MODULAR ESCUTCHEON

• US 20080302149A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corbin Russwin Inc. (Assa Abloy AB)
• Original Assignee: Yale Security Incorporated (Assa Abloy AB)
• Inventors: Hunt, Robert C., Case, Christopher N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/452
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/02 Striking-plates; Keepers; Bolt staples; Escutcheons keyhole finders E05B15/08; escutcheons made of hard materials E05B15/1614; finger-plates E06B7/285
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 37/0003 preventing detection of the combination
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 63/0056 Locks with adjustable or exchangeable lock parts adjustable strikers E05B15/024; adjustable to different keys E05B35/083; adjustable bolt or backset E05B63/06; adjustable coupling means for bars, rods, cables E05C9/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/0069 actuated in a predetermined sequence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7068 Actuated after correct combination recognized [e.g., numerical, alphabetical, or magnet[s] pattern]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8568 Escutcheons

Abstract

A modular escutcheon for a door lock including a plurality of covers. Each higher cover may progressively project outward from the surface of a door more than the covers below. Top and bottom edges of adjacent covers abut to form a joint, which may be partly or completely concealed resulting from the outward projections of higher covers. An escutcheon system may be provided that includes interchangeable parts, for example, there may be several different intermediate covers for use with the same lower and upper covers, or different upper covers that may be used in the same position. A variety of lock operating devices may be provided with the different covers to achieve different systems.

Claims

1. An escutcheon for a lock for a door, the escutcheon comprising:

a first cover including a first facing having a front surface and a back surface, sidewalls extending therefrom terminating in edges, and first and second ends, the first cover facing spaced a maximum, first distance away from the first cover sidewall edges; and

a second cover including a second facing having a front surface and a back surface, sidewalls extending therefrom terminating in edges, and first and second ends, the second cover facing spaced a maximum, second distance away from the second cover sidewall edges, the second distance being greater than the first distance such that when the first cover sidewall edges and second cover sidewall edges are coplanar the second cover facing extends beyond the first cover facing, wherein the first cover second end and the second cover first end are adapted to abut in close and complementary registration to form a joint,

wherein one cover is adapted to pass a latch operator.

2. The escutcheon of claim 1, further comprising a third cover including a third facing having a front surface and a back surface, sidewalls extending therefrom terminating in edges, and first and second ends, the third cover facing spaced a maximum, third distance away from the third cover sidewall edges, the third distance being greater than the second distance such that when the second cover sidewall edges and third cover sidewall edges are coplanar the third cover facing extends beyond the second cover facing, wherein the second cover second end and the third cover first end are adapted to abut in close and complementary registration to form a joint.

3. The escutcheon of claim 2, optionally further comprising a fourth cover including a fourth facing having a front surface and a back surface, sidewalls extending therefrom terminating in edges, and first and second ends, the fourth cover facing spaced a maximum, fourth distance away from the fourth cover sidewall edges, the fourth distance being greater than the third distance such that when the third cover sidewall edges and fourth cover sidewall edges are coplanar the fourth cover facing extends beyond the third cover facing, wherein the third cover second end and the fourth cover first end are adapted to abut in close and complementary registration to form a joint.

4. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein one of the covers comprises a keypad for opening the lock.

5. The escutcheon of claim 4, wherein there are two parallel protrusions laterally adjacent to and on opposite sides of the keypad, and wherein each protrusion at least partially obstructs a line of sight to the keypad.

6. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein one of the covers comprises a proximity card reader.

7. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein one of the covers comprises a card swipe reader.

8. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein one of the covers comprises a card insertion reader.

9. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein one of the covers comprises a biometric device.

10. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein one of the covers comprises a camera.

11. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein one of the covers comprises a battery housing.

12. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein the first end of the optional fourth cover, the first end of the third cover, and the first end of the second cover are arcuate.

13. The escutcheon of claim 12, wherein the first end of the optional fourth cover, the first end of the third cover, and the first end of the second cover are concave.

14. The escutcheon of claim 12, wherein the first end of the optional fourth cover, the first end of the third cover, and the first end of the second cover are convex.

15. The escutcheon of claim 3, wherein when the third cover is oriented above the second cover, the joint formed by the third cover and second cover is obstructed from view when the escutcheon is viewed from above the third cover, and, wherein, when the optional fourth cover is oriented above the third cover, the joint, if present, formed by the optional fourth cover and third cover is obstructed from view when the escutcheon is viewed from above the fourth cover.

16. An escutcheon for a lock for a door, the escutcheon comprising:

a lower cover having a surface and a top edge, the lower cover adapted to be mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, first distance away from the surface of the door and having a top edge;

an intermediate cover having a bottom edge, a top edge, and a surface, the intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, second distance away from the surface of the door, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and the intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the lower cover such that the bottom edge of the intermediate cover and top edge of the lower cover are in close and complementary registration to form a joint; and

an upper cover having a surface and a bottom edge and adapted to be mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, third distance away from the surface of the door, the third distance being greater than the second distance, and the upper cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the intermediate cover such that the bottom edge of the upper cover and top edge of the intermediate cover are in close and complementary registration to form a joint, and

wherein one cover is adapted to pass a latch operator.

17. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein one of the covers comprises a keypad for opening the lock.

18. The escutcheon of claim 17, wherein there are two parallel protrusions laterally adjacent to and on opposite sides of the keypad, and wherein each protrusion at least partially obstructs a line of sight to the keypad.

19. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein one of the covers comprises a proximity card reader.

20. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein one of the covers comprises a card swipe reader.

21. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein one of the covers comprises a card insertion reader.

22. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein one of the covers comprises a biometric device.

23. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein one of the covers comprises a camera.

24. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein one of the covers comprises a battery housing.

25. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein the bottom edge of the optional fourth cover, the bottom edge of the third cover, and the bottom edge of the second cover are arcuate.

26. The escutcheon of claim 25, wherein the bottom edge of the intermediate cover and the bottom edge of the upper cover are concave.

27. The escutcheon of claim 25, wherein the bottom edge of the intermediate cover and the bottom edge of the upper cover are convex.

28. The escutcheon of claim 16, wherein when the upper cover is oriented above the intermediate cover and the intermediate cover is oriented above the lower cover, the joints are obstructed from view when the escutcheon is viewed from above the upper cover.

29. An escutcheon for a lock for a door, the escutcheon comprising:

a lower cover having a surface and a top edge, the lower cover adapted to be mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, first distance away from the surface of the door;

a first intermediate cover having a bottom edge, a top edge, and a surface, the first intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, second distance away from the surface of the door, the second distance being greater than the first distance, the first intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the lower cover such that the bottom edge of the first intermediate cover and top edge of the lower cover are in close and complementary registration to form a joint;

a second intermediate cover having a bottom edge, a top edge, and a surface, the second intermediate cover mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, third distance away from the surface of the door, the third distance being greater than the second distance, the second intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the first intermediate cover such that the bottom edge of the first intermediate cover and top edge of the lower cover are in close and complementary registration to form a joint; and

an upper cover having a bottom edge and a surface, the upper cover mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, fourth distance away from the surface of the door, the fourth distance being greater than the third distance, the upper cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the second intermediate cover such that the bottom edge of the upper cover and top edge of the second intermediate cover are in close and complementary registration to form a joint,

wherein one cover is adapted to pass a latch operator.

30. An escutcheon for a lock for a door, the escutcheon comprising:

a lowest cover having a surface and a top edge, the lowest cover adapted to be mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, first distance away from the surface of the door;

a highest cover having a surface and a bottom edge, the highest cover adapted to be mounted to the door such that the surface is spaced a maximum, second distance away from the surface of the door, the second distance being greater than the first distance, and

a plurality of intermediate covers including at least a lower intermediate cover and an upper intermediate cover, each intermediate cover having a top edge, a bottom edge, and a surface and adapted to be mounted to the door spaced a maximum distance away from the surface of the door that is between the first distance and the second distance, with such distance increasing with each intermediate cover as progressing from the lowest cover to the highest cover,

wherein the bottom edge of the lower intermediate cover and top edge of the lowest cover are in close and complementary registration to form a joint,

wherein the top edge of the upper intermediate cover and bottom edge of the highest cover are in close and complementary registration to form a joint, and

wherein one cover is adapted to pass a latch operator.

31. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein one of the covers comprises a keypad for opening the lock.

32. The escutcheon of claim 31, wherein there are two parallel protrusions laterally adjacent to and on opposite sides of the keypad, and wherein each protrusion at least partially obstructs a line of sight to the keypad.

33. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein one of the covers comprises a proximity card reader.

34. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein one of the covers comprises a card swipe reader.

35. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein one of the covers comprises a card insertion reader.

36. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein one of the covers comprises a biometric device.

37. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein one of the covers comprises a camera.

38. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein one of the covers comprises a battery housing.

39. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein the bottom edge of the highest cover and the bottom edges of the intermediate covers are arcuate.

40. The escutcheon of claim 39, wherein the bottom edge of the highest cover and the bottom edges of the intermediate covers are concave.

41. The escutcheon of claim 39, wherein the bottom edge of the highest cover and the bottom edges of the intermediate covers are convex.

42. The escutcheon of claim 30, wherein when the highest cover is oriented above the intermediate covers and the intermediate covers are oriented above the lowest cover, the joints are obstructed from view when the escutcheon is viewed from above the highest cover.

43. An escutcheon system for a lock on a door, the system comprising:

a lower cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door and having a top edge;

a first intermediate cover having a top edge and a bottom edge, the first intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the lower cover such that the bottom edge of the first intermediate cover and the top edge of the lower cover are in close and complementary registration;

optionally, a second intermediate cover having a top edge and a bottom edge, the second intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the first intermediate cover such that the bottom edge of the second intermediate cover and the top edge of the first intermediate cover are in close and complementary registration;

a first upper cover having a bottom edge, the first upper cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above any selected one of the intermediate covers, being a top intermediate cover, such that the bottom edge of the first upper cover and the top edge of the top intermediate cover are in close and complementary registration; and

a second upper cover differing from the first upper cover in size, features, or a combination thereof, having a bottom edge, the second upper cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the top intermediate cover such that the bottom edge of the second upper cover and top edge of the top intermediate cover are in close and complementary registration,

wherein one cover is adapted to pass a latch operator.

44. The escutcheon system of claim 43, further comprising a third intermediate cover differing from the first intermediate cover in size, features, or a combination thereof, having a top edge and a bottom edge, the third intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the lower cover such that the bottom edge of the third intermediate cover and top edge of the lower cover are in close and complementary registration, adapted to be mounted below the optional second intermediate cover, if present, such that the top edge of the third intermediate cover and the bottom edge of the second intermediate cover are in close and complementary registration, and adapted to be mounted below the upper cover such that the top edge of the third intermediate cover and the bottom edge of the upper cover are in close and complementary registration.

45. The escutcheon system of claim 44, further comprising a fourth intermediate cover differing from the optional second intermediate cover in size, features, or a combination thereof, having a top edge and a bottom edge, the fourth intermediate cover adapted to be mounted to the surface of the door above the first or third intermediate covers such that the bottom edge of the fourth intermediate cover and top edge of the first or third intermediate cover are in close and complementary registration and adapted to be mounted below the upper cover such that the top edge of the fourth intermediate cover and the bottom edge of the upper cover are in close and complementary registration.

46. The escutcheon system of claim 43, wherein the bottom edges of the intermediate covers and the upper covers are arcuate.

47. The escutcheon system of claim 43, wherein the covers are each adapted to be mounted to the door such that the covers each have a surface projecting a distance away from the surface of the door that increases with each subsequent cover upward.