Electromechanic fastener for doors and the like

Abstract

 Electromechanic fastener for doors (1) and the like, comprising a lock (2) provided with a bolt (4) and electromechanical actuating means (6) for pulling said bolt (4) out of lock plate (9), which can be part of a lock cavity, and into the housing of the lock, against the force of a spring (5). The door (1) is provided with an externally and/or internally mounted resilient element (12) which tends to push the door to the open position, causing the bolt (4) to be pushed against the lock plate (9) and the force exerted by the electromechanic actuating means (6) to be insufficient for overcoming the friction between the bolt (4) and the lock plate (9). Only by pushing against the door, the bolt (4) can be pulled inward and the door will open.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electromechanic fastener for doors and the like, comprising a lock provided with a bolt and electromechanic actuating means for pulling said bolt out of a lock plate, which can be part of a lock cavity, and into the housing of the lock, against the force of a spring.

[0002] When such devices are applied for mail boxes, closets, beverage dispensers and the like, the door will have to be provided with a handle in order to be able to open it. Also, the difficulty may arise, that the electromechanical force exerted on the bolt is not sufficient to overcome the friction between the bolt and the lock plate, which can be part of a lock cavity, in which the bolt has been received. Then, one must push against the door or pull it by means of the handle in order to reduce the friction.

[0003] However, in many cases it is desirable, that there is no handle on the door of such a casing. This prevents an unauthorized person from trying to open the door with the help of the handle, due to which there would be a risk that the door and/or the casing might get damaged.

[0004] According to the invention, the door is provided with an externally and/or internally mounted resilient element which tends to push the door to the open position, causing the bolt to be pushed against the lock plate and the force exerted by the electromechanic actuating means to be insufficient for overcoming the friction between the bolt and the lock plate.

[0005] Now, when by exerting a certain pressure on the door, the force acting on said door by the resilient element is sufficiently overcome, and the lock will be pulled into the lock housing by the electromechanic actuating means, so that the door will open.

[0006] According to a further development of the invention, the frontmost free end of the bolt will be provided with a locking edge protruding in the direction of the plane of the door which is to be pushed upon when opening the door.

[0007] Now when the frictional force present between the bolt and the lock plate for some reason is not larger than the force exerted by the electromechanic actuating means, the door will still not open immediately on exciting the electromechanic actuating means.

[0008] The resilient element can e.g. be in the form of one or more torsion springs, being mounted in or near the hinge or hinges of the door.

[0009] The invention is further explained by way of an embodiment illustrated in the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of part of a door having a lock therein and the electromechanic actuating means for it, in the closed position of the door;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show cross-sectional views corresponding to Fig. 1, but of subsequent stages of opening the door;

Fig. 5 shows a detail, on an enlarged scale, of Fig. 1, but with the bolt being provided with a locking edge; and

Fig. 6 shows a view of the door according to the previous figures, omitting a part of the outer wall of said door.

[0010] Fig. 1 shows a door 1 having a lock 2 therein, comprising a lock housing 3 having a bolt 4 therein, which is under the action of a compression spring 5 having its other side engaging the electromechanic actuating means 6. Through the cable 7, said actuating means 6 are connected to means by which voltage can be supplied to said actuating means.

[0011] The means by which voltage can be supplied to the cable 7 might comprise e.g. an identification system, such as an entrance checking system, a pin code unit, or the like. This can prevent unauthorized opening of the door.

[0012] In the closed position of the door 1, the bolt 4 is accommodated in an opening 8 in a lock plate 9 e.g. being part of a lock cavity. The opening 8 is provided with a bent portion 10 having its frontmost free end extending to beyond the frontmost point of the bolt 4 when it is situated in the opening 8. In this way, the lock is prevented from being opened by a small plate sliding in between the bolt and the lock plate.

[0013] As illustrated in Fig. 6 in particular, torsion springs 12 are mounted near the hinges 11 of the door 1. As seen in Fig. 1, this will cause the door to try to move in the direction of the arrow P. This will cause the door to be pushed against the edge 13 of the opening 8 in the lock plate 9 with a certain force.

[0014] Now when the electromechanic actuating means 6 is excited, the force exerted on the bolt 4 will not be sufficient to pull the bolt out of the opening 8. This can happen when a certain force is applied on the door, such as indicated by the arrow R in Fig. 2. Then, a slit 14 will arise between the bolt 4 and the edge 13 of the opening 8 in the lock plate 9 due to which the bolt 4 can be pulled in against the force of the spring 5. The door well then open under the action of springs 12.

[0015] Fig. 3 shows the door 1 in the slightly opened position when the bolt 4 is still under the influence of the electromechanic actuating means 6.

[0016] Fig. 4 shows the door in the opened position in which the bolt 4 has been released by said electromechanic means 6. The door can now be pushed to be closed again against the action of the torsion springs 12 without difficulty. This pushing closed is facilitated in that the bolt 4 is provided with an oblique ramp 15 so that the counteracting force of the spring 5 can be overcome. Further, pushing the bolt 4 inwards is facilitated by the presence of the bent portion 10 of the lock plate 9.

[0017] Fig. 5 shows a part of the lock on an enlarged scale. As it appears, here the bolt 4 is provided with a locking edge 16 projecting towards the outer wall 17 of the door on which the force R, see Fig. 2, is exerted. Now when the bolt is retracted in that the force exerted on it by the electromechanic actuating means 6 is larger than the frictional force between the bolt 4 and the edge 13 of the lock plate 9, the door will still not open immediately. A force will have to be exerted on the plane 17 of the door 1 so that the locking edge 16 can pass beyond the edge 13.

[0018] As illustrated in Fig. 5, the bolt 4 has edge portions 18 limiting the outward movement of the bolt 4.

[0019] It will be obvious, that only one possible embodiment of an electromechanic fastener according to the invention has been illustrated in the drawing and described above and that many changes can be made without leaving the inventive idea, as it is indicated in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. Electromechanic fastener for doors (1) and the like, comprising a lock (2) provided with a bolt (4) and electromechanic actuating means (6) for pulling said bolt (4) out of a lock plate (9), which can be part of a lock cavity, and into the housing of the lock, against the force of a spring (5), characterized in that the door (1) is provided with an externally and/or internally mounted resilient element (12) which tends to push the door to the open position, causing the bolt (4) to be pushed against the lock plate (9) and the force exerted by the electromechanic actuating means (6) to be insufficient for overcoming the friction between the bolt (4) and the lock plate (9).

2. Fastener according to claim 1, characterized in that the frontmost free end of the bolt (4) is provided with a locking edge (16) protruding in the direction of the plane (17) of the door (1) which is to be pushed upon when opening the door.

3. Fastener according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the resilient element is in the form of one or more torsion springs (12) being mounted in or near the hinge (11) or hinges of the door (1).

Drawing