Locking bar assembly

Abstract

An improved locking bar assembly which includes a bar lock mechanism insertable within aligned lugs formed on a pair of strike plates. The bar lock mechanism comprises a tubular element within which a cylinder lock is mounted. The tubular element has a lock shield passing over a portion of the lock section where a key is inserted to actuate the lock. A tubular element pin member and a set screw insert formed on a sidewall of the tubular element provide the bar locking assembly with additional shear load bearing elements between the lugs and the bar lock mechanism.

Parent Case Text

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 277,565 filed Aug. 3, 1972 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,266.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention

This invention pertains to the field of locking systems. In particular, this invention relates to an improved locking bar assembly which is substantially impervious to external manipulation.

B. Prior Art

Locking bar assemblies having bar lock mechanisms insertable within aligned lugs formed on a pair of strike plates are known in the art. Some of these prior assemblies include a cylinder lock mounted within a tubular element. However, in such prior assemblies, the end of the tubular element which contains the key insert for cylinder lock is completely open. Thus, one end of the cylinder lock is open to the external environment. In such cases a "wheel puller" may be inserted into the assembly to destroy the cylinder lock.

Additionally, in some prior locking bar assemblies, the main shear load is taken up by a locking pin inserted into a detent of one of the lugs. When the locking pin is removed from the detent or in some way destroyed, the bar lock mechanism is removable from at least one of the lugs. In such assemblies, there is no system devised for maintaining a locked condition when the locking pin is removed from within the lug detent, thus making such assemblies susceptible to external manipulation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved locking bar assembly including a pair of strike plates having lug members. A tubular mechanism is insertable through a base formed within each of the lug members and a cylindrical key lock is mounted within the tubular mechanism. The cylindrical key lock displaces a locking pin through an opening in the tubular mechanism into and out of engagement with at least one detent formed in one of the lug members. The imrpovement comprises a lock securing mechanism formed substantially near one end of the tubular mechanism for securing the key lock within the tubular mechanism independent of the locking pin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved locking bar assembly showing the bar lock mechanism inserted into the bores of the lugs formed on a pair of strike plates;

FIG. 2 is a perspective blow-out of the improved locking bar assembly showing the individual elements;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bar lock mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the locking bar assembly taken along the section line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view having a partial section cut out, showing a lug member with detents and slotted openings for locking the bar lock mechanism to the lug;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the bar assembly taken along the section line 6--6 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the locking bar assembly taken along the section line 7--7 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIGS. 1-7, there is shown improved locking bar assembly or locking system 10 for constraining opposing movable section elements or door members 12, 14. The improved locking bar assembly as herein described and detailed is similar in operation and construction to the locking assemblies described in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,711,894 entitled Locking Bar Assembly and my copending patent application Ser. No. 277,565, filed Aug. 3, 1972, entitled Bar Lock Assembly now U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,266. As will be shown in the following paragraphs, the improvement of locking bar assembly 10 includes the concept of providing additional shear load areas in order to make the subject locking bar assembly 10 more impervious to external attack then that shown in the prior art.

In general, improved locking system 10 includes a pair of strike plates 16, 18 having lugs 28, 30 formed thereon. Each strike plate 16, 18 is secured to a respective door member or a movable element 12, 14 through bolts or other like means passed through bolt openings 32. In operation, each strike plate 16, 18 is secured to door members 12, 14 in a manner such that lugs 28, 30 are aligned in substantially a direction defined by arrow 22. Bar lock mechanism 20, comprising tubular element 62 and standard cylinder lock 56, is movably mounted within bore opening 36 of lug 30. Lock mechanism 20 may be partially inserted into bore opening 34 of lug 28 in order to constrain movement of elements 12 and 14.

Bar lock mechanism 20, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes standard cylinder lock 56 having retractable locking pin 58. Lock 56 is secured within tubular element 62 and pin 58 is aligned with a through opening in the sidewall of tube member 62 in order to permit passage of lock pin 58 therethrough. In order to displace locking pin 58 in a direction substantially normal to a line defining the axis of cylinder lock 56, key 74 is inserted into key insert opening 100 and rotated.

Locking pin 58 is insertable into either first or second detent 66, 68 shown in FIG. 5 and formed in a wall member defined by bore opening 36 of lug member 30. Bar lock mechanism 20 constrains elements 12, 14 to each other when locking pin 58 is extended into first detent 66 where mechanism 20 passes through at least a portion of each bore opening 34 and 36. Second detent 68 is formed within the wall member of lug 30 at a predetermined longitudinally displaced distance from first detent 66. The separation distance between detents 66 and 68 is substantially equal to the distance necessary for the removal of bar mechanism 20 from bore opening 34 thereby releasing constrainment between plates 16 and 18. In this state, key 74 may be rotated, forcing pin 58 into detent 68 and permitting removal of key 74 from assembly 10. Thus, although bar locking mechanism 20 is locked to lug 30, free movement between elements 12 and 14 is attained. As has been described, bar lock mechanism 20 includes tubular element 62 with cylindrical key lock 56 mounted therein. Lock securing element or cover plate 102 is formed substantially near one end of tubular element 62 in order to prevent removal of lock 56 from within tubular element 62. Cover plate 102, as shown in FIG. 1, encloses only a portion of the end opening formed within tubular element 62 and terminates adjacent key insert opening 100 to permit insertion of key 74 into key lock 56. Therefore, lock 56 may not be removed from tubular element 62 without destroying cover plate 102. In this manner, key lock 56 is secured within tubular element 62 independent of the position of locking pin 58.

Cover plate 102 includes cover plate cut out section 104 to permit rotation of key 74 when inserted into opening 100. In construction, tubular element 62 and cover plate 102 are formed in one piece formation and fabricated of hardened steel or some like material which provides for increased structural integrity when lock 56 is under external attack.

Cover plate 102 is an important element of improved bar lock assembly 10. Plate 102 provides for additional shear load constrainment of cylinder lock 56 within bore openings 34 and 30 for the following reason. Most standard cylinder locks 56 include a non moveable shell and a rotating plug (actuated by key 74). The shell and plug are mounted to each other through a retaining element which fits into an annular shoulder of the plug and passes into the wall of the shell. In many cases, the component positions of the cylinder lock 56 are waste of brass or some like material having a relatively low shear load restraining capability. In such cases, a wheel puller may be inserted into the plug and by pulling the wheel puller, the retaining element will shear off. Thus the plug may easily be removed from the lock shell. By incorporating cover plate 102 as part of tubular element 62, plate 102 blocks the path of removal of the lock plug and adds strength to the entire bar lock assembly 10.

In order to increase the loading bearing shear area when locking pin 58 engages detents 66 and 68, additional securement elements between lug 30 and tubular element 62 are provided as shown in FIGS. 4-7. Tubular pin 106 passes through tubular element 62 and extends beyond the peripheral sidewall of element 62, is shown in FIG. 6. Pin 106 forms an extended wall element of tubular element 62 and is fixedly secured thereto through a force fit or some like technique. Thus the length of pin 106 is greater than the diameter of bore 36.

Lug member 30 includes lower groove section 108 which passes around the entire circumference of the wall section defined by bore 36. Upper shoulders 110 are longitudinally displaced from groove 108, as shown in FIG. 5, but are connected by longitudinal slot 112. The width of each section 108, 110, and 112 is of sufficient dimension to allow free movement of tubular pin 106 therein. Shoulders 110 are longitudinally displaced from lower groove 108 at a predetermined distance. When pin 106 engages shoulders 110, locking pin 58 is aligned with first detent 66. When tubular pin engages lower groove 108, locking pin 58 is aligned with second detent 68. As will be seen, when pin 106 engages either lower groove 108 or shoulders 110, it provides for an additional shear area constraining tubular element 62 to lug 30.

To provide necessary partial rotation of pin 106 in shoulder 110 and groove 108, as well as to produce an additional shear load bearing area, tubular groove 72 passing through the outer wall of element 62 is provided as shown in FIG. 3. Groove 72 is generally U-shaped in nature and has a longitudinally directed base section. Opposing groove leg cut out sections 114 pass in a direction substantially normal to the longitudinal direction 22 and provide means whereby the entire bar lock mechanism may be rotated partially responsive to the rotation of key 74 within insert opening 100.

Set screw 70 passes through threaded set screw opening 71 formed through the wall of lug member 30. Set screw 70 engages groove 72 which has a width slightly greater than the diameter of set screw 70. Thus, it is seen that mechanism 20 (when pin 58 is retracted from detents 66 and 68) is free to move within the path provided by U-shaped groove 72. Movement may be longitudinal or partially rotatable into opposing leg cut out sections 114.

In the operation defining a constrained condition between elements 12 and 14, lugs 28 and 30 are first longitudinally aligned. Bar mechanism 20, is moved into engagement with lug 28 within bore 34. Set secrew 70 has moved into engagement with lower cut out section 114 at the bottom of the base section of groove 72. As bar lock mechanism 20 is moved into bore 34, tubular pin 106 passes longitudinally from lower groove 108 connecting slot 112 into shoulder areas 110. Key 74 is rotated within key insert 100 which rotates mechanism 20 slightly with respect to lugs 28, 30. As mechanism 20 is rotated, pin 106 is also rotated onto shoulder base surface 116. Pin 106 is impeded from further rotation when it strikes shoulder wall 118. However, at this point locking pin 58 is aligned with first detent 66 and continued rotation of key 74 forces locking pin 58 into engagement with detent 66.

Additionally, rotation of mechanism 20 has forced set screw 70 into engagement with lower groove cut-out 114 as pin 106 has moved onto base surface 116. In this manner, pin 106 on opposing shoulder surfaces 116 and set screw 70 in lower cut-out section 114 in combination with pin 58 within detent 66 provides a three point shear loading attack restraint (four points if opposing pin contacts are taken as individual restraint areas).

In the operation of lock assembly 10 from a constrained to a release condition, mechanisn 20 is maintained patially in bore 34 as shown in FIG. 4. Tubular pin 106 is in contact with soulder base 116, set screw 70 is within lower cut-out section 114 and locking pin 58 is aligned with first detent 66. Key 74 is inserted in insert opening 100 and rotated which removes pin 58 from detent 66 and causes a rotation of bar lock mechanism 20.

Tubular pin 106, secured to mechanism 20, rotates until it strikes shoulder wall 120 where it is vertically aligned with connecting slot 112. Similarly, rotation of mechanism 20 causes set screw 70 to move within cut-out section 114 to a position where it is aligned with vertical groove 72.

Bar lock mechanism 20 may then be pulled downwardly, removing it from bore 34. During this step, tubular pin 106 passes within connecting slots 112 and enter lower groove 108. Set screw 70 is relatively moved to upper cut-out section 114 within vertical groove 72. When tubular pin 106 has reached lower groove 108, bar lock mechanism 20 has been completely withdrawn from bore 34.

Key 74 may now be rotated in the opposite direction, thus partially rotating mechanism 20. Lock mechanism 20 is rotatively moved until set screw 70 abuts the frontal edge of cut-out 114'. Locking pin 58 is then aligned with second detent 68 and further rotation of key 74 forces locking pin 58 within detent 68, thus locking the assembly in an unconstrained or released condition. Key 74 may then be removed from key insert opening 100.

It will be noted that bar lock mechanism 20 must be free to slideably move within bores 34, 36. To attain this, mechanism 20 sidewalls may be coated with a dry lubricant which will maintain lubricity under extreme temperature conditions from an upward limit of 500.degree.F. to a low temperature of -200.degree.F.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An improved locking bar assembly including a pair of strike plates having lug members, tubular means insertable through a bore formed within each of said lug members, a cylindrical key lock within said tubular means for displacing a locking pin through an opening in said tubular means into and out of engagement with at least one detent formed in one of said lug members, where the improvement comprises:

each said lug member having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer side surface, said upper and lower surfaces formed transverse of said bore within said lug member, said outer side surface having at least one larger diameter section and at least one smaller diameter section, said outer side surface formed between said upper and lower surfaces;

at least one first mating means formed by at least one of said strike plates; the different diameter sections of said outer side surface forming second mating means, said first mating means of one of strike plates and said second mating means of said lug member of the other of said strike plates being received one in the other when said bores are aligned;

lock securing means formed substantially near one end of said tubular means for securing said key lock within said tubular means independent of said locking pin.

2. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 1 where said lock securing means comprises a cover plate formed on one end of said tubular means.

3. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 2 where said cover plate encloses only a portion of an end opening formed within said tubular means to permit insertion of a key into said key lock.

4. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 3 where said cover plate has sufficient opening for permitting rotation of said key inserted into said cylindrical lock.

5. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 4 where said tubular means and cover plate are constructed in one piece formation, said tubular means and cover plate being formed of hardened steel.

6. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 1 including extending pin means for securing said tubular means to one of said lug members when said locking pin engages said detent in said lug member, said locking pin engagement within said detent forming a first load bearing shear point.

7. The improved locking bar assembly as recited in claim 6 where said extending pin means forms a second and third pair of load bearing shear points independent of said first load bearing shear point.

8. An improved locking bar assembly including a pair of strike plates having lug members, tubular means insertable through a bore formed within each of said lug members, a cylindrical key lock within said tubular means for displacing a locking pin through an opening in said tubular means into and out of engagement with a detent formed in a predetermined one of said lug members, where the improvement comprises:

each said lug member having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer side surface, said upper and lower surfaces formed transverse of said bore within said lug member, said outer side surface having at least one larger diameter section and at least one smaller diameter section, said outer side surface formed between said upper and lower surfaces;

at least one first mating means formed by at least one of said strike plates; the different diameter sections of said outer side surface forming second mating means, said first mating means of one of strike plates and said second mating means of said lug member of the other of said strike plates being received one in the other when said bores are aligned;

an extending pin fixed to said tubular means, at least one indented shoulder section formed in said predetermined lug member for receiving said extending pin thereby to provide a load bearing shear point independent of the load bearing shear point of said locking pin engagement with said detent.