US3242707A

US3242707A - Lock handle assembly

Info

Publication number: US3242707A
Application number: US438163A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul E Kenaga
Original assignee: WESTERN OVERHEAD DOOR CO
Current assignee: WESTERN OVERHEAD DOOR CO
Priority date: 1965-02-12
Filing date: 1965-02-12
Publication date: 1966-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-29

Description

March 29, 1966 P. E. KENAGA LOCK HANDLE ASSEMBLY Original Filed July 25, 1962 Paul E. K enaga INVEN TOR.

ATTYS United States Patent 3,242,707 LOCK HANDLE ASSEMBLY Paul E. Kenaga, Portland, Oreg., assignor to The Western Overhead Door Co., Portland, Greg., a corporation of Oregon Continuation of application Ser. No. 211,769, July 23, 1962. This application Feb. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 438,163 8 Claims. (Cl. 70-141) This application is a continuation of an application entitled Lock Handle Assembly having Serial No. 211,- 769, filed on July 23, 1962, now abandoned.

This invention relates to lock mechanisms, more particularly lock mechanisms of the type that may be used in locking and releasing a door. The lock mechanism of the invention is characterized by a number of features that make it reliable, and easy to manipulate on either side of a door, when the same is installed.

The lock mechanism is described herein as being installed on a garage door, such representing a typical application for the lock mechanism. Such has been done in order to facilitate a clear understanding of the invention, however, it should be understood that the mechanism is useful in other applications, where similar operating conditions are encountered.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved lock mechanism, which is relatively simple in construction and operation, yet provides for the making of several important adjustments therein, contributing to the usefulness of the lock mechanism.

More specifically, an object is to provide lock mechanism that includes a lock rod or bar (for latching and unlatching a door), and improved means for actuating said lock rod or bar, whereby the same may be shifted between positions latching and unlatching a door.

A related object is to provide lock mechanism of the above description, that includes novel mechanism operating in conjunction with a lock rod or bar that is adjustable between positions where the lock rod is either locked in place or released for movement. Preferably such mechanism is actuated by means accessible on either side of a door.

Another object of the invention is to provide such lock mechanism, including a lock rod, that enables latching and unlatching of a door through the lock rod, from either side of the door, and means whereby such latching may be done without locking of the lock rod in a position where a door is latched.

Yet another object is to provide lock mechanism, including a lock rod, that further includes biasing means or mechanism operable yieldably to hold the lock rod in both its latching and unlatched positions. On shifting of the lock rod, such biasing means operates to throw the rod firmly into its final adjusted position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide lock mechanism that is adapted to be mounted on numerous types of doors, and may be used without modification on either the rightor left-hand side of a door.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the invention and the same is described hereinbelow in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates lock mechanism according to an embodiment of the invention, with such mounted on the inside of a right-hand door;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view, on a somewhat larger scale, illustrating the lock mechanism, and various parts used in mounting it on a door;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the lock mechanism with a section of its housing removed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a 3,242,707 Patented Mar. 29, 1956 different position for the parts within the lock mechanism; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a latch member present in the construction.

Referring first of all to FIG. 1, the lock mechanism is shown as it might be mounted on the inside of a right-hand door. The lock mechanism is indicated generally at 10, and is mounted adjacent the right-hand edge of a door, indicated at 12.

A conventional garage door is an overhead type of door, that is opened by shifting the same upwardly with the door traveling on tracks. A portion of one of such tracks is indicated at 14. Lock mechanism 10 includes a lock rod or bar 18 slidably mounted for longitudinal movement within the base of a housing 16. With rod 18 shifted to a position extended from the housing, i.e., the position shown in FIG. 1 for the rod, the right end 18a of the rod engages part of track 14, thus to latch the door in a closed position.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, housing 16 of the lock mechanism comprises sections 16a, 16b detachably secured together by means of screw 20. These two housing sections, between opposed faces of the housing over the front and back thereof, define a cavity within the housing receiving operating parts of the lock mechanism. In FIGS. 3 and 4, section 16b of the housing has been removed, and the operating parts within the hous ing are shown as they appear mounted on remaining section 16a.

While the housing has been described as having a front and back, it should be understood that the lock mechanism can be mounted with either of its faces against a door. With a right-hand door, section 1611 and the face it includes is against a door (as shown). In using the mechanism with a left-hand door, the housing is turned over, by turning it on its side, to place housing section 16a and the face it includes against the door.

Lock rod or bar 18 has ends 18a, 18b protruding out from either side of the housing. The bar projects out through slots 22 provided in the sides of the housing. One end of the bar (end 18b in the figures) extends away from the door jamb and is provided with a knob, handle, or actuator 24, which is used on the inside of the door to shift the bar longitudinally between latching and unlatched positions. End 18a of the bar is the locking end of the bar. The knob is detachable, enabling the knob to be connected to the opposite side of rod end 18b, when the mechanism is turned over and used with a left-hand door.

The lock rod may also be shifted longitudinally between its latching and unlatched positions by means accessible from outside the door. Describing now this means, and referring to FIG. 2, a turn handle with a depending or free end portion 30a (the gripping portion) is shown at 30, journaled within a mounting 31. The mounting is mounted by means of screws 32 on the outside of the door. Handle 30 is connected to a handle shaft 34, having a square cross section, and on turning of the handle the shaft is turned about its longitudinal axis. The shaft extends into the housing through an opening similar to opening 36 shown for housing sec tion 16a (with a left-hand door, the shaft extends into the housing through opening 36).

Within the housing (and now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4) and pivotally mounted on sections 16a, 16b above bar 18 is a pivoted member 38. The member pivots about an axis extending transversely of 'bar 18 and substantially perpendicular to the faces at the front and back of the housing. Member 38 includes a hubportion 40, with a passage 42 of square cross section extending therethrough. Shaft 34 fits snugly within passage 42 and thus on turning of handle 24 pivoted member 38 pivots about its pivot axis.

Operatively interposed between pivoted member 38 and bar 18 is a pin 46 and a compression spring 48. The function of spring 48 is to exert a proper bias on the lock rod. Pin 46 connects member 38 and the lock rod so that on pivotal movement of member 38 longitudinal shifting of the rod results.

More specifically, pin 46 has a mounting portion 50 at its lower end pivotally connected to the lock rod by screw 52. The upper end of the pin is slidably received within a bore 54 provided in member 38. This bore accommodates movement of the pin into and out of member 38, such as occurs when member 38 is swung from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4. The pin and its mounting thus comprises extensible means connecting pivoted member 38 and the lock rod. The pin is stiff, and when the pivoted member is moved, the lower end of the pin shifts laterally to produce longitudinal shifting of the lock rod.

Compression spring 48 exerts a force in a direction extending downwardly and to the left in FIG. 3, and is operable yieldably to hold the lock rod in the position shown in FIG. 3. In shifting the lock rod between the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper and lower ends of pin 46 and spring 48 shift past a position of alignment in a direction extending perpendicularly of the longitudinal axis of the lock rod. With the lock rod in the position of FIG. 4, spring 48 exerts a force extending downwardly and to the right in the figure. Thus the spring biases the rod in opposite directions in the two positions of the lock rod, with the change in direction resulting from the swinging of the spring ends past the position of alignment mentioned. The spring, in addition to holding yieldably the rod in a particular position, also functions during adjustment in the position of the rod to throw the bar firmly into its new position.

Bores 60, 61 are provided in the lock rod, to accorn modate a change in the location of the connection between mounting 50 and the rod. Thus, if it is desired to have the leftend of the rod (the rods locking end) protrude farther from the housing than is shown in FIG. 3, the mounting and bar may be interconnected with screw 52 passing through bore 60, or bore 61. The adjustment is advantageous in adapting the lock mechanism for different installations as, for instance, different widths of mounting surfaces. Ordinarily the mechanism is mounted as far as conveniently possible inwardly from the door jamb in order that handle 30 on the outside of the door he kept as far as possible from the edge of the door.

Mechanism is provided for locking pivoted member 38, when the lock rod it is connected to is in its extended or latching position (as shown in FIG. 3). With member 38 locked, the lock rod is locked from movement.

More specifically, slidably mounted in the housing, for movement up and down above member 38, is a latch member (night latch) 66. The lower end 66a of the latch member fits within a step 70 provided in the top of pivoted member 38. An upper end 66b protrudes above the top of the housing. Upper end 66b may be raised manually, to produce lifting of lower end 66a out of step 70, and release of the lock rod.

Means is provided for locking the latch member, or night latch, in its fully raised position, i.e., the position of FIG. 4 (one of two release positions of the latch The slot moves into knuckles.

lease positions from outside the door, using a key. Thus, referring to FIG. 2, at 84 there is indicated a conventional key-actuated cylinder lock, including a rotatable plug or element 86 that may be turned with the appropriate key. Projecting from and joined to the plug is a blade 88. Blade 88 projects through the door and into the housing through an opening similar to opening 90 in section 16b (with a left-hand door, the blade projects through opening 90).

Iournaled within the housing between the sides of latch member 66 is a rotatable lifter element 92. This has crossed slots 84 extending axially therethrough, one of which receives the end of blade 88. As can be seen best in FIG. 5, the latch member 66 has an opening 96 therein accommodating the insertion of blade 88 therethrough and into the crossed slots of the lifter element.

Lifter element 92 includes an arm 98 extending to one side thereof which abuts a projection 100 integral with the latch member. On turning of blade 88 and rotation of the lifter element, arm 88 operates to force the latch member upwardly, to the'position shown in dashed outline in FIG. 3, which is the other release mentioned for the member. Arm 102 of lifter element 92 limits rotation of the lifter element, whereby the lifter element is prevented from fully raising the latch member to its first-mentioned release position, or far enough to allow detent 76 to fall into slot 78.

A return spring for returning the latch member to its lowered, locking position is indicated at 104. The spring is interposed between the top of the housing and the top of arm 100.

Explaining now the operation of the device, FIG. 4 illustrates how the lock mechanism may be used for the unlatching and latching of a door, without the lock rod becoming locked in place. To use the mechanism in this manner, latch member 66 may be raised manually, on the inside of the door, enough to enable catch 74 to lock the latch member in its fully elevated position. .When this is done, the pivoted member is free to pivot back and forth, between the position shown indashed outline (which is the position the member has when the bar is in its latching position) and the position shown in solid outline (which is the position the member has when bar 18 is in its unlatched position). The lock rod or bar may be shifted on the outside of the door using handle 30, and on the inside of the door using knob 24.

It should be noted that when the lock'rod or bar is shifted from its latching to its unlatched position, member 38 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4, which would be in a clockwise direction in FIG. 2 if the member were visible. 'Thus, to unlatch the door, handle 30 in FIG. 2 is swung from the position shown in a clockwise direction, or in a direction where its depending portion 301: moves away from the edge of the door. This is important, as it protects against bruised With the lock mechanism turned over and used on a left-hand door, to unlatch handle 30 is turned in the opposite direction, which with a left-hand door is also away from the edge of the door.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it is desired to enable unlatching of the door on the outside only when using a key, then catch 74 is shifted manually away from the latch member, to release the latch member, with the latter traveling downwardly against the top of the pivoted member. With the lock rod in its extended or latching position, as shown in FIG. 3, pivoted member 38 becomes locked in place. In this condition of the parts, the lock rod is immovable, and cannot be shifted either by knob 24 or handle 30. Unlatching of the door, however, can be done on the inside, by raising the night latch sufficiently so that it clears the bottom of the pivoted member. Unlatching may be done on the outside, by using a key and rotating the lifter so as to release the night latch.

It should be noted that the organization accommodates several kinds of adjustment contributing to theutility of the mechanism. The mechanism is well suited, for instance, for a service station operator who might wish to latch a door closed but who wants to be free to open the door from the outside without the use of a key. Locked protection is available by releasing the night latch, with the door then still being openable from both sides, but only with a key on the outside or by lifting of the night latch manually on the inside.

The mechanism is readily used on either rightor lefthand doors, by turning the appropriate side of the mechanism under. With either type of door the mechanism is used with, shifting of lock rod 18 to an unlatched position using handle 30 is done by turning the handle away from the door jamb. The mechanism is readily adjusted to fit different types of doors, where different degrees of extension in the lock rod is desired. The mechanism is relatively free of complex parts, and trouble free in operation.

While an embodiment of the invention has been described, it is appreciated that various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the invention. It is desired to cover all such modifications and variations, that might be apparent to one skilled in the art, and that come within the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, a lock rod mounted on said housing with ends protruding to either side thereof, said lock rod being movable between latching and unlatched positions, biasing mechanism.

operatively connected to said lock rod operable yieldably to hold said rod in its latching position with the rod shifted to the position, and operable yieldably to hold said rod in its unlatched position with the rod shifted to this position, a turn handle mounted on said housing operatively connected to said rod for shifting said rod between its two said positions, and means connected to one of said protruding ends for shifting said lock rod manually between its two said positions.

2. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, a pivoted member pivotally mounted on said housing, an elongated lock rod mounted on said housing to one side of said pivoted member for movement between latching and unlatched positions, means connecting said pivoted member and lock rod operable to slide the lock rod from one to the other of its positions on pivotal movement of said pivoted member, a turn handle connected to said pivoted member and mounted on the outside of said housing for pivoting the pivoted member, and an elongated spring operatively interposed between said pivoted member and lock rod exerting a bias operable yieldably to hold the lock rod in either of its two said positions, said spring shifting in position relative to said rod on movement of said rod between its two said positions whereby it changes the direction it biases said rod on the rod shifting from one to the other of its positions.

3. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, a pivoted member pivotally mounted within said housing, an elongated lock rod slidably mounted in said housing to one side of said pivoted member for movement in a longi- .tudinal direction between latching and unlatched positions, extensible means connecting said pivoted member and lock rod operable to slide the lock rod from one to the other of its positions on pivotal movement of said pivoted member, a turn handle connected to said pivoted member and mounted on the outside of said housing for pivoting the pivoted member, and an elongated compression spring encircling said extensible means and operatively interposed between said pivoted member and lock rod exerting a bias operable yieldably to hold the lock rod in either of its two said positions, said spring having ends that shift past a position of alignment in a direction extending perpendicularly to .the longitudinal axis of said rod on movement of said rod between its two said positions whereby it changes the direction it biases said rod on the rod shifting from one to the other of its positions.

4. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, an elongated lock rod mounted in said housing for movement between latching and unlatched positions, a movable latch member with an inner end inside the housing for locking said lock rod in its latching position, said latch member having an outer end protruding out from and exposed on the outside of said housing, said latch member having first and second release positions, a key-actuated cylinder lock connected to said latch member and operable when actuated to shift the latch member to its first release position only, said latch member being shiftable .to its second release position by manipulation of its said protruding end, and catch means for locking said latch member in its said second release position.

5. Lock mechanism comprising a housing, an elongated lock rod mounted in said housing for movement between latching and unlatched positions, a movable latch having an inner end within the housing for locking said lock rod in its latching position, biasing means operatively connected to said latch urging said latch to a locking position where its said inner end locks said lock rod in its latching position, said latch having an outer end outside the housing which may be manipulated manually .to move said latch against the urging of said biasing means to a retracted position, a key-actuated cylinder lock connected to said latch and operable when actuated to shift the latch to a release position intermediate said locking and retracted positions, said lock rod being released by said latch with the latch in both its release and retracted positions, catch means for locking said latch in its retracted position only, and biasing means for urging said catch to a position locking said latch.

6. Lock mechanism for leftor right-hand door closures, comprising a housing with opposite faces, each of which is adapted to be mounted against the side of a door; a shiftable lock rod extending through the housing, substantially paralleling its faces, having a locking end protruding from one side of the housing and an actuating end protruding from the opposite side of the housing; said lock rod having a latching position where its locking end is extended from said one side of the housing, and an unlatched position where its said actuating end is extended from the opposite side of the housing; an actuator on the protruding actuating end of the lock bar that, with either face of the housing against a door, presents a gripping agency to manipulate the lock rod for a user positioned in front of the housing face which is opposite to the one position against the door; a movable member within the housing for shifting the lock rod from its unlatched to its latching position; a handle assembly including a handle shaft; and means in both faces of the housing accommodating the making of an operable connection of said handle shaft with said movable member, with said handle shaft projecting out from either face of the housing.

7. Lock mechanism for rightor left-hand door closures, comprising a housing with opposite faces, each of which is adapted to be mounted against the side of a door; a shiftable lock rod extending through the housing, substantially paralleling its faces, having a locking end protruding from one side of the housing and an actuating end protruding from the opposite side of the housing; said lock rod having a latching position where its said locking end is extended from said one side of the housing, and an unlatched position wherein its said actuating end is extended from the opposite side of the housing; a movable member within the housing for shifting the lock rod from its unlatched to its latching position, a handle assembly including a handle shaft; means in both faces of said housing where-by, with either face of the housing against a door, an operable connection of said handle shaft with said member may be effected with said handle shaft projecting through the door and that face of the housing which is against the door; and an actuator to facilitate manual shifting of the lock rod on the protruding actuating end of said lock rod adapted to be mounted on either side of the lock rod at said protruding actuating end and in operative position projecting out from the side of 'the lock rod which faces away from that face of the housing which is positioned against a door.

8. Lock mechanism for rightor left-hand door closures, comprising a housing with opposite faces, each of which is adapted to be mounted against the side of a door; a shiftable lock rod extending through the housing, substantially paralleling its faces, having a locking end protruding from one side of the housing and an actuating end protruding from the opposite side of the housing; said lock rod having a latching position where its said locking end is extended from said one side of the housing, and an unlatched position wherein its said actuating end is extended from the opposite side of the housing; biasing means for yieldably holding the lock rod in its unlatched position; a movable member within the housing for shifting the lock rod from its unlatched to its latching position; a handle assembly including a handle shaft; means in both faces of said housing whereby, with either face of the housing against a door, an

operable connection of said handle shaft with said member may be effected with said handle shaft projecting through the door and that face of the housing which is against the door; an actuator to facilitate manual shifting of the lock rod on the protruding actuatingend of said lock rod adapted to be mounted on either side of the lock rod and in operative position projecting out from the side of the lock rod which faces away from that face of the housing which is positioned against a door; and latch means for holding the lock rod in its latching position when shifted into such latter position by either said actuator or said handle assembly.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 3/1922 Great Britain. 6/1951 Italy.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner.

Claims

1. LOCK MECHANISM COMPRISING A HOUSING, A LOCK ROD MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING WITH ENDS PROTRUDING TO EITHER SIDE THEREOF, SAID LOCK ROD BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN LATCHING AND UNLATCHED POSITIONS, BIASING MECHANISM OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID LOCK ROD OPERABLE YIELDABLY TO HOLD SAID ROD IN ITS LATCHING POSITION WITH THE ROD SHIFTED TO THE POSITION, AND OPERABLE YIELDABLY TO HOLD SAID ROD IN ITS UNLATCHED POSITION WITH THE ROD SHIFTED TO THIS POSITION, A TURN HANDLE MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ROD FOR SHIFTING SAID ROD BETWEEN ITS TWO SAID POSITIONS, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO ONE OF SAID PROTRUDING ENDS FOR SHIFTING SAID LOCK ROD MANUALLY BETWEEN ITS TWO SAID POSITIONS.