Lock With Multiple Bolt Action

Abstract

A lock assembly utilized to lock a door or the like in which the bolt mechanism thereof includes a pair of dog members functioning to provide a positive lock in the extended position thereof. Synchronous movement of the dog members is provided and maintained by the simple expedient of a spirally wound spring positioned in bores provided in each of the dog members.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 570,851 filed Aug. 8, 1966 and now abandoned.

Description

This invention relates generally to lock assemblies and more particularly to door locks having physical characteristics enabling them to function in narrow style doors.

The term "narrow style doors" as used throughout the present specification and claims refers to metal (aluminum) doors the frame members of which are especially thin--approximately 2 inches in width or less. The internal mechanisms of door locks presently available are extremely bulky and complicated precluding their use in doors of this type.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to disclose a door lock which may be mounted in a narrow style door.

Another object is to disclose a three-point door lock in which major components operate in planes parallel to the facing on which the lock is mounted or substantially so with the exception of the bolt member.

Another object is to disclose a three-point door lock which is entirely free of cast parts and meshing gears.

Another object is to disclose an improved three-point door lock the operating components of which are of extremely rugged construction substantially free of malfunctions and is economical to manufacture.

Although the characteristic features of the present invention are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the invention itself, also the manner in which it may be carried out, will be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a narrow style door embodying a lock assembly of the type disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lock disclosed herein, the lock being shown in its mounted position in the frame of a narrow style door--the frame of latter being shown in phantom construction.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the lock of FIG. 1 showing particularly the construction, relation and operation of the arm operating the bolt assembly, portions of the lock frame being broken away and other portions omitted to clarify the action of the bolt assemblies' operating arm.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side elevational views of the lock assembly of FIG. 1 in its retracted and extended positions, respectively, portions of the side plate being broken away to better show the construction, relation and operation of the components comprising the lock assembly.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the bolt member per se of the lock assembly as disclosed herein with an outside plate thereof removed showing particularly the construction, relation and operation of the dog members mounted therein.

Referring to the drawings and especially FIGS. 1 and 2, a lock assembly 11 of the type described herein is shown in its mounted relation in the frame 10 of a narrow style door assembly 12. The door assembly is in turn mounted in a door frame assembly 14 having an inner facing 15. The assembly 11 constitutes a three-point lock in that it provides securing means at three points, viz., side, top and bottom as indicated by the numerals 16, 17 and 18, respectively.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 3, here the mechanism for operating the bolt assembly 19 is shown. By referring to this drawing it will be seen that the bolt assembly is located within a U-shaped frame member 21 open along its aft edge as mounted in the door frame. The bolt assembly 19 (FIG. 6) includes a frame member, a pair of dog members and a helically wound coil spring 22, 23 and 24, respectively. The frame member 22 includes a pair of plates 26 and 27, the plate member 27 (not shown) being substantially rectangular in configuration while the member 26 has a projection end 25 formed thereon. The plates 26 and 27 are spaced apart by means of rivets 28 and has the aforementioned pair of dog members 23 pivotally mounted therebetween. The dog members 23 are shaped substantially as shown in FIG. 6 and function in a manner to be described as the disclosure progresses.

The bolt assembly 19 is mounted for sliding movement in lateral directions in the frame member 21. Sliding movement is directly imparted to the assembly 19 at the trailing end thereof by a rivet or pin 29 moving in slots 32 provided in the sidewalls of the member 21. Pin 29 extends through an aperture 31 provided in the projecting end of the plate 26 and the ends thereof are positioned in the aforementioned slots 32, the slots 32 have an opposed relation in the sides of the frame member 21 and extend laterally thereof. A rocker arm member 33 is mounted in the frame member 21 for pivotal movement about a pin 34 the ends of which are also secured in the sides of the frame member 21. Carried by a slot 36, provided longitudinally in the upper end of the rocker arm 33 (FIG. 3), is a sluglike reciprocatively supported plunger member 37 having a cylindrical projection 38 provided on one side thereof, the member 37 being urged upwardly (FIG. 3) by a helically wound spring 39.

In the assembled relation of the aforementioned bolt-actuating mechanism, the plunger 37 is positioned in the slot 36 for movement along the length of the rocker arm 33, with the projection 38 received and operating in a V-shaped slot 41 provided in a sidewall of the frame member 21. The slot 41 defines initial, final and intermediate portions as indicated by the numerals 42, 43 and 44, respectively, in FIG. 3 corresponding to initial, final and intermediate positions of the rocker arm 33, the initial and final positions of the angulated slot 41 constituting branches which diverge in a direction away from the pivot 34 of the rocker arm 33. A longitudinally extending slot 46 is provided in the lower end of the rocker arm 33. As assembled the slot 46 receives and pivots on the pin 29. It will now be apparent that the bolt assembly 19 will be moved between retracted and extended positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 4, respectively, as the arm 33 is actuated between its initial and final positions.

The arm 33 is actuated by means of a conventional lock cylinder 47 including an offset cylinder plug 48 upon which a cam member 49 is mounted. The arm member 33 is actuated between its initial and final positions by imparting clockwise or counterclockwise rotational movement to the plug 48 in a well-known manner, accordingly it will also be apparent that the bolt assembly 19 will be moved between its retracted and extended positions in response to movement of the arm 33.

The dog members 23 are shaped and mounted side by side between the plate members 26 and 27 substantially as shown in FIG. 6, extending along the direction of movement of the plate members. Specifically they are mounted for pivotal movement about the aforementioned rivets 28 located intermediate their respective leading and trailing ends. In the assembled relationship of the dog members in the assembly 19, opposing bores 48 are provided in the dog members 23 extending substantially radially from their pivotal points. The bores 48 have the aforementioned spring 24 mounted therein functioning in a manner explained presently.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be seen that vertical movement providing securing means at the aforementioned upper and lower points 17 and 18, respectively, is provided by members 51 and 54 and bellcranks 52 and 53.

Considering the first downward movement of the member 51, the bellcrank 52 is mounted intermediate its ends on a side of the frame member 21. A slot 56 is provided in one end of the bellcrank 52 while a cylindrical projection 57 is carried at its other end. The bellcrank 52 is positioned so that the pin 29 is received and operates in the slot 56, the projection 57 is received and operates in a laterally extending slot 58 provided in the member 51. Vertical relation of the member 51 with respect to the member 21, also vertical movement thereof, is achieved and maintained by a projection 59 provided thereon operating in a vertically positioned slot 61 in a side of the frame member 21. It will now be seen that the member 51 will be urged between its extended and retracted positions at such time as the bolt assembly is urged between its retracted and extended positions as shown in FIGS. 5 and 4.

A bolt member 62 is carried by the outer end of the member 51, the member 62 carries a push-pull rod (not shown) whereby the door may be secured at the bottom (point 18) in response to urging the bolt assembly 19 to its extended position and resulting rotational movement of the bellcrank 52.

By referring to the above description, it will be seen that the member 54 is actuated between an extended and retracted position substantially as the member 51. A push-pull rod (not shown) is provided in connection with the member 54 functioning to secure the door at the aforementioned point 17 at such time as the bolt assembly is urged to its extended or locked position. Inasmuch as the member 54 operates substantially the same as member 51 it is believed its construction and operation will be understood and further discussion in this respect is believed unnecessary.

The components of the lock assembly 11 having been described a better understanding of their construction, relation and manner of operation will be forthcoming from the following description of the assemblies operation.

Assuming that the bolt assembly 19, also the aforementioned push-pull rods (not shown), are in their retracted positions. The bolt assembly is urged to its extended position by imparting pivotal movement of the rocker arm 33 lower end in a clockwise direction (FIG. 3), this movement being imparted by rotation of the cam member 49. As the cam member 49 contacts the arm 33 (plunger 37) the spring 39 is compressed and the projection 38 is urged along the left leg of the slot 41 as viewed in FIG. 3. As soon as the projection 38 passes the intermediate portion 44 of the slot 41, the spring 39 takes over and the arm 33 is urged to its final position indicated by the numeral 43. As the arm 33 reaches its final position, simultaneously-- or substantially so-- the bolt assembly 19 assumes its extended position (FIGS. 3 and 4).

In the extended position of the bolt assembly 19, the assembly 19 extends through aligned rectangular openings 20 and 30 in the face plate 63 and the inner portion or wall of the door facing 14. As the bolt assembly 19 approaches its full extended position, the laterally projecting trailing ends of the dog members 23 contact opposite sides of the aperture in the front edge or wall of the member 21. Thus the leading ends of the dog members 23, which are now on the far side of the facing 14, are urged outwardly to project behind the facing 14 at opposite sides of aperture 30, securing the door in a closed position as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The spring 24 functions as a coordinating member between the pair of dog members 23 synchronizing their operation and movement. Pivotal movement of one dog member imparts synchronous opposite pivotal movement to the other dog member through the spring, as if the dog members were coupled by gears, but meshing gear teeth or similar more expensive means are not required. In retraction of the bolt assembly camming pressure on the leading ends of the dog members by facing 14 ensures the return of the dog members to their nonlatching position (FIG. 6).

Also simultaneously-- or substantially so-- as the bolt assembly 19 is urged to its extended position, the members 51 and 54 are also urged to their extended positions as described above. The aforementioned push-pull rods (not shown) attached to the members 51 and 54 are caused to enter apertures provided in the door frame 14 above the door and in a structural member located below the door. Thus an inexpensive and efficient door lock is disclosed providing three-point securing means at the side, top and bottom as indicated by the numerals 16, 17 and 18.

While in order to comply with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise the preferred form of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. In combination, a closure supported for movement relative to a frame and having a lock assembly therein adapted to lock the closure to the frame, said closure and said frame having a pair of walls provided with apertures adapted to be aligned when the closure is closed relative to the frame, said lock assembly having a bolt adapted to be extended and retracted through said apertures to lock and unlock the closure relative to the frame, said bolt comprising a plate supported for reciprocative movement within the closure and having a pair of dogs extending along the direction of movement of the plate and pivotally supported upon the plate intermediate their leading and trailing ends in side-by-side relation, and means comprising a coil spring extending transversely between the pivots of said dogs for coupling said dogs for synchronous opposite pivotal movement, the trailing ends of said dogs projecting laterally from said plate and engaging said closure wall at opposite sides of the aperture thereof when the bolt is extended, the leading ends of said dogs projecting laterally of the plate in response to engagement of the trailing ends with said closure wall so as to project behind said frame wall at opposite ends of the aperture thereof when the bolt is extended.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said spring is a helical spring with its ends seated in bores extending radially from the pivots of said dogs, respectively.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said plate is pivotally connected at the trailing end thereof to one end of a rocker arm, said rocker arm being pivotally supported upon said closure and having its opposite end adapted to be moved by a cam rotatably supported upon said closure.

4. The combination of claim 3, said opposite end of said rocker arm having a spring-biased plunger reciprocatively supported thereon for movement along the length thereof and adapted to engage said cam, said plunger having a projection movable in an angulated slot upon said closure, said slot having branches which diverge in a direction away from the pivot of said rocker arm.

5. The combination of claim 4, said one end of said rocker arm being pivotally connected to one end of a pair of cranks, the opposite ends of which are pivotally connected to a pair of push rods, respectively, supported on said closure for extending and retracting movement relative to said frame in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of said bolt, said cranks being pivotally supported upon said closure intermediate their ends.

6. The combination of claim 5, the pivotal connection of said rocker arm and said plate being supported for reciprocative movement in a slot provided upon said closure and in slots provided upon said cranks.

7. The combination of claim 6, the pivotal connections of said cranks to said push rods including reciprocative connections between said cranks and said push rods, respectively.