EP-4735710-A1 - POWERED RIM LOCK ASSEMBLY

EP4735710A1EP 4735710 A1EP4735710 A1EP 4735710A1EP-4735710-A1

Abstract

A rim lock assembly for a door including a first housing attached to an inner face of the door, a latchbolt movable between an extended latching position and a retracted release position, a first actuator mechanism including a knob operable from an inner side of the door to cause movement of the latchbolt. An electrical lock means having a second housing is attached to the outer face of the door, with an elongate portion of second housing extends through a hole in the door towards the first housing. The electrical lock means having a second actuator mechanism connected to said latchbolt, and operable from the outer side of the door for retraction of the latchbolt. A battery for powering said electrical lock means is disposed within or on said elongate portion of the second housing. Both the geared motor and the electrical power supply within the elongate portion of the second housing are fully disposed within said door.

Inventors

ROBSON, THOMAS

Assignees

Doazon Pty Ltd

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240323

Claims (19)

1. A rim lock assembly for use on a door, the rim lock assembly including a first housing for attachment to an inner face of the door, a latchbolt movable relative to a side of said first housing between an extended latching position and a retracted release position, a first actuator mechanism including a first hand-engagable member operable from an inner side of the door to cause movement of said latchbolt from the extended position, and an electrical lock means including a second housing for attachment to the outer face of the door, at least an elongate portion of said second housing extends through a hole in said door towards said first housing, said electrical lock means having a second actuator mechanism operably connected to said latchbolt, and said electrical lock means operable from the outer side of the door such that when it is activated said second actuator mechanism retracts said latchbolt so that said door can be opened, and an electrical power supply means including at least one battery for powering said electrical lock means along with said second actuator mechanism are disposed within or on said elongate portion of said second housing, wherein said second actuator mechanism comprises a geared motor operably connected to said latchbolt via a connector bar, and wherein both said geared motor and said at least one battery within said elongate portion of said second housing are fully disposed within said door.
2. A rim lock assembly for use on a door as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one battery of said electrical power supply means having an associated battery holder, and both said battery and its associated battery holder are fully disposed in the door.
3. A rim lock assembly for use on a door as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one battery and said geared motor are disposed one above the other.
4. A rim lock assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrical lock means comprises an NFC reader having a sensor surface disposed adjacent the outer surface of said door and said NFC reader is operably connected via at least one control PCB to said geared motor.
5. A rim lock assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said second housing of said electrical lock means comprises a collared portion disposed at one end of said elongate portion, and when said electrical lock means is fitted to said door, said collared portion abuts said outer face of said door, said collared portion surrounding said sensor surface of said NFC reader.
6. A rim lock assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second actuator mechanism of said electrical lock means can be actuated to retract said latchbolt, by an RFID swipe card operably interacting therewith via said sensor surface of said NFC reader or by smartphone paired wirelessly with said electrical lock means.
7. A rim lock assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said geared motor is an N20 micro geared motor.
8. A rim lock assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said battery is a CR2 battery.
9. A rim lock assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein an external power supply can be connected to said electrical lock means by a port disposed at or near said collared portion of said second housing.
10. An electrical lock means for retrofitting to a 60mm backset rim lock assembly on a door, said door having a hole through which said rim lock assembly is mounted on both sides of said door, said rim lock assembly comprising a first housing for attachment to an inner face of said door, a latchbolt movable relative to a side of said first housing between an extended latching position and a retracted release position, a first actuator mechanism including a first hand-engagable member operable from an inner side of the door to cause movement of said latchbolt from the extended position, and a keyed cylinder and cylinder ring, said key cylinder extending into said hole from an outer face of said door and connected to said first actuator mechanism via a first connector bar so that actuation of said keyed cylinder by a key causes said first connector bar to turn and actuate said first actuator mechanism to retract said latchbolt, the said retrofitting comprises replacing said key cylinder and associated cylinder ring and first connector bar with said electrical lock means and a second connector bar, said electrical lock means comprises a second housing for attachment to the outer face of the door wherein at least an elongate portion of said second housing extends through said hole in said door towards said first housing, said electrical lock means having an electrically operated second actuator mechanism operably connected to said latchbolt via said associated second connector bar, and said electrical lock means operable from the outer side of said door such that when it is activated said second actuator mechanism retracts said latchbolt so that said door can be opened, and an electrical power supply means including at least one internal battery for powering said electrical lock means along with said second actuator mechanism are disposed within or on said elongate portion of said second housing, wherein said second actuator mechanism comprises a geared motor operably connected to said latchbolt via a connector bar, and wherein both said geared motor and said electrical power supply within said elongate portion of said second housing are fully disposed within said door.
11. An electrical lock means as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one battery of said electrical power supply means having an associated battery holder, and both said at least one battery and its associated battery holder are fully disposed within said door.
12. An electrical lock means as claimed in claim 10, wherein said at least one battery and said geared motor are disposed one above the other.
13. An electrical lock means as claimed in claim 10, wherein said electrical lock means comprises an NFC reader having a sensor surface disposed adjacent the outer surface of said door and said NFC reader is operably connected via at least one control PCB to said geared motor.
14. An electrical lock means as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second housing comprises a collared portion disposed at one end of said elongate portion, and when said electrical lock means is fitted to said door, said collared portion abuts said outer face of said door, said collared portion surrounding said sensor surface of said NFC reader.
15. An electrical lock means as claimed in claim 14, wherein when said NFC reader and collared portion is retrofitted to said door, said NFC reader and collared portion, project the same or only slightly more than the keyed cylinder and cylinder ring that it replaced.
16. An electrical lock means as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second actuator mechanism of said electrical lock means can be actuated to retract said latchbolt, by an RFID swipe card operably interacting therewith via said sensor surface of said NFC reader or by smartphone paired wirelessly with said electrical lock means.
17. An electrical lock means as claimed in claim 10, wherein said geared motor is an N20 micro geared motor.
18. An electrical lock means as claimed in claims 10, wherein said battery is a CR2 battery.
19. An electrical lock means as claimed in claim 14, wherein an external power supply can be connected to said electrical lock means by a port disposed at or near said collared portion of said second housing.

Description

POWERED RIM LOCK ASSEMBLY TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a rim lock assembly for use on a door. In particular, the present invention is described with reference to an electrical lock means that can replace or be retrofitted to a common door lock arrangement without further modification to that door. BACKGROUND A rim lock is a locking device that attaches to the surface of a door. Many rim locks used today on exterior doors are referred to as “night latches”. Such a night latch is a lock that is fitted on the surface of a door, and it is operated from the exterior side of the door by a key and from the interior (i.e. "secure") side of the door by a knob. In Australia, one of the most common mechanical locks used on entry (40mm thick) doors in older homes is the “60mm backset rim lock”, also known as a dead latch or night latch. One such well known mechanical lock assembly available in Australia is that marketed as the LOCKWOOD™ 001. This lock, like some other similar types has its cylinder passing through the hole from the external side of the door, with its connecting bar engaging the mounting plate assembly mounted on the internal side of door. Figs 1 to 4 depicts a door 1, having such a lock assembly 2, comprising an interior body (case) 3 fitted to its internal side la. A knob 4 is operably mounted to body 3, so that actuation by a user (not shown) retracts latchbolt 5. Lock assembly 2 also has a key actuated exterior cylinder 6 mounted to the external side lb of door 1. Latchbolt 5 operably engages with a strike (not shown) fitted to the frame (not shown) of door 1. Key actuated exterior cylinder 6 extends into door 1 through a 32mm hole, and a connecting bar (not shown) interconnects cylinder 6 with latch 5. Cylinder 6 and the cylinder ring that surrounds it protrude about five to six millimetres from the external surface of door 1. AU2011224106 A (AS SA ABLOY Australia Pty Ltd) describes a lock assembly with an electrically controlled actuator assembly. This prior art electrically controlled lock is marketed in Australia under the LOCKWOOD brand as 001 TOUCH™. This lock uses mechanically hand-operated knob (actuators) on both sides of the door to open and close. The electrical lock means includes a digital keypad and an RFID card reader. For the hand-operated knob on the front of door to be allowed to turn, the lock is electrically actuated either by inputting an access code into the digital keypad or by means of an associated RFID card being brought close to the lock. When the correct access code or RFID card is used, the electrical lock means adopts an inactive condition, which results in energisation of a motor within a clutch. When the clutch is in an engaged condition, rotation of the hand-operated knob on the front of door results in rotation of the connector bar, causing retraction of the latchbolt. The portion of the lock mounted to the rear of the lock includes a housing for carrying four AA alkaline batteries to power the electrical lock means, and a cover. At the bottom of the front side of the lock, there are 9V battery connections. If the 4 AA alkaline batteries are discharged, a 9V battery can be used to supply power to the lock. This prior art lock has several disadvantages. Firstly, whilst this lock may be retrofitted to an existing door already having a 60mm backset hole, it needs a further smaller hole drilled through the door to pass the wire loom from the “external” lock portion to the “internal” lock portion carrying the battery pack. It also requires additional screws to mount the battery housing to the door. When being retrofitted, this lock requires tools for drilling the small hole, and it may not be possible for a tenant (renter) to retrofit this lock in DIY fashion or by locksmith, without permission from the landlord or strata management, as modification (a further hole) is required to the door. Secondly this lock is quite large and bulky on both sides of the door, because it carries the user interface (keypad) and front-knob on the external side of the door, and on the internal side of the door it carries both a body with a rear turn knob and the battery housing. For example, the components on the front door, namely a hand-operated knob extending from the front housing including the keypad and RFID card reader extend some forty-five millimetres from the external surface of door. This bulkiness makes this prior art lock quite expensive to manufacture. Thirdly, the rear portion of the lock, has a cover that is easily removed to gain access to the batteries. This is undesirable as children, flatmates in a share situation, or visitors in a short-stay dwelling, may easily remove the batteries for their own use. There is also a US Patent No. 10,683,677 (Funamura et al.) directed to a so-called intelligent door lock system for use with a door assembly. Firstly, it is not a common lock arrangement, but instead a very expensive design, with a motor and gear assembly th