US1671289A - Door fastener - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 192s. 1,671,289

l' O. W. HOOPPAW ET AL DOOR FASTENER Filed Sept. 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 29, 1928.

1,671,289 O. W. HOOPPAW ET AL v DOOR FASTENER Filed Sept. 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 29, 1928.

l .Unirse STATES PATENT ofFFlcE,

osoAR W. HooPPAw AND CHARLES A. RlrNnHART, oF sfr. Louis, MISSOURI, AssIGNons T0 HOOPPAW MANUFACTURING CQMPANY,OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A COBPOBA.-

TION OF MISSOURI.

DOOR FASTENER.

Application inea september 17, 1923. serial No. 663,126..

vvrllhis invention relates to fasteners iai-nd latches, and more particularly to a fastener for doors of automobile bodies and the like, but not necessarily limited to such application and use. The pre-sent invention is a direct improvement upon that disclosed in our pending application Serial Number 526,- 488, 'filed January 3, V1922, and has for its objects to simplify and make vmore practical 4the general structure in manufacture and installation of the fastener; to provide anovel outside operating ha-ndle construction and arrangement so as to secure ease of operation and at the same time provide for simplicity7 and iiicety of adjustment; `and to `attain certain further advantages as will more fully appear in the following description. f

The invention consists in the parts and in the combinations and arrangements y'of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out with particularity in the appended claims;

In the drawings, f

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, in elevation, of the adjacent upper corner portions of the door and side of an ordinary automobile body, with parts of the upholstery removed to expose ythe body-plate ofthe fastener so as to show how it is mounted; y

Figure 2 is a top edge view of the ydoor and adjacent side portions of the automobile 3ody, with the fastener installed as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in Vedge elevation and partly in `vertical crosssection, of the door, showingmanner of connecting the outside yoperating the inside actuator for the latch member;

Figure it is an inner face view ofthe bodyplate and mechanisnn mounted thereon;

Figure 5 is a top edge view of the parts shown in Figure d;

Figure 6 is a side edge view of the parts i shown in Figure t;

Figure 7 is an outer face view of the striker-plate or keeper-bracket detached;

Figure 8 is an edge view ofthe latter Figure 9 is a cross-section through the door-post, showing the striker-plate or keeper-bracket attached;

Figures 10 and 1-1'are detail views of the outside operating handle detached;

v1F igures 12 and 13 illustrate a modification of the outifde operating handle;

order 'to facilitatehandle withl 'Figure 14 illustrates afurther modifica-V tion of the -outsideoperating handle; .and

F'gures 1.5 and `16 illustrate a still further modification of the loutside operating handle.

Referring now to the drawings, thefnui meral 1 designateslt-hefdoorandthe numerals 2l and 3, respectively, the ladjaoentfside `portions of `an ordinary vautomobile ybody. The

door is hinged, as at 4, in the .usual manner, so as to swing outward in opening. As

sho-wn (see Figure 21), the meeting edges nof the door 1 and :the door-post are rabbeted correspondingly, as at y6, 6. The .inner face of the door (see Figure 1) lis provided with the usual upholstery Ipanel v7, 4part of which latter is broken away to expose the top rail 8 and fend rail V9 of the frameof the door, to

which rail members the Vbody-'plate 1() is attached by thefscrews 11. In this connection, it may he here stated that the fbody-platestructure and the manner `in which it is lfastened to the door servcsasa gusset-vplate or reinforcement of the door-frame and obviates the necessity for providing the latter Vwith the usual supplemental supporting block yor franie -n'iem'ber for the fastener, -andfatwthe Sametime it minimizes lthecutting.away or mortising of the door frame to accommodate the mechanism.

A part-of the upholstery 12 of the 'bodyfof the automobile is also shown removed to expose the door-post 5 in the region where the striker-plateor keeper-bracket13 :for the fastener is attached. Thekeeper comprisesiessentially a suitable bracket member 13, which, as shown, .'s preferably anangle-plate provided with apertures Mvinone of yits flanges (see Figure 82) for the reoeptionof screws -or bolts 15 (see 'Figure 9) by which it is attached to the door-post. Preferably, this iange is counter-sunk into the `door-post so that the outer .face yof ithe 'flange issubstantiall-y flush with the Atace of `'the doorpost atthe baseiof-the rabbet, the ribor bead portion being cut-away, `as at 6", to :make clearance Afor the fianged box extension 10a of the body-plate 10, which said `extension is of width and depth corresponding tothe wid-th and depth of the irabbeted portionio'f the door. plate portion of this-keeper-:bracket isa stud 16 having aftransverse groove or notch 17 and *a tape/red end vportion 18.

@n the other iange or striker-f `asand` registering with the aperture 19.

This plate 20, Which is provided principally as areiniorcement, may be attached to `the body-plate 10 in any desirable manner, but,

preferably, it is provided at three places, as

shown, with lugs 21 which are turned at right angles to the body portion ofthe plate and are of a length sul'licient to enter a ertures Aprovided 'therefor `in the body-plateV 10 and in whichaperturessaid lugs are rivi leted'seeurely.

Harige-22 which abuts a marginal flange or the wall ofv the box-e1rtension 10` of the body-plate 1t), said lange or Wall 23 being provided for attachment tothe end or' the door and said llange 22 atl'ording a rein-` forcement :l'or relieving the flange ortwall 23 o'lthrusts strains. This supplemental plate 20 is further provided `with an aperlture registering with a like aperture in the body-plate 10 to receive and `have. riveted or otherwise fastened` therein. lthe reduced vend portion ol:l shouldered pivot-stud 24' lor a rocking lever or latch member 25 whose end portion Worlrs in a slotL provided therefor in said flange 22 or' the supplemental plate 2() as indicated by dotted lines, as at 26, in YFigure 4.

rlhe latch member 25 has an angular extension 25, the end p'ortioirof` which is turned upto constitute a lug 27, oneedge portion of which latter is bevelled or inclined, as 28, to atlord a cam face. The

opposite edge portion of the lug `27 is pro` vvided with a notch 29 to receive the end portion of oneleg 30 o1' a springeleinent whose middle portion is looped and coiled, as at 31, and Vwhose other leg 32 isengaged in a notch 33m the edge out a lug 34 which i turned up from the supplemental plate 20.

The looped middle portion 31 of the spring is overhung by a hooked lug 35 eX- tending up and outward from the margin of the latch member 2oandV through said loop i oliftliespring with ample clearance and loosenessto avoid binding and taining thespring in place.

`The spring `is constantly .under tension and, iitsilegs 30 and 32 acting in opposed relation upon the respective lugs 271and 34,

yet aid in reholds the latch member'25 yieldably in nor-l mal position and restores it to such position after each operation thereof. Whenin normal position, the edge portion or the latch flhe supplemental plate 20 has a marginal v be here stated that, as the tapered end portion of the stud enters the aperture 19, the

latch member 25 is rocked to clear said aperture, andas the groove or notch 17 is brought beyond 'the inner face of the plate 20 the latch member snaps into said groove or,y

notch by the action of the spring. The relative Widthvoif said groove or notch and thick# ness of the latch member is such that said latch member readily enters, more or less play being provided for this purpose as may be desired. Y So, too, the inner wall of the groove or notch 17 is preferably bevelled or inclined, as at 17 a, to further-insure the entering ot the latch member-into the groove or notch. i

Pivoted between ears 36, struck up from the body-plate 10, as shown in Figures 4 and G, is an operating lever 37, at one end of which latter is an'angular rejection 38 normally engaging the cam "ace 28 of the exs tension25fn of the latch member 25. At the opposite end of the level' 37 is a push-button 39 which projects normally through an opening 4() inthe body-plate l0` As shown,

`this push-button is cupped or has its mar-l ginal portion hanged, as at 41, andthe opening 40 also has a surrounding 'flange 42 whose upper' portion 45 is pre'teii'ably deeper than the remainder thereof, while the lower portion is cut-away or slotted, vat 44, to provide clearance for the lever 37. f

The flange 42, which is provided to allor a guard about the edge of the opening 40, is preferably drawn up as an integral part of the bodysplate 10, as shown, but, obviously, it may be made as a separate piece and attached to the bodyeplate according to any usual or approved practice.

Vhen the push-button 39 is pressed, the operating lever 37 is rocked and the latter, in tui-n, by its engagement with the cam portion ot lthe latch member 25, rocks said latch memberso as to move it out of engagement with the keeperestud 16 and clear of the apen v ture 19, this movement being arrested by the lll() the supplemental plate 20. When the push* y A button is relieved ot pressure thereon the spring', of course, restores tonormal position the latch member and the several parts above noted which were operated therewith, the

level` 37 at thistime coming to rest against i the inner face ot the body-plate 10 and the latch member 25 nearly but not touching the lower end of the slot 26. Y

ll/'lfounted pivotally, as at 45, on an ear 46 struct: up from the supplemental plate 20, is a second operating lever 47 having a bevranas@ vstem 54 of an outside operating handle 55.

The handle 55 `is hingedly attached, 'as at 56, to a lug 57 projecting vfrom the outer face of 'an escutcheon member or :pla-te 58, which latter is provided with 'apertures59 to receive screws =60 lace o't' the door. The handle is slotted to re'- ceive the lug` 57, and in the lower portion of the slot is received the outer 'end portion of the connecting stem 54, which latter is hinged to the handle proper, as at 61. In the escutcheon is an aperture '62 to cooperate with an opening 63 in the door throughy which the stem 54 'projects i'nward to engage the 'stem 52, said openings 62 and 63,`of

course, being of somewhat larger diameter than the stem, so as to afford sufficient clear ance to permit "the necessary swing ot the connected stems 52 and 54 when the outside operating handle 55 is operated.

As shown, the handle 55, escutcheon 5S, and stem 54 are assembled to constitute a unitary outside operating handle structure separate from the mechanism which is mounted on the 'inner side of the door. This facilita-tes installation ot the fastener vand handle, and the adjustment ott 'the `stem connection between the latch-operating lever 47 and outside'handle 55. That is to say, the body-plate 1() with theworking parts ot the mechanism assembled thereon 'is mounted on the inner side ofj he door, the opening A'63 in the door, of course, being prepared to receive the screw-threaded stem 52`whic'h is projected outward in said opening V63 to be engaged by the outside operating handle stem member' 54.

After the body-plate 10 is mounted and the keeper or striker-plate correspondingly mounted on the door-post 'sothat its stud 16 enters ythe opening 19 in thebody-*plate when the door isclosed and -it having been ascertained that the mechanism is functioning properly, the outside operating 'handle is applied by directing .the stein member 54 in ward in the opening 63 in the 'door so 'as to engage the stem member 52. By turning the handle assembly complete the `stein member 54 is screwed on the member 52 runtil 'the inner tace of the 'escutcheon 'plate' 58 is brought into 'Contact with the outer face oi the door and all "looseness or endplay in the connection aorded by the members 52 'and 54 between the actuator lever' 47 v'forthe `latch member 25 'and `the handle 55 'is taken up, but without Vdisturbing the normal `position for attaching it to the outer f member 52 will `only slightly lengthen or re ln this way` of the inside push-button 39. This adjustment effected the escutcheon member 58 is secured to the door by the screws '60. Consequently, the adjusted relation of the handle assembly is `thereby maintained, and shouldany further adjustment be necessary, either to tighten or loosen the link- -cnnection aorded by the member 52 and 54 betweenv the lever 47 and handle member 55,

the saine may be readily accomplished -b'y removing the scre'WsGO and rotating't'he handle assembly in Ieither direction, as the Icase may be, the screw-threads on the member 52 and 54 being, ol' course, relatively line so that asingle vturn 'of the member 54 on the To open the door 4from the outside it is only necessary jto grasp the handle 'member handle and to Itake 55, which is in etl'ect a lever ol' the second order, and swing it outward on its fulcrum 56', thereby pulling the linkage 52, 54, and rocking he actuator lever 47, the lat-ter in turn rocking the latch member 25 and moving it clear ot' 'the notch in the stud 16, the parts being restored to normal position vb'y the spring which presses the latch member just as hereinbefore pointed out in connection with the operation -oi the latch member by the actuation of the vinside push-button 39 and its attached lever 37.

The graspingportion or' the outside operating handle 55 may be formed and designed in various sha-pes. As shown in Figures 2, 3, 10 and 11, it is o't' the pendent type, ot hooked form, which is readily grasped and conveniently manipulated, the end ot' the handle normally terminating lclose to but, preferably, not touching the faceot the door, thereby presenting no projections Von which clothing might be liable to catch, and of its very nature indicating that the handle is lto be pulled rather than turned or twisted lin the operation of opening the door.

In Figures12 and 13 the handle is of lthe ofthe substantially horizontal or slightly inclined loop or spade-handle type. Obviously, the grasping portion `of the handle may be still further modified without departing from the spirit'of the present invention.

In practice, the stud 16; the reinforcing plate 20, particularly in the region about the aperture 19 which receives said stud 15; the latch member 25.; and the cam portions ot' the actuator levers B7 and 47, are case-hardu ened -obviously 'to minimize 'wear oi' the parts. So, too,'t'he groove 17 in the stud 16 use. i n

Aside from the ease in which the lock and outside operating handle inaybe installed is preferably ol a depth so that, normally, the edge et' the latch ineinber 25 does not touch the bottoni ot the groove when cngaged. By this provision and also in that thelatch n'ieinber 25 normally does not touch the lower end oit the slot 26 in the flange` 22 ol" the reinforcing` plate 20, should any wear occur on theA cain faces, `and which would be very slight, it at all, even after long use, such wear would be taken up by the action ot the spring pressing the latch inen'iher against jthecain extension `olf the lever 37, the clearances, as ,above` pointed out, permittingv it. Consequently, looseness and rattling ol" tlieparts is prevented. Fun theri'nore, the stud 16 litting the aperture i9 snugly so that there is very` little or no play transversely, this clearai'ice between the botf torn ot the groove l? and thelatchineinber 25 inakes it practically "impossible that Vthe latter will be jarred and jolted out olf eiigageinent in the groove troni the shocks to which an automobile bodyis subjected in l on a car, there is thelurther advantage in c' running,

that the door inay be closed without undue torce or slanin'iing, and, when closed` the door. is held securely against accidental opeiiinj. `Also, the door is easily and couV- veniently opened, at will, by inerely pressing-` the inside push-.button or pulling the outside handle. IThen again, the construction land arrangement is such that the `usual heavy rubber buinpers heretofore requircifl in conneetion with the use olf the or inary slidingL bolt tasteiiers are unnecessary with theA pres ont tasteiier, but only relatively siiiall sound! deadeners need be used in place thercot and in sonic cases none iuay be requiredcatall.

`Also, the etli'ect oit the tapered end oi" the stud i6 entering` the alierture 'i9` is to guise the door into closed positionand thereby obviates the neces ity tor the usiial dove-tail or separate special. door-giudi-i hert-)tutore generally provided or the piirposein con` i nection with the old style locks. Furtherinore, the dowel-like eli'ect otthe studv when the door is closed serves to support the door in every direction transversely olv the stud and. tliereby relieves the hinges ot much 'weigl'it and strains thereon incidental to the 'weaving` motion ot the door while the car flagging oi? the door is pre` viififitcd and by locl'cing` the door -to the pillar or door-post, afforded by the engagement `o'lf the stud in the aperture 19 the bodyplate. tlicbody otthe car is tied all arouiid so that strains thereon are distributed throughout and the possibility olf the traine racking loose is prevented or at least greatly minimized.

ln seine cases, particularly on enclosed bodies, it is desirable to have the' fasteners C, particularly). As shown, this ineinber Gil c has an arcuate end portion 65 which swings just clear ofthe edge ot the extension 25 when the latter' is in normal position, a shoulder (S6 being provided on the ii'ieinber G4 to engage a shoulder on the` extension Q5 where the lug27 turned up therejt'roni` thereby affording a stop to liinit the'travel 't the ineinber ('34: when it is inoved into engagement with the extension 25ai The iiieinber 64 is .niounted on a stub-shaft (37 rotatable in an aperture providedtheretor in the body-plate 10 and having on its outer end portion asuitabl'e handleGS 'lor inanipulating it, and a suitable friction-washer (S9 being'y provided ou the shaft betweensaid handle (38 and the outer ,tace ot the bodyplate l0.

By turning the ,nieinber 64 to abut the eXT tension 25H obviously lthe latch ineijiiber loo cannot be rocked. "Flieretore, neither the inside push-button nor the outside handle can, under this condition, be operated. In

` the cinployinent oi' such fastening device, it is customary on cars having twoV or inorev doors, topi'ovide all doors except one with itasteners soequipped, andthe sole door 'for c exit. and entrance with a suitable pillar lock or seine other key-locling ydevice or cylinder operable troni outside the car, when, ot

course, the other doors areiastened .troni the inside as ust above set jlorth.

it is also noted in turther reference to the peculiar outside handle structure, that theA l'iandles are always ii'iaintained in their orig- Y lll() inal parallel alineincnt on the. body ot the V,

car, in contradistinction to the usual handles which have tobe rotated or twisted .in opening the doors and in which cases, the handles often stickin their operated'positions or do ,not return to full norinal position,` due to binding of the handle stein or shanltor the latch-bolt `ol the iastenernot returning to its nornial `projected extcntjwhen the door closed. That is tok say', the handles of the present invention avoid this disadvantage and preserve the original fanciful lines in the body design.` i

1What is claimed :is: l. ina door fastener, in coinbinationwith a coinponent latch-releasing element having i a link ineinber hingedlyattaChed at'one` end thereto, the opposite end portion of said link member being free, of a separate:unitaryoperating handle assembly, including anes-` cutcheon member l'or attachment to the face of the door, said escutcheon member having av i transversely-apertured lug on its outer tace,

' stud, said latch yand :i pivot-pin rotatable in the aperture slotted portion of the handle of the lug, said abutting said escutclieon member normally member, and said handle member having' an offset grasping portion, and a link ineinber hinged at one end in said slotted portion o the handle member and being projected through an aperture provided there for in said escutcheon member wit-li sull'icient clearance to permit swinging of the connected link and handle members, said second mentioned link member having its tree end portion arranged and provided for longitudinally-adjustablc interlocking engagement with the free end portion ol said lirst mentioned link member.

2. In a door fastener, in combination with akeeper member Jfor attachment to the door post and having aflange overlapping the inner edge portion of the door and a stud of round cross-section on' said ange projecting towards the meeting inner tace olf the door, said stud having a. tapered end portion and a transverse groove between its base and said tapered end portion, a body-plate for attachment to the inner side of the door and having an aperture to receive said keeper stud with arelatively close t, a latch member comprising a spring-pressed rockinglever having a stud-engaging portion normally overlapping said aperture chord-wise the groove in said keeper member also having a cam portion,-an actuator-lever having a cam portion cooperating withthe cam portion of said latch member, a push-button on said actuator-lever operable from the inside of the car, a second actuator-lever having a cam portion cooperating with a second cam portion on said latch member, a link inemand enterable in A ber hingedly-attached at one end to said second mentioned actuator-lever and having its opposite end portion screw-threaded, an escutcheon member for attachment to the outer face of the door, a handle-lever hingedly-attached to said escutcheon member, and a link member hingedly-attached at one end to said handle-lever and having its opposite end portion screw-threaded as a counterpart of said first mentioned link member whereby to be longitudinally-adjustably engaged therewith.

3. In a door fastener, in combination with a keeper member for attachment to the door post and having a flange overlapping the innerface of the door and a. rigidly' mounted, horizontal, cylindrical stud projecting substantially perpendicularly from the outer i'ace of said ilange, said stud having a tapered end portion and a transverse groove between its base and said tapered end portion, the inner wall of said groove being upwardly flaring, a body-plate for aty tachment tothe inner face of the door, said plate having an aperture iler the reception of said stud or' the keeper member, and a latch member movably mounted on the body-plate and having a portion normally' aperture substantially being eiiterable in the of the keeper member.

oi' the character deor attachment to overlapping said chord-wise and groove in said stud 4. In a door fastener scribed, a keeper member the door post and having a stud substantially perpendicular tothe inner side of the door in the closed position oi' the latter, said stud having a tapered end portion and a transverse groove between its base and said tapered end portion, a body-plate Jfor 'attachment to the inner side ot the door, said plate having an aperture for the reception o'l said stud of the keeper member, a latch member comprising a rocking lever having a portion normally overlapping said aperture substantially chord-wise and being enterable inv said groove in the stud of the keeper member, means including an operating handle for actuating said latch member, and a locking device on said body-plate and operable from the inside of the carfor locking said latch member in normal position at will.

5. In a door astenerof the character described, a` keeper member for attachment to the door post and having a stud substantially perpendicular to the inner side ofi the door in the closed position of the latter, said stud having a tapered end portion and a transverse groove between its ba-se and said tapered end portion, a body-plate for attachment to the inner side of the door, sai plate having an aperture for the reception of said stud oi the keeper member, a latch member comprising a rocking lever having a portion normally overlapping said aperture substantially chord-Wise and a counterportion having a cam tace, an actuator-lever having a cam portion cooperating with the cam face of said latch member, an operating handle for said actuator-lever, and a locking ,device on said body-plate comprising a pivoted arm movable into engagement with .said latch member in counter-relation to the cam portion thereof and an operating handle operable Jfrom the inside or" they car for manipulating said locking device atwill.

6. In a door fastener, in combination with a body-plate securable to one face of the door, a latch-releasing element on the inner tace of said body-plate, a link member hingedly attached at one lend to said latchreleasing element whereby to swing universally with respect thereto, the opposite end portion of said link member being free, of a separate unitary operating handle assembly, including an escutcheon member for attachment to the opposite tace of the door, a handle hinged thereon, and a link member hinged at one end to said handle and having its opposite end portion arranged and vided for longitudinallyndjustable nterlocking engagement with. the free end p0rtion of said lirst nient 7. In a door fastene ioned link member. r, 1n Combination with a body-plato seeurable to one face of the door, a latch-releasing ele-ment on the inner face ol sai-d body-p late, a link .member hingedly-attaehed at one end to said latchreleasing element vv'hereby to swing universally with respect the portion of saidV link reto, the opposite end member being serew- `member hinged at one end to said handle and having its opposite end portion'screwthreaded as a counterpart of and being longitudinally-a-djustably engageable with the zo screw-threaded end portion of said mentioned link member.

' OSCAR WV. HOOPPAVW CHARLES A. RINEHART.

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