Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02276061 1999-06-22
Actuating Bar-Type Lock
The present invention relates to an actuating-bar type
lock according to the generic term in Claim 1.
When sliding doors are to be latched, it is customary
that the shape of the rabetted stile edge of the operating leaf
of sliding-door mate with a corresponding face surface in the
door frame. Various latching devices are used to this end.
Hooks that are disposed at equal intervals along the height of
the door are used extensively for this purpose; these hooks are
secured on a thrust or activating bar of an actuating-bar type
lock, said bar being supported so as to be able to move
longitudinally. When the door is locked, the hooks, which are
open at the top or at the bottom, depending on the closing
direction, project through corresponding longitudinal openings in
a cover plate that is secured to the door frame, and are moved
into the latched position by operation of a handle. When this is
done, the ends of the hooks, which project from the rabbeted door
stile, engage so as to mate with the cover plate positively or by
the application of force. However, one significant disadvantage
to a design of this type is that the hooks always project from
the cover plate, and this can easily lead to injury to a person
passing through the door, or to damage to clothing or household
articles, particularly when the door is open. Moreover, the
protruding hooks are unsightly.
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In the case of both sliding doors and hinged doors and
windows, operation of the hooks or latches is effected manually,
as a rule in the two directions of operation (in the closing and
the opening direction), by operating a (rotary) handle. In many
applications, it can-be useful if the latches, which have been
moved manually into the open position, are first restrained there
and then return automatically into their detent position once the
door or window has been closed, without the need for further
manual intervention. Most of the automatic multi-point latching
systems developed to this end incorporate a compression spring
that is tensioned when the latches move out of their detent
positions. As soon as the latches have reached their end
positions by operation of the handle, they are locked in position
by means of appropriate detent elements. The handle, which is
similarly spring loaded, returns to its starting position by way
of idle travel. If the door is now closed, the detent is released
by a suitable release mechanism on the door frame and the bolts
are moved automatically into their closed position by the
compression spring being released. One known solution uses a
roller-bearing roller, although such a design is costly, and hard
to operate. Other solutions use detent balls that are held in
detent cups by means of leaf springs. These, too, are costly
designs. In addition, the force required to release them can
only be adjusted permanently and with a limited amount of
precision.
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It is an important objective of the present invention
to eliminate these and other disadvantages of the prior art using
economical means, and to create an actuating-bar type lock~that,
when closed, ensures reliable latching of the sliding door and
which, in the open position, has no projecting latching elements.
Furthermore, should it be desired, it must be possible to
restrain it securely in its open position, and it should be easy
to release from its detent position when it is to be closed.
What is attempted is an overall simple design that makes it
possible to combine all the components in a small and compact
structure. The activating bar lock should be easy to ship, and
it should be simple and quick to install.
The main features of the present invention are set out
in the descriptive part of Claims 1 and Claim 16. Refinements
are the objects of Claims 2 to 15 and Claims 17 to 26.
In an activating bar lock for doors, windows, and the
like, in particular for sliding doors, with at least one
functional element that can be operated by a drive system, e.g.,
a push rod, thrust rod, or a slide piece, and which is supported
so as to be displaceable behind a cover such as a cover plate or
rabbeted stile, and with at least one latching element that is
coupled to the functional element, said latching element being,
for example, a hook that projects from the cover plate and which,
in the closed position, can be moved into positive engagement
with a latch plate, the present invention makes provision such
that the latching element, when out of its closed position, can
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be pivoted about a pin that is supported in the functional
element and in its longitudinal movement can be lowered, at least
partially, behind the cover, perpendicular to the direction of
movement of the functional element. This means that the latching
elements can be lowered_behind the cover, even as they are being
moved from their closed position into the open position, so that
when the door leaf is being opened, no latches that could cause
injury or damage are projecting from the cover. Manipulation is
extremely simple and reliable. There are no problems associated
with passing through the door, even when it is only partly open.
According to Claim 2, the latching element is a flat
body that passes perpendicularly through the functional element
and the cover; the functional element and the cover are provided
with elongated slots, the width of which matches the thickness of
the latching elements. The latter ensures that the door is
always securely latched when in the closed position, and also
ensures that the dimensions are compact. The perpendicular
arrangement also ensures optimal transfer of force, in particular
in the latched position. In all of its functional positions, the
latch is optimally guided laterally, and cannot break laterally
even when under extreme loads.
The configuration according to Claim 3 provides that
under the functional element the latching element is supported
from below by a housing block and is guided by a lower edge
sliding therein. In addition to this, according to Claim 4, the
latching element can retract into the housing block. This
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simplifies installation and the function of the actuating bar
lock within a rabbeted door stile. The housing block, together
with the functional elements, can be morticed into wood without
any problem. It accommodates the latching element when it
retracts, and protects it against external influences. Sliding
guidance ensures that the entire mechanism will always operate
reliably.
According to Claim 5, from the design standpoint, it is
advantageous if the housing block have an elongated body with
cams formed in it at the ends, these cams passing through the
functional element, the elongated slot of the functional element
being provided in each operating direction with widened sections
that accommodate the cams. The housing block is simple to
install. The functional elements are always guided securely and
reliably.
In order to further enhance the lateral guidance of the
latching element, according to Claim 6, the housing block
incorporates an elongated depression, the width of which matches
the elongated slot of the guide element or of the cover.
According to Claim 7, in order to provide additional support or
guidance for the latch, this elongated depression can incorporate
steps and, at the lower end, incorporate an entry slope. This,
too, means that the latching element can be retracted very
simply.
In order that the housing block can accommodate the
latching element when it is retracted, according to Claim 8,
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there is a depression in front of the entry slope, it being
preferred that the entry slope continue into this depression.
According to Claim 9, the depression is funnel-shaped to permit
the latching element to swing out, and provided with an exit
slope opposite the entry slope.
Depending on the configuration of the latching element,
in keeping with Claim 10, additional depressions, recesses, or
the like can be incorporated in the depression and/or the steps,
these parts or part bodies or the latching element being
l0 associated.
According to Claim 11, it is an advantage if the
housing block be formed in one piece, or made up of two halves
that are longitudinally symmetrical, the width of the housing
block corresponding, at most, to the width of the functional
element. Because of this, the housing block can be manufactured
cost effectively and installed with no problems. The small
overall dimensions ensure a compact finished size, so that the
recess that accommodates the activating bar lock in the leaf of a
door does not have to be any wider than for a conventional lock
of this kind. For this reason, it is also simple to retrofit the
lock according to the present invention.
According to the important version described in Claim
10, there is a pin inserted laterally into the latching element;
this rests in a transverse groove in the elongated slot of the
functional element, and rests in the steps of the elongated
depression of the housing. In addition to providing for reliable
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coupling of the latching element with the functional element,
this also ensures additional support for the latch within the
housing block, as well as its ability to pivot. According to
Claim 13, it can also be advantageous if the pin be arranged
centrally above the lower edge of the latching element and the
lower edge of the latching element make a transition in the
opening direction to become a rounded contact edge. The latter
ensures that the pivoting process is always initiated reliably,
without the latching element becoming twisted or jammed.
According to Claim 14, it is preferred that the
latching element be rhomboid, when a U-shaped recess that is
parallel to the lower edge can be incorporated in it. The latter
serves to ensure that the sliding door is securely latched when
closed.
The configuration according to Claim 15 ensures a
further improvement of the guidance and function of the latching
element. According to this, provision is made such that a second
pin is inserted into the latching element from the side; in the
closed position, this is located in front of the pivot pin and is
of a smaller diameter compared to this.
Another version of the present invention, for which
independent protection is claimed, provides--according to Claim
15--that the restraining and release mechanism has a detent
element that is coupled with the functional element, said detent
element being in the form of a two-arm lever that can pivot about
a pin that is supported within the functional element, in the
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case of an actuating bar lock for windows, doors, or the like,
with at least one functional element that can be moved against a
restoring force, e.g., an actuating bar, a push rod, or a slide
piece that is displaceable longitudinally behind a cover, for
example, a cover plate or a rabbeted door stile, with at least
one latching element that is coupled to the functional element,
which in the closed position can engage with a latch plate so as
to mate with it by shape or externally applied force, and with a
restraining and releasing system that is arranged along the
functional element, with which the functional element can be
restrained and by which it can be released with the door is
closed. The two-arm lever can thus, in an advantageous manner,
perform two functions. One lever arm serves as a detent element
that restrains the functional element in a pre-tensioned
unlatched position, whereas the detent can be released by the
other lever arm. The activating rod lock can be operated very
simply the dimensions of the restraining and release device can
be kept to a minimum, which greatly simplifies assembly.
To this end, Claim 17 makes provision such that the
lever arm is supported so as to be displaceable beneath the cover
plate, in a housing block, said housing block having--according
to Claim 16--an elongated body with cams formed at its ends;
these cams pass through an elongated slot, said elongated slot
being provided in each operating direction with widened sections
that accommodate the cams. Thus, the housing block is simple to
install. The functional elements are guided reliably.
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According to Claim 19, the housing block incorporates a
flat, elongated recess to accommodate and guide the lever; the
width of this recess matches the elongated slot of the guide
elements. Thus, when required, the lever can be lowered
completely into the housing block. In order to achieve the
detent effect, Claim 19 also provides that the elongated recess
has at its centre a prism-shaped detent depression. According to
Claim 20, in order to provide additional support and guidance for
the lever, the elongated recess is shaped symmetrically relative
to its longitudinal mid-point, while the elongated recess has
lateral steps. These also simplify assembly. In addition,
provision can also be made such that, in keeping with Claim 21,
the housing block is made in one piece or is assembled from two
halves that are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis, the
width of the housing block corresponding, at the maximum, to the
width of the functional element.
In order to enable the lever arm of the lever that is
provided as a release lever to be operated from the outside,
according to Claim 22, the cover incorporates an elongated slot
above the housing block.
According to Claim 23, an additional, important measure
according to the present invention is that a pivot pin is
inserted into the lever from the side; this is located in a
transverse groove in the elongated slot of the functional
element, and rests on the steps of the housing's elongated
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recess. Thus, the lever is directly coupled with the functional
element and simultaneously supported so as to be able to pivot.
In addition, Claim 24 provides that lever arms of the
lever, which extend on both sides of the pivot pin, are of
different lengths, the longer lever arm resting in the housing
block opposite the closing direction, and the shorter lever arm
resting in the closing direction. The restraining and release
forces can be selected in a simple manner by suitable selection
of the ratio of the lengths to each other, this further improving
manipulation as a whole.
In the configuration according to Claim 25, the lever
is acted upon by the force of a spring that, according to Claim
16, acts perpendicular to the elongated recess and, in the
closing direction, fits on the lever, above the centre of the
prism-shaped depression. As soon as the lever arm of the lever
that is formed as the detent element is above the detent
depression, the functional element is checked. No additional
functional elements are necessary. The spring force can be
generated by a leaf spring.
Independent protection is also claimed for another
embodiment of the present invention as set out in Claim 27.
According to this, the functional elements and/or the cover are
configured separately, the parts of the functional elements each
being connected to each other by a coupling shoe so as to shape
mate and be secured by friction. To this end, according to Claim
28, the coupling shoe has an essentially rectangular base body
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with ends in the longitudinal direction that are rounded over,
and at least two pins that are fitted into the base.
Additional features, details, and advantages of the
present invention are disclosed in the claims and in the
following description of embodiments that is based on the
drawings appended hereto. These drawings show the following:
Figure 1a: A view of an actuating-bar lock in the latched
position;
Figure lb: The actuating-bar lock as in Figure 1a, in an
intermediate position;
Figure lc: The actuating-bar lock as in Figure la, in the un-
latched position;
Figure 2a: A partial cross section of the actuating-bar lock as
in Figure la, in the latched position;
Figure 2b: A plan view of Figure 2a, without the cover plate;
Figure 2c: A plan view of the actuating-bar lock as in Figure
1c, in the unlatched position;
Figure 2d: A plan view of Figure 2c;
Figure 3a: A cross section of another embodiment of the
actuating bar lock with a restraining and release
device, in the closed position;
Figure 3b: a plan view of Figure 3a, without the cover plate;
Figure 3c: A cross section through the restraining and release
device as in Figure 3a, in the unlatched position;
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Figure 4a: A view of the restraining and release device as in
Figure 3c;
Figure 4b: A view of the restraining and release device as in
Figure 3a;
Figure 5: An embodiment of an actuating bar coupling.
The actuating bar lock shown in Figure 1a to Figure
1c, which bears the overall reference number 10, is configured
for sliding doors. It incorporates a latching element 30 that is
actuated by means of a push or actuating bar 12, and when in the
closed position (Figure 1b) it engages in a lock plate (not shown
herein) secured to a door frame (not shown herein); in the
unlatched position (Figure 1c) this latch is held in a retracted
position. The actuating bar 12 is installed behind a rabbeted
stile or cover plate 20 so as to be displaceable in the
longitudinal direction, and is coupled to a a drive system (not
shown herein) that is operated by means of a handle.
The latching element 30 is a flat body that passes
vertically through the freely displaceable actuating bar 12 and
the cover plate 20 in the longitudinal direction. To this end,
the latter are provided with elongated slots 13, 22, the widths
of which corresponds to the thickness of the latch 30 (see Figure
2b, 2d). The latching element 30 is supported beneath the
actuating bar 12 by a housing block 50. This housing block
incorporates an elongated body 52 that secures the cover plate 20
on the underside with cams 53 that are formed at its ends. The
cams 53 pass through the actuating bar 12 that extends between
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the upper side 59 of the housing block 50 and the underside of
the cover plate 20 so as to be freely displaceable; to this end,
the elongated slot 30 in the actuating bar 12 is provided with
widened sections 18 in both operating directions. It is preferred
that the width of the housing block 50 be approximately equal to
the width of the actuating bar 12, so that the housing 50
occupies no extra space within the door. The overall length of
the elongated slot 13 in the actuating bar 12 and the length of
the housing bar 50 or the space between the guide cams 53 are so
dimensioned that the actuating bar 12 always has sufficient
longitudinal travel. Additional guide cams (not shown herein)
that are arranged along the cover plate 20 and the elongated slot
in the actuating bar 12 that is associated with these ensure
stable and reliable guidance for the actuating bar system to the
1~ entire height of the door. In order that the latch 30 can be
accommodated and guided in the housing block 50, this is provided
with an elongated depression 54 into which a lower edge 31 of
the latching element 30 can be inserted.
The latching element 30 is coupled to the actuating bar 12
by two transverse pins 32, 34 that are inserted into the flat
body 30 from the side, or are made in one piece with this. The
first transverse pin 32 (below in Figure 2a) is configured as a
pivot pin and is arranged at the approximate mid-point of the
lower edge 31 of latch 30. As can be seen in Figure 2, this is
shape-mated in a first transverse groove 14 within the elongated
slot 13 of the actuating bar and rests with its pin ends (which
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project from the latch body 30) on two elongated steps 57 that
are formed in the housing block 50 on both sides of the elongated
depression 54. The second transverse pin 34 is located ahead of
the pivot pin 32 in the closing direction (in Figure 2a, above
the pivot pin). As a guide pin, its diameter is somewhat smaller
than that of the pivot pin 32 and it is installed in a second
transverse groove 16 in the actuating bar 12, somewhat higher
over the lower edge 31 than the pivot in 32, so that the fulcrum
points of both pins 32, 34 that are located beneath the cover
plate 20 are at the same level. The space between the pivot pin
32 and the lower edge 31, as well as the diameter thereof, are so
selected that the latching element 30 rests with its lower edge
31 in the elongated depression 54 of the housing block 50, while
at the same time the pivot pin 32 rests on the side steps 57. As
soon as the actuating bar drive moves the actuating bar 12, the
pins 32, 34 are engaged by the transverse grooves 14, 15; the
latching element 30 tracks each movement of the actuating bar 12
directly, the transverse pins 32, 34 sliding between the cover
plate 20 and the housing steps 57. In the intermediate positions
shown in Figure 1b, the pin prevents the latch 30 pivoting
completely and undesirably around the axis of rotation of the
pivot pin 32. The latch 30 is guided securely in each functional
position.
As can be seen from Figure 2a and Figure 2c, the
latching element 30 is in the general shape of a rhombus with a
U-shaped recess 36 that extends parallel to the lower edge 31,
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and a rear edge 42 that extends obliquely to the lower edge 31 so
as to subtend an acute angle with this. The upper arm 37 of the U
of the recess 36 extends so as to be essentially parallel to the
lower edge 31, and forms a hook blade that in the closed position
of the latching element-30 projects from the elongated slot 22 in
the cover plate 20 and engages in the lock plate in the door
frame. Because of the rhomboid shape, the lower arm 38 of the U
is shorter than the hook blade 37. In the closed position, the
upper edge 39 engages as a hook catch with the cover plate 20. On
its lower side, it is also provided with an inclined edge (catch
back 40) that extends parallel to the rear edge 42. The
transition between the latter and the lower edge is rounded off
so that the latch 30 has a rounded end 44. The latching element
is thus of the overall form of a bottle opener.
If the hook 30 is loaded in the direction in which the
closed sliding door is opened, the hook catch 38 that is located
inside and the guide pins 34 that are resting on the underside of
the cover plate 20 transfer the tension that is applied from the
lock plate onto the hook blade 37 into the rear side of the cover
2o plate 20 as compressive strain. The door is always securely
latched. The lock plate and the cover plate 20 are rigidly
enclosed by the U-shaped hook ends, the height of the recess 36,
i.e., the space between the hook blade 37 and the hook catch 37,
corresponding to the thickness of the lock plate and the rabbeted
door stile, apart from a small amount of clearance. Thus, the
latching element 30 can always engage in the lock plate without
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any problem. The unattached end of the hook blade 30 is
configured so as to be slightly conical.
As is shown in Figure 2a and Figure 2c, the elongated
depression 54 within the housing block 50 extends in the closing
direction of the latching element 30, beyond the upper end of the
elongated slot 22 in the cover plate 20 so that when the door is
latched the hook catch 38 comes to rest completely beneath the
cover plate 20. In the opposite direction, the elongated
depression 54 becomes an entry slope 58. This begins just above
the outer back 60 of the housing block 50 and ends in front of
the lower end of the elongated slot 22 at the level of the cover
plate 20, i.e., it extends obliquely downward to the right
opposite the closing direction of the latch 30, with the slope 58
subtending the same angle with the cover plate 20 as the rear
edge 42 of the latching element 30 subtends with its lower edge
31. Ahead of the transition to the entry slope 58, the elongated
depression 54 in the housing block 50 is provided with an
additional depression 62 to accommodate the retracted hook catch
38. This depression 62 also extends to a point just above the
outer back 60 of the housing 50, and is defined upward in the
closing direction by an additional inclined face 64. As is shown
in Figure 2a or Figure 2c this can also be open below so as to
further reduce the installed height of the housing 50 and thus of
the entire latching device. At the same level as the catch
depression 62 there are recesses 66 in the side steps 57 of the
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housing block 50; these accommodate the guide pin 34 when it is
pivoted.
Figure la and Figure 2a show the latch hook 30 in the
closed position, whereas Figure lb indicates the opening movement
of the actuating bar lock 10. The actuating bar 12 slides
downward between the lower side of the cover plate 20 and the
upper side 59 of the housing block 50. In so doing, it moves the
latch hook 30 that is installed in the transverse slot 14 with it
and slides it in the opening direction within the elongated slot
22 in the cover plate 20. The hook blade 37 moves out of
engagement with the lock plate; the straight lower edge 31 of the
latching element 30 slides on the base surface 58 of the
elongated depression 54 of the housing block 50 that is parallel
to the cover plate, so that the hook 30 retains its original
position, i.e., there is still no rotation of the hook 30 (see
Figure lb). The guide pin 34 that slides along beneath the cover
plate 20 prevents any unintentional lifting of the latch 30
during this linear movement.
Once the rounded, rear and 44 of the latch reaches the
entry slope 56, it is compelled to slide along this until the
lower edge 31 of the latching element 30 comes to rest flat
against the entry slope 58. This means that the latch 30 is
automatically pivoted about its pivot pin 32. The hook blade 37
disappears behind the cover plate 20. The guide pins 34 retract
into the symmetrical depressions 66 in the side steps, whereas
the hook catch 38 drops into the recess 62 in the base surface 56
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of the elongated depression 54. There is a further depression 66
for the hook blade 37 above the depression 62 for the hook catch
38, so that the latching element 30 pivots through the cover
plate 20 and the actuating bar 12 pivots almost completely into a
hook bed. As can be seen from Figure lc and Figure 2c, in this
end position, the rear edge 42 of the latch 40 is almost flush
with the cover plate 20. The back surface 40 of the hook catch 38
is flush with the outer back surface 60 of the housing block 50
(Figure 2).
l0 If one moves the actuating bar 12 in the opposite
direction, i.e., in the closing direction, the hook catch 38 of
the latching element 30 moves onto the similarly inclined upper
inclined surface 64 of the depression 62. The catch back 40
slides along the inclined surface 64 in the direction of the
cover plate 20, so that the latch 30 is once again pivoted about
its pivot pin 32 until the guide pins 34 come to rest against the
cover plate 20. The hook blade 37 is completely extended and now
slides once again parallel to the cover plate 20 into its lock
position.
In order to improve the manner in which the hook 30 is
guided, and in order to enhance the reliability of the closed
position even further, the steps 57 that are formed on both sides
of the elongated depression 54 in the housing block 50 are
configured like terraces. As can be seen in Figure 2a, in the
lower area of the housing block 50, the steps 57 first run
beneath the upper side 59. At the level of the depression 67, the
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steps 57 run over a slightly inclined surface 61 into the upper
side 59. In this way, as they approach the closed position, the
guide pins 34 are raised slightly so that--together with the
pivot pin 52--they rest directly against the underside of the
cover plate 20. In contrast to this, the pivot pin 32 comes to
rest just in front of the inclined surface 61, and so does not
get raised.
Should it be necessary, a plurality of latching devices
of this kind can be arranged along the actuating bar 12 or the
cover plate 20. This will depend on the number of places at which
a door is to be latched.
The manner in which the latch device according to the
present invention operates is shown diagrammatically in Figure 2a
to Figure 2c. Figure 2a shows the hook 30 extended longitudinally
and transversely, as it would be when the sliding door is closed
and it is in engagement with the lock plate. When the latch is
open, the hook 30 is moved by the actuating bar 12 as it moves
longitudinally; the actuating bar 12 is covered by the cover
plate 20 that is screwed to the rabbeted stile of the door. The
hook 30 is raised and lowered perpendicularly to the movement of
a actuating bar by sliding edges 31, 40, 44 on the underside,
front and back of the hooks and corresponding entry slopes 58, 64
in the hook bed, the cross-section of which is matched to the
cover slot 22. The entry slopes 58, 64 together with the rounded
hook end 44 and the hook catch 38, 40 thus form control elements
that determine the functional movement of the hook. The latching
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element 30 can also be in the form of a two-arm lever that is
supported so as to be able to pivot about the pivot pin 32. The
first lever arm forms the hook blade 37, whereas the second
shorter lever arm is formed by the back corner 44. The latter
serves as the release element for retracting the latch 30.
If the actuating bar 12 is moved longitudinally in
order to open the door, the hook 30 is first disengaged from the
lock plate over two-thirds of the travel of the actuating bar as
in Figure lb, like a conventional and non-retracted hook during a
purely longitudinal movement, before it is moved through the
cover plate 20 and the actuating bar 12 into the bed of the
housing block 50 during the last third of the actuating bar
travel, as is shown in Figure 1 c to Figure 2c, respectively. In
this end position, the rear edge 42 of the hook 30 is almost
completely flush with the cover plate 20.
In another embodiment, in addition to the latching
devices described above, the actuating bar lock 10 has an
additional restraining and release mechanism 100. This serves to
restrain the actuating bar 12 in the unlatched position of the
latching element 30 and, once the door has been closed, to
release it automatically in order that the latching elements 30,
which are spring-loaded in the closing direction, can return to
their latched positions automatically. To this end, within the
actuating bar drive system (not shown herein), there is a
compression spring that is pretensioned when the handle (not
shown herein) is operated. As soon as the latching elements 30
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have reached their retracted end positions and the spring has
been pretensioned to the maximum extent possible, the actuating
bar 12 is fixed in its position by the restraining and release
device. The rotary handle (not shown herein) then free-wheels
back to its starting position.
The restraining and release device 100 that is shown in
Figure 3a to Figure 3c is arranged along the actuating bar 12
above a latching device. It has a detent element 130 that is
positively coupled to the actuating bar 12 and is in the form of
a two-arm lever. When the latching element 30 reaches a specific
position, a first lever arm 132 passes through the actuating bar
12 and the cover plate 20 in the longitudinal direction, whereas
a second shorter lever arm 134 fits into a corresponding detent
depression 158 in the bottom 155 of a housing block 150. The
actuating bar 12 and the cover plate 20 incorporate elongated
slots 135 or 140, respectively, to allow passage of the lever
130, and the widths of these elongated slots corresponds to the
thickness of the lever 130.
The lever 130 that is of square or rectangular cross
section is supported beneath the cover plate 20 in the housing
block 150 so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction
(Figure 3a). The latter has an elongated body 152 that is secured
to the cover plate 20, preferably by screws. The cams 153 pass
through the actuating bar 12 that extends between the housing
2~ block 150 and the cover plate 20, and which is freely
displaceable; to this end, the longitudinal elongated slot 135 of
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the actuating bar 12 is provided with widened sections 138 in
each operating direction. The width of the housing block 150 is
about the same as the width of the actuating bar 12, so that
there is a minimal requirement for space. The overall length of
the elongated slots 135-in the actuating bar 12 and the length of
the housing block 150 or the space between the guide cams 153 is
such that there can always be sufficient longitudinal
displacement of the actuating bar 12. A flat elongated recess 154
is provided within the housing block 150 to accommodate and guide
the lever 130, and the lever 130 is installed flat in this. For
reasons of assembly, the entire housing block 150 is formed so as
to be symmetrical with reference to its longitudinal centre. Thus
it can be secured to the cover plate 20 in any direction. The
elongated slot 140 of the cover plate 20 is flush above the lower
half of the long elongated recess 154. Its width is matched to
the width of the lever or of the elongated recess 135 of the
actuating bar 12.
The lever 130 is coupled to the actuating bar 12
through a transverse pin 142 that, as a pivot body, is installed
in the lever 130 from the side or is made in one piece with this.
As can be seen in Figure 3b, the pin 142 is located between the
first, longer lever arm 132 and the second, shorter lever arm
134; it is expedient that these be made in one piece. As shown in
Figure 3b, the pin 142 is shape mated to, and fits in, a
transverse groove 136 in the elongated slot 135 in the actuating
bar and lies with its pin ends that project to the side on two
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CA 02276061 1999-06-22
elongated steps 157 that are formed on both sides of the
elongated recess 154 in the housing block 150. From the other
side, the pin 142 is protected by the cover plate 20 that lies
over the actuating bar 12.
In the closed-position, the lever 130 lies flat on the
bottom 155 of the elongated recess 154 of the block 150, 152,
while the pivot pins 142 rest on the side steps 157. The second,
shorter lever arm 134 lies in the closing direction, and the
second, longer lever arm 132 lies opposite the closing direction
in the housing block 150. As soon as the actuating bar 12 is
moved by means of the actuating bar drive system, the pin 142 is
engaged by the transverse groove 136; the lever 130 tracks every
movement of the actuating bar 12 directly within the housing 150,
the pivot pin ends sliding between the cover plate 20 and the
housing steps 157.
The detent depression 158 for the lever arm 134 is
provided in the precise centre of the housing block 150. This is
a prism-shaped depression that is made in the bottom 155 of the
elongated recess 154. The length of the elongated recess 154 is
approximately twice as large as the overall length of the lever
130. A leaf spring 170 is arranged between this and the cover
plate 20 within the upper widened section 138 in the elongated
slot of the actuating bar 12. This spring is installed with an
offset end 172 in a clamping slot 174 in the housing block 150.
Its unattached end 175 is exactly over the upper half of the
prism-shaped depression 158 on the lever 138. Thus, it is
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CA 02276061 1999-06-22
constantly acted upon by a spring force in the direction of the
housing bottom 155 through the depression 158.
When the latching element 30 is in its closed position,
the lever 130 first lies flat beneath the cover plate 20 in the
elongated reasons 154 of the housing block 150 (Figure 3a). The
unattached, slightly offset end 175 of the leaf spring 170 lies
on the long lever arm 130.
If the latching element 30 is actuated by means of the
handle, the actuating bar 12 slides downward between the cover
plate 20 and the housing block 150. In so doing, it takes the
lever 130 that is installed in the transverse slot 136 with it
and moves it within the elongated depression 154 downward in the
opening direction. Just before the latching elements 30 reach the
final open position, the pivot pin 142 of the lever 130 passes
the contact point of the leaf spring 170. As soon as this moves
behind the pivot pin 142, the spring 170 acts on the shorter
lever arm 134 that is following behind the longer lever arm 132.
Since, because of its shorter dimensions, this is now, like the
unattached end 175 of the leaf spring 170, above the detent
depression 158, it is pushed downwards and into the depression
158 by the spring 170, and held their (see Figure 3c). In order
to achieve a more reliable detent, the end of the lever 304 is
inclined slightly corresponding to the opening angle for the
shape of the prism-shaped depression 158, so that the end of the
lever hooks into the detent depression 158 and the actuating bar
is restrained firmly in the position that it has reached against
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CA 02276061 1999-06-22
the actuating bar return spring. At the same time as the short
lever arm 134 engages in the detent depression 158, the first,
longer lever arm 132 passes to the outside through the openings
135, 140 of the actuating bar 12 and the cover plate 20. Because
of the permanent spring-loading of the short shorter lever arm
134, the exposed lever 132 will be held in this position. The
latching element 30 are in their retracted position; the door can
be opened without any potentially dangerous latching hooks
projecting from the outside side surface of the door stile.
If one closes the door, then the rabbeted side surface
of the door stile moves against the corresponding face of the
door frame. The lever arm 132 that is projecting from the cover
plate 20 now serves as a release. It is pivoted inward about the
pivot pin 142, so that the end of the second lever arm 134 is
raised out of the prism-shaped depression 158 in the housing
bottom 155. The detent is released; the actuating bar 12 can once
again slide freely in the closing direction. The latching element
30 that are attached to the actuating bar 12 are moved into their
detent positions by the return force that is stored in the
actuating bar drive system. On closing, the door is automatically
latched. The amount of force required to release the detent can
be so adjusted by suitable selection of the ratio of the lengths
of the lever arms 132 and 134 that the restraining and release
device 100 does not hinder the closing of the door although, at
the same time, unintentional release of the detent is effectively
prevented.
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CA 02276061 1999-06-22
Yet another embodiment of the present invention, shown
in Figure 5, permits simple shipping and simple and rapid
assembly of the actuating bar lock 10.
It is frequently useful to manufacture actuating bar
12 and cover plate 20 divided into a number of sections. The
parts, disassembled for shipping, are then assembled on site and
installed. Whereas the sections of the cover plate require no
connection to each other since they are screwed rigidly into the
rabbeted groove, the sections of the activating are must be
secured rigidly to each other in order that they can slide freely
within the door groove.
The coupling shoe 200 that is required to connect the
sections of actuating bar, shown in Figure 5, incorporates an
elongated and essentially rectangular base body 202. On the
underside of the base body 202 are four round pins 204 that are
aligned; these are inserted into the base body to or made in one
piece with it. On the opposite side, the base body is rounded
over at the ends 206 in the longitudinal direction.
During assembly of the actuating bar lock 10, two pins
204 of the coupling shoe 200 are inserted into corresponding
recesses 208 in the particular actuating bar end 207; these are
pressed into the bores 208 so as to form a friction fit. This
ensures a permanently secure connection whereas the arrangement
of the pins 104 in a line ensures precise orientation of the
coupling shoe 200 and the actuating bar 12. Since the base body
202 of the coupling shoe 200 is enclosed on all sides by the
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CA 02276061 1999-06-22
door, it cannot fall out of the bores 208 even after a long
period of use. The rounded ends 206 ensure permanently easy
longitudinal movement within the door groove. In addition to ease
of operation and assembly, as well as reliable operation, the
coupling piece 200 entails an additional but important advantage.
The actuating bar lock 10 can be used unmodified at any time
without operating bar extensions, i.e., with only the permanently
installed central plate since, in contrast to the prior art, the
ends of the lock side actuating bar are in each instance covered
by the cover plate.
The present invention is not confined to the embodiment
described heretofore, but can be modified in a number of ways.
For example, the housing blocks 50, 150 as well as the latching
device and the restraining device can be made in one piece. They
can also be assembled from two symmetrical housing halves that
are provided with the appropriate symmetrical and mirror image
recesses and bolted securely to each other.
All of the features and advantages, including design
details, spatial arrangements, and process steps set out in the
claims, the disclosure, and the drawings are essential to the
present invention, both singly and in the most varied
combinations.
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CA 02276061 1999-06-22
Reference numbers used in drawings:
actuating-bar lock
12 functional element
13 long slot
14 first transverse groove
16 second transverse groove
18 widened section
cover plate
20 cover plate
22 long slot
latch element
31 lower edge
32 pin
34 guide pin
36 U-shaped recess
37 upper arm
38 lower arm
39 upper edge
back of catch
42 back edge
44 transition, rounded end
housing block
52 body
53 cam
54 long depression
56 bottom surface
57 step
58 run-up face
59 top surface
external back
CA 02276061 1999-06-22
61 inclined face
62 depression (hook lug)
64 inclined face
66 recess (guide pin)
67 depression (hook blade)
100 stop and release device
130 detent element/arm
132 first lever arm
134 second lever arm
135 long slot (actuating bar)
136 transverse groove
138 widened section
140 long slot (cover plate)
142 pivot pin
150 housing block
152 body
153 cam
154 long recess
155 bottom
157 step
158 detent depression
170 leaf spring
172 offset end
174 clamping slot
175 unused end
200 coupling shoe
202 main body
204 round pin
206 rounded end
207 push-rod end
208 recesses
