Locks – Special application – For closures
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-27
2001-12-04
Barrett, Suzanne Dino (Department: 3627)
Locks
Special application
For closures
C070S109000, C292S034000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324876
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a return device for an operating member of a lock adapted to be embedded within the thickness of an opening panel.
It also concerns a casing of a lock, espagnolette-lock or the like of the above kind for doors, windows, french doors or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art there are many examples of espagnolette-locks of the above type which are generally adapted to operate simultaneously a catch bolt, a lock bolt and at least one locking rod or one actuator rod of locking accessories such as rollers cooperating with a keeper in the fixed frame.
In a espagnolette-lock of the above kind, as described in French patent application 2 747 422 in the name of the Applicant, a nut is attached to an operating member such as a door handle which engages at least with an operating square pin at the center of the nut.
Rotating the nut one way operates the catch bolt against a return spring which holds the catch bolt projecting from the lock front plate.
The nut also cooperates with a bracket to the ends of which the espagnolette bolts are fixed so that the espagnolette rods are deployed or retracted according to the direction in which the nut turns.
After each rotation of the operating member it and the nut that rotates with it must be returned to their original position.
To this end, the aforementioned patent application describes a spring cooperating with a member which is mobile inside the lock casing and is adapted to move in a longitudinal direction when the nut turns on its axis. Pinion means centered on the nut axis are adapted to mesh with the teeth of a rack attached to the mobile member.
The spring lies inside a housing formed in the casing and the mobile member has two projecting parts adapted to engage with respective ends of the spring.
The spring housing supports the rack of the mobile member and includes a plate adapted to engage in a corresponding opening at the rear of the lock casing.
However, an operating member return device of the above kind has a large number of parts (housing, spring, mobile member carrying the rack) and requires a large number of assembly operations to fix the assembly into the casing of the espagnolette-lock.
French patent 84 13 687 in the name of Establishments DREVET et CIE discloses a lock for doors or the like comprising a casing enclosing a nut for operating the catch bolt returned to a rest position by a spring member. A sliding member carrying a rack adapted to mesh with the teeth of a pinion attached to the nut includes a housing containing the spring member. The latter member is between the back of the housing and a transverse shaft fastened to the casing which is adapted to compress the spring member when the sliding member moves longitudinally in response to rotation of the nut.
However, a nut return device of the above kind is not suitable as a return spring for a nut which can turn about its axis in both directions.
Furthermore, the spring member cannot escape from the housing in the sliding member when the latter is fixed to the casing, as the transverse shaft of the casing then cooperates with the open end of the sliding member through which the spring member is inserted.
An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to propose a return device for an operating member that is simpler to manufacture and to fit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists in a return device for an operating member engaged with a nut, the device comprising a body having on a front face means adapted to cooperate with complementary means on the nut to convert rotation of the nut about its axis into longitudinal movement of the body, wherein the ends of the body comprise respective pairs of branches forming forks extending in the longitudinal direction of the body, the body has a longitudinal internal cavity adapted to accommodate a spring and open at both ends of the body, the width of the longitudinal internal cavity is greater than the distance between the branches of the forks, and the longitudinal internal cavity has at least one portion opening onto a rear face of the body and adapted to have the spring passed through it.
Thus the body supporting the rack also forms a housing for the return spring and the return device has only two parts, namely the body and the spring, apart from the parts of the walls of the casing that retain it when it slides.
Because of the difference between the width of the longitudinal internal cavity in the body and the distance between the branches of the fork, the latter form right-angle shoulders at the base of the forks, i.e. at the ends of the longitudinal internal cavity. These shoulders serve as abutments for the spring housed in the internal cavity.
The spring can therefore be accommodated and held in the body of the return device regardless of whether the device is mounted on the lock casing or not.
Furthermore, the symmetrical ends of the body and the presence of the two forks mean that the spring can be compressed regardless of the direction in which the nut turns and therefore regardless of the direction of longitudinal displacement of the body of the return device.
In an advantageous version the longitudinal internal cavity is a notch opening onto the rear face of the body and intersected by at least one bridge substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the body.
The spring can be inserted into the longitudinal internal cavity opening without difficulty from the rear face of the body.
Furthermore, the bridges prevent the spring flexing out of the body of the rack when the spring is compressed.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention a casing for a lock, espagnolette-lock or the like comprises a return device in accordance with the invention and at least one nut for actuating a catch bolt, the rear edge of the casing has two flanges extending towards the interior of the casing and substantially parallel to the back of the casing and the flanges are adapted to be introduced between the branches forming the respective forks of the body of the return device.
Thus the flanges of the casing compress the spring of the return device and guide the body carrying the rack when it moves longitudinally.
Furthermore, it is a very simple matter to mount the return device in the casing: it is sufficient to slide the body parallel to the back of the casing in such manner as to introduce the flanges of the rear edge into the end forks of the body.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent in the following description.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4962653 (1990-10-01), Kaup
patent: 5096237 (1992-03-01), Hotzl
patent: 5171047 (1992-12-01), Korb et al.
patent: 5265920 (1993-11-01), Kaup et al.
patent: 5301525 (1994-04-01), Doring
patent: 5752727 (1998-05-01), Zues et al.
patent: 5896763 (1999-04-01), Dinkelborg et al.
patent: 6007114 (1999-12-01), Hotzl
patent: 6050115 (2000-04-01), Schroter et al.
patent: 6109666 (2000-08-01), Collet
patent: 0 359 284 (1990-03-01), None
patent: 2 569 755 (1986-03-01), None
patent: 2 747 422 (1997-10-01), None
Collet Jean-Yves
Prevot Gerard
Prevot Nadine
Barrett Suzanne Dino
Ferco International Ferrures et Serrures de Batiment
Kenyon & Kenyon
Prevot Nadine
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