Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6663147
-
Patent Number
6,663,147
-
Date Filed
Thursday, September 7, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 16, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Miller; William L.
- Melwani; Dinesh
Agents
- Guido Modiano
- Josif; Albert
- O'Byrne; Daniel J.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 292 5
- 292 6
- 292 7
- 292 8
- 292 27
- 292 63
- 292 65
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A lock comprising, within a box-like supporting body and associated with actuation elements which are available to the action of the user and/or of other devices, three locking beaks: two first lateral ones, whose free tips are shaped so as to form mutually opposite claws which lie on the plane of the closure and opening movement, and a third central beak, which is kinematically connected and coordinated with respect to the two first beaks and is provided, at its free tip, with at least one locking element. The three beaks define, in association with the actuation elements, at least two stable working positions: a first open position, in which the beaks lie substantially completely within the box-like supporting body, and a second closed position, in which the beaks protrude from the box-like supporting body with their free tips so as to lock the components with which they are associated.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lock.
It is known that a lock for application to doors or main doors but also for connecting any two elements to be mutually reversibly fixed, must ensure complete and secure locking and allow the user, or connected actuation devices, to easily pass from a stable closed condition to an equally stable open condition and vice versa.
Locks are already known which comprise, inside a box-like supporting body and associated with actuation means available to the action of the user and/or of other devices, two lateral locking beaks whose free tips are shaped so as to define mutually opposite claws which lie on the plane of the closure and opening movement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to provide a lock whose structure allows more secure locking of the elements to which it is applied with respect to conventional locks with two claw-shaped beaks, at the same time ensuring nonetheless easy and rapid transition from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa.
Within the scope of this aim, an important object of the present invention is to provide a lock whose structure is in any case sturdy and inalterable even if subjected to considerable stresses and prolonged use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock whose structure allows easy and precise movement.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock whose structure can also be mass-manufactured by partially or fully automated assembly procedures.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock with a structure which can be manufactured with conventional technologies and systems.
These and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a lock comprising, within a box-like supporting body and associated with actuation means which are available to the action of the user and/or of other devices, two first lateral locking beaks whose free tips are shaped so as to define mutually opposite claws which lie, on the plane of the closure and opening movement, said lock being characterized in that it comprises a third central beak which is kinematically connected and coordinated with respect to the two first beaks and is provided, at its free tip, with at least one locking element, said three beaks defining, in association with said actuation means, at least two stable working positions: a first open position, in which said beaks lie substantially completely within said box-like support, and a second closed position, in which they protrude from said box-like support with their free tips so as to lock the components with which they are associated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1
is a sectional orthographic projection view of a lock having the structure according to the invention;
FIG. 2
is a partially sectional orthographic projection view of the lock of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is another orthographic projection view of the lock of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a sectional orthographic projection view of the lock of
FIG. 1
during opening;
FIG. 5
is a sectional view of the lock of FIG.
1
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to
FIGS. 1
to
5
, a lock having the structure according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral
10
.
The lock
10
comprises, within a box-like supporting body
11
and associated with actuation means
12
available to the action of the user and/or of other devices described in greater detail hereinafter, three locking beaks: two first lateral ones
13
have free tips
14
which are shaped so as to define mutually opposite claws
15
which lie on the plane of the closing and opening movement, and a third central beak
16
is kinematically connected to, and coordinated with, the two first beaks
13
and is provided, at its free tip
17
, with a locking element which is constituted by a cylinder
18
which is pivoted with an axis which lies on the same plane of arrangement as the claws
15
.
The three beaks
13
and
16
form, in association with said actuation means
12
, at least two stable working positions: a first open position, in which the beaks lie substantially completely within the box-like support
11
, and a second closed position, in which the beaks protrude from the box-like support
11
with their free tips so as to lock the components with which they are associated.
In particular, the third beak
16
is plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two first mutually opposite tabs
19
which form two stroke limit abutment surfaces for the two first beaks
13
both during opening and during closure.
The two first beaks
13
also are plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two second tabs
20
which are suitable to abut, at the end of their stroke, against respective first tabs
19
during closure.
The two first beaks
13
have edge portions, designated by the reference numeral
21
, which are shaped so that they, too, abut at the end of their stroke against the first tabs
19
during opening.
In this embodiment, the actuation means comprise two pairs of plates in mutually opposite positions; each pair comprises a first plate
22
, which is fixed to the supporting body
11
and is provided with three first linear guides
23
constituted by the walls of a corresponding number of slotted holes
24
, and a second plate
25
, which can move parallel to the first plate
22
and also is provided with three second guides
26
, which are constituted by the edges of a corresponding number of slotted holes
27
, are substantially L-shaped and correspond to said first guides
23
.
Each one of the second guides
26
is formed by a portion
28
which is inclined with respect to the corresponding first guide
23
and a portion
29
which is perpendicular to said first guide
23
.
The actuation means
12
also comprise three pivots
30
which are slidingly inserted in the first guides
23
and in the second guides
26
and are pivoted in corresponding through holes
31
formed in the corresponding first
13
and third
16
beaks so as to determine the movement of said first beaks when the second plate
25
slides.
Moreover, the actuation means
12
also comprise elastic contrast pusher elements for each one of the first beaks
13
; said elements, in this case, are constituted by helical springs
32
which are rigidly pivoted to the supporting body
11
.
In practice, operation is as follows: the sliding of the second plates
25
, actuated by the user and/or by other devices arranged upstream, determines, as a consequence of the interference of the first guides
23
with the second guides
26
, the movement of the three pivots
29
in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the movement of said second plate
25
.
This movement of the pivots induces a consequent opening or closure movement of the first beaks
13
and of the third beak
16
, depending on the direction of movement of the second plate
25
.
In practice it has been observed that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects.
In particular, it should be noted that the lock having the structure according to the invention is particularly secure during locking and provides substantially complete and interference-free disengagement during opening.
Attention is also drawn to the overall structural solidity of the lock according to the invention, which can therefore be easily used even in situations entailing particularly heavy-duty and frequent use.
It should also be noted that the lock having the structure according to the invention easily allows transition from the two stable working conditions in one direction and the other, without causing any kind of problem in terms of possible jamming or difficulties.
The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.
The technical details can be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
The materials may be any according to requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD99A000213 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
- 1. A lock, comprising, within a box-like supporting body and associated with actuation means which are available to the action of any of a user and of other devices, two first lateral locking beaks having free tips shaped so as to form mutually opposite claws lying on a plane of a closure and opening movement, said lock further comprising:a third central beak, which is kinematically connected and coordinated with respect to the two first beaks; at least one locking element, provided at a free tip of said third beak, said three beaks defining, in association with said actuation means, at least two stable working positions: a first open position, in which said two first beaks and said third beak lie completely within said box-like supporting body, and a second closed position, in which said two first beaks and sad third beak protrude from said box-like supporting body with said free tips thereof so as to lock components with which the beaks are associated, said third beak acting as a bolt; and two first mutually opposite tabs formed on the contour of said third beak, said first tabs providing a corresponding number of stoke limit abutment surfaces for said two first beaks both during closure and during opening.
- 2. The lock of claim 1, wherein said third beak comprises, at a free end thereof, at least one locking element, said locking element being constituted by a cylinder pivoted about an axis lying on a same plane of arrangement as said claws.
- 3. The lock of claim 1, wherein said third beak is plate-shaped.
- 4. The lock of claim 3, wherein said two first beaks are plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two second tabs, said second tabs being adapted to abut, at a stroke end thereof, against said first tabs during closure.
- 5. The lock of claim 4, wherein said two first beaks have edge portions which are shaped so as to abut, at the stroke end thereof, against said first tabs during opening.
- 6. The lock of claim 1, wherein said actuation means comprise: two pairs of plates, each pair being constituted by a first plate, which is fixed to said supporting body and is provided with three first linear guides, said first linear guides being constituted by walls of a corresponding number of slotted holes provided at said first plate, and by a second plate, which is movable parallel to said first plate, said second plate being provided with three second guides, said second guides being constituted by walls of a corresponding number of slotted holes, provided at said second plate, which are L-shaped and correspond to said first guides, each one of said second guides being formed by a portion which is inclined with respect to the corresponding first guide, and by a portion which is perpendicular to said corresponding first guide; and three pivots which are slidingly inserted in said first and second guides, said pivots being pivoted at through holes of said corresponding beaks, so as to determine movement of the beaks when said second plate slides.
- 7. The lock of claim 6, wherein said actuation means further comprise elastic contrast pusher elements for each one of said two first beaks.
- 8. The lock of claim 7, wherein said elastic contrast pusher means are constituted by helical springs, which are pivoted in mutually opposite pivoting points, which are provided fixed at the box-like supporting body.
- 9. A lock, comprising, within a box-like supporting body and associated with actuation means which are available to the action of any of a user and of other devices, two first lateral locking beaks having free tips shaped so as to form mutually opposite claws lying on a plane of a closure and opening movement, said lock further comprising:a third central beak, which is kinematically connected and coordinated with respect to the two first beaks; at least one locking element, provided at a free tip of said third beak, said locking element being constituted by a cylinder pivoted about an axis lying on a same plane of arrangement as said claws, and said three beaks defining, in association with said actuation means, at least two stable working positions: a first open position, in which said beaks lie substantially completely within said box-like supporting body, and a second closed position, in which said beaks protrude from said box-like supporting body with said free tips thereof so as to lock components with which the beaks are associated.
- 10. The lock of claim 9, wherein said third beak is plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two first mutually opposite tabs, said first tabs providing a corresponding number of stroke limit abutment surfaces for said two first beaks, both during closure and during opening.
- 11. The lock of claim 10, wherein said two first beaks are plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two second tabs, said second tabs being adapted to abut, at a stroke end thereof, against said first tabs during closure.
- 12. The lock of claim 11, wherein said two first beaks have edge portions which are shaped so as to abut, at the stroke end thereof, against said first tabs during opening.
- 13. The lock of claim 9, wherein said actuation means comprise: two pairs of plates, each pair being constituted by a first plate, which is fixed to said supporting body and is provided with three first linear guides, said first linear guides being constituted by walls of a corresponding number of slotted holes provided at said first plate, and by a second plate, which is movable parallel to said first plate, said second plate being provided with three second guides, said second guides being constituted by walls of a corresponding number of slotted holes, provided at said second plate, which are L-shaped and correspond to said first guides, each one of said second guides being formed by a portion which is inclined with respect to the corresponding first guide, and by a portion which is perpendicular to said corresponding first guide; and three pivots which are slidingly inserted in said first and second guides, said pivots being pivoted at through holes of said corresponding beaks, so as to determine movement of the beaks when said second plate slides.
- 14. The lock of claim 13, wherein said actuation means further comprise elastic contrast pusher elements for each one of said two first beaks.
- 15. The lock of claim 14, wherein said elastic contrast pusher means are constituted by helical springs, which are pivoted in mutually opposite pivoting points, which are provided fixed at the box-like supporting body.
- 16. A lock, comprising, within a box-like supporting body and associated with actuation means which are available to the action of any of a user and of other devices, two first lateral locking beaks having free tips shaped so as to form mutually opposite claws lying on a plane of a closure and opening movement, said lock further comprising: a third central beak, which is kinematically connected and coordinated with respect to the two first beaks; at least one locking element, provided at a free tip of said third beak, said three beaks defining, in association with said actuation means, at least two stable working positions: a first open position, in which said beaks lie substantially completely within said box-like supporting body, and a second closed position, in which said beaks protrude from said box-like supporting body with said free tips thereof so as to lock components with which the beaks are associated; and said actuation means comprising two pairs of plates, each pair being constituted by a first plate, which is fixed to said supporting body and is provided with three first linear guides, said first linear guides being constituted by walls of a corresponding number of slotted holes provided at said first plate, and by a second plate, which is movable parallel to said first plate, said second plate being provided with three second guides, said second guides being constituted by walls of a corresponding number of slotted holes, provided at said second plate, which are L-shaped and correspond to said first guides, each one of said second guides being formed by a portion which is inclined with respect to the corresponding first guide, and by a portion which is perpendicular to said corresponding first guide; and three pivots which are slidingly inserted in said first and second guides, said pivots being pivoted at through holes of said corresponding beaks, so as to determine movement of the beaks when said second plate slides.
- 17. The lock of claim 16, wherein said actuation means further comprise elastic contrast pusher elements for each one of said two first beaks.
- 18. The lock of claim 17, wherein said elastic contrast pusher means are constituted by helical springs, which are pivoted in mutually opposite pivoting points, which are provided fixed at the box-like supporting body.
- 19. The lock of claim 16, wherein said third beak comprises, at a free end thereof, at least one locking element, said locking element being constituted by a cylinder pivoted about an axis lying on a same plane of arrangement as said claws.
- 20. The lock of claim 16, wherein said third beak is plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two first mutually opposite tabs, said first tabs providing a corresponding number of stroke limit abutment surfaces for said two first beaks, both during closure and during opening.
- 21. The lock of claim 20, wherein said two first beaks are plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two second tabs, said second tabs being adapted to abut, at a stroke end thereof, against said first tabs during closure.
- 22. The lock of claim 21, wherein said two first beaks have edge portions which are shaped so as to abut, at the stroke end thereof, against said first tabs during opening.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
PD99A0213 |
Sep 1999 |
IT |
|
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (8)
Number |
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Country |
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May 1969 |
DE |
93 21 445 |
Feb 1998 |
DE |
0 096 512 |
Dec 1983 |
EP |
0 677 634 |
Oct 1995 |
EP |
0 785 321 |
Jul 1997 |
EP |
0 945 572 |
Sep 1999 |
EP |
2666370 |
Mar 1992 |
FR |
2275500 |
Aug 1994 |
GB |