US2420083A

US2420083A - Inside locking latch construction

Info

Publication number: US2420083A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert F Lickteig
Original assignee: National Brass Co
Current assignee: National Brass Co
Priority date: 1945-03-14
Filing date: 1945-03-14
Publication date: 1947-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1964-05-06

Description

y 1947- A. F. LIICKTEIG 2,420,083

INSIDE LOCKING LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed March 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inuemor Nberf F.Liokfeig y 6, 1947- A. F. LICKTEIG 2,420,083

INSIDE LOCKING LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed March 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,420,083 INSIDE LOCKING LATCH CONSTRUCTION Albert F. Lickteig, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to National Brass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application March 14, 1945, Serial No. 582,606

7 Claims.

This invention relates to door latches, more particularly of the type which may be locked against operation from the outer side of the door, yet left in position for operation from the inner side of the door. In the art to which this latch is directed, such latches are generally known as bathroom looks. The present invention is concerned with an economical and simple latch structure easily installed on the door, requiring no expensive mortised holes to receive the lock housing, but only the boring of an elongated cylindrical opening at the edge of the door to receive the latch, and transverse openings through the door for the passage of the latch spindle at each end of which a door knob is secured for the manual retracting of the latch when the door is to be opened.

I have heretofore filed applications for patents on latch structures of the same general field of utility having Serial Nos. 549,644, and 564,211, filed August 16, 1944, and November 20, 1944, respectively. The present invention is directed to improvements in the structure thereof to provide a more sturdy and durable latch structure, one which is simpler in structure and one which is more effective in its operation with an attainment of all of the beneficial results which are recited in said previously filed applications.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanynig drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section through the latch structure with the interior latch mechanism in the position in which it may be operated from either side of a. door on which installed.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the latch construction when it has been locked against operation from the outer side of the door, but may still be readily retracted from the inner side thereof.

Fig. 3 is a similar section illustrative of the automatic unlocking of the latch bolt Which occurs when the outer projecting head of the bolt is pushed inward into the latch housing, as for example, should the door be closed with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section through the latch mechanism, with the parts in the same position as shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical transverse sections, Fig. 5 being taken substantially at the plane of the manually operated push bar used to lock the latch from operation at the outer side of the door, and Fig. 6 at a position outwardly thereof, and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal section at the rear end portion of th latch structure, said longi- 2 tudinal section being offset from the plane of the section shown in Fig. 1 for a better disclosure of certain parts of the structure.

Like references refer to like parts in the different figures of the drawings.

The housing of the latch includes two members pressed from sheet metal, each having an intermediate portion I of a semi-cylindrical form and each being pressed inwardly to form vertical ledges 2 at the inner ends of said sections 1, and continued in channel shaped fOrm therewithin as indicated at 3, the outer side of one of said channel sections 3 having a horizontally disposed channel rib 4 (Fig. 5) pressed therefrom. At the inner ends of the channel sections 3 rollback housings are pressed outwardly as shown, from which short terminal channel sections 6 extend having inturned ends I, which preferably may have interlocking connection as shown in the first of said applications previously identified.

The semi-cylindrical intermediate sections I of the housing are continued at their outer ends in integral semi-cylindrical sections 8 of a smaller diameter, there being annular shoulders 9 between the sections l and 8. The two housing sections are placed together with their edges in contact, and the cylindrical outer end portion made by the two sections 8 is covered by the walls H! of a cup made of sheet metal which has a bottom I l with an opening therein for the passage of the outer head of a latch bolt. The metal at said opening is turned inward, as at I2, for forming a guide for one side of the bolt head. A relatively heavy plate 13 of metal is permanently secured to the bottom II, it likewise having an opening for the passage of the bolt head, and the metal is turned inwardly, spaced from and parallel to the part l2 and constituting a guide IQ for the opposite side of the bolt head. Such structure of the housing is substantially shown in the first filed of the above identified applications being modified by the formation of the channel shaped rib 4 between one of the vertical ledges 2 and the rollback housing 5 on one of the halves of the hous- Within the housing a cup l5 of sheet metal has an annular flange I6 at its open end adapted to bear against the shoulders at 9. The bottom of said cup is provided with an opening ll therethrough at one side of the center. A heavy coiled compression spring l8 bears at one end against the flange [6, the outer end portion of the spring passing over the cup as shown. The inner end of the spring bears against a plate I9 located applied to rock the lever 22 from the end. with the through an opening in the escutcheon plate asso- {ciated with the door-knob (not shown) at the within the housing and normally lying against the inner sides of the ledges 2 described.

Said plate l9 has diametrically opposite ears 2!) one of which passes through an opening of approximately the same cross sectional size as the ear made in one of the sections I of the housing, the other ear passingthrough an opening 2| ;in the opposite housing section I which opening 2| is elongated as shown (Figs, 1 and 2), permitting a limited tilting movement of the first described ear as a pivot.

Said plate l9 has an opening-therethrough to the same side of the center as theopening ll is made through the bottom of the cup, [5, andan ear struck from the plate at such opening Jon which a lever 22 is pivotallymounted between its ends .to rock about a pivotpin 23 whichpasses through said ear and lever. One arm. 24 of (the lever extends outwardly from said pivot toward andinto the opening 11in thebottorn of'c up I 5, ,and at itsfree end the inner edge'o'f the arm is formed at an inclineorvangle asshown at 25. .The extreme free end portion of thefarm 24 enters'the opening I! whichopening isa slot, and

the arm is held and guided in itsmoveme'nts by the spaced sides of saidslot opening. a l The opposite arm or the lever 22 extends into the channel sections 3 of the housing and is plate above the formed with a prOjection ZB'a-t one side which in I the normal unlocked condition of the latch comes against the inner side of the web of thechannel section'3 of one side of the housing (Fig. 7). Oppositely the lever has a projection 21- extending in the other direction which when said lever, as hereinafter described, is in a position to-lock the latch against operation from the outer side ofthe door, comes against the webof the channel rib 4. fSaid projection is also provided atits inner; end portion with a seat 28 which in the unlocked position of the latch mechanism receives a curved side of the pin 29 mounted upon and-exte nding through the spaced flanges of the chann'elrib ":Iheforce of'the' spring [8 normally'tends to. hold the plate 19in its "position against the ledge-2 but when the'lever 22 is moved from the .position in Fig. .1 tothat in'Fig. 2 the spring J8 fm'ay yield sufficiently 'to permit plate [9 to'rock, thereby disengaging the pin receiving seat ans 7 from the pin 29' and bringing the' free edge of the projection 27 againstthe bottom-of the channel rib 4 with the pin 29back of the projection 21. the lever 22' is yielding retained in either extreme position to which it may be moved and will hold either of 'suchpositions against aimless.

or accidental movement until a suflic ient force 'is position it may be, in to the other position. The inner arm of the lever 22 terminates in 'a frearwardly extending finger 30 which in unlocked position is "disposed centrally of thelatch housing (Figs. 1

and 7). 'A pin 3| is mounted upon and extends laterally to one side of the inner arm of lever 22 being located between projections 26 and 2'! (Fig.7).

An actuating bar 32 of in said movements. ;A.push bar 33 is screw connected at it inner ear of the bar 32 and extends inner side of the door.

flat metal with alaterally turned ear at one end (Fig. 5) passes through the channel sections 3 of the housing and base longitudinal movement, being guidedby the passage openings for the bar in said channel sections The bar 32 at one side has a notch 34 cut therein one side of which is parallel to the length of the housing and the other inclined as shown, the pin 3| being received in the notch and bearing against the inclined side thereof, so that when the bar 32 is moved in the direction of its -length from the position in Fig. l to that in Fig. 2, lever 22 is rocked about .the axis .of .pivot pin 23 from the position of Fig. l and Fig. 7 to its locking position shown in Fig. 2.

The retracting. latch spindle consists of two

bars

35 and 36, square in cross section, which pass through'openings in the ends of the rollback housingportions 5 and are suitably joined at their meeting ends against separation but Witha permission of independent rotation of "each'abouttheir common longitudinal axis, specific. detail of such connection not illustrated herein being fully shown and described in the earlier of my prior applications. In each-of the roll-backhousings a roll-back'31 ofheavy-sheet metal is mounted forv rocking movement, each having an are shaped flange 38 extending from its inner edge intolthe channel sections 3. The flanges 38 are spaced apart with the inner end of the lockinglever finger 30, whenit is atits central position asinFig. 1, disposed between them. -One of the flanges-33 at least, thoughbothgnay .be supplied with it, has a recess'39 so that when on rocking the lever '22 from its positionin Fig. l tothat in Fig. 2 occurs, said-finger enters the recess 39. Itis the recess inthe roll-back 31 located at the outer door side whichis thus occupied'by the finger 30, looking the'spindle bar 35 against turning movement. It is of course to be understood that the

bars

35 and 33 in practice are normally square in cross section and always are of a nonecircular cross sectional form and pass through openings in the;roll-backs of the same outline so that a turning movement .of either

spindle bar

35 or 36 about its longitudinal axis will rock itsrespective connected rollback.

The latchbolt includes a normally projecting head 40 passing through the openings in thebottom l l ofthe cap lfl an d in'the plate 13, and having the usual beveled portion to engage with a strike on a keeper provided on a door jambor casing to receive it. A rod 4| is connected to, the inner end of the head 40 and'extends into the housing andthrough an openinginthe bottomof the cup being provided at its inner end with a frustro-conical, head 42 having inclined sides] at substantially the same angle as the angular edge '25 of the arm 24. f A relatively light coiled compression spring 43 surrounds the rod 4! between the head and the bottom of the cup I5, Two bars 44 are connectedpermanently at their outer ends to the cup l5 and extend lengthwise of the housing inwardly from saidcup; andpass between the flanges 38 0f the roll-backs, each havinga transverse pin 45 passing therethrough so that the ends of the arc shapedfianges 38 of both roll-backs engage the projecting end portions of both pins. Thus on the manual rotation of either roll-back byengaginga door knob secured at the outer end of either of-saidspindlebarsfi and 36, the bars 44 are retracted with a compression of the heavy coiled spring I8, :and an inward movement of the cup 15 which withdraws the head 40 of the bolt from a keeper with which it is engaged. v n When; the bar ;32 has been moved,from its position i i-Fig. 1 to that in Fig.2, the roll back 3! connected with-the spindle 35 which; extends to the outer side of the door is locked against movement by reason of the finger 39 entering the notch 39. The door thereupon cannot be opened by attempted turning of the knob at the outer side of the door. The inner side roll-back 31 is not locked and it may be readily operated from the inner side of the door with a retraction of the bolt in the usual manner.

When the door has been locked so that it cannot be opened from its outer side, the arm 24 of lever 22 has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, with the inclined edge 25 adapted to ride against the conical surface of the head 42. An operation of the latch bolt to withdraw it made from the inner side of the door causes the head at 12, when it is moved inwardly, to ride against the inclined edge 25 of arm 24, operating as a cam to turn the lever 22 to its neutral position (Fig. 1) with a consequent movement of the locking finger 30 out of the recess 39 of the roll-back flange in which it has been received.

If at a time when the door is open, the bar 32 was manually moved and thus locked the latch bolt against operation from the outer side of the door, upon closing the door with a consequent inward longitudinal movement of the head All, rod 4! and rear head 52, the same automatic return of the lever 22 to neutral position occurs, as shown in Fig. 3.

The free end of the bar 32 in the case of an emergency may be engaged against by any suitable implement which may be passed through an opening made in the escutcheon at the outer side of the door and through an opening in the door in alinernent therewith, the same as disclosed in my earlier filed applications.

Accordingly, with the structure described the parts are quickly and economically made 1argely from sheet metal, the installation on the door is of a simple and economical character. Such latch construction has safeguards against damage under all conditions of its use and is of value in use upon the inner doors of houses. The over all length of the latch is the same as that in the disclosure of my previously filed applications. In the operation the free ends of the bars 44 are stopped upon striking against the ends '5 of the housing parts, with a prevention of full rotation of the

spindle members

35 and 35. The locking lever 22 is of a sturdy character and is held against lateral cocking or twisting, is guided and held at both end portions thereof and is one which is particularly simple, strong and durable in use.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming Within their scope.

I claim:

1. A latch comprising, an elongated housing open at one end, a two part operating spindle extending transversely through the inner portion of the housing, said spindle parts having independent rotative connection at their meeting ends within the housing, a latch bolt including a cup shaped member disposed within and across said housing, stop means carried by the housing for holding the cup member against outward movement beyond the stop means, spring means acting on said cup shaped member to normally move it against the stop means, retracting means connected to the cup-shaped member and extending to said two-part operating spindle, combined with independent means carried by each of the parts of said operating spindle for moving said cup shaped member inwardly on rotation of either part of the operating spindle in either direction,

a latch bolt head normally projecting through the open end of the housing, a rod secured to its inner end and extending through the bottom of the cup shaped member, a lighter spring means surrounding said rod between the bottom of the cup member and the inner end of the head, a locking lever pivotally mounted between its ends within the housing having an outwardly and inwardly extending arm, manual means for rocking said lever about its pivot, means connected with one of said spindle parts with which the inwardly extending arm of said locking lever is brought into holding engagement when the lever is rocked in one direction, and means carried by said rod at its inner end engageable with the forwardly extending arm of said locking lever for returning the locking lever to its initial position upon inward movement of said projecting bolt head.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, said cup shaped member having an opening in the bottom thereof through which the forwardly extending arm of the locking lever may extend on spindle operated retraction of the latch bolt, the sides of said opening maintaining the locking lever in position against lateral movement.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, the bottom of said cup shaped member having an opening into which the outwardly extending arm of the locking lever passes, means yieldingly holding the locking lever against movement in the direction of the length of the housing, and means against which the inwardly extending arm of the locking member engages for releasably maintaining the locking lever in either of the positions to which it is pivotally moved.

4. An elongated latch housing having an open end, a latch bolt having a head normally projecting through the open end of the housing, said bolt comprising two connected parts each independently spring actuated in an outward direction, said bolt head being connected with one of said parts and movable inwardly into the housing independent of movement of the other of said parts, and said bolt head being moved into the housing on inward movement of other of the latch bolt parts, separate means for independently and simultaneously retracting both parts of the latch bolt, manually operable from opposite sides of the latch housing and outside thereof, a pivotally mounted locking lever within said housing having oppositely extending arms adapted when in one position to permit retraction of the bolt by either of said independently operable means, and when turned to another position locking one of said independently operable means against operation, and means carried by the part of the latch bolt with which the bolt head is connected engageable with one of the arms of said locking lever to move said lever from its operative locking position to unlocking position on inward movement of the bolt head, either when it is retracted upon movement of both parts of the latching bolt, or is moved with the part of the latching bolt to which it is connected independently of the other part of said latching bolt.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4, said locking lever being laterally guided at both sides, and at one end portion by adjacent sides of the housing to maintain it in substantially a single plane in its movements.

6. A construction as defined in claim 4, said locking lever at one end portion lying between spaced apart portions of the housing and with its sides closely adjacent thereto to maintain the lever in substantially a single plane in its movements, and means at the opposite end portion of the lever, holding it at both sides against side movements.

l. A latch comprising a casing, a latch bolt slidably mounted in the casing and having a. tail end extending into the casing, a, spring to thrust said latch bolt outwardly, manual means for retracting the latch bolt, a locking lever pivotally mounted between its ends in said casing, the rear end of said lever being movable into locking engagement with said manual retracting means, a cam surface on the forward end of said lever movable into the path of said tail end of the latch bolt, and manual means for moving the rear end REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,899,380 Arste Feb. 28, 1933 2,351,077 Segal June 13, 1944