U.S. patent application number 10/638463 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-17 for door lock assembly and locking system for hinged double-acting impact-traffic doors.
Invention is credited to Meier, Terry E., Wild, John D..
Application Number | 20050034494 10/638463 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34104630 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050034494 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meier, Terry E. ; et
al. |
February 17, 2005 |
DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND LOCKING SYSTEM FOR HINGED DOUBLE-ACTING
IMPACT-TRAFFIC DOORS
Abstract
A lock assembly and locking systems adapted for use with hinged
bidirectional hardened plastic doors is provided. The lock assembly
comprises a moveable bolt arranged within a housing and a having a
first perimeter; a strikeplate spaced apart from the housing and
having a hole with a second perimeter; and an actuator adapted to
move the bolt from an unlocked position where the bolt is within
the housing to a locked position where a portion of the bolt
extends into the hole, wherein the second perimeter is 2-10 times
greater than the first perimeter such that the hinged double-acting
impact-traffic door has an amount of play when the bolt is in the
locked position.
Inventors: |
Meier, Terry E.; (Christmas,
FL) ; Wild, John D.; (Orlando, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John P. Musone, Esq.
2406 Fawnlake Trail
Orlando
FL
32828
US
|
Family ID: |
34104630 |
Appl. No.: |
10/638463 |
Filed: |
August 11, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/257 ;
70/278.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B 47/0002 20130101;
E05C 7/04 20130101; Y10T 70/7068 20150401; E05B 47/026 20130101;
Y10T 70/8838 20150401; Y10T 292/68 20150401; Y10T 70/8973 20150401;
Y10T 292/707 20150401; Y10T 292/705 20150401; Y10T 292/683
20150401; Y10S 292/60 20130101; Y10T 70/5978 20150401; E05B 15/0006
20130101; E05B 2015/023 20130101; E05B 47/0004 20130101; Y10S
292/55 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
070/257 ;
070/278.1 |
International
Class: |
E05B 065/12; E05B
049/00 |
Claims
1. A lock assembly, comprising: a moveable bolt arranged within a
housing and having a first cross-sectional length; a strikeplate
spaced apart from the housing and having a hole with a second
length; and an actuator adapted to move the bolt from an unlocked
position where the bolt is within the housing to a locked position
where a portion of the bolt extends into the hole, wherein the
second length is 3-10 times greater than the first length such that
the difference between the second length and the first length
provides for an amount of play between the bolt and the strikeplate
when the bolt is in the locked position.
2. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cross sectional
length is a major length about 0.1-2 inches.
3. The lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the bolt has a diameter of
about 0.5-1 inch.
4. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the bolt is arranged
substantially within the housing.
5. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the second length is a
major length about 0.5-5 inches.
6. The lock assembly of claim 6, wherein the hole has a diameter of
about 1-3 inches.
7. The lock assembly of claim 6, wherein the bolt has a diameter of
about 0.5 inch and the strikeplate has a diameter of about 2
inches.
8. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the amount of play is
generally horizontal to a floor.
9. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein a plurality of
strikeplates are stacked to increase the depth of the hole.
10. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein when the bolt is in the
locked position the amount of play that a door has is at least 1
inch when pushed or pulled.
11. A lock assembly adapted for use with a hinged double-acting
impact-traffic door, comprising: a moveable bolt arranged within a
housing and a having a first radial length and a second radial
length; a strikeplate spaced apart from the housing and having a
hole with a first radial length and a second radial length, the
first or second radial length of the hole being 2-10 times greater
than the first or second radial length of the bolt; and an actuator
adapted to move the bolt from an unlocked position where the bolt
is within the housing to a locked position where a portion of the
bolt extends into the hole, wherein when the bolt is in the locked
position the hinged double-acting impact-traffic door can be pushed
or pulled at least 0.5 inch without the bolt exterior contacting
the hole interior.
12. The lock assembly of claim 11, wherein when the bolt is in the
locked position the door can be push or pulled up to 6 inches
without being bent.
13. The lock assembly of claim 12, wherein when the bolt is in the
locked position the door can be pushed or pulled up to 4 inches
without being bent.
14. A locking system adapted to lock and unlock a hinged
double-acting impact-traffic door, comprising: a lock assembly
comprising a lock portion with a moveable bolt having a first
perimeter and a strikeplate portion with a hole having a second
perimeter, the second perimeter being greater than the first
perimeter; a controller adapted to direct the locking and unlocking
of the hinged double-acting impact-traffic door; a bolt position
sensor adapted to provide an electronic signal to the controller
indicative of the position of the bolt; and an actuator
electronically interconnected to the controller adapted to move the
bolt as directed by the controller, wherein when the door is
locked, the bolt is advanced into the hole and the door can be
moved at least 1 inch without being bent.
15. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein the second perimeter is
2-10 times greater than the first perimeter such that the hinged
double-acting impact-traffic door has an amount of play when the
bolt is in the locked position.
16. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein the second perimeter is
a diameter of about 2 inches and the first perimeter is a diameter
of about 0.5 inch.
17. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein the actuator is a
solenoid.
18. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein the controller is
located within a control console near the door.
19. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein the controller is
electronically interconnected to a plurality of components selected
from the group consisting of: exit button, motion detector, remote
control receiver, power supply, and ID card reader.
20. The lock assembly of claim 19, wherein the door serves as a
partition between an interior and exterior of a building, and an
exit button, motion detector or remote control receiver is located
within the interior of the building near the door.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates in general to the field of
lock assemblies and locking systems and, in particular, to lock
assemblies and locking systems adapted for use with hinged
double-acting impact-traffic doors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Hinged double-acting impact-traffic doors serve as a popular
threshold for areas that receive heavy impact bearing traffic.
These doors are commonly found in retail stores at the interface
between the public sales area and the restricted stockroom area,
and accommodate traffic such as forklifts, dollies and carts. These
doors are also commonly found at the threshold of mailrooms and
further accommodate bidirectional mail cart traffic, as well as in
and around shipping, loading and receiving areas and warehouses.
One reason for the popularity of these doors is that they can
withstand forces imparted by impact bearing traffic much better
than wood or metal doors. Impact-traffic doors distort and absorb
the impact of the momentum force, whereas wood and metal doors
crack and break. These doors may also include detachable plastic
bumpers to further protect the doors from impact, may be arranged
as double doors to provide a wider threshold, and may include
windows.
[0003] A problem exists, however, in suitably securing this type of
door. Since the flexible impact-traffic door distorts easily over
time due to continual impact, it rarely aligns in the exact same
position when closed. For example, it may close on one side of the
doorframe one time and then close one the other side of the
doorframe the next time. For another example, the bottom of the
door may become bent or warped by continued full-mail cart impact
such that the bottom of the door usually closes on one side of the
doorframe while the top of the door usually closes on the other
side of the doorframe. This alignment problem is exasperated by the
double-acting nature of the door. Since there is no doorstop on the
doorframe, there is no structure for the door to lay up against.
Additional detractors such as insulation strips placed along the
door or doorframe periphery, further contribute to this alignment
problem.
[0004] Thus, to secure these hinged double-acting impact-traffic
doors, a person must manually and painstakingly align the lock bolt
with the strikeplate hole so that they can mate prior to locking
the door. This requisite time and patience, is particularly
problematic within the fast-paced environment in which the doors
function. Moreover, even when locked, portions of the flexible door
can be bent twelve inches or more, thereby allowing ingress or
egress to unintended materials or persons notwithstanding the
locked door.
[0005] There is thus a need for an improved lock assembly and
locking system for hinged double-acting impact-traffic doors.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides an improved lock assembly and
locking system for hinged double-acting impact-traffic doors. The
present invention also provides for automated secured ingress and
egress system through hinged double-acting impact-traffic
doors.
[0007] One aspect of the invention provides a lock assembly adapted
for use with a hinged double-acting impact-traffic door comprising
a moveable bolt arranged within a housing and a having a first
perimeter; a strikeplate spaced apart from the housing and having a
hole with a second perimeter; and an actuator adapted to move the
bolt from an unlocked position where the bolt is within the housing
to a locked position where a portion of the bolt extends into the
hole, wherein the second perimeter is 2-10 times greater than the
first perimeter such that the hinged double-acting impact-traffic
door has an amount of play when the bolt is in the locked
position.
[0008] Another aspect of the present invention provides a lock
assembly adapted for use with a hinged double-acting impact-traffic
door comprising a moveable bolt arranged within a housing and a
having a first radial length and a second radial length; a
strikeplate spaced apart from the housing and having a hole with a
first radial length and a second radial length, the first or second
radial length of the hole being 2-10 times greater than the first
or second radial length of the bolt; and an actuator adapted to
move the bolt from an unlocked position where the bolt is within
the housing to a locked position where a portion of the bolt
extends into the hole, wherein when the bolt is in the locked
position the hinged double-acting impact-traffic door can be pushed
or pulled at least 0.5 inch without the bolt exterior contacting
the hole interior.
[0009] Another aspect of the invention provides a locking system
adapted to lock and unlock a hinged double-acting impact-traffic
door comprising a lock assembly comprising a lock portion with a
moveable bolt having a first perimeter and a strikeplate portion
with a hole having a second perimeter; a controller adapted to
direct the locking and unlocking of the hinged double-acting
impact-traffic door; a bolt position sensor adapted to provide an
electronic signal to the controller indicative of the position of
the bolt; and an actuator electronically interconnected to the
controller adapted to move the bolt as directed by the controller,
wherein when the door is locked, the door can be moved at least 1
inch without being bent.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The above-mentioned and other concepts of the present
invention will now be addressed with reference to the drawings of
the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The illustrated
embodiments are intended to illustrate, but not to limit the
invention. The drawings contain the following figures, in which
like numbers refer to like parts throughout the description and
drawings and wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the interior of a door
using the door locking system of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the exterior of the door
using the door locking system of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the lock assembly of the
present invention, showing the lock assembly in an unlocked
position;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the lock assembly of the
present invention, showing the lock assembly in a locked
position;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the bolt and
strikeplate of the lock assembly present invention; and
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
strikeplate of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The invention described herein employs several basic
individual or collective concepts. For example, one concept relates
to a lock assembly comprising a lock bolt cooperatively sized and
configured to fit within a strikeplate recess while affording an
appreciable amount of play or tolerance. Another concept relates to
automated secured ingress and egress for hinged double-acting
impact-traffic doors.
[0018] The present invention is disclosed in context of use with a
hinged double-acting impact-traffic door. The principles of the
present invention, however, are not limited to hinged double-acting
impact-traffic doors, and those skilled in the art may find
additional applications for the apparatus, processes, systems,
components, configurations, methods and applications disclosed
herein. For example, the lock assembly and locking system can be
used with other types of flexible doors. For another example, the
lock assembly and locking system can be used with doors that tend
not to align in the exact same position when in the closed
position, such as old or warped doors, doors with sagging hinges,
doors with frame damage, unframed or partially framed doors. Thus,
the illustration and description of the present invention in
context of a lock apparatus and locking system for hinged
double-acting impact-traffic doors is merely one possible
application of the present invention. However, the present
invention has been found particularly suitable in connection with
hinged double-acting impact-traffic doors.
[0019] With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a general overview of the
components and operation of the lock assembly 10 and locking system
30 of the present invention is provided, followed by a more
detailed description of the components and operation. The lock
assembly 10 advantageously comprises a lock portion 12 and a
strikeplate portion 14, the lock portion 12 having a housing 16
that houses a moveable bolt 18 actuated by an actuating force 20
such as a solenoid. A strikeplate 22 having a recess or thruhole 24
is disposed apart from the housing 16 such that the bolt 18 can
move from a position within or substantially within the housing 16
(i.e. the unlocked position of FIG. 1) to a position where a
portion of the bolt 18 extends into the hole 24 of the strikeplate
22 (i.e. the locked position of FIG. 2).
[0020] The locking system 30 is particularly adapted to lock a
double-acting impact-traffic door 2 attached to a doorframe 4 by at
least one hinge 6, where the lock housing 16 of the lock assembly
10 is attached to the door 2, and the strikeplate 22 of the lock
assembly 10 is attached to the doorframe 4 (or vice-versa). The
locking system 30 advantageously comprises a plurality of
electronically interconnected components arranged on the interior
side of the door 2, such as an exit button 32, motion detector 34,
power supply 36, controller 38, bolt position sensor 39 and the
like. Similarly, at least one electronically interconnected
component is advantageously arranged on the exterior side of the
door 2, such as an ID card reader 40, motion detector, timer, and
the like.
[0021] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated door 2 is
embodied as a conventional full size commercial threshold
partition. This exemplary partition has a front facing 42 located
within the interior of a building, a rear facing located at the
exterior of the building 44, a lower side 46 near the floor or
ground, an upper side 48 near the ceiling or sky, a hinged side 50
near the hinge 6, and an unhinged side 52 farther away from the
hinge 6, which collectively form a generally rectangular three
dimensional structure. Of course, the door 2 need not be formed as
a conventional full size commercial partition, need not include any
of the above-identified sections, and need not form a rectangular
or other geometric structure. The door 2 is advantageously
constructed of one or more suitably strong impact resistant, hard,
flexible or impact absorbing material, laminate or composite layers
or sections, such as plastic, foam, sheet metal, vinyl, rubber,
combinations thereof and the like, although other materials may
also be used to achieve the purposes of the present invention. As
understood by those skilled in the art, the term double-acting
means the door 2 can swing bidirectionally such that it can be both
pushed and pulled from either the front facing 42 or the rear
facing 44. These doors are commercially available from sources such
as the Chase Doors company under the tradenames Duralite.RTM.,
Proline.TM., Chase.TM., and AirGard.RTM., the RubbAir Door company
under the tradenames Standard.TM., Poly-Kor.TM., Ultra-Lite.TM.,
Elite.TM., Slen-Dor.TM., TL.TM., and Flap-R Door.TM., the Eliason
corporation under the nomenclatures PMP, HCP, HCG, SCP, SCG, FCG,
FMP, FCD, LWP, and the like. These doors also have been described
in patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,459,972, 4,402,159 and
4,084,347.
[0022] The lock assembly 10 may be directly or indirectly attached
to any portion(s) or area(s) of the door 2. Thus, although the
illustrated embodiment shows a first lock portion 12a arranged
toward the upper unhinged side 48, 52 of the door 2 to cooperate
with a first strikeplate portion 14a arranged on a top portion 54
of the doorframe 6, and a second lock portion 12b arranged toward
the lower unhinged side 46, 52 of the door 2 to cooperate with a
second strikeplate portion 14b arranged on the floor, other
configurations could be used such as along one or more portions of
the unhinged side 52 of the door 2, along one or more sections of
the top portion 54 of the doorframe 6 between the hinged and
unhinged sides 50, 52 of the door 2, along one or more sections of
the bottom portion 56 of the doorframe 6 between the hinged and
unhinged sides 50, 52 of the door 2. However, it has been found
advantageous to arrange at least two lock assemblies 10 as
illustrated to provide a door 2 secured near the four comers i.e.
by hinges 6 arranged toward the upper and lower 46, 48 hinged sides
50 of the door 2, and by the lock assemblies 10 arranged toward the
upper and lower 46, 48 unhinged sides 52 of the door 2, thereby
reducing the distance between secured locations and thus reducing
the ability of an intruder to forcibly bend the door 2 a
significant amount and thereby gain unauthorized entry or
access.
[0023] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lock assembly 10
advantageously comprises a lock portion 12 and a strikeplate
portion 14. The lock portion 12 comprises a housing 16, moveable
bolt 18 and actuator 20, and the strikeplate portion 14 comprises a
strikeplate 22 with recess or hole 24.
[0024] The lock portion 12 provides mating interaction with the
strikeplate portion 14. The housing 16 houses at least a portion of
the bolt 18 and actuator 20. A passageway 19 is formed within the
housing and sized and configured to allow bolt 18 movement between
the actuator 20 and hole 24. The illustrated bolt 18 has a
generally cylindrical configuration with a length suitable to mate
with the hole 24 and a diameter of about 0.5 inch, although many
other sizes and geometries could be used as explained in more
detail below, and may be made of any suitably strong material such
as metal, plastic, resin, wood, composites, combinations thereof
and the like, for example, ferromagnetic metal, stainless steel,
aluminum, magnesium alloys, brass, ABS plastic and the like. The
bolt 18 advantageously has a rest or home position adjacent or near
the actuator 20. The bolt 18 can reside in this home position by
any of a variety of configurations as will be understood by those
skilled in the art, such as spring loading, gravity, inertia,
magnetic force, pneumatics, friction, proximity switches and the
like. The actuator 20 provides a biasing force capable of urging
the bolt 18 from the home position, along the passageway 19, and
toward the hole 24 in the strikeplate 22. The actuator 20 may be
embodied in any of a variety of configurations as will be
understood by those skilled in the art, such as a solenoid, piston,
spring, pneumatic, hydraulic, worm gear, gear driven motor,
manually and the like. The actuator 20 may provide a one-way
biasing force (i.e. capable of urging the bolt 18 only from the
home position toward the strikeplate 19) or may provide a two-way
biasing force (i.e. capable of urging the bolt 18 from the home
position toward the strikeplate 22 and also from strikeplate 22
back to the home position). The bolt 18 is operatively connected to
the actuator 20 such that the actuator 20 can urge or impart
movement to the bolt 18. For example, if the actuator 20 is
configured as a solenoid and the bolt 18 is made of a ferrous
metal, when an electric current is passed through the solenoid, the
magnetically active solenoid urges the metallic bolt 18 away from
its home position near the solenoid 20 and toward the strikeplate
22. Conversely, when the electric current is not passed through the
solenoid and thus the solenoid is magnetically inactive, the bolt
18 is not urged toward the strikeplate 22 and remains in the home
position near the solenoid. Suitable lock portions 12 are
commercially available, such as those manufactured-by the Security
Door Controls company as model number 180 and those manufactured by
the Dyna Lock, Locknetics, Rofu, Precision Hardware, Rutherford
Controls companies and the like.
[0025] The strikeplate portion 14 has a thickness, length and width
suitable to perform its security and attachment function, depending
on the desired strength of the lock assembly 10 and materials from
which it 14 is made. The strikeplate 22 may be made of any suitably
strong material such as metal, plastic, resin, wood, composites,
combinations thereof and the like, for example, aluminum or
hardened steel. As illustrated, the recess 24 formed in the
strikeplate 22 extends entirely through the strikeplate 22 to form
a hole having a cylindrical configuration with a diameter of about
2 inches adapted to cooperate with and accept the bolt 18, although
many other sizes and geometries could be used as explained in more
detail below. However, the recess 24 need not extend entirely
through the strikeplate 22 to form a hole. One or more apertures 26
are formed through the strikeplate 22 to accept one or more screws
or bolts and secure the strikeplate 22 to the doorframe 4 or other
suitable securing structure, although other means or mechanisms
could be used to secure the strikeplate 22 to the doorframe 4 such
as adhesives and the like.
[0026] Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in an exemplary operation,
to lock the door, the solenoid 20 is magnetically activated,
thereby urging the bolt 18 from the home position, along the
passageway 19, and toward the strikeplate 22. As the bolt 18
approaches the strikeplate 22, it enters the hole 24 in the
strikeplate 22 to provide the door in the locked position. To
unlock the door, the electric current is removed from the solenoid
20, thereby magnetically deactivating the solenoid 20 and allowing
the bolt 18 to return to the home position to provide the door in
the unlocked position.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 5, the bolt 18 and hole 24 are
cooperatively sized and configured such that which the bolt 18
extends into the hole 24 an appreciable amount of play or tolerance
exists between the bolt 18 and hole 24. That is, for example in the
context of use of the illustrated embodiment, the hole 24 may have
a diameter of 2 inches and the bolt 18 may have a diameter of only
0.5 inch. Due to this loose-fit configuration, the bolt 18 need not
be closely aligned with the hole 24 prior to locking the door, but
rather, the bolt 18 need only be roughly aligned with the hole 24,
as the much larger sized hole 24 allows for appreciable uncertainty
in the location of the bolt 18 when the bolt 18 is to be advanced
into the hole 22.
[0028] The particular cooperating dimensions of the bolt 18 and
hole 24 can vary greatly depending on the context of use, location
along the door, and the amount of desired security. For example, if
used to secure an oversized door the tolerance could be larger, and
if used to secure an undersized door or window the tolerance could
be smaller. Similarly, for example, if the bolt 18 and strikeplate
22 are arranged such that they mate near the unhinged side 52 of
the door 2 as illustrated, the tolerance could be larger to
accommodate increased location uncertainty due to the increased
hinge-to-bolt distance, and if arranged such that they mate near
the hinged side 50 of the door 2, the tolerance could be smaller
since the smaller hinge-to-bolt distance affords greater likelihood
of successful bolt 18 and hole 24 mating. Further, if a higher
amount of security is desired such that minimal door 2 movement is
required when the door is in the locked position, a smaller
tolerance could be used. Also, more than one tolerance could be
used with more than one lock assembly 10 on a single door 2.
[0029] Thus, in the exemplary illustrated context of use where two
lock assemblies 10 are arranged toward the unhinged side 52 of a
conventional sized double-acting impact-traffic door 2, the
diameter of each bolt 18 is preferably about 0.1-2 inches and more
preferably about 0.5-1 inch, and the diameter of each hole 24 is
preferably about 0.5-5 inches, more preferably about 1-3 inches. By
this configuration, when the door 2 is in the locked position, the
door 2 can still be moved about 0.2-3 inches in either direction,
preferably about 0.5-2 inches in either direction, before contact
is made between the exterior of the bolt 18 and the interior of the
hole 24 and thereby requiring the door 2 to be forcibly bent in
order to be further opened. Alternatively stated, in the exemplary
illustrated context of use, the diameter of each hole 24 is
preferably about 2-10 times greater than the diameter of each
cooperating bolt 18, more preferably about 3-5 times greater.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, the hole 24 in the strikeplate 22 need
not have a circular cross-section, but rather can have any
cross-sectional geometry. For example, a gentle crescent shape
configured to generally follow the arc of the door 2 may be used.
This shape is advantageous if the door 2 tends to close on either
side of the doorframe 4, since the bolt 18 location will then more
likely tend to align somewhere along the crescent shaped hole 24.
The hole 24 may have other cross-sectional geometries 24, such as
oval, square, triangular, rectangular, pentagonal, octagonal,
polygonal, curved, curvilinear and the like, while providing the
play or tolerance between the exterior perimeter of the bolt 18 and
the interior perimeter of the hole 24. The bolt 18 may have a
similar geometry as the hole 24, with the hole 24 perimeter
advantageously about 2-10 times greater than the bolt 18 perimeter,
but may also have a different geometry. For example, the hole 24
could have a gentle crescent shape while the bolt 18 has a circular
or square shape for increased strength. More broadly, when viewed
in cross-section, the hole 24 may be characterized as having peaks
58 and valleys 60, with the peaks 58 forming an extended or first
radial length as measured from the peak 58 to the geometrical
center of the hole 24, and the valleys 60 forming a reduced or
second radial length as measured from the valley 60 to the
geometrical center of the hole 24. Similarly, the bolt 24 may be
characterized as having peaks and valleys that form extended or
first and second or reduced radial lengths. Thus, for example, the
hole 24 may have either an extended or reduced radial length that
is 2-10 times greater than either the extended or reduced radial
length of the bolt 18. Of course, the first radial length could be
the same length as the second radial length if there are no peaks
or valleys (i.e. circular cross-section). Also, the peaks 58 need
not be of the same size, and thus a plurality of extended radial
lengths may be formed on the hole 24 or bolt 18; similarly, the
valleys 60 need not be of the same size, and thus a plurality of
reduced radial lengths may be formed on the hole 24 or bolt 18.
[0031] A liner may be arranged along the interior perimeter of the
hole 24 to impart additional strength or wear resistance to the
strikeplate 22. Also, the hole 24, bolt 18 or both may have a
chamfer or beveled edge to help guide the bolt 18 into the hole
22.
[0032] A plurality of strikeplates 22 may be stacked together to
vary the total thickness of the layered strikeplates 22 and enable
it 22 to more easily adjust and fit into the spatial surroundings
of the door 2 and doorframe 4. By this modular strikeplate 22
design, the space between the lock portion 12 and the strikeplate
portion 14 need not present a significant obstacle during
installation of the lock assembly 10. If stacked strikeplates 22
are used, the modular strikeplate 22 should include a hole instead
of a recess 24 so that the bolt 18 can extend through the stacked
strikeplates 22, although the strikeplate 22 adjacent the doorframe
4 may still have a recess 24 rather than a hole.
[0033] Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the locking system 12
comprises; a plurality of electronically interconnected components
adapted to allow authorized users an easy, if not automated, and
controlled access through the door 2. The locking system 30
advantageously comprises a plurality of electronically
interconnected components arranged on an interior side of the door
2, such as one or more an exit buttons 32, motion detectors 34,
power supplies 36, control consoles 38, bolt position sensors 39
and the like. Similarly, at least one electronically interconnected
component is advantageously arranged on an exterior side of the
door 2, such as an ID card reader 40. However, the interior and
exterior sides need not include any of these components in
particular.
[0034] By this configuration and with these exemplary components,
one or more motion detectors 34 or timers could be used to allow
the door 2 to remain in a default locked position, but
automatically unlock based on certain approach motion or time
amount. For example, if a mail cart or other impact bearing traffic
is pushed or otherwise moving toward the door 2, a motion detector
34 can detect this approach and inform the controller 38 within a
control console which can then send an electronic signal via
armored cable 58 to the bolt position sensor 39 to verify that the
bolt 18 is not within the hole 24 and thus that the door 2 is in
the unlocked position. If the bolt position sensor 39 indicates
that the door 2 is in the locked position, an electronic signal is
sent from the controller 38 directing that the solenoid 20 be
magnetically deactivated, thereby allowing the bolt 18 to return to
the home position and the door 2 to become unlocked. Alternatively,
the controller 38 may automatically direct the solenoid 20 to be
uncharged upon indication from the motion detector 34 of incoming
traffic. After the mail cart proceeds through the door 2, another
motion detector or a timer can trigger the controller 38 to send an
electronic signal that causes the door 2 to become locked.
Conversely, one or more motion detectors or timers could be used in
a similar manner to allow the door to remain in a default unlocked
position, but automatically lock based on certain motion or during
certain times.
[0035] Many other automated ingress and egress configurations are
possible. For example, instead of or in additional to motion
detectors, remote control receivers and transponders could be used
such that a person need only activate the remote control to unlock
or lock the door 2. For another example, a keypad, exit button, or
ID card reader 40 could be used to provide selective ingress or
egress, instead of or in addition to the motion detectors or remote
controls.
[0036] Although this invention has been described in terms of
certain exemplary uses, preferred embodiments and possible
modifications thereto, other uses, embodiments, and possible
modifications apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art are
also within the spirit and scope of this invention. It is also
understood that various aspects of one or more features of this
invention can be used or interchanged with various aspects of one
or more other features on this invention. Accordingly, the scope of
this invention is intended to be defined only by the claims that
follow.
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