Lock assembly

A method of locking or unlocking a door to a frame element, comprising the steps of:

• providing a rotatable locking element coupled to a locking rod which is positioned within a first side of said frame element;
• providing a pin which is engaged with said rotatable locking element at an engaged position so that said rotatable locking element is prevented from rotating;
• providing a cam coupled to said locking rod such that said cam moves in response to movement of said locking rod;
• moving said pin from said engaged position to a disengaged position wherein said pin does not engage said locking element;
• rotating said locking element in a first sense;
• moving said locking rod away from said first side of said frame element in response to said rotation of said locking element in said first sense so as to unlock said door with respect to said frame element;
• moving said cam in response to said movement of said locking rod;
• striking said pin with said cam during said movement of said cam causing said pin to contact and ride along a surface of said locking element as it rotates.

A lock assembly for locking or unlocking a door to a frame element, comprising:

• a rotatable locking element;
• a locking rod connected to said rotatable locking element, wherein rotation of said locking element in one sense results in said locking rod moving toward a first side of said frame element and rotation in the other sense results in said locking rod moving away from said first side of said frame element;
• a pin having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end selectively engages said rotatable locking element at an engaged position so that said locking element is prevented from rotating;
• a lifting mechanism comprising a solenoid that causes said first end of said pin to move from said engaged position to a disengaged position;
• and
• lifting mechanism having a sliding plate coupled to a key mechanism, such that when a key is inserted into said key mechanism and is rotated said key mechanism rotates causing said sliding plate to engage said second end of said pin.

A lock assembly for automatically locking a door to a frame element, comprising:

• a rotatable locking element;
• a first locking rod connected to said rotatable locking element, wherein rotation of said locking element in one sense results in said first locking rod moving toward a first side of said frame element and rotation in the other sense results in said first locking rod moving away from said first side of said frame element;
• a second locking rod connected to said rotatable locking element, wherein rotation of said locking element in said one sense results in said second locking rod moving toward a second side of said frame element and rotation in said other sense results in said second locking rod moving away from said second side of said frame element;
• said first and second locking rods each having an end with a compressible plunger;
• a pin having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end selectively engages said rotatable locking element at an engaged position so that said locking element is prevented from rotating;
• said plungers of said first and second locking rods each extending past said door when said locking element is at said engaged position and each of said plungers and frame element having a structure so that when said door nears said frame element each plunger is compressed by said frame element and slides past the frame element to engage an opening in the frame element so as to lock the door and frame element together;
• a pin actuating mechanism for moving said pin from said engaged position to a disengaged position wherein said pin does not engage said locking element;
• and
• a rotatable cam having a striking surface to strike said second end of said pin when said pin is at said disengaged position causing said first end of said pin to contact and ride along a surface of said rotatable locking element as it rotates.