Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a locking means for a
closure, for example, a sliding or pivoting gate and door.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
At present only a limited number of types of locking
means for closures, for example, doors, gates and the like
are available. The most common type of lock used on gates
is, of course, a padlock used with either a latching
mechanism or length of chain.
A recent innovation used in the security industry and
developed in the United States of America uses as a key a
plastics or metal card with magnetizable points impregnated
therein. The key operates a locking device openable when a
correct key card is inserted. The product is sold under
the trade mark COR-KEY and was designed by Bruce Sedley
of America, This key and its associated lock has a large
number of combinations which depend on the orientation of
magnetised points on the card and in the lock. The key
card is usable with a lock operating device which has a
~ slot in an operating lever or member thereof. The
operating member normally freely rotates when no card is in
the slot. When a correctly coded card is inserted and the
card pressed into the operating device the rotational
movement thereof operates a latching mechanism of the
lock. An incorrectly coded card when inserted in the slot
allows the operating member to freely rotate without
activation of the latching mechanism. The latching
mechanisms with which the product has been used include
electrical systems and most forms of mechanical door
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hardware.
An object of the presen-t invention is to provide a
lock means for a closure, for example, a gate and door which
lock means is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is pro-
vided a lock means and associated catch member for locating a
closure member relative -to an abutment means. The lock rneans
includes a lock operated latch bolt which is mounted within a
housing. The housing has a hollow section, the ends of which
are closed and the lock is arranged in the housing with the
longitudinal axis of the la-tch bolt aligned with the long-
itudinal axis of the housing. The housing has in the side
thereof a slot which allows access to a space within the
housing. The latch bolt moves longitudinally within the
housing when the lock is released, between a locked position
in which the latch bolt extends across the space in the
housing and a open position in which the latch is retracted
from the space in the housing. The catch member has at least
one aperture therein and can extend into a space in the
housing through the slot to co-operate with the latch bolt
when in its locked position to locate the part of the catch
member with the aperture(s) within the space in the housing
and with the latch bolt extending through the aperture in the
catch member. Each of the housing and the catch member is
adapted for mounting on a respective one of an abutment means
and a closure member (or visa versa) so that, in use, when
the part of the catch member with the aperture therein is
engaged with the slot in the housing, then movement of the
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latch bolt under the operation of the lock engages or dis-
engages the end of the latch bolt with or from the aperture
to lock or unlock the closure member from in juxtaposition
with the abutment means.
The latch can operate a lock wi-thin the housing via
a key card. For example, the card can be a coded magnetized
card insertable in a slot in an operating member connected to
move the latch.
The catch can be an arm, bar or chain which, in
use, is fixed to the abutment means or closure member.
The abutment means can be any of a post, wall,
frame and gate member adjacent to which the movable closure
member is swun~ or slides.
The movable closure member can be any of a gate,
door or other means adapted to pivot or slide into
juxatposition -
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with the abutment means.
The catch member can be mounted relative to a first
gate member and the housing mounted relative to a second
gate adapted to move into juxtaposition with the first gate.
Further aspects of the present invention which should
be considered in all its aspects will become apparent from
the following descriptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
Examples of the invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view from the front of
an example of locking means showing a catch member which
operates therewith in a position spaced therefrom;
Figure 2 shows a side view partly sectioned of the
locking means and catch member shown in Figure 1 with the
catch member locked in association with the locking means;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view from the front of a
second example of locking means showing a catch member
which operates therewith in a position spaced arcuately
~ therefrom;
Figure 4 shows a side view partly sectioned of the
locking means and catch member shown in Figure 1 with the
catch member engaged in association with the locking means;
Figure 5 shows a plan view of the locking means and
catch member shown in Figure 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 located in
position relative to a post or first gate and a closure
member wherein the catch member is fixed relative to the
closure; and
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Figure 6 shows a plan view of the locking ~eans and
catch member shown in Figures 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 locàted in
position relative to a post and closure respectively
wherein the locking member is free to pivot relative to its
mounting.
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In the examples the locking means will be described
with reference to its use in a situation where it is used
to lock a pair of gates together. It is to be appreciated
that with minor modifications the invention can
alternatively be used to lock any closure member relative
to an adjacent post, wall, frame, or abutment member.
The locking means as shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a
latch bar 1 mounted within a housing or locking block 2.
The housing 2 is formed from a length of rolled hollow
section (RHS) steel with plates covering the top 3 and
bottom 4 respectively or from lengths of channel section
the ends of which are closed by plates welded into the ends
of the channel sections. In a configuration where the
~ housing is a length of RHS the plate covering the top 3 is
preferably welded into position whereas the plate covering
the bottom can be removed to allow access to the interior
of the housing 2 for maintenance and repair purposes. When
the housing is formed from two lengths of channel section
the two halves are fixed together by fixing means extending
between the back and front face of the housing. The front
of the housing 2 has a transverse slot 5 therein and an
operating member 6 thereon. The operating member 6
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being operable by a plastics key card with a magnetized
code therein or thereon. The key card being inserted in a
slot 7 in the operating member 6 which is normall~v free to
rotate relative to cover 8 which is fixed to the front of
the housing 2 and within which is an operating linkage (not
shown) which activates a lock 15 within the housing 2 and
from which the latch bar 1 can extend. The rotation of the
operating member 6 with the key card inserted, providing
the code is correct, operates the lock 15 to move the latch
bar 1 to its open or closed position. If the incorrect key
card is used the operating handle 6 continues to freely
rotate and the latch bar 1 remains stationary.
The lock 15 can be fixed within the housing 2 by
fixing means 16 extending between the bottom 17 of the lock
15 and threaded holes 18 in the top 3 of the housing 2.
The lock 15 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a lock of the type
which when in its down position (Figure 2) acts as a dead
bolt. The latch bar 1 has in association therewith an
activating rod 19 which normally moves with the bar 1
unless it is retained in its raised position (Figure 2) in
which the lock 15 acts as a deadlock.
In practice the code of both key cards and the
operating member 6 within the cover 8 can be easily and
quickly changed by use of a proprietary tool which is
designed to change the magnetized lay out on the key card
and the lock cylinder which is within the cover 8.
The locking means operates in association with a
catch member, arm or bar generally indicated by arrow 9.
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The catch member 9 can be mounted in a number of ways
to suit particular me~hods of operation. In the example
shown in Figure 1 the catch member 9 has a shaped aperture
13 through which the bar 1 can extend to lock the locking
means and member 9 together.
In Figures 1 and 2 the catch member 9 is L-shaped, in
plan, with the aperture 13 in the short arm of the L. The
longer arm 20 can be of any length so that the invention
when sold as a kit and when the locking means is fixed in
position the length required for the arm 20 of the catch
member 9 can be measured and any excess 20' (dotted) cut
off.
Alternative examples of the way in which such a kit
can be installed are shown in Figures 5 and 6 and will be
described hereafter.
In the example of the invention shown in Figures 3
and 4 the locking means and catch member 9 are generally
the same as those shown in Figures 1 and 2. Similar parts
thereof are referenced by the same numerals. In this
~ example the lock 15 has a circular, in cross section, latch
bar 1 which, in use, engages in a circular hole 13 in the
catch member 9. The catch member 9 is mounted at its end
21 via a pin 22 to a block~10. The block 10 can be fixed
to a gate post, frame or wall so that arcuate movement of
the catch member 9 moves the end of the short arm through
the slot 7 and into position relative to the housing 2 so
that the bar 1 extends through the hole 13. The pin 22 is
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fitted within a recess 23 in the block 10 and the top 24 of
the pin 22 can be welded to the top of the member 9.
The catch member 9 and locking means can be mounted
in a number of ways and examples are shown in Figures 5 and
6.
In Figure 5 the catch member 9 is fixed relative to a
gate 33 by welds 25 to a vertical post 26 of a tube and
wire gate. The locking means 27 being welded at 28 to a
gate post 29 alongside which the post 26 is situated.
In Figure 6 the catch member 9 has f ixed relative
thereto a connector member 30 the curved edge 31 of which
is welded to a vertical post 26. The member 30 has a hole
therethrough into which a pin 32 extends. The pins 32 may
be a bolt the head of a nut of which is tack welded to the
member 9. The pin 32 and member 9 being f ree to rotate
relative to the hole in the member 300 This allows the
member to be pivoted arcuately in the direction of arrow 34
for use, for example with a sliding door or gate.
In the example shown in Figures 3 and 4 the mounting
~ 10 includes a pivot pin 12 about which the arm 9 rotates to
allow the engaging end 11 to enter the slot 5 of the
housing 2. The end 11 having an aperture 13 in which the
latch bar 1 can engage. It is to be appreciated that the
arcuate movement of the locking arm 9 can be in a
horizontal plane as shown or in a vertical plane or in
association with sliding movement of the arm 9 in an
elongate housing.
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In use the locking means and the catch 3 bar can be
mounted on a set of gates, or on the side edge of one gate
where it is to be closed against a post. Either the
locking means or catch bar can be fitted to the post or
gate. In the case of a set of pipe gates with netting
covering the locking means or locking bar can be welded to
the gate and/or post.
The present invention can be used in a variety of
situations for example on the gates of a car park and the
like. An advantage of the invention is that the ease with
which the combination on either the cards and/or the
latching means can be changed allows for frequent changes
as required.
Thus by this invention there is provided a locking
means for a closure which is inexpensive to manufacture and
easy to use and which is of the type in which a locking
combination thereof can be readily changed.
Particular examples of the invention have been
described herein by way of example and it is envisaged that
~ improvements and modifications can take place without
departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.
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