Electromechanical door lock actuator device for glass doors with narrow frames, a door with such device and a retrofit method

Abstract

An electromechanical door lock actuation device with an actuator module is mounted on a metal profile of a glass door such that the actuator module is offset from the door lock in order for the actuator module to not block opening of the door.

Claims

1. An electromechanical door lock actuation device for mounting to a surface of a vertical stile profile of a door, the electromechanical door lock actuation device comprising: a connector module comprising a rotational connector-receiver that is connected by a connector-pin to a cam of a lock insert whereby rotation of the connector-pin by the connector-receiver rotates the cam and actuates a lock bolt; an actuator module comprising an electrical motor functionally and mechanically connected to the connector-receiver through a gear wheel arrangement; wherein the actuator module comprises a handle for manually rotating the connector-receiver through the gear wheel arrangement as an alternative to rotation by the electrical motor; wherein the actuator module is laterally and vertically offset from the connector-receiver; wherein a height H1 of the connector module at a location of the connector-receiver is less than a height H2 of the actuator module for preventing collision of the actuator module with a frame surrounding the door when the door is alternating between an open and a closed position.

2. The electromechanical door lock actuation device according to claim 1, wherein the connector module comprises a rear plate with a rear side of the rear plate for abutting the vertical stile profile and with an opposite side of the rear plate carrying the actuator module.

3. The electromechanical door lock actuation device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator module and a cover plate of the connector module are side-by-side.

4. The electromechanical door lock actuation device according to claim 1, wherein H1 is less than half of H2.

5. The electromechanical door lock actuation device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator module comprises batteries for powering the electrical motor as well as electronics for controlling a locking and unlocking action by the electrical motor through the connector-receiver.

6. The electromechanical door lock actuation device according to claim 5, wherein the electronics comprise a controller for the electrical motor and a wireless transceiver for receiving wireless commands for locking and unlocking and for delivering wireless status information.

7. The electromechanical door lock actuation device according to claim 1, wherein the lock insert has a cylindrical part with a threading on an outside of the cylindrical part for cooperatively threading with a cylindrical recess in the vertical stile profile.

8. A door comprising the electromechanical door lock actuation device of claim 1.

9. The door according to claim 8, wherein the vertical stile profile has a width W1 and the device has a lateral extension W2 in a direction parallel to W1, wherein W2 is larger than W1.

10. The door according to claim 8, wherein the door is hinged within a frame that surrounds the door.

11. The door according to claim 10, wherein the door comprises a glass panel surrounded by metal profiles, the metal profiles including the vertical stile profile.

12. The door according to claim 8, wherein the actuator module is further from a frame surrounding the door than the connector-receiver.

13. The door according to claim 8, wherein the actuator module and the connector module are at least partially aligned with the door lock in a lateral direction.

14. A method for installing the electromechanical door lock actuation device of claim 1 in a door, the method comprising: mounting the electromechanical door lock actuation device to the surface of the vertical stile profile with the connector-pin extending into the connector-receiver and the electromechanical door lock actuation device oriented such that the actuator module is laterally offset from the connector-receiver in a direction away from a frame surrounding the door to prevent collision of the actuator module with the frame when the door is alternating between an open and a closed position.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising removing an existing lock insert from the door.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising modifying the existing lock insert to comprise the connector-pin.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising exchanging the existing lock insert with the lock insert comprising the connector-pin.

18. The method according to claim 14, further comprising operating the door lock electromechanically using wireless command signals.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the door comprises a glass panel surrounded by metal profiles, the metal profiles including the vertical stile profile.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the door is hinged within a frame surrounding the door.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, where

[0028] FIG. 1 illustrates a device in perspective view when mounted onto a glass door;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a photo of a real situation where the device is mounted onto a glass door;

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the device when part of the casing is removed;

[0031] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the device; and

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a lock insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an electromechanical door lock actuator device 1 when mounted onto a vertical stile profile 21 of a door 20. The door 20 comprises a glass panel 22 that is framed by surrounding profiles, of which the vertical stile profile 21 is one that is mechanically connected to the other surrounding profiles. A lock insert 3, as illustrated in FIG. 5, is mounted inside the stile profile 21 and activated by the device 1. The lock insert 3 activates a lock bolt 5 in the stile profile 21.

[0034] The device 1 comprises a double-module with an actuator module 2 and a connector module 4, the latter connecting the actuator module 2 with the lock insert 3.

[0035] Whereas the connector module 4 is located over the lock insert 3, the actuator module 2 is offset towards the glass panel 22. The height H1 of the connector module 4, as measured perpendicular to the stile profile 21, is much less than the height H2 of the actuator module 2. For example, H1 is in the range of 10-30 mm, which has been found useful for such doors.

[0036] As best illustrated in the photograph of FIG. 2, the problem of the actuator module 2 with a given height H2 colliding with the frame 23 around the door 20 is eliminated. FIG. 2 also illustrates that a mounting of the actuator module 2 at the position of the connector module 4 would prevent the door from opening, as the actuator module 2 during opening would collide with the frame 23.

[0037] An advantage of the device 1 is that an adapter module 2 of a given height, which is successfully used for other types of doors, can also be employed on glass doors with narrow stile profiles 21 at the position of the lock insert 3.

[0038] As illustrated, the connector module 4 connects the actuator module 2 with the lock insert 3 by extending from the lock insert position on stile profile 21 towards the glass panel 22 and potentially even over the glass panel 22. The connector module 4 has a first portion 4A that covers the lock insert 3 and a second portion 4B onto which the actuator module 2 is mounted. The second portion extends to and over the glass panel in the shown illustration. The first portion 4A and the second portion 4B are positioned side-by-side so that the actuator module 2 is offset laterally from the lock insert 3 in a direction away from the frame 23.

[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the vertical stile profile 21 has a width W1, and the device 1 has a lateral extension W2 in a direction lateral to the vertical stile profile 21 and parallel to the door 20, where W2 is larger than W1. Thus, the actuator module 2 extends over the glass panel 22 to a location remote from the vertical stile profile 21.

[0040] The actuator module 2 has a cylindrical wall 7 that extends from the connector module 4 to a manual handle 8 that functions as a cover of the actuator module 2. The manual handle 8 can be used for manually locking and unlocking the door in additional to the motorized function. As part of the cylindrical wall 7 of the actuator module 2, a door 9 is provided for access to batteries 10 inside the actuator module 2.

[0041] A cover plate 6 of the connector module 4 covers the interior of the connector module 4 at the location of the lock insert 3 in the stile profile 21 underneath the connector module 4.

[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates the device 1 in a view where the walls 4A, 4B and 7 and the cover plate 6 have been removed in order to reveal the interior.

[0043] The actuator module 2 comprises a number of batteries 10 for providing electricity to a motor 11, which by switching current-direction can be driven in opposite directions. In operation, the motor 11 drives an arrangement 12 of intermeshing gear wheels. The gear wheels of the actuator module 2 intermesh with the gearwheels of the connector module 4.

[0044] The connector module 4 comprises a connector-receiver 13 for connecting the motor-driven gearwheel arrangement 12 to a rotational lock-actuator connector-pin 14 of the door lock.

[0045] The actuator module 2 comprises electronics 15 for controlling the locking and unlocking action by the motor 11 through the adapter module 3. The electronics 15 comprise a controller 16 for the motor 11 and a wireless transceiver 17 for receiving digital wireless commands, for example programming commands or actuation commands, and for delivering wireless status information.

[0046] Typically, the wireless communication is done by Bluetooth with a smartphone and/or through a WiFi system. Various other options exist, including Z-wave, ZigBee, or other types of radio frequency signals.

[0047] The controller 16 comprises a start/stop function that rotates the rotational connector-receiver 13, and thus connector-pin 14 of the door lock insert 3, until the door's lock bolt 5 reaches appropriate positions for an open or closed state of the door 20. The start-stop function can be programmed into a computer program of the controller 16, or can be achieved by a sensor that measures resistance of the lock bolt 5. For example, the controller is programmed to control the angular movement of the connector-pin 14, which is related to the travel distance of the lock bolt 5, in order to make sure that the lock bolt 5 has been moved sufficiently to actually lock the door 20.

[0048] The actuator module 2 comprises a base plate 18 which is the lower end of the actuator module 2. The base plate 18 is mounted to the connector module 4, which in turn is mounted to the door 20. Thus, the connector module 4 is located between the actuator module 2 and the door 20. The gear wheels of the actuator module 2 are intermeshing with the gear wheels of the connector module 4 for driving the connector-receiver 13 by the motor 11.

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates the rear side of the connector module 4, the plane surface of which is abutting the surface of the door 20 when mounted. The lock insert 3 comprises a cam 24 that is connected to the connector-pin 14 and which by rotation is actuating the lock bolt 5 when the connector-pin 14 is rotated by the motor 11.

[0050] When the device is mounted to the door 20, the lock insert 3 is mounted in the vertical stile profile 21 of the door, and the connector-pin 14 is guided into the connector-receiver 13 when the rear plate 19 of the connector module 4 is mounted on the surface of the vertical stile profile 21 in an orientation such that the actuator module 2 is distal to the frame 23 around the door 20.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0051] 1electromechanical door lock actuator device [0052] 2actuator module [0053] 3lock insert [0054] 4connector module [0055] 4A first portion of connector module 4 which covers the lock insert 3 [0056] 4B second portion onto which the actuator module 2 is mounted [0057] 5lock bolt [0058] 6cover plate of adapter module [0059] 7cylindrical wall of actuator module 2 [0060] 8 manual handle [0061] 9battery door [0062] 10battery [0063] 11 motor [0064] 12arrangement of intermeshing gear wheels [0065] 13connector-receiver [0066] 14connector-pin [0067] 15electronics [0068] 16 controller [0069] 17wireless transceiver [0070] 18base plate of actuator module 2 [0071] 19 rear plate of connector module 4 [0072] 20 door [0073] 21vertical stile profile [0074] 22glass panel [0075] 23frame [0076] 24 cam for driving lock bolt 5