US1914704A - Doorlatch spindle assembly - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1933- H. w. RIGHTMYER DOORLATCH SPINDLE ASSEMBLY Filed oct. 7, 19'31 ulmllllll Ill-IIIIII!l gwwfntoz I Patented June 20, 1933 UNEED STATES ismael HOLDEN 1V. RIGI-ITMYER, OF TOLEDO, OHO, .A SSIGNOR T0 .IJIE-RCAN S'WISS COIILDANY,

OF TOLEDO, Oft-HO, A CORPORATION OF DOORLATCH SFINDLE ASSE'IBLY Application filed October 7, 1931. Serial No. 567,443.

This invention relates to door latches but more particularly to latches for doors of vehicles7 such as automobiles, and an object is to provide a latch unit With simple and eilicient means for enabling' mounting of the handle spindle on the unit in such a manner as to retain the same against ratti.' 0' and vibration and to eliminate the necessity of requiring a close fit between the spindleand latch mechanism so that the parts may be more easily manufactured and troublesome assembly problems eliminated since greater tolerance is allowed between the part formed to receive the spindle and the latter.

Another object of the invention is to sinipliify the spindle and latch unit assembly adapting; it more readily for commercial production and thereby reduce the cost of manufacture.

Further objects and advantages ot the invention will hereina 'ter appear and :tor purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment ot' the invention is shown on the accompanying' drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation oi a latch unit showing the outside operated spindle in assembled relation;

Fig. 2 is a top edge view of the latch mechanism applied to a vehicle door, the latter N being' shown in transverse section; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the latch unite showing' the manner in which the spindle is mounted.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a latch unit for an automobile door having' a back plate 10 provided with an integral face plate 11 and an integral eX- tension 12 disposed substantially parallel to the plate 10. This provides what is generally termed an around-the-glass latch to accommodate a Window panel 13 between the bach plate and extension 12 and thus produce a compact arrangement capable of accommodating' a Window extending' substantially the entire Width of the door. The back plate 1() may be secured to a door D by any suitable means7 such as bolts, and it may be mounted on a separate plate extending across the door adapted also to receive the Window regulator mechanism. However7 since the particular mounting ot' the latch unit forms no part of this invention. it is deemed snicient to illustrate a manner or mounting' the unit directly on the Jfront or outer panel of the door.

Projecting thru an opening formed in the tace plate 11 is a bolt nose 14 which is riveted to a bolt plate 15. A spiral spring 16 anchored at one ond to the back plate bears against the rear and of the nose 14- and urges it to projected or latching position. Movement ot the bolt plate 15 over the back plate 10 isg'uided by a headed rivet 17 tiXed to the back plat and disposed in an elongate slot 18 formed in the back plate.

The latch bolt is retracted from the inside oi the door by a strap 19 having a headed rivet 2O disposed in an elongate slot 2l formed in the bolt plate 15. The strap or linlr 1D leads to a suitable remote control unit er handle assembly (not shown). It is manifest that, when the rivet 2O engages the right hand end ot the slot 21, it is possible upon further movement of the strap 19 to retract the bolt against the force of the spring 16.

1Qetraction of the latch bolt from the outside oi' the door is etllected thru a U-shaped roll back crank which is pivoted at one end to the in side ot the haelt plate 10 and the other end is disposed on the outside ot the extension plate 12. rlhe face plate 11 is eut out at 23 to permit rocking movements of the roll back crank. An arm 24 is rigid With the inner end of the roll back crank and engages an abutment 24 on the bolt plate 15, so that upon clockwise movement of the i'oll back retraction o'l" the bolt is obtained. An arm 25 projects from the roll back crank and is disposed at approximately right angles to the roll bach arm 2li- The arm 25 is movable across the slot 21 so that when the strap 19 is moved to the lett or in a non-bolt-retractinp,` direction7 the rivet f2() is moved in the path of the arm 25, thereby flogging or blocking movement oi the roll back.

The roll back crank 22 is actuated by a spindle |26 which in this instance is rcctangular in cross section and extends through an openinp' 27 in the inner panel of the door D. The spindle may be carried by an escutcheon plate 28 secured by screws 29 to the door; a handle being provided for turning the spindle. Formed in the outer end of the roll back 22 is a rectangular opening 31 shaped to receive the spindle 26 and providing a snug lit therefor.

Fitting over the outer end of the roll back 22 is a cover' plate 32 provided with oppositely disposed tabs or tongues which project through openings in the extension plate 12 and are bent over to retain the cover plate in place. Side flanges 34 space the cover' plate outwardly from the extension plate to accommodate the roll back therebetween and permit rocking movement thereof. Formed in the cover plate 32 is an opening 35 which is preferably larger than the spindle 26 to enable the latter to extend freely therethrough. Extending inwardly from the sides of the opening are a plurality of equidistantly spaced projections or abutments 36, one for each side or corner of the spindle 26, in this instance four projections or abutments are provided.

In mounting the spindle 2G on the latch unit, the end thereof is inserted through the opening 35, but the rectangular opening 31 is normally out oi register with the opening 35. thus preventing the spindle from beingforced through it. It is therefore necessary to push iinardly on the bolt nose 11i; and free the roll back crank 22 from the torce of the spring 16. This enables the roll 'back to be rocked sufliciently, as indicated in Fig. 3, to bring the openingr 3l into such position that the spindle 26 can be 'forced through it, It is apparent that upon releasing the bolt nose 14 (or strap 19 whichever is manipulated), the spring 16 forces the roll back arm 24 in a counter clockwise direction (Fig. 1) thereby moving the sides of the spindle 26 against the abutments 36. Sufficient movelnent of the spindle 26 between the abutments 36 is afforded to enable full retraction of the bolt from latching position.

An important feature ofthe invention consists in utilizing the force of the bolt spring for retaining the spindle in the desired position free from rattles and vibration. Another important feature is that this construction eliminates the necessity of making the opening in the roll back for the spindle with such precision as has heretofore been necessary. A variation in the size will not be detrimental since the bolt spring in cooperation with the a'butments on the cover pla-te serve to obtain a tight fit between the parts. Thus, in an extremely simple and etlicient 1n anner, the spindle is retained in the desired position, and owing to the marked simplicity in construction, the parts may be manufactured at a lower cost than similar forms now in use. v l'l Numerous changes in details of construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention.

That I claim:

l. In a. door latch, a spring tensioned latch bolt, a rockable roll back arm engageable with said bolt, a stationary plate adjacent said arm, an operating spindle of polygonal cross section, said arm having an opening providing a snug it for said spindle, said plate having an opening larger than said arm opening, and an abutment projecting from the rim of said plate opening, said abutment being so arranged that said tensioned latch bolt operating through said arm normally holds an edge portion of said spindle tightly against said abutment.

2. In a door latch, a spring tensioned latch bolt, a rockable roll back arm engaging said bolt at one end, a stationary plate adjacent the opposite end of said arm, an operating spindle of polygonal cross section, said arm having an opening providing a snug lit ifor said spindle, said plate having an opening larger than said arm opening, and a plurality of equidistantly spaced abut-ments extending inwardly from the rim of said plate opening, said abutments being so arranged that said tensioned latch bolt o )erating through said roll back arln normal y holds edge portions of said spindle tightly against said abutments, and the space between adjacent abutments being sufficient to enable said spindle to be rocked for eifecting complete retraction oi said latch bolt.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

HOLDEN W. RIGHTMYER.

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