US2475951A - Vehicle door handle assembly - Google Patents

Description

July 12, 1949. s, FLORADAY 2,475,951

VEHICLE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Filed May 20, 1946 INVENI'OPL Bunk r2 filfzaka aj 25 9 M MM HTTODNFPI Patented July '12, 1949 VEHICLE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY Burton S. Floraday, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Detroit Harvester Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application May 20, 1946, Serial No. 671,079

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a latch assembly and particularly to a latch associated with attached hub and handle elements thereby to secure a compartment enclosing door in the closed position or to aid the opening thereof. Assemblies of the type described have considerable application with vehicle compartments such as glove boxes or the like.

Generally, the rotation of the hub section is controlled by a lock bolt slidable transversely therein in response to the actuation of an adjacent key lock unit to engage an aperture in the enclosing side wall of a stationary sleeve. From the brief description above, it is evident that the hub section is necessarily formed with a longitudinal aperture for receipt of the key lock unit, and a continguous transverse slot in which the lock bolt may operate. Heretofore, the hub section has been formed by well-known die casting processes, which in this instance is made more dilficult and costly in view of the necessity for accurately positioning and subsequently removing a transverse core forming the transverse slot, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

It is an object of this invention to produce a new and improved latch assembly having a hub section formed with the necessary openings axially aligned, the die casting thereof being greatly simplified as a result of the elimination of the necessity for a transverse and separable core.

Another object of this invention is to produce a new and improved latch assembly having novel snap fastener means for releasably holding the rotatable latch elements in the predetermined open or closed positions thereby to militate against vibrational movements of the associated elements.

Not infrequently, it is a desideratum to remove the key lock unit for purposes of repair or replacement and it is a further object of this invention to produce a new and improved latch assembly of the type described providing expeditious means enabling removal thereof without disassembly of the elements; said means comprising a longitudinal channel through the hub channel in which a simple tool can be inserted to depress the spring tensioned locking disc.

A still further object of this invention is to produce a latch assembly of the type described having novel features of construction thereby to simplify manufacture or modification and to enable quiet operation thereof.

Still further objects and advantages will become evident from the following description, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a fragmetary view of the compartment and door panel which is sectioned advantageously to show the latch assembly comprising this invention in the assembled relation. The broken lines illustrate the position of the latch when rotated to latched position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the assembly shown in Figure 1, for purposes of clarity elements such as the key lock unit, the lock bolt and the spring clip fastener being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the key lock unit, the lock washer and bolt being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 66 of Figure 2; and

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the hub assembly to show the means for depressing the locking disc in the key lock unit by means of a tool inserted through the elongate channel.

Numerous features of the lock assembly illustrated are well-known to those skilled in the art and a detailed description thereof is considered unnecessary. Sufiice it to say that a formed door panel I 0 having a flange II is adapted to abut a similarly disposed flange I2 forming a part of the upper wall [3 of a box-like compartment 14 ordinarily used in vehicles for purposes of article storage or the like. Integral with an intermediate portion of the flange I2 is a formed abutment l5 adapted to be engaged by a hook it extending as part of a latch l! hereinafter described.

A polygonal lug 18 on the end of a hub section l9 fits into a similarly shaped aperture in the disc body portion 25 of the latch ll effecting the rotation of the latter with the hub section. The latch I1 is held on to the embossed hub section by means of a washer 2i positioned by a bolt 22 threadably engaged with a threaded aperture 23 in the end portion of the hub section.

One end of a coil spring 24 bears against the outer surface of the latch disc 20, the other end abutting a shoulder 25 formed by an annular groove 26 cut out of the periphery of a sleeve member 21 in which groove the coil spring operates; said sleeve member 21 forming a part of 3 the door panel and encloses the hub section l9. It is manifest that the coil spring 24 operates to tension the adjoining elements thereby to militate against rattling or excessive vibrations thereof.

The hub section l9 having a handle 28 integral therewith which extends beyond the door panel l0, may be formed by simple die casting processes having suitable grooves and apertures therein formed by axially aligned cores or ribs, thereby advantageously to expedite the manufacturing process, it being understood that the elimination of transverse cores greatly simplifies the heretofore more complicated and costly casting process as previously pointed out.

An aperture 29 extends a considerable distance into the forward portion of the hub section l9 forming a sleeve section 30, the outer edge of the sleeve section being cut away to form a concentric groove 3| of larger diameter in which the head 32 of a cylindrical key lock unit 33 seats when the lock unit is socketed in the sleeve section 30. Longitudinal grooves 34 in the wall of the sleeve section receive the tumblers 35 of the lock unit which are extended when the key 35 is withdrawn therefrom, insertion of the key into the key slot effecting alignment of the tumblers, enabling the rotation of the cylindrical lock unit in relation to the enclosing hub sleeve section.

The key lock unit socketed in the hub sleeve is held therein by an arcuate spring tensioned locking disc 3'! yieldingly urged outwardly beyond the periphery of the lock unit by a coil spring 38, the extending disc operatively engaging an annular groove 39 formed in the sleeve section. Manifestly, depression of the lock disc 31 enables longitudinal movement of the lock unit and the removal thereof for purposes of repair or replacement. Novel means, later to be described, are provided for expeditiously effecting the removal.

A cup-shaped adapter 40 in juxtaposed relation to the end portion of the lock unit 33 has a groove 4! in the upstanding edge to provide a bearing in which a pin 42 depends eccentrically from the lock unit operatively to transmit the rotational movement of the latter unit to the adapter. Other grooves in the upstanding edge provide a seat for a leaf spring 43 (Figure which serves to retain the adapter 40 within the handle when the lock unit is not in place.

Contiguous with the lower portion of the aperture 23 is a transverse rectangular groove 44, the end portions of which are intercepted by longitudinal grooves 45 and 45 formed in the lower periphery of the hub section, thereby to provide a continuous transverse rectangular slot through the hub section in which the lock bolt 41 can slidably operate. The rectangular lock bolt has a groove 48 therein providing a bearing operatively to engage an eccentric pin 49 depending from the adapter 40' thereby to transmit the rotational movement of the latter to transverse linear movement of the lock bolt. Pin 49 operates in a semi-circular depression thereby to limit the rotation of the adapter to less than 180. A groove 5!] is provided in the adjacent stationary sleeve 2'! for receipt of the lock bolt when extended, preventing the rotation of the hub section in relation to the stationary enclosing sleeve.

Longitudinal groove 5| in registry with groove 46 is formed on the inner surface of the sleeve section 30, and provides a channel through which a pin or simple tool 52 may be inserted from the inner side of the assembly to depress the spring 4 tensioned locking disc 31, enabling the removal of the key lock unit as previously pointed out.

A further important feature of this invention resides in the use of a spring clip fastener 53 formed of a strip of spring metal having a downturned flange 54 at one end and a V-shaped tongue 55 at the other end, the flanges being suitably spaced from each other to firmly seat the spring clip in the transverse groove 44. In the assembled relation the edge of the V-shaped tongue is urged beyond the periphery of the hub section thereby to bear against the side wall of the enclosing sleeve 21. Shallow grooves 56 and 56a suitably formed in the sleeve 21 are engaged by the V-shaped end 57 of the spring clip when the hub section is rotated to either the open or closed positions, the forces necessary to effect their disengagement being suflicient to insure retention thereof until external forces are applied disturbing the relation. It is to be understood that modification of the edge portion of the spring clip fastener may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention, for example knobs or curved contours may be formed thereon to aid operation.

It will be readily understood that until the lock bolt 41 is in the extended position, the handle and the hub section may be rotated through an angle of approximately to effect the engagement or the disengagement of the latch hook l6 from the abutment l5, thus permitting opening and closing movements of the door panel l0. When it is desired to lock the door panel in the closed position, key 36, inserted into the key lock unit 33, effects withdrawal of the tumblers 35 enabling the lock unit to be rotated in relation to the enclosing hub sleeve section, thereby to effect transverse movement of the lock bolt to the extended position effecting the engagement of the same with the sleeve groove 50, thus to prevent further rotational movement of the hub section as previously described.

It is manifest that I have produced a new and improved latch assembly having a hub suitably formed with apertures which are all axially aligned, resulting in a unit which is easier and less costly to manufacture. Means are provided for effecting the removal of the key lock unit Without the previously necessary disassembly operations, and other simple means are provided for yieldingly holding the handle and hub elements in the open or closed position.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A handle element for a locking handle having a cylindrical body portion, a cylindrical bore in said body portion open on one end and having a rectangular transverse slot at the opposite end, the ends of said transverse slot being open, and a pair of longitudinal slots being provided in the outer periphery of said body portion in longitudinal alignment with said bore and intersecting the ends of said transverse slot.

2. In a latch having a hub and handle rotatably mounted in a stationary sleeve and a key operated lock bolt slidable transversely in an aperture through the hub for engagement or disengagement With a bolt receiving aperture in the sleeve, a spring clip rotatable with said hub and having an edge portion constantly urged into engagement with the sleeve whereby the hub and sleeve are frlctionally held against relative rotational movement.

3. A latch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the spring clip extends through the aperture in which the key operated lock bolt is slidable.

4. A latch as claimed in claim 3, in which lip portions in the spring clip in the portion extending beyond the hub engage the side walls of the hub to prevent relative transverse movement, and recessed portions in the hub receiving the edge portion for releasably positioning the hub in predetermined positions.

5. A latch assembly comprising a stationary sleeve, a handle, a hub fixed to said handle and rotatable in said sleeve, said hub having a central bore and a rectangular transverse groove at the base of the bore intersected at its ends by a pair of diametrically opposed rectangular slots arranged axially in the periphery of the hub forming together a rectangular slot extending transversely through the hub, said hub also having an annular groove contiguous with an intermediate portion of said bore and a longitudinal slot extending from one of said rectangular slots to intersect said annular groove, a latch bolt slidable transversely in said rectangular slot, a key REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,339,721 Shaw May 11, 19201 1,654,149 Teich Dec. 27, 1927 1,714,423 Jacobi May 21, 1929 1,747,383 Norviel Feb. 18, 1930 1,916,848 North (I) July 4, 1933 2,019,534 Henst Nov. 5, 1935 2,141,748 Hansen Dec. 27, 1938 2,201,957 North (II) May 21, 1940

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