Lock for doors

• US 6,871,519 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 03/29/2005
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Walsh, John B.
• Application Number:
  US10/102,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20020139157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 702/56, 70D/IG.10, 702/791, 292/DIG.66, 292/DIG.4, 292/DIG.14, 292/DIG.25, 292/DIG.43
• 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

A lock for doors, for example doors of homes, offices, hotel rooms or similar, as well as doors of motor vehicles, includes a lock opening control assembly having 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 is arranged in between the mechanical transmission, so that the lock can be opened both by operating the shape memory actuator, and by operating the control device, in which case the shape memory actuator works simply as a mechanical transmission element.

Claims

1. A lock for a door comprising lock opening control means comprising a mechanical control device located at a distance from the lock and a mechanical transmission connecting the mechanical control device to the lock, said mechanical transmission including a mechanical element connected to said mechanical control device and a shape memory actuator connected to said mechanical element and said lock so that said lock can be opened both by operating said mechanical control device wherein the shape memory actuator works as a mechanical element in said mechanical transmission and by operating the shape memory actuator alone, wherein said shape memory actuator comprises a shape memory wire and means for supplying electrical current through the wire so as to heat the shape memory wire and make said wire contract to open said lock.

2. A lock according to claim 1 wherein said means for supplying electrical current comprises an electronic control unit for causing the passage of current through the shape memory wire upon receiving a signal from an electrical control device which can be operated by means of a mechanical key or an electronic key.

3. A lock according to claim 2 wherein said means for supplying electrical current further comprises a PTC control for cutting off the passage of current through the shape memory wire when a predetermined temperature is reached.

4. A lock according to claim 1 wherein the wire is surrounded by an isolating sheath.

5. A lock according to claim 4 wherein opposite extremities of the isolating sheath are connected to said mechanical element of said mechanical transmission and said lock by which the sheath contributes to transmitting a force when the lock is mechanically operated by means of said mechanical control device.

6. A lock according to claim 1 wherein an electrical control device is associated to the tail gate or rear lid of a motor vehicle, said control device being adapted to be arranged near the driver seat and said mechanical element of said transmission comprises a flexible wire connected in series to the shape memory wire.

7. A lock according to claim 2 wherein said control device is associated to a side door of a motor vehicle, said control device comprising a handle for opening the door from the inside of the motor vehicle, said electronic control unit being activated by means of said electrical control device comprised of a lock on the outside of the door.

8. A lock according to claim 2 wherein said electrical control device is associated to the tailgate or rear lid of a motor vehicle, said electrical control device comprising a control wire arranged inside the tailgate or rear lid and connected in series to a shape memory actuator.