The present invention relates to a lock system having mechanisms that secure the door at multiple locations.
A variety of door locks are known in the art that include an engaging mechanism between the door and an adjacent surface, such as a door jam or an opposing twin door. The mechanisms are typically mounted within the door and include a latching arm that latches into an opening in a door jam or adjacent surface when the door is closed. In addition to the latching arm, the locks may include a deadbolt or a spring loaded latch that is operated by user manipulation of a door knob. A problem exits with these prior art systems in that the center of the door where the deadbolt is located bears a disproportionate load from a locking standpoint, thus creating a weak point that may be easily compromised from a security standpoint.
There remains a need in the art for a multiple point lock system having increased strength, ease of use, and a reliable mechanical design that is adaptable to a variety of door handle styles and classes.
In several illustrated embodiments of the present invention, a multipoint lock and locking system is disclosed. The locking system may include a combination of a cam system operated by a cylinder lock, a spring loaded latch mechanism, a vertical shoot bolt, and a slide hook. The system secures the door to one or more objects at multiple locations.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
This Detailed Description of the Invention merely describes embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention as described is broader than and unlimited by the preferred embodiments, and the terms used have their full ordinary meaning.
An embodiment of the invention shown is a multipoint door locking system that engages and locks the door to the door jam in multiple areas along the length or width of the door using a variety of engagement methods. This system is adapted to a variety of door hardware classes, such as for example, American style door handle set hardware.
The present invention will be described for use with an exemplary single door mounted in a conventional door jam. Various assemblies of the system are linked by extension pieces that translate up and down motion between assemblies in a vertical plane. The door includes a user operated lock cylinder and a rotating doorknob or handle set. It should be understood that this application is for exemplary purposes only and the invention can be applied to a wide variety of applications.
The locking mechanism made in accordance with this invention may include a variety of specific locking mechanisms. It should be understood that such mechanisms, such as for example, shoot bolt assemblies and slide hook assemblies, may be installed at various locations and in various amounts in the practice of this invention. In an embodiment, the locking assembly includes an assembly of extension actuators and links, and a door style base that permits modular addition of various lock mechanisms at multiple locations. As a result, an installer can include any number of combination of locking mechanisms depending on the safety, cost, jurisdictional code or geometric requirements of the installation site.
Referring now to the drawings,
An exploded perspective view of the multipoint locking device 24 is shown in
An upper extension actuator 30 is disposed adjacent and parallel to the door style 26 by a cover plate 32 and a set of hardware. A long center aperture allows the extension actuator to move up and down relative to the fixed door style 26 and cover plate 32. The extension actuator has opposing ends 34, 36 with a series of notches for mechanical connection to other free moving parts, such as for example, other members or links within locking mechanisms. In the embodiment shown, a lower extension actuator 38 is disposed adjacent and parallel to the door style 26 by a cover plate 40 and a set of hardware. Similarly, a long center aperture allows the lower extension actuator 38 to move up and down relative to the fixed door style 26 and cover plate 32. As mentioned, the locking assembly 24 includes three actuator links 42, 44, 46. Two actuator links 42, 46 provide a mechanical connection between various locking mechanisms. The upper actuator link 42 connects an upper shoot bolt assembly 50 with a first upper slide hook assembly 52, while the lower actuator link 46 connects a lower shoot bolt assembly 54 with a lower slide hook assembly 56. The actuator link 44 connects the cam assembly 28 with a second upper slide hook assembly 58. The connections between components of the multipoint locking device 24 are completed by the extension actuators 34, 38 as shown. A latch assembly 60 is also included between the cam assembly 28 and lower extension actuator 38. A link member 62 is disposed in the latch but moves freely in directions A1, A2 relative to the door style 26. Movement of the latch assembly by manual operation of a door handle does not effect any movement of the multipoint locking device 24. This configuration omits a dead bolt to reduce the load relative to locking in the center of the door should someone attempt to compromise the locking system by applying force to the door.
Relative to
The construction and operation of the cam assembly 28 will now be discussed in greater detail. An exploded perspective view of the cam assembly 28 is shown in
Within the housing, a upper cam enforcement plate 86 and an upper cam 88 are positioned opposite a lower cam enforcement plate 90 and a lower cam 92. In operation of the locking assembly 24, the cams 88, 92 move within the housing in opposing directions A1, A2 relative to the face plate 78 and door style 26.
A block 136 is secured to the sliding member 130 by one or more roll pins 138 that traverse holes in each piece. The block 136 moves in the same direction as and in concert with the sliding member 130 either toward or away from the face plate 78. The movement of each piece 130, 136 is limited in part by a pair of tongues 140 that slide within either slot 126, 128 on the actuator assembly 120 housing. A lever 142 and an interface spring 144 are also positioned within actuator assembly 120. The rotatable lever is fixed at one end and includes an interface portion for securing to a lock cylinder (not shown). The distal end 143 on the lever 142 extends beyond an aperture 146 in the top surface of the sliding member 130. A roller assembly including a pin 148 and two rollers 150 is secured and positioned to the block 136. The roller ball assembly is limited in axial movement, but the rollers 150 are free to rotate toward or away from the face plate 78.
In operation, manual turning of a cylinder (not shown) by a user engages the lever arm 142 to rotate toward the face plate 78 and linearly move the sliding member 130 toward the cams 88, 92. As a result, the pin 148 moves toward the face plate to move the upper cam 88 and lower cam 92 in opposing vertical directions A1, A2, respectively.
In views shown in
A tail piece of a cylinder (not shown) interfaces with the lever arm 142 via a cross-shaped cavity 162. When the cylinder is turned by a user, this in turn rotates the lever 142 counter-clockwise relative to
Referring now to
Referring again to
The latch assembly 60 includes an outer body 170 having four tongues 172 that engage slots in the face place 164. Two screws 174 engage the assembly 60 to a door (not shown). Within the outer body 170 and an outer body extension piece 176, a plate 178 travels in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the faceplate 164. Two cams 180, 182 move plate 178 against the force of a spring 184 when a user turns a doorknob (not shown). A rod 186 may be used for stabilizing the spring 184 about a longitudinal axis. A pin 188 connects the plate 178 to a latch 190.
In operation, the spring 184 is biased to maintain the latch 190 in an extended or closed position. Manual operation of a standard door knob retracts the latch. Movement of the latch in either direction in the horizontal plane does not effect operation of the cam assembly or any of the components thereof.
Referring now to
The second slide hook assembly 58 includes an outer body 192 having six tongues 194 that engage slots in a face place 196. Four screws 198 engage the assembly 58 to a door 10 (not shown). Within the outer body 192, a slide 200 and slide hook body 202 are positioned. The slide hook body 202 includes a bent hook portion 204 that is extendable through an aperture 206 in the face place 196 to secure to a mounting plate 208 in the door jam. A lower portion 210 of the slide 200 includes notches to engage the actuator link 44 (not shown), which in turn engages the upper cam 88 extending portion distal end 104. Any number and type of extensions of any practical length can be used between the upper cam 88 and the slide 200. As a result, rotational movement of the lever 142 and consequential lateral movement of the sliding member 130 moves the slide 200 in a direction parallel to the plane of the face plate 196. A top portion 212 of the slide includes notches to engage the upper extension actuator 34 (not shown), which in turn engages a portion of the upper slide hook mechanism 52.
Movement of the plate 200 is translated to the slide hook body 202 by three pins 214, 216, 218 that are inserted into rollers 220, 222, 224, respectively. The pin/roller assemblies 214, 228 and 216, 222 are engaged in holes 283, 284, 285 and 286 in outer bodies 192, respectively, and pass through a vertical slot 226 in the plate 200. Pin/roller assemblies 218, 224 engage through hole 287 in plate 200. The rollers 220, 222, 224 are singularly engaged through three slots 228, 230, 232, respectively, in the slide hook body 202. As shown, two slots 228, 230 are arcuate and one slot 232 is straight. The straight slot 232 is proximal to the cam assembly 28. It should be understood that various slot patterns in the plate 200 and the slide hook body 202 and combinations thereof can be utilized in the practice of the present invention. It should also be understood by others that other constructions of the slide hook assembly are possible in the practice of this invention.
Certain operational positions of the slide hook assembly 58 are illustrated in part in
In operation, the upward movement of the plate 200 in the direction A1 forces movement of the slide hook body 202. Movement of the slide hook body 202 will be discussed by focusing on the effects on an exemplary roller and slot combination. When the slide hook body 202 is in a retracted position as shown in
The complimentary roller and slot movement of an arcuate slot will now be discussed. When the slide hook body 202 is in a retracted position as shown in
The multipoint locking assembly 28 illustrated in
The shoot bolt assembly 50 includes an outer body 250 having six tongues 252 that engage slots in a face place 254. The L-shaped face plate is designed for mounting in the corner of the door or door style 26. Three screws 256, 258, 260 engage the assembly 50 to a door 10 through the long leg of the face plate 254. A single screw 262 engages the assembly 50 to the door through the short leg of the face plate 254. Any suitable mounting technique or combination of hardware can be used to mount this assembly, or any other assembly, to the door or door style in the practice of this invention.
Within the outer body 250, a slide 264 and shoot bolt 266 are positioned. The shoot bolt 266 includes an end portion 268 that extends through an aperture 270 in the short leg of the face place 254 to secure to extend through mounting hardware 272 located in the overhead horizontal door frame (not shown). A distal tip 274 of the end portion may be tamped or conical to ease insertion. A bottom portion 276 of the slide 264 includes notches to engage a actuator link 42, which in turn engages an upper extending portion of the upper slide hook assembly 52. Any number of extensions of any practical length can be used between the upper slide hook assembly 52 and the slide 108. Plate 264 moves in a direction parallel to the plane of the long leg of the faceplate 104. Movement of the slide 264 is translated to the shoot bolt 266 by tabs 280, 282 that are fixed to the bolt 266. Additional views of the shoot bolt assembly 100 are shown in
Certain operational positions of the shoot bolt assembly 50 are illustrated in part in
In operation, the upward movement of the slide 108 in the direction A1 forces movement of the shoot bolt 266 into a cavity in top of door frame through an aperture 270 in top of face plate 254. The end portion 274 is conical to allow for ease of alignment. In motion, the shoot bolt 266 does not rotate or pivot. As the cam assembly 28 movement is reversed by the user, the shoot bolt pattern is reversed and the bolt 266 disengages the door frame.
While several embodiments of the invention has been illustrated and described in considerable detail, the present invention is not to be considered limited to the precise constructions disclosed. Various adaptations, modifications and uses of the invention may occur to those skilled in the arts to which the invention relates. It is the intention to cover all such adaptations, modifications and uses falling within the scope or spirit of the claims filed herewith.
This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/703,453, entitled “Multipoint Door Lock”, filed Feb. 7, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/852,495, entitled “Multipoint Door Lock” and filed Oct. 18, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, to the extent that it is not conflicting with this application.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60852495 | Oct 2006 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11703453 | Feb 2007 | US |
Child | 12424202 | US |