Door lock adapter

Abstract

An adapter configured to convert a rotary motion of a drive shaft for a door lock actuating mechanism into a translational motion for actuating a door latch. The adapter includes a housing with a compartment and a first lever inside the compartment, enables retrofitting of US-style doors with a European style door handle by providing a first bearing that rotatably supports the first lever relative to the housing, wherein the first bearing has a first axis of rotation, wherein the housing has a channel, the channel has a first opening facing the lever and a second opening facing away from the lever, wherein a first channel axis extends through the centers of the first and second openings. The first lever has a hole, configured for receiving the drive shaft, wherein the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft correlates with the first axis of rotation. The first lever further has first coupling means for providing a torque proof coupling with the drive shaft. A second bearing pivotably attaches the lever to a connecting rod, where-in the second bearing has a second axis of rotation, wherein the connecting rod has a first connecting element at the end of the connecting rod opposite to the lever. The first connecting element is moveably supported inside the first channel, wherein the channel walls limit a translation of the first connecting element in directions perpendicular to the first channel axis and enable a translation along the first channel axis.

Claims

1. An adapter configured to convert a rotary motion of a drive shaft for a door lock actuating mechanism into a translational motion for actuating a door latch, wherein the adapter comprises a housing with a compartment and a lever structure inside the compartment, wherein: the lever structure comprises at least one of a first lever element and a second lever element and defines a first lever arm and is rotatably supported by a first bearing, wherein the first bearing has a first axis of rotation, the housing has a first channel, and the first channel has a first opening facing the lever structure and a second opening facing away from the lever structure, wherein a first channel axis extends through the centers of the first and second openings, the lever structure has a hole, configured to receive the drive shaft and as a first coupling means to provide a torque proof coupling with the drive shaft, a second bearing is configured to pivotably attach the lever structure to a first connecting rod, wherein the second bearing has a second axis of rotation separated from the first axis of rotation by the first lever arm, the first connecting rod has a first connecting element at a distal end of the first connecting rod opposite to the second bearing, the first connecting element is moveably supported inside the first channel, wherein first channel walls limit a translation of the first connecting element in directions perpendicular to the first channel axis and enable a translation along the first channel axis.

2. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein: the housing has a second channel, with a third opening of the second channel facing the lever structure and a fourth opening of the second channel facing away from the lever structure, wherein the second channel axis extends through centers of the third and fourth openings, the lever structure further comprises a second connecting rod with a second connecting element at a distal end of the second connecting rod, and the second connecting rod is pivotably attached to the lever structure by a third bearing that has a third axis of rotation that is separated from the first axis of rotation by a second lever arm of the lever structure, the second connecting element is moveably supported by the second channel, wherein second channel walls limit a translation of the second connecting element in directions perpendicular to the second channel axis and enable a translation parallel to the second channel axis.

3. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein at least the housing with the first channel and the second channel, the hole, and the first coupling means configured to releasably connect a connecting rod, from the first and second connecting rods, with a latch of a door lock are symmetrical with respect to the first axis of rotation.

4. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein the first connecting rod is pivotably connected to the lever structure by a first pin and the second connecting rod is pivotably connected to the lever structure by a second pin.

5. An adapter according to claim 4, wherein the first pin and the second pin are movably supported in at least one recess, wherein a pin axis of the first pin and a pin axis of the second pin are oriented at least essentially parallel to an axis defined by the ring segment.

6. An adapter according to claim 4, further comprising at least a first spring configured to bias the first pin and/or a second pin in a first direction.

7. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein: the at least one of a first lever element and a second lever element includes both the first lever element and the second lever element, and the first connecting rod and second connecting rod are positioned between the first lever element and the second lever element.

8. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein the first connecting element is pivotably supported in the first channel to enable a pivotable movement about a fourth axis of rotation and/or the second connecting element is pivotably supported in the second channel to enable a pivotable movement about a fifth axis of rotation.

9. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein the adapter has at least one stop that limits an angle within which the first lever element and/or the second lever element can be pivoted relative to the housing in at least one direction.

10. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein each of the first connecting element and the second connecting element has a coupling configured to be attached with a latch connecting member of the latch.

11. An adapter according to claim 10, wherein said coupling is a releasable coupling.

12. An adapter according to claim 2, wherein the first connecting rod is pivotably supported in the first channel to enable a pivotable movement about a fourth axis of rotation and the second connecting rod is pivotably supported in the second channel to enable a pivotable movement about a fifth axis of rotation.

13. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the housing has at least one recess, wherein the at least one recess has a form of a ring segment.

14. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first drive opening and a second drive opening, which are configured to accept the drive shaft.

15. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the housing is disassemblable.

16. An adapter according to claim 1, wherein the first connecting rod is pivotably connected to the first lever by a first pin.

17. A kit comprising a latch module having a module housing and at least one latch that is movably supported relative to the module housing, and wherein the at least one latch is connected to a pull rod having a pull rod connecting member, and wherein the kit further comprises the adapter of claim 1, wherein the first connecting rod is configured to be connected to the pull rod connecting member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a side view of an adapter being connected to a latch module,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the side view of FIG. 1, wherein a cover of the adapter has been removed,

(4) FIG. 3 shows as perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 1 being connected to the latch module,

(5) FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the adapter of FIGS. 1 to 3,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a side view of an actuated adapter of FIGS. 1 to 4 being connected to the latch module, wherein a cover of the adapter has been removed

(7) FIG. 6 shows an example for combining the adapter with a shaft and door handles.

(8) Generally, the drawings are not to scale. Like elements and components are referred to by like labels and numerals. For the simplicity of illustrations, not all elements and components depicted and labeled in one drawing are necessarily labels in another drawing even if these elements and components appear in such other drawing.

(9) While various modifications and alternative forms, of implementation of the idea of the invention are within the scope of the invention, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and are described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and related detailed description are not intended to limit the implementation of the idea of the invention to the particular form disclosed in this application, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows an adapter 10 being connected to an optional latch module 80. The latch module 80 has a latch module housing 82 and a latch 84 being retractably supported by the latch module housing 82. A front side of the latch 84 extends over the housing and is configured to engage into a complementary recess of a door frame. A pull rod 86 with a connecting member 88 may extend over the opposite side of the latch module housing 82 and may be connected to the latch 84. Thus, pulling the connecting member 86 causes a retraction of the latch 84 as depicted in FIG. 6.

(11) The pull rod 86 may pulled by the adapter 10. The adapter 10 has a housing 20, e.g. with a first housing portion 21 and a second housing portion 22.

(12) Inside the housing 20 is a compartment 24 (see FIG. 4). When assembling, the first housing portion 22 can be used as a bottom housing portion 22 being closed in a final step by attaching a cover 22, namely the second housing portion. The housing 20 may have drive openings 29.

(13) Inside the compartment can at least one, e.g. as depicted be two lever elements 40 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 5). In this preferred example, each lever element 40 is part of two levers, i.e. of a first lever and a second lever as indicated by the lever arms d1 and d2 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). The levers d1, d2 may be rotatably mounted inside the compartment and thus have a rotational axis 2. Further, each lever element 40 may have a hole 49. In this example the holes 49 are centered with the rotational axis 2 and form a coupling element enabling a torque proof coupling with a drive shaft, e.g. with a polygonal shaft, in particular with a square shaft 91 (see FIG. 8).

(14) As apparent from FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 each lever element 40 may be rotatably supported inside the housing by a radial bearing, wherein the radial bearing is preferably at least partially integrated in the housing: In the depicted example, each lever d1, d2 has a distal end 41, i.e. an end section which faces away from the first rotational axis 2. As in this particular example, each lever d1, d2 may be formed by two lever elements 40, thus there may be (e.g.) four distal ends 41. In each distal end 41 is a recess 48 which provides a support for a first or a second pin 38. Here, the recess has the contour of a ring segment, but the recess may as well be through hole. The two optional pins 38 may preferably extend axially over the lever elements 40 into optional grooves 30 in the housing 20, i.e. in the walls defining the compartment 24. The grooves 30 may have the form of ring segments wherein each of the corresponding ring segments is centered around the first rotational axis 2. Accordingly, the two lever elements 40 may pivot around the first axis 2 inside the housing 20, while the ends of the pins 38 travel inside the grooves 30. At least one end of a ring segment may provide at least one block for at least one of the pins 38 and thereby limit the pivoting range. A spring 32 may be positioned inside at least one of the grooves 30 biasing the lever arms d1, d2, e.g. in a first rotational direction, e.g. against the at least a one block.

(15) The two lever elements 40 may be spaced, e.g. in axial direction, from each other with a gap in between, wherein the gap may for example extend parallel to the first longitudinal axis (see FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5). In between of the lever elements 40 may be at least one connecting rod 60. As an example, two connecting rods 60 are depicted. Each connecting rod 60 may be pivotably attached to a lever d1, d2, i.e. at a distance d1, d2 from the first rotational axis 2 by one of the pins 38, which may extend, e.g. through a recess 68 of the connecting rod 60. The first end section 61, which is attached to a lever d1, d2, is referred to as proximal end 61 of a connecting rod 60. The second end section is referred to as distal end 62 of the at least one connecting rod 60. The distal end 62 of the connecting rod 60 may have (or be configured as) a connecting element configured for being (e.g. removably) attached to the connecting member 88. For example, the connecting member 88 may have a diameter that increases with increasing distance from the module housing 20. The connecting element (the distal end 62) may have a recess configured for receiving the connecting member 88, while the portions of the connecting element 62 defining the recess may engage behind at least a portion of the connecting member 88, when coupled as depicted in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5.

(16) The connecting elements 62 may be movably supported relative to the housing 20. In the example, the housing 20 has at least one channel 26 with a first channel opening 27 facing towards the at least one lever d1, d2 and a second opening 28 facing away from the at least one lever d1, d2. A channel 26 may have at least one channel wall which may provide a bearing surface for a connecting element 62. Thus, a rotation of a lever d1, d2 from the position depicted in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 into the position depicted in FIG. 5, e.g. by actuating a door handle 92 (see FIG. 8) pulls the connecting rods 60 further in the compartment 24. Thereby, the proximal end 61 of the connection rod 60 rotates around a second rotational axis 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 5), which is the longitudinal axis of the respective pin 38 (see FIG. 4). The connecting element 62 at the distal end 62 of the connecting rod 60 has two opposed convex surfaces 64 being at least essentially rotational symmetric to a third rotational axis 4, thereby forming with the wall(s) of the channels 26 a plain bearing that allows a translation along the channel axis 5 and at the same time a rotation of the connecting rods 60 around the third rotational axes 4. This rotation may be supported by at least one section 64 of the outer surface of the connecting element 65, which at least one section 64 of the outer surface is preferably rotational symmetric to the third rotational axis 4. As apparent from FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, at least two of the first, second and third rotational axes may be at least essentially parallel to each other. The channel axis 5 is preferably at least essentially orthogonal to the first rotational axis 2.

(17) As can be seen, e.g. in FIG. 1, 3 and, a portion of the channel(s) 26 may be open in a direction parallel with the first rotational axis 2. This simplifies mounting the assembly, as in a first step, a latch module like e.g. the latch module 80 may be inserted in a corresponding recess in a door frame facing narrow side of a door leaf. Subsequently, the adapter can be inserted from the front or rear side of the door leaf in a corresponding recess and thereby the coupling member 88 may slide sideways (i.e. parallel with the movement of the adapter 10) into a recess of the connecting element 65.

(18) As can be seen e.g. in FIG. 4, the recesses 48 of the lever elements 40 may be open to one end. Preferably to the end which faces away from the distal end of the connection rod 60 which is connected to the pin 38 extending through the respective recess 48. These openings of the recesses enable the pins 38 to pivot perpendicular to their longitudinal axis in the grooves without entraining lever the elements 40. Accordingly, the connection rods 60 can be pushed to move further into the compartment 26 without entraining the lever elements 40. The latch can thus be pushed to move towards the first axis 2, while lever and thus a handle bar 92 as depicted in FIG. 6 remains in its initial (e.g. horizontal) position. Thus, the second bearing integrates a freehub.

(19) FIG. 6 illustrates how the adapter may be coupled to at least one door handle 92 by a shaft 91.

(20) It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that implementations of the idea of this invention provide an adapter for combining a European style door handle with an US-style mortise lock. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) 2 axis 3 axis 4 axis 5 channel axis 6 vertical axis 10 adapter 20 adapter housing 21 first housing portion 22 second housing portion (cover) 24 compartment 26 channel 27 first channel opening 28 second channel opening 29 drive opening 30 groove/recess 32 spring 38 pin 40 lever element 41 distal end 48 recess, preferably through hole 49 (through) hole 60 connecting rod/connecting element 61 first end (proximal end) 62 second end (distal end) 64 section of outer surface, e.g. cylinder surface section 68 recess 80 latch module 82 housing of latch module/module housing 84 latch 86 pull rod 88 connecting member 91 shaft 92 door handles d1 first lever, first lever arm d2 second lever, second lever arm