnetic detection circuit. See

FIGS. 4 and 5

. Of course, upon actuation of the lock shaft


60


to the unlocked position the tabs


66


will be retracted and the spring


85


will return the magnet carrier arm portion


82


and magnet


84


to the deactuated position. See

FIGS. 6 and 7

.




The magnetic detection circuit includes the upper connecting bolt


93


which is adapted to engage an outer face plate


91


with the lower connecting bolt


99


similarly engaged with the face plate


91


to mount the latch assembly


29


to the door


12


. The upper connecting bolt


93


is also a magnetic conductor. The face plate


91


is generally rectangular in contour and of a generally known construction for fitting into the opening in the edge of the door


12


to support the latch assembly


29


including the latch bolt


32


and its housing subassembly


40


. The inner end of the connecting bolt


93


is selected to extend inwardly sufficiently to be proximate to and overlay the upper or north pole surface of the magnet


84


when it is pivoted to its actuated position in response to locking action. An elongated ridge


94


is located on the upper end of the drive plate


42


to be proximate to the lower or south pole surface of the magnet


84


when in its actuated position. This spaces the remainder of the upper end of the drive plate


42


farther from the upper connecting bolt


93


and thereby assists in optimizing the flow of magnetic flux in the desired path of the magnetic circuit. At the same time the drive plate


42


is located in close proximity or sliding engagement with the extension plate


52


. As will be seen this provides for a low reluctance magnetic connection between the drive plate


42


and extension plate


52


and hence with the latch bolt nose portion


38


.




The drive plate


42


, latch bolt


32


including nose portion


38


and extension plate


52


and connecting bolt


93


are constructed of materials of a generally high magnetic permeability or low magnetic reluctance. In contrast the adjacent members including the face plate


91


are constructed of materials having a low magnetic permeability or high reluctance to inhibit diversion of the magnetic field. Thus the noted components provide a defined magnetic path for the magnet


84


when in its actuated position for lock detection.




Looking now to

FIGS. 8 and 11

, a reed switch


98


or other type of magnetic detector is located in the door jamb


36


at a position proximate to the nose portion


38


of the latch bolt


32


when it is in the door jamb opening


34


when the door


12


is closed.




The reed switch


98


then is located in the path of the magnetic field between the nose portion


38


of the latch bolt


32


and the connecting bolt


93


. The magnetic field is generally shown by the dashed lines in FIG.


11


. Thus when the door latch assembly


10


is placed in the locked position the magnet


84


is moved into proximity between the ridge


94


of drive plate


42


and upper connecting bolt


93


thereby magnetically energizing the magnetic path noted which then will be detected by the reed switch


98


. The reed switch


98


can be connected by conductors


100


and


102


to a signal, alarm, and/or surveillance system to provide an indication, signal or alarm as to the locked or unlocked condition of the door


12


. Such signal, alarm and/or surveillance systems are well known in the art and hence the details of such system have been omitted for purposes of simplicity and brevity.




Thus the lock detection system of the present invention will provide a locked condition signal only when the door


12


is closed and the latch bolt


32


is located in the door jamb opening


34


with the lock actuated.




It should be noted that the features of the present invention could be utilized with other non-contact type detectors and energy generators. In this regard it should also be noted that while the door latch assembly


10


is shown to be actuated by doorknobs


18


and


22


, handle type actuators could be used. Also while a key actuated lock is shown and described, as previously noted, other types of lock actuation could be employed, such as lever, push button, etc.




Also while actuation of the magnetic circuit is done by pivotal action such as by the actuating arm


80


, actuation could be done by translational movement. In this regard, actuation could be provided by a movable magnetic transmitter with the magnet held stationary.




In addition, while detection of the locked condition is done by pivotal movement of the permanent magnet


84


into a position to activate the magnetic circuit it should be understood that the magnet


84


could be fixed and a magnetic insulator and conductor or shunt could be alternatively located in the circuit relative to the magnet


84


to open or close the magnetic circuit.




The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A lock sensor detection system for sensing the locked or unlocked condition of a door latch assembly with the door latch assembly adapted to be located in a door and having a latch bolt actuable between extended and retracted positions and operative with a door jamb in its extended position for engagement with the door jamb for normally maintaining the door in a closed, unlocked condition and with the door latch assembly including opening means for manually moving the latch bolt between the extended and retracted positions for opening and closing the door and including lock means selectively actuable to a locked condition for preventing actuation of the opening means to move the latch bolt to its retracted position away from the door jamb to prevent opening of the door, the lock sensor detection system comprising:detection means operatively connected with said door latch assembly, said detection means comprising a magnetic circuit, and a permanent magnet member, operative means connected to said lock means for moving said magnet into said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition for providing a magnetic field in said magnetic circuit and for moving said magnet out of said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the unlocked condition, said magnetic circuit including said latch bolt, said detection means further including magnetic signal means located in said magnetic circuit in a position in the door jamb to be proximate to the latch bolt when located in the door jamb, said signal means providing a signal in response to the magnetic field in said magnetic circuit generated by said magnet when moved into said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition with the latch bolt in the door jamb.
  • 2. The lock sensor detection system of claim 1with said operative means including an actuating arm with said magnet member secured to said actuating arm, said operative means including a pivot structure for pivotally securing said actuating arm at a preselected position relative to said magnetic circuit and further including bias means for resiliently biasing said actuating arm to locate said magnet to a position out of said magnetic circuit.
  • 3. The lock sensor detection system of claim 1with said operative means including an actuating arm with said magnet member secured to said actuating arm, said operative means including a pivot structure for pivotally securing said actuating arm at a preselected position relative to said magnetic circuit and further including bias means for resiliently biasing said actuating arm to locate said magnet to a position out of said magnetic circuit, said actuating arm having an engagement arm portion located proximate to said lock means and adapted to be moved upon actuation of said lock means to pivot said actuating arm to move said magnet to a position in said magnetic circuit to provide the magnetic field in said magnetic circuit to activate said signal means.
  • 4. The lock sensor detection system of claim 1 with said latch bolt including a nose portion adapted to be selectively moved into and out of the door jamb for closing and opening the door,said latch bolt further including an extension plate connected at the inner end of said latch bolt, said door latch assembly further comprising a drive plate operatively connected to said extension plate for moving said latch bolt between its opened and closed positions in response to actuation of said opening means, said drive plate being in generally sliding engagement with said extension plate with said extension plate slidable to permit said nose position to be moved to its retracted position independently of said opening means to permit door closure without actuation of said opening means, said magnetic circuit including said drive plate.
  • 5. The lock sensor detection system of claim 1 with said latch bolt including a nose portion adapted to be selectively moved into and out of the door jamb for closing and opening the door,said latch bolt further including an extension plate connected at the inner end of said latch bolt, said door latch assembly further comprising a drive plate operatively connected to said extension plate for moving said latch bolt between its opened and closed positions in response to actuation of said opening means, said drive plate being in generally sliding engagement with said extension plate with said extension plate slidable to permit said nose position to be moved to its retracted position independently of said opening means to permit door closure without actuation of said opening means, said magnetic circuit including said drive plate, said operative means including an actuating arm with said magnet member secured to said actuating arm, said operative means including a pivot structure for pivotally securing said actuating arm at a preselected position relative to said magnetic circuit and further including bias means for resiliently biasing said actuating arm to locate said magnet to a position out of said magnetic circuit.
  • 6. The lock sensor detection system of claim 5 withsaid actuating arm having an engagement arm portion located proximate to said lock means and adapted to be moved upon actuation of said lock means to pivot said actuating arm to move said magnet to a position in said magnetic circuit in line with said drive plate to provide the magnetic field in said magnetic circuit to activate said signal means.
  • 7. In combination, a door latch assembly adapted to be located in a door and a lock sensor detection system for sensing the locked or unlocked condition of said door latch assembly the improvement comprising:said door latch assembly having a latch bolt actuable between extended and retracted positions and operative with a door jamb in its extended position for engagement with the door jamb for normally maintaining the door in a closed, unlocked condition and with said door latch assembly including opening means for manually moving said latch bolt between the extended and retracted positions for opening and closing the door, said door latch assembly further including lock means selectively actuable to a locked condition for preventing actuation of the opening means to move said latch bolt to its retracted position away from the door jamb to prevent opening of the door, said lock sensor detection system including detection means operatively connected with said door latch assembly, said detection means comprising a magnetic circuit and a permanent magnet member, operative means connected to said lock means for moving said magnet into said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition for providing a magnetic field in said magnetic circuit and for moving said magnet out of said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the unlocked condition, said detection means further including magnetic signal means located in a position in the door jamb to be in said magnetic circuit and for providing a signal upon actuation of said lock means to the locked condition and in response to said magnetic field generated by said magnet with said latch bolt located in the door jamb.
  • 8. A lock sensor detection system for sensing the locked or unlocked condition of a door latch assembly with the door latch assembly adapted to be located in a door and having a latch bolt actuable between extended and retracted positions and operative with a door jamb in its extended position for engagement with the door jamb for normally maintaining the door in a closed, unlocked condition and with the door latch assembly including opening means for manually moving the latch bolt between the extended and retracted positions for opening and closing the door and including lock means selectively actuable to a locked condition for preventing actuation of the opening means to move the latch bolt to its retracted position away from the door jamb to prevent opening of the door, the lock sensor detection system comprising:detection means operatively connected with said door latch assembly, said detection means comprising a magnetic circuit, and a magnetic member for providing a magnetic field, operative means connected to said lock means for selectively connecting said magnetic member magnetically with said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition for communicating said magnetic field in said magnetic circuit and for selectively disconnecting said magnetic member out of communication with said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the unlocked condition, said detection means further including magnetic signal means located in said magnetic circuit in a position in the door jamb, said signal means providing a signal in response to the magnetic field in said magnetic circuit generated by said magnetic member when magnetically connected with said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition with the latch bolt in the door jamb.
  • 9. In combination, a door latch assembly adapted to be located in a door and a lock sensor detection system for sensing the locked or unlocked condition of said door latch assembly the improvement comprising:said door latch assembly having a latch bolt actuable between extended and retracted positions and operative with a door jamb in its extended position for engagement with the door jamb for normally maintaining the door in a closed, unlocked condition and with said door latch assembly including opening means for manually moving said latch bolt between the extended and retracted positions for opening and closing the; door, said door latch assembly further including lock means selectively actuable to a locked condition for preventing actuation of the opening means to move said latch bolt to its retracted position away from the door jamb to prevent opening of the door, said lock sensor detection system including detection means operatively connected with said door latch assembly, said detection means comprising a magnetic circuit and a magnetic member for providing a magnetic field, operative means connected to said lock means for selectively connecting said magnetic member magnetically with said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition for communicating said magnetic field with said magnetic circuit and for selectively disconnecting said magnetic member out of communication with said magnetic circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the unlocked condition, said magnetic circuit including said latch bolt, said detection means further including magnetic signal means located in a position in the door jamb to be in said magnetic circuit and proximate to said latch bolt when located in the door jamb and for providing a signal upon actuation of said lock means to the locked condition and in response to said magnetic field generated by said magnetic member with said latch bolt located in the door jamb.
  • 10. The lock sensor detection system of claim 9with said operative means including an actuating arm with said magnet member being operatively associated with said actuating arm, said operative means including a pivot structure for pivotally securing said actuating arm at preselected positions relative to said magnetic circuit and further including bias means for resiliently biasing said actuating arm to place said magnet in a condition out of communication with said magnetic circuit.
  • 11. The lock sensor detection system of claim 9with said operative means including an actuating arm with said magnet member being operatively associated with said actuating arm, said operative means including a pivot structure for pivotally securing said actuating arm at preselected position relative to said magnetic circuit and further including bias means for resiliently biasing said actuating arm to place said magnet in a condition out of communication with said magnetic circuit, said actuating arm having an engagement arm portion located proximate to said lock means and adapted to be moved upon actuation of said lock means to pivot said actuating arm to place said magnet in a condition in said magnetic circuit to provide the magnetic field in said magnetic circuit to activate said signal means.
  • 12. The lock sensor detection system of claim 9 with said latch bolt including a nose portion adapted to be selectively moved into and out of the door jamb for closing and opening the door,said latch bolt further including an extension plate connected at the inner end of said latch bolt, said door latch assembly further comprising a drive plate operatively connected to said extension plate for moving said latch bolt between its opened and closed positions in response to actuation of said opening means, said drive plate being in generally sliding engagement with said extension plate with said extension plate slidable to permit said nose portion to be moved to its retracted position independently of said opening means to permit door closure without actuation of said opening means, said magnetic circuit including said drive plate.
  • 13. The lock sensor detection system of claim 9 with said latch bolt including a nose portion adapted to be selectively moved into and out of the door jamb for closing and opening the door,said latch bolt further including an extension plate connected at the inner end of said latch bolt, said door latch assembly further comprising a drive plate operatively connected to said extension plate for moving said latch bolt between its opened and closed positions in response to actuation of said opening means, said drive plate being in generally sliding engagement with said extension plate with said extension plate slidable to permit said nose portion to be moved to its retracted position independently of said opening means to permit door closure without actuation of said opening means, said magnetic circuit including said drive plate, said operative means including an actuating arm with said magnet member being operatively associated with said actuating arm, said operative means including a pivot structure for pivotally securing said actuating arm at preselected positions relative to said magnetic circuit and further including bias means for resiliently biasing said actuating arm to place said magnet in a condition out of communication with said magnetic circuit.
  • 14. The lock detection system of claim 13 withsaid actuating arm having an engagement arm portion located proximate to said lock means and to be moved upon actuation of said lock means to pivot said actuating arm to place said magnet in a condition with said magnetic circuit to provide the magnetic field in said magnetic circuit to activate said signal means.
  • 15. A lock sensor detection system for sensing the locked or unlocked condition of a door latch assembly with the door latch assembly adapted to be located in a door and having a latch bolt actuable between extended and retracted positions and operative with a door jamb in its extended position for engagement with the door jamb for normally maintaining the door in a closed, unlocked condition and with the door latch assembly including opening means for manually moving the latch bolt between the extended and retracted positions for opening and closing the door and including lock means selectively actuable to a locked condition for preventing actuation of the opening means to move the latch bolt to its retracted position away from the door jamb to prevent opening of the door, the lock sensor detection system comprising:detection means operatively connected with said door latch assembly, said detection means comprising an energy transmission circuit, and energy source means for providing a source of transmittable energy, operative means connected to said lock means for selectively connecting said energy source means into said energy transmission circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition for communicating said transmittable energy with said energy transmission circuit and for disconnecting said transmittable energy from said energy transmission circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the unlocked condition, said detection means further including energy signal means located in said energy transmission circuit in a position in the door jamb, said signal means providing a signal in response to said transmittable energy in said energy transmission circuit generated by said energy source when connected with said energy transmission circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition with the latch bolt in the door jamb.
  • 16. In combination, a door latch assembly adapted to be located in a door and a lock sensor detection system for sensing the locked or unlocked condition of said door latch assembly the improvement comprising:said door latch assembly having a latch bolt actuable between extended and retracted positions and operative with a door jamb in its extended position for engagement with the door jamb for normally maintaining the door in a closed, unlocked condition and with said door latch assembly including opening means for manually moving said latch bolt between the extended and retracted positions for opening and closing the door, said door latch assembly further including lock means selectively actuable to a locked condition for preventing actuation of the opening means to move said latch bolt to its retracted position away from the door jamb to prevent opening of the door, said lock sensor detection system including detection means operatively connected with said door latch assembly, said detection means comprising an energy transmission circuit and energy source means for providing a source of transmittable energy, operative means connected to said lock means for selectively connecting said energy source means into said energy transmission circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the locked condition for communicating said transmittable energy with said energy transmission circuit and for disconnecting said transmittable energy from said energy transmission circuit in response to actuation of said lock means to the unlocked condition, said energy transmission circuit including said latch bolt, said detection means further including energy signal means located in a position in the door jamb to be in said energy transmission circuit and proximate to said latch bolt when located in the door jamb and for providing a signal upon actuation of said lock means to the locked condition and in response to said transmittable energy from said energy source means with said latch bolt located in the door jamb.
  • 17. The lock sensor detection system of claim 16 with said energy source means comprising a magnetic member with said transmittable energy being a magnetic field provided by said magnetic member and with said energy transmission circuit being a magnetic circuit and with said signal means providing said signal in response to the magnetic field in said magnetic circuit generated by said magnetic member.
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