US2543171A

US2543171A - Door latch

Info

Publication number: US2543171A
Application number: US56091A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred I Jaden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-10-23
Filing date: 1948-10-23
Publication date: 1951-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1968-02-27

Description

F. I. JADEN Feb, 27, 11951 DOOR LATCH Filed Oct. 23, 1948 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to a latch and more particularly to a latch of the type commonly referred to 'as being of the barrel bolt type.

More commonly a barrel bolt consists of a rod supported by a housing so that the rod may be moved longitudinally therein. The housing is usually provided with apertures or perforations including a slot so that a knob or handle for the bolt may project therethrough. It has been found possible to insert a hacksaw blade between the door and the door casing and to sever the bolt. In other cases it also has been found possible to employ a hacksaw blade or other tool in order to rotate the bolt through the necessary angle which is approximately 90 degrees and thereupon employ some other tool to move the bolt or rod out of latching engagement. It, therefore, is quite apparent that in many cases the conventional barrel bolt latch is unsafe and unsatisfactory.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved latch of the barrel bolt type wherein the bolt cannot be cut by a hacksaw blade or other similar device inserted between the door and the door frame.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch of the barrel bolt type having a bolt which cannot be moved by any means other than the handle provided therefor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch of the barrel bolt type where the handle serves also as a door pull or handle.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch having a freely rotatable bolt.

Other and further objects of the present invention subsequently will become apparent by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a latch constructed in accordance with the present invention shown in latched or locked position;

Fig. 2 is a view as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view partially in section as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is another plan view showing the latch in unlatched position; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed view as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that a latch constructed in accordance with the present invention has a base H provided with a pair of bosses l2 and I3 having suitable apertures therein for receiving a cylindrical bolt I4. Secured to the door frame is a fixture 15 having a boss is provided with an aperture for receiving the extremity of the bolt 14 when the latch is in looking position,

The bolt l4 carries a handle ll whichis generally U-shaped in configuration having at its extremity suitable apertures for receiving the bolt 14. The bolt I4 is mounted so as to be freely rotatable in the handle ll. In order that the handle I! may be used for reciprocable movement of the cylindrical bolt l4 one extremity of the bolt is provided with a reduced diameter portion i 8 which is inserted into the aperture of one of the extremities of the handle ll and carries a collar 19 held in position by a riveted or overturned end portion 2| of the bolt M. This construction is illustrated in detail in Fig. 3.

The base ll carries two sets of

guide members

22 and 23 arranged perpendicular to the base II. The guide members 22 each have a stepped portion 24 which is engaged by the handle H in the locking position as is evident from Figs. 1 and 2 whereby the stepped portion 24 will prevent withdrawal of the bolt to an unlocked position. Thus in the locking position the handle ll appears in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 wherefrom it will be noted that the handle I! is prevented from dropping down to a position in a generally vertical plane.

When it is desired to unlock or unlatch the bolt the handle I l is raised to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 so that the handle clears the members 22, and the bolt 14 is withdrawn from the boss It. The extremity of the handle ll therefore moves between the pairs of

guides

22 and 23. I

The guides 23 are each provided with a stepped portion 25 so that the handle ll as is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, engages one of the stepped portions 25 when the bolt I4 is withdrawn to unlocked position. This thus retains the handle I! in the position shown in Fig. 5. ,In order to make it still more convenient to use the handle I! to open for instance a door to which the lock is attached, the step may be limited to a mere slight depression at the end of each guide 23, so when in unlocked position, handle ll is in a plane or position substantially normal or perpendicular to base H and to the door carrying the base.

Since the bolt [4 is freely rotatable in the extremities of the handle I! it is impossible to rotate the bolt M to produce a raising of the handle I! from the position shown in Fig. 2. The only manner in which handle I1 can be brought up to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 is by manual manipulation. The step 25 in the guide member 23 prevents the handle ll from being accidentally moved to a locking position. It, therefore, becomes apparent that the handle I! at all times may serve as a door pull or handle. The provision of a generally U- shaped handle for a latch of the barrel bolt type similar to that shown which always is in a convenient position to be grasped furthermore makes the manipulation of the bolt much easier.

While two sets of

guide members

22 and 23 have been shown it will be understood that the function of this guide means could be embodied in a single pair of guide members, and that the base could be shortened or modified accordingly. The steps 24 or 25 may be at any convenient depth so that the handle I! is retained in latched or unlatched position somewhere between an acute angle with the base H and a position slightly displaced from a plane perpendicular to the base ll.

While for the purpose of illustrating and describing the present invention a preferred embodiment has been illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby since such variations in the components and in their arrangement are contemplated as may be commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I desire to protect by United States Letters Patent is claimed as follows:

1. A door latch comprising a generally U- shaped handle having apertured ends, a cylindrical bolt mounted in said ends for free rotation relative to said handle, recess means carried by said bolt for one of the apertured ends of said handle for reciprocable longitudinal movement of said bolt by said handle, a base for supporting said handle and said bolt, and guide means projecting from said base for said handle.

2. A latch for doors and the like comprising a generally U-shaped handle having apertured ends, a cylindrical bolt carried by said apertured ends for free rotation relative to saidv handle, said bolt having an annular recess portion for one of said handle ends for reciprocably moving said bolt, a base having projecting apertured bosses for supporting said handle and said bolt, means projecting from said base parallel to said bolt for guiding said handle in a plane substantially normal to said base during longitudinal movement of said bolt and for retaining said handle in latched and unlatched positions.

3. A latch for doors and the like comprising a generally U-shaped handle having apertured ends, a cylindrical bolt carried by apertured ends and mounted for free rotation relative to said handle, said bolt having annular recess means for one handle end to produce longitudinal movement of said bolt while permitting rotation thereof, a base having projecting apertured bosses for supporting said handle and said bolt, means projecting from said base and parallel to said bolt for guiding said handle in a plane substantially normal to said base during longitudinal movement of said bolt, said guide means having detent portions for retaining said handle at an acute angle relative to said base in latched and in unlatched positions and for preventing unintentional movement of said bolt.

4. A latch comprising a generally U-shaped handle, a cylindrical bolt passing through the extremity of said U-shaped handle and arranged for free rotation relative thereto, a base for supporting said handle and said bolt including a pair of apertured bosses, said handle being secured to one end of said bolt upon an annular recess thereon to produce reciprocable longitudinal movement of said bolt in said bosses, and parallel guide means arranged perpendicular to said base for guiding said handle in a plane substantially normal to said base during longitudinal movement of said bolt, said guide means having detent portions for retaining said handle at an acute angle relative to said base in latched and in unlatched positions and for preventing unintentional movement of said handle and said bolt.

FRED I. JADEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,015,338 Peel Jan. 23, 1912 2,403,065 Engert July 2, 1946