US3046777A

US3046777A - Construction cylinder

Info

Publication number: US3046777A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ernest L Schlage
Original assignee: Schlage Lock Co LLC
Current assignee: Schlage Lock Co LLC
Priority date: 1959-02-03
Filing date: 1959-02-03
Publication date: 1962-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1979-07-31

Description

Jul 31, .1962

E. SCHLAGE CONSTRUCTION CYLINDER Filed Feb. 3, 1959 INVENTOR. ERNEST L. SCHLAGE AT TORNEVS re brats atct 3,45,??? Patented July 31, 1962 This invention relates to locksets and particularly to a temporary cylinder that is adapted to be employed in 1 the lock prior to the installation of the conventional key operated cylinder.

In the installation of locksets, especially in commercial buildings, it sometimes becomes desirable that the lockset be supplied to the building contractor without the key operated cylinder.

One reason for this is that in many instances, for reasons beyond the control of the lock manufacturer, the fabrication of the key operated cylinder is delayed because the master key information required to arrange the cylinder pins in their proper coded arrangement is not made available to the manufacturer until after the building construction schedule requires lock installation. In such a case it often becomes necessary to ship and install locksets in which the key operated cylinder has been omitted. The obvious disadvantage of such a procedure is that, during construction of the building, dirt and dust and other foreign matter may enter the opening in the door knob reserved for the cylinder. Furthermorqif it becomes necessary for the lock to be unlatched after installation, damage to the lock may result from careless manipulation of a screw driver or other tool inserted through the knob spindle in an attempt to retract the latchbolt.

Despite such disadvantages, security considerations also make it advantageous to delay installation of lock cylinders until construction is about completed. In this connection it has, heretofore, been a practice during construction to permit a contractor and his employees to borrow certain pass keys or master keys to permit entrance to rooms and offices during construction. This procedure often results in some keys being lost or misplaced, and in addition exposes pass keys, master keys and perhaps even grandmaster keys to unauthorized copying, thereby completely destroying the high degree of security built into the master keying system. For this reason it is extremely desirable that the steps of installing the key operated lock cylinders be under the control of the building owner and that it be performed at the time the building is ready for occupancy and not before.

The main object of the present invention is therefore the provision of .a temporary or construction cylinder for doorlocks which may be assembled with the lock by the manufacturer and which cylinder remains in the lockset until building construction is completed at which time the conventional key operated cylinder may be substituted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction cylinder which is inexpensive to make and which may be discarded when it is desired to install the permanent cylinder.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a construction cylinder that does not interfere with the usual operation of the lock and which, in fact, may readily be unlocked by means of a screwdriver or other simple tool if this becomes necessary. I

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a construction cylinder that is adapted for use with all locks regardless of function.

By the invention hereinafter disclosed the actual installation of the locks is speeded up because it is only necessary that the workman install the locks to suit the sched- 0 both knobs are unlocked and 'free to rotate.

ule of lock functions and finishes and it is unnecessary for him to locate the locks according to key number.

The use of construction cylinders of the type herein contemplated-not only keeps probing tools, dirt and other foreign matter out of the lock mechanism, but also prevents disruption of the timing of those locks which provide for actuation by a key in both knobs. In this connection, when a lockset is operable by a key from both sides, the construction cylinders are installed so that tionarily securing the construction cylinders relative to the knob spindles the knobs always remain capable of rotation and it is impossible to move the lock mechanism to a position, for example, in which one knob is free and the other is locked, or to any other position in which the proper timing of the lock is impaired.

In those lock functions wherein the rotation of one knob can be prevented by turning the cylinder mechanism in the opposite knob, nonrotatable construction cylinders are installed in the unlocked position to eliminate the possibility of a person closing the door and inadvertently locking himself in or out of a room.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings: 7

FIG. 1 is a horizontal cross section through a knob spindle showing the construction cylinder installed in place.

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the construction cylinder its associated clip.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of the construction cylinder with its cylinder bar secured thereto for use in a six pin tumbler lock.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section similar to FIG. 3, but

and

with the cylinder bar secured in a position for use with a five pin tumbler lock.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the construction cylinder with the clip secured thereon to permit rotation of said cylinder in the knob spindle.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, but with the clip in a position preventing relative rotation between the cylinder and the spindle. v

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of a door knob provided with the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective of the clip. I

Although the invention is adapted for use with various kinds of locks, including rim locks, and other auxiliary locks, the following description will be made with reference to a conventional cylindrical lock for purposes of illustration.

In detail, and referring first to FIG. 1, the invention is adapted to be used in combination with a conventional lockset that includes a tubular knob spindle 1 to which is secured a knob 2 provided with a central aperture 3 for receiving therethrough the key for operating the usual pin tumbler cylinder. The spindle 1 is provided with one or more longitudinally extending slots 4 for receiving therein the radially outwardly projecting portion of the cylinder body in which are received the cylinder pins.

Also provided in the spindle 1 is the usual knob catch 6 which is urged radially outwardly by spring 8 into a slot 7 in knob 2 for securing the latter to the spindle. Said knob catch 6 is formed to receive therethrough' the driver bar of the usual locking cylinder which, upon rota tion with the cylinder plug, serves to rotate :the retnactor mechanism, a portion of which is shown at 9 in FIG. 1. With the driver bar or cylinder bar in its locked position it is impossible to remove the knob from the spindle since said driver bar prevents inward movement of the knobcatch to release it from the knob. Thus the knob cannot be removed until the cylinder plug is rotated by a key. I

The construction cylinder comprises a generally cylindrical body 10 of inexpensive material such as plastic By stav which can be thrown away after use. The diameter of the body 10 is slightly less than the inner diameter of the spindle 1 so that said body may be slidably and rotatably received in said spindle through the outer end of the latter.

. As best seen in FIG. 2 the inner end of body 10 is provided with a pair of slots 11, 12 in perpendicular inter secting relationship. One slot 11 is somewhat less in depth than the other slot 12, for a purpose to be described, and the length of each slot is slightly less than the diameter of the body 10 so that a smooth outer surface is provided for rotatably engaging the inner surface of the .spindle. ,7 v V Slots 11, 12 are adapted to receive therein a cylinder bar generally designated 15. The bar 1 is enlarged as at 16 to a generally rectangular shape to be snugly received in one or the other of the slots 11, 1 2. The depth of slots 11, 12 and the'length of the enlarged portion 16 of the cylinder bar 15 arepr'edetermined so that the eiiective length of the construction cylinder may be changed so as to substitute for either a five pin tumbler or six pin tumbler cylinder. In other words, when the bar 15 is inserted in slot 11 as shown in FIG. 3, the construction cylinder has the same effective length as a six pin tumbler cylinder and when it is inserted in slot 12 (FIG. 4) it has the same efiective length as a shorter five pin tumbler cylinder;

7 In either event, the construction cylinder, or the portion 16 (FIG. 3), is bottomed on the knob catch 6 (FIG. 1) and thebar 15 is provided with a pair of notches 17, 18 into which the knob catch 6 is received as it is urged radially inwardly of the spindle .1 against the urgency of spring 8. In other Words, the bar 15 does not prevent the removal or installation of the knob 2.

The remainder of bar 15 consists of a relatively narrow portion 19 which is adapted to perform the same function as the cylinder bar of a conventional lock cylinder in that itenters complementarily formed slots 13 in the retractor mechanism 9 so that rotational movement of the construction cylinder transferred to said retraetor mechanism for retracting the latch or for performing other functions of {the lock. V 7

With the construction cylinder 19 inserted in the spindle ;as shown in FIG. 1 it will be apparent that the outer end of the cylinder is received within the aperture 3 of the door knob '2 completely blocking the entrance of dirt or any other foreign material therethrough. In FIG. 1 the cylinder bar 15. has been inserted in slot 12 so as to simulate afive pin tumbler cylinder and it will be understood that-if the lock is designed for a six pin tumbler cylinder 'the arm would be inserted in slot 11in which

case'the shoulders

21, 22 on the enlarged portion'16 of the arm would abut knob catch 6 to maintain the position of the outer face 23 of body 10 or closely adjacent aperture 3 of knob 2.

As seen in FIG. 7 the appearanceof the knob 2 with the construction plug therein is' the same as when it is assembled with the usual locking cylinder except that the color inf-the plastic or other material from-which the construction cylinder is made may give an appearance different from ordinary cylinder. In this connection it obvious that the construction cylinder body 10, or at least the outer face 23 thereof, may be colored to indicate that it is a construction cylinder'or may be colored in various different colorsto indicate the function of the lock, size of cylinder, or other pertinent information.

Inwardly of the outer face 23 the body 19 is provided witha peripherally extending groove 25 which is adapted to receive therein a clip generally designated 26 (FIG. .2). This clip 26 comprises a pair of spaced

apart legs

27,28

joined together by a generally'rectangular radially outwardly projecting portion 29. Thele gs 27, =28 are formed in the shape of circular arcs following generally the contour of the bottom of groove ZS'in-body 10 so that the clip With the body 10 and clip 26 inserted in the spindle 1 as shown in FIG. 1 the rectangular portion 29 of clip 26 may enter one of the slots 4 of spindle 1 whichv are adapted to receive the projection in the conventional cylinder body that contains the cylinder pins. In other words, clip 26 is held in spindle 1 against rotation relative thereto when the portion 29 of said clip is received in one of the slots 4 (FIG. 1).

The rectangular portion 29' of clip 26 is also provided with a radially inwardly extending tongue30 (FIG. 8) which, when the clip in the position of FIG. 2 is inserted in groove 25, is adapted to enter a deeper. groove 32 (FIG.

5) so as to permit rotation of body 10 relative to clip Also formed in body 10 are preferably two recesses or grooves 34 which extend longitudinally of body 10 and are somewhat deeper than the circumferentially extending groove 25 so as to receive therein the tongue 30 when the clip is installed in the position of FIGS. 6, 8, In such a case it will be apparent that the body 10 is held by tongue der plug is rotatable in the locking cylinder and spring urged to a neutral position, the constructionplug should be applied to body 10 to permit relative rotation between the two. as indicated at FIG. 2. However, in a lockset ordinarily provided with a key cylinder which permits complete rotation of the cylinder plug, without a sp ning urged return to a neutral position, the construction cylinder should be assembled with the clip so that tongue 30, of the latter is received in one of the longitudinallyextending grooves 34 in body 10 so that relative rotation between struction cylinder from performing its desired function cylinder and spindle is prevented. In this manner if the lockset is assembled so thatthe knobs are unlocked and free to turn, they will always remain in thisposition: In other words, the timing of the lock will not be affected.

7 To permit unlatching locksets equipped with rotatable construction cylinders, a slot 36 is provided inthe outer face 23 of the body 10 to receive a screwdriver or similar device therein (FIG; 7). It is thus a simple matter to operate the lock while the construction cylinder is-in place without the use of a key. It will be noted that the rectangular portion 29 of clip 26 prevents removal of the cylinder through central aperture 3 of knob 2.

If the body 10 is made of plastic, it may be convenient to connect the slot 12 that receives the driver bar 15 with the screwdriver slot 36 in order to facilitate positioning inserts in'the mold. However, the resulting relatively small opening eX-tending'through the body 10' in such a case does not, as a practical matter, prevent the con- V of excluding dirt and dust.

Obviously the screwdriver slot 36 maybe omitted if it 1 is not necessary that the construction cylinder be-turned relative to the spindle. 'hereinbefore described permits use of the cylinder for locks of all functions. It will also -be under'stoodthat outer facer23 may be provided with any other suitable means to facilitate turning the cylinder in lieu of the screwdriver slot 36. i 1

In the event that the construction cylinder is not re quired to be turned in'the spindle, a radiallyoutwardly projecting extension, integral with the body 10, maybe provided 'in lieu of the rectangular, projection 29 of the clip 26. Howevenas stated before, the separate clip in anyinstallau'on. 7 r r 4 It will be understood that theinvention not necessarily'restricted to thecylind-rical type'of lock herein'before 26 has theadvantage of permitting use of the cylinder 7 However, .the' preferred form described and that it may be adapted for use with other types of locks including tubular locks, rim locks, padlocks or any other type of locks employing a locking cylinder actuated by a key.

I claim:

1. In combination with a lockset that includes a doorknob spindle provided with a longitudinally extending slot and a knob mounted on said spindle and provided with a central aperture for receiving a key therethrough, a construction cylinder comprising: a generally cylindrical body rotatably received in the outer end of said spindle and provided with an outer face adapted to cover said aperture in said knob to prevent entrance of foreign material through said aperture, an extension on the inner end of said body adapted to engage the rollback mechanism of said lockset for actuating the same upon rotation of said body, and means carried by said body to prevent removal of said body through said aperture, said last mentioned means comprising a clip having a portion thereof extending radially outwardly relative to said aperture in said knob and received in said slot in said spindle.

2. In combination with a lockset that includes a doorknob spindle provided with a longitudinally extending slot and a knob mounted on said spindle and provided with a central aperture for receiving a key therethrough, a construction cylinder comprising: a generally cylindrical body rotatably received in the outer end of said spindle and provided with an outer face adapted to cover said aperture in said knob to prevent entrance of foreign material through said aperture, an extension on the inner end of said body adapted to engage the rollback mechanism of said lockset for actuating the same upon rotation of said body, said body being provided with a peripherally extending groove adjacent said outer face, a clip adapted to be rotatably received in said groove and provided with a radially outwardly extending projection and received in said slot in said spindle for preventing removal of said body through said aperture, said body being provided with a recess adjacent said groove and said clip being provided with a lug adapted to be received in said recess when said clip is reversed from the position in which it is rotatable, whereby the interengagement of said lug and recess prevents rotation of said clip relative to said body in said reversed position.

3. A construction cylinder for a lockset having a knob mounted on a knob spindle and provided with a central aperture for receiving :a key therethrough, said cylinder comprising: a generally cylindrical body rotatably received in the outer end of said spindle and provided with an outer face adapted to cover said aperture in said knob to prevent entrance of foreign material through said aperture, an extension on the inner end of said body adapted to engage the rollback mechanism of said lockset for actuating the same upon rotation of said body, and means carried by said body to prevent removal of said body through said aperture, said last mentioned means comprising a clip having a portion thereof extending radially outwardly relative to said aperture in said knob, said clip being adapted to be mounted on said body in one of two positions, interengaging elements on said body and clip when the latter is in one of said positions for preventing relative rotation between said body and said clip, said spindle being provided with a slot for receiving said portion of said clip therein for preventing relative rotation between said spindle and clip, and said body being provided with a peripheral groove for receiving the interengaging element of said clip when the latter is in the other of said two positions for permitting rotation of said body relative to said spindle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,395,414 Huffman Nov. '1, 1921 1,773,733 Jacobi Aug. 26, 1930 2,611,635 Cerf Sept. 23, 1952 2,835,125 George May 20, 1958