Multipoint locks and associated systems and methods

1. A multipoint lock comprising:

a horizontally translating lock bolt;

at least one vertical translating lock bolt;

a linkage coupled to and configured to translate the horizontally translating lock bolt and the at least one vertical translating lock bolt;

a gear mechanism configured to actuate the linkage and to effect translation of the horizontally translating lock bolt and the at least one vertical translating lock bolt; and

an input mechanism configured to transfer rotation of the input mechanism to the gear mechanism and collapse and expand the linkage in a scissor-like manner in response to a user shifting the input mechanism between an unlocked position and a locked position to translate the horizontally translating lock bolt and the at least one vertical translating lock bolt.

2. The multipoint lock of claim 1 , wherein the linkage is joined to the horizontally translating lock bolt and the at least one vertical translating lock bolt.

3. The multipoint lock of claim 2 , wherein the linkage is configured to collapse in response to actuation of the input mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position and expand in response to actuation of the input mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position.

4. The multipoint lock of claim 1 , wherein the gear mechanism is a changing gear ratio drive mechanism configured to actuate the linkage and to increase force input by the user to the input mechanism progressively when transitioning from the unlocked position to the locked position.

5. The multipoint lock of claim 1 , wherein the gear mechanism is an elliptical gear drive mechanism having a first gear and a second gear.

6. The multipoint lock of claim 5 , wherein the first gear is coupled to the input mechanism and the second gear is coupled to the horizontally translating lock bolt.

7. The multipoint lock of claim 6 , wherein the second gear is configured to translate the horizontally translating lock bolt and effect actuation of the linkage to translate the at least one vertical translating lock bolt in response to rotation of the first gear by a user applying force to the input mechanism.

8. The multipoint lock of claim 5 , wherein the elliptical gear mechanism is configured to increase force input by the user to the input mechanism progressively when transitioning from the unlocked position to the locked position.

9. The multipoint point lock of claim 1 , wherein the input mechanism is a thumb turn or a key turn.

10. A fenestration system comprising:

a hinged panel; and

a multipoint lock arranged within the hinged panel, the multipoint lock including:

a first translating lock bolt,

a second translating lock bolt,

a linkage coupled to and configured to translate the first translating lock bolt and the second translating lock bolt,

an elliptical gear mechanism configured to translate rotation of the gear mechanism to the linkage and actuate the first translating lock bolt and the second translating lock bolt, and

an input mechanism configured to transfer rotation of the input mechanism to the elliptical gear mechanism in response to a user shifting the input mechanism between an unlocked position and a locked position with the elliptical gear mechanism being configured to increase force input by the user to the input mechanism progressively when transitioning from the unlocked position to the locked position and collapse and expand the linkage in a scissor-like manner to translate the first translating bolt and the second translating bolt.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first translating lock bolt is a horizontally translating lock bolt and the second translating lock bolt is a vertical translating lock bolt and wherein the elliptical gear mechanism includes a first gear and a second gear, and the first gear is coupled to the input mechanism and the second gear is coupled to the horizontally translating lock bolt.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the second gear is configured to translate the horizontally translating lock bolt and effect actuation of the linkage to translate the vertical translating lock bolt in response to rotation of the first gear by a user applying force to the input mechanism.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the second gear is coupled to the horizontally translating lock bolt by an attachment mechanism.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the linkage is configured to collapse in response to actuation of the input mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position and expand in response to actuation of the input mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first translating lock bolt is a horizontally translating lock bolt and the second translating lock bolt is a vertical translating lock bolt.

16. A method of operating a multipoint lock, the method comprising:

rotating an input mechanism between an unlocked and a locked position;

transferring rotation of the input mechanism to a gear mechanism;

actuating a linkage in response to rotating the gear mechanism to collapse and expand the linkage in a scissor-like manner; and

translating a horizontally translating lock bolt and at least one vertical translating lock bolt by actuating the linkage.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the gear mechanism is an elliptical gear mechanism and is configured to increase force input by the user to the input mechanism progressively when transitioning from the unlocked position to the locked position.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the linkage is configured to collapse in response to actuation of the input mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position and expand in response to actuation of the input mechanism from the unlocked position to the locked position.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the gear mechanism includes a first gear and a second gear, and the first gear is coupled to the input mechanism and the second gear is coupled to the linkage.