US2668072A

US2668072A - Door latch

Info

Publication number: US2668072A
Application number: US76230A
Authority: US
Inventors: Falk Harold Walter
Original assignee: Wright Products Inc
Current assignee: Wright Products Inc
Priority date: 1949-02-14
Filing date: 1949-02-14
Publication date: 1954-02-02
Anticipated expiration: 1971-02-02

Description

Feb. 2, 1954 w, FALK 2,668,072

DOOR LATCH Filed Feb. 14, 1949 5. Sheets-Sheet l 105 I ll I "r Tl I Feb. 2, 195 4 Filed Feb. 14, 1949 H. w. FALK 2,668,072

DOOR LATCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harold Walter. Fez/k QM miamg Feb. 2, 1954 w, FALK 2,668,072

DOOR LATCH Fiied' Feb. 14, 1949 :5 Sheets-Sheet s MOVEMENT OF CZ UTC/l )7. 10 3mm Harold Wa/fer Fa/k Patented Feb. 2, 1954 i iaiifftiiiit "t tenn s? 'DUOR LATGH a corporation "6! infiesota. miplfcationFebruary 14, 1949-, sci-mite; ates,

difficult'to att'achttb woodenidqors in the t ost such locks ,jnclud'e an operating meglga whibhfmlistfit within a cavity cut' into the edge of the'door. P .e A .t 'A-featureof the present invention lies 'nthe fact that the'iockmay be mounted a d oo Joy merei securingithe structure in wo i tersectin hles',"6ne of Which is boredintothedmr ed e fand "the others-of which-extends through the door betweenoppositesiirf'acesthereon,t V I, t

A feature of the present invention lies in the simplicity of eenstructionand injhe ease-of -"assembly "of the various parts, .d09r, loqkjs const'rueted so that therparts thereof n ay be manuailyzfermed by.punchrpresswperations end thus may be formed'in substantial volume at-low cost.

A "feature "of th'e present-invention, lies in the "provision of a| 'd06I' which includes-e simplefnovel type of lockingmechanism; B51 merel mgying ene handienf the'dooriateh in an axial direqtion the -lock may hefengeged'or fdi-sengaged; ;':Ihus the 'dooi-imayzbe' i'oeked by 'p essure a ainst, the

locked by pulling upon the door :b'effinje: the dooris "bpenedfthus elimina ting the requirement ofan extra opefationto ioek 'or unlock the dgpr.

"A feature of the-present invention'lies-mthe provision of :an eccentric door-latch handle., of streamiined design presents an -attreet;ive

appearance and which provides increased -leverage for-operating the door withe/mmimum of ease. V 7 V 'An-acidedifeature of the-present invent-ionelies inthe'fact tha'tfn'y ioqk is immediately, appiicabie to doors'iof various typesmegardiess of "the. edge A f e of t e me it,i miwfl int't i Pr v n a or t Whi h y b .1 .d.-9n interior doors su ch asjthe fdOQlS o f -h"itl r o; ns and e e, nd. wh 7 a e, p ov sleflit e ns wh r b he door. ma ep aeii tvmill opposite side in an emergency. My lock is ordithey deemed 15375521 Hikiei 'moteh 'iit tr n mit emer ue en twee .ie th eo eo fie side Q et @9 1 wis ly ins rum nt ma heins d f 10 .lie q en i s. qteleune xtpee 5 y 13? the floor. The mm movement if the W h i.. h. ns11 f th An a e ture may be pre sigeef $1 0. .1 the .o t 5 5. v'si I 9 A of the 51esefiiit inven hi1 "lie andles on opnosite sides of the door 15 2m an e tese te e ieeee to L. d r ;r ette, neludes. a;

which aqts esthe pivqtelsiipg t foi' the shank settes tihich 'surfaee r c n e e i eE E'IQlem me dli and thes e t held the .h hdle tqe hne e ult? 2 1 up n-e th rtdoex eees le 'tte ifvie by the bolts connecting the fianges'on opposite qe the oer- Th 1 E inv n n w l b ino e' zl ari ari l I ifi r i th IQ owi s s e i c t pnend ims In the drawings forming a, part ofmyspecification: t -Figure 1 is "a, moss sectional "viewfthroi'igh a door at the location-"of ni d'o'oflatch showing the arraitgement efthe'perts' or the 1am *feiettiveto the "(16 01".

Figure "ease-side elei stioh al" *v it ei one side we f i e 'e ee.

3 latch partly in section showing the movement of one of the handles to lock the door.

Figure '7 is a sectional view through the door latch looking toward one of the surface flanges or rosettes, the position of the section being indicated by the line '!'I of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a sectional view through a portion of the latch showing the latch in unlocked position.

Figure 9 is an end elevation view of the covering plate for the latch bolt.

Figure 10 is a sectional view through the handle shank showing the construction thereof.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the latch operating mechanism.

Figure 12 is a sectional view through the latch looking at the opposite flange or rosette from that illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings.

Figure 13 is a view of a detail portion of the supporting hub mechanism for supporting the latch shank.

Figure 14v is an end elevation view showing one detail of the latch.

The door latch A is used in conjunction with a door B of any suitable type or construction. The door B is preferably formed of wood or similar material and the mechanism for operating the door is mounted in two apertures Ill and I I. The aperture I extends into the edge of the door and extends substantially normally thereto toward the hinged edge of the door. The aperture I I intersects the axis of the aperture A and extends from one surface I2 of the door B to the opposite surface I3 thereof.

The latch actuating mechanism is best illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 4, and of the drawings.

As shown in these figures the latch is enclosed by a casing indicated in general by the numeral I4 and which includes a pair of casing sides I5 and I6 which are preferably riveted together in p the manner which will be described in detail.

which is generally rectangular in outer form and which is provided with a central aperture through which the end of the sleeve-like casing portions I! extend. The extremity of the sleeve I1 is provided with spaced fingers 23 which are bent outwardly from the body of the sleeve to overlie portions of the plate 22. However, the plate 22 is provided with a pair of opposed inwardly extending fingers 24 which engage against the end of the sleeve I1 to hold the sleeve from axial movement with respect to the plate 22. Thus the sleeve I l is held from axial movement in one direction by the ears 23 and held from axial movement in the opposite direction by the ears 24. The plate 22 is provided with a pair of spaced apertures 25 therethrough for accommodation of screws 26 for holding the mechanism housing in place upon the door as will be later described. The plate 22 is also provided with a peripheral flange 21 which is of a thickness at least equal to the thickness of the ears 23 so that the overlying escutcheon plate may lie flush thereagainst.

The two housing parts I5 and I6 are held together by engagement of the sleeve end 1 through the aperture in the anchor plate 22 and also by a pivot pin 29 which extends through the flat parallel sides 20 and H thereof near the lower edge of the housing intermediate the ends thereof. This pivot pin is provided with small diameter ends which extend through the housing portions Zlland 2I and these ends are riveted over to form a connection between the housing parts. A bell crank lever 30 preferably formed of two laminations for simplification in construction is pivotally supported upon the pivot 29 intermediate the housing sides 20 and 2|. This bell crank lever 30 fits snugly between the sides so as to pivot freely within the housing without excessive axial movement.

A disc 3| having a notched upper edge forms a partition wall intermediate the ends of the sleeve portions I1 and ears 32 on opposite sides of the disc 3| extend through cooperable apertures in the housing portions I5 and IE to properly locate the disc. The ends of the ears 32 may be riveted over or slit slightly to further assist in anchoring the housing portions together. The disc 3i engages one arm 33 of the bell crank lever 30 to limit pivotal movement of this bell crank lever in a counter-clockwise direction in the position illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

The latch bolt 34 includes a cylindrical body 35 having a flattened end surface 36 formed by cutting away the cylindrical body along a chord and this bolt is also provided with an inclined cam surface 31 opposite the flattened surface 36. The inner end of the latch bolt 34' is reduced in diameter as illustrated at 39 and this reduced diameter portion is provided with a peripheral groove 40.

A latch bolt operating arm 4| is supported within the cylindrical sleeve portion I1 and moves axially with respect thereto. The arm 4| is best illustrated in Figures 1 and 11 of the drawings and includes an arcuate body 42 extending longitudinally of the sleeve portions I1 and substantially concentric therewith. This body 42 is provided with an inturned end flange 43 which is designed to engage in the groove 40 of the latch bolt 34. It will be noted that because of this construction the latch bolt 34 is free to rotate within the housing I4 about its axis and may be moved longitudinally in any rotative position thereof by the arm 4I.

As indicated in Figures 1, 4, and 11 of the drawings, the arm M is provided with a rectangular aperture 44 therein intermediate its ends, the aperture 44 terminating at one end in an upturned shoulder 45. This aperture 44 is designed to accommodate the lever arm 33 of the bell crank lever 30 and engagement of the bell crank lever 30 in the aperture 44 permits longitudinal movement of the arm M and consequently of the bolt 34. The latch bolt 35 is provided with an axial recess 46 in its inner end to accommodate one end of a spring 41. The other end of the spring 41 bears against the disc SI and is held in proper relation thereto by an indentation 49 at the center of the disc 3I.

A crank arm 50 preferably formed of two laminations for ease in manufacture is mounted between the parallel ends 20 and H of the housing I4. An arcuate spacing plate 5| is provided between the flat parallel sides 29 and 2I and is held in place by laterally extending ears 53 which extend through suitable apertures in the plate portions 28 and 2|. The center of arcuation of the spacing plate SI coincides with the axis of the crank arm 59 and the adjacent end 54of the craxlk al mfiil 'is i el'mdel idfit .ti eei withm itheplateiel. rrhe-lcrankiar'm sessinrevided with a protesting ena -r55 nwhien eneages agamst the lever -larm ite of the bell eranklever tensive loneituiiinal movement between the housing parts "so that the handle shank may-be e'ictended therethi-ouen:inepplying the latch tothe :door.

The handle sharik evin-general com'tises' an elongated reetaneu lar bar wliiehis fixe relative tocme handlei'al Asleeve 59 enei rcles the 'shazhk fifi at one *end' thereof. Thi isl'eeve i'is seed inwardlyon feur rieht aneularl arrangedsides a's indicated ates so asto fitisii'ugl elbeut tne shank '58. A lp'in 61 extends through-the inwardly pressed sleeve porit'ions fit anl through the shank st to hold these -pai ts' assenibiedtigether and "to revent a-ny axial: relative iiiovementorwelative rota tive mevement.

The' 'sleeve '55' is provided With' -a heripheral wing '01 hul -gem at a point spaced from itsoliter iend. neeha-r t3 is mou-nte'd u po'n the-sleeve 59 :olitwardl-y' o'f the bulge 52 and extends over the b'ulgeand inwardly thereof i-n spacedrelation to the sleeve. "Thepurpos'e of this arrangement will he later describedin -'detail. 'The hanGle E-T Sis tormed of inner Wall-portion of oval or t'e'arcdi-op shape and is lcenneeted' by a perish erallshoul'der to an-bll'twardly flaring wall "'56.

:A' suggested handle shape of the ioregoing config urationis depi'c'ted in Figure 2. The Outer handle porti'tin ti is shaped -s'iri iiarly to the-inner wa -ll portion and includes -a peripheral flange 69 which is presse'd over the wall 66 a'gainst'the f shoulderfit, thus forming a substantially smooth roun'ded'haniile of eccentricshape. A reinforcing plate it lies inwardly 'o'f theinner plate within the shoal-deri e and is apertured to'ifit snugly abl'jllt the sleeve 533. The end ofthe sleeve is riveted over or peened over asi ndieated at '1 so as to clamp the coller 63, the-innerhahdle portion 6G amil the teihfioreineplate "Hi between this end flange'a nd the pe'riphe'rai rim -01 head 62.

In order toinsure the motation of the handle in unison with the sleeve 'fifi' the aperture in'the reinforcing plate "it is 'rectangulari n shape and the outer end'of'the sleevett is "deformed to fit into this rectangular opening thereby "preventing 'l'o-tatiflll between the sleeve and the plate 19. As thew-plate i=5 fits snugly within th shoiih flex-"65 of the'innerhandle portiontt rotation hi the handle in unison Wit-'h' the sleeve isinsilred.

In order to properly support the sleeve 5'9 I provide a flange or rosette t2 'whidh is provided with a rolled. edge 33 acting to secure the' rosette or flange '12 to a disc 74 The disc 1'4 is pr'ovided with a rectangular aperture *th erethrough. The rosette T2 is false seeurely'attaehed tive to the shank 56. The plate 1! is of proper 9 outside dimensions-to fit snugly Within theapertune it of the-disc Min one axial position of the shank 56. By exerting anolltward" ioh'gitiidinal pull o'n the handle -51 the plate I? -ma'y-io'e moved outwardly out of alignment with the disc 8 #4. menrthaqflate' 'mam dise lfiare in aliehmerit the' shank 'eiikcan'indt b otatemthus -acting' 'ezgia leek. HoVieven-whenathe handle--51 is efilled outward-1y =fso its to mote the'splate 1 l out of engagement with th'e' disc "M,"-'theshank 56 -rnay b*e' rdtaited freely' byieith'er of the handles.

' ft wlll -he notd that the olitwa'rd movement ajf the shank 56 relative to the "rosette "or flan'ge N 2 is filimite'd by iigagemBntof the l-plate' H with a washer-r89- encir-sling the sleeve :59- by slidalole movement ther eupc'i'n. The Washer l is interpe's'ed betweemtlle fixed hiib 16 and. the plate 'Tl so ets ta limit outti ardmovement 6f the shank by' the#ihandie=-l. The handl 8| is 'mo'unted upon the other end of the shahk fifi The handle a l 'isin general similar in construction to "the handle 57 includ'es' an inner portien =82 and em outersportion iii-Whichfafe rolled peripherally together. The irmer Than'dle :p'orti'on-M is :prosided with" a iiier-ipheral ishoulder8'4 which 6011'- nects the body of the inner zportio'n t'otheenicirclm g wall "85. l -h "outer handle mortion' 83 :is-provided witha gieripherah wall 86 which is rell'edaboutthe tv'al l fifi in sucha waiyas to hold the I two handle portions f'rom separation and "to spresent :a substantially 'smooth outer s'ti'rfaee.

A sleeve"8"l' ":eiicireles' the ishank 56 near the freeend thereof. This sleeve sl is pressedin w'ardly along iohr righvafigulaMy arrangedoparts of the' -'sleeve so astoeprodfiee a'rectangular'cross section sleeve "I-portion "at 89. The cylindrical -o11ter portion -90 of the sleeve 8! is aprovidedwith em outwardly protesting head rim 9! against Whidh the handle fllis 'elampe'd. col-lar tzis ainchoied eutwardlyo'f therimfii and is provided with a sleeve portion extending over' the' bead or riin '91 in spaced=relati'oh-'to thecylinderiporiiibflBWdfflYhG sleeve. The inner'porti'ontz of the handle :8! "is=:ape'rm-r'ed to accommodate the en d"0f the sleeve-8*! and this inner portion"82 reinforced 'by eaii'einforcing plate 93 which fits sn lfgly "Within the -shou-lder 8 5 at one end there'- of. The outer end er the "sleeve- 8 is outwardly iive'ted bripeened attt'so' as teal-amp the collar 92, ft'h'e inner h'andie-iportioh fl, and the reinforc- -"rngipl'ate 93 between the rimfirshou lder Bland the fl-anged end 54. The aperture 95in there'- inforeing'plate -93 is p'referab'1'y rectangular in shape, and the enter end of the sleeve "81 is stressed into this redtangular aperture so as to sprevent relative rotation 'heln'rveen the handle 8 1 andthesle'eve 81.

While the "shank 56 and the inwardly pressed zportiohs-tt and 89"o f*the sleeves 59' and 8 respectively have "been described as "rectangular,

' it will be understood that these elements Could he triangular, hexagonaLmr-someother shape if desired, it' being theintention that theshank and sleevesmustrotatein unison.

As indicated in Figure 10 of the drawingsthe shan-k iifi is provided'with @ara-l-lel longitudinally ex-tendingwgrooves 96 'in opposite sides thereof. The-end of the shank is notched asindicated at 97 betweenthe grobvestt. A hole 99 is also finilled through the shank it to connect the :grooves.

n shim-g 'ji' tt is qirevidetl aloh'p "end It 1 ans tutwarely bowed aiins "lo-2 and it; which he in' the grdoves at'anetend to bulge outwardly therefrom. The spring Hit "is provided with int ir ned epposed ends-10% 'ehgag'edih the aperture es to 'ele tiie spring in'slace. i ls the shank it is inserted into the rectangular cross section porti'cin flil of tiie 'sle've fi the irrg --'compresses so as to resist riative ieiieituiiirial movement 1 of the shank. If desired the rectangular cross section portion 89 of the sleeve 81 may have opposed channels on two sides of the sleeve so that the handle BI may not be inserted at right angles to its proper position.

In order to support the sleeve 8'! and the adjacent end of the handle shank I provide a flange or escutcheon plate I05 having secured thereto or integral therewith, a hub it. This hub I66 is of proper internal diameter to accommodate the cylindrical portions of the sleeve 81 and to support the same. The hub I06 extends between the collar 82 and the cylindrical portion 90 of the sleeve so as to provide an overlapping joint between these parts.

An anchor plate I! is marginally secured to the rosette or flange "35, the marginal edge I99 of this rosette or flange being rolled about the edge of the flange I91. The flange I8! is centrally apertured to accommodate the inner cylindrical end of the sleeve 81.

The flange I95, anchor flange till and hub I85 are secured to the sleeve 8! in the manner best illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 of the drawings. The inner extremity H8 of the sleeve Bl is provided with two oppositely disposed slits or cuts I II at a point spaced from the inner extremity of the sleeve. A washer I I2 encircles the cylindrical portion Hi) of the sleeve 81 inwardly of the anchor flange N17. The portion of the sleeve 8? inwardly of the saw cuts III is then bulged outwardly as. indicated at H3 in Figure 12 of the drawings, thus formin sleeve portions which extend beyond the periphery of the cylindrical portion of the sleeve for holding the handle units assembled.

The anchor flange Hi1 is provided with integral oppositely disposed sleeves H4 parallel to the shank 56 on which the handle is supported. These sleeves I I4 are designed to extend through apertures in the surface of the door above and below the aperture II in which the shank 5% is mounted. The sleeves H4 are internally threaded to accommodate cap screws H 5. These cap screws H5 extend through aligned openings in the rosette or flange H and the disc M to hold the two handle parts clamped against opposite surfaces of the door. The screws I I5 are of sufficient length to permit a variation in thickness of the doors, the sleeves H 4 being of a length to extend nearly through a door of minimum thickness. Thus the two rosettes or flanges encircling the shank are clamped together by means which will not permit relative rotation and which will yet accommodate doors of varying thickness. In this way the flange 14 is held from rotation and when the rectangular aperture '15 therein embraces the rectangular plate Tl, rotatable with the shank 56, the shank is positively locked from rotation.

In Figure 9 of the drawings I disclose an escutcheon plate H5 which may overlie the anchor plate 22 illustrated in Figure 14 of the drawings and be secured thereto. The escutcheon plate H6 is provided with spaced apertures H7 therethrough which are spaced similarly to the holes 25 of the plate 22. Intermediate the holes H! I provide an aperture H9 which is circular in shape throughout most of its periphery, but which is provided with a flat side I26, parallel to a vertical edge of the plate H6. This aperture H9 is designed to accommodate the projecting end of the latch bolt 34, the flat side 36 thereof engaging against the flat side I20 of the escutcheon plate aperture H9 to hold the latch bolt 34 from rotation about its axis. In mounting the door latch upon a door, an aperture I0 is drilled into the edge of the door parallel to the opposite door surfaces. At a proper distance from the door edge, the aperture H is bored through the door between the opposite surfaces I2 and I3 thereof. Apertures are also drilled through the door parallel to the aperture I I and above and below the aperture I I to accommodate the sleeves I I4 and the cap screws I I5.

In preferred form of my construction a shallow rectangular recess is formed in the door edge about the outer end of the aperture Iii to accommodate the anchor plate 22 and the escutcheon plate H6. While this is not absolutely essential it is desirable that these plates be substantially flush with the edge of the door as illustrated in Figure l of the drawings.

The latch housing I4 is next inserted into the aperture I!) in such a manner that the aligned shank openings I 2| and I22 in the housin side portions 20 and 2| are aligned with the aperture H and the anchor plate 22 and escutcheon plate H6 are in their rectangular aperture. Screws 26 or other suitable fastening means may then be inserted through the aligned openings in the anchor plate and the escutcheon plate, care being taken to position the escutcheon plate so that the flat side I29 thereof is nearest the side of the door which swings inwardly as the door is opened. This places the cam surface 34 of the latch bolt in position to be retracted by a suitable keeper as the door swings into closed position.

The shank 55, together with the rosette i2 and its hub and anchor disc, are then put into position, the shank 56 being inserted through the aligned apertures l2! and I22 of the housing I l and through the crank arm 59 within the housing. The handle BI is next applied to the illwardly projecting end of the shank 56, the escutcheon handles 57 and 8! being parallel when applied.

The sleeves H 4 of the anchor plate It? are inserted into their respective apertures in the door and the cap screws H5 are inserted through the apertures in the rosette 12 and disc M and en-- gaged in these sleeves H 4. The cap screws are then tightened until the anchor plates '18 and are drawn against opposite sides of the wall. It will be noted that the cap screws H5 are accessible only from the side of the door latch which controls the locking mechanism so that the lock may not be merely disengaged from the door to gain access through the door.

When the handle has been thus assembled, it will be noted that rotation of either handle in one direction will act to rotate the bell crank 3:1 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4-, thereby moving the arm II to the right as viewed in this figure. The forward end of this arm is engaged in the slot 49 of the bolt 34 and thus pivotal movement of the lever 3!) acts to retract the latch bolt 34 and to disengage the same from its cover. When the turning pressure on the handle is released the spring 41 urges the latch bolt 34 outwardly and returns the bell crank 30 to its initial position. The bell crank in turn returns the crank arm 50 to normal position, thus rotating the handles in unison to starting position.

In order to lock the door and prevent the latch bolt from being retracted by the handle 8i, it is only necessary to press inwardly on the handle 51, sliding this handle and the shank 58 to the left as indicated in Figure 3. This action moves the; rectangular: platen 1 PH; intmpiits ap rture-15, thereby :preventingi: retation'e of; the shanks by eitherrhandle. lniordento release theslo kiit s only; necessary: toalmlli slightly; upnnpthef-handle 51 before rotatina hersame; thu awithdi'atv ne the, plate: H from-i engagement: in; the; aper- 1711138515;

If theloek isjto bfiolldefi asea bathreemiloclaor the like, an opening I25;may beginitheg handie s: .so; th-atasuitable:v toolimay bee inserted engagedaeainstztheeproienti e gendz irtbeesh 56.: Byusing: this: tool iassa:leventhea-shank, 1 may "bermoved to.-:disensase ztheilockinae wh nismn This; procedure; may: be;- followed a in, an emergencyrin therevenizarschil becomesnaecider-e tallylockedzrin airoomnon'innannpothersuch emergency-i.

T1183 eccentriczshaneaoh theahandle -iS2-0ii inter-e est in-gthati itrpermits thealatehzbolt toibe'mer easiiyoperated;thanzwitinaeoircular type-handle At the samatima the:streamlinedi hane of.th handle lends much to the attractiveness of the design; Inthe interesto'of compactness of showing and to save room on the drawing sheets, the andles: 51; and.- 8 I are shown mounted ,withith ir small radiusend directedctowardthe a j n edge of the door. While" the-position of the handlesmay be adjusted.:so:-that the small: dif: ameter ends thereofare. directediupwardlyt dewnwardly,- orrtowardoraway. fromgthe free-edge or the door,a ittis .generallysconsidered moreaattritttive in appearance tormountrthe: handles-with the small diameter. .end .pointingi away from: :the free edgeof the .door innormaLpositiorr:

In accordance. with.theepatente:statutes;1thave described-3 the principlese on; construction-:. an operation of my door latch and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A door latch including a reciprocable latch bolt, a housing for slidably supporting said latch bolt, a shank extending transversely through said housing, latch mechanism connecting said shank and said latch bolt for reciprocating said latch bolt upon rotative movement of said shank, bearings on opposite sides of the door encircling said shank and rotatably supporting the same, flanges supporting said bearings and designed to lie against opposite surfaces of the door, and means extending through the door connecting the flanges on opposite sides thereof and resilient means carried by said shank frictionally engaging one of said bearings to retain said shank in a selected position.

2. A door latch including a reciprocable latch bolt, a housing slidably supporting said latch bolt, a handle shank extending through said housing on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said latch bolt, latch mechanism connecting said shank to said latch bolt for reciprocating the latch bolt upon rotative movement of the shank, a sleeve encircling said shank on either side of the door and rotatable with the shank, means connecting one of said sleeves to said shank to hold this sleeve from longitudinal movement on the shank, the shank being longitudinally slidable relative to the other sleeve, bearings on either side of the door encircling said sleeves and supporting the sleeves for relative rotation, flanges connected to said bearings and engaging; onm siteqsurtaces of, 1 the.- door; means oldingiaidtother sleeve fromiaxial movement IGIatiYGTVtO; one ofasaidflanges; andcmeansl ex? tendinggthrouehitheidoor .connectina'saidflanees and; holdinagthe: sameragainstthe? doort 3.1The; structunerdescr-ibed claim 2-: and, in-.- cludinaa; hand-1e secured ,toreachiof said sleeves forrotation in -u-nis on;- therewith 4; The;structureidescribedtin claims z andii-ne cludinga lockinggplate on said shank-.anderotate able therewith, asloeking membenseeured-to one of saidiflanges and held fromzre tion,,saidzlockr ing1memberhaving-aniaperturatherein designed to accommodate said locking plate in one:.-rota.- tive :positionwoflsaid hlate,-,and;meansfon slidably supportingg s-aid: 'shan for limiting; axial may-e: ment to move said locking plate 1111110301?! out;of en agement; .W-ith: said-locking; member; means cooperablevwithzsaid lockinggplateflimiting axial movement, of -=said Shana 5.. The-structure idescribed-rinr zlaimi a andine eluding a locking element on said;-sha1 1lo;.and rotatableimuniscntherewith; anapertured cooperablee locking. element: secured; in; fixed relation to onaoiisaid fianeess and {locked to ac om d h efirstvmen ioned docking; member ini one rotaive' positiorrthereofi ,and; meansesupporting said shank for limited:axialzmovementymeans cooper? ablecwithrisaid;lockingmlatetlimitin zaxial meva mentzofljsaidishanlsesaiddocking, plate-being, mov able into endyout of; said, aperture to;- rloek r. or unlocleisa d:shankeiromrmtation;

6? AidQ01, latch mcludi-n rec pr ca lea h bolt-a hensingzsupnertinazsaid latch-,boltaa hanr dler hankiextend ns transver ely?:thr ueh: said ousin s; meansrconne tmg-aseidz hank: and -v said latch bolt for reciprocating the latch bolt upon rotative movement of said handle shank, a sleeve encircling one end of said shank, said sleeve including a portion having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, an inwardly deformed portion on said sleeve designed to contact said shank and to hold said sleeve from rotation relative to said shank, a shoulder extending about said sleeve at a point spaced from its outer end, a handle portion encircling said sleeve adjacent said shoulder, a flange on the end of said sleeve clamping said handle portion to the sleeve for rotation in unison therewith, a bearing encircling the sleeve and rotatably supporting the same, a flange se cured to said bearing and designed to engage the surface of the door about said shank, and means for holding said flange from longitudinal movement relative to said sleeve.

7. The structure described in claim 6 in which the means for holding the flange from longitudinal movement relative to the sleeve includes a deformed end on the sleeve holding said bearing adjacent said shoulder encircling the sleeve.

8. A door latch including a reciprocable latch bolt, a housing supporting said latch bolt for reciprocation, a handle shank extending transversely through said housing, latch mechanism connecting said handle shank to said latch bolt for reciprocating said latch bolt upon rotative movement of said handle shank, a sleeve encircling one end of said shank, means securing said sleeve to said shank for rotation therewith and longitudinal movement therewith, a cylindrical outer surface on said sleeve, a handle secured to said sleeve for rotation in unison therewith, a bearing encircling said sleeve and rotatably supporting the same, a flange secured to said bearing and extending outwardly from the shank to overlie a portion of the door surface, a disc secured to said flange, said disc having an aperture therein, a locking member on said shank and rotatable therewith, said locking member being supported on the shank adjacent said sleeve, means for holding said locking member from longitudinal movement on said shank, said locking member supporting said shank for limiting axial movement, said locking member being movable into or out of said aperture in said disc, and cooperable means between said disc and said locking member to hold said locking member from relative rotation when engaged in said aperture.

9. The structure described in claim 8 and including a handle secured to the other end of said shank. 10. The structure described in claim 8 and including a bearing secured to the other surface of the door supporting the other end of said shank, and a handle secured to said other end of said shank.

11. A door latch including a reciprocable latch bolt, a housing slidably supporting said latch bolt, a handle shank extending through said housing on an axis transverse to the direction of movement of said latch bolt, latch mechanism connecting said shank to said latch bolt for reciprocating the latch bolt upon rotative movement of the shank, a sleeve encircling said shank on either side of the door and rotatable with the shank, means connecting one of said sleeves to said shank to hold this sleeve from longitudinal movement on the shank, the shank being longitudinally slidable relative to the other sleeve, resilient means carried by said shank frictionally engaging said other sleeve to thereby hold said shank in a selected longitudinal position relative to said other sleeve, bearings on either side of the door encircling said sleeves and supporting the sleeves for relative rotation, flanges connected to said bearings and engaging opposite surfaces of the door, and means extending through the door connecting said flanges and holding the same against the door.

12. In a door latch of the class described, a handle shank, respective means slidably supporting opposite ends of said shank, fixed means adjacent a portion of said shank, locking means carried by said shank engageable with said fixed means to prevent rotation of said shank, and a bowed spring extending axially along a section of said shank, said spring frictionally engaging the interior surface of one of the means slidably supporting a shank end to maintain selective engagement and disengagement between said locking means and said fixed means.

HAROLD WALTER FALK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 36,053 Hill July 29, 1862 346,349 Biggs July 27, 1886 1,584,153 Sullivan May 11, 1926 1,681,187 Kessling Aug. 21, 1928 1,739,654 Schlage Dec. 17, 1929 1,826,093 Schlage Oct. 6, 1931 2,244,238 Best June 3, 1941 2,484,961 Russell et al Oct. 18, 1949