ES2400557B1 - Convertible lock - Google Patents

Abstract

Convertible lock comprising a double bevel doorknob (1-2) split according to an upper semi-latch (1) and a lower semi-latch (2), mounted on a doorknob support (3) with autonomous rotation and locking means independent swivels of the upper semi-latch (1), lower semi-latch (2); comprising an integral nut (6) adapted with means for its selective rotation drive from the outer side or from the inner side of the lock and a rocker (7) that interacts with a lever (8) for retracting the latch (1- 2) and with the integral nut (6) operating the lever (8) to produce a stable position of the retraction lock with a turn of the integral nut (6) counterclockwise from the inner side of the lock, there being means of condemnation of the rocker (7) operated through one side of the lock box (4).

Description

Convertible lock

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a conventional lock, of simple and economical manufacture, that brings together benefits that are given individually in other locks or that, when several of these benefits are incorporated in the same lock mechanism, is through complicated solutions, expensive or not very operational In this sense, this lock can be classified as a multifunction or transformable lock.

STATE OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

In the closures practicable by means of doors with lock equipped with doorknob it is not always desired that the door closes without more from the inner side and cannot be opened from the outside.

On the other hand, it is very frequent the need for a door to be retained in the closed position, but allowing it to be opened by simply pushing from inside or outside; This function is usually entrusted to a double bevel doorknob or to a roller or barrel that replaces the doorknob. This function is useful for doors of frequent passage that, both from the inside and from the outside, have the usual door closer springs that take them to the closed position, so as not to remain open. It is also useful for home or public toilet doors that, by use by children or physically disabled, want to be able to open from outside at any time; in this case it is also frequent that, for example, in the case of the physically disabled, it is desired that the closed position can be locked from the inside, so that it can be entered and left with just pushing, facilitating the passage in chair of wheels, but that, once inside, the user can block said closed position in order to enjoy their privacy.

In another order of things, we must always keep in mind that the locks have to equip right doors

or left, depending on the case.

Nowadays a simple and cheap lock is not known, for example for interior doors of homes, which, being mounted on the door, can be adapted to work in retention mode without closing the door (roller function), in opening mode right or left open mode (reversibility function); and that, in addition, it incorporates means that, although they have to be activated before the installation of the lock on the door, allow to choose that, acting from inside the door, the nut may or may not perform an anti-clockwise rotation that enables the lock of the roller function.

What is known is a variety of mechanisms capable of bringing together some of the functions listed, but under complicated and expensive designs that, on the other hand, require a prior and permanent adaptation of the mechanism according to the desired operation; in such a way that, when it was desired to modify it, it would be necessary to disassemble the door lock, make the modification and reassemble the lock. Modular type designs are also known that are adaptable to one or the other of the aforementioned functions, but which need to be carried out at the factory and, therefore, must be commissioned in one way or another; then they can no longer be modified without re-entering the factory, which is unfeasible in practice for mere economic reasons and the availability of the service provided by the lock.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The present invention proposes a lock that can be called convertible, transformable or multifunction due to its ability to adapt to various modes of service quickly and simply.

This lock comprises a split double bevel handle according to an upper semi-latch and a lower semi-bracket, mounted on a latch stand with autonomous rotation and independent rotating locking means of the upper semi-latch itself, lower semi-latch; because it comprises a whole nut adapted with means for its selective rotation drive from the outer side or from the inner side of the lock; and because it comprises a rocker that interacts with a lever for retracting the latch and with the integral nut that operates the retraction lever to produce a stable position for locking the retraction with a turn of the integral nut counterclockwise from the inner side of the lock, there are rotating docking means of the rocker operated through one side of the lock box. In addition, the upper semi-latch and lower semi-latch respectively have an upper fixing element and a lower fixing element that have two extreme positions, a first one, within an upper hole and a lower hole respectively of the latch support , a second one, introduced partly in a dorsal recess that is preceded by an emptying of the upper semi-latch and lower half-latch, and partly in their respective upper and lower hollow, said positions being able to adopt these positions independently. By combining the two extreme positions of the upper and lower fixing element, it is achieved that both the upper and lower semi-latch are rigid, that one is rigid and the other with freedom of rotation, or that both are free of rotation .

According to this constitution, when setting, for example, the lower half-handle in the position that would correspond to a left-hand closing door, although the upper half-handle is in the position for the right-hand closing door, of course it is fixed in this position, but it is with a crazy turn, when taking the door to the frame, this upper semi-latch first reaches the edge of the frame and rotates to the locked position of the lower semi-carrier to, from then on accompany it and produce the retraction of the latch as a whole. The same is true if the turn lock is the upper semi-latch and the other is the one that turns insane, in which case the door would be ready for right-hand closing. A third mode of operation that is enabled by this proposed solution is that both semi-latches, lower and upper, are unlocked, that is, with a crazy turn; then, the latch as a whole will behave like a roller or kite of those who retain the door in the closed position, but allowing it to be opened from any side without pushing it.

A fourth mode of operation is the possibility of blocking the roller function from the inside, which is possible because the rocker arm allows the counterclockwise rotation of the handle (handle, for example) by adopting a position which, combined with that of the retraction lever the latch as a whole prevents it from being retracted. In this regard, the invention contemplates the possibility of blocking the swing of the rocker arm, which implies the impossibility of counterclockwise rotation of the handle; Thus, according to the invention, for the swinging of the rocker and operated through a side of the lock case, there is a rocker locking element that remains through an opening in the side of the lock and is housed in a own rocker drill.

As for the means of the integral nut, for its selective rotation drive from the outer side or from the inner side of the lock, they consist according to the invention in which, collaterally coupled to the whole nut there are two bushings (coupled thereto with Crazy rotation and with a host hole of different geometry than the hollow hole of the integral nut and because there is an inner shaft and an outer shaft, both of general section tailored to the housing hole of the bushings and one of them with a tip with the geometry according to the size of the hollow hole of the whole nut, the length of said geometry tip being equal to or less than the thickness of the whole nut.This device allows to choose which handle, the interior or the exterior, will be enabled to drive the retraction of the latch as a whole; it will be the one that is mounted on the shaft that has the tip lowered, since only this way can it be coupled into the hole of the housing d e the whole nut to spin it.

DRAWINGS AND REFERENCES

To better understand the nature of the invention, the attached drawings show an industrial embodiment that is merely illustrative and not limiting in nature.

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective of the lock according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective of the lock assembly according to Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective of the latch (1-2) in which the upper (1) and lower (2) semi-latches are in the relative position shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is like Figure 3, but with the upper half-handle (1) aligned with the lower half-handle (2).

Figure 5 is the assembly section of Figure 3 according to the vertical mean plane; it shows the position of non-locking in rotation of the upper semi-latch (1).

Figure 6 is an enlargement of detail VI indicated in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is the assembly section of Figure 3 according to the vertical mean plane; it shows the position of non-locking in rotation of the upper half-handle (1) and the lower half-handle (2).

Figure 8 is like Figure 5, but showing the locked lock position of the upper semi-latch (1).

Figure 9 is an enlargement of detail VIII indicated in Figure 7.

Figure 10 is the section according to the vertical median plane of the latch (1-2) according to Figure 4.

Figures 11 to 13 illustrate the operating sequence of the latch (1-2) for entering the strike (24) in the frame (23).

Figure 14 is the lock of Figure 2, seen in orthogonal projection and showing the resting position ready to drive the latch retraction (1-2).

Figure 15 is the lock of Figure 14 showing the position in which the latch has been retracted by the handle (21).

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Figure 16 is the lock of Figure 14 showing the position after an anti-clockwise rotation of the handle (21). Figure 17 shows the section according to the plane represented by line XVI-XVI indicated in figure 2 and passing through the geometric axis of the opening (25) on the side of the lock box (4). This figure shows the

rocker swing lock state (7).

Figure 18 is an enlargement of detail XVII indicated in Figure 17.

Figures 19 and 20 are, respectively, equivalent to Figures 17 and 18, but referred to the state of no

rotary rocker lock (7) and, figure 20, referring to detail XIX indicated in figure 19.

Figure 21 is an enlargement of the detail XX indicated in Figure 1, seen from a different angle.

Figure 22 is the assembly according to Figure 20.

Figure 23 is the section along the axial plane of Figure 22, viewed from a different angle.

The following references are indicated in these figures:

1.-Upper double bevel semi-latch

2.-Lower double bevel semi-latch

3.-Double bevel doorknob support (1-2)

4.-Lock box

5.-Main lock box plate (4) or door edge plate

6.-Whole nut

7.-Seesaw

8.-Doorknob retraction lever (1-2)

9a.-Top fixing element

9b.-Lower fixing element

10a.- Upper hole in support (3) of latch (1-2)

10b.- Lower hole in support (3) of latch (1-2)

11.-Emptying semi-latches (1, 2)

12.-Window on main board (5)

13.-Steps in main board (5)

14.-Cap

15.-Bushing hole (14)

16.-Whole nut housing hole (6)

17.-Inner shaft

18.-External shaft

19.-Introducer tip of inner shaft (17) or outer shaft (18)

20.-Rocker Lock Element

21.-Position of the handle or handle

22.-Upper semi-latch shaft (1) and lower half-latch (2)

23.-Marco

24.-Locksmith in frame (23)

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25.-

Opening on the side of the lock box (4)

26.-

Rocker drill (7)

27.-

Back support support (3) latch (1-2)

EXHIBITION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With regard to the drawings and references listed above, a preferred embodiment of the object of the invention is illustrated in the attached drawings, referring to a convertible lock which, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a double bevel doorknob (1 -2) split according to an upper semi-latch (1) and a lower semi-latch (2), mounted on a latch bracket (3) with autonomous rotation and independent rotating locking means of the upper semi-latch themselves (1 ), lower semi-latch (2); because it comprises an integral nut (6) adapted with means for its selective rotation drive from the outer side or from the inner side of the lock; and because it comprises a rocker (7) that interacts with a lever (8) for retracting the latch (1-2) and with the whole nut

(6)

that the lever (8) acts to produce a stable position of the retraction lock with a turn of the integral nut (6) counterclockwise from the inner side of the lock, there are rotating damper means of the rocker arm (7) operated at through one side of the lock box (4), and in joint and / or partial action of the mentioned means, each lock can be converted into a lock with the specific features that each specific door demands.

According to a preferred embodiment, the upper half-latch (1) and lower half-latch (2) respectively have an upper fixing element (9a) and a lower fixing element (9b) having two extreme positions, a first one, in the bosom of an upper recess (10a) and a lower recess (10b) respectively of the doorknob support (3), a second one, partially inserted into a dorsal recess (27) that is preceded by a recess

(eleven)

 of the upper semi-latch (1) and lower half-latch (2), and partly in their respective upper hole (10a) and lower hole (10b), being able to adopt said positions independently. For this purpose, see Figures 1 and 2, preferably on the main plate (5) there are two steps (13) aligned with an upper recess (10a) and a lower recess (10b) of the doorknob support (3) through which acts on the upper (9a) and lower (9b) fasteners; Preferably, the steps (13) are necklines taken at the upper and lower edges of the window (12) of the latch exit (1-2).

Figures 3 to 12 illustrate in detail the constitution and functionality of the described lock. In Figure 3 the lower half-handle (2) is locked in rotation and the upper half-handle (1) can be freely rotated to adopt the position of Figure 4, aligned with the previous one. Figures 5 and 6 correspond to the section of Figure 3, where it is observed how the upper fixing element (9a) is completely housed in the upper recess (10a) of the doorknob support (3) (1-2) allowing the free rotation of the upper semi-latch (1). Figures 8 and 9 are equivalent to the previous ones and show that the upper fixing element (9a) has its head housed in the dorsal recess (27), for which it has been operated with a screwdriver through the corresponding step (13 ) of the main plate (5) and emptying (11) of the upper semi-latch (1).

Figure 10 shows the section of Figure 4, where the blockage of the lower semi-latch is observed

(2) and how the upper semi-latch (1) has rotated freely with respect to the position of Figures 3, 5 and 6. The functionality explained above is illustrated in Figures 11 to 13; Figure 11 shows the moment when the upper semi-carrier (1) comes into contact with the door frame (23); in figure 12, the push against said frame causes the upper half-latch (1) to have turned to the position of figure 4, from which moment the continuation of the closing impulse of the door (23) causes the retraction of the latch (1-2) until entering the strike (24).

Figures 14 to 20 illustrate the enabling function of the counterclockwise rotation of the handle (21). In figure 14 the lock is in the resting position; if the handle is operated downwards the whole nut (6) slides with respect to the rocker arm (7) while, without turning it, the whole nut itself (6) drives the lever (8) to swing and the handle is retracted, reaching the position shown in figure 15; on the other hand, if it is operated counterclockwise, starting the peripheral cam profile of the nut (6) drives the rocker (7) to swing to the position shown in figure 16, where the new rocker position (7) is it engages with the lever (8) so that the retraction of the latch (1-2) is blocked, that is, if, in the lock of figure 14, both the upper half-latch (1) and the lower half-latch (2) were in the non-blocking state in rotation corresponding to the roller function, this roller function would be blocked and the privacy of the user of toilets could be respected, for example. With regard to what has been said in this paragraph and in the previous two, it must be taken into account that to select one or another mode of operation, it is enough to turn one of the semi-latches, upper (1) and lower (2), in rotation with what the lock will be of closing to right or to left; or that both remain unblocked, so we will have the roller function.

To block the possibility of anti-clockwise rotation of the handle (21), another feature of the invention is that the means for rotating the rocker arm (7) and operated through the side of the lock box (4), is an element lock (20) that remains through an opening (25) on the side of the lock and is housed in a

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drill (26) of the rocker itself (7). This solution is illustrated by figures 17 to 20; Figures 17 and 18 refer to the rotary locking position of the rocker arm (7), since the locking element (20) housed in this rocker arm

(7) it is crossing the thickness of the side of the lock box (4); on the contrary, figures 19 and 20 show the swing unlock position of the rocker (7).

Another feature of the invention is that the means of the integral nut (6), for its selective rotation drive from the outer side or from the inner side of the lock, consist in that, collaterally coupled to the whole nut (6) There are two bushings (14) coupled to it with crazy rotation and with a housing hole (15) of different geometry to the housing hole (16) of the integral nut (6) and because there is an inner shaft (17) and an outer shaft ( 18), both of general section tailored to the housing hole (15) of the bushings (14) and one of them with a tip with the

10 geometry according to the size of the housing hole (16) of the integral nut (6), the length of said geometry tip being equal to or less than the thickness of the integral nut (6) .This device is illustrated in Figures 21 to 23, where the constitutive detail of the pieces and their joint assembly is shown; the functionality is as simple as, when not exerting the bushings (14) drag any on the nut (6) and only one of the axes (16, 17), which carries the introducer tip (19), be able to engage in the housing hole (16) of the nut (6) and drag it in rotation, it will be enough with

15 choose on which axis (16, 17) you want to install the handle (21), that is, from which side you want to open the lock, whether from the outside or inside the door (23). In this regard, it is worth mentioning the constructive simplicity and low cost of using a whole nut (6) compared to the very usual construction based on two or more pieces coupled laterally and with different shapes between them adapted to combine their relative turns at convenience to produce one or another action on the mechanism of the lock.

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Claims (2)

1st.- Convertible lock, characterized in that it comprises a double bevel latch (1-2) split according to an upper semi-latch (1) and a lower half-latch (2), mounted on a latch bracket (3) with autonomous rotation and independent rotating locking means of the upper semi-latch (1) itself, lower half-latch (2); because it comprises an integral nut (6) adapted with means for its selective rotation drive from the outer side or from the inner side of the lock; and because it comprises a rocker (7) that interacts with a lever (8) for retracting the latch (1-2) and with the integral nut (6) acting on the lever (8) to produce a stable position for blocking the retraction with a turn of the integral nut (6) counterclockwise from the inner side of the lock, there are rotating condemnation means of the rocker arm (7) operated through one side of the lock box (4), and in Joint and / or partial action of the aforementioned means can turn each lock into a lock with the specific features that each specific door demands. 2.- Convertible lock, according to the first claim, characterized in that the upper half-latch (1) and lower half-latch (2) respectively have an upper fixing element (9a) and a lower fixing element ( 9b) which have two extreme positions, a first one, within an upper recess (10a) and a lower recess (10b) respectively of the doorknob support (3), a second one, partially inserted into a dorsal recess (27) which is preceded by an emptying (11) of the upper half-latch (1) and lower half-latch (2), and partly in their respective upper hole (10a) and lower hole (10b), being able to adopt said positions independently. 3.- Convertible lock, according to the second claim, characterized in that preferably in the main plate (5) there are two passages (13) aligned with an upper recess (10a) and a lower recess (10b) of the latch support ( 3) through which the upper (9a) and lower (9b) fasteners are operated 4th.- Convertible lock, according to the third claim, characterized in that the steps (13) are necklines taken at the upper and lower edges of the window (12) of the latch exit (1-2). 5th.- Convertible lock, according to the first claim, characterized in that the means of the integral nut (6), for its selective actuation in rotation from the outer side or from the inner side of the lock, consist in that, coupled collaterally to the whole nut (6) there are two bushings (14) coupled to it with a crazy turn and with a housing hole (15) of different geometry to the housing hole (16) of the whole nut (6) and because there is an axis inner (17) and an outer shaft (18), both of general section tailored to the housing hole (15) of the bushings (14) and one of them with a tip with the geometry according to the size of the housing hole (16 ) of the whole nut (6), the length of said geometry tip being equal to or less than the thickness of the whole nut (6). 6th.- Convertible lock, according to the first claim, characterized in that the means for rotating the rocker arm (7) and operated through a side of the lock box (4), are a blocking element (20 ) that remains through an opening (25) on the side of the lock and is housed in a hole (26) of the rocker itself (7). SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201130611 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 04.04.2011 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: E05B63 / 04 (2006.01) E05B15 / 10 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

TO

WO 2008132273 A1 (ABLOY OY et al.) 06.11.2008, description; figures. 1-6

TO

ES 2008448 A6 (WAERTSILAE OY AB) 16.07.1989, summary; column 3, lines 12-17; Figure 4a-4b 1-6

TO

US 5113676 A (PANOSSIAN MISAK) 19.05.1992, description; Figures 12-13. 1-6

TO

US 2008156049 A1 (TOPFER STEFAN) 03.07.2008, figure 7; paragraphs [25-26]. 1.5-6

TO

EP 1291478 A1 (JPM SAS) 12.03.2003, description; figures. 1.5-6

TO

US 2010263418 A1 (MOON CHARLES W) 21.10.2010, paragraphs [91-94]; Figures 5,10-12,19. 1.5-6

TO

ES 2220594 T3 (FLIETHER KARL GMBH & CO) 16.12.2004, column 1, line 57 - column 2, line 13. 1.5-6

TO

ES 2111789 T3 (ITALIANA SERRATURE AFFINI) 16.03.1998, description; figures. 1.5-6

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 15.03.2013

Examiner Y. Muñoz Arcones Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201130611 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) E05B Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC, WPI State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201130611 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 03.15.2013 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims 1-6 Claims IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims 1-6 Claims IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201130611  1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

WO 2008132273 A1 (ABLOY OY et al.) 06.11.2008

D02

ES 2008448 A6 (WAERTSILAE OY AB) 16.07.1989

D03

US 5113676 A (PANOSSIAN MISAK) 05/19/1999

D04

US 2008156049 A1 (TOPFER STEFAN) 03.07.2008

D05

EP 1291478 A1 (JPM SAS) 12.03.2003

D06

US 2010263418 A1 (MOON CHARLES W) 21.10.2010

D07

ES 2220594 T3 (FLIETHER KARL GMBH & CO) 16.12.2004

D08

ES 2111789 T3 (ITALIANA SERRATURE AFFINI) 16.03.1998

 2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The application includes a right or left convertible lock equipped with a double bevel latch consisting of two semi-latches with rotation and independent rotation locking system for each semi-latch, selection of the operating side by mechanism associated with the nut and counting on a mechanism of blockade of the retraction of the latch with an anti-clockwise rotation of the nut and means of condemnation of the rocker operated from the outside. The following documents disclose double bevel latch in two parts with independent rotation, but no possibility of blocking it. D01 discloses a lock with double action latch with a mechanism based on contact of surfaces made in the latch itself that allows to limit the relative rotation of both semi-latches (page 2, line 28-page 3, line 9; description, figures) but it does not block their turn. D02 discloses a push opening door lock equipped with an electronic lock mechanism of the lock (summary) that can be unlocked by action on the nut, the system being equipped with a double latch with independent rotation of the two parts without the possibility of turn lock (column 3, lines 12-17, figures 4a and 4b). D03 discloses an opening door lock from both sides, equipped with a double latch with independent rotation but without an independent rotation locking system for each semi-latch (description, figures 12-13). The following documents describe the lock reversal mechanism, which allow the selection of the operating side thereof, with an interaction mechanism of a bushing, the nut and the axis of the handle. Although they differ from the claim in the application:

•

D04: using handle axis of different length (paragraph 25-26, figure 7)

•

D05: with two independent bushings of different section than the active arm of the nut, but which has no free rotation with respect to the nut (description, figures).

•

D06: four-part nut in which the side section is made by an external part (reference (180), figure 5) that is coupled on the axis of the desired side (paragraphs 91-94, figures 10-12; 19)

•

D07: nut composed of three parts that allows the selection of the opening side by the arrangement of the coupling between all (column 1, line 57- column 2 line 13)

•

D08: nut with two auxiliary free-spin rings and a screw that blocks the movement of one of them, selecting the drive side (description, figures)

• Since no document includes each and every one of the technical characteristics of the first claim, this and all its dependents would have novelty (Art 6.1 of Law 11/86 of Patents). In turn, in view of the documents, it is not obvious for the person skilled in the art to reach all the characteristics, therefore he would also possess inventive activity (Art 8.1 of Law 11/86). State of the Art Report Page 4/4