US1710509A - Handle-attaching means for door latches - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1929. L. OTTINGER 1,710,509

HANDLE ATTACHING MEANS FOR DOOR LATCHES Filed Sept. 16, 1926 m cu 13 I llIl i EH1 Q 7 15 157 77 x17 Z] INVENTOR Z6072 02 z'nyar 144b ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 23, 1929. I y

UNITED STATES LEON orrmonn, on NEW YORK, n. Y.

" lnannnrrn'r'monme MEANS non noon LATCHES.

Application filed September 16, 1926. Serial Nb. 135,741.

This invention relates to handle attaching means for door latches, such means however,

being of more or less general application for the purpose of easily and quickly effecting a rigid connection between two parts, which,

however is of such construction as to also admit of said parts being readily disconnected from each other when occasion requires without distortion or other damage thereto which would prevent the continued use of said parts or impair their etficiency or serviceability.

However, my present improvements are primarily concerned with the provision of a simple, reliable andeifective means for quickly attaching or connecting the operating handle to the rollback of a latch mechanism of the type generally used upon automobile doors. I have heretofore, devised several means for effecting such connection of the handle to the rollback as disclosed for instance in patents numbered 1,484,406 and 1,503,281, issued to me on February 19th and June 29, 1924, respectively. In each of these patented disclosures, it is to be noted that the end of the handle shaft entering the bore of the rollback is longitudinally split, said split'end of the shaft being expanded against the walls of said bore by means of a screw or analogous element. In order to enable this expanding screw to be applied, the wall of the latch case is provided with an opening therein, and in the disclosure of the patent first mentioned, the rollback is likewise provided with a transversely extending openin For obvious reasons, the provision of suc openings in the latch case wall and the rollback is objectionable and in a co-pending application for patent Serial No. 122,762, filed June 16, 1926, I have disclosed one means for effecting the connection between the handle and the rollback without providing such additional openings in the rollback and the wall of the latch case. However, in this case likewise, the shaft end is longitudinally split and expanded in the rollback bore.

I It is one of the important objects of my present improvements to materially simplify and improve the handle attaching means as disclosed in the said pending application, and to this end, I'have devised'a sim le, reliable and effective attaching means whlch not only obviates-the necessity of providing the objectionable openings in the rollback and the latch case wall, but also does not require the longitudinal splitting of the shaft.

It is another important object of my invention to provide an attachingmember pe'rmanently mounted in the shaft end but axially rotative relative thereto, and said member having means whereby a rigid connection between the shaft end and the rollback is effected merely by a relative rotational movement between the rollback and said attaching member.

More specifically, I provide the shaft in spaced relation to its end with suitable stop means to abut against one end of the rollback and limit the insertion of the shaft end into the bore thereof, and said rotatable attaching member having a head corresponding in outline form with the shaft end and in one position thereof movable with the shaft end through said bore, and said head having parts adapted to coact with the other end of the rollback at the edges of the bore when relative rotation is imparted tothe rollback and attaching member whereby the shaft end is drawn axially through the bore to tightly engage said stop means with the other end of the rollback.

It is another detail object of the invention to provide the head of said attaching member with a means which will effectively coact with the end of the rollback, notwithstanding the fact that in cuttin the bore through the rollback, a projecting urr extending beyond the end face of said rollback may remain thereon.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved handle attaching means for door latches and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings wherein I have illustrated one simple and practical embodiment of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of an automobile door illustrating my presentiinvent-ion as applied thereto i Fig. 2 is a similar horizontal section on an enlarged scale showing the handle shaft end rigidly connected with the rollback;

Fi 3 is a similar horizontal sectional view showing the position of the attaching member when the shaft end is first inserted through the bore of the rollback and before final attachment;

Fig. 4-is asectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

. her as in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of the attaching member.

The latch construction which I have par-- tially illustrated in the accompanying drawing constitutes no essential feature of the present invention, and it will be understood as this description proceeds that the subject matter of this application is capable of adaptation and use in connection with many different types of door latches now known in the art and also in various other instances where a quickly attachable and detachable connection between a rod or shaft and complementary part may prove to be of material advantage, the invention to be presently described will be found desirable. However,

since the use of the invention in connection with automobile door latches is particularly advantageous in the interests of expediting production and reducing material and labor costs, I have selected this application of the invention for illustrative purposes, and accordingly, in the accompanying drawing I have shown a portion of an automobile door 5. The inner face of this door is mortised in the usual manner to receive the latch casing 6 within which the latch bolt and projecting and retracting mechanism therefor-are mounted. The latch bolt retracting means includes the customary rollback 7 WlllCh is journalled for oscillating or rocking movement at its ends in spaced parts of the latch case 6. This rollback is usually provided with a projecting arm, and may be of any desired form requisite to insure its proper cooperation with a part on the latch bolt or other means whereby the bolt is retracted when said rollback is oscillated in one direction. This rollback is provided with ay'longitudinally extending bore 8 which may be of any desired cross sectional form or shape, but the said bore as herein shown is rectangular and preferably' square.

The door structure 5 has a transversely extending handle receiving opening 9 bored therethrough substantially in line with the rollback 7. As herein shown, in the outer end of this opening, a combined handle shaft bearing and escutcheon member 10 is secured. This member which is preferably in the form of a sheet metal sleeve having an enlarged annular head at the outer face of the door in which a yieldable bushing of felt or other compressible material is contained, constitutes no essential part of the present disclosure,'as it is fully shown, described and clalmed' in a second co-pending application for patent filed March 3, 1924, Serial No.

cally accommodating itself to any discrepancies in axial alignment between the opening 9 and the rollback 7 and likewise provides a more or less ornamental escutcheon surrounding the handle shaft at the outer face of the door.

The operating handle for the latch includes a cylindrical shaft portion .11 extending through the member 10 and a reduced portion 12 having substantially the same cross sectional form as the bore 8 of the rollback 7' whereby the end of said shaft section 12 will have snug fitting engagement in said bore.

In spaced relation to the end face of the shaft section 12, said shaft sect-ion is provided with a suitable stop means to abut against the outer end of the rollback 7 and limit the insertion of the shaft end through the bore 8. Preferably, this stop means is integrally formed with the handle shaft, and in the present instance, I have shown the metal of said shaft end at the meeting edges of its several faces swaged outwardly to provide a plurality of stop lugs or projections 13.

The end of the shaft section '12 is further provided with an axially centered cylindrical bore 14. This bore is adapted to loosely receive the cylindrical shank 15 of the attach.- ing member, said shank being provided at a point intermediate of its ends with a circumferentially extending groovej16. While various means might be employed for retaining this attaching member in connection with the shaft end against axial movement relative thereto, I find it most convenient for this purpose to indent each side of the rectangular shaft end to thereby produce the projections or protuberances 17 ,on the wall of the bore 14.- which extend into the circumferential groove 16 of the shank 15. Thus this shank and the shaft end may have a relative rotational movement while at the same time the attaching member is effectively held against disconnection from the shaft by an axial movement relative thereto.

Upon the outer head 18 is formed. This head is also preferably square, the dimensions thereof corre-- sponding with the cross sectional dimensions of the shaft end 12. Thus, in one position of said attaching member, it will be understood that each edge face of this head 18 will be positioned in the plane of one of the side faces of the square shaft end. This head 18 is comparatively thin, and at the corners thereof nextad acent to the shank 15, the i,

end of the shank 15 the the cam surfaces 19 to this convex outer face jections 13 do not project beyond the periphcry of the cylindrical part 11 of the handle shaft. Therefore, the square section 12 of the shaft having these projections thereon can be readily inserted through the bearing of the drawings.

bushing 10 and the end of said shaft section 12 engaged in the bore 8 of the rollback. As above stated, such insertion of the shaft end is limited by contact of the stop lug 13 against the outer end of the rollback 7. I preferably so position these lugs 13 that when they engage the end of the rollback, the end face of the shaft section 12 is spaced inwardly about one-sixty-fourth (1/64) of an inch from the inner end face of the rollback. This is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

It is of course, understood that when the shaft end is thus inserted through the rollback bore, the head 18 of the attaching member is positioned with its edge faces in the planes of the respective faces of the shaft as seen in Fig. 4 Thus, as shown in Fig. 3, said head will project beyond the inner end face of the rollback, the cam surfaces 19 at the corners thereof extending from the edges of the rollback bore inwardly to the end face of the shaft. Suitable means is provided for engagement withthe head 18 to hold the attaching member stationary. For this purpose, I have shown in the drawings, a simple metal bar 22 having a rectangular groove 23 cut in one side face thereof. It is usual to supply such doors to the automobile manufacturer with the latch'applied and the upholstery indicated at 24 extending over the inner side wall of the latch case so that it only remains for the manufacturer to apply the latch operating handle. The upholstery at its outer vertical edge is not tightly aflixed to the wall of the latch case, so that the bar or other tool 22 can be easily-inserted between the latch case wall andthe upholstery and the projecting head. 18 of the attaching member engaged in the channel or groove 23 of said bar. While the bar 22 and therefore, the attaching member are held stationary, the handle shaft and consequently the rollback 7 are rotated through an angle of approximately 45, the bar 22 being then removed.

Accordingly, the bore through the rollback and the end of the shaft section 12 will be positioned relative to the head 18 of the attaching member as seen in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Obviously therefore, each of the cam surfaces 19 of the head 18 will cooperate with the end face of the rollback at one edge of its bore 8 and by such frictional coaction between said cam surfaces and the end face of the rollback, the end of the handle shaft will be pulled axially, thereby drawing the stop lugs or projections 13 into tight binding engagement against the outer end face of the rollback. In this manner, the shaft end will be positively locked in the bore of the rollback so that the two parts will thereafter operate as a unit. In such operation of the handle shaft to'retrac-t the latch bolt, since .the rollback, the shaft end and the attaching member all rotate together, and there is no possibility ofrelative rotation between the square shaft end and the rollback, there will be no'tendency of the head of the attaching member to return to a position in alignment with the bore through the rollback.

It is sometimes necessary, as in repainting the automobile door tb remove the latch oper- I ating handle. This may be readily done by simply engaging the end of the tool 22 with the head 18 of the attaching member and then .again rotating the handle shaft and rollback through an angle of 45, whereby the edge faces of the head 18 of the attaching member are again positioned in parallelism with the walls of the rollback bore. The handle shaft may then be readily withdrawn.

It sometimes occurs in the manufacture of the rollbacks, that in cutting the bore 8 therethrough, a slight burr of metal will be-left at I the end of the bore projecting beyond the end face of the rollback, and this burr is not removed before applying the latch handle.

Even in such cases, my improved attaching meanswill nevertheless operate effectively, as it is found that the relatively sharp corners 21 of the head 18 will cut through such a projecting burr, it being understood that this attaching member is subjected to a hardening heat treatment and is harder than the metal of the rollback.

' From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, manner of operation and several advantages of my present invention will be clearly and fully understood. It will be seen that I have materially improved upon the devices disclosed in my prior patents and applications, in that the shaft end is not longitudinally split, and instead of relying upon a wedging or expanding action binding the sections of the shaft against the walls of the rollback bore, I provide means permanently associated with the shaft end for positively and effectively locking said shaft end in connection with the rollback at the opposite ends thereof, and thereby completely overcoming any tendency which might otherwise exist for said rollback and the shaft end to rotate relative to each other. In addition, it is also obvious that by means of my present improvements, the connection or disconnection of the shaft end .to or from the rollback may bemuch more easily and quickly made than in the prior devices,

I have herein disclosed an embodiment of my present improvements which I have found to be highly effective for the purpose in view. It will nevertheless, be understood that the es sential features of the device are susceptible of embodiment in various other alternative forms, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly incorporated-within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a door latch including a rollback having a bore, a shaft having stop means limiting the insertion of the shaft through said bore, and a member mounted on said shaft and having a part movable with respect to the shaft in a plane intersecting the shaft axis, said part in one position being insertable with the shaft through said bore and in another position coacting with said roolback to prevent withdrawal of the shaft from said bore and hold said stop means in close abutting contact with one end of said rollback.

2. In combination with a door latch including a rollback having a bore, a shaft having stop means limiting the insertion of the'shaft through said bore, and a member permanently mounted on said shaft and having a part movable with respect to the shaft in a plane intersecting the shaft axis, said part in one position being movable with the shaft through said bore and adapted'for movement to another position, afterthe insertion of the shaft, and into coacting relation with said rollback to prevent withdrawal of the shaft from said bore and hold said stop means in close abutting contact-with one endofsaid rollback. I

3. In combination with a door latch including a rollback having a bore, a shaft having stop means limiting the insertion of the shaft through said bore, a part contacting with the end face of said shaft, and means permanently connecting said part and the shaft for relative rotation, said part in one position being movable with the shaft through said bore and coacting with said rollback upon relative rotation between said part and the shaft to prevent withdrawal of the shaft from said bore and hold said stop means in close abultiting contact with one end of said rollbac ing a rollback having a polygonal shaped bore, a shaft having an end portion of corresponding shape for engagement in said bore and provided with stop means spaced from the end face of the shaft to limit its insertion through said bore, a part of corresponding outline shape to the shaft end, and means permanently connecting said part and the shaft for relative rotation, said part contacting with the end face of the shaft and in 4. In combination with a door latch includ one position being movable with the shaft end 5 through said bore whereby upon the rotation of said rollback and the shaft relative to said part, the latter is caused to coact with one end of said rollback to prevent withdrawal part and the shaft for relative rotation, saidpart contacting with the end face of the shaft and in one position being movable with the shaft end through said bore, the face of said part opposed to the shaft end having cam surfaces adapted to coact with the end edges of said bore upon rotation of said element and the shaft relative to said part to prevent withdrawal of the shaft end from the bore and axially move said shaft to tightly bind said stop means against the other end of said element.

6. In combination with a latch mounted upon the inner face of a door and having a rollback provided witha polygonal shaped bore, an operating handle shaft having an end portion of corresponding shape for insertion through said bore and provided at its meeting faces in spaced relation to the end face thereof with lateral projections constituting stops to engage one end of the rollback, and a part engaged with the end face of the shaft and means permanently connecting said part and shaft for relative rotation,

said part in outline form and dimensions cor responding with the cross sectional form and dimensions of theshaft end and in one position relative thereto being movablewith said shaft end through the bore of the rollback, and said part having means automatically relative rotation between the shaft end and rollback and said part to prevent withdrawal of the shaft end from said bore and also positively move the shaft end axially into the bore and closely bind said stop projections of the shaft against the other end of the rolladapted to be connected, and said part having I10 coacting with one end of the rollback upon a means adapted to coact with said rollback upon relative movement between said art and the shaft end to cause said part an the stop means to frictionally bind against the opposite ends of said rollback and secure the shaft end against movement relative thereto.

8. In combination with an element having a bore, a shaft having stop means limiting the insertion of one end of the shaft into said bore, a relatively adjustable member and means connecting said member with the shaft, said member having cam meansadapted to coact with said element and draw the shaft end axially through said bore to ti htly engage said stop means with one end 0 said element. x

9. In combination with an element having a bore, a shaft having stop means limiting the insertion of one end of the shaft into said bore, a member having cam means and means rotatably connecting said member with the shaft end with the cam means of said member positioned externally of the bore for coacting engagement with the ed es of the bore upon the rotation of said mom or to thereby draw the shaft end axially through said bore and tightly engage said stop means with one end of said element.

10. In combination with a door latch including a rollback having a polygonal shaped bore, a shaft having an end portion of corresponding cross sectional form to snugly fit within said bore and provided with stop means to limit the insertion of said shaft end into the bore, and a relatively adjustable member inseparably connected with one of said parts and having cam means coacting with the other part upon the adjustment of said member to positively draw the shaft end through said bore and tightly engage the stop means with one end of said rollback.

11. The combination with a latch casing having polygonally apertured means for retracting the bolt thereof, of a rotatable actuating shaft therefor, and a single, separate, irremovable element angularly ofl'set rotationally for preventing withdrawal of said I shaft. 1

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name here- LEON OTTINGER.

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