DE69616011T2 - Reversible lock latch and reversible lock containing such a latch - Google Patents

Abstract

The door catch consists of a housing (2) containing a bolt with a chamfered head (7), a shank (8) and a flange (9) made in one piece, with a truncated-conical centering boss (10) for the spring (13) on the free side of the flange. The bolt can be made e.g. by moulding or pressure stamping. During assembly the bolt is fitted into the housing with the centering boss engaged with one end (15) of a spring (13) which is fixed in the housing by its other end (16). The housing has lateral guides for the spring, and an aperture (20) which allows the spring to be drawn back from the flange, e.g. by a finger inserted into the aperture, while the bolt is reversed.

Description

The invention relates to a reversible lock with a latch mounted in a box.

A lock of this type is generally a mortise lock designed to be mounted in the edge of a left or right door leaf, with the latch bolt being positioned in one or the other orientation depending on the case. This lock can also be of another type.

A certain number of reversible latch locks are already known, where the latch assembly is reversible, whereby this latch can be turned without changing the way the lock works, so that the lock can be used on a door that opens to the right or left without the lock case having to be even partially removed.

However, the latch mounted in such a lock consists of several separate components, so that the manufacture of these individual parts and then their assembly to form the latch is time-consuming and costly. In addition, this type of latch is not well suited to automated assembly.

From the document DE-GS-9304308 a reversible lock is known, the latch of which has a projection which interacts with a locking element which is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement. which is translationally movable in a direction perpendicular to the trap and has a nose which interacts with the base of the trap.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages by creating a lock with a latch consisting of a small number of parts and which can be removed from the lock without the use of an external tool in order to be subsequently reintroduced in the opposite direction.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a reversible lock comprising a latch mounted in a case with a bevelled head, a stem and a lug intended to cooperate with the nut of the reversible lock, the bevelled head, the stem and the lug of the latch being made in one piece, characterized in that the end of the lug opposite the bevelled head carries a centring pin for a separate spring mounted in the reversible lock for returning the latch to its active position, and the centring pin is inserted into a first end of the return spring, this spring being fixed at its second end in the case, and in that it comprises means for laterally guiding the return spring and means for neutralising the return spring to allow the latch to be reversed.

The lock according to the invention can have one or more of the following features:

- the means for laterally guiding the return spring comprise at least one lateral opening which guides the return spring accessible to external restraint devices and into which the lateral parts of the coils of the spring enter;

- the means for laterally guiding the return spring comprise two lateral openings;

- the means for laterally guiding the return spring comprise ribs formed integrally with at least one side wall of the box and provided along the edges of at least one opening;

- the means for neutralising the return spring comprise at least one opening for the access of the external retaining means;

- the centering pin of the trap is truncated cone-shaped; and

- the trap is manufactured by die casting or drop forging.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In this drawing show:

Fig. 1 a section through a part of the reversible lock according to the invention with the latch in the operating position,

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section through a part of the reversible lock according to the invention, in which the latch is ready to be removed from the lock, and

Fig. 4 shows a section through a part of the reversible lock according to the invention at the time of removal of the latch.

The lock shown in Fig. 1 has a box 2, which consists of two side walls 3 and 4 and is closed by a front plate 5, a latch 6 and a lock bolt (not shown).

The trap 6 consists of a bevelled head 7, a shaft 8 and a lug 9.

The end of the extension 9 opposite the bevelled head 6 is provided with a truncated cone-shaped centering pin 10.

All components of the trap 6, namely the head 7, the shaft 8, the attachment 9 and the centering pin, are made in one piece. This unit is manufactured, for example, by casting or by drop forging.

Fig. 1 also shows that in the box 2 of the lock 1 a helical return spring 13, separate from the latch 6, and a nut 14 are mounted.

A first end 15 of the return spring 13 surrounds the centering pin 10 of the latch 6 in order to rest on the end of the projection 9 opposite the beveled head 7. The second end of this return spring 13 is fixed to the rear wall 17 of the box 2 so that this spring is firmly mounted in the box.

Furthermore, the lock 1 has means for guiding and neutralising the return spring 13. These guiding and neutralising means comprise two lateral openings 20 provided in the side walls 3 and 4 of the box and arranged in correspondence with the return spring 13. These openings extend over at least part of the length of this spring, with lateral parts of the coils of the spring 13 entering these lateral openings 20.

The means for laterally guiding the return spring 13 shown in Fig. 2 further comprise four ribs 19 formed by drawing in one piece with the side walls 3 and 4 of the box 2 and arranged along the edges of the openings 20.

Although two openings 20 are provided in the present embodiment, a single opening may also suffice.

The nut 14 is mounted so that it can rotate in the box 2 of the lock and has a nose 21 with a bevel 22 intended to facilitate the introduction of the latch 6 into the box 2. The nose 21 is intended to come into contact with the end of the lug 9 opposite the centering pin 10. The nut is also returned to the rest position in a manner known per se by elastic means not shown.

The operation of this device is now described using Figs. 1 to 4.

The latch 6 is mounted in the case 2 of the lock 1 by inserting the latch into the opening 25 of the front plate 5 until the lug 9 of the latch slides on the slope 22 of the nut 14 and then comes to rest against the nut behind the nose 21. At the same time, the centering pin 10 enters the coils of the end 15 of the return spring 13.

The latch is thus held in position by its lug 9 and its head 7. The lug 9 is subject to opposing influences, on the one hand by the nose 21 of the nut 14 and on the other hand by the return spring 13.

When the lock 1 is operated, the movement of the return spring 13 is guided through the openings 20, which may or may not be provided with ribs 19. The return spring 13 also ensures the lateral support of the latch 6 during its movement by the centring pin 10 entering the end 15 of this spring.

To turn the latch 6, the projection 9 must first be released. To do this, the spring 13 is held in a compressed position by external retaining means, for example by the fitter's fingers shown in Fig. 3 and 4. The windings of the return spring 13 are accessible to the fingers via the lateral openings 20 of the walls 3 and 4.

When the spring 13 is kept in the compressed position, the centering pin 10 can be disengaged from the end 15 of the spring 13. The latch can now be inclined with respect to its operating path. This disengages the lug 9 from the nose 21 of the nut 14 and the latch can be removed from the box 2 of the lock in the direction of arrow F in Fig. 4.

After removal, the trap 6 can be turned over and reinserted into the box 2 in the manner described above.

This device has the advantage of allowing the trap to be made and at the same time reversing its orientation This is made easier by the fact that the latch is made in one piece and that the return spring is permanently connected to the lock case. This reduces the cost of manufacturing the latch and makes it easier to install and remove it from the case.

Claims (7)

1. Reversible lock comprising a latch (6) mounted in a box (2) with a bevelled head (7), a shaft (8) and a lug (9) intended to cooperate with the nut (14) of the reversible lock (1), characterized in that the bevelled head (7), the shaft (8) and the lug (9) of the latch are made in one piece, the end of the lug (9) opposite the bevelled head (7) carrying a centering pin (10) for a separate spring (13) mounted in the reversible lock (1) for returning the latch (6) to its active position, and the centering pin (10) is inserted into a first end (15) of the return spring (13), this spring (13) being fixed by its second end (16) in the box (2), and in that it Means (19) for laterally guiding the return spring (13) and means (20) for neutralizing the return spring (13) to allow the reversal of the latch (6). 2. Reversible lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for laterally guiding the return spring comprise at least one lateral opening which makes the return spring (13) accessible to external retaining means (26) and into which lateral parts of the coils of the spring enter. 3. Reversible lock according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for laterally guiding the return spring comprise two lateral openings (20). 4. Reversible lock according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for laterally guiding the return spring comprise ribs (19) which are formed in one piece with at least one side wall (3, 4) of the box and are provided along the edges of at least one opening (20). 5. Reversible lock according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for neutralizing the return spring comprise an opening (20) for the access of the external retaining means (26). 6. Reversible lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the centering pin (10) of the latch is frustoconical. 7. Reversible lock according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the latch is manufactured by mold casting or drop forging.