BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a bolt housing provided with a bolt module which bolt module comprises a bolt and a frame, wherein the bolt module is movable along an X-axis between a first X-position in which the bolt is extended at its maximum outside of the bolt housing, and a second X-position in which the bolt is retracted at its maximum inside the bolt housing, wherein the bolt housing has a member for exerting a force on the bolt module for having the bolt move in a direction from the second X-position to the first X- position .

Such a bolt housing is generally known in the art, and is often used in doors but also in windows or the like. On one side of a Z-X plane (a plane parallel to the plane of the door or the like) the bolt has a bolt side that comprises a glide area, which glide area is at an angle to the Z-X plane and at contact with a jamb (running parallel to the Z-X plane) urges the bolt module in the direction of the second X-position, that means urges it into the bolt housing. If the door/window or the like in which the bolt housing is mounted is closed, the distal outer end of the bolt is accommodated in a cavity of a jamb. It is for that matter unusual yet not impossible that the bolt housing is accommodated in the jamb and that after closing the door/window the distal outer end of the bolt is accommodated in the door/window. Although below only the first possibility will be discussed, the invention also comprises the second possibility. Furthermore, for the simplicity of the description, only a door will be discussed below without limiting the scope of the invention. The door may be an interior door, outside door, closet door etc.

The present invention intends to provide an improved bolt housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For that purpose the present invention provides a bolt housing provided with a bolt module which bolt module comprises a bolt and a frame, wherein the bolt module is movable along an X-axis between a first X- position in which the bolt is extended at its maximum outside of the bolt housing, and a second X-position in which the bolt is retracted at its maximum inside the bolt housing, wherein the bolt housing has a member for exerting a force on the bolt module for having the bolt move in a direction from the second X-position to the first X-position, and

wherein the bolt

- on a first side of a Z-X plane has a first bolt side comprising a first glide area, which first glide area over at least a first part of its surface in an X-Y plane is at a first angle of between 35 and 55 degrees to the X-axis, and

- on the opposite second side of the Z-X plane has a second bolt side comprising a second glide area, which second glide area over at least a second part of its surface in the X-Y plane is at a second angle of between 35 and 55 degrees to the X-axis,

- on a first side of the Z-X plane has a third bolt side comprising a blocking area which in the X-Y plane is at a third angle of at most 20 degrees and preferably of at most 15 degrees to the X-axis, and

- on the second side of the Z-X plane has a fourth bolt side comprising a blocking area which in the X-Y plane is at a fourth angle of at most 20 degrees and preferably of at most 15 degrees to the X- axis; and

the third and/or the fourth angle independent of each other are at an angle of at least 2 degrees to the X-axis.

Such a bolt housing has the advantage of the bolt being able to pull the door shut (that means pull it into the rebate) . In addition the bolt housing is suitable without any further adaptations for both left- hand and right-hand opening doors, and depending on the door jamb the door can be opened/shut towards both sides. If contact with a glide area of the bolt ensures that the bolt cannot arrive entirely in the first X- position in which the bolt is outside of the bolt housing at its maximum extent (that means the position the bolt is in when the door is not shut), the door is held such that it cannot rattle or hardly so. If so desired a closed door can be pulled or pushed open without door latch or the like. The bolt housing optionally serves two purposes, depending on the jamb the bolt housing cooperates with. For instance, in other words, by selecting a striking plate the function of the bolt housing can be chosen or changed, instead of by selecting another bolt housing. The first function is, as described above, pulling a door shut without blocking opening it. That means, the door can also be pulled or pushed open again without having to operate a door latch. To illustrate this, if, when closing, the bolt is pushed in in the direction of the second X-position by gliding over the first glide area of the first bolt side, when opening, the bolt will be pushed in the direction of the second X-position by gliding over the second glide area of the second bolt side. However, in case of a suitable choice of the shape of the cavity of the jamb in which the bolt is thrown, the second function that can be selected is blocking the closed door. Said blocking takes place by means of one of the blocking areas selected from those of the third and the fourth bolt side, which blocking area due to the slight angle the blocking area of the third (or fourth) bolt side is at to the Z-X plane does not allow the bolt being pushed into the bolt housing. This is entirely analogous to a generally known bolt used very often that has an oblique side and a side that is substantially parallel to the Z-X plane, which parallel side comprises the blocking area. In addition, in comparison with the known bolt, the bolt housing according to the invention has the advantage that is suitable for both left-hand and right-hand opening doors without adaptation. An angle to the X-axis of at least 2 degrees ensures that the bolt of the bolt housing is still able to pull the door shut. Furthermore the extent of clearance in the recess into which the bolt is accommodated decreases when the door is shut, which reduces the chance of rattling of the door in the rebate.

According to a first possible preferred embodiment the first bolt side and the second bolt side come together and a first distal outer end of the bolt is situated at that location and the third bolt side and the fourth bolt side come together and a second distal outer end of the bolt is situated at that location .

The pair formed by the first and the second bolt surface is situated above or below (that means shifted in Z direction) the pair formed by the third and fourth bolt surface. Such a bolt is suitable for compensating for a large variety in closing seam widths. The choice between the two functions can be made by varying the shape of the opening in which the bolt is accommodated in closed position of the door.

Preferably the second distal outer end is situated between the proximal outer end of the bolt and the distal outer end of the first bolt side and the second bolt side.

In the above-mentioned context the term "between" relates to the X-direction (that means the direction of the X-axis, which as explained above is defined by the movement direction of . the bolt with respect to the housing) . Although is not impossible that the second distal outer end extends marginally further than the first distal outer end, for a smooth closing of the door this preferably will not be the case .

In order to efficiently pull the door shut the second distal outer end will be situated in the X- direction at 0-3 mm from the first distal outer end. As the third and/or fourth angle is at least 2 degrees, the bolt is able to pull the door closed over a relatively large distance and consequently highly efficiently.

For smoothly closing the door it is preferable that the first distal outer end and/or the second distal outer end have a bevelled tip in the X-Y plane.

Preferably the bolt has two second distal outer ends, and the first distal outer end is situated in the Z-direction between both second distal outer ends .

The bolt therefore has two third bolt sides and two fourth bolt sides, which form two second distal outer ends. The advantage of this is that when the bolt performs its blocking function, the bolt is less exposed to torque, whereas also the striking plate can be designed less strong in comparison with a bolt having two first distal outer ends wherein the second distal outer end is situated in the Z-direction between both first distal outer ends.

According to a second possible embodiment the first bolt side and the fourth bolt side come together while forming a first distal outer end and the second and the third bolt side come together while forming a second distal outer end. Although it is not impossible that the one distal outer end extends marginally further than the other distal outer end, for a smooth closing of the door this preferably will not be the case. The difference in distance (in the X-direction) preferably is less than 3 mm.

This variety has the advantage that a bolt housing can be provided of which the distal outer ends have the same or substantially the same strength. If large forces are exerted on a blocking surface, such a bolt will be stronger than the one of the above- mentioned first embodiment.

A bolt housing according to the invention may, according to a third embodiment, be designed such that the first bolt side and the second bolt side come together and a first distal outer end of the bolt is situated at that location and the first glide area of the first bolt side is situated between the first distal outer end and the third bolt side, and the second glide area of the second bolt side is situated between the first distal outer end and the fourth bolt side, wherein - if the bolt is in the first X-position - the blocking area of the third bolt side and the blocking area of the fourth bolt side are situated at least at 3 mm and preferably at least at 5 mm from outside of the bolt housing.

The bolt of this bolt housing has a very simple shape and is very strong, and the function can be set by adjusting the recess in which the bolt is thrown. By accommodating the bolt deep into the jamb such that the third (or fourth) bolt side functions as stop, the door is blocked. By accommodating the bolt less deep into the jamb the first and/or second bolt side will make it possible that the door can be pulled or pushed open. In this embodiment it needs to be made sure that in mounted condition of the bolt housing the glide area of the first and/or second bolt side contacts the jamb when closing, as the contact location of the bolt with the door frame in this embodiment will be situated at a slightly larger distance from the bolt housing. Accommodating deeper or less deep in the jamb can for instance be set by accommodating a filler body in the recess for the bolt in the jamb, wherein the filler body functions as stop for the distal outer end of the bolt.

For an as similar as possible behaviour, independent of whether it regards a right-hand or left- hand opening door, it is preferred that the first and the second angle are equally large with respect to the Z-X plane and/or the third and the fourth angle are equally large with respect to the Z-X plane, wherein the term "equally large" means that the angles differ less than 5 degrees from each other.

The present invention also relates to a set comprising a bolt housing according to the invention and a striking plate, wherein the striking plate comprises a body with a recess for accommodating the bolt, and the striking plate has an adjustment element for defining the degree to which the bolt is able to extend through the recess.

Such a striking plate makes it possible to change the function of the bolt, as explained in the discussion of claim 1. Within the framework of the invention the term striking plate also comprises a striking plate having a striker cup (that means a non- continuous recess) instead of a through-opening for the bolt.

An advantageous embodiment is characterised in that the body of the striking plate on one side thereof has a lip for protecting a door frame or window frame, wherein the recess in a direction parallel to the lip side comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the second section has the shape of a shoulder situated on the side of the lip for protecting a door frame or window frame, which shoulder may serve as stop for a blocking area of a bolt side selected from the third and fourth bolt side.

The edge of the shoulder that extends substantially parallel to the side of the lip for protecting the door frame, is situated at a larger distance from the side with the lip for protecting the door frame than the edge of the first section is. Thus a set is provided of which the recess is adapted to the use of the bolt housing provided with a bolt having function options such as explained above in the discussion of claim 1. The set may furthermore comprise a filler block.

According to an advantageous embodiment the adjustment element has the shape of an adjustable lip of which the angle to the Z-X plane is adjustable such that in case of a relatively large angle of the adjustable lip to the Z-X plane the adjustable lip serves as stop for a bolt side selected from the first and second bolt side, and in case of a relatively small angle to the Z-X plane does not serve as stop for the bolt side selected from the first and second bolt side.

Thus the function can very easily be adjusted, also after the striking plate has already been arranged. If the adjustable lip functions as stop, when opening a closed door, the adjustable lip drives the bolt into the bolt housing due to contact between the adjustable lip and the bolt.

The invention also relates to a set comprising a bolt housing according to invention and a jamb, wherein in a Z-Y plane the jamb has a recess for accommodating the bolt, wherein the recess in the Z- direction comprises a first section and a second section, wherein the second section has the shape of a shoulder situated on a side of the Z-X plane which shoulder may function as stop for a blocking area of a bolt side selected from the third and the fourth bolt side. The set may furthermore comprise a filler block. The jamb may be part of a door frame or window frame. It generally regards a synthetic or metal profile.

The aspects and measures described in this description and the claims of the application and/or shown in the drawings of this application may where possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications relating thereto. This particularly applies to the measures and aspects that are described per se in the sub claims.

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments shown in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a cut-away side view of the bolt housing including bolt according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a bolt housing corresponding with figure 1 however including more parts (known per se) of the bolt housing;

Figures 3A and 3B show a side view, a bottom view and a cross-section of a part of the bolt housing of figure 1;

Figure 4A shows a front view of a face plate of the bolt housing of figure 1;

Figures 4B-D show a bolt suitable for the face plate of figure 4A, in front view, top view and view in perspective, respectively;

Figure 5 shows a front view of a striking plate suitable to be used in combination with the bolt housing of figure 1; Figures 6A-C show front views of alternative striking plates, wherein below said front views top view are shown;

Figures 7A-C show how a door provided with the bolt housing of figure 2 by cooperation with the striking plate of figure 5 can be closed and can no longer be opened by pulling or pushing;

Figures 8A-D show how a door provided with the bolt housing of figure 2 by cooperation with the striking plate of figure 6A can be closed and opened again by pulling or pushing;

Figure 9A shows a front view of a face plate of an alternative bolt housing;

Figures 9B-D show a front view, bottom view and view in perspective of a bolt suitable for the face plate;

Figure 10A shows a front view of a face plate of an alternative bolt housing;

Figures 10B-D show a front view, bottom view and view in perspective of a bolt suitable for the face plate of figure 10A;

Figures 11A-D show how a door provided with an alternative bolt housing (including the bolt of figure 4B and the striking plate of figure 6C) can be closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a cut-away side view of an embodiment of a bolt housing 1 according to the invention. The bolt housing 1 comprises a lock plate 2 and a face plate 3. The face plate 3 is provided with an opening 4 (figure 4) for a bolt 5. The bolt 5 is part of a bolt module 6, which further comprises a frame 7. The bolt module 6 can be moved between a first ultimate position in which the bolt 5 is extended as far as possible from the face plate 3 (which situation is shown in figure 1), and a second ultimate position in which the bolt 5 is retracted as far as possible into the bolt housing 1. The bolt housing 1 is provided with a member for exerting a force on the bolt module 6 from the second ultimate position towards the first ultimate position (in figure 1 that means to the left) . In the embodiment shown use is made of a latchbolt spring 8. The direction into which the bolt can be reciprocally moved in the present application is indicated as the X-direction or the direction of the X- axis. The lock plate 2 runs parallel to the Z-X plane, and the face plate 3 runs parallel to the Z-Y plane. In order to have the bolt module 6 move in a straight line between the first ultimate position and the second ultimate position, means are present for guiding the bolt module 6. In the embodiment shown here said means comprise a pin 9 disposed on the lock plate 2 and a slot 10 in frame 7. As will be explained later in figure 4A the face plate 3 also comprises guiding means that cooperate with the bolt 5.

Figure 2 regards the same bolt housing 1 and substantially corresponds with figure 1, the difference being that it also shows a follower 11 known per se which, in a manner known per se, engages onto a stop 12 of the frame 7. In order to let a door latch (not shown) take up its original position again, a known counter spring 13 is provided, which for the common person skilled in the art needs no further explanation.

Figure 3 shows the bolt 5 of the bolt module 6 according to the invention in detail, in a side view (figure 3A) , a bottom view (figure 3A) and a view in cross-section along line IIIC-IIIC of figure 3A (figure 3C) , respectively. A first bolt side 21, a second bolt side 22, two third bolt sides 23 and two fourth bolt sides 24 can be seen. The first and second bolt sides 21, 22 have a first glide area 101 and a second glide area 102, respectively, as will be explained below. In this embodiment of the bolt 5, guide slots 25 (figure 3A) are situated between the second and third bolt sides 21, 22 on the one hand and the third and fourth bolt sides 23, 24 on the other hand. Cams 26 of the face plate 3 (figure 4A) engage onto the guide slots 25 of the bolt 5, and together with the pen 9 and slot 10 (figures 1 and 2) form the guide system for the bolt module .

Figures 4B-D show the bolt 5 in a front view, top view and a view in perspective, respectively. In figure 4D it can be seen that the first bolt side 21 and the second bolt side 22 form a first distal outer end 125, whereas the third and fourth bolt sides 23, 24 form two second distal outer ends 126. The third bolt sides 23 have blocking areas 127, and the fourth bolt sides 24 have blocking areas 128. The blocking areas are at an angle of less than 20 degrees to the X-axis in the X-Y plane, and in the embodiment shown here an angle of 13 degrees. The function of the blocking areas 127, 128 will be explained below.

Figure 5 shows a striking plate 30 suitable for use in combination with the bolt housing 1. The body of the striking plate on one of its sides is provided with a lip 31, which at an outer end thereof is bent around a door frame K (figure 7) in order to protect it when a door D (figure 7) is closed. The striking plate 30 of the embodiment shown in figure 5 is suitable for preventing that a door once closed can be pulled or pushed open again. The striking plate 30 has a continuous recess 32 having two shoulders 33 which will cooperate with the blocking areas 128 of the bolt 5 and an edge 34 situated so close to the side of the striking plate 30 bearing the lip 31 that it cannot contact the second bolt side 22 of the bolt 5. This turns the striking plate 30 into a blocking striking plate when it cooperates with the bolt housing 1 described above.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention it is possible to choose between a function wherein there is question of blocking (as a result of which the door D cannot be pushed or pulled open) , and a function wherein the door D can indeed be pushed or pulled open. First striking plates 130 and 230 suitable for that purpose will be discussed, after which the working will be elucidated on the basis of figures 7, 8 and 11. In these figures the bolt housing 1 is accommodated in a door D that is shown in part. The hinges of the door D that are not shown, are situated on the right-hand side (outside of the drawing) .

Figure 6A shows a striking plate 130 which is an alternative variety of the striking plate 30 of figure 5 and which is also suitable for use in combination with the bolt 5 of bolt housing 1. Said striking plate 130 allows a door once closed to be pushed or pulled open again. This will be further elucidated below on the basis of figure 8, which are schematic drawings in cross-section.

The striking plate 130 of figure 6A has a recess 132 and a lip 133 which provides a bevelling for smooth cooperation between the striking plate 130 and the bolt of bolt housing 1. In figure 6B the lip 133 is placed in such a position so as to enable certain bolts, such as those discussed for figure 10, to open the door by pushing or pulling, whereas this is impossible in the position of the lip 133 as shown in figure 6A. The lip 133 has a slotted hole 135 as a result of which the lip 133 can be bent with a pointed object, such as screwdriver, between the positions shown in top view below figures 6A and 6B.

Figure 6C shows an alternative embodiment of a striking plate 230 showing a lip 234, which as explained in figure 6B, has a slotted hole 235 for bending lip 234 in one of the positions shown in top view below figure 6C. When a bolt of a matching shape is used, shoulder 233 does or does not function as stop, which will be explained further in figure 11. Figure 7A shows how the first bolt side 21 of the bolt 5 and more specifically its glide area 101 contacts a protective lip 31 of the striking plate 30 for protecting the door frame K, as a result of which the protective lip 31 pushes the bolt 5 into the bolt housing 1. The first distal outer end 125, formed by the bolt sides 21, 22 at further closing of the door moves over the body of the striking plate 30 until the bolt 5, as a result of the force exerted by the latchbolt spring 8 (figure 1), is thrown into the recess 32 (figure 5) of the striking plate 30. As the fourth bolt side 24 in the X-Y plane is at a slight (fourth) angle to a Z-X plane (wherein the X-direction is the direction in which the bolt module 6 can be moved, and the Z-direction essentially corresponds with the longitudinal direction of the face plate 3) the movement of the fourth bolt side 24 along the shoulders 33 will pull the door further closed and/or retain it rattle-free. The shoulders 33 are formed such that the second bolt side 22 cannot touch the edge 34 of the recess situated near lip 33 protecting the door frame. Due to the slight (fourth) angle the fourth bolt side 24 forms a blocking area, in combination with the fact that the second bolt side 22 does not touch the recess 31, as a result of which pulling or pushing the door cannot urge the bolt 5 into the bolt housing 1 (figure 7C) . This is indeed the case when use is made of the striking plate 130 of figure 6A. Again it is plain (figure 8A) how when closing the door D, the first bolt side 21 of the bolt 5 and more specifically its glide area 101, contacts a lip 131 of the striking plate 130 which lip protects the door frame K, as a result of which the bolt 5 is pushed into the bolt housing 1. Figure 8B shows that the first distal outer end 25 in case the door is closed further moves over the striking plate 130, until the bolt 5 is thrown into the recess 132 of the striking plate 130 as a result of the force exerted by the latchbolt spring 8. As the glide area 102 of the second bolt side 22 is at a 45-degree (second) angle to the X-axis of, the movement of the second bolt side 22 along the edge 133 will pull the door further closed or retain it rattle-free (figure 8C) . As the glide area 102 of the second bolt side 22 contacts the edge 133 of the recess 132, pulling or pushing the door will push the bolt 5 into the bolt housing 1 (figure 8D) , and the door D can thus be opened .

Therefore by choosing the striking plate 30 or a striking plate 130 different functionalities can be opted for, that means whether or not it will be possible to pull a closed door open again. However, it may be desirable to change the functionality without arranging another striking plate. This can be achieved with a striking plate that has a lip that can be bent, as will be discussed on the basis of figure 11.

Figure 9A shows an alternative face plate 303 provided with a recess 304. A bolt housing having such a face plate 303 makes use of a bolt 305 of which the first bolt side 321 together with the fourth bolt side 324 form a distal outer end 325, and second bolt sides 322 together with third bolt sides 323 form distal outer ends 326. The bolt 305 is shown in front view, bottom view and view in perspective, respectively, in figures 9B-D.

In figure 10A shows an alternative face plate

403 provided with a recess 404. A bolt housing with such a face plate 403 makes use of a bolt 405 having a first glide area 421 of a first bolt side and a second glide area 422 of a second bolt side. The bolt 405 furthermore has blocking areas 423 and 425, the working of which will be explained on the basis of figure 11. The blocking areas are further away from the Z-X plane (which is a vertical plane for a bolt housing mounted in a door) than the glide areas 421 and 422, and are at an angle to the X-axis that is smaller than 20 degrees, and in this case 5 degrees, as a result of which the bolt 405 is able to pull a door shut and/or retain it rattle-free. Cams 461 on the bolt 405 (figures 10B-D, in front view, bottom view and view in perspective, respectively) and guide slots 426 in the face plate (figure 10A) cooperate to guide the bolt 405 into the X-direction .

Figures 11A-D show how a door D provided with an alternative bolt housing (with bolt 22 of figure 4B and the striking plate 230 of figure 6C) can be closed. By the lip 234 bending away, the shoulder 233 is able to function as a stop. The blocking area 128, which is at a slight angle to the X-direction, is able to pull the bolt 22 further into the striker cup SK, yet blocks opening the door D by pulling it. If the lip 234 had not been bent it would contact the glide area 102 and the door D could indeed have been opened by pulling it.

Figure 12A-D show the effect of a filler block

V in the door frame K on a bolt 1205 of the bolt housing according to the present invention. A door D, when closing it, with the bolt 1205 contacts a lip 1231 of a striking plate 1230, as a result of which the bolt 1205 is pushed into the bolt housing (figure 12B) . In figure 12C no filler block V is present as a result of which the bolt 1205 is able to move into the first position, and the bolt 1205 due to third bolt side 1232 cannot be pushed in by pushing against the door D. The bolt 1205 will then function as latchbolt or as deadbolt . The bolt 1205 can indeed be pushed in in case filler block V is present (figure 12D) . The distal outer end of the bolt 1205 touches the side 1298 of the block V, as a result of which the door D can be opened by pushing against it as a first bolt side 1221 of the bolt 1205 is able to function as glide surface. Said glide surface also ensures that the door D is efficiently pulled closed when it is not quite shut. The function of the bolt housing can therefore be changed without changing the bolt housing itself. An application in which it is expedient to change regularly between the possibility to push open a door and the possibility not to do so regards a shop. Towards closing time the function of the bolt is changed into that of a latchbolt. Customers can no longer enter the shop, whereas the customers present in the shop are able to leave the shop by operating a door handle .

In order to counteract rattling, the third or fourth bolt side is able to cooperate with a weatherstrip T made of elastic material, which due to the wedge-shape of the bolt is pushed in further and further .

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert.