EP1669525A1

EP1669525A1 - Mortised lock with automatic locking of the dead-bolt

Info

Publication number: EP1669525A1
Application number: EP04257733A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fermin Gomez Gonzalez
Original assignee: Talleres de Escoriaza SA
Current assignee: Talleres de Escoriaza SA
Priority date: 2004-12-13
Filing date: 2004-12-13
Publication date: 2006-06-14

Abstract

A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the dead-bolt, which comprises a trip element support (7), a straight lever retainer (8), a straight element retaining tumbler (9), a rocker (10), a latch holder (11) and an anti-panic arm (12), wherein the trip element support (7) has means capable of blocking the operational vertical displacement of the straight lever retainer (8), which has a mounting capable of vertical displacement by force of gravity between respective positions, upper and lower, which correspond respectively to the states of the dead-bolt (1) when retracted and extended, this straight lever retainer (8) also incorporating coupling means which operates in conjunction with the straight element retaining tumbler (9), other means which operates in conjunction with tripping means (3), capable of blocking its operational vertical displacement, and other means for retaining the retracted state of the lever (1) which operates in conjunction with a first lug (13) of the dead-bolt plate (1a) and other reciprocal thrust means for this first lug (13) of the dead-bolt plate (1a).

Description

This invention relates to a recessed and automatic lock, that is, a lock which provides for the automatic emergence of the locking lever when the door in which it is installed is moved to the closed position in its frame.
In particular, the lock according to the invention corresponds to a general design comprising a lever, a latch, a trip element located between the lever and the latch, and which, when the door moves into its frame, and with the corresponding retraction in respect of said latch, can be functionally retracted against a first spring, a bell-shaped element, a square bolt for an actuating handle and a cylinder for a combination key, the lever of which can be retracted by actuating the square bolt, can be retracted actuating the cylinder and is mounted in the tip of a transverse lever plate of which the upper edge is provided with means for holding the respective retracted and extended positions of said lever, the latch of which can be retracted by actuating the square bolt or the cylinder, the latch of which engages in¹ an aperture in the lock plate in the door frame, and the bell-shaped element of which has a point running transverse to the lever plate which, by vertical displacement, is capable of operating or not operating in conjunction with said means for holding the retracted and extended positions of the lever.
The general function of an automatic lock is based on the fact that the trip or release element engages in an aperture in the lock plate in the door frame and acts in conjunction with a locking mechanism which prevents the lever from emerging while, on engaging on the frame, the latch and its trip element are elastically retracted, and, once the door has reached its final locking position, the emergence of the latch and the fact that it is impossible for the trip element to emerge combine to enable the lever to emerge, under pressure from its own spring. In order to avoid the user remaining locked in should an emergency situation arise, these locks incorporate a so-called "anti-panic" mechanism, which allows the lock to be opened completely (lever and latch) without the need for a key, simply by actuating the handle or grip.
A disadvantage of these locks is that they require a high degree of inherent structural precision and precision of the external elements (frame, keepers) in order for the movement of the lock to function perfectly, without any malfunctions.
Due to the above and the complexity of the mechanism due to the large number and complicated configuration of the components, another disadvantage of these automatic locks is their high cost.
In another arrangement, it is known that the lever can be blocked in its two operational positions, retracted and extended. In the retracted position, to counteract the action of its opposing spring; and in the extended position, to be retracted by the introduction of a screwdriver or the like, a typical method employed by thieves in order to break open the lock. This latter blocking of the extended position can be deactivated, however, by the process of introducing into the heart of the locking element of the lever something which will prevent it from emerging fully; with this, said extended position would not remain blocked, and the lever could be retracted by the same procedure as described above, by the insertion of a screwdriver or the like.
Given this state of affairs, the lock proposed in the present invention exhibits an arrangement which comprises a support for the trip or release element, a straight lever retainer, a straight element retaining tumbler, a rocker, a latch holder, and an anti-panic arm, wherein said trip element support has means capable of blocking a functional vertical displacement of the straight lever retainer, said straight lever retaining element being installed in such a way that it can move vertically under the force of gravity between the respective upper and lower paths which correspond respectively to the states of the lever being retracted and extended, this straight lever retaining element also incorporating coupling means which operates in conjunction with the straight element retaining tumbler, other means which operates in conjunction with said means of the trip element capable of blocking its operational vertical movement, other means for retaining the retracted state of the lever, which operates in conjunction with a first lug of the lever plate, and other means for reciprocal pressing of this first lug of the lever plate; said retaining tumbler of the straight element travels with the latch and has a tilting mounting which is transverse to the plane of the straight lever retainer and which operates between a tilted position located just below the coupling means of the straight lever retaining element and a non-tilted position against the spring which remains back to back with the operational path of said spring; said rocker has an arm provided with a runner in which a second lug moves with a degree of adjustment play, installed in the bell-shaped element, and, in its other arm, it has a first face which, in relation to the rotation caused by the opening movement with the lock being locked, adopts a non-tilted position imposed by a second spring in which it remains applied in front of a peripheral projection of the square bolt, said latch holder having a tilting mounting in relation to a central axis and having means capable of interfering or not with the retraction of the latch by determining the respective holding and release positions, and said anti-panic arm having a tilting mounting of the lever of first degree with an articulation joint which is common to the rocker and which has an arm applied in front of a third lug installed in the lever plate and in the other arm has a second face which, in relation to said operational rotation of the square bolt starting from the lock being in the locked state, advantageously remains retracted in relation to the front face of the rocker, it being the multiplication of this anti-panic arm which produces the retraction movement of the lever advantageously before in this rotation of the square bolt the total retraction of the latch is effected.
According to the invention, in said trip element support, the means for blocking the operational vertical displacement of the straight lever retainer consists of a lateral projection which has a horizontal upper face and an oblique lower face. In this respect, in the straight lever retainer the means for blocking its vertical operational displacement, and which operates in conjunction with other means of the trip element, consists of pivots, upper and lower, which in relation to the extended and retracted positions of the trip element remain aligned in respect of one another in the vertical direction, or not, with the upper pivot remaining facing the horizontal and oblique faces of the lateral projection.
Other features of the invention relating to the straight lever retainer are as follows: the coupling means consists of a first arm which is just above the level of the tilting position of the straight element retaining tumbler and advantageously retracted in relation to the start of the retraction path of the latch; the means of retention of the retracted state of the lever consists of an oblique inlet which is reciprocal to said first lug of the lever plate and which is located at a level advantageously lower than that of the first lug, in relation to said upper position of the straight lever retainer; and the reciprocal pressing means between this and the first lug of the lever plate consists of a ramp which is located on the front side of the straight lever retainer, connecting without interruption with the rear edge of its oblique inlet.
Another particular feature of the invention is that said straight element retaining tumbler is installed in a carriage fixed in the tail of the internal latch of the lock housing.
In order to explain the function of the proposed lock, the starting point is taken as a position in which the door is separated from its frame and the lock is open, with its lever retracted and with the latch and the trip element in their extended positions. When the door moves into the frame, the following sequence is incurred: by design, the latch begins its retraction before the trip element, carrying out an initial movement alone and a final movement accompanied by the trip element; before the trip element begins its retraction, the straight lever retainer is held in its upper operational position because the lateral projection of the former is interlinked vertically in respect of the upper pivot of the latter; in the initial movement of the latch alone, the situation is reached in which the straight element retaining tumbler (which moves in the carriage as one piece with the tail of the latch) remains just applied to the lower edge of the first flap formed in the straight lever retainer; when the trip element carries out its retraction movement and releases the retention effect applied between said pivots, the straight lever retainer continues into its initial upper position due to the immobilizing action now effected by the straight element retaining tumbler; it is only when the door reaches its closed position in its frame that the latch is permitted to emerge towards its lock, and, to do this, the straight element retaining tumbler continues to perform its function and the straight lever retainer descends due to its own force of gravity supplemented by pressure from a sixth spring; in the non-lowered position of the straight lever retainer, the retention of this lever in its retracted position is achieved by the engagement of the first lug (located in the lever plate) in the oblique inlet of the straight lever retainer; when the latter descends, it releases the retention at the time at which its ramp presses on the first lug to cause the total emergence of the lever.
In this functional arrangement it should be emphasised that the lever only emerges when the door has reached its correct closed position. This means that the emergence of the lever takes place in perfect alignment with its lock, without any malfunction. Logically, it is essential in all cases that, during the initial installation of the door and lock, the locking takes place in the correct position, and accordingly, regardless of the dimensions of the frame in each case.
In this respect, it should also be emphasised that this functional sequence is implemented by means of great simplicity, which can be constructed with the required precision in an easy manner. All of which results in a considerable reduction in production costs in relation to the prior art.
Another important feature of the invention involves the rearming of the lock (opening in order for a new automatic locking process to take place). This consists of the retraction and holding of the retracted lever taking place when the latch is retracted half-way, and accordingly the door cannot yet be separated from the frame. This avoids the problem of a sudden or unexpected emergence causing the door to open without the lever having been totally retracted and held, in such a way that the lever would emerge again and prevent the door from closing again within its frame; i.e. the door would remain open.
The invention also proposes a secure means of preventing the retraction of the lever in the event that the lever, when it triggers automatically, may not have emerged fully due to there being some obstruction at the heart of its keeper and it remaining in an intermediate position in which it is not held and is therefore susceptible to being retracted by illicit means.
In order to prevent this possibility, according to the invention the means for holding the lever plate consists of the upper edge of the lever plate being located from front to back and in such a way that it subsequently descends a first step, a second step and a rear groove, in such a way that, because the lever emerges by a few millimetres (e.g. 10) it will not be possible for it to be retracted by means of introducing the point of a screwdriver, but, nevertheless, it will emerge sufficiently far to produce an effective lock.
Including the situation in which the lever is prevented from emerging, the locking remains secured by means of a device which prevents the latch from retracting, which is applied because, when the latch is held, at either side of the central axis respective members extend, the first and the second, the first member is capable of rotating between the respective raised and lowered positions, in which its end obstructs or does not obstruct the retraction path of the lateral projection of the thruster of the retainer, at which time, in relation to the opening rotation of the square bolt, the end of the second member remains directly applied on the peripheral pin of this square bolt or advantageously in front of it, at which time, in this lowered position, the first member is applied beneath in respect of a transverse flap provided in the support of the trip element, there being a third spring provided which is applied to the first member in order to counter the action produced by the opening rotation of the square bolt, which pushes the lowered position of the first member against this third spring. When the trip element is retracted (the door closed in its frame), the transverse flap does not prevent the first member of this latch holding arrangement from passing into its raised position pushed by the third spring. This takes place in such a way that, when the latch emerges into its keeper, the end of the first member remains located somewhat behind the lateral projection of the thruster of the retainer, which is of one piece with this latch. This arrangement behind the projection is so that, during the opening movement (with handle or key), the start of the turning of the square bolt produces a tilting effect in the latch holder which is sufficient for the first member to be withdrawn from the retraction path of the latch before said projection reaches the place previously occupied by this first member. In this respect, it should be pointed out that the initial retraction path alone of the latch also causes the lower edge of the thruster of the retainer to prevent the first member from passing to its holding position when, due to the retraction of the trip element, this possibility arises due to the withdrawal of said transverse flap of the trip element support.
In order better to understand the nature of the present invention, the appended drawings show a preferred industrial embodiment, which is purely an illustrative and not limitative example.
Figure 1 shows a lock arranged according to the invention, seen as if its side closest to the observer were transparent, and shows the position of the lock when open and the door is separated from its frame. This shows a conventional section of the straight lever retainer (8).
Figure 2 is as Figure 1, but shows a position in which the latch (2) is retracted, but the trip element (3) is extended.
Figure 3 is an enlargement of the detail III circled in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a view according to the section IV-IV indicated within the circle marked in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a view which shows in perspective the straight lever (1) retaining element from the side which engages the mechanism of the lock, i.e. the opposite to the view in Figure 1.
Figure 6 is as Figure 2, but also shows the retracted position of the trip element (3).
Figure 7 is an enlargement of detail VII circled in Figure 1 and shows a conventional section of the straight lever retainer (8) in order to see directly the lateral projection (24) and the upper (25) and lower (26) pivots.
Figure 7a is an enlargement of detail VIIa marked in Figure 6 and sectioned as in Figure 7.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the sub-assembly of the trip element (3) and the trip element support (7).
Figure 9 is as Figure 6, but shows the situation once the door has reached its closed position in the frame and the latch (2) has emerged as far as its lock, producing the automatic emergence of the lever (1).
Figure 10 is an enlargement of detail X which is circled in Figure 9.
Figure 11 is as Figure 9, but showing the moment of the opening movement.
Figure 12 is an enlargement of detail XII which is circled in Figure 11.
Figure 13 is as Figure 12, but refers to the end of the opening movement and still without the door having separated from the frame.
Figure 14 is an enlargement of detail XIV which is circled in Figure 13.
Figure 15 illustrates the intermediate securing of the retraction prevention arrangement of the lever (1).
With regard to the drawings and reference numbers enumerated above, the appended drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention, relating to a recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever, of a general design consisting of a lever (1), a latch (2), a trip element (3) which is located between the lever (1) and the latch (2), and which, in order for the door to move into its frame and the respective retraction of this latch, is retracted operationally against a first spring (19), a bell-shaped element (4), a square bolt (5) for an actuating handle, and a cylinder (6) for a combination key, of which the lever (1) can be retracted by actuating the square bolt (5), can be retracted by actuating the cylinder (6) and is mounted at the tip of a rear lever plate (1a), the upper edge of which has means for holding the retracted and extended positions of this lever (1), of which the latch (2) can be retracted by actuating the square bolt (5) or the cylinder (6), the trip element (3) of which engages in a keeper in the door frame, and the bell-shaped element (4) of which has a projection (4a) transverse to the lever plate (1a) which, by means of vertical displacement, is able to operate or not in conjunction with said means for holding the retracted and extended positions of the lever (1).
According to the invention, the aforesaid lock comprises (Figure 1) a trip element support (7), a straight lever retainer (8), a straight element retaining tumbler (9), a rocker (10), a latch holder (11) and an anti-panic arm (12), whereby said trip element support (7) has means capable of blocking an operational vertical displacement of the straight lever retainer (8), said straight lever retainer (8) having a mounting which moves vertically under the effect of gravity between respective upper and lower positions which correspond to the retracted and extended states of the lever (1) respectively, this straight lever retainer (8) also incorporating coupling means which operates in conjunction with the straight element retaining tumbler (9), other means which operates in conjunction with said means of the trip element (3) capable of blocking its operational vertical displacement, other means of retaining the retracted state of the lever (1) which operates in conjunction with a first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a) and other means of reciprocal thrusting in respect of this first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a); said straight element retaining tumbler (9) travels with the latch (2) and has a tilting mounting which is transverse to the plane of the straight lever retainer (8) and which operates between a tilting position located just below the coupling means of the straight lever retainer (8) and a non-tilted position against a spring, which remains back-to-back to the operational path of the latter; said rocker (10) has an arm which has a runner (14) in which a second lug (15) installed in the bell-shaped element (4) moves with a degree of adjustment play, and in its other arm has a first face (16) which, in relation to the rotational movement of opening when the lock is locked, adopts a non-tilted position, pushed by a second spring (20) with which it remains in contact in front of a peripheral projection (17) of the square bolt (5), said latch holder (11) having a tilting mounting in relation to a central axis (18) and has means capable of interfering or not with the retraction of the latch (2), determining respective holding and non-holding positions, and said anti-panic arm (12) has a tilting mounting of the lever of the first degree with an articulation joint (21) which is common with the rocker (10) and which has an arm located in front of a third lug (22), installed in the lever plate (1a), and in the other arm has a second face (23) which, in relation to the operational rotation of the square bolt (5) starting from the lock being in the locked state, remains advantageously retracted in relation to the first face (16) of the rocker (10), the multiplication of this anti-panic arm (12) being what causes the retraction movement of the lever, advantageously before the actual turning of the square bolt (5) causes the total retraction of the latch (2).
In this arrangement, in the trip element support (7) (Figures 1 and 7) the means for blocking the vertical operational displacement of the straight lever retainer (8) consists of a lateral projection (24) which has an upper horizontal face (27) and an oblique lower face (28), in conjunction with which it is determined that, in said straight lever retainer (8), the means for blocking the vertical operational displacement, which work in conjunction with the other means of the trip element support (7), consists of an upper pivot (25), which, in relation to the extended and retracted positions of the trip element (3) remains respectively aligned or not in the vertical direction, this upper pivot (25) remaining respectively turned towards the horizontal (27) and oblique (28) faces of the lateral projection (24). On the other hand, in relation to the straight lever retainer (8), the arrangement is that the coupling means consists of a first arm (29), which is located just above the level of the tilted position of the straight element retaining tumbler (9), and advantageously withdrawn at the beginning of the retraction movement of the latch (2), as is illustrated by Figures 1 to 4. The means of retention of the retracted state of the lever (1) consists of an oblique inlet (30), which is reciprocal to said first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a) and which is located at a level advantageously lower than that of this first lug (13), in relation to said upper position of the straight lever retainer (8), which is illustrated with complete clarity on a large scale in Figure 12, where it can also be seen that the means of reciprocal thrust between this and the first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a) consists of a ramp (31), which is located on the front side of the straight lever retainer (8), connecting without interruption with the rear edge of its oblique inlet (30).
Another feature of the invention is that said straight element retaining tumbler (9) is installed in a carriage (32) fixed in the tail of the latch (2) inside the lock housing, as illustrated with greater clarity in Figure 4.
Figures 1, 2, 6 and 9, together with their appropriate expanded details, illustrate the operational sequence for the automatic tripping of the lock. In the same way, Figures 11 and 13, and its explanatory details, illustrate the rearming sequence with anti-panic function. Figures 9 and 11 illustrate the function of the latch (2) in preventing illicit retraction, the means of which are dealt with hereinafter, as is also the case with the means of the lever (1) for providing security against illicit retraction when only part of its extension movement towards its keeper has been carried out.
We start from the position in Figure 1, in which the lock is open and the door is separated from its frame, as a result of which the latch (2) is extended, as also is the trip element (3), thrust by the first spring (19). In this position, the straight lever retainer (8) is held in its upper operational position, so that the upper pivot (25) rests on the horizontal face (27) of the lateral projection (24) formed in the support (7) of the trip element (3).
When the door is moved into its closed position in the frame, by design the latch (2) begins to retract before the trip element (3) does, in such a way that, when the latter comes into contact with the frame in order to be retracted, it follows (Figures 2 and 4) that the straight element retaining tumbler (9) is located (Figure 4) below the first arm (29) formed by the straight lever retainer (8), and relieves the immobilisation thereof in order that, when subsequently (Figure 6) the retraction of the trip element (3) is verified, this in turn releases the immobilization which has pertained up to then, as shown clearly in Figure 7a. At this point it should be made clear that, for greater visual clarity, the retracted position of the latch (2) shown in Figure 2 is not realistic, and should be more extended, since the trip element has not yet started its retraction.
Figure 6 corresponds to the state in which the trip element (3) is already retracted, but the latch (2) has not yet arrived opposite its keeper in the frame. It is only when this happens that the automatic tripping takes place which gives rise to the situation shown in Figure 9. Because the straight lever retainer (8) is not held by the trip element, when the latch (2) emerges this causes the straight element retaining tumbler (9) to effect release, this straight lever retainer (8) descends under the combined action of gravity and the thrust of the sixth spring (44). This downward movement causes the oblique inlet (30) to release the retention exerted on the first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a), and, without interruption, causes the ramp (31) to engage on this first lug (13), finally reaching the configuration in Figure 9. With this functional sequence, the known mechanical malfunctions are avoided, since the automatic tripping takes place only when the door is in its correct position.
When the lock opens, the mechanism is re-armed by a further automatic tripping of the lock. The retraction of the lever (1) against its fourth spring (42) causes the third lug (13) to engage on the ramp (31), causing the straight lever retainer (8) to rise until it recovers its upper position. During this movement, the lateral projection (24) does not cause any difficulties, because the trip element (3) remains retracted. Neither does the retaining tumbler (9) interfere because the straight lever retainer (8) forces its elastic retraction against the fifth spring (43). During this movement, the design of the anti-panic arm (12) ensures that the lever (1) is totally retracted even without (Figure 11) the latch (2) being retracted, as a result of which the door cannot be pulled away from the frame, in such a way that the lever (1) cannot remain extended so as to prevent, incorrectly, its closing again after sudden emergence or due to inattention on the part of the user. It is only when the latch (2) completes its retraction that the situation in Figure 13 is reached, and the door can be moved away from its frame.
According to another feature of the invention, in the latch holder (11), respective members extend on either side of the central axis (18), the first (33) and the second (34), the first member (33) being capable of rotating between respective raised and lowered positions, in which its end interferes or not with the retraction path of a lateral projection (35) of the carriage (32) of the tail of the latch (2), at the moment at which, in relation to the opening turning of the square bolt (5), the end of the second member (34) is applied directly onto a peripheral pin (36) of this square bolt (5) or advantageously in front of it, at the moment at which, in said lowered position, the first member (33) is applied lower in relation to a second flap (37) provided in the trip element support (7), there being a third spring (38) which is applied to the first member (33) counter to the action produced by the opening rotation of the square bolt (5), which pushes the lowered movement of the first member (33) against this third spring (38).
With this device a reliable retraction prevention of the latch (2) is achieved, which is illustrated by Figures 1, 9, and 10. When the door is separated from the frame (Figure 1), the latch holder (11) is in the non-holding position because the second flange (37) of the support of the trip element (7), against the elastic action of the third spring (38), prevents the first member (33) from being able to rise. When the trip element (3) is retracted, the second flange (37) retracts, but, since the latch (2) is already somewhat retracted, it is the carriage (32) and the head itself of the latch (2) which prevents the rising of the first member (33). When the door is closed in the frame, and the latch (2) emerges, as the trip element (3) remains retracted, the latch holder (11) can already occupy the holding position shown in Figure 10 and, as can be seen, the end of the second member (34) is applied to the peripheral pin (36) of the square bolt (5), in such a way that, when the opening movement starts (with the key or the handle), the latch holder (11) is retracted before the lateral projection (35) reaches the holding position with the latch (2) retracted.
According to another feature of the invention, the means for holding the lever plate (1a) consists of the upper edge of the lever plate (1a) being arranged from front to back and subsequently descending a first step (39), a second step (40) and a rear groove (41). As Figure 15 shows, this device establishes a reliable means of preventing the retraction of the lever (1) when this has emerged only a small distance, in such a way that, even if something has been introduced into the heart of the lock for illicit reasons, it will still not be possible for it to be retracted to its initial opening position, because the transverse projection (4a) of the bell-shaped element (4) will be located behind the second step (40), pushed by the second spring (20), which forces it to remain in permanent contact pressing against the upper edge of the lever plate (1a). The first step (39) of this lever plate (1a) functions as an additional mechanical butt stop for total retraction of the lever (1) and the rear groove (41) provides for the effective holding of the lever in the extended operational position.
The following references are used in the Figures:

1.: Lever
1a.: Lever (1) plate
2.: Latch
3.: Trip element
4.: Bell-shaped element
4a.: Transverse projection of bell-shaped element (4)
5.: Square bolt
6.: Cylinder
7.: Support for trip element (3)
8.: Straight lever (1) retainer
9.: Straight element (8) retaining tumbler
10.: Rocker
11.: Latch (2) holder
12.: Anti-panic arm
13.: First lug, in lever plate (1a)
14.: Rocker (10) runner
15.: Second lug, in bell-shaped element (4)
16.: First face, in rocker (10)
17.: Peripheral projection of square bolt (5)
18.: Central axis of latch holder (11)
19.: First spring, for trip element
20.: Second spring, for rocker (10) and bell-shaped element (4)
21.: Articulation joint
22.: Third lug, in lever plate (1a)
23.: Second face, in anti-panic arm (12)
24.: Lateral projection from trip element support (7)
25.: Upper pivot of straight lever retainer (8) for straight element retaining function
26.: Lower pivot of straight lever retainer (8) for spring support
27.: Horizontal face of lateral projection (24)
28.: Oblique face of lateral projection (24)
29.: First flange, in straight lever retainer (8)
30.: Oblique inlet in straight lever retainer (8)
31.: Ramp of straight lever retainer (8)
32.: Carriage in tail of latch (2)
33.: First member of latch holder (11)
34.: Second member of latch holder (11)
35.: Lateral projection of carriage (32)
36.: Peripheral pin of square bolt (5)
37.: Second flange, in trip element support (7)
38.: Third spring, for latch holder (11)
39.: First step, in lever plate (1a)
40.: Second step, in lever plate (1a)
41.: Rear groove, in lever plate (1a)
42.: Fourth spring, for lever (1)
43.: Fifth spring, for retaining tumbler (9)
44.: Sixth spring, for straight lever retainer (8)

Claims

A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever, in particular a lock provided with a lever (1), a latch (2), a trip element (3) which is situated between the lever (1) and the latch (2), and which, when the door reaches its frame, and the respective withdrawal of the latch, is operationally retractable against a first spring (19), a bell-shaped element (4), a square bolt (5) for an actuating handle and a cylinder (6) for a combination key, which lever (1) can be retracted by actuating the square bolt (5), can be retracted by actuating the cylinder (6), and is mounted in the tip of a rear lever plate (1a) of which the upper edge has means for holding the retracted and extended positions of this lever (1), of which the latch (2) can be retracted, actuating the square bolt (5) or the cylinder (6), of which the trip element (3) engages the keeper in the door frame, and of which the bell-shaped element (4) has a projection (4a) transverse to the lever plate (1a), which, by vertical displacement, is capable of operating or not in conjunction with said means for holding the retracted and extended positions of the lever (1), characterized in that it comprises a trip element support (7), a straight lever retainer (8), a straight element retaining tumbler (9), a rocker (10), a latch holder (11) and an anti-panic arm (12), whereby said trip element support (7) has means capable of blocking a vertical operational displacement of the straight lever retainer (8), said straight lever retainer (8) having a vertical mounting which slides by force of gravity between respective positions, upper and lower, which correspond respectively to the states of the lever (1) when retracted and extended, this straight lever retainer (8) also incorporating means of coupling which operates in conjunction with the straight element retaining tumbler (9), other means which operates in conjunction with said tripping means (3), capable of blocking its operational vertical displacement, other means of retaining the retracted state of the lever (1) which operates in conjunction with a first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a) and other reciprocal thrust means for this first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a); said straight element retaining tumbler (9) travels with the latch (2) and has a tilting mounting which is transverse to the plane of the straight lever retainer (8) and which operates between a tilted position situated just below the coupling means of the straight lever retainer (8) and a non-tilted position against the spring which is back-to-back with the operational path of the latter; said rocker (10) has an arm provided with a runner (14), in which a second lug (15) moves with a degree of adjustment play, installed in the bell-shaped element (4), and in its other arm has a first face (16) which, in relation to the rotational movement of opening when the lock is locked, adopts a non-tilted position, pushed by a second spring (20) with which it remains in contact in front of a peripheral projection (17) of the square bolt (5), said latch holder (11) having a tilting mounting in relation to a central axis (18) and having means capable of interfering or not with the retraction of the latch (2), determining respective holding and non-holding positions, and the anti-panic arm (14) having a tilting mounting of the lever of the first degree, with an articulation joint (21) which is common with the rocker (10) and which has an arm located in front of a third lug (22), installed in the lever plate (1a), and in the other arm has a second face (23) which, in relation to the operational rotation of the square bolt (5) starting from the lock being in the locked state, remains advantageously retracted in relation to the first face (16) of the rocker (10), the multiplication of this anti-panic arm (12) being such that it causes the retraction movement of the lever advantageously before, in the actual turning of the square bolt (5), total retraction of the latch (2) is effected.
A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in said trip element support (7) the means of blocking the operational vertical displacement of the straight lever retainer (8) consists of a lateral projection (24) which has an upper horizontal face (27) and a lower oblique face (28).
A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said straight lever retainer (8) the coupling means consists of a first arm (29) which is just at the level of the tilted position of the straight element retaining tumbler (9) and advantageously is retracted in relation to the start of the retraction movement of the latch (2).
A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said straight lever retainer (8) the means for blocking the operational vertical displacement and which operates in conjunction with other means of the trip element (3) consists of an upper pivot (25), which in relation to the extended and retracted positions of the trip element (3) is respectively aligned or not in the vertical direction, with the upper pivot (25) respectively turned towards the horizontal (27) and oblique (28) faces of the lateral projection (24).
A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said straight lever retainer (8) the means of retention of the lever (1) in its retracted state consists of an oblique inlet (30) which is reciprocal to said first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a) and which is located advantageously at a level lower than that of the first lug (13), in relation to said upper position of the straight lever retainer (8).
A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said straight lever retainer (8) the means of reciprocal thrust between this and the first lug (13) of the lever plate (1a) consists of a ramp (31) which is located on the front edge of the straight lever retainer (8), connected without interruption to the rear edge of its oblique inlet (30).
A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said straight element retaining tumbler (9) is installed in a carriage (32) fixed in the tail of the latch (2) inside the lock housing.
A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the latch holder (11), two members, a first (33) and second (34), extend along either side of the central axis (18), and in that the first member (33) is capable of rotating between respective raised and lowered positions, in which its end interferes or not with the retraction path of a lateral projection (35) of the carriage (32) of the tail of the latch (2), at the moment at which, in relation to the opening turning of the square bolt (5), the end of the second member (34) is applied directly onto a peripheral pin (36) of this square bolt (5) or advantageously in front of it, at the moment at which, in the lowered position, the first member (33) is applied lower in relation to a second flap (37) provided in the trip element support (7), there being a third spring (38) which is applied to the first member (33) counter to the action produced by the opening rotation of the square bolt (5), which pushes the lowered position of the first member (33) against this third spring (38).
A recessed lock with automatic emergence of the lever according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for holding the lever plate (1a) consists of the upper edge of the lever plate (1a) being located from front to rear and in such a manner that it subsequently descends in a first step (39), a second step (40) and a rear groove (41).