NZ599205B - Adaptable furniture turnknob - Google Patents

Abstract

Patent 599205 An actuator assembly for use with a lock assembly of the kind having a housing and a bolt movable relative to the housing and the lock assembly to be located on a door with the actuator assembly, comprises a rotatable member 18 that is rotatable from one side of the door about a longitudinal axis XX, a tailbar 17 having a proximal portion 23 that interacts with the rotatable member 18 so as to rotate therewith and a distal portion that interacts with the lock assembly so that rotation of the tailbar 17 about the longitudinal axis XX can adjust a condition of the lock assembly. The rotatable member 18 has a control zone 22 which interacts with the proximal portion 23 of the tailbar 17 where the position of the tailbar 17 relative to the rotatable member 18 is adjustable in the longitudinal direction to allow for doors of different thickness. The assembly further has a retainer 11 that interacts with the rotatable member 18 and the tailbar 17 to retain the proximal portion 23 in the control zone 22 ongitudinal axis XX, a tailbar 17 having a proximal portion 23 that interacts with the rotatable member 18 so as to rotate therewith and a distal portion that interacts with the lock assembly so that rotation of the tailbar 17 about the longitudinal axis XX can adjust a condition of the lock assembly. The rotatable member 18 has a control zone 22 which interacts with the proximal portion 23 of the tailbar 17 where the position of the tailbar 17 relative to the rotatable member 18 is adjustable in the longitudinal direction to allow for doors of different thickness. The assembly further has a retainer 11 that interacts with the rotatable member 18 and the tailbar 17 to retain the proximal portion 23 in the control zone 22

Description

Form No. 5 Patent NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 SPECI FICATION COMPLETE TURNKNOB TITLE: ADAPTABLE FURNITURE Victoria, 3166, 235 Huntingdale Road, Oakleigh, Pty Limited of We ASSA ABLOY Australia granted us, pray patent may be to for which we that a declare the invention, Australia, do hereby particularly in and by the following performed, to be described which it is to be and the method by statement: ADAPTABLE FURNITURE TURNKNOB FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an actuator assembly for use with a lock assembly of The lock the kind having a housing and a bolt movable relative to the housing. assembly is to be located on a door with the actuator assembly being operable particular from one side of the door, The actuator assembly has a application in with mortice lock assemblies and it will convenient to relation to use be particular hereinafter describe the invention with reference to this application.

However the actuator assembly may also be useful with other forms of lock assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A mortice lock assembly is designed to be located in a moftice cavity formed in panel, an edge of a door and will have a bolt that is movable relative to the Door sides the panel mortice lock cavity, furniture located on opposing of door will often include an actuator assembly in the form of a handle and or turn knob that is operable to move the bolt. The lock assembly will also include a lock mechanism that controls the function of the lock assembly such as preventing movement of the bolt or operation of the handle. The door furniture will include a further actuator assembly in the form a turn knob or cylinder lock that of is operable to adjust the condition of the lock mechanism, The further actuator assembly can include a tailbar for connecting the knob, turn or barrel of the cylinder lock, to the lock mechanism, The tailbar transfers the produced rotational force by the further actuator assembly to the lock mechanism. The spacing of the further actuator assembly from the lock mechanism will depend upon the thickness of the door. Accordingly it will be necessary the length of the tailbar to be at a certain length to suit this provide thickness. One option is to tailbars in a range of lengths, or another provide option is to long tailbars that are cut down to size on site. Neither option is particularly efficient. The first option requires the lock supplier/installer to practical catry a large inventory which may not be and is unlikely to be cost process effective. The second option adds time to the installation and can present problem a if the installer cuts the tailbar too short.

A reference herein to patent given prior a document or other matter which is as art is not to be taken as an admission that that document or matter was, in Australia, part known or that the information it contains was of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

It has been appreciated provide by the inventor that it would be desirable to an actuator assembly for use with a lock assembly that accommodates range a of door thicknesses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According this invention provided to there is an actuator assembly for use with a lock assembly of the kind having a housing and a bolt movable relative to the housing and the lock assembly to be located on a door with the actuator assembly, the actuator assembly including a rotatable member that is rotatable from one side of the door about a longitudinal axis, a proximal tailbar having a portion that interacts with the rotatable member so as to rotate therewith and a portion distal that interacts with the lock assembly so that rotation of the tailbar about the longitudinal axis can adjust a condition of the lock assembly, rotatable member having zone proximal a control which interacts with the portion of the tailbar whereby the position of the tailbar relative to the rotatable member is adjustable in the longitudinal direction to allow for doors of different thickness, and retainer a that interacts with the rotatable member and the tailbar proximal portion to retain the in the control zone.

The retainer may take any form however it preferably portion includes a clip that prevent engages the rotatable member to movement of the retainer relative to the rotatable member portion in the longitudinal direction. The clip may engage the rotatable member in any suitable way to achieve this, which may for example include a snap fit as later described, a friction fit or some other form engagement. preferred portion It is that the rotatable member includes a barrel and the clip portion portion. portion preferably of the retainer engages the barrel The barrel includes a surface configuration that facilitates engagement by the clip portion. preferred The sudace configuration may take any form however it is that it formed in barrel, recess aligned include a recess an outer surface of the the perpendicularly preferably substantially to the longitudinal axis. The recess is a groove substantially continuous annular however alternatively the recess could be a series of discontinuous blind bores spaced annually around the barrel or portion. some other surface configuration to facilitate engagement by the clip portion It is preferred that the retainer includes a latch that prevents movement of the tailbar relative to the retainer in the longitudinal direction. The latch portion engage any part the however it preferred that the may of tailbar is proximal portion of the tailbar includes a shoulder that is engaged by the latch portion preventing when movement of the tailbar from the retainer. preferred It is that the actuator assembly including a tailbar biasing means which urges the tailbar to move in the longitudinal direction away from the portion rotatable member. The biasing means may act on any of the tailbar preferred poftion however it is that the tailbar includes a nose and the biasing means includes a compression spring that is located on the nose portion when proximal portion the of the tailbar is located in the control zone. preferred It is that the actuator assembly include an indicator means for position preferred indicating a rotatable of the rotatable member. lt is further that the indicator means includes a visual indicator member that is movable on position rotation of the rotatable member between a visible and an obscured position.

The indicator means may take any suitable form however it is preferred that the indicator means includes a cam that rotates on rotation of the rotatable member to drive a follower, the visual indicator member is associated with the follower as preferred so to move therewith. lt is that the follower moves radially in response to movement of the cam, however the member preferred alternatively move circumferentially. lt is that the indicator means includes a follower biasing means for biasing the lt preferred follower. is further part however it may alternatively be formed that the cam forms of the retainer from the retainer. separately preferred rotatable member is a turn knob including a hand It is that the portion portion about the engagable formed at an end of a barrel that rotates portion may take any form however it is longitudinal axis. The hand engagable preferred that it be in the form of a turn knob, snib or the like. proximal preferred includes a slot to accommodate the It is that the control zone portion for of the tailbar, The slot may take any shape so as to allow driving engagement with the tailbar. preferred having It is that the actuator assembly include an escutcheon an through which the rotatable member extends. aperture formed therein preferred of It will be convenient to hereinafter describe a embodiment the with to the attached drawings. lt is to be actuator assembly reference appreciated however that the invention is not to be limited to the actuator the drawings provided in assembly as illustrated in the drawings. Rather are order to aide how the invention might be into effect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention may be more fully understood, some embodiments in which: will now be described with reference to the figures preferred Figure 1 is an isometric view of a embodiment of the actuator assembly attached to a door assembly when assembled with a mortice lock and stile.

Figure 2 is a part sectional view of the actuator assembly and mortice lock assembly from figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the actuator assembly from figure 1, Figure 4 is an assembled view of the actuator assembly from figure 3.

Figure 5 is sectional view of the actuator assembly from figure 4 with the tailbar position. in an extended Figure 6 is the sectional view from figure 5 with the tailbar in the retracted position.

Figure 7 is a front isometric view of the actuator assembly from figure 1 with the position. turn knob in a first assembly from 7 with the turn knob rotated a Figure 8 is the actuator figure to second position.

Figure the assembled view of the assembly from figure 4 with 9 is actuator the turn knob rotated as shown in figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS portion panel, Figure 1 illustrates a of a door often referred to as a lock stile 1 with a lock assembly 2 mounted to an edge 3 of the door stile 1. The lock assembly 2 illustrated is in the form of a moftice lock assembly 2 which has a bolt 4 that is moveable relative to a front face 5 of the mortice lock assembly 2.

An is particular actuator assembly 6 mounted to a side 7 of the door stile, and in greater an inner side, and will be described in detail with reference to the later illustrations, Figure 1 also illustrates an aperture 8 formed in the side 7 of the door stile 1 which is intended to accommodate a handle spindle (not or shown) the like for retracting the bolt 4 of the mortice lock assembly 2 in a manner that will be understood by those skilled in the industry. part Referring now to Figure 2 which illustrates a sectional view through the lock stile 7 and lock assembly 2 from Figure 1 to reveal a lock mechanism 9 of the mortice lock assembly 2. The invention is not limited to a lock mechanism 9 of one particular configuration or functionality, other than to note that the lock mechanism 9 adjusts its condition in response to operation of the actuator prevent assembly 2. The lock mechanism 9 for example may directly (see position, movement of the bolt 4 Figure 1) from the extended or prevent rotation of the handle, when the lock mechanism 9 is in a alternatively lock condition. When the actuator assembly 2 is operated, the condition of the lock mechanism 9 will change to an unlock condition thereby allowing, for example retraction of the latch bolt 4 or rotation of the handle.

Referring now to Figure 3 which illustrates the actuator assembly 6 in an preferred exploded view and in summary the embodiment includes a rotatable member 10, a boss 11, an escutcheon 12, a follower 13, a follower biasing means 14, a retainer 15, a tailbar biasing 16 and a tailbar 17, means the rotatable member 10 illustrated is in the form of a turn knob and includes a hand portion portion 19. lt engageable 18 and a barrel can be appreciated from portion Figures 1 and 2that the hand engageable 18 is accessible by the user on the inner side 7 of the lock stile 1 and rotation of the hand engageable portion 18 result in rotation of the portion the will barrel 19 about longitudinal axis X-X.

The barrel portion 19 has its surface configured with two annular recesses 20, positioned portion 21. The recess 21 remote from the hand engageable 18 at portion thefreeendof thebarrel 19, isconfiguredtointeractwiththeretainerl5 portion in a manner that will be described later in the specification. The barrel 19 also includes a longitudinally extending slot22 which defines a control zone for receiving a proximal end 23 of the tailbar When the actuator (see portion assembly 6 Figure 5) is assembled, the barrel 19 is located within the boss 11. The boss 1'1 is then located within the circular aperture 24 formed in the escutcheon 12. The escutcheon 12 (see Figure 3 again) also includes an elongate aperture 25 which acts as a window through which a visible indicator member 26 (see Figure 7) can be viewed. The window and the indicator 26 will described in greater be detail with reference to later illustrations. part pair The indicator member 26 forms of the follower 13 which has a of legs (see portion'19 27 Figure 3) which locate on opposing sides of the barrel when assembled (see Figure 4). The legs 27 are located between guide formations 28 formed on the rear surface of the escutcheon 12 when the actuator 6 is assembled. A bore 29 is formed in an upper surface of the assembly partially follower 13 to receive the follower spring 14 which acts between a side (see wall 30 of the escutcheon 12 and the follower 13 Figure 4). The follower spring 14 urges the follower 13 to move away from the side wall 30 of the escutcheon 12.

The retainer 15 illustrated in Figure 3 includes a portion 31 which locates within a recess 32 formed in the follower 13. The retainer 15 also includes a pair of which within clips 33 locate the annular recess 22 formed in the barrel portion 19 of the rotatable member 10 adjacent its free end. The retainer 15 pair also includes a of latch arms 34 which locate behind shoulders 35 formed on the tailbar 17 (see Figure 5).

Referring includes portion again to Figure 3, the tailbar 17 a nose 36 overwhich partially is located at least at one end of the tailbar spring 16 which acts (see between thetailbar 17 and the rotatable member 10 Figure 5). The other end of the tailbar spring 16 engages a distal end of the control zone 22when the actuator assembly 6 is assembled. The end 37 of the tailbar 17 remote portion from the nose 36 is configured to interact with features of a mortice lock assembly (see Figure 2), and accordingly the particular configuration of this end 37 of the tailbar 17 may vary depending upon the type of components within the moftice lock assembly 2.

Referring now to Figure 5 which illustrates the actuator assembly 6 in cross- section. lt can be noted that the tailbar its position 17 is at full extended with its shoulders 35 engaging the latch arms 34 of the retainer 15, The proximal portion 23of thetailbar 17 is located zone within the control 22of the rotatable proximal portion member 10. The 23 of the tailbar 17 can be moved within the control zone 22 and it can be appreciated from Figure 6 that the tailbar 17 has position. been moved to a retracted This results in compression of the tailbar engage the rotatable 16 to allow the shoulders 35 of the tailbar 17 lo spring will be achieved by the distal end 37 member 10. When in use, this movement 2, the 17 engaging the lock mechanism 9 of the lock assembly and of the tailbar lock stile 1. lt ought to be escutcheon 12 moved to engage the surface of the Figures 5 and 6 that this arrangement accommodates lock appreciated from stiles 1 of a range of thicknesses. 6 from Referring now to Figure 7 which is front view of the actuator assembly in a Figure 4. lt should be noted from Figure 4 that the follower 13 is retracted particular portion position, from Figure 7 which shows a of the visual and indicator 26 through the window 25. When the rotatable member 10 has been Figure 8 a portion of the visual indicator 26 is rotated as illustrated in different portion (see window 25. This is as a result of the cam 31 visible through the Figure 4) rotating relative to the follower 13. lt can be appreciated in Figure 9 follower to an extended position against the urging that this rotation moves the the follower spring 14. The movement of the follower 13 in this manner and in turn seryes to indicate that the rotatable member 10 has been rotated, rotated, to the condition of the lock mechanism 9 of the lock the tailbar 17 adjust assembly 12, Various alterations and/or additions may be introduced to the actuator assembly from ambit of the as hereinbefore described without departing the spirit or invention.

Claims (18)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. a lock assembly of the kind having a

1. An actuator assembly for use with housing and a bolt movable relative to the housing and the lock assembly to be located on a door with the actuator assembly, the actuator assembly including a member that is rotatable from one side of the door about a longitudinal rotatable proximal porlion axis, a tailbar having a that interacts with the rotatable member rotate and distal portion that interacts with the lock so as to therewith a assembly so that rotation of the tailbar about the longitudinal axis can adjust a condition of the lock assembly, the rotatable member having a control zone interacts with proximal portion of tailbar the position which the the whereby of the tailbar relative to the rotatable member is adjustable in the longitudinal direction to allow for doors of different thickness, and a retainer that interacts with rotatable member and tailbar to retain the proximal portion in the the the 15 control zone.

2. An actuator assembly according to claim 1 wherein the retainer includes porlion prevent a clip that engages the rotatable member to movement of the retainer relative to the rotatable member in the longitudinal direction.

3. An actuator assembly according to claim 2 wherein the rotatable member portion includes a barrel and the clip portion of the retainer engages barrel portion. 25

4. An actuator assembly according to claim 3 wherein the portion barrel portion. includes a surface configuration that facilitates engagement by the clip

5. An actuator assembly according to claim 4 wherein the surface configuration includes a recess formed in an outer surface of the barrel, the 30 recess aligned substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.

6. An actuator assembly preceding according to any one of the claims portion prevents wherein the retainer includes a latch that movement of the relative in tailbar to the retainer the longitudinal direction. to claim 6 wherein the proximal portion

7. An actuator assembly according portion of the tailbar includes a shoulder that is engaged by the latch when preventing movement of the tailbar from the retainer. preceding

8. An actuator assembly according to any one of the claims including a tailbar biasing means which urges the tailbar to move in the longitudinal direction away from the rotatable member. 10

9. An actuator assembly according to claim 8 wherein the tailbar includes a portion nose and the biasing means includes a compression spring that is located on the nose portion when the proximal portion of located the tailbar is in the control zone. 15

10. An actuator assembly according to any one of the preceding claims including an indicator means for indicating a rotatable position of the rotatable member.

11. An actuator assembly according to claim 10 wherein the indicator means 20 includes a visual indicator member that is movable on rotation of the rotatable position position. member between a visible and an obscured

12. An actuator assembly according to claim 11 wherein the indicator means includes a cam that rotates on rotation of the rotatable member to drive a 25 follower, the visual indicator member is associated with the follower so as to move therewith.

13, An actuator assembly according to claim wherein 12 the follower moves radially in response to movement of the cam.

14. An actuator assembly according to claim 12 or 13 including a biasing means for biasing the follower.

15. An actuator assembly according to any one of claims 13 to 14 wherein part the cam forms of the retainer. preceding

16. An actuator assembly according to any one of the claims portion 5 wherein the rotatable member is a turn knob including a hand engagable formed at an end of a barrel portion rotates about the longitudinal that axis.

17. An actuator assembly preceding according to any one of the claims wherein the control zone includes a slot to accommodate the proximal portion 10 the tailbar. preceding

18. An actuator assembly according to any one of the claims including an escutcheon having an aperture formed therein through which the rotatable member extends.