MX2008009378A - Return spring assembly for a lock mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

A return spring assembly for returning a handle to the horizontal orientation includes a spring housing (12) having an outer flange that contacts an outer surface of a door around a perimeter of a bored opening and an inner portion with a curved section that securely supports a latchbolt lock mechanism when an identical return spring assembly is installed on an opposite side of the door. A spring (40) is driven by two spring drivers operating with a lost motion connection to the handle spindle to alternately compress the spring from opposite directions as the handle is rotated in opposite directions. The spring is positioned to not interfere with a linkage extending out from the latchbolt lock mechanism.

Description

RETURN SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR LOCKING MECHANISM DESCRIPTION Technical Field The present invention relates to spring mechanisms used with lock mechanisms to return a handle to an original position after the handle has been rotated to open a door. The invention is particularly directed to spring mechanisms that are used with lever handles and lock mechanisms that have lock function controls that extend outward from a pin mechanism to return the lever handle to a horizontal position.

BACKGROUND ART The lock mechanisms are driven by internal and external handles mounted on the corresponding axes extending from the handles on opposite sides of the door to a lock mechanism located within an aperture drilled in the door. A portion of the locking mechanism pin is located within a smaller bore opening extending inwardly from the edge of the door and perpendicularly intersecting the larger bored opening, extending between the openings. opposite sides of the door. After one of the handles rotates to open the door, it must be turned to its initial position and this turning function is typically achieved with one or more springs. The return springs may be integrated in the lock or may be located in a separate housing mounted within the drilled opening and / or on the surface of the door at the base of the handle. When round latches are installed, relatively little force is required to turn the latch to its initial position, however, it has become more common to install lever handles. Although the lever handles are easier to operate, they require the return spring assembly to produce significantly more torque to raise the displacement portion of the lever handle against the force of gravity and return it to the initial horizontal orientation. As a consequence, it has become necessary to use return springs that are stronger and longer than previously necessary for the round door latches. Longer springs generally require more space that can easily be found within the lock mechanism, thus, separate return spring mechanisms are used widely-one located on each side of the door. When the mechanism The return spring is mounted on the external surface of the door, however, produces a thick and bulky appearance, which is unpleasant to the eye. A thinner appearance is preferred, and requires that the springs be located at least partially within the drilled opening of the door. However, placing the return spring assembly within the opening drilled in the door limits the space available for the lock mechanism, which must also be located within the drilled opening. Conventional designs that place the return spring assembly within the drilled opening utilize one or more springs that extend substantially around the entire inner perimeter of the drilled opening in each side of the door. This provides the maximum space for the spring and allows you to maximize the torque produced. The spring force on each side of the door may originate from a long compression spring, or from a pair of compression springs arranged end-to-end, or from a spiral torsion spring. However, in each case, the spring extends around a substantial portion of the internal perimeter of the drilled opening. This use of the internal perimeter of the drilled opening is acceptable for many door lock mechanisms where the lock mechanism is in a center of central lock. In these designs, the interaction between the user and the lock mechanism originates from a button or key on the handle that is connected to the lock mechanism through joints or mechanisms that are located near or directly on the axis of the opening drilled the door. By locating the lock control joints near this axis, the joints are placed well within the perimeter space required for the lock springs and there is no interference between the springs and the lock mechanism joints. However, in other lock mechanism designs, of the type for which this invention is particularly suitable, the lock mechanism is more closely integrated with the pin portion. In these designs, the lock control joints extend directly outwardly of the pin mechanism opposite the drilled opening of the lock mechanism and the lock joints are located away from the axis of rotation of the handles. As a result, the lock control joints in such designs will interfere with the springs in a conventional spring return mechanism where the springs occupy the entire inner circumference of the drilled opening. Having in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an objective of the present invention provide a return spring assembly that is compatible with lock mechanisms having a control link extending outwardly from the pin mechanism. Another object of the present invention is to provide a return spring assembly that does not extend into the space in front of an aperture drilled in a door and that has the spring mechanism located at least partially within the aperture drilled to provide a visual thickness reduced, compared to the return spring assemblies that are mounted outside the drilled opening in the door surface. Another object of the present invention is to provide a return spring assembly that provides additional support to the pin mechanism of a lock mechanism. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be partly obvious and will be partly apparent from the specification.

Description of the Invention The foregoing and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in this art, are achieved in the present invention which is directed to a return spring assembly for an adapted lock mechanism. for installation in a hole drilled in a door. The return spring assembly includes a spring housing having an outer flange and an inner portion having a curved section. The outer flange has a larger diameter than the drilled opening and makes a supporting contact with an external surface of the door when the return spring assembly is inserted in the drilled opening. The inner portion extends at least partially in the aperture drilled in the door when the outer rim is in contact with the face of the door to provide a thinner appearance. The curved section extends less than one hundred and eighty degrees around the perimeter of the inner portion and deeper into the drilled opening than the rest of the inner portion, preferably at least half the thickness of the door. An annular spring channel is formed in the spring housing and holds a compression spring that functions to return the handle to the horizontal orientation. Two spring boosters, preferably identical, compress the spring from opposite directions. The first spring driver has a first arm that engages a first end of the spring and the second spring driver has a second arm that engages a second end of the spring. Each spring driver includes a central opening formed to engage an axis driven by a handle. The first spring driver moves while the handle rotates in a first direction to compress the spring from the first end of the spring and the second spring driver moves while the handle rotates in an opposite direction to compress the spring from the second end of the dock. The spring drivers are driven with lost motion, the first spring driver remains stationary while the second spring driver moves to compress the spring from the second end and the second spring driver remains stationary while the first spring driver is moved. move to compress the spring from the first end. In one aspect of the invention, the center of each spring pusher includes an opening defined by a partial rotation in cross-sectional shape of the shaft, which is typically square. This produces a cross-shaped opening and the opening provides a lost motion gear between the spring driver and the shaft. In another aspect of the invention, the curved section of the spring housing extends to the aperture drilled in the door in the support contact with the lock mechanism. This provides a strong connection between the lock and the door and the return spring assembly. Preferably, the curved section of the spring housing it extends to the opening drilled in the door in the support contact with an upper side of the lock mechanism. A second return spring assembly having a second spring housing and a second curved section is typically inserted from the opposite side of the door and the two curved sections contact the opposing upper and lower surfaces of the lock mechanism to retain it and secure it among them. In another aspect of the invention, the spring housing includes four enhancements that function as obstructions to the arms of the spring driver at opposite ends of its travel. The arm of the first spring driver makes contact with the first of the enhancements when the first spring driver is not being driven; the arm of the second spring driver makes contact with the second of the enhancements when the second spring driver is not being driven; the arm of the first spring driver makes contact with the third of the lifts when the first spring driver is driven to compress the spring to a maximum degree; and the arm of the second spring driver makes contact with the quarter of the lifts when the second spring driver is driven to compress the spring in a maximum degree in the opposite direction of the first spring driver. In the most highly preferred mode of the invention, the arm of the first spring driver makes contact with the first of the lifts when the second spring driver is driven to compress the spring to a maximum degree and the arm of the second spring driver makes contact with the second of the lifts when the first spring driver is driven to compress the spring from the opposite direction to a maximum degree. This design shares the loads between the two arms at the limits of displacement and strengthens the design significantly. In another aspect of the invention, the spring housing includes an opening for receiving a lock joint extending outwardly from the lock mechanism. The opening for the union of the lock is located opposite the spring and the channel of the spring, and the spring and the channel of the spring extend only partially around the internal perimeter so that the spring does not interfere with the union of the lock which extends through the opening as would occur with a prior art design using springs around the entire inner perimeter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is believed that the features of the invention are new and the characteristic elements of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims.

The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. However, the invention by itself, in terms of organization and method of operation, must be understood by reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to the present invention. Figure 2 is also an exploded perspective view of a return spring assembly in Figure 1 taken in an opposite direction. Figure 3 is a front elevation view of a return spring assembly according to the present invention. The protective cover has been removed to show the relationship of the internal components and the return spring assembly is shown as it would appear with the handle in the non-rotated position. Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a return spring assembly corresponding to the view in Figure 3 except that a return spring assembly is shown as it would appear with the handle turned in the counter-clockwise direction. clock . Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a return spring assembly corresponding to the view in Figure 3 with the exception that a spring assembly of return is displayed as it would appear with the handle turned clockwise. Figure 6 is a perspective view showing two return spring assemblies according to the present invention, one for each side of the door, installed with a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism is shown generically and is not intended to indicate any particular lock design.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference will be made herein to Figures 1-6 of the drawings in which similar numbers refer to similar features of the invention. Referring to Figure 1, the return spring assembly 10 of the present invention includes a spring housing 12 having an outer flange 14 and an inner portion 16. The external flange 14 has a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening drilled in the door into which the spring assembly will be inserted. As can be seen in Figure 6, the inner portion 16 of the spring housing 12 is inserted into the drilled opening of the door 18 until the outer flange 14 contacts the face of the door.

The inner portion has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the aperture drilled in the door and extends at least partially in the aperture drilled in the door when the outer rim is in contact with the face of the door. This allows the return spring assembly to provide a slim and attractive appearance when a lock cover, rosette or sheet metal covers it. Referring again to Figure 1, the inner portion 16 has a curved section 20 extending less than one hundred and eighty degrees around the perimeter of the inner portion. When installed, the curved section 20 extends deeper into the aperture drilled in the door 16 than the remainder of the internal portion 16. As can be seen in Figure 6, the return spring assembly 10 of Figure 1 is designed to cooperate with a second identical return spring assembly 22. The first assembly 10 is located on one side of the door 18 with its curved section 20 extending above the lock pin mechanism 24. The second return spring assembly 22 is inserted from the opposite side of the door with its corresponding curved section 26 extending below the lock pin mechanism 24. The two return spring assemblies 10 and 22 are rotated relative to one another so as to retain the lock pin mechanism 24 between their curved sections 20 and 26. corresponding. As can be seen in Figure 1, the inner portion 16 of the spring housing 12 has an annular spring channel 28 formed therein which receives a compression spring 30. The compression spring 30 is held between a first spring driver 32 and a second spring driver 34. The spring driver 32 includes a first arm 36 having a projection 38 which engages a first end 40 of the spring 30. The second spring driver 34 has a second arm 42 with a second projection 44 which engages the second end 46 of the spring 30. The hub 48 rotates in the spring housing 12 and has an opening 50 that receives and engages a conventional shaft of the handle. The opening 50 has a shape that matches the square cross section of a conventional shaft, however, other shapes may be used. The center of the first spring driver 32 includes an opening 52 defined by the partial rotation of the cross-sectional shape of the shaft. The center of the second spring driver 34 also includes an opening 54 defined by the partial rotation of the cross-sectional shape of the shaft. The shape of the openings 52, 54 in the centers of the spring drives is such as to provide a lost motion gear between the spring driver and the shaft.

The return spring assembly 10 also includes a lock 56 of the lock cover for adhering a lock cover, a rosette or sheet metal, a protective cover 58 and a pair of screws 60, 62 of the cover that adhere the protective cover to the spring housing 12. The protective cover 58 holds the spring 30, the spring drivers 32, 34 and the hub 48 in the housing 12. As can be seen in Figure 2, the lock cover lock 56 adheres to a cylindrical edge 64 in the housing 12 of the dock. In the preferred design, the lock 56 of the lock cover is made of plastic and the radial grooves allow the ring to flex sufficiently to engage the cylindrical edge 64 and / or a lock cover, rosette or sheet metal adhered to an external surface of the assembly. of return spring. Figure 3 shows assembled return spring assembly 10 with protective cover 58 removed. The spring 30 is shown without being compressed, in the position in which it is when the corresponding handle is horizontal (not rotated). As can be seen here, the spring 30 extends only partially around the internal perimeter of the return spring assembly 10. This distribution provides free space on the right side of Figure 3 for opening 64 and for any control connection of desired lock or button to extend outwardly from the mechanism 24 of the lock pin through the opening 64 to the surface of the door. In conventional return spring assembly designs, one or more return springs are located substantially around the entire perimeter of the spring assembly. The design of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 3, with a single spring around only a portion of the perimeter, allows the lock pin mechanism 24 to be controlled through joints extending through the opening 64 located in the space on one side of the shaft that would otherwise be occupied by a return spring in a conventional design. The operation of the spring drivers and the interaction of motion lost between the shaft and the spring drivers 32, 34 can be understood by comparison of Figures 3-5. The operation of the lost movement of the spring drives derives from the shape of the central openings 52, 54 in the spring drives. The shape of the central openings is defined by a partial rotation of the cross-sectional shape of the shaft. In the preferred design, the shaft 66 is conventional and its cross-sectional shape is square. The angle partially rotates the square cross-sectional shape so that the handle is allowed to rotate relatively to the horizontal to define the shape of the openings 52, 54. This produces the central opening of approximately transverse shape seen in the drawings. As a result of this form, the square shaft 66 can rotate within the openings 52, 54 of the spring driver over a limited range without rotating the spring driver. However, at the limits of rotation, the shaft engages the opening and the spring driver begins to rotate. As can be seen in Figure 3, the two spring drivers 32, 34 are identical, but have been turned so that the projections 38 and 44 face each other. The central openings 52, 54, instead of being identical in the identical spring-loaded impellers, end up rotated relative to each other due to the relative rotated position of the spring-loaded impellers. Accordingly, if the shaft 66 begins to rotate clockwise from the rest position, it rotates only the second spring driver 34 and compresses the spring 30 from only the second end 46 without rotating the first driver of the clock. dock. The spring is compressed until the position seen in Figure 4 is reached. However, if the shaft 66 rotates counterclockwise, it rotates only the first spring driver 32 and compresses the spring 30 from the first end 40 without rotating the second spring driver 34 until it is reached the position seen in Figure 5. When no force is applied to the handle, the compression spring 30 expands and drives both arms 36, 42 spring thrusters away from each other in the position seen in Figure 3, which rotates the handle to the horizontal position. It is also provided to the spring housing 12 with a pair of openings 68, 70 receiving corresponding screws and bolts to adhere the first return spring assembly 10 to a second return spring assembly 22 seen in Figure 6. This ensures the first and second spring assembly together and fixes the door 18 between the respective outer flanges and securely fastens the lock pin mechanism 24 between the respective curved sections 20, 24. The design integrates the lock pin mechanism 24, the return spring assemblies 10, 22 and the door 18 into a cohesive unit that is highly resistant to brute force attack. It is designed particularly to resist the force of excess that can be applied through the lever handles. In furtherance of this design purpose, the arms 36, 42 of the spring driver make contact with the lugs 72, 74, 76 and 78 at the base of the arms 36 and 42 when the shaft reaches the limits of rotation. As can be seen in Figure 4, when the handle and shaft rotate in the clockwise direction, the second spring driver can rotate until its arm 42 makes contact with the extension 78. While the second spring driver reaches the limit of rotation, the first spring driver 32 engages due to the shapes of the openings in the center of the spring drivers. Any attempt to continue rotation in the clockwise direction of the shaft is resisted by contact between the second arm 42 and the relief 78 by the contact between the first arm 36 and the enhancement 74. Similarly, any attempt to turning the handle excessively and the axis counterclockwise is resisted by the combined contact between the first arm 36 and the extension 76 and the second arm 42 and the elevation 72. It will also be noted that each spring driver arm It has a round or threaded connection with the spring driver at the base of the arm to reduce the tension at this point and prevent the arm from breaking or splitting under heavy loads. Each enhancement is provided with a corresponding round shape to match the coiled base of the spring driver arms. This design effectively transfers any access force applied to the handle through the door spring return assembly. In preferred designs, the spring drivers 32, 34 are formed from a flat sheet of material and are in face-to-face contact, except that they are reversed to that the projections 38, 44 lie face to face to engage the ends of the spring 30. With the identical parts, the counting of parts is reduced and manufacturing costs are reduced, and assembly errors are reduced. In the preferred design, the curved section in the housing extends around the perimeter of the return spring assembly less than one hundred and eighty degrees, and more than half the thickness of the door extends in the door. This ensures that the curved sections from the return spring assemblies on opposite sides of the door do not interfere with each other, but that they extend far enough to engage the top and bottom of the lock pin mechanism 24. While the present invention has been described in a particular manner, together with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is contemplated that the appended claims will embrace any alternative, modification and variation as long as they fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. In this way, having described the invention, what is claimed is:

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS 1. A spring-loaded spring assembly for a lock mechanism adapted for installation in an aperture drilled in a door, the return spring assembly comprising: a spring housing including: an outer flange for making support contact with a face of the door, the outer flange has a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening drilled in the door; and an inner portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the aperture drilled in the door, the inner portion extends at least partially in the aperture drilled in the door when the outer rim is in contact with the face of the door, the inner portion includes: a curved section that extends less than one hundred and eighty degrees around a perimeter of the internal potion and deeper into the drilled opening than the rest of the inner portion; and an annular spring channel; a compression spring located within the spring channel; and a first spring driver having an arm that engages a first end of the spring and a second spring driver. spring having an arm engaging a second end of the spring, each spring driver includes a center formed to engage an axis driven by a handle, the first spring driver moves while the handle rotates in a first direction to compress the spring of the first end of the spring and the second spring driver moves while the handle rotates in an opposite direction to compress the spring of the second end of the spring. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spring pushers are driven with lost motion, the first spring driver remains stationary while the second spring driver is moved. moves to compress the spring from the second end and the second spring driver remains immobile while the first spring driver moves to compress the spring from the first end. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the center of each spring driver includes an opening defined by a partial rotation of the cross-sectional shape of an axle, the opening provides a motion gear lost between the spring driver and the shaft. 4. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the center of each spring driver includes a transverse-shaped opening defined by a partial rotation of a square cross-section of an axis, the cross-sectional opening providing a lost motion gear between the spring driver and the shaft. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the curved section of the spring housing extends in the aperture drilled in the door in support contact with the lock mechanism. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the curved section of the spring housing extends in the aperture drilled in the door in the support contact with an upper side of the door mechanism. lock. 7. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1 in combination with a second return spring assembly having a second spring housing and a second curved section, the two curved sections extending into the aperture drilled from opposite sides of the door and into the supporting contact on the opposite lower and upper surfaces of the lock mechanism. 8. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spring drivers are substantially identical. 9. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second spring drivers are substantially flat and the first spring driver is in face-to-face contact with the second spring driver, and the second spring driver is installed in the spring return assembly in one direction inverted relative to the first spring impeller. 10. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the spring housing includes four enhancements; the arm of the first spring driver makes contact with the first of the enhancements when the first spring driver is not being driven; the arm of the second spring driver makes contact with the second of the enhancements when the second spring driver is not being driven; the arm of the first spring driver makes contact with the third of the lifts when the first spring driver is driven to compress the spring to a maximum degree; Y the arm of the second spring driver makes contact with the quarter of the lifts when the second spring driver is driven to compress the spring in a maximum degree in the opposite direction from the first spring driver. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the arm of the first spring driver makes contact with the first of the enhancements when the second spring driver is driven to compress to a degree maximum the spring and the arm of the second spring driver makes contact with the second of the lifts when the first spring driver is driven to compress the spring to a maximum extent from the opposite direction. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first and second arms of the spring driver have corresponding projections that hold the opposite ends of the spring. 13. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the door has a thickness and the curved section extends into the drilled opening less than the thickness of the door, but more than half of the thickness of the door. 14. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, further includes a hub extending through the spring housing. 15. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, further includes a lock of the lock cover adapted to adhere a lock cover to an external surface of the return spring assembly. 16. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1 further includes a protective cover adhered to the spring housing for securing the spring drivers in the spring housing. 17. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the spring housing includes an opening for receiving a lock link extending outwardly from the lock mechanism, the opening for receiving a lock union is located on the side opposite the dock and the dock channel. 18. The return spring assembly for a lock mechanism according to claim 1 further includes a hub extending through the spring housing, the hub having a central opening formed to engage the shaft. 19. A return spring assembly for a lock mechanism adapted for installation in an aperture drilled in a door, the return spring assembly comprises: a spring housing including: an outer flange for making support contact with a face of the door, the external flange has a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening drilled in the door; and an inner portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the aperture drilled in the door, the inner portion extends at least partially in the aperture drilled in the door when the outer rim is in contact with the face of the door, the inner portion includes: a curved section extending partially around the perimeter of the inner portion and at least one-half the depth of the thickness of the door in the drilled opening; and an annular spring channel; a compression spring located within the spring channel; and a first spring driver having an arm engaging a first end of the spring and a second spring driver having an arm engaging a second end of the spring. spring, each spring pusher includes a transverse-shaped center opening formed to engage a square cross-section axis driven by a handle, and each spring-loaded drive arm has a projection for engaging the spring, the first spring-loaded mover moves while the handle is rotated in a first direction to compress the spring from the first end of the spring and the second spring driver moves while the handle is rotated in an opposite direction to compress the spring from the second end of the spring. 20. A return spring assembly for a lock mechanism adapted for installation in a drilled opening in a door, the return spring assembly comprises: a spring housing including: an outer flange having a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening drilled in the door; an inner portion having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the aperture drilled in the door, the inner portion extends at least partially in the aperture drilled in the door when the outer rim is in contact with the face of the door, the portion Internal includes: a curved section that extends partially around a perimeter of the inner portion and at least one-half depth of the thickness of the door in the drilled opening; and an annular spring channel; and at least two curved lugs located radially inwardly of the annular spring channel; a compression spring located within the spring channel; a first, substantially flat spring driver having an arm engaging a first end of the spring and a second, substantially identical spring driver having an arm engaging a second end of the spring, each spring driver includes an opening of center of transverse shape formed to engage, with a gear of lost motion, a square cross-section axis driven by a handle, each arm of the spring driver is connected to its spring driver associated with a threaded base having a corresponding curvature to the curved lugs and each arm has a projection to engage the spring, the first spring driver moves while the handle is rotated in a first direction to compress the spring from the first end of the spring and the second spring driver moves while the handle is rotated in an opposite direction to compress the spring from the second end of the spring; a protective cover attached to the housing spring to hold the spring in the spring channel; and a hub extending through the spring housing, the hub has a central opening formed to engage the shaft.