US3506293A

US3506293A - Adjustable strike

Info

Publication number: US3506293A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred J Russell; Richard L Armstrong; Harold W Falk
Original assignee: Norris Industries Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Norris Industries Pty Ltd; Norris Industries Inc
Priority date: 1968-03-01
Filing date: 1968-03-01
Publication date: 1970-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1987-04-14

Description

April 14, 1970 F, J, U S ETAL 3,506,293

ADJUSTABLE STRIKE Filed March 1. 1968 United States Patent 3,506,293 ADJUSTABLE STRIKE Fred J. Russell, South Gate, Richard L. Armstrong, Santa Fe Springs, and Harold W. Falk, Escondido, Calif.,

assignors to Norris Industries, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.,

a corporation of California Filed Mar. 1, 1968, Ser. No. 709,705 Int. Cl. Eb 15/02 U.S. Cl. 292341.19 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is embodied in what is commonly designated a strike installed on a door frame against which a latch bolt strikes when the door is closed, the adjustable strike being one built with an opening in it for reception of a latch bolt, thereby to hold the door in closed position. More particularly, the adjustable strike of the disclosure consists of two parts, one of which is a plate adapted to be fastened in fixed position on the door frame, and the other of which is a movable plate which can be shifted slightly to provide for snug engagement with the latch bolt when the door is closed, and tightened in place in a position of adjustment.

Since there is a certain limit to the accuracy with which a carpenter can work when mounting a strike plate on a door frame, so as to coincide with the location of a lock already installed in a door, it is customary to allow for a certain amount of freedom. If such allowance is not made, the latch bolt will not enter the hole in the strike plate when the door is closed against the door stop. This means that the door may rattle slightly when closed. Although it might be possible to relocate a conventional single piece strike plate, this is a burdensome operation. When old and new screw holes get too close to each other, as they do when the change in position is only a small one, it may be difficult to tighten the retaining screws sufliciently to retain the strike in its proper position of adjustment.

In recognition of the need for providing some form of adjustment for a strike plate, various attempts have been made in the past to provide strike plate having multiple parts, adjustable one with respect to the other. One of the difliculties encountered by various attempts to provide adjustable strike plates has been the provision of some means for making certain that, once relatively adjustable multiple parts of a strike plate have been fastened together, they hold their adjusted position. To overcome this difiiculty, prior devices have resorted to numerous bolts and lock washers, serrated engaging surfaces, and often a somewhat bulky and expensive construction to permit building into the devices the necessary degree of security from maladjustment. Some prior art devices of this kind are exemplified by Patents Nos. 3,257,139 and 1,297,528.

In an attempt to make adjustable strike plates which are simple in character, some prior art devices have resorted to flanges at the edges of the latch bolt opening which can be bent slightly by means of a screwdriver, once installed, to provide some degree of adjustability in order to engage the latch bolt when it enters the hole. At best, these less expensive adjustment attempts are approximate only and are not always capable of a sufiicient amount of adjustment, to accommodate all degrees of tolerance in the initial mounting of the strike plate on the door frame. Also, they tend to bend out of adjustment.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a new and improved adjustable strike device which has ample latitude in its adjustment capabilities and which,

Patented Apr. 14, 1970 ice at the same time, is one capable of firmly holding its adjustment, once the parts have been secured in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved multiple piece adjustable strike device of relatively simple construction, having parts which are of simple construction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved multiple part adjustable strike device which is relatively flat and compact, so that it will present a neat appearance when in place on a door frame, but which will require only a shallow mortise cut-out in the door frame, but which will be capable of adjustment and readjustment by simple means, whenever that might become necessary.

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 side perspective view of a fragment of door frame showing the adjustable strike in assembled position mounted on the frame.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of the adjustable strike assembled in mounted position.

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view of the adjustable strike.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of two of the principal parts of the device.

In an embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration, there is shown a door frame 10 provided with a stop 11 attached to a face 12 of the door frame 10 upon which the device of the invention is to be mounted. A latch bolt clearance hole 13 is made in the door frame 10 substantially larger than any latch bolt which might be used with it and over which the adjustable strike of the invention is applied.

The adjustable strike consists primarily of two plates consisting of an outer overlying plate 14 and an inner underlying plate 15, full details of which are readily discernable in FIGURE 5. Two

screws

16 and 17 complete the assembly. These two

screws

16, 17 could be wood screws or they could be machine screws, depending on the material composition of door frame 10.

The outer overlying plate 14 is substantially rectangular in cross section and is provided with a centrally located latch bolt opening 18 of rectangular configuration. The latch bolt opening 18 is somewhat shorter and narrower than the clearance hole 13. A supporting or guide strap 19 is located at an edge 20 of the outer overlying plate 14, the material of the strap 19 being punched from the material of the outer overlying plate 14. In practice, some material may be removed from the outer overlying plate 14 so that the breadth of the strap 19 will be something less than the breadth of the punched out portion. The strap 19, moreover, is pressed to a position beneath the surface of the outer overlying plate 14 whereby to leave a space 21 of suflicient breadth to accommodate the thickness of a portion of the inner underlying plate 15. Screw

holes

22 and 23 are provided for the

screws

16, 17.

The inner underlying plate 15 is also generally rectangular with respect to its outermost configuration and is preferably slightly shorter and narrower than the outer ovelying plate 14.

Wings

25 and 26 are adapted to underlie upper and lower portions of the outer overlying plate 14, the

wings

25, 26 being spaced from each other to pit)- vide a substantially central, rectangular latch bolt opening 27. On one side of the inner underlying plate 15 is a strike lip portion 28 which terminates at one edge in a deflected lip 29. The inner edge of the strike lip portion 28 may be provided with a tab 30 bent to a position substantially at right angles with respect to the plane of the inner underlying plate 15, the tab 30 being somewhat shorter than the length of the latch bolt opening 27. In the wing 25 is an obliquely positioned slot 31, and a similar slot 32 is provided in the wing 26, the axes of the

slots

31 and 32 being parallel to each other.

When the

plates

14 and 15 are assembled in overlying relationship, one with respect to the other on the door frame 10, the

screw holes

22 and 23 will coincide with corrresponding portions of the

slots

31 and 32. At the same time, the strike lip portion 28 overlies the strap 19 and protrudes to exposed position beyond the edge of the door frame 10. Also, at the same time, the

latch bolt openings

27 and 18 are in substantial alignment, so that edges of one or the other, as the case may be, define all four sides of an effective opening for reception of the latch bolt (not shown). The tab 30 defines an edge of the opening against which the latch bolt (not shown) will be retained. It is this position of retention which requires shifting laterally with respect to the latch bolt clearance hole 13 in the door' frame when an adjustment becomes necessary to prevent such a conventional latch bolt from a retention which is too lose, or on the other hand, which may be so located as to prevent the latch bolt from entering the latch bolt opening 27, 18 at all.

Adjustment can be made by leaving the

screws

16 and 17 slightly loose when they are driven into the door frame 10 so that the inner underlying plate 'can be shifted laterally to a desired position of adjustment. There is, moreover, a sufficient clearance between ends of the strap 19 and

respective edges

37 and 38 of the strike lip portion 28 to allow for a limited shifting of position in a vertical direction. The length of the inner underlying plate 15 is made enough shorter than the length of the outer overlying plate 14 that, irrespective of how much adjustment may be necessary, the outer overlying plate 14 will always conceal the inner underlying plate 15. To accomplish this, the width of the inner underlying plate 15 is also made enough narrower than the outer overlying plate 14 to accomplish such concealment irrespective of the adjusted position of the inner underlying plate 15. When the adjusted position has been properly determined, the

screws

16 and 17 are then driven tightly into the door frame 10, interlocking both

plates

14 and 15 firmly to the door frame 10. Should any readjustment be necessary, all that is needed is to loosen the screws 1 and 17, readjust the position of the inner underlying plate 15 and then again to firmly fasten the

screws

16 and 17.

While the invention has herein been shown and described in what is conceived to be a practical and effective embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to he details disclosed herein.

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

1. A two plate adjustable strike assembly for mounting on a door frame wherein said door frame has a clearance hole therein for a latch bolt, said assembly comprising an underlying plate element having an opening therethrough for a latch bolt, said underlying plate element having an operative position in engagement with said door frame adjacent said clearance hole therein, an overlying plate element having an operative position in overlying relationship with said underlying plate element, said overlying plate element having an opening therethrough for a latch bolt, one edge of the opening in said underlying plate element comprising a retaining edge for a latch bolt, said underlying plate element having slot means therein extending in an angular direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said underlying plate element, having a length less than the length of said overlying plate element and a breadth less than the breadth of said overlying plate element whereby the underlying plate element lies completely concealed beneath the overlying plate element in all positions of adjustment and a lateral extension on said underlying plate element comprising a strike lip, said overlying plate element having fastening hole means in substantial alignment with said slot means, and adjustable fastening means extending through said slot means and fastening hole means into engagement with said door frame whereby to fasten said plate elements to each other and to said door frame in the selected position of adjustment and to said door frame.

2. An adjustable strike means according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable fastening means comprises at least two screws on respective opposite sides of said openings.

3. An adjustable strike means according to claim 1 wherein said retaining edge comprises a tab on said underlying plate element which extends into the hole in said door frame.

4. An adjustable strike means according to claim 1 wherein said strike lip is greater in vertical length than the vertical length of said opening from the latch bolt and less than the vertical length of said underlying plate element. 7

5. A two plate adjustable strike assembly for mounting on a door frame wherein said door frame has a clearance hole therein for a latch bolt, said assembly comprising an underlying plate element having an opening therethrough for a latch bolt, said underlying plate element having an operative position in engagement with said door frame adjacent said clearance hole therein, an overlying plate element having an operative position in overlying relationship with said underlying plate element, said overlying plate element having an opening therethrough for a latch bolt, one edge of the opening in said underlying plate element comprising a retaining edge for a latchbolt, said underlying plate element having slot means therein extending in an angular direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said underlying plate element, said overlying plate element having fastening hole means in substantial alignment with said slot means, and adjustable fastening means extending through said slot means and fastening hole means into engagement with said door frame whereby to fasten said plate elements to each other and to said door frame in a selected position of adjustment and to said door frame, and wherein said underlying plate element has a strike lip portion on one lateral side of said opening therein and said overlying plate element has a supporting strap on one lateral side of said opening therein at a location underlying said strike lip portion and in sliding relationship therewith.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,439,036 4/1948 Bohnsack 29234l.18 2,713,506 7/1955 Wickstrom 292341.18 3,257,139 6/1966 Russell 292341.18 3,416,829 12/1968 Russell 292-34l.19

FOREIGN PATENTS 599,209 1/ 1926 France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner E. J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. ,293 Dated April 14, 7

FRED J. RUSSELL, RICHARD L. ARMSTRONG, HAROLD w. FALK It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Drawings:

FIGURE 3 Reverse the arrows of the section line designation 44.

FIGURE 4 Change the reference character "25" to -26--; change the reference character "16" to -l7-.

In the Specification:

Column 3, line 51, Change the reference character "1" SIGNE AND QERLEU mm) M) Arm:

Edvmrdunetdwnl'r. mm 3, p. a 0" JR. l u" 7 l ORM PO-1050 [10-69) USCOMM-DC 6O876-P69 U45, GOVIINMINT nulmuc orrlct "n o-ui-au