GB2516430A

GB2516430A - Lock mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2516430A
Application number: GB1312940.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert William Walker; Nigel Shenton
Original assignee: Grouphomesafe Ltd
Current assignee: Era Home Security Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-19
Filing date: 2013-07-19
Publication date: 2015-01-28
Also published as: WO2015008079A2; GB201312940D0; EP3022370A2; GB201401386D0; EP3022370B1; WO2015008079A3; GB2516323A

Abstract

A double cylinder lock 102 having a top section 108 comprising a first and second barrels with rotatable cores separated by a rotatable cam 106, a middle section 134 extending from the top section having a smaller width than the top section and a lower section 104 extending from the middle section and bridging the gap left by the cam opening; the lower section having a larger width than the narrower middle section. Preferably the lower section has a width equal to the top section. Also claimed is a casement lock having a casing with profiled aperture to match the cylinder lock. The increased thickness of the bottom of the lower strengthens the cylinder around making it harder to snap the cylinder about a hole 12 that may be provided for securing it in place.

Description

Lock Mechanism The present invention relates to a lock mechanism, in particular to a lock mechanism having an improved strength.

The majority of lock barrels sold for use with PCV type doors (although they may be used with other types of door) are of the design known as Euro cylinder' or "Euro profile" locks.

Although these locks are used industry wide there are a number of disadvantages with them, in particular they are prone to snapping when subjected to particular loads. This weakness found in these types of locks is well known and documented. However due to the widespread use of these cylinders there has been no fundamental change in the cylinders used although some manufacturers do provide cylinders out of materials of increased strength in attempt to overcome this problem.

The problem is inherent in the design of the Euro profile cylinder. As shown in Figure 1 the Euro profile cylinder lock 2 has a "keyhole" shaped profile that has a narrow central section 4, extending below the cam 6, that holds the two halves 8, 10 together. The strength of this central section 4 is severely compromised as a fixing hole 12 passes through it. This leaves a very small "bridge" of material above and below the fixing hole that is susceptible to snapping if a strong tool is inserted into the lock and a sharp angular movement is applied. As shown in Figure 2, which depicts a snapped euro profile cylinder lock, the actual structural thickness of the lock in this section leaves only a very small area of material 14, 16 on either side of the fixing hole 12 which compromises the overall strength of the lock. Once the cylinder lock is snapped it is a simple process for an intruder to access the interior of the lock to unlock the door.

The present invention proposes a new lock design that offers improved strength.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provide a cylinder lock comprising: a top section comprising a barrel having a through passage at either end, said barrels separated by a cam opening; a lock provided at each end in the through passages; a cam member located between the locks; a middle section extending from the top section and having a width less than that of the top section, and a lower section extending from the middle section such that it bridges the cam opening; and wherein the width of the lower section is greater than the width of the middle section.

The lower section may be substantially equal to the width of the top section. This increased tower section width strengthens the resistance of the cylinder lock to being snapped as described herein above.

In a preferred embodiment the width of the middle section is 10mm or less.

Alternatively the width of the middle section is in the range of 9mm to 11mm, for example the width of the middle section may be 10mm.

The cam opening may extend into the middle section. Preferably the lower section extends substantially along the length of the cylinder lock. In a preferred embodiment the cylinder lock may be provided with a hole in its lower section for receiving a retaining screw therein. As the hole is provided in the lower section, which has a greater cross sectional area, the remaining material above and below the hole is increased compared to a standard euro profile cylinder, thereby increasing the resistance of the cylinder lock to snapping resulting in a lock that provides a higher level of security.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a casement lock comprising: a primary locking means moveable between secured and retracted positions in respective first and second directions; primary actuation means for selective movement of the primary locking means in the first and second directions; secondary locking means selectively operable to prevent movement of the primary locking means in the second direction; the casement lock further comprising an opening therein for receiving a cylinder lock therethrough for selectively actuating the secondary locking means; said opening comprising a top section for receiving a cylinder lock barrel therein; a middle section extending from the top section and having a width less than that of the top section, and a lower section extending from the middle section; and wherein the width of the lower section is greater than the width of the middle section.

The casement lock can receive a standard euro profile cylinder lock or can receive a high security cylinder lock according to the first aspect of the invention. In this manner an easy installation is effected as the casement lock can be fitted to, for example, a door and the security level can be dictated at point of installation of the door by filling one of a euro-profile cylinder lock or a new high security cylinder lock as described herein.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a locking system for a closure, the system comprising: a casement lock comprising: a primary locking means moveable between secured and retracted positions in respective first and second directions; primary actuation means for selective movement of the primary locking means in the first and second directions; secondary locking means selectively operable to prevent movement of the primary locking means in the second direction; the casement lock further comprising an opening therein for receiving a cylinder lock therethrough for selectively actuating the secondary locking means; and a cylinder lock according to the first aspect of the invention; wherein the opening substantially conforms to the shape of the top and middle sections of the cylinder lock.

In a preferred embodiment the opening is further shaped to conform to the lower section of the cylinder lock.

The opening may define a shape that closely surrounds said cylinder lock so as to prevent rotation thereof.

In this manner a locking system can be provided which can be used with a the cylinder lock of the first aspect of the invention but which, if required by the user, may have the cylinder lock removed and replaced with a traditional euro profile cylinder, which will be understood by the skilled person to be one having the profile shown in Figure 1. In this manner, if required, the high security profile cylinder lock can be replaced with a standard cylinder lock without the need to adapt the casement lock, or vice versa Preferably the casement lock has a hole therein, and the locking system further comprises a screw that passes through said hole and into said cylinder lock so as to retain it.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a prior art euro profile cylinder lock; Figure 2 shows a snapped prior art euro profile cylinder lock; Figure 3 shows a new design cylinder lock in accordance with the first aspect of the invention; Figure 4 shows a casement lock in accordance with the second aspect of the invention; Figure 5 shows the locking system of the third aspect of the invention; and Figure 6 shows the casement lock of the second aspect of the invention fitted with a euro-profile cylinder lock.

Figures 1 and 2 show a known lock of the euro profile cylinder according to the prior art and are described above.

Figure 3 shows a high security alternative non euro profile cylinder lock of the invention, which has an improved resistance to snapping compared to the euro profile cylinder lock shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The cylinder lock 102 has a top section 116 comprising a barrel 108 which has a through passage at either end. The barrels 108 are separated by a cam opening in which a cam 106 is located. A lock 134 is provided at each end in the through passages 108. A middle section 118 extends from the top section 116 and has a width less than that of the top section. A lower section 104 extends from the middle section 118 such that it bridges the cam opening. The width of the lower 104 section is greater than the width ot the middle section 118.

As can be seen, the thickness of the lower section 104, i.e. below the cam 106 is wider than that of the euro profile cylinder. However, between the barrel 116 of the lock and the lower section 104, the middle section 118 is narrower than both the barrel 116 and the lower section 104. This necked middle section 118 has approximately the same width, or a lesser width that a euro profile lock cylinder, i.e. the width is approximately 10mm or less.

The effect of these differences in the cylinder lock is that, at the bridge section 110, the cross sectional area of the material that must be broken to snap the lock is increased compared to that of the euro profile cylinder lock. This increased cross sectional area at the snap point increases the force necessary to snap the lock cylinder of Figure 3 thereby increasing its strength and reducing its susceptibility to destruction in the known manner. Accordingly, when used in a lock, the cylinder lock 102 of the invention will result in increased security.

Referring to Figures 4 to 6 a casement lock and locking system of the invention are shown. The casement lock differs from previous casement locks used with euro profile lock cylinders in that the shape of the opening 124 therein which receives the cylinder lock has an enlarged lower section 114 so that it can receive the cylinder lock of the invention. However, as the opening 124 of the casement lock has a narrower necked portion 120, when it is fitted with a standard euro profile cylinder lock, as shown in Figure 6, the euro profile lock cylinder is prevented from rotating as its lower section 122 is retained in the necked section 120 of the casement lock. The necked section 120 of the casement lock is therefore dimensioned to closely receive a euro-profile cylinder lock, i.e. it is dimensioned such that the opening is slightly larger than 10mm such that when a euro profile cylinder lock 2 with a 10mm lower section 122 is inserted it is prevented from rotation by the necked portion 120. As the casement lock 112 easily accommodates either a standard euro profile cylinder lock, or the new high security cylinder lock as described in relation to Figure 3, the locking system can quickly and easily be changed for a standard locking system to a high security locking system by changing the cylinder lock with no further adaption of the casement lock being required.

Standard euro profile cylinder locks are cheap to manufacture due to the large number of these cylinder locks that are produced and, accordingly, give a very good value solution where additional security is not required. In addition, casement locks that accept the euro profile cylinder are produced and sold in relatively high quantities, which enables their production to take advantage of the benefits of mass manufacture resulting in efficient manufacture of these products.

As the improved strength cylinder locks 102 will only be required to be used in a limited number of applications the production of these lock cylinders, and the casement locks to accept these new cylinders can not take advantage of the benefits of mass manufacture as the quantities are not great enough. The present invention proposes a solution to the problem in which a common casement lock 112 can accept either a standard euro profile lock cylinder or can accept the alternative improved strength cylinder lock 102 described above.

The casement lock 112 may be any form of known casement lock that accepts a cylinder lock therethrough. In the embodiment shown the casement lock has a primary locking means 126 which is moveable between a secured and retracted position in a first and second direction. As will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, in use the casement lock 112 is received within a closure, for example a door, such that an edge 128 thereof is substantially flush with an edge of the closure. The primary locking means 126 interacts with some form of abutment member located in or on a frame surrounding the opening that the closure closes, for example an abutment within a door frame. The primary locking means 126 as shown in Figure 4 comprises a hook member which is rotatable about its pivot point 130 in the first and second directions to enable it to hook around the aforementioned abutment means on the closure frame. A primary actuation means 132 is provided, the movement of which moves the primary locking means between its secured and retracted positions. As shown in Figure 4 the primary actuation means 132 comprises a rotatable member. As will be appreciated by the skilled person, the member 132 is rotated by means of a square spindle which passes therethrough and attaches to a handle of the type known in the art on at least one side of the closure. A secondary locking means within the casement lock is operable to prevent movement of the primary locking means 126 in its second direction, i.e. from its secured position to its retracted position. The secondary locking means therefore prevents unlocking of the closure by preventing movement of the primary locking means. Details of the secondary locking means are not shown in Figure 4 but will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be of any form known in the prior art. The casement lock has an opening 124 therein for receiving a cylinder lock. In use the cylinder lock selectively actuates the secondary locking means.

Referring to Figure 5 as can be seen opening 124 closely surrounds, and conforms to, the shape of the middle and lower section of the casement lock 102 of the invention The locking system of the present invention therefore provides a casement type locking system which can be used with either a euro profile cylinder lock (Figure 6) or alternatively with an alternative non-euro profile cylinder lock (Figure 5).

Advantageously by providing a common casement lock that can be used with either a standard euro profile cylinder lock or with the alternative non-euro profile cylinder lock described above, the benefits of mass manufacture currently enjoyed for euro profile casement locks can be maintained whilst also providing the end user with greater flexibility as to the type of lock cylinder that they can use with that casement lock, i.e. they can quickly and simply modify the locking system by insertion or removal of either type of cylinder lock. Furthermore, by providing a casement lock which can accept different profiles of cylinder lock, if in the future the owner wishes to upgrade their standard euro profile cylinder lock to a higher security cylinder lock, this can be done without needing to change the entire door hardware thereby giving greater consumer flexibility.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1 A cylinder lock comprising: a top section comprising a barrel having a through passage at either end, said barrels separated by a cam opening; a lock provided at each end in the through passages, and a cam member located between the locks; a middle section extending from the top section and having a width less than that of the top section, and a lower section extending from the middle section such that it bridges the cam opening; and wherein the width of the lower section is greater than the width of the middle section.
2 A cylinder lock according to claim 1 wherein the width of the lower section is substantially equal to the width of the top section.
3 A cylinder lock according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, the width of the middle section is 10mm or less.
4 A cylinder lock according to claims 1 or claim 2 wherein, the width of the middle section is in the range of 9mm to 11mm.
5 A cylinder lock according to claims 4 wherein, the width of the middle section is 10mm.
6 A cylinder lock according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the cam opening extends into the middle section.
7 A cylinder lock according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the lower section extends substantially along the length of the cylinder lock.
8 A casement lock comprising: a primary locking means moveable between secured and retracted positions in respective first and second directions; primary actuation means for selective movement of the primary locking means in the first and second directions; secondary locking means selectively operable to prevent movement of the primary locking means in the second direction; the casement lock further comprising an opening therein for receiving a cylinder lock therethrough for selectively actuating the secondary locking means; said opening comprising a top section for receiving a cylinder lock barrel therein; a middle section extending from the top section and having a width less than that of the top section, and a lower section extending from the middle section; wherein the width of the lower section is greater than the width of the middle section.
9 A locking system for a closure, the system comprising: a casement lock comprising: a primary locking means moveable between secured and retracted positions in respective first and second directions; primary actuation means for selective movement of the primary locking means in the first and second directions; secondary locking means selectively operable to prevent movement of the primary locking means in the second direction; the casement lock further comprising an opening therein for receiving a cylinder lock therethrough for selectively actuating the secondary locking means; and a cylinder lock according to any one of claims ito 8; wherein the opening substantially conforms to the shape of the top and middle sections of the cylinder lock.A locking system according to claim 9 wherein the opening is further shaped to conform to the lower section of the cylinder lock.ii A locking system according to claim 10 wherein, said opening defines a shape that closely surrounds said cylinder lock so as to prevent rotation thereof.12 A locking system according to any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein the cylinder lock is provided with a hole in its lower section for receiving a retaining screw therein.13 A locking system according to claim 12 wherein said casement lock has a hole therein, the locking system further comprising a screw that passes through said hole and into said cylinder lock so as to retain it in said casement lock.14 A cylinder lock substantially described herein with reference to Figure 3.A casement lock substantially described herein with reference to Figure 4.16 A locking system substantially described herein with reference to Figure 5.