AU2007234481A1

AU2007234481A1 - Electric deadlock assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2007234481A1
Application number: AU2007234481A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Craig S Murray
Original assignee: Assa Abloy Australia Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Assa Abloy Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-14
Filing date: 2007-11-14
Publication date: 2008-05-29
Anticipated expiration: 2027-11-14
Also published as: AU2007234481B2

Description

P/00/01 1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: ELECTRIC DEADLOCK ASSEMBLY Applicant: ASSA ABLOY Australia Pty Limited The following statement is a full description including the best method of performing it known of this invention, to me: W*%hamnacAComplete Ap~,CaionS RN 81883 ASSA CAP Cover Sheet and Fee Sheer l3novO7.do I ELECTRIC DEADLOCK ASSEMBLY This invention relates to an electric deadlock assembly having a bolt Z linearly movable by operation of an electrically powered actuator relative to a housing between an extended locked position and a retracted release position.

Such locks are often used to secure movable members such as doors and the like in a closed position. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the oO invention with particular reference to its use with doors, however it is to be Sunderstood that the invention has other uses.

N A deadlock assembly, for the purpose of this specification, is a reference to a type of lock assembly having a deadbolt. A deadbolt will generally have a leading face that is perpendicular to the axis of the bolt, rather than have a bevelled leading face as in the case of a deadlatch. The deadlock assembly also includes means that when in a locked condition enable the deadbolt to resist being moved from the extended position when pressure is applied in the axial direction to the end of the bolt. An actuator is included to move the deadbolt between the extended and retracted positions which may be powered manually or electrically. An electrically powered actuator may include a solenoid or a motor and gear assembly. When the actuator is electrically powered it is often desirable to include means for monitoring the position of the bolt.

One type of lock assembly adapted to be located in a mortice cavity formed in the door is referred to as a mortice lock assembly. The housing of such a lock assembly needs to be sufficiently thin to fit in the mortice formed in the door, and as such it can be difficult to fit the components of the lock mechanism into the housing. This problem is compounded when the lock assembly includes electrical components. It is generally desirable to minimise the number of components to be located in the housing so as to facilitate assembly. However it is also desirable to maintain the functions of the lock assembly. It is often difficult to satisfy both.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved electric deadlock assembly. In particular a preferred aim is to provide an electric deadlock VV$sharonrxaComplee ApplcaloonsARN 818183 ASSA.- Elecrc ODrop Bon (final version) 14 Nov 07.doc Sassembly that maintains functionality while reducing components and that is Srelatively easy to assemble.

O

Z The above discussion of devices, articles and the like is included in this 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 Sof this invention.

N According to one aspect of this invention there is provided an electric deadlock assembly including a housing, a dead bolt being linearly moveable relative to the housing between an extended locked position and a retracted release position, a deadlocking means including a lever arm which is rotatable about an axis to move the dead bolt relative to the extended locked position, the lever arm being rotatable in one direction into a deadlock position whereby the deadbolt is prevented from being moved away from the extended locked position, and rotatable in an opposite direction away from the deadlock position, an electrically powered actuator that when energised is operable to move the lever arm relative to the deadlock position thereby moving the dead bolt in a first direction relative to the extended position, and bolt biasing means for urging the bolt to move in a second direction relative to the extended position so that when the electric actuator is deenergised the bolt will move in the second direction which is opposite to the first direction, wherein when the lever arm is in the deadlock position the bolt biasing means urges the lever arm to rotate in said one direction.

It is preferred that It is further preferred that a distal end of the lever arm operatively engages the deadbolt when moving the deadbolt in the first direction, the distal end of the lever arm being configured to engage the deadbolt so that when rotated to the deadlock position the bolt biasing means W:lh~Mn~badCapleie ApphcalonsURN 818183 ASSA Elam,. Dm Bolt (final ero) 14 Nov 07.oc urges the lever arm to rotate in said one direction. It is further preferred that the Sdeadlocking means is connected to the powered actuator. It is further preferred "that the deadlocking means may include a drive arm that is connected to the Z actuator. It is further preferred that the drive arm is connected to the actuator at a position spaced from the rotational axis of the lever arm.

00 It is preferred that the bolt biasing means is a spring. It is further 00 preferred that the spring is a compression spring, the spring surrounds a shaft Sof the bolt and acts between a distal end of the bolt and a wall of the housing, the bolt is formed with a flange at the distal end thereof which is engaged by the N spring as the bolt moves in the first direction.

It is preferred that the electric deadlock assembly include a second biasing member which acts on the deadlocking means when the lever arm is in the deadlock position to urge the lever arm away from the deadlock position. It is further preferred that the second biasing member is a torsional spring.

It is preferred that movement of the bolt in the first direction is movement towards the extended locked position and movement of the bolt in the second direction is movement towards the retracted release position.

It is preferred that the electric deadlock assembly include a link member connecting the electric actuator to the deadlocking means. It is further preferred that the electric actuator includes a solenoid and a plunger that is moved relative to the solenoid when the solenoid is energised, wherein the link member is connected to the plunger and to the drive arm.

It is preferred that the electric deadlock assembly include detection means for detecting when the lever arm reaches the deadlock position. The detection means includes a switch which is operated by movement the link member. It is further preferred that the switch includes an operative element that engages the link member when the lever arm reaches the deadlock position and the engagement of the switch closes an electric circuit. It is further W:shanoa6M nCorpnete ApplicabonsURN 818183 ASSA Elecic Drmp 808 (final verson) 14 Nov 071.oC preferred that the electric circuit includes visual or audible indication means for Sindicating when the lever arm reaches the deadlock position.

0 Z It is preferred that the deadlock assembly is a mortice lock assembly locatable in a mortice formed in a door.

SIt is preferred that the housing includes a first part and a second part that 0o are clipped together by at least one clip to assemble the housing, the first and (second part each having a side wall formed with an opening through which opening the bolt moves to adopt the extended position, the assembly also N including a face plate which is connected to both side walls by fastening means to secure the first part with the second part. It is further preferred that the at least one clip is formed integrally with the housing. It is also further preferred that the at least one clip includes a first clip member formed with the first part of the housing and a second clip member formed with the second part of the housing which directly engages the first clip member when the first part and the second part of the housing clip together. It is also preferred that both the first clip member and the second clip member include a shoulder whereby the shoulder of the first clip member locates behind the shoulder of the second clip member when the first part and the second part of the housing clip together, at least one of the first clip part or the second clip part includes a resilient tongue whereby the shoulder is located at a distal end of said tongue.

It is preferred that the housing is formed from glass fibre reinforced nylon.

It will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in greater detail by reference to the accompanying drawings showing an example embodiment of the invention. The particularity of the drawings and the related detailed description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the broad description of the invention as given by the claims.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a preferred embodiment of an electric deadlock assembly in an assembled form.

W:%shamnNadCple~e eAppbctonsURN 816183 ASSA Elecm, Dlp Bolt (fnal veron) 14 Nm 07.doc C Figure 2 is an exploded view of the electric deadlock assembly from SFigure 1.

z Figure 3 is an elevation view of the assembled deadlock assembly from Figure 1 with part of the housing removed showing the deadbolt in the retracted Sposition. 0O SFigure 4 illustrates the lock assembly from Figure 3 with the deadbolt in C 10 the extended position.

Referring firstly to Figure 1 which illustrates one form of electric deadlock assembly 1 including a housing 2 with a deadbolt 3 which is movable relative to the housing 2 and shown in a retracted release position. The form of electric deadlock assembly 1 shown is a mortice lock assembly. A mortice lock assembly is designed to locate within a mortice cavity formed in an edge of a door (not shown) with a faceplate 4 of the mortice lock assembly being attached to the edge of the door generally by a pair of screws (not shown). Figure 1 also illustrates an electrical socket 5 which in use is connected to a power supply.

The power supply is preferably 12 volt, however this may vary. The supply of power to the socket may be regulated via a remotely located control centre or an electronic key tag reader or by other means.

Referring now to Figure 2 which illustrates the housing 2 having a first part and a second part which are clipped together to form the assembled housing. The first part 6 is shown with a pair of first clip members 8 each in the form of a resilient tongue with a shoulder located at a distal end of the tongue.

The second part 7 of the housing includes a second clip member 9 which in the embodiment illustrated is in the form of a socket. When the first 6 and second part 7 of the housing are clipped together it is preferred that the tongue 8 is located within the socket 9 so that the shoulder engages a ledge formed within the socket. Clearly other clipping arrangements are possible.

W:ianmpffrafCoplele Appk.clnsURN 816183 ASSA Elecnc Drop Boa (fnal version) 14 Nov 07oc The first housing part 6 and second housing part 7 are retained in this Sclip arrangement by the faceplate 4 which in the embodiment is attached by screws to the front wall 10 of the assembled housing 2. It is preferred that the Z housing 2 be formed from a glass reinforced nylon which will allow the tongue 8 S 5 to resiliently deform. The clip members 8,9 may be formed separately from the rest of the housing 2 which would allow for the housing to be formed from alternate materials.

oo M Referring still to Figure 2 the lock assembly 1 illustrated includes a

(N

deadbolt 3 which is substantially cylindrical in shape with a flange 12 formed at 0 a distal end thereof. The shape of the bolt 3 may vary from that shown. A

(N

biasing means 13 which in the embodiment illustrated is in the form of a compression spring is located around a shaft 14 of the bolt 3. The compression spring 13 acts between the flange 12 and the front wall 10 of the housing so as to urge the bolt 3 towards a retracted position as shown in Figure 1. A washer is shown located between a proximal end of the compression spring 13 and the front wall 10 of the housing 2. The form of spring 13 and its location may vary from that shown, for example the spring may act in tension between the distal end of the bolt 3 and the rear wall 16 of the housing.

Figure 2 also illustrates an electronic sub-assembly 17 for location within the housing 2. The electronic sub-assembly 17 includes a board 18 on which is located a PCB 19, electrical socket 5 and a reed switch 20 ad a magnetic reader. The board 18 provides a surface along with the socket 5, reed switch and magnetic reader 21 can be connected to the PCB. This allows the electric sub-assembly 17 to be easily dropped into the second part 7 of the housing which simplifies the assembly process.

The electrical lock assembly 1 also includes an electrically powered actuator 22. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 the actuator is in the form of a solenoid 23 with a plunger 24 that is moved relative to the solenoid 23 when power is supplied to the solenoid 23. The power is supplied by wires 26 that are connected to the PCB 19.

W: uannbradCMmplete Apoticitons\lRN 816183 ASSA Elecnc Dmp Bol (final vemon) 14 Nov 07.6oc A link member 27 is connected to a free end of the plunger 24 by a pin so as to allow limited pivoting movement of the link member 27 relative to the plunger 24. The link member 27 illustrated is connected to a deadlocking means Z 28 which is pivotable about an axis X-X. The deadlocking means 28 includes a lever arm 29 that rotates around the axis X-X so as to engage and move the deadbolt 3 relative to the housing 2. In the embodiment illustrated rotation of the lever arm 29 causes the deadbolt 3 to move from a retracted release position to 0O an extended lock position (see Figure This operation will be described in greater detail later in the specification.

N The illustrated deadlock assembly 1 also includes a second biasing means 30 which acts on the lever arm 29 against the operation of the actuator 22. The preferred embodiment of the second biasing means 30 illustrated is a torsional spring which acts about an axis Y-Y which is parallel to the axis X-X.

Clearly other forms of biasing means are possible.

Referring now to Figure 3 which shows the bolt 3 in a retracted position with the compression spring 13 relaxed. The deadlocking means 28 is shown in a first position with a distal end of the lever arm 29 engaging a distal end of the bolt 3. The link member 27 is attached to a drive arm 31 of the deadlocking means 28 by a connection which is spaced from the axis X-X so that retraction of the plunger 24 into the solenoid 23 will cause rotation of the lever arm 29.

Referring now to Figure 4 which illustrates the deadbolt 3 in the extended position having being moved by rotation of the deadlocking means 28 in a clockwise direction. The compression spring 13 is now compressed and therefore urging the bolt 3 towards the retracted position. However, the distal end of the lever arm 29 is rotated passed a position relative to the axis of rotation x-x so that the distal end of the bolt 3 engages an angled surface of the distal end of the lever arm 29 to urge the lever arm 29 to continue to rotate in a clockwise direction. The plunger 24 bottoms out in the solenoid 23 so as to resist any further movement of the lever arm 29 in the clockwise direction. This effectively renders the assembly deadlocked in that any end pressure on the W:sharonadiComplele ApOcaliionsRN 818183 ASSA Elecic Drop Boll (fina verso) 14 Nov 07.0oc 9 0 deadbolt 3 will not result in movement of the deadbolt from the extended c position.

>O

0 Z The deadbolt 3 can be moved to the retracted position by deenergisation of the solenoid 23 which allows the plunger 24 to move to an extended position by operation of a biasing means (not shown) within the solenoid 23. The torsion spring 30 which is compressed when the deadlocking means is in the deadlocked position releases the energy to encourage the lever arm 29 to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction away from the deadlocking position.

It is preferable that the position of the deadbolt 3 be monitored and whilst this may be achieved in numerous ways the preferred embodiment illustrated shows the link arm 27 including a protrusion 23 that engages the reed switch when the plunger 24 is retracted. This engagement closes the switch 20 which indicates the deadbolt is in the extended position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that an electric deadlock assembly 1 according to the present invention provides a very simple yet functional means of operating a deadbolt 3. The utilisation of the lever arm 29 to combine the functions of both movement and deadlocking of the deadbolt reduces the number of parts required and simplifies the assembly. Furthermore the ability to load the components into part of the housing and to clip the housing together further simplifies the assembly.

Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangement of parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention as defined by the claims.

W:5h2nMnrbwCot1,ee AoPcuMonsIRN 816183 ASSA Eleaic DMO B~h (fnai ne(sen) 14 Nov 07OOC

Claims

2. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 1 wherein a distal end of the lever arm operatively engages the deadbolt when moving the deadbolt in the first direction, the distal end of the lever arm being configured to engage the deadbolt so that when rotated to the deadlock position the bolt biasing means urges the lever arm to rotate in said one direction.
3. An electric deadlock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the deadlocking means is connected to the powered actuator.
4. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 3 wherein the deadlocking means includes a drive arm that is connected to the actuator. W: sharon~xan Dom Apphcatans\IRN 816183 ASSA Elecnc Drop Bol (final verson) 14 Nov 07.doc 11 An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 3 or 4 wherein the Sdrive arm is connected to the actuator at a position spaced from the rotational axis of the lever arm. z
6. An electric deadlock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the bolt biasing means is a spring. 00oo
7. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 6 wherein the spring is a compression spring.
8. An electric dead lock assembly according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the spring surrounds a shaft of the bolt and acts between a distal end of the bolt and a wall of the housing.
9. An electric dead lock assembly according to claim 8 wherein the bolt is formed with a flange at the distal end thereof which is engaged by the spring as the bolt moves in the first direction. An electric dead lock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims including a second biasing member which acts on the deadlocking means when the lever arm is in the deadlock position to urge the lever arm away from the deadlock position.
11. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 10 wherein the second biasing member is a torsional spring.
12. An electric deadlock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein movement of the bolt in the first direction is movement towards the extended locked position and movement of the bolt in the second direction is movement towards the retracted release position.
13. An electric deadlock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims including a link member connecting the electric actuator to the deadlocking means. W:WmnWadCamVJeIe AphChtOOrS\IRN 816183 ASSA Eclec Dm0 Blat (frnai von) 14 Nov OdoC
14. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 13 wherein the electric actuator includes a solenoid and a plunger that is moved relative to the solenoid 0 Z when the solenoid is energised, wherein the link member is connected to the S 5 plunger and to the drive arm. An electric deadlock assembly according to any one of the preceding oO claims including detection means for detecting when the lever arm reaches the deadlock position.
16. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 15 when dependant upon claim 12 wherein the detection means includes a switch which is operated by movement the link member.
17. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 16 wherein the switch includes an operative element that engages the link member when the lever arm reaches the deadlock position.
18. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 16 wherein the engagement of the switch closes an electric circuit.
19. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 18 wherein the electric circuit includes visual or audible indication means for indicating when the lever arm reaches the deadlock position. An electric deadlock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the deadlock assembly is a mortice lock locatable in a mortice formed in a door.
21. An electric deadlock assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the housing includes a first part and a second part that are clipped together by at least one clip to assemble the housing, the first and second part each having a side wall formed with an opening through which opening the bolt moves to adopt the extended position, the assembly also WW wrom yaorimomple ApplicationsuRN 818183 ASSA Elevic Dmp Bol (Anal version) 14 Nov 07.Ooc L including a face plate which is connected to both side walls by fastening means Sto secure the first part with the second part. 0 Z 22. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 21 wherein the at least S 5 one clip is formed integrally with the housing.
23. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 21 or 22 wherein the at oO least one clip includes a first clip member formed with the first part of the housing and a second clip member formed with the second part of the housing which directly engages the first clip member when the first part and the second 0 part of the housing clip together. (N
24. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 23 wherein both the first clip member and the second clip member include a shoulder whereby the shoulder of the first clip member locates behind the shoulder of the second clip member when the first part and the second part of the housing clip together. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim 24 wherein at least one of the first clip part or the second clip part includes a resilient tongue whereby the shoulder is located at a distal end of said tongue.
26. An electric deadlock assembly according to claim any one of claims 21 to wherein the housing is formed from glass fibre reinforced nylon.
27. An electric deadlock assembly substantially as herein before described with reference to the illustrations. W vamsbaComnIete ApphcairtonslIRN 816183 ASSA Elen Drmp Bol (final verson) 14 Nov 07.doc