Locking system for door, and extendible wire conduit therefore

The locking system can have an outer housing mounted to an outside face of the door, and an inner housing mounted to an inside face of the door, a wire conduit mounted to one of the inner housing and the outer housing and extending across the door to the other one of the inner housing and the outer housing, the wire conduit having two telescoping members, and at least one wire extending inside the wire conduit and connected between a first locking system component housed in the outer housing and a second locking system component housed in the inner housing.

FIELD

The improvements generally relate to the field of electrical locking systems for doors of buildings.

BACKGROUND

Various forms of electrically-powered locking systems for doors exist. Such locking systems are widely used in hotels, motels and other rental dwellings, but are also used in many other applications. Such locking systems typically have a controller, often provided in the form of a relatively simple computer, which has an input interface to receive an input serving as the “key”. The controller20performs an authentication function determining whether or not the input from the electronic key22is authorized to operate the lock, and controls a lock actuator24to open the lock26upon authorization. In most cases, the key22is electronically coded as part of an electronic key (e.g. data30on a swipe card, chip card, RFID card, or data stored on a computer memory such as a smartphone memory) and the locking system has a reader interface32to read it in a contact or a contactless manner (e.g. swipe interface, card readers, reader antennas, “tap” readers, Bluetooth™). Alternately, the key data can be a memorized number which is entered via a keypad provided as part of the locking system, for instance. Typically, such locks are also self-powered and thus also include a battery.

A specific example of such a locking system10assembled to a door12is shown inFIGS. 1A and 1B. This specific locking system is of the ‘mortise type’ and has the lock provided in a pocket14which is loaded into a corresponding cavity—the mortise—which is defined in the door12. The various electrical (including electronic) components can include some components housed in the outer housing16, and other components housed in the inner housing18.

When the lock26is open following positive authentication, the outside lever33can be activated to retract the latch34, allowing subsequent opening of the door. Typically, in this type of locking system10, the inside lever35is not lockable, though it is common for an additional bolt36to be provided which can be manually and mechanically activated from the inside via a bolt actuator38(typically a simple knob).

Known systems were satisfactory to a certain degree. However, there always remains room for improvement.

SUMMARY

In electrical locking systems, an electrical conduit can be provided between the outside housing and the inner housing, to provide a passage for electrical wires therebetween. Cost and quality vs. price ratio control are standing concerns in the design of locking systems, in addition to other concerns such as style, durability, security, etc. Doors come in various thicknesses. It was found advantageous to provide locking system models which could adapt to various thicknesses of doors. Indeed, providing different locking system models for different sizes of doors could significant affect overall costs given the additional complexity of managing a more complex inventory and the increased likelihood of errors and problems at installation. It was found advantageous to provide an electrical conduit which was extendible and thus adaptable to various thicknesses of doors.

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided: a locking system for a door having a lock, comprising an outer housing mounted to an outside face of the door, and an inner housing mounted to an inside face of the door, a wire conduit mounted to one of the inner housing and the outer housing and extending across the door to the other one of the inner housing and the outer housing, the wire conduit having two telescoping members, and at least one wire extending inside the wire conduit and connected between a first locking system component housed in the outer housing and a second locking system component housed in the inner housing.

It will be understood that the expressions ‘computer’ and ‘controller’, as used herein, are not to be interpreted in a limiting manner. A controller can be a computer or some other form of electronic or electrical device which is adapted to perform a controlling function. The expression ‘computer’ is used in a broad sense to generally refer to the combination of some form of one or more processing units and some form of memory system accessible by the processing unit(s). A computer can be a network node, a personal computer, a smart phone, an appliance computer, etc.

It will be understood that the various functions of the computer, or more specifically of the processing unit, can be performed by hardware, by software, or by a combination of both. For example, hardware can include logic gates included as part of a silicon chip of the processor. Software can be in the form of data such as computer-readable instructions stored in a memory system.

In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a method of installing a locking system, the method comprising extending a telescoping wire conduit mounted to one of the outer housing and the inner housing of the locking system, mounting the outer housing to an outer face of the door and the inner housing to an inner face of the door, including engaging a free end of the extended telescoping wire conduit across the door, and connecting at least one wire extending out from the free end of the wire conduit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 2A and 2Bshow a first example of a telescoping wire conduit40. In these figures, the telescoping wire40conduit includes a base member42and an extension member44. The base member42has a proximal end46secured to the outer housing48and a distal end50protruding from the outer housing48, opposite the proximal end46, for extending into the door and guiding the wires52across the thickness of the door. The extension member44is telescopingly mounted to the base member42. It will be understood that although the telescoping wire conduit40is made integral to the outer housing48in this embodiment, more specifically due to the fact that the proximal end46of the base member42is secured to the outer housing48, the telescoping wire conduit40can be instead secured to the inner housing18and extend away from the inner housing18, across the door12, in alternate embodiments.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the relative telescoping movement of the extension member44relative the base member42is guided and is lockable, via a keyway54and key56engagement. More specifically, the base member46has a keyway54. The keyway54forms an inverted L, with a longitudinal segment58extending longitudinally between the proximate end46and the distal end50, and a circumferential segment60at the distal end50. A mating key56is provided in the form of a radial protuberance formed in the extension member44. Accordingly, the locking system can be shipped with the telescoping wire conduit40being positioned in a retracted state. At the time of assembly, the extension member44can be extended and its key56can be pulled along the longitudinal segment54of the keyway58, and then locked in the extended state shown inFIG. 2Aby rotating the extension member44to move the key in the circumferential segment60. At this stage, the locked wire conduit can be engaged across the door, and protrude into the inside housing, across a back plate thereof (the cover of the inside housing will typically have been removed for installation), at which stage the wires52, or more specifically the connectors62thereof, will be accessible to the assembly technician on the other face of the door. The assembly technician can then connect the wires52to connect any of the electrical components which need a wired connection across the door. Once the connection has been completed, the technician can rotate the extension member44to move the key56back into the longitudinal segment58, and can push the extension member44in a manner to move the key56along the longitudinal segment58, and thus retract the extension member44back into the door, to the extent desired (e.g. such as shown inFIG. 2B). The cover can then be replaced onto the internal housing to complete the installation.

Various modifications to this specific example are possible. For instance, in this embodiment, the base member42has a keyway58and the extension member44has a key56, but it will be understood that in alternate embodiments, the extension member44can have a keyway58and the base member42have a key56.

Another example of a telescoping wire conduit140is shown inFIGS. 3A and 3B. In this other example, the two telescoping members142,144are engaged to one another via teeth170and pawl172engagement forming a ratchet174, in a manner that the telescoping members142,144can be extended linearly across the ratchet174, and that the ratchet174can prevent a contrary retraction (compression) movement. The telescoping wire conduit is secured to and extends from a outer housing148. In this embodiment, the telescoping wire conduit140can be shipped in its retracted state, such as shown inFIG. 3A. At the time of assembly, the technician can determine the thickness of the door, and extend the extension member144relative to the base member142selectively, to a level of extension which corresponds to the predetermined thickness of the door. At this stage, the technician can introduce the wire conduit140across the door177, as it can be seen to extend across the mortise178for the purpose of illustration inFIG. 3C, and protrude slightly across a corresponding aperture180in the back plate182of the inner housing184, such as shown inFIG. 3D, for wire connection. The pawl and teeth engagement can be designed in a manner that if the technician erroneously extends the extension member144too much, he can disengage the pawl from the teeth, return the extension member144to its retracted state, and retry. InFIG. 3C, the lock pocket is absent from the mortise for the purpose of illustration. During normal installation, in this embodiment, the lock pocket will have been engaged within the mortise178prior to engaging the wire conduit140across the door, and the wire conduit140will extend across a corresponding aperture formed within the lock pocket. It will be noted that in this embodiment, the connectors186, at the end of the wires (not shown), are made integral to the extension member144. In an alternate embodiment, the wire conduit140can extend above or below the mortise, or a telescoping wire conduit can be used for other lock types than mortise locks, such as latch locks, for instance.

FIG. 4shows another example of a telescoping member240having a ratchet-type engagement. In this example, there are two opposite ratchets290,292which are diametrically opposite one another and are both longitudinally oriented, and the extension member244is external to the base member242rather than internal thereto as in the previous examples.

The telescoping wire conduit40,140,240can be used to adjust its length for different door thicknesses (e.g. 1-⅜″ to 2-½″). 1, 2, 3, 4, or more cables can extend thereacross, depending on the specific type of locking system and the functions provided therewith.

Although it will be understood from the above that various alternate embodiments are possible, the details of a specific embodiment, for use as a possible example, will now be provided. More specifically, the telescoping wire conduit as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B. The outer housing can include a RFID antenna (for a key card), a Zigbee antenna (for automated control of electrical equipment of the room), a bluetooth antenna (allowing to open the lock with a smart phone), a main PCB housing a primary controller unit of the locking system and an activation clutch. The inner housing can include the following components, all connected to the outer housing through the telescoping wire conduit: a lever switch to detect movement of the handle; a privacy switch to detect rotation of the turn knob; batteries (e.g. 3 AA batteries); a bluetooth antenna and a Zigbee antenna. The lock can, too, have an electrical component having a wire connected via the wire conduit. For instance, a mortise lock can have a door ajar switch wiredly connected to the outer housing via the wire conduit. In alternate embodiments, some or all of the components presented above can be omitted or be located at a different location (e.g. in the inner housing rather than in the outer housing).

As can be understood, the examples described above and illustrated are intended to be exemplary only. For instance, in the illustrated embodiments, both the base member and the extension member are generally cylindrical, but other telescoping shapes can be used in other embodiments. Moreover, in the illustrated embodiments, the telescoping wire conduit is made integral to the outer housing, but it will be understood that in alternate embodiments, it can be made integral to the internal housing instead, and extend towards to the outer housing for connection of the wires thereto. Also, although the detailed examples provided above are well adapted to be embodied with mortise-type locks, it will be understood that the telescoping wire conduit can be adapted to other types of lock systems. For instance,FIG. 5shows a lock having an electronic deadbolt336, and a telescoping wire conduit can be used to pass wires associated with the electronic deadbolt336across the door.FIGS. 6A and 6Bshow a lock system in which a reader is provided in a housing on the outer face of the door, but is separate from the lever (FIG. 6Ashows the outer face whereasFIG. 6Bshows the inner face).FIG. 7shows an embodiment where the lock system has a “swipe”-type card reader.FIG. 8shows an embodiment where the lock system has a keypad-type interface for receiving a numerical key. Moreover, it will be understood that the telescoping wire conduit can be used to connect various types of electrical components which require wired connections across the door, and that in various forms of locks, the exact nature and location (inner housing or outer housing) of such electrical components can vary. For the purpose of illustration,FIG. 9is provided to show various alternatives of locks which can be used between an inner housing and an outer housing, more specifically: a dead bolt lock, an american mortise lock, a latch lock, and a european mortise lock. Other types of locks can be used in alternate embodiments. It will be understood that a telescoping wire conduit can be used in association with any one of the examples presented above and illustrated, as found suitable by persons skilled in the art. The scope is indicated by the appended claims.