The present invention relates generally to cylinder locks, and particularly to a cylinder lock which simultaneously throws locking elements in multiple directions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lock assemblies for use with doors or windows, hinged or sliding, are well known in the art. Such lock assemblies typically include one or more movable lock members mounted at a vertical position along a free side edge of the door or window in close proximity with an actuator positioned for convenient manual operation. A handle or lever is normally included as part of the lock assembly and is adapted for manual rotation to retract the latch bolt and thereby permit the door or window to be opened.

Although door/window lock assemblies of the general type described above have performed their latching and/or locking functions in a generally satisfactory manner, there is a continuous need for further improvements in high security lock assemblies designed to safely and positively lock a door/window against unauthorized entry. Toward this end, so-called multipoint lock assemblies have been proposed with multiple lock members provided along the door/window side edge for engaging a corresponding number of keeper plates mounted on the adjacent door/window jamb. Generally the multipoint lock assembly is fashioned as an elongate member with locking elements that may be thrown at the ends of the assembly.

PCT published patent application WO01/29353 assigned to Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd., describes a multipoint mortise lock assembly mountable on an external surface of a door. The lock assembly includes a key-operated lock cylinder mounted in the lock case, a locking mechanism mounted in the lock case and actuable by the lock cylinder and a plurality of locking bolts operatively linked to the locking mechanism, arranged for protruding outwards of the lock case. The assembly is configured so as to permit mounting the door lock on both left-side and right-side opening doors.

Multipoint lock assemblies that include geometric locking of locking members are also known. By "geometric locking" it is meant that a portion of the locking member moves in a channel, groove or similar passage, and at some point is prevented from moving further in the channel at least partially by a geometric shape or arrangement of the channel with respect to the locking member. For example, PCT patent application PCT/IL2004/000229, also assigned to Mul-T-Lock Technologies Ltd., describes

multipoint lock including a locking mechanism adapted to selectively retract and extend at least one locking element relative to an elongate housing, wherein the locking mechanism includes an arm pivotally attached to a lock actuator and constrained to travel in a channel formed in a linkage device linked to the at least one locking element, and wherein in a first position of the lock actuator, the arm is at a first limit of travel in the channel and is pivoted in a first angular direction with respect to the lock actuator so as to be geometrically locked at the first limit of travel.

In a typical application of the prior art locks, two locking bolts are thrown by the action of the cylinder lock, one bolt being thrown in the upward direction and the other in the downward direction, so as to lock a single sliding door or window and the like. If there is another sliding door or window, the second sliding member is not locked by the action of the cylinder lock, but rather must be locked by another locking element, which is actuated separately from the cylinder lock.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an improved cylinder lock, as described more in detail hereinbelow. The lock may be used in numerous applications, such as but not limited to, multipoint locks with or without geometric locking. The invention will be described hereinbelow with reference to a multipoint lock, but it is emphasized that the invention is not limited to such an embodiment.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention a cylinder lock including a tumbler arranged for rotation in a cylinder lock body, the tumbler being rotatable upon insertion into a keyway thereof by a proper key, a first- direction locking mechanism adapted for causing movement of at least one locking element external to the cylinder lock body, wherein rotation of the tumbler actuates the first-direction locking mechanism to cause movement of the at least one locking element in a first direction, and a second-direction locking mechanism adapted to move an integral locking element, the integral locking element having a retracted position in the cylinder lock body and an extended position outside the cylinder lock body, wherein rotation of the tumbler actuates the second-direction locking mechanism to move the integral locking element from the retracted position to the extended position in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second directions may or may not be generally perpendicular to each other.

In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the first-direction locking mechanism may include a plurality of locking element engagement surfaces

adapted for causing movement of at least two individual locking elements external to the cylinder lock body in at least two different directions. The at least two different directions may be generally coplanar and may be generally opposite to each other.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the first- direction locking mechanism may include a gear wheel that rotates together with the tumbler about a longitudinal axis of the tumbler. The second-direction locking mechanism may include a rotary-to-linear motion transducer. The rotary-to-linear motion transducer may include a shaft with helical screw threads which upon rotation moves the integral locking element in a linear motion along a longitudinal axis of the tumbler.

The gear wheel may be in meshed engagement with a toothed rack, and at least two individual locking elements external to the cylinder lock body may be connected to the toothed rack, wherein rotation of the tumbler actuates the gear wheel to cause movement of the at least two individual locking elements.

Still further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention the first- direction locking mechanism may be adapted to cause movement of the at least one locking element external to the cylinder lock body to selectively lock a first sliding panel, and the integral locking element may be arranged to selectively lock the first sliding member to a second sliding panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figs. IA and IB are simplified pictorial illustrations of a cylinder lock, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, showing an integral locking element in retracted and extended (thrown) positions, respectively;

Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C are simplified perspective, close-up and side-view illustrations, respectively, of the cylinder lock of Figs. IA and IB, mounted in a sliding element assembly, with the integral locking element and two additional locking elements in retracted positions; and

Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C are simplified perspective, close-up and side-view illustrations, respectively, of the cylinder lock of Figs. IA and IB, mounted in the sliding panel assembly, with the integral locking element and two additional locking elements in extended positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to Figs. IA and IB, which illustrate a cylinder lock 10, constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Cylinder lock 10 may include a tumbler 12 arranged for rotation in a cylinder lock body 18. Tumbler 12 is rotatable upon insertion into a key way 14 thereof by a proper key 16, as is well known in the art.

A first-direction locking mechanism 20 may be operatively connected to tumbler 12. The first-direction locking mechanism 20 may include one or more locking element engagement surfaces 22 adapted for causing movement of one or more locking elements external to the cylinder lock body 18, as will be described further hereinbelow with reference to Figs 2A-3B. In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, the first-direction locking mechanism 20 includes a gear wheel that rotates together with tumbler 12 about a longitudinal axis 24 of tumbler 12. The locking element engagement surfaces 22 include faces of the gear wheel. It is appreciated that the invention is not limited to a gear wheel, and the invention may be carried out with other mechanisms, such as a cam thrower or electrical or electromechanical actuator (e.g., solenoid), for example.

A second-direction locking mechanism 26 may be operatively connected at one end to tumbler 12 and at another end to an integral locking element 28 (Fig. IB). The integral locking element 28 has a retracted position in the cylinder lock body 18 (as seen in Fig. IA) and an extended position outside the cylinder lock body 18 (as seen in Fig. IB). Rotation of tumbler 12 actuates the second-direction locking mechanism 26 to move the integral locking element 28 from the retracted position to the extended position.

In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, the second-direction locking mechanism 26 includes a rotary-to-linear motion transducer. For example, the rotary-to- linear motion transducer may include, without limitation, a shaft with helical screw threads which upon rotation moves the integral locking element 28 linearly along longitudinal axis 24. It is appreciated that the invention is not limited to such a rotary-to- linear motion transducer, and the invention may be carried out with other mechanisms, such as an electrically operated solenoid or linear actuator, for example.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C and to Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C, which illustrate the cylinder lock 10 mounted in a sliding panel assembly 30. The sliding panel assembly 30 may include first and second sliding panels 32 and 34, which may be sliding doors or windows and the like, for example.

In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, the first-direction locking mechanism

20 (the gear wheel) is in meshed engagement with a toothed rack 36. At least two individual locking elements 38 external to the cylinder lock body 18 are operatively connected to the toothed rack 36. (The invention, however, is not limited to two individual locking elements and the first-direction locking mechanism 20 may be used with a single locking element or multiple locking elements.) In Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C, the integral locking element 28 and the two additional locking elements 38 are in retracted positions. Rotation of tumbler 12 (indicated by arrow 39) actuates the first-direction locking mechanism 20 and moves the locking element engagement surfaces 22, which via the toothed rack 36, cause movement of the locking elements 38 in two different directions, as indicated by arrows 40 and 42. Rotation of tumbler 12 simultaneously actuates the second-direction locking mechanism 26 to move integral locking element 28 from the retracted position to the extended position in another direction (as indicated by arrow 44) different from the directions 40 and 42.

In the non-limiting illustrated embodiment, the direction 44 is generally perpendicular to the directions 40 and 42. The directions 40 and 42 may be generally opposite to each other, and may be generally coplanar. However, other directions are possible within the scope of the invention, such as non-perpendicular or non-coplanar directions.

The two individual locking elements 38 selectively lock first sliding panel 32 (to a window pane or door frame, for example). The integral locking element 28 is arranged to selectively lock the first sliding member 32 to the second sliding panel 34, as seen in Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.