US2595473A

US2595473A - Latching device for lockers

Info

Publication number: US2595473A
Authority: US
Inventors: John B O'connor
Original assignee: Lyon Metal Products LLC
Current assignee: Lyon Metal Products LLC
Priority date: 1946-05-31
Filing date: 1948-05-29
Publication date: 1952-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 1969-05-06

Description

May 6, 1952 J. B. OCONNOR LATCHING DEVICE FOR LOCKERS Original Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l TTF-W May 6, 1952 J. B. o'coNNoR LATCHING DEVICE FOR LOCKERS Original Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY waz@ Mawr@ May 5, 1952 J. B. o'coNNoR 2,595,473

LATCHING DEVICE FOR LocxERs original Filed May 51, 194e 4 sheets-Sheet s y., 4. I JNVENTOR. f Lm E @haar BY ma, 1mm @6' May 6, 1952 JQB. o'coNNoR 2,595,473

LATCHING DEVICE FOR LOCKERS Original Filed May 51, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 135 IN1/EN ToR.-

Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LATCHING DEVICE FOR LOCKERS` John B..OConnor, Aurora, Ill., assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of VIllinois C laimsg. 1

This application is a division of application Serial No. 673,566, filed May 31, 1946, and now Patent No. 2,568,592, dated September 18, 1951.

This invention relates to metal lockers.

Among the objects of the present inventionis to provide a new hinged door construction for the metal locker and also to provideV a new'type of locking device for the door, which includes a substantially flush type handle and associated locking means of simple construction, economicalin manufacture and efficient in operation.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a locking device for a metallic locker which is of a construction to permit the door to be snap locked on closing and yet which lock can be released by a shifting movement ofthe handle construction and which constructionA also includes a permanent locking feature solas to-pre clude the unlocking of the door when once-intentionally locked.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a door locking mechanism for a locker or the like wherein there is provided within. the locker, and preferably, although not necessarily, on the rear of the door, a shiftable latch carrier positioned and operable so that when the door is closed a latch on the shiftable carrieris positioned into cooperative relation with a camming or wiping portion of a keeper so that the act of closing the door snap locks the-latchpast the keeper into cooperation with a locking mechanism, and wherein in addition there is positioned on the outside of the door a shiftabl'el handle having a connection through an opening in the door to the latch carrier and operable so thatfon manual operation of the handle the -latch mayfbe shifted to disengagement from the keepers@ that the door can be opened or, in combination witha manually operated lock, preferably on the door, will be operable so as to lock the latch carrying mechanism so that it cannot be shifted by the handle to release the` snap lock of thedoor.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the specific arrangements of the openings in the door for the keeper, the latch carrier and the handle so that their various cooperations are promoted and ensured.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustment for the legs and also for the feet of the cabinet.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following'speciflcation when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of an assembled locker;

Figure 2 shows a similar View with the door open;

Figure 3 shows the various parts of the sheet metal members making up the locker;

Figure 4 is a side sectional view taken on the line 4-4'of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5. of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view, partly broken away, of the handle and locking mechanism thereof;

Figure 7 isa sectional View taken on the line l-Iv ofFig-ure 6;

Figure-8 is a sectional view taken onthe line 8*-8ofFig-ure 6;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the various parts of the-handle and locking mechanism; and

Figure-10 is a section taken on the line lll-qll), ofV Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and

particularlyto Figure 1, it will be noted that the locker comprises a front frame member of preferably integral construction, which includes the

twovertical frame members

2 and 4 preferably formed of angle iron and having a preferably integral bottom cross angle 6 and a top cross 'angle 8. The cross-bars 6 and8 are preferably united to the

vertical bars

2 and 4 by welding. The two side angles 2 and4 extend downwardly to provide the integrally formed feetA I0 and l2 at the front ofthe locker. Suitably attached to the front upstanding

vertical frame members

2 and 4 as at I4 andl I6, as by rivets or self-tapping screws, bolts or nuts, is-'a side panel 2B preferably formed of sheetmetal. The marginal flange portion |8- of this panel20 overlies the angle portion 24 of the vertical angle iron 2, see Figure 10. Similarly, another side panel26 has-a forward flanged portion 28 which is fixed to and underlies a corresponding side flange of the verticalfopposed front corner, bar 4. A sheet metal back 34 h-as right angle flanges 36 and38 which llt within

flange portions

40 and 42 of the

side panels

20 and 26 andare fixed in this position by bolts and nuts shown in the drawings. Thus it will be seen that no vertical corner angle ironsare used at the back that correspond to the front corner angle frame Vmembers 2 and 4 at the front.

The sheet metal cover generally indicated at 45 in Fig. 3 has a top 44, see Figures 2, 3 and 4, and is provided-with four depending border flanges; shown in Figure 3 and which are also shown in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,568,592. These flanges are fastened in any suitable manner, as Aby bolts and nuts. The flange 46 depending from the top 44 at the front thereof is not bolted or fastened to the upper cross bar 8 of the door frame. However, as shown in Figure 4, its bottom edge rests upon an inwardly extending flange 9 of-y the top frame. and this front depending flange 46 lies within the rear wall of the upper cross bar 8. The other depending walls orflanges 48, 5| and 52 oi the top are fixed tothe side-and back panels by bolts, nuts or other fasteningmeans 50. In the samemanner a sheet metal bottom 58, see Figures 2, 3 and 4, is provided with depending flanges 69 and 62, and two similar flanges on the other side. The front depending flange 62 of this bottom 58 lies inwardly of the front face of the bottom cross angle 6 and its bottom edge lies upon an inwardly extending horizontal flange 1 of the bottom cross bar 6, as shown clearly in Figure 4. The other ilanges of the bottom are bolted as at 64 and 68 to the side and rear panels of the locker. The locker preferably includes an intermediate shelf 10 having depending

flanges

12, 14 and 16, see Figure 3, and a flange opposite the flange 14, not shown. The front depending flange 12 has an inwardly and upwardly bent tongue 80 providing a nished edge, see Figure 4, and the two side flanges 14, only one being shown, terminate as at 82, Figure 4, short of the rear depending flange 'i6 so as to clear the two

flange walls

36 and 38 of the rear panel 34. The shelf 10 is bolted as at 86 and 88 to the two side panels 20 and 25. If desired, hooks 90, 92 and 94 may be attached to the back walls at 96 and 98 or to the side panels or to the depending side flanges 14 and shelf 18. Thus there is provided a rectangular structure formed of the panels and the front rigid and preferably integrally formed

frame member

2, 4, 6 and 8.

The front frame member also comprises the legs l and I2 hereinbefore mentioned, While rear legs are provided by a pair of relatively short corner angle uprights |00 which are adequately bolted as at |0| to the corners of the side and

back panels

20, 26, and 34, as shown in Figure 4.

Cooperating with the integral

door frame member

2, 4, 6 and 8 of the locker, and which member is shown in Figure 3, is a door member |02 of sheet metal, also shown in Figure 3. This door member has an upper, inwardly extending horizontal flange |04, see Figure 2, and a bottom, inwardly extending horizontal flange |06, see Figure 2. In addition, at its right hand side the door is provided with an elongated rectangular opening |08, see Figure 3. It likewise has a front vertical inwardly extending flange ||0 which in turn, as shown in Figures 2 and 10, is provided with an inwardly extending short flange ||2 that parallels the plane of the door |02. This vertical flange ||2 is spaced from the plane of the door |02. The opposite vertical edge of the door is provided with an inwardly extending ilange H4, see Figure 10, which in turn has a right angled, relatively shorter flange ||6 that preferably lies parallel to and in the plane of the flange ||2. A pair of hinge leaves ||8 are spot welded as at |20, Figure 10, to the upper vertical door frame 4. In addition, another pair of leaves |22 is bolted as at |24 to the vertical flange ||4. The end |26 of each of the leaves |22 is bent around the flange |6 and terminates in a short ilange |28 that covers the vertical end of the ilange IIB. These hinge members are formed as shown in Figure ll of the aforementioned Patent No. 2,568,592, and a pivot pin |30 passes through the spaced loops of the hinges and after they are assembled the pin is held in position by means of indents formed in portions of the barrels of the leaves l|8 whereby to hold the hinges assembled. This is a type of hidden hinge that covers the raw edge of the flange IIG and lies flush with the bulb |35 of the edge of the member 2 of the framework.

The upper portion of the vertical flange |2 of the door |82 is provided with a slot |46, Figures 2 and 9, which extends in a vertical direction with respect to the wall ||2 and terminates in a right angled, horizontal portion |48. This slot is therefore in a manner like an inverted L-shaped slot. As shown in Figure 2, the bottom portion bf the flange ||2 likewise has a vertical slot |46 and a horizontal connecting slot |48' and if desired there may be still a third similar slot |49 intermediate the two other slots. These slots are adapted to receive keepers |50, |52 and |54 formed on the stationary door frame when the door is moved toward closed position. One of these keepers is shown in Figure 8 and comprises a relatively heavy metal gauge strap comprising the relatively short portion |56 welded to the inner face of flange 2. The keeper also includes a right angled, bent portion |58, a second bent portion |60 Which lies at right angles to the portion |58, and thence a free tongue |62 bent at right angles to the portion |60. This free tongue is formed in turn with a latching tongue |64 that overlies the top edge of the tongue |62 and is bevelled as at |66. It provides a locking face |68 opposite the bevelled face |66.

Cooperating with the door |02 and particularly with the door flanges ||0 and |I2 thereof see Figure 10, and forming a substantially openfaced rectangular vertical guideway, is a vertically extending, vertically shiftable, channelshaped member or bar |10 of sheet metal which is provided with parallel, spaced apart sides |12 and |14, see Figure 9. This channel-shaped bar or member |10 moves vertically in the guideway formed by the rear face of the front of the door |02, by the normally disposed flange ||0 thereof and the back flange ||2 of the door, and this vertically movable channel bar |10 carries affixed to it and movable bodily with it a vertically disposed, rectangular, box-like housing |11 of sheet metal comprising a vertical rear panel |18, a lower horizontal inwardly extending flange |80, a vertical side flange |82 of the housing |11, a vertical parallel wall |83, see Figure 10, on the opposite side, and a top flange |84. The vertical side flange |82 of the housing |11 is provided with an outwardly extending vertical lip |86, see Figs. 8, 9 and 10, and the opposite wall |83 of this box-like housing |11 is attached to channel bar |10 by means of screws, or preferably steel pins |88 and |90 welded to the vertical wall |83 of the vertical housing. If screws are used for attaching the housing |11, the latter is rigidly attached to the vertically movable channel member |10. On the other hand, if the pins |88 and |90 are welded to the vertical wall |83 of the housing, these pins then merely engage the vertical channel member |10 through horizontally elongated slots |89, see Figure 7. This pin and slot connection allows the pins to oat horizontally in these slots but does not allow the pins t0 disengage from the vertical channel member |10, due to the fact that the housing structure |11 is held against the vertical channel member |10 by means cf the handle hereinafter described, see Figure 9. The handle |99 is attached to the housing |11 by means of the three screws |91 threading into the screw holes 2|2, 2|4 and 2|8 so that the handle cannot move horizontally away from the vertical movable member |19 but can travel only vertically with thechannelmemberv |19 as the latter rides in the guides ||9 and ||2` in the faceof the door. Thispermits-the handle to operate freely and permits ease of alignment and assembly. In addition, there is a bottom partition |92 which is weldedor otherwise suitably xed to the front wall |18. In addition, the wall |18 is depressed slightlyoutwardly to provide a rectangular shaped recess or embossment |94 and the upper edge of this recess is slotted all the way through as at |96 to receive a numeral ticket |98, see Figure 7, which slides down in position and carries suitable indicia thereon, as shown in Figure 6, thereby giving the locker a number.

As hereinafter referred to, a cast aluminum or other metal handle member |99, shown in Figure 9, is provided. This comprises a vertically extending front plate- 2199 provided with an elon gated, central, preferably rectangular opening 294-and two side pillars 296 and 208. At the top and back, these side legs or pillars terminate in a horizontal, inwardly extending flange 2|9 which is perforated and threaded as at 2|2 and 2|4. In addition, the legs are joined at the bottom by means of a ange 2|6 having a centrally depending lug-provided with a horizontal perforation which is Vthreaded as at 2|8 to-receive one of the screws |91, Figure 8, that fasten the handle to the housing |11. The bottom of front plate 296 extends downwardly as at 229 below the lower horizontal extending flange'ZI. The posts 299 and 298 at the junction of the flange 296 are slotted-asy at 232 and 224 so as to receive therein the cross flange |92' of the housingl |11 and the ends ofthe flange |92 are-shouldered as at |93 so as to t into these slots 232 and 224, whereby the handle plate 299 ts within the side wall |82 and the opposed side wall |83 of the box-like structure, and whereby the handle plate is held or secured to the housing |11 by the cross flange |92 fitting in the slots 232 and 2-24 and three screws tapped into the handle flanges 2|0 and 2|9 through the box-like structure, so that when the hand of the user of the locker enters the opening of the handle and raises the same, the box-like housing or structure |11 and the, elongated channel-member |19 will be carried thereby and will be raised relatively to the guide walls |92, I9 and ||2.

As shown in Figure 9, the rear wall of the channel bar 19 is provided witha lower cut-out horizontal leg 226 and a conjoined vertical cutout vertical leg 288 of a locking slot and, in addition, thereabove there is another vertical slot 239 which merges into an enlarged horizontal leg portion 232 thereof. suitably welded to the rear wall of the channel bar |19,as at 234, 236 and 238, is azplateflike member 249 which isvprovided with a slot 242 which includes a relatively narrow neck portion 244 terminatingin a substantially circularV head. The slot 42 flares out wider'. at its bottom, as shown. A locking pin 248 lies in this slot and has ahead 259 which lies in the aforesaid circular portion so. that the pin lies flush with theinner surface ofthe plate 240. A4 struck-up tab 252 on plate 249 overlies the shank 248 of this'pin and holds it rmly in its seat in the slotted plate. The

bottom portion offthis plate is bent laterally out of the plane of the remainder ofl the plate,- such as at 254, Figure 6, so that it is clearfofthepin;

B The bottom ofv the .pin'is freeand lies inthe broad portion 232. ofv the upper slot just described.

The lower end 22,1.of the pin 244 normally lies below` the horizontal portionof the central slot |49. intheflange. portion ||2.of the door. This corresponds to the downmost position of the channelf-shaped. guide |19 and its box-like structure and handle portion |99. In this position, whenv the door is closed, the tongue |64 on. the stationary framev will enter the horizontal leg of the central slot |49 anditsbeveled portion |66 of this tongue will contact the lower end. 221 of the vertical pin and will shift it to one side .in such a manner that the'pin will wipe over the bevelled portion |66 and will move behind the locking face |68of the tongue. whereby thevdoor will be lockedto the framework. This is thesnap lock feature of the door. To re lease the same itis necessary then to push up on the handle portion, which means that the channel member |1|Jvis likewise pushed upwardly, which then .carriesthe plate 240 and the pin 248 mounted thereon .vertically upwardly so that the bottom portion of the pin will be raised above the top. edge or. face of the tongue |64 tofree the pin from. locking engagement with the face |68 of the tongue. In this position the door is unlocked. andmay be swung to open position.

Means .is provided for maintaining the channel member |10. inthe guideway |92, ||9, ||2,.see Figure l0, which comprises an inwardly struckout locking lug or tit 258 on the Wall ||2 ofthe guideway which engages the lower or retaining slot. 226- 288y on the face |19 of the shiftable bar, see Figure 9. The L-shaped slot 226 and 288 cooperates with this lug 258 in such a manner that when the vertical channel bar |19 is inserted into the guideway the horizontal portion 226 of. the slot will be slid in horizontally, into the guideway to register with the locking lug 258 and then the bar |19 is dropped so that the lug 258 engages only the vertical slot portion 288, whereby the same is then in locked position. It will be noted that the horizontal portion 226. of the slot passes entirely through the metal of the face |19. and also forms a cutout portion in the side face |12, thereby permitting the tit 258 on flange ||2 to pass into the. slot from the side.

Means is provided for permanently locking the door which comprises a vertical slot 269 formed in wall |14, the lower inner face of this wall |14 below the slot 269 having welded thereto a strip of metal 262, the upper end of which is bent outwardly through the bottom of the slot as at 264 to provide an outwardly extending horizontal ledge or stop on the side wall |14 of the vertically shiftable channel member |19. This stop member 264 cooperates with the tongue or latch 266 of a lock 268 fastened as at 210 and 212 on the inner face of the door |92, see Figure 9. A key operated member 2.14 will manually project the latch 266 of the lock outwardly to engage the slot 269 and the ledge 264, so that the channel member |19 cannot be raised to release the latch |68 from the bottom 221 of the rod.

It will be noted that the rubber stops |42 and |44 are provided above and below the flanges 2|9 and 2|6 of the receptacle handle plate 299 so as to provide a sound-deadening and cushioning means for this handle. l

From the foregoing, it will be` apparent that, I have'provided an improved construction wherein, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, the hereinbefore described construction provides a flush type of handle which ismuch less hazardous in use than a' projecting type of handle. It will also' be noticed that this flush type of handle overlies or overlaps the face of the door opening, thereby concealing the slot in the door which is necessary -for the insertion of the handle. In addition, the handle cover plate 200 forms a recess at the side of the handle to accommodateA the fingers for raising the handle to unlatch the door, and the inside of the handle is smooth. The entire handle, including the handle cover plate, is constructed and arranged to travel when operated so that there is no possibility of the operators injuring his fingers in opening and closing the door, the fingers being completely encased in a housing which is free of moving parts. In addition, the handle cover plate is embossed and slotted at the top and not at the bottom so as to receive a number plate which is thereby held in place in a manner which does not permit its easy removal. Furthermore, by reference to Figure 6, it will be noticed that the front wall of the door, just below and above the opening, as shown in Figure 3 and also in Figure 9 at 231, is provided with small embossments on its outer face upon which slidingly rides the inner wall of the handle whereby to eliminate friction and protect the nish. Furthermore, the handle is symmetrically formed about a vertical center line and thereby can be used on either right-handed or left-handed swinging doors, and so also the cover plate can be made and assembled for both right-handed and left-handed doors. In addition, the bumper members |42 and |44 at the top and bottom or the handle opening of the door provide silent operation of the handle mechanism.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a cabinet door having a substantially flush, manually actuable handle which projects through an opening in the door, the handle plate having upper and lower portions overlying the opening but lying substantially flush with the outer surface of the door and which handle is shiftable vertically, when unlocked, to raise and lower the latching mechanism with respect to the stationary keeper formed on the door frame, the constructionV being such that the door will snap to with a snap lock and will require a manual actuation of the door handle to release the door for opening, and yet will permit of the door being locked by a manually thrown bolt which will prevent the release of the snap locking mechanism. It will be seen that the foregoing provides a very simple type of door construction and locking mechanism therefor for accomplishing the foregoing objects and providing a door of the foregoing advantages.

Obviously the invention is not limited to the specic details of construction disclosed herein but is capable of other modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker having a metallic framework forming a door opening, a sheet metal door hinged in said opening, keeper means carried by the door frame and projecting opposite said opening, said keeper means including a horizontal tongue having a camming surface and a rearwardly disposed adjacent locking surface disposed in the plane of said camming surface, said Sheet metal door including a vertical guideway, said guideway including a slot therein adapted to register with the tongue of said keeper means when the door is in closed position and whereby said tongue of the keeper means is projected through said slot, said latch device comprising a latch carrying mechanism vertically shiftable in said guideway, said latch carrying mechanism having a slot adapted to register with the slot in the guideway of the door, whereby said keeper means is likewise projected through the slot of said shiftable latch carrying mechanism, a shiftable flexible latch carried by said latch carrying mechanism and positioned normally to be engaged by the camming surface of said keeper means upon the closure of the door whereby said latch is moved behind said locking surface of said keeper means to snap lock said door, and means extending across the slot of said shiftable latch carrying mechanism for limiting movement of said flexible latch transversely of said door.

2. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker having a metallic framework forming a door opening, a sheet metal door hinged to said opening, keeper means carried by the door frame and projecting opposite said opening, said keeper means including a tongue having a camming surface and an adjacent locking surface, said sheet metal door including a vertical guideway, said guideway including a slot therein adapted to register with the tongue of said keeper means when the door is in closed position and whereby said tongue of the keeper means is projected through said slot, said latch device comprising a latch carrying mechanism vertically shiftable in said guideway, said latch carrying mechanism having a slot adapted to register with the slot in the guideway of the door, and a relatively long rod flexibly carried on said shiftable latch carrying mechanism and having its end registering with the slot in said latch carrying mechanism and the slot in said door guide, and in position to be moved by the camming surface of said keeper means to a position behind said locking surface of the keeper means when the door moves to closed position, said latch carrying mechanism including means adjacent the free end of said rod limiting movement of said rod transversely of said door.

3. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker having a metallic framework forming a door opening, a sheet metal door hinged to said opening, keeper means carried by the door frame and projecting opposite said door opening, said keeper means including a tongue having a camming surface and an adjacent locking surface, said sheet metal door including a vertical guideway, said guideway including a slot therein adapted to register with the tongue of said keeper means when the door is in closed position and whereby said tongue of the keeper means is projected through said slot, said latch device comprising a latch carrying mechanism vertically shiftable in said guideway, said latch carrying mechanism having a slot adapted to register with the slot in the guideway of the door, a relatively long, flexible rod having one end anchored to said latch carrying mechanism, the opposite end of said rod iiexibly extending in position opposite the registering slots in said latch mechanism and said door guide and in position to be wiped by the camming surface of said keeper means into position behind the locking surface of said keeper means to snap lock said door in position, and means extending across the slot in said latch mechanism for limiting movement of the flexibly extending end of the rod transversely 0f said door.

4. Alatch device for afdoor of a metalliclocker including a door 'formed of angle ironsforming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to saidangle iron and including a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said door, said tongue including a wiping surface andalocking surface, a door hinged to said frame member and adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a guideway having a slot therein, Said latch device comprising a channel-shaped member vertically shiftablein said guideway and likewise having a slot adapted to register withthe slot in said guideway, a latch plate mounted on the `central wall of said channel-shaped member, said latch plate having a slot therein, which slot is considerably wider at its bottom than at its top, a relatively long rod lying in said slot, means for xing the upper portion of said rod in said slot whereby the bottom portion of said rod is exible and lies opposite the slot in said channel-shaped guideway whereby when said door is moved to closed position the oamming surface of said keeper will wipe past the free exible end of said rod and move said rod behind the locking surface of said keeper to snaplock the door in closed position.

5. A latch device for a'door of a metallic locker including 'a door formed of angle irons forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to one of said angle ironsand including a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said door, said tongue including a wiping surface and a locking surface, a-docr hinged to one of said angle irons and adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a guidevvayhaving a slot therein, said latch device comprising a channel-shaped member vertically shiftable in said guideway and likewise having a slot adapted to register with the slot in said guideway, a latch plate mounted on the central wall of said channel-shaped member, said latch plate having afslot therein, which slot is considerably wider at its bottom than at its top, a relatively long rod lying in said slot, means for fixing the upper portion of said rod in said slot whereby the bottom portion of said rod is flexible and lies opposite the slot in saidchannel-shaped guideway whereby when said door is moved to closed position the camming surface of said keeper will wipe past the free flexible end of saidrod and move said rod behind the locking surface of said keeper to snap lock the door in'closedposition, said channel-shaped member having a stop member.

'6. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a door formed of angle irons forming a door opening, a stationary keeper 'secured to one of said angle irons and including a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said door, said tongue including a wiping surface and a locking surface, a door hinged to one ofsaid angle irons and adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a guideway, said latch device comprising a member vertically shiftable in said guideway, a support mounted on said member, said support having a slot therein, which slot is considerably wider at its bottom than at its top, a relatively long rod lying in said slot, means for securing said rod at one end only to said support whereby the remainder of ysaid rod is flexible and has a portion lying opposite the `keeper when` said door is moved -to vclosed position whereby the wiping surface of said keeper willl wipe past the flexible portion of fsaid rodf-and movesaid 4rod behind the lockingisurfac'e of said keeper to snap lock the door in closed position, said member having a stop member.

7. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a doorformed of angle irons forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to one of said angle irons and including a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said door, saidtongue including a wiping surfaceand a locking surface, a door hinged to said frame member and adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a guideway, said latch device comprising a member vertically shiftable in said guideway, a support mounted on said member, said supporthaving a slot therein, which slot is considerably wider at its bottom than at its top, a relatively long substantially straight rod lying in said slot, means for positioning said support on said member whereby a portion of said rod is flexible and lies opposite the keeper when said door is moved to closed position whereby the wiping surface of said keeper will wipe past the flexible portion of said rod and move said latch behind the locking surface of said keeper to snap lock the door in closed position.

8. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a door frame forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to said frame and including a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said frame, said tongue including a wiping surface and an adjacent locking surface, a door hinged to `said frame and adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a vertical guideway, said latch device comprising an elongated latch carrying member vertically shiftable in said guideway, an elongated latch plate mounted on said latch `carrying member, said latch plate for the major portion of its vertical length lying flat against one of the Walls of said latch carrying member, the bottom portion of said latchplate being bent out of the plane of the remaining portion of said latch plate, an elongated vertical slot formed therein, an elongated rod lying in said `slot with the upper portion of said rod fixed in said slot to said latch plate, substantially the entire length of said rod below its point of fixation being free, and said rod in the closing position of said door being operable to wipe across the wiping surface of said keeper and yieldingly to snap behind the adjacent locking surface of said keeper, vertical movement of said latch carrying member being operable to carry the lower end of said rod above the locking s-urface of said keeper to release their interengagement.

9. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including adoor frame forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to said frame and including a sheet metal tongue lying in a vertical plane and having a transversely extending horizontal portion provided with an oblique wiping edge and a locking shoulder disposed in the plane of said laterally extending portion, a door hinged to said door frame and adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a vertical guideway provided with an opening, said latch device comprising a latch carrying member vertically shiftable in said guideway and having an opening registrable with the opening in said guideway, a latch plate affixed to an inner flat wall of said latch carrying member, said latch plate having a vertically extending slot formed centrallythereof, the lower portion of said latch plate being bent out of the plane of the rev`mainder of said plate, `and an elongated rodof relatively' small diameter having its upper end fixed in said slot at the upper portion of said plate and depending downwardly, the portion of said rod below its point of fixation being free of said plate whereby said rod may yield with respect to the plate on which it is mounted, the bottom of said rod. extending opposite the slot in said latch carrying plate, and said slot in said latch carrying plate and the slot in said door guideway normally registering with the position of said keeper whereby on closure of said door the lower free end of said rod will wipe along the wiping edge of said tongue and snap behind said locking shoulder of said tongue, and means for raising said latch carrying member t move the lower free end of said rod above said locking shoulder to release the same from interengagement.

10. A latching device to be used with a locker or the like, comprising a longitudinally shiftable latch carrying member, a latch plate mounted on said latch carrying member and having a longitudinal slot therein, said slot being wider at one end than at the other, a relatively long flexible member disposed in the slot of said latch plate, and means for fixing one end only of said flexible member to said latch plate at the narrower end of said slot, the remainder of said flexible member being free and lying substantially in the plane of said slot and being adapted to be cammed to one side by a camming surface on a keeper and thereafter to snap behind a locking surface on a keeper.

11. A latch device to be used with a locker o1' the like having a horizontally disposed keeper having a latching surface and a camming surface disposed at an oblique angle to said latching surface, said latch device comprising a, vertically shiftable latch carrying member, a latch plate mounted on said latch carrying member and having a vertical slot which is wider at the lower end than at the upper, an elongated flexible member disposed in the slot of said latch plate, and means for fixing one end only of said flexible member to said latch plate at the upper end of said slot, the remainder of said flexible member being free and lying substantially in the plane of said slot, whereby said flexible member may be cammed to one side by the camming surface of said keeper and thereafter snap behind the locking surface of said keeper.

12. A latching device to be used with a locker or the like, comprising a longitudinally shiftable latch carrying member, an elongated flexible latch member secured to said latch carrying member at one end only, the other end of said flexible member being free for substantial deflection in a predetermined plane when engaged by the camming surface of a keeper and adapted thereafter to snap behind a locking surface on a keeper, and means adjacent the free end of said latch member substantially preventing movement of said flexible latch member in a plane perpendicular to said predetermined plane.

13. A latching device to be used with a locker or the like, comprising a vertically shiftable latch carrying member, a latch plate secured to said latch carrying member and having a vertical slot therein, the greater portion of said latch plate lying in a plane and the lower portion of said latch plate including .a part of said slot being displaced therefrom away from said latch carrying member and substantially -parallel to said latch carrying member, a relatively long flexible member disposed in the slot of said latch plate, and means for fixing one end only of said flexible member to said latch plate substantially at the upper end of said slot, the lower end of said flexible member being free for and guided in substantially plane movement by the lower end of said latch plate and said latch carrying member whereby said flexible member can be cammed to one side by a camming surface of a keeper and will thereafter snap behind a locking surface on a keeper.

14. A latch device to be used with a locker or the like having a horizontal keeper having a locking surface and a camming surface disposed at an oblique angle to said locking surface, said latch device comprising a vertically shiftable latch carrying member, a latch plate mounted on said latch carrying member and having a vertical slot therein, an elongated flexible rod disposed in the slot of said latch plate, means for securing one end only of said rod substantially at the upper end of said slot, the greater portion of said latch plate lying in a plane and the lower end including a portion of said slot being displaced from said plane away from said latch carrying member, the lower end of said rod being free for lateral deflection between said latch carrying member and the displaced portion of said latch plate when engaged by the camming surface of said keeper to snap behind the locking surface of said keeper.

15. A latching device to be used with a locker or the like, comprising a longitudinally shiftable latch carrying member having a substantially plane surface, a latch plate mounted on said latch carrying member, the greater part of said latch plate lying in a plane flat against the plane surface of said latch carrying member and one end of said latch plate being displaced outwardly from said latch carrying member, said latch plate having an elongated slot relatively wide in the outwardly displaced end of said plate and tapering to a narrow substantially elongated neck portion having substantially parallel sides and ending in an enlarged portion, a struck out portion of said latch plate overlying said neck portion, and an elongated flexible rod disposed within said slot, the rod adjacent one end thereof fitting within the neck portion and clamped between the struck out portion of the plate and the latch carrying member, the end of said rod being enlarged within the enlarged portion of said slot adjacent said neck portion to preclude longitudinal movement of said rod, and the other end of said rod being free for plane movement between the latch carrying member and the displaced end of said latch plate whereby said rod can be deflected to one side by a camming surface of a keeper and thereafter snap behind a locking surface of a keeper.

16. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker, having a metallic frame member forming a door opening, a sheet metal member hinged to said first member to close said door opening, one of said members including a keeper provided with an outstanding vertically disposed tongue formed with a horizontal camming member and an adjacently disposed locking surface disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the t tongue, the other of said members being provided with a guideway, a slot in said guideway i-,gi'ster with a portionl of the 'slottedportion of the guideway, sad'slidable latch ca rryingmember keeper and to snap behind the locking surface of the tongue of said keeper, whereby to snap lock said door in closed position, means'on said latch carrying member adjacent the freetend of said rod, limiting movement of said rod transversely of said door and means carried by one of said members for shifting the latch carrying member to a position to carry said flexible-rod out of contact with said locking surface ofs'aid keeper to release said door. y

17. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker having a metallic frame member forming a door frame and a door opening, a sheet metal member hinged to said frame member to close said opening, one of said members including a keeper provided with an outstanding tongue formed with a camming surface and an adjacently disposed locking surface, the other of said members being provided with a guideway, a slot in said guideway to receive the projecting tongue of the keeper, said latch device comprising a slidable latch carrying member slidably mounted in i said guideway and having a slotted portion adapted to register with a portion of the slotted portion of the guideway, said shiftable latch carrying member carrying a flexible single vertically disposed elongated rod, said rod being attached at its upper end to said member and being free otherwise and disposed normally to the rear of and across a portion of the slot in said latch carrying member, and constructed and arranged upon the projection of the tongue of the keeper into said slot of said latch carrying member to be shifted laterally by the camming surface of the tongue of the keeperV into said slot of said door member and to snap behind a locking surface of the tongue of said keeper whereby to snap lock said door in closed position, means carried by one of said members adjacent the free end of said rod for limiting movement of said rod transversely of the member on which it is carried, and means carried by one of said members for shifting the latch carrying member to` a position to carry said rod above and out of contact with said locking surface of said keeper to release said door.

18. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a door formed of angle irons forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to one of said angle irons and including a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said door, said tongue including a wiping surface and an adjacent locking surface, a door hinged to one of said angle irons and adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a marginal guideway having a slot therein, said latch device comprising an elongated latch carrying member vertically shiftable in said guideway and likewise having a slot adapted to register with the slot in said guideway, a latch plate mounted on said latch carrying member, said latch plate having a vertically disposed slot therein, which slot is considerably wider at its bottom than at its top, a relatively long rod disposedgin the slot of said latch plate, means for fixing `the upper portion only of said rod to said latch plate, the remainder of said rod being free and lying in the plane of the slot, the bottom portion of said rod being flexible and lying opposite the slot in said channel-shaped guideway whereby when said door is 'moved to closed position the camming surface of said keeper will wipepast the free flexible `end of said rod and move said rod behind the locking surface of said keeper to snap lock the door in closed position.

19. A latch device for a door of a metallic locker including a door frame forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to said door frame and including a tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said frame, said tongue including a vertically disposed wiping surface and an adjacent locking surface, a door hinged to said door frame and adapted to swing to closed position, said door including a guideway, said latch device comprising alatch carrying member vertically shiftablein said guideway, a vertically disposed elongated substantially straight latch having a free end, means for mounting said latch on said latch carrying member whereby the bottom portion of said latch is flexible and lies generally opposite the vertically disposed wiping surface and locking surface of said keeper when said door is moved to closed position whereby the wiping surface of said keeper will wipe past the free flexible end of said elongated latch and move said latch behind the locking surface of said keeper to snap lock the door in closed position, and means on said latch carrying member near the free end of said latch limiting movement of the free flexible end of said elongated latch transversely of said door.

20. A latching device for a door of a metallic locker, including a door frame forming a door opening, a stationary keeper secured to said door frame and including a vertically disposed sheet metal tongue projecting forwardly into the opening of said frame, said tongue including a bend substantially at right angles to the tongue to provide a horizontal wiping member and an adjacent locking surface disposed in the plane of the wiping member, a door hinged to said door frame and adapted to swing to closed position, said door, including a guideway, said latch device comprising a latch carrying member vertically shiftable in said guideway, an elongated latch having a free end, means for vertically mounting said latch on said latch carrying member whereby the bottom portion of said latch is flexible and lies generally opposite and transversely to the wiping member and locking surface of said keeper, when said door is moved to closed position whereby the wiping surface of said keeper will wipe past the free flexible end of said elongated latch and move said latch behind the locking surface of said keeper to snap lock the door in closed position and means on said latch carrying member near the free end of said latch for limiting movement of the free flexible end of said elongated latch transversely of the door.

JOHN B. OCONNOR.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,194,801 Lindstrom Mar. 26, 1940 2,195,223 OConnor 1 Mar. 26, 1940 2,242,958 OConnor May 20, 1941 2,370,841 Chervenka Mar. 6, 1945