A locking device for a sliding shutter

Abstract

 A locking device for a sliding shutter, comprising a lock housing (1), a cylindrical locking bolt (2), and guiding means (4) arranged in the lock housing (1), in which the locking bolt (2) is axially slidable between a protruding position and a retracted position, in relation to the lock housing (1), against the action of a spring means (5), the spring means (5) urging the locking bolt (2) towards said protruding position. The locking bolt (2) is provided with at least a first and a second recess (6, 7), and a cylindrical locking pin (3) is arranged axially rotatable in the lock housing (1). The locking pin (3) is arranged to engage the second recess (7) through axial rotation, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt (2) in said retracted position, and to engage the first recess (6) through axial rotation, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt (2) in said protruding position. In said protruding position, the locking bolt (2) is arranged to engage said sliding shutter, for the locking of said sliding shutter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for a sliding shutter or rolling shutter, comprising a lock housing, a cylindrical locking bolt, and guiding means arranged in the lock housing, in which the locking bolt is axially slidable between a protruding position and a retracted position in relation to the lock housing. The locking bolt is provided with at least a first and a second recess, and a cylindrical locking pin is arranged axially rotatable in the lock housing, the locking pin being arranged to engage the second recess through axial rotation, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt in said retracted position.

Background of the Invention

[0002] The demands for more burglar-proof locking devices, doors, sliding shutters etc. increase, both from shopkeepers and insurance companies, e.g.. The burglary protective devices must be burglar-proof and at the same time easy to handle and non-bulky. Regarding the closing and closure of shop spaces in shopping malls, garage doors, and other openings, e.g., sliding shutters or rolling shutters are a suitable solution. These close large spaces, are easy to handle, and are non-bulky in the open position, and are often driven by an electrical motor unit. However, there are requirements that these must be securely locked in the shut position by a mechanical locking to prevent burglary during which the sliding shutter or rolling shutter through damage is broken open. Therefore, there is a need for a secure and effective mechanical locking device which securely locks sliding shutters or rolling shutters, and which in addition is easy to handle.

[0003] US 5 806 352 A discloses a locking bracket which includes a mild steel plate having two opposed longitudinally extending edges and two opposed transversely extending edges. A locking formation in the form of an upstanding protrusion is welded to the plate for selectively captively retaining a locking device such as a padlock. En aperture in the plate is longitudinally spaced apart from the protrusion for receiving a bolt which extends from the padlock. In use, the bolt passes through the aperture and like apertures formed in a first and second article which are intended to be locked. The first article can be a sliding shutter and the second article can be the channel along which the sliding shutter slides.

[0004] GB 2 298 447 A discloses a locking mechanism comprising a padlock device engageable with a displaceable cylindrical anchor member, said anchor member having two positions, an extended position in which the padlock device can engage with the anchor member by engagement of the padlock device with a circumferential recess in the external end of the anchor member, and a retracted position inside a tubular member in which the padlock device cannot engage with the anchor member. The tubular member can be set in a floor, e.g., and the anchor member can be passed through a hole in the lower edge of a sliding shutter before the padlock device engages with the anchor member. The anchor member is biased by a spring and can take its retracted position by pushing the anchor member into the tubular member and rotating it by means of a protrusion disposed at the external end of the anchor member so that a stop engages a groove in the anchor member.

[0005] US 4 229 955 A describes a lock for roller shutters, comprising a body, a cylindrical locking bolt, and a bore in which the locking bolt is axially slidable between a protruding position and a retracted position in relation to the body. The locking bolt is provided with two annular grooves. An axially rotatable plug is arranged in the body, which is arranged to engage one of the annular groves through axial rotation, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt in said retracted position. In the retracted position of the locking bolt, the roller shutter is locked by the locking bolt.

[0006] US 4 565 078 discloses a locking assembly for a gate locking system, comprising a housing assembly, a locking bolt axially slidable between two end positions against the action of a spring, and an axially slidable lug arranged in the housing assembly. The locking bolt is provided with one recess, and the lug is arranged to engage said recess, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt in one of the end positions. Said spring is arranged to bias the locking bolt to its unlocked position.

[0007] WO 99/04118 describes a locking arrangement for sliding shutters, comprising a lock body and a locking bolt axially slidable between two end positions. The locking bolt is provided with a first and a second recess, and a ball is arranged to engage each recess to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt in one of the end positions.

[0008] However, above mentioned locking devices for sliding shutters are either to sensitive to external damaging action, as a result of a too unprotected construction, and not easy to handle, or too complicated in construction, which results in an expensive production, too complicated to install and present lack of flexibility regarding the choice of position of installation when applied on rolling shutters or sliding shutters.

The Object of the Invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a locking device for sliding shutters or rolling shutters, which improves the burglar-proof character, is well protected towards external damaging action, is easy to produce, install and handle, and offers a wide flexibility regarding the choice of position of installation when applied on rolling shutters or sliding shutters.

Summary of the Invention

[0010] The above mentioned object of the present invention is achieved by providing a locking device for sliding shutters, or rolling shutters, of the kind defined in the preamble of claim 1, where the locking device comprises the special features that the locking bolt is axially slidable against the action of a spring means, the spring means being arranged to urge the locking bolt towards said protruding position, that the locking bolt is arranged to engage the first recess through axial rotation, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt in said protruding position, and that the locking bolt in said protruding position is arranged to engage said sliding shutter by means of its end portion disposed at the second recess, for the locking of said sliding shutter.

[0011] This locking device provides a secure and stable locking of a sliding shutter when the locking bolt is in the protruding position and engages a recess in the sliding shutter. There is no need for any additional locking mechanism arranged outside the lock housing, which provides a secure construction protected from external damaging action. Since the whole locking mechanism is disposed in one and the same lock housing, the locking device is also easy to install at any position along the sliding shutter, but suitably the locking device is positioned along the guiding means of the sliding shutter, so that the locking bolt in its protruding position engages the sliding shutter and mechanically prevents the sliding of the sliding shutter. Further, the locking device according to the invention is easy to produce and has few loose parts, which provides for a durable construction, and is easy to handle.

[0012] By locking the locking bolt also in a retracted position, the locking bolt is prevented from accidentally protrude from the lock housing. The locking bolt is automatically protruded from the lock housing in its displaceable position by the action of said spring means, and thereafter the locking bolt is locked in a protruding position. When unlocking the sliding shutter, firstly the locking bolt is disengaged by rotation of the locking pin, and subsequently the locking bolt is manually pushed into the lock housing, and thereafter the locking pin is again axially rotated to lock the locking bolt in a retracted position

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention, each of the first and second recesses comprises an annular groove.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention, the mantle of the locking pin is provided with a recess having a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the locking bolt, the locking bolt being arranged to axially slide in said recess, in its displaceable, unlocked position.

[0015] According to another advantageous embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention, each recess has a shape corresponding to the mantle of the locking pin.

[0016] According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention, the locking pin is substantially circular cylindrical.

[0017] According to an advantageous embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention, the locking bolt is substantially circular cylindrical.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention, the locking pin is controllable by a lock cylinder, into which a key is inserted, and the axial rotation of the locking pin is controlled by the rotation of the key.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

is a schematic side view of an embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention,

Fig. 2

is a schematic sectional front view of the embodiment of the locking device of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

is a view of the locking pin of the embodiment of the locking device of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4

is a schematic top view of the embodiment of the locking device of Fig. 1, installed along one of the guiding means of a sliding shutter, along which the sliding shutter slides.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0020] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the locking device according to the present invention seen from the side where the lock housing 1 is beveled to prevent external damaging action, and is cast from aluminium. In the lock housing 1, a circular cylindrical locking bolt 2 and an axially rotatable circular cylindrical locking pin 3 are arranged. The locking bolt 2 is axially slidable in guiding means 4 arranged in the lock housing 1 against the action of a spring means 5 between a protruding position and a retracted position in relation to the lock housing 1. The spring means 5 is installed between the guiding means 4. The locking bolt 2 is provided with a first and a second recess in the form of a first annular groove 6 and a second annular groove 7, which the locking pin 3 is arranged to engage, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt 2. The first and second annular grooves 6, 7 have a shape corresponding to the mantle of the locking pin 3. In Fig. 1, the locking pin 3 is engaged with the first annular groove 6, and through this the locking bolt 2 is locked in a protruding position, whereby the external end of the locking bolt is protruding from the lock housing and can engage a sliding shutter. In order to lock the locking bolt 2 in a retracted position, the locking pin 3 is disengaged from its engagement with the first annular groove 6, whereby the locking bolt 2 can be axially displaced and thus pushed into the lock housing 1 so that the second annular groove 7 is positioned at the locking pin 3. In order to position the second annular groove 7 in a position engageable by the locking pin 3, a lock ring stop 8 is arranged at the external end of the locking bolt 2, which also prevents the locking bolt 2 from further retraction into the lock housing 1, since the lock ring stop 8 will abut on the front side of the lock housing 1, and in this position of the lock ring stop 8, the second annular groove 7 is positioned in a position engageable by the locking pin 3.

[0021] Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional front view of the embodiment of the locking device of Fig. 1. The mantle of the locking pin 3 is provided with a recess having a shape corresponding to the outer surface 9 of the locking bolt 2, the locking bolt 2 being arranged to axially slide in the recess, in its displaceable, unlocked position. The locking pin 3 is arranged to engage an annular groove by axial rotation, to provide the axial locking of the locking bolt 2. The axial rotation of the locking pin 3 providing the axial locking of the locking bolt 2, as the locking pin 3 engages with the annular groove of the locking bolt 2, can for example be about 180°, whereby the recess of the locking pin 3 is entirely turned away from the locking bolt 2. To one end of the locking pin 3, a lock cylinder 10 is attached, into which a key is inserted to control the locking pin 3. In Fig. 2, a mounting hole 11 is also seen, for installation of the lock cylinder 10 by means of a hardened mounting screw 12 being inserted into the mounting hole 11 and attached to the lock cylinder 10. Subsequently, the mounting hole 11 can be sealed by driving in a steel ball.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows the locking pin of the embodiment of the locking device of Fig. 1, in its longitudinal extension. Here, the recess 13 of the locking pin is visible, having a form corresponding to the outer surface of the locking bolt.

[0023] Fig. 4 shows a top view of the embodiment of the locking device of Fig. 1, installed along one of the guiding means 14 of a sliding shutter, along which the sliding shutter 15 slides. The locking bolt 2 is in a protruding position, and thus has locked the sliding shutter 15, whereby the sliding shutter 15 is prevented from sliding.

Claims

1. A locking device for a sliding shutter, comprising a lock housing (1), a cylindrical locking bolt (2), and guiding means (4) arranged in the lock housing (1), in which the locking bolt (2) is axially slidable between a protruding position and a retracted position in relation to the lock housing (1), the locking bolt (2) being provided with at least a first and a second recess (6, 7), and a cylindrical locking pin (3) is arranged axially rotatable in the lock housing (1), the locking pin (3) being arranged to engage the second recess (7) through axial rotation, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt (2) in said retracted position, characterized in that the locking bolt (2) is axially slidable against the action of a spring means (5), the spring means (5) being arranged to urge the locking bolt (2) towards said protruding position, that the locking bolt (3) is arranged to engage the first recess (6) through axial rotation, to provide an axial locking of the locking bolt (2) in said protruding position, and that the locking bolt (2) in said protruding position is arranged to engage said sliding shutter by means of its end portion disposed at the second recess (7), for the locking of said sliding shutter.

2. A locking device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the first and second recesses (6, 7) comprises an annular groove.

3. A locking device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mantle of the locking pin (3) is provided with a recess (13) having a shape corresponding to the outer surface (9) of the locking bolt (2), the locking bolt (2) being arranged to axially slide in said recess (13), in its displaceable, unlocked position.

4. A locking device according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each recess (6, 7) has a shape corresponding to the mantle of the locking pin (3).

5. A locking device according to any of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking pin (3) is substantially circular cylindrical.

6. A locking device according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking bolt (2) is substantially circular cylindrical.

7. A locking device according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the locking pin (3) is controllable by a lock cylinder (10).

Drawing