Cylinder lock

Abstract

A cylinder lock (1) comprising: external first modules (A), which comprise a respective stator (2) provided with a radial expansion (3), a housing cavity (4) for a respective rotor (5) that has a seat (6), which contains the terminal ends of encoding means (7) arranged in the radial expansion (3) of the stator (2), the cavity being configured for the temporary housing of a coded key (8) and of at least one housing compartment (9) for at least one connection element (10) for connecting to other modules; second actuation modules (B), which comprise a respective stator (11) provided with a housing compartment (12) for the at least one connection element (10) and a respective rotor (13) that has a bit (14) for the actuation of respective lever mechanisms of the installation door leaf; third extension modules (C), which comprise a respective stator (15) inside which a respective rotor (16) is able to freely rotate. At least one external first module (A) comprises at least one housing channel (18) for the encoding means (7) which is open and connected to the housing compartment (9) for the connection element (10). The lock (1) comprises at least one contoured plate (19) which has at least one niche (20) configured for the housing of at least one head of at least one elastic element (21) of one of the encoding means (7). The radial expansion (3) comprises a longitudinal conduit (22), open onto the compartment (9) and onto a housing channel (18), which has a shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of the plate (19) for the housing thereof. The plate (19) when accommodated in the longitudinal conduit (22) defines a separating wall between the at least one channel (18) and the compartment (9).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cylinder lock of the modular type, which is particularly easy to assemble.

[0002] Nowadays cylinder locks constitute the main type of locks in circulation.

[0003] In accordance with the thickness of all possible variants of door leaves of installation, each lock needs to be made in different lengths.

[0004] Such variety, although covered by a predefined standardization, forces manufacturers to produce a plurality of versions of every cylinder lock, with consequent (and considerable) increase in the costs of design, production and logistics.

[0005] It is increasingly common to use modular locks, i.e. locks constituted by a plurality of mutually interconnected modules with which it is possible to provide all the variants necessary to cover the entire variety of thickness of any door leaves of installation.

[0006] In order to provide an end product of the right size, modular locks can be assembled according to a specific order. The mutual mating of the modules is normally obtained through the use of interconnecting elements which need to be arranged in housings of the radial expansions of the components to be coupled.

[0007] However, the radial expansions of the outermost modules of the lock (the modules with the rotor containing a slot into which to insert the coded key to open the lock) contain the encoding means (for example pins, counterpins and elastic forcing elements) inside the radial expansion. Arranging the interconnecting elements can therefore be a complex matter, because it can reduce the space available for the encoding means, so obstructing the associated assembly operations.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, by providing a modular cylinder lock that is simple to assemble.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a cylinder lock that is constituted by a very limited number of components.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a cylinder lock that is modular and easily reconfigurable.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a modular cylinder lock that is particularly secure against attempts at forced entry by tearing out the lock.

[0012] Another object of the invention is to provide a modular cylinder lock that is particularly secure against attempts at forced entry by drilling the lock.

[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a cylinder lock of the modular type in which the modules can be rigidly coupled even at the moment of installation in a door leaf.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder lock which is of low cost, easily and practically implemented, and safe in use.

[0015] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a cylinder lock of the type comprising a plurality of mutually interconnected modules of type chosen among: external first modules, which comprise a respective stator provided with a radial expansion, a housing cavity for a respective rotor that has a seat, which contains the terminal ends of encoding means arranged in said radial expansion of said stator, said cavity being configured for the temporary housing of a coded key and of at least one housing compartment for at least one connection element for connecting to other modules, second actuation modules, which comprise a respective stator provided with a housing compartment for said at least one connection element and a respective rotor that has a bit for the actuation of respective lever mechanisms of the installation door leaf, third extension modules, which comprise a respective stator inside which a respective rotor is able to freely rotate, characterized in that at least said one external first module comprises at least one housing channel for said encoding means which is open and connected to said housing compartment for said connection element, and in that it comprises at least one contoured plate which has at least one niche configured for arranging at least one head of at least one elastic element of one of said encoding means, said radial expansion comprising a longitudinal conduit, open onto said compartment and onto said at least one housing channel, which has a shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of said plate for the arrangement thereof, said plate defining, when arranged in said longitudinal conduit, a separating wall between said at least one channel and said compartment.

[0016] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the cylinder lock, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a contoured plate of a cylinder lock according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the contoured plate of Figure 1 from a different observation point; Figure 3 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the contoured plate of Figure 1 from an additional observation point; Figure 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the contoured plate of Figure 1 from a further observation point; Figure 5 is a schematic view from below of the contoured plate of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in Figure 5 of the contoured plate of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a cylinder lock according to the invention; Figure 8 is a schematic side view of the cylinder lock of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a schematic front elevation view of the cylinder lock of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in Figure 9 of the cylinder lock of Figure 8.

[0017] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a cylinder lock.

[0018] The cylinder lock 1 comprises a plurality of mutually interconnected modules A, B, C.

[0019] It is possible to provide external first modules A, which comprise a respective stator 2 provided with a radial expansion 3 and a housing cavity 4 for a respective rotor 5 that has a seat 6, which contains the terminal ends of encoding means 7 accommodated in the radial expansion 3 of the stator 2. The seat 6 of the rotor 5 is configured for the temporary arrangement of a coded key 8. At its radial expansion 3, the stator 2 is provided with at least one compartment 9 for the arrangement of at least one connection element 10 for connecting to other modules B, C.

[0020] There are also second actuation modules B, which comprise a respective stator 11 provided with a housing compartment 12 for the at least one connection element 10 and a respective rotor 13 that has a bit 14 for the actuation of respective lever mechanisms of the installation door leaf.

[0021] The third extension modules C comprise a respective stator 15 inside which a respective rotor 16 is able to freely rotate: the stator comprises a respective compartment 17 configured for arranging the connection element 10.

[0022] According to the invention, at least one external first module A advantageously comprises at least one housing channel 18 for the encoding means 8 which is open and connected to the housing compartment 9 for the connection element 10.

[0023] The lock 1 according to the invention conveniently comprises at least one contoured plate 19 which has at least one niche 20 configured for arranging at least one head of at least one elastic element 21 of one of the encoding means 7.

[0024] The radial expansion 3 advantageously also comprises a longitudinal conduit 22, open onto the compartment 9 and onto the at least one housing channel 18: such longitudinal conduit 22 has a shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of the plate 19 for the housing thereof.

[0025] The plate 19 when arranged within the longitudinal conduit 22 defines a separating wall between the at least one channel 18 and the compartment 9.

[0026] In the step of assembling the cylinder lock 1 it will therefore be possible to insert the pins and the counterpins that constitute at least a part of the encoding means 9 into the respective channels 18, arrange the elastic elements 21 below them, and insert the plate 19 into the longitudinal conduit 22 in order to lock the encoding means 7 in the correct position.

[0027] At this point the various modules A, B, C, which are necessary to provide a lock 1 of suitable length for installation in a predefined door leaf, can be assembled together by means of the connection elements 10.

[0028] The contoured plate 19 comprises a number of niches 20 that corresponds to the number of encoding means 7 (i.e. pins and counterpins inserted so that they can slide in respective channels 18 and forced toward the seat 6 of the rotor 5 by the elastic elements 21) present in the radial expansion 3.

[0029] In this case each one of the niches 20 is configured for arranging at least one head of at least one elastic element 21 of one of the encoding means 7.

[0030] The plate 19 has substantially the shape of a cylinder, at least partially cross-sectioned along a plane parallel to the axis of symmetry and passing through a chord of the circumference that constitutes its outline, so defining at least one flat face 23, 24, 25 arranged opposite to the niche 20.

[0031] The at least one flat face 23, 24, 25 is particularly useful because it makes it possible to arrange the plate 19 in the correct alignment with the encoding means 7 when it is inserted into the longitudinal conduit 22: the longitudinal conduit 22, in fact, will comprise at least one respective complementary surface on which the at least one flat face 23, 24, 25 can be juxtaposed, thus ensuring the correct geometric alignments.

[0032] The at least one niche 20 is provided on the portion of the plate 19 with circular cross-section, in alignment with the axis of symmetry of the generating cylinder, along a direction perpendicular to the at least one flat face 23, 24, 25.

[0033] The plate 19 can furthermore profitably comprise at least one tooth 26 protruding downwardly: in the assembled configuration such tooth 26 abuts against an edge 27, 28 of a module B, C chosen among the second module B and the third module C, coupled thereto, so determining the arrangement according to a predefined orientation of the plate 19 inside the conduit 22.

[0034] The plate 19 can further comprise at least one peg 29 protruding from the front facing the bottom of the conduit 22 in the assembled configuration.

[0035] If such peg is present on the plate 19, then the corresponding conduit 22 will comprise, at the respective back wall, a pocket 30 with a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the peg 29 for the relevant housing with consequent optimal centering of the plate 19 inside the conduit 22.

[0036] In more detail, in the small compartment that is delimited between the pocket 30 and the front of the peg 29 it is possible to accommodate a plug made of material with high mechanical strength, the purpose of which is to prevent an intrusion action executed with a drill, in an attempt to perforate the front of the lock 1 and reach the contoured plate 19, damaging it, so as to render the encoding means 7 ineffective and allow the lock to be opened without the key 8.

[0037] It should be noted that the connection element 10 can comprise a threaded element 31 inserted into the at least one housing compartment 9 of each first module A and screwed into a threaded hole, which constitutes the respective housing compartment 12, with a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the threaded element 31 of a respective module B. The threaded element 31 can also pass through the compartment 17 of each module C present, if any.

[0038] It should be noted that, in the assembled configuration, the threaded element 31 of the connection element 10 is screwed into a threaded housing compartment 12 of a respective stator 11 of a second actuation module B.

[0039] Inside the housing compartment 9 of each external first module A into which the connection element 10 is inserted, in juxtaposition with the head 32 thereof which is arranged opposite to the threaded terminal end of the threaded element 31, at least one pastille 33 is inserted which is made of extremely hard material.

[0040] The pastille 33 is configured to protect the head 32 of the connection element 10 provided with the threaded element 31 from any intrusion actions executed with a drill and aimed at damaging the connection element 10.

[0041] When it abuts against the pastille 33, the drill bit of the drill will not succeed in damaging it (and therefore it will not perforate the head 32 of the connection element 10) because it is arranged on the head 32 of the component 10 (optionally it is also inserted in a recess configured for the housing of a tool for clamping the head 32). Because it has high hardness, the pastille 33 will cause the rotating drill bit to slip and will impede the drill bit from damaging the connection element 10. The purpose of the hardness of the pastille 33 is to protect the connection element 10: the drill bit, before it can perforat the connection element 10, will need to completely wear away the pastille 33 (which is made of an extremely hard material and therefore is difficult to work on with tools designed for stock-removal machining).

[0042] The pastille 33 can be shaped like a sphere: this shape tends to deflect the drill bit if an attempt is made to force entry by drilling the lock. Any other convex shape can offer the same advantage offered with a spherical pastille 33 and therefore is considered included in the scope of protection defined in the present invention.

[0043] In the housing compartment 9 of each external first module A, externally with respect to the pastille 33, it is possible to install a closure plug 34 in the compartment 9, to prevent access thereto from outside.

[0044] Advantageously the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, by providing a cylinder lock 1 of the modular type that is simple to assemble.

[0045] Conveniently the cylinder lock 1 according to the invention is constituted by a very limited number of components.

[0046] Advantageously the cylinder lock 1 of the modular type according to the invention is easily reconfigurable.

[0047] Profitably the cylinder lock 1 of the modular type according to the invention is particularly secure against attempts at forced entry by tearing out the lock.

[0048] Positively the cylinder lock 1 of the modular type according to the invention is particularly secure against attempts at forced entry by drilling the lock.

[0049] Usefully the cylinder lock 1 according to the invention is of the modular type, in which the modules can be rigidly coupled even at the moment of installation in a door leaf.

[0050] Positively the cylinder lock 1 according to the invention is easily and practically implemented and is of low cost: such characteristics make the lock 1 according to the invention an innovation that is safe in use.

[0051] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0052] In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

[0053] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0054] Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and / or signs, those reference numerals and / or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and / or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and / or signs.

Claims

1. A cylinder lock of the type comprising a plurality of mutually-interconnected modules (A, B, C) of type chosen among: - external first modules (A), which comprise a respective stator (2) provided with a radial expansion (3), a housing cavity (4) for a respective rotor (5) that has a seat (6), which contains the terminal ends of encoding means (7) arranged in said radial expansion (3) of said stator (2), said cavity being configured for the temporary housing of a coded key (8) and of at least one housing compartment (9) for at least one connection element (10) for connecting to other modules, - second actuation modules (B), which comprise a respective stator (11) provided with a housing compartment (12) for said at least one connection element (10) and a respective rotor (13) that has a bit (14) for the actuation of respective lever mechanisms of the installation door leaf, - third extension modules (C), which comprise a respective stator (15) inside which a respective rotor (16) is able to freely rotate, characterized in that at least said one external first module (A) comprises at least one housing channel (18) for said encoding means (7) which is open and connected to said housing compartment (9) for said connection element (10), and in that it comprises at least one contoured plate (19) which has at least one niche (20) configured for arranging at least one head of at least one elastic element (21) of one of said encoding means (7), said radial expansion (3) comprising a longitudinal conduit (22), open onto said compartment (9) and onto said at least one housing channel (18), which has a shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of said plate (19) for the housing thereof, said plate (19) when accommodated in said longitudinal conduit (22) defining a separating wall between said at least one channel (18) and said compartment (9).

2. The cylinder lock according to claim 1, characterized in that said contoured plate (19) comprises a number of niches (20) corresponding to the number of encoding means (7) present inside said radial expansion (3), each one of said niches (20) being configured for the housing of at least one head of at least one elastic element (21) of one of said encoding means (7).

3. The cylinder lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (19) substantially has the shape of a cylinder cross-sectioned along at least one plane parallel to the axis of symmetry and passing through at least one chord of the circumference that constitutes its outline, so defining at least one flat face (23, 24, 25) arranged opposite to said niche (20).

4. The cylinder lock according to claim 3, characterized in that said at least one niche (20) is provided on the portion with circular cross-section of said plate (19), in alignment with said axis of symmetry of the cylinder circumscribed in said plate (19), along a direction perpendicular to said at least one flat face (23, 24, 25).

5. The cylinder lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (19) comprises at least one tooth (26) protruding downwardly, in the assembled configuration said tooth (26) abutting against an edge (27, 28) of a module (B, C) chosen among said second module (B) and said third module (C) coupled thereto, so determining the arrangement according to a predefined orientation of said plate (19) inside said conduit (22).

6. The cylinder lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plate (19) comprises at least one peg (29) protruding from the front facing the bottom of said conduit (22), said conduit (22) comprising, at the respective back wall, a pocket (30) with a shape and dimensions complementary to those of said peg (29) for the relevant housing with consequent optimal centering of said plate (19) inside said conduit (22).

7. The cylinder lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connection element (10) comprises a threaded element (31) inserted into said at least one housing compartment (9) of each first module (A) and screwed into a hole, which constitutes the respective housing compartment (12, 17), with a shape and dimensions complementary to those of said threaded element (31) of a respective module (B, C) chosen among said second module (B) and said third module (C).

8. The cylinder lock according to claim 7, characterized in that, in the assembled configuration, said threaded element (31) is screwed into a threaded housing compartment (12) of a respective stator (11) of said second actuation module (B) .

9. The cylinder lock according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, inside said housing compartment (9) of said external first module (A), in juxtaposition with a head (32) arranged opposite to the threaded terminal end of said threaded element (31), at least one pastille (33) is inserted which is made of extremely hard material, said pastille (33) being configured to protect the head (32) of said connection element (10) from any intrusion actions executed with a drill and aimed at damaging said connection element (10).

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