Locks – Special application – For automotive vehicles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-17
2001-01-30
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)
Locks
Special application
For automotive vehicles
C292S171000, C292S173000, C070S002000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178790
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related to the field of locking mechanisms. In particular, the invention is directed to a safety lock assembly for a door which can be locked externally and still allow a person on the interior of the door to open the lock assembly and thus the door.
It is common to provide doors with a lock to prevent unauthorized access. One such lock, which is readily available and simple to use, is a padlock latch assembly. Padlock latch assemblies include two hasps: one that is attached to the exterior of the door to be locked, and one that is attached to a fixed object, such as the door jam or the mating door of a two-door closure. The padlock is slipped through openings in the hasps, preventing them from being moved apart to any great degree. This provides a cost-effective locking mechanism that can be readily opened from the exterior of the door by one having a key. Unfortunately, once locked, there is no mechanism to open the lock from the interior of the door. This is not only inconvenient but can be particularly dangerous should there be a need to evacuate a building through the door quickly, such as during a fire. A person would need to wait until the padlock was opened before exiting. Obviously, in certain instances, this added delay could be critical.
Various lock mechanisms have been developed in the past. None of these address the problems resolved by the instant invention. U.S. Pat. No. 2,007,854 is directed to a lock for doors such as on refrigerators. A bolt positioned on the exterior of the door is biased by a spring outward to an extended position. In this extended position, the bolt engages an undersurface of a head. The head is mounted to the exterior of one door while the bolt and related parts are mounted to the exterior of the other door. A lever is pivotally mounted to a lock casing. The lever is operably engaged to the bolt such that, when the lever is rotated to an open position, the bias of the spring is overcome and the bolt is retracted, disengaging the head. An aperture in the casing is provided to receive a padlock and thus prevent the lever from being moved to the open position. A cable is attached to the bolt and extends through a passageway in the door. A ring may be provided at one end of the cable. When the cable is pulled, the bolt overcomes the bias of the spring and disengages the head.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,167,011 is directed to a door lock for barn doors. A bolt is slidingly mounted within an edge of a door. A spring biases the bolt into an extended position such that it engages a cavity in a doorpost. Handles are pivotally mounted to the door and to the bolt. One handle is positioned on the interior of the door; the other handle is positioned on the exterior of the door. When either handle is rotated outwardly, it causes the bolt to be retracted overcoming the spring bias. Once retracted, the door can be swung to an open position. A hasp is provided at the exterior of the door to receive a pad lock and thus prevent the exterior handle from rotating.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,763,694 is directed to a deadbolt intended particularly for doors or windows that swing open from the top. A hollow bolt member cooperates with a catch to engage an angled piece. The catch is biased to a forward or locked position by a spring. A rod is pivotally mounted to the catch at one end and connected to a pull chain at the other. The pull chain is connected to an arm, which is positioned in a slot in the door. The arm is connected to an exterior handle. When the handle is pulled, the arm is displaced. The displacement of the arm causes the pull chain to move, overcoming the bias of the spring and retracting the catch thereby disengaging the angled piece. One the interior of the door, a thumb piece is pivotally mounted to the door proximate the arm. When the thumb piece is rotated, it also causes the displacement of the arm and the disengagement of the catch. There is no teaching of using a padlock with this door assembly.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of an aspect the present invention to provide a lock assembly which can be secured with an external lock while providing the ability to open the lock assembly from the interior even though the external lock is in place.
It is an object of an aspect of the invention to provide a lock assembly for a door that mounts the latch mechanism interior to the door, allows the door to be locked against exterior entry using a conventional padlock and permits a person on the interior to open the lock assembly without disengaging the padlock.
It is an object of another aspect of the invention to provide a lock assembly which can be locked externally with a conventional padlock, securing a door in a closed position, but which will allow the latch to be disengaged internally at all times but externally only when the padlock is removed.
It is an object of another aspect of the invention to provide an assembly for locking a door with a simple padlock which will restrict access from one side of the door but which does not restrict access from the other side of the door.
It is an object of another aspect of the invention to provide a locking assembly which is inexpensive to manufacture and which can be conveniently installed onto existing doors.
It is an object of another aspect of the invention to provide a locking assembly which includes a limited number of moving parts which can be readily replaced as they become worn over time, and which is simple to use and install.
It is an object of another aspect of the invention to provide a lock assembly that allows the replacement of the lock, whether for security purposes or simple maintenance, without requiring a locksmith.
In accord with an aspect of the invention, a lock assembly is provided for securing a door to a fixed object. The door has an interior face, an exterior face and an edge. The fixed object has an aperture. A mounting bracket is attached to the interior face of the door near the edge. A casing is mounted to the mounting bracket. A collar is disposed within the casing. A latch rod is slidingly mounted in the casing and journaled within the collar for movement along a latch rod axis. A latch tip is mounted to the latch rod near the edge. A spring is disposed in the casing between the collar and the latch tip, such that the latch tip is normally biased outward from the casing in a position to engage the aperture of the fixed object when the door is in a closed position (thus preventing the door from rotating). An anchor is mounted to the latch rod distal to the latch tip. A mooring is disposed on the anchor. A flexible release cord is attached to the mooring and directed over a guide pin away from the door at least substantially along the latch rod axis. Similarly, a flexible hasp cord is attached to the mooring and is directed over a guide pin and through the door at least substantially along the latch rod axis. An active hasp with an opening is connected to the flexible hasp cord distal to the mooring and is disposed at the exterior face of the door. A stationary hasp is fixedly attached to the door on the exterior face proximate to the active hasp. When the active hasp is displaced, the flexible hasp cord pulls on the anchor, overcoming the bias of the spring and disengaging the latch tip from the aperture. The door is thus free to rotate away from the fixed object.
In accord with another aspect of the invention, A lock assembly is provided for securing a door to a fixed object. The door has an interior face, an exterior face and an edge. The fixed object having an aperture. The door is movable from a closed position in which the edge is proximate to the aperture, to an open position in which the edge is remote from the aperture. A casing is mounted to the interior face of the door near the edge. A latch rod is slidingly mounted to the casing for movement along a latch rod axis. A latch tip is disposed on the latch rod near the edge. A spring is disposed in the casing and operably engaged to the latch rod, such that the latch tip is normally
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
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