DOOR LOCK ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING THE DOUBLE-ACTION LATCH BOLT ASSEMBLY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to door lock arrangements for mounting in doors. Some embodiments of the present invention relate to electric door lock arrangements, such as solenoid lock arrangements, solenoid locks, electric locks or the like. In particular, it is herein disclosed a double-action latch bolt assembly and a door lock arrangement comprising the double-action latch bolt assembly.

BACKGROUND

Door lock arrangements have a vast range of applications, such as at hotels, hospitals, offices or the like. For these applications, for example solenoid locks are particularly popular. A common type of solenoid locks is activated, e.g. unlocked, by means of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, a magnetic card or the like. With a solenoid lock of this type, a locking mechanism of the solenoid lock cannot be operated through actuation of a door handle unless the solenoid lock is electrically activated (Power-To-Open type locking arrangements). Some solenoid locks allow the door handle to operate the locking mechanism without power and do instead require power to deactivate the door handle, i.e. the door is locked when electrically activated (Power-To-Lock type locking arrangements). These door lock arrangements also often include a knob for manually locking and unlocking the door, where the knob is only mounted at one side of the door or the door lock arrangement.

In a known example, the door can be operated by a door operator, which is arranged to mechanically open and/or close the door. The door operator can be activated by a switch at which a person can push in order to open the door. The switch can be located next to the door or at a distance to facilitate opening when approaching the door in a wheelchair or the like. In certain situations, the door may be locked. Then, in order for the door operator to be able to open the door, the door must be unlocked. This is achieved by that a frame, in which the door is installed, is provided with an electric strike plate, which upon activation opens and thereby allows a bolt, that is keeping the door locked, to pass. Electric strike plates are well-known in the art. A purpose of such electric strike plates is thus to allow the door to be opened even when the bolt of the door is locked in a projecting position. However, the electric strike plate adds costs both in terms of price of parts and installation effort. W02020130904 discloses a door lock arrangement which cannot be used together with a door operator. When the known door lock arrangement is used with the door operator, the bolt needs to be retracted in a direction into the door lock arrangement. Retraction of the bolt in such a manner disadvantageously requires huge amounts of energy and power in relation to energy and power available in electric door lock arrangements of the kind disclosed in W02020130904.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, an object may be to alleviate or at least reduce one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages and/or problems.

This object, and other objects, may be achieved by the independent claim appended herewith.

According to an aspect, there is thus provided a double-action latch bolt assembly for installation in a door lock arrangement that comprises a faceplate. The double-action latch bolt assembly comprises a guiding unit configured to be translatable perpendicularly to a main plane of the faceplate to allow the double-action latch bolt assembly to be displaceable to or from a projecting position.

Moreover, the double-action latch bolt assembly comprises a first protrusible member and a second protrusible member. Each of the first and second protrusible members is configured to partially project through the faceplate when the guiding unit is in the projecting position and to be rotatable relatively the guiding unit. The first protrusible member comprises a surface at which side- forces are capable of acting when the door lock arrangement is installed in a door.

The surface of the first protrusible member is parallel with a side of the guiding unit when the double-action latch bolt assembly is in the projecting position.

One of the guiding unit and the first protrusible member comprises a first excavation and the other one of the guiding unit and the first protrusible member comprises a first projection. The first excavation and the first projection are configured to allow the first protrusible member to be rotatable relatively the guiding unit about a first displaceable geometric rotational axis and to be displaceable relatively the guiding unit parallelly with a plane thereof. The first displaceable geometric rotational axis is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the faceplate when the double-action latch bolt assembly is installed in the door lock arrangement. The plane is perpendicular to the first displaceable geometric rotational axis, whereby a projection of the first displaceable geometric rotational axis on the plane is displaceable between a first primary position and a first secondary position. The first primary position is located further away from the side of the guiding unit than the first secondary position. The first primary position is located further away from a transversal centre plane of the guiding unit than the first secondary position. The transversal centre plane is parallel with the main plane when the double-action latch bolt assembly is installed in the door lock arrangement.

Thanks to that the first primary position is located further away from the side of the guiding unit than the first secondary position, initial unlocking, e.g. when exposed to side forces, is facilitated while thanks to that the first primary position is located further away from a transversal centre plane of the guiding unit than the first secondary position, further opening is achieved quickly and with a short stroke. This will be described in more detailed with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Accordingly, unlocking of the double-action latch bolt assembly is facilitated, especially during side-pressure, e.g. the double-action latch bolt assembly is pressed sideways into a strike plate of a door frame which causes the double-action latch bolt assembly to be forced against a hook portion of a locking member. According to at least some examples, unlocking may be performed manually and/or by means of a solenoid in a smooth manner and/or easily, e.g. using relatively small forces.

According to another aspect, the object is achieved by a door lock arrangement for mounting in a door leaf adapted to be hinged in a door frame. The door lock arrangement comprises a faceplate mountable in the door leaf. Furthermore, the door lock arrangement comprises a double action latch bolt assembly according to any one of the embodiments herein.

According to a further aspect, the object is achieved by a first protrusible member for a double-action latch bolt assembly for installation in a door lock arrangement that comprises a faceplate, wherein the first protrusible member comprises a first guiding and rotation interface that is offset a longitudinal centre plane of the first protrusible member.

In some embodiments, the first excavation is adapted to receive and guide the first projection to displace the first displaceable geometric rotational axis between the first primary position and the first secondary position, e.g. upon opening or unlocking of the door. Similarly, the first project is adapted to be received by the first excavation and to guide the first excavation to displace the first displaceable geometric rotational axis between the first primary position and the first secondary position.

In some embodiments, the guiding unit a comprises the first excavation and the first protrusible member comprises the first projection.

In some embodiments, the first excavation is offset a longitudinal centre plane of said one of the guiding unit and the first protrusible member. This means e.g. that a geometric centre of gravity of the first excavation is at a distance from the longitudinal centre plane.

Furthermore, in these embodiments, the first projection is offset a longitudinal centre plane of said other one of the guiding unit and the first protrusible member. This means e.g. that a geometric centre of gravity of the first projection is at a distance from the longitudinal centre plane.

In some examples, it may be sufficient that at least one of the guiding unit and the first protrusible member is asymmetric.

In some embodiments, the first excavation comprises a first elongated slot. In these embodiments, the guiding unit may comprise the first elongated slot. In these embodiments, a longitudinal direction of the first elongated slot may be parallel, preferably coincidental, with a first translation axis through the first primary position and the first secondary position.

In some embodiments, a distal end of the first elongated slot comprises the first primary position and a proximal end of the first elongated slot comprises the first secondary position.

In some embodiments, the first projection is offset relatively a central main plane when the double-action latch bolt assembly is in the projecting position.

In some embodiments, the first protrusible member is biased towards a position in which the surface of the first protrusible member is parallel with the side of the guiding unit when the double action latch bolt assembly is installed in the door lock arrangement.

In some embodiments, the guiding unit is biased to force the double-action latch bolt assembly towards the projecting position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of embodiments disclosed herein, including particular features and advantages thereof, are explained in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an overview illustrating a door in which an exemplifying door lock arrangement is installed. Figure 2 is a side view illustrating the door lock arrangement with connecting lever spindles and lever handles.

Figure 3a is a cross-sectional view of an exemplifying door lock arrangement.

Figure 3b is a perspective view illustrating geometrical axes and planes with reference to a generic door lock arrangement having a single-action lock bolt.

Figure 3c is a perspective view of the generic door lock arrangement of Figure 3b to illustrate an auxiliary latch bolt.

Figure 4 includes views illustrating features relating to an exemplifying elongated guiding element.

Figure 5 is an exploded view of an exemplifying double-action latch bolt assembly.

Figure 6a through Figure 6c illustrate a side view and cross-sectional views of the exemplifying double-action latch bolt assembly according to Figure 5.

Figure 7a through Figure 7c include views illustrating an exemplifying locking member.

Figure 8a through Figure 8h show a set of views illustrating positions of e.g. the gear arm, the guiding unit, the first protrusible member, the locking member during opening/closing of the door and/or locking/unlocking of the double-action latch bolt assembly.

Figure 9 shows views illustrating the exemplifying first protrusible member of Figure 5.

Figure 10 shows views illustrating the exemplifying guiding unit of Figure 5.

Figure 11 shows another exemplifying double-action latch bolt assembly.

Figure 12 shows views illustrating the exemplifying guiding unit of Figure 11.

Figure 13 shows views illustrating the exemplifying first protrusible member of Figure 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In order to better appreciate the embodiments herein, the following further description of how the present solution has been developed is provided.

Should it be possible to adapt aforementioned W02020130904 to also allow for use together with a door operator, it would be highly advantageous, since cost of the electric strike plate, both in terms of material and installation, could be dispensed with. Flowever, energy available in the door lock arrangement is not enough to be able to retract the bolt. A straightforward solution would be to increase the amount of energy available in the door lock arrangement in order for e.g. an electric motor to retract the bolt. In addition, a lock including the electric motor for retraction of the bolt would also need to include a microcontroller or the like. The microcontroller would disadvantageously add to cost of the lock. It is noted that there are locks which uses microcontrollers and electric motors on the market today. Their main application area is for so called outer protection, or shell protection. Flowever, these kinds of lock are much more expensive than the door lock arrangement disclosed in aforementioned W02020130904.

In contrast thereto, the present inventors have chosen a different path as presented below.

So called double action bolts have been around for many years. A double action bolt is normally locked in non-energized mode when an auxiliary latch bolt is retracted and in energized mode the double action bolt is unlocked and the door can be pushed and/or pulled to open while the double action bolt is displaced into the door lock arrangement to allow the door to open.

When a double action bolt is combined with the door lock arrangement of the kind disclosed in W02020130904, e.g. a door lock arrangement with electrically and mechanically controlled door actuators, the present inventors ran into a problem that unlocking of the door was not reliable. The problem is particularly articulated when the door is exposed to side pressure or frame forces, which can be caused by titled doors, under/overpressure in a building, debris between the door and the frame, debris in the strike plate, sealing strips or the like. When manually opening the door, one usually pushes or pulls the handle of the door to release the side pressure and thereby be able to open the door. In case of an electric door lock, it is more difficult. A common solution is to install an electric strike plate in the frame, which is capable of unlocking the door despite the side pressure, which would lead back to the known solutions.

Instead, the present inventor presents a solution as described in more detail in the following.

Figure 1 illustrates an exemplifying door lock arrangement 1 when installed, or mounted, in a door leaf 2, or door for short.

To the left in Figure 1, illustrating a plan view of the door leaf 2, it is shown that the door lock arrangement 1 comprises a first hub 4 for receiving a lock lever (not shown) and a second hub 6 for receiving a lever handle 8. The door leaf 2 is usually mounted in a door frame 3 via hinges 9.

To the right in Figure 1, illustrating a cross-sectional view of the door leaf 2, it is shown that the door leaf 2 may be provided with one handle at each side of the door leaf 2, i.e. a first handle 8a and a second handle 8b.

Notably, throughout the present disclosure any reference to the door or the door frame shall be understood as applying when the door lock arrangement 1 is mounted in the door and/or when the door is hinged or mounted in the door frame.

Turning to Figure 2, a more detailed cross-sectional view of the door lock arrangement 1 is provided. As illustrated, the first hub 4 may be adapted to receive a lock actuator spindle 202 that may be connected to a knob 204 for manually manoeuvring the door lock arrangement. By use of the knob 204, opening and/or closing of the door may be enabled.

Additionally, the second hub 6 is adapted to receive at least one of a first lever handle spindle 206 and a second lever handle spindle 208. In turn, each of the first and second lever handle spindles 206, 208 may be connected to a respective lever handle, such as the first and second handles 8a, 8b.

Figure 3a shows, in a cross-sectional view, the exemplifying door lock arrangement 1 according to some embodiments herein. The exemplifying door lock arrangement 1 may include optional features that are merely included for reasons of simplicity.

Generally, with reference to Figure 3a, the door lock arrangement 1 for mounting in the door leaf 2 comprises a faceplate 10 mountable in the door leaf 2, and a mounting plate 12 adapted to be received by the door leaf 2, which typically is adapted to be hinged in the door frame 3. As shown in Figure 3c, the faceplate 10 comprises a first opening 52, see Figure 3c, adapted to receive an auxiliary latch bolt 800 and a second opening 54, see Figure 3c, adapted to receive a bolt of a double-action latch bolt assembly 18. The faceplate 10 and the mounting plate 12 form a casing 14.

Typically, the door frame 3 is provided with a strike plate (not shown), which faces the faceplate 10. As mentioned in the background section of the present disclosure, a so-called electric strike plate may be required in order to achieved desired functionality in certain scenarios, such as providing a lockable double action door, such as a swing door, with a door operator.

The casing 14 comprises a double-action latch bolt assembly 18 that is biased towards a projecting position in which at least a portion of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 projects through the faceplate 10. The double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is retractable from the projecting position 1801, e.g. by translation thereof in parallel with a geometrical axis 63 that is perpendicular to a main plane 60 of the faceplate 10, when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is unlocked, whereby closing of the door leaf 2 with respect to the door frame 3 when the door leaf 2 is hinged in the door frame 3 is allowed. In more detail, the guiding unit 18a is biased to force the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 towards, i.e. to enter, the projecting position 1801.

The double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is prevented from being retractable, from the projecting position 1801, to allow opening and/or closing of the door leaf 2 with respect to the door frame 3 when the door leaf 2 is hinged in the door frame 3 when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is locked.

Moreover, the casing 14 comprises the auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800 displaceable between a locking position 704, 706, in which the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is lockable, and an unlocking position 702, in which the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is unlocked, e.g. by translation thereof in parallel with the geometrical axis 63. The auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800 projects less, or not at all, through the faceplate 10 in the locking position 704, 706 than in the unlocking position 702 due to abutment with the door frame 3 when the door leaf 2 is hinged in the door frame 3. The locking position and the unlocking position are further described with reference to Figure 8a through Figure 8g.

The auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800 is biased, such as mechanically biased, e.g. by means of an elastic material, spring biased, biased by means of a rubber band, an elastic band or the like, towards the unlocking position 702. The auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800 may be spring biased, e.g. using a compression spring, a helical compression spring, a conical spring, an extension spring, a torsion spring, a constant force spring, a belleville spring, a drawbar spring, a volute spring, a garter spring or the like. In this example, a conical spring is shown by way of example.

Additionally, the casing 14 comprises a locking member 13 that is rotatable about a centre of rotation in a main plane 61 of the mounting plate 12 between an inhibiting position 1310 in which the locking member 13 inhibits retraction of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18, whereby the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is locked, and an allowing position 1320 in which the locking member 13 allows retraction of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18, whereby the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is unlocked.

The locking member 13 is biased towards the inhibiting position 1310 in which a hook portion 1303 of the locking member 13 is engageable with the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 upon retraction of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18, whereby the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is locked. The locking member 13 is configured to be allowed to be forced to the allowing position 1320 when the auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800 biasedly enters the unlocking position 702. The inhibiting position 1310 and the allowing position 1320 are further described with reference to Figures 8a-8h.

The casing 14 further comprises a gear arm 16 that is rotatable in the main plane 61 of the mounting plate between a first position 1610, in which the inhibiting position 1310 is enterable by the locking member 13, and a second position 1620, in which the locking member 13 is held in the allowing position 1320 by that a first pushing portion 1601 of the gear arm 16 abuts the locking member 13. Again, the first and second positions are further described with reference to Figures 8a- 8h.

The double-action latch bolt assembly 18 further is arranged to and designed to retract when exposed to side forces originating from abutment with the door frame 3 when the door leaf 2 is hinged in the door frame 3 and when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is unlocked. This is meant to describe the general features and/or function of a known so called double-action bolt, which also may be referred to as a dual action bolt, a roller bolt, an anti-friction bolt, an anti-friction latch bolt or the like. As a result, when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is unlocked any existing side-pressure may thus aid in the displacement of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18. Consequently, the door lock arrangement 1 does not need additional energy and/or power than the energy and/or power that is available according to the known solution in W02020130904.

The gear arm 16 comprises a second pushing portion 1602 adapted to force the locking member 13 from the inhibiting position 1310 during initial rotation of the gear arm 16 from the first position 1610 towards the second position 1620 by that the second pushing portion 1602 pushes at a distal portion 1301 of the locking member 13. The distal portion 1301 is located distally with respect to the centre of rotation of the locking member 13.

The door lock arrangement 1 herein is versatile and may be applied in a multitude of scenarios, including split-function where left or right handle may be selectably activated e.g. for purposes of emergency exiting.

In some embodiments, the door lock arrangement 1 comprises an electrical actuation means 50 arranged to upon activation displace the gear arm 16 from the first position 1610 to the second position 1620. The electrical actuation means may be a solenoid, a linear actuator, an electric motor, a linear solenoid or the like.

It may generally be noted that the rotatable gear arm 16 may be adapted to translationally displace the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 by rotation about a rotational axis 20 perpendicular to the mounting plate 12. The double-action latch bolt assembly 18 may comprise a latch bolt, a dead bolt, a double action bolt or the like depending on realization of the door lock arrangement 1. It is well known that some door lock arrangements include one or more bolts selected from a group comprising at least a latch bolt, a dead bolt and the like. Accordingly, in a further aspect of the embodiments herein, the door lock arrangement 1 comprises a bolt that may be of any kind. Therefore, not limiting the applicability of the gear arm 16 and the locking member 13 to only the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 that is arranged to and designed to retract when exposed to side forces originating from abutment with the door frame 3 when the door leaf 2 is hinged in the door frame 3 and when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is unlocked. According to this further aspect, the aforementioned features of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 are optional.

Moreover, the casing 14 may comprise a lock hub 22 adapted to receive a lock actuator spindle 202 (shown in Figure 2) for manoeuvring the double-action latch bolt assembly 18. The lock hub 22 may typically connect to a knob for manually displacing the double-action latch bolt assembly 18, whereby opening of the door is possible in case being closed in the first place.

The casing 14 may further comprise a hub arrangement 24 adapted to allow the double action latch bolt assembly 18 to be controlled by actuation of a lever handle spindle, such as the first and second lever handle spindles 206, 208 as shown in Figure 2. The lever handle spindle may have a square cross-section. Therefore, the hub arrangement 24 may be a square hub arrangement.

The hub arrangement 24 may comprise a rower 25 adapted to receive the lever handle spindle, and a lever hub 29 adapted to at least partially enclose and receive the rower 25. In order to cooperate well with the hub arrangement 24 the rower may comprise a square-shaped cavity for receiving the lever handle spindle.

In one example, the casing 14 may further comprise an elongated guiding element 26 that is displaceable between a first guiding element position 401 and a second guiding element position 402 by translation thereof in a longitudinal direction 406 of the elongated guiding element 26 as illustrated in Figure 4.

The elongated guiding element 26 is biased towards the first guiding element position 401 in which the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 protrudes out of the faceplate 10 by that the double action latch bolt assembly 18 is spring biased. In Figure 4, biasing towards the first guiding element position 401 is achieved by a spring 405.

The elongated guiding element 26 is arranged to retract the double-action latch bolt assembly 18, when the elongated guiding element 26 is located in the second guiding element position 402.

Moreover, the elongated guiding element 26 comprises a lock actuation element 28 at a first end 411 thereof in proximity of the lock hub 22. The lock actuation element 28 is arranged to convert rotation of the lock hub 22 to a translational movement of the elongated guiding element 26 from the first guiding element position 401, e.g. in a direction away from the first guiding element position 401. Preferably, a one-way conversion of the rotation of the loch hub 22 to translational movement of the elongated guiding element 26 is provided. In this manner, the lock hub 22 is not necessarily rotated when the elongated guiding element 26 is displaced from the first guiding element position 401 to the second guiding element position 402. The elongated guiding element 26 comprises a bolt displacing element 30 at a middle portion 413 thereof in proximity of the rotational axis 20 of the gear arm 16, wherein the bolt displacing element 30 is arranged to convert the translational movement of the elongated guiding element 26 to a rotation of the gear arm 16.

The elongated guiding element 26 comprises a lever actuation element 32 at a second end 412 thereof in proximity of the hub arrangement 24, wherein the lever actuation element 32 is arranged to convert rotation of the hub arrangement 24 to the translational movement of the elongated guiding element 26.

The elongated guiding element 26 is displaceable along an interior face 34 of the casing 14 in accordance with the translational movement, wherein the interior face 34 is opposite to the faceplate 10 of the door lock arrangement 1. The interior face 34 may be parallel with the faceplate 10.

It may be noted that the elongated guiding element 26 may abut directly to the lock hub 22 at the first end 411 of the elongated guiding element 26, abut directly to the hub arrangement 24 at the second end 412 of the elongated guiding element 26 and abut directly to the gear arm 16 at the middle portion 413 of the elongated guiding element 26 between the first and second ends 411, 412. Typically, the gear arm 16 is adapted to displace the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 when rotated by translation of the elongated guiding element 26.

The elongated guiding element 26 may further be operable by means of actuation of the lever handle spindle 206, 208 and the lock actuator spindle 202 to be displaced between the first and second positions 401, 402. Hence, in this manner, the elongated guiding element may be displaced between the first and second positions 401, 402 according to operation be e.g. a user, a human, a person or any one attempting to open and/or close the door.

The lock actuation element 28 may comprise a fork 420 adapted to be received by at least one groove 850 of the lock hub 22 to convert the rotation of the lock hub 22 to the translational movement of the elongated guiding element 26. In this manner, the rotation of the lock hub 22 is efficiently converted to the translational movement of the elongated guiding element 26 while requiring a very limited amount of space in the casing 14. For example, the rotation of the lock hub 22 does not cause arms or levers to rotate, which normally would require relatively large amounts of space within the casing 14. The fork 420 together with said at least one groove 850 of the lock hub 22 form an exemplifying mechanism to achieve the abovementioned one-way conversion.

The bolt displacing element 30 may comprise a projecting part 31 adapted to convert the rotation of the hub arrangement 24 to the translational movement of the elongated guiding element 26 to cause the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 to be retracted.

The lever actuation element 32 may comprise a first set of gear teeth 430 adapted to be received by a second set of gear teeth 910 of the lever hub 29 to convert the rotation of the lever hub 29 to the translational movement of the elongated guiding element 26. In this manner, clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the lever hub 29 may be transferred to the translation of the elongated guiding element 26, while only requiring the lever hub 29 and the elongated guiding element 26 to connect, or abut, with each other at one small section, e.g. 90 degrees or less, of an imaginary circle that is concentric with a rotational axis of the lever hub 29.

As described above, this means that the elongated guiding element 26 is arranged to be displaceable without rotation between the first guiding element position 401 and the second guiding element position 402. The double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is retracted in the second guiding element position 402.

Again, the elongated guiding element 26 is arranged to be biased towards the first guiding element position 401 in which the lock hub 22 is in a first rotational hub position. When the lock hub 22 is rotated, e.g. by means of a knob, the lock hub 22 leaves the first rotational hub position, counter-clockwise or clockwise, while the elongated guiding element 26 at the same time is forced to leave its first biased position 401.

The lock hub 22 is connected to the guiding element 26 to provide a one-way conversion of spindle rotation to translational movement of the elongated guiding element, e.g. thanks to the aforementioned fork as an exemplifying realization.

Figure 5 is an exploded view illustrating the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 for installation in the door lock arrangement 1 that comprises the faceplate 10.

The double-action latch bolt assembly 18 comprises a guiding unit 18a configured to be translatable perpendicularly to the main plane 60 of the faceplate 10 to allow the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 to be displaceable to or from a projecting position 1801, shown in Figure 8a through Figure 8h.

Moreover, the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 comprises a first protrusible member 18b and a second protrusible member 18c. Each of the first and second protrusible members 18b,

18c is configured to partially project through the faceplate 10 when the guiding unit 18a is in the projecting position 1801 and to be rotatable relatively the guiding unit 18a. Thanks to the rotatability of the first and second protrusible members, anti-friction capability of the double-action latch bolt assembly is achieved.

As an example, this means that each of the first and second protrusible members 18b, 18c is partially projectable through the faceplate 10 and rotatable relatively the guiding unit 18a. The first protrusible member 18b comprises a surface 44 at which side-forces are capable of acting when the door lock arrangement 1 is installed in a door. The surface 44 of the first protrusible member 18b is parallel with a side 43 of the guiding unit 18a when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is in the projecting position 1801. The surface 44 may be coinciding with the side 43, or at least substantially coincidental with the side 43. Typically, both the first and second protrusible member 18b, 18c are bevelled, e.g. at least at the respective portion that projects through the faceplate 10 in the projecting position 1801. The first protrusible member 18b may be biased towards a position in which the surface 44 of the first protrusible member 18b is parallel with the side 44 of the guiding unit 18a when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is installed in the door lock arrangement 1.

One of the guiding unit 18a and the first protrusible member 18b comprises a first excavation 45 and the other one of the guiding unit 18a and the first protrusible member 18b comprises a first projection 46. The first excavation 45 and the first projection 46 are configured to allow the first protrusible member 18b to be rotatable relatively the guiding unit 18a about a first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' and to be displaceable relatively the guiding unit 18a parallelly with a plane 64 thereof. This may be expressed as that the first protrusible member 18b and the guiding unit 18a interfit with each other using the first excavation 45 and the first projection 46. Further, a mechanical interface is thus formed between the first protrusible member 18b and the guiding unit 18a, e.g. by means of the first excavation 45 and the first projection 46. The plane 64 is fixed with reference to the guiding unit 18a, i.e. the plane 64 moves as the guiding unit 18a translates to or from the projecting position. The first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' is parallel with a longitudinal axis 62 of the faceplate 10 when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is installed in the door lock arrangement 1. The plane 64 is perpendicular to the first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62', whereby a projection of the first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' on the plane 64 is displaceable between a first primary position Pll and a first secondary position P12. Further, with reference to the plane 64 the first and second protrusible members 18b, 18c have distal tapering along the geometrical axis 63, e.g. away from the locking arrangement 1.

The first excavation 45 may be adapted to receive and guide the first projection 46 to displace the first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' between the first primary position Pll and the first secondary position P12.

The first primary position Pll is located further away from the side 43 of the guiding unit 18a than the first secondary position P12. The first primary position Pll is located further away from a transversal centre plane 60' of the guiding unit 18a than the first secondary position P12. The transversal centre plane 60' is parallel with the main plane 60 when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is installed in the door lock arrangement 1. The transversal centre plane 60' is also central with respect to a longitudinal direction of the guiding unit 18a, i.e. the plane 60' is located at the middle thereof.

In the example of Figure 5, the first excavation 45 may comprise a first elongated slot 45. As used herein, the term slot may refer to a slot that is blind, e.g. a groove, or a slot that is through, i.e. has no bottom. Furthermore, the slot may have no open ends, or the slot may have one or two open ends.

Moreover, in the example of Figure 5, the guiding unit 18a comprises the first elongated slot 45.

Moreover, the first projection 46 is mechanically biased relatively the guiding unit 18a to force the first rotational axis 62' towards the first primary position Pll, in which an abutment face 47 of the first protrusible member 18b is parallel with the main plan 60 of the faceplate 10. The abutment surface is capable of abutting an interior face of the faceplate 10 when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is installed in the door lock arrangement 1. Correspondingly, when desired, the second projection 46' may be mechanically biased relatively the guiding unit 18a to force the second rotational axis 62" towards the second primary position P21, in which an abutment face 47' of the second protrusible member 18c is parallel with the main plan 60 of the faceplate 10.

In the description above focus is on that it is sufficient that one of the first and second protrusible members 18b, 18c and the corresponding interface towards the guiding unit 18a is adapted to achieve the advantages of the embodiments herein. This may be the case when it, for one reason or other, it is expected that side-forces, or side-pressure, mainly, or even exclusively, occurs from one side of the door. This may for example be the case when the door 2 can only be opened in one direction, e.g. either inwards or outwards, but not both as in the case of a swing door.

In case the door is a swing door, but also otherwise, also the second protrusible member 18c and an interface of the guiding unit towards the second protrusible member 18c includes the advantageous features as disclosed herein.

// same features on second protrusible member 18c

Accordingly, the second protrusible member 18c comprises a surface 44' at which side-forces are capable of acting when the door lock arrangement 1 is installed in a door. The surface 44' of the second protrusible member 18c is parallel with a side 43' of the guiding unit 18a when the double action latch bolt assembly 18 is in the projecting position 1801. The surface 44' may be coinciding with the side 43', or at least substantially coincidental with the side 43'. Furthermore, the second protrusible member 18c may be biased towards a position in which the surface 44' of the second protrusible member 18c is parallel with the side 44' of the guiding unit 18a when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is installed in the door lock arrangement 1.

Thus, one of the guiding unit 18a and the second protrusible member 18c comprises a second excavation 45' and the other one of the guiding unit 18a and the second protrusible member 18c comprises a second projection 46'. The second excavation 45' and the second projection 46' are configured to allow the second protrusible member 18c to be rotatable relatively the guiding unit 18a about a second displaceable geometric rotational axis 62" and to be displaceable relatively the guiding unit 18a parallelly with a plane 64 thereof. The second displaceable geometric rotational axis 62" is parallel with a longitudinal axis 62 of the faceplate 10 when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is installed in the door lock arrangement 1. The plane 64 is perpendicular to the second displaceable geometric rotational axis 62", whereby a projection of the second displaceable geometric rotational axis 62" on the plane 64 is displaceable between a second primary position P21 and a second secondary position P22.

The second primary position P21 is located further away from the side 43' of the guiding unit 18a than the second secondary position P12. The second primary position P21 is located further away from the transversal centre plane 60' of the guiding unit 18a than the second secondary position P22.

In the example of Figure 5, the second excavation 45' may comprise a second elongated slot 45'.

Moreover, in the example of Figure 5, the guiding unit 18a comprises the second elongated slot 45'.

The first projection 46 may be offset, e.g. away from the side 43, relatively the main plane 61, which may constitute a centrally located main plane of the guiding unit, when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is in the projecting position 1801.

The second projection 46' may be offset, e.g. away from the side 43'. relatively said centrally located main plane 61 when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is in the projecting position 1801.

Now referring back to the door lock arrangement 1 for mounting in the door leaf 2 adapted to be hinged in a door frame 3, the door lock arrangement 1 comprises the faceplate 10 mountable in the door leaf 2, and the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 according to any one of the embodiments herein.

Figure 6a is a sideview of the exemplifying double-action latch bolt assembly 18. A cross- section A-A is indicated in Figure 6a and the cross-section as seen into A-A is illustrated in Figure 6b and Figure 6c.

Figure 6b shows the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 in a lock state, or a resting state. A spring 48, such as a mechanical spring, e.g. made of metal or the like, is biasing the first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' towards the first primary position Pll, e.g. by pushing the first projection 46 away from the side 43 of the guiding unit 18a and away from the transversal centre plane 60'.

In Figure 6c, the first protrusible member 18b has been rotated and translated relatively the guiding unit 18a such that the first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' is forced towards the first secondary position P12. In this position, the first projection 46 depresses the spring 48, e.g. into a seat 49.

Figure 7a through Figure 7c shows an exemplifying locking member 13 that is adapted to cooperate with the auxiliary latch bolt 800 to achieve locking and unlocking of an exemplifying bolt, such as the double-action latch bolt assembly 18.

The locking member 13 comprises a distal portion 1301. As shown, in Figure 7b, the distal portion 1301 is located distally with respect to the centre of rotation of the locking member 13. The centre of rotation is indicated by an axis 1305. A surface 1306 of the distal portion 1301 may be arranged to, such as shaped, formed or otherwise adapted to, such that a surface 1306 thereof may abut, or at least be located in close vicinity of, the second pushing portion 1602 of the gear arm 16, when the gear arm 16 is located in its first position 1610 and the locking member 13 is located in its inhibiting position 1310.

The locking member 13 may further comprise a proximal portion 1304, which may be located in the vicinity of the hook portion 1303. The proximal portion 1304 is proximal with respect to the distal portion 1301 and relatively the axis 1305. The proximal portion 1304 may have a surface 1306 at which the first pushing portion 1601 of the gear arm 16 may be arranged to act after the initial rotation of the gear arm 16. Notably, it may be that during some part of the rotation of the gear arm 16 from the first position 1610 to the second position 1620 both the first and second pushing portions 1601, 1602 acts on the locking member 13.

The aforementioned hook portion 1303 of the locking member 13 may be adapted to engage with the double-action latch bolt assembly 18, whereby the bolt is prevented from being further retracted into the casing 14, when the locking member 13 is located in the inhibition position 1310.

Moreover, the locking member 13 has a protruding locking support 1302 adapted to engage with the auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800 when the auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800 is in the unlocking position 702. Furthermore, the locking member 13 is biased to rotate such that the hook portion 1303 engages with the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 unless the locking member 13 is inhibited by e.g. the gear arm 16.

Figure 8a through Figure 8h show operation of the door lock arrangement 1, i.e. in a sequence of Figures, exemplifying positions and locations of e.g. the gear arm 16, the auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800, the locking member 13 and the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 are illustrated. This example includes a gear arm 16 with two pushing portions, each having a respective ball bearing. Flowever, the function of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 here may equally well be combined with other gear arms, e.g. having one pushing portion, or any number of pushing portions.

Figure 8a shows the door lock arrangement 1 in a resting state, e.g. when the door is open. The auxiliary latch bolt assembly 800 is in the unlocking position 792 towards which it is biased. The locking member 13 is in the allowing position 1320 against its biasing toward the inhibiting position 1320. Furthermore, the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 has assumed the projecting position 1801 towards which it is biased.

Figure 8b shows the door lock arrangement 1 in a locked state, e.g. when the door is closed and the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is inhibited from retraction by the locking member 13. In the locked state, the parts of the first and/or second protrusible members 18b, 18c that projects through the faceplate 10 may be exposed to side-forces, or side-pressure. These side-forces will propagate through the mechanism of the door lock arrangement 1 and create forces that are directed into the door lock arrangement 1. These inwardly directed forces will urge the guiding unit 18a onto the locking member 13, which thus inhibits retraction of the double-action bolt assembly 18. The first protrusible member 18b is, at this stage, located as seen in Figure 8g. When side-forces act on the surface 44 a torque pushes the first protrusible member 18b about a rotational axis RC where the force into the door lock arrangement 1 is dependent on a distance dl. The greater the distance dl, the smaller the force becomes.

Figure 8c shows the door lock arrangement 1 when the solenoid is activated to unlock the double-action latch bolt assembly 18. Figure 8c may show a state just after the initial rotation, during which it is preferred that the second pushing portion alone urges the locking member 13 towards its allowing position. In this scenario, thanks to the double-action bolt assembly 18 according to the embodiments herein, the forces, if any, caused by side-pressure are reduced and thus facilitates the urging of the locking member 13 towards its allowing position. The forces will be less thanks to that the first primary position Pll is located further away from the side 43 of the guiding unit 18a than the first secondary position P12.

Figure 8d shows that the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is unlocked, i.e. the hook portion of the locking member has been released from the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 and the locking member has been displaced by initially the second pushing portion and then also the first pushing portion out of the inhibiting position and into the allowing position. As a result, any side forces, e.g. due to pulling by a person, frame pressure or a door operator, will cause the door to open.

Figure 8e shows a state in which opening of the door has begun. Thanks to the protrusion of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 and the orifice of the gear arm 16, movement of the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 pushes the gear arm 16 further in the second position as the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is retracted in a direction into the door lock arrangement 1 along the geometrical axis 63. Here, with reference to Figure 8h, the first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' is allowed to approach the side 43. In this manner, a distance d2, that is less than the distance dl, now pushes with comparatively greater force than in the stage of Figure 8b and Figure 8c. Advantageously, the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is more quickly withdrawn into the casing and at the same time the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is pushed a distance s less into the into the casing thanks to that the first primary position Pll is located further away from the transversal centre plane 60' of the guiding unit 18a than the first secondary position P12, such as thanks to the first elongated slot.

Figure 8f shows when the door is located such that the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is pushed into the door lock arrangement by the strike plate, i.e. by flat surfaces surrounding edges of an opening of the strike plate. The opening of the strike plate is able to receive the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 in order to secure the door when locked.

It is to be understood that the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 according to the embodiments herein may equally well be installed in combination with any other gear arm, locking member. Even those parts of the guiding unit 18a that do not interact with the first and/or second protrusible members may be shaped differently than in the example above.

Figure 9 shows plan views and perspective views of the first protrusible member 18b. Clearly, the corresponding features applies also for the second protrusible member 18c when desired. In addition to the features already mentioned, Figure 9 illustrates a portion 42 of the first protrusible member 18b. The portion 42 is formed by that the otherwise circularly shaped surface has been cut off from the first protrusible member 18b. This may be done in order to allow the first protrusible member 18b to be rotatable as wells as translatable relatively the guiding unit 18a. However, referring to Figure 8g, in case a width wl of the casing 14 is sufficiently greater than a width w2 of the first protrusible member 18b, no such portion may be necessary.

Figure 9 also shows a centre plane CPM of the first protrusible member 18b. The centre plane CPM may run parallelly with the longitudinal axis 62 of the faceplate 10 and in a central longitudinal direction of the first protrusible member 18b. A tip angle A2 may be split by the centre plane CPM into two equal halves. The tip angle A2 is located at the portion of the first protrusible member 18b that is projectable through the faceplate 10. Again, when desired, the same or corresponding features may apply for the second protrusible member 18c. The tip angle A2 is typically in a range from 30 degrees to 60 degrees.

Figure 10 shows that a longitudinal direction 1002 of the first elongated slot 45 is parallel, preferably coincidental, with a first translation axis 1001 through the first primary position Pll and the first secondary position P12. The first translation axis 1001 and the geometrical axis 63 may form a first acute angle. Similarly or correspondingly, a longitudinal direction 1002' of the second elongated slot 45' is parallel, preferably coincidental, with a second translation axis 100 through the second primary position P21 and the second secondary position P22.

Moreover, a distal end 1008 of the first elongated slot 45 comprises the first primary position Pll and a proximal end 1007 of the first elongated slot 45 comprises the first secondary position P12. Similar or corresponding features are applicable for the second elongated slot 45'.

For ease of description, the examples above describes the first protrusible member 18b. The same, similar or corresponding features may when desired also apply for the second protrusible member 18c. Flowever, in order to avoid at least some undue repetition this is not described explicitly, but it is implicit and directly derivable from this disclosure.

It shall also be noted that in some examples the guiding unit 18a may comprise a first excavation 45 and a second projection 46', or the guiding unit 18a may comprise a second excavation 45' and a first projection 46.

Thus, according to various embodiments, the guiding unit 18a comprises the first excavation 45, and the first protrusible member 18b comprises the first projection 46

The guiding unit 18a may comprise the first projection 46. The first protrusible member 18b may comprise the first elongated slot 45.

The guiding unit 18a may comprise the second projection. The second protrusible member 18c may comprise the second elongated slot.

Turning to Figure 11, another exemplifying double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is shown. In this example, the first protrusible member 18b comprises a first excavation 45 and the guiding unit 18a comprises a first projection 46. The first excavation 45 and the first projection 46 are configured to allow the first protrusible member 18b to be rotatable relatively the guiding unit 18a about a first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' and to be displaceable relatively the guiding unit 18a parallelly with a plane 64 thereof. The first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' is parallel with a longitudinal axis 62 of the faceplate 10 when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is installed in the door lock arrangement 1. The plane 64 is perpendicular to the first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62', whereby a projection of the first displaceable geometric rotational axis 62' on the plane 64 is displaceable between a first primary position Pll and a first secondary position P12. The first primary position Pll is located further away from the side 43 of the guiding unit 18a than the first secondary position P12, wherein the first primary position Pll is located further away from a transversal centre plane 60' of the guiding unit 18a than the first secondary position P12. The transversal centre plane 60' is parallel with the main plane 60 when the double-action latch bolt assembly 18 is installed in the door lock arrangement 1.

Figure 12 shows, in more detail, that the first projection 46 is located offset the central plane CPG of the guiding unit 18a. The first projection 46 is offset the central plane CPG away from the side 43 of the guiding unit 18a.

Figure 13 also shows a centre plane CPM of the first protrusible member 18b. The centre plane CPM may run parallelly with the longitudinal axis 62 of the faceplate 10 and in a central longitudinal direction of the first protrusible member 18b. A tip angle A2 may be split by the centre plane CPM into two equal halves. The tip angle A2 is located at the portion of the first protrusible member 18b that is projectable through the faceplate 10. As shown in Figure 13, the elongated slot 45 is offset the central plane CPM of the first protrusible member 18b. Again, when desired, the same or corresponding features may apply for the second protrusible member 18c.

In some embodiments herein, the first projection 46 is offset a longitudinal centre plane CPM, CPG of said other one of the guiding unit 18a and the first protrusible member 18b.

In some embodiments herein, the first excavation 45 may offset a longitudinal centre plane CPG, CPM of said one of the guiding unit 18a and the first protrusible member 18b.

Thus, referring to the embodiments above, the following may be noted.

As seen in Figure 9, the first projection 46 is offset a longitudinal centre plane CPM of the first protrusible member 18b.

As seen in Figure 10, the first excavation 45 is offset a longitudinal centre plane CPG of the guiding unit 18a.

As seen in Figure 12, the first projection 46 is offset a longitudinal centre plane CPG of the guiding unit 18a.

As seen in Figure 13, the first excavation 45 is offset a longitudinal centre plane CPM of the first protrusible member 18b.

Again, the same, similar or corresponding features applies when desired for the second protrusible member 18c and correspondingly for the guiding unit 18a.

As an example, as a conclusion from what is noted above, this means e.g. that a geometric centre of gravity of the first excavation and/or the first protrusible member 18b is at a distance from the longitudinal centre planes CPG, CPM, respectively.

With reference to Figure 9 and Figure 13, there is provided a first protrusible member 18b for a double-action latch bolt assembly 18 for installation in a door lock arrangement 1 that comprises a faceplate 10. The first protrusible member 18b comprises a first guiding and rotation interface 45, 46 that is offset a longitudinal centre plane CPM of the first protrusible member 18b. The first guiding and rotation interface 45, 46 may be one of the first excavation 45, such as the first elongated slot or the like, and the first projection 46.

As used herein, the term "bias", "biased", "biasing" or the like may refer to mechanical biasing by means of a spring, a plate spring or the like. In some examples, biasing may be achieved by a magnet, such as an electro-magnet, permanent magnet or the like.

As used herein, the term "along an axis" may refer to parallelly with the axis and/or coinciding with the axis.

Each embodiment, example or feature disclosed herein may, when physically possible, be combined with one or more other embodiments, examples, or features disclosed herein.

Even though embodiments of the various aspects have been described above, many different alterations, modifications and the like thereof will become apparent for those skilled in the art. The described embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.