US3208562A

US3208562A - Service door

Info

Publication number: US3208562A
Application number: US250391A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vines Hollis L De
Original assignee: Schlage Lock Co LLC
Current assignee: Schlage Lock Co LLC
Priority date: 1963-01-09
Filing date: 1963-01-09
Publication date: 1965-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-09-28

Description

Sept. 28, 1965 H. L. DE VINES 3,208,562

SERVICE DOOR Filed Jan. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 V i 7 l 1 INNTOR. Han/5 Z .DIM/Vif Vfw/ r a? Sept. 28, 1965 H. L. DE VINES SERVICE DOOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1963 INVENTOR. Han/.5 LfiIV/A i.

Sept. 28, 1965 H. L. DE VINES SERVICE DOOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 9, 1963 INVENTOR. Han/5 1ND! V i Sept. 28, 1965 H. L. DE VIN'ES 3,203,552

SERVICE DOOR Filed Jan. 9, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Ha a Z .DiV/Nfi zwd j r 4/ United States Patent 3,203,562 SERVICE DOOR Hollis L. De Vines, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Schlage 'Lock C'ompany Filed Jan. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 250,391 7 Claims. (Cl. 189-46) My invention relates to doors for closing doorways, particularly in hotels, motels and places of similar type, the service door having the capacity not only to control ingress to and egress from the room to which it is pertinent, but also having an interior capacity to receive clothing, shoes, packages, and the like, which are to be temporarily stored for service. An arrangement of this general sort is shown in patent 1,686,831, for example.

While there have heretofore been available service doors incorporating a chamber for the temporary reception of materials to be passed back and forth between an access hallway, for example, and the interior of a room, they have been somewhat limited in capacity and have had other disadvantages under modern conditions of building construction and use which it is an object of the present invention to overcome.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a service door which can readily be installed in a class A fireproof building without in any way reducing or restricting the firesafe qualities of the structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a service door having a substantially increased capacity over those heretofore available.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a service door which can be arranged to have a large capacity, yet which can be utilized in connection with doors employing standard hardware.

A further object of the invention is to provide a service door that does not transmit sound well.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a service door arranged so that unauthorized access to the room cannot be obtained.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a service door which is attractive in appearance, quiet in operation and generally is in keeping with high standards of modern building construction and equipment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a service door which can readily be fabricated and installed and one which requires little or no maintenance or mechanical attention.

Other objects together with the foregoing are attained in the embodiment of the invention described in the accompanying description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation from the interior of a room showing the service door of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section (portions being broken away), the plane of section being indicated by the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail showing in cross section the construction of the portion of the service door near the hinges, the plane of section being indicated by the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail showing the construction of the service door near the knob, the View being in cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the lines 44 of FIGURE 1;

3,208,562 Patented Sept. 28, 1965 'ice FIGURE 5 is a cross section in enlarged detail, the plane of which is indicated by the lines 55 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a detail in elevation showing a portion of the inner latch actuating mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a detail in cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the lines 77 of FIG. 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a detail in cross section, the plane of which is indicated by the lines 88 of FIGURE 6.

The service door according to the invention can be incorporated in a number of different ways, but has been successfully constructed and operated substantially as shown herein. In this instance the door is situated to control the doorway of a room 5 having a wall 6 in which is installed a door frame 7 to leave an opening 8 to be closed or controlled by a door panel 9. The panel is generally rectangular in elevation and is associated with the frame 7 by means of butts or hinges 12 in the customary way so that the panel 9 swings with respect to the frame 7 into the room about the axis 13 of the hinges.

The door panel is likewise related to the frame 7 in that the door is provided with one portion 14 of a lock unit of standard construction including an outer knob 16 projecting into a hallway 17 adjacent the room 5 and also having a knob 18 projecting inwardly into the room 5. Also included in the lock unit is a reciprocable latch bolt 19 adapted to be received in a strike box 21 forming the other portion of the lock unit and mounted in the frame 7. In the customary way, rotation of the knob 16 or the knob 18 when the lock unit is unlocked withdraws the latch bolt 19 and releases the interengagement of the door panel 9 and the frame 7.

Particularly in accordance with this invention, the door panel 9 includes a marginal panel frame 22 made up of suitable structural members so as to define the outer margins of the door panel and likewise so as to define a central opening 23. This also is of rectangular configuration and is sufliciently extensive as to occupy substantially the entire area of the door panel except for the members of the panel frame.

On the exterior or hall side of the panel frame is disposed means for forming an outer housing 26. This conveniently is fabricated of sheet metal formed into the appropriate configurations to provide strength and rigidity and is mounted to swing on and relative to the door panel 9 by means of appropriate hinges 27 having their axis parallel to the axis 13 of the hinges 12. The outer,

housing 26 has inturned

portions

28 and 29 so as to encompass a substantial volume, but preferably is mounted so that its exterior surface 31 is approximately coplanar with the outer surface 32 of the hall wall. Thus the presence of the service door does not particularly encroach upon or interfere with the hall space.

Incorporated in the construction of the outer housing is a fire retardant or resistant panel 33, for example, of asbestos or glass fiber, which is closely confined not only to serve as thermal insulation, but likewise to serve as a sound insulator and as a sound dampener relative to the sheet metal of the outer housing. Sounds are not easily transmitted through the service door and the opening or closing of the outer housing does not transmit any unusual or unpleasant sounds.

The outer housing swings between a closed position as shown in the solid lines in FIGURE 2 and an open position approximately at right angles thereto. An intermediate position is illustrated by the broken lines in FIGURE 2. The outer housing is retained in its closed position by means of a securing device 34 having a detent 36 movable into and out of a position engaging a projecting finger 37 forming part of the panel frame 22. The securing device is controlled by a lock mechanism 38 and is protected by a shield 39. When the securing structure is in the FIGURE 2 position, the outer housing cannot be swung independently of the door panel, but when the lock mechanism 38 is appropriately actuated by a suitable key to rotate the detent 36 out of engagement with the finger 37, the outer housing can be swung as indicated.

Since the outer housing is substantially or very nearly of the same area or extent as the door panel itself, it is provided with a special construction in order to accommodate the outer knob 16. The lock set including the knob 16 as part of its mounting on the door panel frame is provided with a concave dish 41 suitably held permanently in place and around its free-standing periphery provided with a cushion 42, for example, of rubber. Correspondingly, the outer housing is formed with a cutout 43 preferably of circular configuration so that the outer housing when closed will abut against the cushion 42 on the dish 41. Since the material 42 is somewhat yielding and since the material of the dish 41 may also yield slightly, it is a simple matter to lock the outer housing in position with a tight engagement between the outer housing and the dish 41. By this means the knob 16 is made readily accessible and ordinary standard hardware can be utilized with an outer housing of large capacity.

Since it is desired to have a tight relationship when the parts are closed, the door panel frame is likewise provided near its edges with a packing strip 44 conveniently of rubber-like material, reinforced if desired, and held in position by overlying clip strips 46 and fasteners 47. In this way a tight interengagement is provided to prevent drafts and sound transmission.

In a somewhat similar fashion, the panel frame 22 adjacent the hinges 12 is provided with a special configuration including an inclined outstanding portion 51 aifording a reentrant face 52 against which hinges 53 can be held by fastenings 54. The hinges 53 have their axes parallel to the axis 13 and serve to support an inner housing 56. This likewise is constructed of a number of sheet metal elements given appropriate configuration for strength and rigidity and is also formed with an inner wall 57 and an outer wall 58 between which a sheet 59 of asbestos or comparable heat and sound insulating material is disposed. The inner housing 56 is contoured to provide considerable depth or volume and has a peripheral margin 60 extending entirely around the housing and defining an enclosed chamber 61. The margin 60 ends in a surface 62 designed to abut against a packing strip 63 when the inner housing is closed. The packing strip is held in place by a clip strip 64 and fastenings 66.

Adjacent the lock set 14 the inner housing is rovided with a cutout 67 of generally circular configuration designed to abut, when the inner housing is closed, with a peripheral gasket 68 mounted on an inner dish 69 held in position by the lock set 14. In a fashion previously described, the inner housing when closed forms a tight seal against the dish 69, thus making the standard knob 18 readily accessible, yet affording a large capacity within the inner housing and affording a tight seal against the transmission of air currents or sound.

In order that the inner housing 56 can be held in closed position at the option of the occupant of the room 5, there is provided an appropriate latch mechanism. Since the latch mechanism is duplicated at the upper and lower portions of the structure, a description of one of the latch devices applies equally to the other. Fixed on the panel frame near the edge thereof is a bracket 71 secured by fastenings 72 and having a downturned lip 73. Appropriately fastened on the inner housing 56 is a bracket 74 having a notch 76 near its extremity. Resting and pivoting in the notch 76 is an inclined latch clip 77 having a downturned end 78 passing through the notch and also having an aperture 79 into which is fitted one end of a coil spring 81, the other end of which fits through an opening 82 in the bracket 74 so that the latch clip 77 is normally biased upwardly. In the upwardly biased position of the clip 77 an inner leg 83 of the clip lodges behind and rests against the downturned portion 73 of the bracket 71, thus reventing any swinging movement of the inner housing relative to the door panel.

In order that the latch so formed may be released readily by a room occupant, the interior wall 57 of the inner housing is provided with a sliding actuator 86. This actuator includes a finger bar 87 projecting outwardly from a slide 88 confined by an appropriate frame 89 situated for the most part Within a guard housing 90. The slide 88 at one end carries a pair of cable pulleys 91 over which is trained a light cable 92. One portion of the cable is led over a fixed pulley 93 to travel through the inaccessible chamber 61 and at its end is looped through an opening 96 in the latch clip 77 and is secured by a collar 97. Similarly, the other portion of the cable 92 is led over a pulley 98 and is similarly fastened to the bottom latch 101. Consequently, when the room occupant moves the finger bar 87 to translate the slide 88, he likewise displaces the pulleys 91. The cable 92 is thus appropriately tensioned and rocks each latch clip 77 about its fulcrum on the bracket 74, thus tensioning the spring and simultaneously lowering the latch leg 93 below the lower terminus of the bracket lip 73, so that the inner housing can be opened. When urged shut, the inner housing automatically latches. The slide 88 can be fitted with sufiicient friction so as to require manual return or can move quite freely so as to be returned automatically by the springs 81 as soon as manually released. The entire slide actuator 86 is protected by the guard housing 90, which is open only to the chamber 61.

The particular position of the actuator 86 and consequently of the latch mechanism 77 is preferably indicated by the provision of an indicium 102 on a plate 103 in a position so that it can be covered and uncovered and so obscured or observed through an opening 104 in an auxiliary slide 105 partly in the path of the slide 88. The auxiliary slide is displaced to cover the indicium 102 when the slide 88 is moved in one direction and remains in that position until manually returned by displacement of a finger projecting through a slot in the guard housing 90. This indication is of importance since there is provided an arrangement for precluding the opening of the outer housing unless the inner housing is in its closed position.

As particularly shown in FIGURE 5, the bracket 71 is formed with a recess 106 in which rests the knee 107 of a T-bar 108. The upper portion of this bar is wide enough to rest on the bracket 71 at either side of the recess 106, but the extended portion of the T-bar terminates in a latch configuration 109. The bar 108 is pressed to move the latch portion 109 upwardly by a leaf spring 111 secured by the same fastenings 72 that hold the bracket 71 in place.

When in uppermost position the latch portion 109 lies against and restrains an inturned flange 112 forming part of the construction of the outer housing. When the inner housing is closed, however, a similar inturned portion 113 thereon abuts and rotates the bar 108 so that the latch portion 109 is depressed against the urgency of the spring 111 and out of the path of the flange 112. Under these circumstances, the outer housing, being unlatched, can be swung open as soon as the key mechanism 38 is properly operated. When the inner housing is in its open position or is even slightly open, the bar 108 is free or released and the leaf spring 111 is effective to drive the latch 109 into an uppermost position interlocking with the inturned portion 112 and thus restraining the outer housing. When the outer housing is in open position, it can always be swung shut. Either the latch portion 109 is already depressed, or, if the latch portion happens to be in its uppermost position, then the inturned flange 112 cams against a latch ramp 114 and flexes the latch bar, which is sufficiently springly to admit of this operation. In a somewhat similar fashion, when the inner housing is to be closed, it is immaterial whether or not the cord 92 is tensioned and the latch 'clip 77 is lowered since in any case when the inner housing is swung toward closed position the inclined central portion 116 of the latch clip 77 rides under the downturned lip 73 and then if unrestrained springs upwardly behind the lip 73 to complete the latching operation.

With the device as described installed in the fashion indicated, the occupant of the room, for example, without in any way disturbing the normal locking facilities provided by the mechanism 14, can at his leisure operate the finger bar 87 to swing open the inner housing and then to place clothing, shoes or other items in the compartment formed not only by the hollow ortions of the outer housing and the inner housing, but also by the opening 23 in the door panel. So long as the inner housing is open and the room occupant is able to communicate with the storage compartment, it is impossible for anyone even by actuating the lock 38 to gain access to the compartment or to the room from the exterior. However, as soon as the inner housing has been brought to closed position, the latch 109 is released and anyone with the appropriate key may open the outer housing and retrieve the materials left therein or deposit other materials.

The provision of the service door, particularly because of the cutouts provided, does not in any wise interfere with the installation on the door panel of the usual, normal hardware. The service door can thus be used interchangeably with or as a replacement for standard doors in other portions of the same building.

What is claimed is:

1. A service door comprising a door frame, a door panel including a marginal panel frame enclosing an opening, means mounting said panel frame to swing on said door frame about a vertical axis adjacent one vertical edge of said panel frame, a lock set member mounted on said door frame, an interfitting lock set member mounted on said panel frame adjacent the opposite vertical edge thereof and projecting therefrom on the inner side and on the outer side, a rigid outer dish mounted on said panel frame and having a free-standing periphery surrounding said projecting lock portion on the outer side, a rigid inner dish mounted on said panel frame and having a freestanding periphery surrounding said projecting lock portion on the inner side, an outer housing adapted to overlie and cover said opening and to extend over the outer surface of said panel frame, means mounting said outer housing on said panel frame to swing about a vertical axis remote from said lock set members, means holding said outer panel against swinging on said panel frame, means in said outer housing defining a cut-out having the margin thereof engaging said free-standing periphery of said outer dish when said outer housing covers said opening and said outer surface of said panel frame, an inner housing adapted to overlie and cover said opening and to extend over the inner surface of said panel frame, means mounting said inner housing on said panel frame to swing about a vertical axis remote from said lock set members, means in said inner housing defining a cut-out having a margin thereof engaging said free-standing periphery of said inner dish when said inner housing covers said opening and said inner surface of said panel frame, and means holding said inner housing against swinging on said panel frame.

2. A service door comprising a door frame, a door panel including a marginal panel frame enclosing an opening, means mounting said door panel to swing on said door frame about a first vertical axis adjacent one vertical edge of said panel frame, outer means overlying and covering the outside of said opening and said panel frame, inner means including a cut-out overlying and covering the inside of said opening and said panel frame, means mounting said inner means to swing on said panel frame about a second vertical axis adjacent said first vertical axis, a lock interengaging said door panel and said door frame and having one member mounted on said panel frame remote from said axes and having a part projecting through said cut-out when said inner means covers said opening and said panel frame, and a rigid dish surrounding said projecting part of said lock and having a freestanding periphery in position to engage the margin of said cut-out when said inner means covers said opening and said panel frame.

3. A service door comprising a door frame, a door panel including a marginal panel frame enclosing an opening, means mounting said door panel to swing on said door frame about an axis adjacent one edge thereof, a housing adapted to overlie and cover said opening and said panel frame, means mounting said housing to swing on said panel frame about an axis adjacent said edge and into and out of a position closing said opening and overlying said panel frame, a lock mounted on said panel frame in a position remote from said edge and having a portion projecting from said panel frame, means on said housing defining a cut-out adapted to accommodate the projecting portion of said lock when said housing is adjacent a position closing said opening and overlying said panel frame, and a rigid dish surrounding the projecting portion of said lock and having a portion directed away from said panel frame and in position to engage the margin of said cut-out when said housing is in said position.

4. A service door comprising a door panel including a marginal panel frame enclosing a generally rectangular opening, a door lock mounted on said panel frame, said door lock including an inner knob projecting from said panel frame on the inside of said door, a rigid dish on said panel frame projecting around said inner knob and providing an abutting portion extending toward the inside of said door, an inner housing of generally rectangular extent, means forming a cut-out in said inner housing, and means mounting said inner housing on said panel frame to swing about an axis remote from said door lock and out of and into a position overlying and covering said opening and said panel frame on the inside of said door with the edge of said cut-out engaging said abutting portion of said dish, said inner housing and said dish when in engagement preventing access to said inner knob through said rectangular opening.

5. A service door comprising a door panel including a marginal panel frame enclosing a generally rectangular opening, a door lock mounted on said panel frame, said door lock including a latch bolt extending through said panel frame, said door lock also including a knob operatively connected to said latch bolt and projecting from said panel frame, a rigid dish on said panel frame and projecting around said knob, said dish having a freestanding periphery, a housing of generally rectangular extent adapted to overlie and cover said opening and said panel frame, means forming a cut-out in said housing, the edge of said cut-out substantially engaging the periphery of said dish when said housing overlies and covers said opening and said panel frame, and means mounting said housing to swing on said panel frame about an axis remote from said door lock.

6. A service door as in claim 5 in which said dish periphery is provided with a resilient gasket.

7. A service door comprising a panel frame including a hinge side member and a lock side member spaced apart and defining the sides of an opening, a door lock mounted on said lock side member and having a knob projecting away from said lock side member, a rigid dish having an abutting portion, means mounting said dish on said lock side member around said knob wtih said abutting portion away from said lock side member, a housing adapted 7 g 8 to overlie and cover said opening and said lock side mem- 1,670,372 5/28 Matchette 20-16 ber, means hinging said housing on said ilinge side mem- 2,537,896 1/51 Hinton et a1 20-16 X her, and means defining a cut-out in said housing, said FOREIGN PATENTS cut-out having an edge adapted to lie against said abutting portion when said housing overlies and covers said open- 5 1,113,498 55 Fran e. ing and said lock side member. 747,278 1/ 46 Germany.

References Cited by the Examiner HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 215,439 5/79 Crane 20-16X 10