|
(11) | EP 2 915 939 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| (54) | Lock |
| (57) The lock comprises a dead bolt lever (58) arranged to move a dead bolt (41) and a
key actuated cylinder (13) with a rotary driving bit (14). The dead bolt lever (58)
comprises a first engagement portion (91) for engaging the rotary driving bit (14)
when said rotary driving bit (14) is rotated in a first direction, a second engagement
portion (93) for engaging the rotary driving bit (14) when rotated in a second direction
opposite to said first direction, and an auxiliary engagement portion (95) for engaging
the rotary driving bit (14) when rotated in said first direction, wherein said first,
second and auxiliary engagement portions (91, 93, 95) are configured to engage with
said rotary driving bit (14) such that an engagement of the rotary driving bit (14)
with said first, second or auxiliary engagement portion (91, 93, 95) rotates the dead
bolt lever (58).
|
Technical field
[0001] The present invention relates to a lock for a gate or door, and more particular to a safety lock for outside gates, doors or fences which allow to open the gate or door with a key.
Background art
[0002] Locks for gates, doors and fences are known. EP1118739 discloses such a lock. The lock has a dead bolt and a latch bolt, both operable to be moved in a retracted and a projecting position. The dead bolt is operated by a dead bolt lever. The latch bolt is operated by a latch bolt lever which is connected to a handle. The lock further has a key operated cylinder with a rotary driving bit. The rotary driving bit engages with the dead bolt lever to move the dead bolt between its retracted and projecting positions. In both of these positions the dead bolt is locked by means of locking means which can be moved upwards, against the action of a spring, by means of the rotary driving bit to unlock the dead bolt just before it is displaced by means of the rotary driving bit. The lock further has a second turn latch bolt lever rotatably mounted on the frame of the lock to move the latch bolt from its projecting position to its retracted position and a second turn latch bolt pusher connected between the second turn latch bolt lever and the dead bolt lever to rotate the second turn latch bolt lever. The rotary driving bit is engaging the second turn latch bolt pusher to move the latch bolt by operation of the key of the key actuated cylinder.
[0003] A problem with this known lock is that when the dead bolt is undergoing a lot of resistance during operation towards the projecting position of the dead bolt, the rotary driving bit and dead bolt lever may be forced into a relative positioning wherein it is no longer possible to rotate the dead bolt lever with the rotary driving bit. In particular the rotary driving bit may get stuck between the free extremity of the dead bolt lever and the engagement portion of the second turn latch bolt pusher when the dead bolt is not correctly locked by the locking means of the lock and is pushed in again by a resilient force exerted onto the dead bolt. In case the rotary driving bit would have passed the engagement portion of the second turn latch bolt pusher, it is stuck underneath that engagement portion. In those situations the dead bolt cannot be moved anymore and the lock is blocked. An intervention of a technician is needed to unlock the blocked lock.
Disclosure of the invention
[0004] It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved lock which solves the above mentioned problems.
[0005] This aim is achieved according to the invention with a lock for a gate or door showing the technical characteristics of the first independent claim. The lock comprises a frame; a dead bolt slidably mounted on the frame and arranged to slide between a retracted position and a projecting position; locking means arranged to move up and downwards for locking the dead bolt in its retracted position and in its projecting position; a dead bolt lever which is connected to the dead bolt and pivoted about a pivot with respect to the frame between a first extreme angular position, wherein the dead bolt is in its retracted position, and a second extreme angular position, wherein the dead bolt is in its projecting position; a latch bolt slidably mounted on the frame between a retracted position and a projecting position and urged to its projecting position by a spring; a second turn latch bolt lever pivotally mounted on the frame and arranged to move the latch bolt from the latch bolt projecting position to the latch bolt retracted position upon rotation; a second turn latch bolt pusher connected to said second turn latch bolt lever and said dead bolt lever and arranged to rotate said second turn latch bolt lever to move the latch bolt from its projecting position to its retracted position; and a key actuated cylinder provided with a rotary driving bit arranged to engage said locking means, to move these locking means upwards to unlock the dead bolt in its retracted and in its projecting position; said second turn latch bolt pusher, to move this second turn latch bolt pusher upwards to rotate the second turn latch bolt lever to move the latch bolt towards its retracted position; and said dead bolt lever to move the dead bolt from its retracted to its projecting position and vice versa. The dead bolt lever comprises a first engagement portion for engaging the rotary driving bit when said rotary driving bit is rotated in a first direction to rotate the dead bolt lever from its second into its first extreme angular position, and a second engagement portion for engaging the rotary driving bit when said rotary driving bit is rotated in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, to rotate the dead bolt lever from its first into its second extreme angular position. The second turn latch bolt pusher comprises a second turn engagement portion for engaging the rotary driving bit when said rotary driving bit is rotated further in said first direction with the dead bolt lever in its first extreme angular position to move the second turn latch bolt pusher upwards. To prevent blocking of the lock when the rotary driving bit may have passed the second engagement portion on the dead bolt lever without the dead bolt being locked by the locking means in its projecting position, the dead bolt lever comprises an auxiliary engagement portion for engaging the rotary driving bit when said rotary driving bit is rotated in said second direction to rotate the dead bolt lever from an angular position in between its first and second extreme angular positions into its second extreme angular position, said first engagement portion being located between said auxiliary engagement portion and said second engagement portion; and the second turn latch bolt pusher comprises a lateral engagement portion for laterally engaging a distal extremity of the rotary driving bit, which lateral engagement portion extends from said second turn engagement portion upto the dead bolt lever in the second extreme angular position of the dead bolt lever.
[0006] This lock improves the reliability with respect to locks in the state of the art. By having the auxiliary engagement portion which is arranged to rotate the dead bolt lever when further rotating the rotary driving bit after engagement with the second engagement portion of the dead bolt lever, the lock can never get blocked in a position wherein the dead bolt is not in the projecting position and the rotary driving bit has passed the second engagement portion. If the lock gets in the latter position in the embodiment of the invention, the rotary driving bit can be rotated to engage the auxiliary engagement portion of the dead bolt lever and to move the dead bolt towards its projecting position. The lateral engagement portion of the second turn latch bolt pusher moreover prevent the rotary driving bit from getting stuck between the free extremity of the dead bolt lever and the second turn engagement portion of the second turn latch bolt pusher.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the lock according to the invention, the dead bolt lever comprises a stop portion cooperating in said second extreme angular position of the dead bolt lever with a stop on the frame to prevent a further rotation of the dead bolt lever when the rotary driving bit is urged in said second direction against the auxiliary engagement portion of the dead bolt lever with the dead bolt lever in its second extreme angular position.
[0008] This arrangement prevents the dead bolt from being urged beyond its projecting position when the rotary driving bit of the key actuated cylinder acts upon the auxiliary engagement surface of the dead bolt lever. In this way, the locking means can reliably lock the dead bolt even when it has been moved by means of the auxiliary engagement surface towards its projecting position.
[0009] In a further preferred embodiment of the lock according to the invention, the first, second and auxiliary engagement portions are on a first arm of the dead bolt lever, which first arm extends from said pivot.
[0010] Preferably, said first arm has a free extremity forming in said first extreme angular position of the dead bolt lever a stop for said rotary driving bit when rotating in said first direction.
[0011] In this way, rotation of the rotary driving bit is limited in said first direction so that it is reliably prevented from passing the second turn engagement portion of the second turn latch bolt pusher when moving this pusher upwards by means of the key actuated cylinder.
[0012] In another preferred embodiment of the lock according to the invention, said first arm forms, in the second extreme angular position of the dead bolt lever, a curve around the path of the distal extremity of the rotary driving bit of the key actuated cylinder allowing the rotary driving bit to rotate from said first engagement portion to said auxiliary engagement portion and vice versa with the dead bolt lever in its second extreme angular position.
[0013] This ensures that when having passed the second engagement portion of the dead bolt lever, and the second turn engagement portion of the second turn latch bolt pusher, without having urged the dead bolt completely into its projecting position wherein it is locked by the locking means, the rotary driving bit can be rotated further, in the second direction, to engage the auxiliary engagement portion on the dead bolt lever. In this position, a further force can be exerted onto the dead bolt to urge it towards its projecting position; In contrast to the second engagement portion of the dead bolt lever, there is no possibility that the rotary driving bit might pass the auxiliary engagement portion, even when a large force is exerted onto the rotary driving bit and onto the dead bolt.
[0014] In another embodiment of the lock according to the invention, the dead bolt lever comprises a first projection on the first arm forming the first engagement portion and the auxiliary engagement portion.
[0015] This structure has the advantage that the engagement portions be easily formed in production. Furthermore, this allows to position the engagement portions very precisely with respect to each other.
[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, the first arm comprises a second projection on the first arm forming the second engagement portion.
[0017] A structure with multiple projections allows to provide different engagements in an easy-to-produce way and with limited needed space.
[0018] In another embodiment of the invention, the first engagement portion and said second engagement portion are opposite to each other.
[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, the dead bolt lever comprises a second arm arranged to connect with the second turn latch bolt pusher and extending also from said pivot.
[0020] Preferably, the key actuated cylinder is located between the dead bolt and the pivot of the dead bolt lever and the second arm of the dead bolt lever is located between the key actuated cylinder and a front plate of the lock through which the dead bolt extends out of the lock.
Brief description of the drawings
[0021] The invention will be further elucidated by means of the following description and the appended figures.
Figures 1A and 1B shows a lock known in the state of the art with the rotary driving bit of the lock cylinder stuck between the dead bolt lever and the second turn latch bolt lever.
Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the main inner parts of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention and of a portion of the tubular profile of a gate onto which the lock is to be mounted.
Figure 3 shows a side view of the main inner parts of a lock according to an embodiment of the invention in the projecting positions of the dead and latch bolt.
Figure 4 shows the side view of the embodiment of Figure 3 with the rotary driving bit at an engaging position with the retaining plate when turning the rotary driving bit in a first direction to unlock the dead bolt.
Figure 5 shows the side view of the embodiment of Figure 3 with the rotary driving bit at an engaging position with the first engagement portion of the dead bolt lever when turning the rotary driving bit further in said first direction to unlock the dead bolt.
Figure 6 shows the side view of the embodiment of Figure 3 in the retracted position of the dead bolt.
Figure 7 is a same view as Figure 6 but with the rotary driving bit rotated further in the counterclockwise direction to lift the second turn latch bolt pusher and to engage the distal extremity of the dead bolt lever.
Figure 8 shows the side view of the embodiment of Figure 3 with the rotary driving bit rotated in a second direction into an engaging position with a second engagement portion of the dead bolt lever wherein the rotary driving bit has already pushed the retaining plate upwards to its unlocking position.
Figure 9 shows the side view of Figure 8 wherein the dead bolt lever has been rotated over some angle about its pivot by means of the rotary driving bit to move the dead bolt towards its projecting position.
Figure 10 shows the side view of Figures 8 and 9 wherein the dead bolt has moved completely to its projecting position, and is locked in this position by the retaining plate which has moved downwards, and wherein the rotary driving bit just has passed the second engagement portion of the dead bolt lever.
Figure 11 shows a perspective side view of the lock of the embodiment of Figures 3 to 10, wherein the rotary driving bit has passed the second engagement portion but wherein, in contrast to Figure 10, due to a resilient force exerted onto the free extremity of the dead bolt, the dead bolt is pushed back over a small distance towards its retracted position before the retaining plate could lock the dead bolt.
Figure 12 shows a side view of the lock of Figure 11, but with the rotary driving bit further rotated in the second direction to engage with an auxiliary engagement portion of the dead bolt lever.
Figure 13 shows the side view of Figure 12, but with the rotary driving bit having been rotated further in the second direction, in engagement with the auxiliary engagement portion, until the dead bolt is completely in its the projecting position.
Figure 14 shows the side view of Figure 13, wherein the rotary driving bit is rotated back counterclockwise and the retaining plate no longer lifted such that the dead bolt is locked in its projecting position.
Modes for carrying out the invention
[0022] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.
[0023] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. The terms are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention can operate in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.
[0024] Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. The terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.
[0025] Furthermore, the various embodiments, although referred to as "preferred" are to be construed as exemplary manners in which the invention may be implemented rather than as limiting the scope of the invention.
[0026] The term "comprising", used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the elements or steps listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It needs to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B, rather with respect to the present invention, the only enumerated components of the device are A and B, and further the claim should be interpreted as including equivalents of those components.
[0027] Figures 1A and 1B show the prior art lock disclosed in EP1118739 wherein the rotary driving bit 14 of the lock cylinder 13 is forced into a position relative to the dead bolt lever 58 wherein the rotary driving bit 14 is no longer able to rotate the dead bolt lever 58. In this position, when rotating the bit 14 to the right, it will engage with the second turn latch bolt pusher 72 trying to move it downwards which is not possible because the second turn latch bolt pusher 72 is connected with the dead bolt lever 58 at one side and with the second turn latch bolt lever 73 such that the second turn latch bolt pusher 72 can only be moved upwards to rotate the second turn latch lever 73 counterclockwise in the view of Figures 1A and 1B. Further, when rotating in this relative positioning the rotary driving bit 14 to the left, the rotary driving bit 14 will engage with the nose of the dead bolt lever 58, i.e. the free extremity of the dead bolt lever 58, trying to move it to the left which is also not possible. Thus in this relative positioning the lock is completely blocked.
[0028] Figure 2 shows a lock according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The lock is provided to be mounted against a profile 120, in most cases a tubular profile, of a gate, fence, door, etc. The profile is provided with holes 121 to receive both the latch bolt 18 and the dead bolt 41 there through. When there is discussed that the latch bolt or dead bolt is in a retracted position, this consequently does not mean that the bolt is retracted within the lock (meaning behind the front plate 3 of the lock) but that it is retracted in the corresponding hole 121 of the tubular profile 120 where it is fixed to or that it extends over a small distance out of this profile. In its extended/projecting position, the bolt extends over a larger distance out of the profile where it is fixed to. The difference between these two distances is called the stroke of the bolt.
[0029] The lock of the embodiment of Figure 2 comprises a frame 1 composed of a base plate 4 and a front plate 3 connected to the base plate 4. When mounting the assembly of the base plate 4 and front plate 3 in a cover box (not shown), the front plate 3 engages against the peripheral edge of the cover box. The base plate 4 has on its front side an upstanding edge 5 and on its back side two upstanding edge portions 6 and 7. The front plate 3 is connected to the base plate 4 by connecting the front plate 3 to the upstanding edge 5 of the base plate 4. Two threaded inserts are connected to corresponding holes in the upstanding edge 5 and the front plate 3. Screws 9 and spacers 11 are provided to fix the lock laterally to a profile 120 of the gate.
[0030] A cylinder 13 is fixed to the base plate 4 by screw 15. In an embodiment of the invention the cylinder can be a so-called Euro-cylinder corresponding to standard DIN V18254/07.91. The key operated cylinder 13 comprises a rotary driving bit 14 which rotates around a central axis of the cylinder to actuate the lock as described below. The screw 15 is screwed in a threaded opening of the cylinder through corresponding holes in the front plate 3 and the upstanding edge 5 of the base plate 4. A cylinder support member 82 is provided on the base plate 4 such that the cylinder 13 is supported on two positions in two corresponding openings 83 and 84.
[0031] The lock further comprises a latch bolt 18 which is slidably mounted in the frame 1 by moving in a corresponding opening in the upstanding edge portion 6 and in a second corresponding opening in the upstanding edge 5 and/or in the front plate 3. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the second corresponding opening for the latch bolt is formed by bending the front plate in a hole of the upstanding edge 5. In alternative embodiments, this second corresponding opening is provided in a different way. A compression spring 23 is provided over the latch bolt 18 to urge this bolt to its projecting position. The compression spring 23 is acting between the upstanding edge portion 6 and a screw or pin 53 on the latch bolt 18. For bringing the latch bolt 18 by means of handles to its retracted position to open the gate, a rectangular shaft of the handles is inserted in a corresponding hole in a follower 24. This follower 24 is in its turn connected to a latch bolt lever 25 which follows the rotation of the handles and which engages the latch bolt 18 to move it against the action of a main spring 26 which is a spiral spring positioned around the follower 24. The main spring 26 pushes the latch bolt lever 25 and thus the follower 24 and the handles to their rest positions.
[0032] The latch bolt 18 in the embodiment of the Figures is made of steel, more particularly of stainless steel which is a strong and weather resistant material but is difficult to be shaped in the usual way by milling etc. As will become apparent hereinafter, the latch bolt may have indeed a quite complex shape, especially in order to allow adjusting the length over which it projects out of the lock. The latch bolt 18 has two separate parts, namely a hollow part 27 and a more solid bold part 28. The solid bold part 28 is arranged to project out of the lock into a lock catcher. The solid part 28 is removably mounted into the hollow rod part 27. The bolt part 28 can be mounted in two positions, namely in a first position wherein the oblique front face is directed in a first direction and in a second position wherein the oblique front face is rotated axially over about 180°. The latch bolt illustrated in the figures as well as an alternative latch bolt is described in EP1118739 which we incorporate by reference in its entirety.
[0033] The lock further comprises a dead bolt 41. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the dead bolt is made of two portions: a hollow rod part 42 and a bolt part 43. The hollow rod part 42 extends at least partially in the lock. The bolt part 43 is arranged to cooperate with the lock catcher. Slide means 47 is arranged to guide in slots 48 of the dead bolt. The position of the slide means relative to the dead bolt 41 can be adjusted by means of a known technology of a set screw (not shown) in the length direction of the dead bolt 41 and accessible through an axial passageway in the bolt part 43. In this way, the distance over which the dead bolt 41 projects out of the lock can be adjusted.
[0034] The dead bolt is slidably mounted on the frame 1 between a projecting position (shown in Figure 3) and a retracted position (shown in Figures 6 and 7). The dead bolt 41 slides in corresponding openings in the upstanding edge portion 5 and the upstanding edge portion 7 of the frame 1. The dead bolt 41 is locked in both positions, projecting position and retracted position, by locking means 66. In an embodiment, the locking means 66 comprises a retaining plate slidably mounted up- and downward on the frame 1. As can be seen in the detail of Figure 2, the retaining plate 66 has a horizontal slot 67 with at both ends an upwards notch 68. In the normal position the retaining plate is urged downwards so that the slide means 47 is positioned into one of the notches 68 of the retaining plate 66 and thus lock the dead bolt 41 in one of its two extreme positions.
[0035] The movement of the dead bolt 41 is controlled by rotating the key in the cylinder 13 and thus by rotation of the rotary driving bit 14. As illustrated in Figure 4, when in the projecting position, movement of the rotary driving bit 14 in the counterclockwise direction (first direction: see arrow 92 on Figure 4) results first in engagement of the rotary driving bit 14 with the bottom edge 71 of the retaining plate 66 so that the retaining plate 66 is lifted and the dead bolt 41 is unlocked. When subsequently the rotation in the counterclockwise direction is continued as illustrated in Figure 5, the rotary driving bit 14 engages a first engagement portion 91 of a dead bolt lever 58 which is pivotally mounted about a pivot 59. A first arm 110 of the dead bolt lever 58 is connected to the dead bolt 41 such that a rotation of the dead bolt lever 58 about pivot 59 in the direction of arrow 92 results in a translation movement of the dead bolt 41 in the direction of arrow 94. In the embodiment of Figure 4, this is executed by providing a slot in the dead bolt lever 58 which extends in an U-shaped part of the dead bolt 41 and the slide means 47 is provided in the slot of the dead bolt lever 58. As illustrated in Figure 7, further rotation of the rotary driving bit 14 in the first, counterclockwise direction enables to retract the latch bolt 18 by means of a second turn latch bolt pusher 72 and a second turn latch bolt lever 73, which will be described more into detail hereinafter.
[0036] When the dead bolt 41 is in the retracted position (position of Figure 6) and the rotary driving bit 14 is rotated back in the second, clockwise direction (indicated with arrow 96) as illustrated in Figure 8, the rotary driving bit 14 engages a second engagement portion 93 of the dead bolt lever 58. Because the dead bolt lever 58 is connected with the dead bolt 41 as discussed above, rotation of the dead bolt lever 41 in the second direction 96 results in a translation movement of the dead bolt 41 in the direction of arrow 98. Figure 9 illustrates the rotation and movement at a position substantially halfway between the retracted position and the projecting position of the dead bolt 41. The retaining plate 66 is at that position lifted. In Figure 10, the rotary driving bit 14 is further rotated clockwise until the retaining plate 66 is no longer lifted and the dead bolt 41 is locked in its projecting position. However, in some situation when forces are acting on the dead bolt 41 in the opposite direction of the translation movement 98, the driving bit 14 may pass the second engagement portion 93 of the dead bolt lever 58 without the retaining plate 66 moving downwards into the locked position of the dead bolt 41 and the dead bolt 41 is moving back in the lock while the rotary driving bit 14 is no longer in contact with the second engagement portion 93. This is illustrated in Figure 11. Subsequently, as illustrated in Figure 12, when the rotary driving bit is further rotated in the second, clockwise direction, the rotary driving bit 14 engages an auxiliary engagement portion 95 of the dead bolt lever 58 positioned such that the engagement allows to rotate the dead bolt lever 58 about pivot 59 in clockwise direction and thus moves the dead bolt 41 again towards its projecting position. When the dead bolt 41 is in its end position (projecting position) as shown in Figure 13, the rotary driving bit 14 can be rotated counterclockwise and the retaining plate 66 will now move downwards from its lifted position to its initial non-lifted position and the dead bolt is now correctly locked. This is illustrated in Figure 14.
[0037] The dead bolt 14 has only two extreme positions (apart from the fact that the distance over which it projects out of the lock can be adjusted), namely a projecting position, illustrated in Figure 13, and a retracted position, illustrated in Figure 6. These two extreme positions correspond respectively to the second and the first extreme angular positions of the dead bolt lever 58. In the second extreme angular position of the dead bolt lever 58 a stop portion of the dead bolt lever 58, more particularly the free extremity 60 thereof, engages a stop on the frame, more particularly the front plate 3 (through a slot in the upstanding edge 5, which has not been shown), so that the dead bolt lever 58 cannot rotate any further, in particular not when urging the dead bolt more outwards with the rotary driving bit 14 against the auxiliary engagement portion 95 of the dead bolt lever 58. Consequently, in the lock of the present invention both the second engagement portion 93 and the auxiliary engagement portion 95 of the dead bolt lever 58 are intended to enable to move the dead bolt lever 58 by means of the rotary driving bit 14 to the same second extreme angular position.
[0038] The cylinder 13 is in the embodiment of Figures 2 to 14 provided between the dead bolt 41 and the pivot 59. The pivot 59 is so positioned that the dead bolt lever 58 engages the dead bolt 41 on a first distance D1 from the pivot 59 and the rotary driving bit 14 engages the dead bolt lever 58 on a second distance D2 from the pivot 59 with the second distance D2 in each position smaller than the first distance D1. This ensures an increased stroke of the dead bolt 41.
[0039] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the lock comprises a second turn pusher 72. The second turn pusher 72 is at its one end slidably connected to a second arm 78 of the dead bolt lever 58 which also extends from the pivot 59 of the dead bolt lever 58. The second arm 78 of the dead bolt lever 58 is located between the key actuated cylinder 13 and the front plate 3 of the lock. In this way, the second turn pusher 72 moves into and out of the path of the distal extremity 16 of the rotary driving bit 14. More particularly, in the first extreme angular position of the dead bolt 41, i.e. in the position as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 wherein the dead bolt 41 is locked in its retracted position, the second turn pusher 72 is in the path of the rotary driving bit 14 whilst in the second extreme angular position of the dead bolt 14, i.e. in the position as illustrated in Figure 10 wherein the dead bolt 41 is locked in its projecting position, the second turn pusher is out of the path of the rotary driving bit 14. The second turn pusher 72 is provided with a slot 77 by means of which it is slidably connected to the second arm 78 of the dead bolt lever 58. The movement of the second turn pusher 72 is configured such that it is out of the path of the rotary driving bit 14 in the projecting position of the dead bolt 41 as shown in Figures 4 and 10 and comes into the path of the rotary driving bit 14 when the dead bolt 41 moves to its retracted position as shown in Figures 6 and 7.
[0040] The second turn pusher 72 is at its other end connected to the second turn latch bolt lever 73 arranged to move the latch bolt 18 against the action of the compression spring 23 from a projecting position to a retracted position. The second turn latch lever 73 is rotatable arranged over the follower 24. The second turn latch lever 73 has a first lever arm 75 to engage the sliding means 36 on the latch bolt 18 and a second lever arm 101 to pivotally connect with the second turn pusher 72 about pivot 102.
[0041] When in the position of Figure 6, thus after moving the dead bolt lever 58 from the projecting to the retracted position by rotating the rotary driving bit 14 in the counterclockwise (first) direction, further rotation of the rotary driving bit 14 in the counterclockwise direction (i.e. second turn in the counterclockwise direction) engages the rotary driving bit 14 with the second turn pusher 72 at second turn engagement portion 104. This engagement pushes the second turn pusher 72 upwards to rotate the second turn latch bolt lever 73 and thus to retract the latch bolt 18. This is illustrated in Figure 7.
[0042] As can be seen in Figure 7, the free extremity 60 of the dead bolt lever 58 does not only limits the rotation of the dead bolt lever 58 in the second clockwise rotation direction but it also limits the upward movement of the second turn latch bolt pusher 72 by the rotary driving bit 14 in the first extreme angular position of the dead bolt lever 58. In this way, there is no risk that the rotary driving bit 14 could pass the second turn engagement portion 104 when it would be rotated too far in the first direction.
[0043] The second turn latch bolt pusher 72 does not only have a second turn engagement portion 104 allowing to push the pusher 72 upwards by means of the rotary driving bit 14 but it has also a lateral engagement portion 109 which is intended to prevent the rotary driving bit 14 to get stuck between the dead bolt lever 58 and the second turn engagement portion 104 of the second turn latch bolt pusher 72. The lateral engagement portion 109 extends, in the projecting position of the dead bolt 41, i.e. in the second extreme angular position of the dead bolt lever 58, from the second turn engagement portion 104 upto the dead bolt lever 58. It is arranged to laterally engage the distal extremity 16 of the rotary driving bit 14 when the rotary driving bit 14 has passed the second engagement portion 93 of the dead bolt lever 58 and the dead bolt 41 has not been locked by the locking means 66 and moves back into the lock by an external force exerted onto its free extremity. This situation is shown in Figure 11. In case the lateral engagement portion 109 would not be at the same level as the distal extremity 16 of the rotary driving bit 14, this rotary driving bit 14 would, in the situation illustrated in Figure 11, get stuck between the free extremity 60 of the dead bolt lever 58 and the second turn engagement portion 104 of the second turn latch bolt pusher 72.
[0044] The second turn pusher 72 has a main portion 105, bridging the dead bolt 41, a slot portion 106 provided with the slot 77, and an in-between portion 108 between the main portion 105 and the slot portion 106, with a first stepwise transition between the slot portion 106 and the in-between portion 108 and a second stepwise transition between the in-between portion 108 and the main portion 105. The in-between portion 108 form the lateral engagement portion 109, which is in the path of the distal extremity 16 of the rotary driving bit 14 whilst the slot portion 106 is outside (behind or in front of) the path of the rotary driving bit 14 so that the rotary driving bit 14 can rotate along this slot portion to engage the second turn engagement portion 104 of the second turn latch bolt pusher 72.
- a frame (1);
- a dead bolt (41) slidably mounted on the frame (1) and arranged to slide between a retracted position and a projecting position;
- locking means (66) arranged to move up and downwards for locking the dead bolt (41) in its retracted position and in its projecting position;
- a dead bolt lever (58) which is connected to the dead bolt (41) and pivoted about a pivot (59) with respect to the frame (1) between a first extreme angular position, wherein the dead bolt (41) is in its retracted position, and a second extreme angular position, wherein the dead bolt (41) is in its projecting position;
- a latch bolt (18) slidably mounted on the frame (1) between a retracted position and a projecting position and urged to its projecting position by a spring (23);
- a second turn latch bolt lever (73) pivotally mounted on the frame (1) and arranged to move the latch bolt (18) from the latch bolt projecting position to the latch bolt retracted position upon rotation;
- a second turn latch bolt pusher (72) connected to said second turn latch bolt lever (73) and said dead bolt lever (58) and arranged to rotate said second turn latch bolt lever (73) to move the latch bolt (18) from its projecting position to its retracted position; and
- a key actuated cylinder (13) provided with a rotary driving bit (14) arranged to
engage
said locking means (66), to move these locking means upwards to unlock the dead bolt
(41) in its retracted and in its projecting position; said second turn latch bolt
pusher (72), to move this second turn latch bolt pusher (72) upwards to rotate the
second turn latch bolt lever (73) to move the latch bolt (18) towards its retracted
position; and
said dead bolt lever (41) to move the dead bolt (41) from its retracted to its projecting
position and vice versa,
said dead bolt lever (58) comprising a first engagement portion (91) for engaging
the rotary driving bit (14) when said rotary driving bit (14) is rotated in a first
direction (92) to rotate the dead bolt lever (58) from its second into its first extreme
angular position, and a second engagement portion (93) for engaging the rotary driving
bit (14) when said rotary driving bit (14) is rotated in a second direction (96),
opposite to said first direction (92), to rotate the dead bolt lever (58) from its
first into its second extreme angular position, and
said second turn latch bolt pusher (72) comprising a second turn engagement portion
(104) for engaging the rotary driving bit (14) when said rotary driving bit (14) is
rotated further in said first direction (92) with the dead bolt lever (58) in its
first extreme angular position to move the second turn latch bolt pusher (72) upwards,
characterised in that
said dead bolt lever (58) comprises an auxiliary engagement portion (95) for engaging
the rotary driving bit (14) when said rotary driving bit (14) is rotated in said second
direction (96) to rotate the dead bolt lever (58) from an angular position in between
its first and second extreme angular positions into its second extreme angular position,
said first engagement portion (91) being located between said auxiliary engagement
portion (95) and said second engagement portion (93); and in that the second turn latch bolt pusher (72) comprises a lateral engagement portion (109)
for laterally engaging a distal extremity (16) of the rotary driving bit (14), which
lateral engagement portion (109) extends from said second turn engagement portion
(104) upto the dead bolt lever (58) in the second extreme angular position of the
dead bolt lever (58).
Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
- a frame (1);
- a dead bolt (41) slidably mounted on the frame (1) and arranged to slide between a retracted position and a projecting position;
- locking means (66) arranged to move up and downwards for locking the dead bolt (41) in its retracted position and in its projecting position;
- a dead bolt lever (58) which is connected to the dead bolt (41) and pivoted about a pivot (59) with respect to the frame (1) between a first extreme angular position, wherein the dead bolt (41) is in its retracted position, and a second extreme angular position, wherein the dead bolt (41) is in its projecting position;
- a latch bolt (18) slidably mounted on the frame (1) between a retracted position and a projecting position and urged to its projecting position by a spring (23);
- a second turn latch bolt lever (73) pivotally mounted on the frame (1) and arranged to move the latch bolt (18) from the latch bolt projecting position to the latch bolt retracted position upon rotation;
- a second turn latch bolt pusher (72) connected to said second turn latch bolt lever (73) and said dead bolt lever (58) and arranged to rotate said second turn latch bolt lever (73) to move the latch bolt (18) from its projecting position to its retracted position; and
- a key actuated cylinder (13) provided with a rotary driving bit (14) arranged to
engage
said locking means (66), to move these locking means upwards to unlock the dead bolt
(41) in its retracted and in its projecting position; said second turn latch bolt
pusher (72), to move this second turn latch bolt pusher (72) upwards to rotate the
second turn latch bolt lever (73) to move the latch bolt (18) towards its retracted
position; and
said dead bolt lever (58) to move the dead bolt (41) from its retracted to its projecting
position and vice versa,
said second turn latch bolt pusher (72) comprising a second turn engagement portion (104) for engaging the rotary driving bit (14) when said rotary driving bit (14) is rotated further in said first direction (92) with the dead bolt lever (58) in its first extreme angular position to move the second turn latch bolt pusher (72) upwards,
characterised in that
said dead bolt lever (58) comprises an auxiliary engagement portion (95) for engaging the rotary driving bit (14) when said rotary driving bit (14) is rotated in said second direction (96) to rotate the dead bolt lever (58) from an angular position in between its first and second extreme angular positions into its second extreme angular position, said first engagement portion (91) being located between said auxiliary engagement portion (95) and said second engagement portion (93); and in that the second turn latch bolt pusher (72) comprises a lateral engagement portion (109) for laterally engaging a distal extremity (16) of the rotary driving bit (14) in case the rotary driving bit (14) has passed the second engagement portion (93) of the dead bolt lever (58) and the dead bolt (41) has not been locked by the locking means (66) and moves back into the lock by an external force exerted onto its free extremity, which lateral engagement portion (109) extends from said second turn engagement portion (104) upto the dead bolt lever (58) in the second extreme angular position of the dead bolt lever (58).
REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.
Patent documents cited in the description