GB2097054A

GB2097054A - Spring latch for doors

Info

Publication number: GB2097054A
Application number: GB8201965A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Haefele KG
Current assignee: Haefele KG
Priority date: 1981-02-28
Filing date: 1982-01-25
Publication date: 1982-10-27
Also published as: DE3107662C1; IT8219567A0; FR2500879B1; IT1149599B; FR2500879A1; GB2097054B

Abstract

A spring latch for doors comprises a mortise shell (13) and a lock housing (32) insertable from opposite sides into an aperture (11) formed in a door (10), the shell (13) and the housing (32) having, on opposed faces, mounting sleeves (20, 33) and centering projections offset from the mounting sleeves (20, 33). A pressure or thrust pin (27) is axially displaceably received in a guide member (15) of the shell (13), and has a projection (28) abutting against a projecting portion (26) of an actuating rocker member (21). Lifting the free end of rocker member (21) causes the depression of pin (27) and the rotation of latch bolt (38) against spring (43) to a position where it releases keeper arm (29) and allows the door (10) to be opened. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spring catch for doors The present invention relates to a spring catch for doors, particularly cupboard doors, A known spring catch comprises a mortise shell which is insertable from one side into an opening formed in a cupboard door and which has an actuating rocker member rotatably mounted therein. When the rocker member is raised, a pressure pin is displaced towards the rear of the opening. The actuating rocker member causes a spring-locking biassed bar, forming part of a snap lock disposed on the opposite side of the cupboard door to the shelf to move from a closed position in which it engages behind a locking bracket fixedly mounted on the cupboard, into an open position in which the locking bracket is released.

In such a known spring catch, the opening formed in the cupboard door is rectangular in shape, and the snap lock, which is designed as a separate component, is mounted either directly or by means of a cover plate on the rear face of the cupboard door. The pressure pin forms part of the snap-lock and is non-detachably retained in the snap lock. Such pin protrudes into the opening formed in the cupboard door so that it terminates beneath one arm of the actuating rocker member.

Such a spring catch is only suitable for use with a cupboard door having a predetermined thickness. In addition, a great deal of work is necessary to produce the rectangular opening in the cupboard door because the opening has to be milled. Separate mounting means are also required for both the mortise shell and the snap lock, and there is no guarantee that the mortise shell and the snap lock will be correctly in alignment with one another when they have been mounted on the cupboard door.

The invention seeks to provide a spring catch of the above-mentioned type which can be mounted with little work and with few mounting means even on cupboard doors of different thicknesses.

According to the present invention, there is provided a spring catch arrangement for doors or the like comprising mortise shells insertable into one end of an aperture formed in the door, an actuating rocker member rotatably mounted in the mortise shell, the rocker member acting on a pressure or thrust pin and being capable of displacing the pin towards the other end of the aperture, a snap lock comprising a housing and a spring loaded locking bar, the lock being insertable into the other end of the aperture, the actuating rocker member being capable, in use, of displacing the locking bar from a closed position in which it is engaged behind a locking bracket fixedly mountable on the piece of furniture on which the door is to be mounted into an open position in which the bar is released from the locking bracket, wherein the mortise shell and the lock housing accommodating the locking bar, are each provided with projecting mounting sleeves on their opposed faces, the shell and housing having centering projections aligned with one another but located externally of the mounting projections the mortise shell including a guide member which accommodates a pressure or thrust pin in an axially displaceable manner, the pressure or thrust pin being provided with an engagement projection which abuts against an actuating projection provided on the actuating rocker member and which is supported on a locking bar in the form of a rocker pivotably mounted in the lock housing, the rocker being biassed by a return spring into the closed position against the pressure or thrust pin the rocker in its closed position, protruding from the lock housing and having a locking cam which engages behind the locking bracket such that, in use, when the actuating rocker member is raised, the pressure or thrust pin pivots the rocker to cause the locking cam to pivot into the lock housing and to release the locking bracket.

For the mounting of the spring catch according to the invention, only a large through-bore and, spaced-apart therefrom, a small centering bore, need to be formed in the cupboard door to permit the mortise shell and the lock housing, together with the snap lock to be brought into the correct alignment with one another. The spring catch can be easily adapted to cupboard doors of different thicknesses simply by using pressure pins of different lengths. These pressure pins are simple, inexpensive parts, so that a set of pressure pins of different lengths could be provided with every spring catch and the correctly dimensioned pressure or thrust, pin can be selected.

Preferably, the pressure or thrust pin is a separate component and can be securely and non-tiltably guided in the mortise shell if the guide member for the pressure or thrust pin is a sleeve having a longitudinal slot formed therein, the pin having a circular cross-section and being axially displaceably, but non-rotatably, guided in the sleeve, the engagement projection portion of the pin being axially displaceably, but non-rotatably, guided in the longitudinal slot.

To permit the mortise shell and the lock housing to be fixed to the cupboard door utilising the same mounting means, one advantageous embodiment of the present invention makes provision for screw-threaded sleeves to be provided within the projecting mounting sleeves in both the mortise shell and the lock housing, the threaded sleeves being aligned with one another to permit the connection of the mortise shell to the lock housing.

For a positive connection between the actuating rocker member, the pressure or thrust pin and the rocker, and to apply the necessary locking force on the locking cam of the rocker required to achieve the closed position of the catch, it is desirable if one arm of the rocker abuts against the pressure or thrust pin, the return spring therefor being a coil spring, being located spaced apart from the pivotal axle of the rocker on a bearing journal, one end of the spring being supported on the arm of the rocker abutting the pressure pin and the other end thereof being supported on the base of the lock housing the return spring tending to press the pressure or thrust pin towards the actuating rocker member.

In order to limit specifically the pivotal movement of the rocker together with the locking cam, both in their closed position and in their open position, it is preferred if the rocker is provided with a limiting projection which determines the end position of the rocker in the closed position of the catch, the limiting projection abutting against a shoulder formed on the lock housing.

Moreover, in such a case, it is advantageous if the end position of the rocker in the open position of the catch is determined by the abutment of the arm of the rocker lever which supports the pressure or thrust pin against the base of the lock housing.

So that a large enough pivotal region can be provided for the rocker and the locking cam, whilst maintaining a low overall height for the lock housing, it is preferred if the rocker is provided with a bearing bush for the pivotal axle, the pivotal axle being disposed substantially adjacent from the base of the lock housing.

To achieve a substantially clearance-free arrangement of the locking bracket and the locking cam of the rocker in the closed position of the catch, allowing for mounting tolerances, it is further advantageous if the locking cam portion of the rocker which engages, in use, behind the locking bracket in the closed position of the catch is a convexly curved control surface, the corresponding region of the locking bracket which engages behind and faces the locking cam, is a concave control surface, the curvatures of the two control surfaces being so selected that the distance therebetween, in the closed position, of the catch, increases in proportion to the increasing distance from the lock housing.

Subject to tension, the locking cam always fully draws the cupboard door towards the piece of furniture over the displacing line of abutment of its control surface against the control surface of the locking bracket. In such a case, care should just be taken to ensure that, even under the most unfavourable conditions, the line of abutment does not leave the control surface of the locking cam in the closed position. Because the distance between the control surfaces of the locking cam and the locking bracket varies, it is, however, possible at any time to pivot the rocker in the lock housing, by raising the actuating rocker and displacing the pressure or thrust pin. This causes the locking cam to be pivoted into the lock housing from the locking region in which it engages, with the locking bracket so as to allow the cupboard door to be opened.In such a case, therefore, it is advantageous for the control surfaces of the locking bracket and the locking cam to have substantially the same radius of curvature.

So that the projecting mounting sleeves of the mortise shell and the lock housing do not impair the displacement of the pressure or thrust pin and the pivotal movement of the rocker, a preferred embodiment provides that the projecting mounting sleeves of both the mortise shell and the lock housing are recessed in the displacement region of the engagement projection portion of the pressure or thrust pin and in the pivotal region of the rocker.

Moreover, it is desirable if the control surface of the locking cam includes a deflection inclination which lies at an acute angle relative to the remainder control surface.

This latter feature is desirable because during closure of the cupboard door and upon passing the locking bracket, the rocker must first be pivoted into the lock housing before it can engage behind the locking bracket. During closure of the cupboard door, therefore, it is merely necessary to apply pressure to the cupboard door.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a spring catch according to the present invention, the catch being shown inserted into a through-bore formed in a cupboard door and being in its closed position, Fig. 2 is a plan view of an actuating rocker member forming part of the catch shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the actuating rocker member shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a further elevational view of the actuating rocker member shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a locking bracket forming part of the catch shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a plan view of the locking bracket shown in Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a sectional view through a mortise shell forming part of the catch shown in Fig. 1 , the view being taken perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the actuating rocker member, Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the mortise shell shown in Fig. 7 but taken parallel to and slightly offset from the pivotal axis of the actuating rocker member, Fig. 9 is a sectional view through a lock housing forming part of the catch shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the rocker member, Fig. 10 is a plan view of a pressure pin forming part of the catch shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the pressure pin of Fig. 10.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a door 10 which is hinged mounted on the piece of furniture 12 such as a cupboard by means of known hinges. The cupboard door 10 has a through-bore 11 formed in one edge region thereof. A mortise shell 13 is inserted from one side into the through-bore 11, so that a sleeve-like mounting projection portion 20 of the shell is located and fixed in the bore.

From the other side of the cupboard door 10, a sleeve-like mounting projection portion 33 of a lock housing 32 of the snap lock is introduced.

into the through-bore 11 and is fixed therein. In such a case, bent-over edge portions 1 4 and 34 of the mortise shell 13 and of the lock housing 32 respectively cover the through-bore 11 on each side of the cupboard door 10. An actuating rocker member 21 is rotatably mounted in the mortise shell 13. The shell 13 is provided two opposed bearing bores 1 7 for receiving bearing pins, such bores being formed in the edge 14 of the shell, as can be seen in Figs. 7 and 8. On the underside, the actuating rocker member 21 has two bearing holders 22 and 24 having bearing bores 23 and 25 respectively formed therein for receiving the bearing pins. The bores 23 and 25 can be seen in Figs. 2 to 4.On its wide portion which, in use, faces the mortise shell 13, the actuating rocker member 21 carries an actuating projection portion 26 which engages beneath an edge 24 of the mortise shell 1 3 and thus determines the basic position of the actuating rocker member 21.

Externally of the sleeve-like mounting projection portion 20, the mortise shell 13 is provided with a centering projection 1 8 which is introduced into a further throughbore formed in the cupboard door 10.

This second throughbore has a smaller crosssection than the bore 11. The lock housing 32 also has a similar centering projection which is aligned with the centering projection 1 8 of the mortise shell 1 3 and which is insertable in the same throughbore. In this manner, the mortise shell 13 and the lock housing 32 can always be inserted into the throughbore 11 formed in the cupboard door 10 so as to be aligned correctly with one another. In such a case, the lock housing 32 and the mortise shell 1 3 may additionally have, within the sleeve-like mounting projections 20 and 33, threaded sleeve 19 and 35 which are also aligned with one another so that they may be interconnected by means of mounting screws and may be fixed in the throughbore 11.

The mortise shell 13 has a guide member 1 5 which is in the form of a sleeve member having a longitudinal slot 1 6 formed therein. The member 1 5 is disposed beneath the rotatably mounted actuating rocker member 21 and accommodates a pressure pin 27 such as is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. This pressure pin 27 has a circular crosssection and includes a.protruding engagement projection portion 28 on its upper end facing the actuating rocker member 21. This engagement projection portion 28 has an inclined upper face which abuts against the inclined lower face of the actuating projection portion 26 of the actuating rocker 21. The lower end of the pressure pin 27 is supported on an arm 39 of a rocker 38 which is pivotably mounted in the lock housing 32.The length of the pressure pin 27 is selected in dependence upon the thickness of the cupboard door 10, so that a spring catch according to the present invention may be modified for incorporation in cupboard doors 10 of different thicknesses merely by providing a set of pressure pins 27 of different lengths.

The sleeve-like mounting projection portion 20 of the mortise shell 13 and the guide member 15, with the longitudinal slot 1 6 formed therein, are each recessed in such a manner that the pressure pin 27, together with the engagement projection portion 28, is displaced towards the rocker 38 when the free end of the actuating rocker member 21 is raised. In such a case, the pressure pin 27 is specifically guided in an axially displaceable manner, but cannot rotate within the guide member 1 5. A sleeve-like actuating projection portion 33 and the edge of the lock housing 32 are also both recessed in the region of the rocker 38 so that the pivotal movement of the rocker 32 is not impaired. The rocker 38 has bearing bush 40 for a pivotal axle 36 which is fixed in bearing bores formed in the lock housing 32.In such a case, the pivotal axle 36 is disposed as short a distance as possible from the base of the lock -housing 32 so as to achieve a large enough pivotal region for the rocker 38 with a low overall height at the same time for the lock housing 32.

Externally of the pivotal axle 36, the rocker 38 carries a bearing journal 42 onto which a return spring 43, such as a coil spring, is slipped. One end 44 of the return spring 43 is supported against the underneath side of the arm 39 of the rocker 38, which arm 39, as previously stated supports the pressure pin 27. The other end shank 45 of the spring 43 is supported on the interior of the base of the lock housing 32, so that the rocker 38, as seen in Fig. 1, is pressed against the lower end of the pressure pin 27 in an anti-clockwise direction. The engagement projection portion 28 of the pressure pin 27 presses the actuating projection portion 26 of the actuating rocker member 21 against the edge 14 of the mortise shell 13, so that the actuating rocker 21 maintains its basic position shown in Fig. 1.In addition, the pivotal movement of the rocker 38 is limited by a limiting projection 41. This projection 41 abuts against a shoulder 37 formed on thebase of the lock housing 32, ln the closed position shown in Fig. 1, a locking cam portion 46 of the rocker 38 protrudes from the lock housing 32 and engages behind the locking bracket 29. The bracket 29 mounted on the piece of furniture 12 by means of a mounting plate 49 having mounting openings 31 formed therein. The bracket includes a straight surface portion which is mounted so that it terminates substantially flush with the front of the piece of furniture 1 2 and extends substantially to the lock housing 32. The locking cam 46 has a convex control surface 47 which engages behind a concave control surface 30 of the locking cam or bracket 29. In such case, the line of abutment between the locking cam 46 and the locking bracket 29 still lies in the region of the convex control surface 47 of the locking cam 46 even under most unfavourable conditions.

Both control surfaces 30 and 47 have the same radius of curvature, but are disposed in such a manner that, in the closed position, the distance between the control surfaces 30 and 47 becomes greater with their distance from the lock housing 32, increasing. Thus, it is possible for the rocker 38 to pivot in a clockwise direction from the closed position into the lock housing 32. For this purpose, the free end of the actuating rocker 21 is raised and the pressure pin 27 is-displaced towards the rocker 38. The return spring 43 is tensioned during the pivotal movement of the rocker 38. If the locking cam 46 of the rocker 38 is pivoted into the lock housing 32, the cupboard door 10 may be opened since the lock housing 32 can be moved past the locking bracket 29. If the cupboard door 10 is opened, the return spring 43 moves the rocker 38 back into the closed position once the actuating rocker 21 has been released.

In such a case, the limiting projection 41 abuts against the shoulder 37 of the lock housing 32.

If the cupboard door 10 is then closed, the rocker 38 is deflected solely by the pressure of the cupboard door 10 thereon so that the locking cam 46 passes the locking bracket 29. In order to make it easier for the rocker 38 to deflect and for the locking cam 46 to pivot into the lock housing 32, the side of the locking cam 46 which is remote from the cupboard door 10 has an inclination 48 which lies at an acute angle relative to the control surface 47 of the locking cam 46.

Claims

1. A spring catch arrangement for doors or the like comprising mortise shell insertable into one end of an aperture formed in the door, an actuating rocker member rotatably mounted in the mortise shell, the rocker memberacting on a pressure or thrust pin and being capable of displacing the pin towards the other end of the aperture, a snap lock comprising a housing and a spring loaded locking bar, the lock being insertable into the other end of the aperture, the actuating rocker member being capable, in use, of displacing the locking bar from a closed position in which it is engaged behind a locking bracket fixedly mountable on the piece of furniture on which the door is to be mounted into an open position in which the bar is released from the locking bracket, wherein the mortise shell and the lock housing accommodating the locking bar, are each provided with projecting mounting sleeves on their opposed faces, the shell and housing having centering projections aligned with one another but located externally of the mounting projections the mortise shell including a guide member which accommodates a pressure or thrust pin in an axially displaceable manner, the pressure or thrust pin being provided with an engagement projection which abuts against an actuating projection provided on the actuating rocker member and which is supported on a locking bar in the form of a rocker pivotably mounted in the lock housing, the rocker being biassed by a return spring into the closed position against the pressure or thrust pin the rocker in its closed position, protruding from the lock housing and having a locking cam which engages behind the locking bracket such that, in use, when the actuating rocker member is- raised, the pressure or thrust pin pivots the rocker to cause the locking cam to pivot into the lock housing and to release the locking bracket.

2. A spring catch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide member for the pressure or thrust pin is a sleeve having a longitudinal slot formed therein, the pin having a circular crosssection and being axially displaceably, but nonrotatably, guided in the sleeve, the engagement projection portion of the pin being axially displaceably, but non-rotatably, guided in the longitudinal slot.

3. A spring catch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein one arm of the rocker abuts against the pressure or thrust pin, thia return spring therefor being a coil spring, being located spaced apart from the pivotal axle of the rocker on a bearing journal, one end of the spring being supported on the arm of the rocker abutting the pressure pin and the other end thereof being supported on the base of the lock housing the return spring tending to press the pressure or thrust pin towards the actuating rocker member.

4. A spring catch as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 3, wherein the rocker is provided with a limiting projection which determines the end position of the rocker in the closed position of the catch, the limiting projection abutting against a shoulder formed on the lock housing.

5. A spring catch as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the end position of the rocker in the open position of the catch is determined by the abutment of the arm of the rocker lever which support the pressure or thrust pin against the base of the lock housing.

6. A spring catch as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rocker is provided with a bearing bush for the pivotal axle, the pivotal axle being disposed substantially adjacent from the base of the lock housing.

7. A spring catch as claimed in any one of claims 1 to-6, wherein the locking cam portion of the rocker which engages, in use, behind the locking bracket in the closed position of the catch is a convexly curved control surface, the corresponding region of the locking bracket, which engages behind and faces the locking cam, is a concave control surface, the-curvatures of the two control surfaces being so selected that the distance therebetween, in the closed position of the catch, increases in proportion to the increasing distance from the lock housing.

8. A spring catch as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control surfaces have the same radius of curvature.

9. A spring catch as claimed in any preceding claim wherein screw-threaded sleeves are provided within the projecting mounting sleeves in both the mortise shell and the lock housing, the threaded sleeves being aligned with one another to permit the connection of the mortise shell to the lock housing.

1 0. A spring catch as claimed in any proceding claim wherein the projecting mounting sleeves of both the mortise shell and the lock housing are recessed in the displacement region of the engagement projection portion of the pressure or thrust pin and in the pivotal region of the rocker.

11. A spring catch as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the control surface of the locking cam includes a deflection inclination which lies at an acute angle relative to the remainder control surface.

1 2. A spring catch arrangement constructed and arranged to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.