EP0308354B1 - Lock or espagnolette with a latch bolt - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking fitting (1), such as a lock, espagnolette lock or the like, comprising a housing (2) fixed to a face plate (3) and containing a control mechanism (4) equipped with a nut (8) and/or with a key element (11) for actuating more particularly a latch (5) formed from a projecting body (17) and from an axle (19) seated in the housing (2). This latch (5) is equipped, on the one hand, with control means (16) consisting of a slide (23) which is mounted freely rotatable on the axle (19) and on which act respectively a control member (12) connected to the key element (11) and a control member (26) fixed to the nut (8). The latch (5) is equipped, on the one hand, with guide and positioning means (14) likewise mounted on the axle (19) and interacting with the cover plates (7) of the housing (2) in order to guarantee simultaneously the guidance of said latch (5) and of the slide (23) inside this housing (2). <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a locking fitting, such as a lock, a bolt-lock or the like, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

This invention will find its application more particularly in the field of building hardware.

We already know, from document FR-A-2,569,755, a lock comprising a housing secured to a headrest and in which is housed a control mechanism making it possible to actuate a latch bolt and a dead bolt.

Within the framework of this lock, the latch bolt consists of a body projecting from the headrest and an axis extending said body inside the housing. This axis is slidably mounted in a bearing integral with one of the cover plates of the housing. In addition, an elastic element, engaged on the axis and cooperating, simultaneously, with a stop provided on the latter and with the bearing, makes it possible to maintain the latch bolt in the projecting position.

The control of the latch bolt can be carried out either from a key element or under the action of a follower on which the user can act by means of a handle. To this end, said follower comprises a control finger cooperating with a support plane, in the form of a second stop, located on the free part of the axis of the latch bolt, being protruding with respect to the abovementioned bearing. . Furthermore, this axis is provided, in its front part, with a bulge having a groove constituting a second support plane with which an intermediate member cooperates, connected to the key element.

This lock has a number of drawbacks due to the particular configuration of the latch bolt.

Indeed, the cooperation between the intermediate member, in connection with the key element, and the axis of the latch bolt, requires, on the one hand, a surplus of material, formed by a bulge at the level of the front part of this axis, allowing the machining of a groove. On the other hand, said an intermediate member must be designed with relatively tight tolerances.

Another disadvantage comes from the stops which there is, either to machine, or to mount on the axis of the latch bolt. These machining or assembly operations are often very tedious and difficult to perform.

In addition, we observe that the bearing in which the axis of the latch bolt is slidably mounted, is made integral with one of the cover plates of the housing, it is necessary to mount the elastic element on this axis of the U-bolt at the same time as it is placed inside said housing.

The result of all of these drawbacks is a relatively high cost of producing locks, not to mention reduced reliability due to their complexity.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks. The invention as defined in the claims solves the problem and consists of a locking fitting, such as a lock, a bolt-lock or the like, comprising a housing secured to a headrest and containing a control mechanism provided with a follower and / or a key element for actuating locking elements and more particularly a U-bolt formed by a body projecting from said headrest and an axis housed in the housing, this bolt U-turn comprising, moreover, on the one hand, control means provided with support planes on which act, respectively, a control member connected to a key element and to a control member integral with the follower and, on the other hand, means ensuring its guidance and its positioning in a housing, these means being formed by a spacer comprising an orifice in which the axis of the latch bolt is mounted, this spacer being made integral e cover plates making up said housing. This lock is characterized in that said control means are constituted by a slide having a central lumen delimited at the ends by transverse flanks and serving as a passage for the axis of the latch bolt and the spacer, the flanks transverse being, moreover, provided with an orifice into which the axis of the latch bolt is introduced and cooperating, respectively, with clipping means or the like for immobilizing the slide in translation on the axis and with the internal face of the body relative to the latch bolt, this slide comprising said support planes.

The advantages obtained thanks to this invention essentially consist in that the slider allows a simplified design of the latch bolt, on the one hand, by avoiding costly machining and, on the other hand, by minimizing the raw material used. artwork.

In addition, this slide which can come from a stamped metal dish avoids the respect of too tight tolerances which, usually, contribute to this increase in the cost of production.

• La figure 1 représente une vue schématisée et en plan d'une ferrure de verrouillage conforme à l'invention (l'une des plaques de recouvrement ayant été retirée).
• La figure 2 représente une vue agrandie et en détail d'une partie du pêne demi-tour intervenant dans la ferrure de verrouillage représentée dans la figure 1.
• La figure 3 représente une vue en élévation de l'entretoise comportant un orifice dans lequel est monté l'axe du pêne demi-tour.
• La figure 4 représente une vue en plan du coulisseau constituant les moyens de commande du pêne demi-tour.
• La figure 5 représente une vue en élévation du coulisseau représenté dans la figure 4.

The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of drawings representing only one embodiment.

• Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of a locking fitting according to the invention (one of the cover plates having been removed).
• FIG. 2 represents an enlarged and detailed view of a part of the U-bolt involved in the locking fitting shown in FIG. 1.
• Figure 3 shows an elevational view of the spacer having an orifice in which is mounted the axis of the latch bolt.
• Figure 4 shows a plan view of the slider constituting the control means of the latch bolt.
• FIG. 5 represents an elevation view of the slide represented in FIG. 4.

FIG. 1, to which the following description relates, represents more particularly, a lock fitting of the lock type, according to the invention.

However, it is obvious that the latter is applicable to other types of fittings, in particular, to lock bolts.

Indeed, the smallest modifications that it is necessary to make to the invention, as it is described below, for its application to a bolt lock are within the reach of the skilled person considered.

Thus, the locking fitting 1, shown in FIG. 1 and in accordance with the invention relates to a lock formed, essentially, of a housing 2 secured to a headrest 3 and containing a control mechanism 4 making it possible to actuate elements 5, 6 and, in particular, a U-bolt, marked with the reference 5, and a deadbolt, noted 6.

Within the framework of locking fitting recessed in the front upright of an opening leaf of a door, window or the like, its housing 2 is generally made up of two cover plates 7 connected by spacers 71 and attached to the headrest 3 either by riveting, welding or other.

The control mechanism 4 of this lock comprises a follower 8 made integral in rotation with an axis 9 and cooperating with the latch bolt 5. The axis 9 has, in its center, a square hole 10 in which is engaged the handle operating square. This allows the user to act on said follower 8.

It should be noted that in the context of FIG. 1, the latter only cooperates with the U-bolt 5. However, it is obvious that such a follower, intervening in the control mechanism of a cremone bolt- lock, can be provided with a plurality of control members or control fingers actuating, for example, one or more rods carrying locking members, such as rollers.

In general, the follower 8 is provided with elastic return means making it possible to return the operating handle to the rest position after closing or opening the door. Thus, according to an embodiment known in the state of the art, around the axis 9 is wound an elastic element, such as a spiral spring cooperating simultaneously, with the nut 8 and a spacer or a lug secured to the one of the cover plates 7 of the housing 2.

The control mechanism 4 also comprises a key element 11, such as a barrel or the like, the function of which is to actuate, by means of control members 12, 13, respectively, the half bolt turn 5 and the deadbolt 6.

Thus, the U-bolt 5 comprises guide and positioning means 14 cooperating with the housing 2, integrated elastic return means 15 making it possible to automatically return it to the active position, namely salient with respect to the headrest 3, and control means 16 authorizing interaction with the follower 8 and / or the key element 11.

More specifically, the U-bolt 5 is formed by a body 17 constituting the head of the bolt and emerging from the headrest 3 through a light 18 produced in the latter. This body 17 is integral with a horizontal axis 19 inserted in the housing 2 and coming to cooperate with guide and positioning means 14.

The latter are formed by a spacer 20 disposed perpendicularly to the cover plates 7 of the housing 2 and comprising in its center an orifice 21 serving as a passage for the axis 19 of the latch bolt 5. This spacer 20 is made integral with the plates of cover 7 after assembly of the housing 2. For this purpose, said cover plates 7 are provided with a groove in which can be engaged a tongue 22 located on the upper and lower edge of the spacer 20 and ensuring perfect immobility of this last when the axis 19 slides in the hole 21.

The control means 16 of the U-bolt 5 consist of a slide 23 mounted on the axis 19. This slide 23 has support planes 24, 25, able to cooperate with control members 12, 26, which are, respectively, connected to the key element 11 and integral with the follower 8.

This slide 23 has, more particularly, a central lumen 27 delimited, at the ends, by transverse flanks 28, 29 and serving for the passage of the spacer 20 and to the axis 19 of the U-bolt 5. This axis 19 crosses , right through, the transverse sides 28, 29, thanks to orifices 30 arranged in the latter.

It should be noted that, after assembly, the front transverse flank 29 of the slider 23 comes to bear against the internal face 31 of the bolt body 17. Furthermore, clipping means or the like, cooperating with the rear transverse flank 28 of this slide 23 makes it possible to immobilize the latter in translation on the axis 19.

Thus, during the control of the U-bolt 5, the slide 23 moves relative to the spacer 20. Advantageously, the lateral edges 34 of the latter cooperate with the longitudinal edges 33 of the central light 27 of the slide 23, which allows the latter to be guided inside the housing 2.

As regards the support planes 24, 25, of the slide 23, these are constituted, respectively, by a wing 35, provided with a stop plane 36 and integral with one of the longitudinal edges 37 of said slide 23 and by the rear transverse flank 28. Thus, by actuating the key element 11, it is possible to act on the latch bolt 5 via the control member 12, the upper end of which cooperates with the latter and, in particular, with the abutment plane 36 of the wing 35 of the slide 23. It should be noted that, because of its morphology, the support plane 24 considerably facilitates the connection between the half bolt tower 5 and the control member 12. It should also be noted that the latter can be designed according to relatively wide tolerances.

Furthermore, the rotation of the follower 8 causes the retraction of the latch bolt 5 due to the cooperation of the control member 26, integral with said follower 8, with the rear transverse flank 28 of the slide 23,

To guarantee the proper functioning of the locking fitting and, in particular, of the latch 5, it is essential to block the slide 23 in rotation in the housing 2. To this end, the control member 26 is made up of: preferably by a fork 39 composed of two parallel branches extending radially the body of the follower 8.

These two branches, between which are engaged the slide 23 and the axis 19 of the U-bolt 5, respect, at their lower part 58, a particularly reduced gap, substantially greater than the thickness 59 of said slide 23. L advantage of such a configuration consists not only in immobilizing the slide 23 in rotation but also in guiding the latter during its movements in the housing 2, when controlling the latch 5 by the key element 11. The presence of this fork 39 also makes it possible to obtain a better distribution of the forces applied to the axis 19 of the U-bolt 5. In fact, the two branches of the fork 39 cooperate with the rear transverse blank 28 of the slide 23 symmetrically with respect to this axis 19.

The withdrawal of the U-bolt 5 in the housing 2 can be limited by any known means, for example, a stop integral with said housing 2 and cooperating with the slide 23 or an appropriate arrangement of the cover plates 7. Thus, the latter can include on their edge before 40 a cutout 41 made in line with the latch 5 and whose depth defines the maximum withdrawal of the body 17 from the latter in the housing 2 (this embodiment having been shown in FIG. 1).

As for the maximum projecting position of the U-bolt 5 relative to the headrest 3, the latter is (determined, on the one hand, by the length 42 of the central light 27, the position of the spacer 20 in the housing 2 and the width of the legs of the fork 39.

Indeed, in the maximum projecting position, the front edge 43 of this fork 39 abuts against the spacer 20 while the rear edge 44 of this same fork 39 cooperates with the rear transverse flank 28.

As for the elastic return means, they consist, essentially, of a helical spring 45 engaged on the axis 19 and coming to bear, at its ends 46, 47, respectively, against the front transverse flank 29 of the slide 23 and against the 'spacer 20. Thus, during an action of the user on the follower 8 or the key element 11, the latch bolt 5 comes to slide in the housing 2 causing the displacement of the slide 23 relative to the 'spacer 20, from which the compression of the helical spring 45 results. By releasing the action exerted either on said follower 8 or on this key element 11, this helical spring 45 is able to push back the front transverse flank 29 of the slide 23 and bring the latch bolt 5 back into its projecting position relative to the headrest 3.

Because of this particular configuration, it can be seen that the control means 16 of the U-bolt 5, the guide and positioning means 14 of the latter in the housing 2 and the elastic return means 15 form a whole dissociated from the rest of the control mechanism 4 and of said housing 2, which considerably facilitates the mounting of such a locking fitting 1 according to the invention.

This locking fitting 1 may also include means 48 making it possible to give the U-bolt 5 a rotation of 180 degrees so as to ensure its reversibility and, consequently, the reversibility of the locking fitting 1. These means of rotation 48 may be accessible from outside the housing 2 and, more precisely, from the front edge of the opening and from an opening 49 made in the rear edge 50 of the housing 2 in line with the axis 19 of the half bolt round 5.

Thus, these rotation means 48 are constituted by elastic means 51 allowing a projection towards the outside of the body 17 of the latch bolt 5 so as to release said body 17 from the light 18 machined in the headrest 3. In this position , it is possible to confer a 180 degree rotation to the latch 5 due to its axis 19 sliding respectively, in the orifices 30 of the transverse flanks 28, 29 of the slide 23 and in the orifice 21 arranged in the spacer 20.

The elastic means 51 are formed, substantially, by a helical spring 52 engaged on the part 53 of the axis 19 which is projecting relative to the rear face 54 of the rear transverse flank 28. This spring 52 cooperates, simultaneously, with this face rear 54 and a washer 55 mounted at the end 56 of the axis 19.

Thus, under the effect of a traction or a pressure applied respectively to the body 17 or said end 56 of the axis 19, the spring 52 comes to compress allowing a horizontal displacement of the latch 5 to project said body 17 outside the light 18. After rotation of 180 degrees, the body 17 is inserted again into the latter, under the effect of the elastic return exerted by the spring 52.

The rotation of this latch 5 from the opening 49 in the housing 2 is facilitated by a groove 57 made in the end 56 of the axis 19 allowing the engagement of a screwdriver.

Therefore, it is no longer necessary to pay attention to the direction of the latch bolt 5 during the assembly of the locking fitting.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the spring 52 on the projecting part 53 of the axis 19, the washer 55 can be formed, more particularly, by a circlip or the like cooperating with a peripheral groove machined in the axis 19 at its end 56 .

Advantageously, the slide 23 can fulfill the function of guiding the U-bolt 5 and, in particular, of the body 17 during their rotation to facilitate, once again, the engagement of the latter in the lumen 18 of the headrest 3.

To this end, and according to a first embodiment, the dimensions of the front transverse flank 29 of the slide 23 are substantially greater than those of the slot 18. Therefore, during the compression of the spring 52, the transverse flank 29 cooperates with the headrest 3, giving rise to significant friction forces between them. This avoids an offset of the body 17 relative to said lumen 18 during the rotation of the U-bolt 5.

According to a second embodiment, the dimensions of said front transverse flank 29 of the slide 23 are substantially smaller than those of the slot 18. Thus, the compression of the spring 52 not only causes the projection of the body 17 outside the slot 18, but also the engagement of the front transverse flank 29 in the latter. This results in the cooperation between the side edges 60 and bottom and top 61 of the front transverse flank 29 with the longitudinal and transverse edges of the lumen 18, guiding the latch bolt 5.

Claims (7)

1. Lock fitting (1), such as a lock, espagnolette or the like, comprising a casing (2) integral with a face-plate (3) and containing an operating mechanism (4) provided with a tumbler (8) and/or a key member (11) for actuating locking members (5, 6) and, more particularly, a latch bolt (5) formed of a body (17) which is protruding with respect to said face-plate (3) and a spindle (19) accomodated in the casing (2), this latch bolt (5) furthermore comprising, on the one hand, operating means (16) provided with bearing planes (24, 25) onto which act an operating organ (12) connected to the key member (11) and an operating organ (26) integral with the tumbler (8), respectively, and, on the other hand, means ensuring its guiding and its positioning in the casing (2), these means being formed by a spacer (20) comprising an opening (21) in which is mounted the spindle (19) of the latch bolt (5), this spacer (20) being made integral with the cover-plates (7) forming the casing (2), characterized in that the operating means (16) are comprised of a slide (23) having a central slot (27) defined, at the ends, by transversal side plates (28, 29) and serving as a passageway for the spindle (19) of the latch bolt (5) and the spacer (20), the transversal side plates (28, 29) being furthermore provided with an opening (30) into which is engaged the spindle (19) and cooperating with clipping means or the like for immobilizing the slide (23) in translation on the spindle (119) and with the inner face (31) of the body (17) with respect to the latch bolt (5), respectively, this slide (23) comprising said bearing planes (24, 25).

2. Lock fitting (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spacer (20) is made integral with the cover-plates (7), forming the casing (2), through the tongues (22) penetrating into grooves made at the level of said cover-plates (7).

3. Lock fitting (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the central slot (27) has longitudinal edges (33) co-operating with the side edges (34) of the spacer (20) to ensure the guiding of the latch bolt (5) and the slide (23) during their movements in the casing (2).

4. Lock fitting (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing plane (24) co-operating with the operating organ (12) connected to the key member (11) is formed by a wing (35) provided with a thrust plane (36) and integral with one of the longitudinal edges (37) of said slide (23).

5. Lock fitting (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing plane (25) co-operating with the operating organ (126) of the tumbler (8) is formed by the rear transversal side plate (28) of the slide (23).

6. Lock fitting (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating organ (26) of the tumbler (8) is formed of a fork (39) comprised of two parallel legs radially extending the body of the tumbler (8), between these two legs of the fork (39) being engaged the slide (23), so that the rear transversal side plate (28) of same co-operates with the rear edge (44) of said fork (39).

7. Lock fitting (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the two legs of the fork (39) maintain, at their lower portion (58), a reduced distance, substantially larger than the thickness (59) of the slide (23), on the one hand, to ensure the guiding of same during the operation of the latch bolt (5) through the key member (11) and, on the other hand, to immobilize said slide (23) in rotation.

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