US2034363A - Latch for doors - Google Patents

Description

G. W. WELLS LATCH FOR DOORS March 17, 1936.

Filed March 26, 1955 Patented Mar'. 17,A 1936 UNITED STATES4 LATCH FOR DOORS George W. Wells, Amesbury, Mass.

Application March 26,

20 Claims.

- This invention relates to latches which are primarily 'designed for use in connection with doors of automobile bodies and which, in some respects, may be considered as an improvement on the construction of my prior Patent No. 1,738,338 of December 3rd, 1929, in which the lamb-engaging member of the latch is provided with a rigid projection, which performs the function of a door holder, or dovetail, and

1o which is also adapted to be locked against opening in a multiplicity of positions.

The primary objects of my invention are to provide a construction having all the advantages of said prior construction, and which will l5 be less difficult to manufacture, so that the cost of manufacture may be reduced and also will be more durable, and will not beaifected by wear, so that replacements will not be necessary after long periods of use.

I accomplish these objects by means of the construction hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a combined side elevation and sectional view of a portion of a door-and its jamb, provided with a latch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in section at line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are detail sectional views at line 3 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view at line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a portion of the edge of the door. f

Fig. '7 is a detail view of a portion of the latch 5 operating means.

Fig. 8 is a detail View of the locking and remote control means.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the handle operating means.

Figs. 10 and l1 are detail sectional views at line' IU--Il of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a detail view of one offthe striker plates.

Fig. 13 is a detail view at line I3-|3 of Fig. 3.

AIn the drawing, a portion of a door I4 and its jamb I6 are indicated, and, as it willvbe understood that the door swings horizontally on hinges in the usual manner, further illustration thereof will be unnecessary.

The door is provided with the usual channel shaped metal edge pillar I8 and the latch operating means 'are mounted on a similarly shaped metal casing which is fitted into and secured to the inner side of said pillar.

A rigid, rectangularly shaped projection 22 is 1935, Serial No. 13.032

permanently connected by welding to the middle portion of casing 20 and extends through a similarly shaped aperture formed in the face or middle side of the pillar I8, which forms the edge of the door, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 5 and 6, said projection 22 having a horizontal bottom face whichis arranged to engage the supporting face of the striker casing as hereafter more fully described, so that the door will be rigidly supported thereby when closed. V

The top portion of projection 22 which extends beyond the outer side of pillar i8 is cut away, forming a notch having a horizontal top face 23 and a vertical end face 2d thereon which is,

approximately u'sh with the outer surface of the pillar I8, as shown in Fig. l. and a recess 25 is formed in said projection which extends from the inner side of casing 2U and terminates at the front wall of said projection, said recess having a semi-cylindrical bottom and vertical sides extending to the top surface 23, so that the recess 25 opens to the top side and inner end of the projection, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. A cam shaft 26, of the same diameter as that of the bottom of said recess 25 is rotatably mounted on the bottom thereof, and one side portion of said shaft, which extends from itsouter end to the face 2li, is cut away to form a recess 21 therein and an approximately radially disposed cam face or shoulder 28. The inner end portion 29 of shaft 26 is rigidly connected to the middle of a at plate 30, which is located in close proximity to the inner side of the middle or bottom portion of the casing 20, and extends at each side thereof to form a pair of oppositely extending arms, one of which is provided with a rigid lug 3l and the other of which is provided with a rigid lug 32, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and '7.y A square shaft 3H, having a handle 35 on its outer end externally of the door, is mounted in a bushing 36, which is rotatably mounted in the outer side of casing 20 (see Fig. 2) and an arm 38 is rigidly connected to the inner end of said shaft by a screw 39 (Fig. 9), said arm. having itsend portion arranged to engage the lug 3l on plate 20, so that when shaft 34 is rotated by its handle 35, the shaft 26 will be rotated toa limited extent.

A vertically movable latch member :40 is mounted in the notch on the top side of projection 22, andwhen in the lowest position thereof its bottom side rests on the face 23 and its rear edge engages the end face 24, so that it completely lls the notch,.and a pair of guiding pins 42 are secured to and projected vertically from the under side of said member, said pins being slidably mounted in holes 43 formed in the sides of projection 22, so that. said member is rigidly held against horizontal movement relative to said projection and is guided thereby in its vertical movements, the sides of said pins each having a flattened portion to form shoulders 44, which are arranged to engage stop pins 45 xed in the projection 22 (see Fig. 13), to limit the upward movement of said latch member and provide a permanent connection with the projection 22. The top surface 46 of the member 40 is horizontal and extends for the length and width thereof and the under side of said member 46 has a transverse projection 48 depending therefrom having a shoulder 49 at one end, which is arranged for engagement by the cam face 26 on the shaft 26, and a concave face on its lower end, corresponding in curvature to that of the surface of said shaft, the arrangement being such that when the parts are in the position of Fig. 4 and the shaft 26 is then turned to the position of Fig. 3, pressure of face 28 againstshoulder 49 will cause the latch member 40 to be raised to the position of Fig. 3, in which position the member will be rigidly supported by the shaft.

A spring arm 50 is mounted on casing 26 and arranged to engage one of .the arms of plate 36 (see Fig. 'n and acts to rotate the shaft 2s in h direction rst to raise the latch member from its lowest position, in which it rests on lthe face 23 of projection 22, to its highest position shown in Fig. 3 and to continue the rotation of said shaft until its shoulder 28 is carried fora substantial distance beneath the projection 46, this movement by spring 50 being limited by a stop pin 5I in casing 20, which engages arm 36 (see Fig. 9). With this arrangement it will therefore be necessary to turn the handle 35 fully half the distance through which it may be turned before the cam face 26is moved past shoulder 43 to permit the latch member to be lowered.

A supplemental means is provided for operating shaft 26 from the inner side of the door, usually termed the'remote control, which comprises a lever 52, which is mounted on a pivot 53 in the inner side of casing 2li and is provided with an arm 54 which is arranged to engage the lug 32 on plate 30. A link 55 is connected to said latch by a pivot 56 and has a handle 51 thereon which projects internally of the door, (see Figs. 2 and 8), so that when the link is pulled, the arm 54 will swing the plate 30 in the direction to rotate shaft 26 to permit the latch member 46 to'be lowered. The lever 52 is also provided with a tooth 56 which, when the link 55 is pushed towards the edge of the door to its fullest extent, will extend beneath the under side'of pla-te 36, soi-that iff-it should be attempted to turn the handle 35, so as to lower the latch member, this movement will be prevented. "I'he lever 52 thus has three positions viz a locking position, shown in Fig. 8, an operating position in which it has acted to lower the latch member and an intermediate position in which operation by the exterior handle 35 is permitted. A small spring 59 is engaged with the shaft 34 and acts to hold arm 38 against stop pin 5| when shaft 26 is operated by theremote control means 55.

As shown-in Figs. 10 and 1l the striker member, which cooperates with the projection 22 and latch member 4l) above described, comprises a rectangular shaped casing 60, which is set into the jamb, and is provided with a horizontal supporting portion 6i, having a downwardly inclined outer end, so arranged that the under side of the projection 22 will engage said inclined end as the door is closed, and ride up on the same, so that when the door is fully closed, it will be rmly supported thereon, and the top-face 46, of the latch member 46, will thus be held at a predetermined level with relation tothe striker means now to be described.

A series of striker fingers, or plates 62 cooperate with face 46 to hold the door closed, said plates being arranged side by side and suspended at their upper ends on a rod 64, which extends horizontally between, and is supported by the front and rear walls of the striker casing, said rod passing loosely therethru, so that said plates may swing inwardly thereon to a limited, but sumcient extent. z

Each plate 62 has a pair of rounded projections 63 on its inner side, arranged at the same level',

as shown in Fig. l2, the projections on the outermost plate being arranged close to the upper end thereof and on the other plates at successively at a distance below the level at which the plate' engages the projections 63 onthe next plate in front. With this arrangement the spring 65 acts to swing all the plates outwardly, so that the outermost plate is held against the outer wall of casing 66 in an approximately vertical position as shown in Fig. l0, and the lower ends of said plates are held in engagement with each other successively, the outermost plate acting as a stop for the others, and said projections 63 acting to hold said plates separated above their lower ends, so that they are slightly inclined forwardly from their upper ends as shown in Fig. 10. As thus arranged each plate is pivotally engaged with the next adjacent by means of projections 63. The

Alower ends of plates 62 are preferably beveled -to a sharp edge from their inner to their outer below the level of the top surface 46 of the latch o member, when in raised position, and when the supporting projection 22 t reof is resting on the surface 6i off-the striker as the door swings inwa dly towards its fully closed position, the striker plates are engaged by the latch 40 and swung inwardly to a sulcient extent to permit the latch to pass thereunder, as.

shown in Fig. 1l. In this position the spring 65 acts to press the sharp edge at the lower end of each plate rmly against the top surface of the latch, and, as the top ends of said striker plates are rmly engaged with the striker casing, it

will be apparent that any tendency of the door to move outwardly will cause the striker plates to bite into the top surface 46 of the latch, which will be preferably made of soft steel, so that the asing. Consequently,

door will be pomtively locked against opening movement. With the arrangement shown, the greater the tendency to force the door open, the greater will be the force with which the striker plates will be engaged with the latch, so that all tendency to force the door open will be effectively resisted. The entire top surface of the latch member may be smooth, but a safety groove 61 is preferably formed therein and additional grooves may be provided if desired, but will ordinarily be unnecessary, as slight indentations will be formed in surface 46 by use. Under all conditions, however, the door will be firmly locked against opening movement in any position to which it may be moved after it has been closed to a sufficient extent to permit one of the striker plates to be engaged with the surface of the latch member, assuming, of course, that the latch member is held in its raised position shown in Fig. 11, in which position it is rigidly supported by the shaft 26, downward pressure on the latch having no tendency to move the shaft from this position.

If, however, the shaft 26 is turned to the position of Fig. 4 by either handle 35 or 51, as before described, the latch dll will be permitted to' move downward to such an extent that it will be .disengaged from the striker plates, so that the door will be free to open. A comparatively slight movement of either handle will have no eiect in permitting the latch member to be lowered, as the shaft 26 must be turned for a considerable distance before the latch will be disengaged from the striker plates, so that accidental opening of,

the door is unlikely.

It will be apparent that the particular number of striker plates employed is not essential, as the device will operate with a single plate, but the number shown is considered preferable. Also, that in the closed, or nearly closed positions of the inner plate will be swung inward to a slightly greater extent thanthe next outer plate, so that the outermost plate will be held at only a slight forward inclination from the perpendicular to the top surface of the latch, while this inclination will be slightly increased, with respect to the other plates, from the outermost inward. It will be apparent that the locking eect of each striker plate will be the greatest when in a position nearly perpendicular to the surface of the latch, as, for example, when in the position of the outermost plate in Fig. ll, so that, when in this position, there would be no necessity in having the lower end of the plate so sharp that it will bite into the surface of the latch, but with the plate held in a more inclined position the necessity of having the plate sharp at its lower end would be greater.

While a single plate, held in the position of the outermost plate of Fig. 1l, would be sufiicient to hold the door closed, it is conceivable that, after extended use, the top surface of the latch might become worn down, so that the outermost plate might not hold at all, but as the next innery plate is held with its lower end at a slightly lower level than the outermost plate, it will engage the surface of the latch with suflicient force to lock it against outward movement. Consequently with the above described arrangement provision is made for a substantial wearing down of the top surface of the latch.

It will be obvious that the same result would be secured by making each striker plate of slightly increased length from the outermost inward, or by having the top surface of the latch slightly vinclined upward from the outer side inward, both do not interfere with the window glass z, which may be extended into close proximity to the inner side of the door pillar, as shown in Fig. 2.

While the above described means for controlling the position of the latch member, is the simplest, most durable and least expensive to manufacture of any other means of which I am at; present aware, it will be apparent that other means may be employed in lieu thereof without departing from my invention, when considered in its broader aspects.

l claim:

l. A latch device for doors comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in the edge portion of the door and having a rigid projection arranged to extend beyond the. edge of the door in position to be engaged atits bottom side with a supporting face on the jamb, a latch member on the top side of said projection and guided thereby to move perpendieularly relative thereto, said member having a transversely exending face on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb, operating means in said projection beneath said member, movable to control the vertical positions thereof, and controlling means vfor said operating means.

2. A latch device for doors comprising a casing having a rigid projection arranged to extend beyond the edge of the door, a vertically movable latch member mounted on said projection having means to engage the same to guide it in its vertical movements, and having a face on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb when in its raised position, a cam shaft extending beneath said member and arrangedto `be moved rotatably to control the vertical positions thereof and to lock it in its raised position, an arm connected to said shaft and extending transversely thereof within the casing and operating means on the casing arranged to engage said arm.

3. A latch device for doors comprising a casing having aI rigid projection arranged to extend beyond the edge of the door, a vertically movable latch member mounted on said projection having means to engage the same to guide it in its vertical movements, and having a face on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb when in its raised position, operating means extending beneath said latch member and movable to control the vertical positions thereof, a spring normally acting to move said operating means to hold said member in .its raised' position, locking means within the casing arranged to be moved into a position to lock said operating means when holding said member in its raised position.

4. A latch device for doors comprising a casing having 9, rigid projection arranged to extend beyond'4 the edge of the door, a vvertically movable latch member mounted on said projection having means to engage the same to guide it in its vertical movements, andhaving a face on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb when in its raised position, operating means extending beneath said latch member and movable to control the vertical positions thereof, va spring normally acting to move said operating means to hold said member in its raised position, a dog mounted within said casing and movable to one position to move said operating means in the direction to'permit said member to be lowered and movable to another position to lock said operating means against such movement, and a controlling means for said dog.

5. A latch device for doors comprising a 7U-, form casing adapted to be fitted to the 'edge portion ofthe door, said casing having a rigid projection mounted on its middle portion arranged to project beyond the edge of the door in position to engage the jamb at its bottom side, a latch member on the top side of said projection perpendicularly movable relative thereto and having a face on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb, in the raised position thereof, a cam shaft extending into said projection from the interior of said casing and having a cam face arranged for engagement with the bottom side of said member andv rotatably movable to control the vertical positions thereof, an arm connected to said shaft within the casing, and operating means on the casing for said arm.

6. A latch device for doors comprising a U- form casing adapted to be fitted to the edgeportion of 'the door, said casing having a rigid projection mounted on its middle portion arranged to project beyond the edge of the door in position to engage the jamb at its bottom side, a latch member on the top side of said projection perpendicularly movable relative thereto and having a face on its top side arranged for engagemenfl with the jamb in the raised position thereof, a cam shaft extending into said projection from the interior of said casing and having a cam face arranged for engagement with the bottom side of said member and rotatable to control the vertical positions thereof, an arm on the inner end of said cam shaft, a lever pivoted on one side of said casing and arranged to engage the arm of said cam shaft, and means for operating said lever to operate said cam shaft.

7. A latch device for doors comprising a U- form casing adapted to be fitted to the edge portion of the docrT-said casinghaving a rigid projection mounted on its middle portion arranged to project beyond the edge of the door vmember and to hold it in raised position, and,

operating means on. the casing arranged to engage said arm and to rotate said shaft in the direction to permit said member to be lowered.

8. A latch device for doors comprising a casing having a rigid projection arranged to extend beyond the edge of the doors, a'vertically movable latch member mounted on,l said projectionand h'aving a horizontally extending faceV on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb 'when in raised position, a cam shaft rotatably mounted beneath said member and having a cylindrical portion .and a recessed portion providing a radially disposed cam face adjacent thereto,

-said latch member having atransverse face on` its under side and a shoulder at one end of said face arranged to be engaged by said cam face on rotation of said shaft in one direction, whereby said member' will first be raised and then the cylindrical portion 'of said shaft will be engaged with said face to provide a rigid support for the member in the raised position thereof.

9. A latch device for `doors comprising a vertically movable latch member adapted to project from the door and having a' top face arranged for engagement with the jamb when in raised p sition, and adapted to be held by a downward d inward thrust thereon to 'hold the member against outward movement, and operating means for said member arranged-to control the vertical movements thereof and. normally acting to hold the same in raised position and movable to permit downward movement thereof and disengagement thereof from the'jamb, to permit the member to move outward.

10. A latch device for doors comprising a latch member adapted to be mounted on the door and to project horizontally therefrom, said member having a jamb engaging face on -its top side, and operating means for raising and lowering said member normally actuated. to hold the same in raised position operatively to engage the face thereof withthe jamb and to be held against outward movement by an obliquely inward and downward thrust of the jamb thereon, said member being downwardly movable when released by said operating means to disengage its face therefrom and permit it to move outwardly.

11. A latch mechanism for doors adapted for cooperation with keeper -means pivotally suspended from the jamb and having a bottom face arranged to be carried inwardly and upwardly thereby, a vertically movable latch member adapted to project from the dor and having an engagingface on its top si operating means therefor arranged to contrp the vertical positions of said member andvprmally acting to hold the same in its raised position, in which position its top face is held in position to engage the face of the keeper means and move the same inward and upward during its inward movement and is locked against outward movement by the inward and downward thrust of the keeper thereon, and is disengaged from the keeper when per-l mitted to move downward by said. operating means.

12'. A latch mechanism for doors adapted for cooperation with a pawl pivotally suspended from the jamb, and arranged to swing inwardly from` the vertical, a vertically movable latch member adapted to project from the door and having a horizontally extending top face, operating means for controlling the vertical positions of said member normally actuated to hold the same in its raised position, in which position the lower end of the pawl is adapted -to engage said face, and by its inward and downward thrust thereon act to hold said member against outward move- M1 ment and to be disengaged therefrom by down` 65' ward movement of the latch member from its normally raised position.

13. A latch device for doors comprising a latch member having a horizontally disposed face arranged for engagement, a jamb member which is actuated to move a face thereon obliquely outward and towards the face of the latch member, said latch member being vertically movable towards and from the jamb member between: an engaging and a disenswinl position, and oper- Y jection adapted to be rigidly mounted on the position, whereby the thrust action of the jambv member against the face of latch member may act to hold the latch member against outward horizontal movement, said movement being permitted when the latch member is permitted to move to its disengaging position.

14. A latch device for doors comprising a vertically movable latch member adapted to project.' from the door and having an engaging face on its top side, operating means therefor arranged to control the verticalmovement of said member and normally acting to hold and lock the same in its raised position, in which position the face thereof isarranged to engage the face of a keeper on the jamb,'which is adapted to be moved inwardly and upwardly by said member as the latter ismoved inwardly and to move downwardly and outwardly tov lock said member against outward movement, said operating means being movable to lower said member to disengage it from the'face of the keeper.

15. A latch device for doors comprising a projection adapted to be rigidly mounted on the door and to extend horizontally therefrom in position to be supported by the jamb at a predetermined level, a latch member on the top side of said projection arranged to be moved vertically relatively thereto, and operating means adapted to be mounted en the door and to control the vertical movements of said member, said operatdoor and to extend horizontally therefrom in position to be engaged at its bottom side by the jamb, to support the door at a predetermined level, a latch member arranged for vertical movement on the top side of said projection and having a face on its top side, arranged for' engagement with the jamb when in raised position, and operating means rotatably movable to raise and lower said member and normally actuated to hold said member in raised position.

17. A latch device for doors comprising a vertically movable latch member adapted to project from the door and having a horizontally extending face on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb in amultiplicity of positions of the door when the member is in raised position, to lock the door against opening movement in any of its said positions, and operating means for controlling the vertical positions of said member, normally actuated to hold said member in raised position and movable to permit the same to be lowered, andto dsengage it from the jamb.

18. A latch device for doors comprising a projection adapted to be rigidly mounted on the door and to extend horizontally. therefrom in position to be supported by the jamb, a vertically movable latch member mounted on said projection, and having a face on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb when in raised position, to lock the door against opening movement and a controlling `device movable within said projection beneath said member to 'control the vertical movements thereof and normally actuated to lock the same in raised position.

19. A latch device for doors comprising a vertically movable latch member adapted to pro'- ject from the door and having a face on its top side arranged for engagement with the jamb when in raised position, a rotatably movable controlling device disposed beneath said member and having a cam face arranged to engage the under side thereof and to raise and lower the same on opposite rotational movements of said controlling device and actuating means for said controlling device normally acting to raise said member and hold it in raised position.

20. A latch device for doors comprising a vertically movable latch member adapted to project from the door and having a top face arranged

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