GB2304142A - Key turning assistance for the disabled - Google Patents

Abstract

A key 10 for a manually operated cylinder lock has an actuator element 15 which projects laterally of the plane of the blade 13 to assist the manipulation of the key. The actuator element 15 extends perpendicular to the plane of the blade 13 equally on either side thereof.

Description

CYLINDER LOCK AND KEY COMBINATION This invention relates to a manually operated cylinder lock and key combination, the lock being suitable for releasable locking of a door or window.

With ever-rising crime figures a fact of everyday life, and in particular by forced intrusion into domestic dwellings, it is becoming necessary to provide ever more robust types of locking systems to resist such intrusion. This involves provision of so-called "deadlocks", with a relatively long "throw" of the lock bolt, and which is usually operated by manual rotation of a cylinder lock by a key, upon insertion of the key into the usual key-aperture and followed by part rotation of the key, and typically through about 900.

One type of key which is used widely has a circular actuator disc, which is co-planar with the "blade" of the key, and following insertion of the blade into the keyhole in the lock to activate the lock mechanism, rotation of the blade then causes locking or unlocking.

The rotation of the key blade is carried out by thumb and finger manipulation of the actuator disc, and this is an easy task for the able bodied, even although the increasing complexity of locks, and the increased "throw" of the dead bolt imposes a requirement for a higher operating torque from the actuator disk to the key blade in order to operate the lock.

However, for the elderly, or infirm, and in particularly those with an arthritic condition in the hand, the actuation of the lock via the actuator disk can become an increasing burden and the invention addresses this problem and provides, by simple means, for easier actuation of the lock.

According to the invention, there is provided a manually operated cylinder lock and key combination, said key comprising a blade insertable into the lock to activate the lock and which is rotatable in order to operate the lock between locking and unlocking conditions, in which the key is operable by thumb and finger manipulation and comprises an actuator element which projects laterally of the plane of the blade to assist the manipulation of the key.

The lateral projection of the actuator of the key may take any suitable form, to assist the thumb and finger manipulation of the key. The formation of the actuator can be such as to increase the gripping area of contact, as compared with the actuator disk of known keys for cylinder locks, and also increases the lever action which can be obtained, in that the greater the extent of lateral projection from the plane of the blade, the greater the actuating torque which can be applied to the key blade, for a unit application of turning force.

In a preferred embodiment, the actuator of the key comprises an actuator arm which extends generally perpendicularly of the plane of the key blade, preferably to equal extent on either side thereof.

The entire key, including the actuator arm, is readily removable from the cylinder lock, and therefore is particularly suitable for internal locking by the occupant. Thus, e.g.

during day time occupation, the occupant may leave the removable key in the internally facing end of the cylinder lock, so that the lock can readily be unlocked by the occupant when required. However, for additional security e.g. at night time, the entire key can readily be removed from the lock.

The removable key with enhanced manipulation facility may be used solely for internal operation of the lock at the wish of the user, but if desired may be carried about the person by the occupant and used to operate the cylinder lock from externally e.g. for external locking when leaving the dwelling, and to unlock on return.

However, if desired, a conventional design of key may still be used to operate the lock, and no re-design of the lock is required, to provide this enhanced manipulation facility, in that in the lock and key combination according to the invention, it is the key which is re-designed to provide enhanced manipulation facility for particular use by the elderly and infirm, or the arthritic.

A preferred embodiment of cylinder lock and key combination according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a rotary cylinder lock and key combination, with the key having enhanced manipulation facility for the elderly or infirm; and Figure 2 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, a manually operated rotary cylinder lock is designated generally by reference 11, and is intended to be operated by a specially designed and easy-tomanipulate key, as shown generally by reference numeral 10.

Figure 1 also shows a standard design of key 12 which can be used to operate the lock.

By way of example only, it is envisaged that the key 10 may be used to lock and unlock the lock 11 from internally of a dwelling, whereas key 12 may be used to operate the lock from externally. However, as will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, key 10 may be used externally of the lock also.

No re-design of the cylinder lock 11 is necessary, and which is capable of being activated by key 10 or key 12.

The key 10 has a key blade 13 which may be formed from a usual key blank, and is capable of being inserted into the cylinder of lock 11 to activate the latter, ready to be rotated between locking and unlocking conditions.

The key 12 shown in Figure 1 is of standard design, also having key blade 13, as well as a planar actuator disc 14, which can be manipulated by finger and/ or thumb action, to rotate the key blank 13 and thereby operate the lock. However, while this is a simple task for the able bodied, it can be difficult for the elderly or infirm, or those with arthritic hand conditions, to operate the actuator disc 14, and it is for this reason that key 10 has been provided.

The key 10 therefore has an actuator which is designated generally by reference 15, and which projects laterally of the plane of the blade 13, and therefore provides increased contact area for manipulation by thumb and finger action, to make it easier for the user. Further, the greater the extent of projection laterally of the plane of the blade, the greater will be the turning moment which can be applied for unit application of force.

The actuator 15 of the key 10 may resemble, in shape, a "thumb turn" of the type presently provided as a permanent fixture on the internal side of a cylinder lock. However, a permanent "thumb turn" is undesirable, if the door in which the lock is provided has a glass panel, since an intruder can break the glass and then easily obtain access to the (permanently attached) thumb turn. By contrast, with the thumb turn key 10 of the invention, this can readily be removed by the occupant of the dwelling, for additional security.

Claims (4)

1. A manually operated cylinder lock and key combination, said key comprising a blade insertable into the lock to activate the lock and which is rotatable in order to operate the lock between locking and unlocking conditions, in which the key is operable by thumb and finger manipulation and comprises an actuator element which projects laterally of the plane of the blade to assist the manipulation of the key.

2. A combination according to Claim 1, in which the actuator of the key comprises an actuator arm which extends generally perpendicularly of the plane of the key blade.

3. A combination according to Claim 2, in which the actuator arm extends to an equal extent on either side of the plane of the key blade.

4. A combination according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.