Abstract
A lock for installation in a door leaf defining a first plane, the lock comprising: a housing; and a bolt moveable relative to the housing between a retracted position, and an extended position in which a distal portion of the bolt protrudes from an opening in the shoulder sloped in a plane parallel to the first plane, such that the bolt housing; wherein the distal portion of the bolt comprises at least one is moveable into the retracted position in response to a force applied to the shoulder.
Claims
1. A lock for installation in a door leaf defining a first plane, the lock comprising: a housing; a bolt moveable relative to the housing between a retracted position, and an extended position in which a distal portion of the bolt protrudes from an opening in the housing, wherein the bolt is resiliently biased into the extended position; and a lock mechanism configured to selectively engage the bolt in order to selectively retain the bolt in the retracted position; wherein the distal portion of the bolt comprises at least one shoulder sloped in a plane parallel to the first plane, such that the bolt is moveable into the retracted position in response to a force applied to the at least one shoulder; and wherein the lock mechanism is moveable into a first configuration in which it engages the bolt to move the bolt into the retracted position; and into a second configuration in which it disengages from the bolt such that the bolt is resiliently biased into the extended position.
2. The lock of claim 1 wherein, when the bolt is in the extended position, the slope of the at least one shoulder extends at least to the opening.
3. The lock of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the bolt is rounded to form the at least one shoulder.
4. The lock of claim 1, further comprising a shroud arranged within the housing to conceal an interior of the housing when the bolt is in the retracted position.
5. The lock of claim 4, wherein the shroud extends proximally from the opening.
6. The lock of claim 5, wherein the shroud at least partially encases the bolt.
7. The lock of claim 1, wherein the lock mechanism further comprises: a follower configured to operate the bolt, and a first spindle extending from a first side of the lock; wherein the first spindle is translatable relative to the follower between a first position in which the first spindle is rotationally coupled with the follower; and a second position in which the first spindle is rotationally decoupled from the follower.
8. The lock of claim 7, wherein the lock mechanism further comprises: a second spindle extending from a second side of the lock; wherein the second spindle is rotationally coupled with the follower.
9. The lock of claim 7, wherein the first spindle is resiliently biased into one of the first position and the second position.
10. The lock of claim 8, wherein the second spindle is configured to be rotatable relative to the first spindle.
11. The lock of claim 8, wherein the second spindle is translationally coupled with the first spindle, such that translation of the second spindle relative to the follower causes the first spindle to translate relative to the follower.
12. The lock of claim 11, wherein the second spindle is rotationally coupled with the follower when the first spindle is in each of the first position and the second position.
13. The lock of claim 8, wherein the first spindle and the second spindle collectively form a split spindle.
14. The lock of claim 8, wherein translational travel of the second spindle is limited so as to prevent rotational disengagement of the second spindle from the follower.
15. The lock of claim 8, wherein the first spindle is coupled with a first handle, and the second spindle is coupled with a second handle.
16. The lock of claim 15, wherein a rotational range of motion of the first handle is less than that of the follower.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0056] Specific examples of the present disclosure will now be set out, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0057] FIGS. 1a-1d respectively show a first, a second, a third and a fourth bolt according to the present disclosure;
[0058] FIG. 2 shows a lock according to the present disclosure in an unlocked configuration;
[0059] FIG. 3 shows the lock of FIG. 2, with the bolt in an intermediate configuration;
[0060] FIG. 4 shows the lock of FIGS. 2 and 3 in a locked configuration;
[0061] FIG. 5 shows a perpendicular cross-section of the lock in FIGS. 2-4, with a spindle shown in a first position;
[0062] FIG. 6 shows the perpendicular cross-section of FIG. 5, with the spindle shown in a second position;
[0063] FIG. 7 shows a front side of a handle for use in the lock of FIGS. 2-6;
[0064] FIG. 8 shows a rear side of the handle of FIG. 7;
[0065] FIG. 9 shows a lock according to a further example of the present disclosure; and
[0066] FIG. 10 shows a split spindle for use with a lock according to the present disclosure.
[0067] Like references are used for like features in the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0068] FIGS. 1a-1d show a number of bolt configurations for use with a lock according to the present disclosure. Also shown for FIGS. 1a-1d are a first direction H, and a second direction V. For illustrative purposes, the first direction H will be described below as the horizontal direction, and the second direction V will be described below as the vertical direction. In other words, the description below is orientation-specific, in the interest of providing a clear description of a working example of the lock according to the present disclosure. However, as the reader will appreciate, the lock according to the present disclosure could in practice be used in any orientation other than that described below.
[0069] FIG. 1a shows a bolt 100 according to a first example of the present disclosure. The bolt 100 is configured for movement relative to a housing (not shown in FIG. 1) in the horizontal direction H. The distal end 106 of the bolt 100 is rounded to form a sloped upper shoulder 102, and a sloped lower shoulder 104. The distal portion 106 comprising the sloped shoulders 102, 104 is the portion of the bolt that protrudes from the housing when the bolt is in the extended (locked) position (c.f. FIG. 2 below). Each sloped shoulder forms an oblique angle with each of the vertical direction V and the horizontal direction H. Each shoulder is parallel with the plane of the page in FIG. 1a (which is parallel with the first plane of the first aspect described above).
[0070] FIG. 1b shows a bolt 100 according to a second example. As with the bolt 100, the bolt 100 has a distal portion 106 which includes a sloped upper shoulder 102 and a sloped lower shoulder 104. Again, each of the sloped shoulders 102, 104 forms an oblique angle with each of the horizontal direction H and the vertical direction V.
[0071] Shown in FIG. 1b is a force F applied in a vertical (downwards) direction V to the upper sloped shoulder 102 of the bolt 100. Because of the slope of the shoulder 102, where the bolt is constrained to move in the horizontal direction, the resultant force on the bolt 100 includes a horizontal component and a vertical component. Therefore, where the bolt 100 is constrained to move only in the horizontal direction, the force F will cause the bolt to move (retract) in the horizontal direction. As the reader will understand, the same principle applies to FIGS. 1a, 1c, 1d.
[0072] FIG. 1c shows a bolt 100 according to a third example. The bolt 100 also has a distal portion 106. However, whereas the bolts 100 and 100 include both a sloped upper shoulder and a sloped lower shoulder, the bolt 100 includes only an upper sloped shoulder 102. When a vertical (downwards) force F is applied to the upper sloped shoulder 102, the bolt 100 will similarly be caused to move in the horizontal direction.
[0073] FIG. 1d shows a bolt 100 according to a fourth example. The bolt 100 is similar to the bolt 100 above, save for the fact that its distal portion 106 includes a sloped lower shoulder 104, rather than a sloped upper shoulder 102.
[0074] FIG. 2 shows a lock 200 according to the present disclosure. The lock 200 includes a bolt 100 according to FIG. 1a. However, as the reader will understand, the lock may alternatively include a bolt according to FIG. 1b, 1c, or 1d. Repeated again on FIG. 2 for illustrative purposes are the horizontal direction H, and the vertical direction V.
[0075] The lock 200 comprises a housing 202, which in the unlocked configuration shown in FIG. 2 fully conceals the bolt 100. The bolt 100 is operated via a locking mechanism 204 which includes a follower 206 and a spindle (not shown in FIG. 2). The follower 206 includes a cam 208 configured to engage a proximal end of the bolt 100 to thereby operate movement of the bolt 100 relative to the housing 202. As can be seen, the follower comprises a square aperture 210 for receiving a square spindle.
[0076] The lock 200 also includes a helical spring 211 coupled to the housing and to the bolt 100 so as to resiliently bias the bolt 100 into an extended position as shown in FIG. 4.
[0077] Face plate 212 of the housing 200 is configured in use to sit flush with an edge of a door leaf into which the lock 200 is installed. When installed, the rest of the housing 202 is concealed within the door leaf. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the plane which is parallel to the page in FIG. 2 corresponds to the first plane as described in the first aspect.
[0078] As the reader will understand, the bolt 100 may additionally be operated by an off-the-shelf cylinder lock (not shown). The off-the-shelf cylinder lock may be accessible via opening 214 in the housing 202, and may actuate the bolt 100 via engagement surfaces 216, 218.
[0079] The bolt 100 comprises an elongate channel 220 proximal of the distal portion 106. A pin 222 coupled to the casing 202 is located within the elongate channel 220, to thereby restrict the motion of the bolt 100 to the horizontal direction H. The helical spring 211 is secured at a first end thereof to the pin 222, and at a second end thereof to a distal end of the channel 220. Accordingly, the bolt 100 is restricted to movement in the horizontal direction between a retracted position (shown in FIG. 2) and an extended position (shown in FIG. 4). The helical spring 211 resiliently biases the bolt into the extended position.
[0080] As can also be seen from FIG. 2, the locking mechanism 204 is vertically offset from the elongate channel 220. This is achieved by having a main bolt portion 100a, and an offset bolt portion 100b. The offset bolt portion 100b is vertically offset from the main bolt portion 100a and is attached to the main bolt portion 100a by a connecting portion 100c. The locking mechanism 204 is positioned adjacent the offset bolt portion 100b in order to operate the bolt 100 via the offset bolt portion 100b.
[0081] Also shown in FIG. 2 is a shroud 228. The shroud 228 comprises a first plate 230 and a second plate 332. The first plate 230 is located within the housing 202 and extends adjacent the upper edge of the bolt 100. The second plate 232 is located within the housing 202 and extends adjacent the lower edge of the bolt 100. The shroud 228 abuts the opening 226 from the inner side of the housing 202. Accordingly, even though a small gap exists between the bolt 100 and the housing 202 when the bolt is in the retracted position of FIG. 2, the shroud 228 prevents access to the interior of the housing 202.
[0082] FIG. 2 shows the lock 200 in an unlocked configuration. In this configuration, the follower 206 of the locking mechanism 204 is in a second rotational position in which the cam 208 engages a proximal surface 209 of the bolt 100 so as to retain the bolt 100 in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 2. This corresponds to an unlocked configuration of the lock mechanism. In the retracted position, the bolt is fully concealed within the housing 202. In particular, the distal portion 106 of the bolt 100 does not protrude through the opening 226. The cam 208 overcomes the biasing force of the helical spring 211 to retain the bolt 100 in the retracted position. A detent 224 restricts the proximal motion of the bolt 100 so that it cannot extend any further proximally than the retracted position shown in FIG. 2.
[0083] In order to move the lock into a locked configuration, a user operates the lock mechanism 204. In particular, the user operates the lock mechanism 204 in order to rotate the follower 206 away from the first rotational position of FIG. 2, and into the first rotational position of FIG. 4, via the intermediate rotational position of FIG. 3. As the follower 206 rotates, the cam 208 moves in the generally distal direction, and the bolt 100 in turn also moves in the distal direction under the biasing influence of the helical spring 211.
[0084] Rotation of the follower 206 continues, until the follower 206 reaches the second rotational position shown in FIG. 4. In this second rotational position, the follower 206 has rotated sufficiently for the cam 208 to completely disengage from the bolt 100, such that the bolt 100 can freely move under the influence of the helical spring 211, without the cam 208 obstructing the horizontal movement of the bolt 100. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the proximal surface of the cam 208 is rounded so as to ensure that the cam does not interfere with the movement of the bolt 100 when the follower is in the second rotational position. An adjacent distal surface 225 of the bolt 100 is similarly rounded to prevent it from snagging on the cam 208 when the follower is in the second rotational position.
[0085] The helical spring 211 retains the bolt 100 in the extended position shown in FIG. 4. This is the locked configuration of the lock 100.
[0086] In the locked configuration, the bolt 100 can be moved back into the retracted (unlocked) position either by applying a force to the distal end of the bolt 100, or by a user moving the follower 206 back to the first rotational position of FIG. 2, such that the cam 208 once again engages the proximal surface 209 to retain the bolt 100 in the retracted position of FIG. 2.
[0087] As can be seen from FIG. 4, in the locked configuration in which the bolt 100 is in the extended position, the distal portion 106 of the bolt 100 having the sloped upper and lower surfaces 102, 104 protrudes from the opening 226 in the housing 202. If a force is applied in the upwards direction or the downwards direction to the distal portion 106 of the bolt 100, the sloped surfaces will cause the bolt 100 to retract back into the housing 202. Accordingly, as soon as an individual tries to suspend a weight from a ligature anchored around the bolt 100, the bolt 100 will move back into the retracted position shown in FIG. 2, such that the anchor point is immediately removed. Once the force is removed, the bolt 100 will once again return to the extended position of FIG. 4 under the influence of the helical spring 211.
[0088] FIG. 5 shows a perpendicular cross-section of the lock 200 from FIGS. 2-4. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 is taken along a horizontal plane that extends into the page in FIGS. 2-4, i.e. a horizontal cross-section taken through the door leaf 300 into which the lock 200 is installed.
[0089] FIG. 5 shows the door lock 200 installed in a door leaf 300. The face plate 212 sits flush with a front edge of the door leaf 300. A split spindle 302 extends through the follower 206. The split spindle 302 has a square cross-section, for rotational engagement with the square aperture 210 of the follower 206. Accordingly, the split spindle 302 is operable to drive rotation of the follower 206 between the first rotational position (FIG. 2) and the second rotational position (FIG. 4) i.e. is operable to lock or unlock the door. Moreover, a first end of the split spindle 302 is connected to a first handle 304, and a second end of the split spindle 302 is connected to a second handle 306. Accordingly, a user can operate the lock 200 from the first side 300a of the door (using the first handle 304), or from the second side 300b of the door (using the second handle 306).
[0090] The split spindle 302 includes a first spindle portion 302a, and a second spindle portion 302b. The first spindle portion 302a is rotationally coupled with the first handle 304; and the second spindle portion 302b is rotationally coupled with the second handle 306. The first portion 302a of the split spindle is attached to the second portion 302b of the split spindle by a threaded connection. Accordingly, the first and second portions 302a, 302b are translationally coupled with one another, but are able to rotate relative to one another. An illustration of such a split spindle 302 having a first spindle portion 302a and a second spindle portion 302b is shown in FIG. 10.
[0091] With continued reference to FIG. 5, the split spindle 302 is translatable relative to the follower 206, and relative to the first and second handles 304, 306. That is, the split spindle 302 is translatable between a first position as shown in FIG. 5; and a second position as shown in FIG. 6. A first lip 308 on the first spindle portion 302a and a second lip 310 on the second spindle portion 302b limit the translational movement of the split spindle 302 to being between the first position and the second position. A helical spring 311 resiliently biases the split spindle 302 into the first position as shown in FIG. 5. The second handle 306 includes an opening 312. A user on the second side 300b of the door can push the second portion 302b of the spindle via the opening 312, to thereby move the split spindle 302 into the second position shown in FIG. 6. When the user releases the second portion 302b of the spindle, it will then return to the first position as shown in FIG. 5 under the biasing influence of the helical spring 311. The helical spring 311 is located within the first handle 304, and is coupled to the first portion 302a of the split spindle so as to bias the split spindle 302 into the first position.
[0092] When the split spindle 302 is in the first position as shown in FIG. 5, i.e. when a user on the second side 300b of the door leaf 300 is not pressing on the second portion 302b of the split spindle, both the first portion 302a and the second portion 302b of the split spindle are located within the follower 306. Accordingly, both are rotationally coupled with the follower. By extension, when the split spindle is in the first position as shown in FIG. 5, both the first handle 304 and the second handle 306 are rotationally coupled with the follower. The lock can therefore be operated via both the first handle 304 and the second handle 306.
[0093] If a user on the first side of the door 300a holds the handle 304 so as to prevent it from rotating, the first portion of the spindle 302a which is located within the follower 304 and thus rotationally coupled with the follower 304 when the split spindle 302 is in the first position of FIG. 2will prevent unlocking of the door. However, a user on the second side of the door can override the first handle 304 by pushing the split spindle 302 into the second translational position of FIG. 6 via the opening 312. When the split spindle 302 is in the second translational position shown in FIG. 6, the first portion 302a of the split spindle is no longer located within the follower 206. Accordingly, the first portion 302a of the split spindleand by extension the first handle 304are no longer rotationally coupled with the follower 306. Accordingly, the user of the second handle 306 can override/disengage the first handle to unlock the door. A key may be provided for insertion into the opening 312 to enable easy override.
[0094] FIG. 7 shows an example of the first handle 304. As illustrated, the handle 304 is configured to rotate by 40 degrees in a first direction, and by 40 decrees in a second direction. Accordingly, the total rotational travel of the handle is limited to 80 degrees. FIG. 8 shows the reverse side of the handle 304 (the part which is concealed within use). A protrusion 330 and a corresponding arcuate channel 332 are shown. The protrusion 330 is attached to the door leaf 300 and extends into the channel 332 of the handle 304, in order to restrict the rotational travel of the handle 304 to 80 degrees as discussed above. The follower 206 is free to rotate by more than 80 degrees. Accordingly, a user of the handle 304 is not able to apply a torsional strain between the spindle 302 and follower 206. The user therefore is not able to seize the spindle 302 within the follower 206 to prevent translational movement of the spindle 302 relative to the follower 206. The follower 206 may be configured to have a rotational travel of at least 90 degrees, i.e. at least 5 degrees greater than that of the handle 304 in each direction.
[0095] Above, a lock 200 which combines the retracting bolt of the first aspect, and the translatable spindle of the second aspect, has been described. However, as the reader will understand, the lock mechanism (comprising the follower and the translatable split spindle) as described in detail in FIGS. 5-6 could be used with a conventional, off-the-shelf bolt. Similarly, the retracting lock arrangement described in detail in FIGS. 2-4 could be used with a conventional, off-the-shelf lock mechanism. Advantages are achieved by each of the first and second aspects of the present disclosure when considered alone. Additionally, the combination of the two aspects provides a synergistic lock system with even higher levels of user safety.
[0096] FIG. 9 shows a lock 400 according to a further example, in a locked configuration. The lock 400 includes all of the features of the lock 200 described above. Like reference numerals are therefore used for like features/components. However, the lock 400 includes an additional feature. In particular, the lock 400 includes a roller latch 402. The roller latch 402 includes a roller 404 and a helical spring 404 arranged to bias the roller 404 into the extended position shown in FIG. 9.
[0097] It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other implementations will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to a specific example implementation, it will be recognized that the disclosure is not limited to the implementations described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration insofar as such modification(s) and alteration(s) remain within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
