US3831988A

US3831988A - Strike plate/face plate for door latches

Info

Publication number: US3831988A
Application number: US00325992A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Stelma
Original assignee: Keeler Brass Co
Current assignee: Keeler Brass Co
Priority date: 1973-01-23
Filing date: 1973-01-23
Publication date: 1974-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1991-08-27

Abstract

A strike plate/face plate combination especially adapted for use with vehicular doors which are subjected to multi-directional forces tending to both separate the door and door jamb and swing open the door. A low-profile strike plate includes adjustable, shouldered screws which engage an opposing low-profile, face plate to prevent separation of the door and door jamb. A central aperture in the strike plate is engaged by an opposing lock bolt to prevent the door from swinging open.

Description

ll) llnite States Patent 1 1 1 1 1 9 Stelma Aug, 27, W74

[54] STRIKE PLATE/FA CE PLATE FOR WON 3,190,682 6/1965 Fox et al 292 216 LATCHES PoREIoN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Gerard N e Grand pi 409,095 4/1934 Great Britain 292/010. 41

Mich.

- Prima Examiner-Richard E. Moore 9 d [73] Asslgnee 3 :23: a Gran Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Pr1ce, Heneveld, Hu1zenga & Cooper [22] Filed: Jan. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 325,992 ABS RACT A strike plate/face plate combination especially adapted for use with vehicular doors which are sub- {2%} lift? .3????3????9739232P03 jected to multi-directioeal ending to both sepa- [58] Field 6r mm] 292/300 302 346 DIG. 39 rate the door and door and swmg Open the 292/DITG 6 41 A low-profile strike plate lncludes adjustable, shouldered screws which engage an opposing low-profile, face plate to prevent separation of the door and door [56] References Crted amb. A central aperture 1n the strike plate is engaged UNITED STATES PATENTS by an opposing lock bolt to prevent the door from l,399,897 l2/l92l Singer 292/340 winging open 2,709,612 5/1955 Fox I 292/300 3,039,153 6/1962 Dusing 292/300 x 17 Clams, 5 Drawing Fflgures PATENIEDAHBZ 3.831 ..988

sum 10? 2 PATENIED Aus27|914 SHEET 2 0f 2 FIG. 4,

STRlllKIE PLATE/FACE PLATE TOR R LATC This invention relates to latch mechanisms for doors and more particularly, to a strike plate and face plate which in combination provides a stronger, safer latching apparatus for doors, and particularly vehicular doors, than has been heretofore known.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Strike plates are commonly used in conjunction with locking and latching mechanisms on all doors and are typically secured to the door jamb opposite an edge of the closed door to provide a surface against which the lock bolt or other locking mechanism strikes and engages to secure the door in a closed position. Strike plates which interlock or mate with portions of a face plate secured to the opposing door edge adjacent a locking or latching mechanism are also very wellknown. Such mating strike plates and face plates generally include at least one projection on the face plate which is received in a socket or a recess formed in the strike plate.

In vehicular applications such as in mobile homes, trailers, automobiles, trucks and buses, the body of the vehicle is subjected to forces transmitted both longitudinally and transverse of the vehicle. Consequently, door latch mechanisms for use in such vehicles must be able to withstand these forces transmitted in several directions without allowing the door to open in order to properly and adequately protect the occupants of the vehicle. Although many interlocking strike plates and face plates have been proposed and used in the past, such strike plate/face plate combinations have not been well suited for such vehicular applications but have been primarily designed for static installations. Further, several drawbacks have been encountered in using the prior strike plates and face plates.

First, the majority of the prior mechanisms have not been adjustable. Thus, even with the more rigid production tolerances known today, clearances between doors and door jambs, especially in mass produced vehicles, are often less than uniform. Thus, a variation in door and door jamb clearances dictates that different sizes of interlocking strike plates and face plates must be used in order to properly accommodate the clearances and allow the doors to be properly fitted, Secondly, although some of the previous combinations attempted to accommodate for adjustment, the adjustment mechanisms were extremely susceptible to the vibration normally present in vehicular environments. This vibration caused the adjustment mechanisms to loosen thereby disrupting the clearance between the door and door jamb and preventing the doors from fitting properly. Finally, the prior combinations often included large projections which were extremely susceptible to forces and bending moments normally present in vehicles. Consequently, these projections were easily deformed thereby preventing proper fitting of the doors. Moreover, such large projections and protuberances were hazardous to the users of the vehicles since such persons were prone to catch or tear their clothing on those mechanisms. Therefore, the previously known strike plate/face plate combinations were undesirable for one or more of the above reasons.

SY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a purpose of the present invention is to provide an interlocking strike plate/face plate combination adapted for use with locking and latching mechanisms on swinging doors, and especially on swinging vehicular doors which are subjected to multidirectional forces and bending moments. The present inventive combination includes separate strike and face plates each having a low-profile thereby avoiding potentially injurious projection from the door or door jamb while including adjustable means for accommodating varying clearances between doors and door jambs. It is a further purpose to provide a face plate adapted to be secured to a door edge, the face plate adapted to engage low-profile adjustable means on the strike plate. The adjustable means also serve as securing means for fastening the strike plate to the door jamb.

In accordance with the foregoing purposes, the invention provides a combination strike plate and face plate wherein the strike plate is secured to a vehicular door jamb and the face plate is secured to an opposing door edge. The strike plate includes axially adjustable screws which secure the strike plate to the jamb and engage the face plate when the door is closed. The strike plate is a generally planar, elongated plate which is secured to the back or interior surface of a vehicular door jamb. The plate further includes a central offset portion which protrudes through an aperture in the door jamb and extends beyond the front surface of the door jamb. The axially adjustable screws which secure the strike plate in its position include flat, enlarged heads and integral shoulders, the shoulders spacing the heads a predetermined distance from the front surface of the door jamb. The adjustable screws are received in threaded nuts rigidly secured to the back surface of the strike plate such that the screws extend through both the strike plate and the door jamb.

The face plate is secured to an edge of a vehicular door, the said door edge opposing the above mentioned door jamb when the door is closed. The door includes any type of locking and latching mechanism the locking mechanism being recessed within the door adjacent the door edge in the preferred embodiment. The face plate is also generally planar but includes two areas which are offset toward the strike plate from the general plane of the face plate and spaced apart by a central area lying in the general plane. The two offset portions include slots which receive and engage the shouldered portions of the special screws when the door is closed. The offset of the slotted portions is sufficient to allow the flat heads of the special screws to be received therebehind. Thus, the flat heads engage the rear surface of the slotted portions and prevent the strike and face plates and, thus, the door and door jambs to which they are secured, from separating under the influence of forces present in the vehicle.

Additionally, the central portions of both the strike and face plates include apertures which are aligned when the door is closed and the adjustable screws and face plates are engaged. In the preferred embodiment, the locking and latching mechanism fitted to the door includes a sliding lock bolt which is passed through the aligned apertures. Thus, the contact between the lock bolt and an edge of the aperture in the strike plate resists the influence of forces in the vehicle transverse to those tending to separate the door and door jamb which would otherwise swing the door open.

Depending on the clearance between the door and door jamb, the special adjusting screws may be adjusted axially toward or away from the opposing face plate in order to allow the heads and shoulders of the screws to properly mate with the slotted offset areas of the face plate. The special shoulder on each screw is of a sufficient height to properly space the screw head from the jamb. Alternatively, additional separate washers may be inserted between the shoulder and the door jamb to properly space the screw heads. The special screws are securely tightened against the door jamb thereby retaining the strike plate against the rear face of the door jamb and to prevent the adjusting screws from loosening under the vibrations present in the vehicle. An upstanding flange or door stop on the interior edge of the door jamb may be provided to extend outwardly a distance equivalent to that of the special screw heads in order to prevent persons exiting the vehicle from catching or tearing their clothes on the screws.

The present invention, therefore, provides a lowprofile, adjustable strike plate/face plate combination including separate strike and face plates which protrude only slightly from their respective door jamb and door edge and interlock in the above manner. The combination resists the multidirectional forces present in a vehicle since the face plate engages the special heads of the adjustable screws to prevent separation of the door from the jamb while the lock bolt from an associated locking and latching mechanism engages an edge of the central aperture in the strike plate to prevent the opening of the vehicular door.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the strike plate and face plate of the present invention respectively mounted on an operatively associated vehicular door jamb and door;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, side elevation of the strike plate/face plate combination shown with the door in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the present combination showing the back surface of the face plate taken along plane III-Ill of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a back elevation of the present combination showing the back surface of the strike plate and taken along plane IVIV of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional, plan view of the present combination taken along plane VV of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a door locking or latching assembly including the present inventive strike plate/face plate combination 10. The locking or latching assembly is shown installed on a typical swinging door of a mobile home, although the present invention is equally applicable to other swinging vehicular doors such as doors on trailers, automobiles, buses and trucks and the like, and indeed, on all swinging doors. The strike plate/face plate apparatus includes a strike plate secured to the rear or internal surface of a vehicular door jamb 12 via two adjustable shouldered screws 60. Apparatus 10 also includes a face plate 40 secured to the front surface of an edge 14 of a vehicular door 16. A door looking or latching mechanism 18, which forms no part of the present invention, is mounted adjacent the edge 14 of door 16 and face plate 40 such that a lock bolt means such as sliding lock bolt 19 cooperates with the strike plate and face plate when the door is in its closed position. Although the present invention will be described for locking and latching mechanisms including sliding lock bolts, mechanisms including other types of lock bolts which operate via means other than sliding may also be used without deviating from the spirit of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the vehicular door in an open position. When the vehicular door is closed, the sliding lock bolt will strike against strike plate 20 and be slid back into the mechanism 18 prior to its entry into an aperture provided in strike plate 20 when the door reaches its closed position. Further, when the door is in its closed position, the face plate 40 engages the adjustable shoulder screws to prevent separation of the door 16 from door jamb 12 under the influence of longitudinal forces present in the vehicle.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the stroke plate/face plate apparatus 10 is shown in its engaged position with the door 16 being closed and opposing the door jamb 12. The strike plate 20 is a generally planar, elongated member having a central portion 22 offset a distance from the general plane of the plate (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The central portion 22 includes an integral flange 24 projecting from one lateral edge thereof. Flange 24 provides a camming surface which forces the sliding lock bolt 19 back into the lock mechanism 18 when the door 16 is closed. Lock bolt 19 includes a slanted cam surface 17 for this purpose as shown in FIG. 5. The relatively thin door jamb 12 includes aback or interior surface 13, a front or external surface 15 and an aperture 21 as shown in FIG. 2. The strike plate 20 is secured to the back surface 13 via two variable projections comprising adjustable, shouldered screws received through aligned

apertures

25 and 26 in the door jamb and strike plate, respectively. Apertures 25 are spaced adjacent the aperture 21 while apertures 26 are spaced adjacent the offset portion 22 of strike plate 20. Threaded nuts 62 are secured via tack welding or another similar process to the rear face of strike plate 20 concentrically with the apertures 26 and receive the screws 60 which are threaded thereinto.

As shown in FIG. 2, screws 60 include enlarged flat heads 64 and integral spacing shoulders 66 abutting the undersurfaces of the enlarged heads. Both the enlarged heads and spacing shoulders are circular in shape in the preferred embodiment (FIG. 3) although other shapes may, of course, be used. The spacing shoulder 66 has an overall diameter and corresponding cross-sectional area which is less than that of the enlarged head 64 but larger than the apertures 25 in door jamb 12. Thus, the screws 60 when received through

apertures

25 and 26 and threaded into nut 62 are tightened securely such that each of the spacing shoulders 66 bears against the periphery surrounding the aperture 25 on door jamb 12 thereby drawing the stroke plate 20 tightly against the back surface 13 of the door jamb. This tightening of the shoulder against jamb 12 via nuts 62 prevents the loosening of the screws and the strike plate which would otherwise occur due to vibration.

It will be understood that the offset central portion 22 of strike plate 20 is received through the aperture 21 in door jamb 12, the offset being of sufficient magnitude to allow the central portion to extend past the front surface of door jamb 12 into the area between the door jamb and door edge 14. The central portion extends into the area between the offset areas of face plate 40 as will be more fully explained below. Further, the central offset portion 22 includes an aperture 28 having a peripheral edge 30. The aperture 28 receives the sliding lock bolt 19 when the door is in its closed position, the lock bolt 19 bearing against peripheral edge 30 to prevent the door from opening until the bolt is retracted. In this respect, it will be understood that the magnitude of the offset of central portion 22 is not sufficient to make the offset portion susceptible to deformation or bending due to the forces transmitted thereagainst by lock bolt 19. However, the offset is sufficient to extend the aperture 28 with edge 30 sufficiently close to the locking mechanism 18 such that lock mechanisms providing only relatively short paths of travel for their sliding lock bolts 19 may be utilized.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, face plate 30 is shown secured to door edge 14. Face plate 40 also comprises a generally planar elongated member having two

areas

42 and 44 offset from the general plane away from the door edge. In the preferred embodiment these areas extend across only a portion of the entire width of the face plate with their closed ends being rounded as at 47 and 47 to provide room for the circumference of the heads 64 of screws 60 to fit therein.

Areas

42 and 44 are spaced apart by a central area 46 lying in the general plane of the face plate. The central offset portion 22 of strike plate extends into the area adjacent central area 46 between offset

areas

42 and 44. Providing offset portion 22 and central area 46 closely adjacent one another reduces the bending forces on the lock bolt l9 since the distance between the contact or supporting points on bolt 19 is reduced.

Face plate 40 is secured to the door edge 14 via screws or other fastening members 48 received through apertures 50 formed in the

outermost portions

52 and 54 of the face plate, which

portions

52 and 54 also lie within the general plane of the face plate. It will be understood that the heads 49 of screws 48 are recessed in the thickness of the face plate M such that only the thickness of the face plate extends into the area be tween the door jamb and door. Offset

areas

42 and 44 are spaced as close as possible adjacent central area 46 and mounting screws 48 are located as close as possible to the offset areas. The close proximity of all of these elements helps reduce the effect of bending stresses in the face plate due to the forces tending to separate the door and door jamb. The central portion 46 includes an aperture 56 corresponding in shape to the sliding lock bolt 19 such that bolt 19 may slide or pass therethrough to engage edge of aperture 28 of strike plate 20, as shown in FIG. 5. As will be understood from FIG. 5, the

apertures

26 and 56 on the strike plate and face plates, respectively, are in alignment when the door 16 is closed and opposing door jamb 12 such that the lock bolt l9 may slide freely therethrough.

As shown in FIG. 3, the offset

portions

42 and 44 of face plate 40 include slots 43 and 45 respectively,

which receive and engage spacing shoulders 66 and heads 64 of adjustable screws 66. The inner edges of slots 43 and 45 may be tapered at the mouths of the respective slots, as shown in 57 and 57', while the edges of the entire slots may be chamfered, as shown at 58 and 58'. The tapering and chamfering of the slots helps provide sufficient clearance for the heads 64 of screws 66. Further, the width of the slots, represented by W in FIG. 3, is slightly larger than the diameter or overall dimension of the spacing shoulders 66 such that the shoulders may be freely received therein when the door is closed. Both the strike plate 20 and face plate are preferably formed from stamped steel.

The operation of the strike plate/face plate apparatus 10 will now be understood. As the door 16 is closed, the locking and latching bolt 19 is cammed away from the door jamb 12 via the contact of camming surface 17 with flange 24 or, alternatively, is held in a retracted position via the operating handle or handles of the locking and latching mechanism 18. In either event, the face plate 20 moves into opposing alignment with the stroke plate 26 with the spacing shoulders 66 and enlarged head 64 of screws 60 being received in slots 43 and of raised or offset

areas

42 and 44 of face plate 40.

Areas

42 and 44 are offset sufficiently toward the stroke plate 20, and the screws are axially adjusted sufficiently toward the face plate 40 such that the height or thickness of the spacing shoulders 66 aligns exactly with the thickness of the offset

portions

42 and 44 as shown in FIG. 2. Further, the magnitude of the offset of

areas

42 and 44 is sufficient to allow the enlarged heads 64 of screw 60 to be received freely behind the offset portions between those portions and the edge 14 of door 16. As will now be apparent, the under surfaces of the enlarged heads 64 bear against the peripheries of the slots 43 and 45 thereby restraining any movement between the door and door jamb which would tend to separate the two. Thus, when the strike plate/face plate apparatus is used in connection with a door formed on the side of a mobile home or other vehicle, any longitudinal forces transmitted along the vehicle tending to separate the door and door jamb will be effectively countered and opposed by the resistance of the head 64 against the raised

portions

42 and 44 of face plate 40.

Moreover, when the door is in its closed position, the sliding lock bolt 19 will have slid through the aligned

apertures

28 and 56 thereby securely locking and latching the door l6 in its closed position with respect to door jamb 12. As with the above example, when the stroke plate/face plate apparatus is mounted in a side door of a vehicle, any transverse forces present in the vehicle which would tend to swing open the door 16 are effectively countered by the contact of the bolt 19 against the peripheral edge 30 of aperture 28 in strike plate 20.

The adjustable screws 60 will thus be understood to accommmodate varying clearances between doors l6 and door jarnbs l2 encountered during the production of various vehicles. The screws 60 are screwed tightly against the door jamb 12 to rigidly secure the strike plate against the rear surface 13 of door jamb l2 and also to prevent the losening of adjustable screws 60 during vibration encountered from movement of the vehicle. The accommodation of varying door clearances is accomplished by providing screws 60 having different heights or thicknesses of spacing shoulders 66 or by the use of additional spacing members such as washers inserted between spacing shoulders 66 and door jamb 12. Thus, the insertion of one, two or a plurality of washers enables the shoulder and head of the screw to be spaced sufficiently away from the door jamb to properly engage the face plate 40 while allowing the screw to be rigidly and securely tightened against the door jamb to prevent loosening from vibration.

Additionally, it will be understood that the separate elements of the stroke plate/face plate apparatus, i.e., the striek plate 20 and face plate 40, each have a 1owprofile such that they do not protrude a great distance from the door jamb 12 and door edge 14, respectively. This low-profile has the dual advantage of reducing the effect of any bending stresses transmitted through the combined apparatus and also preventing any projection which would extend outwardly from the door jamb or door edge and provide an obstacle which might catch or tear the clothes of persons exiting or entering through the doorway on which the apparatus is mounted. This latter problem is further avoided by the use of a door stop or flange 70 as shown in H0. 5. Flange 70 is formed integrally on the door jamb 12 adjacent the interior of the vehicle and projects into the clearance area between the door and door jamb a distance equal to or slightly less than the clearance area between the two. Thus, if a person brushes against the door jamb as he exits through the doorway, his clothes will be further prevented from catching on the strike plate or adjustable screws as he passes.

Consequently, it will be understood that the present invention provides a unique, adjustable strike plate/- face plate apparatus which may be used on different types of doors and door jambs having varying clearances therebetween. A simple axial adjustment of the adjustable screws 60 accompanied by the provision of additional spacing members between the shoulders of the screws and the door jamb enables the proper engagement with the offset portions of face plate 40. Also, the sliding locking and latching bolt 19 forming a part of locking and latching mechanism 18 passes through the aligned apertures in the strike and face plates to keep the door from opening. Thus, the door and door jamb are prevented from separating due to imposition of longitudinal forces while the door is prevented from opening due to the imposition of transverse forces operating on the apparatus. Both effects are accomplished without the actual interlocking of the strike plate and face plates, since the face plate merely engages the two adjustable screws 60 and not the strike plate itself. A third contact point is provided where the sliding lock bolt 19 engages the strike plate. Thus, the door is rigidly secured in its closed position with only three contact points between the door and door jamb via the strike plate/face plate apparatus and without the actual interlocking of the strike plate and face plate. Consequently, neither the strike plate nor the face plate need be changed to fit varying doors and door clearances.

While one form of the invention has been shown and described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it will be understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above is merely for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims which follow.

Lit

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike plate for attachment to a door jamb and interlocking means for attachment to an edge of a door opposing the door jamb; said strike plate being generally planar and having a central area offset a preselected distance in a direction away from the door jamb; said central area including means for engaging a latch bolt means; said strike plate further including at least one stud means interlockingly engaging a slot provided in said interlocking means when the door is closed; said stud means including an enlarged portion engaging said slot for preventing the door jamb from being pulled apart or separated from the door edge; means for moving said stud means toward and away from said interlocking means; means for locking said stud means in a predetermined position with respect to said interlocking means.

2. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike plate secured to a door jamb and interlocking means secured to an edge of a door opposing said door jamb; said strike plate being generally planar and having a central area offset a preselected distance in a direction away from said door jamb; said central area including means for engaging a latch bolt means; said strike plate further including at least one stud means interlockingly engaging a slot provided in said interlocking means when said door is closed; said stud means including an enlarged portion engaging said slot for preventing said door jamb from being pulled apart or separated from said door edge; said stud means comprising at least one screw; said screw including a shoulder spacing said enlarged portion away from said door jamb; said shoulder also providing a means for tightening said screw to prevent change in the spacing of said portion with respect to said jamb.

3. The latch apparatus fo claim 2 wherein said enlarged portion has a cross-sectional area larger than that of said shoulder, the width of said shoulder being less than the width of said slot.

4. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike plate secured to a door jamb and interlocking means secured to an edge of a door opposing said door jamb; said strike plate being generally planar and having a central area offset a preselected distance in a direction away from said door jamb; said central area including means for engaging a latch bolt means; said strike plate further including at least one stud means interlockingly engaging a slot provided in said interlocking means when said door is closed; said stud means including an enlarged portion engaging said slot for preventing said door jamb from being pulled apart or separated from said door edge; said door jamb including front and rear surfaces and an aperture therethrough; said stud means comprising two screws spaced on either side of said central area; said enlarged portions comprising enlarged heads on said screws; said interlocking means including two slots; said strike plate being secured by said screws to said rear surface of said door jamb with said central area projecting througn said aperture in said door jamb; said screws including shoulders spacing said heads from said door jamb a preselected distance such that said heads matingly engage said slots; said shoulders being tightened against said door jamb to prevent misadjustment of said spacing of said screw heads from vibration or the like.

5. The latch apparatus fo claim ll wherein said means for engaging a latch bolt means defines an aperture receiving and engaging a bolt from a latch bolt means to prevent the door from opening.

6. The latch apparatus of claim ll wherein said interlocking means comprises a generally planar face plate including at least one area offset from the general plane toward said strike plate, said offset area including said slot; said stud means including at least one screw having an enlarged head thereon; the magnitude of the off set of said area being large enough only to receive said enlarged head of said screw when the door is closed in order to reduce to a minimum the bending moment present in said offset area.

7. The combination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door jamb and a face plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said door edge opposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said door including a latch mechanism adjacent said face plate, said latch mechanism including a lock bolt; said strike plate including projecting means interlockingly engaging said face plate for resisting first forces tending to separate said door and door jamb and for accommodating varying clearances between said door and door jamb; means for moving said projecting means toward and away from the position of said face plate when said door is closed; means for locking said projecting means in a predetermined position with respect to said face plate; and means cooperating with said lock bolt for resisting second forces tending to open said door.

8. The combination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door jamb and a face plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said door edge opposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said door including a latch mechainsm adjacent said face plate, said latch mechanism including a lock bolt; said strike plate including variable projecting means interlockingly engaging said face plate for resisting first forces tending to separate said door and door jamb and for accomodating varying clearances between said door and door jamb; and means cooperating with said lock bolt for re sisting second forces tending to open said door; said variable projecting means including at least one threaded screw, having an enlarged head, said screw threadedly securing said strike plate to said door jamb; said face plate including a slotted area; said slotted area engaging said head such that said head resists said first forces.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said screw includes an integral shoulder spacing said head from said door jamb.

10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said face plate is generally planar; said slotted area being offset toward said strike plate from said general plane; said offset being sufficient to allow said enlarged head to be received therebehind.

ll. The combination fo claim 7 wherein said means cooperating with said lock bolt comprise apertures in each of said strike and face plates; said apertures being in alignment when said door is closed allowing said bolt to pass therethrough; said aperture in said strike plate having an edge which contacts said bolt to resist said second forces when said door is closed and said bolt is passed therethrough.

12. The combination of claim llll wherein said strike plate is generally planar and said aperture in said strike plate is located centrally therein adjacent said projecting means in an area of said strike plate which is offset from said general plane toward said face plate.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said door jamb includes front and back surfaces; said strike plate being secured to said back surface with said offset area protruding through said'door jamb beyond the front surface thereof.

14. The combination of claim 11 wherein said face plate is generally planar and said aperture in said face plate is located centrally therein between said projecting means and lies in the general plane of said face plate.

115. A strike plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb of a door closure; said plate being generally planar and having a central area offset in a direction away from a door jamb when secured thereto; said central area including an aperture adapted to receive a lock bolt from a door opposing said door jamb whereby the door is prevented from opening; said plate further including at least two threaded screws having enlarged heads; said screws being axially adjustable and securing said plate to a door jamb; said screws also adapted to interlock with slots on a door opposing a door jamb via said enlarged heads whereby said door and door jamb are prevented from separating; said screws further including spacing means for spacing said enlarged heads a preselected distance from a door jamb and for tightening said screws against a door jamb to prevent loosening and misadjustment thereof.

16. The strike plate of claim 15 wherein said spacing means comprise a shoulder integral with each of said screws.

17. A strike plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb of a door closure; said plate being generally planar and having a central area offset in a direction away from a door jamb when secured thereto; said central area including an aperture adapted to receive a lock bolt from a door opposing said door jamb whereby the door is prevented from opening; said plate further including at least one threaded screw having an enlarged head; said screw being axially adjustable and securing said plate to a door jamb; said screw also adapted to interlock with a slot on a door opposing a door jamb via said enlarged head whereby said door and door jamb are prevented from separating; said screw further including spacing means for spacing said enlarged head a preselected distance from a door jamb and for tightening said screw against a door jamb to prevent loosening and misadjustment thereof.

l =l l Patent No. 3,831,988

Inventofls) Signed and sealed (SEAL) Attests Mefiflf M; GIBSON JRw Attesting @fficer Gerard N. Stelma strike strike strike strike strike STATES .PATENToFFIcE CERTIFICATE UF CORRECTION' Dated' August 27 1974 Itis certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

this 26th day of November 1974.

C MARSHALL DANN Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-59) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 fi v.5. GOVERNMENT rnmjnns OFFICE: I969 o-ass-ass.

Claims

5. The latch apparatus fo claim 1 wherein said means for engaging a latch bolt means defines an aperture receiving and engaging a bolt from a latch bolt means to prevent the door from opening.

6. The latch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interlocking means comprises a generally planar face plate including at least one area offset from the general plane toward said strike plate, said offset area including said slot; said stud means including at least one screw having an enlarged head thereon; the magnitude of the offset of said area being large enough only to receive said enlarged head of said screw when the door is closed in order to reduce to a minimum the bending moment present in said offset area.

8. The combination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door jamb and a face plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said door edge opposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said door including a latch mechainsm adjacent said face plate, said latch mechanism including a lock bolt; said strike plate including variable projecting means interlockingly engaging said face plate for resisting first forces tending to separate said door and door jamb and for accomodating varying clearances between said door and door jamb; and means cooperating with said lock bolt for resisting second forces tending to open said door; said variable projecting means including at least one threaded screw, having an enlarged head, said screw threadedly securing said strike plate to said door jamb; said face plate including a slotted area; said slotted area engaging said head such that said head resists said first forces.

11. The combination fo claim 7 wherein said means cooperating with said lock bolt comprise apertures in each of said strike and face plates; said apertures being in alignment when said door is closed allowing said bolt to pass therethrough; said aperture in said strike plate having an edge which contacts said bolt to resist said second forces when said door is closed and said bolt is passed therethrough.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said strike plate is generally planar and said aperture in said strike plate is located centrally therein adjacent said projecting means in an area of said strike plate which is offset from said general plane toward said face plate.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said door jamb includes front and back surfaces; said strike plate being secured to said back surface with said offset area protruding through said door jamb beyond the front surface thereof.

15. A strike plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb of a door closure; said plate being generally planar and having a central area offset in a direction away from a door jamb when secured thereto; said central area including an aperture adapted to receive a lock bolt from a door opposing said door jamb whereby the door is prevented from opening; said plate further including at least two threaded screws having enlarged heads; said screws being axially adjustable and securing said plate to a door jamb; said screws also adapted to interlock with slots on a door opposing a door jamb via said enlarged heads whereby said door and door jamb are prevented from separating; said screws further including spacing means for spacing said enlarged heads a preselected distance from a door jamb and for tightening said screws against a door jamb to prevent loosening and misadjustment thereof.