GB2373818A

GB2373818A - Adjustable keeps

Info

Publication number: GB2373818A
Application number: GB0108110A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steve Wilkes
Original assignee: ERA PRODUCTS Ltd
Current assignee: ERA PRODUCTS Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-30
Filing date: 2001-03-30
Publication date: 2002-10-02
Also published as: GB0108110D0

Abstract

A keep (11,14), particularly for a multi-point locking system, comprises a face plate (15) including bolt-receiving holes (29) of elongate rectangular shape. The face plate (15) is carried by two packers (16a,16b) connected to the face plate (15) at respective opposite ends of the face plate by snap-fit connections (23a,23b,32) that allow lateral movement of the face plate (15) relative to the packers (16a,16b). A clamp strip (17) interconnects the packers (16a,16b) and has a fixing slot (37) accessible through the face plate (15) by which the keep (11,14) can be loosely clamped to a frame to allow longitudinal adjustment of the position of the keep (11,14) relative to the frame. In addition an adjustment strip acts between the packers (16a, 16b) and the face plate (15) and is rotatable through the face plate (15) to adjust the lateral position of the face plate (15) relative to the packers (16a,16b). Once the bolt-receiving holes (29) are correctly aligned to receive co-operating bolts, screws are used to fix the packers (16a,16b) and the face plate (15) to the frame.

Description

KEEPS

The invention relates to keeps for locks and particularly to keeps for multi-point locks. The purpose of a keep is to provide a receiver for a bolt of a lock. In general the lock is mounted on a movable leaf such as a door and the keep is mounted on a frame into which the leaf closes. It is important to ensure that the keep is correctly aligned with the bolt it is to receive, before the keep is fixed to the frame. This is particularly necessary in a multi-point locking system where a central locking mechanism operates bolts at positions remote from the central position.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a keep for a bolt comprising a face plate including a bolt-receiving hole and carried by a mounting, the face plate and the mounting being fixable to a support, means being provided for permitting relative movement between the face plate and the mounting prior to said fixing.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a lock assembly comprising a locking mechanism and a keep according to the first aspect of the invention.

The following is a more detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, by

way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a multi-point locking system including a central lock and drive mechanism with associated keep and a remote latch also with an associated keep, Figure 2 is an exploded view from above and to one side of the remote latch keep of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an exploded view from beneath and to said one side of the remote latch keep of Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4a is an exploded cross-sectional view of a face plate, a packer and an adjustment strip of the remote latch keep of Figures 1 to 3, Figure 4b is a similar view to Figure 4a but showing the parts assembled and the face plate, packer and adjustment strip in a first disposition, Figure 4c is a similar view to Figure 4b but showing the face plate, packer and adjustment strip in a second disposition.

Referring first to Figure 1, the multi-point locking system comprises a central lock and

drive mechanism 10 including a bolt (not shown) received in a keep 11. The mechanism 10 includes two drive rods 12 extending from respective opposite ends of the mechanism 10. The end of each drive rod 12 remote from the mechanism 10 is associated with a remote lock, one of which is shown at 13 in Figure 1. Each remote lock 13 is associated with a respective keep, one of which is shown at 14 in Figure 1.

The construction and operation of the central lock and drive mechanism 10 and the remote lock 13 does not form part of this invention and so will not be described in detail. In brief the central lock and drive mechanism 10 is inserted in an edge of a closure such as a door (not shown). The drive rods 12 run in respective channels in the door edge and the remote locks 13 are inserted in the door edge at positions adjacent respective opposite ends of the door edge. A bar (not shown) extends through the door and engages a boss (not shown) in the central lock and drive mechanism 10. The closure closes into and opens out of an associated frame (not shown) and the keeps 11,14 are mounted on an edge of the frame which is adjacent the door edge when the door is closed into the frame. Each end of the bar carries a respective handle (not shown) and rotation of a handle operates the central lock and drive mechanism 10 to extend the central bolt to engage the associated keep 11, move the drive bars 12 outwardly of the mechanism 10 and consequently extend bolts from the remote locks 13 to engage the respective keeps 14. Reverse rotation of the handle reverses this movement.

The central lock and drive mechanism may be as described in our UK Patent Application No. 0016830. Other mechanisms performing similar functions are known in the art.

The keeps 11, 14 are constructed and arranged as follows, referring to Figures 2,3, 4a, 4b and 4c. Each keep 11,14 comprises a face plate 15, two packers 16a, 16b, a clamp strip 17, an adjusting strip 18 and two receivers, one of which is shown at 19.

The face plate 15, which may be of metal, is of elongate rectangular shape with first and second sides 20a, 20b, first and second ends 21 a, 21 b, an outer surface 22 and an under surface 25. Adjacent each end 21a, 21b, the face plate is formed with a pair of mounting holes 23a, 23b. Each mounting hole 23a, 23b is of elongate rectangular shape with the length of each hole 23a, 23b extending transverse to the first and second sides 20a, 20b and the holes 23a, 23b being equidistant from the associated end 21a, 21b of the face plate 15. Adjacent each pair of mounting holes 23a, 23b, but further from the associated end 21a, 21b is a first punched dimple 24 which projects from the undersurface 25 as seen in Figure 3. Each first punched dimple 24 is located generally on the centre line of the face plate. A second punched dimple 26 is provided adjacent each first punched dimple 24 and is located further from the associated end 21a, 21b adjacent the first side 20a. As seen in Figure 3, each second punched dimple 26 also projects from the undersurface 25 of the face plate 15.

The face plate 15 is also formed with an adjusting hole 27 and a fixing hole 28 formed 'de I I I side-by-side at the centre of the plate 15. The adjusting hole 27 is adjacent the first s side 20a and the fixing hole 28 is adjacent the second side 20b. Two bolt-receiving holes 29 are also provided in the face plate 15. Each hole 29 is of generally elongate rectangular shape and extends adjacent the second side 20b.

Each packer 16a, 16b, which may be moulded from a plastics material, is formed by a pair of side-by-side U-section channel members 30 carrying a generally H-shaped support 31. The support 31 carries two side-by-side but spaced mounting clips 32.

Each end of one limb 33 of the support 31 is formed with a square notch 34 and, adjacent the notch 34, there is provided a V-notch 35. These are best seen in Figure 3, and their purpose will be described below. As also best seen in Figure 3, each channel member 30 is provided with a respective fixing hole 36.

The clamp strip 17 is an elongate strip of rectangular cross-section formed at each end with a respective tongue 37 and in the centre with a fixing slot 43. The adjusting strip 18 is a plain elongate strip of rectangular cross-section.

The receiver 19 has a base 38 surrounded by upstanding longer side walls 39 interconnected by shorter end walls 40 to define a bolt-receiving opening 41. Two mounting flanges 42 extend from respective end walls 40 adjacent the opening 41.

The keep 11, 14 is assembled and mounted on a frame (not shown) as follows.

The tongues 37 on the clamp strip 17 are fitted into respective square notches 34 on the packers 16a, 16b and the end edges of the adjusting strip 18 are rested in respective V-notches 35 on the packers 16a, 16b. Since each packer 16a, 16b has two such notches 34,35, it does not matter which packer 16a, 16b engages which end of the clamp strip 17 and the adjusting strip 18. The mounting clips 32 are then snap-fitted into the mounting holes 23a, 23b. The length of the strips 17,18 is chosen so that the packers 16a, 16b are at the correct spacing to allow this.

As seen in Figures 2 and 3, the mounting clips 32 are not as long as the length of the associated mounting holes 23a, 23b so that the clips 32 are capable of sliding along the associated holes 23a, 23b to allow lateral movement of the packers 16a, 16b relative to the face plate. Also, in this disposition, the fixing slot 43 in the clamp strip 17 is aligned with the adjusting hole 27 in the face plate and the edge of the adjusting strip 18 opposite the edge resting in the V-notches 35 engages the two pairs of first and second dimples 24,26 on the undersurface of the face plate 15. This is shown in Figures 4a, 4b and 4c.

The screw (not shown) is then inserted through the adjusting hole 27 on the face plate 15 and the fixing slot 43 in the clamp strip 17 and is tightened lightly against the clamp strip 17. This fixes the keep 11,14 to the frame, but allows longitudinal

adjustment of the position of the bolt-receiving holes 29 relative to the bolts of the associated lock 10, 13. In addition, a tool, such as a screw driver, can be inserted through the adjusting hole 27 on the face plate 15 and engaged with the adjusting strip 18 to rotate the strip 18 to any one of a number of positions between the limiting positions shown in Figures 4b and 4c. This moves the face plate 15 laterally relative to the packers 16a, 16b by sliding the mounting clips 32 along the associated mounting holes 23a, 23b. This allows the lateral position of the bolt-receiving holes 29 relative to the associated lock 10,13 to ensure correct alignment. The maximum lateral adjustment may be 2mm.

Once the bolt-receiving holes 29 have been correctly aligned with the associated locks 10,13, the keep 11,14 is fixed to the frame with screws passing through the fixing hole 28 in the face plate 15 and the fixing holes 36 on the packers 16a, 16b.

It will be appreciated that there may be more or less bolt-receiving holes 29 depending on the associated lock 10,13. The adjusting strip 18 need not engage dimples 24,26 on the undersurface 25 of the face plate 15; other formations may be provided. Both lateral and longitudinal adjustment are preferable, but only one of them may be provided.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A keep for a bolt comprising a face plate including a bolt-receiving hole and carried by a mounting, the face plate and the mounting being fixable to a support, means being provided for permitting relative movement between the face plate and the mounting prior to said fixing.
2. A keep according to claim 1 wherein the bolt receiving hole is elongate, said relative movement being in a direction normal to the length of the bolt receiving hole.
3. A keep according to claim 2 wherein said face plate engages the mounting such as to allow relative sliding movement therebetween in said normal direction.
4. A keep according to claim 3 wherein the face plate and the mounting include co-operating snap-fit parts that connect the face plate to the mounting and permit said relative sliding movement.
5. A keep according to claim 4 wherein the snap-fit parts comprise at least one clip on the mounting and at least one co-operating mounting hole on the face plate.
6. A keep according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein an adjustment device acts between the face plate and the mounting and is operable to cause said relative

sliding movement.
7. A keep according to claim 6 wherein said adjustment device is rotatable to cause said sliding movement.
8. A keep according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the mounting includes two packers connected to the face plate at respective spaced positions, the face plate being movable relative to said packers.
9. A keep according to claim 8 when dependent on claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the adjustment device comprises an adjustment strip having one edge engaging the packers and an edge opposite said one edge engaging the face plate, the adjustment strip being rotatable to cause said relative sliding movement.
10. A keep according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and including a device for connecting the mounting to a frame prior to said fixing so that said relative movement is movement of the face plate relative to the mounting.
11. A keep according to claim 10 when dependent on claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein said connecting device, when connected to a frame, allows movement of the face plate and mounting together in a direction parallel to the length of the bolt-receiving hole.
12. A keep according to claim 11 when dependent on claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the connecting device comprises a clamp strip extending between the packers and connected thereto.
13. A keep according to claim 12 wherein the clamp strip includes an elongate fixing hole for receiving a screw for clamping the strip to a support, the hole being movable relative to the screw to provide said parallel movement.
14. A keep according to claim 9 and claim 12 wherein the face plate includes an adjusting hole through which the fixing hole on the clamp strip and the adjustment strip are accessed.
15. A keep according to claim 2 or any claim appendant thereto wherein the bolt receiving hole is of elongate rectangular shape.
16. A keep according to claim 15 wherein two bolt-receiving holes are provided.
17. A keep for a bolt comprising an elongate face plate having an upper surface and an under surface, a device being provided connected to the face plate and connectable to a support prior to direct connection of the face plate to the support, the device when so connected allowing movement of the face plate relative to the support

prior to said direct connection.
18. A keep according to claim 17 wherein the device permits movement of the face plate relative to the frame in a direction parallel to the length of the face plate.
19. A keep according to claim 18 wherein the face plate is carried by a mounting, the device being connected to the mounting.
20. A keep according to claim 19 wherein the mounting includes two packers connected to the face plate at respective spaced positions, the device comprising a clamp strip extending between the packers and connected thereto.
21. A keep according to claim 20 wherein the clamp strip includes an elongate fixing hole for receiving a screw for clamping the strip to a support, the hole being movable relative to the screw to provide said movement.
22. A keep for a bolt substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
23. A lock assembly comprising a lock mechanism and a co-operating keep according to any one of claims I to 22.
24. A lock assembly according to claim 23 wherein the lock mechanism is a multi-point lock mechanism, a keep according to any one of claims 16 to 22 for each lock.
25. A lock assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.