Patent Application
20200040601
The present invention relates to locking systems and, more specifically, to a locking system that can accommodate locks of different standards.
One common type of locking mechanism used in door locks is the cylinder-based rim lock. Such locks include a cylinder housing a tumbler mechanism that engages a tail piece, which turns when a compatible key is turned in the tumbler mechanism. The tail piece engages a mechanical linkage that causes a bolt to move in and out of a bolt receptacle (typically mounted in a door jam or a floor), depending on the position of the tail piece.
As shown in
If the door 62 is provided with a rim lock-type lock cylinder 26, the lock cylinder 26 is secured to one of the vertically-aligned tubes 23 in alignment with one of the horizontally-aligned tubes 22. A tubular core housing sleeve can extend from the vertically-aligned tube to cover part of the lock cylinder 26. The lock cylinder 26 is coupled to a mechanical linkage 66 in the opposite vertically-aligned tube 64, which is coupled to a bolt 68 that engages a locking plate 70 either below the door 62 in the floor 60 or above the door 62.
One type of an existing locking system for a door 62 (such as a glass door) includes a vertical pull tube 23 (only a portion of which is shown, but which acts as the structure that one grabs when opening or closing a door) and a transverse tube 22. A lock cylinder 26 (also referred to herein as a “core lock housing”) fits into a hole defined by the vertical pull tube 23 and a tail piece 40 extends from the lock cylinder 26. The tail piece 40 engages a mechanical linkage 66 (shown greater in detail in
As shown in
When an architect or contractor orders door handles for doors used in new construction, the architect must order handles and lock cylinders that fit each other. Unfortunately, if a building manager or a tenant later decides to order locks of a different locking standard, then new handles that are compatible with the new standard must be ordered and the entire handle assembly for each door must be changed.
Therefore, there is a need for universal rim lock mounting system that can accommodate lock cylinders of more than one standard.
The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which, in one aspect, is a transition plate for use with a lock cylinder having a back portion with a tail piece extending therefrom, the lock cylinder being installable in a platform. The transition includes a plate member having an front shape configured to interface the back portion of the lock cylinder. The plate member defines a first tail piece hole passing therethrough and at least one first set screw hole spaced apart from the first tail piece hole in a first predetermined relationship thereto so as to correspond to a first lock cylinder standard. The plate member also defines a second tail piece hole passing therethrough and at least one second set screw hole spaced apart from the second tail piece hole in a second predetermined relationship thereto so as to correspond to a second lock cylinder standard different from the first lock cylinder standard. The plate member also defines a first position holding screw hole and a second position holding screw hole spaced apart from the first position holding screw hole in a spatial relationship so that the plate member is held in a first position relative to the platform when the first position holding screw hole is aligned with a platform position holding screw hole and in a second position relative to the platform when the second position holding screw hole is aligned with the platform position holding screw hole. When the plate member is in the first position the first tail piece hole is in a position to allow the tail piece of a lock cylinder of a first standard to pass therethrough and the first set screw hole is aligned with a cylinder set screw hole defined by the lock cylinder of first standard, and when the plate member is in the second position the second tail piece hole is in a position to allow the tail piece of a lock cylinder of a second standard, different from the first standard, to pass therethrough and the second set screw hole is aligned with a cylinder set screw hole defined by the lock cylinder of second standard.
In another aspect, the invention is a handle assembly that includes a lock cylinder of a selected one of a first standard or a different second standard. A tail piece extends from the lock cylinder. The handle assembly also includes a vertical tubular member, a horizontal tubular member and a transition plate. The transition plate is disposed within the vertical tubular member and is moveable between a first position and a different second position. The transition plate accommodates installation of the lock cylinder of the first standard when in the first position and installation of the lock cylinder of the second standard when in the second position. A mechanical linkage is coupled to the tail piece and effects movement of a locking bolt in response to turning of a key in the lock cylinder.
In yet another aspect, the invention is a door employing door locking system for use with a selected one of a lock cylinder of a first standard and a lock cylinder of a second standard, different from the first standard, the lock cylinder of a first standard and the lock cylinder of a second standard each including a tail piece extending laterally therefrom. The door includes a lock cylinder of a selected one of a first standard or a different second standard, a tail piece extending therefrom, a first vertical tubular member and a horizontal tubular member. A transition plate is disposed within the vertical tubular member. The transition plate is moveable between a first position and a different second position. The transition plate accommodates installation of the lock cylinder of the first standard when in the first position and installation of the lock cylinder of the second standard when in the second position. A bolt has a locked position and an unlocked position for locking the door. A mechanical linkage couples the tail piece to the bolt. When the lock cylinder is manipulated to unlock the door, the mechanical linkage causes the bolt to move into the unlocked position and wherein the lock cylinder is manipulated to lock the door, the mechanical linkage causes the bolt to move into the locked position.
These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in the disclosure that follows, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated in the drawings and described below. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” The terms “tubular” and “tube” are defined herein to include any elongated substantially hollow structure, which can include both a cylindrical structure having circular cross-section and a structure having a non-circular cross-section. Examples of such non-circular cross-sections include: an elliptical cross-section, a square cross-section, a rectangular cross-section, a polygonal cross-section and an irregular cross-section. As used herein, “tubular” and “tube” include all elongated substantially hollow structures.
As shown in
As shown in
When installing a lock cylinder 26a or 26b, the installer moves the plate member 24 into the position corresponding to the lock standard being used and secures the set screw 220 into the appropriate position holding screw hole 130 or 120. The installer then inserts the set screws 21 through the set screw holes (124 or 134, depending upon the lock standard) and screws them into the set screw holes 224 in the lock cylinder 26a or 26b. As shown in
The transition plate 24 is shown in greater detail in
As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the tubular members and the transition plate 24 may be made of any appropriate material, depending upon the specific application, including, but not limited to: stainless steel, aluminum, brass, other metals, composites, ceramics, plastics and combinations thereof.
While the embodiments shown accommodate installation of lock cylinders of two different standards, it is understood that the invention could be adapted to accommodate lock cylinders of multiple standards in excess of two standards without departing from the scope of the invention.
Although specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include some, none, or all of the enumerated advantages. Other technical advantages may become readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after review of the following figures and description. It is understood that, although exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or not. Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems, apparatuses, and methods described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. The operations of the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein may be performed by more, fewer, or other components and the methods described may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set. It is intended that the claims and claim elements recited below do not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim. The above described embodiments, while including the preferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.
