Electric door lock system for refrigerated display cases

• US 20080066506A1
• Filed: 09/15/2006
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Rolek, Matthew, Carbajal, Frank J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/267
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/043 Doors, covers A47F3/0434 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0077 holding means other than current
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0002 with electromagnets
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0004 said core being linearly movable
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/023 the bolt moving pivotally or rotatively
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/042 constructed symmetrically
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0042 For refrigerators or cold rooms E05B17/0075 takes precedence; magnetic E05C19/16
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/02 without latching action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7006 Predetermined time interval controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

An electric door lock assembly including a solenoid having a plunger movable between retracted and extended positions, and a mounting bracket for mounting the solenoid to a door or door frame so that the plunger operatively moves along a vertical axis between the retracted and extended positions. A locking arm or bolt is pivotally connected at a proximal end thereof to the plunger. A connecting arrangement causes rotational and linear pivoting of the arm relative to a horizontal axis as the plunger is moved between the retracted and extended positions such that a distal end of the arm moves between unlocked and locked positions relative to a keeper in the door. This arrangement can include the locking arm having an elongate axial slot in which a fixed pin of the mounting bracket is positioned; the pivot pin defining the horizontal axis. The proximal end of the locking arm is pivotally connected to the bottom end of the plunger. Thereby, as the plunger travels up and down the proximal end moves up and down, and the locking arm slides relative to the pin, resulting in the rotational and linear pivoting.

Claims

1. An electric door lock assembly, comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a solenoid secured to the bracket;

the solenoid having a plunger,

a pivot pin secured to the bracket;

a bolt pivotally connected at one end by a pivotal connection to the plunger; and

the bolt having an elongate slot in which the pivot pin is disposed such that when the solenoid moves the plunger, the bolt pivots about the pivotal connection and the bolt also simultaneously pivots and linearly slides relative to the pivot pin, and thereby the bolt is moved from one of an unlocked position or a locked position to the other position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein when the solenoid is energized the plunger is moved from an extended position to a retracted position.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the solenoid is a pull-type solenoid.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the solenoid includes a return spring positioned around the plunger to move the plunger to an extended position when the solenoid is de-energized, and thereby to move the bolt from the locked position to the unlocked position.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bolt is a planar locking arm and the slot is a longitudinal through-slot in the locking arm.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be mounted in a door rail.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is configured to be mounted in a center mullion.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is adapted for a refrigerated display case door.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket is adapted to mount the solenoid such that the plunger is vertically disposed and moves along a vertical axis between retracted and extended positions.

10. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a standoff on the pivot pin on one side of the bolt and a retaining ring on the pivot pin on the other side of the bolt, the standoff and the retaining ring allowing the slot to move longitudinally and rotationally relative to the pivot pin.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bolt has an angled working end.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the mounting bracket includes an outside downward mounting leg portion.

13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the solenoid is caused to automatically energize at a predetermined time.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bolt when in the locked position extends out to a left side of the solenoid.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bolt when in the locked position extends out to a right side of the solenoid.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the solenoid is a pull-type solenoid.

17. An electric door lock assembly, comprising:

a solenoid having a plunger movable between retracted and extended positions;

mounting means for mounting the solenoid so that the plunger is vertically disposed and operatively moves along a vertical axis between the retracted and extended positions;

a locking arm pivotally connected at a proximal end thereof to the plunger; and

pivoting means for causing rotational and linear pivoting of the locking arm relative to a horizontal axis as the plunger is moved between the retracted and extended positions such that a distal end of the locking arm moves between unlocked and locked positions.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the solenoid includes a return spring positioned around the plunger to return the plunger to the extended position when the solenoid is de-energized, and thereby moving the locking arm from the locked position to the unlocked position.

19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the pivoting means includes a pivot pin whose axis is fixedly positioned relative to the solenoid.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the locking arm has a slot and the pivot pin is disposed in the slot.

21. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the mounting means includes a mounting bracket and the pivot pin is mounted to and extends out from the mounting bracket.

22. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the solenoid is caused to automatically energize or de-energize at a predetermined time of the day on one or more predetermined days.

23. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the mounting means includes a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted in a door rail.

24. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the mounting means includes a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted in a center mullion.

25. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the mounting means is for a refrigerated display case.

26. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the mounting means is directly to a door.

27. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the mounting means is directly to a door frame.

28. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the pivoting means includes a slot in the locking arm.

29. A refrigerated display case system, comprising:

a refrigerated display case having a wall which has a customer access opening;

a door movable between open and closed positions relative to the customer access opening; and

an electric door lock assembly which includes a mounting bracket mounted to the door or the wall, a solenoid secured to the bracket, the solenoid having a plunger, a pivot pin secured to the bracket, a bolt pivotally connected at one end by a pivotal connection to the plunger, the bolt having an elongate slot in which the pivot pin is disposed, and the solenoid when energized or de-energized moving the plunger from an extended position to a retracted position, which causes the bolt to pivot about the pivotal connection and the bolt to simultaneously pivot and linearly slide relative to the pivot pin, and thereby the bolt to move from an unlocked position to a locked position relative to the door or the wall.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the solenoid is a pull-type solenoid.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the door is a sliding door.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the door is a swing hinged-door.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the door is a transparent thermally-insulated door allowing customers to view products in the refrigerated display case when the door is in the closed position.

34. The system of claim 29 wherein the mounting bracket is mounted in a door rail.

35. The system of claim 29 wherein the case has a center mullion in which the mounting bracket is mounted.

36. The system of claim 29 wherein the solenoid is caused to energize automatically at a predetermined time of the day.

37. The system of claim 29 wherein the slot is an elongate through-slot.

38. The system of claim 29 further comprising:

the door defining a first door, the electric door lock assembly defining a first electric door lock assembly, the mounting bracket defining a first mounting bracket, the plunger defining a first plunger, the pivot pin defining a first pivot pin, the bolt defining a first bolt, the elongate slot defining a first elongate slot, and the customer access opening defining a first customer access opening;

the wall having a second customer access opening;

a second door movable between open and closed positions relative to the second customer access opening; and

a second electric door lock assembly which includes;

a second mounting bracket mounted to the second door or the wall;

a second solenoid secured to the second bracket;

the second solenoid having a second plunger;

a second pivot pin secured to the second bracket;

a second bolt pivotally connected at one end by a second pivotal connection to the second plunger, the second bolt having a second elongate slot in which the second pivot pin is disposed; and

the second solenoid when energized or de-energized moving the second plunger from an extended position to a retracted position, which causes the second bolt to pivot about the second pivotal connection and the second bolt to simultaneously pivot and linearly slide relative to the second pivot pin, and thereby the second bolt to move from an unlocked position to a locked position relative to the second door or the wall.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein the first and second solenoids are caused to energize and/or de-energize at the same time.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein the first and second solenoids are automatically energized and/or de-energized at the same predetermined time of the day.

41. A door locking and/or unlocking method, comprising:

at least one of energizing or de-energizing a solenoid of a door lock assembly operatively associated with a door;

the solenoid having a plunger movable between retracted and extended positions; and

the door lock assembly including a locking arm pivotally connected at a first end to the plunger and causing means for causing concurrent rotational and linear movement, about a pivot pin whose axis is fixed, of a second end of the locking arm between locked and unlocked positions relative to a keeper as the solenoid is energized and/or de-energized.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein the causing means includes an elongate slot in the locking arm and in which the pivot pin is positioned.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the pivot pin is fixedly mounted to a mounting bracket to which the solenoid is mounted.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the door is a first door of a refrigerated display case, the solenoid defines a first solenoid, the door lock assembly defines a first door lock assembly, and the at least one of energizing or de-energizing the first solenoid includes at least one of energizing or de-energizing a second solenoid of a second door lock assembly for a second door of the refrigerated display case.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein the door lock assembly is mounted to a door frame for the door and the door includes the keeper.

46. The method of claim 41 wherein the door lock assembly is mounted to the door and a door frame for the door includes the keeper.

47. The method of claim 41 wherein the solenoid is a pull-type solenoid, and the energizing causes the second end of the locking arm to move to the locked position.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the de-energizing together with the action of a plunger return spring moves the second end of the locking arm to the unlocked position.

49. A door lock assembly, comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a pivot pin secured to the bracket;

a bolt having a pivotal connection at one end thereof; and

the bolt having an elongate slot in which the pivot pin is disposed such that when the pivotal connection is controllably moved relative to the pivot pin, the bolt moves along and around the pivot pin causing a distal end of the bolt to move between locked and unlocked positions.

50. The assembly of claim 49 further comprising a solenoid having a plunger connected to the bolt by the pivotal connection.

51. The assembly of claim 50 wherein when the solenoid is energized the plunger is moved from an extended position to a retracted position.

52. The assembly of claim 50 wherein the solenoid includes a return spring positioned around the plunger to move the plunger to an extended position when the solenoid is de-energized, and thereby to move the bolt from the locked position to the unlocked position.

53. The assembly of claim 50 wherein the solenoid is caused to automatically energize at a predetermined time.

54. The assembly of claim 49 wherein the bolt is a planar locking arm and the slot is a longitudinal through-slot in the locking arm.

55. The assembly of claim 49 further comprising a standoff on the pivot pin on one side of the bolt and a retaining ring on the pivot pin on the other side of the bolt, the standoff and the retaining ring allowing the slot to move longitudinally and rotationally relative to the pivot pin.

59. The assembly of claim 51 wherein the solenoid is caused to automatically energize at a predetermined time.

69. The system of claim 53 wherein the door is a swing hinged-door.

56. A door lock assembly, comprising:

a pivot pin secured to and extending out from a lock assembly mounting structure;

a bolt having a proximal end, a distal end and a slot in which the pivot pin is disposed; and

means for moving the proximal end up and down to thereby cause the bolt to slide and pivot relative to the pivot pin and the distal end to move between locked and unlocked positions.

57. The assembly of claim 56 wherein the moving means is a solenoid having a plunger.

58. The assembly of claim 57 wherein the solenoid includes a return spring positioned around the plunger to move the plunger to an extended position when the solenoid is de-energized, and thereby to move the bolt from the locked position to the unlocked position.

60. The assembly of claim 56 wherein the bolt is a planar locking arm and the slot is a longitudinal through-slot in the locking arm.

61. A door lock assembly, comprising:

a mounting bracket;

a locking arm having a proximal end, a distal end and a slot;

a pivot pin secured to the bracket and extending out therefrom into the slot; and

means, at least a portion of which is pivotally connected to the proximal end, for moving the proximal end up and down in an up-and-down motion such that the up-and-down motion causes the locking arm to slide along the pin and thereby the distal end to move rotationally and linearly between locked and unlocked positions.

62. The assembly of claim 61 wherein the moving means includes a solenoid having a plunger.

63. A refrigerated display case system, comprising:

a refrigerated display case having a wall which has a customer access opening;

a door movable between open and closed positions relative to the customer access opening; and

an electric door lock assembly which includes;

a mounting structure mounted to the door or to the wall;

the mounting structure including a pivot pin;

an electrical device adapted to control a motion of a pivotal connection between first and second positions;

a bolt;

the pivotal connection being at one end of the bolt;

the bolt having a slot in which the pivot pin is disposed; and

the electrical device when operated moving the bolt from an unlocked position to a locked position relative to the door or the wall.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the electrical device when operated moves the pivotal connection between the first and second positions, which causes the bolt to pivot about the pivotal connection and the bolt to simultaneously pivot and linearly slide relative to the pivot pin, and thereby the bolt to move from the unlocked position to the locked position.

65. The system of claim 64 further comprising:

the door defining a first door, the electric door lock assembly defining a first electric door lock assembly, the mounting structure defining a first mounting structure, the pivotal connection defining a first pivotal connection, the electrical device defining a first electrical device, the pivot pin defining a first pivot pin, the bolt defining a first bolt, the slot defining a first slot, and the customer access opening defining a first customer access opening;

the wall having a second customer access opening;

a second door movable between open and closed positions relative to the second customer access opening; and

a second electric door lock assembly which includes;

a second mounting structure mounted to the second door or the wall;

the second mounting structure including a second pivot pin;

a second electrical device which controls a motion of a second pivotal connection between first and second positions, secured to the second bracket;

a second bolt;

the pivotal connection being at one end of the second bolt;

the second bolt having a second slot in which the second pivot pin is disposed; and

the second electrical device when operated moving the second pivotal connection between the first and second positions, which causes the second bolt to pivot about the second pivotal connection and the second bolt to simultaneously pivot and linearly slide relative to the second pivot pin, and thereby the second bolt to move from an unlocked position to a locked position relative to the second door or the wall.

66. The system of claim 65 wherein the first electrical device is a first solenoid having a first plunger and the second electrical device is a second solenoid having a second plunger.

67. The system of claim 66 wherein the first and second solenoids are caused to energize and/or de-energize at the same time.

68. The system of claim 63 wherein the door is a sliding door.

70. The system of claim 63 wherein the door is a transparent thermally-insulated door allowing customers to view products in the refrigerated display case when the door is in the closed position.

71. The system of claim 63 wherein the mounting structure is a bracket and the bracket is mounted in a door rail.

72. The system of claim 63 wherein the mounting structure is a bracket and the case has a center mullion in which the bracket is mounted.