Patent Publication Number: US-6663147-B1

Title: Lock

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a lock. 
     It is known that a lock for application to doors or main doors but also for connecting any two elements to be mutually reversibly fixed, must ensure complete and secure locking and allow the user, or connected actuation devices, to easily pass from a stable closed condition to an equally stable open condition and vice versa. 
     Locks are already known which comprise, inside a box-like supporting body and associated with actuation means available to the action of the user and/or of other devices, two lateral locking beaks whose free tips are shaped so as to define mutually opposite claws which lie on the plane of the closure and opening movement. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the present invention is to provide a lock whose structure allows more secure locking of the elements to which it is applied with respect to conventional locks with two claw-shaped beaks, at the same time ensuring nonetheless easy and rapid transition from the closed condition to the open condition and vice versa. 
     Within the scope of this aim, an important object of the present invention is to provide a lock whose structure is in any case sturdy and inalterable even if subjected to considerable stresses and prolonged use. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock whose structure allows easy and precise movement. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock whose structure can also be mass-manufactured by partially or fully automated assembly procedures. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock with a structure which can be manufactured with conventional technologies and systems. 
     These and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a lock comprising, within a box-like supporting body and associated with actuation means which are available to the action of the user and/or of other devices, two first lateral locking beaks whose free tips are shaped so as to define mutually opposite claws which lie, on the plane of the closure and opening movement, said lock being characterized in that it comprises a third central beak which is kinematically connected and coordinated with respect to the two first beaks and is provided, at its free tip, with at least one locking element, said three beaks defining, in association with said actuation means, at least two stable working positions: a first open position, in which said beaks lie substantially completely within said box-like support, and a second closed position, in which they protrude from said box-like support with their free tips so as to lock the components with which they are associated. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a sectional orthographic projection view of a lock having the structure according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially sectional orthographic projection view of the lock of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is another orthographic projection view of the lock of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional orthographic projection view of the lock of FIG. 1 during opening; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the lock of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIGS. 1 to  5 , a lock having the structure according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . 
     The lock  10  comprises, within a box-like supporting body  11  and associated with actuation means  12  available to the action of the user and/or of other devices described in greater detail hereinafter, three locking beaks: two first lateral ones  13  have free tips  14  which are shaped so as to define mutually opposite claws  15  which lie on the plane of the closing and opening movement, and a third central beak  16  is kinematically connected to, and coordinated with, the two first beaks  13  and is provided, at its free tip  17 , with a locking element which is constituted by a cylinder  18  which is pivoted with an axis which lies on the same plane of arrangement as the claws  15 . 
     The three beaks  13  and  16  form, in association with said actuation means  12 , at least two stable working positions: a first open position, in which the beaks lie substantially completely within the box-like support  11 , and a second closed position, in which the beaks protrude from the box-like support  11  with their free tips so as to lock the components with which they are associated. 
     In particular, the third beak  16  is plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two first mutually opposite tabs  19  which form two stroke limit abutment surfaces for the two first beaks  13  both during opening and during closure. 
     The two first beaks  13  also are plate-shaped and contoured so as to form two second tabs  20  which are suitable to abut, at the end of their stroke, against respective first tabs  19  during closure. 
     The two first beaks  13  have edge portions, designated by the reference numeral  21 , which are shaped so that they, too, abut at the end of their stroke against the first tabs  19  during opening. 
     In this embodiment, the actuation means comprise two pairs of plates in mutually opposite positions; each pair comprises a first plate  22 , which is fixed to the supporting body  11  and is provided with three first linear guides  23  constituted by the walls of a corresponding number of slotted holes  24 , and a second plate  25 , which can move parallel to the first plate  22  and also is provided with three second guides  26 , which are constituted by the edges of a corresponding number of slotted holes  27 , are substantially L-shaped and correspond to said first guides  23 . 
     Each one of the second guides  26  is formed by a portion  28  which is inclined with respect to the corresponding first guide  23  and a portion  29  which is perpendicular to said first guide  23 . 
     The actuation means  12  also comprise three pivots  30  which are slidingly inserted in the first guides  23  and in the second guides  26  and are pivoted in corresponding through holes  31  formed in the corresponding first  13  and third  16  beaks so as to determine the movement of said first beaks when the second plate  25  slides. 
     Moreover, the actuation means  12  also comprise elastic contrast pusher elements for each one of the first beaks  13 ; said elements, in this case, are constituted by helical springs  32  which are rigidly pivoted to the supporting body  11 . 
     In practice, operation is as follows: the sliding of the second plates  25 , actuated by the user and/or by other devices arranged upstream, determines, as a consequence of the interference of the first guides  23  with the second guides  26 , the movement of the three pivots  29  in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of the movement of said second plate  25 . 
     This movement of the pivots induces a consequent opening or closure movement of the first beaks  13  and of the third beak  16 , depending on the direction of movement of the second plate  25 . 
     In practice it has been observed that the present invention has achieved the intended aim and objects. 
     In particular, it should be noted that the lock having the structure according to the invention is particularly secure during locking and provides substantially complete and interference-free disengagement during opening. 
     Attention is also drawn to the overall structural solidity of the lock according to the invention, which can therefore be easily used even in situations entailing particularly heavy-duty and frequent use. 
     It should also be noted that the lock having the structure according to the invention easily allows transition from the two stable working conditions in one direction and the other, without causing any kind of problem in terms of possible jamming or difficulties. 
     The present invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. 
     The technical details can be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. 
     The materials may be any according to requirements. 
     The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD99A000213 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.