FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to locks for doors, windows, and other movable fixtures for openings.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Locks for sliding doors and windows often use rotating security hooks to lock onto a striker on a jamb. Locks also often use a mishandling mechanism that prevents the security hooks from rotating outside of the lock and slamming into the striker when the door or window is not fully closed against the jamb.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,068 provides a spring-loaded pin that latches a gear used to rotate the security hooks from the lock. The spring-loaded pin releases the gear after the door closes so that the security hooks can be rotated out from the lock.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0130543 provides a spring-loaded pin that latches one of two interconnected slides used to rotate the security hooks from the lock. The spring-loaded pin releases the slides after the door closes so that the security hooks can be rotated out from the lock.
SUMMARY
In one embodiment of the invention, a two point lock includes two pivotally mounted security hooks having sliding faces that engage opposing sliding faces of a spring-loaded mishandling pin when the mishandling pin is vertically extended and the security hooks are rotatably retracted. The mishandling pin is vertically retracted when it abuts a jamb. When the mishandling pin is vertically retracted, the sliding faces disengage so that the security hooks can rotate to lock onto a striker on the jamb. Thus, the mishandling pin prevents the security hooks from being slammed into the striker before a door or a window is fully closed.
In one embodiment of the invention, the lock further includes first and second drive rails. The first drive rail has a top rack gear engaged by an input pinion gear. The first and the second drive rails have opposing rack gears that engage common pinion gears between the drive rails. When the input pinion gear rotates, it translates the first drive rail in one direction. The common pinion gears translate the second drive rail in the opposite direction.
In one embodiment, a first projection on the first drive rail engages a first cam surface on the first security hook so that the translation of the first drive rail causes the first security hook to rotate. Similarly, a second projection on the second drive rail engages a second cam surface on the second security hook so that the translation of the second drive rail causes the second security hook to rotate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view of a two point lock in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the two point lock of FIG. 1 less a back cover in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the two point lock of FIG. 1 in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the two point lock of FIG. 1 from the opposite angle of FIG. 3 in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two security hooks of the two point lock of FIG. 1 in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mishandling pin of the two point lock of FIG. 1 in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of the two point lock of FIG. 1 along line AA′ where the mishandling pin of FIG. 6 is in its extended position and the two security hooks are in their retracted positions in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the two point lock of FIG. 1 along line AA′ where the mishandling pin of FIG. 6 is in its retracted position and the two security hooks are in their extended positions in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the two point lock of FIG. 1 less the back cover where the mishandling pin is in its retracted position and the two security hooks are in their retracted positions in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of a two point lock in another embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the two point lock of FIG. 10 in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the two point lock of FIG. 10 from the opposite angle of FIG. 11 in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a mishandling pin of the two point lock of FIG. 10 in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 14 is a sectional side view of the two point lock of FIG. 10 along line AA′ where the mishandling pin of FIG. 13 is in its extended position and the two security hooks are in their retracted positions in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 15 is a sectional side view of the two point lock of FIG. 10 along line AA′ where the mishandling pin of FIG. 13 is in its retracted position and the two security hooks are in their extended positions in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 16 is an assembled perspective view of a six point lock in one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the six point lock of FIG. 16 in one embodiment of the invention.
Use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates a two point lock 100 for a movable fixture in an opening (e.g., a sliding door or a window) in one embodiment of the invention. A case 102 includes a front cover 1 and a back cover 2, and end pieces 11 and 12 that fit between covers 1 and 2 at their distal ends.
FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, illustrate lock 100 in more detail in one embodiment of the invention. End pieces 11 and 12 each has two horizontal arms joined by a vertical body. End pieces 11 and 12 have projections (e.g., pins and tabs) for fitting into corresponding cutouts and mounts on covers 1 and 2. Fasteners inserted into holes in covers 1 and 2 and end pieces 11 and 12 secure the components together. Fasteners 15 secure a faceplate 8 to the bottom of case 102 using holes at the bottom of end pieces 11 and 12.
Front cover 1 has a top wall 104 and a bottom wall 106. A drive rail 3 sits on bottom wall 106 to translate horizontally within case 102. Drive rail 3 has exterior projections 162 (only one is labeled in FIG. 4) that fit into slots 164 (only one is labeled) on cover 1 to guide the horizontal movement of drive rail 3. Drive rail 3 has two distal portions joined at their ends from above by a top portion. The distal portions define rack gears 108 and 110 that face the interior of case 102. The top portion defines a rack gear 112 that faces the top of case 102. Drive rail 3 has a projection 114 (e.g., a pin) adjacent to rack gear 108 that faces the interior of case 102. Drive rail 3 also has a stud 166 that can be connected to a sliding rod for driving additional locking mechanism to be described later.
Back cover 2 includes a bottom wall 116. A drive rail 4 sits on bottom wall 116 to translate horizontally within case 102. Drive rail 4 has exterior projections 172 (only one is labeled in FIG. 3) that fit into slots 174 (only one is labeled) on cover 2 to guide the horizontal movement of drive rail 4. Drive rail 4 has two distal portions joined at their ends by a mid portion. The distal portions define rack gears 118 and 120 that face the interior of case 102. Drive rail 4 has a projection 124 (e.g., a pin) adjacent to rack gear 120 that faces the interior of case 102. Drive rail 4 also has a stud 176 that can be connected to a sliding rod for driving additional locking mechanisms to be described later.
A common pinion gear 14A is mounted along the Z-direction between the lower arm of end piece 11 and a mount 126 (e.g., a U-shaped clamp) protruding from cover 1. Similarly, a common pinion gear 14B is mounted along the Z-direction between the lower arm of end piece 12 and a mount 128 (e.g., a U-shaped clamp) protruding from cover 1. Pinion gear 14A engages gear racks 108 and 118 while pinion gear 14B engages gear racks 110 and 120. Together, the rack and pinion gears translate drive rails 3 and 4 in opposite directions.
An input pinion gear 6 has protruding rims on both ends to be inserted along the Y-direction into corresponding cutouts in covers 1 and 2. When inserted between covers 1 and 2, pinion gear 6 engages rack gear 112 to translate drive rail 3 in either direction. Pinion gear 6 defines a rectangular notch to receive a lever used to turn pinion gear 6.
Spacers 13A and 13B have multiple exterior projections (e.g., pins) on their exterior face that fit into corresponding cutouts on cover 1. Similarly, spacers 13C and 13D have multiple exterior projections on their exterior face that fit into corresponding cutouts on cover 2. Spacers 13A, 13B, 13C, and 13D further have interior projections 130A, 130B, 130C, and 130D (e.g., pins) on their interior faces that pivotally support security hooks 7A and 7B and restrict their movement along the Y-direction within case 102.
FIG. 5 illustrates the details of security hooks 7A and 7B in one embodiment of the invention. Security hook 7A includes a catch portion 132A and a latch portion 134A. Catch portion 132A is substantially a hook for locking onto a striker in a jamb. Catch portion 132A defines a hole 136A for receiving interior projections 130A and 130C of spacers 13A and 13C. Catch portion 132A further defines a guide 138A with a cam surface 140A that receives projection 114 on drive rail 3. Latch portion 134A defines an angled sliding face 142A for engaging a spring-loaded mishandling pin 5 that is described later. When security hook 7A is retracted, sliding face 142A has a negative slope along the positive X-direction.
Similarly, security hook 7B includes a catch portion 132B and a latch portion 134B. Catch portion 132B defines a hole 136B for receiving interior projections 130B and 130D of spacers 13B and 13D. Catch portion 132B further defines a guide 138B with a cam surface 140B that receives projection 124 on drive rail 4. Latch portion 134B defines an angled sliding face 142B for engaging mishandling pin 5 that is described later. When security hook 7B is retracted, sliding face 142B has a positive slope along the positive X-direction.
When drive rails 3 and 4 translate away from each other, projections 114 and 124 push against respective cam surfaces 140A and 140B and cause security hooks 7A and 7B to rotate from their retracted positions within case 102 to their extended positions outside of case 102. Vice versa, when drive rails 3 and 4 translate toward each other, projections 114 and 124 push against cam surfaces 140A and 140B and cause security hooks 7A and 7B to rotate from their extended positions outside of case 102 to their retracted positions within case 102.
FIG. 6 illustrates the details of spring-loaded mishandling pin 5 in one embodiment of the invention. Mishandling pin 5 has a substantially T-shape where two wing portions 146A and 146B are joined by a central body 148. Wing portions 146A and 146B have slots 602, 604, 606, and 608 on both sides to receive guides 612, 614, 616, and 618 (FIGS. 3 and 4) on the interior faces of covers 1 and 2 to guide the vertical movement of mishandling pin 5 within case 102. Central body 148 has shoulders 144 that abut tabs on cover 1 to limit how far mishandling pin 5 can extend.
Central body 148 defines a cavity 150 with a pin 152. A spring 9 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is placed around pin 152 so it pushes against mishandling pin 5 and a tab 10 (FIGS. 3 and 4) fixed between covers 1 and 2. Wing portions 146A and 146B are separated by a space that accommodates pinion gear 6 so that mishandling pin 5 can retract without contacting pinion gear 6.
Two outside surfaces of wing portions 146A and 146B form respective angled sliding faces 158A and 158B. Sliding face 158A has a negative slope along the positive X-direction, and sliding face 158B has a positive slope along the positive X-direction. When mishandling pin 5 is extended and security hooks 7A and 7B are retracted, sliding faces 158A and 158B engage respective sliding faces 142A and 142B. When mishandling pin is retracted (e.g., when the movable fixture abuts the jamb), sliding faces 158A and 158B disengage from sliding faces 142A and 142B.
The operation to lock security hooks 7A and 7B onto the striker is described hereafter. FIG. 7 illustrates the state of lock 100 prior to closing the movable fixture against the jamb. As can be seen, mishandling pin 5 is extended so that its sliding faces 158A and 158B are engaged with sliding faces 142A and 142B of security hooks 7A and 7B. The contact between the sliding faces prevents security hooks 7A and 7B from rotating outside of case 102.
FIG. 8 illustrates the state of lock 100 after fully closing the movable fixture against the jamb. As the movable fixture is pulled toward the jamb, mishandling pin 5 slide vertically upward and becomes retracted. This allows sliding faces 158A and 158B of mishandling pin 5 to disengage sliding faces 142A and 142B of security hooks 7A and 7B. The substantially similar slopes of the sliding faces allow mishandling pin 5 to slide vertically upward and easily disengage from security hooks 7A and 7B. This permits security hooks 7A and 7B to rotate outside of case 102.
Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the consumer rotates pinion gear 6 to extend security hooks 7A and 7B from case 102. When rotated, pinion gear 6 on rack gear 112 causes drive rail 3 to translate. When drive rail 3 translates, pinion gears 14A and 14B between rack gears 108, 110, 118, and 120 cause drive rail 4 to translate away from drive rail 3. As drive rail 3 translates, projection 114 pushes against cam surface 140A of guide 138A of security hook 7A. This causes security hook 7A to rotate outside of case 102. Similarly, as drive rail 4 translates, projection 124 pushes against cam surface 140B of guide 130B of security hook 7B. This causes security hook 7B to rotate outside of case 102 in unison with security hook 7A.
The operation to unlock security hooks 7A and 7B from the striker is described hereafter. When security hooks 7A and 7B are locked onto the striker, mishandling pin 5 is retracted so its sliding faces 158A and 158B are disengaged from sliding faces 142A and 142B of security hooks 7A and 7B. The consumer now rotates pinion gear 6 in a reverse direction to retract security hooks 7A and 7B back into case 102. FIG. 9 illustrates the state of lock 100 when security hooks 7A and 7B and mishandling pin 5 are retracted.
As the movable fixture is pulled away from the jamb, mishandling pin 5 slides vertically downward and becomes extended. As shown in FIG. 7, this causes sliding faces 158A and 158B of mishandling pin 5 to reengage sliding faces 142A and 142B of security hooks 7A and 7B. The substantially similar slopes of the sliding faces allow mishandling pin 5 to slide vertically downward and easily reengage security hooks 7A and 7B.
FIG. 10 illustrates a two point lock 100A for a movable fixture in an opening (e.g., a sliding door or a window) in another embodiment of the invention. Lock 100A is similar to lock 100 (FIG. 1) but for the following details.
FIGS. 11 and 12 show that a front cover 1A is integrated with end pieces 11A and 12A to simplify construction and assembly. Front cover 1A also has a slot 1102 for receiving a tab 1104 (FIG. 12) extending from a mishandling pin 5A. Similarly, a back cover 2A has a slot 1106 for receiving a tab 1108 extending from mishandling pin 5A. Slots 1102 and 1106 and tabs 1104 and 1108, along with slots 602, 604, 606, and 608 (FIG. 13) and guides 612, 614, 616, and 618, control the vertical movement of mishandling pin 5A. Slots 1102 and 1106 also limit the vertical travel of mishandling pin 5A so it does not strike top wall 104 of front cover 1A.
Furthermore, front cover 1A has posts 1110A and 1110B that extend through spacers 13A, 13B, hooks 7A and 7B, and spacers 13C and 13D, respectively. Back cover 2A defines holes 111A and 111B for receiving the other ends of posts 1110A and 1110B, respectively. In other aspects, covers 1A and 2A are similar to covers 1 and 2 described above.
A drive rail 3A has two distal rack gear portions joined at their ends from above by a top rack gear portion. One end 1116 of a distal rack gear portion extends parallel under the top rack gear portion to form an L-shaped slot 1118 for receiving tab 1104 (FIG. 12) of mishandling pin 5A when drive rail 3A is at the end of its horizontal travel and hooks 7A and 7B are fully extended. Receiving tab 1104 sits on a surface 1124 of slot 1118 to prevent mishandling pin 5A from extending and hitting a striker when hooks 7A and 7B are fully extended.
Drive rail 3A may include bumps 1120A and 1120B along the top surface of its distal ends. The bumps slide against rounded bottom 1122A and 1122B of spacers 13A and 13B to provide a positive locking feedback to the user when hooks 7A and 7B are fully retracted into the lock. In other aspects, drive rail 3A is similar to drive rail 3 described above.
Mishandling pin 5A is spring-loaded by springs 1112 and 1114. As shown in FIG. 13, springs 1112 and 1114 sit in spring holes 1302 and 1304 in wings 146A and 146B of mishandling pin 5A, respectively. Tabs 1104 (FIG. 12) and 1108 protrude from central body 148. In other aspects, mishandling pin 5A is similar to mishandling pin 5 described above.
FIG. 14 illustrates the state of lock 100A prior to closing the movable fixture against the jamb. As can be seen, mishandling pin 5A is extended by springs 1112 and 1114 so that its sliding faces 158A and 158B are engaged with sliding faces 142A and 142B of security hooks 7A and 7B. The contact between the sliding faces prevents security hooks 7A and 7B from rotating outside of case 102.
FIG. 15 illustrates the state of lock 100A when security hooks 7A and 7B are extended and mishandling pin 5 is retracted. Mishandling pin 5A is vertically retracted against springs 1112 and 1114 so that sliding faces 158A and 158B are disengaged from sliding faces 142A and 142B of security hooks 7A and 7B. This permits security hooks 7A and 7B to rotate outside of case 102. Note that pin 1104 is received in slot 1118 of drive rail 3A so that mishandling pin 5A cannot spring out and hit the strike when hooks 7A and 7B are fully extended. Otherwise the operation of lock 100A is similar to the operation of lock 100 described above.
FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate a six point lock 1600 in one embodiment of the invention. Lock 1600 includes either a primary lock 100 (FIG. 1) or 100A (FIG. 10) mounted to the middle of an elongated faceplate 8A. A secondary lock 1602 is mounted to an upper end of faceplate 8A. Secondary lock 1602 includes a security hook 1604 and a shoot bolt 1606. Similarly, a secondary lock 1608 is mounted to a lower end of faceplate 8A. Secondary lock 1608 includes a security hook 1610 and a shoot bolt 1612. Secondary locks 1602 and 1608 are linked to primary lock 100/100A by respective sliding rods 1614 and 1616 slidably mounted on faceplate 8A.
Referring to FIG. 17, the details of secondary lock 1608 are described. Secondary lock 1608 includes covers 1702 and 1704 that encase security hook 1604 and a rail 1708. Security hook 1604 has a hole 136 for receiving a projection 1710 on cover 1702 so security hook 1604 can rotate. Security hook 1604 further has a cam surface 140 for engaging a pin 1712 on rail 1708 so security hook 1604 rotates when rail 1708 translates. A spring 1711 presses rail 1708 against the ceiling of cover 1702 to guide its movement. Rail 1708 has a stud 1714 for engaging a hole 1716 on one end of sliding rod 1616. Sliding rod 1616 has a hole 1718 on another end for receiving stud 176 (FIGS. 4 and 12) of primary lock 100/100A.
Secondary lock 1602 is similarly constructed as secondary lock 160. Its rail 1708 has a stud 1714 for engaging a hole 1726 on one end of sliding rod 1614. Sliding rod 1614 has a hole 1728 on another end for receiving stud 166 (FIGS. 3 and 11) of primary lock 100/100A.
When drive rails 3/3A and 4 (FIGS. 3, 4, 11, and 12) translate to activate primary lock 100/100A, their translation also causes sliding rods 1614 and 1616 to translate toward the two ends of lock 1600. The translation of sliding rods 1614 and 1616 then causes rails 1708 of secondary locks 1602 and 1608 to extend shoot bolts 1606 and 1612 into their locked positions. The translation of rails 1708 also causes security hooks 1604 and 1610 of secondary locks 1602 and 1608 to rotate into their locked positions. To retract the security hooks and the shoot bolts, the above steps are reversed.
Although a six point lock 1600 is described with secondary locks having both shoot bolts and security hooks, in some embodiments lock 1600 may be a four point lock where the secondary locks only have shoot bolts or security hooks.
Various other adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20080256992
