GB2408773A

GB2408773A - Lock actuation mechanism comprising spring-loaded locking pin

Info

Publication number: GB2408773A
Application number: GB0328331A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Philip Shenton
Original assignee: Window Fabrication and Fixing Supplies Ltd
Current assignee: Window Fabrication and Fixing Supplies Ltd
Priority date: 2003-12-06
Filing date: 2003-12-06
Publication date: 2005-06-08
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-06
Also published as: GB2408773B; GB0328331D0

Abstract

A lock actuation mechanism 10 comprises a handle 42 and a base 44, in which the handle is adapted to operate both a latch 6 and a locking mechanism 26,28, and has a free wheel capability and can move from a first, rest, position in which the locking mechanism is unlocked and the latch engaged to either of two actuation positions, in one of which the latch is disengaged and the wing component is free to open and in the second of which the locking mechanism is locked and the wing component cannot be opened. The lock actuating mechanism further comprises a spring loaded locking pin 46 biased towards engagement in a cooperating aperture 48 provided in the base 44 of the locking mechanism, which aperture is aligned for engagement of the locking pin when the handle is in the locking position, to prevent rotation thereof. The locking pin is preferably provided with a lock and removable key operable to lock the locking pin in the engaged position. The mechanism may actuate shoot bolts 26,28, or any suitable single or multiple locking mechanism.

Description

P02 1 44UK 20031205 Spec wpd 1 Title: Improved Actuation Mechanism The

present invention relates to an improved actuating mechanism, in particular to a mechanism for actuating a locking system comprising one or more hooks, rollers or studs, for locking a wing component such as a door or a window.

It is known to provide lock actuation mechanisms in which a handle, in particular a handle of the lever type adapted to operate both a latch and a locking mechanism, has a free wheel capability and can move from a first, rest, position in which the locking mechanism is unlocked and the latch engaged to either of two actuation positions, in one of which the latch is disengaged and the wing component is free to open and in the second of which the locking mechanism is locked and the wing component cannot be opened. Such a mechanism is generally provided on one side of the wing component only; dependent upon the proposed application, the other side of the wing component may be provided for example with a simple lever handle, which operates only the latch mechanism or may be free from any handle mechanism, to deter intruders.

In known lock actuation mechanisms of this type, the lever handle is generally biased, for example by means of springs, towards the rest position and can return to this position under the biasing means from either the latch release or the locking position, without actuating or releasing the locking mechanism.

Such lock actuation mechanisms have been found to be of value for installation in locations such as external doors or windows where access is not required from the outside, for example on balconies or for fire escapes, or on internal doors where it is desired to be able to secure the door when the room is occupied, for example for a bathroom or a toilet.

It is however a disadvantage of such lock actuation mechanisms that they are not adapted to be positively secured, and in particular that they are not adapted to be secured by means of P02144UK 20031205 Spec wpd 2 a key. This means that, for example, where the lock actuator is provided adjacent to, for example a glass panel, an intruder maybreak the glass panel and reach in through the opening so created to release the lock.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock actuation mechanism of the type described in which the above disadvantages are reduced or substantially obviated.

The present invention provides a lock actuation mechanism comprising a handle and a base, in which the handle, in particular a handle of the lever type, is adapted to operate both a latch and a locking mechanism, and has a free wheel capability and can move from a first, rest, position in which the locking mechanism is unlocked and the latch engaged to either of two actuation positions, in one of which the latch is disengaged and the wing component is free to open and in the second of which the locking mechanism is locked and the wing component cannot be opened, which lock actuating mechanism further comprises a spring loaded locking pin biased towards engagement in a cooperating aperture provided in the base ofthe locking mechanism, which aperture is aligned for engagement of the locking pin when the handle is in the locking position, to prevent rotation thereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the lock actuation mechanism according to the invention, the locking pin is provided with a lock and removable key operable to lock the locking pin in the engaged position. The lock is preferably a cylinder lock.

In a preferred embodiment of the lock actuation mechanism according to the invention, the handle is a lever handle and is provided with biasing means to return the handle to the rest position.

The lock actuation mechanism according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with a lock actuation mechanism of the type described and claimed in our co- pending UK application No ######## (Applicants Reference P02140UK) of even date P02144UK 20031205 Spec wpd 3 herewith.

An embodiment of a lock actuating mechanism will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view of a lock actuation mechanism, with the handle removed, in a rest position, in which the latch is engaged and the lock is disengaged; Figure 2 is a view of the lock actuating mechanism of Figure 1, with the latch and the lock engaged; Figure 3 is a view of lock actuating mechanism of Figure 1, with lock and the latch disengaged; Figure 4 is a plan view of the cam, which forms a part of the lock actuating mechanism of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a coupling member which forms a part of the lock actuating mechanism of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a plan view of a handle and base plate, in a position corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 7 i s a plan view of the handle and base plate of Figure 6, in a position corresponding to Figure 2; Figure 8 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 7, mounted for the opposite hand; Figure 9 is a cross section through the handle and base plate of Figure 7 or Figure 8; and P02144UK 20031205 Spcc wpd 4 Figure 10 Is a plan view of the base plate of Figure 6.

As can be seen from Figure 1, a lock actuating mechanism, shown generally at 10, comprises a housing 2 in which is located a latch assembly 4 with latch 6. The mechanism 10 further comprises a latch spindle 8 of substantially square cross section. Latch spindle 8 is mounted in a cam 12, in a cruciform aperture 14 located therein. The latch spindle 8 is coupled in driving engagement with the cam 12 by a coupling member 16 which is itselfprovided with a control pin 18 for operating the latch assembly 4.

The cam 12 is further provided with a drive peg 20 which locates in a slot 22 provided in a connecting rod 24. Two shoot bolts 26, 28 are mounted on the connecting rod 24 and each lO Is provided with a roller SO, 32 for engagement in conventional manner in a keep 34, 36.

As can be seen from Figure 6, the lock actuating mechanism 10 further comprises a handle assembly shown generally at 40, comprising a lever handle 42 and base plate 44.

A spring locking pin 46 Is provided in the handle 42, biassed towards the base plate 44. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 10, the base plate 44 includes two locking apertures 48, 50andaslot52.

In use, to operate the latch assembly 4 from the unlocked condition of Figure 1, the lever handle 42 is rotated in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 6, and the pin 46 moves along the slot 52. As the latch spindle 8 is rotated by the rotation of the handle 42, the coupling member 16, which is in permanent driving engagement with the latch spindle 8, is rotated and the control pin 18 of the coupling member 16 operates to disengage the latch 6.

As the lever handle is released, it is returned to its rest position (Figure 1) by means of a conventional spring return mechanism (not shown) and the latch 6 reverts to the engaged condition.

P02144UK 20031205 Spec wpd 5 To operate the lock actuation mechanism 10 to engage the lock, the spring loaded pin 46 is actuated by the operator and is withdrawn from the slot 52 and the handle 42 is free to rotate In the anti-clockwise direction (Figure 6). The handle 42 is then rotated until the pin 46 engages in the aperture 48. As the handle 42 is rotated, the latch spindle 8 comes into driving engagement with the cam 12, since when the spindle 8 is rotated through more than 45 , the spindle 8 engages a shoulder of the cruciform aperture 14 and the spindle 8 is therefore in driving engagement with the cam 12. As the spindle 8 is rotated further, the drive peg 20 of the cam 12 moves in the slot 22 of the connecting rod 24 from the first end thereof.

As the peg 20 engages the second end of the slot 22, the connecting rod 24 is driven and the shoot bolts 26, 28 are driven linearly from their positions, as shown in Figure 1, to their position as shown in Figure 2.

The rollers 30, 32 mounted on the shoot bolts 26, 28 also move and engage in the keeps 34, 36. The lock is thus locked, with the lever handle 42 retained in the engaged position by means of the pin 46.

If it is desired to unlock the lock, the pin 46 is depressed to disengage it from the aperture 48 and the handle 42 can then be rotated in a clockwise direction through the rest position to disengage the latch 4. As the handle 42 is rotated further, the spindle 8 comes into driving engagement with the cam 12, via a shoulder of the cruciform aperture 14. As the handle 42 is rotated still further, the drive peg 20 moves along the slot 22 until it engages the first end of the slot and the connecting rod 24 is driven linearly from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 1, with consequent movement of the shoot bolts 26, 28 and disengagement of the rollers 30, 32 from their keeps 34, 36.

The lock is thus disengaged and as the lever handle 42 is released it is returned by the spring return mechanism to its rest position.

P02 1 44UK 20031205 Spec wpd 6 The base plate 44 is provided with two apertures 48, 50 to allow either right or left handed mounting of the assembly. While the operation of the lock actuation mechanism has been described with reference to a lock of the multi point type, it will be appreciated that it may be used to actuate any suitable single or multiple locking mechanism.

Claims

P02144UK 20031205 Spec wp] 7 Claims 1. A lock actuation mechanism

comprising a handle and a base, in which the handle is adapted to operate both a latch and a locking mechanism, and has a free wheel capability and can move from a first, rest, position in which the locking mechanism is unlocked and the latch engaged to either of two actuation positions, in one of which the latch is disengaged and the wing component is free to open and in the second of which the locking mechanism is locked and the wing component cannot be opened, which lock actuating mechanism further comprises a spring loaded locking pin biased towards engagement in a cooperating aperture provided in the base of the locking mechanism, which aperture is aligned for engagement of the locking pin when the handle is in the locking position, to prevent rotation thereof.
2. A lock actuation mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the locking pin is provided with a lock and removable key operable to lock the locking pin in the engaged position.
3. A lock actuation mechanism according to claim 2 wherein the lock is a cylinder lock.
4. A lock actuation mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the handle is a lever handle and is provided with biasing means to return the handle to the rest position.
5. A lock actuation mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 4 for use with a latch mechanism having a latch spindle which is substantially square in cross section and one end of which is mounted for rotation in a bearing, which latch spindle is rotatable by turning a handle at the second end of the latch spindle in a first direction to retract a latch bolt of the latch mechanism and is rotatable by turning said handle in a second direction r P02144UK 20031205 Spec wpd 8 to engage a locking means, which lock actuation mechanism further comprises a cam means adapted to be coupled, by means of a rotatable coupling member, in driving engagement with the latch spindle so that the cam means is driven via the coupling member by the latch spindle when the latter is rotated in said second direction, to engage the locking means and when the latter is rotated in said first direction to disengage the locking means, and the latch spindle is mounted within a cruciform aperture in the coupling member and rotatable relative to the coupling member between a non- engaged rest position and one of two engaged positions.