What are Rim Locks ?

Degol : What are Rim Locks ?

Rim locks are surface mounted locks. As the name suggests, surface mounted rim locks are affixed to the surface of a door. Rim locks can be screwed to the surface of a door. I will discuss the installation of rim locks in more detail later. These locks are not suited for entry doors but you can easily find rim locks for interior doors. A majority of rim locks were originally made from cast iron. Replicas are often made from iron, brass, and nickel.

The term rim lock can often be misleading because it doesn’t give you any information about the locking mechanism. Rim locks refer to the installation method, which is a surface mounted installation. A rim lock commonly makes use of a sliding latch or a deadlock as its locking mechanisms.

The sliding latch is pressure operated and spring loaded. The latch is retracted when pressure is applied and extended when pressure is released. Most rim locks with sliding latches make use of handles and knobs. On the other hand, the deadlock bolt is used in conjunction with a key.

The key is what is used to engage and disengage the lock or retract and throw the bolt. Another unique feature of the rim lock is that the key can operate the lock from both ends of the keyway, as is shown here. Rim latches and rim sash locks are the main types of rim locks. A latch is used to secure rim latches, while the combination of a deadlocking bolt and a latch are used on rim sash locks.

If you assess a rim lock based on its appearance alone, you will come to the conclusion that rim locks are much different than any of the other locks you have come across. You will not be entirely wrong with this assessment. Most rim locks are warded locks. Warded locks make use of wards to prevent unauthorized access if the wrong key is used.

The key that is meant to fit your rim lock will be shaped appropriately, in such a way that it will easily pass the wards in use. As you can tell, the locking mechanism varies greatly from the more common pin tumbler lock that works by separating pins at the shear line.