Lock with push-button operated bolt

Abstract

A lock with a push-button forming a cylindrical plug with tumbler plates or pins and having a ramp retracting the bolt against the action of a spring, wherein the push-button plug is movable in rotation and translatory motion through direct contact with a stator formed with two plate or pin releasing grooves and directly secured to one of the two components (door or door frame) of the closing arrangement using the lock whereby the push-button plug is movable for two given rotary positions of the plug and of the removable key thereof.

Description

The present invention relates to key-operated and push-button responsive locks or safety locks used in buildings, metallic furniture and automotive vehicles as well as in some counting devices.

One of the objects of the invention is to reduce the cost price of such a lock thereby to promote the commercial diffusion offered by its various applications.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the design and manufacture of this kind of lock, thereby to automatically achieve a reduction in manufacturing tools or implements, in manufacturing time, in the stocks, storage and supplies of component parts as well as in the terms of deliveries.

A further object is to simplify the mounting or assembly of the lock proper and the mounting of the closing constructions to be operated thereby.

Still another object of the invention is to increase the reliability which as everybody knows increases when the number of component parts decreases.

A conventional lock of the same kind consists essentially of three main elements:

1. A ROTOR OR ROTARY MEMBER DRIVEN BY THE KEY AND COMPRISING EXTENSIBLE TUMBLER PINS OR PLATES FOR LOCKING PURPOSES THE RETRACTION OF WHICH, ACHIEVED THROUGH THE WARDS OR TEETH OF THE KEY IN ACCORDANCE WITH A CODE WHICH IS PECULIAR THERETO, PROVIDES FOR THE ABSOLUTE CONTINUITY OF THE CYLINDRICAL CONTACT INTERFACE BETWEEN SAID ROTOR AND THE MEMBER STATED HEREINAFTER, THEREBY ENABLING TO ROTATE THE KEY AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY;

2. A STATOR ENGAGED BY THE TUMBLER PLATES OR PINS OF THE ROTOR TO ACHIEVE THE LOCKING ACTION AND SERVING AT THE SAME TIME AS A PUSH-BUTTON;

3. A LOCK BODY ADAPTED TO BE SECURED EITHER TO THE STATIONARY FRAME OR TO THE MOVABLE PANEL OR DOOR TO BE CLOSED, WHICH BODY RECEIVES AND ACCOMMODATES THE STATOR AND SERVES AS A GUIDE OR SLIDEWAY FOR THE STATOR IN ITS TRANSLATORY MOTION.

The lock which is the subject matter of the present invention only comprises two elements instead of three, which elements are the following:

1. THE ROTOR ACTING AS A PUSH-BUTTON;

2. THE STATOR WHICH FORMS AT THE SAME TIME THE BODY WHERE THE ROTOR IS SLIDING.

Thus an important component part has been dispensed with.

Yet this new lock accomplishes all the functions of a conventional lock.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a lock of this invention with the key inserted;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross-section taken upon the line II--II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows in longitudinal section the lock of FIG. 1 in unlocked condition with the key removed;

FIG. 4 shown in longitudinal section the lock of FIG. 1 in locked condition and with the key removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lock-bolt of the lock of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top view with a partial section taken upon the line VI--VI in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the push-button member shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows in longitudinal section a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross-section by the plane IX--IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows in longitudinal section the lock of FIG. 8 in the open position;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section of the lock of FIG. 8 in the locked condition with the push-button pressed inwardly;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal section of the lock of FIG. 4 in the locked condition and the push button in a rest position; and

FIG. 13 is a view in section taken upon the plane XIII--XIII in FIG. 12.

In FIG. 1 is shown the push-button 1 of generally cylindrical shape which holds tumbler plates and receives the key 2. It has therefore the ability to rotate and to move into the stator 3 where it remains guided. Its end opposite from the button exhibits a prismatic extension 5 having a ramp or like cam profile 4 which will cause the shifting motion of the lock-bolt; the portion 5 is not symmetrical with respect to the vertical axial plane of FIGS. 1, 3, 4: as a matter of fact it has a shoulder 6 which will serve as an abutment or like stop for the ramp and for the button in the direction of inward motion (see FIG. 6) when the rotor is locked against angular rotation, the key having been removed (FIGS. 4 and 6).

The body 3 is formed in its bottom end with a window or like opening 20 one of the vertical sides of which is engaged in abutment by the shoulder 6 of the push-button 1 and its extension 5 (FIGS. 4 and 6).

The body 3 is extended by a cage 9 forming a transverse slideway for the lock-bolt 10.

Moreover this body is milled or cut out along a pair of symmetrical grooves 7 and 7' which serve as a housing and guides for the tumbler plates 8 of the rotor 1 when the latter have moved out into the outward extended position which is the case in FIG. 3, the key being withdrawn, after having turned the rotor through 180.degree. and the bolt having moved out into the outward extended locked position (as examplified in FIG. 4).

The lock-bolt 10 which in the outward extended position engages a notch or like keeper, bolt-clasp or strike-box provided in the stationary part not shown is driven into this locking position by a spring 12 which bears on the one hand on a central protrusion 13 of said bolt and on the other hand in a cavity 14 of the body 3. The bolt 10 exhibits a nearly central appendix 15 projecting slightly from the end surface of the bolt for extending into a window or opening 11 of the cage 9: thus the upper portion of the appendix 15 under the action of the spring 12 comes in abutment against the upper inner face of the window 11 for limiting the vertical stroke (case illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4) of the bolt when it moves out into locking position (FIGS. 1, 4 and 6).

The bolt 10 therefore exhibits at its centre towards the push-button the protrusion 13 the shape of which is such as to comply with the following requirements: at the top or upper portion (FIGS. 1 and 3) it is designed to receive the thrust of the terminal ramp or cam portion 4 and at the bottom or downward located portion (FIGS. 4 and 6) there is a half-moon like recess 16 cut out to avoid locking the rotor against rotation and to let the end of the ramp 4 move thereinto. The end portion in extension of said ramp has a semi-cylindrical shape (FIG. 2).

Owing to the suitable slant or pitch of the ramp 4 and to the shapes referred to hereinabove, the thrust exerted upon the push-button 1 applies a vertical component force on the spring 12 it compresses; in a reverse manner the release of this spring 12 drives the push-button outwards.

The structure of the bolt 10 is shown in perspective view in FIG. 5 where a portion of the upper end of this bolt has been assumed to be omitted or removed to let show the appendix 15 which serves as a stop abutment for the vertical motion of said bolt against the window 11 in the slideway-like cage 9 forming the end of the body.

To limit the stroke of the rotor 1 to the left in the Figures, a shoulder or collar 18 has been provided to abut against the inner portion or face of the cover 17 of the lock which on assembling is crimped or seated onto the body 3 which carries teeth such as 19 for being securely positioned onto the stationary frame or the door or closure panel of the closing construction to be fitted therewith.

Having been thus described the operation of the device is easily understandable:

Assuming the lock locked in the position shown in FIG. 4, the key having been removed, the push-button in the outward extended position, the ramp 4 is down; in view of the presence of the shoulder 6, the push-button cannot be moved or driven inwards although the outward extended tumbler plates in the groove 7' may allow a motion to the right. It is therefore impossible to move back the bolt 10 downwards by acting against the force of the spring 12.

If the suitable key is inserted into the lock, the tumbler plates are retracted and the rotor may be rotated through 180.degree. to bring it into the position shown in FIG. 1; the key may then be withdrawn and the push-button may be depressed as shown in FIG. 3: as a matter of fact the shoulder 6 of the push-button does no longer meet the edge of the window 20, the push-button having rotated through 180.degree. and the tumbler plates 8 in the position shown in the Figure may slide in the groove 7'. During this allowed movement, the ramp 4 bears at first with its rounded end onto the gouge-shaped formation 21 which is complementary of the protrusion 6 and then with its prismatic portion so that it brings back downwards the bolt assembly 10 while compressing the spring 12.

The bolt being retracted, the lock and the closure arrangement operated thereby are in the open position.

When releasing the push-button 1 the bolt moves up again into the locked position under the action of the spring 12 whereas the horizontal component force drives said push-button outwards to project from the body.

To prevent any motion of the bolt and push-button, it is necessary to insert the key again and having retracted the tumbler plates to bring the rotor through a rotation of 180.degree. which is then possible into the position shown in FIG. 4 as at the beginning of this explanation.

The previous embodiment directed to a new key-responsive push-button operated lock thus reduces from three to two the number of component parts by eliminating an intermediate bushing or sleeve between the stator of the lock, adapted to be mounted onto the frame or closing panel, and the rotor carrying the tumbler plates locking or holding same against rotation.

Now as to the kind of closing appliance, new standards have been set for safety reasons:

in the first place the substitution for all the sharp angles by rounds with a least radius of curvature of 2.5 mm and the omission of any projections likely to hurt the passengers in case of sudden stop;

in the second place the closure panel, shutter or door which generally receives or accomodates the push-button must not open spontaneously under the influence of a deceleration of 30 g minimum. As a matter of fact such an untimely or undue opening would place the shutter or panel opening at 90 like a knife opposite to the body and for some shutters or panels in front of the legs of the passenger thereby incurring the risk of injuring the latter seriously.

These requirements have led to a second form of embodiment constituting an improvement in the former.

It should be pointed out at first that the advantages stated for the first form of embodiment are retained if not enhanced: light weight, reliability, economical manufacture, and are attended by additional safety whereby is prevented that when the key having been withdrawn and the bolt locked, the depression of the push-button be possible without in so far causing the opening of the door.

In FIG. 8 is shown the push-button 1 provided with its key 2 the insertion of which has caused the retraction of the tumbler plates 8 thereby providing full possibility of rotating the barrel or plug and of depressing the push-button against the reaction of the spring 22.

The body or stator 3 which guides the button 1 is hollowed out or milled along a pair of symmetrical grooves 7, 7'. Through rotation of the key 2 which is withdrawn afterwards the outward extension of the tumbler plates is achieved (see FIGS. 10 to 13).

The stator 3 is extended by an end cage 9 receiving the lockbolt 10 and formed with a window 20 and an opening 11 both of which are positioned in registering relationship with the centre line of the button 1. The stator 3 is formed with guide walls for the lock bolt as shown in FIG. 9.

The button 1 is extended by a cylindrical portion which merges endwise into a prismatic portion 5' cut into a bevel-shaped configuration 4' at its end, which bevelled shaped is adapted to bring the lock-bolt back to its unlocked or inoperative position.

This end 5' and its bevel are perfectly symmetrical with respect to the diametral plane extending in parallel relation to the section in FIG. 8. The push-button 1 is under the dependence of a helical spring 22 which rests on the bottom of stator 3 and on the shoulder featured by the discontinuity between that portion of the bottom which accommodates the tumbler plates and the cylindrical part.

The lock-bolt 10 has its upper end rounded to facilitate the closing operation through a simple pressure exerted upon the door or shutter or like closure panel. It moves into a bolt-clasp or like strike-box of the stationary frame not shown. For this purpose it is pushed by a helical spring 12 centred on a small post 26 cast in one piece with its bearing portion 23, and has its other end disposed in a cavity 25 well shown in FIG. 9 and which is formed in a central protrusion 21 of the lock-bolt.

Towards the push-button, this protrusion 21 is ended at the top by a chamfer at 45 adapted to receive the thrust of the bevelled portion 4' of said button and at the bottom and in the reverse direction by a wide bevelled portion 16' , the use of which will be set forth later. The centring area 26 as well as the spring and cavity 25 have not their centre line in registering relation to the vertical plane of symmetry X--X in FIG. 9 but are offset or shifted sidewards to lighten these parts and to make the manufacture and mounting or assembling easier.

Moreover the lock-bolt 10 is provided with a tongue or the like 15 the upper edge of which comes in abutment against the lower edge of the opening 11 of the stator. This abutment or stop 15, the spring 12 and its bearings are all located in the same vertical plane for imparting to the resilient reaction of the spring its full efficiency.

The body 1 carries at its rear end assembling holes such as 24 which may be tapped to receive mounting screws extending through the parts of the stationary frame (or of the door as the case may be) to be fitted with the lock.

The operation of the device thus described is easy to understand. It will be assumed that the door has been previously closed as shown in FIG. 8 and that it is desired to open same. To this end the push-button 1 is depressed and compresses the spring 12 until the bevel 4' bears upon the chamfer of the protrusion 21 of the lock-bolt 10 thereby forcing same downwards so that the lock-bolt is released or freed. The key may be dispensed with to reach this position shown in FIG. 10. Then the release of the push-button will release the lock-bolt. To carry out the full locking operation however the key should be inserted again as shown in FIG. 8 thereby causing the tumbler plates to be retracted and the barrel-shaped plug to rotate through 180.degree.. When removing the key and releasing the push-button, FIG. 12 shows that the bevel 4' comes in front of and below the bevel 16 of the lock-bolt 10 the outward extended position of which leaves a void or empty space large enough for possibly accommodating the prismatic end 5'. Thus owing to this arrangement and as shown in FIG. 11, the push-button 1 may be fully depressed or driven inwards through accidental engagement by the body of a passenger of the vehicle without in so far the lock-bolt 10 being caused to cease remaining in its bolt-clasp and without in so far the shutter being able to open. The first safety requirement set forth at the beginning of the specification is thus complied with.

Referring again to the position shown in FIG. 8, the key should be inserted again thereby causing the tumbler plates to be retracted and enabling the barrel-like plug and the push-button 1 to be rotated through 180.degree. : when withdrawing the key the retraction of the lock-bolt may be effected and the button may be pushed to come back to the position illustrated by FIG. 10.

The removal of the sharp angles may be carried out through a simple design to comply always with the first requirement which is fully met if the driver withdraws the key.

As to the second requirement it is complied with by the combination of two arrangements and of the lightening of the weight of the parts achieved:

a. through omission of the conventional bushing or sleeve between the barrel or rotor 1 and the body 3;

b. through lightening the weight of the lock-bolt 10 by making it shorter;

c. through thinning the prismatic end of the push-button 1;

d. through a side fastening of the body 3;

and by outer side recesses formed in the same body 3; and at last by the presence of the additional spring 22 directly opposing or resisting the depression of the button inwards through simple inertia or through contact in the case of the unlocked shutter or like closure panel.

It should be understood that the present invention is not at all limited to the forms of embodiments described and shown which have been given by way of example only. In particular it comprises all the means constituting technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if same are carried out according to the gist of the invention and used or put into practice within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A key-responsive safety lock with a movable lock-bolt biased by a spring to be mounted on a closure construction consisting of a movable closure panel and a stationary frame, said lock comprising a push-button having a ramp operating the retraction of said bolt against the action of said spring, said push-button forming a barrel-like cylindrical plug of the safety lock housed in a stator and accomodating tumbler means, said push-button being movable in rotation and translatory motion through direct contact with said stator, said stator being formed with a pair of grooves for receiving said tumbler means, said stator being directly secured to one of the two elements consisting of said closure panel and said stationary frame, said push-button being movable in rotation between two angular rotary positions wherein said tumbler plates and said grooves being aligned with one another, said lock-bolt comprising a protrusion engageable with said ramp so that said spring urging said lock-bolt back into its operative outward extending locking position serves at the same time the purpose through reaction of said protrusion on said ramp of moving said push-button back into its outward projecting position when this is allowed by the orientation of said push-button with respect to said grooves of said stator, wherein said ramp of said push-button is formed with a shoulder, whereas said stator has an intermediate partition wall situated between those stator portions in which said push-button and said lock-bolt are disposed and formed with a window serving to guide said push-button, said shoulder and one edge of said window being in abutting relationship in the one of said rotary positions of said push-button corresponding to the lock-bolt locking position thereof.

2. A lock according to claim 1 wherein said protrusion is situated in the center of said lock-bolt and is provided with slant edges at an angle matching with that of said ramp of said push-button and adapted to cooperate therewith.

3. A key-responsive safety lock with a movable lock-bolt biased by a spring to be mounted on a closure construction consisting of a movable closure panel and a stationary frame, said lock comprising a push-button having a ramp operating the retraction of said bolt against the action of said spring, said push-button forming a barrel-like cylindrical plug of the safety lock housed in a stator and accommodating tumbler means, said push-button being movable in rotation and translatory motion through direct contact with said stator, said stator being formed with a pair of grooves for receiving said tumbler means, said stator being directly secured to one of the two elements consisting of said closure panel and said stationary frame, said push-button being movable in rotation between two angular rotary positions wherein said tumbler plates and said grooves being aligned with one another, said lock-bolt comprising a protrusion engageable with said ramp so that said spring urging said lock-bolt back into its operative outward extending locking position serves at the same time the purpose through reaction of said protrusion on said ramp of moving said push-button back into its outward projecting position when this is allowed by the orientation of said push-button with respect to said grooves of said stator, wherein said lock-bolt comprises stop means formed by a laterally outwardly protrusion appendix and said stator comprises means constituted by a window provided in the corresponding wall of said stator, said appendix and one edge of said window being in abutting relationship when said lock-bolt is in its locking position.

4. A lock according to claim 3 wherein said lock-bolt with said protrusion and said stop means is made in one integral piece with cavities on either side of said protrusion.

5. A lock according to claim 4, wherein said spring is positioned below said protrusion with its upper part in said cavity undeneath said protrusion.

6. A lock according to claim 5, wherein there is provided a second helical spring coaxial with said push-button and urging same back into outward protruding position, the action of said second helical spring being thereby added to the reaction of said biasing spring on said lock-bolt.

7. A key-responsive safety lock with a movable lock-bolt biased by a spring to be mounted on a closure construction consisting of a movable closure panel and a stationary frame, said lock comprising a push-button having a ramp operating the retraction of said bolt against the action of said spring, said push-button forming a barrel-like cylindrical plug of the safety lock housed in a stator and accommodating tumbler means, said push-button being movable in rotation and translatory motion through direct contact with the said stator, said stator being formed with a pair of grooves for receiving said tumbler means, said stator being directly secured to one of the two elements consisting of said closure panel and said stationary frame, said push-button being movable in rotation between two angular rotary positions wherein said tumbler plates and said grooves being aligned with one another, said lock-bolt comprising a protrusion engageable with said ramp so that said spring urging said lock-bolt back into its operative outward extending locking position serves at the same time the purpose through reaction of said protrusion of said ramp of moving said push-button back into its outward projecting position when this is allowed by the orientation of said push-button with respect to said grooves of said stator, a second helical spring coaxial with said push-button and urging same back into outward protruding position being provided, wherein said lock-bolt is formed with a side nose, said lock-bolt biasing spring is offset with respect to the center line of said lock-bolt and bearing upon said side nose, a portion of said lock-bolt, lying below said protrusion of said lock-bolt, is shaped into a bevel at an angle mating with that of said ramp of said push-button so as to provide for the end of said push-button a housing when said push-button, if placed in the locking position of said key and if the latter is removed, may be depressed inwards against the action of said second spring.

8. A lock according to claim 7, wherein said lock-bolt includes a stop means cooperating with said stator to limit movement of said bolt in a locking direction and wherein said lock-bolt is made with said sidenose, said stop means and said protrusion in one integral piece.

9. A lock according to claim 7, wherein at the end of its stroke said push-button is stopped by the maximum compression of said helical spring.

10. A lock according to claim 7, wherein at the end of its stroke said push-button is stopped by the endwise engagement of said ramp with an end wall of said stator.