GB2219032A

GB2219032A - Fastening with axially movable bolt indicating

Info

Publication number: GB2219032A
Application number: GB8812635A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Timothy Green
Original assignee: GRANFIT HOLDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: GRANFIT HOLDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 1988-05-27
Filing date: 1988-05-27
Publication date: 1989-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-27
Also published as: GB2219032B; GB8812635D0

Abstract

Bolt 1 is movable axially between a retracted and a projected position by means of a handle 9, and on indicator member 3 for indicating the position of the bolt 1 is mounted for rotation about an axis coincident with or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt 1 so that movement of the hand 9 produces simultaneous rotation of the indicator member 3 and axial movement of the bolt 1. As shown, the indicator member 3 is a cylindrical sleeve member coaxial with bolt 1 and having indicating areas (3a 3b Figure 3) on its external surface and a helical slot 4 through which a handle shaft 5 connected to handle 9 extends to be connected to bolt 1. A window (14, Figure 5) in housing 2 mounting the bolt 1 allows areas (3a, 3b) to be viewed. Guide plate 7 has a slot 6 for shaft 5. Areas (3a, 3b) have recesses (10a, 10b Figure 3) for emergency release. Other arrangements are disclosed for producing simultaneous rotation of the member 3 with axial movement of bolt 1 i.e. sleeve member has a helical slot in its wall or a helical groove in its internal surface which receives and guides a projection on the bolt with the handle being connected to the indicator member and movable perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the bolt; where the rotational axis of indicator member is parallel to the bolt longitudinal axis a projection on bolt engages helical groove or slot in indicator member. For use on lavatory/changing room door. <IMAGE>

Description

A LOCK The present invention relates to a lock for, for example, a lavatory or changing room door.

Known locks employed on lavatory and changing room doors comprise a bolt which is slidable by means of a handle between a retracted and a projected or locking position.

When moved into the latter position while the door is closed, the bolt enters and is retained within a boithole provided on the door frame. An indicator window is provided on that side of the door remote from the handle through which a portion of an indicator member attached to the bolt can be viewed. In each of the two remote positions of the bolt, one of two different areas of the indicator member is visible through this window from which it can be ascertained, for example, through its colour, whether the bolt is in the retracted or the locking position.

In another known lock of this kind, the indicator member is mounted coaxially with the handle and rotates therewith. This member has teeth which engage the bolt such that rotation of the indicator member between two remote positions causes translation of the bolt between the retracted and locking positions.

The known locks described above have the disadvantage that, in view of their construction, they are large and cumbersome in relation to the size of the indicator viewing window obtainable.

An object of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a lock which is simple and relatively cheap to produce and in which, for a given size and handle movenent, the area of the indicator window is considerably greater than previously obtainable.

According to the present invention there is provided a lock comprising a bolt movable axially between a retracted position and a projected position; handle means for actuating movement of the bolt between said positions, and an indicator member for indicating the position of the bolt, which is mounted for rotation about an axis co-incident with or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt and adapted to co-operate with the bolt such that actuation of the handle means produces simultaneous rotation of the indicator member and axial movement of the bolt.

According to preferred embodiments of the present invention, the indicator member comprises a cylindrical sleeve member mounted coaxial with the bolt. In one such embodiment, the handle means is connected to the bolt and extend through a helical slot in the wall of the sleeve member In an alternative embodiment, the sleeve member has a helical slot in its wall, or a helical groove on its internal surface which receives and guides a projection on the surface of the bolt. In this alternative embodiment, the handle is connected to the indicator member and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt.

In yet another embodiment, the rotational axis of the indicator member is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt. In one such case, a projection on the surface of the bolt engages a helical groove or slot in the indicator member and the handle is connected to the bolt.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the lock comprises a housing to which the bolt is mounted for axial movement with respect thereto and which has a window through which a portion of the indicator member is visible for determining the position of the bolt.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the basic arrangement of one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of such an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an indicator member shown in Fig. 2; and Figs. 4 and 5 show an embodiment of Fig. 2 mounted to a door from the handle and the viewing window side of the door respectively.

In the embodiment illustrated by Figure 1, the lock A comprises a bolt 1 mounted within guides 2a and flange 2b on a housing 2 for axial movement therein between a fully retracted (unlocking) position shown in this Figure and a fully projected (locking) position.

An indicator member in the form of a cylindrical sleeve member 3 is located on the bolt 1 coaxial therewith.

This sleeve member 3 is provided with two different indicating areas 3a, 3b (see Fig. 3) on its external surface, arranged adjacent one another about its circumference. On the other side of the sleeve member 3 remote from the indicating areas, is a helical slot 4, through which a handle shaft 5 connected to the bolt 1 extends. This handle shaft 5 also passes through a transverse slot 6 in a guide plate 7. The guide plate 7 is held fixed relative to the sleeve member 3 and bolt 1 by mounting either to the housing 2 or directly to the door such that the longitudinal axis of the slot 6 is parallel to that of the bolt 1.

A window 14 (see Fig. 5) is provided in the housing 2 adjacent the indicator member, through which the indicating areas 3a, 3b can be viewed. The dimensions of this window are such that in each of two remote portions of the indicator member only a respective one of the indicating areas can be seen.

This lock also comprises a keep 8 for mounting to the door frame to define a bolthole for receiving and retaining the fully projected bolt 1, so as to hold the door closed.

As will be apparent from Figure 1, when the lock is mounted to a door, movement of the handle shaft 5 will cause corresponding axial movement of the bolt 1. As the handle shaft 5 is constrained to move within the transverse slot 6, this movement will cause rotation of the sleeve member 3 as the handle shaft 5 moves along the helical slot 4. Thus, with movement of the bolt 1 between its unlocking and locking positions, the sleeve member 3 is caused to rotate between its two remote positions, in each of which only a respective one of the two indicating areas 3a, 3b is visible through the window 14 on that side of the door remote from the lock's handle.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which those elements already referred to in Figure 1 bear the same reference numerals. This embodiment has the advantage that the working parts can be set into the surface of the door and is therefore visually attractive. As is clear from Figure 1, the bolt 1 and indicator member 3 are inset into one surface of the door and held in position by means of screws 11 which extend through flange 2b of the housing 2 before entering the door. The guide plate 7 is mounted to the other surface of the door by means of screws 12 which enter threaded sockets 12a in the housing 2 through a hole 15 cut in the door.

The handle shaft 5 is connected to a handle 9 which comprises a grip portion 9a, a buffer portion 9b and a cover plate 9c. The buffer portion 9b is constructed of a resilient material such as, for example, rubber or a plastics material, and is intended for protecting that wall adjacent the door hinges when the door is open to its fullest extent.

The cover plate 9c ensures that the transverse slot 6 remains covered when the handle shaft 5 is at either end of the slot so as to prevent dirt entering the lock and also fingers being pinched.

Figure 4 shows the present lock mounted in position from the handle side of the door and also the keep 8 mounted to the door frame by means of screws 13. In 'this Figure, the bolt 1 is shown in its fully retracted or unlocking position with the end of the bolt 1 flush with the external surface of the flange 2b.

Figure 5 shows the other side of the door from that shown in Figure 3 with the door shut and the bolt 1 in'the fully projected or locking position within the keep 8. As can be seen from this Figure, that indicating area 3a visible through the window 14 when the bolt 1 is in the locking position has a recess 10a which is intended for emergency release of the lock. This recess 10a permits insertion of, for example, a screw driver or key, to move it upwards causing axial rotation of the,indicator member. In view of the presence of the handle shaft 5 within the helical slot 4 of the indicator member this, in turn, causes the bolt 1 to move axially withdrawing it from engagement with the keep 8.

A further such recess 10b (see Fig. 3) is provided on indicating area 3b for use should additional rotation of the sleeve member 3 be required to withdraw the bolt from engagement with the keep 8, once recess 10a has reached the top of window 14.

The construction of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 5, allows it to be mounted on either the closing or (in, for example, lavatories for the disabled) the opening face of the door.

All elements of the present lock other than the buffer portion 9b may be constructed from, for example, steel or an aluminium alloy. In the embodiment shown in Figures 2 to 4 the housing 2, keep 8 and guide plate 7 are of aluminium while the bolt 1 is of stainless steel. All remaining parts are of an injection moulded plastics material.

Claims

1. A lock comprising a bolt movable axially between a retracted position and a projected position; handle means for actuating movement of the bolt between said positions, and an indicator member for indicating the position of the bolt, mounted for rotation about an axis co-incident with or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt and adapted to co-operate with the bolt such that actuation of the handle means produces simultaneous rotation of the indicator member and axial movement of the bolt.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein the indicator member comprises a cylindrical sleeve member mounted coaxial with the bolt.

3. A lock as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the handle means is connected to the bolt and extends through a helical slot in the wall of the sleeve member.

4. A lock as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a guide plate is provided having a slot which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt and through which the handle means extends.

5. A lock as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve member has a helical slot in its wall which receives and guides a projection on the surface of the bolt.

6. A lock as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the sleeve member has a helical groove on its internal surface which receives and guides a projection on the surface of the bolt.

7. A lock as claimed in claim 1, 5 or 6 wherein the handle means is connected to the indicator member and is movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bolt.

8. A lock as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the rotational axis of the indicator member is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bolt.

9. A lock as claimed in claim 7, wherein a projection on the surface of the bolt engages a helical groove or slot in the indicator member and the handle means is connected to the bolt.

10. A lock as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a housing to which the bolt is mounted for axial movement with respect thereto and which has a window through which a portion of the indicator member is visible for determining the position of the bolt.

11. A lock substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.