AU2020233757B2 - A cylinder lock assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to a cylinder lock assembly 1 for use with the mortice lock assembly 2, the cylinder lock assembly including a shell 7 with a bible portion 14, and a housing 22 adapted to accommodate the shell 7 therein. This arrangement allows for the shape of the housing 22 to be configured to interact with the mortice lock assembly 2 whilst still utilising a shell 7 with a bible portion 14.

Description

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A CYLINDER A CYLINDER LOCK LOCK ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY Sep

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a cylinder lock assembly for use with a mortice lock assembly. More specifically the cylinder lock assembly is of the kind including a shell having a bible portion configured for accommodating tumblers, and a housing having a cavity configured to accommodate the shell.

BACKGROUNDOFOFINVENTION BACKGROUND INVENTION

[0002] An entrance lockset generally includes a set of knobs or levers which can be installed at the entrance door, that are each rotatable to operate a latchbolt assembly mounted in the side of the door. The locking functionality can be provided by a cylinder lock which is installed in the knob or levers, so as to control their rotation relative to the latchbolt assembly. An alternative to an entrance lockset is a mortice lockset which includes a set of knobs or levers that are each rotatable to operate a mortice lock assembly mounted in the side of the door. The locking functionality can be provided by a lock mechanism within the mortice lock assembly housing which is controlled by a cylinder lock mounted separately to the knob or lever.

[0003] There is a perception that a mortice lockset provides a higher level of security than an entrance lockset, or at least that the mortice lockset is more resistant to tampering than the entrance lockset. Further, an entrance lockset can considered to be more architecturally appealing, or visually refined, than a mortice lockset. Accordingly a mortice lockset might often be combined with an entrance lockset on an apartment complex whereby the mortice lockset is installed at the entrance to the building, while the entrance lockset is installed on the front doors to the individual apartment.

[0004] There are a number of styles of cylinder lock and generally the style of cylinder lock used for an entrance lockset will not be used in a mortice lockset. A cylinder lockset will generally use the style of cylinder lock of the kind having a shell with a cylindrical portion accommodating a barrel, and a thin bible portion extending off the barrel portion for accommodating the tumblers. Whereas a mortice lockset may use a cylinder lock having an oval shaped housing which is thicker in the region surrounding the tumblers.

[0005] The entrance lockset and the mortice lockset will be configured with appropriately shaped cavities or apertures to accommodate only the specified cylinder lock assembly. This arrangement assists in the positioning of the cam, which is mounted on the barrel, relative to the lock mechanism in the entrance lockset or mortice lockset. The cam needs to be accurately positioned relative to the lock mechanism so that it can efficiently adjust the condition of the lock mechanism. It is also preferable that the shell or housing fits snugly within the aperture as this enhances the impression of the cylinder lock, entrance lockset, mortice lock being manufactured within high design tolerances.

[0006] During the building phase it can be advantageous for the builder to arrange for the locksmith to have all cylinder locks keyed alike as this will simplify the process of the builder and other trades accessing the building. While this is a relatively simple task for the locksmith, it can be made slightly more complex where different cylinder locks are used, and this will naturally add to the building costs. In contrast the occupier of the building will generally want to adjust the code of the cylinder lock to a unique code. However it may not be readily apparent to the occupier that how they should seek the services of a locksmith to adjust the cylinder lock.

[0007] The builder will have a relatively short term security view of the cylinder lock, in that it only needs to be serviceable and secure for the duration of the build. It will be advantageous to the locksmith if they can suggest a cylinder lock solution that can reduce some of the costs to the builder while encouraging the occupant to return to the locksmith to secure their services when adjusting the code of the cylinder lock.

[0008] A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not to be taken as an admission thatthat document or matter was, in Australia, known or that the information it contains was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

Where any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification (including the claims) they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps or components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 2020233757

According to this invention there is provided a cylinder lock assembly for use with mortice a lock assembly, the cylinder lock assembly including a shell having a bible portion configured for accommodating tumblers and defining a bore extending in an axial direction, a barrel having a keyway configured for accommodating a key, the barrel being rotatable within the bore relative to the shell, a housing having a cavity configured to accommodate the shell, an aperture formed in the housing extending to the cavity and configured for use in accommodating a fastening member fastening the cylinder lock assembly to the mortice lock assembly, wherein the housing has a front and the housing is configured relative to the shell such that locating the fastening member in the aperture formed in the housing urges the shell towards the front so as to reduce the ability of the shell to move relative to the housing.

While the fastening member may engage a rear wall of the bible to urge the shell towards the front, it is preferred that the shell is formed with a hole to accommodate the fastening member, whereby the cavity is configured so that when housing the shell the hole in the shell is out of alignment with the aperture in the housing, and locating the fastening member in the shell urges the hole in the shell towards aligning with the aperture in the housing. The degree to which the hole in the shell is out of alignment with the aperture in the housing may depend on a range of factors, and one factor is the diameter of the fastening member. The fastening member used to attach a cylinder lock to a mortice lock is often in the form a pin of about 2mm diameter, and as such the said out of alignment of the hole in the shell with the aperture in the housing is preferably no less than 0.1mm.

The housing is also preferably configured with at least one nub which is engaged by the shell when urging the shell towards the front. It is further preferred

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that the housing include a pair of nubs that engage the bible. While the housing may be made from any suitable material, it is preferably formed from a polymer material. Where the housing is formed from a polymer material it is preferred that the material be sufficiently flexible or resiliently deformable so that the nub(s) flex or deform when engaging the shell.

[0013] The cylinder lock assembly may include a faceplate which is preferably configured for releasable attachment to a front wall of the housing, and interacts with the shell so that faceplate is inhibited from detachment from the front wall when the shell is housed within the cavity. The faceplate may also carry details, such as details of the locksmith, so as to facilitate the occupier contacting the locksmith once they take possession. However the faceplate may also carry other details such as the coding. It is preferred that the faceplate includes at least one latching lug, and the front wall of the housing has at least one ramped surface defining an opening, whereby the latching lug slides over the ramped surface when attaching the faceplate to the front wall so as to create a snap fit. It is further preferred that the faceplate include two latching lugs and the front wall has two opposed ramp surfaces so as to enhance the snap fit. It is further preferred that the shell inhibits the at least one lug from disengaging from the front wall when the shell is accommodated in the housing. This arrangement reduces the likelihood that the faceplate will be detached from the housing by someone other than the locksmith.

[0014] The housing may include at least one constricting formation defining the cavity which engages the bible portion when inserting the shell into the cavity, and can interact with a rear of the bible portion of the shell so as to capture the shell in the cavity. The constriction formation facilitates in the assembly process so as to capture the shell within the cavity before it is fastened by the fastening member.

[0015] The bible portion is configured with a plurality of chambers for accommodating pin tumblers therein, and a cap is included that attaches to the bible portion to retain the pin tumblers with the chambers. It is preferred that the cap portion is inhibited from detachment from the bible portion when the shell is accommodated in the housing. This arrangement further reduces the ability of the tumblers being tampered with while the shell is within the cavity.

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[0016] The housing may take any suitable shape, and one shape as an oval cylinder. Furthermore the cylinder lock assembly is preferably of the kind including a cam, detachably fastened to the barrel to be rotatable therewith for interaction with the mortice lock assembly.

[0017] The housing may include a pair of hollow stiffening rib extending in a longitudinal dimension of the housing to be positioned adjacent the bible portion. This arrangement is preferred when the housing is moulded, possibly injection moulded, from a polymer material so as to maintain rigidity while reducing material used.

[0018] It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in greater detail by reference to the attached illustrations of a preferred embodiment of the cylinder lock assembly according to the invention. The particularity of those illustrations, and the accompanying detailed description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the definition of the invention provided by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments will now be described with reference to the Figures in which:

[0020] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of the cylinder lock assembly according to the invention being installed in a mortice lock assembly.

[0021] Figure 2 is an exploded isometric view of the cylinder lock assembly from Figure 1.

[0022] Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the cylinder lock assembly from Figure 1. 1.

[0023] Figure 4 is a long section view through the housing of the cylinder lock assembly.

[0024] Figure 5 is top view of the cylinder lock assembly, with a cut away to show the interaction of the shell within the cavity.

[0025] Figure 6 is a detailed view of VI from Figure 5.

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[0026] Figure 7 is a detailed view of VII from Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Referring now to Figure 1 which illustrates a preferred embodiment of the cylinder lock assembly 1 according to the invention, in conjunction with an example of a mortice lock assembly 2 that it will be suitable with. When the cylinder lock assembly 1 is in use it will be inserted in an aperture 3 in the mortice lock assembly casing 4, and retained in the aperture 3 by inserting a fastening member 5 through a front plate 6 of the casing 4. The fastening member 5 illustrated in Figure 1 is in the form of a pin, however the invention is not limited to a fastening member 5 of this configuration only.

[0028] Referring now to Figure 2 which illustrates the cylinder lock assembly 1 in an exploded isometric view. The cylinder lock assembly 1 includes a shell 7 with a bore 8 formed therein for accommodating a barrel 9. The barrel 9 is formed with a keyway 10 to accommodate a key therein. The key 11 is coded, or includes bittings, for engaging a series of bottom pins 12 which are seated in a series of chambers 13 formed in the barrel 9. The shell 7 includes a bible portion 14 which is also configured with a series of chambers to accommodate at least a series of top pins 16 and a series of compression springs 17 therein. A capping 18 is fixed to a top surface of the bible portion 14 so as to retain the series of springs, top pin 16 and bottom pins 12 within the respective chambers 15, 13.

[0029] The appropriately coded key 11 will be capable of rotating the barrel 9 relative to the shell 7 by correctly locating the top pins 16 and the bottom pins 12 relative to a shear line between the barrel 9 and the shell 7, and this arrangement should be understood by those skilled in the art. Figure 2 also illustrates a cam plate 19 which is attached to a rear of the barrel 9 by a pair of screw fasteners 20, so as to rotate therewith. The invention is not limited to this form of cam plate 19 only, and this shape may vary depending upon what features within the mortice lock assembly two need to be adjusted.

[0030] It ought to be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the features of the cylinder lock assembly as described in the detailed description to date would be

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suitable for use in an entrance lockset, possibly with interchanging of the cam plate Sep 19 with a tail bar. However it should be noted that the bible portion 14 includes a hole 21 formed there through adjacent a rear end. This hole 21 extends through the bible portion 14 and is designed to accommodate the fastening member 5 (see Figure 1) in a manner that will be described in greater detail later in the specification.

[0031] Figure 2 also illustrates the cylinder lock assembly 1 having a housing 22 which is formed as oval shaped cylinder. This shape may vary depending upon the configuration of the door furniture that the mortice lock is used with. The housing 22 has a front wall 23 formed with a pair of openings 24. The housing 22 also includes an aperture 25 formed adjacent a rear thereof. The aperture 25 is designed to accommodate the fastening member 5 (see Figure 1) in a manner that will be described later in the specification.

[0032] The cylinder lock assembly 1 also includes a faceplate 26 which is configured so as to be releasably attachable to the front wall 23, in a manner that will be described in greater detail later in the specification. It is intended that the faceplate 26 be designed to accommodate details, of for example the locksmith, which can be easily appreciated once the cylinder lock assembly is installed.

[0033] Referring now to Figure 3 which illustrates the side elevation view of the cylinder lock assembly 1 with the hole 21 in the shell 7 substantially aligned with the aperture 25 in the housing 22. This is achieved by inserting the fastening member 5 (see Figure 1) through the aperture 25 and the hole 21. However before the fastening member 5 is inserted, it is preferred that the hole 21 be slightly misaligned from the aperture 25 so that inserting the fastening member 5 forces the shell towards the front wall 23 of the housing 22.

[0034] It can be appreciated from the Figure 4 that the housing 22 is formed with a cavity therein which is shaped to receive the shell 7. An inner surface of the front wall 23 is formed with a pair of nubs 27. The housing is also formed with a pair of hollow stiffening rib 28 which extends longitudinally of the housing 22, and it can be appreciated from figure 5 that the stiffening ribs 28 are positioned on opposed sides of the bible portion 14.

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[0035] Referring now to Figure 5 on the left-hand side thereof illustrates the faceplate 26 attached to the front wall 23 of the housing 22. This is shown in greater detail in Figure 6 which illustrates the faceplate being formed with a pair of latching lugs, and the openings 24 in the front wall 23 being ramped shape so as to cause the latching lugs 29 to deflect when the faceplate 26 is attached, so as to create a snap fit. Figure 6 also illustrates that when the bible is in the cavity of the housing 22, the bible portion 14 being of such a size such that the latching lugs 29 cannot deflect sufficiently to enable them to be retracted through the openings 24. Figure 6 also shows the bible portion 14 pressed hard up against the nub 27. The nubs 27 may be formed from a flexible material to resiliently deform when engaged by the bible 14 so as to provide a snug fit.

[0036] Referring now to Figure 7 which illustrates the detail of VII from Figure 5 and in particular it illustrates the housing being formed with a pair of constriction formations, or nibs 30, which project off the stiffening ribs 28 (see also Figure 4). The nibs 30 provide a constriction which the bible portion 14 must pass when locating the shell 7 within the cavity of the housing 22. It ought to be appreciated from Figure 7 that the width of the bible portion 14, is slightly wider than the distance between the nibs 30, so that there will need to be some degree of flex in the housing, or resilient deformation in the nibs 30 in order to fit the shell 7 in the cavity. However once the shell 7 is in the cavity, the nibs 30 capture the bible 14, and inhibit it from leaving the cavity. It ought to be appreciated that the function of the nibs 30 in this manner is only temporary, until such time as the fastening member 5 is inserted through the aperture 25 and the hole 21.

[0037] While the housing 22 may be formed from any suitable material, it is preferably formed from a polymer material as this will provide a lower cost option than other materials such as metal. A polymer material will also provide flexibility in the nubs 27 and nibs 30 when inserting the shell 7 in the cavity. It is further preferred that the faceplate be formed from a polymer material also. Polymer materials found suitable by the applicant include hard polymers such as nylon or the like.

[0038] It ought to be appreciated from the foregoing that the cylinder lock assembly as hereinbefore defined provides the locksmith with a relatively low cost

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option while minimising the inventory required to satisfy both an entrance lockset and a mortice lockset. The use of the polymer material may also be considered by the occupant as a lower security/serviceability option and might encourage them to re engage with the locksmith. The inclusion of the faceplate enables the locksmith to advertise their contact details, in the event that the occupier would prefer to change the cylinder lock assembly. Still furthermore the intended slight misalignment in the hole of the shell and the aperture in the housing generates a snug fit when the cylinder lock assembly is installed.

[0039] The foregoing embodiments are illustrative only of the principles of the invention, and various modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention is capable of being practiced and carried out in various ways and in other embodiments. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

Claims (13)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A cylinder lock assembly for use with mortice a lock assembly, the cylinder lock assembly including a shell having a bible portion configured for accommodating tumblers and defining a bore extending in an axial direction, a barrel having a keyway 2020233757

configured for accommodating a key, the barrel being rotatable within the bore relative to the shell, a housing having a cavity configured to accommodate the shell, an aperture formed in the housing extending to the cavity and configured for use in accommodating a fastening member fastening the cylinder lock assembly to the mortice lock assembly, wherein the housing has a front and the housing is configured relative to the shell so that locating the fastening member in the aperture formed in the housing urges the shell towards the front so as to reduce the ability of the shell to move relative to the housing.

2. A cylinder lock assembly according to claim 1 wherein the shell is formed with a hole to accommodate the fastening member, whereby the cavity is configured so that when housing the shell the hole in the shell is out of alignment with the aperture in the housing, and locating the fastening member in the shell urges the hole in the shell towards aligning with the aperture in the housing.

3. A cylinder lock assembly according to claim 2 wherein said out of alignment of the hole in the shell with the aperture in the housing is no less than 0.1mm.

4. A cylinder lock assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the housing is configured with at least one nub which is engaged by the shell when urging the shell towards the front of the housing.

5. A cylinder lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is formed from a polymer material.

6. A cylinder lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims including a faceplate which is configured for releasable attachment to a front wall at the front of the housing, and interacts with the shell so that faceplate is inhibited from detachment from the front wall when the shell is housed within the cavity.

7. A cylinder lock assembly according to claim 6 wherein the faceplate includes at least one latching lug, and the front wall of the housing has at least one ramped surface defining an opening, whereby the latching lug slides over the ramped surface when attaching the faceplate to the front wall so as to create a snap fit.

8. A cylinder lock assembly according to claim 7 wherein the shell inhibits the at 2020233757

least one lug from disengaging from the front wall when the shell is accommodated in the housing.

9. A cylinder lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing includes at least one constricting formation which defines in part the cavity, the at least one constriction formation engages the bible portion when inserting the shell into the cavity, and can interact with a rear of the bible portion of the shell so as to capture the shell in the cavity.

10. A cylinder lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bible portion is configured with a plurality of chambers for accommodating pin tumblers therein, and including a cap that attaches to the bible portion to retain the pin tumblers with the chambers whereby the cap portion is inhibited from detachment from the bible portion when the shell is accommodated in the housing.

11. A cylinder lock assembly according to any one of the proceeding claims wherein the housing is shaped as an oval cylinder.

12. A cylinder lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims including a cam, detachably fastened to the barrel to be rotatable therewith for interaction with the mortice lock assembly.

13. A cylinder lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing includes a pair of hollow stiffening rib extending in a longitudinal dimension of the housing to be positioned adjacent the bible portion.

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