US1301789A - Lock mechanism for sliding doors. - Google Patents

Description

F. E. & C. P. HOWARD.

LOCK MECHANISM FDH sLlDlNG DooRs.

IIF 4 m P. HOWARD.

Y. E. 6L C.

LOCK MECHAMSM Foa SLIDING noos.

APPLICATION FILED 1\UG.2. IQIOy @mima .Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fw W.

F. E. @L C. P. Hovmfm.

LOCK MECHANISM EUR SLIDENG DOORS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

atented Apr. 22, 1919.

UNTER@ @dlild FRANK E. HOWARD AND CHARLES P. HOWARD, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT ASSIGNORS TO JAMES L. HOWARD & COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

LOCK MECHANISM FOR SLIDIN G- DOORS.

Specification of Letters Patent. A Patented Apr. 22, T919.

Application iled August 2, 1910. Serial No. 575,116.

To all eoftom imag/'concern' Be 1t lrnown that we, FRANK E. HOWARD and CHARLES P. HOWARD, citizens of the United States, and residents of Hartford,

plied to the end doors of railway cars or coaches.

Figure 1 is an end view of such a car in reduced scale, showing in outline the end of the car, and showing a sliding door partly openech with one form of the lock mechanism of the present invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an edge view in larger scale, of the loclr mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, to expose the interior mechanism of the lock and latch mechanism of Fig. 2, the parts being shown in their neutral or middle position, and showing also the two keepers which coperate with the respective latches. Fig. 4L is a plan view projected from Fig, 3, and shown partly in section taken on the line 4-l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a side view showing a modified form of the invention in which the latches are housed in separate casings disposed at the front and back ends, respectively, of the door. Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive show modified features of the lock mechanism. Fig. 6 is a side view, and Fig. 7 an edge view projected therefrom, of a modified form of the invention, in which one of the latches is disposed upon the outer side of the door, and in which the operating handle is held in either of two different positions. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of what is shown in Figs. 6 and 7 particularly the portions thereof adapted for the rearward latching of the door. Fig. 9 is a side view partly in section, showing the interior latch mechanism of a mortised lock frame more especiallv adapted for use in connection with wooden doors. Fig. 10 is a side view partly in section, showing a modified form of the keeper of Figs. 3 and 4.

The cars for which the embodiment of the of other sheet metal. other conditions to be hereinafter set forth,

present -invention shown herein is more particularly adapted are now commonly provided with sliding doors, which are mounted to slide into the bullrheads or walls of the car, thus being out of the way, and almost concealed when open. For easy operation of these doors they are commonly made to slide or roll very freely, by means of antifriction rolls, or balls, or other devices. Being thus easilymoved they are liable to be slid hack and forth by the movements of the cars, either when standing on inclined tracks or when swinging around curves at high speed. Hence the desirability of providing adequate means for latching such doors either in their closed or open, or partly open positions, according to circumstances It is moreover desirable to have the latch mechanism simple, strong, easily applied, easily operated with certainty and with the mechanism as .much concealed as possible, both for appearance, and to pre- `vent tampering. Moreover, the use of steel in car and door construction is greatly increasing; and it is desirable to employ latch mechanism, which may be fitted to a solid wooden door of the older type, or to the more modern hollow door, made of steel To meet these and is the object of the present invention.

The arrangements shown in Figs. l to 5 inclusive are more particularly adapted for use upon steel doors, thedot-and-dash lines l() indicating the plates of steel which form the opposite sidewalls or shell of the boxlilre door 1l. That form of our latch mechanism which is preferred for such doors is sup-ported by means of side plates 12 and 13, which are applied to the outer sides of the plates 10,.as shown in Fig. 2, and are held together by suitable screws 14, preferably extending through .connecting posts 15,

which extend from the inner sides of the side plates through the side walls of the door, and serve as dowels for holding the lock plates firmly in position upon the door, and in their porperly opposed registering relation to each other. Some of these posts, or similar special posts, are, or may be, also utilized for supporting the latch casing 16 in proper registering and operating relation to the other mechanism. lli/'hen so arexist in any Aparticular case.

ranged as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the latch frames or casings 16 are provided with openings, which fit upon one or more of these posts, according to circumstances. In the present instance the frames 16 are provided with projecting bosses 17, which are bored to register with fo-ur of the posts 15. Thus the latch casings are firmly supported upon the side plates 12 and 13, independently of the door structure itself. In the ordinary practice, these latch frames or casings are seated in mortises made in the edge of the door, making it dificult for the workmen to bring them initially into suitable registering rela-tion to the door, and to retain them in that position after the door has warped or shrunk, or otherwise changed its original form. Moreover, in the case of hollow steel doors, there is generally no interior substance in which such a mortise can be made; and if such pins or abutments were to be provided for securing the latch casing to the door, independently of the outer side plates, the same diliiculties would be encountered in greater or less degree, of initially placing and afterward maintaining the lock mechanism in proper working relation with the outside operating knobs -or handles. This construction and arrangement enables the lock maker, in the manufacture of the locks, to provide with certainty fori the proper setting up of the entire lock mechanism upon the doors, thus enabling him to depend upon his own workmen and processes, instead of relying upon the skill or accuracy Iof whatever workmen may be employed by others, to build or assemble the doors and lock mechanism. Furthermore, this construction and arrangement permits the l'atch mechanism to be slid upon its supporting posts to any desired position relative to the thickness of the door, in which position it may be held by means of any suitable pins or screws. In the present instance, the sidewise position of the lock, relative to the thickness of the door, is determined by hubs or washers 18, either loose or appurtenant to the lock frame, or to the side plates, as may be found most convenient.

The mechanism contained within the latch casing 16 is or should be modified or adapted to the various conditions which may In the arrangement shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, that mechanism consists of va tumbler 20, which is mounted upon and carried by the operating spindle 21, which extends out through the side of the casing, and has upon one or both of its ends suitable operating handles. In this case, two handles 22 are shown, one upon each side of the door. These handles are squared or otherwise secured upon the spindle 21, to turn therewith. Where, as herein shown, two of these handles are employed upon opposite sides of the door, their outer or swinging ends are provided with means for coupling them together, and for sustaining them against a pulling action outwardly from the door, which action might sometime occur through accident or inadvertence. Each handle is herein shown to be provided with a sustaining lip 23, projecting behind a sustaining lug o-r plate 24 of the side plates 12 and 13, and are also shown to be provided with an offset or cranked coupling rod 25, the shoulders or offsets 26 of which project behind the plates 12 and 13. rPhe ends of these coupling rods may be secured to the handles 22 in any convenient way, as by pins 27. On account ofthe necessary swinging movement of the handles 22, the side plates 12 and 13 and the adjacent portions of the plates l0 of the door must be slotted; and to cover the portions of the slots which would otherwise be exposed by the swinging movement, the shields 28 are provided, to avoid leaving openings directly through the door, which Vmight permit the entrance of dust, or rain, or

snow, or allow anyone to look through the opening at certain positions of the door. Most of the features just described are shown, described and claimed in our prior Patent No. 720,349 of Feb. 10, 1903, and the prior patent to F. E. Howard No. 945,540, of Jan. 4, 1909.

In our aforesaid prior patents, as in the present instance, the handles corresponding to the handles 22 are employed for a twofold function. By its swinging movement it serves to unlatch the door from its closed position, after which it serves as a handle or knob for opening the door. In the present invention, these movements and functions are retained; but in addition thereto the handles are utilized for performing the additional functions, lirst of unlatching the door from a partly or wholly open position, to close the door; and secondly, as an incident to this double service, the handle is preferably held when out of operation in an intermediate or neutral relation to the two latches, as is best shown in Fig. 3. In each Vposition of the handle either the latch for holding the door open, or the latch for holding the door closed, may be operated without moving or disturbing the handle; and in addition thereto, by locking the handle in this intermediate position, the latch mechanism is put into such a condition that if latched in either position it will remain latched; or if locked when the door is between its latching positions it will remain locked in whichever position it may neXt become latched, as will be hereinafter more full described.

wo latches 30 and 31 are employed, for the closed and open position, respectively, of the door. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3,7these latches are both contained within the casing 16, being pivoted upon the pin 32, and resting upon the stops 33. These latches project in opposite directions from the pivot 32, and. rest at 34 and 35, respectively, upon the operating portions of the tumbler 20. Springs 36 bear independently upon these latches so that either may rise and fall without interfering with the other, these springs being of suitable size and tension for operating their respective latches. An improved `means for fastening the springs in position consists in forming an angular bend at their attaching ends, and slipping those ends into a corner of the casing, behind, and partly surrounding the hubs or bosses 37. Thus when the side plates of the casing 16 are screwed together, the springs are confined against sidewise movement while permitting them to bend freely in the required directions, without requiring any screws or othereXtraneous fastenings.

The tumbler 20 is shown in Fig. 3 to be held in its central or neutral position, in which it is inoperative as to either of the latches 30 and 31. An arm. 40 of the tumbler engages between two spring pressed plungers 41, which are mounted in opposing relation to each other upon opposite sides of the arm 40. Each plunger is provided with a spring 42, engaging upon a shoulder of the plunger and a iXed ear or abutment 43 apurtenant to or integral with the casing 16.

he position of these plungers so as to hold the arm 40, and hence the tumbler 20, in its central or neutral position, is adjusted by means of the nuts 44, which also serv@ as stops for the spring pressed movements of the plungers 41. Thus the operating movement of raising either of the latches 30 or 31 by means of either handle 22, is resisted by one of the lsprings 36, and by one of the spring pressed plungers 41 acting upon the latch and the tumbler 20, respectively, thus enabling the springs to act together in resisting operating movement by means of the handle, while enabling each spring to act independently upon one of the latches and the tumbler 20. This arrangement enables the tumbler to be returned to its central position, independently of either or both of the latches, and also enables either latch to be held down by its own spring pressure, independently of each other and of the tumbler. The plunger springs 42 are made of suitable size and tension to control the'tuinbler and its operating handles, so as to hold them with suitable firmness in their central or neutral position shown in Fig. 3, independently of the springs 36, the action of which is limited to yieldingly holding their respectiva` latches 30; and 31 downwardly Y against their respective stops 33. Thus the raising of either of these latches 30 or 31 in riding over its keeper does not affect the position of the tumbler device or of its operating handles. This arrangement allows either latch to be raised from its stop even when the tumbler and its operating handles are locked in their central neutral position, which is sometimes desirable.

The latch 30 for latching the door in its closed position coacts with a striker plate 46, fixed to the casing of the door. The latch 31, for holding the door in its wholly or partly open position coacts with the striker plate 47 ,-which in the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 consists oit' a hinged bar 47 attached near its hinged end tothe bulkhead 49 at the end of the runway into which the door slides, and projects through the rearward edge 48 of the door, so that when the door is in the opened position into which it is desired to latch it, the bar 47 reaches to and is engaged by the latch 31. The bar 47 is preferably hinged at 50 to allow of slight Vertical swinging movement, for convenience in assemblingand adjusting the door parts, so as to avoid the necessity of eXtreme accuracy in locating the respective parts. As a means for supporting and guiding the end of the striker bar 47, a ledge or shoulder 51 is provided on the door, at a height suitable for guiding the end of the bar into proper engaging relation to the latch 31. Thus the latch and the ledge, being both carried by the door, continue to guide the end of the bar properly in spite of any set tling or other shifting that may occur between the door and the casing.

The striker bar 47 is herein shown to be hinged to the casing by means of a lug or bracket 54, which passes through the wall 49 of the bulkhead, and is secured thereto by means of a nut 55 and washers 56, which are disposed upon one side or the other of the wall 49, as may be required for the desired adjustment of the bar relative to the latch 31.

Under some circumstances it may be found preferable to employ the form of adjustment shown in Fig. 10, in which the bar 47 is hinged at 56 to the hinged stud 57, which extends through the wall 49 of the bulkhead, or any other convenient support, and is provided on the rearward side of that bulkhead or support with a nut 58, by means of which the stud 57 may be adjusted4 endwise with or against the pressure of a spring 59, which spring not only coacts with the nut 58 in adjusting the striker bar 57, to the desired endwise position, but also serves as a buffer for the bar, in which case the striker bar 47 may be allowed to abut against a suitable stop in the door or in the lock casing.

lt is well-known that in the railway servicefor which the present invention is intended, all devices, especially those including articulated mechanism, are particularly liable to abuse, and injury, either from malice, or ignorance, or both, on the part of both the employees and the public. Hence the common reference to the necessity for making such apparatus fool proof. Many of the features of the present invention are designed with particular reference to the avoidance of such injuries or abuses. This is particularly true of the arrangement by which the operative mechanism is as 'far as possible contained and concealed inside of the door and casing, out of sight and out of reach of mischievous or unskilful hands, leaving only one operating handle exposed to sight and action on each side of the door; and also arranging the apparatus so that it will release the door automatically when that handle is moved in whichever direction the operator may desire to move the door. Another important feature of the psresent invention is that whereby the latch mechanism may be securely locked in a neutral position against being operated by the handle while leaving both the latches free to be raised by their respective strikers to latch, but not to unlatch them. This arrangement is best illustrated in Fig. 3, in which the bolt 61 operated in any well-known way by a key, or otherwise, is provided *with a notch 62, which fits over the coupling rod 25 when in the position shown in Fig. 3, thus locking the handles 22 and the tumbler 20 against operating movement; but leaving the latches 30 and 31 free to be lifted from within against the pressure of their respective springs 36. If the mechanism should thus be locked while either of those latches is in latching engagement with the striker plate, the door will remain thus latched, there being no way to release it, except by unlocking the bolt 61, and thus allowing the handles 22 to be swung. But it is quite possible that the bolt 61 may be moved down and the latch mechanism thus locked while it is somewhere between the striker plates 46 and 47, and not in engagement with either of them. When this happens, it is only necessary to move the door in the direction desired, open, or shut, whereupon the appropriate latch will ride over and properly engage with its striker plate, without any injury to the latch mechanism. In addition to thus locking the handle in its central or neutral position, it may if desired be locked at either side of that position by sliding the bolt 61 down at the right or left side of the ycoupling rod 25, thus holding either of the latches retracted while prevent-- ing retraction of the other latch.

In Fig. 5 is shown an arrangement in which the latches 65 and 66, instead of being mounted in the same latch casing, adjacent tothe front edge of the door, as in .which the door slides.

the previous figures, aremounted. in separate casings, at the opposite edges of the door, thus practically extending the latch mechanism instead of extending the striker bar, as in the previous figures, to meet that latch mechanism. Hence, in this instance, the short striker plate or keeper 67 may be employed and attached to the wall or bulkhead 68 at the back end of the runway, into The latch 66 1n this instance may be similar to the latch 31, and be similarly mounted upon a pivot pin in the latch casing 69 adjacent to the rearward edge or style of the door. A single armed tumbler 70 mounted upon the pivot stud 71 of the casing is provided with a spring pressed plunger 72, which in al1 respects may be like one of the plungers 41, shown in Fig. 3, and may operate in conjunction. with a similar plunger and tumbler 7 5, adjacent to and in the casing with the latch 65, the two tumblers being connected by a rod 74 to hold those tumblers and the handle 73 in a central or neutral position, in the same way and for the same purposes as those hereinbefore described. This arrangement and connection therefore constitutes practically a single tumbler for all practical purposes like the tumbler 20 of Fig. 3, the term tumbler where employed in the singular in the following claims being intended to apply to this arrangement.

lIn Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is shown a further modiication of the invention, more particularly adapted for use in connection with wooden doors, or in any other circumstances in which it. may be found unobjectionable and perhaps advisable to place the rearward or open holding latch'upon the outside of the door instead of having it within the door, as in the instances heretofore described. In this case, a. latch 1 7 7 V'and single arm tumbler 78 are supported in the casing 79. That casing may be mortised in to 110 the edge of a wooden door, or may be screwed or riveted to the edge of a sheet metal door, or it may be provided with bosses like the bosses 17 supported on posts like the posts 15, as shown in Figs. 2 and 115 3. A squared operating spindle 80, which carries the tumbler 78 extends through the casing 79 and through a` supplemental casing 81, in which is mounted another single arm tumbler 82, also carried by the spindle 120 80. The latch 83 for the rearward position of the door is also mounted in the supplemental casing 81, above the tumbler 82, and engages with the striker plate or keeper 84 attached, in this instance, at the side of the 125 runway, to the door jamb or casing l85. The spindle 80, carrying the tumblers 78 and 82, extends through oneor both Ysides of the door far enough to carryfoner or two handles, as may be desired. Y

recipes n this modification of the mechanism no provision 1s made for a neutral position of the handle or tumblers, one or the other of the tumblersV and latches being always raised when the door handle is left in either i a roller 87 mounted upon a swinging arm 88 pivoted at 89 to one `or both of the side plates 90, on in any other convenient way. A spring 91 is adapted to press the arm 88 and the roller 87 downwardly against the coupling rod 92, and upon'one side or the other of that rod, according as it is desired to leave one or the other of the latches 77 and 83 in latching position, the two positions of the coupling rod 92 relative to the roller 87 being shown in Fig. 6'. Thus in operating the handle 93 it is turned in the direction of the desired movement of the door, thereby raising the roller 87 against pressure of its spring 91, until the handle reaches its other extreme position, whereupon the roller is pressed down on `the opposite side of the coupling rod 92.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modi-tied construc- .tion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 7

and 8. In this modification, the latches 95 and 96 and their tumbler 97, which may be in two separate pieces, or be a double-acting single piece, are mounted within the single casing 98. In' this instance also there is no neutral position of the mechanism, one or the other of the latches being always raised when the handle is in neither oi its resting positions.

Having thus shown and described the invention with a few leading modifications, it will be obvious to those skilled in this art that the invention may be still further modied and adapted in various ways, to suit different conditions or requirements.

We claim as our invention V l. The combination with a door,- of reversely disposed latches, keepers for the latches, means independent of the keepers for stopping the latches at their closed position,atumbler coperating with said latches, an operating handle, and connecting means between the tumbler and said handle, whereby the latches are independently operated by movement of said handle.

2. lThe combination, with a door, of reversely disposed latches, keepers for the latches, a handle and connecting means for operating said latches independently of each other, and a yielding device for'automatically positioning the said handle when released.

3. A door, reversely disposed latches pivotallysupported on the door for independent movement, keepers for the latches, a tumbler and a door handle for operating said tumbler to raise the latches independently of each other.

Il. In a door latch, in combination, a torwardly projecting spring actuated latching element, a rearwardly projecting spring actuated latching element, such two elements being independently movable, an oscillatable spindle having a handle fixed thereto and adapted to retract such latching elements respectively, when moved in opposite directions;

5. A door, separate latches pivotally mounted for independent movement on the door, separate stops and separate keepers for the latches, and a door handle with connections for operating the latches independently of each other to disengage them separately from their respective keepers.

6. The combination, in door latch mechanism, of reversely disposed spring actuated latches. an oscillatable spindle for retracting the said latches, independently operating Vmeans for said spindle, and means movable to engagement with said operating means for locking the spindle in its neutral position between its latch retracting position.

7. The combination, with a door, of a plurality of separate reversely disposed latches pivotally mounted on coincident axes, keepers for the latches, a handle mounted for swinging movement on an axis adjacent to the coincident axes of the latches, and connecting means including arms for raising the said latches independently of each other by swinging movements of the said handle in opposite directions.

8. The combination, in door latch mechanisms, of reversely disposed spring actuated latches and keepers, an oscillatable spindle for retracting the said latches independently, a handle for operating said spindle and locking means independent of said handle and operated by movement of the handle for retaining the spindle at either of the positions at which the respective latches are retracted.

9. The combination, with a door, of latch 110 mechanism, including a plurality of reversely disposed latches and their keepers, an operating handle supported on the door for swinging movement, connecting means between the handle and the said latches for 115 operating them separately by the swinging movements of the handle in diderent directions, and a spring operated device for opposing the swinging movements of the handle.

10. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism, including a plurality of reversely disposed latches and their keepers, an operating handle supported on the door for swinging movement, connecting 125 means between the handle and the said latches for operating them separately by the swinging movements of the handle in different directions, and opposed spring mechanism for yieldingly holding the said handle 130 in predetermined position by the approximate balancing of the opposed spring mechanism, including stop devices for the said position.

11. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism, including a plurality of reversely disposed latches and their keepers, an operating handle supported on the door for swinging movement, connecting means between the handle and the said latches -for operating them separately by the swinging movements of the handle in different directions, a locking `bolt for the handle and spring mechanism for yieldingly holding the said handle in a cooperative relation to the bolt.

12. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism, including a plurality of latches and their keepers, an operating yhandle mounted for swinging movement on the door, connections between the said handle and the latches, for operating the latches independently by swinging movement of the handle in opposite directions, a locking bolt for locking the handle in its neutral position and spring mechanism for yieldingly holding the said handle in its said neutral position relative to the latches and in cooperative relation to the bolt.

13. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism for latching the door in dilierent positions, including separate latches mounted for independent swinging movement, spring devices acting independently on each latch, keepers for the latches, means independently of the keepers for stoppingr the latches at their latching positions, an operating handle mounted for swinging movement on the door, and connecting means, including a tumbler, between the operating handle and the latches, whereby the latter are independently operated by swinging the handle in opposite directions.

14. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism for holding the door in different positions against movement in opposite directions, including a plurality of reversely disposed latches and keepers, stops for the respective latches, an operating handle mounted for swinging movement in the two directions of movement of the door, and connecting means between the said handle and the said latches whereby the handle when moved in the direction of closing movement of the door, disengages and operates only the latch which would otherwise prevent that closing movement leaving the other latch in position for engaging with its keeper.

15. The combination, with a door, of latch mechanism for holding the door against opening and closing movement, including reversely disposed spring actuated latches, an operating handle mounted for swinging movement in the two directions of the opening and closing movements of the door, an

operating connection between the handle and each of the said latches, and means for limiting the swinging movements of the handle to approximately the amount required to disengage the respective latches, whereby the handle serves (by its limited movement to disengage the latch which would prevent movement of the door in the desired direction, and then serves as a handle for moving the door in that direction.

16. The combination, with a door, of separate latches for latching the door against opening and closing movement, keepers for the said latches, springs for the latches, stops for supporting the respective latches in engaging relation to their respective keepers, an operating handle mounted on the door for swinging movement parallel with the door and in the general direction of opening and closing movement of the door, operating connections between the swinging handle and the respective latches, whereby either latch' may be raised while retaining the other latch in its normal latching position and means for locking the operating handle at either end of its latch operating movement, or in its intermediate neutral position.

17: The combination, in door mechanism,

of a plurality of reversely disposed latches and their keepers, and operating means therefor, including a handle and a tumbler mounted for swinging movement, the tumbler being provided with arms engaging with the said latches, to disengage them separately from their respective keepers and means for locking the tumbler in neutral non-operating relation to the latches.

A 18. The combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of separate latches and their keepers mounted for independent operation, independent springs and stops for the latches, a tumble-r having oppositely disposed arms for engaging wit the respective latches to separately disengage them from their keepers by opposite swinging movements of the tumbler, and means including spring pressed plungers for yieldingly holding the tumbler in predetermined neutral position when not being operated.

19. The combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of separate latches and their keepers mounted for independent operation, separate springs for the latches, a tumbler having oppositely disposed arms for engaging with the respective latches to separately disengage them from their keepers by opposite swinging movements of the tumbler, and spring devices including springs stronger than the said latch springs for yieldingly holding the tumbler in a neutral inoperative position relative to the latches when not being operated.

20. The combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of latches mounted for indeneem/ee' ig pendent operation, a tumbler for engaging with the respective latches to operate them independently, and opposing spring pressed plungers engaging with the tumbler to hold it in a neutral inoperative position relative to the latches;

21. rlhe combination, inV latch mechanism, of a plurality of latches mounted for independent operation, a tumbler for engaging with the respective latches to operate them independent-ly, opposing spring pressed plungers engaging with the tumbler to hold it in a neutral inoperative position relative to the latches, and stop devices for the said yplungers for determining the said neutral position.

22. rlhe combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of latches mounted for independent operation, a. tumbler for engaging with the respective latches to operate them independently, opposing spring pressed plungers engaging with the tumbler to hold it in a neutral inoperative position relative to the latches, and adjustable stop devices for the plungers for varying the said neutral position.

23. The combination, in latch mechanism, or a plurality of separate latches mounted for independent operation, tumbler mechanism engaging with the said latches to operate them separately and independently of each other, and means for yieldingly holding the tumbler in a neutral inoperative relation to the two latches, including an arm projecting from the tumbler, and spring pressed plungers bearing against opposite sides of the said arm in opposed relation to each other.

24. The combination, in latch mechanism, of a plurality of reversely disposed separate latches independently mounted on the same axis, a tumbler mounted for swinging movement upon an axis adjacent to that of the latches and having arms bearing against the respective latches to lift them separately from their respective latching positions, spring pressed plungers bearing against the said tumbler in opposed relation :tor holding the tumbler yieldingly in its neutral position relative to the latches and means for locking the tumblers immovably in said neutral position.

25. The combination with a sliding door, of latch mechanism 'for the closed position of the door, a latch for an open position of the door, and a keeper for the said latch mounted on the door casing for yielding movement in the direction of the opening movement of the door, whereby it serves to cushion the force of the latching movement.

26. The combination, with a sliding door, oit' latch mechanism for the closed position of the door, a latch for an open position of the door, and a keeper for the said latch supported by the door casing by yielding means, including a spring bud'enyielding in the direction of opening movement of the door.

27. The combination, with a sliding door, oi latch mechanism for the closed position of the door, a latch for the open position of the door, and a keeper for the said latch attached to the door casing with a yielding attachment iorming a spring buffer for the reeper yielding in the direction of opening movement of the door, the keeper being extended into the door through its rearward edge.

28. The combination, with a sliding door, oi a latch for an open position of the door, and a keeper for the said latch supported by the casing, and means for adjusting the keeper lengthwise of the plane of the door.

29. The combination, with a sliding door, of a latch for an open position of the door, a keeper for the said latch supported by the door casing by means of an elastic and adjustable connection, including a spring serving as a buffer for the opening movement ci the door, and a screw-threaded device for adjusting the keeper against the pressure ci the said spring.

30. rElie combination, with a sliding door, of a latch for an open position of the door, a keeper pivotally supported by the door casing and extending into the door through its rearward edge, the keeper being provided with a yielding spring buffer and with means for adjusting the keeper lengthwise against the pressure of the spring.

3l. The combination, with a. sliding door, of a latch for an open position of the door, a keeper pivotallyn supported by the door casing and extending into the door through its rearward edge, a yielding supporting connection between the keeper and the door casing, means for adjusting the keeper against the pressure of the said spring, and a guide appurtenant to the door for guiding the latching end of the keeper.

32. The combination, with a hollow door, provided with apertures disposed in the opposite sides of the shell of the door, side plates provided with posts projecting through the said apertures, and a latch casing disposed within the door and supported upon the inwardly projecting ends of said posts.

33. The combination, with a hollow door, provided with apertures disposed in the opposite sides of the shell of the door, latch mechanism mounted in a separate casing and having apertures registering with the apertures in said door shell and a pair of side plates for opposite sides of the door, provided with posts projecting through the said apertures in the shell and in the said casing.

Se. The combination, with a hollow door, provided with apertures disposed opposite to each other in the opposite sides of the shell of the door, side plates provided with posts projecting through the said apertures toward and in substantial alinement with each other, and a latch casing disposed within the door and supported upon the inwardly projecting ends of said posts.

35. The combination, in latch mechanism, of side plates for opposite outer sides of a door, provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed inwardly projecting posts, operating handles mounted on the outer sides of said plates, latch mechanism operatively connected with the said handles, and a casing for said mechanism slidably mounted Within the door on the said posts. 36. The combination, in latch mechanism,

of side plates for opposite outer sides of a door, provided with posts projecting inwardly toward each other, screws seated in said posts for drawing the side plates together, and a casing for latch mechanism supported within the door and between the said plates by being slidably mounted on said posts.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK E. HOWARD. CHARLES l?. HOWARD.

Vitnesses:

CAROLINE M. BRECKLE, JOSEPH MERRITT;

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, ID. C.

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