US2777720A - Door lock - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 15, 1957 J ROETHEL 2,777,720

DOOR LOCK Filed Aug. 20, 1955 IN V EN TOR. JoH/v P05 THEL ATTORNEY United States Patent DOOR LOCK John H. Roethel, Coral Gables, Fla., assignor to Roethel Engineering Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application August 20, 1953, Serial No. 375,430

9 Claims. (Cl. 292-280) This invention relates to a latch mechanism for swinging doors, particularly the doors of automobiles or other vehicle bodies, an object of the invention being to provide an improved door latch mechanism which is characterized by its simplicity and compactness in construction and which is relatively small in size, economical to manufacture, comparatively quiet in operation and eflicient in use.

More particularly the present invention is embodied in an improved door latch mechanism having a rotatable latch member, a pivoted dog or detent cooperable therewith, and shiftable detent release means mounted on a supporting plate or the like at the jamb edge of the door, the detent release means being operable from the outside of the door and being rendered inoperative to release or disengage the detent by means of a movable blocking member mounted preferably on a flange extending angularly from the inner edge of the supporting plate, said blocking member being movable preferably by an inner manually operable means into and out of blocking relation to the release means. In the one embodiment of the invention, the blocking member not only blocks disengagement of the detent through actuation of the release means from the outside of the door but also renders the inside remote control means inoperative to release the detent.

Further characteristics of the latch mechanism in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention herein illustrated by way of example may be briefly summarized as follows: The rotatable latch bolt is mounted on the plate portion and has a series of tooth-like projections extending entirely around the periphery thereof. A detent engaging latch device is secured to the latch bolt and is mounted to turn or rotate about the same axis as the bolt and has a series of abutments corresponding to the tooth-like projections on the bolt. A detent means is pivotally mounted on the plate portion and has a plurality of arms, one of which is engageable with any one of the latch device abutments. The detent release means preferably, although not necessarily comprises a lever having a plurality of arms, the lever being pivotally mounted on the plate portion to swing about the pivotal axis of the detent means on a common pivot means and having a part disposed in opposing relation to a part of one of the detent arms so that movement of the release lever in one direction will cause corresponding movement of the detent. The part on the release lever and the part on the detent arm are not interlocked thus permitting pivotal actuation of the detent means independently of the release lever.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applications No. 151,839, filed March 25, 1950, and No. 156,804, filed April 19, 1950, now abandoned.

Further features and objects of the particular embodiments of the invention herein illustrated will appear in the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification "ice wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a sectional elevation taken substantially through lines 1-1 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a door lock constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view in part similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially through lines 4-4 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. is!) it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed therein is for the purpose of description and not limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, particular embodiments of the present invention as applied to the doors and frame structures of an automobile body. The latch device embodied in the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a case plate 10 provided with screw bosses 10a by means of which the case plate 11 is secured to the inner side of the jamb portion or free edge wall of a vehicle door. The case plate 10 terminates at its inner edge in a flange 11 which is adapted to be positioned along the inner panel of the door. The latch device is preferably provided with a rotatable toothed latch or bolt 12 positioned at the outer side of the case plate 10, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting shaft or shank 13 extending through an aperture in the case plate which is formed with a bearing for the bolt shank. The inner end of the shank 13 of the bolt is flattened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatable toothed detent engaging member or ratchet 14 and is riveted thereto.

The rotatable latch 12, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. l, is formed with a number of radially projecting tooth-like projections 120, preferably six, which are spaced equally around the periphery of the latch so as to provide in eflect a gear type latch or bolt. The toothed member 14 is also formed around its periphery with a number of tooth-like abutments or projections 14a which correspond in number to the tooth-like projections 12a of the latch bolt.

Pivotally mounted on a shoulder rivet 15 secured to the case plate is is a swinging detent, pawl or dog 16 which has a downwardly projecting detent arm 17 cooperable with any one of the projections 14a of the ratchet member 1 The detent arm 17 is engageable with any one of the projections 14a in the manner shown in Fig. l to hold the toothed ratchet member and, hence, the bolt 12 in looking position against rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. The detent 16 is also provided with an upwardly projecting arm or extension 18 and also an inwardly extending arm or extension 19.

Thus, the detent in the embodiment herein shown is provided with three arms 17, 18 and 19, and is preferably formed from a piece of flat metal stock.

Associated with detent 16 is a detent actuating lever 20 which is pivoted at its lower end upon the shoulder rivet 15 so as to turn or swing about the axis of the detent case plate 10. V

the remote control bell crank 30 and has a portion em-' of the door such, for example, as a handle or by any other preferredmeans such as a push button associated with an outside door handle. 7

The detent arm 17 is yieldingly urged toward the toothed' member 14' and the 'de-tent release lever 29 is urged outwardly toward its retractedposition shown in Fig; 1 by means oi'ancommon spring 23. This spring has asubstantially horizontally extendingarm 23a engaging the detent arm 17l'and has an upper spirally wound coiled portion 23!), secured at 24' to the case plate 10. It will be nomd that the release lever 29 overlies thedetent 16 and has itsninner edge abutting against a lug or projection 18a on the detent. Hence -the eflort exerted by the spring 23 in urging the detentarm 17 into engagement with the ratchet-member l-has shown in Fig.1,

a will also betransmitted'through thelug 13a to the release lever 24 thereby urging the latter toward its retracted position. Thefinal retracted position-of the release lever 20 is-determined' by a stop 1% in the form of a; lug

- struck up-from the upper edge of the case plate 1b and of. the door remote from the case plate 1%) by means of a door handle whichmay be turned in the desired directionl, Suitablyconnected to the inside door. handle is a longitudinally extending draft link 27' whichist pivoted -at ;28-to ,the lower end of one arm 29 of -a bell crank lever 30. This bell crank lever 30 is pivoted at 31 to the case plate flange 11 and is providedwith a projecting arm 32 -overlying at its outer end the detent arm 19 .and also the release lever arm 2,6. Normally when the inside door handle is turned'soas to swing the bell crank lever arm 32 downwardly, the latter by. engagement with the detent arm 19 will swing the detent in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, thus swinging the detentlarm 17 upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 'so as to disengage the detent from the member 153. It will be noted that in the present embodiment, the detent arm 19 could be eliminated since downward movement of the bell crank arm 32 will cause the same to engage the detentrelease lever arm 26-and swing the detent release lever 20in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. l. The detent 16 by virtue of the abutting relationship of itspart' 13a with the arm 21 of the detent release lever 2*!) would also be swung in a clockwise direction thereby having its arm 17swung out of engagement with the ratchet member 14. This action is similar 'to'that which occurs when the release lever 29 is swung inwardly by operation of the outside door handle, push button or the like, the motionof the release lever'being transmitted to thed'etent through thelug 18a.

in the present embodiment means is provided for rendering the detent release lever 24) inoperative to disengage thedetent 16, such as by blocking the same so thatv the door cannot be opened from the. outside. This is accomplished through the medium of a pivoted member 33 mounted on the case plate 11 by-means or" the pivot stud 31. The pivoted member-33 is provided with an arm 34 extending in a generaily horizontal direction toward the The arm 34 lies above the arm 320E bossed'outwardly from the case plate' fiange 11 which embossed portion 34a can'bejpositioned in opposing relation to the projection 25 -on the detent release lever so as to block swinging movement of the release lever 29. Thecnd of the arm 34 has a lug 34b turned toward the case plate flange 11 and engageable therewith, as

shown in Fig. 1, to prevent bending of the embossed portion 341: under pressure of the release lever 20.

In, the present embodiment the pivoted member 33 may be pivotally moved to place the arm 34 in blocking relation to the release lever 20 by means of a vertically shift-able rod or plunger 35. The pivoted member 33 has a portion 36'projecting fromJ-he; pivotal axis 31 in a direction opposite to the directioninwhich the arm 34 projects. The vertically shifta ble rod'or plunger is pivotally conn ct d to-thisnroi ction r. p rt on ;a 3 a an extends upwardly throughat-he garnish molding at. the inner side of the glass panel of the vehicle door-.- The rod'35 carries at its upper end a knob fl WhiCll may be grasped V 7 at'the inside of the door to shift the rod or plunger.

vertically in either-direction, therebY;:rock-ing the member 33 about its pivotal axis and shifting the arm 34 to position it in blocking relation to. the release lever 20' position as for'limiting the pivotal movement ofthepivoted member 7 It will be noted thatwhen the embossed portion 34a I of the pivoted member arm'34-is in opposing position relative tothe release lever arm projection 25, that is, the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, not only is'the outer manually operable means, such as the plunger 22, rendered inoperative to disengage the detent 16 from the,

ratchet member 14, but. the inner manually remote control operable means-is also rendered inoperative That is, the bell crank lever 36 cannot be swung in a counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2, or detent-engaging direction.

Thearm26 will block such movement. I

Latch mechanism of the foregoing construction in.

which the mechanism may be held against'unlatching from either'the outside or inside of the door are particularly desirable for use on the rear door of vehicles. Sometimes the objective of locking the rear door, particularly while the vehicle is-in motion, isto prevent'children from inadvertently unlatching the'doorzand falling out. In the present embodiment the latch mechanism can only be placedin unlockedcondition through the pushbutton- 37.

The arrng34 of the pivoted, member 33 has been de- 1 scribed as overlying the bell crank lever arm 32 7 Thus,

if the remotecontrol mechanism to which the draft link;

27 is;conn cted;is of the type permitting he' e i crank b swung in either.v dir tioaf-romli s:norm l po it on 7 ho n HE LZ, i illbe apparent' hatithepivoted'memr, 33 c be. swung into bl ckinenos t onWi hout th use of the push button 37.; If, the bell crank-Zitlis SW/ 155.

in, a clockwise direction, as viewed-in Fig. 2, 111631111 32 thereof will abut the arm 34 of the pivoted member 33,

raising the latter toblockingposition. However, it will still be necessary to raise the push button 37.to'restore,

the pivoted member 33 to non-blocking position,

One additional feature of construction not hereinbefore described is the, rubber bumper 41 mounted on thecaseplatelfl at 42 in aposition to overlie the upper edgeof the detent-arm 19. The purpose of the rubber bumper 42 is to provide a resilient cushion against which the .detent arm 19 will abut before the detent arm 17 fully returns into engagement with the ratchet teeth 14a after. having been disengaged therefrom, thus materially reducing the noise of th e engagement. of the arm 1'7 with the atchetll Th embodiment f. he, inventio ill s r ed nE gs- 3 n 4 issi ilar in many e pect the em odim n hereb te de cr bed; an allfpa t her ot. im lar. o he Partsin Figs. 1 and 2. hav eeaide t fied wi h the a ne.

numerals.

I In the present embodiment the detent release lever 20 is not provided with an arm corresponding to the arm 26 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, when the release lever 20 is blocked by the blocking portion 34:: of the blocking member, herein designated 43, only the outer manually operable means is rendered ineffective to release the detent 16 from the ratchet member 14. This isbecause there is nothing to block swinging movement of the arm 19 of the bell crank lever 30 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4. With the exception of the elimination of the arm 26 of the detent release lever 20, all of the other parts of the latch mechanism of the present embodiment mounted on the case plate are similar to those mounted on the case plate 10 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.

The blocking member 43 of the present embodiment differs somewhat from the previously described blocking member 33, although it does have the arm 34 having the embossed blocking portion 34a. However, the projection 36 of the blocking member 33 is not utilized on the blocking member 43. The blocking member 43 is provided instead with an arm 44 extending below the bell crank arm 32, the arm 44 at the end thereof having a projection 45 extending toward said lower edge of the arm 32.

The present embodiment operates as follows: To position the blocking member 43 so that the blocking portion 34a thereon is in opposing relation to the detent release lever projection 25, the bell crank 30 is swung in a clockwise direction causing the arm 32 thereof to abut embossed or blocking portion 34a and swing the blocking member 43 in a clockwise direction, thereby positioning the blocking member in blocking position. Since the detent release lever 20 in the present embodiment does not have the arm 26, there is nothing to block swinging movement of the bell crank 30 in a counterclockwise direction even though the release lever 20 is blocked against swinging movement by the blocking member 43. Accordingly, the bell crank lever 30 may be swung in such clockwise direction to disengage the detent from the member 14. When the blocking member 43 is in blocking position, the projection 45 on the arm 44 will be in a position immediately underlying the bell crank lever 30 when in its normal position, the position shown in Fig. 4. Thus, if the bell crank 30 is swung in detent disengaging direction, the lower edge of the arm 32 will abut the projection 45' and cause the blocking member 43 to be restored to non-blocking position as limited by the stop 46. The latch mechanism of the present embodiment therefore can always be opened from the inside of the door since only the outer manually operable means is rendered ineffective when the blocking member is placed in blocking position.

I claim:

1. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a latch bolt mounted on said plate portion to rotate about an axis and having a series of tooth-like projections extending around the periphery thereof, a detent engaging latch device secured to said bolt to rotate therewith about said axis and having a corresponding series of tooth-like abutments, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with any one of said abutments for holding said bolt in latching position, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having a part disposed in opposing relation to a part of said detent means, said parts being separate to permit pivotal actuation of the detent means independently of said lever, outer manually operable means for swinging said lever toward said flange to cause said lever part by engagement with said part of the detent means to pivotally actuate the detent means thereby to disengage the same from said latch device, said lever having an arm extending in the direction of the flange, inner manually operable swingable means engageable upon being swung in one direction with said lever arm to swing said lever 6. toward said flange, a blocking member 'swingably mounted on said flange and shiftable in one direction into position to block swinging movement of said lever toward the flange, said blocking member and said inner manually operable swingable means being movable independently of each other about a common pivot axis, and manually operable means for shifting said blocking member in said one direction, said directions of movement of said blocking member and said inner manually operable means being counter to each other.

2. In a door latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof, a latch bolt mounted on said plate portion to rotate about an axi and having a series of tooth-like projections extending around the periphery thereof, a detent engaging latch device secured to said bolt to rotate therewith about said axis and having a corresponding series of tooth-like abutments, detent means pivotally mounted on said plate portion and engageable with any one of said abutments for holding said bolt in latching position, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion and having a part disposed in opposing relation to a part of said detent means, said parts being separate to permit pivotal actuation of the detent means independently of said lever, outer manually operable means for swinging said lever toward said flange to cause said lever part by engagement with said part of the detent means to pivotally actuate the detent means thereby to disengage the same from said latch device, inner manually operable swingable means on said flange having a portion engageable with a portion of said lever to swing said lever toward said flange, and blocking means on said flange shiftable into and out of position to block swinging movement of said lever toward said flange, said swingable means and said blocking means being movable independently of each other about a common pivot axis, the direction of movement in which said swingable means is swung to swing said lever being counter to the direction of movement of the blocking means when the latter is shifted into blocking position.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, an outer manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion, a blocking portion on said lever, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever, said lever at one side of the pivotal axis thereof having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and detent means upon swinging movement of said lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means in the same rotative direction out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a swingable member on said support having a part movable in a substantially up and down direction, said part having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, an inner manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said support and normally operative when swung in one rotative direction to disengage said detent means from said latch device, said inner manually operable lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said swingable member to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and swingable member upon swinging movement of said inner manually operable lever in a second rotative direction thereby to move said swingable member in the same rotative direction to dispose said blocking means in opposing position to said blocking portion, said blocking means when in said opposing position rendering said outer manually operable lever ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

' mounted::on..said plate portion, a blockingportion on said lever," detentmeans.- engageable with said; latch device for-holdingit in; door latching position, said detent means. beingjpivotally. mounted: on said. plate-portion to swing independently of,- said lever, said, lever, at one siderof the pivotal' axis thereof having a part-.arrangedxin opposing relation to a. part of said, detent-means to, abut. the same at-thesameside of the pivotal axes oi said. lever and detent means upon: swinging. movement of: said lever in. one; rotative direction thereby to pivotally move. said; detent meansain the samefrotative. direction-out of holding posl; tion with respect toisaid latch device, a, sw-ingable mem: benon said flange having; apart movable in a substantially-up1and-down -direction, said parthaving blocking means: forcooperation. with said blocking. portion, an, inner-manually; operable lever pivotally, mountedon said. flange and-normally operative when swu'ng in one. 1'0;- tative 'di-reotion to disengage. saiddetent.meansfrom said. latch device, said; inner manuallyoperable lever having a part arranged in opposing. relation to, a part of said;

sw-ingable memberto. abut thesame. at the-same. side. fv the-pivotalaxes of said lever and swingable member, upon swinging movement of said inner manuallyv operable lever. in *a second rotativedirection thereby to. move said swingable' member in the same. rotative directionto disposed said blocking. meansin opposing position to said; blocking portion, saidblocking means when in said opposing positionrendering said outer manually oper: able lever ineffective to move said. detent meansou-t of holding position with respect to said latch device.

5:. In a latch mechanism .for. a swingingdoor, a sup: port having a. plate portionv for disposition at. the door. jamb, av rotatable latchv device mounted on said plate portion, an outer manually operable. lever, pivotally mounted. on said plate portion, -a blocking portion on said. lever, detent .meansengageable with said. latch de: vice for holding it in door latchingposition, said eten means being. pivotally-mounted. on said plate portion to swing independently of sa-id'lever about a common pivot axis t'herewith, saidleveratone side of the pivotal axis thereof: having. a part arranged in opposing relation to a. part of said detentmeans to abut the same at the. same,- side of. the pivotal axes of. said lever and detent means upon/swinging movement of said lever in one rotative direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means in thesamerota tive direction out of holding position with respect tosaid latch device, aswingable member on said support having a; part movable inv a substantially; up and downdirection, said part having blocking means for cooperation withsaid blocking portion, :an inner mann: ally. operable lever pivotallvmounted on said support and. normally operative when swung in one liotative Eli: rection'to disengage said detent means from said. latch device, said inner, manually operable lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to apart'o f said swingable membepto abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and swingable member upon. swinging movement of. said inner manually operable lever in a second rotative direction thereby to move said sil ingable member in the same rotative direction to dispose said blocking means in opposing position. to said blocking portion, said blocking means when in said opposing position rendering said outer manually operable lever ineffective to. move said. detent means out of holding position with re pect o a a l d vi independently, of sai'd le er' aboutacommon, pivot axi -therewith, s 'dleyerraltonesideo thel pivotalaxis there r havin g a,.p a rt arrangedin opposinglrelationlj to .a .part or... said rdetent means redefines-time" a'tjt'he. same side'rof p operable lever pivotally t-h ldin it s oon at as a ni s i fi tsm. men being 'pi 5t lyfmjq i lifii .1 1isaicl plate portion" to swirl the. pivotal axe o said leyer andl detent means upo n in mq ai it i aisi. ev 1 q v s: r te l! move. an: e i a s' h* a me Qta iYs s qn. t f; hqld posi ve w hin;

spectto said latch device, a swingable member on,sai d tion hereb o p pport ay t wvable in ll st nfia'l v p and; down direct on sa d art,having blocking means for co- P I i i h..= idb ckin PQI Q l an inner an lv' unted on said support to swing ep denfl'vefl ids in abl m mbe a a s mo J pivot axis therewitha dnmma Y pe a i e. whe wung:

' in cnerotative. d rec on IQdEfiH B d. dfii i ihfi from said; latch,-. device, said inner manually operable 1 lever. having a, part arrangedin opposing relation to a part of. said swingable memben to abut thegsame attire same side of the. pivotal.- axes of, said leverand swingable member uponswinging movementof saidinnerpmanually operable lever. in a second rotatiYe-direction thereby to 2 movesaid swingablemember, in thesame rotative direction to dispos'elsaid blockingmeansin opposing positio to said-blo'ckingportion, said blocking means'when in. said opposing position rendering said outer manually; operable lever'inefiective tomove said detentfmeansout; of holding position'withrespect to said latch device. i 1

7-; In-alat'ch mechanism for a swinging door,.a support. a

having a plate portiorifor disposition. at. the door jam'b;

a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion,

an outer manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion, a blocking portion on'said lever, detent;.'

means engageable' with said latch 'devicefor holdingitinj door latching positionjsai'd detentmeans being pivotally v mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of. said lever about a common pivot axis therewith, said lever I at; one side of the'pivotal-i axis thereof having a part ar..

ranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to a bu't the'sarne at the samesid'e' of the pivotal axes of '7 said lever an'ddetent means upon swinging movement of; said lever in one rotatifve direction therebyto pivotally move said detent means in the'sanie' rotative directionout of holdingIpositionwith respect to said latch devicefaff swingable member on said flange having a part movable in a substantially and down direction, said part having" i blocking means for cooperatioriwith said blocking por tion, an'ra erfmnn n' operable lever pivotally mounted on said flange and normally'operative when swung in one rotative direction to disengage said detent means from: said latch device, said inner manually operable lever having a part arranged 'in'opposing relation to fa part of said swingablemernbelr to' abutthe same at the same'side' of e the pivotal axes' 'of said lever and swingable member upon swinging movement of said inner manually operable lever Q in a second rotative direction thereby to movesaidswing able member in thesame rotative direction to dispose said blocking: in opposin 'g position to said blocking pori tion, said blocking means when 'in'said opposing position rendering said omeemanu'auy operable lever "inefiective to mov'esai'cl detent means'out or holding position with respect to said' latch device.

inalatch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate ornonz'ror disposition at the door jam'b,

a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion,

an outer manually" operable actuator} mounted on said" plate portion, a blocking portionin-said actuator, detent means engageabl'e with said latch. device for holdingfit} in door latchin g position, said detent-means being pivot-5 ally mouatea on' said plate portion to swing independently.

qlilsaid agitator, saida ctuator at'one's'ide thereof havinga arranged iii opposing relation to .a. part of said. detent means to abutthe same upon: movement of said actuator in one direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a swingable member on said support having a part movable in a substantially up and down direction, said part having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, an inner manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said support and normally operative when swung in one rotative direction to disengage said detent means from said latch device, said inner manually operable lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said swingable member to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and swingable member upon swinging movement of said inner manually operable lever in a second rotative direction thereby to move said swingable member in the same rotative direction to dispose said blocking means in opposing position to said blocking portion, said blocking means when in said opposing position rendering said outer manually operable actuator ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

9. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, an outer manually operable actuator mounted on said plate portion, a blocking portion on said actuator, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said actuator, said actuator at one side thereof having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same upon movement of said actuator in one direction thereby to pivotally move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a swingable member on said flange having a part movable in a substantially up and down direction, said part having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, an inner manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said flange and normally operative when swung in one rotative direction to disengage said detent means from said latch device, said inner manually operable lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said swingable member to abut the same at the same side of the pivotal axes of said lever and swingable member upon swinging movement of said inner manually operable lever in a second rotative direction thereby to move said swingable member in the same rotative direction to dispose said blocking means in opposing References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Roethel June 19, 1951 Roethel July 22, 1952

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