A retrofit lock assembly

Abstract

A retrofit lock assembly for a locker, the lock assembly comprising a front face unit mountable on an outer side of a locker door and having a rearwardly extending mounting extension, a base box mountable on an inner side of the locker door relative to the front face unit and including a locking mechanism and a latch unit mountable within the locker and having a mounting body with at least one abutment wall, an adjustable length foot oriented transversely to the abutment wall, and a mounting groove and a latch member to be received by the base box and engaged therewith by the locking mechanism to lock the latch unit to the base box when in a locked condition.

Description

[0001] A RETROFIT LOCK ASSEMBLY

[0002] Technical Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates generally to the field of locks and lock assemblies and more particularly to a retrofit lock assembly for a locker.

[0004] Background to the Invention

[0005] Locker installations are used in workplaces and storage applications for temporary storage of equipment or personal items. Lockers have become more common for busy office environments, especially those that adopt agile working and ‘hot desking’ policies.

[0006] Older locker arrangements are provided with manual keys and locks such as padlocks which are kept by the user for access to the locker. This can cause issues with the key being lost, which requires replacement of the lock or key cylinder in order to render the locker usable again. It can also create an issue with key exchange or hand over if the locker is to be used by a different user.

[0007] Locker installations with electronic locks (also known as smart lockers) are known to provide a solution to remove the need for keys or combination locks.

[0008] However, replacing an older locker lock arrangement requiring a manual key with an electronic lock creates a problem with the position of the opening through the locker door through which the key cylinder of the older lock arrangement was provided. This opening is in different positions in the door depending on the type of older lock used.

[0009] If another opening is formed to fit the electronic lock, this weakens the door and, in some cases, to prevent this, the door is replaced with a new door with the electronic lock.

[0010] There is therefore a need for a retrofit lock assembly allowing an electronic lock to be fitted to a locker door relative to the existing opening from which the manual key barrel has been removed.

[0011] Summary of the Invention In one aspect, there is provided a retrofit lock assembly for a locker, the lock assembly comprising: a) A front face unit mountable on an outer side of a locker door and having a rearwardly extending mounting extension; b) A base box mountable on an inner side of the locker door relative to the front face unit and including a locking mechanism; and c) A latch unit mountable within the locker and having: a. a mounting body with at least one abutment wall, an adjustable length foot oriented transversely to the abutment wall, and a mounting groove; and b. a latch member to be received by the base box and engaged therewith by the locking mechanism to lock the latch unit to the base box when in a locked condition.

[0012] Providing a retrofit lock assembly for a locker with these features allows a fitment to a variety of differently configured lockers from which a prior lock has been removed and allows the lock assembly to be fitted into the existing openings formed in the door in particular, without modifying, drilling holes or changing the form factor of the door.

[0013] In the context of the present description and claims, directions are given according to the locker, with the forward direction being at or toward the front of the locker door and the rear or rearward direction being towards the rear of the locker (with the door located at the front of the locker).

[0014] The retrofit lock assembly comprises a front face unit mountable on an outer side of a locker door and having a rearwardly extending mounting extension.

[0015] In one form, the locker door may be biased, using a spring for example or the ejector as described below, into an open position so that the locker door must be closed against the bias before latching and locking, and once unlocked and unlatched, the locker door will be moved to an open position due to the bias.

[0016] The front face unit may preferably comprise at least one operating interface to allow a user to operate the lock. The operating interface may include a display or display screen. Any type of display or display screen may be used. An eink display screen is particularly preferred for its superior display characteristics and better battery life.

[0017] The operating interface may include one or more input mechanisms such as buttons for example to operate the display and / or the lock.

[0018] The front face unit may be provided with a communication component to allow one or more communications pathways with the lock assembly for locking and unlocking and instructions or updates to the lock assembly operating system. Any communication pathway may be used. Preferably, the communication pathway is a wireless pathway. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) is particularly preferred, due primarily to its low power usage.

[0019] In addition, the lock assembly may be associated with a remote monitoring or management network and a communications pathway may be provided specifically for communication with that network.

[0020] Any electrical and / or communication components are preferably provided in the front face unit. The front face unit may have one or more ports to allow the connection of devices to charge any battery which may be provided as part of the lock assembly and / or provide information or instructions to the lock assembly via the front face unit, and / or collect information from the lock assembly via the front face unit. A USB port may be particular preferred for this purpose. Other input mechanisms could be used, for example and RFID card reader.

[0021] The front face unit may comprise housing which is mountable on the outer side of the locking door. In one form, the housing is substantially rectangular. The housing may be hollow. The housing may include a front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls which each extend rearwardly from an edge of the front wall. Preferably, the front wall, top wall, bottom wall and opposed side walls may extend substantially perpendicularly from the front wall.

[0022] The housing may be open on a rear side. The housing may include an opening provided in the front wall for the display screen as well as one or more openings for any input mechanisms. A rear side of the front wall is preferably substantially planar. One or more annular bosses may be provided on a rear side of the front wall to allow a fastener to be received therein. Preferably, each boss may be provided with a central bore, the central bore may be internally threaded. Alternatively, an insert component may be provided within the central bore to engage with a threaded connection screw for example. The insert may be provided as a heat set insert.

[0023] The rear side of the front face unit may preferably be closed by a rear wall. In one form, the rear wall may be attachable to the front face unit. The rear wall may be attachable to the front face unit using one or connection fasteners which may also be used to connect the front face unit to the locker door and / or to the base box. In other forms, the rear wall may be sandwiched into the front face unit by clamping force exerted to mount the front face unit to the locker door using the rearwardly extending mounting extension.

[0024] The rear wall may have connection openings provided therein. In one form, a number of connection openings are provided. In a preferred embodiment, four connection openings are provided, one adjacent to each comer of the preferred rectangular rear wall. The connection openings provided through the rear wall may align with the annular bosses provided on the front face unit to allow a fastener to pass through the connection openings in the rear wall and into the annular bosses on the front face unit.

[0025] The front side of the rear wall is preferably planar. When the rear wall is fitted onto the rear of the front face unit, the two components preferably define a containment volume for housing components within the front face unit.

[0026] The rear face of the rear wall is preferably provided with the rearwardly extending mounting extension.

[0027] The rearwardly extending mounting extension may be provided in a double D shape.

[0028] The rearwardly extending mounting extension may be received through an opening provided in the locker door which is left after removal of the previous lock. The opening provided in the locker door left after removal of the previous lock may have any shape, for example, when a manual key barrel is removed, the opening may be circular. When a previous electronic lock is removed, the opening may be larger and rectangular as will be explained below. The opening provided in the locker door may be reshaped in order to mount the retrofit lock assembly. The opening may be reshaped to have a double D shape.

[0029] The rearwardly extending mounting extension may be provided integrally, or in one piece with the rear wall. The rearwardly extending mounting extension preferably has a first attachment configuration provided on an outer side thereof. In one form, the outer periphery of the rearwardly extending mounting extension may be externally threaded. In use, an internally threaded nut may be engageable with the externally threaded rearwardly extending mounting extension.

[0030] The rearwardly extending mounting extension may be provided with a second attachment configuration, preferably in the form of an internally threaded opening provided into the mounting extension. The internally threaded opening may be provided centrally in the mounting extension. Preferably, the internally threaded opening is provided coaxially with the mounting extension.

[0031] In one form, a part of the external thread may be removed from at least one side of the mounting extension to form a flattened portion within the footprint of the mounting extension. An opening may be provided through the rear wall adjacent to the flattened portion. This may allow wiring for example to extend through the rear wall of the front face unit, through any opening in the locker door through which the mounting extension is provided, and to or into the base box.

[0032] The front face unit may also have a lip or gripping surface provided. In a preferred form, a lip may be provided at a lower side of the front face unit which may be gripped or grasped by a user to move the locker door if necessary.

[0033] In a particularly preferred form, the one or more ports to allow the connection of devices to charge any battery which may be provided as part of the lock assembly and / or provide information or instructions to the lock assembly via the front face unit, and / or collect information from the lock assembly via the front face unit, may be provided into or through the lower side / underside of the front face unit. The one or more ports may be provided in a depression formed by the lip or gripping surface. A USB port may be particular preferred for this purpose. This may orient the port downwardly, minimising fouling which may occur by dust or other detritus whilst also hiding the one or more ports. The one or more ports may be provided remotely from the lip or gripping surface, for example at or towards a lateral side of the underside of the front face unit.

[0034] The retrofit lock assembly may comprise a base box mountable on an inner side of the locker door relative to the front face unit and including a locking mechanism.

[0035] The base box may include a housing. Preferably, the housing of the base box may be substantially rectangular. The housing of the base box may be provided with a closed front face to abut an inner side of the locker door. The closed front face may be provided with at least one opening therethrough. At least one opening may be provided to align with the preferred internally threaded opening in the mounting extension. An elongate internally threaded fastener may be provided to attach the base box to the front face unit. The at least one opening may be provided with a countersunk entry in order to receive the head of the threaded fastener thereinto.

[0036] A larger access opening may be provided in the rear wall of the base box. A removable cover may be provided for selectively closing the access opening.

[0037] The housing may be provided with a top wall, bottom wall and a pair of opposed sidewalls to define a substantially rectangular outer shape of the base box.

[0038] An inner volume may be defined within the base box by an upper internal wall, lower internal wall and a pair of opposed internal sidewalls. The inner volume may be substantially rectangular and located within the outer shape of the base box. The internal walls defining the inner volume may be spaced inwardly from the outer walls. Rear wall portions may be provided between the outer wall of the base box and the respective inner wall.

[0039] The inner volume may be offset in the base box. Providing an offset inner volume may define enlarged volumes on one or more sides of the base box between the internal walls of the inner volume and the external walls of the base box. In one form, an enlarged volume may be provided on at least two sides of the preferred rectangular housing. One enlarged volume may be provided along the one side wall of the base box and a second enlarged volume may be provided along the bottom of the base box. The enlarged volume along the side wall portion may include a latch opening in the rear wall portion between the outer sidewall and the inner side wall. In use, the latch provided on the latch unit may preferably be received into the latch opening in the base box when the locker door is closed and is lockable in that position by the locking mechanism.

[0040] In one form, a number of connection openings may be provided through the rear wall portions of the base box, through which a respective elongate fastener may be received to connect the base box to the front face unit and / or to an adapter plate or seating plate as described below. In a preferred form, four connection openings may be provided, one connection opening adjacent to each of the respective comers of the base box. The connection openings provided may preferably aligned with the connection openings provided on the front face unit and / or the rear wall of the front face unit. The fasteners may connect the front face unit to the base box with the locker door therebetween, or may connect the base box to an adapter plate or seating plate provided between the front face unit and the base box.

[0041] The base box will preferably include the locking mechanism to releasably lock the latch unit to the base box which will in turn lock the locker door relative to the locker.

[0042] An adapter plate may be provided in some configurations. If the base box must be mounted to the inner side of locker door offset from the position at which the front face unit is mounted to the outer side of the locker door, for example in situations where there is insufficient clearance, an adapter plate may be provided to mount the base box to the locker door in a position which is offset from the front face unit. In this configuration, the front face unit may be mounted to the locker door using the mounting extension and providing other nut on an inner side of the locker door to engage with the first attachment configuration on an external side of the mounting extension to clamp the rear wall of the front face unit against an outer side of the locker door and the nut preferably clamps against an inner side of the locker door.

[0043] The adapter plate is preferably substantially planar on both the front and rear surfaces. An opening is preferably provided in the adapter plate to receive the mounting extension of the front face unit therethrough. In one form, the opening may have a double D shape to correspond to the preferred outer shape of the mounting extension on the front face unit.

[0044] A number of connection openings are preferably provided on the adapter plate to receive a respective elongate fastener extending through the base box to attach the base box to the adapter plate. In one form, the number of connection openings provided on the adapter plate correspond to the number of connection openings provided on the base box.

[0045] The connection openings on the base box are preferably offset in at least one of an X-axis and / or a Y axis from the opening provided in the adapter plate to receive the mounting extension. This will preferably allow the back box to be mounted to the adapter plate offset from the front face unit.

[0046] In a preferred form, each connection opening may be provided in an annular boss. The annular boss may be internally threaded all may be provided with a heat set insert. The height of the annular bosses may be provided to establish a clearance between the front wall of the base box and the rear surface of the adapter plate to allow for the thickness of the nut used to attach the front face unit to the adapter plate.

[0047] Preferably, any elongate fastener used to attach the base box to the adapter plate in this form may extend into, but not through the adapter plate.

[0048] The adapter plate may be sandwiched between the nut and the inner side of the locker door.

[0049] Where there is a larger opening in the locker door left by removal of a previous electronic lock for example, a seating plate may be provided to seat the base box. In this configuration, the seating plate may be sized to sit within the periphery of the opening in the locker door, substantially coplanar with the thickness of the locker door. The seating plate may be provided with an opening. The opening may have a double D shape. A number of connection openings are preferably provided on the seating plate to receive a respective elongate fastener extending through the base box. In this configuration, the elongate fasteners may connect to the base box to the front face through the connection openings in the seating plate and the side edges of the seating plate may locate the base box and front face unit relative to the large opening in the door. Preferably, the elongate fasteners, when tightened will clamp the front face unit to the front face of the locker door and the base box to the rear face of the locker door about the large opening left by removal of the previous electronic lock.

[0050] The retrofit lock assembly may comprise a latch unit mountable within the locker and having a mounting body with at least one abutment wall, an adjustable length foot oriented transversely to the abutment wall, and a mounting groove and a latch member to be received by the base box and engaged therewith by the locking mechanism to lock the latch unit to the base box when in a locked condition.

[0051] The latch unit is preferably provided within the locker, relative to the door and in particular, relative to the base box to allow the latch member to be received by the base box and to be engaged there with by the locking assembly.

[0052] The latch unit is preferably mounted to a structural component of the locker such as the locker wall. In particular, the latch unit may be mounted relative to the locker wall at a position on the periphery of the main opening of the lock.

[0053] In one form, the latch unit may include housing or block. The housing may be hollow but in a preferred form, the latch unit includes a substantially solid latch unit mounting block. The mounting block may be located within the lock such that one or more walls of the mounting block abut respective portions of the locker. However, due to the configuration of the periphery of the main opening of the locker, the mounting block may abut only a single wall.

[0054] In use, the at least one abutment wall may be positioned to abut a portion of the locker. One or more fasteners may be provided to attach the mounting block to the portion of the locker. In one form, a number of elongate fasteners pass through the portion of the locker and into the mounting block through the abutment wall. The fasteners may be threaded but rivet(s) may be preferred.

[0055] The at least one abutment wall may preferably be substantially planar to abut the portion of the locker relative to which it is to be mounted.

[0056] The adjustable length foot may be provided with a threaded body which extends into a correspondingly threaded opening in the mounting block or housing, and an enlarged head. The correspondingly threaded opening in the mounting block or housing may extend into, or preferably through the mounting block such that the end of the threaded body accessible to a user from the side of the mounting block opposite to the enlarged head.

[0057] Rotation of the adjustable length foot relative to the mounting block in a first direction preferably extends the adjustable length foot out of the mounting body and rotation in an opposite direction retracts the adjustable length foot into the mounting body. The body and / or head of the adjustable length foot may have a tool engagement portion, for example a shaped opening to engage a correspondingly shaped tool to allow a user to easily rotate the adjustable length foot.

[0058] The enlarged head may have a planar abutment surface. The planar abutment surface is preferably oriented transversely to the abutment wall. When the mounting block is attached to the lock using the abutment wall and the adjustable length foot is extended transversely to abut an adjacent, perpendicular portion of the locker, this preferably allows the position and orientation of the mounting block to be fixed in three directions, and to brace the mounting block against the respective portions of the locker. In use, the mounting block is preferably attached to the locker via the fasteners into the abutment wall and then the adjustable length foot is typically deployed to abut an adjacent, perpendicular side wall of the locker.

[0059] Some locker profile shapes may have a return lip, defining a substantially U- shaped portion in the periphery of the locker relative to which the mounting block is to be attached. A mounting groove may therefore be provided in the mounting block or housing to accommodate the return lip. In one form, the mounting groove extends substantially parallel to and spaced from the plane of the abutment wall.

[0060] An L- shaped bracket may be attached to the mounting block to mount the latch member. In one form, the L-shaped bracket may be attached to the block over an open end of the threaded opening for the adjustable length foot so that once the length of the adjustable length foot has been set, access to the end of the adjustable length foot is then denied until the L-shaped bracket is removed.

[0061] The L-shaped bracket may be mounted using the elongate slot openings to allow adjustment of the position of the L-shaped bracket relative to the mounting block thereby adjusting the position of the latch member. A threaded fastener is preferably used to attach the L-shaped bracket through the elongate slot opening to the mounting block.

[0062] A perpendicularly extending return wall of the L-shaped bracket may mount the latch member and orient the latch member relative to the base box. An ejector may be provided on the return wall to open the locker door when the lock assembly is unlocked and unlatched.

[0063] A cover may be provided to cover the latch member and / or ejector. The cover may be snap fit or slid relative to the L-shaped bracket. In one form, a channel may be provided upper and lower side of the mounting body between the mounting body and the L-shaped bracket an edge of the cover may be received therein.

[0064] When the locker door is closed and locked, a forward end of the cover may preferably abut the rear face of the base box with a portion of the latch member located inside the base box. Once closed, the lock mechanism may then be operated to engage the latch member to hold the latch member, and the locker door in the locked position until released.

[0065] The lock mechanism may preferably be operated electronically, with a code or signal used, transmitted to the lock assembly to lock and unlock the locker door.

[0066] In another form, the invention may reside in a locker system including a locker with locker door as described and a lock assembly having any one or more of te features described herein.

[0067] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0068] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0069] Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a locker with door and a retrofit lock mounting assembly according to an embodiment.

[0070] Figure 2 is a view from the inside of configuration illustrated in Figure 1 (door open). Figure 2A is a detailed view of the portion A illustrated in Figure 2.

[0071] Figure 3 is a top view of the lock assembly illustrated in Figure 2.

[0072] Figure 3 A is a detailed view of the lock assembly illustrated in Figure 3.

[0073] Figure 4 is a view from the inside of configuration illustrated in Figure 1 (door closed).

[0074] Figure 4A is a detailed view of the portion B illustrated in Figure 4.

[0075] Figure 5 is a top view of the lock assembly illustrated in Figure 4.

[0076] Figure 5A is a detailed view of the lock assembly illustrated in Figure 5.

[0077] Figure 6 is an exploded axonometric view of a retrofit latch structure according to an embodiment.

[0078] Figure 7 is a top view of the retrofit latch structure in Figure 6 attached to a wall profile of a first type.

[0079] Figure 7A is a top view of the retrofit latch structure attached to a wall profile of a second type.

[0080] Figure 8 is a top view of the retrofit latch structure in Figure 6 showing an extended dimension.

[0081] Figure 8 A is a top view of the retrofit latch structure in Figure 6 showing a retracted dimension.

[0082] Figure 9 is an end elevation view of the retrofit latch structure in Figure 6 showing the cover connection.

[0083] Figure 9 A is a detailed view of the portion mark E in Figure 9.

[0084] Figure 10 is an axonometric view of a first step in mounting retrofit latch structure in Figure 6.

[0085] Figure 11 is an axonometric view of a second step in mounting retrofit latch structure in Figure 6.

[0086] Figure 12 is an axonometric view of a third step in mounting retrofit latch structure in Figure 6. Figure 13 is an axonometric view of a fourth step in mounting retrofit latch structure in Figure 6.

[0087] Figure 14 is an exploded axonometric view of a front face and base box mounting on a wooden door according to an embodiment.

[0088] Figure 15 is a sectional side view of the configuration illustrated in Figure 14.

[0089] Figure 16 is an exploded axonometric view of a front face and base box mounting on a sheet metal door according to an embodiment.

[0090] Figure 17 is a sectional side view of the configuration illustrated in Figure 16.

[0091] Figure 18 is a detailed view of portion B in Figure 17.

[0092] Figure 19 is a detailed view of portion C in Figure 17.

[0093] Figure 20 is an exploded axonometric view of a front face and base box mounting on a sheet metal door with an offset according to an embodiment.

[0094] Figure 21 is an elevation view of an offset plate according to an embodiment.

[0095] Figure 22 is a side view of the configuration of Figure 20 with partial section.

[0096] Figure 22A is a detailed view of the portion shown in Figure 22.

[0097] Figure 23 is an axonometric view of the configuration in Figure 20 attached to a door, before the base box is mounted.

[0098] Figure 24 is an axonometric view of the configuration in Figure 20 attached to a door, after the base box is mounted.

[0099] Figure 25 is an exploded axonometric view of a front face and base box mounting on a sheet metal door with an enlarged opening according to an embodiment.

[0100] Figure 26 is a view from the inside of the configuration of Figure 25.

[0101] Figure 27 is a sectional view of the configuration shown in Figure 26 along line C-

[0102] C. A retrofit lock assembly for a locker 10 is illustrated in the accompanying Figures in various possible embodiments.

[0103] In all of the illustrated embodiments, the lock assembly comprises a front face unit 11 mountable on an outer side of a locker door 12 and having a rearwardly extending mounting extension 13. The lock assembly also comprises base box 14 mountable on an inner side of the locker door 12 relative to the front face unit 11. The base box includes a locking mechanism (not shown). A latch unit 15 is provided which is mountable within the locker 10. The latch unit 15 includes a mounting block 16 with an abutment wall 17, an adjustable length foot 18 oriented transversely to the abutment wall 17, and a mounting groove 19 and a latch member 20 to be received by the base box 14 and engaged therewith by the locking mechanism to lock the latch unit 15 to the base box 14 when in a locked condition, thereby locking the locker door 12 to the locker 10.

[0104] The front face unit 11 illustrated comprises an operating interface to allow a user to operate the lock assembly. The operating interface includes a display screen 21, which in the illustrated embodiments, is an eink display screen.

[0105] The operating interface may include one or more input mechanisms such as buttons for example to operate the display 21 and / or the lock mechanism.

[0106] The front face unit 11 will also preferably be provided with a communication component (not shown) to form one or more communications pathways with the lock assembly. Any communication pathway may be used. Preferably, the communication pathway is a wireless pathway. Bluetooth low energy (BLE) is particularly preferred, due primarily to its low power usage.

[0107] Any electrical and / or communication components are preferably provided in the front face unit 11 and as shown in Figure 17, may be provided on a control board 60.

[0108] The front face unit 11 illustrated is configured as a housing which is mountable on the outer side of the locker door 12 as shown in Figure 1. In one form, best illustrated in Figures 14 to 20, the front face unit housing is substantially rectangular and hollow. The housing includes a front wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposed side walls which each extend rearwardly from an edge of the front wall. Preferably, the front wall, top wall, bottom wall and opposed side walls extend substantially perpendicularly from the front wall.

[0109] The housing includes an opening provided in the front wall for the display screen 21 as well as one or more openings for any input mechanisms.

[0110] The illustrated housing is open on a rear side. A rear side of the front wall is preferably substantially planar. As best shown in Figure 27, a number of annular bosses 22 are provided on a rear side of the front wall to allow a respective fastener 23 to be received therein. Preferably, each boss 22 may be provided with a central bore. The central bore may be internally threaded. Alternatively, an insert component 24 may be provided within the central bore to engage with a threaded connection screw 23 as shown in Figure 19. The insert 24 may be provided as a heat set insert.

[0111] The rear side of the front face unit 11 in the illustrated embodiments is closed by a rear wall 25. In some embodiments, the rear wall 25 may be attachable to the front face unit 11. As shown in Figure 17and 19 for example, the rear wall 25 is attachable to the front face unit 11 using connection fasteners 23 which are also be used to connect the front face unit 11 to the locker door 12 and / or to the base box 14.

[0112] In other forms such as that illustrated in Figure 20, the rear wall 25 may be sandwiched into the front face unit 11 by clamping force exerted to mount the front face unit 11 to the locker door 12 using the rearwardly extending mounting extension 13.

[0113] The rear wall 25 may have connection openings 26 provided therein. In a preferred embodiment, four connection openings 26 are provided, one adjacent to each comer of the rectangular rear wall 25. The connection openings 26 provided through the rear wall 25 may align with the annular bosses 22 provided on the front face unit 11 to allow fastener 23 to pass through the connection openings 26 in the rear wall 25 and into the annular bosses 22 on the front face unit 11. In Figure 16, openings are drilled or formed in the door 12 to allow the fasteners 23 to pass through the door.

[0114] The front side of the rear wall is preferably planar. AS shown in Figures 15 and 17 for example, when the rear wall 25 is fitted onto the rear of the front face unit 22, the two components define a containment volume for housing components 60 within the front face unit 11.

[0115] The rear face of the rear wall 25 is preferably provided with the rearwardly extending mounting extension 13. The rearwardly extending mounting extension 13 may be provided in a double D shape as shown.

[0116] A shown in Figures, the rearwardly extending mounting extension 13 is received into (Figure 14) or through (Figure 16) an opening 27 provided in the locker door 12 which is left after removal of the previous lock. The opening 27 provided in the locker door 12 left after removal of the previous lock may have any shape, for example, when a manual key barrel is removed, the opening may be circular. When a previous electronic lock is removed, the opening may be larger and rectangular as shown in Figure 25. The opening 27 provided in the locker door may be reshaped in order to mount the retrofit lock assembly. The opening may be reshaped to have the double D shape shown in Figure 16.

[0117] The rearwardly extending mounting extension 13 of the illustrated embodiments is provided integrally, or in one piece with the rear wall 25.

[0118] The rearwardly extending mounting extension 13 preferably has a first attachment configuration provided on an outer side thereof, and, in the illustrated embodiments, the outer periphery of the rearwardly extending mounting extension 13 is externally threaded. In use of the lock assembly in one use configuration, an internally threaded nut 28 is engageable with the externally threaded rearwardly extending mounting extension 13.

[0119] The rearwardly extending mounting extension 13 illustrated is provided with a second attachment configuration, which as illustrated is in the form of an internally threaded opening 29 provided into the mounting extension 13. The internally threaded opening 29 shown is provided coaxially with the mounting extension 13.

[0120] Figure 14 shows the use of the internally threaded opening 29 to mount the front face unit 11 on a wooden locker door 32. A countersunk washer 30 is provided on the inside of the locker door 12 and a fastener 31 is then passed through the washer 30 to engage the internally threaded opening 29 on the mounting extension 13 to clamp the front face unit 11 to the outer side of the locker door 12. The internally threaded opening 29 is provided with a heat set insert 36. The base box 14 is then fitted to the inside of the locker door 12 over the countersunk washer 30 and fastener 31 using connection screws 33. Also shown in Figure 15 is the base box control board 34 which extends parallel to the front face 35 of the base box 14.

[0121] In the form illustrated in Figure 16 and 20 for example, a part of the external thread is removed from at least one side of the mounting extension 13 to form a flattened portion within the footprint of the mounting extension 13. An opening (obscured) may be provided through the rear wall 25 adjacent to the flattened portion. This may allow wiring for example to extend through the rear wall 25 of the front face unit 11, through any opening 27 in the locker door 12 through which the mounting extension 13 is provided, and to or into the base box 14 to connect the front face unit 11 to the base box 14.

[0122] As shown in Figures 15 and 17 in particular, the front face unit may also have a lip 70 or gripping surface provided at a lower side of the front face unit 11 which may be gripped or grasped by a user to move the locker door 12 if necessary.

[0123] In a particularly preferred form, the one or more ports to allow the connection of devices to charge any battery which may be provided as part of the lock assembly and / or provide information or instructions to the lock assembly via the front face unit 11, and / or collect information from the lock assembly via the front face unit 11, may be provided into or through the lower side / underside of the front face unit 11. The one or more ports may be provided in a depression formed by the lip 70. A USB port may be particular preferred for this purpose. The one or more ports may be provided remotely from the lip 70, for example at or towards a lateral side of the underside of the front face unit 11.

[0124] The base box 14 may include a substantially rectangular housing as shown in the Figures. The housing of the base box may be provided with a closed front face 35 (on the locker door side) to abut an inner side of the locker door 12. The closed front face 35 may be provided with a larger opening therethrough to allow passage of the mounting extension of the front face unit and a countersunk opening 38 therethrough to align with the preferred internally threaded opening 29 in the mounting extension 13. Figure 16 shows the lock assembly used in relation to a metal sheet locker door 12. The mounting extension 13 of the front face unit 11 is inserted through the double D opening in the locker door 12. The base box 14 is then aligned with the mounting extension 13 so that the mounting extension 13 is received into the larger opening in the closed front face 35. An elongate internally threaded fastener 37 is then provided through the countersunk opening 38 into the internally threaded opening 29 of the mounting extension 13to attach the base box 14 to the front face unit 11. The countersunk opening 38 receives the head of the threaded fastener 37 thereinto. A heat set insert 39 is provided in the mounting extension 13.

[0125] As shown in Figures 14 and 16, a larger access opening may be provided in the rear wall (the wall oriented towards the inside of the locker) of the base box 14. A removable cover (not shown for clarity) may be provided for selectively closing the access opening.

[0126] The base box illustrated is provided with a top wall, bottom wall and a pair of opposed sidewalls to define a substantially rectangular outer shape of the base box. An inner volume is defined within the base box 14 by an upper internal wall, lower internal wall and a pair of opposed internal sidewalls. The inner volume 40 is substantially rectangular and located within the outer shape of the base box 14. The internal walls defining the inner volume 40 are spaced inwardly from the outer walls. Rear wall portions may be provided between the outer wall of the base box 14 and the respective inner wall.

[0127] The inner volume 40 is offset in the base box 14 in the illustrated embodiments. Providing an offset inner volume may define enlarged volumes on one or more sides of the base box 14 between the internal walls of the inner volume 40 and the external walls of the base box. In the form shown, an enlarged volume is provided on two sides of the preferred rectangular base box, with one enlarged volume provided along one side wall of the base box 14 and a second enlarged volume provided along the bottom of the base box 14.

[0128] The enlarged volume along the side wall portion includes a latch opening 41 in the rear wall portion between the outer side wall and inner side wall. In use, the latch member 20 provided on the latch unit 15 is received into the latch opening 41 in the base box 14 when the locker door 12 is closed, and is lockable in that position by the locking mechanism which, in the illustrated embodiments, includes the retractable locking pin 42 shown in Figure 26.

[0129] A number of connection openings 43 are provided through the rear wall portions of the base box 14, through which a respective elongate fastener 23 is received to connect the base box 14 to the front face unit 11. In a preferred form, four connection openings 43 are provided, one connection opening adjacent to each of the respective comers of the base box 14. The connection openings 43 provided are aligned with the connection openings 22 provided on the front face unit and / or the rear wall of the front face unit 11. The fasteners 23 connect the front face unit 11 to the base box 14 with the locker door 12 therebetween.

[0130] The base box 14 will preferably include the locking mechanism to releasably lock the latch unit 15 to the base box 14 which will in turn lock the locker door 12 relative to the locker 10.

[0131] As shown in Figure 20, an adapter plate may be provided in some configurations. If the base box 14 must be mounted to the inner side of locker door 12 offset from the position at which the front face unit 11 is mounted to the outer side of the locker door 12, for example in situations where there is insufficient clearance, an adapter plate 44 may be provided to mount the base box 14 to the locker door 12 in a position which is offset from the front face unit 11. In this configuration, the front face unit 11 is mounted to the locker door 12 using the mounting extension 13 and providing the nut 28 on an inner side of the locker door 12 to engage with the first attachment configuration on an external side of the mounting extension 13, to clamp the rear wall of the front face unit 11 against an outer side of the locker door 12 and the nut preferably clamps the adapter plate 44 against an inner side of the locker door 12.

[0132] The adapter plate 44 is preferably substantially planar on both the front and rear surfaces. An opening 45 is provided in the adapter plate 44 to receive the mounting extension 13 of the front face unit 11 therethrough. In the form shown in Figure 20, the opening 45 has a double D shape to correspond to the outer shape of the mounting extension 13 on the front face unit 11. A number of connection openings are preferably provided on the adapter plate

[0133] 44 to receive a respective elongate fastener 47 extending through the base box 14 to attach the base box 14 to the adapter plate 44. In the illustrated form, each connection opening is provided in an annular boss 46. The annular boss 46 may be internally threaded or may be provided with a heat set insert 24. As shown in Figure 22 and 22A, the height of the annular bosses 46 is provided to establish a clearance between the front wall of the base box 14 and the rear surface of the adapter plate 44 to allow for the thickness of the nut 28 used to attach the front face unit 11 to the adapter plate 44.

[0134] In this configuration and as shown in Figure 21, the connection openings 47 in the annular bosses 46 on the base box 14 are offset in the X and Y axes from the opening

[0135] 45 provided in the adapter plate 44 to receive the mounting extension 13. This will preferably allow the back box 14 to be mounted to the adapter plate 44 and to the locker door 12, offset from the front face unit 11.

[0136] Preferably, the elongate fastener 47 used to attach the base box 14 to the adapter plate 44 in this form extends into, but not through the adapter plate 44.

[0137] The adapter plate 44 is sandwiched between the nut 28 and the inner side of the locker door 12 as shown in Figure 20.

[0138] Where there is a larger opening 49 in the locker door left by removal of a previous electronic lock for example as shown in Figures 25 to 27, a seating plate 48 may be provided to seat the base box 14 and locate the base box relative to the larger opening 49. In this configuration, the seating plate 48 is sized to sit within the periphery of the opening 49 in the locker door 12, substantially coplanar with the thickness of the locker door 12. The seating plate 48 is provided with an opening 50 for the mounting extension but in this case, no nut 28 is used to attach the mounting extension to the seating plate 48. The opening may have a double D shape as shown in Figure 25.

[0139] A number of connection openings are provided on the seating plate 48 to receive a respective elongate fastener 23 extending through the base box 14 and into the openings on the front face unit 11. In this configuration, the elongate fasteners 23 connect to the base box 14 to the front face unit 11 through the connection openings in the seating plate 48 and the side edges of the seating plate 48 locate the base box 14 and front face unit 11 relative to the large opening 49 in the door 12. Preferably, the elongate fasteners 23, when tightened clamp the front face unit 11 to the front face of the locker door 12 and the base box 14 to the rear face of the locker door 12 about the large opening 49 left by removal of the previous electronic lock.

[0140] An enlarged side lip 51 may be provided on the base box 14 for additional support.

[0141] The latch unit 15 is preferably provided within the locker 10, relative to the door 12 and in particular, relative to the base box 14 to allow the latch member 20 to be received by the base box 14 and to be engaged there with by the locking assembly.

[0142] The latch unit 15 is preferably mounted to a structural component of the locker such as the locker wall as shown in Figures 1 to 5A. In particular, the latch unit 14 may be mounted relative to the locker wall at a position on the periphery of the main opening of the locker 10.

[0143] In the form illustrated in Figure 6 to 13, the latch unit 15 includes a substantially solid latch unit mounting block 16. The mounting block 16 is located within the locker 10 such that at least the abutment wall 17 of the mounting block 16 abut respective portions of the locker 10. However, due to the configuration of the periphery of the main opening of the locker, the mounting block 16 may abut only a single wall.

[0144] In use, the abutment wall 17 is positioned to abut a sidewall portion of the locker 10 and fasteners are provided to attach the mounting block to the portion of the locker. In one form, a number of elongate rivets 52 pass through the portion of the locker and into the mounting block 16 through the abutment wall 17 as shown in Figure 10

[0145] The adjustable length foot 18 is provided with a threaded body 53 which extends into a correspondingly threaded opening (obscured in Figure 6) in the mounting block 16, and an enlarged head 54. The correspondingly threaded opening in the mounting block 16 extends through the mounting block 16 such that the end of the threaded body 53 is accessible to a user from the side of the mounting block 16 opposite to the enlarged head 54 as shown in Figures 10 to 13.

[0146] Rotation of the adjustable length foot 18 relative to the mounting block 16 in a first direction preferably extends the adjustable length foot out of the mounting body to a maximum of 40mm and rotation in an opposite direction retracts the adjustable length foot into the mounting body to reduce the dimension to 26mm, as shown in Figures 8 and 8 A. The body 53 of the adjustable length foot 18 has a tool engagement slot 55, to engage a correspondingly shaped tool to allow a user to easily rotate the adjustable length foot 18. This is shown in Figure 11.

[0147] The enlarged head 54 has a planar abutment surface oriented transversely to the abutment wall 17. When the mounting block 16 is attached to the locker 10 using the abutment wall 17 and the adjustable length foot 18 is extended transversely to abut an adjacent, perpendicular portion of the locker 10 as shown in Figures 7 and 7A, this allows the position and orientation of the mounting block 16 to be fixed in three directions, and to brace the mounting block 16 against the respective portions of the locker 10.

[0148] Some locker profile shapes may have a return lip, defining a substantially Ilshaped portion in the periphery of the locker relative to which the mounting block 16 is to be attached as shown in Figure 7. The mounting groove 19 is provided in the mounting block 16 to accommodate the return lip as shown.

[0149] As shown in Figure 7, the mounting block 16 is pressed against the inner sides of two wall portions 56 to locate in X, and Y axes. For the Z height, a height jig can be used to position the block. The mounting block is then secured with two rivets 52.

[0150] In the configuration shown in Figure 7 A, the mounting block 16 is positioned against the inner side of the return surface and aligned to the edge of the return surface 57 for both X and Y locating. For Z height, a height jig can be used to position the mounting block 16. The mounting block is then secured with two rivets 52.

[0151] In use, the mounting block 16 is attached to the locker via the rivets 52 into the abutment wall 17 and then the adjustable length foot 18 is typically deployed to abut an adjacent, perpendicular side wall of the locker.

[0152] An L-shaped bracket 58 is attached to the mounting block 16 to mount the latch member 20. In one form, the L-shaped bracket 58 may be attached to the block 16 over an open end of the threaded opening for the adjustable length foot 18 so that once the length of the adjustable length foot 18 has been set, access to the end of the adjustable length foot 18 is then denied until the L-shaped bracket 58 is removed. This step is shown in Figure 12.

[0153] The L-shaped bracket 58 may be mounted using two elongate slot openings 59 to allow adjustment of the position of the L-shaped bracket 58 relative to the mounting block 16 thereby adjusting the position of the latch member 20. A threaded fastener 61 is used to attach the L-shaped bracket 58 through the elongate slot opening 59 to the mounting block 16.

[0154] A perpendicularly extending return wall 62 of the L-shaped bracket 58 mounts the latch member 20 and orients the latch member 20 relative to the base box 14. An ejector 63 may be provided on the return wall 62 to open the locker door 12 when the lock assembly is unlocked and unlatched.

[0155] A cover 64 is provided to cover the bracket 58 as shown in Figure 13. The cover 64 may be snap fit or slid relative to the L-shaped bracket 58. In one form illustrated in Figures 9 and 9A, a channel may be provided upper and lower side of the mounting body 16 between the mounting body 16 and the L-shaped bracket 58 and an edge of the cover 64 may be received therein.

[0156] When the locker door 12 is closed and locked, a forward end of the cover 64may preferably abut the rear face of the base box 14 as shown in Figure 5A with a portion of the latch member 20 located inside the base box 14 as shown in Figures 4A and 5A. Once closed, the lock mechanism may then be operated to engage the latch member 20 to hold the latch member 20, and the locker door 12 in the locked position until released.

[0157] The lock mechanism may preferably be operated electronically, with a code or signal used, transmitted to the lock assembly to lock and unlock the locker door.

[0158] The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A retrofit lock assembly for a locker, the lock assembly comprising: a. A front face unit mountable on an outer side of a locker door and having a rearwardly extending mounting extension; b. A base box mountable on an inner side of the locker door relative to the front face unit and including a locking mechanism; and c. A latch unit mountable within the locker and having: i. a mounting body with at least one abutment wall, an adjustable length foot oriented transversely to the abutment wall, and a mounting groove; and ii. a latch member to be received by the base box and engaged therewith by the locking mechanism to lock the latch unit to the base box when in a locked condition.

2. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the front face unit further comprises at least one operating interface to allow a user to operate the lock, the operating interface including an eink display screen.

3. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the front face unit is provided with a communication component to form one or more Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communications pathways with the lock assembly.

4. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the front face unit comprises a housing which is hollow and closed by a rear wall attachable relative to the front face unit.

5. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the rear wall is attachable to the front face unit using one or connection fasteners which also connect the front face unit to the locker door and / or to the base box.

6. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein the rear wall is sandwiched to the front face unit by clamping force exerted to mount the front face unit to the locker door using the rearwardly extending mounting extension.

7. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 wherein the rearwardly extending mounting extension is provided integrally, or in one piece with the rear wall.

8. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rearwardly extending mounting extension comprises a first attachment configuration on an outer side thereof and a threaded attachment opening provided into the extension.

9. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 8 wherein the first attachment configuration is an external thread on an outer periphery of the rearwardly extending mounting extension to engage an internally threaded nut.

10. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 9 wherein a part of the external thread is removed from at least one side of the rearwardly extending mounting extension to form a flattened portion within the footprint of the mounting extension and an opening is provided into the front face unit adjacent to the flattened portion.

11. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the base box comprises a housing with at least one opening provided to align with the rearwardly extending mounting extension of the front face unit.

12. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 11 wherein the at least one opening is provided with a countersunk entry in order to receive a head of a threaded fastener thereinto and a shaft of the threaded fastener engages the rearwardly extending mounting extension of the front face unit.

13. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the housing of the base box is provided with a top wall, bottom wall and a pair of opposed sidewalls to define a substantially rectangular outer shape of the base box and an inner volume is defined within the base box by an upper internal wall, lower internal wall and a pair of opposed internal sidewalls.

14. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 13 wherein the internal walls defining the inner volume are spaced inwardly from the outer walls and the inner volume is offset in the base box.

15. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 14 wherein an enlarged volume is provided including a latch opening in a rear wall portion between the outer sidewall and the inner side wall into which the latch member provided on the latch unit is received when the locker door is closed.

16. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising an adapter plate with an opening provided to receive the rearwardly extending mounting extension of the front face unit therethrough and a number of connection openings to receive a respective elongate fastener extending through the base box to attach the base box to the adapter plate.

17. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 16 wherein the connection openings on the base box are offset in at least one of an X-axis and / or a Y axis from the opening provided to receive the rearwardly extending mounting extension of the front face unit.

18. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 further comprising a seating plate to seat the base box, the seating plate sized and shaped to sit within a periphery of the opening in the locker door, substantially coplanar with a thickness of the locker door, the seating plate comprising an opening to receive the rearwardly extending mounting extension of the front face unit and a number of connection openings to receive a respective elongate fastener extending through the base box to connect to the base box to the front face unit through the connection openings in the seating plate and the side edges of the seating plate locate the base box and front face unit relative to the opening in the locker door.

19. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the latch unit is provided within the locker, relative to the locker door and the base box to allow the latch member to be received by the base box and to be engaged therewith by the locking assembly.

20. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the latch unit includes a substantially solid latch unit mounting block with the at least one abutment wall being a surface of the mounting block and a numberof elongate fasteners pass through a portion of the locker and into the mounting block through the at least one abutment wall.

21. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 20 wherein the adjustable length foot comprises a threaded body which extends into a correspondingly threaded opening in the mounting block, and an enlarged head and rotation of the adjustable length foot relative to the mounting block in a first direction extends the adjustable length foot out of the mounting body to abut an adjacent, perpendicular portion of the locker and rotation in an opposite direction retracts the adjustable length foot into the mounting body.

22. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in claim 20 or claim 21 further comprising an L-shaped bracket attached to the mounting block to mount the latch member.

23. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising an ejector provided as a part of the latch unit to open the locker door when the lock assembly is unlocked and unlatched.

24. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the mounting groove extends substantially parallel to and spaced from a plane of the at least one abutment wall.

25. A retrofit lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the lock mechanism is operated electronically, with a code or signal used, transmitted to the lock assembly to lock and unlock the locker door.

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