Patent Description:
The door lock fixture is in particular a mortice lock or a keep for a door lock. The word "door" is used in the present specification to embrace all kinds of closure members such as doors, having a full door panel, and gates. The door can either be a hinged or a sliding closure member.

<CIT> discloses a system comprising a tubular member and a door lock fixture fixed thereto by a top bolt and a bottom bolt, the tubular member having a wall with an elongated rectangular slot therein, the elongated rectangular slot extending in a longitudinal direction and having an top short side and a bottom short side, the door lock fixture comprising a faceplate and a fixture body, the door lock fixture being configured to be mounted with its fixture body through said elongated rectangular slot with the faceplate engaging an outer surface of said wall, the faceplate comprising a top opening through which said top bolt extends and a bottom opening through which said bottom bolt extends.

<CIT> further discloses that the fixture body includes moveable (e.g. slideable or pivotable) clamping levers which, when retracted, allow inserting the fixture body through the rectangular elongated slot, and, when extended, engage an inner surface of the tubular member thereby clamping a wall portion of the tubular member between the clamping lever and the faceplate. Each clamping lever comprises a threaded opening which, when the clamping levers are extended, axially aligns with a respective one of the top/bottom opening in the faceplate. The top/bottom bolt is fastened through a threaded opening in a respective clamping lever.

A downside of this known system is the positional leeway between the door lock fixture and the tubular member both in the longitudinal direction of the support member and in the width direction of the elongated rectangular slot.

<CIT> is prior art cited under Article <NUM>(<NUM>) EPC and relevant for the assessment of novelty only. <CIT> discloses a system comprising a tubular member and a door lock fixture fixed thereto by a top bolt and a bottom bolt, the tubular member having a wall with an elongated rectangular slot therein, the elongated rectangular slot extending in a longitudinal direction and having an top short side and a bottom short side, the door lock fixture comprising a faceplate and a fixture body, the door lock fixture being configured to be mounted with its fixture body through said elongated rectangular slot with the faceplate engaging an outer surface of said wall, the faceplate comprising a top opening through which said top bolt extends and a bottom opening through which said bottom bolt extends, wherein the elongated rectangular slot comprises a top notch at the top short side and a bottom notch at the bottom short side, the notches extending away from one another, said top bolt extending at least partially through said top notch and said bottom bolt extending at least partially through said bottom notch, the system further comprising a top nut and a bottom nut for fastening a respective bolt.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system comprising a tubular member and a door lock fixture fixed thereto which addresses the above mentioned downsides.

To this end, the system according to the invention is characterised in that the elongated rectangular slot comprises a top notch at the top short side and a bottom notch at the bottom short side, the notches extending away from one another, said top bolt extending at least partially through said top notch and said bottom bolt extending at least partially through said bottom notch, the system further comprising a top nut and a bottom nut for fastening a respective bolt, wherein the elongated rectangular slot has a width comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.

Providing the notches through which the bolts extend cause a desired positioning of the door lock fixture with respect to the support member. More specifically, as each bolt partially extends through a respective notch, both the height (i.e. longitudinal direction) and the width position of the bolts with respect to the support member is fixed. Likewise, since each bolt extends through a respective opening in the faceplate, the height/width position of the faceplate (i.e. the door lock fixture) is fixed with respect to the support member. The leeway possible with the known system is thus avoided.

Moreover, this advantage is obtained without, as suggested in <CIT>, having to create separate openings in the support member. In other words, the required opening in the support member (i.e. the elongated rectangular slot with notches) can be manufactured in a single step (e.g. by cutting, laser cutting, milling, etc.).

In an embodiment of the present invention, each nut is moveably mounted onto the fixture body between a retracted position in which the fixture body can be inserted through said elongated rectangular slot into the tubular member, and an extended position in which the nut at least partially engages an inner surface of said wall to clamp said wall between the faceplate and the nut.

In this way, the nuts are invisible from the outside of the system thereby improving anti-tamper properties of the system. Furthermore, each bolt can be tightened strongly so that the wall of the tubular member is clamped strongly and reliably between the faceplate and the nut irrespective of the thickness of the wall of the tubular member.

In a first alternative embodiment of the present invention, the nuts are formed as a threaded opening in a support, each support being moveably mounted on the fixture body between a retracted position in which the fixture body can be inserted through said elongated rectangular slot into the tubular member and an extended position in which the nut is axially aligned with a respective one of the top opening and bottom opening. The supports may be manually moveable from their retracted position to their extended position or they may be spring biased towards their extended position with a latch being provided for each support to hold its nut in its retracted position. The supports may be slideable or pivotable between their retracted position and their extended position.

Such supports are disclosed in <CIT> and have various advantages. For example, such supports are suitable for varying wall thicknesses. Moreover, such supports do not hamper the insertion of the fixture body into the tubular member since it is held in its retracted position when the fixture body is inserted into the tubular member. A pivotable support is advantageous as the support can simply pivot within the tubular member from its retracted to its extended position until it engages the inner surface of the wall of the tubular member. A spring-biased support ensures that the support has only to be released to be brought automatically by the spring into its extended position. A corresponding latch can be actuated to release the support. Actuation of the latch can for example be done through the hole for the bolt in the faceplate. Alternatively, the door lock fixture may comprise a removable locking element which holds the support in its retracted position. By simply removing this locking element, the support is released and moves under the action of said spring in the tubular member until it projects behind the inner surface of the wall of the tubular member. In this position, the bolt can be inserted through said opening in the faceplate in the fixture and can be screwed in the screw threaded hole in the clamping lever to clamp the wall of the tubular member strongly between the faceplate of the fixture and the nut formed in the support.

In a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, the nuts are irrotatably mounted on a support arm, each support arm being slideably mounted on the fixture body between a retracted position in which the fixture body can be inserted through said elongated rectangular slot into the tubular member and an extended position in which the nut is axially aligned with a respective one of the top opening and bottom opening, each nut being slideably mounted on a respective support arm along a transverse direction which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and is preferably further perpendicular to the faceplate.

This alternative embodiment is also suited for varying wall thicknesses. Furthermore, by having a separate nut and support, the risk of damaging the support is reduced when tensioning the bolt when compared to the first alternative embodiment where the nut is formed as an opening in the support.

In an embodiment of the present invention, each bolt has a bolt head and a threaded part extending in a first direction, the bolt head defining a hypothetical circumscribed cylinder extending in said first direction, wherein a part of said wall adjacent said notches is located inside a respective hypothetical cylinder.

In this embodiment a part of the tubular member is located directly underneath the bolt head. In other words, the tubular support is partially positioned directly between the bolt head and the nut which optimizes force transfer between the door lock fixture and the tubular member.

In an embodiment of the present invention, each notch comprises a substantially semi-circular part, said part in particular having a diameter between <NUM> and <NUM> and more particularly between <NUM> and <NUM>.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a leeway between each notch and its respective bolt is at most <NUM>, particularly at most <NUM>,<NUM>.

In an embodiment of the present invention, each notch has an opening width which is measured along a line contiguous with its respective short side, the opening width being at most <NUM>%, particularly at most <NUM>%, and more particularly at most <NUM>%, of a width of the elongated rectangular slot.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elongated rectangular slot has a height, the height being at least <NUM> times, particularly at least <NUM> times, and more particularly at least <NUM> times, larger than the width, the width preferably being between <NUM> and <NUM> and particularly between <NUM> and <NUM>.

The various dimensions of the elongated rectangular slot are mainly determined in view of the dimensions of the lock fixture. Furthermore, the notch dimensions are mainly determined depending on the bolt diameter with higher diameter bolts typically leading to a stronger, albeit more expensive, connection.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the notches are aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction. This leads to a symmetric design which reduces manufacturing and/or assembly errors.

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of some particular embodiments of a mortice lock and of a keep according to the present invention. The reference numerals used in this description relate to the annexed drawing.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes. The terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and the embodiments of the invention described herein can operate in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

The present invention generally relates to a system comprising a tubular member <NUM> and a door lock fixture mounted thereon. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the door lock fixture is a mortice lock <NUM> to be inserted into a closure member, in particular in a hollow tubular member <NUM> thereof. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the door lock fixture is a morticed lock keep <NUM> which comprises a body portion that is inserted in the support onto which it is mounted. The support is generally formed by a hollow tubular member <NUM> and can either be a fixed post or a leaf of a double door or gate.

In general, the door lock fixture (i.e. the mortice lock <NUM> or the morticed lock keep <NUM>) comprises a faceplate <NUM> and a fixture body <NUM>. The tubular member <NUM> is generally part of a gate, as illustrated in the figures, or of a door or any other type of hinged closure member and generally comprises a rectangular elongated slot <NUM> in a wall portion <NUM>. The rectangular elongated slot <NUM> has a top short side <NUM>, a bottom short side <NUM>, and two long sides <NUM> which extend in a longitudinal direction <NUM> (which is also the direction along which the tubular body <NUM> extends). The fixture body <NUM> is designed to be inserted through the rectangular elongated slot <NUM> with the faceplate <NUM> engaging an outer side of the wall portion <NUM>.

In order to attach the door lock fixture to the tubular member <NUM>, use is made of a top bolt <NUM> and a bottom bolt <NUM> which are placed through a corresponding top/bottom opening in the faceplate <NUM>. Each bolt <NUM>, <NUM> further at least partially extends through a corresponding one of a top notch <NUM> and a bottom notch <NUM> which are provided in a respective top/bottom short side <NUM>, <NUM>. This ensure that the faceplate <NUM> (and thus the door lock fixture) are correctly aligned with the rectangular elongated slot <NUM>. Each bolt <NUM>, <NUM> is bolted into a corresponding one of a top nut <NUM> and a bottom nut <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiments (as best shown in <FIG>), as described in more detail below, the nuts <NUM>, <NUM> are located inside the tubular member <NUM>. However, in other embodiments, the bolts may fully extend through the tubular member with the nuts being provided on the rear side thereof.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the elongated rectangular slot <NUM> has a width W and a height H. The height H is at least <NUM> times, particularly at least <NUM> times, and more particularly at least <NUM> times, larger than the width W. The width is between <NUM> and <NUM>, particularly between <NUM> and <NUM>, and more particularly between <NUM> and <NUM>, with the width W being about <NUM> in the illustrated embodiment. These dimensions are mainly determined in view of the dimensions of the lock body.

In the illustrated embodiment as best shown in <FIG>, each notch <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a semi-circular part <NUM> and two straight parts <NUM>. The semi-circular part <NUM> in particular having a diameter between <NUM> and <NUM> and more particularly between <NUM> and <NUM>. These dimension of this semi-circular part <NUM> is mainly determined depending on the bolt diameter and a maximum leeway between the bolt diameter and the semi-circular part <NUM> is <NUM> and particularly <NUM>,<NUM>. The two straight parts <NUM> in the illustrated embodiment each have a length L of <NUM>, but other lengths are possible. The main reason for these straight parts <NUM> is to avoid the bolts <NUM>, <NUM> centre-lines to coincide with the top/bottom short side <NUM>, <NUM>. In view of manufacturing tolerances, this could lead to bolts <NUM>, <NUM> not being correctly positioned in their respective notch <NUM>, <NUM>.

Each notch <NUM>, <NUM> has an opening width Wo which measured along a line contiguous with its respective short side <NUM>, <NUM>. The opening width Wo is at most <NUM>%, particularly at most <NUM>%, and more particularly at most <NUM>%, of a width W of the elongated rectangular slot <NUM>. This dimension is mainly determined depending on the bolt diameter and is preferably equal to the diameter of the semi-circular part <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiments, the notches <NUM>, <NUM> are aligned in the longitudinal direction <NUM> leading to a symmetric design.

Details on the specific fixation of the door lock fixture to the tubular support <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> which illustrate a double wing gate having a mortice lock <NUM> in a tubular member of a first gate wing <NUM> and a morticed lock keep <NUM> in a tubular member of a second gate wing <NUM>. It will be readily appreciated that the second gate wing may also be a fixed support.

The lock <NUM> may have a locking mechanism of any type and comprises a faceplate <NUM> and a lock body <NUM>. The lock <NUM> may comprise a latch bolt <NUM> which is operated by means of handles <NUM>, a deadbolt <NUM> which is operated by means of a key in particular through the intermediary of a lock cylinder <NUM> (for example a single-barrel euro-profile cylinder), or it may comprise a combination of a latch bolt <NUM> and a deadbolt <NUM> as in the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Usually the latch bolt <NUM> and the deadbolt <NUM> are slideably mounted in the lock <NUM> to slide between a retracted and an extended position. In the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, the deadbolt <NUM> is however hook-shaped and pivots in the lock <NUM> between its extended and its retracted positions. The lock illustrated in <FIG> is in particular a lock as disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT> and further details about this lock can be found therein.

The morticed lock keep <NUM> comprises a faceplate <NUM> and a partially hollow body <NUM>. The faceplate <NUM> comprises an elongated opening <NUM> and the partially hollow body <NUM> forms a corresponding elongated slot <NUM> in which the latch bolt <NUM> and/or the deadbolt <NUM> are received as shown in <FIG>. The morticed lock keep <NUM> illustrated in the figures is in particular a morticed lock keep as disclosed in <CIT> and further details about this morticed lock keep can be found therein.

The fixture body <NUM> of the morticed lock keep <NUM> is provided with two support arms <NUM> which are (manually) slideably mounted onto the fixture body <NUM> along the longitudinal direction <NUM> between a retracted position in which the fixture body <NUM> can be inserted through the rectangular elongated slot <NUM> into the tubular member <NUM> and an extended position (shown in <FIG>). On each support arm <NUM>, there is provided a nut <NUM>, <NUM> which is irrotatably and slideably mounted on the respective support arm <NUM> along a transverse direction <NUM> (indicated in <FIG>) between a rest position and an engaging position (shown in <FIG>). Each nut <NUM>, <NUM> comprises a threaded opening configured to receive a bolt <NUM>, <NUM> used to mount the morticed lock keep <NUM> on the tubular member <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the nut <NUM>, <NUM> is irrotatable with respect to the support arm <NUM> due to its square (in general non-circular) outer shape.

Other details and advantages of the support arms <NUM> with slideable nuts <NUM>, <NUM> are described in a patent application titled "Door lock fixture arranged to be mounted onto a tubular member" filed on the same day by the same applicant as the present application and are incorporated herein by reference.

The fixture body <NUM> of the mortice lock <NUM> is provided with two supports <NUM> that are moveable (e.g. slideable or pivotable) between a retracted position in which the fixture body <NUM> can be inserted into the elongated opening <NUM> and an extended position in which each support <NUM> engages an inner surface of the tubular member <NUM>. Each support <NUM> is provided with a threaded opening which forms a respective one of the nuts <NUM>, <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiments, the supports <NUM> are pivotable and spring-biased due to a spring member <NUM> and latches <NUM> are provided to maintain the supports <NUM> in their retracted position. The supports <NUM> are identical to those described in <CIT> which is incorporated herein by reference.

Irrespective of the fixation system used, each bolt has a bolt head and a threaded part extending in direction <NUM>. The bolt head defines a hypothetical circumscribed cylinder extending in direction <NUM>, wherein a part of said wall <NUM> adjacent said notches <NUM>, <NUM> is located inside a respective hypothetical cylinder.

It will be readily appreciated that the fixation systems described above for the mortice lock <NUM> and the morticed lock keep <NUM> are interchangeable and still others may be used in accordance with the present invention related to the provision of notches <NUM>, <NUM> for the alignment of the fixation bolts <NUM>, <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A system comprising a tubular member (<NUM>) and a door lock fixture (<NUM>, <NUM>) fixed thereto by a top bolt (<NUM>) and a bottom bolt (<NUM>), the tubular member having a wall (<NUM>) with an elongated rectangular slot (<NUM>) therein, the elongated rectangular slot extending in a longitudinal direction (<NUM>) and having an top short side (<NUM>) and a bottom short side (<NUM>), the door lock fixture comprising a faceplate (<NUM>) and a fixture body (<NUM>), the door lock fixture being configured to be mounted with its fixture body through said elongated rectangular slot with the faceplate engaging an outer surface of said wall, the faceplate comprising a top opening through which said top bolt extends and a bottom opening through which said bottom bolt extends,
characterized in that the elongated rectangular slot comprises a top notch (<NUM>) at the top short side and a bottom notch (<NUM>) at the bottom short side, the notches extending away from one another, said top bolt extending at least partially through said top notch and said bottom bolt extending at least partially through said bottom notch, the system further comprising a top nut (<NUM>) and a bottom nut (<NUM>) for fastening a respective bolt,
wherein the elongated rectangular slot has a width (W) comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>.