Abstract:
An external lock assembly for sliding doors and the like, cooperating with a tubular frame mounted element, which has a thickness and form such as to enable it to be mounted within the limited space available in between a pair of sliding door panels (glass panel and shutter panel). The external lock assembly comprises at least one and preferably a pair of sliding bolts and effects a locked condition of the sliding door when the sliding bolts enter within a central vertical hole of the tubular frame mounted element.

Description:
The present invention refers to the field of the art of locksmiths in general and particularly it discloses an external lock assembly suitable for sliding doors and the like, made from whatever material. According to a more specific scope, the invention discloses the external lock especially suitable for sliding aluminum doors and the like, the external lock cooperating with a specially shaped tubular frame mounted element. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     No similar lock to the one disclosed in the present invention has ever been suggested, designed, constructed or made available to the market before. 
     As far as the technology of the construction of locks for sliding doors and the like is concerned, various external lock mechanisms are known that operate with a safety hook or other means. 
     Nevertheless, one characteristic drawback of the external lock systems of the prior art is the fact that they comprise a frame mounted element that is externally screwed on the door frame, since the standardized typical door frame profiles within which the door panels can slide, do not offer facilitation as far as the installation in the gap intermediately between them and the sliding door of the frame element under consideration is concerned. This fact together with the dimensions of the external lock itself result in failing to place such an external lock in between sliding doors with two panels (shutter and glass panel) since the space between the internal glass panel and the external panel of the shutter does not allow a sufficient gap for mounting the necessary frame mounted element. It must be noted at the same time that the locking/unlocking mechanism employed on the one hand and the form of the frame mounted element at the external locks of the prior art on the other hand, as well as the way in which the frame mounted element is fixed onto the door frame and the fact that this element is essentially a linear plate, often render the abovementioned external locks of the prior art of reduced strength and reliability. 
     It is therefore the main object of the present invention to effectively overcome the drawbacks and deficiencies of the prior art and to provide an external lock for sliding doors and the like, wherein the dimensions of the lock and of the frame mounted cooperating element are such that it can work with the frame element mounted even within the clearance allowed at typical profiles in between sliding doors with two panels (glass panel and shutter), the proposed external lock and cooperating frame mounted element offering the maximum security and reliability as far as its operation is concerned. 
     The main object of the invention under consideration is realized by a frame mounted element, which has a small thickness with respect to its surface, which allows it to be inserted and fixed at the interior of the door frame, eg. for aluminum profile series 150 and 700, and is on the one hand bent to form a plate fixed by screwing onto the door frame and on the other hand it comprises a tubular housing suitable for receiving the sliding bolt members provided at the external lock of the invention, which is mounted onto the sliding door. 
     These and other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become obvious at the detailed description that follows. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the drawings attached herewith that present the invention in an illustrative manner. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the suggested external lock and co-operating frame mounted element of the invention installed in a typical profile of double panelled sliding doors and the like. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section view of a typical door frame as used in standardized aluminum profile series 150 and 700 of double panelled sliding doors, wherein the suggested frame mounted elements are installed within the door frame according to a first embodiment of the invention, co-operating with the external locks which are installed on both sliding door panels. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a typical door frame as used in another standardized aluminum profile for double panelled sliding doors, where the suggested frame mounted elements are installed within the door frame according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, co-operating with the external locks which are installed on both sliding door panels. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the suggested frame mounted element and of the external lock of the invention, being dismantled at the individual parts that they consist of. 
     FIG. 5a presents a detail of the cooperation of a sliding bolt member of the external lock of the invention with a corresponding receiving housing that is placed within the main body of the external lock, shown at the locked position. 
     FIG. 5b presents a detail of the co-operation of the sliding bolt member of the external lock of the invention with a corresponding receiving housing that is placed within the main body of the external lock, shown at the unlocked position. 
     FIG. 6 is the profile of an additional handle used for drawing the sliding panel, that can be adjusted in a buttoned way on the suggested external lock instead of the handle shown in FIGS. 5a-5b. 
     FIG. 7 presents a perspective view of a profile used as an external hollow means for gripping and drawing the sliding door panel. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 present views of profiles for the external lock of the invention of alternative dimensions with only an upper sliding bolt member, shown at the locked and unlocked position respectively. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     By reference to the appended figures we will herein below describe the construction and operation of illustrative embodiments of the external lock of the invention. 
     As will be understood, the external lock and associated frame mounted element of the present invention can be mounted on sliding doors, windows and similar closure means for various openings. As used herein, the word (door) shall include windows and other closure means. Accordingly the expression (door frame) shall include frames for doors and windows as well as double panelled doors or windows with a glass panel and a shutter. 
     Firstly, the frame mounted element 2 proposed in the present invention comprises a generally linear plate 9 of a thickness such as to occupy--particularly at the interior of the typical standard frames of aluminum profile series 150 and 700 denoted by numerals 3a and 3b in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively--so much space as is occupied by the projecting therein tightening brush 13. One of the edges and particularly the inner edge of the suggested linear plate 9 is bent to form a perpendicularly disposed angular plate 10, which is in contact with the interior of frame 3a or 3b and is provided with openings for the passage of screws 11 used for fixing the frame mounted element 2 of the invention onto the door frame 3a or 3b. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the angular plate 10 is contained inside a cavity of the surface of door frame 3a or 3b, so that the sliding door panel 4a or 4b terminates in contact with door frame 3a or 3b respectively, without coming to an undesirable contact with screws 11. 
     Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a self adhesive surface 39 carrying a downy layer and having end projecting members 40a, 40b can be adjusted onto the interior surface of linear plate 9 of the frame mounted element 2, by means of which satisfactory tightening is accomplished alongside the door frame portion wherein element 2 is fixed. 
     The outer end of linear plate 9 of the frame mounted element 2 is similarly bent to form a right angle, but at a direction opposite to the one formed by angular plate 10, in order to form a tubular member 5 with a central vertical hole 6 passing therethrough. 
     The overall height of the frame mounted element 2 and of its tubular member 5 is such as to allow the entire tubular member 5 under consideration to be inserted within a suitably shaped opening of the external lock assembly 1, which is mounted onto the sliding door panel and the position and diameter of central vertical hole 6 passing through tubular member 5 is such as to coincide with the position and diameter of upper and lower sliding bolt member 7a and 7b of the external lock assembly 1 respectively. 
     An external lock assembly 1 is fixed onto each sliding door panel 4a or 4b, the lock assembly 1 having a thickness such that it can be contained within the clearance gap allowed between two parallel sliding door panels in a double panel arrangement (glass and shutter panels) without any problem. 
     The external lock assembly 1, as shown in FIG. 4, comprises a main body component 12, preferably made of plastic material, a pair of guide blocks 18 installed within main body 12 and a pair of sliding bolt carriages 8a and 8b, also preferably made of plastic material. The external lock assembly further comprises alternative variations of a covering plug mounted onto the main body and used as a means for gripping and drawing the sliding door panel. Alternative forms of covering plug are denoted by numerals 29 and 34 in FIGS. 4 and 6 respectively. 
     Firstly, the main body 12 of the external lock assembly 1 comprises a compact tubular portion 16 of a general rectangular cross section with a central hole 17 passing therethrough. The compact tubular portion 16 extends only along a part of the length at the upper and lower ends of main body 12 and a gap is left in between the two end compact tubular portions 16 which is suitable to receive the tubular member 5 of the frame mounted element 2, which is made in precisely the same dimensions as the two end tubular portions 16. Thus, when the lock assembly 1 comes to an engagement relationship with frame mounted element 2, the tubular member 5 of the frame mounted element 2 fits in the gap in between the tubular portions 16 and the central vertical hole 6 of tubular member 5 concides coaxially with the equally sized holes 17 of the end tubular portions 16. Thus it is ensured that sliding bolts 7a and 7b can pass through the central vertical hole 6 of the frame mounted element 2 after passing through the coaxial holes 17 of end tubular portion 16 at the top and bottom of the lock assembly 1 respectively. 
     Sideways of the end tubular portions 16, the main body profile 12 of the external lock assembly extends to a longitudinal flat portion, thereby forming an overall Π shaped section. One side of the Π section extends to the tubular upper and lower end portions 16 described above, whereas in the interior other side of the Π section, longitudinal channels 14a and 14b are provided within which are slidably fitted the abovementioned guide blocks 18. 
     The locking/unlocking mechanism of the lock assembly of the invention, in accordance to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of guide blocks 18 and a pair of sliding bolt carriages 8a and 8b. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, each guide block 18 comprises a main body portion 19 with sharp edges 22a and 22b on each of the sides thereof, which facilitate slidable insertion of the guide block 18 within the Π section 15 of main body 12. The main body portion 19 further comprises a flattened basement portion 20 which is thus sized as to be left outside the Π section 15 of main body 12 when the main body portion 19 is inserted therein. A pair of holes 21 pass through the main body portion 19 of the guide block 18, these holes coinciding with corresponding holes of the Π section 15 when the guide block 18 is inserted therein a pair of bolts pass through holes 21 of the guide block 18 and the corresponding holes of Π section 15 to fix the proposed bolt assembly onto the sliding door panel 4a or 4b. One side of the guide block 18 comprises a linear side surface 23 with a pair of front and rear recessions 24a and 24b respectively at the two ends thereof. 
     The external lock assembly of the invention further comprises, as shown in FIG. 4, a pair of upper and lower sliding bolt carriages 8a and 8b respectively. Each one of the sliding bolt carriages 8a or 8b comprises a compact generally rectangular handle portion 25 with an opening 26 facilitating insertion of the hand of the user. A linear plate 27 extends from the rectangular handle portion 25 which is slidable within the lower channel 14b provided with Π section 15. Linear plate 27 further extends to an end button formation 28. When the sliding bolt carriage moves back and forth, button 28 moves and is engaged within either recession 24b or recession 24a of the guide block 18, defining an unlocked and locked condition of the lock assembly as shown in FIG. 5b and FIG. 5a respectively. 
     Each one of the sliding bolt carriages 8a and 8b further comprises a bolt member 7a and 7b respectively which is slidable within the central holes 17 of tubular end portions 16 and within central hole 6 of the frame mounted element 2, which fills the gap intermediately of the tubular end portions 16. 
     Following the insertion of guide blocks 18 and sliding bolt carriages 8a and 8b into the Π section 15 of main body portion 12, Π section 15 is covered by the covering plug 29 depicted in FIG. 4. 
     Covering plug 29 comprises a flat generally rectangular surface 31 with an overall length and width corresponding to the length and width of Π section 15, whereupon it is fitted. Mounting of the covering plug 29 onto Π--section 15 is effected by means of buttoning a series of protrusions 33 arranged lengthwise on a side surface 32 provided on either side of the flat surface 31 of covering plug 29, into the abovementioned lower channel 14b on either side within Π section 15 of the main body 12 of the lock assembly of the invention. A central rectangular cavity 30 is provided in the flat generally rectangular surface 31 of the covering plug 29, by means of which the user can grip and draw the sliding door panel. 
     In accordance to an alternative embodiment of the invention, another type of covering plug may be fitted onto the exterior sliding door panel, which is denoted by numeral 34 in FIG. 6. Such a covering plug comprises a generally rectangular flat surface 35 fitted within Π section 15 of main body 12 of the lock assembly in the same manner as was described hereinabove, a flat preferably inclined surface 36 extending outwards flat surface 35 and ending into a grip portion 37 which is the handle means for drawing the sliding door panel. The exterior of the sliding door panels may finally be fitted with a handle portion as the one depicted in FIG. 7 which is in no way connected to the lock assembly of the invention but is only used as a handle means of the sliding door panel. 
     Various alternatives of the external lock assembly of the invention may be developed, such as by way of example the employment of only one upper or lower sliding bolt 7a or 7b and thereby of only the upper or lower locking/unlocking mechanism with the guide block 18 and sliding bolt carriage 8a or 8b. Such an arrangement of a lock assembly with a single sliding bolt is depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein the lock assembly is shown in a locked and unlocked condition respectively. A plurality of lock assemblies of the invention in association with corresponding frame mounted elements can be used along the vertical of the sliding door panel and frame posts to increase the security obtained. Another alternative is to effect the locking/unlocking operation with a single movement, which is achieved if the upper and lower sliding bolt carriages are interconnected by means of extension of the linear plate 27 in the locking/unlocking mechanism. 
     It must hereby be noted that the invention was hereinabove described by reference to illustrative examples and that it is not confined by them. Thus any change or amendment in the form, dimensions, materials and accessories used, as long as they do not constitute a new inventive step, are considered part of the scope and aims of the present invention.