Sensor configuration for a latch assembly

• US 10,082,544 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2014
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: D & D Group Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: D & D Group Pty Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Glenn, Nink, Klaus Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Maini, Rahul
• Application Number:
  US14/768,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20160003922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 32420711-20726
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/203 not following the movement of the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/22 Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2045/0665 Magnetic switches, e.g. reed- or hall-switch
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0048 Circuits, feeding, monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0072 Operation
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 43/00 Time locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 43/005 Timer devices controlling electrically operated locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/00 Alarm locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/083 with contact making either in the striking plate or by movement of the bolt relative to the striking plate
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/004 the magnets acting directly on the bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/02 Movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means; Adaptation of locks, latches, or parts thereof, for movement of the bolt by electromagnetic means by means in the striker E05B63/248
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/20 released automatically when the wing is closed for panic door locks of the vertical rod type E05B65/1013
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0007 for gates for wire gates E06B11/021
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0014 to prevent opening by children E05B13/00 takes precedence; child-proof container closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/163 a movable bolt being held in the striker by a permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/168 : a movable bolt being electromagnetically held in the striker by electromagnetic attraction
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/14 : for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures G01B7/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/02 : Measuring direction or magnitude of magnetic fields or magnetic flux G01R33/20 takes precedence

Abstract

A latch assembly comprising: a latch operative to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition; a magnet imparting a magnetic field; a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field; the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor such that the sensor is able to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition.

Claims

1. A latch assembly comprising:

a latch operative to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition;

a magnet imparting a magnetic field;

a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field;

the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor such that the sensor is able to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition,

wherein the latch includes a latch member that is moveable relative to both the sensor and the magnet when the latch changes from the unlatched condition to the latched condition,

wherein the latch comprises a first component which is arranged to be mounted to a movable barrier or surrounding structure and a second component arranged to be mounted on the other of the movable barrier or the surrounding structure, the first component and the second component configured to co-operate to hold the movable barrier in a closed position in the latching condition, and wherein when in the latched condition, the latch member is closer to the magnet than in the unlatched condition and wherein the proximity of the latch member to the magnet changes the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor,

wherein the latch member is biased into a retracted position and movable from the retracted position to an engaging position, and wherein when the components are in juxtaposition for latching in the closed position, the latch is arranged to adopt the latching condition by the latch member being caused to be moved against the bias from the retracted position to the engaging position by magnetic attraction between the latch member and the magnet, wherein the latch member establishes engagement with the second component,

wherein the sensor is located on the first component and the magnet is located on the second component.

2. The latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sensor senses the magnetic field from the latch member.

3. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnet is adapted such that movement of the latch into the latched condition is induced by the magnetic field imparted by the magnet.

4. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor causes the sensor to adopt one of an open or a closed position.

5. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first component may include the latch member and the second component includes the magnet.

6. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a ferrite element adapted such that movement of the ferrite element effects a change in the impact of the magnetic field on the sensor.

7. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein movement of the ferrite element adjusts the sensitivity at which the sensor operates between the open and closed positions in response to the strength of the magnetic field.

8. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ferrite element is moveably mounted with respect to the sensor such that movement of the ferrite element effects a change in the sensitivity of the sensor.

9. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ferrite element is positioned adjacent to or juxtaposed with the sensor.

10. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ferrite element is moveably mounted in relation to the sensor, the ferrite element being moveable between a position in which more of the ferrite element is proximal the sensor and a position in which less of the ferrite element is proximal the sensor.

11. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the ferrite element is slideably mounted in relation to the sensor.

12. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the ferrite element is movably mounted on the first component.

13. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an indicator adapted to warn a user that the latch is in its unlatched condition for a predetermined period of time.

14. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the indicator comprises an audible and/or visual alarm.

15. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a reed switch.

16. A latch assembly comprising:

a latch operative to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition;

a magnet imparting a magnetic field;

a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field;

the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor such that the sensor is able to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition,

wherein the latch includes a latch member that is moveable relative to both the sensor and the magnet when the latch changes from the unlatched condition to the latched condition,

wherein the latch comprises a first component which is arranged to be mounted to a movable barrier or surrounding structure and a second component arranged to be mounted on the other of the movable barrier or the surrounding structure, the first component and the second component configured to co-operate to hold the movable barrier in a closed position in the latching condition, and wherein when in the latched condition, the latch member is closer to the magnet than in the unlatched condition and wherein the proximity of the latch member to the magnet changes the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor,

wherein the latch member is biased into a retracted position and movable from the retracted position to an engaging position, and wherein when the components are in juxtaposition for latching in the closed position, the latch is arranged to adopt the latching condition by the latch member being caused to be moved against the bias from the retracted position to the engaging position by magnetic attraction between the latch member and the magnet, wherein the latch member establishes engagement with the second component,

wherein the sensor senses the magnetic field from the latch member.

17. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the magnet is adapted such that movement of the latch into the latched condition is induced by the magnetic field imparted by the magnet.

18. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor causes the sensor to adopt one of an open or a closed position.

19. The latch assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first component may include the latch member and the second component includes the magnet.

20. A latch assembly comprising:

a latch operative to adopt a latched condition and an unlatched condition;

a magnet imparting a magnetic field;

a sensor adapted to sense the magnetic field;

the latch, magnet and sensor being configured such that a change in the condition of the latch effects a variance in the magnetic field sensed by the sensor such that the sensor is able to distinguish between the latched condition and the unlatched condition,

wherein the latch includes a latch member that is moveable relative to both the sensor and the magnet when the latch changes from the unlatched condition to the latched condition,

wherein the latch comprises a first component which is arranged to be mounted to a movable barrier or surrounding structure and a second component arranged to be mounted on the other of the movable barrier or the surrounding structure, the first component and the second component configured to co-operate to hold the movable barrier in a closed position in the latching condition, and wherein when in the latched condition, the latch member is closer to the magnet than in the unlatched condition and wherein the proximity of the latch member to the magnet changes the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensor,

wherein the latch member is biased into a retracted position and movable from the retracted position to an engaging position, and wherein when the components are in juxtaposition for latching in the closed position, the latch is arranged to adopt the latching condition by the latch member being caused to be moved against the bias from the retracted position to the engaging position by magnetic attraction between the latch member and the magnet, wherein the latch member establishes engagement with the second component,

wherein the sensor forms of part of a latch sensor system,

wherein the latch sensor system is mounted to the first component.