US402493A - Latch for sliding doors - Google Patents

Description

.(NoMoael.)

W. H. THGMAS.

`LATCH POR SLIDING D0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. THOMAS, ou JENKINTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

- LATCH FOR SLIDING DOORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,493, dated April 30,` 1889. Application filed January 2, 1889I Serial No. 295,2l9. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jenkintown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches for Sliding Doors; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention has relation to latches for use in doors sliding within partitions, and has for its object the provision of a simple, cheap, and efcient device for securing such doors when closed, and permitting of the ready unlatching of the same without the aid of akey or the provision of the u sual tumbler-lock.

My invention consists in the peculiar construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents my improvements in use on a pair of inside doors and operated by an ordinary thumb-latch. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of said doors with my improvements thereon. Fig. 3 represents my improvements applied as in Fig. l, but operated by a handle or knob. Fig. is avertical transverse section through the center of the handle in Fig. 3.

A represents the latch-arm, formed with the rounded head a, which head is twice as wide as arm A, so as to form a projection or hook, a', below the lower edge of saidv arm for engagement with the plate b in the edge of door B, there being the usual socket, b', provided in door B, to allow of freedom of movement of latch-head a. Plate h is secured to door B by screws b2 in the usual manner.

Latch-arm A is journaled or hinged on screw C, which screw passes through the door D and is securely embedded therein, this form of hinge for the latch-bar doing away with the usual boss formed on one of the plates of a lock-casing, as has heretofore been provided,"

and allowing of the ready withdrawal and insertion of said latch-bar without disturbing any of the other parts, the door itself forming the walls for the latch in place of the ordinary mortise-lock. Door D is provided with a plate, d, similar to plate b, secured in the edge m of saiddoor by screws d cl2.

E is the spring, which exerts a downward pressure on the latch-bar A and actuates the same. This spring is secured at its upper end between the edge of door D and the inside of plate d, and is secured against dislodgement from its position by screw d', passing through a hole is said spring, thus doing away with the series of alternating lugs on the lock-casing,'between which lugs the sprin g is usually held in frictional contact.

In Figs. l and 2 l have shown the latch-arm A in position for operation by the ordinary thumb-latch, F, f being the handle of the same. This means of operation can be employed Vwhere it is not essential that the door slide back iiush with the edge of the partition.

ln cases where it is desired to have the doors slide all the way into the recess in the partition l provide the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in which G are the handles, secured on square shaft g in the usual manner, Said handles rotating in circular depressions g', formed in plates g2, in which plate Shaft g has its bearings. Secured to shaft g by a screw, g3, is a small plate, g4, forming a cam, screw g3 passing through hole g5 in shaft g and into the cam-plate g4. Shaft vg has other holes, 96 g7, similar to c5, so as to permit of the adjustment of the position of the cam-plate g4 to different thicknesses of doors. VAs shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, when shaft g is turned by handles G, the latch-bar A will be raised in the recess H by cam-plate g4, after which thedoor can be slid or rolled back flush with the edge of the partition, as above suggested. To draw the doors out of the position in the partition, there will be provided the ordinary doorpulls. Obviously, if camplate g4 be turned in a direction the reverse of that shown in Fig. 3, the result will be the same. Therefore it matters not on which door the latch is placed, or even if it be placed upside down.

As will be readily understood, my improvement relates solely to a simple, cheap, and effective latch, and is in no wise a lock for sliding doors.

I am aware that spring-actuated lockingbars have been heretofore employed in mor- IOO tise-looks, said bare being operated by a. key and said spring end bar being supported 011 and between the easing-s of said lzlioitse-ioeks.V I therefore do not wish to be understood as claiming such lock.

Y'Vhat I do claim es new, and desire to se- Cure by Letters Patent, is*

1. The combination, with the thumblatch F, of latch-arm A, having' its bearing on Screw C, said .erm being actuated by sprngE,whi eh Springis Secured in platee between plate @and the edge of door D by screw d. passing through said plate and spring and into said door, as and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM H. THOMAS.

Witnesses:

THOMAS A. HEGER, R. DALE SPARHAWK.

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