US1775092A - Locker latch - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 9, 1930. s, s, FRENCH 1,775,092

LOGKER LATCH Original Filed May 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Sept. 9, 1930 UNITED rsrarss PATENT OFFICE SHIRLEY S. FRENCH, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE V,BERGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEV JERSEY LOCKER LATCH Original application filed May 26, 1928, Serial No. 280,847. Divided and this application filed August 24', 1929. Serial No. 388,098.

This inventionhas for its object the provision of a latching mechanism for a locker whichwill be simple in operation, of sturdy construction, permit of easy assembly, and

i present withal aneat and attractive appearance.

Another object of the invention is to providea door for a locker having a novel tubular formation at the edge thereof, which fu,nctionsnot,only to reinforce the door, but

at the same time, serves to enclose and conceal aV latching bar, and to conceal the connection between the latching bar and the door handle which is adapted to be directly connected thereto.

This application is a division of my copendingapplication filed May 26, 1928, Serial No. 280,847, entitled Locker latch.

In the patent to Sturm and Caldwell, No.

:f1-1,671,328, there is described a latching mechtage, that should the handle become accidently disengaged 'from the bar, the bar drops out of the housing, and is likely to be injured, Vand it is also necessary to reassemble the bar and handle before the ,door can be closed.

In accordance with the present invention, the bar is provided with novel means which enable it to be positively moved into latching position when the door is closed, in the same manner as the latching bar described in the aforesaid patent of Sturm and Caldwell, and in addition, these means serve to support the bar in operative position in the housing when the door is ajar or open, regardless of whether or n`ot the handle is secured thereto.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent in the embodiment of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a locker in which is embodied the novel features of the present invention;

Fig.'2 is a cross-section through the tubular reinforcement and the latching bar, taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section through the door and adjacent portions of the locker, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4: is an exploded view of a portion of the tubular reinforcement, a portion of the latching bar, and a portion of the door frame, showing the relation of these parts to each other, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the latching pins.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the locker includes a sheet-metal door frame l, and a door 2 hinged thereon. The door 2 is formed at one of its side edges with a tubular housing or reinforcement consisting of two spaced box-flanges 3 and 4l, each of which includes inner legs 5 and outer legs 6, and an intervening connecting web 7, spaced from the rear face of the door. The box flanges and intervening connecting web thus enclose a space of channel cross-section. The leg 6 of the box-flange 3 may be spot welded or otherwise secured to the rear face ofthe door, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Vertically spaced slots 8 are provided in the door, adjacent the connecting web '7. The tubular housing is closed at the top by a flange 9, and is left open at the bottom to facilitate insertion and removal of a latching bar 10.

The latching bar lOis of channel crosssection having a web 11, and spaced flanges 12 and 13, terminating` in spacing ilanges 1l. The web 11 is provided with vertically spaced slots 15 for the reception of the tenons 16 of a handle 17, and has secured thereto, a flat retaining spring 18, which serves a purpose to be presently disclosed. The flanges 12 and 13 of the latching bar are provided respectively with vertically spaced sets of holes 19 and 20, which serve to receive latching pins ind 2l and l-other pins 22 which serve a purpose to be presently described. The inner legs 5 of the box-flanges 3 and t are provided withv when the various parts of the latching mech-V anism are assembled.

The pins 21 and'22 are slotted longitudifA nally as at 25, to provide the beveled prong ends .26, which are united to the body portion of each pin by means of a neck portion 27 of reduced diameter.

r[he latching mechanism also includes hooks or keepers 28, mounted-on the door frame 1. Each of these keepers is formed with an upwardly sloping edge 29, a downwardly sloping edge 3() oit' considerably greater length than vthe edge 29, and a seat 31.

The latching mechanism andtheghandle are assembled on the door in the following manner: l

The latchingbar 10 is inserted through the opening at the bottom of the tubular housing, and pushed up into thel housing, untilthe slots 15 in the web of the bar are opposite the slots 8 in the door. y The tenons 16 of the handle 17 are then caused to enter the slots 8 and 15, and the latching bar is `then permitted to drop to the position shown inF Yand holes 19 and 20, so that they occupy the The holes 2Ol are position shown in Fig. 3. slightly smaller in diameter than the holes 19, and the beveled prong ends 26 of the pins are slightly compressed when they enter these holes. Vf hen the prong ends ot the pins have passed throughthe holes 20, the compression is relieved, and the pins are securely retained in place. ln the present embodiment of the invention, three latching pins are employed, but their number may be varied without departing 'from the scope of the invention. y

'lt will be apparent ironia consideration of Figs. A2, 3, and 4, that when the door is closed, the pins 2l will ride up over the upwardly V,sloping edges 29 of the keepers 23 until the uppermost point of these edges is reached. The pins 22 will then begin to contact with the downwardly sloping edges 3() ofthe keepvers, and the pins 2l will .be positively forced to move down into the seats 3l. this manner, the locker door is effectively shut or lat'ched regardless of how small or great a force is used to effect the latching.

It willalso be noted that the pins 22 in their lower-most position, as shown in Fig. 2, abut the lower ends ot the slots 23 in the legs 5 of the box-flanges 3 and 4', and thereb-yprevent the latching bar fromV fallingouty of theV i housing in the event that the handle Fshould .become disengaged from the bar.

vol the locker, and Vother pins extending through the flanges of said bar, saidv lastnamed pins coactingwith said keepers-to positively force the "latchingepins into Vinterlocking engagement withthe keepers when the locker door isclosed.' l

` 3. Avlatching bar for a locker comprising a member of channel cross-section, and latching pins extending through the flanges'or" the 4. A latching Vbar lfor a locker having'a body provided with keepers comprising a member ofv channel cross-section, latching pins extending thronghk the 'flanges oi' Lthe bar vand adapted y for vinterlocking engagement with the keepers on the lockerr body and other pins extendingV through the 7flanges of the bar and adapted :to coact with the keepers to positively force the 'latching' pins `.intoY i`n terlocking engagement `with said keepers.`

' ln testimony whereorD I ailix my signature. j SHIRLEY S. FRENCH.

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