The present invention relates to a modular lock, in particular a lock that comprises a modular cylinder.

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

The need therefore arises of having dedicated locks for the particular thickness of the door of installation.

In order to overcome the drawback, and avoid a situation of creating specific locks as a function of the infinite thicknesses that a door could have, some specific thicknesses have been standardized which the makers of doors and door leaves must adopt in order to be able to mount locks that conform to them.

In this manner each maker of locks will need to produce only products that conform to the standards specified in the normative references.

The essential component of every lock is the cylinder, i.e. the component that enables the opening or closing of a door or door leaf and which is actuated, generally, by way of a key.

Obviously every cylinder will be designed for a specific thickness of door or door leaf, as a function of its dimensions and of any transmission and coupling elements interposed between the cylinder itself and the lock overall when they are installed on such door or on such door leaf.

The use is known, by some makers, of locks and/or cylinders that comprise removable extension assemblies, which are interposed between the active portions of the mechanisms and are adapted to deviate mechanical movements.

By adopting these extension assemblies (which have variable thicknesses) it is possible to adapt locks and cylinders to various different thicknesses, generally chosen from the standardized thicknesses.

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

The locksmith installing the lock (and the corresponding cylinder) on the door or on the door leaf will therefore need to verify the thickness of the door leaf/door and assemble the most suitable extension assembly. At this point the extension assembly can be interposed between contiguous portions of the cylinder in order to adapt their length to the installation requirements.

Putting the assembly together can be a complex matter for the locksmith, in particular when it needs to be carried out directly at the installation location.

The components of the assembly are small and numerous, and their assembly can be simplified only if special tools are used and only if working on a dedicated worktop.

This condition is difficult to meet at the installation location and therefore the assembly operations, in reality, are generally rather long and complex.

In addition, the various components are normally locked in place using pins which are inserted into adapted dedicated holes in each component: it is therefore evident that, if a high thickness needs to be made (therefore using many aligned components), very small machining errors could determine a misalignment of some holes, complicating the insertion of the pins considerably.

Furthermore the conventional solutions still require the adoption of at least one component (the one to which the others will be fixed using pins or other, equivalent elements) of the overall length that it is desired to obtain.

This means that it will still be necessary to provide such dedicated components in numerous formats, which will need to be warehoused and managed, creating problems of a logistical and provisioning nature for the maker.

The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks by providing a modular lock that is easy to mount.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a modular lock that comprises commercial components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular lock that can be reconfigured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular lock that is resistant to attempts at forcing by tearing out the lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular lock that is constituted by a small number of components.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular lock that has little play between the various assembled components and is therefore stronger and more solid.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular lock which is of low cost, easily and practically implemented and safely applied.

This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a modular lock of the type comprising at least one control unit, which is controlled by a respective key and is constituted by a stator and by a rotor, said rotor being provided with a slot with shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of said key and with at least one moveable pin, which can move within a substantially radial channel that also extends into the stator, said pin being adapted to mutually couple/decouple stator and rotor, and comprising at least one bit, which is functionally associated with said rotor and is adapted to mechanically actuate the sliding bolt controlled by said lock, characterized in that:

- the base of said at least one unit comprises a longitudinal through hole and the base of said bit comprises a threaded longitudinal cylindrical channel, in the assembled configuration said hole and said channel being aligned and accommodating a coach screw which is engaged on the threading of the channel for the mutual clamping of the at least one unit and of said bit; between said at least one control unit and said bit at least one spacer element is interposed, which is provided with a longitudinal through conduit at its base and with an idle cylinder, which is aligned with said rotor and provided with means for coupling thereto, for transferring the rotary motion of said rotor to the moveable element of said bit in order to mechanically actuate the sliding bolt controlled by said lock.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the modular lock 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 a modular lock according to the invention with the respective key inserted;

Figure 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view, taken along a median sagittal plane, of the lock and the key of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective cross-sectional view, taken along a median sagittal plane, of the lock and the key of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a further modular lock according to the invention with the respective key inserted; Figure 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view, taken along a median sagittal plane, of the lock and the key of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective cross-sectional view, taken along a median sagittal plane, of the exploded lock and the key of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lock and of the key of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a further exploded perspective view of the lock and of the key of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a further exploded perspective view of the lock and of the key of Figure 4.

With particular reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a modular lock according to the invention and the letter A generally designates the related key.

The modular lock 1 comprises at least one control unit 2, which is controlled by the respective key A.

Each control unit 2 is constituted by a stator 3 and by a rotor 4.

The rotor 4 is provided with a slot 5 with shape and dimensions that are complementary to those of the key A and with at least one moveable pin 6, which can move within a substantially radial channel that also extends into the stator 3.

The pin 6 is adapted to mutually couple and decouple the stator 3 and the rotor 4.

The lock 1 according to the invention further comprises at least one bit 7, which is functionally associated with the rotor 4 and is adapted to mechanically actuate the sliding bolt controlled by the lock 1.

In particular the rotor 4 will comprise an end for coupling to the bit 7 which will enable the transmission of the rotary motion of the rotor 4 (imparted through the key A by the user) to the bit 7.

According to the invention, the base of the at least one unit 2 will advantageously comprise a longitudinal through hole 8 and the base of the bit 7 will conveniently comprise a threaded longitudinal cylindrical channel 9.

In the assembled configuration the hole 8 and the channel 9 will be aligned and will accommodate a coach screw 10 which is engaged on the threading of the channel 9 (more precisely, screwed into the channel 9 itself) for the mutual clamping of the at least one unit 2 and of the bit 7.

In practice, by virtue of the respective coach screw 10 it will be possible to mate each unit 2 with a face of a corresponding bit 7, by executing a tightening by screwing the screw 10 which will ensure the minimization of the amounts of play between the various components of the lock 1 according to the invention. It should furthermore be noted that, according to the invention, between the at least one control unit 2 and the respective bit 7 at least one spacer element 11 can positively be interposed, which is provided with a longitudinal through conduit 12 at its base and with an idle cylinder 13, which is aligned with the rotor 3 and provided with means for coupling thereto, for transferring the rotary motion of the rotor 3 to the moveable element 14 of the bit 7 in order to mechanically actuate the sliding bolt controlled by the lock 1.

The presence of the spacer element 11 is optional and will be necessary if the length of the lock 1 needs to be varied in order to make it conform to the thickness of the door leaf in which it will have to be installed.

The movable elements 11 will have thicknesses that correspond to the necessary increases in length to adapt the lock 1 to the various different commercial standards that cover the majority of the possible door leaves of installation.

It should be noted that the at least one control unit 2 will profitably comprise a contouring on its front 15 that lies opposite to the front where the slot 5 for accommodating the key A is defined. The bit 7 will also advantageously comprise a complementary contouring with a shape matching that of the front 15 of the unit 2 on the face 16 intended to be juxtaposed with the same front 15.

The fact that the front 15 and the face 16 have a shape and dimensions that are complementary will favor the stability of their coupling and will further complicate any attempts at tampering that involve the tearing-out or extraction of the unit 2 from the installed lock 1 by way of pliers, tongs and similar tools. The reduction of the amounts of play between the various components of the lock 1 will, in fact, obstruct such types of break-in attacks. With particular reference to an embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the spacer element 11 can profitably comprise, on an initial face 17 thereof, a complementary contouring that matches the contouring of the front 15 of the at least one unit 2, for juxtaposition therewith substantially without play. Similarly, the spacer element 11 will positively comprise, on a terminal face 18 thereof, a contouring that matches the complementary contouring of the face 16 of the bit 7 for juxtaposition therewith substantially without play.

In this manner, even in installation configurations of the lock 1 that entail the presence of one or more spacer elements 11 , a coupling will be ensured that is stable and substantially free from play between all the components that constitute it, rendering it less exposed to attack from outside through tampering for the purposes of breaking in.

It should furthermore be noted that the lock 1 according to the invention can effectively comprise a closure plug 19, for each control unit 2. The closure plug 19 will be insertable into the hole 8 of the unit 2, upstream of the head 20 of the respective coach screw 10.

The plug 19 will usefully be locked in the hole 8 by way of a method chosen from transverse pins 21, tabs, splines, split pins, rivets, threaded grub screws, interference and the like. Purely for the purposes of non-limiting example, the accompanying figures show the use of transverse pins 21 for locking the plugs 19 in place.

It should furthermore be noted that the spacer element 11 can advantageously comprise a longitudinal through aperture 22 above the longitudinal through conduit 12. Similarly the control unit 2 can conveniently comprise a threaded longitudinal recess 23 above the longitudinal through hole 8 and aligned, in the configuration for use, with the longitudinal through aperture 22 of the element 11.

An auxiliary screw 24 will positively be accommodated in the longitudinal through aperture 22 and screwed into the threaded longitudinal recess 23.

This additional tightening of the spacer element 11 on the respective unit 2 will render the lock 1 according to the invention even more compact and solid, further reducing the risk of attempts at tampering using pliers, tongs and other, similar tools.

The at least one control unit 2 will conveniently comprise a plurality of substantially radial channels of the stator 3 and of the rotor 4, mutually offset, with respect to the lock 1, in a radial direction and/or in a longitudinal direction. The configuration thus described will be a lock 1 of the type with radial coding (represented by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9), the characteristics of which according to the invention will allow a great versatility of installation, in that, simply by substituting, inserting or removing spacer elements 11, it can be installed in door leaves and doors substantially of any thickness.

Alternatively, it should be noted that the at least one control unit 2 can advantageously comprise a plurality of substantially radial channels of the stator 3 and of the rotor 4 which also extend into the base of the unit 2, above the longitudinal hole 8. Such channels will be mutually offset, with respect to the lock 1, in a longitudinal direction.

The configuration in the previous paragraph, on the other hand, is a lock 1 of the type with traditional coding (represented by way of non limiting example in the accompanying Figures 1, 2 and 3), the characteristics of which according to the invention will allow a great versatility of installation, in that, simply by substituting, inserting or removing spacer elements 11, it can be installed in door leaves and doors substantially of any thickness.

It should be noted that the coach screw 10 can conveniently comprise a head 20 with a larger diameter than the threaded shank 20a. The through hole 8 of the unit 2 will comprise a first segment 25 of diameter larger than the diameter of the head 20, for the free passage thereof, and a second segment 26 of diameter greater than the diameter of the shank 20a and smaller than the diameter of the head 20.

An abutment lip will thus be defined between the first segment 25 and the second segment 26 for the head 20 during the tightening of the screw 10 on the threading of the cylindrical channel 9 of the bit 7.

Similarly, the auxiliary screw 24 will comprise a head 27 with a larger diameter than the threaded shank 28; the longitudinal through aperture 22 of the spacer element 11 will in such case comprise a first part 29 of diameter larger than the diameter of the head 27, for the free passage thereof, and a second part 30 of diameter larger than the diameter of the shank 28 and smaller than the diameter of the head 27.

A shoulder surface is defined between the first part 29 and the second part 30 of the opening 22 for the head 27 during the tightening of the auxiliary screw 24 on the threading of the unit 2.

The abutment lip and the shoulder surface will ensure that the screwing of the respective screws 10 and 24 results in a stable clamping of the components of the lock 1 with respect to each other.

It should be noted that, from an applicative point of view of the present invention, the spacer elements 11 can be a plurality.

Such elements 11 can have different thicknesses and will be mutually stackable in order to increase the length of the lock 1 by a value corresponding to any combination of those elements 11.

In order to ensure the effective transmission of the motion from the rotor of the unit 2 to the moveable element of the bit 7, the possibility exists of using an extension 31 which is contoured to be mated frontally with the two aforementioned components. The extension 31 is part of the moveable cylinder 13, although it can be physically separate from it or integrated into it.

Operation of the lock according to the invention is simple: at the time of installation the necessary length will be selected and, by mounting a specific type of spacer elements 11 or a suitable number of these, mutually aligned and stacked, the most suitable lock 1 can be assembled. Firstly the screw 24 will be screwed to couple the spacer element 11 to a unit 2; subsequently the screws 10 will be screwed to couple the units 2 (at least one of which will already be associated with at least one spacer element 11) to the bit 7.

Finally it will be necessary to insert the plugs 19 into the holes 8, locking them in place, for example, by way of pins 21.

If it becomes necessary to disassemble the lock 1 in order to reconfigure it (modifying its overall length through the substitution, addition and/or elimination of at least one element 11), the locksmith will proceed to carry out the disassembly operations (in the reverse order to what was described previously) and then proceed with a suitable reassembly of the necessary components.

Advantageously the present invention solves the above mentioned problems, by providing a modular lock 1 that is easy to mount.

Conveniently the modular lock 1 comprises commercial components: in fact the screws 10 and 24 can be of commercial type, so as to facilitate the sourcing thereof, and at low cost.

Usefully the modular lock 1 is reconfigurable and therefore can be removed from one door leaf and installed on a door leaf of different thickness, by intervening on the at least one spacer element 11 present (addition, elimination, substitution).

Advantageously the modular lock 1 is particularly resistant to attempts at forced entry by tearing out the lock in that the minimization of the amounts of play between the various modules (components) that constitute it obstructs forcing from outside by way of pliers, tongs, extractors and other, similar tools.

Conveniently the modular lock 1 is constituted by a small number of components and this ensures a high stability, solidity and compactness thereof, as well as containing the costs for its provision.

Usefully the modular lock 1 presents little play between the various assembled components and is therefore stronger and more solid. Positively the modular lock 1 is easily and practically implemented and is of low cost: such characteristics make the lock 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.