Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6441735
-
Patent Number
6,441,735
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, February 21, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 27, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 340 542
- 340 5451
- 340 547
- 340 551
- 070 571
- 070 77
- 070 81
- 070 91
- 070 99
- 070 104
- 070 106
- 070 111
- 070 116
- 070 179
- 070 176
- 070 432
- 070 433
- 070 434
- 070 273
- 200 6127
- 200 6145 M
-
International Classifications
-
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.
US Referenced Citations (70)