AU782377B2 - Lock structure - Google Patents

Description

P/00/01 128191 Regulation 3.2(2) l~i, I'

C,

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicaflon Number: Lodged: Invention Title: LOCK STRUCTURE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to :.us LOCK STRUCTURE The present invention relates to lock structures and more particularly to lock structures of the type employed with doors of the vertically opening (by tilt, fold or roll) type, such as those commonly employed as garage doors. The invention should not, however, be seen as being limited to this one application.

Australian Patent Specification No. 518869 discloses a door lock of the aforementioned general type which in itself is aimed to improve lock structures of this general type by simplifying their complexity of operation and construction to provide lower cost product with improved security and simplicity of operation.

This patent discloses a lock structure including a fascia member adapted to be positioned on an outer face of said door; a backing plate member adapted for cooperation with said fascia member for positioning on an inner face of said door; a plurality of movable locking bars associated with said backing plate member each being arranged to retract and extend laterally of said lock structure to thereby allow 15 for opening and latching closed of said door; a rotatable member co-operable with said backing plate member, said rotatable member further including at least two e..

spaced projecting members located thereon, each said projecting member being adapted to co-operate with a shaped aperture provided on an associated said locking bar whereby said bars are adapted to extend and retract laterally of said 20 lock structure between first and second positions in response to rotary movement of said rotatable member. In constructing such a product, it is necessary that rivets or other similar fastening members with an enlarged retaining head be connected to the projecting members whereby the lock bars slide between the retaining head and a rear face of the backing plate member. The retaining head 25 in this construction also serves the purpose of retaining the rotatable member to the backing plate member and thereby the lock structure as a whole. While the lock structure shown in Patent No. 518869 has operated satisfactorily for many years, it is desired to further improve same by additionally restricting the number of operational parts required and the assembly steps involved thereby enabling a much less expensive product to be produced. Moreover, in a lock structure of the aforementioned kind, it is desirable to have a ready means of changing lock barrels or cylinders when it is desired to do so.

2 Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a lock structure of the same general type as shown in Patent No. 518869 but which utilises less parts and less manufacturing steps in its construction. A preferred objective is to provide a simplified means of exchanging lock cylinders or barrels in lock structures of this type.

In accordance with a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a lock structure for use with a door including a fascia member adapted to be positioned on an outer face of said door; a backing plate member adapted for co-operation with said fascia member for positioning on an inner face of said door; a plurality of movable locking bars associated with said backing plate member each being arranged to retract and extend laterally of said lock structure to thereby allow for opening and latching closed of said door; a rotatable member co-operable with said backing plate member, said rotatable member further including at least two spaced projecting members located thereon, each said projecting member being adapted to co-operate with a shaped aperture provided on an associated said locking bar whereby said bars are adapted to extend and retract laterally of said lock structure between first and second positions in response to rotary movement of said rotatable member, said rotatable member being connectable directly to said backing plate member in a manner whereby axial movement away from said 20 backing plate member is prevented while allowing rotational movement between predetermined limits corresponding to said first and second positions of said locking bars.

By providing an arrangement as aforesaid, it is possible to avoid the need to use rivets or similar fastener members connected to the projecting members 25 thereby restricting the number of parts in the construction but also eliminating a relatively complicated assembly step whereby considerable cost savings may be achieved.

Preferred aspects and features of this invention include those aspects and features defined in dependent claims 2 to 7 annexed hereto which are hereby made part of this disclosure.

In accordance with a preferred further aspect, the present invention also provides a lock structure for use with a door including: a fascia member adapted to be positioned on an outer face of said door; a backing plate member adapted for co-operation with said fascia member for positioning on an inner face of said door; a plurality of movable locking bars associated with said backing plate member each said bar being arranged to retract and extend laterally of said lock structure to thereby allow for opening and latching closed of said door; a key-operated lock barrel co-operable with said fascia member and said backing plate member said lock barrel having a key entry passage facing outwardly from said fascia member and including a plurality of normally laterally extended locking members retractable upon insertion of a correct key into said key entry passage and a lock barrel retainer normally extending laterally from said lock barrel and retractable into said lock barrel, said lock barrel normally being retained in operative co-operation with said backing plate member by said lock barrel retainer engaging ledge means on said backing plate member whereby forward movement of the lock barrel is prevented; and a rotatable member co-operable with said backing plate member, 15 with said locking bars and with a formation on said lock barrel whereby said locking bars are extendable and retractable in response to rotary movement of said rotatable member or said lock barrel, said rotatable member further including aperture means extending therethrough whereby, upon rotation of said lock barrel to a position wherein said lock barrel is prevented from forward movement only by 20 said retainer, a lock barrel removal tool can gain access to said lock barrel retainer to retract said lock barrel retainer inwardly of the lock barrel and out of engagement with said ledge means to allow the lock barrel to be withdrawn from said backing plate member in a forwards direction.

By providing such an arrangement as defined in the preceding paragraph, 25 it is relatively easy to exchange lock barrels whenever desired in lock structures of this general type.

Preferred features and aspects may include those aspects and features defined in dependent claims 9 and 10 annexed hereto which are hereby made part of this disclosure.

Still further preferred aspects and features will be more readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment given in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG 1 is a front perspective view of a backing plate member connectable to a rear face of a door; FIG 2 is a rear perspective view of the member shown in FIG 1; FIG 3 is a front elevation view of the member shown in FIG 1; FIG 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG 3; FIG 5 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG 1; FIG 6 is a rear elevational view of the member shown in FIG 1; FIG 7 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG 6; FIG 8 is an end elevation view of the member shown in FIG 1; FIG 9 is a front elevational view of a rotatable member adapted for use with member shown in FIGS 1 to 8; FIG 10 is a sectional view taken alone line A-A of FIG 9; FIG 11 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG 9; FIG 12 is an edge elevation view of the rotatable member shown in FIG 9 15 in direction Y; FIG 13 is an underneath perspective view of the member shown in FIG 9; FIG 14 is an underneath elevational view of the member shown in FIG 9; FIG 15 is a sectional view taken on line C-C of FIG 14; FIG 16 is an edge elevation view of the rotatable member shown in FIG 9 in direction X; FIG 17 is a sectional view taken on line D-D of FIG 16; FIG 18 is a view similar to FIG 3 showing a lock barrel in position; and FIG 19 is a view similar to FIG 6 showing locking bars in position.

Referring to the annexed drawings, there is shown a backing plate member 10 having an outer face 11, an inner face 12 and edge walls 13. The backing plate member 10 is intended to co-operate, as part of a lock structure, with a fascia member (not shown) located on an outer face of a door panel to which the lock structure is attached, with the door panel being positioned between the fascia member and the backing plate member 10. The fascia member and the backing plate member 10 may be connected together by screws or other similar fastener members (not shown) passing through apertures 14 provided in the backing plate member 10 for this purpose, the fastener members being threaded into blind bores in the rear face of the fascia member. As illustrated in FIG 19, locking bar members 15 are provided of a similar configuration to those shown in Australian Patent No. 518869 and intended to operate in a similar manner thereto. In this case the locking bar members slide in tracks 16, 17 formed in the rear face of the backing plate member extending longitudinally thereof and exiting through slots 18, 19 formed in the end edge walls. The locking bar members 15 are conveniently formed by strip steel or the like and are also partially retained by an overhanging ledge 20 of a central boss structure 21 having a bore 22 intended to support, at least partially, a lock cylinder 23 (FIG 18). The locking bar members 15 include shaped apertures 24 similar to those shown in Australian Patent No. 518869 which are engageable with projections 26 of a rotatable member 25 shown in FIGS 9 to 16 and described in greater detail hereinafter. Rotation of the rotatable member causes the projections 26 via their co-operation with the apertures 24 to move the 15 locking bars 15 laterally in a direction from the lock structure or to withdraw same back towards the lock structure.

Referring now particularly to FIGS 9 to 17, the aforementioned rotatable member 25 is intended to be connected to the backing plate member 10 such that, in use, it is located on the inner side of the door to which the lock structure is 20 attached. The underside of the rotatable member 25 best seen in FIGS 13 and 14 has an outer generally annular flange 27, which in part incorporates the diametrically opposed projections 26, and an inner generally annular flange 28.

The outer annular flange 27 has diametrically opposed circumferentially and radially extending flange sections 29 which are formed adjacent to the inner free edge of the annular flange 27 and extend outwardly to define a groove between the flange section 29 and the head region 31 of the member 25. These flange sections 29 are formed adjacent to but offset slightly relative to the positioning of the projections 26. The outer annular flange 27 also includes two diametrically opposed radially flexible tab sections 32 extending partially in a circumferential direction and having, at their respective free ends, radially outwardly extending projections 33.

6 Referring now particularly to FIGS 6, 7 and 18, the outer face 11 of the backing plate member 10 has a central opening 34 surrounded by a slightly upraised collar 35 having diametrically opposed cut out portions 36 and 37 positioned and sized so as to receive the flange sections 29 and projections 33 therethrough with the inner diameter of the collar 35 being just larger than the outer diameter of the outer annular flange 27 of the rotatable member 25. Thus assembly connection of the rotatable member 25 to the backing plate member is achieved by aligning the aforesaid flange sections 29 and projections 33 with the respective cut out portions 36, 37, pushing the annular flange 27 through the collar 35 and then rotating the rotatable member 25 through a predetermined number of degrees. As shown in FIG 6, the underside of the collar 35 includes a circumferential recess 38 extending partway around the collar 35. Thus rotation of the rotatable member 25 as aforesaid causes the projection 33 on the flexible tab 32 to be captured in this region. Once captured, the projection 33 cannot 15 escape but the size and location of the undercut recessed region 38 allows the rotatable member 25 sufficient rotatable freedom to be able to move the locking bars 15 between an extended locking latching position and a withdrawn, door opening position. The rotatable member 25, in the assembled configuration, is prevented from axial movement relative to the backing plate member by the 20 groove 30 engaging with the inner edge region of the collar 35. With this arrangement, no rivets, screw members or like fasteners are required to connect the projections 26 loosely to the backing plate member 10 as was necessary with S.the lock structure described in prior art specification number 518869.

The lock barrel 23, is retained in a particular angular position when in a 25 "locked" condition (key removed) due to engagement in conventional manner of laterally extending locking members (not shown) with an axially extending recess 51 in the bore 22 but can rotate within the bore 22 when in an "unlocked" condition i.e. when a matching key (not shown) is inserted, and retracts the locking members into the barrel 23. The lock barrel 23 has a fixed projection 42 extending radially from a rear end of the barrel 23 which is received in a portion 41 of increased diameter of the flange 28. When the barrel 23 is held in the aforementioned position corresponding to its "locked" condition, and the bars are in their extended positions, the projection 42 is located in and adjacent to one end of the portion 41 of flange 28, so that rotation of the member 25 to retract the bars 15 is possible even though the projection 42 is locked in a fixed angular position. That is, when the barrel 23 is in the locked condition, the door can be opened, without unlocking the barrel 23, from the side of the door on which the plate 10 is mounted, only. However, if the barrel 23 is unlocked with the correct key, the projection 42, bearing against one end of the portion 41 of flange 28, rotates the member 25 to retract the bars 15, and so unlocks the door, as the key and barrel 23 are rotated from the other, or "key" side of the door.

The apertures 24 of the bars 15 and the projections 26 of member 25 are formed and arranged, in the way described in Australian Patent Specification No.

518869, so that when the bars 15 are in their extended position they cannot be retracted merely by pushing them inward. It is necessary for the member 25 to be turned to "unlatch" the bars so that they can be retracted. Specifically, in the 15 extended position of bars 15, if they are pushed inward, angled faces 52 of the recesses 24 bear on the projections 26, so that member 25 is not rotated and prevents movement of the bars 15. That is, the bars 15 are latched in their fully extended position. Only when the member 25 is rotated far enough for faces 53 of the recesses 24 to bear on the projections 26 are the bars 15 unlatched and 20 able to be pushed inward.

The barrel 23 is retained within the boss 21 by a retainer 43, as known in the art, which extends outwardly of the barrel 23, is retractable into the barrel 23 against spring loading, and which when extended bears on a end face 50 of the boss 21. The inner annular flange 28 provided on the rotatable member 25 has a 25 break 39 in its circumference which is aligned with an offset aperture or opening 40 passing through head region 31 to an outer surface of the rotatable member If it is desired to remove and/or replace the lock barrel, the barrel 23 is rotated to a position in which a suitable tool can be inserted through the opening 40 to move the retainer 43 to a retracted position within the barrel 23 allowing the barrel 23 to be withdrawn axially from the boss 21. The bore 22 is formed with a longitudinally extending recess 45 therein, to allow axial movement of projection 42 along the bore 22 when the barrel 23 is removed.

8 A central aperture 44 is also provided in the member 25 for access of a suitable tool to the barrel 23 if it becomes necessary to push out of the barrel 23 a key that has broken or is otherwise lodged therein.

6

Claims (9)

1. A lock structure for use with a door including a fascia member adapted to be positioned on an outer face of said door; a backing plate member adapted for co-operation with said fascia member for positioning on an inner face of said door; a plurality of movable locking bars associated with said backing plate member each being arranged to retract and extend laterally of said lock structure to thereby allow for opening and latching closed of said door; a rotatable member co-operable with said backing plate member, said rotatable member further including at least two spaced projecting members located thereon, each said projecting member being adapted to co-operate with a shaped aperture provided on an associated said locking bar whereby said bars are adapted to extend and retract laterally of said lock structure between first and second positions in response to rotary movement of said rotatable member, said rotatable member being connectable directly to said backing plate member in a manner whereby axial movement away from said backing plate member is prevented while allowing rotational movement between predetermined limits corresponding to said first and second positions of said locking bars.

2. A lock structure according to claim 1 wherein a key operated lock barrel is located co-operable with said fascia member and said backing plate member with a key entry passage of said lock barrel facing outwardly from said fascia member. *1*

3. A lock structure according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said rotatable member includes a head portion, a generally annular flange extending axially from said head portion and a pair of radially extending flange sections defining a groove between each of the flange sections and the head portion, the backing plate member having an opening sized to receive said annular flange therethrough with said radially extending flange sections passing through portions of increased size in said opening, whereby upon rotation of said rotatable member relative to said backing plate member, an edge region of said opening is captured in the grooves to thereby prevent axial movement of the rotatable member relative to the backing plate member.

4. A lock structure according to claim 3 wherein the flange sections are diametrically opposed to one another.

A lock structure according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein at least one stop member is provided on said rotatable member having a degree of radial flexibility, the stop member allowing said rotatable member to rotate between said predetermined limits relative to the backing plate member without disengaging said flange sections from the edge regions of said opening.

6. A lock structure according to claim 5 wherein two said stop members are provided diametrically opposed to one another.

7. A lock structure according to claim 5 or claim 6 wherein said stop member S"..or members is are integrally formed from said annular flange.

A lock structure for use with a door including: a fascia member adapted to be positioned on an outer face of said door; a backing plate member adapted for co-operation with said fascia member for positioning on an inner face of said door; a plurality of movable locking bars associated with said backing plate member each said bar being arranged to retract and extend laterally of said lock structure to thereby allow for opening and latching closed of said door; a key- ;o**"operated lock barrel co-operable with said fascia member and said backing plate member said lock barrel having a key entry passage facing outwardly from said fascia member and including a plurality of normally laterally extended locking members retractable upon insertion of a correct key into said key entry passage and a lock barrel retainer normally extending laterally from said lock barrel and retractable into said lock barrel, said lock barrel normally being retained in operative co-operation with said backing plate member by said lock barrel retainer engaging ledge means on said backing plate member whereby forward movement of the lock barrel is prevented; and a rotatable member co-operable with said backing plate member, with said locking bars and with a formation on i, 11 said lock barrel whereby said locking bars are extendable and retractable in response to rotary movement of said rotatable member or said lock barrel, said rotatable member further including aperture means extending therethrough whereby, upon rotation of said lock barrel to a position wherein said lock barrel is prevented from forward movement only by said retainer, a lock barrel removal tool can gain access to said lock barrel retainer to retract said lock barrel retainer inwardly of the lock barrel and out of engagement with said ledge means to allow the lock barrel to be withdrawn from said backing plate member in a forwards direction.

9. A lock structure according to claim 8 wherein said lock barrel retainer is located at or adjacent to a rear end of said lock barrel. A lock structure according to claim 8 or 9 wherein said rotatable member includes a further aperture extending therethrough and positioned thereon to f' allow access to said key entry passage for ejecting therefrom a key therein. DATED this 7th day of September, 2001 LOCK FOCUS PTY. LTD. WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS 290 BURWOOD ROAD HAWTHORN VICTORIA 3122 AUSTRALIA SKP:JC P18276AUP1 4:oo