This invention is directed to a lock and in particular to a front door lock which contains a particular mechanism which allows the lock to be a “three mode lock” by which is meant that the lock can have a passage mode, a privacy mode, and a deadlock mode. The lock may be a mechanical lock or an electromechanical lock whereby the lock can be operated using a remote signal device.
Locks, and particularly door locks, can function in a number of different modes. One known mode is a passage mode. The passage mode is a mode where the door can be opened from the inside and the outside by turning the door handle, and there is no mechanism to lock either side of the door. These types of locks are widely used in houses.
Another known mode is a privacy mode. In the privacy mode, the door can be locked from the outside by turning a snib or similar type of member on the inside of the door. The door can be opened from the inside, either by turning a snib, or by simply turning the handle which overrides the looking mechanism to allow the door to be opened from the inside. However, the door is locked from the outside, This type of mode is widely used in bathroom doors and some front doors.
Another known mode is a deadlock mode. In the deadlock mode the door is locked from the inside and from the outside and usually requires a key to open the door. Deadlocking locks are very common and are widely used on front doors.
Locks are known which combine at least some of the above modes. For instance, locks are known which combine the privacy mode and the deadlocking mode. Other types of combination locks are also known.
Locks which combine all tree of the above modes are not very well-known. Moreover, such locks can be quite complicated in design. Often, the design of these locks is not very secure and the locks can be manipulated or forced into a position where an intruder can gain access through the door.
More recently, there has been a desire to provide remote control locks, and particularly remote control door locks. The remote control door locks need to contain some form of mechanism to allow the lock to be operated by a remote signal. To date, there has been no multiple mode lock which has a remote control mechanism which can be built into the lock, or a multiple mode lock which may be manual in operation but which can be adapted for remote control with minimum reconfiguration of the lock.
It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.
It is an object of the invention to provide a multiple mode lock which may overcome at least part of the above-mentioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.
In one form, the invention resides in a lock which contains a mechanism to allow the lock to have a passage mode, and/or a privacy mode and/or a deadlock mode.
In another form, the invention resides in a remote control lock which contains a mechanism to allow the lock to have a passage mode and/or a privacy mode and/or a deadlock mode, and remote control means to allow at least some of the modes to be operated by remote control.
The lock will typically comprise a front door lock although the invention need not be limited to this particular use. The front door may comprise a swing door although the invention need not be limited to this particular type of door.
The lock will typically have an external handle (that is, a handle on the outside of the door) and an internal handle (that is, on the inside of the door). The handle may comprise a knob, a lever handle, or any other type of suitable handle. Indeed, the handle may comprise a snib like handle and the like.
The lock will typically have a look body which supports at least some of the mechanism. Typically, the lock body includes an interconnecting member to interconnect the internal handle with the external handle. The interconnecting member typically comprises a connecting bar which is typically square in cross-section, this type of connecting bar being well-known. It is well-known to provide a lock tongue which is operatively associated with the connecting bar such that rotation of the connecting bar about its longitudinal axis will cause retraction or extension of the lock tongue.
The lock may contain an outer hub and an internal hub. Each hub is typically positioned within the lock body and can form part of the lock mechanism. Suitably, the outer hub and the internal hub are positioned next to each other with the internal hub being positioned behind the outer hub and between the outer hub and the lock body. The outer hub and/or the internal hub may be substantially planar in configuration and may comprise members which are adapted for rotation in the lock body. Suitably, the outer hub is attached to, or relative to, the connecting bar such that rotation of the connecting bar causes rotation of the outer hub. Typically, this is achieved by providing a square passageway through the outer hub to allow the outer hub to be fixed to the connecting bar such that rotation of the connecting bar rotates the outer hub. Of course, other types of attachments are envisaged.
The internal hub is typically operatively associated with the internal handle such that rotation of the internal handle causes rotation of the internal hub. Various types of cooperative attachments of the internal handle to the internal hub are envisaged. The attachment of the internal hub is preferably such that the internal hub moves or rotates upon movement of the internal handle, but the internal hub does not necessarily move or rotate upon rotation of the external handle.
The internal hub and the outer hub are typically provided with engagement means to allow the internal hub and the outer hub to engage with a locking bar. The engagement means may comprise a simple recess or cutout portion in each hub although other types of engagement means are envisaged such as abutments, profiles and the like.
The lock mechanism may include a locking bar. The locking bar may be movable between a locking position where the locking bar engages with the outer hub and/or die internal hub, and a free position where the locking bar does not engage with the outer hub and/or the internal hub. The locking bar may be movable between the locking position and the free position in a sliding manner, a rotating manner, a combination of a sliding and rotating manner and the like. The locking bar may be substantially plate like in configuration and may contain a nose portion which is adapted for engagement with the internal hub and the outer hub. The term “locking bar” is to be considered broadly and may comprise other types of locking members or locking means which can function or operate in a manner identical or similar to that described above.
The lock may comprise a mechanism to allow it to move between a passage mode and a privacy mode. The mechanism may comprise the internal hub, the outer hub and the locking bar as described above. Suitably, when in the passage mode, the locking bar is in the free position enabling the lock to be opened from either side of the door. Suitably, when in the privacy mode, the locking bar is in the locking position which prevents operation of the external handle but still allows operation of the internal handle.
The locking bar may be movable between its locking position and its free position by an external member. The external member may comprise a snib mechanism. The snib mechanism may comprise an external snib on the outside of the lock and which can be manipulated to move the locking bar between the locking position and the free position.
The snib mechanism may be operatively connected to the locking bar. In one form, the snib mechanism may comprise a rotatable member containing an eccentric pin which is attached to the locking bar such that a “crank type” type mechanism is provided whereby rotation of the external snib causes reciprocal movement of the locking bar. Of course, other types of mechanisms are envisaged which may provide a similar or identical function. For instance, the external member may comprise a slide member which can slide the locking bar between the locking position and the free position.
When in the privacy mode, it is preferred that operation of the internal handle can cause the locking bar to move from the locking position to the free position (i.e. a kickback function). In one form, this can be achieved by providing an inclined surface or a ramped surface on the internal hub which may form part of the engagement means of the locking bar to the internal hub. The construction and arrangement may be such that rotation of the internal hub (by rotation of the internal handle) causes the inclined surface to engage with the nose portion of the locking bar to push the locking bar out of engagement with the internal hub (i.e. return the locking bar to the free position). Thus, when in the privacy mode the internal handle can be operated to move the locking bar back to the free position; however the external handle is prevented from doing so.
The lock may contain a lock barrel (cylinder). Suitably, the lock contains two lock barrels being an external lock barrel (external cylinder) and an internal lock barrel (internal cylinder). The internal cylinder may be key operated from the inside of the door and the external cylinder may be key operated from the outside of the door. Each cylinder is typically associated with a cam (this being conventional) and the cam is typically attached to the inner end of the cylinder. The cam usually contains a camming member which rotates upon insertion and rotation of a key into the cylinder.
Suitably, the lock is provided with an internal cylinder which is operatively associated with the locking bar. Thus, operation of the internal cylinder can operate the locking bar between the locking position and the free position. It is also preferred that the internal cylinder can deadlock the locking bar into the looking position by which is meant that the locking bar is unable to move to the free position unless the internal cylinder is unlocked by the key. Thus, it is possible for the lock to be deadlocked from the inside of the door.
In one form, a first drive member is provided to drive the locking bar between the locking position and/or the free position. The drive member may be rotatable. The drive member may be operated by the cam of the internal cylinder such that insertion and rotation of a key in the internal cylinder causes rotation of the internal cam which, in turn, operates the drive member to move the locking bar between the locking position and the free position. However, other types of mechanisms are envisaged to allow the internal cylinder to manipulate the locking bar.
Suitably, the above mechanism allows the lock to move from a passage mode to a privacy mode and a deadlock mode from the inside of the door. Movement from the passage mode to the privacy mode and vice versa may be available using the snib and movement from the passage mode to the privacy mode and the deadlock mode may be available using the internal cylinder.
The lock may contain a mechanism to allow at least some of the modes to be selected from the outside of the door. It is preferred that the lock contains a mechanism or means to allow the lock to operate between the deadlock mode, the privacy mode and the passage mode from the outside of the door.
In one form, this can be achieved by providing an external cylinder. The external cylinder may contain a cam such that insertion and rotation of the key in the external cylinder causes rotation of the cam. The cam (which can be called the external cam as it is attached to the external cylinder) may be operatively associated with the locking bar such that operation of the external cylinder can move the locking bar between the locking position and the free position and/or can also deadlock, the locking bar in the locking position. In one form, this can be achieved by providing a second drive member which can be operatively associated with the external cam such that rotation of the external cam causes rotation of the second drive member. The second drive member may be operatively associated with the first drive member such that rotation of the second drive member causes rotation of the first drive member, and, as the first drive member may be associated with the locking bar, this can cause the locking bar to move from its unlocking position to its locking position and vice versa. However, other mechanisms or means are envisaged which may allow the external cylinder to be operatively associated with the locking bar.
The lock may comprise a remote control lock such that at least some of the lock modes can be operated from a position remote to the lock. Suitably, the remote control allows the lock to move between the passage mode and the privacy mode.
Suitably, a signal generating means is provided to allow the lock to be operated between various lock modes. The signal generating means may comprise a small portable device which can be attached to a key ring etc. The signal itself may be of various types including a radio signal, an infrared signal, and the like (Proximity cards, fingerprint or keypads). The signal may be coded.
The lock may contain a receiver to sense the signal generating means. The receiver may comprise or include a microswitch. The lock may include a drive means. The drive means may comprise a motor or solenoid, which is typically a small electric motor. The drive means may be controlled by the microswitch. The drive means is typically operatively associated with the locking bar such that operation of the drive means can move the locking bar between the locking position and the unlocking position. It is envisaged that there will be various ways of operatively associating the drive means with the locking bar. In one form, their may be provided a drive member which moves the locking bar between the locking position and the free position. The drive member may be driven by the electric motor.
Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which:
Referring to the drawings and initially to
The internal handle 12 and the external handle (not illustrated) are connected together in the normal manner by a connecting bar 13 which is typically substantially square in cross-section. A lock tongue assembly (not illustrated but of a conventional design) is operatively associated to connecting bar 13 such that rotation of connecting bar 13 (by operation of the internal handle 12 or the external handle) causes the lock tongue to move between a retracted position (to allow the door to open) and an extended position where the lock tongue enters into a keeper to prevent the door from opening. This arrangement is quite conventional.
The lock mechanism contains an outer hub 14 and an internal hub 15.
Referring to internal hub 15 (best illustrated in
A locking bar 18 is provided in the lock. The locking bar 18 is substantially plate like and contains a nose portion 19 which is configured to enable it to pass at least partially within the cutout portion on the outer hub and the cutout portion on the internal hub. The locking bar 18 is slidingly movable between a forward locking position where the nose portion passes into the cutout portion and a retracted free position where the nose portion does not engage with the outer hub or the internal hub.
When the locking bar 18 is in the forward locking position (see
The internal hub 15 can be rotated by internal handle 12 as the internal hub is connected to or relative to handle 12. Thus, even when locking bar 18 is in the forward locking position, the internal handle can be rotated to “kick out” the locking bar from engagement with the internal hub and the outer hub which then allows the door to be opened. At this stage, the external handle can be operated to open the door and the lock is in the “passage mode”.
Conversely, when the locking bar is in engagement with the outer hub and the internal hub, the lock is in the “privacy mode” which means that the door cannot be operated from the outside but can still be opened from the inside.
Locking bar 18 can be moved from the free position to the locking position by an external mechanism which in the particular embodiment comprises a snib mechanism 20. The snib mechanism 20 contains an internal snib (by which is meant that the snib is on the inside of the door and typically below internal handle 12 and can be operated by a person). The internal snib is connected to a rotatable member 21 which is inside the lock and which contains an eccentric pin 22 to form a “crank” arrangement (see
In use, the door can be closed and a person on the inside of the door can manipulate the snib to make the lock adopt the “privacy mode”. When in the privacy mode, the door can be returned to the passage mode either by rotation of the internal handle 12 which will kick out locking bar 18, or alternatively by manipulating the snib to retract the locking bar back into the free position.
The lock according to the particular embodiment is also able to adopt a deadlock position from the inside of the door. In the deadlock position, locking bar 18 is held in the locking position and is not able to be retracted to the free position by rotation of internal handle 12.
Adjacent internal cam 24 is a first drive member 26. First drive member 26 is best illustrated in
In the particular embodiment, the lock also has an external cylinder 29 which is illustrated in
The lock can therefore be manipulated from the privacy mode and the deadlock mode by an external key passing into external cylinder 29. Again, when in the deadlock mode (that is when camming member 31 prevents rotation of second drive member 32 which in turn prevents rotation of first drive member 26 which in turn prevents retraction of locking bar 18), neither the internal handle, the external handle or the snib can be manipulated to unlock the door.
The lock can also be adapted for remote control, and an advantage of the invention is that the lock can be converted from a mechanical lock as described above to a remote control lock as will be described below without large changes to the lock components.
Drive member 38 is operatively driven by a small electric motor 40 (see
A microswitch 43 is provided to signal motor 40. An overload detection may be provided to prevent overloading the remote control components of the lock. The overload/microswitch provides position sensing as to the locking bar
Thus, the lock can be activated between the passage mode and the privacy mode by remote control if desired.
It should be appreciated that various other changes and modifications can be made to any embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU2004/000107 | 1/30/2004 | WO | 00 | 10/25/2006 |