Mounting assembly

Abstract

A mounting assembly (10) for the electromagnet (12) of an electromagnetic door locking system, the mounting assembly (10) comprising: a main body portion (14) affixable, in use, to a door frame (18), the main body portion (14) comprising at least two channels adapted to receive a corresponding set of tabs associated with the electromagnet (12) and a set of locking screws (30) cooperating with the channels and being adapted, upon tightening, to deform the channels to clamp the tabs to fix the electromagnet (12) relative to the main body portion (14).

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for an electromagnet of an electromagnetic door locking system, the mounting assembly comprising: a main body portion affixable, in use, to a door or to a door frame, the main body portion defining an elongated channel and a pair of apertures at each end of the main body portion; a pair of slider plate receivers, each received at a respective end of the elongated channel, wherein each slider plate receiver comprises a pair of channels and a slider plate receiving channel; a slider plate configured to mount the electromagnet and defining at least one tab at each end of the slider plate, wherein each tab of the slider plate is adapted to be received within a corresponding slider plate receiving channel of the slider plate receivers, and wherein a set of locking screws passing through the respective apertures on the main body portion and cooperating with the channels on the slider plate receivers, so that each slider plate receiver is capable of being adjustable with respect to the main body portion and being adapted, upon tightening, to deform the channels or tabs to clamp them to fix the electromagnet relative to the main body portion.

2. The mounting plate assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body portion is affixable, in use, to the door or door frame using screws that extend through apertures in the main body portion.

3. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body portion comprises a hollow interior portion and suitably arranged cabling apertures.

4. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a constant cross-section.

5. The mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pair of slider plate receivers affixable, in use, to the main body portion, and wherein the channels are formed in the slider plate receivers.

6. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein the sliding plate receivers are affixable to opposite ends of the main body portion.

7. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein the sliding plate receivers comprise a constant cross-section.

8. The mounting assembly of claim 5, wherein the slider plate receivers comprise a channel adapted to accommodate one or more captive nuts.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the channels are located slightly below underside of the main body portion.

10. The mounting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a slider plate to which, in use the electromagnet is affixable.

11. The mounting assembly of claim 10, wherein the slider plate has a generally rectangular shape whose length corresponds to the distance between the inner edges of the channels.

12. The mounting assembly of claim 10, wherein the width of the slider plate corresponds to the width of the electromagnet and/or to the width of the main body portion.

13. The mounting assembly of claim 10, wherein the slider plate comprises an aperture through which, in use, cabling for the electromagnet can pass into the main body portion.

14. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the tabs or the ends of the slider plate comprise a pair of U-shaped cut-outs.

15. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking screws engage with a tapped orifice of the mounting assembly.

16. The mounting assembly of claim 15, wherein the taped orifice comprises a captive nut retained by a captive nut retaining channel of the mounting assembly.

17. The mounting assembly of claim 1, wherein the channels comprise ribbing.

18. A kit of parts comprising a mounting assembly according to claim 1 and an electromagnet.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the electromagnet comprises integrally formed tabs adapted to engage, in use, the channels of mounting assembly; and wherein the electromagnet is affixed to a slider plate to which the electromagnet is affixable.

20. The kit of claim 18 wherein the electromagnet is incorporated into an electromagnetic striker, and wherein the electromagnetic striker comprises an electromagnet adapted to cooperate with one or more pivotally mounted latches, the latches being moveable between a first locking position in which they are attracted to the energised electromagnet, and a second positon in which they are rotated relative to the first positon when the electromagnet is deactivated.

Description

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention shall now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-section through an embodiment of an adjustable mounting assembly according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of an embodiment of a mounting system for a magnetic door lock in accordance with the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view from below of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 with a slider plate fitted;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective view from below of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, without the slider plate;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main body portion shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sliding plate receiver as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sliding plate as shown in FIG. 3;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-section of FIG. 3 on VIII-VIII;

(10) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an adjustable mounting assembly according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative sliding plate for the second embodiment;

(12) FIG. 11 is a first schematic cross-section showing the deflection of the sliding plate under the influence of locking screws;

(13) FIG. 11A is a second schematic cross-section showing the deflection of the sliding plate under the influence of locking screws; and

(14) FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an electric magnetic striker

(15) FIG. 1 summarises the invention, and illustrates an embodiment thereof in which an adjustable mounting assembly 10 for the electromagnet 12 of a magnetic door lock is shown. The adjustable mounting assembly 10 comprises a main body portion 14 that is screwed 16 to the head of a door frame 18. A pair of slider plate receivers 20 is mounted on the main body portion 12, which are adapted to slideably receive opposite ends of a slider plate 22, to which the electromagnet 12 is affixed. The slider plate 22 is slideable relative to the slider plate receivers 20 thus permitting post-installation adjustment. Such a configuration enables the electromagnet 12 can be positioned and/or re-positioned close to, or in contact with, a ferromagnetic plate 24 screwed 26 to a door 28. Locking screws 30 are also provided to clamp the ends of the slider plate 22 to the slider plate receivers 20 to inhibit and/or prevent subsequent movement of the electromagnet 12 relative to the door 28 or its ferromagnetic plate 24. A cavity is formed in the main body portion 14, and by providing suitable access apertures (described below), cabling 13 for the electromagnet 12 can be routed discretely within the mounting assembly 10 and the door frame 18.

(16) In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and with particular reference to FIG. 5, the adjustable mounting assembly 10 comprises a main body portion 14 that is affixable, in use, to a door frame member 18 (in the illustrated embodiment, a horizontal door frame head) using screws 16, which pass through a set of through apertures 30 in a planar mounting wall portion 32 of the main body portion 14. It will be noted that the main body portion 14 has a constant cross-section, i.e. it is manufactured via an extrusion process, and can therefore be cut to length to accommodate a range of different electromagnets (not shown).

(17) Extending perpendicularly outwardly from the mounting wall portion 32, and away from the door frame 18, is a lateral body portion 34, which has at its distal end from the mounting wall portion 32, a perpendicularly extending, downward return portion 36, whose free end 38 terminates level with the lower edge 40 of the mounting wall portion 32. The main body portion 14 thus has a generally h-shaped cross-section and is cut to an appropriate length to match the length of an electromagnet assembly (not shown for clarity).

(18) A pair of sliding plate receivers 20, as shown particularly in FIG. 6, is fitted onto the opposite ends of the main body portion 14, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The sliding plate receivers 20 also have a constant cross-section, i.e. they are manufactured via an extrusion process, which reduces manufacturing costs and enables the same type of extrusion to be cut to different lengths to fit different sized main body portions 12. In other words, the length of the sliding plate receivers 20 can be cut to match the lateral body portion 34, or the distance between the mounting wall portion 32 and the downward return portion 36 of the main body portion 14.

(19) The sliding plate receivers 20 each comprise a pair of channels 42, 43 adapted to accommodate captive nuts (not shown). A first one 42 of the channels carries captive nuts that engage, in use, with the shanks of a set of retaining screws 44 that extend through a corresponding set of through apertures 46 located in the lateral body portion 34, of the main body portion 14 (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 in particular). The function of the other channel 43 is described below. Thus, the sliding plate receivers 20 can be screwed to the opposite ends of the main body portion 14 to close off the ends of the main body portion, thereby forming a hollow receiving space (or cavity when the slider plate 22 is fitted) for accommodating the cabling of the electromagnet 12.

(20) The sliding plate receivers 20 each additionally comprise a slider plate receiving channel 48, which is shaped and sized to accommodate an end of the slider plate 22 at a location slightly below the lower edges 36, 40 of the main body portion 14, so that the slider plate 22 can slide relative to the underside of the main body portion 14.

(21) The slider plate 22, as shown in FIG. 7 in particular, is manufactured from a cut sheet of metal, such as steel, and has a generally rectangular shape whose length corresponds to the distance between the inner edges 52 of the slider plate receiving channels 48, and whose width corresponds to the dimensions of the electromagnet 12 and/or to the width of the main body portion 14, although the width of the slider plate 22 is not critical.

(22) The electromagnet 12 is affixed to the slider plate 22 using screws 54 such that the electromagnet 12 is suspended beneath the slider plate 22. It will be noted that the slider plate 22 as a slotted through aperture 56 through which, in use, the cabling 13 for the electromagnet 12 can pass into the cavity within the main body portion 14, as previously described.

(23) The slider plate 22 additionally comprises a pair of U-shaped cut-outs 58 that intersect the end edges thereof and this allows the slider plate to move relative to the slider plate receivers 20, as shall be described below. Referring back to FIG. 6, the slider plate receivers 20 comprise a channel 43 adapted to accommodate a pair of captive nuts (not shown). Referring now to FIG. 8, a pair of screws 60 extend through a corresponding set of apertures 62 in the underside of the slider plate receivers 20, the shanks of which screws 60 pass through the U-shaped cut-outs 58 at the ends of the slider plate 22. By tightening the screws 60, slider plate receiving channel 48 can be deformed (as shown exaggeratedly in FIG. 8) to grip the slider plate 22 in a fixed position relative to the slider plate receivers 20. The gripping is further facilitated by the provision of ribbing 50 formed within the slider plate receiving channel 48. The deformation can be plastic or elastic, although elastic deformation is preferred as it allows the slider plate receiving channel 48 to return to its original configuration, thus releasing the slider plate 22 and allowing it to be re-positioned, when the screws 60 are loosened off.

(24) It will be appreciated that because the slider plate is gipped independently from its opposite ends, a range of movement of the slider plate 22, and hence the electromagnet 12, is possible using the invention, including sliding parallel or skewed, towards and/or away from the door 28. It will also be appreciated that the electromagnet 12 can even be mounted below the door frame 18 head, in the illustrated embodiment, using the invention, to align with the plate 24 of a rebated door.

(25) In FIG. 4 it can also be seen that the main body portion 12 comprises a set of cut-outs 64 to enable the electromagnet's cabling 13 to extend invisibly (from the exterior of the device 10) into the door frame 18.

(26) Suitably, the main body portion 14 and slider plate receivers 20 are manufactured from aluminium extrusions for ease of manufacture and to reduce the weight of the device 10, although the choice of material is largely a matter of preference. The slider plate 22 is suitably manufactured via a CNC or laser cutting process, although this too is a matter of preference and economy of scale.

(27) Suitably, the invention is provided in kit form, i.e. a kit comprising a main body portion 14, a pair of slider plate receivers 20 adapted to fit the main body portion 14, and a slider plate 22 adapted to match a given electromagnet. Suitably, the kit may additionally comprise an electromagnet 12, which may be pre-fitted, or factory-fitted to the slider plate 22, although this is optional, and/or a set of screws to complete the assembly. The kit may also comprise a ferromagnetic plate.

(28) In another embodiment of the invention, the slider plate may be omitted altogether where the electromagnet 12 itself comprises a set of lugs, ears, tabs or projections that can engage, in use, with the slider plate receiving channels 48.

(29) An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings and identical reference signs have been used to identify identical features for the sake of convenience and to avoid repetition.

(30) The main differences between the second embodiment of the invention and the first, described above, are the location of the locking screws 160, which enter the device from above, i.e. out of view when most applications, rather than from below, as is the case with the locking screws 60 previously described; and the outline of the sliding plate 122, which is rectangular, i.e. not having the cut-outs 58 previously described, which facilitates manufacturing the sliding plate 122.

(31) The slider plate receivers 120 are slightly modified in the second embodiment inasmuch as a pair of through holes 102 are provided to enable the shanks 102 of the locking screws 160 to extend through the receivers 120 to engage the sliding plate 122, as can be best seen in FIGS. 11 and 11A of the drawings. In FIG. 11, it will be noted that the through holes 102 for the sliding plate locking screws 160 are located inboard of the free ends 106 of the tab 108 forming the lower surface of the slider plate receiving channels 48. Thus, by tightening the locking screws 160, the slider plate is deformed (as shown exaggeratedly in FIG. 11) such that its underside engages the ribbing 50 provided inside the slider plate receiving channel 48 and the free end 106 of the tab 108.

(32) In FIG. 11A, a similar arrangement is shown, except this time the locking screw 160 is inserted into the other one 42 of the captive nut channels 42, 43. In this case, the receiver is connected to the main body by screw in the opposite channel 43. Nevertheless, it can be seen (exaggerated in the drawing) that by tightening the locking screw 160, the slider plate 122 is deformed, thereby retaining it in location by the frictional engagement of the locking screw 160 with the slider plate 122 as well as by the mechanical interference of the deformed slier plate 122 in the slider plate receiving channel 48.

(33) In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 9 to 11, the slider plate deforms in a different orientation to that shown in the first embodiment, that is to say, in the length direction of the slider plate 122, as opposed to in the width direction (as shown in FIG. 8).

(34) There are two locking screws 160 and this conveniently provides a greater range of movement for the slider plate 122 relative to the receivers 120 as one, or both locking screws (of each pair) can be used to grip the slider plate 122 depending on whether it is roughly in-line with the main body portion 14, or moved to either side thereof.

(35) A further aspect of the invention subsists in an electromagnet comprising a set of lugs, ears, tabs or projections adapted to engage with, in use, the slider plate receiving channels of the assembly described herein.

(36) An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 12 of the drawings in which the electromagnet 12 described previously has been replaced by an electromagnetic striker 200. The mounting assembly 10 is otherwise as shown in FIGS. 6 & 7.

(37) The striker 200 differs from the electromagnet 12 of the preceding embodiment inasmuch as rather than having a single electromagnet arranged to face towards the door, the electromagnetic striker 200 comprises an electromagnet (not visible) facing downwardly, in use (upwardly in the drawing). The electromagnet of the striker 200 is arranged to cooperate with a pair of pivotally mounted latches 210, which each comprise a ferromagnetic (e.g. steel) land 216 that is attracted to the electromagnet (not visible), when activated. The latches each further comprise an upstand portion 217, which has a flat inner surface, which engages, in use, a catch of a door (not shown) and a curved outer surface 219. The latches 210 are arranged to pivot about an axis 231 such that when the electromagnet (not visible) is deactivated, the latches 210 are able to pivot about axis 231 to release the catches (not shown), thus permitting a door to open.

(38) In the illustrated embodiment, the electromagnetic striker 200 comprises two latches 210, and this permits a single unit to be positioned above the intersection of a set of double doors.

(39) To accomplish this, the faceplate 218 of the striker unit 200 comprises a pair of recesses 220 within which the latches 210 are recessed.

(40) As previously described, the cabling 13 for the electromagnet 12 can be routed discretely within the mounting assembly and the door frame.

(41) In use, a corresponding door catch aligns with the strike recess 220 to engage the upstand 217 of the latch 216 and is electromagnetically locked. When the electromagnet is deactivated, the lock is released enabling the latches 216 to rotate about axis 231 to release the catches allowing the door to open. After the catch has been released, the latches 216 spring back under the action of an internal spring.

(42) One possible advantage of the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 of the drawings is that it enables a single electromagnetic locking system to be used for a set of double doors. This may be particularly relevant where, say, the doors are fitted with sprung closing units leaving insufficient space for the fixing of two locks (e.g. as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7)one for each door. Nevertheless, by virtue of the adjustability of the locking system, which is retained in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the striker can be accurately positioned and re-positioned, as per the preceding examples.

(43) The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment, which is merely exemplary of the invention. The shape, configuration, materials and dimensions quoted or inferred, can be altered to suit different requirements.