The present invention relates to locks. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lock with an emergency unlocking mechanism.
In general, a door is held shut by means of a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is spring-loaded so that it automatically catches on to a recess in the door jamb when the door is closed. The latch mechanism is released by means of a handle or knob. When the handle is turned, the latch retracts from the recess in the door jamb and allows the door to be opened.
When closed, the door may be described as separating an inner enclosed area from an outer area. When closed, the door is be partially or fully surrounded by straight or curved structural elements making up the various sections of a door frame. The inner side of the door faces the inside area when the door is closed, while the outer side faces the outer area when the door is closed. Perpendicular to both the inner and outer sides of the door are edge surfaces. One edge surface abuts a door jamb when the door is closed. Other edge surfaces of the door may abut other section of a door frame. In general, door handles are provided on both sides of the door so that the door may be opened from either side. The handle on the inner side of the door may be provided with a handle locking mechanism that locks the latch inside the recess in the door jamb. In this case when the handle locking mechanism is locked, the handle on the outer side of the door cannot be used to open the door. However, simply turning the inside handle overrides the locking mechanism and permits quick exit in case of an emergency.
Where additional security against intruders is required, a door will often be provided with a bolt mechanism. In the case of a relatively simple bolt mechanism, the bolts are inserted into recesses in the door jamb or into structures attached to the door jamb. In the case of a higher security bolt mechanism, additional bolts may be inserted into structures in other parts of the doorframe. Generally, a bolt mechanism does not engage automatically upon closing the door. Rather, in order to engage the bolts, a key is inserted into a keyway and turned, or a knob or handle that is separate from the door handle is turned. In order to disengage the bolts, the key or handle is turned in the opposite direction.
An example of such a bolt mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,595 (Bahry et al.). Bahry et al. describe a preferred embodiment in which a key-operated cylinder lock turns a wheel that extends four bolts by means of curved links. The bolts extend from various edge surfaces of a door.
In an emergency situation, such as a fire inside a building, it is often necessary to exit quickly. Any delay in opening and exiting through the door could result in serious injury or loss of life. Although a latch mechanism is released simply by turning the door handle, disengaging the bolt mechanism is more time consuming and requires closer attention. Should the bolt release mechanism require a key and the key has been removed form the keyway, time may be wasted in locating the key and inserting it into the keyway. Even if the key is already in the keyway, or a handle is provided for opening the bolt, a panicked individual may waste time in finding the correct direction in which to turn the key or handle. In addition, finding the key or handle on the door may be difficult should the room be dark or filled with smoke.
In WO 2006/003661 (Segev et al.) an intelligent lock was described comprising a mechanical element operative to provide two lock position upon a proper actuation, and an electromechanical (EM) trigger separate from and coupled to the mechanical element and operative to control the actuation. When included in an intelligent locking system, the lock is remotely controllable through a monitoring and control unit, operative to relay commands to the EM trigger.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock with a bolt mechanism that may be easily and quickly disengaged in the event of an emergency.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a lock with a bolt mechanism and a safety trigger with an emergency override mechanism.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the present specification and reviewing the accompanying drawings.
There is thus provided, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a door locking device for a door cooperating with a door frame, comprising:
a cylinder lock;
at least one elongated bolt adapted to move linearly to engage to and disengage from the door frame, with a transmission comprising an operating wheel for translating circular motion of a rotor of the cylinder lock to a linear motion of said at least one elongated bolt; and
an emergency unlocking mechanism comprising a gear arm connected to a handle and adapted to turn the operating wheel when the handle is turned, disengaging said at least one elongated bolt from the door frame.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the transmission comprises a curved link linking said at least one elongated bolt linked to the operating wheel.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the device comprises a latch for engaging with the door frame, wherein the latch is operable by the handle for disengaging the latch from the door frame
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the handle is an inside handle, the device further comprising an outside handle operating only the latch.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the inside-handle and the outside-handle turn coaxially.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the inside-handle and the outside-handle engage separate plates of a door lock nut.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the gear arm is adapted to turn the operating wheel after the handle is partially turned.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the gear arm comprises teeth engaging with corresponding teeth of the operating wheel.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the corresponding teeth of the operating wheel are located on an auxiliary wheel fixed coaxially to the operating wheel.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the teeth of the gear arm engage the corresponding teeth of the operating wheel via an intermediary gear wheel, such that rotation of the gear arm causes the operating wheel to rotate in the same direction as the rotation of the gear arm.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, said at least one elongated bolt comprises elongated bolts cooperating with different edges of the door frame.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, at least three elongated bolts of said at least one elongated bolt are cooperating with a jamb of the door frame.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises a separately actuated catch mechanism used to immobilize the operating wheel and that is released when the handle is turned.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the catch mechanism comprises an electromagnetic actuator.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the electromagnetic actuator is cooperating with the catch using a cable.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the catch mechanism is remotely controlled.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the locking device comprises a MUL-T-LOCK 265 locking mechanism.
Furthermore, in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, the locking device comprises a Shiryonit Hosen 104/105 locking mechanism.
In order to better understand the present invention, and appreciate its practical applications, the following Figures are provided and referenced hereafter. It should be noted that the Figures are given as examples only and in no way limit the scope of the invention. Like components are denoted by like reference numerals.
According to embodiments of the present invention a lock mechanism may include a bolt mechanism. The lock mechanism may also include a latch mechanism. A spring causes a latch of the latch mechanism to engage a door jamb when the door is closed. The latch is disengaged by turning a door knob or handle from either side of the door. When locked, the bolt mechanism extends elongated bolts that engage recesses or other structures in the door jamb. Bolts may also engage structures in other elements of a doorframe. The terms “door jamb” and “door frame” herein refer to structural elements that support, abut or engage the door, for example the inner surfaces of the opening in the wall in which the door is placed, or a door frame that is attached to the inner surfaces of that opening. The bolts may be engaged or disengaged from either side of the door through the use of a key. Alternatively, a bolt mechanism may be operated by means of a handle or knob from the inside, and by means of a key from the outside. In order to enable quick unlocking of the door in an emergency situation, both the bolts and the latch may be disengaged by turning the inside door handle. Turning the outside door handle only disengages the latch. Therefore, when the bolts are engaged, the door cannot be opened from the outside by means of the door handle alone.
The following discussion refers to
Lock mechanism 10 is mounted within a cavity within a door (not shown). Lock mechanism 10 is mounted such that faceplate 16 is flush with the edge surface of the door that faces the door jamb (not shown) when the door is closed. The spindle of inner door handle 18 is inserted into inner spindle opening 20a, which cooperates with lock mechanism 10. The spindle of outer door handle 50 is inserted into an outer spindle opening (not shown), which does not cooperate with lock mechanism 10. Both inner door handle 18 and outer door handle 50 rotate coaxially about the same spindle axis. However, inner door handle 18 and outer door handle 50 are each coupled separately to lock mechanism 10 and not to each other. Therefore, inner door handle 18 or outer door handle 50 have different functions, and each may each be turned without turning the other.
Door lock nut 26 includes three separate cooperating plates, inner plate 26a, middle plate 26b, and outer plate 26c. In screw 27 connects inner plate 26a to middle plate 26b so that they rotate together. As described below, rotation of middle plate 26b operates the emergency unlocking mechanism by means of pin 25 on middle plate 26b. When middle plate 26b rotates, pin 25 presses on gear arm 22, causing gear arm 22 to rotate. Outer plate 26c is free to rotate with respect to middle plate 26b and inner plate 26a. Inner plate 26a includes inner spindle opening 20a into which the spindle of inner door handle 18 may be inserted. Rotating inner door handle 18 rotates inner plate 26a and middle plate 26b. Thus, as described below, rotating inner door handle 18 operates the emergency unlocking mechanism. Inner spring 23a tends to restore inner plate 26a, middle plate 26b, and inner door handle 18 to their original positions. Outer plate 26c includes an outer spindle opening into which the spindle of outer door handle 50 may be inserted. Rotating outer door handle 50 rotates outer plate 26c. Since outer plate 26c rotates independently of middle plate 26b, rotating outer door handle 50 does not operate the emergency locking mechanism. Outer spring 23b tends to restore outer plate 26c and outer door handle 50 to their original positions.
Screw 27 may be detached from inner plate 26a and middle plate 26b, and reinserted so as to connect outer plate 26c to middle plate 26b. In such a case, the lock is reconfigured so that formerly outer plate 26c functions as the inner plate described above. Such reconfiguration may be necessary, for example, in adapting the lock to a door that opens in the opposite direction. Plates 26a, 26b and 26c are mounted coaxially. In an alternative embodiment only the plates which are coupled by screw 27 (plates 26a and 26b in this figure, or plates 26b and 26c in an alternative configuration) are coaxially mounted.
The spindles of inner door handle 18 and outer door handle 50 may be collinearly mounted on a single axis in such a manner as to rotate independently about the axis. Alternatively, the spindles of inner door handle 18 and outer door handle 50 may be separate, each separately inserted into a separate spindle opening.
As drawn in
Extension or retraction of bolt arm 32 and rod brackets 30a-30c is governed by operating wheel 28. In the example as shown in
As shown in
A cylinder lock with a keyway (not shown) may be mounted in bracket 40. The cylinder lock may be used to rotate operating wheel 28, thus locking or unlocking the door. Inserting a key into the cylinder lock and turning it turns gear 41. The teeth on gear 41 engage teeth 34 on operating wheel 28, causing operating wheel 28 to rotate. Alternatively, the end of the cylinder lock that faces the inside of the door may be provided with a knob. The knob allows rotation of the cylinder lock without the use of a key.
When all bolts are disengaged and the door is unlocked, outer door handle 50 (shown in
On the other hand, pushing down on the end of outer door handle 50 disengages only the latch from the door jamb. If outer door handle 50 is turned while the bolts engage the doorframe, the engaged bolts lock the door and prevent it from opening. Thus, when the door is been locked, it is not possible to open the door using the outer door handle alone. It is also necessary that a key be inserted into the keyway of the cylinder and turned in order to unlock the door and cause the bolts to disengage.
We know refer to
Turning inner door handle 18 causes rotation of components of door lock nut 26, including pin 25. Therefore, turning inner door handle 18 causes pin 18 to press against gear arm 22. Gear arm 22 is mounted so as to rotate coaxially with inner door handle 18. Depressing inner door handle 18 thus causes gear arm 22 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from outside the door (
Spring 23a restores the position of door lock nut 26, pin 25, and inner door handle 18. However, restoring pin 25 does not restore gear arm 22 to its original position. Therefore, the door remains unlocked until the door is locked until a cylinder mechanism is operated to rotate gear 41, relocking the mechanism.
Alternatively, in embodiments of the present invention, the lock mechanism is configured such that partially turning the inner door handle unlatches the door, while further turning of the inner door handle disengages the bolts. In such a configuration, the shape of gear arm 22 in
In embodiments of the present invention, lock mechanism 10 may be provided with an electromagnetically actuated catch mechanism. The catch mechanism may be remotely controlled.
In embodiments of the present invention described above, during operation of the emergency unlocking mechanism, inner door handle 18 (shown in
Thus, when a door is provided with a lock that is an embodiment of the present invention, a person who is capable of turning the door handle will be able to unlock and open the door in an emergency situation.
It should be clear that the description of the embodiments and attached Figures set forth in this specification serves only for a better understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope.
It should also be clear that a person skilled in the art, after reading the present specification could make adjustments or amendments to the attached Figures and above described embodiments that would still be covered by the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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192350 | Jun 2008 | IL | national |
196328 | Jan 2009 | IL | national |
This application is a Continuation application of PCT patent application PCT/IL2009/000614 and claims priority from IL patent application No. 192350, filed Jun. 19, 2008 and IL patent application No. 196328, filed Jan. 1, 2009, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/IL2009/000614 | Jun 2009 | US |
Child | 12972435 | US |