US 4,854,143 A · Bolt assembly and method

Abstract

A bolt assembly (21) including a movable bolt (34) and a user manipulatable bolt displacement assembly is disclosed. The bolt displacement assembly moves the bolt (34) between a locked and an unlocked position. The bolt displacement assembly includes a user manipulated handle (37), a torque transfer assembly (b 38) and an electromagnet (39). Handle (37) is mounted on an exterior side (36) of the bolt assembly (21) and is freely movable without coupling of the handle (37) to displace the bolt (34). Torque transfer assembly (38) in the form of a rocker arm (63) is mounted for movement in response to movement of the handle (37) and moves to and from a torque transmitting position during at least part of the movement cycle of the handle (37). Additionally, electromagnet (39) is reponsive to user input for energization thereof and is positioned to magnetically hold the torque transfer assembly (38) in the torque's transmitting position upon the simultaneous occurrence of energization of the electromagnet (39 ) and movement of the torque transfer assembly (38) to the torque transmitting position by the handle (37). Handle (37) is further movable by the user while the torque transfer assembly (38) is held in the torque's transmitting position to couple the handle (37) to bolt (34) to move the bolt (34) between the locked position and the unlocked position. Additionally, an optic link (29, 32) coupling dead bolt assembly (21) to an electronic door lock assembly (23) is provided so that input to the door lock assembly (23) automatically energizes the electromagnet (39) in the dead bolt assembly (21) to permit opening of the dead bolt assembly (21).

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method of operating a bolt assembly having a movable exterior handle means, movable bolt means, movable transfer means transmitting motion of said handle means to move said bolt means, and electromagnet means responsive to user input for energization of the same, said method including the steps of:

biasing said transfer means to a position in which motion of said handle cannot be transmitted to said bolt means;
moving said transfer means by said handle means against said biasing means to a motion transmitting position;
energizing said electromagnet means by user input to hold said transfer means against said biasing means in said motion transmitting position;
and
moving said handle means while said transfer means is held in said motion transmitting position until said transfer means is moved by said handle means to produce movement of said bolt means.

2 more elements

In a bolt assembly including movable bolt means, and a user manipulatable bolt displacement assembly for displacement of said bolt means between a locked position and an unlocked position, the improvement in said bolt assembly comprising:

said displacement assembly including:
(i) a user manipulatable handle means on an exterior side of said bolt assembly mounted for rotation without coupling of said handle means to displace said bolt means;
(ii) torque transfer means mounted for movement to and from a torque transmitting position in response to movement of said handle means, said torque transfer means includes rocker assembly mounted for movement into and out of said torque transmitting position in response to engagement with said handle means during rotation thereof;
(iii) said displacement assembly further including a bolt driver bar connected to displace said bolt means;
and
(iv) electromagnet means having input means for engergization thereof and positioned to magnetically hold said torque transfer means in said torque transmitting position upon the occurrence of energization of said electromagnet means and upon movement of said torque transfer means to said torque transmitting position;
said torque transfer means further carries a movable clip means coupled to said driver bar and having a tab portion engageable by said handle means only when said rocker assembly is held in said torque transmitting position to transmit motion from said handle means to said driver bar and thereafter to said bolt means;
and
said handle means being further rotatable by the user while said torque transfer means is in said torque transmitting position to couple said handle means to said bolt means for the transmission of torque from said handle means to move said bolt means between said locked position and said unlocked position.

6 more elements

said displacement assembly including:
(i) a user manipulatable movable handle means;
(ii) transfer means mounted for movement between a position to transmit motion coupling said handle means to move said bolt means and a position releasing said handle means for movement which is incapable of transmitting motion to said bolt means;
(iii) biasing means urging said transfer means to said position releasing said handle means, said handle means and said transfer means further being cooperatively formed to move said transfer means against said biasing means to said position to transmit motion in response to motion of said handle means;
and
(iv) electromagnet means having input means for energization thereof and positioned to magnetically hold said transfer means against said biasing means in said position to transmit motion upon the occurrence of energization of said electromagnet means and upon movement of said transfer means by said handle means;
and
said handle means being further movable by the user while said transfer means is held in said position to transmit motion by said electromagnet means for the transmission of motion from said handle means to said bolt means to move said bolt means from said locked position to said unlocked position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bolt assembly and method

Life of this patent

Bolt assembly and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23