Locks – Operating mechanism – Using a powered device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2001-09-25
Gall, Lloyd A. (Department: 3627)
Locks
Operating mechanism
Using a powered device
C070S279100, C070S451000, C070S461000, C292S169140, C292S337000, C292SDIG006
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293131
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a lock casing to be installed in a door or the like.
A lock casing to be installed in a door or the like may include a front plate which is attached to the door at its edge and a follower element which is turnable in the lock casing about an operating axis by means of an operating device, such as a key operated locking mechanism. The location of the operating axis depends on the position of the operating device.
Lock standards prescribe, for example, the manner in which the locking mechanism should be fastened to the lock casing, including the distance of the operating axis from the front plate of the lock casing. In fact, the distance of the operating axis from the front plate of the lock may vary quite substantially in the different lock standards. In order to meet the different standards with respect to distance of the operating axis from the front plate, several different versions of a lock casing are needed. The lock standards also prescribe mechanical characteristics of the locking mechanisms. The different standards with respect to the mechanical characteristics of the locking mechanism influence the operation and shaping of the force transmitting means located in the lock casing, so that different casing versions may be needed to provide the different force transmitting means. Hence the number of different lock casings needed in all may be rather great, which increases the manufacturing costs, the number of the items that must be held in inventory and, thus, the value of the inventory.
An aim of the invention is to provide a lock casing which avoids the drawbacks mentioned. A further aim of the invention is to provide a lock casing which avoids the drawbacks mentioned above and which can utilize operating principles corresponding to those of the bolt disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,053 and which is provided with solenoid operated dead locking means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention the operating axis is arranged to a separate follower unit, which is arranged to be separately fastened to the lock casing so that its distance from the front plate is adjustable. In this way a certain kind of a basic lock casing may be utilized which in each case is provided with a follower unit meeting the desired requirements. In addition when the distance of the follower unit from the front plate is adjustable, each key operated lock cylinder or locking mechanism meeting a different lock standard can be utilized with a follower unit of its own, the distance of which from the front plate is only changed according to need.
In practice the adjustment of the distance of the follower unit from the front plate can with advantage be accomplished by installing one or more adjustment elements or spacers between the front plate and the follower unit according to need. In this case the follower unit is with advantage fastened to the front plate itself by means of screws, which may also be utilized for fastening of the adjustment elements. For this purpose the adjustment elements are provided with openings for the screws.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the follower unit is provided with a first force transmitting element, which is movable by means of the follower element, and the lock housing is provided with a second force transmitting element. When the follower unit is fastened to the lock casing, the first force transmitting element cooperates with the second force transmitting element by making use of force transmitting surfaces of the force transmitting elements respectively. The respective extents of the force transmitting surfaces in the direction of adjustment of the follower unit are such that the force transmitting surfaces remain in force transmitting engagement with each other when the follower unit is adjusted in position over the whole available range of adjustment.
The follower unit is with advantage made case-like, having inner surfaces which serve as guiding surfaces for guiding the movement of the first force transmitting element in the direction of the front plate.
In order to provide a secure fastening of the follower unit to the lock housing the follower unit is installed partly inside of the lock housing to provide support for the follower unit in the direction of the operating axis, i.e. to hold the follower unit against movement along the operating axis. In addition the follower unit and the lock housing are provided with guiding members or guiding surfaces, which are arranged into mutual cooperation for supporting the follower unit in the longitudinal direction of the front plate, i.e. holding the follower unit against movement parallel to the longitudinal direction of the front plate.
The invention can with advantage be applied to a lock casing which is provided with a latch bolt which can be dead locked and which, when the dead locking is released, can be pressed inside the lock casing for opening or closing the door, and with a solenoid arranged to act on a force transmitting element providing for engaging the dead locking. In the case of the advantageous embodiment mentioned above, the force transmitting element on which the solenoid acts is located in the lock casing and is acted on by both the second force transmitting element and the solenoid independently of each other.
REFERENCES:
patent: 656808 (1900-08-01), Carleton
patent: 1462826 (1923-07-01), Rixson
patent: 1672076 (1928-06-01), Munson
patent: 1701790 (1929-02-01), Morin, Jr.
patent: 2677443 (1954-05-01), Kottick
patent: 3702549 (1972-11-01), Solovieff et al.
patent: 3890608 (1975-06-01), Peterson
patent: 4338806 (1982-07-01), Cox
patent: 4498694 (1985-02-01), Warwick
patent: 4593543 (1986-06-01), Stefanek
patent: 4677834 (1987-07-01), Hicks
patent: 4763499 (1988-08-01), Boyle
patent: 4902053 (1990-02-01), Hakkarainen et al.
patent: 5246258 (1993-09-01), Kerschenbaum et al.
patent: 5906403 (1999-05-01), Bestler et al.
patent: 5918916 (1999-07-01), Kajuch
patent: 338464 (1921-06-01), None
patent: 622489 (1935-11-01), None
patent: 1 064 377 (1959-08-01), None
patent: 2012546 (1971-09-01), None
patent: 87 02 013 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 2 203 794 (1988-10-01), None
patent: 675209 (1964-11-01), None
patent: 437 393 (1985-02-01), None
Lemettinen Jaakko
Pirinen Ari
Raatikainen Juha
Abloy Oy
Gall Lloyd A.
Smith-Hill John
Smith-Hill and Bedell
LandOfFree
Lock casing to be installed in a door or the like does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Lock casing to be installed in a door or the like, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Lock casing to be installed in a door or the like will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2485354