Lock for doors

• US 20020139157A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Original Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni
• Inventors: Butera, Francesco, Alacqua, Stefano
• Granted Patent: US 6,871,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/256
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/12 using connecting rods
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2202/28 Shape memory material
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2350/52 Locks, e.g. cables to actuate door locks in general E05B
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/25 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/66 Thermally controlled mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 70/10 Thermally controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.

Abstract

Lock for doors, for example door of homes, offices, hotel rooms or similar, as well as doors of motor vehicles, comprising lock opening control means, comprising a control device located at a distance from the lock and a mechanical transmission connecting the control device to the lock. A shape memory actuator being arranged in between said mechanical transmission, so that the lock can be opened both by operating the shape memory actuator, and by operating said control device, in which case the shape memory actuator works simply as a mechanical transmission element.

Claims

1. Lock for doors, for example door of homes, offices, hotel rooms or similar, as well as doors of motor vehicles, comprising lock opening control means, wherein said control means include a shape memory actuator.

2. Lock according to claim 1, wherein said control means include a control device located at a distance from the lock and a mechanical transmission connecting the control device to the lock, said shape memory actuator being arranged in between said mechanical transmission, externally with respect to said lock, so that the lock can be opened both by operating the shape memory actuator, and by operating said control device, in which case the shape memory actuator works simply as a mechanical element belonging to said transmission.

3. Lock according to claim 2, wherein said shape memory actuator comprising a shape memory wire arranged in between said mechanical transmission and means for supply electrical current through the wire, so to heat it and make it contract.

4. Lock according to claim 3, wherein said electrical power means comprise a control unit for causing the passage of current through the shape memory wire following the operation of a control device, for example a device which can be operated by means of a mechanical key, an electronic key or similar.

5. Lock according to claim 3, wherein said electrical power means comprise a PTC control for cutting off the passage of current through the wire when a predetermined temperature is reached.

6. Lock according to claim 3, wherein the wire is surrounded by an isolating sheath.

7. Lock according to claim 6, wherein both extremities of the sheath are connected to adjacent elements of said mechanical transmission, by which said sheath contributes to transmitting the force when the lock is mechanically operated by means of said control device.

8. Lock according to claim 3, wherein it is associated to the tailgate or rear lid of a motor vehicle, said control device being destined to be arranged near the driver'"'"'s seat and said mechanical transmission consisting of a flexible wire connected in series to the shape memory wire.

9. Lock according to claim 4, wherein it is associated to a side door of a motor vehicle, said control device consisting of a handle for opening the door from the inside, said electronic control unit being activated by means of a control device consisting of a lock arranged on the outside of the door.

10. Lock according to claim 3, wherein it is associated to the tailgate or rear lid of a motor vehicle, said control device consisting of a control wire arranged inside the tailgate and connected in series to a shape memory actuator.