US1378583A

US1378583A - Door-latch

Info

Publication number: US1378583A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas L Church
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1919-09-06
Filing date: 1919-09-06
Publication date: 1921-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 1938-05-17

Description

T. L. CHURCH.

DOOR LATCH- APPLICATION FILED SEPT-511919- RENEWEDOCT- 911920. 1,378,583. Patented May 17,- 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 7770177415 Lea [Wu/ T. L. CHURCH.

DOOR LATCH.

APP'E'ICATION FILED sums. 1919. RENEWED oc T. 9. 1 920.

Patented May 17, 1921.

2 $HEETS-$HEET 2- ammo;

Quorum THOMAS I1. CHURCH, OF GILBERT, MINNESOTA.

nooR-LArgH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Application filed September 6, 1919, Serial No. 322,174. Renewed October 9, 1920. Serial No. 415,947.

' and the like, though not necessarily, for the reason that it can be applied to other doors, and the invention aims to provide a latch of this kind, which is simple, eiiicient and practical in construction, and may be manufactured for a relatively low cost and sold at a reasonable profit.

A great many latches heretofore employed springs to move the latch member either to an open or a closed position in engagement with the keeper, and it has been found that springs so employed very soon rust and break, or get out of order, thereby causing the latch to operate unsatisfactorily.

Furthermore a good many of the latches heretofore used become useless in a very short while, owing to thesagging of the door. When a door, on which a latch here tofore used, sags, it will be latched very loosely. A great many of the latches heretofore used will not engage the keeper, owing to their being no provision made for adjusting the latch to compensate for the sagging of the door.

Hence, a further object of the invention is to eliminate the employment of springs, thereby avoidingthe springs becoming corroded and useless and rendering the latch inoperative or ineffective. In eliminating' the use of springs it is the aim to provide a latch which is gravity actuatedto engage the keeper, so that the latch will at all times effectively operate and cooperate with the keeper. v

The invention further aims to provide means, whereby the latch may be adjusted, so as to compensate for the sagging of the door, and to hold the door securely closed and latched.

The invention further aims to provide A further object of the invention is the:

provision of a latch which engages its keeper on the inner side of the closure, that is on the jamb or the post of the door opening, and to provide means exteriorly or" the door to operate the latch to disengage it from its keeper.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means on the exterior of the housing, to be engaged by the latch operating means, to hold the door open.

While the design and construction at pres ent illustrated and set forth is deemed pret erable, it is obvious that as a result of a reduction of the invention to a more practical form for commercial purposes, the invention may be susceptible to changes, and the right to these changes is claimed, provided they are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a portion of the door, and the ja 11), showing the Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the inner I face of the door, particularly that portion near the jamb or door post, showing the latch in engagement with its keeper.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the latch, and showing the latch has p in engagement with its keeper.

Fig. 4 is an edge plan view of a portion of the door, showing the latch applied, anc illustrating the door swung open, so that its outer race is adjacent the outer face of the housing, (which is in section) with the operating handle in engagement with the keeper on the exterior of the housing, to hold the door open. 1 1

Fig. 5 are enlarged detail views respectively in perspective, showing the interengaging surfaces of the hasp and one end of a sleeve, which rotates with the bolt of the the hasp is held relatively to the sleeve in different adjusted positions, to accommodate for the sagging of the door, whereby the hasp may at all times properly engage the keeper.

- Fig. 6 is a detail'perspective view of the keeper.

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the keeper, which is carried by the outer face of the barn.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of. a portion of the plate which is mounted on the exterior surface of the door, showing the slot 36.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates the outside wall of a barn, or similar structure, and 2 denotes the door post, and 3 the door, which may be hingedly mounted in any suitable manner (not shown). Secured to the inner and outer faces of the door 3 by the bolts 4; are the plates 5 and 6, which are provided respectively with

cylindrical bearings

7 and 8, in which a sleeve 9 is capable of rocking movements. The opposite ends of this sleeve project slightly beyond the cylindrical bearings T and 8, and the marginal edges of the ends are provided with radial serrations 10 and 11. A bolt 12 extends longitudinally through the sleeve, and has a head at one end. This bolt adjacent where the head is formed is rectangular as shown at 12, so that an actuator may rotate with the bolt. The other end of the bolt has a reduced threaded extension 1% at the opposite end, to be engaged by a nut 15. A hasp 16is provided and which is constructed of a single piece of sheet metal, which is bent upon itself as 17, 1S and 19, thereby forming a triangular shaped keeper engaging head 20. Where one end of the sheet metal is bent at 19, the end portion thereof is arranged adj acent the body of the hasp, and this end por tion and the body of the hasp receives the reduced end of the bolt 12, the nut acting to hold the end portion and the body sccurely on the body and the body thereof in contact with one end of the sleeve. The face of the body which engages the sleeve is provided with radial serrations 21, which are engaged by the serrations 10, thereby holding the hasp in position relatively to the sleeve. The end portion 22 of the hasp constitutes a handle, whereby the hasp may be manipulated on the inside or the barn, to disengage the hasp head from the keeper. Where the hasp head is bent at 18, the head is provided with oppositely arranged inclined parts 23, the upper one of which is designed to cam against the keeper, so as to guide the hasp in engagement with the keeper, whereby either one of the shoulders 24: may engage behind a part of the keeper, it depending on whether or not the hasp is used on a door which swings open from the right or one which swings open from the left. The

keeper 25 is constructed from a single piece of metal bent to form the

parts

26, 27 and 28, and the

parts

27 and 28 are secured by screws as shown to the jainb or door post of the door opening. The

bends

29 and 30 of the keeper are so formed as to provide the face 31, and the edge 32, so that when the door is closed, one of the inclined parts 23 will ride or camp upon the edge 32, so that a shoulder 24 may engage behind the face 31 of the keeper, and hold the door closed.

When the keeper 25 is placed on the jamb of the door opening in a horizontal position, the face 31 will assume a vertical position. For instance, a position at right angles to the horizontal plane of the keeper. It is obvious that the keeper is capable of reversibility. In fact, it may be used in connection with right or left hand doors.

A hasp actuating member 33 is carried by the bolt 12. The end of the actuator, which connects to the bolt 12, has a rectangular opening, to engage the rectangular portion 12 of the bolt, so that the actuator when moved, will turn the bolt. The body of the bolt 12 beyond the rectangular portion 12 is preferably cylindrical, though not IlGOQSStrily, for it is obvious that it ca be otherwise shaped. The end of the actuator which engages the rectangular portion 12 of the bolt is positioned between the head 13 and the outer end of the sleeve 9. This actuator is formed from a single piece of sheet metal and its inner face is provided with radial serrations 3 1, which mesh or engage the serrations 11 of the outer endof the sleeve. The plate 6 has a lateral portion 35 provided with a vertical elongated slot 36, in which the actuator near its free end engages, and is capable of an oscillatory movement. limited in its movement either downwardly or upwardly, by contacting with either the lower or upper end of the slot. The upper and lower ends of the slot 36 are provided with

circular enlargements

37 and 38, and when the actuator is in its lowermost position engaging the lower end of the slot, the shackleof a suitable padlocksuch as in dicated at 39 inayengage the upper circular enlargement, thereby preventing full upward'movement of the actuator, hence pre venting the hasp from being entirely disengaged from its keeper, thereby preventing opening of the door. By the provision of the slot 36 including the

openings

37 and 38 at its opposite ends, it is obvious that the plate 6 may be used upon a door which swings to the right, or may be applied to a door which may swing to the left and vice versa. This may be accomplished by simply reversing the plate 6 in position, when applied to one or the other style of door. The free end portion of the actuator terminates in a spherical enlargement or gravity member 10, which urges a shoulder 24 in engagement with the rear part of the keeper, that is after one of the edges 23 cams or rides over the lower part of the keeper. A second keeper as shown in the drawings is secured to the outer face of the wall of the barn or similar housing, and this keeper 11 is constructed from a single piece of sheet metal, to form a triangular shaped body as shown in the plan view, and the wall 42 of this keeper is provided with a notch 43 and an inclined edge 44, which is engaged by the actuator, when the door is swung entirely open with its outer face adjacent the outer face of the barn or housing, so that the actuator may engage the notch 43, to hold the door open.

By loosening the nut 15 so as to permit of slight movement of the bolt, whereby the actuator and the hasp may be adjusted relatively to the sleeve and the bolt, the hasp and the actuator may be positioned to compensate for the sagging of the door, so that at all times the hasp may readily engage its keeper, and remain engaged, until manipulated by the actuator.

It is obvious that this latch mechanism may be mounted upon a door which may swing to the left, as well as to a door which swings to the right, and vice versa. Should the latch mechanism be applied to a door which swings to the left instead of to the right, then it is obvious that the hasp and the keepers will operate in vertical positions, to that illustrated in the drawings. However, in either case, the latch mechanism will properly and effectively operate, to latch the door, and moreover in either case, it is possible to compensate for the sagging of the door, to cause the hasp to at all times properly and effectively cooperate with its keeper.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a latch, the combination with a keeper on the jamb of a door opening, of latching means mounted in bearings of a door transversely thereof and provided with a hasp on one end adapted to cam under and into engagement with the keeper, and a gravity actuator carried by the opposite end on the exterior of the door, to automatically move the hasp in engagement with the keeper, a plate mounted on the exterior face of the door and having a right angle portion provided with a vertical slot, in which the actuator is mounted for vertical movement, and means adapted to engage the upper end of the slot, to retain the actuator in the lower end of the slot, thereby preventing the hasp from entirely disengaging from the keeper.

2. -in a latch, the combination with a keeper on the jamb of the door opening, of latching means mounted in bearingsof a door transversely thereof and provided with a hasp on one end adapted to cam under and into engagement with the keeper, and a gravity actuator carried by the opposite end on the exterior of the door, to automatically move the hasp in engagement with the keeper, means for connecting the hasp and i the actuator to the locking means, whereby one or both may be adjusted relatively to the locking means and the keeper, to compensate for the sagging of the door, a plate mounted on the exterior face of the door and having a right angle portion provided with a vertical slot in which the actuator is mounted for vertical movement, and means adapted to engage the upper end of the slot, to retain the actuator in the lower end of the slot, thereby preventing the hasp from entirely disengaging from the keeper.

3. The combination with a keeper on the door post of a door opening, of plates secured to the inner and outer faces of said door and provided with axially alined cylindrical bearings, a sleeve mounted in said bearings, a hasp and an actuator, means passing through the sleeve and provided with an element for effectively and detachably and adjustably connecting the hasp and the actuator to the opposite ends of the sleeve, the hasp being-on the inner face of the door and adapted to cam in engagement with the keeper, the actuator being on the exterior face of the door and having gravity means to hold the hasp in engagement with the keeper.

4. The combination with a keeper on the door post of a door opening, of plates secured to the inner and outer faces of said door and provided with axially alined cylindrical bearings, a sleeve mounted in said bearings, a hasp and an actuator, means passing through the sleeve and provided with an element for effectively and detachably and adjustably connecting the hasp and the actuator to the opposite ends of the sleeve, the hasp being on the inner face of the door and adapted to cam in engagement with the keeper, the actuator being on the exterior face of the door and having gravity means to hold the hasp in engagement with the keeper, and means cooperating with the actuator to latch the hasp in engagement with the keeper.

5. The combination with a keeper on a door post of a door opening, of a pair of axially alined cylindrical bearings adjacent the inner and outer faces of said door, means for supporting said bearings in positions on the door, ahasp and an actuator, means mounted in the sleeves and connecting the hasp and the actuator, a device carried by said means and cooperating with the hasp for detachably and adjustably connecting the hasp and the actuator to the opposite ends of the sleeve, the actuator having gravity means for holding the hasp in engagement with said keeper.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS L. CHURCH.

Witnesses:

J. F. GIANOTTI, A. B. Conn.