1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to door lock mechanisms, and, more particularly, to a low profile deadbolt assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Keyed locks have long been used to provide security for residences and businesses. A keyed deadbolt assembly often is used to supplement the level of security provided by a simple keyed lock configured integral with a doorknob. A typical deadbolt assembly includes a keyed lock cylinder and a cylinder body that projects about ⅝ of an inch or more away from the surface of a standard 1¾ inch thickness door. In current deadbolt assemblies, the amount that the cylinder body projects away from the surface of the door is determined, at least in part, by the distance required to prevent the lock cylinder from contacting the side of the deadbolt latch. Also, such a deadbolt assembly may be considered aesthetically undesirable, and provides a large profile for tampering by a potential intruder.
The present invention provides a low profile deadbolt assembly.
The invention, in one form thereof, is directed to a deadbolt assembly that includes a bolt housing having a longitudinal sleeve defining a first axis. A bolt has a distal end and a proximal end. The bolt is located in the longitudinal sleeve, and is configured to move between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position along the first axis. An elongate member has a first end and a second end portion opposite the first end, the first end being attached to the proximal end of the bolt and the second end portion having a first connector. The elongate member has a first outer side surface and a second outer side surface, the second outer side surface being spaced apart from the first outer side surface. A rotatable crank has a pivot member, a second connector and an arm extending between the pivot member and the second connector. The second connector of the crank is operationally engaged with the first connector of the elongate member. A first actuator assembly has a body, a lock cylinder and a tailpiece. The lock cylinder is mounted to the body, and the tailpiece extends from the lock cylinder. The tailpiece is rotatable around a second axis with respect to the lock cylinder, and the tailpiece is engaged with the pivot member to facilitate rotation of the crank with a corresponding rotation of the tailpiece around the second axis. At least a portion of the lock cylinder extends past a vertical plane of the first outer side surface of said elongate member.
The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a deadbolt assembly, including a bolt housing having a longitudinal sleeve defining a first axis. A bolt has a distal end and a proximal end. The bolt is located in the longitudinal sleeve and configured to move between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. A first actuator assembly has a body, a lock cylinder and a drive. The lock cylinder is mounted to the body, and the drive extends from the lock cylinder. The drive is rotatable around a second axis with respect to the lock cylinder. A slide member has a first end and a second end portion opposite the first end. The first end is attached to the proximal end of the bolt and the second end portion has a first connector. A rotatable crank has a pivot member, a second connector and an arm extending between the pivot member and the second connector. The pivot member is engaged with the drive of the first actuator assembly to facilitate rotation of the crank with a corresponding rotation of the drive around the second axis. The second connector of the crank is operationally engaged with the first connector of the slide member. A stationary guide rail is attached to the bolt housing. The guide rail defines a third axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis, and the slide member is configured for longitudinal movement along the third axis when the bolt is moved between the fully retracted position and the fully extended position. The stationary guide rail has a notch to provide a clearance between a first perimetrical surface of the lock cylinder and a second perimetrical surface of the stationary guide rail to accommodate an extent of the lock cylinder.
The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a deadbolt assembly. The deadbolt assembly includes a bolt housing having a longitudinal sleeve defining a first axis. A bolt has a distal end and a proximal end. The bolt is located in the longitudinal sleeve and configured to move between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position. An elongate member has a first end, a second end portion opposite the first end, a first outer side surface and a second outer side surface spaced apart from the first outer side surface. The first end is attached to the proximal end of the bolt, and the second end portion has a first connector. A first actuator assembly has a body, a lock cylinder and a tailpiece. The lock cylinder is mounted to the body, and the tailpiece extends from the lock cylinder. The tailpiece is rotatable with respect to the lock cylinder around a second axis. A second actuator assembly includes a mounting plate, a turnpiece and a crank. The crank has a pivot member, a second connector and an arm extending between the pivot member and the second connector. The second connector of the crank is operationally engaged with the first connector of the elongate member. The turnpiece and the crank are rotatably mounted to the mounting plate. The pivot member of the crank is connected to the turnpiece and to the tailpiece to facilitate rotation of the crank with a corresponding rotation of the turnpiece and the tailpiece around the second axis. The arm of the crank is interposed between the second outer side surface of the elongate member and the mounting plate of the second actuator assembly.
The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a method of assembling a deadbolt assembly including a bolt housing having a longitudinal sleeve defining a first axis; a bolt having a distal end and a proximal end, the bolt being located in the longitudinal sleeve and configured to move between a fully retracted position and a fully extended position along the first axis; and an elongate member having a first end and a second end portion opposite the first end, the first end being attached to the proximal end of the bolt and the second end portion having a first connector. The elongate member has a first outer side surface and a second outer side surface. The second outer side surface is spaced apart from the first outer side surface. The method includes providing a rotatable crank having a pivot member, a second connector and an arm extending between the pivot member and the second connector; operationally engaging the second connector of the crank with the first connector of the elongate member; providing a first actuator assembly having a body, a lock cylinder and a tailpiece, the lock cylinder being mounted to the body, and the tailpiece extending from the lock cylinder, the tailpiece being rotatable around a second axis with respect to the lock cylinder; engaging the tailpiece with the pivot member of the crank to facilitate rotation of the crank with a corresponding rotation of the tailpiece around the second axis; and positioning at least a portion of the lock cylinder to extend past a vertical plane of the first outer side surface of the elongate member.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to
Keyed actuator assembly 24 includes a body 38, a lock cylinder 40 and a tailpiece 42. Lock cylinder 40 is mounted to body 38, and has a keyed interior lock mechanism 43 that is rotatable. Tailpiece 42 extends from lock cylinder 40 and is connected to keyed interior lock mechanism 43. Keyed interior lock mechanism 43 is a lost motion device, such that a key operating keyed interior lock mechanism 43 of lock cylinder 40 may be turned by an amount, e.g., 90 degrees, before effecting a rotation of tailpiece 42 around an axis 44, with respect to lock cylinder 40.
Deadbolt latch assembly 26 includes a bolt housing 46, a stationary guide rail 48, an elongate member, e.g., slide, 50 and a bolt 52. Bolt housing 46 is configured to include a longitudinal sleeve 54, and provides a base plate 56 fixedly attached to the sleeve 54 for mounting bolt housing 46 to door 12. Bolt 52 is located in longitudinal sleeve 54. Bolt 52 has a distal end 58 and a proximal end 60.
Elongate slide 50 has an end 62 and an end portion 64. End portion 64 is at the opposite end of elongate slide 50 with respect to end 62. End 62 is attached to proximal end 60 of bolt 52. End portion 64 includes a connector, e.g., an irregular (L-shaped) aperture, 66. Elongate slide 50 has a first outer side surface 50-1 and a second outer side surface 50-2. First outer side surface 50-1 of elongate slide 50 faces toward exterior side 16 of door 12 and second outer side surface 50-2 faces toward interior side 14 of door 12. Longitudinal sleeve 54 defines an axis 68 for bolt 52, along which bolt 52 is moved via a longitudinal linear movement of elongate slide 50.
Stationary guide rail 48 is attached to bolt housing 46. Guide rail 48 defines an axis of longitudinal movement 70, which is substantially parallel to axis 68 of bolt 52, and substantially orthogonal to axis 44 of pivot member 86 of crank 84. In this embodiment, elongate slide 50 is configured for only longitudinal movement along axis 70 along stationary guide rail 48 when bolt 52 is moved between a fully retracted position 70R and a fully extended position 70E, as shown in
Interior actuator assembly 28 includes a mounting plate 80, a turnpiece 82 and a crank 84. Turnpiece 82 is configured to be grasped and rotated by a user to operate bolt 52. Crank 84 has a pivot member 86, a second connector, e.g., pin, 88, and an arm 90 extending between pivot member 86 and second connector 88. Crank 84 is rotatably mounted to mounting plate 80 by inserting pivot member 86 into an opening 92 in mounting plate 80. Thereafter, turnpiece 82 is connected to pivot member 86, such as for example, via a setscrew.
Pivot member 86 includes a keyed opening 94 sized to slidably receive an end portion 96 of tailpiece 42. Pivot member 86 of crank 84 is thus connected to turnpiece 82 and to tailpiece 42 to facilitate rotation of crank 84 with a corresponding rotation of turnpiece 82 and/or tailpiece 42 around axis 44.
Connector 88 (e.g., a pin) of crank 84 is operationally engaged with connector 66 (e.g., L-shaped aperture) of elongate slide 50. In embodiments wherein one of connector 66 and connector 88 is a pin and the other of connector 66 and connector 88 is an aperture, the pin extends in a direction substantially parallel to axis 44 to engage the aperture.
Arm 90 of crank 84 is interposed between the second outer side surface 50-2 of elongate slide 50 of deadbolt latch assembly 26 and mounting plate 80 of interior actuator assembly 28. Stated in another way, arm 90 of crank 84 is positioned between the second outer side surface 50-2 of elongate slide 50 and the interior side 14 of door 12.
Deadbolt latch assembly 100 includes bolt housing 46, bolt 52, and an elongate member 102. Elongate member 102 has an end 104 and an end portion 106 opposite end 104. End 104 is attached to proximal end 60 of bolt 52 via a pivot member, e.g., a pin, 108. End portion 106 includes a connector, e.g., a hole, 110. Elongate member 102 has a first outer side surface 102-1 and a second outer side surface 102-2.
First outer side surface 102-1 of elongate member 102 faces toward exterior side 16 of door 12 and second outer side surface 102-2 faces toward interior side 14 of door 12 (see
Elongate member 102 is shaped to define a notch 114, e.g., has a curved shape, to provide a clearance between the perimetrical, e.g., an upper, surface 74 of lock cylinder 40 and a perimetrical, e.g., lower, surface 116 of elongate member 102 to accommodate an extent of lock cylinder 40 past, e.g., under or over, elongate member 102. In turn, as shown in
Connector 88 (e.g., a pin) of crank 84 is operationally engaged with connector 110 (e.g., hole) of elongate member 102. In embodiments wherein one of connector 66 and connector 110 is a pin and the other of connector 88 and connector 110 is a hole, the pin extends in a direction substantially parallel to axis 44 to engage the aperture.
Arm 90 of crank 84 is interposed between the second outer side surface 102-2 of elongate member 102 of deadbolt latch assembly 100 and mounting plate 80 of interior actuator assembly 28. Stated in another way, arm 90 of crank 84 is positioned between the second outer side surface of 102-2 of elongate member 102 and the interior side 14 of door 12.
In the embodiments of the present invention described above, as shown for example in
Also, by configuring deadbolt assemblies 10 and 98 as described above, a deadbolt assembly may be configured for use with thin doors (e.g., interior doors having a thickness of 1⅜ inches) without using adaptors or increasing the projection above the door surface.
While this invention has been described with respect to embodiments of the invention, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20070199354 A1 | Aug 2007 | US |