AU2018220116B2

AU2018220116B2 - A Detainer for a Lock Bolt Assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2018220116B2
Application number: AU2018220116A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Simon Butt; Daniel Mascia
Original assignee: TNBT Holdings Pty Ltd
Current assignee: TNBT Holdings Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2009-04-14
Filing date: 2018-08-23
Publication date: 2019-11-21
Anticipated expiration: 2030-04-13
Also published as: AU2016247218A1; AU2018220116A1

Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a detainer and a lock assembly which includes a housing, a lock bolt and the detainer. The lock bolt has a first recess with a stop surface at one end and a chamfered surface at an opposite end. The retainer, which retains the 5 lock bolt in the housing, is biased towards the lock bolt via a biasing means. The detainer is adapted to enter at least a part of the first recess when aligned therewith such that when the lock bolt is moved in a first direction, the retainer is retained in the recess by contact with the stop surface. The detainer also includes a bevelled surface so that when the lock bolt is moved in a second direction, the bevelled surface is adapted 10 to contact the chamfered surface of the recess thereby depressing the detainer against the biasing means.

Description

A Detainer for a Lock Bolt Assembly

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a detainer for a lock bolt assembly.

Background Art

A lock bolt for a lock assembly is traditionally designed to be slidable within a lock housing between locking and unlocking positions. Previous attempts to lock the lock bolt in these positions within the housing include the application of a ball bearing which is biased by a spring to engage one or more recesses provided in the lock bolt. This however has the shortcoming that the lock bolt can be accidentally or undesirably removed in its entirety from the lock housing by children, for example, or fall out of the housing when the lock assembly in use is installed in a vertical orientation as a result of the relaxation of the spring over time.

Object of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a detainer which allows a lock bolt to slide within a housing while preventing the lock bolt from being removed from the housing unless a tool is used.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a detainer for retaining a lock bolt in a housing of a lock bolt assembly, the lock bolt including a first recess having a stop surface at one end and a chamfered surface at an opposite end, the detainer being biased towards the lock bolt via a biasing means, the detainer being adapted to enter at least a part of the first recess when aligned therewith such that when the lock bolt is moved in a first direction, the detainer is retained in the recess by contact with the stop surface; the detainer including a bevelled surface so that when the lock bolt is moved in a second direction, the bevelled surface is adapted to contact the chamfered surface of the recess thereby depressing the detainer against the biasing means;

28232 wherein the lock cylinder is operable by a key to control a latch adapted to engage part of the first or second recess so as to avoid interference with the detainer.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a lock assembly including:

a housing;

a lock bolt having a first recess with a stop surface at one end and a chamfered surface at an opposite end; and a detainer for retaining the lock bolt in the housing, the detainer being biased towards the lock bolt via a biasing means and being adapted to enter at least a part of the first recess when aligned therewith such that when the lock bolt is moved in a first direction, the detainer is retained in the recess by contact with the stop surface;

the detainer including a bevelled surface so that when the lock bolt is moved in a second direction, the bevelled surface is adapted to contact the chamfered surface of the recess thereby depressing the detainer against the biasing means;

wherein the lock cylinder is operable by a key to control a latch adapted to engage part of the first or second recess, but so as to avoid interference with the detainer.

Preferably, the lock bolt includes a second recess having a stop surface and a chamfered surface. In this embodiment, the stop surface of the second recess is adapted to stop excessive sliding movement of the lock bolt in the second direction so that the lock bolt is movable only between the first and second recesses. More preferably, the second direction is a direction opposite the first direction.

It is preferred that the first recess (and the second recess if present) is formed by a circumferential indent in the lock bolt.

In a preferred embodiment of the lock assembly, the housing includes a body and a removable lid adapted to cover part or all of the body. The lock assembly preferably also includes a lock cylinder received within and removably attached to, the body of the housing. The detainer in a preferred embodiment includes upper and lower portions.

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The upper portion includes a block having the bevelled surface on both of its opposing lateral edges. The lower portion may include a cavity adapted to receive the biasing means.

A rear end of the lock cylinder in this embodiment is connected to a wafer which is movable from a compressed position to a projecting position by another biasing means.

The body of the housing in this embodiment is coupled with a member having circular and tub portions. The circular portion is preferred to include a cylindrical hollow with an annular flange.

In a preferred embodiment, the end of the lock cylinder is passed through the annular flange and received within the hollow. The wafer in this embodiment is compressed to facilitate passing of the lock cylinder through the annular flange and biased into the projecting position such that a portion of the wafer projects out of the lock cylinder to interlock with the annular flange, thereby securing the member to the lock cylinder.

The tub portion in a preferred embodiment is adapted to receive at least part of the lower portion of the detainer. The tub portion is preferred to include a protuberance stemming from the centre of its floor. The protuberance may be adapted to engage at least part of the biasing means, such as a coil spring, received in the tub portion.

The body of the housing in a preferred embodiment includes an orifice through which a tool may be passed to depress the detainer into a depressed position so as to disengage the detain from the first recess and allow the bolt to be removed from housing when the cylinder is in the unlocked position.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The various aspects of the invention will now be described in connection with a nonlimiting example thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lock bolt assembly, showing a detainer in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

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Figure 2 is a magnified exploded perspective view of the detainer of Figure 1, also showing a spring and a member;

Figure 3 is cross sectional view of the detainer of claim 1 being in engagement with a lock bolt;

Figure 4 is a plan view the lock assembly of the Figure 1, assembled;

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the lock assembly of Figure 4, taken from the plane indicated by A-A in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the lock assembly of Figure 4, illustrating the engagement of a lock cylinder with the member.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

Referring to Figure 1, a lock assembly 20 has a housing 22, a lock bolt 24 and a detainer

10. The lock bolt 24 has recesses 26 & 28 spaced apart from each other. The recesses 26 & 28 represent circumferential indents in lock bolt 24. Each of the recesses 26, 28 has a stop surface 30, 32 at one end and a chamfered surface 34, 36 at an opposite end.

The housing 22 includes a body 38 and a removable lid 40 for both covering the body 38. The lock bolt assembly 20 also includes a lock cylinder 42 which is received within and removably attached to the body 38 of the housing 22. The lock cylinder 42 in this embodiment is operable by a key 44 which functions to control a latch (not shown) for engaging an upper part 46, 48 of the first or second recess 26, 28.

The lock body 38 has an aperture 50 configured to receive the lock cylinder 42. The body 38 also has holes 52, 54 on each of its lateral sides. The holes 52 and 54 are designed to hold various portions of shaft 56 of the bolt 24 which is movable longitudinally when the lock is disposed or installed in a horizontal position.

The body 38 of the housing 22 is coupled with a member 58 having circular and tub portions 60 and 62 respectively. The circular portion 60 has a cylindrical hollow 64 with an annular flange 66.

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Turning to Figures 2 and 3, the detainer 10 is provided for retaining the lock bolt 24 in the housing 22. The detainer 10 is biased towards the lock bolt 24 via a biasing means in the form of a coil spring 68. This means that the detainer 10 will automatically enter the first recess 26 when aligned therewith. When the lock bolt 24 is moved in the direction as indicated by the arrow B, the detainer 10 is retained in the recess 26 by contact with the stop surface 30.

As best shown in Figure 1, the detainer 10 includes upper and lower portions 74, 76. The upper portion 74 is in the form of a block having bevelled surfaces 70, 72 on each of its opposing lateral edges. The lower portion 76 includes a cavity 78 for receiving the spring 68 (refer Figure 3).

When the lock bolt 24 is moved in an opposite direction as indicated by an arrow A, the bevelled surface 72 contacts the chamfered surface 34 of the recess 26 causing the detainer 10 to press downwardly against the spring 68. Bolt 24 can then be drawn further in direction A, until detainer 10 lines up with recess 28.

Once the lock bolt 24 is moved to the position where the detainer 10 enters the recess 28, the stop surface 32 of the recess 28 functions to stop excessive sliding movement of the lock bolt 24 in the direction indicated by the arrow A. This means that the lock bolt 24 is movable only between the two recesses 26 and 28.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, a rear end 80 of the lock cylinder 42 is connected to a wafer 82 which is movable from a compressed position to a projecting position by a biasing means in the form of a spring (not shown). During assembly, the rear end 80 of the lock cylinder 42 is passed through the annular flange 66 and received within the hollow 64. The wafer 82 is first compressed to facilitate passing of the lock cylinder 42 through the annular flange 66 and then allowed to move into the projecting position such that a portion of the wafer 82 (refer specifically to Figure 6) projects out of the lock cylinder 42 to interlock with the annular flange 66, thereby securing the member 58 to the lock cylinder 42.

Once the member 58 is secured to the lock cylinder 42, the tub portion 62 receives part of the lower portion 76 of the detainer 10 (refer Figures 2 and 3). A protuberance 84 is

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2018220116 23 Aug 2018 provided stemming from the centre of the floor of the tub portion 62 to engage part of the spring 68 received in the tub portion 62 (refer also to Figure 5).

Referring back to Figure 1, the body 38 of the housing 22 includes an orifice 86 through which a tool (not shown) can be passed to depress the detainer 10 into the depressed position so as to allow the entire bolt 24 to be removed from the housing 22 when the lock cylinder 42 is in the unlocked position, as desired.

It will be appreciated by person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The io present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all aspects as illustrative but not restrictive.

Claims

Claims

1. A lock assembly including:

a housing;

a lock bolt having a first recess with a stop surface at one end and a chamfered surface at an opposite end; and a detainer for retaining the lock bolt in the housing, the detainer being biased towards the lock bolt via a biasing means and being adapted to enter at least a part of the first recess when aligned therewith such that, when the lock bolt is moved in a first direction, the detainer is retained in the recess by contact with the stop surface;

the detainer including a bevelled surface so that, when the lock bolt is moved in a second direction, the bevelled surface is adapted to contact the chamfered surface of the recess thereby depressing the detainer against the biasing means: wherein the lock cylinder is operable by a key to control a latch adapted to engage part of the first or second recess so as to avoid interference with the detainer.
2. The lock assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock bolt includes a second recess having a stop surface and a chamfered surface.
3. The lock assembly of claim 2, wherein the stop surface of the second recess is adapted to stop excessive sliding movement of the lock bolt in the second direction so that the lock bolt is movable only between the first and second recesses.
4. The lock assembly of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second direction is a direction opposite the first direction.
5. The lock assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first recess is formed by a circumferential indent in the lock bolt.
6. The lock assembly of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the second recess is formed by a circumferential indent in the lock bolt.

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7. The lock assembly of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the housing includes a body and a removable lid adapted to cover part or all of the body.
8. The lock assembly of any one of the preceding claims, which includes a lock cylinder received within, and removably attached to, the body of the housing.
9. The lock assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detainer includes upper and lower portions.
10. The lock assembly of claim 9, wherein the upper portion includes a block having the bevelled surface on both of its opposing lateral edges.
11. The lock assembly of either claim 9 or 10, wherein the lower portion includes a cavity adapted to receive the biasing means.
12. The lock assembly of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lock cylinder includes a rear end being connected to a wafer which is movable from a compressed position to a projecting position by another biasing means.
13. The lock assembly of any one of claim 7 to 12, wherein the body of the housing is coupled with a member having circular and tub portions.
14. The lock assembly of claim 13, wherein the circular portion includes a cylindrical hollow with an annular flange.
15. The lock assembly of claim 14, wherein the end of the lock cylinder is passed through the annular flange and received within the hollow.
16. The lock assembly of either claim 14 or 15, wherein the wafer is compressed to facilitate passing of the lock cylinder through the annular flange and biased into the projecting position such that a portion of the wafer projects out of the lock cylinder to interlock with the annular flange, thereby securing the member to the lock cylinder.
17. The lock assembly of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the tub portion is adapted to receive at least part of the lower portion of the detainer.

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18. The lock assembly of any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the tub portion includes a protuberance stemming from the centre of its floor.
19. The lock assembly of claim 18, wherein the protuberance engages at least part of the biasing means received in the tub portion.
20. The lock assembly of any one of claims 7 to 19, wherein the body of the housing includes an orifice through which a tool is passed to depress the detainer into a depressed position so as to disengage the detainer from the first recess and allow the bolt to be removed from housing when the cylinder is in the unlocked position.
21. A detainer for retaining a lock bolt in a housing of a lock assembly, the lock bolt including a first recess having a stop surface at one end and a chamfered surface at an opposite end, the detainer being biased towards the lock bolt via a biasing means and being adapted to enter at least a part of the first recess when aligned therewith such that, when the lock bolt is moved in a first direction, the detainer is retained in the recess by contact with the stop surface; the detainer including a bevelled surface so that, when the lock bolt is moved in a second direction, the bevelled surface is adapted to contact the chamfered surface of the recess thereby depressing the detainer against the biasing means; wherein the lock cylinder is operable by a key to control a latch adapted to engage part of the first or second recess, so as to avoid interference with the detainer.