US3456974A - Safety door latch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1969 F. J. MOORE 3,456,974

SAFETY DOOR LATCH MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .FIEZZ FIZZ-T E Paw/75$ MOORE Ivan/er:

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United States Patent Cfiice 3,456,974 Patented July 22, 1969 US. Cl. 292359 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a door latch mechanism arranged for insertion through the width of a door to control and actuate a latch member inserted through the edg of the door. The latch member is frusto conical in shape receivable into a frusto conical latch receiving element on the door frame. The operative portion of the latch includes a first tubular member having a notched periphery to engage with the latch device and includes interiorly thereof a cam mechanism extending longitudinally there through with means for actuating the same on either end thereof. The camming rod includes a first locking device engageable to prevent rotation of the tubular actuating member with a camming device for shifting this lock device from locked position from the other end of the tubular member. The entire operating mechanism is carried by the first tubular longitudinal member to permit installation into a door with a minimum aperture being necessary for the door.

In the past various door latch mechanisms have been provided which basically depend upon a one way situation. This is to say that the door latch mechanism itself is tapered in one general direction such that when the door is closed into the door frame the camming surface will force the latch inwardly to permit the latch to pass along a door frame mounted guiding unit into the door latch receptacle. This system is subject to tampering in that it is only necessary to Celluloid the door latch in order to force it into retracted position and then open the door. Applicants design of a frusto-conical latching mechanism will force any material against the side surface thereof to bend and be forced into the frusto-conical recessed portion thereof rather than to permit urging of the latch rearwardly into open position.

It is a further object of applicants invention to provide a cam locking mechanism for doors which includes a simplified camming device whereby a manual locking device is provided on one side of the door for push-pull operation and a cylinder lock is provided on the other side of the door such that the door may be opened from the cylinder side thereof and may be either locked or opened from the manual operated side thereof.

It is still a further object of applicants invention to provide a simplified door lock and latching construction which will utilize a relatively small area of the door for mounting the same therein and which permits the mounting of all actuating and actuated portions thereof within a relatively small area.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial side elevation of a typical installation of a door latch embodying applicants concept illustrated with a door and door frame;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 illustrating the door latch in closed and locked position;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed illustration of the carnming portions of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 particularly illustrating the dead locking device incorporated in applicants invention; and

FIG. 7 is a horizontal view taken substantially along lines 7-7 of FIG. 5 illustrating the dead locking feature incorporating applicants device.

In accordance with the accompanying drawings applicants door lock device is mounted in a door D by providing a first mounting passage P therethrough and a second passage T extending inwardly from the edge of the door to intersect with the mounting passage P. These are the only apertures which must be provided through a door to positively mount applicants device therein and it should be noted initially that the size of each of these apertures is relatively small when compared with those door latch devices which are known in the prior art. In order to accommodate this unit into a door frame F the standard door stop S is provided and likewise a door latch receptacle generally designated R is provided to the door frame structure. The receptacle R in the form shown includes a substantially flat plate member 11 having a frusto-conical shaped recess 12 centrally thereof and having a guiding lip 13 on the receiving edge thereof to permit a door latch to normally be received and cammed into the plate 11 while passing over the lip section 13 and thence downwardly by spring pressure to be received into the frustoconical shaped recess 12. This door latch receiving mechanism except for the frusto-conical shaped portion 12 will be generally known to those skilled in the art.

The door latching mechanism generally designated 14 includes a generally cylindrical latch portion 15 having a frusto-conical end portion 15a to be received into recess 12 and is followed by a shoulder portion 151; reduced in diameter from the normal cylindrical portion thereof to provide a shoulder against which a pressure spring 16 may operate. A housing member 17 is provided to be received within passage T and has a shoulder portion 17a on the inner end thereof for agreeing abutment with compressible spring member 16 such that the spring 16 will be compressed between shoulder 15b and shoulder 17a. This inner end of housing 17 is also provided with a passage 17b therethrough to permit a linkage member 18 to pass therethrough into the operative and operational section of the mechanism. Linkage member 18 is provided with a loop 18:: on the inner end thereof for engagement with an actuating pin member 19 while the latch connective end 18b of link 18 is received into a slot on latch member 15 and a pin 15d is designed to pass therethrough for positive connection of the link 18 to the latch member 15 and thus the latch 15 to the operative pin member 19. It should be obvious that along the length of this link 18 there must be a free lost-motion section such that when the latch member 15 is forced inwardly as by abutment with the plate 13 upon closing the door the operative pin 19 will not cause the door knobs to rotate.

The operative section of the mechanism is generally designated 20 and includes a first tubular latch actuating section 21 mounted for rotative movement within passage P on a pair of flange elements 22-23 which flanges are arranged on respective sides of the door D. Flange element 23 is provided with a longitudinally extending rim portion 24 which as illustrated in FIG. 6 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally arranged locking slot members 25-25 having diverging guide-in surfaces 25a on the outwardly extending end thereof. A pair of cover plates designated respectively 26-27 are provided to normally overlie and cover the journaling members 22-23 and the outwardly extending portions thereof 26a-27a are likewise provided of a proper shape to serve as a proper journaling surface for the tubular latch actuating member 21.

A first actuating knob 28 is provided in fixed relation to the tubular actuator 21 through a longitudinally extending flange portion 28a and a pasasge 28b is provided completely therethrough for the mounting of what is commonly known as a cylinder lock 29 therein. This cylinder lock 29 as commonly known provides a stationary stop 29a and a rotatable barrel 31 which barrel 31 is connected to the lock unit 29 through an additional pin 31a. This barrel member 31 is guided within the tubular actuating structure 21 through an inwardly projecting radial flange 32 and the end 31b of this barrel structure 31 is provided with a pair of guide slots 31c arranged in diametrically opposed position for housing and guiding a pinned connective rod and cam carrying element 33 therein. In the form shown the cam carrying rod element 33 is provided for slideable movement within a central aperture of the hollow barrel 31 by a radially extending pin 33a received into slot 310 to permit limited oscillation of the rod 33 therein. The opposite end 3317 of rod 33 extends longitudinally through the tubular actuating shaft 21 for slideable engagement internally of a locking rod designated 35. Rod and cam carrying member 33 also carries a beveled cam 34 intermediate the ends thereof which cam 34 is a single plane cam as particularly illustrated in FIG. 3 with its actuating camming surface arranged in opposed relation to the cylinder lock 29.

Locking rod 35 includes a generally tubular rod member arranged for slideable movement over the extending end 3311 of the rod and camming member 33 and is provided with a cylindrical boss 36 on the inward end thereof arranged for longitudinal sliding with tubular structure 21. A pair of pins 3737 are arranged in radially extending, diametrically opposed relation on the enlarged cylindrical portion 36 and the tubular member 21 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed slots 21a-21a to permit the cylindrical block to be received therein and slide longitudinally therewithin. Extending pins 37 are arranged to meet with the receiving locking slots 25 on rim 24 when in their innermost or locking location.

A second cam follower 38 is provided on the enlarged cylindrical portion 36 and extends longitudinally parallely up to the camming rod member 33 to normally abut with the cam device 34 for operation thereagainst. Locking rod 35 extends outwardly through the end of the tubular structure 21 and through a second actuating knob member 40. A capturing element 41 may be threadably received into the end of locking rod 35. Knob 40 is removably received upon the tubular actuating member 21 and this may be accomplished through set screws or the like which may pass through a cylindrical flange portion 40a arranged generally centrally of the knob 40. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 a passage 4% is formed in the outward extending end of the knob to permit the locking bar 35 to pass therethrough.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 an arcuate passage 21b is defined in a peripheral surface of tubular actuating member 21 to permit the link 18 to pass internally into the tubular member 21 and be fastened to an operating pin member 19. Pin member 19 is fixedly attached to the inner wall of the tubular member 21 such that when the tubular member 21 is rotated the shifting of pin member 19 will pull the link 18 inwardly thus pulling the latch member 15 into the housing 17 against the pressure of spring 16.

Operation of the device to this point should be clearly understood when the locks are not being utilized. This is to say that either of the knobs 28 or 40 when rotated will rotate the attached tubular actuating member 21 and thence the attached pin 19 to pull inwardly on the link 18 thus retracting the latch member 15. The lost motion connection in link 18 will also permit the latch 15 to be pushed into retracted position without rotation of either 4 of the knobs such as when the door is swung into closed position.

Operation of the lock device which consists basically of the locking rod 35, cam carrying rod 33 and the cylinder lock 29 with its associated tubular structure 21 is as follows. When it is required to lock the door it is necessary to actuate the lock from the inside or the push pull side of lock rod 35. Normally of course the cylinder lock 29 will be arranged outside of the area to be locked. Upon pushing rod 35 inwardly the pins 37 will be received into the locking slots 25 on flange 24 as illustrated in FIG. 6. This of course will prevent rotation of the knobs and the attached tubular member as the pins 37 pass not only into the locking slot 25 but likewise are arranged in slots 2112 within the tubular structure. When it is desired to unlock the door from the inside it is only necessary to pull the locking pin rod 35 outwardly to release the pins 37 from their respective locking slots 25. When it is desired to unlock the door from the outside or cylinder side of the door and the pins 37 are in their normal locking slots 25, insertion of the proper key into cylinder lock 29 will permit rotation of the cylinder lock 29 and thence will provide rotation of the barrel member 31 and cam 34 and rod 33 will be rotated as particularly illustrated in FIG. 4. Rotation of this cam 34 will, as illustrated in FIG. 4 drive the cam follower 38 longitudinally therealong and will drive the pin members 37 from the locking slots 25. The locking pins 37 again being guided for such longitudinal movement by the passages 21a. Complete rotation of the cylinder lock 29 to permit retraction of the key will return the cam surface 34 to its normal position which will again permit the lock rod 35 to be pushed into closing position.

A dead locking device is also provided with this unit and this particular device is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. As illustrated in these figures, an additional aperture 45 is provided within longitudinally extending flange 24 and an aperture 21b is provided in the actuating tubular portion 21. These apertures are in normally aligned position when the tubular actuator 21 is in its normal position with the latch extending outwardly. A locking rod device 46 is provided to extend through the cover plate 27 and particularly through an aperture 27a therein. This aperture 27a is a key shaped aperture such that it is possible to retract the rod 46 and shift the same along the periphery of the cover plate 27 to maintain the rod in an upward direction without removing the locking end thereof from the aperture 45 in the longitudinal flange 24. A stop member 46a may be provided to prevent complete removal of this pin 46 and a small hand grasping portion 46b may be provided on the end thereof to assist in lifting and locating this positive locking unit. This locking unit is completely independent of the other locking portions of the device and as such may actually serve as a dead bolt type lock in that even if the key is utilized in the outside of the door this lock member 46 will prevent rotation of the tubular member 21 and thus maintain the latch 15 in its extended position.

It should be obvious that applicant has provided a new and unique simple system for providing a locking mechanism for door latches which is simple in construction and positive in its operation. Likewise the lock provided herein is a dual safety lock mechanism in that the shape of the latch prevents slipping of the latch and the dead lock combination will permit positive locking of the unit, against even key opening.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportion of parts without departing from the scope of the invention, which generally stated consists in the matter 0 set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A door latch unit including:

(a) a latch retaining section arranged to be received into the edge of a door having a latching element slidably arranged therein;

(b) a tubular rotatable actuating member mounted for rotation through the width of the door having an access slot formed through the periphery thereof arranged to be aligned With said latching element;

(c) means connecting said latching element to said actuating member for retraction of said element upon rotation of said actuating member; I

(d) a flange secured to one side of the door and having at least one slot therein extending longitudinally with said actuating member;

(e) said actuating member having at least one longitudinal extending slot therein arranged to be aligned with said slot in said flange;

(f) a locking rod longitudinally 'slidable from one end of and with respect to said actuating member having means thereon to commonly engage both of said slots to prevent rotation of said actuating member and having a passage formed longitudinally therein;

(g) a camming rod extending from the other end of and with respect to said actuating member and telescoping with said locking rod to position the same in cam responsive position when said locking rod engages both of said slots; said locking rod having a longitudinally extending member thereon to engage with the camming surface of said camming rod for actuation thereby;

(h) handle means on the respective ends of said actuating member.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking rod is arranged internally of said actuating member with at least one radially extending pin thereon for engagement with both of said slots.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 and a key lock member arranged on the end of the actuating member opposite said locking rod receiving end and telescoping with said camming rod for actuation thereof while permitting longitudinal movement of said camming rod and locking rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 127,027 5/1872 Clark 292175 2,727,773 12/1955 Hagstrom 292-l69 3,228,218 1/1966 Wilson 70146 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner ROBERT L. WOLFE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 70146, 216

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