Removable Cylinder Lock

Abstract

A lock device includes a housing and a removable cylinder. The cylinder is retained in the housing by a retainer spring attached to the housing and engageable with channels defined in the cylinder. A tool may be inserted through slots in the housing to engage and displace the retainer spring for removal of the cylinder. The cylinder may thus be removed from the housing and altered, repaired or replaced.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect, the present invention relates to an improved lock device and, more particularly, to a lock device comprised of a separable cylinder assembly and housing assembly.

During the manufacture of furniture, for example, a lock device is often provided for a desk, chest or the like. Generally, it is necessary to attach the lock device to the furniture piece prior to finishing the furniture since attachment of the lock device requires various wood working steps such as mortising. On the other hand, it is often desirable to postpone attachment of a lock device until after the furniture is finished. This is desirable in order to avoid damaging the lock device or its operation by coating it with some type of finish such as paint or varnish.

Thus, it is desirable to have a lock device which can be attached to furniture in such a manner that the lock mechanism itself and, in particular, the internal workings of a tumbler mechanism will not be exposed to the furniture finishing process. Simultaneously, it is desirable to have the exposed parts of the lock housing available for finishing along with the finishing of the furniture piece. Finally, it is desirable to complete all wood working operations on the furniture prior to attachment of lock hardware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect, the present invention comprises a lock device having a cylinder assembly and a housing assembly which are separable from one another. In this manner, the housing assembly may be mortised in furniture, for example, while the cylinder assembly may be retained separately from the housing assembly for later insertion or attachment to the housing assembly.

The housing assembly includes a spring retainer mechanism which is normally biased to engage and retain the cylinder assembly. Access for a tool is provided in the housing assembly so that the tool may be positioned to bias the spring retainer means out of engagement with the cylinder assembly. In this manner, the cylinder assembly may be either inserted or removed from cooperative attachment with the housing assembly.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a lock device wherein spring retainer means is positioned in a housing assembly for engagement with a removable cylinder assembly, the spring retainer means being movable and disengageable from the cylinder assembly only by a tool inserted into the housing assembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a removable cylinder assembly and housing assembly wherein the cylinder assembly includes a mechanism for limiting the amount of rotation of the cylinder plug. In this manner, it is possible to provide a plurality of types of locks depending upon the type of bolt in the housing assembly as well as the particular type of cylinder assembly utilized.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a lock device having a removable cylinder assembly that may be easily attached or detached from a housing assembly which is mortised or surface mounted. In this manner, repair, replacement or exchange of a cylinder assembly may be effected with a minimum of difficulty.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawings comprised of the following FIGURES:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the lock device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front plan view of the lock device of FIG. 1 mounted in a piece of wood furniture or the like;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the improved lock device of FIG. 1 illustrating the manner in which it is mounted in wood panel;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the lock device illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the lock device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the interior of the lock device of the present invention taken substantially along the line 6--6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lock device of the present invention taken substantially along the line 7--7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is an elevational, cross-sectional view substantially identical to the view of FIG. 6 illustrating the cylinder assembly removal tool position to permit removal of the cylinder assembly;

FIG. 9 is a side, cross-sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 8 taken substantially along the line 9--9;

FIG. 10 is a side, cross-sectional view of the cylinder assembly of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9 illustrating in greater detail the plug and cylinder construction utilized to limit the degree of rotation of the plug relative to the cylinder;

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the cylinder assembly of FIG. 10 which is partially cut away to illustrate in greater detail the mechanism for limiting the degree of plug rotation;

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional end view of the mechanism for limiting plug rotation shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional plan view illustrating an alternative embodiment of the mechanism for limiting plug rotation;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 13 taken substantially along the line 14--14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is still another partial, cross-sectional plan view illustrating another alternative embodiment of the plug rotation limitation mechanism;

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional view of the mechanism illustrated in FIG. 15 taken substantially along the line 16--16;

FIG. 17 is a partial cross-sectional view of a third alternative embodiment of the mechanism for limiting plug rotation;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the interior of the housing similar to FIG. 7 illustrating an alternative dead lock bolt construction embodiment for the housing assembly of the invention; and

FIG. 19 is an end view of the housing illustrating another dead lock bolt configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The lock device of the present invention is generally illustrated in FIG. 1 which is an exploded perspective view of the various assemblies of the lock device. The lock device is comprised of a housing assembly 10 and a cylinder assembly 12. The cylinder assembly 12 is operated by a key 14 to move a bolt 16 which is part of the housing assembly 10.

Typically, the housing assembly 10 will be mortised in a wood panel 18 so that the bolt 16 is properly positioned to engage a strike positioned on a frame member (not shown) of the furniture. The cylinder assembly 12 is inserted through a cylindrical opening 20 in the wood panel 18 and is joined to the housing assembly 10 in a manner which is to be described below. Thus, the assembly lock device will appear as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4.

A tool 22 is fashioned to engage a retaining mechanism within the housing assembly 10 and move the retaining mechanism so that the cylinder assembly 12 may be removed for repair or replacement. The tool 22 is also used to move the retaining mechanism whenever a cylinder assembly 12 is being placed in the housing assembly 10.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the cylinder assembly 12 and housing assembly 10 incorporated in a wood panel 18. The wood panel 18 is mortised and the housing assembly 10 is attached thereto by means of fastening screws 24, 25 and 26 extending through openings 34, 35 and 36 shown in FIG. 6. The cylinder assembly 12 is inserted into an opening 21 in FIG. 1 of the housing assembly 10 and retained there by a spring mechanism. Opening 21 includes keyways 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d cooperative with key projections 23a- d respectively of cylinder 12 to hold the cylinder 12 in a non-rotatable position in housing 10. A bolt actuating projection (not shown in FIGS. 2-4) of cylinder assembly 12 is actuated in response to movement of a key 14 inserted in the cylinder assembly 12 to move the bolt 16 into and out of engagement with a strike (not shown).

The internal construction of the housing assembly 10 and cylinder assembly 12 is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The housing assembly 10 includes a box 28 having a rear wall 30 and a circumferential wall 32. Wall 30 includes a plurality of openings 34, 35 and 36 respectively for receipt of screws 24, 25 and 26 respectively. A bolt receiving chamber 38 is defined by the walls 30 and 32 on the interior of the box. A cap or plate 40 fits over the chamber 38 to retain a bolt 16 within the chamber 38. Opening 21 is defined in cap or plate 40.

In the construction illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the bolt 16 is termed a spring bolt. Thus, unless otherwise noted, the bolt 16 will be termed a spring bolt 16. The spring bolt 16 includes a projecting portion 42 and normally extends through opening 44 in wall 32 for engagement with a strike. The bolt 16 also includes transversely extending arms 46 and 48 that project outward from the axis of normal movement of the bolt 16. The arms 46 and 48 include a countersunk bore or cut out 46a and 48a to cooperatively engage springs 50 and 52 respectively. Springs 50 and 52 are positioned by protrustions 54 and 56 of cap 40 respectively on shelves or protrusions 58 and 60 respectively of housing 10.

The bolt 16 may be moved within the chamber 36 to project or retract portion 42 through opening 44. The bolt 16 is guided by chamber walls 62 and 64 which are parallel to the direction of bolt movement. Walls 62 and 64 are recessed relative to the projecting arms 46 and 48 so that the arms 46 and 48 can freely engage the springs 50 and 52 and move to compress the springs 50 and 52.

The bolt 16 also includes a center depression 66 which provides a camway for a driving cam mechanism associated with the cylinder assembly 12. Referring in particular to FIG. 5, the cylinder assembly 12 includes a cylinder 68 and a rotatable plug 70. The key 14 may be inserted in a proper keyhole in the plug 70 to actuate a tumbler mechanism which, in turn, permits rotation of the plug 70 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The rotatable plug 70 includes an end projection 72 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7. The projection 72 fits within the depression 66 as illustrated in FIG. 6 and engages side walls of the depression 66 to thereby effect movement of the bolt 16 against the biasing force of spring 50 and 52.

The shape of the depression may be defined to effect any desired movement of the bolt 16. In other words, the depression 66 may be a channel or a portion of a channel rather than a substantially square depression as illustrated in FIG. 6. The shape of the depression 16 in FIG. 6 as shown provides for the drawer, right-hand, or left-hand assemblies when combined with a properly set cylinder assembly.

One alternative depression shape is illustrated in FIG. 18 with its required depression shape for use on drawers. FIG. 19 illustrates a dead bolt housing assembly with its required depression shape for use on either right or left hand applications.

The mechanism for retaining the cylinder assembly 12 within the housing assembly is also illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. The retention mechanism depends upon the cooperative structure of the cylinder 68 and a retainer spring 78 in housing assembly 10. That is, the plate or cap 40 includes the opening 21 through which the cylinder assembly 12 projects. The inner end of the cylinder assembly 12 and, in particular, the cylinder 68 includes four channels 74, 75, 76 and 77 which are circumferentially spaced at equal intervals about the outer surface of the cylinder 68.

The cylinder retainer spring 78 includes a center section 80 which fits about an annular projection 82 in the chamber 38. Projection 82 also defines the opening 35 for screw 25. Opposite sides 84 and 86 of the retainer spring 78 are held in position by studs 88 and 90 respectively projecting from rear wall 30 into the chamber 38. The sides 84 and 86 may be elastically deformed or spread so that the cylinder 68 and, in particular, the channels 74 and 75 can be positioned over sides 84 and 86 respectively. Upon release, the sides 84 and 86 fit in channels 74 and 75 respectively to hold cylinder 68. The sides 84 and 86 terminate with horizontal extensions 94 and 96 respectively which are positioned over slots 98 and 100 respectively as seen in FIG. 6.

The retainer spring 78 is operated in the following fashion. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, tool 22 includes first and second projecting tabs 102 and 104 which are spaced a distance equal to the distance between slots 98 and 100. The tabs 102 may thus be inserted into the slots 98 and 100 for engagement with the retainer spring 78 and, in particular, extensions 98 and 100. The tool 22 which includes a manual pressure plate 106 may then be depressed to flex the retainer spring 78 to the phantom position illustrated in FIG. 8. When the spring 78 is flexed to this position, the sides 84 and 86 are disengaged from the channels 74 and 75. Thus, the cylinder assembly 12 may be withdrawn from the housing assembly 10 provided the retainer spring 78 remains in the depressed or phantom position shown in FIG. 8.

It is to be noted that a replacement cylinder assembly can be positioned in the cylinder housing 10 only if the tool 22 is used to depress the retainer spring 78. Thus, the tool 22 is used both for removal of a cylinder housing 12 and replacement or repositioning of a cylinder housing 12 within the housing assembly 10.

FIGS. 10-14 illustrate in greater detail the construction of the cylinder assembly 12. As mentioned previously, the cylinder assembly 12 includes a cylinder 68 having a rotatable plug 70 positioned therein. The construction of pin tumblers 108 and their cooperative relationship with the key 14 is known to those skilled in the art. The cylinder assembly 12 of the present invention does, however, include some additional features primarily relating to the structure to control the amount of and sense of rotation permitted by the plug 70.

That is, the plug 70 includes a spiral groove 110. The groove 110 extends for a single complete revolution about the plug 70. First and second slideways 112 and 114 are defined in the cylinder housing adjacent the groove 110 parallel to the rotational axis of the plug 70. A ball 116, 118 is positioned in the groove 110 and simultaneously within one or both of the slideways 112 and 114 to limit the degree and sense of rotation of the plug 70 within the cylinder 68.

It is possible to place a single ball 116 in FIG. 12 or two balls as at 116 and 118 in FIG. 16 in the groove 110. FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate the arrangement for a single ball 116 in groove 110 as provided in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4. FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another possible arrangement utilizing a single ball 116. FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate still another arrangement of utilizing two balls 116 and 118 to control the degree and sense of rotation of plug 70. FIG. 17 illustrates another possible arrangement using a single ball 116 which is substantially the same as the configuration of FIGS. 13 and 14.

With a single ball, it is possible to have a 360.degree. rotation of the plug 70 within the cylinder 68. That is, the ball 116 will slide transversely in the slideway 112 and simultaneously within the groove 110. When the end of the groove has been reached, rotation of the plug is no longer possible.

In the embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 10, 11 and 12, the single ball 116 is positioned at the mid point of the groove 110 and in slideway 114. Consequently, the key 14 which is in the vertical position when plug 70 is positioned in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 10-12 can be rotated 180.degree. clockwise or counterclockwise to thereby retract portion 42 of bolt 16. Of course, key 14 cannot be removed when the bolt is retracted.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14, a single ball 118 is positioned in groove 112 adjacent one end of groove 110. The plug 70, which is in the orientation illustrated by FIG. 10, can be rotated a full 360.degree. revolution in the clockwise direction. The ball 118 will then be in the position illustrated in FIG. 17 and the plug 70 may be rotated a full 360.degree. in the clockwise direction.

The single ball configuration of FIGS. 13, 14 and 17 is used in combination with a dead bolt, wherein there is no normal biasing of the bolt to a projected position, and the key is to be moved 360.degree. for both locking and unlocking the bolt. The single ball configuration is also used in spring bolt versions of the invention since key removal takes place only at one end of rotation.

Whichever application is being considered, the plug must be set within the cylinder assembly for proper lock function. The simplest procedure for setting the plug for operation of any bolt assembly is to rotate the plug within the cylinder in the opposite direction of that required for operating the bolt from locked to unlocked position, then insert the cylinder assembly into the bolt housing assembly using the tool as detailed previously.

The configuration of a groove 110 and two balls 116 and 118 within associated slideways 112 and 114 is illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. As can be seen, the two balls 116 and 118 are utilized to limit the amount of rotation 180.degree.. Depending upon the original orientation of the spiral groove 110 relative to the slideways 112 and 114 when the balls are inserted therein, it is possible to provide a construction which is limited to left-hand or right-hand, that is, clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the plug 70.

For example, referring to FIG. 15, the groove 110 terminates at the forward end of slideway 112 and the middle portion of the groove 110 is positioned in the middle of slideway 114. Consequently, the plug 70 can be rotated only in the counterclockwise sense as viewed in FIG. 16. If ball 118 were placed at the opposite end of groove 110 in the phantom ball position 119, then clockwise rotation of 180.degree. only would be possible.

To assemble the two ball configuration, a ball is initially inserted in the groove 110 and slideway 114. Then, the plug 70 is rotated opposite the direction required by the user until it reaches a stop position as effected by the ball 116. A ball 118 is then added to the other slideway 112. In this manner, the degree and sense of rotation of the plug 70 are determined.

Heretofore the description has concerned a spring bolt 16. Other types of bolts are possible. A typical dead bolt construction as utilized with the present invention is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 18. The dead bolt 120 includes projecting arms 122 and 124 one of which engages spring 126. Spring 126 provides a biasing force perpendicular to the axis of movement of the bolt 120. In other words, the spring 126 provides a friction force against the bolt 120 which tends to hold the bolt 120 in the position in which it is placed. The dead bolt 120 is not biased to any particular projected or retracted position.

Rather than a depression 66 as illustrated for the spring bolt 16, the dead bolt 120 includes a channel 130 adapted to engage the projection 72 of the plug 70. The projection 72 thus engages the channel 130 and positively drives or retracts the bolt 120 into a projected or a retracted position. The construction of the retainer spring 78 for the dead bolt configuration of the invention is, however, the same as previously described for the spring bolt 16 device.

As can be appreciated by reviewing the foregoing disclosure, it is possible to select various combinations of springs, bolts and shape depressions within the bolt to effect various lock actions.

For example, it is possible to utilize other shapes of channels associated with a bolt to provide a right or left hand dead bolt door housing assembly. Therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A lock device comprising, in combination:

a housing assembly; and

a removable cylinder assembly;

said housing assembly including a housing with a chamber and a bolt opening, a bolt slidably mounted in said chamber, said bolt having at least one portion which may project through said bolt opening to engage a strike, said housing also including a cover over the chamber to retain the bolt in the housing, said cover including an opening for receipt of one end of said cylinder assembly;

said cylinder assembly including a cylinder and a rotatable plug in said cylinder, said plug including a projection at the end of the cylinder assembly inserted in said housing for engaging said bolt and driving said bolt in response to operation of said cylinder assembly in said housing;

said bolt including projecting arms extending normal to the direction of bolt travel, and also including a channel for receipt of said plug projection, whereby rotation of said plug and projection effect movement of the bolt;

spring means in the chamber biased against at least one bolt arm;

a bifurcated spring blade mounted in said housing and extending into the chamber to engage slots in the end of the cylinder inserted in the housing and hold said cylinder assembly when in said housing; and

access openings in said housing for receipt of a tool to move said spring blade out of engagement with the cylinder slots to permit insertion of or removal of said cylinder means from said housing.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said bolt comprises a spring bolt and said spring means comprise coil springs engaging said arms to bias the bolt to an extended position through the bolt opening of said housing.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said bolt comprises a dead bolt and said spring means comprise a leaf spring frictionally engaging said dead bolt to hold said dead bolt in either a projected or a retracted position.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said cylinder assembly includes means for limitation of rotation of the plug relative to the cylinder of said assembly.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said means for limiting rotation comprise at least one cooperative member simultaneously engaged with portions of said plug and said cylinder.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said means for limiting rotation comprises a ball member positioned simultaneously within a slideway associated with one of the other of said plug and cylinder and a spiral groove associated with the other of said plug and said cylinder.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said ball member comprises a single ball member which limits the rotation of said plug to 360.degree..

8. The device of claim 6 wherein said cylinder assembly includes first and second balls simultaneously positioned within said groove and first and second separate, parallel slideways.

9. A cylinder assembly of the type used in cooperation with locking mechanisms, comprising in combination a cylinder with a rotatable plug therein, said plug and cylinder including a key actuated tumbler mechanism for locking and unlocking the plug relative to the cylinder, said plug having an end projection for engagement with a bolt to thereby drive said bolt, at least one slideway defined in one of said plug and said cylinder and a circumferential groove associated with the other of said plug and cylinder, said groove and slideway having positioned therein simultaneously at least one connecting member, said groove having ends which in cooperation with said connecting member engage the slideway to limit the amount of rotation of said plug whenever the tumbler mechanism is key actuated, whereby the position of the bolt is controlled in response to rotational limits imparted to the plug end projection.