WO2004022892A1

WO2004022892A1 - Mortise lock with a plurality of bolts

Info

Publication number: WO2004022892A1
Application number: PCT/IL2003/000703
Authority: WO
Inventors: Eyal Artsiely
Original assignee: Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-09-09
Filing date: 2003-08-26
Publication date: 2004-03-18
Also published as: AU2003253243A1; IL151656A; BR0306298A; IL151656A0

Abstract

A lock (100) including a lock housing (102, 106), a lock located within the lock housing, a bolt throw element (120), rotatably mounted with respect to the lock housing about a rotation axis, the bolt throw element defining a plurality of link mounting locations including link mounting locations located at a plurality of different distances from the rotation axis, a plurality of link elements (124, 126, 128, 130) pivotably mounted onto the bolt throw element at some but not all of the plurality of link mounting locations and a plurality of bolts (146, 148, 150), each pivotably coupled to one of the plurality of link elements and being arranged to be driven thereby in generally linear motion.

Description

MORTISE LOCK WITH A PLURALITY OF BOLTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to locks generally and more particularly to locks having multiple bolts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The following patents are believed to have relevance to the subject matter of the present invention: U.S. Patents 4,154,070; 4,984,832; 5,513,505 and 6,282,929.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved multiple bolt lock. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a lock including a lock housing, a lock located within the lock housing, a bolt throw element, rotatably mounted with respect to the lock housing about a rotation axis, the bolt throw element defining a plurality of link mounting locations including link mounting locations located at a plurality of different distances from the rotation axis, a plurality of link elements pivotably mounted onto the bolt throw element at some but not all of the plurality of link mounting locations and a plurality of bolts, each pivotably coupled to one of the plurality of link elements and being arranged to be driven thereby in generally linear motion.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the plurality of link elements are selectably pivotably mountable onto ones of the plurality of link mounting locations, such that the distance of a mounting location of a given link pivotably connected to a given bolt may be selected, thereby selecting an outer extent of generally linear bolt travel thereof. In further accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention selection of the mounting location of an individual one of the plurality of link elements to be either relatively close to or relatively far from the rotation axis determines whether the throw of one of the plurality of bolts pivotably coupled to the individual one of the plurality of link elements is relatively short or relatively long.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one of the plurality of link elements is pivotably mounted onto the bolt throw element at a mounting location which is relatively close to the rotation axis, thereby causing a corresponding one of the plurality of bolts which is pivotably coupled to the individual one of the plurality of link elements to be relatively short, and at least another one the plurality of link elements is pivotably mounted onto the bolt throw element at a mounting location which is relatively far from the rotation axis, thereby causing a corresponding one of the plurality of bolts which is pivotably coupled to the at least another individual one of the plurality of link elements to be relatively long.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a simplified exploded view of a lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 2A and 2B are simplified illustrations of respective opposite sides of a bolt throw wheel forming part of the lock of Fig. 1, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Figs. 3 A and 3B are simplified illustrations of two examples of selectable mounting arrangements of link elements at selectable radii on the bolt throw wheel of Figs. 1 - 2B; Figs. 4A and 4B are simplified illustrations of the lock of Fig. 1 having link elements arranged in the arrangement of Fig. 3 A in respective unlocked and locked operative orientations; and

Figs. 5 A and 5B are simplified illustrations of the lock of Fig. 1 having link elements arranged in the arrangement of Fig. 3B in respective unlocked and locked operative orientations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

. Reference is now made to Fig. 1, which is a simplified exploded view of a lock constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and to Figs. 2A and 2B, which are simplified illustrations of respective opposite sides of a bolt thro.w wheel assembly forming part of the lock of Fig.

1.

Figs. 1, 2A and 2B illustrate a mortise lock 100, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to mortise locks and may find applicability in other types of locks.

As seen in Fig. 1, mortise lock 100 comprises a lock housing preferably comprising a first housing member 102, including an apertured plate portion 104 and a peripheral edge and a second housing member 106, preferably in the form of an apertured plate, which is typically removably mounted thereto. A suitably apertured faceplate 108 is preferably mounted onto first housing member 102.

Removeably mounted onto the lock housing and secured onto a cylinder support 110 fixed to first housing member 102 is a conventional, key-operated lock cylinder 112, having a conventional spur gear 114. Spur gear 114 drivingly engages teeth 116 formed onto a bolt throw wheel assembly 120, which is rotatably mounted with respect to first housing member 102 about an axis 122.

A plurality of link elements 124, 126, 128 and 130 are pivotably mounted at respective apertures 134, 136, 138 and 140 formed in bolt throw wheel assembly 120.

These link elements are pivotably connected to respective bolts 144, 146, 148 and 150 for driving the bolts linearly along respective axes 154, 156, 158 and 160 defined by respective guides 164, 166, 168 and 170.

A latch mechanism, indicated generally by reference numeral 172 is also operated by the key-operated lock cylinder 112 via the bolt throw wheel assembly 120 in a conventional manner.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that bolt throw wheel assembly 120 includes not only apertures 134, 136, 138 and 140 but other alternative link mounting apertures, here designated 174, 176, 178 and 180 which enable one or more of link elements 124, 126, 128 and 130 to be selectably mountable at a selected radius from axis 122. The radial position of the link mounting aperture determines the length of the bolt-throw of the bolt which is driven by the link pivotably mounted in a given aperture.

Referring specifically to Figs. 2A and 2B, it is seen that preferably bolt throw wheel assembly 120 is formed of a pair of generally circular toothed plates which are rotatable relative to each other about a common axis, here axis 122, in a conventional manner, for proper operation of the latch mechanism 172 (Fig. 1). hi the illustrated example a total of eight link mounting apertures are provided for four link elements 124, 126, 128 and 130 (Fig. 1), so as to enable each link element to be mounted at one of two selectable radii from axis 122.

Reference is now made to Figs. 3A and 3B, which are simplified illustrations of two examples of selectable mounting arrangements of link elements at selectable radii on the bolt throw wheel of Figs. 1 - 2B. In Fig. 3A, it is seen that link

124 is mounted in aperture 174, link 126 is mounted in aperture 136, link 128 is mounted in aperture 138 and link 130 is mounted in aperture 140.

In Fig. 3B, it is seen that link 124 is mounted in aperture 174, link 126 is mounted in aperture 136, link 128 is mounted in aperture 138 and link 130 is mounted in aperture 180.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4A and 4B, which are simplified illustrations of the lock of Fig. 1 having link elements arranged in the arrangement of

Fig. 3A in respective unlocked and locked operative orientations. It is seen that in the embodiment of Figs. 4A and 4B, bolt 144 has a relatively long throw and bolts 146,

148, and 150 have a relatively short throw.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5A and 5B, which are simplified illustrations of the lock of Fig. 1 having link elements arranged in the arrangement of

Fig. 3B in respective unlocked and locked operative orientations. It is seen that in the embodiment of Figs. 5A and 5B, bolts 144 and 150 have a relatively long throw and bolts 146 and 148 have a relatively short throw.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove.

Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the specification and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

C L AIM S

1. A lock comprising: a lock housing; a lock located within said lock housing; a bolt throw element, rotatably mounted with respect to said lock housing about a rotation axis, said bolt throw element defining a plurality of link mounting locations including link mounting locations located at a plurality of different distances from said rotation axis; a plurality of link elements pivotably mounted onto said bolt throw element at some but not all of said plurality of link mounting locations; a plurality of bolts, each pivotably coupled to one of said plurality of link elements and being arranged to be driven thereby in generally linear motion.

2. A lock according to claim 1 and wherein said plurality of link elements are selectably pivotably mountable onto ones of said plurality of link mounting locations, such that the distance of a mounting location of a given link pivotably connected to a given bolt may be selected, thereby selecting an outer extent of generally linear bolt travel thereof.

3. A lock according to claim 1 and wherein selection of a mounting location of an individual one of said plurality of link elements to be either relatively close to or relatively far from said rotation axis determines whether the throw of one of said plurality of bolts pivotably coupled to said individual one of said plurality of link elements is relatively short or relatively long.

4. A lock according to claim 1 and wherein at least one of said plurality of link elements is pivotably mounted onto said bolt throw element at a mounting location which is relatively close to said rotation axis, thereby causing a corresponding one of said plurality of bolts which is pivotably coupled to said individual one of said plurality of link elements to be relatively short, and at least another one of said plurality of link elements is pivotably mounted onto said bolt throw element at a mounting location which is relatively far from said rotation axis, thereby causing a corresponding one of said plurality of bolts which is pivotably coupled to said at least another individual one of said plurality of link elements to be relatively long.