GB2150631A

GB2150631A - Reversible latch bolt

Info

Publication number: GB2150631A
Application number: GB08429971A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael George Mander
Original assignee: WJ Goodwin and Son Ltd
Current assignee: WJ Goodwin and Son Ltd
Priority date: 1983-11-28
Filing date: 1984-11-28
Publication date: 1985-07-03
Also published as: GB2150631B; GB8429971D0; GB8331751D0

Abstract

A reversible latch bolt has a body (10) which supports a bolt head (15) for rotation by means of a spigot (13) of the body engaging an opening (16) of the bolt head. A spring plate (22) secured to the body has a protuberance which is engagable in a groove (19) of the bolt head to return the head against rotation relative to the body when the head is in either one of two rotational positions which are mutually displaced by 180 DEG . <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Reversible latch bolt This invention relates to a reversible latch bolt.

According to the present invention, a reversible latch bolt comprises a body which supports a bolt head for rotation relative thereto about an axis generally parallel to the intended direction of extension and retraction of the bolt, the bolt head having recess means formed in a surface thereof which faces the bolt body, and a spring plate secured to the body and having a protuberance which is engageable in said recess means to retain the bolt head against rotation relative to the body when the bolt head is in either one of two rotational positions which are mutually displaced by 180 .

Preferably, the recess means comprises a groove formation, typically in the form of a single groove extending diametrically with respect to said axis.

Conveniently, the body has a flanged fore end on which the bolt head is rotatably supported, the spring plate is secured to a surface of said fore end remote from that carrying the bolt head and has a flange which extends around one side of the flanged fore end, said protuberance being provided on said flange.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded side view, partly in section, of a reversible latch bolt according to the present invention: Figure 2 is an exploded plan view of the latch bolt shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a spring plate which forms part of the latch bolt.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrated latch bolt comprises a body 10 which in use in received within a casing of a lock mechanism (not shown). The body 10 is formed by bending a configurated metal plate, and has a flanged rear end 11 which is adapted to co-operate with items such as cams and springs of the lock mechanism in a conventional manner. The body 10 also has a flanged fore end 1 2 to which is riveted a pin 1 3 having an annular groove 14 in its external surface. The pin 1 3 serves to mount a bolt head 1 5 on the fore end 1 2 for rotation relative to the body 10 about an axis A parallel to the direction in which the bolt is extended and retracted in use.The head 1 5 has a cylindrical opening 1 6 in which the pin 1 3 is rotatably received, and a transverse bore 1 7 which opens into the opening 1 6 from a side surface of the head 1 5. When the head 1 5 is positioned over the pin 13, the bore 1 7 becomes aligned with the annular groove 1 4.

A pin 1 8 can then be driven through the bore 1 7 and into the groove 14, thereby to retain the head 1 5 against subsequent detachment from the pin 13 in the axial direction.

In a surface thereof which faces the body 10, the bolt head 1 5 has a groove 1 9 of Vshaped cross-section which extends diametrically with respect to the opening 1 6. This groove 1 9 co-operates with a spring plate 20 secured to the body 10 to form a detent mechanism, whereby the head 1 5 can be retained against rotation relative to the body 10 in either one of two positions which are 180 opposed. In one of these positions, a chamfered surface 21 on the head 15 faces in one direction, while in the other position the surface 21 faces in the opposite direction. It will thus be manifest that the detent mechanism allows the "hand" of the latch bolt to be reversed.

The spring plate 20 is shown in detail in Fig. 3, and comprises a base portion 22 having a hole 23 therein. The base portion 22 is secured against a surface of the fore end 1 2 remote from the bolt head 1 5 with the hole 23 in alignment with the pin 1 3. A flange 24 extends along one edge of the base portion 22 and, as depicted in Fig. 2, extends around one side of the fore end 1 2 so that it extends forwardly of the latter.A protuberance 25 is provided on the flange 24 and is positioned so that it engages in the groove 1 9 in the bolt head 1 5. In this embodiment, a reinforcing gusset 26 in the form of an angled plate is placed in position over the base portion 22 of the spring plate and held in place by the rivet of the pin 1 3 which extends through both the portion 22 and the gusset 26 for this purpose.

As indicated above, the latch bolt is intended to form part of a lock mechanism.

When this mechanism is mounted on a closure such as a door, the head 1 5 of the bolt extends through a rectangular aperture provided in a face plate (not shown) secured to the closure. In order to reverse the hand of the latch bolt while the lock mechanism is in situ on the closure, it is merely necessary to remove the face plate, turn the head 1 5 from one of its detent positions to the other, and then replace the face plate. Inadvertant disengagement of the detent mechanism will subsequently be prevented due to the fact that the bolt head 1 5 is unable to rotate within the aforesaid rectangular aperture.

1. A reversible latch bolt comprising a body which supports a bolt head for rotation relative thereto about an axis generally parallel to the intended direction of extension and retraction of the bolt, the bolt head having recess means formed in a surface thereof which faces the bolt body, and a spring plate secured to the body and having a protuberance which is engageable in said recess means to retain the bolt head against rotation

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Reversible latch bolt This invention relates to a reversible latch bolt. According to the present invention, a reversible latch bolt comprises a body which supports a bolt head for rotation relative thereto about an axis generally parallel to the intended direction of extension and retraction of the bolt, the bolt head having recess means formed in a surface thereof which faces the bolt body, and a spring plate secured to the body and having a protuberance which is engageable in said recess means to retain the bolt head against rotation relative to the body when the bolt head is in either one of two rotational positions which are mutually displaced by 180 . Preferably, the recess means comprises a groove formation, typically in the form of a single groove extending diametrically with respect to said axis. Conveniently, the body has a flanged fore end on which the bolt head is rotatably supported, the spring plate is secured to a surface of said fore end remote from that carrying the bolt head and has a flange which extends around one side of the flanged fore end, said protuberance being provided on said flange. The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded side view, partly in section, of a reversible latch bolt according to the present invention: Figure 2 is an exploded plan view of the latch bolt shown in Fig. 1; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of a spring plate which forms part of the latch bolt. Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrated latch bolt comprises a body 10 which in use in received within a casing of a lock mechanism (not shown). The body 10 is formed by bending a configurated metal plate, and has a flanged rear end 11 which is adapted to co-operate with items such as cams and springs of the lock mechanism in a conventional manner. The body 10 also has a flanged fore end 1 2 to which is riveted a pin 1 3 having an annular groove 14 in its external surface. The pin 1 3 serves to mount a bolt head 1 5 on the fore end 1 2 for rotation relative to the body 10 about an axis A parallel to the direction in which the bolt is extended and retracted in use.The head 1 5 has a cylindrical opening 1 6 in which the pin 1 3 is rotatably received, and a transverse bore 1 7 which opens into the opening 1 6 from a side surface of the head 1 5. When the head 1 5 is positioned over the pin 13, the bore 1 7 becomes aligned with the annular groove 1 4. A pin 1 8 can then be driven through the bore 1 7 and into the groove 14, thereby to retain the head 1 5 against subsequent detachment from the pin 13 in the axial direction. In a surface thereof which faces the body 10, the bolt head 1 5 has a groove 1 9 of Vshaped cross-section which extends diametrically with respect to the opening 1 6. This groove 1 9 co-operates with a spring plate 20 secured to the body 10 to form a detent mechanism, whereby the head 1 5 can be retained against rotation relative to the body 10 in either one of two positions which are 180 opposed. In one of these positions, a chamfered surface 21 on the head 15 faces in one direction, while in the other position the surface 21 faces in the opposite direction. It will thus be manifest that the detent mechanism allows the "hand" of the latch bolt to be reversed. The spring plate 20 is shown in detail in Fig. 3, and comprises a base portion 22 having a hole 23 therein. The base portion 22 is secured against a surface of the fore end 1 2 remote from the bolt head 1 5 with the hole 23 in alignment with the pin 1 3. A flange 24 extends along one edge of the base portion 22 and, as depicted in Fig. 2, extends around one side of the fore end 1 2 so that it extends forwardly of the latter.A protuberance 25 is provided on the flange 24 and is positioned so that it engages in the groove 1 9 in the bolt head 1 5. In this embodiment, a reinforcing gusset 26 in the form of an angled plate is placed in position over the base portion 22 of the spring plate and held in place by the rivet of the pin 1 3 which extends through both the portion 22 and the gusset 26 for this purpose. As indicated above, the latch bolt is intended to form part of a lock mechanism. When this mechanism is mounted on a closure such as a door, the head 1 5 of the bolt extends through a rectangular aperture provided in a face plate (not shown) secured to the closure. In order to reverse the hand of the latch bolt while the lock mechanism is in situ on the closure, it is merely necessary to remove the face plate, turn the head 1 5 from one of its detent positions to the other, and then replace the face plate. Inadvertant disengagement of the detent mechanism will subsequently be prevented due to the fact that the bolt head 1 5 is unable to rotate within the aforesaid rectangular aperture. CLAIMS

1. A reversible latch bolt comprising a body which supports a bolt head for rotation relative thereto about an axis generally parallel to the intended direction of extension and retraction of the bolt, the bolt head having recess means formed in a surface thereof which faces the bolt body, and a spring plate secured to the body and having a protuberance which is engageable in said recess means to retain the bolt head against rotation relative to the body when the bolt head is in either one of two rotational positions which are mutually displaced by 1 80'.

2. A bolt according to Claim 1 wherein the recess means comprises a groove formation.

3. A bolt according to Claim 2 wherein the groove formation is in the form of a single groove extending diametrically with respect to said axis.

4. A bolt according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the body has a flanged for end on which the bolt head is rotatably supported and to which the spring plate is also secured.

5. A bolt according to Claim 4 wherein the spring plate is secured to a surface of said fore end remote from that carrying the bolt head and has a flange which extends around one side of the flanged fore end, said protuberance being provided on said flange.

6. A bolt according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the latch bolt is supported on a cylindrical spigot projecting from said body a portion of the spigot passing through the body and serving to secure the spring plate in position.

7. A bolt according to Claim 6 wherein said spigot is grooved to receive a locking detent carried by the body.

8. A reversible latch bolt substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A locking mechanism incorporating a reversible latch bolt according to any one of the preceding claims.