Access to a power source in a lock

Abstract

A keyless surface lock (10) comprises a chassis (11) that can be mounted on one of two parts, especially a door and a door frame, to lock and unlock against each other, and which incorporates locking means (17 to 23) that allow switching between a locked and an unlocked state, respectively. These locking means are electrically actuated to enable or trigger the transition from the locked to the unlocked state. Furthermore, the lock includes a control module (16) mounted on the chassis (11) that incorporates control means (30) for controlling the supply of electrical power to the locking means. The chassis has a receptacle (25) for receiving an electrical power source, especially batteries, which provides the operating power.The module (16), which includes the control means (20), is movable with respect to the chassis (11) to allow access to the receptacle (25) and to facilitate changing the batteries without having to remove the installed lock.

Description

Access to a power source in a lock

[0001] The present invention relates to a lock and makes particular reference to access to the power source in a lock.

[0002] Mechanical, electromechanical, electrical, and electronic surface-mounted locks are available in a wide variety of forms for use in interlocking doors or other closures on their frames. A popular type of lock in widespread use for multi-user operation without the inconvenience of needing to supply keys to all users is a code-controlled lock with control means in the form of actuating elements such as pushbuttons, which can be operated in a set sequence, representing a numerical code, to release a locking mechanism, in particular an interlock, and allow the door to be opened. Such a lock is of compact construction and has the actuating elements arranged on an accessible external side, which may also include a handle for operating the locking mechanism.If the lock is electromechanical or substantially electrical, the necessary operating power can be supplied by a mains electricity supply or, more commonly, by an individual power source such as one or more batteries. Batteries require periodic recharging or replacement. Due to the compact nature of such locks, the batteries must be housed inside the lock, and access for recharging, replacement, or even initial installation (in the case of a mounted lock) presents a problem because a large portion of the lock's external area is occupied by the operating elements, of which there may be ten or more in the case of pushbuttons offering a ten-digit code, and a handle, if present.Current practice with this type of lock is to install the power source in an accessible compartment on a side of the lock away from the side with the operating elements—that is, on the side that, in the case of a surface-mounted lock, serves as the mounting face. Consequently, accessing the power source requires disassembling the lock, which is a laborious and sometimes complicated procedure, particularly since the lock may have components on both sides of a door and a connecting shaft that passes through the door. EP 0721036 discloses a lock that allows access to a battery without disassembling the lock, but only by completely removing a lock part that houses the battery from the rest of the lock.

[0003] Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a lock that is of such construction that access to a power source when the lock is installed does not require disassembling or removing a part of the lock that contains the source.

[0004] From the following description, other objectives and advantages of the invention will become evident.

[0005] According to the present invention, a lock is provided comprising a chassis that can be mounted on one of two parts that are to be locked and unlocked with respect to each other and that carries locking means transferable between a closed state and an open state respectively for closing and opening, the locking means being electrically actuated to cause or permit the transfer from the closed state to the open state, and a control module mounted on the chassis and carrying control means for controlling the supply of operating electrical power to the locking means,The chassis presents a receptacle for receiving an electrical power source to provide operating power, and the control module, which includes the control means, is so mobile with respect to the chassis and the electrical power source, when received in the chassis receptacle, that it allows access to the receptacle and the electrical power source therein.

[0006] A lock representing the present invention provides convenient means of accessing an integrated or incorporated power source even when the lock is mounted in a location of use, thus allowing access without removing the lock. The access may be such that it permits removal of the power source and replacement or, if the source is rechargeable, recharging it in a power supply. Resetting the source, typically a pair of batteries, can be accomplished by a reverse procedure. In contrast to prior art locks of the relevant type, the lock is divided into a chassis with the locking means and a movable module with control means for controlling the locking means, in particular the supply of operating power to the locking means.The lock housing is no longer a single unit but features a multi-component construction with a component that must remain stationary in one of two parts to lock and unlock against each other, like a door, and a component that can move. Departing from conventional locks of the prior art, the space problem posed by the area occupied by the control means is solved by incorporating the control means into the module—therefore the movable component—instead of leaving it as part of the fixed component. In practice, the control means can be a lightweight control arrangement electrically connected to a power source, when present in the chassis receptacle, by means of a suitable connection that accommodates the relative movement of the module and the chassis.

[0007] The module's movement may take the form of a pivoting or rotating motion, lifting or uncoupling, or other suitable action, but in a preferred construction compatible with the elongated shape typical of a surface-mounted lock of the type in question, the module may slide relative to the chassis. This is an intuitive movement for a user of electrical or electronic devices and straightforward to perform within a lock housing, in this case, the chassis and the module. In particular, the module may be mounted on the chassis by means of guides to direct the sliding movement of the module relative to the chassis, for example, guidance provided by interlocking sliding tracks of the module and the chassis, respectively. The interlocking ensures the secure retention of the module in a normal operating position, such as when the lock is closed or access to the receptacle is prevented.Advantageously, the relative movement of the module and chassis allows the module, which includes the control components, to be completely removable from the chassis. This provides unobstructed access to the receptacle for easy removal of the power source. Furthermore, the lock can then be configured so that the module is an interchangeable or replaceable part, enabling repairs in the case of defective control components or upgrades to provide enhanced or additional control functions.

[0008] Preferably, the lock comprises releasable locking means for releasably securing the module against movement relative to the chassis, so as to prevent access to the power source or unwanted interference with the lock unless the locking means are intentionally released. The locking means may simply be a threaded fastener, optionally with a safety head requiring the use of a special tool. However, the arrangement of the locking means may be such that release by the locking means is prevented when the locking mechanism is engaged, for example, by the locking means being covered by a handle of the locking mechanism when engaged.In this case, the locking mechanisms are concealed and can only be released if their location is known and the handle is manipulated to expose them. The lock may include a provision for emergency handle operation in the event of a power failure and the need to access the locking mechanisms.

[0009] In a convenient solution to accommodate the movement of the module, including the control means, relative to the chassis, the chassis and the module are preferably provided with mutually contacting electrical paths between the control means and the power source connection means in the receptacle. The contacts are separable to interrupt the paths during the module's movement relative to the chassis, thus allowing access to the receptacle. An essential electrical connection between the control means on one side and the power source and an electrically actuated component of the locking means on the other can thus be easily broken and re-established.The contacts can be of any suitable shape depending on the nature of the relative motion of the module and the chassis; in the case of, in particular, a sliding or rotating motion, the contacts can be sliding contacts capable of sliding relative to one another during separation. The safety of the electrical contact can be advantageously ensured if the contacts, when in contact with each other, are elastically driven against one another, in which case one or each of the contacts can form a cooperating pair that is elastically flexible.

[0010] In a preferred construction of the lock, the control means may comprise a plurality of control elements that can be selectively actuated in a predetermined sequence to provide a corresponding sequential transmission of signals to activate the transfer of the locking means from the closed state to the open state. The sequential actuation of individual control elements, each assigned, for example, to a respective number, represents a proven solution for a code-operated lock. Inputting a code by means of signals in the case of electrically actuated locking means, rather than by means of mechanical actuators in the case of a purely mechanical lock, is compatible with the location of the control elements in a module that is designed to be movable relative to the chassis and thus relative to the locking means carried by the chassis.It is not necessary to provide a mechanical connection between the control means and the locking means. Therefore, the control means may comprise signal-sensitive electronic means for triggering or enabling the supply of operating power to the locking means. In this case, the input of code signals from the control elements and the processing of these signals to enable the supply of operating power can be performed entirely within the module, significantly simplifying the scope of the required electrical connection between the module and the chassis. The electronic means preferably comprise a printed circuit board, particularly one capable of storing codes and recognizing signal inputs corresponding to a stored code.The control elements themselves may comprise buttons, especially pushbuttons, which, for signal output, can be pressed against an elastic force. This force can be provided in a compact, unitary form by means of a substrate sheet of elastomeric material acting on all the buttons. The buttons can be arranged in an array on one face of the module in a manner typical of electromechanical, electrical, or electronic locks. The module can provide as much space to house this array as the lock housing of prior art locks.

[0011] Preferably, the locking means comprise locking means transferable between a locking state and a release state, representing respectively the closed and open states of the locking means, and locking means for preventing the transfer of the locking means from the locking state to the release state. The locking means may be electrically actuated to release the lock. Although it is entirely possible to provide electrical actuation of locking means components for various functions, a particularly simple construction is achieved by arranging the actuation to simply lock and unlock the performance of a release function.In this case, the locking means may advantageously comprise a movable locking element to prevent transfer and an electric motor to cause or allow the displacement of the locking element to release the lock, the motor being able to operate by means of the operating power supplied to the locking means. The locking element may be of any suitable shape, for example, a pin to prevent the rotation of a rotating component of the locking means. Apart from the unlocking function, the locking means may be manually operated for transfer between the locked and unlocked states. However, in a more advanced form of the lock, transfer by means of an electric drive is also possible.

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described more particularly by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a lock representing the present invention, the lock comprising a chassis and a module mounted on the chassis to be movable with respect to the same; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the module during movement with respect to the chassis; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the module separated from the chassis and a battery during chassis removal; and Figure 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of the lock in Figure 1.

[0013] Referring now to the drawings, a compact, surface-mounted, keyless electromechanical lock 10 is shown with an electronically controlled locking mechanism, which can be operated electrically and manually, the lock being particularly suitable for locking and opening a door, especially a cupboard or locker door, with respect to an environment.

[0014] The lock 10 comprises an elongated chassis 11 consisting of a metal mounting plate 12, of which only a peripheral flange 12a is visible in the figures and which can be mounted on a door face with an interposed gasket, and a metal body 13 in the form of a shallow recess open on one side away from the mounting plate 12. The open side is covered in an extreme region of the body 13 over approximately one-third of the body's length by a fixed cover 14 and in the remaining region of the body by a cover 15 that forms part of a module 16 constructed as a separate component from the chassis 11, as further described below. In Figure 4, the chassis 11 is indicated by a dashed line and the module 16 by a dashed line.

[0015] The chassis 11 carries the locking mechanism, which comprises locking means 17 transferable between a locking state for securing a door, in which the lock is mounted, to the edge of a door frame or the latch to the frame, and a release state for releasing the door from the frame. The locking means 17 comprise a rotating shaft assembly 18 that is primarily housed within the cover 14 and optionally contains a keyed cylinder 19 for an auxiliary purpose mentioned below.One end portion of the arbor assembly 18 projects from the cover 14 and carries a handle 20 secured against rotation with respect to the arbor assembly, and the other end portion of the arbor assembly projects through the body 13 and the mounting plate 12 of the chassis, and, when the lock 10 is mounted on a door, through an opening in the door and carries a fixing arm 21 that functions as a latch or retainer and is similarly secured against rotation with respect to the arbor assembly. Preferably, the other projecting end portion of the arbor assembly 18 has a square section that can be received in a square opening in the arm 21 to provide security against relative rotation.The arm 21 is intended to be positioned on one side of the door, specifically an interior side designated in relation to the inside of a cabinet or locker that can be closed by the door, opposite the side of the door on which the lock chassis 11 is to be mounted. Therefore, the arm 21 may be supplied as a separate component from the rest of the lock 10 and is intended to be fitted to the spindle assembly 18 only after the chassis has been mounted. The arm 21 is intended to engage, for example, the edge of a door frame to allow it to be locked and unlocked. The transition between the locked and unlocked states is achieved by manually rotating the spindle assembly 18 and the arm 21 using the handle 20.Rotation is possible in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and the lock 10 can be mounted on a door near a free side edge, which can be either a left or right side edge, opposite a hinged side edge. The orientation of the arm 21 in the shaft assembly 18 can be selected according to the lock's location.

[0016] The locking means further comprise a locking element 22 in the form of a slide that can be engaged with the shaft assembly 18 to lock its rotation, in particular rotation to release the arm 21, and that can be disengaged from the shaft assembly to allow rotation. The locking element 22 thus inhibits the transfer of the fastening means 17 from the locked state to the released state. The locking element 22 can be disengaged from the shaft assembly 18 by means of an electric motor 23 coupled to the locking element via a clutch and a motor-driven component that causes or permits the sliding movement of the element. The locking element 22 and the motor 23 are shown schematically in Figure 4, but are not shown in Figures 1 to 3.

[0017] The operating current for the motor 23 is supplied by a power source in the form of, for example, two 1.2-volt dry cell batteries connected in series 24 in a conventional cylindrical shape, the batteries in this case being non-rechargeable consumables and therefore not components of the lock as such. The batteries 24 are housed in a receptacle 25 of the chassis 11. The receptacle may simply be a receiving space, but preferably comprises a battery cradle 26 with contact terminals 27, which can be made contact with contact terminals of the batteries 24 when they are inserted into the cradle, and springs (not shown) for positioning the batteries in the cradle by pushing them against the terminals 27 and simultaneously ensuring good electrical contact. The cradle 26 is open towards the open side of the chassis body 13 so that the batteries are exposed on that side.

[0018] Module 16 is mounted on chassis 11 to allow sliding movement relative to it, thus permitting access to the batteries 24 in receptacle 25. For this purpose, the module's cover 15 and the chassis body 13 are interlocked on sliding tracks 28 (not shown in detail), represented by mutually parallel, flanged or ribbed longitudinal edges of the cover and corresponding channels in the body. The channels have re-entrant grooves for the sliding reception of the flanges or ribs, thereby retaining the cover 15 on the body 13 and preventing the module 16 from separating from the chassis 11 by moving perpendicular to the direction of the sliding tracks 28. The sliding movement of module 16 relative to chassis 11 covers a sufficient range to allow complete removal of the module from the chassis, as shown in Figure 3.The movement of the module is prevented by a releasable locking device, in this embodiment a locking screw 29, which passes through the cover 15 and is screwed into a pedestal on the chassis body 13.

[0019] In the position of the handle 20 shown in Figure 1, and therefore in the fixed state of the fastening means 17, the handle 20 covers and conceals the screw 29 when the latter is in place. Consequently, the lock 10 also incorporates an emergency release mechanism, which can be used in the event of discharged batteries, so that the shaft assembly 18 can be unlocked to allow the handle 20 to be turned and the screw 29 exposed. This mechanism can be, for example, auxiliary terminals that can be externally connected to the lock by means of a suitable substitute power supply and / or by means of the key-operated cylinder 19 which, when turned by means of a key, disengages a portion of the shaft assembly 18 equipped with the handle 20 from a portion of the assembly that can cooperate with the locking element 22, so that the handle can then be turned.

[0020] Module 16 carries control means 30 for controlling the closing means, in particular the operation of the motor 23, which includes the motor clutch. The control means 30 are housed in the cover 15 of module 16 and comprise a plurality of control elements, in particular pushbuttons 31, elastically induced to protrude into respective openings in the cover, but restricted from escaping through the openings, respectively, associated switches 32 actuated by the pushbuttons to provide individually characteristic code signals of the pushbuttons, and an electronic control unit 33 for processing the signals.The control unit 33 comprises a printed circuit board that can be connected to the batteries 24 via a power input and a power output through the cradle contact terminals 27. It carries electronic components for signal processing and, depending on the processing result, outputs a control signal for activating the motor 23 and engaging the locking means, as shown schematically in Figure 4, by means of a relay 34 located in a power supply to the motor and actuated by the control signal. Following established practice with push-button operated locks, each of the ten push buttons 31 in the plurality is assigned an individual number from 0 to 9, and a selected code number, usually four digits, is entered and stored by the control means 30.Pressing the buttons 31 assigned to the numbers corresponding to the stored code number, in the sequence inherent to the code number, leads to the generation, via the switches 32, of corresponding code signals. When the control unit 33 recognizes that these signals match the stored code number, they trigger the output of the control signal. The ten buttons 31 are arranged in a matrix of two parallel rows, as shown in Figures 1 to 3. An additional button 31 associated with the code number selection is positioned outside the matrix to be concealed by the handle 20, similar to the locking screw 29, so that the code number can only be adjusted or reset when the locking mechanism is in the released position.The precise nature of the control means 30, which may correspond to a known arrangement and is therefore not described in further detail, may vary and its details are not a matter of concern to the present invention.

[0021] In order to transfer current between the control means 30 in the module 16 and the electrical components in the chassis 11, the chassis has a set of first contacts 35, in this example four, and the module 16 has a corresponding set of second contacts 36 (not visible in figures 1 to 3) that cooperate respectively with the first contacts 35, the contacts 36 of the module being able to disengage and re-engage with those of the chassis when the module is moved with respect to the chassis to, respectively, provide and prevent access to the batteries 24. The contacts are constructed as sliding friction contacts and those of at least one of the sets may be elastic spring elements to ensure firm contact inter-coupling and thus ensure the realization of electrical contact.Contacts 35, 36 provide a simple means of achieving current transfer while accommodating the relative movement of module 16 and chassis 11.

[0022] When the module 16 is moved sufficiently relative to the chassis 11 to expose the battery cradle 24, and consequently, when the lock 10 is in use, the batteries 24 are either inserted into the cradle or, if permitted, as is the case with the present embodiment of the lock, the module is completely removed from the chassis. In either case, after removing the locking screw 29, the batteries can be released from their retention in the cradle and removed for replacement. Thus, discharged batteries can be replaced without the inconvenience of disassembling the lock as required with conventional locks. A particular feature that makes this possible is the division of the lock 10 into a chassis that can be fixed to a door or other supporting surface and a module that is movably mounted on the chassis but incorporates the control means 30 for controlling the operation of the lock.The control elements, particularly the 31 buttons, of the control means can be presented to a user in a habitual position with maximum utilization of the front area of ​​the lock so as to maintain the compact size of the lock.

Claims

1. A lock (10) comprising a chassis (11) that can be mounted on one of two parts to be closed and opened relative to each other and having locking means (17-23) transferable between a closed state and an open state respectively for closing and opening, the locking means (17-23) being electrically actuated to cause or permit the transfer from the closed state to the open state, and a control module (16) mounted on the chassis (11) and having control means (30) for controlling the supply of operating electrical power to the locking means, the chassis having a receptacle (25) for receiving an electrical power source (24) to provide the operating power,characterized in that the control module (16), which includes the control means (30), is movable with respect to the chassis (11) and the electrical power source (24) when received in the receptacle (25) of the chassis, allowing access to the receptacle (25) and the electrical power source (24) therein.

2. Lock (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control module (16) is movable with respect to the chassis (11).

3. Lock (10) according to claim 2, wherein the control module (16) is mounted on the chassis (11) by guide means for guiding the sliding movement of the control module with respect to the chassis.

4. Lock (10) according to claim 3, the guide means comprising sliding rails (28) coupled to each other, respectively, of the control module (16) and the chassis (11).

5. Lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,wherein the control module (16), which includes the control means (30), can be removed from the chassis (11) by moving it relative to the chassis.

6. A lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising releasable locking means (29) for releasably securing the control module (16) against movement relative to the chassis (11).

7. A lock (10) according to claim 6, wherein the release of the locking means (29) is prevented by the locking means (17-23) in the closed state.

8. A lock (10) according to claim 7, wherein the locking means (29) are covered by a handle (20) of the locking means (17-23) in the closed state.

9. Lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis (11) and the control module (16) are provided with mutually contacting electrical contacts (35,36) in electrical paths between the control means and the power source connection means (27) in the receptacle (25), the contacts (35, 36) being separable to interrupt the moving paths of the control module (16) with respect to the chassis (11) to allow access to the receptacle (25).

10. Lock (10) according to claim 9, wherein the contacts (35, 36) are sliding friction contacts.

11. Lock (10) according to claim 10, wherein the contacts (35, 36), when in mutual contact, are elastically pushed against each other.

12. Lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,comprising the control means (30) a plurality of control elements that can be selectively actuated in a predetermined sequence to provide a corresponding sequential transmission of signals to activate the transfer of the locking means (17-23) from the closed state to the open state.

13. Lock (10) according to claim 12, comprising the control means (30) electronic means (33) sensitive to signals for causing or enabling the supply of operating power to the locking means.

14. Lock (10) according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the control elements comprise buttons (31).

15. Lock (10) according to any one of the preceding claims,comprising the locking means (17 to 23) locking means (17) transferable between a locking state and a release state representing respectively the closed state and the open state of the locking means, and locking means (22) for blocking the transfer of the locking means from the locking state to the release state, the locking means being electrically actuated to cancel the lock.

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