US2798372A - Interlocking lock mechanism for communicating doors - Google Patents

Description

July 9, 1957 INTERLOCKING LOCK MECHANISM FOR COMMUNICATING DOORS Filed March 9, 1955 SOLENOID SWITCH c. A. ELLlS 5 Sheeh-Sheet 1 V //AV/ SOLENOID SWITCH SWITCH INVENTOR {M a/ m ATTORNEYS y 1957 c. A. ELLIS 2,798,372

INTERLOCKING LOCK MECHANISM FOR COMMUNICATING DQORS Filed March 9, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO'R BY Y wav I ATTORNEYS G 9 V/QH MWMMIII/II MH 3 3 w I c. A. ELLIS 2,798,372

INTERLOCKING LOCK MECHANISM FOR COMMUNICATING DOORS July 9, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 9, 1955 I INVENTE'OR BY? I;

ATTORNEYS July 9, 1957 c, ELLls 2,798,372

I INTERLOCKING LOCK MECHANISM FOR COMMUNICATING DOORS Filed March 9, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR K L/MAX/Q. 4 BY- KM ATTORNEYS C. A. ELLIS July 9, 1957 INTERLOCKING LOCK MECHANISM FOR COMMUNICATING DOORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 9, 1955 INVENiOR ATTORNEYS INTERLOCKING LOCK MECHANISM FOR COMMUNICATING DOORS Charles A. Ellis, Hamden, Conn., assignor to Sargent &

Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 9, 1955, Serial No. 493,088

8 Claims. (Cl. 70264) This invention relates to coupled electrically operated lock mechanisms. Although the invention will be described as having particular application and usefulness in controlling entry and egress to a common bath from adjacently located hotel rooms, it is not limited to such application.

More particularly, the invention has as a primary object companion interconnected lockset devices which function to automatically control the operation of the respective mechanisms. For example, each lockset unit is supplied with means associated with a deadbolt mechanism to automatically secure the opposite door upon actuation of the deadbolt to lock the occupants door to his bathroom.

A further and important object of the invention is the provision of companion lockset devices which function automatically to preclude inconsiderate appropriation of the bathroom by an occupant of the adjoining rooms. These means include an arrangement whereby operation of the deadbolt to the door of the adjoining room automatically secures the door to the room of the occupant so that egress is impossible until the latch or deadbolt to the companion door is released.

Another object is the provision of a fully automatic electrically actuated companion lockset arrangement which is simple and inexpensive in its installation and operation. Other objects of the invention will become apparent on consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the partitions and entrance doors to a common room such as a bathroom from adjoining suites;

Fig. 2 diagrammatically shows the wiring arrangement forming a part of the control mechanism for the companion locksets;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on the line 33 of Fig. 1 through the door and adjacent partition arrangement of the jamb and lockset assemblies;

Fig. 4 shows the chassis for the jamb and lockset assemblies shown in Fig. 3 but with the parts in actuated position;

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing the mechanism at the rear of the jamb assembly;

Fig. 6 shows the front face of the jamb assembly; and

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail through the jamb and lockset assemblies taken. on the line 77 of Fig. 3.

In its general aspects, the invention comprises a pair of door jamb and lockset mechanisms, each including a manual deadlock and an automatically motivated deadlock, electrically energized actuators for the motivated deadlocks and circuit-closing means associated with each said mechanism adapted on operation of the manual deadlock of one mechanism to close the circuit to the electrically energized actuator on the other mechanism, andmove the motivated deadlock into door-securing position.

States Patent l atented July 9, 1957 Referring in detail to the drawings, it will be seen that Fig. 1 illustrates the use of the companion door jamb and lockset mechanisms, designated in general as X and Y, on communicating doors 10 and 11 to a commonly used bathroom, for example. The lockset units include door jamb and lockset components 13 and 14 respectively. The lockset component (Figs. 3 and 4) includes a front plate 15, latch bolt 16, manually operable deadbolts l7 and 18, an interlocking lever 19, which permits only one deadbolt to operate at a time, and a strike opening 20 for reception of the automatically motivated deadbolt mounted in the door jamb in a manner to be presently described.

The deadbolts 17 and 18 are operated by turn button 17 and 18 which actuate the cam- shaped roll backs 17 and 18 connected by links 17 and 18 respectively to the deadbolts. The usual door knobs 19 and 2% are provided as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings to actuate the latch bolt 16.

The operation and details of the interlocking lockset arrangement which permits actuation of only one of the deadbolts 17 or 18 at a time, while maintaining the other deadbolt in retracted position, forms no part of the present invention, and is described and claimed in a related copending application.

The jamb assembly 13 includes a front plate 21 which functions as a chassis for the automatic electrically energized deadbolt and the associated levers and mechanisms. An opening 22 is provided in the front plate 21 for the reception of the latch bolt 16 and the deadbolts 17 and 18 in a manner more particularly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. A further barrel-like opening 23 is formed in the front plate 21 for the reception and support of the electrically motivated deadbolt 24. The deadbolt 24 is, in the illustrated embodiment, actuated by a solenoid 25 provided with an armature 26, the solenoid being supported upon a plate 27 which is adapted to the front plate 21 of the door jamb. The armature 26 of the solenoid is connected with the motivated deadlock 24 through a coupling tube 27, toggle links 23 and 29 and a separate link 30 pivoted to the chassis at 31. The coupling tube 27 is loosely coupled to the solenoid armature 26 by a pin 32 which permits pivoting movement between the elements thereby avoiding the necessity for precise alignment.

When the solenoid 25 is de-energized, the coupling tube falls to its lower position by gravity and the automatic deadbolt 24 is retracted, as shown in Fig. 3. A coil spring 33 is disposed between the lower portion of the coupling tube 27 and a pin 34 which moves in slots 35 formed in the sides of the coupling tube 27. This coil spring 33 breaks toggle links 28 and 29 on de-energization of the solenoid 25. The toggle link 28 is fixedly pivoted to the chassis 13 at 36; the toggle link 29 is pivoted to the lever 36 at 37, and both toggle links 28 and 29 are pivoted to the pin 34 which moves in slot 35 in opposition to the coil-spring 33 on energization of the solenoid 25. When the solenoid 25 is energized, the armature 26 draws the coupling tube 27 upwardly along with the toggle links 2-8 and 29, thereby moving lever 30 to the right and throwing the motivated deadbolt 24 into the recess 2%), as illustrated best in Fig. 4. The upper portion of the lever 3% is provided with a slot 38 which engages a pin 39 secured to the motivated deadbolt 24 to actuate the same in either direction. As shown in Fig. 5, the toggle links and lever'30 are duplicated at each side of the tube 27.

Also mounted in the jamb assembly are two electrical switches 40 and 41 and a terminal block 42. The switch 41 is normally open and has a contact 43 adapted to be closed by the operation of the lower deadbolt 18, as shown in Fig. 3. Projection of the deadbolt 18, as shown in Fig. 3, causes it to contact a lever 44 pivoted in the door jamb assembly at 45 and urged outwardly by coil spring 46. A second lever 47 also pivoted at 45 is yieldingly urged into coupling engagement with the lever 44 by a coil spring 46 and is formed. with an arm 48. disposed directly over the switch closing button 43, as shown particularly in Fig. 5.

The yielding relationbetween the levers 44f and 47 provides for the over-travel of the lever 44. as the arm 48 engages the switch button 43 closing the circuit to thereby avoid injury to the switch.

The second switch 40 shown in Fig. Sis controlled by operation of a door jamb lever 49 (Fig. 7) pivoted to the frame at 50,- and normally urged outwardly in the door jamb by means of a leaf spring 51 to engage and depress the button 52 and open the normally closed switch 40. When the door jamb lever 49 is depressed by move? ment of the door into closed position, as shown inFig. 7, the switch button 52- is released and the circuit through the switch 40 is closed.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be.-observed that this figure shows diagrammatically the circuits which. control. the automatically motivated deadlocks in the respective door jamb and lockset mechanisms. It will be understood'that the door unit X contains solenoid AX, door switch Bx and deadbolt switch CX. On the other hand, the companion door unit Y contains solenoid A door switch B and deadbolt switch. C Solenoid Ax is connected in series with door switch Bx and deadbolt: switch C while solenoid A is in turnconnectedin series with door switch B and deadbolt switch Cy. It will be appreciated, therefore, that solenoids AX and A do notfunction until the circuits thereto are closedby closure of the door switch in the same unit and the deadbolt switch in the companion unit.

In operation andwith the units, hereinbefore described, mounted in doors to a semi-private bathroom in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be observed that if the occupant from suite X desires touse thebath he merely enters through door X,.closes both doors X and Y and moves the manual deadlock in door X into closed position. This operation secures doorX and,.at the same time, throws the automatically operable deadbolt in door Y into closed, position, thereby ensuring privacy from the opposite suite. Whenleaving the room,. he merely reverses the position. of theturn button controlling. the manual deadbolt in door X which automatically retracts the automatic deadbolt in dooryY leaving the bathroom available to the opposite premises.

Among other advantages, the. arrangement: described herein precludesunreasonable appropriation of the bathroom by an occupant of the adjoining room since actuation of the inside manual deadbolt. on door'Y will, at the same time, close the circuit to the automatic deadboltin door X, thereby locking the. occupant'inthe bathroom until the inside deadbolt to door Y is released. Such occupant cannot leave the room without. leaving door Y unlocked. Moreover, it will be observedthat with the provision of means which preclude the operation of both of the manual deadbolts of the same door, it' would be. impossible to operate the inside deadbolt of: that door while the door is securely locked by'the manualdeadbolt on the opposite side of the same door.

It will be appreciated that these and other advantages are available through the arrangement describedherein. and forming the subject matter of the presentinvention, the scope of which is defined in the accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. Locking means for a plurality ofdoors comprising a. mechanism on each of said doors andanother mechanism on each of the associated jambs, one of said mechanisms comprising a casing and a manually operable lockingbolt reciprocably mounted therein, means for actuating'said.

bolt to locking position, the other ofsaid-mechanisms; comp ising a casing having a lockingbolt; therein, an.

electrically m ivated means .for actuating said lastanamed bolt,. a. normally closed circuit to supply current to said last-named means, and means for maintaining said circuit open in the mechanism associated with one door until such door is closed, and means for closing said circuit when the manually operable bolt of the other door is moved to locking position.

2. Locking. means. for a plurality of doors comprising a mechanism onzeach of said. doors and another mechanism on each of the associated jambs, one of said mechanisms comprising a casing and a manually operable locking bolt reciprocably mounted therein, means for actuating said bolt to locking position, the other of said mechanisms comprising a casing havinga locking bolt therein, an electrically motivated means for actuating said last-named bolt, a normally opencircuit to. supply current to said last-named means, means for closing said circuit in the mechanism associated with one door when the manually operable. bolt of theother door. is moved to lockingposition, but only after said one door-has beenzclosed.

3. Lockingmeansfor a plurality ofdoorscomprisinga mechanism on eachof said doorsv and another mechanism on each of theassociatedi jambs, oneof said mechanisms comprising a casing and a manually operable locking bolt reciprocably mounted therein, means for actuating said boltto locking; position, the other of said mechanisms comprisinga casing havingalocking bolt therein, an electrically'motivatedmeans for actuating said last-named bolt, a circuit havinga pair of switches in series tosupply current to said last-named means',,means to close one. of said switches. in the mechanism associated with one door when such door is closed, and means for closing said other switch when-the manually operated belt of the other door has, beenmoved to. locking position.

4. Locking'means for: a'plurality of doors comprising a mechanism on each of said doorsand another mechanism oneach of the associated jambs, the door mechanism comprising a casing; and a.- manually operable bolt reciprocably mounted therein, manually operated means atone side of said door for protracting said bolt, said jamb mechanism comprising a reciprocable lockbolt and electrically motivated means for actuating said last-named bolt to locking position, a pair ofnormally open switches insaid jamb mechanism, the first of which is closed'by the closing of the door and the other bythe protraction ofsaid manually operated bolt, and an electrical circuit to. energize said motivated means, said. circuit-includinglin series the first switch of the associated jamb mechanism and the other switch;of.-the;j ambj mechanism ofthe other door.

5. Lockingmeans for a pluralityof doors comprising av mechanism on each of said doors and another mechanism on. each. of the; associated jambs, the door mechanism comprising a casing and a manually operable bolt reciprocably mounted therein, one side of said door for protracting said bolt, said jamb mechanism comprisinga reciprocable lock bolt and electrically motivated means. for actuating said last-named bolt to locking position including a'normally open circuit, means actuated by the closingpf one door for conditioning, for closing, the circuit of the motivated means of said.

door, and meansactuatedby the protraction of the manually operated bolt of the other door for closingsaid circuit.

6. A locking mechanismas in claim 4 wherein a second manually operable locking bolt is provided in each ofthe door mechanisms, and means is provided at the other side of said door for protracting said additional bolt, and wherein is provided'means for preventing operation of one of said boltswhenth'e otheris'movedtoprotracted position.

7. A- locking mechanism for a-pair of doors leading from-the same mom, said locking mechanism comprising a lock structure on each door having a manually operated reciprocable lockingbolt, anassociated locking mechanism on each-of'thedoorjambs-having an electrically motivated reciprocable locking bolt, means for actuating manually operated means at said last-named bolt comprising an electrical circuit'having two switches in series, one of said switches being mounted in the jamb of the associated door and being closed by the protraction of the manually operated bolt of that door, and the other of said switches being mounted in the jamb of the other door and being closed by the closing of said other door.

8. Locking means for a pair of doors, said means comprising a locking mechanism associated with each of said doors, each mechanism comprising a pair of dead-locking bolts, the first of which is manually operated and the second of which is electrically operated, a solenoid for protracting the second of said bolts to operative position, and means to supply current to said solenoid including an electrical circuit having a pair of switches therein, one of said switches being mounted in the locking mechanism of the door with which said bolt is associated and closed by the closing of said door, and the other of said switches being mounted in the other door and closed by the protraction of the first bolt of the locking mechanism of that door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,405,369 Watson Jan. 31, 1922 1,819,410 Finkenbinder Aug. 18, 1931 1,840,819 Pierce Jan. 12, 1932 2,339,170 Jacobs Jan. 11, 1944

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