Multi-point locking system for patio doors, French doors/windows, large casement windows, and the like

1 . A lock system configured to lock a patio door with respect to a master frame at a plurality of locations, said lock system comprising:

a keeper, said keeper comprising: a first lock pin, and a second lock pin; each of said first and second lock pins formed to include a shaft portion and a head portion; said keeper being secured to said master frame;

a lock assembly, said lock assembly comprising:

a housing, said housing having a main opening on a first side defining an interior surface that forms a housing cavity, and a second opening formed on a central portion of an adjacent side that interconnects with said cavity to form at least a rear wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a first upper side wall portion, and a second upper side wall portion; wherein said rear wall comprises: a first flange and a second flange configured to form a track;

a cover member, said cover member configured to enclose said main opening of said housing when said cover is secured to said housing; said cover member comprising: a first flange and a second flange configured to form a track; and wherein said track of said cover member is aligned with said track of said housing when said cover member is secured to said housing;

means for securing said cover member to said housing;

a first locking member; said first locking member comprising:

a flange; said flange comprising: an elongated opening formed with a first portion having a first width configured to permit sliding of said head portion of said first lock pin through said elongated opening, and a second portion with a second width configured to block sliding of said head portion of said first lock pin through said elongated opening;

a protrusion, said protrusion configured to protrude from a first side of said flange, of said first locking member, said protrusion comprising:

a first slider member configured to protrude in a first lateral direction with respect to an axial direction of said flange of said first locking member; and

a second slider member configured to protrude in a second lateral direction with respect to the axial direction of said flange of said first locking member;

wherein said first slider member and said second slider member are configured to be slidably received in a first portion of said track in said housing and a first portion of said track in said cover member, respectively;

a first cam following surface;

a second cam following surface;

a second locking member; said second locking member comprising:

a flange comprising: an elongated opening formed with a first portion having a first width configured to permit sliding of said head portion of said second lock pin through said elongated opening of said flange of said second locking member, and a second portion having a second width configured to block sliding of said head portion of said second lock pin through said elongated opening of said flange of said second locking member;

a protrusion configured to protrude from a first side of said flange of said second locking member, and comprising:

a first slider member configured to protrude in a first lateral direction with respect to an axial direction of said flange of said second locking member; and;

a second slider member configured to protrude in a second lateral direction with respect to the axial direction of said flange of said second locking member;

wherein said first and said second slider members of said second locking member are configured to be slidably received in a second portion of said track in said housing and a second portion of said track in said cover member, respectively;

a rocker arm, said rocker arm comprising: a hub, a first arm configured to extend from a first portion of said hub, and a second arm configured to extend from a second portion of said hub;

wherein said hub of said rocker arm is pivotally mounted to said housing;

wherein said first arm is pivotally coupled to said first locking member;

wherein said second arm is pivotally coupled to said second locking member;

a driving member, said driving member being pivotally mounted to said housing and configured to be actuated by a user; said driving member comprising: a cam portion;

wherein when said driving member is rotated from a first rotation position to a second rotation position, said cam portion contacts said first cam following surface to drive said first locking member to slide in a first unlock direction, causing said second locking member to be driven by said rocker arm to slide in a second unlock direction, to cause said first width of said elongated opening of said first locking member to align with said first lock pin and cause said first width of said elongated opening of said second locking member to align with said second lock pin, to unlock said lock system and permit the patio door to slide away from the keeper into a door open position.

2 . The lock system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a safety button, said safety button being slidably mounted to said housing to slide between a first button position and a second button position:

a spring, said spring configured to bias said safety button towards said first button position; and

wherein said safety button in said first button position is configured to block said first locking member from sliding in the first unlock direction.

3 . The lock system according to claim 2 ,

wherein when the patio door is slid into a closed door position, said first lock pin is received through said elongated opening in said first locking member and drives said safety button from said first button position to said second button position; and

wherein when said driving member is rotated from the second rotation position to the first rotation position, said cam portion contacts said second cam following surface to drive said first locking member to slide in a first lock direction, causing said second locking member to be driven by said rocker arm to slide in a second lock direction, to cause said seccond width of said elongated opening of said first locking member to engage with said shaft portion of said first lock pin and cause said second width of said elongated opening of said second locking member to engage with said shaft portion of second lock pin, to lock said lock system and inhibit the patio door from sliding away from the keeper into a door open position.

4 . The lock system according to claim 3 ,

wherein said keeper further comprises: a third lock pin, and a fourth lock pin, each of said third lock pin and fourth lock pin being formed to include a shaft portion and a head portion;

wherein said lock assembly further comprises:

a first locking bar assembly, said first locking bar assembly comprising: a bar with an elongated opening formed with a first portion having a first width configured to permit sliding of said head portion of said third lock pin through said elongated opening of said bar, and a second width configured to block sliding of said head portion of said third lock pin through said elongated opening of said bar;

wherein said bar of said first locking bar assembly is secured to said first locking member;

a second locking bar assembly, said second locking bar assembly comprising: a plate with an elongated opening formed with a first portion having a first width configured to permit sliding of said head portion of said fourth lock pin through said elongated opening of said plate, and a second width configured to block sliding of said head portion of said fourth lock pin through said elongated opening of said plate;

wherein said plate of said second locking bar assembly is secured to said second locking member; and

wherein when said driving member is rotated from the second rotation position to the first rotation position, said cam portion contacts said second cam following surface to drive said first locking member to slide in the first lock direction, causing said second locking member to be driven by said rocker arm to slide in the second lock direction, to cause said second width of said elongated opening of bar of said first locking bar assembly to engage with said shaft portion of said third lock pin and to cause said second width of said elongated opening of said plate of said second locking bar assembly to engage with said shaft portion of fourth lock pin, to lock said lock system at four locations with respect to said keeper and inhibit the patio door from sliding away from the keeper into a door open position.

5 . The lock system according to claim 4 , wherein said lock assembly further comprises:

a plurality of spacers secured to said bar of said first locking bar assembly; and a plurality of spacers secured to said plate of said second locking bar assembly.

6 . The lock system according to claim 5 , wherein said track of said housing is positioned between said first upper side wall portion and said second upper side wall portion.

7 . The lock system according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a torsion spring, a first end of said torsion spring being secured to said housing, and a second end of said torsion spring being secured to said driving member;

wherein said torsion spring is configured to bias said driving member towards the second rotation position when said driving member is at an intermediate rotation position being closer to the the second rotation position than the first rotation position; and

wherein said torsion spring is configured to bias said driving member towards the first rotation position when said driving member is at a second intermediate rotation position being closer to the the first rotation position than the second rotation position.

8 . A lock assembly configured to lock a patio door with respect to a keeper of a master frame at a plurality of locations, said lock assembly comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising: a rear wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall; wherein said rear wall comprises: a first flange and a second flange, together being configured to form a track; wherein said housing comprises: an opening;

a cover member, said cover member comprising: a first flange and a second flange together being configured to form a track; and wherein said track of said cover member is aligned with said track of said housing when said cover member is secured to said housing;

means for securing said cover member to said housing;

a first locking member; said first locking member comprising:

a flange; said flange comprising: an elongated opening formed with a first portion having a first width, and a second portion having a second width, said first width being greater than said second width;

a protrusion, said protrusion configured to protrude from a first side of said flange,

wherein said protrusion is configured to be slidably received in a first portion of said track in said housing and a first portion of said track in said cover member;

a first cam following surface;

a second cam following surface;

a second locking member, said second locking member comprising:

a flange comprising: an elongated opening formed with a first portion having a first width, and a second portion with a second width; said first width of said elongated opening of said flange of said second locking member being greater than said second width of said elongated opening of said flange of said second locking member;

a protrusion configured to protrude from a first side of said flange of said second locking member;

wherein said protrusion of said flange of said second locking member is configured to be slidably received in a second portion of said track in said housing and a second portion of said track in said cover member;

a rocker arm, said rocker arm comprising: a hub, a first arm configured to extend from a first portion of said hub, and a second arm configured to extend from a second portion of said hub;

wherein said hub of said rocker arm is pivotally mounted to said housing;

wherein said first arm is pivotally coupled to said first locking member;

wherein said second arm is pivotally coupled to said second locking member;

a driving member, said driving member being pivotally mounted to said housing; said driving member comprising: a cam portion;

wherein when said driving member is rotated from a first rotation position to a second rotation position, said cam portion contacts said first cam following surface to drive said first locking member to slide in a first unlock direction, causing said second locking member to be driven by said rocker arm to slide in a second unlock direction, to cause said first width of said elongated opening of said first locking member to align with a first lock pin of the keeper and cause said first width of said elongated opening of said second locking member to align with a second lock pin of the keeper, to unlock said lock system and permit the patio door to slide into a door open position.