WO2009059728A1

WO2009059728A1 - A lock, mainly for swinging doors

Info

Publication number: WO2009059728A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/009243
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ivo Finardi
Original assignee: Prefer Commerciale S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-11-07
Filing date: 2008-11-03
Publication date: 2009-05-14
Also published as: ITTO20070787A1

Abstract

A lock for swinging doors and the like, comprising: a box (1 ) intended to be fixed onto a door and provided with a cover (4); a bar (5) oriented and sliding along the larger length of the box (1 ), having means (7) for its connection to the door bolts; a nut (9) suitable for receiving a shaft with an outer door handle and an inner door handle; coupling means arranged for transmitting a rotational displacement of the nut (9) as a translational displacement of the bar (5); at least one lock cylinder (18) operable at least from the outside by means of a key (19); and blocking means operable at least by the lock cylinder (18) and displaceable between a block position and a release position; wherein the blocking means comprise a slider (14) displaceable along a direction transverse to the displacement direction of the bar (5), suitable for taking a release position and a block position and to partially place themselves, in the block position, on the continuation of the bar (5) in order to prevent the displacement of the bar from its position corresponding to the engagement condition of the door bolts.

Description

DESCRIPTION

A LOCK, MAINLY FOR SWINGING DOORS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present invention is a lock particularly suitable for equipping swinging doors and the like, as for example the doors of garages and similar premises.

BACKGROUNG OF THE INVENTION

The locks for swinging doors and the like are provided with handles both inside and outside the door, in order to operate the door bolts to the re- leased and the engaged condition.

When the door is closed and the door bolts are engaged, in some kinds of locks (the so-called automatic locks) the lock automatically passes to the block condition of the handles, and the lock is provided at least at the outer door side with a lock cylinder for allowing, by using the correct key, the release of the handles, and therefore allowing the opening of the door only to those who have the correct key.

In other lock kinds (the so-called bi-stable locks), when the door is closed and the door bolts are engaged, the block condition of the handles should be attained by operating a lock cylinder or a manual control means. Moreover, some kinds of locks are provided also at the inner door side with a lock cylinder for releasing the handles, whereas in other lock kinds a lever is provided at the inner door side for allowing releasing the handles. Besides, it is required that the lock can be equipped with a round lock cylinder or with a profiled lock cylinder. Therefore, several types of locks are required depending on the choices of the users, and in most cases the different lock types are singularly designed and involve the use of component parts, almost all of which are different for the various lock types. Moreover, in general the structure and the manufacture of these locks are somewhat complicated, and the men- tioned factors have a considerable weight on the lock cost. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lock, mainly suitable for equipping the swinging doors and the like, having a relatively simple structure, and in spite of that having a great security and reli- ability. Another object of the invention is to provide such a lock being suitable for allowing to prepare the different required types of locks by using several component parts common to different lock types. Still another object of the invention is to provide such a lock that is very favorable both for its manufacture and for its production cost. The subject of this invention is a lock for swinging doors and the like, comprising: - a box intended to be fixed onto a door and provided with a cover; - a bar mounted in said box, oriented, guided and sliding along the larger length of said box, having means for its connection to the door bolts; - a nut rotatably mounted in said box, suitable for receiving a shaft with an outer door handle and an inner door handle; - coupling means arranged for transmitting a rotational displacement of said nut as a translational displacement of said bar; - at least one lock cylinder installed in said box and operable at least from the door outside by means of a key; - and blocking means operable at least by said lock cylinder and displaceable between a block po- sition, in which they immobilize said bar in the position corresponding to the engagement condition of the door bolts, and a release position, in which they leave free said bar; characterized in that said blocking means comprise a slider displaceable along a direction substantially transverse to the displacement direction of said bar, suitable for taking a release position and a block position and to partially place themselves, in the block position, on the continuation of said bar in a condition of interference suitable for preventing the displacement of the bar from its position corresponding to the engagement condition of the door bolts.

The so arranged slider forms a very simple and effective blocking means that, even . without requiring a solid construction, is able to withstand very vigorous actions intended to displace the door bolts from their engaged positions. Preferably, said bar has an articulation means, said coupling means include a two beam lever solid with said nut, said lever having a first beam forming an articulation means and a second beam forming a cam, said articulation means of the two beam lever being coupled with said articulation means of the bar, and said second beam of the two beam lever, forming a cam, cooperating with a profiled spring intended to stabilize the operative positions of said two beam lever.

In this way, an extremely simple and effective mechanism is provided for transmitting to the door bolt operating bar the movement transmitted by the handles to said nut, and at the same time for effectively stabilizing the positions of said handles.

In some possible embodiments, for which it is desired that the lock automatically takes the block condition when the door bolts are displaced to the engagement condition, in said box there is installed a spring cooperating with said slider for biasing the same towards the block position.

In other embodiments, for which it is desired that the lock does not automatically take the block condition when the door bolts are displaced to the engagement condition, but this action should take place on command, in said box there is installed a spring cooperating with said slider for stabilizing the positions thereof.

In this case, preferably said spring has an arm substantially parallel to the displacement direction of the slider and having a protruding portion which cooperates with a corresponding protruding portion of the slider.

It is of advantage that, in both the above mentioned cases, the spring that stabilizes the position of the two beam lever and the spring cooperating with the slider are formed by two portions of a single spring.

In order to resist to a burglary, a lever may be provided that, when the lock is blocked, disappears within the outline of the box, and that cooperates with the spring and the slider for releasing the lock when it is tilted out of the box outline and is kept pulled during the operation of a handle.

Preferably, the cover is connected to the lock box by the simple' folding onto the cover of tongues of the box.

Either when the stated features are singularly adopted or they are in various manners combined, the different lock types may be provided by using for the different lock types a considerable number of common component parts. When it is suitable, the lock may be designed for using a device with a double cylinder and a double web as set forth in the Italian Patent No. 1.337.877.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other features, objects and advantages of the subject of the present invention will appear more clearly from the following description of some embodiments, being non limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 represents the front view (namely, a view from the side in- tended to be applied against the door) of a lock according to the a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 shows a plan view thereof. Figure 3 shows a side view thereof.

Figure 4 shows a view thereof from the side intended to face the in- ner space of the room closed by the door.

Figure 5 represents a view thereof after the removal of the cover and the lock cylinder, in the condition of release.

Figure 6 represents a view corresponding to Figure 5, but in the condition of block. Figure 7 represents a view, after the removal of the cover and the lock cylinder, of a second embodiment of the lock, in the condition of release. Figure 8 represents a view corresponding to Figure 7, but in the condition of block.

Figure 9 represents the component parts forming the first and the second embodiments of the lock.

Figure 10 represents a view, after the removal of the cover and the lock cylinder, of a third embodiment of the lock, in the condition of release.

Figure 1 1 represents a view corresponding to Figure 10, but in the condition of block. Figure 12 represents a view, after the removal of the cover and the lock cylinder, of a fourth of the lock, in the condition of release.

Figure 13 represents a view corresponding to Figure 12, but in the condition of block. Figure 14 represents the box intended for the third and the fourth embodiments of the lock.

Figure 15 represents the cover intended for the box according to Figure 14. Figure 16 represents a view, after the removal of the cover and the lock cylinder, of a fifth embodiment of the lock, in the condition of release.

Figure 17 represents a view corresponding to Figure 16, but in the condition of block.

Figures 18 and 19 show two views of the lock according to Figures 16 and 17, in two intermediate conditions of an opening operation effected from inside by means of a lever against burglary.

Figure 20 represents a view, from the side intended to face the inner space of the room closed by the door, of a sixth embodiment of the lock.

Figure 21 represents a view thereof, after the removal of the cover and the lock cylinder, in the condition of release.

Figure 22 represents a view corresponding to Figure 21 , but in the condition of block.

Figure 23 represents a cross section taken along line B-B of Figure 21. Figure 24 represents a lock cylinder with a double web, intended for the lock according to the sixth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figures 1 to 6 and 9, the lock for swinging doors and the like according to the first embodiment of this invention comprises a box 1 having holes 3 for its application onto a door and closed by a cover 4. A specific feature of this lock is that the cover 4, customarily fixed to box 1 by means of screws, is instead fixed by bending tongues 2 of box 1 . For the sake of clarity, these tongues 2 are shown in Figures 1 and 3 as still extended, namely before the bending thereof. <Within box 1 is mounted a bar 5 which is oriented, guided and sli- dable along the direction of the larger length of box 1. The bar 5 projects from box 1 with an external portion 6 which carries a means 7 for being connected to door bolts. Moreover, bar 5 has a recess 8 which constitutes an articulation means for operating the bar. Within box 1 is also rotatably mounted a nut 9 which, as usual, is suitable for receiving a square shaft carrying an outer door handle and an inner door handle (not represented). To the nut 9 is solidly fixed a two beam lever having a first beam 10 forming an articulation means and a second beam 11 forming a cam. It is of advantage that the nut 9 and the beams 10 and 11 are formed by coupling two identical parts of sheared metal plate, as it appears in Figure 9. In this way a considerable spare of manufacturing costs is attained, with respect to the known structures wherein the nut is a solid member molded, machined or sintherized. The first beam 10 of the two beam lever is coupled with the recess 8 of bar 5, forming an articulation means, whereby a rotation of nut 9 with its lever 11-12 causes a translation of bar 5 between a first position (figure 5) wherein the door bolts are disengaged and a second position (Figure 6) wherein the door bolts are engaged. This arrangement provides a particu- larly simple and reliable means for transmitting the movement from nut 9 to bar 5.

The second beam 11 of the two beam lever, forming a cam, cooperates with a first branch 12 of a profiled spring 12-13. This first branch 12 of the spring is intended to stabilize the operative positions of the two beam lever 11-12 and therefore, through this two beam lever and the nut 9, also to stabilize the positions of the maneuver handles of the lock. By this arrangement, the stabilization function is attained in a particularly simple and reliable manner.

The blocking means of the lock are formed by a profiled slider 14 which is guided and slidable within box 1 along a direction transverse to the displacement direction of bar 5, and is suitable for taking a releasing position (Figure 5) wherein it, under action of the second branch 13 of the spring 12- 13, rests against the end portion of bar 5 opposite its outer portion 6, without hindering the bar translation. But, when under action of a lock maneuvering handle the bar 5 displaces the door bolts in their engagement position, the end portion of bar 5 goes beyond the slider 14 and this latter, under action of the branch 13 of the spring, takes a block position (Figure 6) wherein slider 14 is situated in part on the prolongation of bar 5, in an interference condition, thus preventing any displacement of the spring from its position that cor- responds to the engagement condition of the door bolts. In this way, the automatic blockage of the lock when the door is closed and the door bolts are engaged is obtained by means particularly simple and reliable.

In order to displace slider 14 from the block position to the release position, and thus allow opening the lock, within box 1 is rotatably mounted a cam 17 which cooperates with slider 14 and may be caused to rotate by acting from outside the door by means of a lock cylinder 18 actuated by a key 19. From inside the door, the displacement of slider 14 from the block position to the release position for allowing opening the lock is operated by directly acting onto a tongue 16 connected to slider 14 and projecting out of the box 1 .

With reference to Figures 7 and 8, the second embodiment of the lock according to the invention differs from the former one because the cam 17 is replaced by a cam 35, and because there is provided a profiled spring having two branches, a first branch 20 similar to the branch 12 of the spring used in the first embodiment and having the same function of stabilizing the two beam lever 10-11 and the door handles, and a second branch 21 extending about parallel to the displacement direction of slider 14 and acting on the slider by braking its displacement. Preferably, the second branch 21 of the spring has a protruding conformation 22 suitable for cooperating with a corresponding projection 15 of slider 14 so as to positively stabilize the operative positions of the slider.

By this arrangement, the slider 14 is not biased towards the block position, and this position should be obtained by the user through a voluntary command applied to the lock cylinder from outside the door or to the tongue 16 of slider 14 from inside the door. Therefore this lock is bi-stable instead of being automatic.

It is very remarkable that, with a great advantage for the manufacture, the two locks conforming respectively to the first automatic embodiment and to the second bi-stable embodiment are both manufactured by using identical component parts except only the spring 12-13 and the cam 17 for the first embodiment and the spring 20-21 -22 for the second embodiment. This fact is particularly evidenced by Figure 9, which shows all the component parts forming indifferently the first and the second lock embodiments, and shows side by side the two springs 12-13 and 20-21 -22 and superimposed the two cams 17 and 35, which are to be chosen the one or the other in order to obtain a lock conforming the first or the second embodiment.

The figures 10 and 11 refer to a third embodiment which is bi-stable and is very similar to the second embodiment of the Figures 7 and 8, but is intended to be operated by a profiled lock cylinder (not represented) rather than by a round lock cylinder 18 used for the first and second embodiments. As it may be observed from Figures 10 and 11 and from Figures 14 and 15, the provision of the third embodiment involves, with respect to the provision of the second embodiment, the use of a box 23 having a profiled opening 24 for receiving the profiled lock cylinder, and of a corresponding cover 26 which, also, has a profiled opening 27 for receiving the profiled lock cylinder. All remaining component parts are identical to those used for the second embodiment, with the addition of an insert 36 applied to the slider 14 and the omission of cam 17, not needed because slider 14 is actuated by the web of the profiled lock cylinder.

Figures 12 and 13 refer to a fourth embodiment, which is automatic and is similar to the embodiment conforming the Figures 1 to 6, but is intended to be operated by a profiled lock cylinder (not represented) rather than by a round lock cylinder 18 used for the first and second embodiments. As it may be observed from Figures 12 and 13 and from Figures 14 and 15, the provision of the fourth embodiment involves, with respect to the provision of the first embodiment, the use of a box 23 having a profiled opening 24 for receiving the profiled lock cylinder, and of a corresponding cover 26 which, also, has a profiled opening 27 for receiving the profiled lock cylinder. All remaining component parts are identical to those used for the first embodiment, with the omission of cam 17, not needed because slider 14 is actuated by the web of the profiled lock cylinder.

The box 23 and the cover 26 are common to the third and the fourth embodiments of the lock. Also the box 23, as box 1 , has tongues 25 to be bent, similar to the tongues 2, for fixing the cover 26.

Figures 16 to 19 refer to a fifth embodiment, wherein a device against burglary is provided. In the formerly described embodiments, the operation from inside of the slider 14 is effected by acting onto a tongue 16 of the slider, that projects on the inner side of the lock. By piercing the door and acting with a special tool, it is possible to operate the tongue 16 from outside, thus allowing the burglary of the lock.

In view thereof, in the fifth embodiment of the lock the tongue 16 is omitted and, on the contrary, there is provided a lever 28 pivoted in the lock box and having at its inner end a hook portion 29 engaging both the branch 13 of the spring and the slider 14. Lever 28 is so configured that it disappears within the outline of the lock box when spring 13 pushes the slider 14 in the block position (Figure 17). With this arrangement, it is no more possible to reach at lever 28 and operate the same from outside the door. For releasing the lock from inside, lever 28 should be seized with two fingers, caused to rotate by projecting from the box (Figure 18) and then pulled against the action of spring 13 for displacing the slider 14 into the release position (Figure 19). By keeping the lever 14 under traction in this position, it is the possible to operate the handle, displace the bar 5 according to arrow F and displace the door bolts into the disengaged position. Spring 13 brings then again lever 28 into its rest position according to Figure 18.

Of course, the provision of the lever 28 against burglary may also be applied to a lock according to the first described embodiment. A sixth embodiment of the lock is described with reference to Figures

20 to 23. It is intended to be operated by a lock device with a double cylinder and two webs, shown in Figure 24 and conforming the Italian Patent No. 1.337.877. This device includes a profiled body 31 which contains on one side a lock cylinder 34 and on the opposite side another lock cylinder (not visible). These lock cylinders operate, respectively, a first web 32 and a second web 33. Said webs are intended to act on the slider 14, directly or with the interposition of a member 30 applied to slider 14 (Figure 21), in order to displace the slider 14 from the block position (Figure 22) to the release position (Figure 21). The displacement of slider 14 in the opposite direction, namely from the release position to the block position, is automatically operated by the branch 13 of the spring, when the door bolts are engaged by acting on the door handles.

Therefore, as it appears from the above, with the application of this invention several types of locks can be provided that have different characteris- tics, by using a great number of component parts common to the various types, and it is possible to carry out structures which are simple and reliable, though incurring low manufacture costs. it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the embodi- ments which have been described and shown as examples. Several possible modifications have been stated in the description, and others are available to those skilled in the art. These modifications and others, as well as any replacement by technically equivalent means, may be applied to what has been described and shown, without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the present Patent.

Claims

1 . A lock for swinging doors and the like, comprising: - a box (1) intended to be fixed onto a door and provided with a cover (4); - a bar (5) mounted in said box (1 ), oriented, guided and sliding along the larger length of said box, having means (7) for its connection to the door bolts; - a nut (9) rotatably mounted in said box, suitable for receiving a shaft with an outer door handle and an inner door handle; - coupling means arranged for transmitting a rotational displacement of said nut (9) as a translational displacement of said bar (5); - at least one lock cylinder (18) installed in said box and operable at least from the door outside by means of a key (19); - and blocking means operable at least by said lock cylinder (8) and displaceable between a block position, in which they immobilize said bar (5) in the position corresponding to the engagement condition of the door bolts, and a release position, in which they leave free said bar (5); characterized in that said blocking means comprise a slider (14) displaceable along a direction substantially transverse to the displacement direction of said bar (5), suitable for taking a release position and a block position and to partially place themselves, in the block position, on the continuation of said bar (5) in a condition- of interference suitable for preventing the displacement of the bar (5) from its position corresponding to the engagement condition of the bolts.

2 . A lock according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said bar (5) has an articulation means (8), said coupling means include a two beam lever (10-1 1) solid with said nut (9), said lever (10-11) having a first beam (10) forming an articulation means and a second beam (11 ) forming a cam, said articulation means (10) of the two beam lever being coupled with said articulation means (8) of the bar (5), and said second beam (11) of the two beam lever, forming a cam, cooperating with a profiled spring (12;20) intended to stabilize the operative positions of said two beam lever (10-11 ).

3 . A lock according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, in the embodi- ments for which it is desired that the lock automatically takes the block condition when the bolts are displaced to the engagement condition, in said box (1 ) there is installed a spring (13) cooperating with said slider (14) for biasing the same towards the block position.

4 . A lock according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, in the embodiments for which it is desired that the lock does not automatically take the block condition when the bolts are displaced to the engagement condition, but this action should take place on command, irt said box (1 ) there is installed a spring (21 -22) cooperating with said slider (14) for stabilizing the positions thereof.

5 . A lock according to Claim 4, characterized in that said spring (21 -22) has an arm (21 ) substantially parallel to the displacement direction of the slider (14) and having a protruding portion (22) which cooperates with a corresponding protruding portion (15) of the slider (14).

6 . A lock according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the spring (12;20) that stabilizes the position of the two beam lever (10-1 1 ) and the spring (13; 21 .-22) cooperating with the slider (14) are formed by two portions of a single spring.

7 . A lock according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, in order to resist to a burglary, a lever (28) is provided that, when the lock is closed, disappears within the outline of the box (1 ), and that cooperates with the spring (1 3) and the slider (14) for releasing the lock when said lever (28) is tilted out of the box outline and is pulled during the operation of a handle.

8 . A lock according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said cover (4) is connected to the lock box (1 ) by the simple folding onto the cover (4) of tongues (2) of the box (1 ).

9 . A lock according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the different lock types are provided by using for the different lock types a considerable number of common component parts.

10 . A lock according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the lock may be designed for using a device with a double cylinder (34) and a double web (32,33) as set forth in the Italian Patent No. 1 .337.877.