Patent Application
20250172014
The present disclosure generally relates to status indicating locksets, and more particularly but not exclusively relates to trims for deadbolt locksets.
Indicator mechanisms are occasionally provided to locksets to provide a visual indication regarding the locked/unlocked state of the lockset. For example, certain deadbolt locksets are provided with a rotatable indicator that is rotationally coupled with the tailpiece of a lock cylinder such that there is a direct correspondence between the rotational position of the tailpiece and the rotational position of the indicator. However, this arrangement may be susceptible to tampering attacks. For example, if an attacker is able to tamper with the sign, the attacker may be able to force the sign to rotate the tailpiece, thereby unlocking the lockset. For these reasons among others, there remains a need for further improvements in this technological field.
An exemplary lockset trim generally includes an escutcheon, an indicator mechanism, and a cam. The indicator mechanism is mounted in the escutcheon for sliding movement between a first linear position, in which a first indicium is visible via a window in the escutcheon, and a second linear position, in which a second indicium is visible via the window. The indicator mechanism is biased toward the first linear position. The cam is rotatably mounted in the escutcheon for rotation about a longitudinal axis between a first rotational position, in which the cam permits the indicator mechanism to adopt the first linear position, and a second rotational position, in which the cam retains the indicator mechanism in the second linear position. Further embodiments, forms, features, and aspects of the present application shall become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
Although the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described herein in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives consistent with the present disclosure and the appended claims.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an illustrative embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may or may not necessarily include that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. It should further be appreciated that although reference to a “preferred” component or feature may indicate the desirability of a particular component or feature with respect to an embodiment, the disclosure is not so limiting with respect to other embodiments, which may omit such a component or feature. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
As used herein, the terms “longitudinal,” “lateral,” and “transverse” may be used to denote motion or spacing along three mutually perpendicular axes, wherein each of the axes defines two opposite directions. In the coordinate system illustrated in
Furthermore, motion or spacing along a direction defined by one of the axes need not preclude motion or spacing along a direction defined by another of the axes. For example, elements that are described as being “laterally offset” from one another may also be offset in the longitudinal and/or transverse directions, or may be aligned in the longitudinal and/or transverse directions. Moreover, the term “transverse” may also be used to describe motion or spacing that is non-parallel to a particular axis or direction. For example, an element that is described as being “movable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis” may move in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and/or in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis. The terms are therefore not to be construed as limiting the scope of the subject matter described herein to any particular arrangement unless specified to the contrary.
Additionally, it should be appreciated that items included in a list in the form of “at least one of A, B, and C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (B and C); (A and C); or (A, B, and C). Similarly, items listed in the form of “at least one of A, B, or C” can mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (B and C); (A and C); or (A, B, and C). Items listed in the form of “A, B, and/or C” can also mean (A); (B); (C); (A and B); (B and C); (A and C); or (A, B, and C). Further, with respect to the claims, the use of words and phrases such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” and/or “at least one portion” should not be interpreted so as to be limiting to only one such element unless specifically stated to the contrary, and the use of phrases such as “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” should be interpreted as encompassing both embodiments including only a portion of such element and embodiments including the entirety of such element unless specifically stated to the contrary.
In the drawings, some structural or method features may be shown in certain specific arrangements and/or orderings. However, it should be appreciated that such specific arrangements and/or orderings may not necessarily be required. Rather, in some embodiments, such features may be arranged in a different manner and/or order than shown in the illustrative figures unless indicated to the contrary. Additionally, the inclusion of a structural or method feature in a particular figure is not meant to imply that such feature is required in all embodiments and, in some embodiments, may be omitted or may be combined with other features.
With reference to
The lockset 80 has a first state and a second state, and includes at least one indicator operable to provide a visual indication regarding the current state of the lockset 80. In the illustrated form, one of the first state or the second state is a locked state, and the other of the first state and the second state is an unlocked state. It is also contemplated that the concepts described herein may be utilized to provide a visual indication regarding another set of states of the lockset 80.
The illustrated bolt mechanism 90 is provided in the form of a deadbolt mechanism, and generally includes a housing 92, a deadbolt 94 slidably mounted in the housing 92, and a retractor 96 rotatably mounted in the housing 92. The retractor 96 is engaged with the deadbolt 94 such that rotation of the retractor 96 drives the deadbolt 94 between its extended position and its retracted position. The retractor 96 has a first rotational position corresponding to a first linear position of the deadbolt 94 (e.g., one of the extended position or the retracted position), and a second rotational position corresponding to a second linear position of the deadbolt 94 (e.g., the other of the extended position or the retracted position).
In the illustrated embodiment, the lockset 80 is provided as a deadbolt lockset, in which the locked/unlocked state of the lockset 80 is defined by the extended/retracted position of the deadbolt 94. As such, the first state of the lockset 80 corresponds to the first position of the deadbolt 94, and the second state of the lockset 80 corresponds to the second position of the deadbolt 94. It is also contemplated that indicator mechanisms such as those described herein may be utilized to indicate states other than the locked/unlocked state, and that the locked/unlocked state may not necessarily correspond to the extended/retracted position of a deadbolt. For example, the locked/unlocked state may instead relate to the ability of an actuator to retract a spring-biased latchbolt.
With reference to
The illustrated escutcheon 110 includes a window 112 through which the indicia 132, 134 are selectively displayed, and an actuator seat 116 in which the actuator 160 is seated. In certain embodiments, a shield 114 may be mounted to the escutcheon 110 at the window 112 to thereby discourage tampering with the indicator mechanism 140. As will be appreciated, the shield 114 may be transparent or translucent such that the indicia 132, 134 are visible when aligned with the window 112.
The indicator mechanism 120 includes an indicating portion 130, which generally includes a first display area 131 having a first indicium 132, and a second display area 133 having a second indicium 134. As noted above, the first indicium 132 pertains to the first state of the lockset 80 (e.g., one of a locked state or an unlocked state), and the second indicium 134 pertains to the second state of the lockset (e.g., the other of a locked state or an unlocked state). In various forms, one or both of the indicia 132, 134 may take the form of a color, a symbol, a word, one or more alphanumeric characters, or another form of indicium. In the illustrated form, the indicator mechanism 120 comprises a plate portion 121, and the indicating portion 130 is provided in the form of a label 139 that is mounted to the plate portion 121. For example, the label 139 may be provided in the form of a sticker or decal that includes the indicia 132, 134. It is also contemplated that the indicator mechanism 120 may be provided with the indicia 132, 134 in another manner. For example, the indicia 132, 134 may instead be printed, painted, or formed on the plate portion 121, or provided to the indicator mechanism 120 in another manner.
The indicator mechanism 120 is slidably mounted in the escutcheon 120 for movement between a first linear position and a second linear position. When the indicator mechanism 120 is in the first linear position, the first display area 131 is aligned with the window 112 such that the first indicium 132 is visible, thereby indicating to users that the lockset 80 is in the first state. When the indicator mechanism 120 is in the second linear position, the second display area 133 is aligned with the window 112 such that the second indicium 134 is visible, thereby indicating to users that the lockset 80 is in the second state. As described herein, the indicator mechanism 120 is configured to move between the first linear position and the second linear position in response to rotation of the cam 150 between a first rotational position and a second rotational position.
In addition to the indicating region 130, the illustrated indicator mechanism 120 generally includes a plate portion 121, a pair of laterally-spaced arms 122 extending from the plate portion 121, and a cam surface 124 extending between and connecting the lower ends of the arms 122. The illustrated indicator mechanism 120 further includes a pair of tabs 123, and the tabs 123 are engaged with the springs 103 such that the indicator mechanism is biased in a first direction (upward in
The cam 150 is mounted for rotation within the escutcheon 110, and is operable to be rotated by the actuator 160. In the illustrated form, the cam 150 includes a body portion 152 defining a slot 153 through which a tailpiece 163 of the actuator 160 extends such that the cam 150 is rotationally coupled with the tailpiece 163. The cam 150 also includes an arm 154 that extends from the body portion 152 at least partially in the longitudinal direction, and which includes a finger 155 that rides along the arcuate cam surface 124 during actuation of the trim 100 as described herein.
The illustrated actuator 160 is mounted in the actuator seat 116, and generally includes a shell 161, a plug 162 rotatably mounted in the shell 161, and a tailpiece 163 operable to be rotated by the plug 162. In the illustrated form, the actuator 160 is provided in the form of a lock cylinder that further includes a tumbler assembly operable to selectively prevent rotation of the plug 162. As will be appreciated, when an appropriate key is inserted to the plug of a lock cylinder, the key moves the tumbler assembly to an unblocking state to thereby permit rotation of the plug. It is also contemplated that the actuator 160 may be provided in the form of an emergency override 160′ (
As will be appreciated, the actuator 160 is operable to transition the lockset 80 between its first state and its second state. In the illustrated form, the tailpiece 163 engages the retractor 96 of the deadbolt mechanism 90 such that rotation of the plug 162 causes a corresponding movement of the bolt 94, thereby locking and unlocking the lockset 80. It is also contemplated that the actuator 160 may instead move another component to transition the lockset 80 between its first state and its second state.
The anchor base 170 is mounted in the escutcheon 110 adjacent the indicator mechanism 120, and generally includes a pair of channels 173 in which the springs 103 are seated. Each of the indicator mechanism tabs 123 extends into a corresponding one of the channels 173 to thereby engage the corresponding spring 103 while limiting the indicator mechanism 120 to movement in the transverse direction (e.g., up and down).
The back plate 180 is configured for mounting to the door 70 and for enclosing the internal components within the escutcheon 110. In the illustrated form, the back plate 180 includes a protruding portion 182 that projects into the cross-bore 75 of the door 70. This arrangement may, for example, provide additional space for the internal components of the trim 100 to thereby reduce the visible size of the trim 100.
With additional reference to
With additional reference to
In contrast to the outside trim 100, in which the actuator is provided in the form of a lock cylinder 160 or an override mechanism 160′, the actuator of the inside trim 200 is provided in a form that facilitates manual manipulation of the locked/unlocked state of the trim 200. For example, the actuator of the illustrated inside trim 200 may be provided in the form of a thumb turn 260, which may be rotationally coupled with the tailpiece 163 of the outside trim 100 to thereby permit manual adjustment of the locked/unlocked state of the lockset 80 via the thumb turn 260.
In the inside trim 200, the cam 250 may be slightly different from the cam 150 of the outside trim 100. For example, the arm 254 of the illustrated cam 250 extends radially, but does not necessarily extend in the longitudinal direction defined by the rotational axis 201. Regardless of the precise configuration of the cams 150, 250, the inside cam 250 may interact with the indicator mechanism 220 in a manner substantially similar to that described above in order to transition the inside trim 200 between its first state and its second state.
With additional reference to
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the inventions are desired to be protected.
It should be understood that while the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or more preferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature so described may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary and embodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope of the invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. In reading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,” “at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intention to limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to the contrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “a portion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire item unless specifically stated to the contrary.
