US1368041A

US1368041A - Door-latch

Info

Publication number: US1368041A
Application number: US377218A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Malone
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1920-04-28
Filing date: 1920-04-28
Publication date: 1921-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1938-02-08

Description

1.1. MALONE.

DOOR LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR-Z8. 1920- Patented Feb. 8', 1921n 2 suns-sun 1.

attozwug J. J. HOME.

D068 LAFCH.

APPLICATION FILED Ann, 1920.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2v H, m w 1 m a UNITED STA'ILES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. MALONE, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

DOOR-LATCH.

Application filed April 28,

To aZZ w from it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN J. MALONE, a citizen of the United States, residin in the city and county of New Haven and btate of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Latches, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to door latches, and has special reference to latches for vehicle doors. The improvement will be described as applied to a latch for an automobile door, but it will be understood that certain features may be used to advantage in latches of various other types.

One of the objects of this inyention is to provide an improved door latch of the type shown in my Patent No. 1,302,063, issued April 29, 1919, wherein a spring is tensioned on the closing of the door which, when released, will withdraw the latch bolt from the opening.

Another object of my invention is to pro vide alatch which will be easily operated and yet will be effectual in retaining the door tightly in closed position.

A further object of my invention is to provide means associated with the latch to prevent rattling of the door when the vehicle is in motion.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a latch which while effectually holding the door in closed position, is easily and positively operated to retracted posi tion, allowing the door to be opened, and a latch which may be easily applied to any door, vehicle or otherwise, with which it is desired to use the latch.

To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary inside, elevational view of the door and body of a vehicle with the upholstering broken away to show my improved latch in operative position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the lock mounted as in Fig. 1, but taken from the other side, showing the door in closed position and the latch protracted into the door strike.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the parts in retra t d PO iti II- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 8, 1921.

1920. Serial No. 377,218.

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the parts when the door is in open position.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view taken on lines 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7 a of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is a sectional View on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a sectional View on line 9 9 of Fig. 6, but showing the latch bolt against the second opening in the strike.

Fig. 10 is a view on line 1010 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 11 and 12 are detail perspective views of the latch bolt and strike bar and a modified form of the same, respectively.

I Fig. 13 is a detail perspective view of another position of the strike bolt.

In the drawings, I have shown my new latch applied to an ordinary automobile door, denoted by the character 10. It may comprise the usual upright frame member 11, having a covering of leather 12 on the inside. A latch supporting plate 13, which carries the entire latch mechanism is mortised into this upright frame member 11 at the free edge of the door, and is provided with a. face plate 14, through an opening in which the latch bolt 15 is projected and retracted together with what is termed the strike bolt 16, which as shown in Figs. 6 and 11, lies just back of the latch bolt. This strike bolt comprises the two

parts

16 and 16 which are secured together by a screw 17. A second opening 18, in the plate 16 provides for an adjusted position of the two

parts

16 and 16 in which second position the plate 16 projects beyond 16? and acts alone as the strike bolt. A guide screw 19 is provided in the plate 16 and cooperates with a guide slot 20 in the plate 16 to keep the two plates in proper relation to each other.

The plate 16 of the strike bolt is L-shaped in cross-section, being provided with the flange 21. The bolt 15 is secured to andop- :er. ted by means of a rod 22, which passes loosely through an opening 23 in the flange 21, its rear end passing loosely through an opening 24: in a carrier 2 1 pivoted on the to a small extent about this point.

supporting plate at 25. An enlargement 26 on the end of the bolt 22 provides a one way connection between the bolt and carrier. A spring 27 surrounds the rod 22 and is compressed between the carrier '24 and latch rod 15 to normally hold the enlarged end 26 of the rod 22 against the carrier 24. This serves to protract the bolt 15 through the face plate 14 when the carrier is held in the position shown in Fig. 2.

.A catch bar 28 is provided to control the position of the carrier. This catch bar is slightly bent, as shown in Figs. 5 and 5, at 29, whereit is pivoted to the-supporting plate by the pin 30, so that the ends will r ck At the end of this catch nearestthe latch bolt, a small coil spring 31 is provided between it and the supporting plate to keep the opposite end normally in contact with the plate.

It is obvious that a flat spring or other means may be used for this purpose.

Near the end of this catch bar opposite the spring 31, is provided a recess 32, which is adapted to en age, when, in normal position, (shown in igs. 5and 6'), and hold, the carrier 24 inthe position shown in Fig. 4. When this end of the catch bar is swung away from the plate, as shown in Fig. 5, the pivoted carrier is released and assumes the position shown in Fig. 3, as will be hereinafter described. This is accomplished by the rod 33, which passes vertically through a recess 34 in the end of the catch bar and which near the bottom of the supporting plate 13, turns to provide a horizontal portion 35, which normally rests on the horizontal arm 36 of the pivoted carrier 24. This rod turns downwardly again at 37, as shown in Figs; 7 and 7 and passes behind the arm 36 in a recessed portion thereof. The end of the rod is provided with a pin 38 which moves verticallyin a bearing slot 39 in the supporting plate. A spring 40 normally tends to keep this rod in raised position andthe' pin- 33 at the top of the slot. This arm is operated by a finger pull 41, pivoted at 41', on the inside of the door of the automobile as shown in Figs. 1, 7' and 7 where it may be conveniently reached by an occupant. It is provided with acam surface 42 and a plane surface 43 adjacent the upper end of the rod 33. As the lever 41 is first engaged and pulled up by the finger, the cam surface 42 pushes the rod 33 away from the supporting plate and the pivoted carrier 24 is released from the recess 32 of the catch bar 28. If the movement of the finger pull is continued theplane surface bears on the end of the rod 33' and positively pushes it downwardly and through the horizontal portion 35 of this rod swings the carrier on its pivot. The arm of this finger pull. is slotted at 73 and a small latch 72, pivoted on the door at 74 projects through this slot. This latch is a fixed handle. If, however, it is desired to operate the rod 33, the operator, simultaneously with grasping the finger pull 41, presses the latch 7 2 down by a slight pressure of "the thumb'and releases this latch, as

shown in Fig. 7, the pull 41 now being free to move about its'pivot.

In order that this catch bar maybe actuated from the outside of the automobile, a push button 44 is provided adjacent the usual door handle 45. This push button'opcrates a push rod 46, which bears on and actuates the left end (as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4) cf the catch bar 28. It will be apparent that pushing the button 44 will disengage the carrier from the catch bar 28, and it will be swung about its pivot 25 by means hereinafter described. he push button, when released, will be'restored to its outward position by the spring 31.

hen the door is in open position, as shown in Fig. 4., and the latch bolt 15 and strike bolt 16 are protracted from the plate 14, the flange 21 (Fig. 6) lies just back of and bears against the rear face of the latch. These parts are protracted by the spring 47 which is compressed between a fixed lug 48 on the supporting plate, and the rear face of the flange 21. This spring surrounds a guide rod 49, which is secured to the lug 48', and said rod passes loosely through the flange 21 and into aguiding socket 50 in the latch bolt. Thus, when the strike bolt 16 is in protracted position the latch bolt is car. ried with it by the flange 21, but when the strike bolt is forced back into the door against the spring 47, the latch bolt is free to move under the control of its spring 27.

A third rod 51 is secured to the flange 21 and passes loosely through an opening 52 in the carrier, and a third spring-'53 sur iounds this rod and is compressed between the flange and the pivoted carrier when the. strike bolt referred to asa whole by the numeral 16, is retracted within the face plate 14, as shown in Fig. 2. This compression of the spring 53 tends to move the pivoted carrier in a clockwise direction about its pivot 25 and 'does so'move it when the can rier is released from its engagement with the catch bar by either the push button 44 or the finger pull 41.

In the form shown, the strike plate or "strike 54 has two eat-ch surfaces 55 and 56,

and two

strike surfaces

57 and 58. This is arranged so that if the door isnot shut with sufiicient force for the latch bolt to catch back of 56, it will be held by the catch surface 55. lVith this form of strike, however, the strike bolt would catch on the surface 55 and as there is no means provided to retract this bolt, the door could not be further opened. To avoid this ditficulty the strike surface 55 is continued in the form of a relatively narrow central rib 59 with the surface 58 cut back on each side thereof. This rib will always keep the strike bolt retracted when the door is closed, gradually allowing the spring 47 to protract this bolt as the door is'opened and the strike surface recedes from the edge of the door. The latch bolt 15, in order that it may catch back of the surface 55 and not be retracted by the rib 59, is provided with a central recess or cut out portion large enough to receive the rib 59, the portions of the latch bolt on each side of the recess functioning, in all res ects, as they would if the rib were not provi ed.

The operation of the elements already described is as follows:

When the door is in open position, the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4. The spring 47 holds the strike bolt protracted and by means of the flange 21 also holds the latch bolt protracted. The carrier 24 is held in the position shown by the catch bar 28. The door is then closed by being pushed shut. The latch and strike bolts engage the strike surface 57 and are pushed back against the tension of the three springs, the spring 53 tending to cause the carrier 24 to rotate about its pivot 25. When the catch surface 55 is passed, the latch bolt springs out behind this surface, protracted by the spring 27, the bifurcated end portions of the bolt straddling the rib 59. This rib holds the strike bolt constantly retracted. As the movement proceeds, the strike bolt is still further retracted, and the latch bolt'again retracted until the door reaches the'position shown in Fig. 6 when the latch springs out behind the surface 56. The strike bolt, however, does not enter behind this surface, but remains retracted keeping the spring 53 tensioned to rotate the carrier. Suppose, now, it is desired to open the door. If the operator is outside he presses the button 44, or if inside, he operates the finger pull 41, the result of either operation being the same viz., the swinging of the catch bar 28 to release the carrier which urged by the spring 53 retracts the latch bolt and the door may be pushed open. As the door opens, the receding strike plate surfaces 59 and 57 allow the strike bolt to be protracted by its spring 47 and it carries out with it the latch bolt and latch rod 22. This brings the carrier 24 back to position shown in Fig. 4, where the smallspring 31 urges the catch bar recess into carrier retaining position again and the parts are again in the position from which the description of their operation began.

If the door is opened from the inside and it should happen that the parts would tend to bind after the catch bar had released the carrier, a further movement of the finger pull would cause the surface 43 to engage the rod 33 and force the arm downward so that the movement of the carrier would be started positively, by means of the horizontal portion 35 of the rod 33, forcing down the arm 36 of the carrier.

In the operation just described, the two parts16 and 16 of the strike bolt 16 act as one piece and they might be so made as far as their previously described operation is concerned. Such a modification, where the two are formed as one integral element, is

shown at 61 in Fig. 12. The latch bolt 15 shown in this figure does not contain the recess 60 and is for use with latches when only one catch surface is used instead of the two surfaces 55 and 56.

The use of the two

members

16 and 16 will now be described. If the screw 17 were removed and placed in the second opening 1 of the plate 16 this plate would project beyond the plate 16 to some extent (see Fig. 13) and would alone be the acting strike bolt which would engage the strike surface.

This would operate exactly as described above except, that, when the door came to closed position, as shown in Fig. 13, the beveled edge 62 of this plate 16 would wedge itself in behind the catch surface 56 and effectually prevent any rattling of the door. It will also keep the door closed after the latch bolt is retracted until slight pressure in the direction to open the door causes the strike bolt to be retracted by the bevel edge 62 contacting with the intersection of the surfaces 59 and 56. It will also be understood that either of the strike bolts provided in Figs. 11 and 12 also by engaging and bearing with considerable pressure against the strike rib 59 tends to prevent rattling and to keep the door from swinging freely open after the latch is retracted, some little pressure being required to move the door toward open position.

In Figs. 8 and 10 is shown a simple means for locking the push button against movement and hence preventing the door being opened by an unauthorized person. An ordinary pin tumbler lock case 63 is mounted in the escutcheon. 64 on the outside of the door adjacent (in the form shown just above) the button 44. In this case is the usual barrel 65 on the end of which is secured finger 66 to be rotated by the barrel when it is turned with the proper key. A ring 67 is rotatably mounted on the push button but secured between the escutcheon and door against longitudinal movement relative to the button. and is provided with a channel shaped recess 68 into which the finger '66 moves. This ring is turned by the finger 66 contacting with the walls of this recess. As shown in Fig. 10, a certain amount of lost motion is provided for so that the finger 66 may be turned from the extreme position shown in this figure to a position in the line of centers of the lock barrel and push button (as shown in dotted lines) without moving the ring 67. This enables the key to be withdrawn after the button has been locked or unlocked.

As shown in Fig. 10, the button is in unlocked position and in this position a lug 69 projecting from the inside of the ring or washer 67 rests in a groove 70 formed longitudinally of the button. Just below the washer 67 and in alinement with the lug 69, is a transverse recess or groove 71 in the button communicating with the 'roove'70, and into this recess 71, the lug is moved when the finger 66 is moved to the right in Fig. 1 to lock the button against longitudinal movement. The lock barrel can then be turned back to neutral position 7 and the key withdrawn without unlocking the button.

It will be apparent that I have provided a latch with a normally protracted latch bolt, which will effectually hold the door in closed position and in which a sprlng is tensioned, by the closing of the door, which tends to retract the latch bolt when the catch which holds the latch in protracted 7 position is released.

While the invention 18 described as applied to an automobile door latch, it will be understood that various features thereof may beadvantageously used in other rela: tions and many modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

WVhat I claim is:

1. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, means yieldingly holding said bolt in protracted position, and means to retract said bolt upon release of'said holdingmeans.

2. In adoor latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, means holding said bolt in protracted position, and means to retract said bolt automatically upon release ohsaid hold-- ing. means.

3. In a doorclatch, a normally protracted latch bolt, means yieldingly holding said bolt in protracted position, and spring' means to retract said bolt upon release of said holding means,

- 4. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a strike bolt, means yieldingly holding said latch bolt in protracted position, and means controlled by the position of said strike bolt to retract sald bolt upon release of said holding means.

6. In a door latch, a latch bolt, means holding said bolt in protracted position, and

means, set into operation by the closing of the door, for retracting said bolt upon release of said holding means.

7. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, means holding said bolt in protracted position, and means, moved to operating position by the closing of the door, for retracting said bolt automatically upon release of said holding means.

8. In a door latch, a latch bolt, means holding said bolt in protracted position, and means, moved to operating position by the closing of the door, for retracting said bolt automatically upon release of said holding means. Y

9. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, meansholding said latch bolt in protracted position and spring means moved to operating position by the closing of the door to retract said latch boltupon release carrier for controlling the position of said bolt,means for holding said carrier in bolt protracting position, and means including a strikeengaging bolt for moving said carrier to bolt retracting position upon release of said holding means.

18. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, a bolt carrier for controlling the position of said bolt, means for holding said carrier in bolt protracting position and means moved into operating position by the closing of the door for moving said carrier to retract said bolt upon release of said holding means.

14. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a bolt carrier controllingthe position of said latch bolt, and normally locked in bolt protracting position, means to release said carrier and means to urge said carrier to bolt retracted position upon its release.

15. In a door latch, the combination with a door and. a door frame provided with a strikeplate,of a latch bolt yieldingly protracted into the strike plate "when the door is shut and means, engaging said strike plate and tending to urge said bolt to retracted position.

16. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frame provided with a strike plate, of a latch bolt, means for holding said bolt in protracted position and means, moved to operative position by contact with said strike plate, for retracting said bolt.

17. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frame provided with a strike plate, of a latch bolt, means for holding said bolt in protracted position and means, moved to operative position by contact with said strike plate, for retracting said bolt upon release of said holding means.

18. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a pivoted bolt carrier for controlling the position of said bolt, means for holding said carrier in bolt protracting position and means for moving said carrier to bolt retracting position upon release of said holding means.

19. In a door latch, a normally protracted latch bolt, a pivoted bolt carrier for controlling the position of said bolt, means for holding said carrier in bolt protracting position and means moved into operating position by the closing of the door for moving said carrier to retract said bolt upon release of said holding means.

20. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frame provided with a strike plate, of a latch bolt, a strike bolt normally holding said latch bolt in protracted position, and means connecting said strike bolt with said latch bolt, said means tending to urge said latch bolt to retracted position when said strike bolt engages said strike plate.

21. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frame provided with a strike plate, of a bolt carrier, a spring pressed latch bolt carried thereby, a catch member to hold said carrier in position to protract said bolt, a strike bolt normally urged to protracted position, and engaging said latch bolt to urge the same to protracted position, said strike bolt and carrier being connected to retract said latch bolt when said strike bolt engages said strike plate.

22. In a door latch, a latch bolt, and means including a strike bolt for holding said latch bolt in protracted position when the door is open and for retracting it when the door is closed.

23. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a strike bolt engaging said latch bolt to protract it when the door is open and connected to said latch bolt to retract it when the door is closed and means to prevent the retraction of said bolt.

24. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a strike bolt engaging said latch bolt to protract it when the door is open and connected to said latch bolt to retract it when the door is closed and means to prevent the retraction of said bolt, said preventing means being rendered inoperable at will.

25. In a door latch,a latch bolt, a strike bolt engaging said latch bolt to protract it when the door is open and connected to said latch bolt to retract it when the door is closed and means to prevent the retraction of said bolt, and means to render said preventing means inoperative and allow said strike bolt to retract said latch bolt.

26. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a strike bolt engaging said latch bolt to protract it when the door is open and connected to said latch bolt to retract it when the door is closed, means to prevent the retraction of said bolt, and a push button to render said preventing means inoperative and allow said strike bolt to retract said latch bolt.

27. In a door latch, a latch bolt, resilient means to retract said bolt, a push button setting said means into operation, and key controlled means to lock said push button against movement.

28. In a door latch, a latch bolt, means to retract said bolt, a finger pull controlling the operation of said retracting means, and means projecting from said finger pull for engagement by the finger to normally lock the same against movement.

29. In a door latch, a strike plate, a latch bolt, and a strike bolt, adjacent thereto, engaging the strike plate when the door is closed to prevent rattling of said door.

30. In a door latch, the combination with a door and a door frame having a double faced strike plate of a raised longitudinal rib on the inner strike face, and a latch bolt provided with a cut away portion to receive said rib.

31. In combination, a door, a latch thereon provided with a latch bolt, means to retract said lock bolt set into operative position by the closing of the door, a push button on one side of said door, and a finger pull on the other side of the door, both said push button and finger setting said retracting means into operation.

32. In combination, a door provided with a latch having a latch bolt, resilient means to retract said bolt, means on each side of said door for setting said retracting means into operation.

33. In a door latch, a strike plate, a latch bolt engaging therewith and an anti-rattling member slidably carried by said bolt and adapted to be forced into engagement with said strike plate when the door is closed.

34:. In a door latch, a strike plate, a door latch bolt adapted to engage the same, and an anti-rattling member slidably carried by said latch bolt and adapted to be wedged in. bolt engaging member, and an anti-rattling 10 between said bolt and plate. member slidably mounted in front of said 35. In a door latch, a strike plate, a latch latch bolt and projectable into engagement bolt engaging therewith, an anti-rattling with said latch bolt engaging member to member adapted to be wedged in between prevent rattling of said door.

said latch and plate and means adjustable In witness whereof, I have hereunto set 15 on said member to prevent said wedging acmy hand on the 23rd day of April, 1920.

tion.

36. In a door latch, a latch bolt, a latch JQHN J. MALONE.