U.S. patent number 4,470,277 [Application Number 06/396,010] was granted by the patent office on 1984-09-11 for security door locking mechanism.
This patent grant is currently assigned to La Gard, Inc.. Invention is credited to Tim M. Uyeda.
United States Patent |
4,470,277 |
Uyeda |
September 11, 1984 |
Security door locking mechanism
Abstract
A locking mechanism for security doors such as safes. A mounting
plate is provided for attachment to the inner surface of the door.
A cylindrical activating member is mounted on a pin for rotation
about an axis normal to the inner surface of the door. The
activating member contains a plurality of activating fingers and
mounting posts for connecting to locking pin actuating mechanisms
directly or through linkages. A groove is provided in the periphery
of the activating member. A pair of sliding members are mounted to
the plate. One sliding member is positioned to slide into the
groove to prevent rotation of the activating member. The second
sliding member is adapted to slide into abutment with the first
member to prevent sliding thereof. Standard lock mechanisms of the
combination or pin tumbler type for use with a key are mounted to
the plate and connected to the two sliding members to control their
movement.
Inventors: |
Uyeda; Tim M. (South San
Gabriel, CA) |
Assignee: |
La Gard, Inc. (Torrance,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
23565471 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/396,010 |
Filed: |
July 7, 1982 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/118; 292/34;
292/36; 70/284 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
65/0075 (20130101); Y10T 70/527 (20150401); Y10T
292/0837 (20150401); Y10T 292/0839 (20150401); Y10T
70/7141 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
65/00 (20060101); E05B 063/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;70/284,339,114-120
;292/36,34,159,170 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Holko; Thomas J.
Assistant Examiner: Dubnicka; Thomas J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Poms, Smith, Lande & Rose
Claims
Wherefore, having thus described my invention, I claim:
1. A lock mechanism for a security door having a plurality of
movable bolts adjacent the inner edge comprising:
(a) an activating member attached to the inner surface of the door
for rotation about an axis normal to said inner surface wherein
said activating member has a slot at the periphery thereof;
(b) linkage means operably connected between said activating member
and the bolts for moving the bolts into position to lock the door
when said activating member is rotated in one direction and for
moving the bolts out of their locking position when said activating
member is rotated in the opposite direction;
(c) first locking means operably connected for releasably engaging
said activating member to prevent rotation thereof wherein said
first locking means comprises a first sliding member adapted to
slide into and out of said slot;
(d) second locking means operably connected for releasably engaging
said first locking means to prevent movement thereof whereby said
second locking means must be released before said first locking
means can release said activating member, said second locking means
comprising a second sliding member adapted to slide into and out of
engagement with an abutting surface of said first sliding
member;
(e) means operably connected for rotating said activating member
from outside the door;
(f) means operably connected for operating said first locking means
from outside the door; and
(g) means operably connected for operating said second locking
means from outside the door.
2. The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein:
(a) said means for operating said first locking means is a
removable means; and,
(b) said second locking means includes means for preventing said
means for operating said first locking means from being operably
connected to said first locking means when said second locking
means is in engagement with said abutting surface.
3. The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein:
said activating member contains a plurality of means for operably
connecting said member to linkages whereby the lock mechanism can
be used in different doors with modification of only the
linkages.
4. The lock mechanism of claim 1 wherein:
said activating member comprises a cylindrical member having a
plurality of engaging members extending radially outward from the
periphery for engaging and sliding sliding members as said
activating member is rotated and a plurality of mounting means on
the inner surface for releasably mounting linkages for rotation
about axes normal to the door.
5. In a lock mechanism for a security door having an activating
member adapted for movement from outside the door to bolt and
unbolt the door, the improvement comprising:
(a) first locking means for releasably engaging the activating
member to prevent movement thereof, said first locking means
comprising a first sliding member adapted to slide into and out of
engagement with the activating member;
(b) second locking means for releasably engaging said first locking
means to prevent movement thereof whereby said second locking means
must be released before said first locking means can release said
activating member, said second locking means comprising a second
sliding member adapted to slide into and out of engagement with an
abutting surface of said first sliding member;
(c) means for operating said first locking means from outside the
door; and,
(d) means for operating said second locking means from outside the
door.
6. The improvement to a lock mechanism of claim 5 wherein:
(a) said means for operating said first locking means is a
removable means; and,
(b) said second locking means includes means for preventing said
means for operating said first locking means from being operably
connected to said first locking means when said second locking
means is in engagement with said abutting surface.
7. A locking assembly for releasably engaging a member to prevent
movement thereof comprising:
(a) a support plate adapted to be mounted adjacent the members;
(b) a first slider carried by said support plate for sliding
movement between a first position engaged with the member to
prevent movement thereof and a second position disengaged from the
member and wherein said first slider has a slot therein;
(c) a second slider carried by said support plate for sliding
movement between a first position in abutment with said first
slider and holding said first slider in its said first position and
a second position out of abutment with said first slider wherein
said second slider is disposed in said slot and said first slider
is free to move between its said first and second positions;
and,
(d) means carried by said support plate for moving said slider
between and for holding said sliders in said positions.
8. The locking assembly of claim 7 wherein:
(a) said support plate includes a pair of parallel, spaced, guide
bars;
(b) said first slider is disposed between said guide bars to be
supported for sliding movement thereby; and,
(c) said moving and holding means is disposed across said guide
bars to hold said sliders against said support plates.
9. A locking assembly for releasably engaging a member to prevent
movement thereof comprising:
a support plate adapted to be mounted adjacent the members;
a first slider carried by said support plate for sliding movement
between a first position engaged with the member to prevent
movement thereof and a second position disengaged from the
member;
a second slider carried by said support plate for sliding movement
between a first position in abutment with said first slider and
holding said first slider in its said first position and a second
position out of abutment with said first slider wherein said first
slider is free to move between its said first and second positions;
and
means carried by said support plate for moving said slider between
and for holding said sliders in said positions wherein: said moving
and holding means each comprises a lock mechanism with a extending
and retracting lock bolt and said lock bolts are connected to
respective ones of said sliders to move in combination
therewith.
10. The locking assembly of claim 9 wherein:
(a) said support plate includes a pair of parallel, spaced, guide
bars;
(b) said first slider is disposed between said guide bars to be
supported for sliding movement thereby; and,
(c) said lock mechanisms are disposed across said guide bars to
hold said sliders against said support plate; and,
(d) said lock bolts are connected to said sliders by a pin passing
through each said lock bolt and its associated respective one of
said sliders rigidly connecting them together.
11. A universal lock bolt actuating mechanism for use in a security
door comprising:
(a) a support plate adapted to be mounted to a security door having
slidable lock bolts thereon, said support plate including a pin
extending normal to the surface of said plate;
(b) an activating member mounted on said pin for rotation, said
activating member including a plurality of means for operably and
removably connecting said member to one end of linkages operably
connected on the other end to the lock bolts on the security door
whereby the lock mechanism can be used in different doors with
modification of only the linkages;
(c) means for rotating said activating member; and
(d) means for locking said activating member against rotation
wherein said locking means comprises: a first slider carried by
said support plate for sliding movement between a first position
engaged with said activating member to prevent rotation thereof and
a second position disengaged from said activating member; a second
slider carried by said support plate for sliding movement between a
first position in abutment with said first slider and holding said
first slider in said first position and a second position out of
abutment with said first slider wherein said first slider is free
to move between its said first and second positions; and, means
carried by said support plate for moving said sliders between and
for holding said sliders in said positions.
12. The universal lock bolt activating mechanism of claim 11
wherein:
(a) said first slider has a slot therein; and,
(b) said second slider is disposed in said slot.
13. The universal lock bolt activating mechanism of claim 12
wherein:
(a) said support plate includes a pair of parallel, spaced, guide
bars;
(b) said first slider is disposed between said guide bars to be
supported for sliding movement thereby; and,
(c) said moving and holding means is disposed across said guide
bars to hold said sliders against said support plate.
14. The universal lock bolt activating mechanism of claim 12
wherein:
(a) said moving and holding means each comprises a lock mechanism
with an extending and retracting lock bolt; and,
(b) said lock bolts are connected to respective ones of said
sliders to move in combination therewith.
15. The universal lock bolt activating mechanism of claim 14
wherein:
(a) said support plate includes a pair of parallel, spaced, guide
bars;
(b) said first slider is disposed between said guide bars to be
supported for sliding movement thereby;
(c) said lock mechanisms are disposed across said guide bars to
hold said sliders against said support plate; and,
(d) said lock bolts are connected to said sliders by a pin passing
through each said lock bolt and its associated respective one of
said sliders rigidly connecting them together.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to locks for security doors and, more
particularly, to locking mechanisms of the type used to secure safe
doors.
In the prior art, the building of a combination and/or key-operated
safe door has required persons with specialized training. The door
itself has been no problem, it is merely welded together by anyone
skilled in the art. The mounting and integration of the locking
mechanism, however, is another story. The lock mechanism is first
mounted to the inner portion of the door and then the operating
mechanism is specially constructed for each particular door. Each
shape, of the door takes individual consideration. Therefore, each
safe door is a custom product. As with most custom products made on
an individual basis, the cost thereof is very high.
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a
locking mechanism of a general nature which can be attached to the
inside of any door to operate retractable pins disposed about the
edge thereof to turn the door into a security door.
SUMMARY
The foregoing objective has been met by the lock mechanism of the
present invention for a security door having a plurality of movable
bolts adjacent the inner edge comprising an activating member
attached to the inner surface of the door for rotation about an
axis normal to the inner surface; linkage means operably connected
between the activating member and bolts for moving the bolts into
position to lock the door when the activating member is rotated in
one direction and for moving the bolts out of their locking
position when the activating member is rotated in the opposite
direction; first locking means operably connected for releasably
engaging the activating member to prevent rotation thereof; second
locking means operably connected for releasably engaging the first
locking means to prevent movement thereof whereby the second
locking means must be released before the first locking means can
release the activating member; means operably connected for
rotating the activating member from outside the door; means
operably connected for operating the first locking means; and means
operably connected for operating the second locking means.
In the preferred embodiment, the activating member has a slot at
the periphery thereof; the first locking means comprises a first
sliding member adapted to slide into and out of the slot; and, the
second means comprises a second sliding member adapted to slide
into and out of engagement with an abutting surface of the first
sliding member.
Additionally, in the preferred embodiment, the means for operating
the first locking means is a removable means and the second locking
means includes means for preventing the means for operating the
first locking means from being operably connected to the first
locking means when the second locking means is engaged with the
abutting surface.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the locking mechanism of the
present invention attached to a security door.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outside portion of the door
showing the opening handle, combination dial, and key slot and key
used in conjunction with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the activating member and two
locking members of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cutaway plan view of FIG. 3 in the plane IV--IV.
FIG. 5 is a partially-cutaway elevation of the locking mechanism of
FIG. 4 in the plane V--V.
FIG. 6 is a cutaway drawing of the mechanism of FIG. 5 in the plane
VI--VI.
FIG. 7 is a cutaway view through the mechanism of FIG. 5 in the
plane VII--VII.
FIG. 8 is a cutaway view through the mechanism of FIG. 5 in the
plane VIII--VIII.
FIG. 9 is a cutaway view through the mechanism of FIG. 5 in the
plane IX--IX.
FIG. 10 is a detailed drawing of the mechanism whereby the handle
is used to rotate the operating mechanism.
FIG. 11 is a cutaway view of the mechanism of FIG. 10 in the plane
XI--XI.
FIG. 12 is an elevation view of the locking mechanism showing the
first mechanism open and the second mechanism closed.
FIG. 13 is a cutaway through the mechanism of FIG. 12 in the plane
XIII--XIII.
FIG. 14 is a cutaway view through the key of FIG. 13 in the plane
XIV--XIV.
FIG. 15 is an elevation view of the locking mechanism in its
completely open position to allow the activating member to
rotate.
FIG. 16 is a view of the key of FIG. 13 in the plane XIV--XIV being
rotated.
FIG. 17 is an exploded view of the locking mechanism of the present
invention.
FIG. 18 is a front elevation of a slide bolt in its extended
position.
FIG. 19 is a front elevation of a slide bolt in its retracted
position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring first to FIGS. 1, 18 and 19, the locking mechanism of the
present invention is shown incorporated on a safe or security door.
The door is generally indicated as 10 and has an outside surface 12
and inside surface 14. A number of slide bolts 16 of the type shown
in FIGS. 18 and 19 are attached as by welding along the inner edge
of the door 10. As can be seen in the more detailed drawings of
FIGS. 18 and 19, the slide bolts 16 comprise a housing 18 having a
longitudinal bore 20 therethrough. A cylindrical bolt 22 is
disposed within the bore 20. A slot 24 is cut through the outer
surface of the housing 18 to communicate with the bore 20.
Operating pin 26 passes through the slot 24 and is affixed to the
bolt 22. By sliding the operating pin 26 to one extreme of the slot
as shown in FIG. 18, the bolt 22 can be extended to lock the door
10. By sliding the operating pin 26 to the opposite end of slot 24,
the bolt 22 can be withdrawn to unlock the door 10.
The locking mechanism of the present invention is generally
indicated as 28. Mechanism 28 comprises a back plate 30 attached to
the inner surface 14 of the door 10 as by welding. A pair of locks
32, 34 are mounted to the back plate 30. Back plate 30 has a pin 36
extending normal thereto on which is mounted a cylindrical
activating member 38. Activating member 38 can be rotated clockwise
and counter-clockwise about the pin 36 by a handle (not shown at
this point) on the outside of the door 10. The locks 32, 34 operate
in tandem from outside the door in a manner to be described in
detail hereinafter so as to lock the activating member 38 from
rotation.
As can easily be seen in the drawings, the activating member 38 is
adapted for ready connection to a variety of operating linkages for
the slide bolts 16. For example, along the vertical edge of the
door 10, the four slide bolts 16 are mounted in vertical alignment.
A slide bar 40 is mounted between the guide tabs 42 of the
respective housings 18. The slide bar 40 contains an angled slot 44
operably disposed over each operating pin 26. As will be readily
recognized by those skilled in the art, this is a standard approach
which will cause the four bolts 22 to be extended in the same
manner shown when the bar 40 is in its lower position and to be
retracted simultaneously when the slide bar 40 is raised.
Activating member 38 is provided with an operating roller post 46
disposed within slot 48 provided in the slide bar 40 therefor.
Consequently, as the activating member 38 is rotated in a clockwise
direction, post 46 will force slide bar 40 in the downward
direction extending the bolts 22. When the activating member 38 is
rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the post 46 will raise
the slide bar 40, thus retracting the bolts 22.
Activating member 38 is also provided with posts 50 to which
individual linkages 52 can be attached on one end and connected to
the operating pin 26 of a slide bolt 16 on the opposite end as
shown in FIG. 1 with respect to the single top and bottom bolts.
Activating member 38 also contains auxillary drive tabs 54 for use
in conjunction with other devices such as the timer 56.
The unique locking mechanism of the present invention will now be
described in greater detail. The basic manner of operation is shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3. The outside surface 12 of door 10 is provided
with a combination dial 58, a key-slot or hole 60 into which key 62
can be inserted, and an operating handle 64. The locks 32, 34
operate in tandem to secure the activating member 38. Lock 32 is
operated by the key 62 and lock 34 is operated by the combination
dial 58. With the door 10 in a fully locked condition, the key 62
cannot be inserted into the keyslot 60. Upon successful
manipulation of the combination dial 58, the bolt 66 of lock 34 is
retracted which opens the keyslot 60 for the insertion of key 62.
Upon the insertion of key 62 and the turning thereof to activate
lock 32, the bolt 68 thereof is retracted which, in turn, releases
the activating member 38 for rotation. The handle 64 can then be
turned to rotate the activating member 38 to open the lock
mechanism. As will be seen and recognized in the description which
follows hereinafter, the locks 32, 34 are of a generally available
standard commercial variety with only minor modification to the
bolts 66, 68 thereof being required for them to be incorporated
within the locking mechanism 28 of the present invention. For that
reason, both locks 32 and 34 could comprise combination locks or,
conversely, both locks 32, 34 could comprise key-operated locks.
One or both of locks 32, 34 could also employ other types of locks
such as magnetically-operated locks. All that is required is that
the lock 32 and 34 have some form of extending and retracting bolts
68, 66, or the like, respectively.
Attention is now directed to FIGS. 4-9 wherein the locking
mechanism 28 is shown in greater detail in its completely locked
state. The back plate 30 has a pair of guide bars 70, 72 welded
thereto in parallel spaced relationship. The locks 32, 34 are
attached to the guide bars 70, 72 by the bolts 74. A pair of
sliders 76, 78 are disposed between the guide bars 70, 72. Slider
76 is an outer slider having a slot 80 therein with parallel sides.
Slider 78 is an inner slider disposed within slot 80. While the
guide bars 70, 72 and sliders 76, 78 being described herein with
respect to a tested embodiment of the present invention have
straight sides, those skilled in the art will easily recognize that
the novel features of the present invention could also be
accomplished by making the guide bars 70, 72 and sliders 76, 78 in
the form of circular segments for arcuate rather than linear
motion. It should be further recognized that whereas two locks 32,
34 are employed with two sliders 76, 78, additional locks could be
added in tandem. In that case, outer slider 76 would be an inner
slider of yet another slider with a third lock disposed to operate
that slider.
The actuating member 38 contains a slot 82 in its outer periphery.
The outer slider 76 is sized to slide into the slot 82. The inner
slider 78 is not as long as the slot 80 of outer slider 76. As a
consequence, inner slider 78 can be slid to either end of the slot
80. In its position as shown in FIG. 5, the inner slider 78 is in
abutment with the inner end of the slot 80 of outer slider 78 to,
thereby, prevent retraction of the outer slider 76 from within the
slot 82 of the activating member 38. It should be noted at this
point that the back plate 30 comprises a vertical member 84 and
horizontal members 86 which are welded as at 88 to the inner
surface 14 of door 10. Thus, a space 90 is created between the
inner surface 14 of the door 10 and the vertical member 84 into
which a hard plate (not shown) can be placed. The vertical member
84 has a hole 92 in alignment with the keyhole 60. Both are in
alignment with the entry hole 94 of lock 32. As can be seen,
however, the inner slider 78 has a hole 96 therein which is out of
alignment with hole 92 when slider 78 is in its locked position
extended as shown in FIG. 5. As a consequence, the key 62 cannot be
inserted into the lock 32 but, rather, abuts against inner slider
76 in the manner shown in FIG. 9. The outer slider 78 is provided
with a hole 98 which is best seen in FIG. 17 and is connected to
the bolt 68 of lock 32 by a rollpin 100 positioned partially in the
hole as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. As a consequence, when bolt 68 is
extended from lock 32, the outer slider 76 is extended into slot 82
of the actuating member 38 as shown in FIG. 5. In like manner, the
inner slider 78 contains a hole 103 which is best seen in FIG. 17
and is connected to bolt 66 of lock 34 by a rollpin 102. Inner
slider 78 also contains a slot 104 through which the operating
shaft 106 between the combination dial 58 and the lock 34 can pass
and allow the inner slider 78 to move between its extended and
retracted positions. A stop 108 is welded to the lower guide bar 72
to support lock 34 adjacent the slot 82 such that if an attempt is
made to force the lock, the force will be transmitted to the case
of the lock 34 and from thence to the stop 108 rather than being
born by the bolts 74 entirely.
Turning now to FIG. 12, the first stage of opening the lock 28 of
the present invention is shown. Upon successful manipulation of the
combination dial 58, the bolt 66 of lock 34 is withdrawn into the
lock 34. In so doing, rollpin 102 moves the inner slider 78 to the
left as FIG. 12 is viewed. This places hole 96 in alignment with
hole 92 and keyhole 60. The key 62 can now be inserted into
operable engagement with the lock 32. This is shown in FIG. 13. As
can be seen in FIG. 14, a typical key contains a plurality of
arcuate sections 110 which are placed into operable engagement with
the mechanism of the lock 32 when the key 62 is inserted therein.
As the key is rotated, the arcuate sections rotate as shown in FIG.
16. This causes the final stage of unlocking of the lock mechanism
28 to occur. As shown in FIG. 15, as the key 62 is rotated in the
manner of FIG. 16, its bolt 68 is retracted into lock 32. Its
rollpin 100 thereupon slides the outer slider 76 to the left as
FIG. 15 is viewed which, in turn, retracts it out of the slot 82 of
the activating member 38. Activating member 38 can then be rotated
to open the various locking mechanisms operably connected thereto.
One principal advantage of the present locking mechanism is that
the key can be used for convenience to open and close the locking
mechanism 28 throughout the working day but complete security can
be accomplished by a quick rotation of the combination dial to
effect the double locking.
Turning now to FIGS. 4, 5, 10, 11, and 17 with particularity, the
components for rotating the activating member 38 will be discussed
in detail. A shaft 112 extends from the handle 64 and passes
through a sleeve bearing 114 in door 10 provided to allow the
handle 64 and shaft 112 to be rotated without binding. Shaft 112
passes through a hole 116 in the back plate 30 adjacent pin 36. A
drive gear assembly 118 is connected on the inner end of shaft 112.
The inner hub 120 of activating member 38 has a bearing 122 which
surrounds the pin 36, again to allow non-binding movement. Inner
hub 120 has a spur gear segment 124 which meshes with a
corresponding spur gear segment 126 on the drive gear assembly 118.
Drive gear assembly 118 is also provided with an arcuate stop ring
128 which abuts against the inner hub 120 at either end of the
desired arc of travel of the activating member 38 to prevent
further movement thereof.
* * * * *