AU753529B2 - A lock apparatus - Google Patents

Description

A LOCK APPARATUS This invention relates to a lock apparatus for a swing or sliding door or window, and particularly relates to a lock apparatus which is simple in design and which can be used as a security grille locking system.

Locks for locking sliding doors such as sliding glass doors, sliding screen doors or sliding security screen doors are well-known. These locks have a central main lock body in which a rotatable hook bolt is located (the hook bolt is often called the "parrot beak"). The bolt is rotated by manipulation of a handle on the main lock body.

Security screen doors are usually made from lightweight aluminium and must be light yet strong enough to resist forced entry. It was found with these doors that a single central lock by itself was not entirely sufficient as the door could be bowed or jemmied to release the central bolt.

These doors are now provided with two remote latches which are positioned 15 adjacent an upper end of the door and adjacent a lower end of the door which essentially makes the door a 3-point locking system. This arrangement is known and can be found in our earlier patents in the name of Whitco Pty Ltd.

Hook bolts are considered advantageous as security bolts, as it is difficult to force a hook bolt out of its keeper. Unfortunately, current hook 20 bolts are not very useful with swing doors and windows as the bolts hit against the side of the keeper.

The present invention is directed to a lock apparatus which does not have a central main lock but instead has a pair of spaced apart lock assemblies which can be operated by a simple sliding handle. This arrangement is simple in design yet robust and provides the benefit of locking a sliding or swing door or window in two spaced apart positions but without the need of a central main lock body. The lock apparatus is not limited to sliding doors and can be used with swing doors.

It is an object of the invention to provide a lock apparatus which can provide the public with a useful or commercial alternative to existing locks.

In one form, the invention resides in a lock apparatus for a door or window, the lock apparatus having at least two spaced apart lock assemblies operatively connected to each other, each lock assembly having a housing, a hook bolt rotatably attached relative to the housing for movement between an extended locked position and a retracted unlocked position, an elongate slide member having one end operatively attached to the bolt and another end extending from the housing, the slide member being reciprocally moveable to cause the bolt to move between its locked and unlocked positions, a rigid link member interconnecting each said slide member such that reciprocal movement of one slide member causes reciprocal movement of the other slide member, and a handle attached to one of the slide members and which can be manipulated to cause the slide member to reciprocate.

The lock apparatus can be fitted to the edge region of a swing or sliding aluminium security grille to provide a secure yet easy to use locking .arrangement. Of course, the lock apparatus can also be used on other 15 sliding or swinging doors, windows and the like.

It is found that a pair of spaced apart lock assemblies are useful in providing good secure locking of the sliding door to the door jamb. For tall doors and windows, more than two lock assemblies can be used and the invention allows multiple lock assemblies to be easily attached and operated 20 by a single handle.

The lock assemblies are spaced apart sufficiently to provide two distinct lock points between the door and the door jamb. The spacing could vary to suit and can vary from between 5 to 30cm but preferably between to Each lock assembly has a housing in which the hook bolt can be rotatably attached. In one form, the housing is an enclosed housing formed from separate parts which are attached together to house the hook bolt. In another form, the housing may be open and positioned inside the door stile for protection. It is also envisaged that the housing may comprise a simple plate or support for the hook bolt.

The hook bolt is rotatably attached relative to the housing and it is preferred that the hook bolt is rotatably attached to the housing via a pivot I 1 4 pin. The pivot pin may extend from the hook bolt and pass through an aperture in the housing or vice versa. The hook bolt (also called "parrot beak") can rotate between a locked position where the hook portion of the bolt extends out of the housing and into engagement with a striker or keeper on a doorjamb, and a retracted position where the hook bolt does not engage with a striker or keeper.

The hook bolt is rotated by operative engagement with a slide member. The slide member is elongate and has one end which can extend into the housing and operatively attached to the bolt, and has another end extending out of the housing.

In one form, the slide member and the bolt are operatively attached using a rack arrangement. That is, the one end of the slide member which extends into the housing may be formed with a toothed rack, while a .rear portion of the bolt may be rounded and cog-like in configuration.

15 Reciprocal movement of the slide member causes the tooth rack to engage S, with the rear of the bolt to cause the bolt to rotate.

In another form, the slide member has a shoulder or projection which engages against the bolt to cause the bolt to rotate as the slide member reciprocates.

20 The slide member of each of the two lock assemblies are operatively connected by a rigid link member. The rigid link member can be in the form of a rigid rod, plate and the like. The link member connects each slide member such that reciprocal movement of one slide member causes reciprocal movement of the other slide member.

A handle is provided which is attached to one of the slide members. The handle is a sliding handle and can reciprocate to cause reciprocation of the slide member to which the handle is attached. The rigid link member then translates the movement to the other slide member such that movement of the handle causes locking and unlocking of each bolt.

The handle may be locked, latched or otherwise held in its extreme sliding positions such that if the handle is moved to a position to lock the bolts, the handle cannot be inadvertently moved back to an unlocking position.

In one form, the door is provided with a slot and the handle has a projection which passes through the slot. The slot and/or the projection may be configured such that the handle needs to be lifted out of one portion of the slot and moved and replaced in another portion of the slot. Other arrangements are also envisaged.

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the following drawings in which Figure 1 is an exploded view of a lock apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention showing a rack arrangement on the slide members.

Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment with a different type of operative attachment between the slide member and the bolt.

Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment showing multiple lock assemblies.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is shown an exploded view of a lock apparatus for a sliding security grille. The lock apparatus in the embodiment has two spaced apart lock assemblies 11, 12 which are designed to fit inside the edge of a security grille 13.

20 Each lock assembly has an enclosed housing which in the embodiment is formed from two parts being a main housing portion 14A, 14B and a top plate 15A, 15B which is attached to the main housing portion by rivets, screws and the like.

Main housing portion has an opening 16A, 16B through which a hook bolt 17, 18 can extend.

Hook bolts 17, 18 have a front hook section (clearly shown in the figures and a rear cog-like body portion 19, Each bolt has a central opening 21, 22, and while plates each have an extending pivot pin 23A, 23B which extends through the opening 21, 22 in each hook bolt, and extends through a corresponding opening 24A, 24B in main housing portion 14A, 14B. Thus, the hook bolt is placed within the housing and the two housing components are attached together to trap the hook bolt within the housing for rotating movement.

Each main housing portion has a rear opening 16A, 16B which is designed to allow a lower end of an elongate slide member 27, 28 to pass into the main housing portion and engage with the cog-like body portion of each bolt.

Slide members 27, 28 are plate-like in configuration and have a lower end formed with a toothed rack 29A, 29B. Racks 29A, 29B extend through the rear openings 26A, 26B and engage with the rear of each hook bolt. Each slide member can reciprocate and the reciprocating movement lo causes the hook bolts to move between an extended locking position illustrated in Figure 1 and a retracted position (not illustrated).

An upper portion of each slide member 27, 28 extends out of the housings. The respective slide members 27, 28 are operatively connected to each other via a rigid link member in the form of a rod 20. Rod 30 has upper and lower turned in ends 31, 32 which pass through an opening -33, 34 of an intermediate attachment plate 35, 36. Attachment plate 35, 36 has a pair of spaced apart projections 37A, 37B, 38A, 38B which pass through openings 39A, 39B, 40A, 40B in each slide member 27, 28.

The rod 30 links the two slide members together such that 20 reciprocation of one of the slide members 27 causes similar reciprocation of the other of the slide members 28.

A sliding handle 41 is attached to one of the slide members 27.

Handle 41 has a main attachment portion 42 formed with two spaced apart o openings 43A, 43B through which fasteners 44 can pass, fasteners 44 passing through openings 43A, 43B and being fastened into projections 37A, 37B to firmly attach handle 41 to slide member 27 via the attachment plate Springs 45, 46 extend about each of the projections 37A, 38A and between attachment plate 35 and slide member 37.

The turned in ends 31, 32 of the rod 30 are locked to the respective attachment plate 35, 36 via a retainer 47, 48.

In use, the lock assemblies 11, 12 are fitted inside grille 13 such that bolts 17, 18 extend through rectangular openings 50, 51 in the grille. An elongate slot 52 is formed on the front of grille 13 and handle 41 is fastened to slide member 27 through slot 52.

Handle 41 is provided with a lift-up finger operable tab 54. The tab can be lifted by a person's fingers and handle 41 can be slid upwardly to an upper position along slot 52. The upward movement causes slide member 27 to move upwardly and via rod 30 also causes slide member 28 to move upwardly. The upward movement causes the racks 29A, 29B to rotate bolts 17, 18 into the retracted position. Conversely, sliding of handle 41 downwardly along slot 52 causes downward sliding movement of slide members 27, 28 which causes bolts 17, 18 to rotate to their outward locked position where they engage with a striker or keeper on a doorjamb Figure 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention. In Figure 2, only the lower lock assembly is illustrated it being appreciated that 15 an upper lock assembly of similar design is also present. In Figure 2, the lock •apparatus again has a lock assembly 60 formed from two housing parts 61, 62 which are attached together and which rotatably capture a hook bolt 63.

In this embodiment, the hook bolt does not have a cog-like rear portion. A slide member 64 has a lower end 65 which passes into the housing. Lower 20 end 65 attaches to the rear of hook bolt 63 such that upward sliding movement of slide member 64 causes the bolt to retract while downward sliding movement causes the bolt to extend. Slide member 64 is attached to rod 65 via a retainer 66 which passes through an opening 67 in slide member a 64 and which push locks onto a projection 53 on the inner face of handle 68.

A retainer spring (not shown) can be provided about retainer 66. Handle 68 is attached to grille 69 and projection 53 passes through slot 70. Slot 70 is configured with upper and lower bulbous portions with a reduced intermediate neck portion. The arrangement is such that handle 68, in order to move from a lower to an upper position, must initially be pulled outwards (approximately 2.5mm) to allow it to move through the necked portion and into the next bulbous portion. This arrangement holds or locks the handle into the upper or lower positions to prevent inadvertent opening or closing of the door.

I I 8 Figure 3 illustrates a further embodiment showing how multiple lock assemblies can be controlled by a single handle. In Figure 3, many of the parts are the same as illustrated in Figure 1 and have been given like references. The main difference of the embodiment in Figure 3 is that the rod 30 in Figure 1 has been replaced by a plate-like rod 70. Lowermost slide member 27 is connected to rod 70 in a manner identical to that illustrated in Figure 1 and still includes attachment plate 35 and springs 45, 46.

However, all the remaining slide members 28 and 71 are directly pinned or otherwise connected to rod 70. For instance, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, rod 70 is provided with a series of small openings 74 and the head of each slide member has a pin (not illustrated) which fits inside opening 74.

It can be seen that any number of lock assemblies can be fitted with rod 70 able to operate all of the lock assemblies together.

15 The other difference in the embodiment in Figure 3 is the existence of a cover 73 which extends over handle 41. Cover 73 requires a 2-handed operation to manipulate handle 41 being to initially open the cover with one hand and manipulate the handle with the other hand. The reason for this is for security purposes, as an intruder may be able to cut through the 20 security screen but will find it difficult to manipulate both the cover and the handle from the other side of the door.

An advantage with the lock apparatus as described above is that the door or window can be quickly locked without the requirement of a key should an intruder be detected. Also, for panic evacuations, the door or window can be quickly unlocked again without requiring a key.

Various other changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (17)

1. A lock apparatus for a door or window, the lock apparatus having at least two spaced apart lock assemblies operatively connected to each other, each lock assembly having a housing, a hook bolt rotatably attached relative to the housing for movement between an extended locked position and a retracted unlocked position, an elongate slide member having one end operatively attached to the bolt and another end extending from the housing, the slide member being reciprocally moveable to cause the bolt to move between its locked and unlocked positions, a rigid link member interconnecting each said slide member such that reciprocal movement of one slide member causes reciprocal movement of the other slide member, and a handle attached to one of the slide members and which can be S-manipulated to cause the slide member to reciprocate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, which is fitted to the edge region of a swing or sliding aluminium security grille.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lock assemblies are spaced apart by a distance from between 5cm to 30cm and preferably between 10cm to

4. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 20 housing is an enclosed housing formed from separate parts which are attached together to house the hook bolt.

The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein housing is open and is positioned inside a door stile for protection

6. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook bolt is rotatably attached to the housing via a pivot pin.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pivot pin extends from the hook bolt and passes through an aperture in the housing or vice versa.

8. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hook bolt rotates between a locked position where the hook portion of the bolt extends out of the housing and into engagement with a striker or keeper on a door jamb, and a retracted position where the hook bolt does not engage with a striker or keeper.

9. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slide member and the bolt are operatively attached using a rack arrangement.

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one end of the slide member is formed with a toothed rack, and a rear portion of the bolt is cog- like in configuration, whereby reciprocal movement of the slide member causes the toothed rack to engage with the rear of the bolt to cause the bolt to rotate.

11. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the slide member has a shoulder or projection which engages against the bolt 1o to cause the bolt to rotate as the slide member reciprocates.

12. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the link member is an elongate rod or plate. i

13. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is slideable between extreme sliding positions.

14. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is latchable in its extreme sliding positions such that if the handle is moved to a position to lock the bolts, the handle cannot be inadvertently o **moved back to an unlocking position.

The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 20 apparatus is attached to a door, the door being provided with a slot, the handle having a projection which passes through the slot.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the slot and/or the projection is configured such that the handle needs to be lifted out of one portion of the slot and moved and replaced in another portion of the slot.

17. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 10th day of February 2000 LOCKWOOD SECURITY PRODUCTS PTY LTD 086 451 907) By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO.