The present invention relates to an anti-jamming strike plate for locks: the locks are generally constituted by a main body from which extends a spring latch and/or a sliding latch, which, in the extracted configuration (protruding from the lock proper and therefore from the door leaf), will be accommodated inside respective seats of a corresponding strike plate installed on the jamb of the doorway in which the door leaf is mounted.

That is to say, when the door leaf is closed, i.e. the spring latch and/or the sliding latch are facing the jamb, these last items protrude from the outline of the door leaf and are accommodated (at least partially) inside respective seats of the strike plate, thus locking the door leaf in the closed configuration of the installation doorway.

The term "lock", in the present invention, is used to mean any closure device, and therefore also includes shootbolts. Shootbolts are devices generally controlled by a main lock and provided with respective interference elements (a spring latch and/or a sliding latch) which, when the door leaf is closed, are accommodated inside seats of respective strike plates installed on the jamb.

For all types of locks described up to now, problems of a structural nature are known which unite all possible buildings in which they are installed.

It is in fact possible that structural settling can occur owing to various causes, such as for example earthquakes, movements of the subsoil caused by variations in flow of aquifers, or extraordinary events (excavations, building work, explosions, accidents), sagging of the hinges and the like.

When structural settling occurs in a building, it can happen that the installation doorway of a door leaf undergoes deformations, such that the alignment of the spring latch and/or the sliding latch with the corresponding seats of the strike plate is compromised.

If this happens when the door leaf is closed, then the spring latch and/or the sliding latch may become jammed in the strike plate, since the misalignment will bring one of the side faces of such component (spring latch and/or sliding latch) forced up against an edge of the respective seat of the strike plate with consequent major obstacle to the retraction thereof.

In practice it can therefore happen that, when structural settling occurs, the door leaf may be jammed closed even though it does not directly interfere with the installation doorway (for example because the settling was limited or because the door leaf itself is provided with contrivances in order to prevent such condition) owing to the forced interference of the spring latch and/or the sliding latch with the respective strike plate.

Use could be made of strike plates with seats of greater dimensions in order to allow the alignment of spring latch and/or sliding latch even in the event of structural settling, but this would imply the risk that the installation technician could take advantage of this "play" to compensate for errors in mounting. Such eventuality would lead to an incorrect mounting of the strike plate and, at the same time, it would not offer the necessary assurances of guarding against jamming when structural settling occurs.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing an anti-jamming strike plate for locks that prevents the jamming of the spring latch and/or the sliding latch when structural settling occurs.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an antijamming strike plate for locks that is safe and simplified in mounting.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-jamming strike plate for locks that is of different type with respect to conventional strike plates.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an anti-jamming strike plate for locks which is low cost, easily and practically implemented and safe in use.

This aim and these objects are achieved by an anti-jamming strike plate for locks of the type comprising at least one laminar plate provided with at least one seat for at least one component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch, and at least one space facing toward said lock and defined on a jamb of the installation doorway of the door leaf provided with said lock, said at least one laminar plate surmounting the at least one space, which is characterized in that the at least one seat of said laminar plate has a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the corresponding component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch, and said at least one space has larger dimensions than those of the corresponding component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch, said at least one plate being superimposed on said at least one space so that the at least one seat is centered with respect thereto, at least one portion of the perimetric border of the at least one seat comprising respective weaker portions in order to allow respective deformations by the component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch accommodated therein, in the event of structural settling of the installation doorway, with consequent free sliding of said component inside the deformed seat and the space.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the anti-jamming strike plate for locks according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an anti-jamming strike plate for locks according to the invention, installed on the jamb of a doorway in which there is a closing door;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an enlarged detail of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a detail of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the detail IV indicated in Figure 3. With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an anti-jamming strike plate for locks 2.

The strike plate 1 comprises at least one laminar plate 3 provided with at least one seat 4, 5, 6 for at least one component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch (whether it belongs to the lock 1 itself or to a shootbolt controlled by the lock proper), and at least one space 7, 8 facing toward the lock 2.

The space 7, 8 is defined, according to a first possible embodiment, on a jamb 9 of the installation doorway 10 of the door leaf 11 provided with the lock 2.

Alternatively the space 7, 8 can be provided on a counterplate which in turn will be mounted at a recessed break in the jamb 9.

The at least one laminar plate 3 surmounts the at least one space 7, 8.

The at least one seat 4, 5, 6 of the at least one laminar plate 3 has a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the corresponding component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch. In this manner such seat 4, 5, 6 can accommodate such component while minimizing play and therefore ensuring a stable blocking of the door leaf 11 when it is in the configuration of closing the doorway 10.

The at least one space 7, 8 on the other hand has larger dimensions than those of the corresponding component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch.

The at least one plate 3 in the configuration for use is superimposed on the at least one space 7, 8 so that the at least one seat 4, 5, 6 is centered with respect thereto: the plate 3 constitutes a form of template for the partial covering of the space 7, 8.

The plate 3 will comprise respective holes 12 for fixing to the jamb 9: the position of the holes 12 will be determined so as to favor the centering of the seats 4, 5 and 6 with respect to the spaces 7, 8 in the step of mounting the plate 3.

According to the invention, at least one portion of the perimetric border of the at least one seat 4, 5, 6 can positively comprise respective weaker portions 13 that are adapted to allow respective deformations of such border by the component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch accommodated therein.

The deformations will be caused by the component identified previously in the event of structural settling of the installation doorway 10: such deformations will allow the free sliding of the component proper inside the deformed seat 4, 5, 6, since the space 7, 8 arranged below it is much larger and will not interfere with the travel of the cited component.

It should be noted that, with particular reference to an embodiment of undoubted applicative interest, at least one portion of the perimetric border of each seat 4, 5, 6 of each laminar plate 3 according to the invention can be conveniently made of polymeric material.

It should be noted that such polymeric material could preferably be of the type chosen from among polytetrafluoroethylene, polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, methacrylate, epoxy resins and the like.

Polymeric materials have the advantage that they can be plastically deformed by way of the application of modest mechanical loads (differently from, for example, metallic materials and/or composite materials which are more rigid and require a heavy load in order to be deformed).

Again with reference to embodiments of undoubted practical interest, the at least one portion of the perimetric border of each seat 4, 5 and 6 of the laminar plate 3 according to the invention can effectively comprise weaker areas 13 constituted by localized reductions of thickness, grooves, incisions, interruptions, notches and the like. Such weaker areas constitute zones of facilitated breakage and deformation, following the application of a mechanical load greater than a predefined threshold.

By virtue of the presence of the weaker areas 13 it is possible to exactly predict the deformations of the plate 3 (in particular of the seat 4, 5 , 6) when the spring latch or the sliding latch of the lock 2 apply a load on the plate 3 (for example following a structural settling of the jamb 9).

In fact the seat 4, 5, 6 will tend to widen by deforming by virtue of the action of the component that it accommodates (spring latch or sliding latch), by acquiescing to the corresponding movement of such component with respect to the jamb 9. Such deformation will be allowed by the greater width of the spaces 7 and 8 on the jamb 9 (or on the counterplate) with respect to the dimensions of the seats 4, 5 and 6, and it will occur at the weaker areas 13.

The adoption of easily-deformable materials (for example polymers), in order to provide the plate 3 or parts thereof, on its own defines specific weaker areas (since the polymer is simply deformable by the component that it accommodates, which is generally made of metal).

By way of example, it should be noted that the plate 3 can comprise at least two substantially aligned seats 4, 5, of which a first seat 4 will positively be intended to accommodate a spring latch, and a second seat 5 will profitably be intended to accommodate a sliding latch.

According to a particularly efficient embodiment, at least one portion of the perimetric border of each seat 4, 5, 6 of the laminar plate 3 is made of self-lubricating material.

The adoption of a self-lubricating material enables an easy sliding of the spring latch and/or of the sliding latch along the edges of the seat 4, 5, 6 that it has deformed, even upon a forcing thereof on a deformed surface of the seat 4, 5, 6.

For example, in the event of structural settling (caused by an earthquake, an accident, structural problems in the building and the like), the component will generate a deformation of the respective seat 4, 5 and 6 and will be able to easily slide along the deformed edge of that seat 4, 5, 6 because it is made of self-lubricating material.

More specifically it should be noted that, in the applicative version that conforms most to the practical requirements that can arise in the event of the structural settling of a building (and, consequently, of a jamb 9 or of the corresponding lintel), the at least one portion of the perimetric border of each seat 4, 5, 6 of the laminar plate 3 that comprises the weaker portions 13 is chosen from between the lower edge and the upper edge: this is because generally the structural settling produces a relative motion between door leaf 11 and jamb 9 in a substantially vertical direction (or having a vertical main component), therefore the lower edge and the upper edge are those most prone to receive a possible forcing from the spring latch and sliding latch.

The possibility is not ruled out however that the at least one portion of the perimetric border of each seat of the laminar plate 3 that comprises the weaker portions 13 is chosen from between the side edges.

The present invention also extends its protection to an anti-jamming kit for locks 2 that comprises at least one laminar plate 3 provided with at least one seat 4, 5, 6 for at least one component chosen from between a spring latch and a sliding latch, and at least one space 7, 8 facing toward the lock 2.

The space 7, 8 will be defined on a jamb 9 of the installation doorway 10 of the door leaf 1 1 provided with the lock 2, or, as illustrated previously, it will be defined in a counterplate which in turn is mounted on the jamb 9.

The at least one laminar plate 3 of the kit will surmount the at least one space 7, 8.

The kit according to the invention can positively comprise at least two plates 3, of which at least one first plate 3 will positively be aligned with a lock 2 proper, and at least one second plate 3 will on the other hand be aligned with a shootbolt controlled by the lock 2 proper.

The at least one seat 4, 5, 6 of each laminar plate 3 will have a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the corresponding component chosen from among a spring latch, a sliding latch of a lock 2, and a shootbolt.

The at least one space 7, 8 will have larger dimensions than those of the corresponding component chosen from among a spring latch, a sliding latch of a lock 2, and a shootbolt.

The at least one plate 3 will be superimposed on the at least one space

7, 8 so that the at least one seat 4, 5, 6 will be centered with respect thereto.

The perimetric border of the at least one seat 4, 5, 6 of both of the plates 3 will comprise respective weaker portions 13 in order to allow respective deformations by the component chosen from among a spring latch, a sliding latch of a lock 2, and a shootbolt accommodated therein, in the event of structural settling of the installation doorway 10, with consequent free sliding of the component proper inside the deformed seat 4, 5, 6.

Advantageously the present invention solves the above mentioned problems, by providing an anti-jamming strike plate 1 for locks 2 that prevents the jamming of the spring latch and/or the sliding latch when structural settling occurs (which produces the deformation of the doorway 10).

The deformations of the seats 4, 5, 6 and the optional presence of materials that facilitate the sliding of the component along deformed edges of each seat 4, 5, 6 proper ensures that the jamming of the lock 2 is substantially guarded against.

Positively the anti-jamming strike plate 1 for locks 2 is safe and simplified in mounting, since the fixing holes 12 provided on the plate 3 guide the installation technician so minimizing the risk of error.

Conveniently the anti-jamming strike plate 3 for locks 2 is of different type with respect to conventional strike plates.

Profitably the anti-jamming strike plate 1 according to the invention is easily and practically implemented and is low cost: such characteristics make the strike plate 1 according to the invention an innovation that is safe in use.

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

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

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

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