GB2511397A

GB2511397A - Lock device

Info

Publication number: GB2511397A
Application number: GB1322271.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ke Haggstrom
Original assignee: Assa Oem AB
Current assignee: Assa Oem AB
Priority date: 2013-01-11
Filing date: 2013-12-17
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2033-12-17
Also published as: GB201322271D0; SE1350035A1; DE102013226079A1; SE539062C2; GB2511397B

Abstract

A lock device 1 comprising a core 9 rotatably mounted within an axial through hole in a housing 3, the core having a radial recess 9b and annular groove 9b. A rotatable knob 5 is axially slidable in the housing. In a first position the knob is coupled to the core, preferably by protrusion 5k engaging in slot 9d and a protruding head 21a of a switching member 21 is located in the peripheral groove of the core permitting rotation of the core with the knob; in a second position the knob is uncoupled form the core and the switching member is located in the radial recess of the core blocking rotation of the core. Preferably a second protruding shoulder 21b of switching member 21 locates in an annular groove 5c in knob allowing the knob to freely rotate when uncoupled from the core. A shaft 11 may locate in a central hole through the core and knob 5j which merges with a transverse aperture 5i such that a padlock inserted through the knob would abut the shaft preventing the knob being pushed downward.

Description

LOCK DEVICE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventive concept relates generally to locks and in particular to a lock device suitable for use on cabinet doors and hatches, of a type which comprises a housing, a core arranged in the housing, and a knob.

BACKGROUND

Locks of the abovementioned type are usually manoeuvred by means of the knob, without the aid of a key, which knob, in an opening position for the lock, enables rotation of the core, and therefore also of the bolt, relative to the housing and, in a locking position for the lock, does not enable rotation of the core or of the bolt relative to the housing. For example, these locks can be used with padlocks, of which the shackle is placed in the knob.

A problem with existing solutions is that a padlock that has been placed in the knob may be subjected to substantial external torques if tampered with, which runs the risk of destroying the padilock and possibly also damaging the lock. Tampering that involves substantial external forces can therefore permit access to a cabinet or other storage space which is protected by the lock device.

SUMMARY

An object of the present inventive concept is to make available a lock device which provides greater protection against tampering.

Accordingly, a lock device is thus proposed comprising: a housing with an axially extending through-opening, a core which can be received in said axially extending through-opening and has a knob-cooperating end section comprising a radial recess and a peripheral groove, wherein the radial recess in the direction towards the central section of the core merges into said peripheral groove, wherein the radial recess has a radial depth corresponding to the depth of said peripheral groove, a knob which is movable in the axial direction, and a switching member which has a core-contacting portion mechanically coupled to the core and a knob-contacting portion mechanically coupled to the knob, wherein the core-contacting portion, in an opening/locking position, is arranged to run in said peripheral groove such that rotation of the core relative to the housing is enabled when the knob is turned, and which core-contacting portion, in the locked position, rests in said radial recess in the core, wherein the knob is axially displaced relative to the core such that mechanical uncoupling of the knob from the core is obtained.

A tecimical effect that can be achieved in this way is that the lock device, in the opening/locking position, enables rotation of the core relative to the housing, in order thereby to permit manoeuvring of the bolt of the lock device, while the knob of the lock device, in a locked position, is freely rotatable, which means that the knob is mechanically uncoupled from the core in the sense that the knob does not engage with the core. Therefore, no significant torque can be exerted on the lock device, or on a padlock placed in the knob, when the lock device is in a locking position. The lock device is thus protected against external tampering of this type.

According to one embodiment, the knob has a core-cooperating end section which has a peripheral groove in which the knob-contacting portion is arranged to run.

According to one embodiment, the knob has a transverse through-opening, and an axial opening in a core-cooperating end section of the knob, which axial opening runs out into said transverse opening, and the knob-cooperating end section of the core has an axial opening, wherein the lock device comprises a spacer element which has a core section receivable in the axial opening of said core, and a knob section which is receivable slidingly in the axial opening of said knob.

According to one embodiment, the switching member has a linking portion which links said core-contacting portion and said knob-contacting portion, wherein said core-contacting portion and knob-contacting portion each have a radial dimension which is greater than the radial dimension of the linking portion.

One embodiment comprises a fixing member, wherein the housing has a transverse opening in which the fixing member can be received.

According to one embodiment, the core-cooperating end section of the knob has a peripheral recess in which the fixing member is arranged to run, wherein the peripheral recess has a first wall, against which the fixing member bears when the lock device is in its opening/locking position, and a second, opposite wall, against which the fixing member bears when the lock device is in its locked position.

According to one embodiment, the second wall is situated closer to the core than the first wall.

According to one embodiment, the peripheral recess comprises a first peripheral groove, in which the fixing member is arranged to run in the opening/locking position, and a second peripheral groove, in which the fixing member is arranged to run in the locked position.

According to one embodiment, the peripheral recess comprises an open portion situated between the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove, such that the fixing member can be displaced between the first peripheral groove and the second peripheral groove.

According to one embodiment, the open portion, in a knob position in which the lock device can be adjusted between the opening/locking position and the locked position, is aligned with the radial recess of the core.

According to one embodiment, the axially extending through-opening, in a portion of the housing receiving the core, has a non-circular cross section for receiving the core-contacting portion of the switching member therein.

According to one embodiment, the knob has a beam, and the core has a corresponding groove in which the beam is arranged to engage in the opening/locking position.

Further objects and advantages of the inventive concept will become clear from the following detailed description and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is described in detail below with reference to the figures, of which: Fig. ta shows a perspective view of a lock device in a locked position.

Fig. ib shows a perspective view of the lock device from Fig. ia in an open position.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of the lock device from Figures ia and ib.

Fig. a shows a longitudinal section through the lock device from Figures ia/lb when it is located in an opening/locking position.

Fig. 3b shows a longitudinal section through the lock device from Figure ia.

Figures a and 4b show longitudinal sections through the lock device from Figures a and 3b, respectively, rotated through 90 degrees.

Fig. 5 shows a variation of a lock device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures in and ib show perspective views of an example of a lock device 1. The lock device i comprises a housing 3, a knob and a bolt 7. The knob 5 and the bolt 7 can be mechanically coupled to each other via a core. By turning the knob 5, it is possible to manoeuvre the bolt 7 between a locked position A for the lock device 1, as shown in Fig. ia, and an open position B, as shown in Fig. ib.

The structure of the lock device 1 will now be described in more detail with reference to Fig. 2. The lock device i comprises a housing 3, a knob 5, a core 9 and a switching member 21. The housing 3 has an axially extending through-opening a arranged to receive the core 9. The axially extending through-opening a preferably has a cross section which at least has a circular part, such that the core 9 receivable in the housing 3 can be rotated when mounted in the latter. According to the example in Fig. 2, the axially extending through-opening a has a non-circular cross section at the end where the core 9 is arranged to be received; in particular, the axially extending through-opening a has, in this area, a niche 3d which extends axially and which is arranged to receive the switching member 21, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

The core 9 has a knob-cooperating end section a which comprises a peripheral groove 9b and a radial recess c. The radial recess c runs, from the short end of the knob-cooperating end section a, axially in towards the peripheral groove 9b which, in the axial direction, is arranged further in towards the central section of the core 9.

The radial recess c runs axially into the peripheral groove 9b. The radial recess c and the peripheral groove have corresponding depths; in other words, the radial recess c and the peripheral groove 9b have the same depth in the radial direction.

For example, the radial recess c can have the shape of an arc of a circle, can be rectangular or can have any other suitable shape.

The knob-cooperating end section a of the core 9, in particular its short end, can further comprise a transverse recess 9d for mechanical cooperation with the knob 5.

According to one variation of the lock device, that end of the core 9 lying opposite the knob-cooperating end section a, i.e. the end cooperating with the bolt, can comprise a threaded core pin 9f around which the bolt 7 can be arranged. According to one variation thereof further components for assembling the lock device 1 can include a bolt nut 13 arranged to fix the bolt 7 axially on the threaded core pin 9f, a lock washer 15, a rotation stop washer 17, and a nut 19 which matches a corresponding thread on the housing 3.

The knob 5 has a manoeuvring end 5a, which provides a grip for a user of the lock device 1, and a core-cooperating end section b. The core-cooperating end section b comprises a peripheral groove sc and a peripheral recess Sd which has a first wall se and a second wall f opposite the first wall 5e. The first wall e and the second wall f delimit the peripheral recess Sd axially in the knob. The first wall e delimits the peripheral recess 5d from the manoeuvring end a, and the second wall 5f delimits the peripheral recess d from the peripheral groove 5c. According to the example in Fig.2, the peripheral recess sd comprises a first peripheral groove sg and an adjoining second peripheral groove h. According to one variation thereof, the first peripheral groove g and the second peripheral groove h can have the same depth in the radial direction. The peripheral recess Sd can comprise an open portion 51 situated between the first peripheral groove sg and the second peripheral groove 5h in order to open these grooves up to each other.

According to one variation of the lock device 1, the open portion 51 is aligned with the radial recess 9C of the core 9 when the knob is in a position in which the lock device 1 can be adjusted between the opening/locking position and the locked position, that is to say in a position in which linear movement in the axial direction can be enabled if the transverse through-opening 5i in the knob is free and not blocked by means of, for example, a padlock shackle.

At its manoeuvring end a, the knob 5 also has a transverse through-opening 5i, and an axial opening 5j in the core-cooperating end section 5b of the knob. The axial opening sj runs out at one end into said transverse opening 5i and, at the other end, runs out in the short side of the core-cooperating end section 5b. At the core-cooperating end 5b, the short end of the knob has a transverse beam k for mechanical cooperation with the transverse recess gd in the core g. In particular, this mechanical cooperation permits manoeuvring of the core 9 in relation to the housing 3, which can provide manoeuvring of the bolt 7 between the open position A of the lock device 1 and its locked position B, as illustrated in Figures ia and ib.

The lock device 1 can further comprise a spacer element ii, such as a spacer pin, which has a core section na that can be received in the axial opening e of the core 9, and a knob section ub that is receivable slidingly in the axial opening sj of the knob , such that the knob is movable in the axial direction around the spacer element ii.

In particular, the knob is displaced axially towards the core 9 in an opening/locking manoeuvre, whereupon the knob section iib protrudes from the axial opening sj of the knob j into the transverse through-opening 5i of the knob j. According to one variation thereof the spacer element 11 can have a hemispherical knob-section end, which simplifies passage of a padlock shackle when the lock device 1 is locked.

In the assembled position, the switching member 21 is arranged fixedly in the housing 3 and has a core-contacting portion ia and a knob-contacting portion 21b, which are linked together via a linking portion sic. In the assembled position, the core-contacting portion 21a is mechanically coupled to the core 9 and the knob-contacting portion 21b is mechanically coupled to the knob 5. In the opening/locking position, the core-contacting portion ia is situated in the peripheral groove 9b of the core 9 and is arranged to run freely therein, and the beam 5k engages in this position in the transverse recess 9d of the core 9, such that rotation of the core 9 relative to the housing 3 can be enabled when the knob 5 is turned. In a locked position, the core-contacting portion ia rests in the radial recess c in the core 9. In this position, the knob is axially displaced from the core 9, and the beam 5k does not engage with the transverse recess 9d in the core 9, such that mechanical uncoupling of the knob 5 from the core 9 is obtained. According to the variant illustrated in Fig. 2, the knob-contacting portion 21b is arranged to run in the peripheral groove sc of the knob s In particular, the knob-contacting portion 21b is arranged to run in the peripheral groove c of the knob 5 both when the lock device 1 is in the opening/locking position and also in the locked position.

The core-contacting portion ia and the knob-contacting portion 21b each have a radial dimension di and d2, respectively, which is greater than the radial dimension d3 of the linking portion. The dimensions di and d2 can be equal, or these dimensions can alternatively differ from each other, depending on the depth of the respective peripheral grooves 9b and 5c.

The lock device 1 can further comprise a fixing member 23, such as a fixing pin. In this case, the housing 3 has a transverse opening c which passes through the housing 3 substantially level with the niche 3d. In particular, the transverse opening c cuts through the niche 3d. The fixing member 23 is arranged to run in the peripheral recess sd of the knob. The fixing member 23 bears against the first wall se when the lock device i is in its opening/locking position, and against the second wall f when the lock device 1 is in its locked position. The function of the fixing member 23 is to maintain the knob in a fixed axial position both in the opening/locking position and also in the locked position. In the latter case, a lock shackle or similar device can fix the knob 5 axially. Moreover, the open portion 51 means that the fixing member 23 can be displaced between the first peripheral groove g and the second peripheral groove h when the knob s is in such a position that the open portion l is aligned with the radial recess c in the core 9.

The lock device 1 can further comprise a plug 25 to protect against the lock device 1 being examined and damaged. The plug 25 is preferably situated so as to protect against tampering of the switching member 21, for example by being placed in alignment with the switching member 21, between the switching member 21 and the manoeuvring end a of the knob.

The function of the lock device 1 is now described in more detail with reference to Figures a and 3b and Figures a and 4b.

In Fig. a, the lock device 1 from Fig. 2 is shown in an opening/locking position in a longitudinal section A-A. In the opening/locking position, the knob has been pushed in axially towards the core 9, and the core-contacting portion ia of the switching member 21 has been pushed in, from having rested in the radial recess c of the core 9, so as to rest in the peripheral groove 9b of the core 9. The beam k of the knob j engages in a corresponding transverse recess 9d in the knob-cooperating end section a of the core 9. Here, rotation of the knob s and simultaneous rotation i of the core 9 can be obtained since the knob, in the opening/locking position, is mechanically coupled to the core 9. Thus, the bolt 7 can be manoeuvred from the locked position A to the open position B, which are shown in Figures ia and ib. Upon rotation of the knob 5, the core-contacting portion 21a runs in the peripheral groove 9b of the core 9. Moreover, the fixing member 23 rests in the first peripheral groove, especially against the first wall e and against the inner wall e of the housing 3. The spacer element ii controls the linear movement of the knob s in the sense that the spacer element 11 does not allow the knob to deviate from the straight line or path that is defined by the spacer element ii. In the opening/locking position, the spacer element 11 protrudes from the axial opening sj, arranged in the knob 5, into the transverse through-opening 5i.

In Fig. 3b, the lock device 1 from Fig. 2 is shown in a longitudinal section B-B in a locked position, by which is meant a position in which the knob is not allowed to be manoeuvred. In order to arrive at this position from the opening/locking position, the core-contacting portion ia of the switching member 21 is adjusted in line with, i.e. aligned with, the radial recess c in the core 9, whereupon the knob is pulled axially away from the core 9 such that the core-contacting portion ia rests in the radial recess 9c of the core 9. In the locked position, the fixing member 23 is moved from the first groove g to the second groove 5h via the open portion 51. The fixing member 23 thus bears against the second wall f and the inner wall e of the housing 3. In the locked position, the knob section iib of the spacer element 11 is completely concealed in the axial opening sj of the knob 5. Thus, for example, a lock shackle can be driven through the transverse through-opening 5i.

In the locked position, the beam 5k is mechanically uncoupled from the corresponding transverse groove 9d in the knob-cooperating end section a of the core 9. In this position, the knob-contacting portion 21b of the switching member 21 runs freely in the peripheral groove c of the knob, such that the knobs can freely rotate without mechanical engagement with the core 9.

Figures a and 4b show the opening/locking position and the locked position, respectively, in a section rotated through 90 degrees with respect to the section A-A in Figure a.

Fig. shows a lock device in accordance with the principles described herein, suitable for fitting in a lock housing, for example of a coin-operated lock.

The lock device and variations thereof which have been presented above can advantageously be used, for example, on cabinet doors or hatches, and can complement or replace cabinet locks with keys.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described above. The invention is not limited to this embodiment and instead can be freely varied within the scope of the attached patent claims. For example, the beam could be arranged instead on the core, and the knob could have a corresponding groove in which the beam would be able to engage.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Lock device (i) comprising: a housing (3) with an axially extending through-opening (3a), a core () which can be received in said axially extending through-opening (3a) and has a knob-cooperating end section (9a) comprising a radial recess (9c) and a peripheral groove (9b), wherein the radial recess (9c) in the direction towards the central section of the core merges into said peripheral groove (9b), wherein the radial recess (9c) has a radial depth corresponding to the depth of said peripheral groove (9b), a knob () which is movable in the axial direction, and a switching member (21) which has a core-contacting portion (21a) mechanically coupled to the core (cd) and a knob-contacting portion (21b) mechanically coupled to the knob (j), wherein the core-contacting portion (21a), in an opening/locking position, is arranged to run in said peripheral groove (9b) such that rotation of the core (9) relative to the housing () is enabled when the knob () is turned, and which core-contacting portion (21b), in the locked position, rests in said radial recess (9c) in the core (p), wherein the knob () is axially displaced relative to the core (ç) such that mechanical uncoupling of the knob () from the core (9) is obtained.
2. Lock device (i) according to Claim 1, wherein the knob () has a core- cooperating end section (sb) which has a peripheral groove (5c) in which the knob-contacting portion (21b) is arranged to run.
3. Lock device (i) according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the knob () has a transverse through-opening (5i), and an axia' opening (sj) in a core-cooperating end section (sb) of the knob (j), which axial opening (5j) runs out into said transverse opening (5i), and the knob-cooperating end section (9a) of the core (ca) has an axial opening (9e), wherein the lock device (i) comprises a spacer element (ii) which has a core section (na) receivable in the axial opening (9e) of said core (g), and a knob section (ub) which is receivable slidingly in the axial opening (5j) of said knob (s).
4. Lock device (1) according to any of Claims 1-3, wherein the switching member (21) has a linking portion (21c) which links said core-contacting portion (21a) and said knob-contacting portion (21b), wherein said core-contacting portion (21a) and knob-contacting portion (21b) each have a radial dimension (di, d2) which is greater than the radial dimension (d3) of the linking portion (21c).
5. Lock device (i) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a fixing member (23), wherein the housing () has a transverse opening (3c) in which the fixing member (23) can be received.
6. Lock device (i) according to Claim 5, wherein the core-cooperating end section (5b) of the knob () has a peripheral recess (5d) in which the fixing member (23) is arranged to run, wherein the peripheral recess (sd) has a first wall (se), against which the fixing member (23) bears when the lock device (i) is in its opening/locking position, and a second, opposite wall (sf), against which the fixing member (23) bears when the lock device (i) is in its locked position.
7. Lock device (1) according to Claim 6, wherein the second wall (5f) is situated closer to the core (ca) than the first wall (se).
8. Lock device (i) according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein the peripheral recess (5d) comprises a first peripheral groove (ag), in which the fixing member (23) is arranged to run in the opening/locking position, and a second peripheral groove (h), in which the fixing member (23) is arranged to run in the locked position.
9. Lock device (i) according to Claim 8, wherein the peripheral recess (sd) comprises an open portion (l) situated between the first peripheral groove (5g) and the second peripheral groove (5h), such that the fixing member (23) can be displaced between the first peripheral groove (5g) and the second peripheral groove (5h).
10. Lock device (i) according to Claim 9, wherein the open portion (51), in a knob position in which the lock device (i) can be adjusted between the opening/locking position and the locked position, is aligned with the radial recess (9c) of the core (9).
11. Lock device (i) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the axially extending through-opening (3a), in a portion of the housing () receiving the core, has a non-circular cross section for receiving the core-contacting portion (21a) of the switching member (21) therein.
12. Lock device (i) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the knob () has a beam (5k), and the core (ç) has a corresponding groove (9d) in which the beam (5k) is arranged to engage in the opening/locking position.