GB2250773A

GB2250773A - Automatic door look

Info

Publication number: GB2250773A
Application number: GB9026343A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David John Warner
Original assignee: Maureen Warner
Current assignee: Maureen Warner
Priority date: 1990-12-04
Filing date: 1990-12-04
Publication date: 1992-06-17
Also published as: GB9026343D0

Abstract

The locking device can be operated by inter alia; remote control, a digital control switch or a card key. The lock has an opening 4 into which a male locking tongue of a door can be received. A sliding plate 6 has a member which moves between the opening and the locking tongue to lock the door. The sliding plate is actuated by a motor 13 and screw 10 arrangement or a rack and pinion device (Fig. 5). <IMAGE>

Description

A LOCK The present invention relates to a lock, particularly but not exclusively a lock for a door.

Automatic locking doors are known only to be in use inside buildings such as banks, not for domestic, residential or commercial applications. Such security door locking arrangements feature a female receptacle fitted to a door frame and designed to receive a male locking element on a door. The female receptacle is designed to swivel out of engagement from the male locking element when activated by a remote control unit, card key or control switch to unlock the door. The female swivel element is generally not robust or tamper proof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide for a secure and robust automatic locking arrangement that can be operated by, inter alia, remote control, a digital control switch or a card key.

According to the present invention there is provided a lock component defining an opening intended to receive a male locking element mounted on a door and moveable between an extended position in which it extends in to the opening and a retracted position in which it is withdrawn from the opening, comprising a housing, a locking member slidable within the housing between first and second positions, and means for controlling the movement of the locking member, the locking member being arranged such that when it is in the first position it extends along one side of the opening and prevents opening of the door with the male locking element in the extended position, and such that when it is in the second position it is withdrawn from the side of the opening to enable the door to be opened with the male locking element in the extended position.

Preferably the means for controlling the movement of the locking member is driven by a motor and screw arrangement.

Alternatively the means for controlling the movement of the locking member is a motor driven rack and pinion.

Preferably the lock component is controlled automatically by a remote control device.

Alternatively, the lock component is controlled automatically by a card key or a digital control switch.

It is preferable that the lock is designed such that it can be incorporated into existing door arrangements.

The motor can be powered from the domestic power supply and is provided with a battery back up power supply.

Preferably when the door is unlocked, resilient means is provided in the lock component to bias the door ajar.

Alternatively resilient means is provided to bias the door closed.

Preferably there is a visual signal indicating to the user whether the door is locked or unlocked. In addition there may be provided an audible signal for this purpose. It is to be appreciated that the lock could be part of a multiple locking system all operated by the same remote control.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, with a reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the lock; Figure 2 shows the lock in an unlocked position; Figure 3 shows the lock in a locked position; Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a further embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to figure 1 an L-shaped bracket 1 having one face 2 substantially twice the width of its other face 3 is designed to fit to a door frame 18 (see figures 2 and 3) disposed in such a manner that its wider face is positioned where the female element of a standard door lock arrangement is usually located. The bracket 1 has a central cut away portion 4 extending across both its faces 2, 3. An L-shaped cover plate 5 is received by the bracket 1 to form a housing within which there is a slidable plate 6 having a locking member 7 mounted thereon. The cover 5 is fixed to the bracket 1 by a screw (not shown) which passes through a hole 20 in the cover 5 and engages with a nut 19 fixed to the wider face 2 of the bracket 1.

The sliding plate 6 is disposed such that it is parallel with the wider face 2 of the L-shaped bracket 1, it carries a rectangular locking element 7 at one edge disposed at right angles to the plate 6 and adjacent to the shorter face 3 of the L-shaped bracket 1. Next to the locking element 7 (shown cut away) there is a saddle 8 having a rectangular cavity. On the edge of the plate 6 opposite the locking member 7 there is a protruding arm 9 disposed at right angles to the locking plate 6.

Extending across the length of the bracket 1 there is a lead screw 10 supported into bearing plates 11. The lead screw 10 carries a nut 12 and is driven by a motor 13 and a gear arrangement 14 as shown in the inset of figure 1. Disposed either side of the opening 4 on the wider face 2 of the L-shaped bracket 1 there are two microswitches 15 which are connected to the motor circuit. The power supply for the motor circuit is not shown.

The saddle 8 fitted to the sliding plate 6 is adapted to receive the nut 12 on the lead screw 10 such that the sliding plate 6 is moved along the length of the housing by the rotating lead screw 10 driven by a motor 13. The length of travel of the sliding plate 6 is controlled by the interaction of the arm 9 and the microswitches 15.

At the end of the length of travel the arm will contact the microswitch 15 and break the motor circuit. The cut-away portion of the L-shaped bracket 1, is adapted to receive a male lock element 16 of a door 17 such that it can enter into the housing from the wider face 2 of the L-shaped bracket 1 (see figures 2, 3). This is achieved with the locking element 7 in the withdrawn position (see figure 2).

Once the male locking element 16 has entered the housing then the motor 13 can be activated to rotate the lead screw 10 and slide the locking member 7 across the face of the exposed cut-away portion 4.

When the opening of the cut away portion 4 is fully covered the arm 8 will trigger the microswitch 15 and the motor 13 will stop rotating.

In this position the door 17 is securely locked to doorframe 18 (see figure 3). In order to unlock the door 17 the motor 13 is activated in the reverse direction and the locking member 7 is withdrawn across the face of the opening 4, once the opening 4 is clear the door 17 is free to move. A resilient member such as the spring may be used to force the door 17 ajar slightly when in the unlocked position (not shown). If this is used the locking member 7 will have a chamfer on its surface adjacent the male locking element 16 of door 17. Thus in order to lock the door 17 the movement of locking member 7 is such that it gradually pushes against the male locking element 16 easing it into the opening 4. This has the effect of easing the door 17 into its locked position, overcoming the force of the spring.

In an alternative embodiment, shown in figure 4, the locking element 7 comprises a rectangular block with a rectangular cut out portion. The locking element 7 has two laterally spaced parallel arms 21 positioned at either end perpendicular to the direction of movement of the element 7. The arms 21 are threaded to receive a lead screw 10 which, as before, is supported at either end in bearing plates 11.

This embodiment provides for a more robust, sturdy lock with the locking element 7 arms 21 riding on the screw 10 as it rotates. The microswitches 15 are triggered as described above by an L-shaped arm 9A.

In a further embodiment, shown in figure 5, the locking element 7 is moved by a rack and pinion arrangement. The pinion 22 is attached to the driving shaft of the motor and engages with the teeth of a rack 23 cut into the locking element 7 as shown. The rack 23 teeth can be formed either in a recess 24 in the locking element 7 or on the top surface of the element 7 (as shown in the inset). Rotation of the pinion 22 causes the element 7 to slide as before.

The lock arrangement is operated by a conventional remote control radio frequency or infra red transmitter. The hand held device (not shown) is pointed at a receiving panel fitted near the door 17 and a code is transmitted via a button on the device to initiate the locking or unlocking of the door 17.

It is to be appreciated that the same system could be operated by a manual digital control switch fitted near the door, or alternatively by a known card key system in which the card contains a magnetic element which when the card is inserted in a socket causes a contact to close by repulsion or attraction to complete the lock actuating circuit.

The power supply for the motor circuit may be drawn from a domestic supply. A battery backup supply is provided, in case of power failure. There can also be provided an indication system (not shown) around the vicinity of the door 17 which, for example, shows a red light when the door 17 is locked and a green light when the door 17 is open. Furthermore an audible signal such as a buzzer can be provided for the same purposes. With this system the traditional key and lock arrangement is not obviated as the male locking element 16 of the door 17 can still be operated by the use of a key in the door thus providing a means of entry if the remote control device or card key has been mislaid or if there is a power failure.

The actuation of the automatic lock may have a secondary function in activating or deactivating a burglar alarm system on entry of an exit from the building.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lock component having an opening intended to receive a male locking element mounted on a door and moveable between an extended position in which it extends in to the opening and a retracted position in which it is withdrawn from the opening, comprising a housing, a locking member slidable within the housing between first and second positions, and means for controlling the movement of the locking member, the locking member being arranged such that when it is in the first position it extends along one side of the opening and prevents opening of the door with the male locking element in the extended position, and such that when it is in the second position it is withdrawn from the side of the opening to enable the door to be opened with the male locking element in the extended position.

2. A lock according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the movement of the locking member is driven by a motor and screw arrangement.

3. A lock according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the movement of the locking member is a motor driven rack and pinion.

4. A lock according to claims 2 or 3, wherein the motor can be Q powered from ae domestic power supply and is provided with a battery back up power supply.

5. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein the lock component is controlled automatically by a remote control device.

6. A lock according to claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the lock component is controlled automatically by a card key or a digital control switch.

7. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein the lock is designed such that it can be incorporated into existing door arrangements.

8. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein the door is unlocked, resilient means is provided in the lock component to bias the door ajar.

9. A lock according to claims 1 to 7 wherein the resilient means is provided to bias the door closed.

10. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein there is a visual signal indicating to the user whether the door is locked or unlocked.

11. A lock according to any preceding claim wherein there is CL provided an audible signal indicating to the user whether the door is locked or unlocked.

12. A lock substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.