HK1171800A - Adjustable mortice lock assembly - Google Patents

Description

Adjustable mortice lock assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mortice lock assembly located in a mortice cavity at the edge of a door. This type of lock is used to secure doors and the like in a closed position, which will be convenient for the following description of the invention with reference thereto. However, it should be understood that the invention may have other applications.

Background

The mortice lock assembly includes a bolt that extends from an edge of the door when the lock assembly is installed when the bolt is in an extended position. The latch bolt engages a buttonhole in the door frame to secure the door in the closed position. Door accessories are located on opposite sides of the door panel, i.e., the inside and outside of the door, and typically include manually engageable members, such as knobs or lever handles. Each knob or handle (hereinafter often simply referred to as a handle) interacts with a rotatable hub whereby rotation of the hub retracts the bolt from the extended position. The lock assembly also includes a locking means which is normally controlled by a key which operates the cylinder lock in a locked condition to disable the hub.

The form of the mortise lock may be changed from one installation to another when it is desired to operate the mortise lock. As one example, it may require a locking device that is not operable on the inner hub, which would provide a so-called escape function. However, the inner hub mounted on the lock assembly on the right hand edge of the door will be the outer hub mounted on the lock assembly on the left hand edge of the door. This also makes it possible to provide two different forms of mortice lock assembly, mounted on the right hand side and the left hand side, and preferably a single mortice lock assembly can be adjusted to suit these different requirements. Ideally, this adjustment is accomplished in a manner that meets the needs of the environment of use, within the scope of the other functions of the mortice lock assembly.

Once it has been explained how those adjustments are made, it is easy to make the adjustments and thus the installation of the lock. Preferably, however, when the lock is installed, the lock itself does not make such adjustments, since it is easier to make changes to the lock. Thus, preferably, the lock will be relatively easy to adjust, but it is not adjusted significantly at all in time.

Disclosure of Invention

The above discussion of devices is included in the specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in australia before the priority date of the invention.

In this specification, the terms "inner" and "outer" are used succinctly to describe the mounting orientation of the mortise lock. As explained in the preceding paragraphs, the orientation of the lock may vary and subsequent explanations of these terms may require changes to properly understand the present invention. In particular, the terms "inner" and "outer" have been used to describe the hub and for ease of explanation the inner hub is the hub shown on the proximal side of the mortice lock assembly in figure 3. Of course, if the mortise lock in the figures is pivoted, the inner hub member will become the outer hub member.

A mortice lock assembly for a door according to the invention includes a housing located at least partially within a cavity within the door; a bolt movable relative to an extended position and thereby extending to the front panel of the housing; an inner hub and an outer hub, each hub engaging a manually engageable member on an inner side of the door and an outer side of the door, respectively, each hub being operable to retract the bolt from the extended position; a locking device comprising an inner detent and an outer detent connected to the inner hub and the outer hub, respectively; a selector operable from the front panel of the lock housing to select the state of the inner and outer detent, for example: a use condition, in which the inner and/or outer detent is adjustable between a locked position, in which the respective hub is inoperable, and an unlocked position, in which the respective hub is operable, or a non-use condition, in which the locking device is unable to adjust the inner and/or outer detent to adopt the locked position; a lock release means, movement of the bolt from the extended position when in the in-use condition, being operable to adjust the position of the inner detent and/or the outer detent from the locked position to the unlocked position, the selector being further operable to select the state of the lock release means, such as: a use state or a non-use state.

Preferably, the bolt includes biasing means for biasing the bolt towards the extended position. Preferably the bolt includes a head having an inclined front face which in use engages a strike located in the door frame so that when the door is closed the head of the bolt slides through the strike and the bolt is moved from the extended position. More preferably, the mortice lock assembly includes a follower which interacts between each of the inner and outer hubs and the bolt, rotation of either the inner or outer hub moving the follower to retract the bolt from the extended position. More preferably, the follower is associated with the lock release such that movement of the follower causes the inner detent or the outer detent to move from the locked position when the lock release is in the use condition. More preferably, the follower interacts with the bolt such that movement of the bolt caused by the action of the inner or outer hub alone causes movement of the follower.

Preferably, the lock release means includes biasing means which biases the lock release means towards the in-use condition. More preferably, the locking means comprises biasing means which biases the locking means towards the in-use condition. Preferably, the lock release includes a lever that rotates about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the bolt moves when the lock release is adjusted between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Preferably, the selector comprises an adjustable member located at the front of the lock housing for adjusting the state of the inner or outer detent or the lock release. More preferably, the adjustable member is secured to the housing so that it can be adjusted without disassembling the housing. More preferably, the selector includes a locator member that cooperates with the lock housing and the adjustable member, and a fastener that secures the adjustable member to the locator member. More preferably, the locator member snaps over the fastener. More preferably, the lock housing includes a flange located at the back of the front panel of the lock housing, the front panel of the lock housing containing holes for mounting fasteners.

Preferably, the adjustable member rotates about an axis which is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the bolt so as to be adjustable in the selection of states of the inner detent, the outer detent and the lock release. More preferably, the selector comprises a connecting means connecting the adjustable member with the inner stop means, the outer stop means and the lock release means. More preferably, the coupling means comprises a plurality of elongate members, each of which moves substantially parallel to a direction in which the bolt moves when the selector adjusts the state of the inner detent, the outer detent and the lock release. More preferably, the distal end of each elongate member is engaged with the inner detent, the outer detent and the lock release respectively, and the proximal end of each elongate member is engaged with the adjustable member. Further preferably, the adjustable member comprises a surface for co-operating with the proximal end of the elongate member, said surface comprising several formations such that the axial position of each elongate member is different from the surface area on which it depends for engagement with its proximal end, whereby the adjustable member is adjustable by axial rotation of the surface area on which it engages the proximal end of the elongate member. More preferably, the mortice lock assembly includes a face plate connectable to a front portion of the housing for concealed engagement into the adjustable member.

Drawings

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings of one embodiment of a mortice lock assembly of the invention. The particularity of the drawings and the related detailed description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a mortice lock assembly of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the mortice lock assembly of fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a partially exploded view of the mortice lock assembly of figure 1 without the inner lock shell member and the inner hub member being shown.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the mortise lock assembly of fig. 1 showing a faceplate.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the mortice lock assembly of FIG. 1 with the inner lock housing part not shown and with the inner stop device in an unlocked position.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view in the direction VI-VI in fig. 5.

Fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view in the direction VII-VII in fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the mortice lock assembly of fig. 5 with the inner detent in a locked position.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the mortice lock assembly of fig. 5 with the internal detent in a non-use condition.

Fig. 10 is a side view of a mortice lock assembly with the lock release lever in a non-use condition.

Fig. 11 is a side view of the mortise lock assembly of fig. 10 with the lock release lever in the use state.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the mortise lock assembly of FIG. 11 with the lock release lever in the use position and the outer detent in the locked position.

Fig. 13 is a side view of the mortice lock assembly of fig. 12 with the lock release lever in the use condition, the bolt assembly in the retracted position and the outer detent in the unlocked position.

Detailed Description

Referring first to fig. 1, there is shown a mortice lock assembly 1 for a door (not shown). The mortice lock assembly 1 includes a housing 2, the housing 2 having a face plate 3 which is secured to a front face of the housing 2. In the upper part of the housing 2 there is a hole 4 for a cylinder lock, a plug pin or the like (not shown in the figures) to interact with a cam sub-assembly 5 of the lock device. There is also a hole 6 in the lower part of the lock housing 2 to allow the interaction between the door fitting on the inside of the door and the door fitting on the outside of the door (not shown) to be engaged by the subassembly of the hub. Fig. 2 shows a lock case consisting of a pair of inner and outer assemblies 8 and 9, the inner and outer assemblies 8 and 9 being fastened together by fasteners in the manner of tightening screws 10 (see fig. 1). Figure 2 also shows a panel which is joined to the lock housing by means of a pair of fastener elements in such a way as to tighten the screw 11. Obviously, other forms of fastener elements may be used.

Figure 2 shows the front face of the housing 2 and the face plate 3 with apertures 14 and 13 respectively, the head 15 of the bolt assembly 16 extending outwardly through the apertures 14, 13 to its extended position. The preferred latch bolt assembly 16 shown includes a pull rod 17 mounted behind the head 15. The compression spring 18 applies a force to the head 15 urging the head 15 to the extended position (see fig. 3). The pull rod 17 interacts with the follower 19 of the hub subassembly 7 to retract the bolt 16. With respect to retraction of the bolt 16, reference will be made to the later illustrations for a more detailed explanation.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the hub subassembly to show the inner and outer lock housing assemblies 8 and 9. The inner hub 29 and the outer hub 30 can rotate about the axis XX to turn the follower 19. The compression spring 31 prevents rotation of the inner hub 29 and outer hub 30 by the stop 32 to reset the inner hub 29 and outer hub 30 with the follower 19 in the rest position, as shown in figure 3.

Fig. 2 also shows the inner and outer stop means, which interact with the inner hub 29 and the outer hub 30, respectively. The stop means 33, 34 are movable when engaged with the stop slider 36, the stop slider 36 being controllable by operation of the cam subassembly 5. The cam subassembly 5 is also operable to move the latch bolt retraction slide 37, the latch bolt retraction slide 37 interacting with a control rod integral with the follower 19. The lever may be provided separately from the follower 19, as long as there is driving engagement between the lever and the follower. The operation of the slides 36, 37 will be described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of one of the forms selector means 20 of the present invention. The operation of the selector means 20, and in accordance with the role of the various elements of the mortice lock assembly 1, selects the corresponding mode thereof, the operation of which will be described in more detail with reference to the following drawings. The illustrated selector means comprises a pentagonal shaped adjustable member 21. The shape of the adjustable member 21 is not essential, however, it helps to determine the exact position of the adjustable member 21 with respect to the housing 9 when it engages with the complementary aperture 22 in the front surface of the housing 9. The rear surface of the adjustable member 21 has a plurality of protrusions 23. The projection 23 extends through an aperture in the locator plate 24 and cooperates with an elongate member 25, the elongate member 25 connecting the adjustable member 21 to the hub subassembly 7. A flange 26 is provided behind the front panel of the housing assembly 9 to fix the position of the adjustable assembly 21 relative to the housing 2. The flange includes a plurality of apertures which can receive each elongate member 25. The elongated member is one form of connection between the adjustable member 21 and the stop means 33, 34, obviously other forms of connection are possible.

Fig. 2 also shows a latch subassembly 43 that generally cooperates with the pull rod 17 to retain the latch tongue assembly 16 in the latched position. It should be understood in the industry that when the tongue 44 of the latch subassembly 43 is in the extended position (see fig. 9), the interaction between the latch subassembly 43 and the latch tongue assembly 16 resists movement of the latch tongue assembly 16 from the extended position by applying a force to the head 15 of the latch tongue assembly 16.

Referring now to figure 3 there is shown a partially assembled view of the mortice lock assembly 1 with the inner assembly portion 8 of the housing 2 omitted. The inner portion of the housing 27 of the hub subassembly 7 is also omitted to show the inner assembly of the hub subassembly. Again, it should be noted that the inner hub 29 of the hub subassembly 7 is also omitted, however, the shape of the inner hub is at least understood from fig. 2 and 4.

Fig. 3 shows a preferred form of locking means comprising inner and outer stop means 33, 34, the inner and outer stop means 33, 34 co-operating with an inner hub (not shown) and an outer hub 30 respectively. The inner stop means 33 and the outer stop means 34 rotate about an axis YY, which is parallel to the axis XX. Movement of the slide member 36 rotates the inner 33 and outer 34 stops, the slide member 36 also interacting with the cam subassembly 5. The slide member 36 is movable in the direction of arrow B when the inner and outer stops 33, 34 are adjusted between the locked and unlocked positions. This movement of the slide member 36 will be described in more detail with reference to the following inset.

The hub subassembly shown in fig. 3 includes a leaf spring 38 which biases at least the inner 33 and outer 34 stops to urge the locking device into the engaged condition. In the use state, the movement of the sliding member 36 adjusts the position of the inner stopper 33 and/or the outer stopper 34 between the locked position and the unlocked position. The leaf spring is only one form of biasing means and may be adapted to urge the locking means in the active position, other forms of biasing means, such as a coil spring acting through the axis of rotation YY, are also suitable.

Figure 3 shows the elongate member 25 located within a bore formed in the flange 26. Figure 3 also shows a projection 23 on the rear surface of the adjustable member 21, the projection 23 engaging the elongate member 25 through a radially spaced aperture centred on the axis of the locating member 24. The particular orientation of the adjustable member 21 relative to the lock housing 2 shown in fig. 3 is such that two of the three elongate members 25 are in line with the projections 23 so that those two elongate members 25 can extend further into the hub subassembly 7. The provision of the projections 23 on the rear surface, which allow for different positioning of the adjustable member 21, may lead to other combinations of elongate members 25 extending into the hub subassembly 7. It will also be appreciated that the rear surface of the adjustable member 21 may also be shaped in other ways than the projections 23 to adjust the position of the elongate member 25 within the flange.

The selector means 20 comprise a fastener 39 for securing the position of the adjustable member to the lock housing 2. The fastening member 39 shown in fig. 3 is in the form of a threaded rod 39 which passes through a centrally threaded hole in the adjustable member 21 and the retainer 24 and is fastened to the lock housing 2 through a threaded hole in the flange abutment hole 22. This fastening arrangement secures the adjustable member 21 and the positioning member 24 to the lock housing 2 while still allowing the adjustable member 21 and the positioning member 24 to rotate about the axis ZZ. This provides for adjustment of the selection in the selector means 20. When the preferred position of the adjustable member 21 is selected, the fastener 39 is tightened so that the adjustable member 21 is flush with the front surface of the lock housing 9, as can be seen in fig. 4.

When the fastening element 39 is released, the adjustable member 21 is moved in the direction of the axis ZZ away from the flange until it reaches a position in which it can rotate about the axis ZZ through the front surface of the lock housing 9. The fastener 39 still engages a central aperture in the locator plate 24 and the boss 23 still engages a radial aperture in the locator plate 24 so that the adjustable member can rotate about the locator member 24 when the selection of the selector means is adjusted.

It will be appreciated from figure 4 that the adjustable member 21 is shown rotatable to five positions which correspond to the mortise lock assembly functioning in five different ways, although this number may be different.

Reference is now made to fig. 5, which shows the inner detent 33 in the use state and in the unlocked position. When the detent is held in the unlocked position, the inner hub can be rotated by the user in the direction of arrow a to retract the latch bolt assembly 16. The inner stop means 33 is connected to the stop slider 36 by a flange 41a, which flange 41a is located in a hole 42 in the stop slider, as can be seen more clearly in fig. 3 and 6. As shown in fig. 7, movement of the stop slider 31 in the direction of arrow C will cause rotation of at least the inner stop means 33 in the direction of axis YY. When the inner stop means 33 is in this position it blocks rotation of the inner hub 29 in the direction of the arrow as shown in figure 8. When the inner stop means 33 adopts the position shown in fig. 8, it is considered to be in the locked position.

The locking device can be considered to be in use with respect to the inner stop device when the inner stop device 33 is free to rotate between at least a locked position and an unlocked position as shown in fig. 8 and 5, respectively. Fig. 5 and 3 show the leaf spring 38 comprising tines 38a, the tines 38a being in line with the inner detent 33. The tines 38a bias the inner stop arrangement 33 towards the in-use condition. In contrast, fig. 9 shows the inner stop means 33 in a non-use state. The flange 41a of the inner stop device 33 disengages the stop slider 36 so that movement of the stop slider 36 in the direction of arrow C does not result in movement of the inner stop device 33. To put the inner stop means 33 in the non-use condition, the inner stop means 33 can be selectively disengaged on the selector means. This includes orienting the adjustable member 21 away from the arrow pointing to the inside (not the outside as shown in fig. 4). This will cause one of the protrusions on the inner surface of the adjustable member 21 to be in line with the elongate member 25a, which elongate member 25a is connected to the internal stop means 33. This forces the inner stop means 33 to rotate clockwise about the axis YY to oppose the action of the tines 38 a. The discussion above with reference to the illustrations of the inner detent adjustment between the in-use and non-use positions, and the locked and unlocked positions, also applies to the outer detent 34.

The mortice lock assembly of the present invention also includes lock release means which, in the use condition, adjusts the position of the inner detent means 33 and the outer detent means 34 from the locked position. If moved from this position to the unlocked position, the latch bolt assembly 16 will move from the extended position to the retracted position. The action of the lock release prevents the outer detent from being in, for example, the locked position and the door from being inadvertently moved to the closed position, thereby rejecting the occupant of the door. When the door is in the closed position, the outer detent can still be locked by the occupant by operating the cam subassembly. Figure 10 shows a preferred form of lock release. It should be noted that the inner detent 33 is omitted from fig. 10 to illustrate the lock release and includes a lever 35, the lever 35 being generally located between the inner detent and the outer detent 34. This position can be seen from fig. 3. As can also be appreciated from fig. 2 or 3, the lever 35 interacts with the intermediate elongate member 25a and also with the intermediate tines 38c of the leaf spring 38.

Referring again to FIG. 10, the lock release is illustrated in the non-use position whereby the flange 41c on the lever 35 is disengaged from the stop slide 36. The adjustable member 21 is adjusted so that the intermediate elongate member 25c is out of alignment with the projection 23 on the rear surface of the adjustable member 21, allowing the lever 35 to rotate under the influence of the intermediate tines 38 c. This rotation of the lever 35 enables the flange 41c to engage the stop slider 36, as shown in fig. 11. The lock release device of fig. 11 is in use.

Fig. 12 illustrates the outer detent 34 in the locked position because the detent slide 36 has moved in the direction of arrow C. The stop slider 36 also pulls the control rod 35 to place the shuttle 42 in a snap-fit position, the shuttle 42 being more easily understood from FIG. 3. As follower 19 rotates about axis XX, shuttle 42 interacts with follower 19 and follower 19 acts as a lever. When the door is moved to the closed position, the latch assembly 16 is caused to move from the extended position to the retracted position, as shown in FIG. 13. Retraction of the latch assembly 16 causes rotation of the follower 19 which causes the reciprocating shuttle member to move in the direction of arrow B. The shuttle 42 engages the lever 35 such that movement of the shuttle 42 in the direction of arrow B also causes the stop slider 36 to move in the direction of arrow B. This in turn causes the outer detent 34 to rotate at least from the locked position shown in fig. 12 to the unlocked position shown in fig. 13.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that the mortice lock assembly 1 of the present invention is relatively easy to adjust. However, shielding the adjustable member 21 behind the faceplate 3 reduces the likelihood of the selector being adjusted by an unauthorized person. Furthermore, the disengagement and lock release functions can be easily selected from the front of the lock housing 2, which is another advantage, with the lock assembly housing located within the mortice cavity of the door.

Various modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the present mortice lock assembly as described hereinabove without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.

Claims (20)

1. A mortice lock assembly for a door comprising:

a lock housing at least partially positioned within a cavity within the door;

a bolt movable relative to an extended position and thereby extending to a front panel of the housing;

an inner hub and an outer hub, each hub engaging a manually engageable member on an inner side of the door and an outer side of the door, respectively, each hub being operable to retract the bolt from the extended position;

a locking device comprising an inner detent and an outer detent connected to the inner hub and the outer hub, respectively;

a selector operable from a front panel of said housing for selecting an in-use condition and an out-of-use condition respectively, in which the in-use condition the inner detent and/or the outer detent is adjustable by operation of said locking means between a locked position in which the respective hub is inoperable and an unlocked position in which the respective hub is operable; in the non-use state, the locking device is unable to adjust the inner detent and/or the outer detent to adopt the locked position;

the lock release means, movement of the bolt from the extended position when in the use condition, may adjust the position of the inner detent and/or the outer detent from the locked position to the unlocked position, and the selector may also be operable to select the lock release means to be in the use condition or the non-use condition.

2. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 1, wherein: the locking bolt includes a biasing means for biasing the locking bolt to an extended position.

3. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: the bolt includes a head having an inclined front face which in use engages a button hole in the door frame, and when the door is closed the bolt head slides through the button hole and the bolt is moved from an extended position.

4. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims including a follower which interacts between each of the inner and outer hubs and a bolt, rotation of either the inner or outer hub moving the follower to retract the bolt from the extended position.

5. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 4, wherein: the follower cooperates with the lock release such that movement of the follower when the lock release is in use causes the inner detent or the outer detent to move from the locked position.

6. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 5, wherein: the follower interacts with the bolt and the movement of the bolt caused by the independent action of the inner hub or the outer hub drives the follower to move.

7. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: the lock release includes biasing means which biases the lock release towards the deployed condition.

8. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: the locking device comprises a biasing means which biases the locking device towards the deployed, in use, state.

9. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: the lock release includes a lever that rotates about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the bolt moves when the lock release is adjusted between the use and non-use positions.

10. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein: the selector comprises an adjustable member located in front of the lock housing for adjusting the state of the inner or outer detent or lock release.

11. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 10, wherein: the adjustable member is secured to the housing so that it can be adjusted without disassembling the housing.

12. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 11, wherein: the selector includes a locator member that cooperates with the lock housing and the adjustable member, and a fastener that secures the adjustable member to the locator member.

13. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 12, wherein: the locator member snaps over the fastener.

14. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 13, wherein: the housing includes a flange located behind a front panel of the housing, the front panel of the housing containing holes for mounting fasteners.

15. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 14 wherein: the adjustable member rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the bolt so as to be adjustable in the selection of states of the inner detent, the outer detent and the lock release.

16. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 15 wherein: the selector includes a coupling arrangement that couples the adjustable member with an inner detent, an outer detent, and a lock release.

17. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 16, wherein: the coupling means comprises a plurality of elongate members each of which moves substantially parallel to the direction in which the bolt moves when the selector adjusts the state of the inner detent, the outer detent and the lock release.

18. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 17, wherein: the distal end of each elongate member is engaged with the inner detent, the outer detent and the lock release, respectively, and the proximal end of each elongate member is engaged with the adjustable member.

19. The mortice lock assembly according to claim 18, wherein: the adjustable member comprises a surface for co-operating with the proximal end of the elongate member, the surface comprising several formations such that the axial position of each elongate member is different from the surface area on which it depends for engagement with its proximal end, whereby the adjustable member is adjustable by axial rotation of the surface area on which it engages the proximal end of the elongate member.

20. A mortice lock assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 19 including a panel connectable to a front portion of the housing which is concealed for engagement in the adjustable member.