Technical Field

The present invention relates to a modular lock assembly, specifically a lock assembly comprising a modular cylinder.

Background Art

Every lock assembly is designed to be installed on a door or on a door leaf that has a specific thickness.

The need is therefore felt for lock assemblies which are dedicated to the specific thickness of the door in which they are installed.

In order to overcome this drawback, and thus avoiding the creation of specific lock assemblies as a function of the infinite number of thicknesses that a door can have, some specific thicknesses have been standardized which manufacturers of doors and door leaves have to adopt in order to be able to install lock assemblies which conform to them.

In this way every manufacturer of locks has to produce only locks that conform to the standards in the reference specifications.

The basic component of every lock assembly is the cylinder, i.e. the component that permits the opening or closing of a lock and is actuated, generally, by means of a key.

Obviously every cylinder will be designed for a specific thickness of the door or door leaf, as a function of its dimensions and of any linkages and coupling elements that are interposed between the actual cylinder and the lock assembly in its entirety when they are installed on the door or door leaf.

The use, by some manufacturers, of lock assemblies and/or cylinders is known which comprise removable extension assemblies, interposed between the active portions of the mechanisms and designed to transfer the mechanical movements.

By adopting these extension assemblies (which have variable thicknesses) it is possible to adapt lock assemblies and cylinders to a wide range of thicknesses, generally selected from the standardized range of thicknesses.

The extension assemblies are in turn constituted by a plurality of components (some of which are designed to be coupled to the fixed portions of the cylinder/lock assembly and others are designed to be coupled to the mobile parts).

The locksmith in charge of installing the lock assembly (and the associated cylinder) on the door or on the door leaf therefore has to check the thickness of the door/door leaf and assemble the most suitable extension assembly. At this point the extension assembly can be interposed between contiguous portions of the cylinder for adapting its length to the installation needs.

Putting together the assembly can be complex for the locksmith, particularly when it has to be done directly at the place of installation.

The components of the assembly are numerous and small, and their assembly is simplified by the adoption of special-purpose tools and working on a dedicated work surface.

This condition is difficult to achieve at the place of installation and therefore the assembly operations, in reality, are generally rather lengthy and complex.

Disclosure of the invention

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks, by providing a modular lock assembly that can be rapidly and easily put together, taken apart and reconfigured as a function of the installation requirements.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a modular lock assembly that is constituted by elementary components that are compact and can be coupled to each other by the adoption of a few readily- sourced and easily transportable tools.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular lock assembly that has a level of security in the event of an attempted forced entry, which is identical with that of an equivalent lock assembly of the traditional type.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a modular lock assembly at low cost, that is relatively easily and practically implemented and safely applied.

This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become better evident hereinafter, are achieved by a modular lock assembly of the type comprising at least one command unit which is driven by a respective key and is constituted by a stator and by a rotor, said rotor being provided with a recess of a shape and size that are complementary to those of said key and with at least one pin for the mutual coupling/decoupling of the stator and the rotor, said pin being movable inside a channel that is substantially radial and extends also into the stator, and comprising at least one bit, which is operatively associated with said rotor that is designed to mechanically actuate the bolt driven by the said lock assembly, characterized in that it comprises at least one extension element, which is interposed between said at least one command unit and said bit, and constituted by a main body which has a longitudinal cavity for rotatably accommodating a casing for holding an inner shaft, said casing having a first contoured end which is rigidly coupled, directly or indirectly, in the assembled configuration, to said rotor of said command unit and a second contoured end which is rigidly coupled, directly or indirectly, to said bit, a rotation of said rotor being imposed by an actuation thereof by means of the respective key, thus producing a rotation of said casing and, therefore, of said bit, with respect to said stator and to said main body which are mutually fixed and integral. Brief description of the drawings

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 modular lock assembly according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a modular lock assembly according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of a modular lock assembly according to the invention;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view, seen from the front, of a first possible extension element of a modular lock assembly according to the invention;

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view, seen from behind, of the extension element in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of the extension element in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view, seen from the front, of a second possible extension element of a modular lock assembly according to the invention;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view, seen from behind, of the extension element in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of the extension element in Figure 6;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view, seen from the front, of a third possible extension element of a modular lock assembly according to the invention;

Figure 10 is an exploded perspective view, seen from behind, of the extension element in Figure 9;

Figure 1 1 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of the extension element in Figure 9;

Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view, seen from the front, of a fourth possible extension element of a modular lock assembly according to the invention;

Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view, seen from behind, of the extension element in Figure 12; Figure 14 is a sectional view, taken along a longitudinal plane, of the extension element in Figure 12.

Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally indicates a modular lock assembly according to the invention (here the term "lock assembly" is used to indicate what in normal locksmith jargon would be called a lock cylinder).

The lock assembly 1 comprises at least one command unit 2 which is driven by a respective key.

The unit 2, in turn, is constituted by a stator 3 and by a rotor 4 which is provided with a recess 5 of a shape and size that are complementary to those of the respective key.

The rotor 4 is moreover provided with at least one pin (not shown in the accompanying drawings), which is movable inside a channel that is substantially radial and extends also into the stator 3; the pin is. designed to mutually couple and decouple the stator 3 and the rotor 4.

The lock assembly 1 moreover comprises at least one bit 6, which is operatively associated with the rotor 4 and designed to mechanically actuate the bolt (not shown in the accompanying drawings and slidable in the installation door leaf) which is driven by the lock assembly 1.

The bit 6 comprises, preferably, an outer shell 7 which is provided with a cam 8 designed to actuate the bolt, and inside this shell 7 respective sliders 9 can freely perform a translational motion (according to a pre- established path).

The sliders 9 are mutually coupled by means of a joining stem 10; when one of the two sliders 9 (which are coupled by the joining stem 10) engages the shell 7 (because it is pushed in translational movement by the tip of the key or by another translational apparatus commanded thereby), a mechanical coupling based on shape is created (in other cases a coupling based on friction could be created) between the slider 9 and the shell 7. When this mechanical coupling is active, a rotation of the rotor 4 produces a consequent rotation of the cam 8. This ensures an increase in the security of the lock assembly 1 in the event of forced entry since a rotation of the rotor 4 while the key is not correctly inserted into the recess 5 will not allow the rotation of the bit 6 and, in particular, of the cam 8.

In particular, the lock assembly 1 according to the invention comprises at least one extension element 11 which is interposed between the at least one command unit 2 and the bit 6.

The element 1 1 is constituted by a main body 12 which has a longitudinal cavity 13 for rotatably accommodating a casing 14 for holding an inner shaft 15.

The casing 14 has a first contoured end 16 which is rigidly coupled, in the assembled configuration, to the rotor 4 of a unit 2; a second contoured end 17 is rigidly coupled, directly or indirectly, to the bit 6.

A rotation of the rotor 4 which is imposed by an actuation thereof by means of the respective key produces, with reference to an element 11 according to the invention, a rotation of the casing 14 and, therefore, of the bit 6, with respect to the stator and to the main body 12 which are mutually fixed and integral.

It is important to stress that the main body 12 comprises an extension

18 which is provided with means for coupling to the respective unit 2.

The coupling means, according to some specific examples which conform to the solutions shown in the accompanying drawings given for the purposes of non-limiting example, comprise a through hole 19, which is aligned with a corresponding threaded opening 20 of the unit 2.

The hole 19 can then accommodate a through screw 22 which engages the threaded opening 20 for the mutual grip of at least one extension element 1 1 and the respective unit 2. In the examples shown in the accompanying drawings, the screw 22 implements a coupling of the type known in mechanics as "self-tapping screw". According to a particular embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the internal cavity 13 of the main body 12 comprises an end shoulder 23 for the abutment and resting, in the assembled configuration, of a protruding bezel 24 of the casing 14.

The first contoured end 16 of the casing 14 comprises a pair of longitudinal extensions 25 which are shaped like sections of a cylinder.

The protruding bezel 24 is arranged at the connecting region between the end edge 26 of the casing 14 and the longitudinal extensions 25 and extends substantially as far as the extensions 25 themselves.

According to one possible practical application of undoubted technical interest, the second contoured end 17 of the casing 14 comprises a pair of longitudinal recesses 27 which are shaped like sections of a cylinder.

The recesses 27 have a shape and a size which are complementary to those of the longitudinal extensions 25; in the assembled configuration the recesses 27 accommodate respective extensions of the contiguous component (which is actually constituted by another element 1 1 or by a slider 9).

With specific reference to an embodiment that can be easily implemented, along the outside surface of the casing 14, in proximity to the second contoured end 17, there is a peripheral groove 28 for accommodating a locking ferrule 29.

The ferrule 29, in the assembled configuration, is partially accommodated in the groove 28 and partially faces the end face 30 of the main body 12 from which the second contoured end 17 protrudes.

The shaft 15 comprises at least one radial ring 31 which is adapted to abut against respective stroke limiting protrusions which are present along the inner surface of a through hole 32 of the casing 14.

According to a specific embodiment, there are two radial rings 31, which are arranged at the ends of the shaft 15; in this case, the casing 14 comprises an orifice 33, which is radial with respect to the through hole 32, for accommodating a stop pin 34.

The length of the pin 34 is substantially similar to the difference between the outer radius of the central portion 35 of the shaft 15 which is comprised between the two radial rings 31 and the outer radius of the casing 14.

In practice, when the extension element 11 is correctly assembled, the pin 34 will be locked between the outer surface of the portion 35 of the shaft 15 and the inner surface of the longitudinal cavity 13.

The shaft 15 will therefore be able to axially slide from a first configuration with the first ring 31 resting on the pin 34 and a second configuration with the second ring 31 resting on the pin 34. The shaft 15 moreover comprises a protruding appendage 35a which is adapted to be coupled stably with the bit 6 (either directly or with the interposition of other elements 1 1) so as to allow the mechanical coupling with the sliders 9 and, as a consequence, enable the sliders 9 to drag the cam 8 in rotation.

According to an alternative embodiment, the ferrule 29 comprises at least one tab 36 which protrudes from its inner edge.

The casing 14, in this case, comprises a thrust block step 37 at its inner through hole 32.

When the extension element 11 is correctly and completely assembled, the shaft 15 will be able to slide axially from a first configuration with a face of its ring 31 resting on the protruding tab 36 of the ferrule 29, to a second configuration with the opposite face of the ring 31 resting on the thrust block step 37.

It should conveniently be specified that the extension 18 which is provided with means of coupling to the unit 2 and protrudes from the main body 12, can comprise protruding prongs 38 which face each other and define a longitudinal slot 39.

The slot 39, in a configuration of complete assembly of the element 1 1, is aligned with corresponding slots 40 of the command units 2; the slot 39 and the slots 40 can now effectively accommodate at least one respective interconnection bar 41 which is designed to rigidly couple (by means of suitable fixing dowels 42) the units 2 with the extension elements 1 1.

If the elements 11 do not have protruding prongs 38, then the bars 41 will be mutually coupled only to the two opposing units 2 and the elements 1 1 will be integral with at least one of those units 2 due to the effect of the screw 22.

The lock assembly 1 according to the invention is in fact constituted by a cylinder in several parts, which can be fitted together by any user according to necessity.

The lock assembly according to the invention makes it possible, given the extreme simplicity of its components and the possibility of having elements 11 available which are already fully assembled, to assemble a lock assembly 1 in an extremely short time.

If it is necessary to replace parts in a lock assembly 1 which is already installed, it will be sufficient to have a few components, already fully assembled, available (units 2, elements 1 1 and bit 6) in order to be able to quickly reconfigure the lock assembly 1 without having to resort to special- purpose tools and without necessitating a special-purpose work surface.

The installation technician will then be able to measure, on-site (i.e. in the installation environment), the thickness of the door and/or of the door leaf and install the lock assembly 1 of the correct size, simply by using the appropriate number of elements 1 1, directly in situ.

Mounting the modular lock assembly 1 must be as fast as possible, and for this reason specific components have been designed: the completely assembled unit 2 (comprising stator 3, rotor 4, pins, counter-pins, springs, tab, anti-drill pin, respective locking ring); a plurality of elements 1 1 (comprising main body 12, casing 14, shaft 15, ferrule 29 and, where necessary, stop pin 34) which are completely assembled and available in the following sizes: 5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm and 40 mm (the production of elements 1 1 of different thicknesses, in order to adapt the lock assembly 1 also to different installation requirements, is, however, not excluded); bars 41, the dimensions of which correspond with those of the lock assembly 1 in its entirety; fixing dowels 42; bit 6; sliders 9.

The lock assembly 1 according to the invention, by having all the components available and knowing the exact thickness of the installation door (or door leaf), makes a full assembly possible in an exceptionally short time, of the order of a few dozens of seconds. This advantage differentiates the lock assembly 1 according to the invention from any other type of modular lock assembly or cylinder of known type.

This is possible due to the fact that the lock assembly 1 is made up of pre-assembled parts and therefore the installation technician only has to mutually couple the single components (the individual parts) without attending to the individual assembly of each one of them.

In particular, having elements 1 1 that are already fully assembled and working enormously simplifies the installation operations.

It should be noted that the constructive architecture adopted for the elements 1 1 constitutes the main characteristic of the lock assembly 1 , since it allows supplying the installation technician with the pre-assembled element 1 1.

Advantageously, the modular lock assembly 1 is therefore rapidly and easily put together, taken apart and reconfigured as a function of the installation requirements.

Usefully, the modular lock assembly 1 is constituted by elementary components that are compact and can be coupled to each other by means of a few, readily-sourced and easily transportable tools; the modular lock assembly 1 therefore lends itself very well to being directly installed in the place of its installation.

Positively, the modular lock assembly 1 offers a level of security in the event of an attempted forced entry which is identical to that of an equivalent lock assembly of the traditional type.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; in addition, 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.

Moreover, it should be noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

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 signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.