US3196645A - Combination key-operated mechanism and hand-hold face support - Google Patents

Description

F. J. RUSSELL 3,196,645 COMBINATION KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM AND HAND-HOLD FACE SUPPORT July 27, 1965 Filed Dec. 11, 1962 INVENTOR. F250 \JI RUSSELL BY 34% 5 Jim" Jaw ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,196,645 COMBINATION KEY-*OPERATED MECHANISM AND HAND-HOLD FACE SUPPORT Fred J. Russell, 3800 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Dec. 11, 1962, Ser. No. 243,763 3 Claims. (Cl. 70-224) The invention relates to door locks and has particular reference to the mounting of a knob on a spindle in such fashion that there is a multiple stabilizing relationship provided for the knob, or, infact, any other type of hand-hold, suchas a lever handle. More'particularly, the invention has'reference to a structure wherein the knob or other hand-hold, as the case may be, is supported by some appropriate agency at the outer end of the spindle which is adapted to lie near the face of the knob,

as well as being supported in the customary fashion at the neck or shank of the knob. This is a continuation-inpart of copending application SerialNo. 32,874, filed May 31, 1960, now Patent No. 3,069,194, and'copending application Serial No. 229,152, filed October 8, 1962.

One piece knobs for doorlocks have become increasingly popular, but this particular type of knob has some limitations from the point of view of attachment to the spindle. Usually, only the neck of such a knob engages those portions of the lock extending laterally from the door, namely, the spindle, and the object heretofore has been to provide a sufficient length for such engagement so that the knob can be reasonably stable in relation to the spindle during use. It is recognized, however, that knobs of some shapes provide a somewhat limited area of projection beyond the door, which results in a corresponding minimum amount of bearing area at the point where the neck of the knob extends rearwardly and engages the spindle. For example, the maximum potential bearing area on the spindle must be divided between bearing area for the spindle within a hub in which it rotates and bearing area between the spindle and theneck of the knob. Any lengthening of the neck to improve the amount of area available for engagement with the spindle tends to lessen the available area of engagement between the spindle and its hub or bearing.

As the weight of the knob increases or as the diameter of the neck increases, the axial length of the engagement area remains unchanged, but the problem of maintaining stability between the knob and the spindle increases. This means that there is a greater tendency for looseness and movement or rattling of the knob. In multiple piece knobs, stability sometimes is accomplished by employment of an inner piece or pieces within the knob which serve as a brace between the spindle and the inside of the knob.

When only the neck of the knob engages a spindle, the

stability between the spindle and the knob depends entirely upon the engagement between the neck of the knob and the spindle at a single area of support. This is often not sufiicient to provide the desired feeling of firmness and security.

In applicants copending applications, resort has been had to employment ofsome connection between the outer end of the spindle and the face of the knob to give to the assembly added stability by virtue of this additional contact. In some instances, a separate ring has been em- .ployed capping the outer end of the spindle and extending "ice into a suitable aperture in the knob face'to interconnect these two parts of the "lock. The added stability, thus accomplished has been meritorious but does necessitate employment of an extra piece.

It is therefore among the objectsof the invention to provide a new and improved support for a'knob which makes use of engagement or stabilization'both at the neck and at the face of the knob or such other hand-hold 'as may be employed without making, use of accessory structures.

Another object of the invention. is to provide a new 'and improved spindle and knob assembly for a door lock which makes use of a key-operated mechanism incorporated in the spindle, the key-operated mechanism itself being taken advantage of as the means of interconnecting mechanically and for stability purposes the spindle and the outer end of the'knob.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved spindle and knob assembly for a door lock -provided with a key-operated mechanism incorporated in the spindle, the key-operated mechanism being so constructed that a portion of it extends outwardly beyond the spindle end and into the knob face, there to supply a stabilizing engagement with the knob face which finds its port in the spindle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved spindle and knob assembly for adoor lock equipped with a key-operated mechanism wherein a rotating portion of the key-operated mechanism provides for a stabilizing contact between the key-operated mechanism and the knob face thereby affording a stabilizing support of the knob face at its outer end by the spindle.

Still further among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved spindle and knob assembly for a door lock which makes use of a key-operated mechanism which includes a housing wherein the housing itself provides a stabilizing interconnection between the spindle and the face of the knob.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a spindle and knob assembly mounted in place upon a door.

FIGURE 2 is an end-elevational view of the spindle and knob assembly of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is. a side-perspective view of the particular key-operated mechanism employed in the device of FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view of'a spindle and knob assembly in position mounted upon a door incorporating a second form of the invention.

FIGURE 6 is an end-elevational view of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side-perspective viewof-the form of key operated mechanism employed in FIGURES 5 and 6.

In the particular embodiment of the invention herein shown and described for the purpose of illustration, there is indicated a fragment of door 10 upon which is mounted a-door lock assembly incorporated in part in a bushing ano es-s 11 of substantially conventional construction which is stationarily mounted with other parts (not shown) upon the door. Surrounding the bushing is a trim sleeve 12 and a rosette 13. A spindle 14 is rotatably mounted in the bushing and extends outwardly relative to the door a substantial distance as indicated, namely, to approximately the location of the inner end wall of a knob or other appropriate hand-hold 15. The end wall has been indicated by the reference character 16 having an outer face 17 and an inner face 18. Centrally located in the end wall is a circular opening 19 which is in axial alignment with the spindle 14 or more appropriately with the inside diameter 20 of the spindle which in the embodiment chosen is tubular.

In the form of FIGURES 1, 2, 3, and 4, there is provided a key-operated mechanism indicated generally by the reference character and shown in perspective view inFIGURE 4. The key-operated mechanism 25 cons'ists of a cylindrical casing or barrel 26 having on one side a pin tumbler housing 27, which actually forms part of the casing. Following conventional construction, there is ro tatablyimounted within the'cylindrical casing 26 a cylinder plug evidenced in the chosen embodiment by and outwardly extending face portion 28 and an inwardly extending tail portion 29. .A'keyway 30 of the usual sort extends into the face portion 28 and when the cylinder plug is rotated by operation of the key the tail; portion is rotated so as to turn a tailpiece 31 which is a customary means for manipulating appropriate portions of the lock device (not shown).

' On one side, namely, the upper side of the spindle 14 as viewed in FIGURE 1, there is included a slot 32 through which the pin tumbler housing 27 passes thereby to secure the cylinder casing 26 nonrotatably in the spindle 14, the pin tumbler housing 27, being contained withinthe interior of theknob 15. I It will be noted in' this instance that the face portion of the casing 26 which is circular in crosssection is 'rotatably mounted in the opening 19 in the wall 16 of the knob 15. The face portion extends far enough outwardly beyond the outer end of the spindle to reach through the end wall and occupy a supporting relationship with the wall forming the opening 19, Inasmuch as the cylindrical casing 26 fills the interior of the spindle 14, the transfer of support thus provided between the outer end of the knob 15 andthe spindleis accomplished by a portion of the key-operated mechanism 25.

The key-operated mechanism may be retained in its position within the spindle by engagement with the outer end of the knob. i In the interest of providing a comprehensive disclosure so that the assembly and operation of the present invention can be understood, certain details of the keeper assembly are shown and 'describedherein. More particularly, {the keeper assembly consists of two parts, namely, a keeper member 36 and a retainer member 37; A smaller portion 38 of the keeper member extends outwardly through radially aligned holes 39 in the spindle and 40 in a neck 41 of the knob, and a larger portion 42 extends through a hole 43 in the spindle diametrically opposite the hole 39. A boss 44 projects through an opening 45 in the retained member, and the keeper member is adapted to press against the inside wall of the retainer member which, by reason of being an arcuate spring element, yields while remaining in engagement with the exterior of the spindle and which, when pressure is released, returns the keeper member downwardlyias viewed in FIGURE 3. V

In the form of invention shown in FIGURES 5, 6, and 7, a slightly different form of key-operated mechanism is employed. The remaining portions of the spindle and knob assembly, however, are substantially the same. As there shown, the key-operated mechanism 50 consists of .a cylindrical casing 51 part of whichconsists of a pin tumbler housing 52. In this form of device, the cylindrical casing 51 itself extends outwardly beyond the spin idle 14 and into supporting engagement with the wall which forms the opening 19 in the Accordingly, a cylinder plug 53 c Way 54 is approximately flush with an 0116. of the cylindrical casing 51. At its other end, Ire der plug is provided with a tail portion 56 from which tends a tailpiece 57 of the usual kind.

When held in assembled position the cylindrical casing 51 is nonrotatably mounted by reason of the fact that the pin tumbler housing 52 extends through the slot 32 in the spindle. Since the cylindrical casing 51 is thus nonrotatably mounted, it can have a reasonably snug fit in the opening 19 of the knob 15 thereby to provide substantially a maximum degree of stability in interconnecting the front end of the knob 15 with the spindle 14.

In both of the instances here employed as examples of the invention, the neck of the knob :15 affords a second area of support in that it is in rotatable engagement with the exterior of the bushing 11. From the foregoing description, therefore, it will be clear-that two areas of support are provided for the knob 15 spaced virtual-1y at opposite ends of theknob 15. These consist of the support of the knob neck 41', and the sup- :port of the'knob face 17 which istactually provided by the key-operated mechanisms 25 or 5 0. While the invention has herein. been shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may befmade therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is notto. be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all'equiv-alent devices.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent is: i

1. In a door lock a hub, a spindle mounted in the hub, a hand-hold having a neck spaced from and in nonrotatable relationship with the spindle and rotatably supported upon said hub to form an inner stabilizing support for the hand-hold, a face portion of the handheld having an opening in alignment with the spindle and a keyoperated mechanism releasably attached to said spindle, said key operated mechanism comprising a casing mounted within the outer portion of the spindle, and a cylinder plug rotatably mounted in said casing, said keyoperated mechanism having an outer end extending outwardly beyond the spindle and slid'a'bly into said opening in said face portion from the inner side thereof, said outer end being in supporting relationship with said face portion and providing thereby an outer stabilizing support for the hand-hold at its face end.

2. In a door lock .a hub, a spindle mounted in the hub, a h-and hold having an exterior neck extending rearwardly of the hand-hold and in nonrotatable relationship with the spindle, said neck having an inside diameter greater than the hub and spaced from the spindle, said neck having a rotatable mounting relative to the hub and on the exterior thereof, a face portion of thehand-hold having an opening in alignment with the spindle and a key-operated mechanism releasably attached to said spindle, said key-operated mechanism comprising a casing mounted within the outer portion of the spindle, and a cylinder plug rotatably mounted in said casing, said casing having an outer end forming an annular flange extending beyond the outer end of the spindle and into the opening in said face portion, said outer end being in support ing relationship with said face portion and providing thereby a stabilizing support for the hand-hold at its face end.

3. In a door lock a hub, a spindle mounted in the hub, a handheld having an exterior neck extending rearwardly of the hand-hold and in nonrotata ble relationship with the spindle, said neck having an inside diameter greater than the hub and spaced from the spindle by at least the thickness of the hub, said neck having a rotatable mounting relative to the hub and on the exterior thereof, whereby to provide a rear stabilizing support for the hand-hold, a face portion of the hand-hold having an opening in alignment with the spindle and a key-operated mechanism releasably attached to said spindle, said heyoperated mechanism comprising a casing mounted within the outer portion of the spindle, a cylinder plug rotatably mounted in said casing, said cylinder plug having an outer end extending outwardly beyond said casing and said spindle and extending slida-bly into said opening in said face portion from the inner side thereof, said outer end being in supporting relationship with said face portion and providing thereby a forward stabilizing support for the handhold at its face end spaced from said rear stabilizing support by a distance in excess of the length of said casing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Young 292-347 Rayburn 70224 Rayburn 70-424 North et a1 70-146 Muttort 70-224 Russell 70146 Hillgren 70150 M. HENSQN WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KA-MPE, THOMAS J. HECKEY,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN A DOOR LOCK A HUB, A SPINDLE MOUNTED IN THE HUB, A HAND-HOLD HAVING A NECK SPACED FROM AND IN NONROTATABLE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SPINDLE AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTED UPON SAID HUB TO FORM AN INNER STABILIZING SUPPORT FOR THE HAND-HOLD, A FACE PORTION OF THE HAND-HOLD HAVING AN OPENING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SPINDLE AND A KEYOPERATED MECHANISM RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO SAID SPINDLE, SAID KEY-OPERATED MECHANISM COMPRISING A CASING MOUNTED WITHIN THE OUTER PORTION OF THE SPINDLE, AND A CYLINDER PLUG ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID CASING, SAID KEYOPERATED MECHANISM HAVING AN OUTER END EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE SPINDLE AND SLIDABLY INTO SAID OPENING IN SAID FACE PORTION FROM THE INNER SIDE THEREOF, SAID OUTER END BEING IN SUPPORTING RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID FACE PORTION AND PROVIDING THEREBY AN OUTER STABILIZING SUPPORT FOR THE HAND-HOLD AT ITS FACE END.

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