US2631051A - Latch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1953 A. F. LICKTEIG, JR 2,631,051

LATCH MECHANISM Filed June 3, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 l'n van for A/berfF, L/c/(fe/g, Jr.

Affomgg March 10, 1953 A. F. LICKTEIG, JR

LATCH MECHANISM Filed June 3, 1948 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 g /9 F fi mt 23' P5 /n ven for A/berf F. L/ckfe/g, Jr.

% a M Affomex;

i which interfere with the use of the hands.

Patented Mar. 10, 1953 LATCH MECHANISM Albert F. Lickteig, Jr., Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Harloc Products Corporation, a corporation of Connecticut Application June 3, 1948, Serial No. 30,755

9 Claims.

This invention provides a door latch mechanism which may be installed without regard to the direction in which the door will swing. The characteristics of the conventional door latch are such that it is adapted to engage a striker plate from one direction only. As a result of this, the usual practice for the installation of these devices is to assemble them to the door at the time the door is hung in place. It is usual to provide such devices with a cross bar equipped with knobs or handles to actuate a retracting mechanism which serves to withdraw the bolt from looking position. When these cross bars or equivalent members have once been installed, it is no longer possible to rotate the entire latch mechanism within its recess in the door. For these reasons, the installation of lock mechanisms in doors has been left entirely in the hands of the carpenter on the job, which is considerably more costly than would be the case if the lock mechanism could be installed by the manufacturer of the doors at a station on a production line.

A latch embodying the present invention may be installed in a door at the factory where the door is made. The adaption of the latch to a particular door installation is preferably accomplished by the application of a minor part to the exterior of the lock mechanism by the workman on the job. The application of this part merely serves to select which side of the bolt is to operate as a locking surface, the other side of the bolt serving as a ramp causing the bolt to retract when the door is pushed to a closed position.

To open a door which is provided with a conventional latch, it is necessary to rotate the knob sufficiently to completely withdraw the bolt into the recess provided for it. When one is in a hurry, it may be burdensome to be forced to completely actuate the knob through its entire travel; and it may also be extremely difficult to do so if one happens to be carrying packages or other articles The present invention, however, has provided an arrangement for supporting the bolt in locking position only'when the bolt is at or near the outward extremity of its movement. When the hand operated actuating system has caused the bolt to be slightly withdrawn from its locking position, the supporting means ceases to be effective, and permits the" bolt to be rotated slightly by a force tending to open the door. causes thelockin surface to assume a slant position, .andto .then act in much the same way as the opposite face of the lock when the door is pushed closed. The force of the striker plate This slight rotation 2 against a bolt which has assumed this position provides a force tending to urge the bolt inwardly and thereby permit the door to be pulled wan open position before the actuating mechanism has completely retracted the bolt into its recess.

The mechanism which provides these general characteristics includes a bolt which is adapted to travel from a locking position to a retracted position, and return, within the confines of a passageway. At the outer extremity of this passageway a supporting structure is located which is in position to engage particular clamping surfaces upon the bolt as the bolt is urged outwardly into locking position by the action of suitable biasing means. These supporting surfaces are preferably parallel to the passageway, at least one of these supporting surfaces being relatively short with respect to the axis of this passageway in order that the bolt may be released from the combined effect of the support surfaces when the bolt'vhas been retracted a short distance from its normal locking position.

The preferred form of this invention provides a bolt which is symmetrical in form, and hasan outwardly converging locking portion. It is preferred that the bolt be generally rectangularf'in cross section, with the converging characteristics accomplished by forming the bolt with two opposite sides lying along intersecting planes. The remaining two sides of the bolt are parallel. The angle of intersection of the aforementioned two planes has been found to be preferably in the neighborhood of 45 degrees. I

The bolt, in its simplest form, is also provided with another pair of surfaces, each of which'cooperates with one of the converging surfaces mentioned above. These cooperating surfaces are so placed relative to the locking surface that a clamping action is possible between them which creates the necessary locking rigidity when these surfaces are engaged by the support means at the outer extremity of the bolt passageway. It is of course necessary that an auxiliary clamping surface which is to cooperate with a locking surface must be disposed between perpendiculars to the ends of that portion of the locking surface which is used as a clamping surface. The most convenient form for a bolt which complies with these geometric requirements is to form the auxiliary clamping surfaces parallel with the locking surfaces with which they cooperate, and allow them to intersect the locking surface with which they do not cooperate. This conformity provides a means for guiding the clamping surfaces into engagement with the support means due to the conpart of the front plate adjacent thereto.

permitted to the bolt in order to present? aslantz surface to the locking face of the bolt if the door is then being urged to an open position. This restricted rotatability is accomplished by the manner of supporting the bolt within the boltpassageway. Preferably, the: boit: slides within. the passageway, confined therein by the. contact. of the outermost portions of the bolt with the walls of the passageway.

surfaces; or other'generally parallel surfaces may used which are similarly disposed for this purpose. This arrangement of course provides forslideably retaining the-bolt in a manner which does-not permit a substantial degree of rotation in' the plane perpendicular to the two parallel surfaces. A limited degree of rotation isper- "mitted', however, in another plane. j whichlimited rotation is permitted is perpen- This plane dicular to theintersection of the outwardly coniverging locking surfaces. The simplest manner of securing thebolt within the passageway to permitthedesired amount of rotation is to pro- 'vide a bolt which has its maximum width restricted;to a veryshort dimension'measured generallytparallel'to thezaxis of the passageway. In this manner'the bolt is' permitted to rotate withoutjbeing directionally'confinedby the sides in 'the' same manner as the bolt is confined by the parallel sides; The amount of rotation which the bolt is permitted should be limited so that the bolt may not assume a position in which it does not'ea'sily 'engage'the supporting surfaces. It is .also' preferable: that the rotation' be restricted to that amount which will not permit a locking-surface to form an" acute angle with respect to that The reason. forthis latter requirement is to facilitate the passage of the bolt through the-apertur or the frontplat-e when'the door'is slammed shut, causing the bolt to be forced inwardly by the action of the back orslant sunf-ace acting-against the strikerplateof thedoor 'j amb.

Since theboltis actingunder the influence of an outwardly loiasing'means; some measure must be taken' .EOlLlIIlltlth outward'm-ovement of the b'olt'so that'it does not advance-beyond a locking position; The stop meanswhich is provided for this purpose may either be in the form of shouldersi. which are disposed upon the sides of the boltadjacent theolamping surfaces, or may be inthe-form of'a fulcrum support which is disposedgenerally-intheplane of symmetry of the bolt. Whenthe'side-typc of stop is used, itoperates byengaging a portion of the front structure of the lock, which is usually a plate attached to the structure forming the passageway. The contactof such ashoulder with this structure; when combinedwith the outward force of a ful-crum'ty-pe support is used with the fulcrum The two parallel sides D 'Qfi'fh'fi locking portion maybe used as sliding the supporting surfaces.

substantially on such plane of symmetry, there is no such tendency to straighten the bolt out and the bolt is then free to assume whatever angular position relative to the passageway that exterior forces may urge it into. This latter type of stop means can be efiect-ively combined with a toggle-type of mechanism in a modification of this invention to=create anxunstablerbiasing means for the bolt which tends to assist the bolt to assume a position wherein one of the clamping surfaces is parallel to the wall of the passageway: With this type of mechanism, the bolt is caused to snap definitely into a position which it assumes when it engages the supporting surfaces. As a.door ispushed to a closed position, the first contact of the striker plate with the bolt causes the: bolttobe forced to the position shown in Figure 2,, since the force generated by the striker plate tips the bolt to a position where the bolt is in such alignment as to be prepared to engage Whena toggle-typearrangement is utilized as above discussed,.such alignment. of the bolt is rendered; positive; the bolt returning'to lockingposition in the'generally desiredalignment.

This invention will be describedby an analysis of the particular mechanisms and components which are illustrated'in the'accompanying drawings. Iri'thes'edrawings:

Figure l is a horizontal section through a door which is providedwit-h a latch embodying this invention.- The section is taken principally through the case and supporting-structure; with the parts and components left in'full'lin-e.

Figure 2 is a section'of thesame mechanism shown in Figure 1, but in the retracted position.

Figure 3'is a schematic diagram of theforces which are applied to .the'bolt which permit itto function as'a latch;

Figure tie a top-view of the mechanism illustrated in Figure 1 with the upper half of the case removed to show the parts contained. This view may be considered to be in a vertical plane.

Figure 5shows a mechanism embodying a toegle-action biasing means.

Figure 6 is a section along the plane 6-'B of Figure 5, illustrating'principally an end View of the cross-head.

Referring to Figure l, the latch mechanism 10 isshown installed within the bore ll of the swinging door I2. This installation permits the latch bolt l 3to project outwardly'f'rom the surface M of the door which closes within the door jamb in order to accomplish the latching function through engagementof said bolt with a suitable striker plate afiixed to the jamib. The latch mechanism is generally contained withinthe'case 15 which is comprised of the symmetrical halves ill. and 7. The bore 18 is disposed to permit the'passage of a cross bar (not shown in Figure 1.) which cooperates with the roll- back members 19 and 26 to eiiect actuation of the retracting mechanism of the latch.

The general operation of the retracting mechanism can best be described'by referring to Figures l, 2, and 4 together. The roll-back elements l9 and 26 are usually individually operable by cross-bar sections associated with either side of thebore. Rotation of either of these rollbask members in either direction causes the cross head 2| to move to the right due to the engagement of eitherof cam surfaces 22011 23 with the outwardly turned care 24 or 25'. The ears 2d and'25 are formed integrally with the tension arms '26 and 21. the tension arms" being structurally attached to the plate 28 which has its surface'generally perpendicular to the movement of the cross head. The actuation of the cross head in a. direction to the right is opposed by the action of spring 29 which bears against inner surface 36 of the cross head 2|. The opposite or right end of the spring 29 is supported by the spring seat 3|, which in turn is supported by a shoulder 32 in the case l5.

The outwardly turned ears 24 and 25 not only serve the purpose of engaging the cam surfaces 22 and 23, 1111133150 serve to engage the guiding slots 33 and 34 which are located in the vertical surface 35 of the case I5. Preferably the ends 36 and 31 of the slots 33 and 34 are so positioned as to act as limit stops to the movement of cross head 2| through the engagement of the outwardly turned ears 24 and 25 therewith.

The construction of the cross head 2| is preferably anintegral piece formed by welding or otherwise attaching two symmetrical halves which are "united on a plane which passes through the center of the latch mechanism parallel to the view shown in Figure 4. Figure 4 shows the lower half of the cross head having this type of construction, theupper half being identical thereto and having ears, arms, and surfaces which are in all respects the exact opposite of those shown. The upper half It of the case I is provided with slots similar to 33 and 34 for the guide and stop purposes previously described. Preferably, the two halves 38 and 39 of the cross head 2| are joined together by a series of spot welds along the tension arms 26 and 21 and their opposite equivalents.

Previous to the joining of the two halves 38 and 39 of the cross head 2|, a retracting link 45 is installed within the aperture 4| which is formed in the plate 28 as indicated in Figure 6. Previous to such installation of the link 46, the spring 42 is of course placed in position, since this spring bears against the plate 28 in order to create the biasing force tending to urge the bolt |3 outwardly withrespect to the door. The retracting link 46 and the aperture 4| are so proportioned that the link may slide therein and be permitted a small degree of articulation in the plane indicated in Figure 1. With the mechanism indicated in Figures 1 and 4, it is clear that bolt l3 may move inwardly from either of two causes. A striker plate which is intended to cooperate with the bolt may bear upon the slanted surface 43 of the bolt i 3 when the door is slammed shut, thereby creating a component of force tending to push the bolt inward against the action of spring 42. It is clear that under these conditions the cross head 2| remains in the position shown, the bolt |3 moving from the position'indicated in Figure 1 to thats'hown in Figure 2. The bolt |3 may also be caused to move inwardly by the action of the hand operated retracting mechanism previously discussed which causes the cross head 2| to move to the right and take with it the retracting link 40, which draws the bolt |3 by means of the pivot connection indicated at 44.

The locking effect of the bolt i3 is best described by reference to the schematic diagram indicated in Figure 3. The biasing means which derives its force from'the action of spring 42 maybe said to create an outward force 45 which acts at the pivot connection 44. The effect of the force 45 is to firmly place the bolt E3 in engagement with the supporting structure of the look. It will be noted that the bolt I3 is gen erally symmetrical about a plane 46, and that the outer or looking portion of the bolt I3 is formed by the outwardly converging surfaces 41 and 48, together with the parallel surfaces 49 and 56'. diagrammed in Figure 3 permits the bolt to be supported against the action of the locking force 5| only when the bolt is in the outer or locking position. As bolt l3 moves inwardly in the general direction indicated in Figure 2, the clamping surfaces of the bolt come out of engagement with the supporting structure, and the bolt |3 no longer has the ability to maintain the alignment shown in Figures 3 and l. The clamping surfaces of the bolt shown in Figure 3 include the clamping portion 52 of a locking surface 48. The auxiliary clamping surface 53 is disposed to receive force directed at the surface 52. This requires that at least a substantial portion of the clamping surface 53 be positioned between perpendiculars from the ends of the'surface 52, thus creating an overlapping relationship. Allocking force 5| not only generates a force within the supporting structure to oppose it, but also generates a moment tending to rotate a bolt l3 in a clockwise direction about the point 54, which is due to the fact that the locking force does not act along the same line as a force 55. An opposing moment to that previously described is generated by the cooperation of the rearward portion of the surface 52 with the bolt supporting structure so as to generate a force 56. In general, the combination offorces 5| and 55 will create a clockwise moment, while forces 55 and 55 cooperate to create an exactly equal and opposite moment which permits the bolt to maintain the position shown.

It is of course possible to provide a set of clamping surfaces which are not directly related to the locking surfaces of the bolt, but the simplest and preferred form is that indicated in the various figures of the drawings associated herewith. It will be obvious that the auxiliary clamping surfaces 53 and 51 are respectively parallel to the surfaces 48 and 41, and intersect the surfaces with which they do not cooperate for clamping action. It has been found most desirable to form the bolt i3 so that the angle included between the sides 41 and 48 is approximately 45 degrees. Regardless of such angle it is clear that with suitable modifications of the supporting structure, the bolt I3 may be just as easily supported in a position which is 45 degrees in a clockwise direction from that indicated in Figure 3. The changes in structure required would be simply that the shorter supporting surface 58 and the longer supporting surface 59 would be interchanged. i

The structure of the forward end of the latch mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings provides for such an interchange. of supporting structures to permit the alignment of the bolt with either surface 48 or surface 4T in a position parallel to the general retracting motion of the bolt. In this manner it is possible to adapt the latch mechanism to a door which must swing in either direction eventhough the latch mechanism has been firmly fixed in place previous to the installation of the door.

Referring to Figure l the longer supporting surface designated by 59 in Figure 3 is formed *by the surface 60 of the lower half of the case IS. The shorter surface 58' indicated in Figure 3 has its counterpart in the surface 6| which is provided by the front plate 62, and is firmly secu r ed in The type of bolt-supporting structure v more positive.

'position relative to the-balance of thelatch mechanism? through the: engagement of the extruded portions 63'- and iii-with an inner plate 65, the inner plate being securely attached to the case lirby'therivets 66 andB'L The plate 62'is'held in thepositionshown in:-Fig ure 4 by theaction of. the 'wood'screwswhich secure the latch-mechanism in place-withirr the door.

A close examination -of plate BZ-WilL indicate that-the aperture 68 is eccentric with respect to the mounting portions -63 and 64. Since the surfacet!" forms apartofthis-aperture, it is clear that'a rotation of the-front plate of 180 degrees in'aiplanegenerally parallel to the normal position of thelplate'willcause the surface ell toassume the same? position witharespect to the 'uppersurface 59 ofthe casethat it now assumes with respect: to the surface 60, thereby creating :a set of supporting surfaces which will engage the auxiliary. surface and the surface indicated at 43. Withsuchan alignment, the surface a TI, which canbe'designatedas a locking surface in Figurehbecomes a slanted surface-serving the same'purposezas is-servedby surface with the bolt disposed as shown.

As the. bolt 13 moves outwardly from the position indicated in Figure 2110' the locking position indicated in Figure 1, the auxiliary clamping surface intercepts the outwardly converging'surface and creates a'tendencyfor the bolt toguide itself into engagement with whichever supporting surfaces are then in position. If the bolt may be-assumedto be in a position wherein the plane of symmetry is parallel to the axis of the passageway, the smaller supporting surface (ii I contacts the surface43 atsome point and tends to urge the bolt l3 into the general position in dicated. This alignment of the bolt into a locking position. The stop means indicated in Figure 1' comprises the shoulders 12 and I3 which engage the. projecting section of the front. plate to prevent. outward movement of the bolt beyond the point indicated.

Itis clear that the action of. v the stop meansin cooperation with the biasing force ofthe. spring 42 tends to create a moment upon the bolt tending to rotate itina clockwise direction. If. it. is. desired to eliminatesuch a i straightening moment, and to render the-action of the biasing means somewhat positive withrespect to positioning the bolt for either of the two locking positions, the arrangement indicated in Figure 5 may be used. A fulcrum stop as indicated" at Hi may be used, and a. toggle actionbiasing means'may be usedin'conjunctiontherewith to render a positioning action of the bolt It will be noted that the biasing means is pivotally connected to the bolt at the point 15, and that the fulcrum stop 14 is disposedoutwardly therefrom where it contacts the front structure of the latch. mechanism. at a convenient point. Since the pivots M and 15 are generally locatedupon the plane of symmetry ofthe bolt; it follows that the toggle action gen 'erated thereby would tend to cause the bolt to snap into either the position indicated, or one in which thebolt is disposed 45 degrees in a clockwise direction from thatshown.

As the boltis being retracted under the influence of the forces generated by a striker plate as isindicated-inv Figure 2, it is desirable that some means'beprovided to control the amount of rotation which the-bolt may take as it passes inwardly within the confines of the passageway provided by the case l5. The preferredform of the'bolt I3 is that in which the outwardly converging surfaces 43 and II also act as sliding surfaces as the bolt passes to a retracted position. It-is desirable that the bolt not be permitted to rotate beyond a point in which the clamping surfaces are generally disposed to cooperate with the supporting surfaces. To control this rotation, the outer extremities of the bolt may be provided with points which are adapted to engage the surface of the passageway, or special rotation-limiting means such as the abutments l6 and "H of link 40, maybe provided. Ineither case, it is desirable that in the planeof the bolt indicated in Figures 1, 2, 3, -and5 that the outer extremities of the bolt beshort in the general direction in the bolt passageway. The alignment of the bolt in the plane indicated in Figure 4 is maintained without provision for rotation by the action of the link dfl and-the parallel surfaces wand 19. It is also possible to provide for the alignment of the bolt in that plane simply by theaction of parallel surfaces-alone, which is particularly simple in the case where the surface 49 and 18 and those of 5%! and I9 are in the same plane. This arrangementcan be achieved with small modification of the stop system.

Referring to Figure 6, a View is there shown which indicates the construction of the crosshead 2 l. The upper half 36 meets the lower half 39 along a parting line which includes the 10- cating projections wand 81, and the aperture 4|. The two halves 38 and 39 are placed together following the insertion of link 4%, and the tension arms 26 and 21 are welded to'their counterparts 82 and'83.

Thev particular mechanisms and components shown and described herein are for illustrative .purposesonly. The features of this invention have now been fully described and are defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism having retracting means and a bolt with a plurality of locking surfaces, the combination of the following: a front plate; locating means adapted to determine 'thelocation of said front late relative to said mechanism and engageable with said plate in one of a plurality of-such' locations and means, for positioning said bolt to present one of said locking surfaces in. looking positioncomprising an aperturein said frontplate, saidaperture being eccentricto said locating means.

2. In a latch mechanism having retracting means, .the combination of the. following: a crosshead having transversely disposed surface and axially disposed tension arms; a case having a guiding portion for slideably retaining said crosshead; means for inducing inward movement of said cross-head; and spring. means opposing said inward movemenusaid spring. means being confined between said tension arms.

3. In a latch mechanism having retracting means, the combination of'the following: a symmetrical bolt having outwardly' converging locking surfaces and clamping surfaces parallel to each locking surface, said clamping surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said bolt from the locking surfaces to which they are parallel and in overlapping relationship thereto; guide means adapted to guide said bolt to and from a retracted position; biasing means urging said bolt outward; stop means preventing outward movement of said bolt beyond a locking position; and support-means disposed to closely engage one of said clamping surfaces and the locking surface parallel thereto when said bolt is in a locking position.

4. In a latch mechanism having retracting means, the combination of the following: a symmetrical bolt having outwardly converging looking surfaces and a clamping surface parallel to each locking surface, said clamping surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said bolt from the locking surfaces to which they are parallel and in overlapping relationship thereto; guide means adapted to guide said bolt to and from a retracted position, said guide means having a front portion adapted to accommodate said bolt in any angular relationship between and including locking positions corresponding to said locking surfaces; biasing means urging said bolt outward; stop means preventing outward movement of said bolt beyond a locking position; and support means having supporting urfaces disposed to closely engage one of said clamping surfaces and the locking and in overlapping relationship thereto; means forming a passageway disposed to guide said bolt to and from a retracted position, said passageway having a front portion adapted to accommodate said bolt in any angular relationship between and including locking positions corresponding to said locking surfaces; biasing means urging said bolt outward; stop means preventing outward movementof said bolt beyond a locking position; and support means including a front plate having an aperture adapted to closely engage one of said clamping surfaces and the locking urface parallel thereto when said bolt is in a locking position.

6. In a latch mechanism having retracting means, the combination of the following: a symmetrical bolt having outwardly converging locking surfaces and a clamping surface parallel to each locking surface, said clamping surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said bolt from the locking surfaces to which they are parallel and in overlapping relationship thereto; means forming a passageway disposed to guide said bolt to and from a retracted position, said passageway having a front portion adapted to accommodate said bolt in any angular relationship between and including locking positions corresponding to said locking surfaces; biasing means urging said bolt outward, said biasing means including link means pivotally connected to said bolt on an axis located substantially on the plane of symmetry of said bolt and perpendicular to the direction of retraction thereof; stop means preventing outward movement of said bolt beyond a locking position including abutment means extending from said bolt substantially on the plane of symmetry thereof and in front of said pivot connection; and

10-- support means having supporting surfaces disposed to closely engage one of said clamping surfaces and the locking surface parallel thereto when said bolt is in a locking position.

7. In a latch mechanism having retracting means, the combination of the following: a symmetrical bolt having outwardly converging looking surfaces and clamping surfaces parallel to each locking surface, said clampin surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said bolt from the locking surfaces to which they are parallel and in overlapping relationship thereto; guide means disposed to guide said bolt to and from a retracted position, said guide means having a front portion adapted to accommodate said bolt in any angular relationship between and m eluding looking postions corresponding to said locking surfaces; biasing means urging said bolt outward; stop means preventing outward movement of said bolt beyond a locking position; support means including -a front plate having an aperture adapted to closely engage one of said clamping surfaces and the locking surface parallel thereto when said bolt is in a locking position; and locating means adapted to position said front plate in alternate positions apart in a plane perpendicular to said guide means, said aperture being eccentric with respect to said 10- cating means and disposed so that said alternate positions place the center of said aperture on opposite sides of the axis of said guide means.

8. In a latch mechanism having retracting means, the combination of the following: a symmetrical bolt having outwardly converging looking surfaces and a clamping surface parallel to each locking surface, said clamping surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said bolt from the locking surfaces to which they are parallel and in overlapping relationship thereto; guide means disposed to guide said bolt to and from a retracted position, said guide means having a front portion adapted to accommodate said bolt in any angular relationship between and including locking positions corresponding to said locking surfaces; biasing means urging said bolt outward; stop means preventing outward movement of said bolt beyond a locking position; support means including a front plate having an aperture adapted to closely engage one of said clamping surfaces and the locking surface parallel thereto when said bolt is in a locking position; and locating means adapted to position said front plate in alternate positions 180 apart in a plane perpendicular to said guide means, said aperture being eccentric with respect to said locating means and disposed so that said alternate positions place the center of said aperture on opposite sides of the axis of said guide means.

9. In a latch mechanism having retracting means, the combination of the following: a symmetrical bolt having outwardly converging locking surfaces, a clamping surface parallel to each locking surface, and each clamping surface intersecting another of the said converging lockmg surfaces, said clamping surfaces being disposed on opposite sides of said bolt from the looking surfaces to which they are parallel and in overlapping relationship thereto; means forming a passageway disposed to guide said bolt to and from a retracted position, said passageway having a front portion adapted to accommodate said bolt in any angular relationship between and in-- cluding locking positions corresponding to said locking surfaces; biasing means urging said bolt 11 outward; stop means preventing outward movement of said bolt beyonda locking position; support means including a front plate having an aperture adapted to closely engage one of said clamping surfaces and the locking surface parallel thereto when said bolt is in a locking position; and locating means adapted to position said front plate in alternate positions 130 apart in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said passageway, said aperture being eccentric with respect to said locating means and disposed so that said alternate positions place the center of saidaperture on opposite sides of said axis with oneedge of said aperture that is opposite a looking surface in alignment with a side of said passageway.

ALBERTF. LICK'IEIG, JR.

REFERENCES CITED Number Number 15 400,956

12 UNITED STATES PA ENTS,

Name Date- Ruggles Apr. 16, 1878 Russell Aug. 12, 1879 Ottinger July 25, 1916 Epling Mar. 2'7, :191? Schlage Dec. .1, 1936 Kidder May 11, 1943 Voight Feb. .20, :1945 Lickteig .Aug. :16, .1949 Wardwell .Feb. 14, I950 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany July .7, 1923 Ihe jollowing references are of record in the 20 111e of this patent:

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