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US 12,644,312 B2Granted
Clutch for a lock
AssigneeASSA ABLOY Residential Group, Inc.
InventorsMark Caterino, Vu Nguyen, Wai P. Wong
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lock clutch is provided to selectively couple a knob to a lock. In a locked configuration the clutch decouples the knob from the lock, so that rotating the knob does not operate the lock. In an unlocked configuration, the clutch rotationally connects the knob to the lock such that the lock may be operated by turning the knob. According to some embodiments, the knob may be a thumb turn and the lock may be a deadbolt lock.
Claims20
A door lock assembly, comprising:
- a knob configured to allow a user to lock or unlock a door;
- a clutch driving plate rotationally secured to the knob;
- a tailpiece configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, wherein rotation of the tailpiece is configured to retract or extend a latch;
- a clutch driven plate rotationally secured to the tailpiece;
- and
- an actuator comprising:
- a motor including an output shaft shaft configured to rotate about a first axis parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- a first helical element mounted to the output shaft for motor driven rotation about the first axis;
- and
- a clutch driver unit including a first end portion axially secured to the clutch driven plate and a second end portion aligned with the first axis and including a second helical element threadably engageable with the first helical element for motor driven axial movement of the clutch driver unit and the clutch driven plate between an unlocked configuration in which the clutch driven plate is coupled with the clutch driving plate for co-rotation of the knob and the tailpiece and a locked configuration in which the clutch driven plate is uncoupled from the clutch driving plate to prevent co-rotation of the knob and the tailpiece.
7 more elements
A door comprising:
- a door panel including a first face and a second face, wherein, with the door closed, the first face is exposed to an unsecured space and the second face is exposed to a secured space, the door panel including a circular bore hole extending between the first face and the second face;
- and
- a door lock comprising:
- a chassis mounted to the first face of the door panel, covering the circular bore hole and disposed at least partially within the circular bore hole;
- a latch configured to prevent the door from opening when the latch is extended;
- a knob disposed on the first side of the door and configured to extend and retract the latch;
- a mechanical interlocking clutch configured to selectively couple the knob to the lock;
- an actuator configured to move the mechanical interlocking clutch between a coupled position and an uncoupled position, and
- wherein the mechanical interlocking clutch and the actuator are disposed within the circular bore hole.
6 more elements
A door lock assembly, comprising:
- a knob configured to allow a user to lock or unlock a door;
- a clutch driving plate rotationally secured to the knob;
- a tailpiece configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis, wherein rotation of the tailpiece is configured to retract or extend a latch;
- a clutch driven plate rotationally secured to the tailpiece;
- and
- an actuator comprising:
- a motor including an output shaft extending along a first axis parallel to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a clutch driver unit including an axially extending portion disposed between the first axis and the longitudinal axis, the axially extending portion extending between a first laterally extending end portion axially secured to the clutch driven plate and a second laterally extending end portion aligned with the first axis and operatively connected with the motor for motor driven axial movement of the clutch driver unit and the clutch driven plate between an unlocked configuration in which the clutch driven plate is coupled with the clutch driving plate for co-rotation of the knob and the tailpiece and a locked configuration in which the clutch driven plate is uncoupled from the clutch driving plate to prevent co-rotation of the knob and the tailpiece.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.