Mortise lock with automatic deadbolt

• US 6,578,888 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Onity Inc. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TESA Entry Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Lenk, Damon J., Fayngersh, Zakhary
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US09/598,095
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 292/332, 292/335, 292/DIG.21, 292/169.14, 701/07, 701/10, 701/50, 701/51.A, 701/51.R, 704/86
• US Class Current: 292/332
• 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: Y10T 292/0982 Bolt blocking or disabling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/54 Trippers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/558 Sliding bolt, swinging detent
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5226 Combined dead bolt and latching bolt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5504 Automatic

Abstract

A mortise lock for a door is provided, including an automatic deadbolt mechanism for automatic projection of a deadbolt mounted in the lock housing form a retracted to an extended position upon closing of the door. The automatic deadbolt projecting mechanism for use in the mortise lock comprises a blocking element adapted to be pivotally mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between a first position where a blocking surface is adapted to engage the deadbolt for holding the deadbolt in the retracted position against the force of a deadbolt biasing means and a second position where the blocking surface does not engage the deadbolt. The blocking element is pivoted to the second position upon door closing by operation of internal, pivoting lock components, including a sensor adapted to be mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between an extended position and a retracted position. The sensor is adapted to contact a strike plate or door frame upon closing of the door for movement to the retracted position triggering automatically deadbolt projection to the extended position under the force of the deadbolt biasing means when.

Claims

1. An automatic deadbolt mechanism for a mortise lock assembly of the type mounted in the free edge of a door such that, when the door is closed, the mortise lock assembly is adjacent a strike plate on a doorjamb and comprises a housing for accommodating components of the lock including the automated deadbolt mechanism, a deadbolt mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between a retracted position where the deadbolt is inside the housing and an extended position where a portion of the deadbolt extends outside the housing, the deadbolt biased in the extended position, and a deadbolt retractor to move the deadbolt to the retracted position, the automatic deadbolt mechanism comprising:

a blocking element pivotally mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing, the blocking element having a blocking surface and a cam surface, the blocking element having a first position where the blocking surface engages the deadbolt for holding the deadbolt in the retracted position and a second position where the blocking surface does not engage the deadbolt; and

a blocking element pivot for moving the blocking element to the second position, the blocking element pivot comprising;

a sensor mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between an extended position where a portion of the sensor extends outside the housing and a retracted position where a portion of the sensor is inside the housing, the sensor adapted to contact the strike plate for movement to the retracted position upon closing the door;

a trigger hammer pivotally mounted in the housing adjacent the sensor for engagement and pivotal movement by the sensor when the sensor is moved to the retracted position, and

a release lever pivotally mounted in the housing and having a drive surface and a cam surface the drive surface adjacent the cam surface of the blocking element when the blocking element is in the first position and the cam surface adjacent the trigger hammer for engagement and movement by the trigger hammer when the trigger hammer is pivoted by the sensor, the drive surface of the release lever engaging the cam surface of the blocking element when the release lever is rotated by the trigger hammer for moving the blocking element the second position,

whereby the blocking element pivot moves the blocking element to the second position when the sensor is in the retracted position so that the deadbolt automatically moves to the extended position when the door is closed.

2. An automatic deadbolt mechanism as recited in claim 1, wherein the deadbolt includes a second portion which is adapted to remain within the housing in both the retracted and extended positions of the deadbolt and a lug extending from the second portion of the deadbolt, and wherein the blocking surface comprises a hook which in the first position of the blocking element engages the lug for holding the deadbolt in the retracted position.

3. A mortise lock assembly for mounting in a free edge of a door adjacent a strike plate on a doorjamb when the door is closed, the mortise lock comprising:

a housing;

a deadbolt mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between a retracted position where the deadbolt is inside the housing and an extended position where a portion of the deadbolt extends outside the housing, the deadbolt biased in the first position;

a deadbolt retractor for moving the deadbolt from the extended position to the retracted position;

a blocking element mounted in the housing for pivotal movement relative to the housing and having a blocking surface, the blocking element having a first position where the blocking surface engages the deadbolt for holding the deadbolt in the retracted position and a second position where the blocking surface does not engage the deadbolt, the blocking element biased in the first position;

a blocking element pivot for moving the blocking element to the second position, the blocking element pivot comprising;

a sensor mounted in the housing for movement relative to the housing between an extended position where a portion of the sensor extends outside the housing and a retracted position where the sensor is inside the housing, the sensor adapted to contact the strike plate for movement to the retracted position upon closing the door;

a trigger hammer pivotally mounted in the housing adjacent the sensor for engagement and pivotal movement by the sensor when the sensor is moved to the retracted position, and

a release lever pivotally mounted in the housing and having a drive surface and a cam surface, the drive surface adjacent the cam surface of the blocking element when the blocking element is in the first position and the cam surface is adjacent the trigger hammer for engagement and movement by the trigger hammer when the trigger hammer is pivoted by the sensor, the drive surface of the release lever engaging the cam surface of the blocking element when the release lever is rotated by the trigger hammer for moving the blocking element to the second position,

wherein the blocking element pivot moves the blocking element to the second position when the sensor is in the retracted position, so that the deadbolt automatically moves to the extended position when the door is closed.

4. A mortise lock assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the deadbolt includes a second portion which is within the housing in both the retracted and extended positions of the deadbolt and a lug extending from the second portion of the deadbolt, and wherein the blocking surface comprises a hook which in the first position of the blocking element engages the lug for holding the deadbolt in the retracted position.

5. A mortise lock for mounting in a free edge of a door and for being adjacent a strike plate on a doorjamb when the door is closed, the mortise lock comprising:

a housing;

a deadbolt mounted in the housing and movable between a retracted position where the deadbolt is inside the housing and an extended position where a portion of the deadbolt extends outside of the housing, the deadbolt biased in the extended position;

a deadbolt stop mounted in the housing and movable between a deadbolt engaged position and a deadbolt released position, the deadbolt stop biased in the engaged position;

a latch bolt mounted in the housing and movable along a path between a retracted position where the latch bolt is inside the housing and an extended position where a portion of the latch bolt extends outside of the housing, the latch bolt biased in the extended position;

a latch deadlock mounted in the housing and movable between an extended position in the path of the latch bolt and a retracted position spaced from the path of the latch bolt;

an auxiliary latch mounted in the housing and movable between a retracted position where the auxiliary latch is inside the housing and an extended position wherein a portion of the auxiliary latch extends outside of the housing, the auxiliary latch biased in the extended position; and

a retractor assembly mounted in the housing, the retractor assembly comprising a hub and a hub lever, the hub rotatably connected to the housing, the hub lever operably coupling the hub to the latch deadlock, the latch bolt and the deadbolt and rotatable between a first hub-lever position and a second hub-lever position,

wherein the deadbolt stop moves to the released position, the deadbolt moves to the extended position, and the latch deadlock moves to the extended position in response to movement of the auxiliary latch to the retracted position when the auxiliary latch contacts the strike plate,

wherein the latch deadlock moves to the retracted position, the latch bolt moves to the retracted position and the deadbolt moves to the retracted position when rotation of the hub pivots the hub-lever from the first hub-lever position to the second hub-lever position, and

wherein the deadbolt stop moves to the engaged position in response to movement of the auxiliary latch to the extended position when the deadbolt is in the retracted position.

6. A automatic deadbolt mechanism comprising:

a deadbolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position;

a deadbolt lever biased in a first deadbolt-lever position and pivotable between the first deadbolt-lever position and a second deadbolt-lever position, the deadbolt lever operably coupled to the deadbolt and configured to cause the deadbolt to be in the extended position when the deadbolt lever is in the first deadbolt-lever position and to cause the deadbolt to be in the retracted position when the deadbolt lever is in the second deadbolt-lever position;

a deadbolt stop lever biased in a first deadbolt-stop-lever position and pivotable between the first deadbolt-stop-lever position and a second deadbolt-stop-lever position, the deadbolt stop lever releasably engageable with the deadbolt and configured to releasably retain the deadbolt in the retracted position when the deadbolt stop lever is in the first deadbolt-stop-lever position;

a thumbturn lever pivotable between a first thumbturn-lever position and a second thumbturn-lever position and between the second thumbturn-lever position and a third thumbturn-lever position, the thumbturn lever operably coupled to the deadbolt stop lever and the deadbolt lever and configured to cause the deadbolt stop lever to pivot from the first deadbolt-stop-lever position to the second deadbolt-stop-lever position when the thumbturn lever pivots from the first thumbturn-lever position to the second thumbturn-lever position and to cause the deadbolt lever to move the deadbolt from the retracted position to the extended position when the thumbturn lever pivots from the second thumbturn-lever position to the third thumbturn-lever position;

a hub lever biased in a first hub-lever position and pivotable between the first hub-lever position and a second hub-lever position, the hub lever operably coupled to the deadbolt lever and configured to cause the deadbolt lever to pivot from the first deadbolt-lever position to the second deadbolt-lever position ever when the hub lever pivots from the first hub-lever position to the second hub-lever position;

a deadbolt release lever biased in a first deadbolt-release-lever position and pivotable between the first deadbolt-release-lever position and a second deadbolt-release-lever position, the deadbolt release lever operably coupled to the deadbolt stop lever and configured to cause the deadbolt stop lever to pivot from the first deadbolt-stop-lever position to the second deadbolt-stop-lever position when the deadbolt release lever pivots from the first deadbolt-release-lever position to the second deadbolt-release-lever position; and

a auxiliary latch lever biased in a first auxiliary-latch-lever position and pivotable between the first auxiliary-latch-lever position and a second auxiliary-latch-lever position, the auxiliary latch lever operably coupled to the deadbolt release lever and configured to cause the deadbolt release lever to pivot from the first deadbolt-release-lever position to the second deadbolt-release-lever position when the auxiliary latch lever pivots from the first auxiliary-latch-lever position to the second auxiliary-latch-lever position.

7. The mechanism according to claim 6, wherein:

the deadbolt lever has a deadbolt-lever hub from which a first leg and a second leg extend generally radially outwardly; and

the thumbturn lever has a thumbturn-lever hub from which a first lobe, a second lobe, and a third lobe extend generally radially outwardly, the thumbturn-lever hub journaled with the deadbolt-lever hub, the first lobe operably coupled to the deadbolt, the second lobe operably coupled to the first leg of the deadbolt lever, and the third lobe has a boss operably coupled to the second leg of the deadbolt lever.

8. A automatic deadbolt mechanism comprising:

a deadbolt movable between a retracted position and an extended position;

a deadbolt lever biased in a first deadbolt-lever position and pivotable between the first deadbolt-lever position and a second deadbolt-lever position, the deadbolt lever operably coupled to the deadbolt and configured to cause the deadbolt to be in the extended position when the deadbolt lever is in the first deadbolt-lever position and to cause the deadbolt to be in the retracted position when the deadbolt lever is in the second deadbolt-lever position;

a deadbolt stop lever biased in a first deadbolt-stop-lever position and pivotable between the first deadbolt-stop-lever position and a second deadbolt-stop-lever position, the deadbolt stop lever releasably engageable with the deadbolt and configured to releasably retain the deadbolt in the retracted position when the deadbolt stop lever is in the first deadbolt-stop-lever position;

a latchbolt biased in an extended position and movable between the extended position and a retracted position;

a deadlocking lever biased in a first deadlocking-lever position and pivotable between the first deadlocking-lever position and a second deadlocking-lever position, the deadlocking lever configured to block movement of the latchbolt when the deadlocking lever is in the first deadlocking-lever position;

a hub lever biased in a first hub-lever position and pivotable between the first hub-lever position and a second hub-lever position, the hub lever operably coupled to the deadbolt lever, the latchbolt, and the deadlocking lever, the hub lever configured to cause the deadbolt lever to pivot from the second deadbolt-lever position to the first deadbolt-lever position, the deadlocking lever to pivot from the first deadlocking-lever position to the deadlocking-lever second position, and the latchbolt to move from the extended position to the retracted position when the hub lever pivots from the first hub-lever position to the second hub-lever position;

a deadbolt release lever biased in a first deadbolt-release-lever position and pivotable between the first deadbolt-release-lever position and a second deadbolt-release-lever position, the deadbolt release lever operably coupled to the deadbolt holding lever and configured to cause the deadbolt holding lever to pivot from the first deadbolt-holding-lever position to the second deadbolt-holding-lever position when the deadbolt release lever pivots from the first deadbolt-release-lever position to the second deadbolt-release-lever position; and

a auxiliary latch lever biased in a first auxiliary-latch-lever position and pivotable between the first auxiliary-latch-lever position and a second auxiliary-latch-lever position, the auxiliary latch lever operatively coupled to the deadbolt release lever and the deadlocking lever and configured to cause the deadbolt release lever to pivot from the first deadbolt-release-lever position to the second deadbolt-release-lever position when the auxiliary latch lever pivots from the first auxiliary-latch-lever position to the second auxiliary-latch-lever position and to retain the deadlocking lever in the second deadlocking-lever position when the auxiliary latch lever is in the first auxiliary-latch-lever position.

9. The mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising a thumbturn lever pivotable between a first thumbturn-lever position and a second thumbturn-lever position and between the second thumbturn-lever position and a third thumbturn-lever position, the thumbturn lever operably coupled to the deadbolt stop lever and the deadbolt lever and configured to cause the deadbolt stop lever to pivot from the first deadbolt-stop-lever position to the second deadbolt-stop-lever position when the thumbturn lever pivots from the first thumbturn-lever position to the second thumbturn-lever position and to cause the deadbolt lever to move the deadbolt from the retracted position to the extended position when the thumbturn lever pivots from the second thumbturn-lever position to the third thumbturn-lever position.