Source: http://www.sumobrain.com/patents/wipo/Latch-lock-assembly/WO2019040965A1.html
Timestamp: 2019-09-15 06:10:35
Document Index: 622911300

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 47', 'art 47', 'art 44', 'art 44', 'art 47', 'art 47']

A LATCH AND/OR LOCK ASSEMBLY - GAINSBOROUGH HARDWARE INDUSTRIES LIMITED
WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/040965
A lock assembly (100) comprising a first handle mechanism (20), a second handle mechanism (20'), a bolt (55) for latching and/or locking engagement in a respective or complementary recess; and a bolt retractor mechanism (40) for moving the bolt (55) from an extended position for engagement in the recess to a retracted position for disengagement from the recess. The first handle mechanism (20) comprises a first handle (21) that is manually movable about a handle axis (22) and a first force providing part operatively associated with the first handle (21) for movement in response to movement of the first handle (21), and the second handle mechanism (20') comprises a second handle (2 Γ) that is manually movable about a handle axis (22) and a second force providing part operatively associated with the second handle (2Γ) for movement in response to movement of the second handle (2Γ). The bolt retractor mechanism (40) includes: a retractor member (43) configured to pivot about a retractor axis (42) for moving the bolt (55) between the extended position and the retracted position, a first force receiving part (44) configured for operative connection or engagement with the first force providing part of the first handle mechanism (20) for receiving force to pivot the retractor member (43) about the retractor axis (42), and a second force receiving part (47) configured for operative connection or engagement with the second force providing part of the second handle mechanism (20') for receiving force to pivot the retractor member (43) about the retractor axis (42).
GREENBURY, David (31-33 Alfred Street, Blackburn, VIC 3130, AU)
WILLIAMSON, Geoff (31 -33 Alfred Street, Blackburn, VIC 3130, AU)
AU2018/000152
GAINSBOROUGH HARDWARE INDUSTRIES LIMITED (7 Eagleview Place, Eagle Farm, QLD 4009, AU)
E05C1/16; E05B1/00; E05B3/06; E05B13/00; E05B15/00; E05B55/00; E05B63/16
US20140047878A1 2014-02-20
US6264255B1 2001-07-24
AU2008221625A1 2009-05-28
US5651568A 1997-07-29
US20120013135A1 2012-01-19
a second handle mechanism having a second handle that is manually movable about the handle axis; and a second force providing part operatively associated with the second handle for movement in response to movement of the second handle.
11. The lock assembly of claim 10, wherein the retractor member is rigidly, or at least non- rotatably, connected to the retractor shaft.
24. The lock assembly of claim 22 or 23, wherein the release member is provided on a drive body or drive member fixedly connected for movement with the first handle about the handle axis wherein the drive body or drive member is configured to engage with and transfer movement to the first force providing part when the first handle turns about the handle axis through an angle that exceeds or is greater than the dead angle.
[0007] In this way, in at least one embodiment of the lock assembly the retractor mechanism in the lock assembly is operatively interconnected via first and second force receiving parts with the first and second handle mechanisms for moving the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position; e.g., in a passage mode or latching mode of the lock assembly. Each handle of the first and second handle mechanisms is thus independently operatively connected with the bolt of the lock assembly for moving the bolt from latching or locking engagement in a recess, e.g., of a door frame, to a retracted position to enable the door to be opened. This arrangement allows the lock assembly to operate without any spindle interconnecting the two handles of the first and second handle mechanisms. By eliminating the need for a spindle interconnecting the handles of the handle mechanisms, one can eliminate problems associated with positioning or installation of the spindle itself. Furthermore, however, one can significantly reduce the intervention required in the door, gate, window, or similar portal, in which the lock assembly is installed, thereby greatly simplifying the installation procedure.
[0010] According to another aspect, therefore, the invention provides a lock assembly comprising a first handle mechanism, a second handle mechanism, a bolt for latching and/or locking engagement in a respective or complementary recess; and a bolt retractor mechanism for moving the bolt from an extended position for engagement in the recess to a retracted position for disengagement from the recess. The first handle mechanism comprises a first handle that is manually movable about a handle axis and a first force providing part operatively associated with the first handle for movement in response to movement of the first handle, and the second handle mechanism comprises a second handle that is manually movable about a handle axis and a second force providing part operatively associated with the second handle for movement in response to movement of the second handle. The retractor mechanism includes: a retractor member configured to pivot about a retractor axis for moving the bolt between the extended position and the retracted position, a first force receiving part configured for operative connection or engagement with the first force providing part of the first handle mechanism for receiving force to pivot the retractor member about the retractor axis, and a second force receiving part configured for operative connection or engagement with the second force providing part of the second handle mechanism for receiving force to pivot the retractor member about the retractor axis.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the retractor mechanism includes a retractor shaft via which torque from turning the first handle or the second handle is transmitted to the retractor member for moving the bolt. In this regard, the retractor member is typically rigidly, or at least non- rotatably, connected to the retractor shaft. The retractor shaft is typically straight and defines the retractor axis about which the retractor member is configured to pivot. The first force receiving part is preferably mounted on the retractor shaft, and the second force receiving part is preferably mounted on the retractor shaft. [0015] In a preferred embodiment, the first force receiving part is mounted at one end region of the retractor shaft, and the second force receiving part is mounted at an opposite end region of the retractor shaft. The first and second force receiving parts are configured for pivoting about the retractor axis in response to movement of either handle about the handle axis. Each of the first force receiving part and the second force receiving part is preferably formed as an integral or unitary component of the bolt retractor mechanism.
[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the first force providing part of the first handle mechanism comprises a hub member. The drive body carrying the release member abuts, or is nested within, the hub member to transfer movement thereto when the first handle turns about the handle axis through an angle that exceeds or is greater than the dead angle. To this end, the drive body and the hub member may comprise elements, such as a projecting lug or tab and a complementary recess or slot, which cooperate to permit relative movement between the drive body and the hub member as the first handle turns through the dead angle, and to abut or engage for transferring force from the drive body to the hub member when the first handle turns beyond the dead angle.
[0021] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lock assembly according to a preferred embodiment showing the lock assembly in a not yet fully installed state in a door; [0022] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of part of the lock assembly in Fig. 1, including the inner handle mechanism;
[0032] Fig. 12 is a side view of the lock assembly as shown in Fig. 1 1 , but essentially showing only parts of the lock assembly on the inner side of the door; [0033] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the lock assembly shown in Fig. 1, moved back into the passage mode or latching mode, with the door and escutcheon plates illustrated transparent, and with the inner handle in a third- or half-turned position;
[0040] It will be appreciated that common and/or well understood elements that may be useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are not necessarily depicted in order to facilitate a more abstracted view of the embodiments. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily illustrated to scale relative to each other. It will also be understood that certain actions and/or steps in an embodiment of a method may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrences while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0044] With reference to drawing Figs. 2 to 6, the handle mechanism 20 further comprises a hub member 33 that is mounted and supported on the stub shaft 23 via the drive member 25. In other words, hub member 33 is not itself directly secured to the stub shaft 23. Rather, the rotational movement of the stub shaft 23 upon turning the inner handle 21 about the handle axis 22 is transferred to the hub member 33 via the drive member 25. To this end, as seen in Fig. 5, the hub member 33 includes a rim 34 which partially surrounds and defines a generally circular recess for accommodating the drive member 25, which nests within that recess and abuts a face of the hub member 33. Further, as seen in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the side of the drive member 25 facing the hub member 33 includes a projecting lug 35 that presents a shoulder 35-1 for engaging a complementary tab or lug 36 provided on a facing side the hub member 33 after the drive member 25 is turned or rotated by the handle 21 from the neutral or non-turned position through an initial dead angle a (or angle of "play"). In this regard, a shaded area A shown on the drive member 25 at the "6 o'clock" position or "bottom dead centre" position in Fig. 6 corresponds to the relative position of the tab or lug 36 of the hub member 33 when the handle 21 is in the neutral or non-turned position. It will be noted that the drive member 25 includes another projecting lug 34' with another respective shoulder 35-1 ' for engaging the tab or lug 36 of the hub member 33 when the drive member 25 is turned or rotated by the handle 21 in the opposite direction about the handle axis 22. This other projecting lug 34' only finds application, however, when the lock assembly 100 is installed on the opposite edge of the door D to that shown in Fig. 1 (i.e., not the left-hand edge shown in Fig. 1, but the right-hand edge), such that the handle 21 is then arranged to turn in the anti-clockwise direction. In that case, then, the shoulder 35' engages the tab or lug 36 on the facing side the hub member 33 after the drive member 25 is turned or rotated by the handle 21 through the same initial dead angle (or angle of "play") a. The hub member 33 of the handle mechanism 20 further includes an integrally formed drive gear member 37 for transferring the movement imparted to the hub member 33 by the drive member 25 to the lock body unit 50, as will be described in more detail below. In this context, the hub member 33 forms a "force providing part" of the handle mechanism 20 for imparting the actuating force to move the bolt of the lock body unit.
[0047] Referring to Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will be appreciated that the retractor mechanism 40 also includes a second force receiving part 47 with which torque from turning of the outer door handle 2 is transferred to the retractor shaft 41 for moving the bolt 55 in the passage mode or latching mode. The second force receiving part 47 has a design or configuration corresponding to the first force receiving part 44 and comprises a hollow or ring-shaped hub 48 for non- rotatably receiving and engaging with the retractor shaft 41, and a pinion or driven gear member 49 provided integrally around a periphery of the hub 48 with teeth configured to mesh with the teeth of the drive gear member 37' on the hub member 33' of the outer handle mechanism 20'. In this way, the hub member 33' and drive gear member 37' form a "force providing part" of the outer handle mechanism 20' for imparting the actuating force from the outer handle 21 ' to the retractor mechanism 40 to move the bolt 55 of the lock body unit 50 between the extended and retracted position in the latching mode. As is apparent from Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 of the drawings, the assembly 100 requires no latch spindle interconnecting the inner and outer handles 21 , 21 '.
[0048] In this embodiment, it will be appreciated from Figs. 1 to 10 that the lock assembly 100 of this embodiment includes a privacy sub-assembly 60 in the housing 10 adjacent the inner plate member 1 1. This privacy sub-assembly 60 includes a button 61 which seats within and projects through a rectangular opening 17 in the inner plate member 1 1 for operation by a user. The privacy sub-assembly 60 further includes a latch member in the form of a latch plate 62 having a downwardly projecting nose 63. This latch plate 62 is vertically movable under spring bias provided by two leaf spring elements 64 between an upper, disengaged position (shown in Figs. 7 and 8) and a lower, engaging position (shown in Figs. 9 and 10). Thus, when the button 61 of the privacy sub-assembly 60 is actuated or pressed, the latch member or plate 62 is moved vertically downwards under the bias of the spring elements 64 from the disengaged position (in Figs. 7 and 8) to the engaging position (in Figs. 9 and 10) in which the projecting nose 63 is received in and latches with a complementary recess 38 in an edge or periphery of the hub member 33. In this way, the latch plate 62 via the projecting nose 63 engages the hub member 33 and fixes it against rotation. This, in turn, fixes the integrally formed drive gear member 37, the pinion or driven gear member 46 with which drive gear member 37 meshes, and therefore also the retractor shaft 41 non-rotatably fixed with the first force receiving part 44, and necessarily then also the second force receiving part 47 and the second handle mechanism 20' which are all in direct meshed engagement with one another. In other words, the interaction between the nose 63 of the latch plate 62 and the hub member 33 of the inner handle mechanism 20 interrupts and prevents the outer door handle 2Γ from turning and moving the bolt 55.
[0051 ] Drawing Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate the lock assembly 100 when the outer door handle 21 ' is used to retract the bolt 55 and open the door D in the passage mode or latching mode. In this case it will be noticed that the inner door handle 21 has not turned through as great an angle as the outer door handle 2 . This is because, in moving to this position, the inner door handle 2 did not commence turning until after the hub member 33 had been turned through the dead angle a to engage the drive member 25. Accordingly, the inner door handle 21 has turned about 25 degrees less than the outer door handle 21 '. In this regard, it will be understood by skilled practitioners that the outer handle mechanism 20' does not include an arrangement of drive member and hub member having a dead angle of relative movement. Rather, the outer handle mechanism 20' simply has the hub member 33' with its integrally formed drive gear member 37' securely and non-rotatably fixed on the stub shaft 23' via a corresponding washer 26' and circlip 27' for turning directly with the outer handle 21 '. That is, a washer 26', with tongue elements 29' and lateral projection 30', is fixed for engagement with a shoulder 3 Γ on a face of the hub member 33' via the circlip 27'. In this way, the hub member 33' and its integrally formed drive gear member 37' turn about the handle axis 22 as soon as the outer handle 21 ' is turned to operate the retractor mechanism 40 via the second force receiving part 47 in the passage or latching mode.
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