|
(11) | EP 0 378 124 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Spring-latch and bolt lock with emergency opening device |
| (57) The spring-latch and bolt lock with emergency opening device comprises a spring-latch
orientation device (49), a safety device (39) adapted to lock the spring-latch (5),
and a device (28) for the release and quick opening of the bolt (6) which can be actuated
by means of the handle of the door. |
[0002] Door locks are currently known which have a spring-latch, which can be opened by means of an adapted handle, and a locking bolt actuated by a key. In some cases, for example in the case of hotels and the like, it is convenient to allow the door to open rapidly from one side, i.e. merely by means of the handle and without using the key. This need arises from evident safety reasons, since it must be possible to easily leave the room, in particular in case of danger, while preserving the lock function of preventing access from outside.
[0003] Locks have therefore been devised which have a single-side opening device constituted by a lever system which opens the bolt upon the actuation of the knob arranged on the inside. In particular, said lever system essentially comprises a first lever which releases the bolt and a second lever which controls the opening movement of the bolt itself.
[0004] Said locks are furthermore generally provided with a safety device adapted to lock the spring-latch in closure position. This device is deactivated by the actuation of the handle or by the actuation of the key which opens the bolt.
[0005] The locks of the above described kind are not free from disadvantages. In particular, the structural complication of the device for the release and quick opening of the bolt, which is the cause of possible malfunctions, is observed, together with the poor reliability of the spring-latch safety device.
[0006] During mounting of the lock, the rotation of the spring-latch about its own axis is furthermore difficult; this rotation is required to adapt the lock to the different door sides on which it is applied.
[0007] The aim of the present invention is to provide a spring-latch and bolt lock which allows to perform in a simplified and surely functional manner the quick opening of the bolt by actuating the spring-latch actuation handle.
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a spring-latch and bolt lock which has a spring-latch locking device which is simple in concept and safely reliable in operation.
[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a spring-latch and bolt lock which allows to easily orientate the spring-latch itself.
[0010] This aim and these objects are achieved, according to the invention, by the present spring-latch and bolt lock with emergency opening device as defined in the appended claims.
[0011] The details of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the spring-latch and bolt lock with emergency opening device, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lock according to the invention in closed position;
figure 2 is a sectional detail view, taken along plane II of figure 1, of the spring-latch orientation device;
figure 3 is a partially sectional front view of said spring-latch orientation device.
[0012] With reference to the above figures, 1 indicates the box of the lock according to the invention, which is mounted in the recess 2 of a door 3; said box 1 has a front plate 4 which closes the recess 2 and allows the lock to be fixed to the door.
[0013] The lock has a spring-latch 5 and a bolt 6 which are adapted to protrude from the box 1 through the plate 4 to engage, in closure position, respective seats 7 and 8 provided in the doorjamb; the seats 7, 8 face corresponding openings formed in a plate 10 applied to the doorjamb.
[0014] The spring-latch 5 is provided with a stem 11 on which a return helical spring 12 for the spring-latch is mounted; the spring 12 acts, at its opposite ends, on an abutment 13 rigid with the box and on a ring 14 rigid with the stem 11. A small plate 15 is fixed to the free end of the stem 11, and an opening element, generally indicated by 16, is adapted to act thereon.
[0015] The spring-latch 5 can be actuated by an adapted handle, not illustrated in the drawings, which is engaged in a square-holed pivot 17. The opening element 16 is mounted on the pivot 17 and is rotatable together with said handle.
[0016] The opening element 16 comprises a series of variously shaped rings mounted side by side on the pivot 17. More in particular, said series of rings includes a pair of outer rings, which are mutually identical and are both indicated by 18, and an intermediate ring 19.
[0017] The outer rings 18 define respective projections forming the prongs 18a of a sort of fork which embraces the stem 11 of the spring-latch 5 so as to act on the plate 15 of said stem; in the closure position of the spring-latch, said fork is kept resting on the fixed abutment 13.
[0018] The outer rings 18 furthermore define respective expansions 18b which are substantially angled at 90° with respect to the prongs 18a in the handle opening direction of rotation A. Only the expansion 18b of the ring which is nearer to the observer has been indicated in figure 1 in order to illustrate the intermediate ring 19.
[0019] The expansions 18b are adapted to act on a helical return spring 20 of the handle; said spring 20 rests on an abutment 21 which is fixed to the box 1.
[0020] The bolt 6 can be actuated by a known key device, the seat 22 whereof is illustrated in the drawings. The bolt 6 is provided with a prism-shaped tang 23 which is slidably guided by the engagement of a slot 24 of the tang with a square pivot 25 fixed to the box 1. The bolt 6 is adapted to be locked in the closed position by the engagement of said square pivot 25 with a tooth 26a of a locking element 26 supported by said bolt. The element 26 is biased by a spring 27 which acts on a wing 26b of said element and is intended to be released by the key opening device and by the opening element 16. It should be noted that the element 26 is guided transversely to the tang 23 by the engagement of a tooth 26c and of the wing 26b in correspondent slots of the tang.
[0021] The lock is provided with a device for the quick release and opening of the bolt, generally indicated by 28. Said device has an opening lever 29 which has a fulcrum 30 rigid with the box 1 and can be angularly rotated by the opening element 16 of the spring-latch by means of the related handle. For this purpose, the outer rings 18 of the element 16 define respective teeth 18c adapted to act on a corresponding flap 29a of the lever.
[0022] The lever 29 defines, in a center position, a lug 29b which engages a pawl 31 for the release of the bolt 6. Said pawl 31 is pivoted to the tang 23 of the bolt at a pivot 32 and is adapted to engage, by means of a tooth 31a defined by an undercut, the wing 26b of the locking element 26, so as to act in contrast with the spring 27.
[0023] The pawl 31 normally rests on the lug 29b with a front edge 33 thereof. The tang 23 of the bolt is furthermore provided with a transverse pivot 34 which is slidable in a slot 35 formed at one end of a return lever 36. The return lever 36 is articulated, at the opposite end, at 37, to a wing 19a of the intermediate ring 19 of the opening element 16.
[0024] The opposite ends of a spring 38, wound around the pivot 17 of the handle, are respectively engaged to the teeth 18c of the outer rings 18 and the wing 19a of the intermediate ring 19 of the element 16.
[0025] The rotation of the handle in the direction indicated by the arrow A therefore causes the retraction of the spring-latch 5 and the rotation of the lever 29 about the fulcrum 30 for opening the bolt 6. In a first portion of said rotation, the opening lever 29 releases the bolt; the lever 29 in fact causes the rotation of the pawl 31, which raises the bolt locking element 26, compressing the spring 27.
[0026] In a second portion of its rotation, the lever 29 opens the bolt 6, pushing with its lower end against the wing 26b of the element 26 which conveniently protrudes from the face of the tang 23 and moving the elements 26 and the bolt 6 to the opened position (to the right in figure 1). To summarize, the actuation of the knob, which is conveniently arranged on the side of the door directed toward the inside of the room, allows to open the door immediately even when the bolt is locked.
[0028] The return lever 36 has the important function of opening the spring-latch 5, acting on the opening element 16, if the bolt is opened by means of the key. This obviously allows not to mount the handle on the outer side of the door, so as to allow opening only by means of said key.
[0029] The lock has a safety device which is adapted to lock the spring-latch and is generally indicated by 39. Said safety device 39 has a locking lever 40 preventing shifting of the spring-latch 5 and hinged at a fulcrum 41 on the box 1.
[0030] The locking lever 40 can be angularly rotated by the spring-latch opening element 16. For this purpose, the intermediate ring 19 of the element 6 defines a shoulder 19b which engages a lug 40a of the lever 40; the engagement of the shoulder 19b with the lever 40 is ensured by a spring 42 which is mounted on the fulcrum 41 and engages, with its opposite ends, the fixed abutment 13 and a flap 40b of said lever. The ring 19 furthermore defines an expansion 19c which is arranged between the prongs 18a of the outer rings 18 of the element 16 and acts on the plate 15. The ring 19 furthermore has a tab 19d which is folded downward (in the drawing) and rigidly associates the inner ring 19 with the outer rings 18 when the element 16 is rotated by the handle.
[0031] The locking lever 40 is controlled by an element 43 for sensing the closure of the door 9; said element is frontally rounded and beveled like the spring-latch 5. Said sensor 43 is axially movable under the thrust of a spring 44 guided in a seat 43a provided in the body of said sensor; the spring 44 reacts on a fixed abutment 45 of the box 1. The sensor 43 can protrude from the box 1, through the plate 4, and retract in the door closure position when it abuts against the front plate 10 of the doorjamb. The sensor 43 is guided in its movements by the plate 4 and the abutment 45.
[0032] A transmission lever 47 is articulated at 46 to the sensor element 43 and is adapted to release the locking lever 40 in the door opening configuration. The transmission lever 47 centrally abuts against an internal wing 48 of the box 1 and engages in turn, at its end, the flap 40b of the locking lever 40 on the side opposite to the spring 42.
[0033] The locking lever 40 prevents the movement of the spring-latch 5 when the door is closed, but is brought in an ineffective position by the rotation of the opening element 16 in direction A. When the door is open, the outward movement of the sensor 43 caused by the spring 44 holds the locking lever 40 in a position in which it does not intercept the free sliding of the spring-latch 5.
[0034] The lock is furthermore provided with a spring-latch orientation device, generally indicated by the reference numeral 49. Said orientation device has a slider element 50 mounted on the rear wall 1a of the box 1 in front of the spring-latch 5 and slidable along a vertical direction (in the drawing). The slider 50 is guided by a transverse pivot 51 rigid therewith in a slot 52 of the box and can be actuated from the outside of the box by means of a tooth 53.
[0035] The slider 50 has an opening 54 adapted to be aligned with the stem 11 of the spring-latch, so as to allow the axial rotation thereof. For this purpose, the slider 50 is movable between said alignment position and an off-center position of the opening 54, said positions being defined by the engagement of a pair of notches 55 of said slider with corresponding protrusions 56 formed on the rear wall 1a of the box which is opposite to the front plate 4.
[0036] By moving the slider 50 to said position of alignment of the stem 11 with the opening 54, it is possible to move the spring-latch 5 inside the box 1, inserting the end of the stem 11 into said opening. The spring-latch can therefore be rotated axially through the opening 57 provided in the box.
[0037] Instead, when the slider 50 is in the off-centered position, i.e. in the normal condition of use of the lock, the slider 50 acts as stop element for the axial sliding of the stem 11, preventing the accidental extraction of the spring-latch from its seat.
[0038] A substantial advantage of the present invention is constituted by the fact that the elements, by virtue of their arrangement, allow to leave free large regions of the walls which laterally delimit the box 1. This allows to provide, in said regions, holes through which through screws are driven; said screws also traverse the thickness of the door and can retain the plates of the handles.
[0039] In the practical embodiment of the invention, the materials employed, as well as the shape and dimensions, can be any according to the requirements.
[0040] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.
1. A spring-latch and bolt lock with emergency opening device, of the kind which comprises
a spring-latch (5) movable to an opening position in contrast with spring means (12),
an opening element (16) for said spring-latch which can be actuated by a handle, a
bolt (6) adapted to be closed by means of a key device, characterized by a device
(28) for the quick release and opening of the bolt comprising: an opening lever (29)
pivoted to the box (1) of the lock and angularly rotatable by said spring-latch opening
element (16), a pawl (31) for the release of the bolt (6) pivoted on said bolt and
adapted to be actuated by said opening lever (29) in a first portion of the rotation
of said lever, and a lever (36) for the retraction of the spring-latch which is articulated
to said spring-latch opening element (16) and can be actuated by the key device.
2. A spring-latch and bolt lock with emergency opening device, of the kind comprising
a spring-latch (5) movable to an opening position in contrast with spring means (12),
an opening element (16) for said spring-latch (5) which can be actuated by a handle,
a bolt (6) adapted to be closed by means of a key device, characterized by a safety
device (39) comprising: a spring-latch locking lever (40) pivoted to the box (1) of
the lock and angularly rotatable by said spring-latch opening element (16), a door
closure sensing element (43) which is axially movable under the thrust of spring means
(44), a transmission lever (47) which is articulated to said sensing element (43)
and is adapted to release said locking lever (40) for locking the spring-latch (5)
in the door open configuration.
3. A spring-latch and bolt lock with emergency opening device, of the kind which comprises
a spring-latch (5) movable to an opening position in contrast with spring means (12),
an opening element (16) for said spring-latch (5) which can be actuated by a handle,
a bolt (6) adapted to be closed by means of a key device, characterized by a spring-latch
orientation device (49) comprising: a slider element (50) which is slidably mounted
on the bottom of the box (1) of the lock in front of the spring-latch and is provided
with an opening (54) intended to be moved from an off-centered position to an alignment
position with respect to the stem (11) of said spring-latch, so as to allow, in the
alignment position, an axial sliding of said stem until the spring-latch retracts
completely inside the box of the lock and the rotation of said spring-latch according
to the required orientation, and, in the off-centered position, so as to prevent the
complete retraction of the spring-latch in the box of the lock.
4. A lock according to claim 1, characterized in that said opening element (16) comprises
a series of shaped rings (18,19) mounted side by side on the pivot (17) of said handle,
said rings including a pair of outer rings (18) having respective projections which
define prongs (18a) of a sort of fork adapted to embrace the stem (11) of said spring-latch
and defining respective teeth (18c) adapted to act on a corresponding flap (29a) of
said opening lever (29).
5. A lock according to claim 4, characterized in that said outer rings (18) define
respective expansions (18b) which are adapted to act on spring means (20) for the
return of the handle.
6. A lock according to claim 1, characterized in that in a first portion of its rotation
said opening lever (29) adapted to release the bolt (6), causing the rotation of said
pawl (31) to lift the bolt locking element (26), whereas in the second portion of
its rotation said lever is adapted to open said bolt by pushing a wing (26b) of the
locking element and causing linear sliding of said bolt in the opening direction.
7. A lock according to claim 4, characterized in that said lever (36) for the retraction
of the spring-latch has, at a first end, a slot (35) slidably engaging a transverse
pivot (34) of said bolt (6) and articulated, at the opposite end, to an inner ring
(19) of said opening element (16), said first end being engageable by said key device
to open said spring-latch when the bolt is in retraction position.
8. A lock according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that said opening element
(16) comprises an intermediate ring (19) interposed between said outer rings (18)
and in that said intermediate ring (19) defines a shoulder (19b) which is adapted
to engage a lug (40a) of said locking lever (40).
9. A lock according to claim 2, characterized in that said transmission lever (47)
centrally abuts against an internal wing (48) of the box (1) of the lock and engages,
with its end, a flap (40b) of said locking lever (40).
10. A lock according to claim 3, characterized in that said alignment and off-centered
positions of said opening (54) are defined by the engagement of a pair of notches
(55) of said slider with corresponding protrusions (56) formed on the rear wall (1a)
of the lock box which is opposite to the front plate (4) allowing passage of the spring-latch
(5).