Kick-proof Access Control Handle

Abstract

A kick-proof access control handle mounted on a locker door or the like which permits bypassing the primary locking means to gain entrance to the locker, having an obstructing means carried entirely within a kick-proof handle means fixedly mounted on the door and movable with respect to the handle means when an access locking means is moved to an unlocked position, to permit the primary locking means and the latching means to be moved with it, as a unit, relative to the door to disengage the latching means from engagement with catch means mounted on the locker assembly to gain access to the locker without opening the primary locking means.

Description

This invention generally relates to improvements in locker handles and locks for lockers and more specifically is directed to a unique kick-proof handle and locking arrangement particularly adapted to permit authorized access to a locker, even though it is locked.

Locker facilities are commonly found in schools, factories and other institutions where it is desirable and necessary to provide a secure place for storing clothing and personal effects. While such facilities must be constructed so as to prevent intrusion by unauthorized persons, it is often necessary, for various reasons, for authorized persons to quickly gain access to a locked locker. Such access is normally accomplished by either providing access directly through the primary lock by combination-key operated padlocks or by recording duplicate keys or lock combinations, or by a secondary access locking means such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,508,423 to Stanley F. Jackes et al., issued Apr. 28, 1970. The former method requires a complex, time consuming task of administering and distributing padlocks and maintaining separate and tagged keys as well as changing of locks from one period of time and one owner to the other. The latter alternative, which has proved much more advantageous and commercially successful, involves the use of a secondary access locking means independent from the primary locking means which can be operated by a master key to open the locker door when the primary locking means is still in locked position.

Though the invention taught by Jackes et al. has solved several of the major problems of alternative locker access, it still has several disadvantages from the standpoint of durability and manufacturing efficiency. Jackes teaches an access control lock of such design that the handle is movable with respect to the door. While such a design may be sufficient in lockers which receive minimal use or little abuse, it has been found that in lockers placed in institutions such as schools, the doors and/or handles are subject to kicking, prying and general banging, and any locker handle which is movable is liable, under such conditions, to become misaligned, bent or even pried off the door. Such a handle then may become useless and may even prevent the door itself from being opened or closed since its misadjustment may affect the operation of the latching means.

Another drawback, evident in FIGS. 2 and 9 of Jackes et al, is that the installation of the control handle taught by Jackes requires the stamping of an unusually-shaped elongated opening 30 in the locker door. The obstructing means 27 must extend through the openings stamped in the door and be movable within a particular area in the elongated opening. The stamping of an unusual opening is inefficient from a manufacturing standpoint and requires more time than a simple rectangular slot. Such particular movement always increases the possibility of mechanical malfunction or damage by abuse. Moreover, the handle in Jackes et al. is attached directly to the locking rod so that any forces exerted on the handle will be transferred to the rod, possibly damaging the entire latching apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The kick-proof access control handle of this invention provides a means of bypassing a primary locking means to gain access to the interior of a locker, while being mounted so as to reduce damage to the handle, latching means and locker due to abuse, and being of a design which permits simple and quick installation. This access control handle achieves these advantages and overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by a kick-proof handle means fixedly mounted on the locker door and having mounted for slidable movement, within its perimeter, a slide means attached to a connecting arm means extending through an opening in the locker door to engage and move locking rod means which engages catch means on the locker frame to latch the door to the frame. An obstructing means is carried in the handle means for movement relative thereto and cooperates with the primary locking means to ordinarily prevent movement of the slide means relative to the handle and the door, thereby preventing unlatching of the door. An access locking means having a means to bypass the primary locking means carried in the upper portion of the kick-proof handle is operable to an unlocked position such that the means to bypass is rotated with respect to the handle to allow the obstructing means and, consequently, the slide means and primary locking means to be moved relative to the handle means and the door to unlatch the door and permit its opening even though the primary locking means remains locked.

The obstructing means is contained and moves completely within the perimeter of the kick-proof handle means, between the sides of the slide means, and does not extend through the door at all. When the access locking means is in locked position, the obstructing means engages the means to bypass the primary locking means, preventing all movement. When the access locking means is moved to unlocked position, the means to bypass is rotated to bring a slot formed therein into alignment with the obstructing means, permitting the obstructing means to be moved upward into the slot and to allow the slide means and primary locking means to be likewise moved upward to move the locking rod and unlatch the door.

Since the obstructing means is carried entirely within the handle and does not need to be moved relative to any unusually configured opening formed in the door to permit movement of a portion of the handle, the openings in the door formed for the mounting of the access control handle of this invention may be simply rectangular slots and holes. A simple vertical rectangular slot may be formed to receive the connecting arm means which engages the locking rod mounted on the locker frame. Thus, a new or existing locker door requires no special manufacture or specially stamped plate to permit use of the access control handle of this invention.

There are no exposed parts of this kick-proof access control handle susceptible to damage which might prevent the continued satisfactory operation of either the primary locking means, the access locking means, or the latching and unlatching of the door. All moving parts are contained within the kick-proof handle means and are not even accessible from the inside of the locker door.

The present invention is of simple construction, thereby effectively reducing the cost of manufacture and permitting it to be incorporated into existing or new locker systems. The present design facilitates easy assembly and eliminates extensive machining of parts because of liberal tolerances afforded by its unique yet simple operation.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel access system for a locker which includes a means permitting bypassing of the primary locking means to allow authorized personnel to gain access to the locker even though the primary locking means is in locked position.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel access locking arrangement which is operable in conjunction with a kick-proof locker handle means to assure continued operation of both the primary and access locking systems despite severe abuse to the handle means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a kick-proof access control handle in which all parts of the access locking arrangement permitting access to the locker when the primary locking means is in locked condition are carried within a kick-proof handle means and are therefore not exposed to abuse and resulting damage.

It is also another object of this invention to provide a kick-proof access control handle which is readily adaptable to mounting on locker doors.

Additional objects other than those specifically stated will become apparent upon reference to the drawings which illustrate a representative embodiment and the detailed description which follows.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the kick-proof access control handle of this invention shown mounted on the front face of a locker door;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the kick-proof access control handle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the kick-proof access control handle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the kick-proof access control handle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the kick-proof access control handle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the kick-proof access control handle shown in FIG. 1, as seen through the locker door;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the kick-proof access control handle shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the openings necessary to mount the handle on the locker door, and additionally showing a locking rod which is movable with respect to the door to engage a catch means mounted on the locker frame;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevational view of the kickproof access control handle shown in FIG. 1, illustrating the handle as removed from the locker door; and,

FIG. 9 is a side elevational cross-sectional view of the kick-proof access control handle shown in FIG. 1, additionally showing the handle in relation to a locking rod movable to latch and unlatch the locker door.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the kick-proof access control handle is shown generally at 10. This access control handle 10 has a handle means 12 which is mounted in fixed position on the locker door, shown in fragmented view at 14, by an upper pair of hook holding means 60, which are received over the lower edge of a horizontal slot 61 in door 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Handle means 12 is attached at its lower portion by a boss 62 which is received through one of a pair of circular openings 69 formed in door 14. The entire handle means 12 is then held firmly adjacent the door by a single screw 64 which threadedly engages a lower portion of the handle means 12 through opening 69. In this manner, the handle means 12 may be installed in a fixed, non-movable or kick-proof position on the door. The extremely simple construction results in a handle means 12 which may be kicked or severely abused without being moved itself or in any way affecting the operation of the apparatus used to latch or open the locker door.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the kick-proof handle means 12 also has a recessed center channel 38 which carries a slide means 18 for slidable vertical movement thereon. The slide means 18 consists of two generally rectangular sides 17 and 17' held in spaced relationship by a bridge 15 at their end nearest the locker door 14. These opposite sides 17 and 17' are spaced so that they lie on either side of the recessed center channel 38 and are positioned for sliding movement therealong. The slide means 18 has shackle openings 19 and 19' formed in each of its sides or legs to receive the shackle 21 of a primary locking means or padlock 22 as shown in FIG. 8. As will be seen, the other elements in the handle means also have corresponding openings to receive the shackle 21 of padlock 22. The slide means 18 has a connecting arm means 20 fixedly attached to it for unitary movement with it. This connecting arm means 20 extends through an elongated vertical slot 68 which is stamped or formed in the door to receive it. The slot 68 is of such length that it permits the connecting arm means 20 to be moved vertically within it upon movement of slide means 18.

The kick-proof handle means 12 also has preferably mounted in its upper portion, an access locking means shown generally at 30 in FIG. 7. This access locking means 30 includes a means to bypass the primary locking means or locking plug 32 which has a key slot 34 permitting operation by a key so that the locking plug 32 may be rotatably moved with respect to the fixed handle means 12.

An obstructing means 40 formed or stamped from a relatively thin flat plate rides between the sides of the recessed center channel 38 of kick-proof handle means 12 as shown in FIG. 8. The obstructing means 40 has a lower portion 44 which moves within the recessed center channel 38 between an upper channel shoulder 39 and a lower channel shoulder 41. The obstructing means 40 also has an upper portion 42 which forms an upwardly and slightly outwardly extending finger with respect to the lower portion 44. The obstructing means 40 also has formed in its lower portion 44 an opening 46, corresponding in dimension to the openings 19 and 19' in slide means 18, to receive shackle 21 of padlock 22.

The relationship of locking plug 32 and obstructing means 40 is such that when locking plug 32, which has a rectangular bypass slot 37 formed in its one end, has tumbler pins 36 moved by operation of a key in key slot 34, it may be rotated to an unlocked position to align slot 37 with the upper finger portion 42 of obstructing means 40. Since the lower portion 44 of obstructing means 40 is formed with its length or vertical height less than the length or vertical height of the recessed channel 38, the upper finger portion 42 of obstructing means 40 may be moved into the rectangular slot 37 causing the entire obstructing means 40 to move in an upward vertical direction. In connection with this upward movement, the sides of recessed channel 38 have vertically elongated shackle openings 31 and 31' formed in them. The major axis of these shackle openings is such that the shackle 21 of lock 22 may be allowed to travel in a vertical direction the same distance as the obstructing means 40.

It is clear from FIG. 7 that the recessed channel 38 of handle means 12 provides an inner and outer sliding track. The inner track maintains obstructing means 40 in a vertical position and allows for its movement therealong, and the outer surfaces of the sides forming the channel 38 provide a sliding track for slide means 18 and a surface for it to travel therealong.

In the operation of the kick-proof access control handle of this invention, it is clear that when the access locking means 30 is in a locked condition, the locking plug 32 is oriented so that the rectangular bypass slot 37 is not aligned with upper finger portion 42 of obstructing means 40. The locking plug 32 thus presents a portion of its cylindrical outside surface to the upper finger portion 42 of obstructing means 40 which prevents any substantial vertical movement of obstructing means 40 since the distance between the top edge of upper finger portion 42 and the bottom edge of lower portion 44 of obstructing means 40 is generally equal to the distance between the bottom of locking plug 32 and the lower channel shoulder 41 of recessed center channel 38. In this condition, the obstructing means 40 and slide means 18 are generally in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 9. In this position, the shackle 21 may be inserted through corresponding shackle openings 19, 31, 46, 31' and 19'. The lock 22 which functions as a primary locking means may then be placed in a locked condition. When this is done, the shackle 21 of lock 22 cooperatively engages slide means 18 with obstructing means 40 to prevent upward movement of slide means 18. This, in turn, prevents subsequent movement and disengagement of locking rod 24 from the catch means (not shown) mounted on the locker frame and prevents opening of the door by unauthorized persons.

When, however, it is necessary or desirable to gain access to the interior of the locker, access locking means 30 is moved to an unlocked position by inserting a master key into the key slot 34 of locking plug 32, thereby moving the tumbler pins 36 to allow locking plug 32 to be rotated approximately 90.degree. to align rectangular bypass slot 37 with upper finger portion 42 of obstructing means 40. When this is accomplished, obstructing means 40 is no longer prevented from moving in a vertical direction. Thus, the obstructing means 40, the slide means 18 and the primary locking means, which includes shackle 21 and lock 22, may be moved upwardly, as a unit, by manually lifting slide means 18, since the upper finger portion 42 of obstructing means 40 will enter the bypass slot 37. This upward movement, of course, causes the connecting arm means 20 attached to slide means 18 to also move in an upward direction within the vertical slot 68 formed in the locker door 14. Since the opposite end or tongue of connecting arm means 20 is disposed through an opening 74 in locking rod 24, the upward movement of slide means 18 and the connecting arm means 20 acts to lift locking rod 24 upwardly. This lifting causes the locking rod to disengage the catch means (not shown) mounted on the locker frame to permit the door to be opened despite the fact that the primary locking means is still in a locked condition.

As can be appreciated from FIGS. 7-9, the advantages of this kick-proof access control handle are quite significant. The locking plug 32 and obstructing means 40 are completely independent and perform a very simple action, one being rotated so that it presents an opening to receive the other. There are no cams, bars, latches or intermeshing elements which might break down.

It is also apparent from FIG. 9 that the elements of this access control handle are completely contained within the kick-proof handle means 12 itself and therefore well-protected. The slide means 18 is simply but rigidly constructed, surrounding the recessed channel 38 on either side to better withstand stresses. Rubber or resilient bumpers 72 are preferrably disposed above and below the connecting arm means 20 to eliminate noise and absorb shock.

While the access locking means 30, including locking plug 32, has been shown mounted in the upper portion of handle means 12, it is clear that this invention could be modified so that access locking means 30 could be separated from the handle means 12 and installed elsewhere on the locker door 14 and still permit opening of the locker door despite the locked condition of the primary locking means. It is also evident that connecting arm means 20 could engage locking rod 24 in a manner other that shown, such as by a bracket mounted on the locking rod 24.

The kick-proof handle means, slide means, and obstructing means of this invention may be fabricated from any suitable material which is durable, resistant to temperature extremes and capable of being easily formed or stamped into the desired configuration, such as steel, stainless steel, or other steel alloys.

While this invention has been described in relation to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will become obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the principles of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. A locker assembly including a frame, a door mounted on said frame, a kick-proof handle means mounted on said door, latching means for cooperative engagement with a catch means on said locker assembly to maintain said door in a latched condition when said door is in a closed position, obstructing means carried in said handle means, primary locking means cooperating with said obstructing means and being operative to prevent movement of said latching means relative to said handle and said door and thereby prevent release of said latching means from engagement with said catch means and prevent opening of said door, and access locking means carried on said locker assembly, said access locking means including means to bypass said primary locking means to allow said obstructing means and said latching means to be moved relative to said handle means and said door when said primary locking means is in locked condition thereby to disengage said latching means from said catch means to permit opening of said door, said means to bypass said primary locking means including means mounted in said handle means and movable relative to said handle means to allow said obstructing means to be moved with respect to said door and said handle means thereby permitting said primary locking means to be moved unitarily relative to said handle means and said door to shift said latching means cooperating with said catch means to permit opening of said door.

2. The locker assembly of claim 1 wherein said latching means includes slide means mounted for slidable movement relative to said handle means and said door within the perimeter of said handle means, connecting arm means attached to said slide means and extending through an opening in said locker door, locking rod means mounted on said locker assembly for movement relative to said door to engage said catch means, said connecting arm means being disposed in operative relationship to said locking rod means, such that said locking rod means is movable with said slide means and said connecting arm means to disengage said catch means and open said door.

3. The locker assembly of claim 1 wherein said obstructing means is disposed for slidable movement relative to said handle means and said door within the perimeter of said handle means, said obstructing means in the locked position being engageable with said means to bypass said primary locking means to prevent movement of said obstructing means relative to said handle means and said door, said access locking means being operable to move said means to bypass said primary locking means to allow said obstructing means to be moved relative to said handle means and said door thereby allowing said primary locking means to be moved relative to said kick-proof handle means and said door to permit opening of said door while said primary locking means is in locked position.

4. The locker assembly of claim 1 wherein said means to bypass said primary locking means includes a cylindrical plug mounted in an upper portion of said handle means and rotatably movable with respect to said handle means, said plug having a radial slot formed therein, said slot being adapted to receive said obstructing means when said plug is rotated to a position aligning said slot and said obstructing means.

5. The locker assembly of claim 1 wherein said obstructing means is mounted within the perimeter of said handle means for generally vertical movement relative to said handle and said door in response to the movement of said means to bypass said primary locking means, said means to bypass being disposed to prevent vertical movement of said obstructing means when said access locking means is in locked position and said means to bypass said primary locking means being movable to permit vertical movement of said obstructing means when said access locking means is in an unlocked position.

6. In a locker assembly having a frame and locker door wherein a latching means is carried for movement relative to said door, said latching means being engageable with a catch means on said frame to maintain said door in latched and closed position, and including a kick-proof handle means mounted on said door and a primary locking means acting between said latching means and said handle to prevent movement of said latching means relative to said door thereby to preclude unlatching and opening thereof, the improvement comprising obstructing means carried within said handle means, and access locking means disposed on said locker door, said access locking means, in locked position, preventing movement of said obstructing means and said latching means relative to said handle means and said door, said access locking means on movement to an unlocked position allowing movement of said obstructing means relative to said door and said handle to permit release of said latching means from said catch means and opening of said door when said primary locking means is in a locked position, said access locking means including a cylindrical locking plug mounted in said handle means, said locking plug having an elongated opening formed therein, said plug being rotatable relative to said handle means to shift said opening into alignment with said obstructing means.

7. In a locker assembly including a frame and a door, and having a locking rod carried for sliding movement on said door, said locking rod being engageable with a catch to maintain said door latched in a closed position, a kick-proof handle means mounted on said door, slide means mounted for slidable movement within the perimeter of said handle means, connecting arm means attached to said slide means and extending through an opening in said door, said connecting arm means being disposed in operative relationship to said locking rod means so that movement of said slide means and said connecting arm means relative to said handle means and said door moves said locking rod to unlatch and open said door, and a primary locking means to prevent movement of said slide means and said connecting arm means relative to said handle means to preclude unlatching of said door, the improvement comprising an obstructing means carried within said handle means and an access locking means which is operable to bypass said primary locking means, said access locking means on actuation to an unlocked position permitting said obstructing means, said slide means, said connecting arm means and said primary locking means to be moved as a unit relative to said handle means and said door thereby moving said locking rod to allow said door to be unlatched when said primary locking means is in a locked condition, said access locking means including means to bypass said primary locking means mounted in said handle means, said means to bypass being rotatable relative to said handle means to receive said obstructing means.

8. The improvement in locker assemblies set forth in claim 7 wherein said means to bypass said primary locking means includes a cylindrical locking plug mounted in said handle means, said locking plug having an elongated opening formed therein, said plug being rotatable relative to said handle means to shift said opening into alignment with said obstructing means, such that said opening receives said obstructing means allowing said locking rod means to be moved and released from engagement with said catch means to permit opening of said door even though said primary locking means is in a locked position.