AU665302B2 - Window lock assembly - Google Patents

Description

r X i F.I^ZIPI..-rri~- ll.lll~ 665302 AUSTRALIA Patents Act COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority Class Int. Class Related Art: rr r* r r r r rirr r rir r Is 1 r r APPLICANT'S REF: COMPLETE-ASSOCIATED- WITH-PROVISIONAL PL 9031 t B C! r a cC Applicant(s): OGDEN INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD., EDWARD STREET, HUNTINGDALE, VICTORIA 3166,

AUSTRALIA

Actual Inventor(s): Donald John NEWMAN Address for Service is: PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne 3000 AUSTRALIA Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "WINDOW LOCK ASSEMBLY" Our Ref: IRN 314109 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to applicant(s): 1 1 I WINDOW LOCK ASSEMBLY This invention relates to devices or assemblies for locking members such as doors and windows which are movable into and out of a position at which they close an opening, access-way, or space. The invention is especially suitable for use with sliding windows, and it will be convenient to describe the invention with particular reference to that example use. It is to be understood however, that the invention has wider application.

One class of lock assembly which is commonly used with sliding windows includes a locking bolt which is movable axially into and out of an operative position, and key actuated mechanism which controls the ability of the 15 bolt to be moved out of the operative position. The key actuated mechanism generally includes a pin or disc tumbler cylinder lock which is connected to the locking bolt so that the bolt is responsive to movement of the cylinder lock or part of that lock.

S 20 Lock assemblies of the foregoing kind are generally of complex construction and involve the use of a large number of parts.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a lock assembly having a minimum number of parts and which is of relatively simple yet effective construction. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a lock assembly which is particularly suitable for use with sliding windows.

According to the present invention, there is provided a lock assembly including, a housing which is Jsecurable to a support, a cylindrical lock barrel mounted within said housing and being movable axially relative thereto between an active position and an inactive position, a locking member which responds to axial inward movement of said barrel into said active position by projecting from said housing for engagement with a member to be locked, said barrel being rotatable relative to said housing, tumbler means operative to hold said barrel 39 against said rotation out of a locked position of rotation 2 pr~ .4 and being rendered inoperative by insertion of a key into a keyway of said barrel, and detent means operative to prevent said barrel moving in an axially outward direction from either said active position or said inactive position, wherein said detent means is responsive to rotation of said barrel out of said locked position while said barrel is at the active position so as to be thereby rendered inoperative to prevent said barrel moving in said axially outward direction from said active position to said inactive position.

The detent means is preferably spring influenced and it may be operative to automatically establish each of the aforementioned axial positions of the barrel by cooperation with the barrel and the housing. It is further preferred that the detent means is able to be manipulated to permit the cylinder lock barrel to be completely removed from the housing so that the lock assembly can be re-keyed.

In one particular form of the invention, the locking member is an axial extension of the lock barrel, and axial sliding movement of the barrel relative to the housing causes the locking member to be moved between positions at which it can and cannot respectively, engage the member to be locked. The spring influenced detent means may be adapted to engage with either of two cooperable detent retainers associated with the barrel and which are relatively arranged so that the locking member is in one of the aforementioned positions when the detent means engages one of those retainers, and is in the other of those positions when the detent means engages the other retainer. The detent means may be arranged so that it is inoperable to prevent movement of the barrel from the inactive position to the active position, but is operable to prevent movement of the barrel in the reverse direction. The active and inactive positions of the barrel correspond to the positions of the locking member at which it is engageable and not engageable respectively, with the member to be locked.

39 It is preferred that the detent means is rendered 3 inoperable by cam means which influences the detent means in response to rotation of the barrel relative to the associated housing. It is further preferred that such relative rotation of the barrel is achieved through use of a key having characteristics such that it is cooperable with the particular cylinder lock of the assembly.

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail in the following passages of the specification which refer to the accompanying drawings. The drawings, however, are merely illustrative of how the invention might be put into effect, so that the specific form and arrangement of the various features as shown is not to be understood as limiting on the invention.

V In the drawings: I 15 Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a lock assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of Figure 1 and which shows the assembly in an active or locking condition.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the lock assembly in an inactive or released condition.

particular manner of use of the lock assembly of Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lock barrel and locking bolt of the assembly as shown in Figures 1ito ~4 3.

Figure 6 is a cross-sect~onal view taken along line VI-VI of Figure Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Figure The particular assembly 1 shown in Figures 1ito 3 includes a body or housing 2 which can be secured to the frame 3 of a sliding window 4, for example, as shown in Figure 4. A key operated cylinder lock 5 is provided at the lower end of the housing 2 and may be of any suitable type, but is preferably of the pin tumbler or disc tumbler type. The lock 5 includes a cylindrical barrel 6 which is 39 rotatable and axially slidable in a cylindrical bore 8 KH -4pr -1 ii.Li.iL;~-_i i. ;i formed in the housing section 7 for a purpose hereinafter described.

The cylinder lock 5 is of a known construction in which tumblers are arranged to extend across the interface between the barrel 6 and the cylindrical bore 8 so as to hold the barrel against rotational movement relative to the housing 2. In particular, the tumblers cooperate with both the barrel 6 and the housing 2 when the barrel 6 is in a locked position of rotation, and as a consequence of that cooperation prevent rotation of the barrel 6 out of the locked position. The form and manner of operation of the tumblers are well known and need not be described. As is also well known, the tumblers can be rendered inactive it"lr by insertion of a correctly cut key into the key way 29 15 (Figure 1) of the cylindrical barrel 6 such that the trt# cylindrical barrel 6 can be rotated relatively to the housing 2 while the key is in place.

The particular assembly 1 shown in the drawings is designed for use with sliding windows, and includes a 20 locking bolt 9 which is cooperable with a fixed frame or other appropriate part of a window assembly, an example of which is shown in Figure 4. In the preferred arrangement shown, the bolt 9 is a cylindrical pin-like member which is formed integral with the cylindrical barrel 6 so as to be an axial extension of that cylindrical barrel. Other arrangements are clearly possible, but the arrangement shown is preferred because of its relative simplicity. It will be appreciated that in the arrangement shown axial movement of the cylindrical barrel 6 causes corresponding movement of the bolt 9.

Figure 2 shows the bolt 9 in an operative position at which it projects from the housing 2 so as to be engageable with a hole formed in the fixed frame 10 as shown in Figure 4. Such engagement locks the sliding window 4 against movement and therefore constitutes the active condition of the assembly i. The bolt 9 is rendered inoperative when it is withdrawn back into the housing 2 as shown in Figuze 3. It is preferred that a 39 spring 11 or other biasing means functions to normally KH 5 r 4 jc* urge the cylindrical barrel 6 towards the bolt inoperative position. Retainer means functions to releasably hold the cylindrical barrel 6 in an active position which corresponds with the bolt operative position, and that retainer means could take any suitable form.

It is a feature of the particular arrangement shown in the drawings that the retainer means includes a spring influenced detent 12 which has two functions. Firstly, the detent 12 is operative to prevent axial movement of the cylindrical barrel 6 from the bolt operative position (Figure 2) to the bolt inoperative position (Figure 3).

Secondly, the detent 12 normally prevents movement of the cylindrical barrel 6 out of the housing 2 through the front face 13, but is able to be manipulated as hereinafter described to permit such movement.

In the particular arrangement shown, the detent 12 includes a ratchet tooth 14 which is cooperable with each 47 of two recesses 15 and 16 formed in an outer surface 30 of the cylindrical barrel 6. The detent 12 could be otherwise arranged, and cooperable means other than recesses could be provided on the cylindrical barrel 6 and/or the bolt 9.

The tooth 14 has a rearwardly facing abrupt locking surface 17 and a forwarding facing sloping ramp surface 18 which function as hereinafter described. It is preferred, as shown, that the detent 12 is in the form of a leaf spring 19 and thai the tooth 14 is created by suitable bending of the spring 19. The spring 19 is kept in place within a cavity 20 of the housing 2 in any appropriate fashion.

Each of the recesses 15 and 16 is in the form of a Islot which extends circumferentially of the barrel 6 and preferably has a transverse cross-sectional shape which is substantially complimentary to the shape of the tooth 14.

In particular, the recess 15 has a forwardly facing abrupt locking surface 21 and a rearwardly facing sloping ramp surface 22, and the recess 16 has a fowardly facing abrupt locking surface 23 and a rearwardly facing sloping ramp 39 surface 24. The recesses 15 and 16 are spaced apart in KH 6 :i the axial direction of the cylindrical barrel 6, and it is preferred, as best seen in Figures 5 to 7, that the recess extends circumferentially of the cylindrical barrel 6 to a greater degree than does the recess 16.

In the particular construction shown, the axis of the cylindrical barrel 6 slopes upwardly and forwardly from the base 25 of the housing 2. That elevates the front end of the cylindrical barrel 6 so that it is more convenient for a person operating the lock assembly 1 to insert a key into the barrel keyway 29 and manipulate that key.

Operation of the lock assembly 1 is as follows.

When the lock cylindrical barrel 6 is in the inactive position shown in Figure 3, finger pressure against the outside face 26 causes the cylindrical barrel 6 to slide axially inwards to adopt the active position shown in Figure 2. Such movement is not prevented by the detent tooth 14 because of the ability of that tooth to be ramped out of the recess 15 by the interaction between the sloping surfaces 18 and 22. When the cylindrical barrel 6 reaches the position shown in Figure 2, the tooth 14 snaps into the recess 16 under the influence of the spring 19 and thereby locks the cylindrical barrel 6 against return movement. That is, such return movement is prevented by the engagement of the abrupt surfaces 17 and 23.

Return of the cylindrical barrel 6 to the Figure 3 It position is achieved by use of an appropriate key inserted into the keyway 29 of the cylindrical barrel 6. Rotation of the cylindrical barrel 6 by use of such a key moves the base surface 27 of the recess 16 relative to the tooth 14 so that the surface 27 in effect acts as a cam which progressively lifts the tooth 14 out of the recess 16.

For that purpose the base surface may be substantially flat as shown in Figure 6, or otherwise configured to achieve the desired result. The cylindrical barrel 6 is thereby freed from the restraining influence of the detent 12 and is moved by the spring 11 back towards the Figure 3 position. At that position, the tooth 14 snaps into the 39 recess 15 so as to prevent further outward movement of the 7 1. if cylindrical barrel 6. In this regard, the greater circumferential extent of the groove 15 is relevant; as will be described hereinafter.

In one practical embodiment of the invention, the angular extent X (Figure 6) of the recess 16 is in the order of 700 so that the tooth 14 is released from the recess 16 in response to approximately 350 rotation of the cylinder lock barrel from a locked position. That locked position is the position of rotation at which the cylindrical barrel 6 is held by the tumblers when a key is not inserted into the barrel keyway 29. The angular extent of the recess 15 is preferably much larger as shown in Figure 7 so that, having rotated the cylindrical barrel 6 after insertion of a key in the barrel keyway 29, the tooth 14 will be "caught" by the recess 15 as the cylindrical barrel 6 moves axially between the active position of Figure 2 and the inactive position of Figure 3. It is preferable to employ means to prevent rotation of the cylindrical barrel 6 past the required angular rotation of 350, such that the cylindrical barrel 6 cannot be rotated beyond a position at which the tooth 14 will be caught by the recess 15. Such limitation of rotation may be achieved in any suitable manner. By way of example, appropriately spaced lugs may be located on the cylindrical barrel 6 for engagement with corresponding lugs provided within the cylindrical bore 8 so as to thereby establish the limits of rotary movement of the barrel 6.

It is also preferable to have an arrangement such that the spring 19 can be manipulated to release the tooth 14 from the recess 15 and thereby enable complete removal of the cylindrical barrel 6 from the housing 2. In the arrangement shown, that is effected by gaining access to the cavity 20 at the rear of the housing 2 and lifting an extension or finger 28 of the spring 19 so that the tooth 14 is moved clear of the recess 15. Such removal of the cylindrical barrel 6 enables convenient re-keying of the lock assembly 1.

39 The ability to remove the cylindrical barrel 6 from 8 ~r the lock assembly 1 also facilitates the installation of the assembly i. If the housing 2 is secured to a sliding panel 4 as shown in Figure 4, with the cylindrical barrel 6 absent, a suitably dimensioned drill guide can be placed within the bore 8 in substitution for the cylindrical barrel 6. That drill guide may be a cylindrical member of a plastics material for example which fits neatly within the bore 8 and has an axial cylindrical passage corresponding to the size of a drill needed to form a clearance hole in the frame 10 to receive the locking bolt 9. Such an arrangement ensures that the hole in the frame is formed at the right position and at the right angle.

As will be understood from the preceding description, the present invention provides an extremely simple yet effective lock assembly for windows, doors and other movable members. The assembly is convenient to manufacture and is relatively inexpensive because of the small number of parts involved.

Various modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the construction -nd arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

a i~ 39 9 i; i i

Claims (14)

1. 2. A lock assembly according to claim 1, wherein said barrel is removable from said housing by being moved relative thereto in said axially outward direction, and said detent means serves to prevent such removal by preventing axial outward movement of said barrel beyond said inactive position, i
2. 3. A lock assembly according to claim 2, including detent release means which is operable to render said i 30 detent means inoperative to prevent said barrel moving out of said inactive position in said axially outward direction. A, 4. A lock assembly according to claim 3, wherein said release means is accessible at a back side of said lock assembly and is not accessible when said housing is secured to said support. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said detent means forms part of or is connected to 39 a spring which is biased to urge said detent means into KH 10 L A I engagement with said barrel.
3. 6. A lock assembly according to claim 5 when appended to claim 3 or 4, wherein said release means includes an extension of said spring.
4. 7. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said detent means is inoperative to prevent said barrel moving out of said inactive position in an axially inward direction.
5. 8. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein two recesses are formed in an outer surface of said barrel so as to be spaced apart in the axial direction of the barrel, said detent means locates in a respective one of said recesses according to whether the barrel is in the active position or the inactive position, and said detent means is rendered operative at each of said positions as a consequence of co-action between said detent means and a side of the respective recess within which it is located.
6. 9. A lock assembly according to claim 8, wherein said detent means locates in the axially outermost of said recesses when said barrel is in the active position. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, including cam means which coacts with said detent means during said barrel rotation out of the locked position and thereby causes said detent means to be rendered inoperative.
7. 11. A lock assembly according to claim 10 when appended to claim 9, wherein a base of said axially outermost recess forms said cam means.
8. 12. A lock assembly according to claim 8, 9 or 11, wherein each said recess is in the form of a slot which extends in the circumferential direction of the barrel, and the axially outermost said recess has a greater circumferential extent than the other said recess.
9. 13. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said detent means includes a ratchet tooth having an abrupt surface and a sloping surface at respective opposite sides thereof, and said abrupt surface faces away 39 from an axially outer end of said barrel and engages with 11 an opposed surface of said barrel when the detent means is operative.
10. 14. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein spring means acts between said housing and said barrel and normally urges said barrel to move in said i axially outer direction relative to said housing. i i
11. 15. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein said locking member is connected to said barrel so as to move with the barrel as the barrel moves axially relative to the housing.
12. 16. A lock assembly according to claim 15, wherein said locking member is an elongate member having its longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel, and said locking member projects longitidinally from an axially inner end of the barrel.
13. 17. A lock assembly according to any preceding claim, K wherein said barrel is mounted within a bore of said housing in a manner such as to be capable of said relative axial and rotational movement, and said tumbler means engages with both said barrel and said housing when the barrel is in the locked position of rotation.
14. 18. A lock assembly substantially as herein particularly described with reference to what is shown in the accompanying drawings. SDATED: 24 March, 1994 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys For: £C S II OGDEN INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD. 1641k 39 12 ABSTRACT A lock assembly for windows and doors having a housing which is securable to a support and a locking bolt which is movable relative to the housing so as to be engaged with or disengaged from a window or door to be locked. Alternatively, the housing could be secured to the window or door and the bolt could engage with another member. The bolt movement is controlled by the barrel of a key operated lock, and that barrel is mounted in the housing for both rotation and axial movement relative to the housing. Axial movement of the barrel causes the bolt to adopt the engaged or the disengaged position, depending upon the direction of that movement. A spring influenced detent operates to permit the barrel to move axially from the bolt disengaged position to the bolt engaged position, and to prevent axial movement of the barrel in the reverse direction. The influence of the detent on that reverse direction movement is removed by rotating the barrel by means of a key, and that subjects the detent to the Sinfluence of cam means whereby the detent is rendered inoperative to prevent the barrel moving axially from the bolt engaged position to the bolt disengaged position. A biasing spring acts between the housing and the barrel soi 25 as to normally urge the barrel in the last mentioned direction. i 39 KH -13- ii L _I L i- i