GB2297798A

GB2297798A - A lever lock door or window catch arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2297798A
Application number: GB9602504A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Connolly
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-02-09
Filing date: 1996-02-07
Publication date: 1996-08-14
Also published as: GB9602504D0

Abstract

A lever lock, in particular for use as a door catch, of the type which is normally operated from one side of the door, is provided with indicating means mounted on the other side to indicate the position of the lever, for example as used in toilet cubicles. The lock comprises a mounting plate (1) adapted to be fitted to one side of a door jamb, an indicator plate (24,26) adapted to be fitted to the other side of the jamb, a connecting bar (13) adapted to pass through a hole (4) in the mounting plate and the jamb so as to co-operate with the indicator plate, and a handle (20) also adapted to co-operate with the connecting bar (13), wherein the handle comprises a smooth finger plate extending out to one side such that when rotated into a locked position, a cam surface on an edge of the finger plate is adapted to bear against an inner surface of the door to hold it shut, and wherein the width of the finger plate is sufficient to allow a variable rebate to be formed therein, so as to ensure correct spacing from the door or window surface, in use. A key-operated version is also provided in which the indicator plate (24, 26) is replaced with a barrel lock adapted to co-operate with the connecting bar (13), such that by turning the key from the outside, the handle (20) moves out of engagement with the door surface from the inside. The handle (20) and mounting plate (1) may be used alone as a window catch.

Description

"A LEVER LOCK DOOR OR WINDOW CATCH ARRANGEMENT" The present invention relates to a lever lock door or window catch arrangement, but in particular for use as a door catch, of:the type which is normally operated from one side of the door, with indicating means mounted on the other side to indicate the position of the lever, for example as used in toilet cubicles.

Door lever locks for toilet cubicle doors are subject to considerable wear and tear and must be of sturdy construction, and the present invention seeks to provide improvements in the functionality and versatility of such a lock. Toilet cubicle doors are often mounted against, rather than flush with, the door jamb, and in such an arrangement a lever lock is fitted to the door jamb, such that when the lever is rotated into a locked position, it bears against the door without the need for a receiver plate, as in the case of a sliding catch. However, as the handle itself acts as a cam bearing against the inside surface of the door, the thickness of the door panel must be taken into account which may require the use of a spacer.For safety reasons, provision should also be made for opening the lock from the outside in an emergency, for example by means of a screwdriver or coin inserted in a slot, but the present invention provides an embodiment in which a key may be used, extending the uses of such a lever lock construction to doors generally. When designing such a lock, provision must also be made for left- and right-hand mounting.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved lever lock construction which has no receiver plate, and therefore cannot go out of line, which is of sturdy, but simple construction, with less parts and which is easier to fit, preferably not requiring any drilling of holes in the door itself. In order to stand up better to wear and tear, it is an object of the invention to provide a lever lock with a finger grip which is less likely to be pulled strongly away from the mounting, but which provides a handle which is wide enough to be rebated so as to fit varying door widths, without the need for any spacer parts. Such a design is also suitable as a window catch.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a lever lock comprising a mounting plate adapted to be fitted to one side of a door jamb, an indicator plate adapted to be fitted to the other side of the jamb, a connecting bar adapted to pass through a hole in the mounting plate and the jamb so as to co-operate with the indicator plate, and a handle also adapted to co-operate with the connecting bar, wherein the handle comprises a smooth finger plate extending out to one side such that when rotated into a locked position, a cam surface on an edge of the finger plate is adapted to bear against an inner surface of the door to hold it shut, and wherein the width of the finger plate is sufficient to allow a variable rebate to be formed therein, so as to ensure correct spacing from the door surface, in use.

Preferably, the mounting plate and the handle are cast in aluminium.

Preferably, a click-action is provided by means of a spring bearing mounted between the mounting plate and a stock portion of the handle providing a bias to the handle to urge it into three stop positions, namely an open position, a right-hand mounted closed position or a left-hand mounted closed position.

In another aspect, the indicator plate may optionally be replaced with a key-operated barrel lock adapted to co-operate with the connecting bar, such that by turning the key from the outside, the handle moves out of engagement with the door surface from the inside.

An enlarged key grip portion may be provided for easier leverage when operating the lock. This key-operated embodiment has the advantage that it can be used as a security door lock. The mounting plate would not require to be recessed as in the case of a Yale lock and there would be no receiver plate, so it would be easier to fit. Also with a sufficiently large finger plate and a key having an enlarged grip portion, the arrangement would be easier to operate for the elderly and disabled, both when opening and closing the door.

Advantageously, means are provided between the mounting plate and the said cam surface to co-operate with the door when closed and to positively urge the door away from the door jamb.

Preferably, said urging means comprises a spring-mounted button.

Most preferably, the button is held in a recess in the mounting plate and is operated by a conical spring.

The main advantage of this arrangement is that the door is pushed open by a few inches as soon as the lever lock catch is rotated away from the inner surface of the door to release the catch. The door is then easily opened from the inside by gripping the edge of the door, which therefore does not require a handle to pull the door open.

The fact that the door is urged towards the cam surface of the finger plate when the door is closed means that slack is taken up and the door does therefore not tend to rattle when closed. On the other hand, if the finger plate were to become too loose there is the possibility that it might snag the edge of the door after it had been shut and the occupant had exited the cubicle, such that the next person wishing to enter the cubicle would in effect be locked out. Such an eventuality is less likely with the present invention, because the door is always pushed away from the door jamb and clears the finger plate when it is shut behind a person exiting the cubicle, i.e. in the open position, the door is always slightly ajar. This is also an advantage because it gives an immediate indication that a cubicle is vacant.

Preferred embodiments of a lever lock in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a lever lock for a toilet cubicle door in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 shows a plan view from above of the handle shown in Figure 1, and how this may be rebated to fit different door thicknesses, when the door is not flush with the door jamb, Figure 3 shows a plan view from above of an alternative door handle, and how this may be rebated to fit different door thicknesses when the door is flush with the door jamb, Figure 4 shows a plan view from above of the lock when shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the door is not flush with the door jamb, for example when fitted to a toilet cubicle door, Figure 5 is a plan view from above of a lever lock door catch arrangement in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, for example when fitted to a toilet cubicle door, Figure 6 shows a plan view from above of the mounting plate in the arrangement shown in Figure 5, with the finger plate handle not shown for clarity, and Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting plate and spring-urged button shown in Figure 6.

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, a lever lock comprises a mounting plate 1 having countersunk screw apertures 2, 3, a central hole 4 a recess 5 which includes two raised stop portions 6, 7. The mounting plate 1 is fitted to a door jamb on the inside by means of screws 8, 9. A hole 10 partially drilled through the mounting plate 1 receives a spring 11 and ball bearing 12. A connecting bar 13 passes through the hole 4 and a hole which has been drilled through the door jamb (see Fig. 4). The connecting bar 13 is held in position by means of a circlip 14, stop washer 15, the position of which is reversed for right-handed mounting, steel spring thrust washer 16, and a plastic buffer washer 17, wherein the bar fits into an aperture 18 in the stock 19 of handle 20. The stock portion 19 of the handle has three recesses 21, 22, 23 (hidden from view) which co-operate with the ball bearing 12 to provide a click action when the handle is moved to urge the handle to one of three stop positions, namely an locked position in the case of a left-handed mounting (recess 22), as shown in Figure 1, an open position (recess 21) and a locked position for right-handed mounting (recess 23).

An indicator plate 24 of known construction is fitted to the outside of the door and includes an aperture on one side with which the connecting bar 13 engages, such that the indicator plate 24 may be rotated as the handle is rotated, to expose a red or green marking in a window 25 of cover plate 26, or a "vacant" or "engaged" marking. A screw 27 protrudes through a second window 28, which may be turned by a coin or screwdriver adapted so as to open the lock in an emergency from the outside.

Figures 2 and 3 show, in dashed outline, different handle profiles which may be formed by machining or cutting a rebate from the inside edge of the handle, such that the handle is correctly spaced from the inside surface of the door, depending upon the door thickness, as shown in Figure 4, in an arrangement where the door is not flush with the door jamb. In such a case, standard door panel thicknesses are 12mm or 20mm, for example. A plastic buffer 29 is provided for a smooth camming action against the inside surface 30 of the door 31. It should be noted that the profile of the door handle 20 is smooth such that the handle can be moved easily from the open to the closed position by hand, but cannot easily be gripped and pulled away from the door jamb 32, as is possible with many designs and which results in premature loosening of the fitting.

Either of the handles shown in Figures 3 and 4 may be used in conjunction with mounting plate 1, but without connecting bar 13 and indicator plate 24, as a strong window catch. Again the handle may be rebated as required.

With reference to the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, a lever lock door catch arrangement similar in all respects to the arrangements described above is provided, but wherein the mounting plate 1 includes in addition a recess 40, having an aperture to hold a thimble-shaped button 41, preferably made of plastics material, and mounted by means of a conical spring 42. The spring has sufficient resilience to urge the door 31 away from the jamb 32 and towards the edge of the finger plate handle 20, as shown in Figure 5, when the door is closed and the catch is in the locked position. As soon as the finger plate handle 20 is rotated to open the catch, the spring-mounted button 41 pushes the door 31 away from the door jamb 32, with the advantages referred to above.

Claims

1. A lever lock door or window catch arrangement comprising a mounting plate (1) adapted to be fitted to one side of a door jamb, an indicator plate (24,26) adapted to be fitted to the other side of the jamb, a connecting bar (13) adapted to pass through a hole (4) in the mounting plate and the jamb so as to co-operate with the indicator plate, and a handle (20) also adapted to co-operate with the connecting bar (13), wherein the handle comprises a smooth finger plate extending out to one side such that when rotated into a locked position, a cam surface on an edge of the finger plate is adapted to bear against an inner surface of the door to hold it shut, and wherein the width of the finger plate is sufficient to allow a variable rebate to be formed therein, so as to ensure correct spacing from the door surface, in use.

2. A catch arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising urging means (41,42) between the mounting plate and the said cam surface to co-operate with the door when closed and to positively urge the door away from the door jamb when the catch is opened.

3. A catch arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the urging means comprises a spring-mounted button (42) held in a recess (40) in the mounting plate.

4. A catch arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mounting plate (1) and the handle (20) are cast in aluminium.

5. A catch arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein a click-action is provided by means of a spring bearing mounted between the mounting plate (1) and a stock portion (19) of the handle providing a bias to the handle to urge it into three stop positions, namely an open position, a right-hand mounted closed position or a left-hand mounted closed position.

6. A catch arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 5, with the modification that the indicator plate (24, 26) may optionally be replaced with a key-operated barrel lock adapted to co-operate with the connecting bar (13), such that by turning the key from the outside, the handle (20) moves out of engagement with the door surface from the inside.

7. A catch arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 6, for a toilet cubicle door, for a door generally, or a window catch, substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 4, or 5 to 7, of the accompanying drawings.