US1641988A - Mounting for latch handles - Google Patents

Description

Sent; 3, 1. OTTINGER 1,641,988 mounuu FOR LATCH mumms Filed March 5,1924

1 m um 6 v INVEIyTOR 13 fear; 05827967,

A TTORNE Y Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

LEON OTTINGER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

' MOUNTING FOR LATCH HANDLES.-

.Appllcation filed March 3, 1924. Serial No. 696,426.

This invention relates to an improved mounting for latch handles and the like and has for its primary purpose to provide an improved bearing support for the handle shaft which will automatically accommodate itself to variations in the angular relat on between the shaft axis and the opening through the door structure. To this end, I provide in one embodiment of the lnvention, an annular bearing member mounted upon the door structure and d rectly receiving and supporting the handle shaft, said member being composed of a substantially waterproof compressible material whereby 16 the inner circumference thereof will exert a uniform bearing pressure upon the periphery of the shaft, although said .shaft may be eccentrically positloned with relation to the opening in the door structure 20 through which it extends.

Itis another object of the invention to provide an improved form of esci'itcheon member fixed to the door structure at one end of the opening therethrough, said' cs cutcheon member having an annular hollow part within which the compressible shaft bearing element is permanently confined.

It is also a further general object of my invention to provide a bearing for latch handles of the above character which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and may be easily and quickly applied to the door structure in position to receive the v latch handle without necessitating the exercise of any special care or skill upon the art of the workman.

\Vith the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the improved latch handle mounting and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein I have illustrated one simple and satisfactory embodiment of the invention and inwhich similar reference characters parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through an automobile door showing one embodiment of my improved handle shaft mountin Figure 2 is a detail view partly in secdesignate correspondingtion, showing the escutcheon member before its final application to the door;

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 4 is a detail elevation of the compressible shaft bearing element;

Figure 5 is a sectional view illustrating a slightly modified form of the device as appligd to a different type of latch handle; an

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing still another modification of the invention.

While in the following description, I shall describe my device more particularly with respect to itsapplication. and use in connection with latch handles for automobile doors, it will be apparent as this description proceeds, that such device likewise may be applied to various analogous uses where a simple and efficient bearing support for an operating shaft extending through an opening in the door or other structure, is desired. In such cases where the shaft is operatively connected at one side of the structure to a part to be actuated thereby, the opening receiving the shaft is often carelessly drilled, so that when the shaft is positioned-therethrough, its axis will not exactly coincide with the axis of said opening, but said shaft will be more or less eccentrically related to the Walls of said opening. Heretofore in such instances it has been quite diflicult to properly fit and support the shaft in a hearing arranged at the opposite side of the door structure without severe binding or frictional'resistance to the turning movement of the shaft, or without providing a bearing support of relatively complicated and expensive construction.

For purposes of illustration, I have shown my present improvements as applied for use in connection with an automobile door 5, to the inner face of which a suitable latch means having an oscillating rollback 6, is applied. Since this latch constitutes no essential feature of my present improvements, it may be of any desired construction. The rollback 6 is actuated by the usual handle 7 having a cylindrical shaft 8 terminating in a rectangular shank portion 9, the end of which is fitted into the bore of the rollback 6. and rigidly fixed therein. The means for fastening or securing the handle shank to the rollbacklikewise constitutes no essential part of the present improvements, and such fastening means may consist of any one of but converge towards the free edge of the end of the handle openin door. Therefore, if the handle receiving opening 11 extending through said do or structure is bored through the door with lts outer end in concentric relation to the axis of the rollback 6, the end of said opening at the other side of the door will be eccentric with respect to the rollback. Therefore, when the handle shaft'9 is fitted through sa1d opening and connected to the rollback 6, the axis of said shaft will not exactly coincide with the axis of the opening 11 through the door. Accordingly, if a rigid metal bushing were fitted into the outer end of the opening 11, it would not have uniform bearin contact upon the eriphery of the handle s aft and unless said bushing is especially formed in accordance with the degree of eccentricity of the shaft with relation to the opening 11, it would not be possible to properly fit the shaft in said bushing without severe frictional binding engagement tending to retard the free rotation of the handle shaft.

In my co-pending application for patent, Ser. No. 648,394, filed June 28th, 1923, Patent No. 1,540,495, I have shown, described and claimed a combination escutcheon and shaft bearing member, wherein the metal escutcheon is provided with means having direct bearing contact upon the shaft and in which a part of said member is expanded under pressure into the structure of the door whereby the member is fixed permanently in position. In the present case, I likewise provide a sheet metal escutcheon member 12. This member in one embodiment consists of a one piece metal sleeve or tube having a portion 13 adapted to project into the outer 11 in the door structure and a diametrica ly enlarged hollow annular head 14 at one end of the por tion 13 of said sleeve. This head is adapted to receive an annular compressible bearing element 15, and as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, the outer flange or wall 'of the annular head 14 is turned inwardly and downwardly over and upon the annular element 15 and at its edge has gripping or binding contact therewith, as shown at 16, whereby said annular bearing element is permanently confined within the annular channel or space of the head 14.

Preferably, the annular bearing element 15 is composed of a high grade of felt of suitable texture and is impregnated with an animal oil for the purpose of rendering the same substantially waterproof.

1,e41,ese

In applying this combinatidn bearing and escutcheon to the door structure, I may use a tool somewhat similar to that shown in my co-pending application last above referred to, whereby tongues or spurs 17 are struck outwardly from he end edge of the part 13 of the escutcheon which pro'ects into the opening 11 and are firmly em edded in the door structure 5 whereb the escutcheon is permanently fixed in position upon the door. If desired, the tool may be so formed as to embed these spurs 17 in the door structure at the same time as the flange 16 of the escutcheon member is turned inwardly upon the bearing element 15. It will be noted that in this instance, the element 15 completely fills the annular channel of the head 14 of the cscutcheon member, the inner diameter of said annular member 15 being predetermined in accordance with the diameter of the handle shaft 8. Since, however, the structure of the bearing element 15 is inherently yieldable and compressible, it will be apparent that as the shaft is forced through said bearing element and the end of its shank 9 engaged in the bore of the rollback 6, said annular bearing element 15 in the inner portion thereof will automatically accommodate itself to any reasonable eccentric relation which said handle shaft might bear with respect to the head of the escutche'on member or the wall of the opening 11, due to the inaccurate boring of said opening through the door so that when the handle shaft is fixed in connection with the rollback, the axis of said shaft must necessarily be positioned out of alignment with the axis of said opening. In practice, it has been demonstrated that such an automatically compensating bearing su port for the handle shaft effectively su serves the purpose in view, and in addition to providing an adequate and firm support for the shaft, while permitting of its free turning or rotating movement in the opening of the door structure, the compressible bearing element of felt or other equivalent material affords a substantially dust and watertight closure between the handle shaft and the opening through the door. Further it will be seen that my invention is adapted to use in connection with the ordinary type of latch handles now commonl applied upon automobiles and no ad itions or changes in the structure thereof are necessary. Since it is also manifest that the escutcheon member in which the bearing element is confined may be produced by means of a simple sheet metal stamping operation, the device as a whole will be, therefore, inexpensive.

My new method of application of the combined bearing and escutcheon to the door structure further reduces cost incident to assembla e of the latch in the door by reason of the fact that all fastening screws looseness occurring at the rollback bearings,

the member 15 will automatically compensate therefor and tend to resist angular movement of the shaft relative to its axis which would otherwise be caused by vibration transmitted through the door structure. Thus, rattling metallic noise by relative movement betweenthe rollback and the walls of the latch case will be obviated. Preferably, as seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the thickness of the yieldable material of which thebearing member 15 is formed, is

a appreciably less than the diameter of the shaft receiving opening in said member so that notwithstanding the fact that this material is of a high grade of wear resisting felt having its fibers more or less closely united, said bearing member will automatically adapt or accommodate itself to an appreciable degree of eccentricity in the relation between the shaft and the axis of the opening 11 through the door.

In Figure 5 of the drawing I have shown the device in a slightly modified construction as applied to another type of latch having a vertical operating shaft or spindle 8. This shaft extends above the upper edge or sill of the door structure 5 and to the same a suitable handle 7 is attached. Between this handle and the upper edge of the door my improved bearing and escutcheon member is disposed. The escutcheon member of sheet metal is substantially identical in its construction to that previously described and is applied to the door structure in the same manner. In this instance, however, the annular bearing member 15 of compressible material is of somewhat less diameter than the internal diameter of the hollow annular head 14' of the escutcheon member. Thus said annular bearing member may shift diametrically within said hollo\v head when the end of the shaft 8' is inserted therethrough, in accordance with the degree of eccentricity of the shaft end with respect to the opening through the door structure. At the same time, the opposite walls of the hollow annular head of the escutcheon member prevent any axial movement of the bearing element 15 so that in such lateral shifting of the bearing element the inner portion thereof will be placed under compressing pressure. However, it

will be apparent that the same result is obtained in this case as in Figure 1 where the shaft extends transversely through the door, and a combined water and dust-tight closure for the end of the shaft opening and" an adequate bearing support for the handle shaft is provided.

In Figure 6 of the drawing, I have shown another alternative form of the device,

wherein the escutcheon member consists of a body section 18 in the form of a short metal sleeve or tube having an angular flange at one end providing an annular channel or groove to receive the compressible bearing annulus. The outer wall of the flange 13 is threaded to receive a flanged cap section 13*, the radially disposed wall of which has clamping and bearing pressure against the outer side of the bearing annulus 15 whereby the latter is tightly secured in place. If for any reason this bearing annulus should become loose, the cap member 13 may be further adjusted so as to increase its pressure upon said annulus.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is believed that the construction, manner of use and the several advantages of my present'improvements will be fully understood. It will be appreciated that by elimi nating the contact of a metal bearing or supporting part with the shaft, wear of the latter is substantially obviated and also any metallic rattling noise due to vibration is wholly overcome. I have found that a high grade of felt of the proper texture and of great durability may be obtained which will be substantially immune to deterioration by the elements, temperature changes or analogous causes, and will practically retain its functional capabilities unimpaired for an indefinite period. I have illustrated and described several different constructions and applications of my invention, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom, since it is apparent that the device might also be exemplified in other alternative constructions and applied to many other analogous uses.

Accordingly, I reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A combined shaft escutcheon and hearing including an escutcheon member having a hollow annular head and means projecting from one side thereof for affixing the escutcheon member to a door structure, and a shaft bearing element of compressible material contained in said annular head of the escutcheon member adapted to receive and yieldaloly sustain the shaft in operative posiso i 3. In combination with a door structure having a latch handle receiving open1ng, a latch operating rollback at one end of said opening and an operating handle adapted to be connected to said rollback; an escutcheon member fixed to the door structure at the other end of said opening, and a continuous annular bearing element of compressible material combined with said escutcheon member as a unit and having its shaft engaging surface normally concentric with the opening through the escutcheon member, said bearing element accommodating itself to an eccentric relation of the shaft with the shaft axis intersecting the axis of said opening.

4. In combination with a door structure having a latch handle receiving open1ng, a latch operating rollback at one end of said opening and an operating handle adapted to be connected to said rollback, an escutcheon member consisting of a sheet metal sleeve fixed in the door structure at the other end of said opening and said sleeve provided with a hollow annular head surrounding the latter end of the opening, and an annular shaft bearing element permanently confined in said hollow head of the escutcheon member and normally having its bearing face in concentric relation with said sleeve, said bearing element yielding under pressure to accommodate itself to an eccentric relation of said shaft with respect to the axis of said opening.

5. In combination. a structure having an opening therethrough, a rotatable shaft EX, tending through said opemng to engage a part adjacent one end thereof, an annular member affixed to said structure at the other end of said opening, and a supporting bearing for said shaft composed of compressible material carried by said annular member and operatively supporting the shaft out of contact with said member.

6. In combination with a door structure having a transverse opening therethrough and a latch handle shaft extending through said opening and connected to a latch actuating rollback at the inner end thereof for rotation about a fixed axis; a bearing for nausea said shaft mounted upon the door structure adjacent to the outer end of saidopening and consisting of an annular member having a structure capable of limited compression whereby said member may accommo-' date itself to an angular intersecting relation between the axes of the shaft and the openin and also support the shaft for rotation in predetermined rojecting relation to the outer face of the oor structure and out of contact with the wall of said openin and said member providing a substantial y fluid tight closure between the periphery of the shaft and the wall of said opening.

7. A combined latch shaft bearing and escutcheon comprising a metal sleeve adapted to be inserted into one end of the latch shaft opening through the door and permanently fixed to the latter, the other end of said sleeve having a diametrically enlarged holl low head extending upon the face of the door at the end of said opening and constituting an escutcheon, and a yieldable shaft bearing element of smaller internal diameter than the sleeve permanently confined in said hollow head and automatically accommodating itself to the arrangement of said shaft with its axis disposed in intersecting relation with the axis of the opening through the door without appreciably retarding the free rotation of the handle shaft.

8. In combination with a door structure having an opening therethrough and a latch provided with a rotatable actuating member, an operatin shaft for the latch extending through sai opening, means for rigidly connecting one end of said shaft to said actuating member constituting the sole means retaining said shaft in assembled relation with the door, and a single bearing member for said shaft mounted u on the door structure in spaced relation to t e actuating member and having a bearing surface of less diameter than said opening for supporting contact with the shaft intermediate of its ends, said bearing member being composed of a yieldable material adapting itself to an eccentric relation of said shaft with respect to the axis of said opening while supporting said shaft for free rotation in definite projecting relation to the face of the door structure.

9. In combination with a door structure having an opening therethrough and a latch provided with a rotatable actuating member, an operating shaft for the latch extending through said opening, means for rigidly connecting one end of said shaft to said actuatin member constituting the sole means retaining said shaft in assembled relation with the door, a supporting element fixed to the door structure at one end of said opening, and an annular bearing member supported by said element against bodily displacement relative thereto, having a bearing surface for the shaft of less diameter than said shaft for free rotation in definite prosaid opening, and said surface extending jecting relation to the face of the door struclongitudinally on the shaft for a distance ture.

appreciably less than the shaft diameter, In testimony that I claim the foregoing said bearing member being composed of as my invention, I have signed my name yieldable material adapting itself to an echereto.

centric relation of said shaft with respect 7 to the axis of said opening while supporting LEON OTTINGER.

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