US2491783A - Door lock - Google Patents

Description

W49 A. W. THOMAS 2,491,733

DOOR LOCK Filed Sept. 27, 1946 EWWW Patented en. 20, 1949 ED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR LOCK Arthur W. Thomas, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September 27, 1946, Serial No. 699,887

9 Claims.

My invention relates to door locks, and particularly to a door latching device of improved construction.

One object of my invention is to provide a door lock which is adjustable in width to adapt it to be applied to use with doors of various widths without altering the structure of the lock or door.

Another object is to provide a door lock which is adapted to be applied to a door without the use of screws or other extraneous fastening devices which are apt to become loosened.

Another object is to provide a door lock having an improved means for mounting the latch-bolt unit to adapt the unit for operation with either left-hand or right-hand doors, such a mounting means being self-adjusting to compensate for inaccuracies occurring in the right-angularly disposed holes in the door for accommodating the body of the lock and the latch-bolt unit.

Another object is to provide a door lock having an improved means for mounting the slidable bolt-retracting member to effect free movement thereof while guarding against displacement thereof.

Another object is to provide a door lock having an efficient means for operatively connecting the latch-bolt unit and bolt-retracting means for unitary movement.

, Another object is to provide a door lock device which is comparatively simple in construction and highly efficient in operation.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the door look, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a door showing my improved door lock applied to use therewith;

Fig.2 is a cross-sectional view through the door lock, taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View, taken on line i- 2! of Fig. 2.

Referrin to the drawing in detail, my improved door lock or door latching device is of the same general type as commonly employed on inside doors of buildings, although its use is not limited to such installations. The door lock comprises a latch-bolt unit 5 and a latch-bolt actuating unit 6, the latch-bolt actuating unit being disposed in a hole 1 extending transversely of the door 8 and the latch-bolt unit being inserted through a smaller hole 9 disposed at right angles to the hole I and drilled inwardly from the vertical edge of the door.

The latch-bolt actuating unit 6 comprises a cylindrical sheet metal housing I2 having a circular Wall I 3, a plate portion M at one end, and a peripheral flange [5 at its other end. The plate portion it has a radially extending slot l6 and the circular wall 13 has a longitudinal slot ll of narrower width than the slot 16, thus providing a pair of longitudinal guides or keys I8 which are employed for a purpose to be later explained. The plate portion I4 is also provided with a pair of diametrically opposite bayonet slots 20, which are used for securing the actuating unit 6 on the door in the manner to be explained hereinafter.

Secured to the flange l5 of the housing 12 is a removable sheet metal cover member 22 having a central hub 23. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the metal of the member 22 is slit on opposite sides of its horizontal center line and the material defined by the slits is folded laterally to provide a pair of vertically spaced flanges 24 which. define a horizontal guideway 25 therebetween. Retaining ears 26 are folded vertically from the flanges 24 in overlying parallel relation to the plane of the member 22. Secured to the hub 23 is a sleeve 27 which forms substantially a continuation of the hub. Adapted to rotate in the hub 23, 27 is a tubular actuatin spindle 30, which may be held axially in place in any suitable manner and which carries a door knob 31 at its outer end. The inner end of the tubular spindle 39, that is, the end extending into the housing I2, is cut away transversely to provide an arcuate retractor-actuating portion 33. The cover member 22 also has a lug 32 which aids in guiding the latch retractor member to .be later described. Also mounted on the hub 21 is a circular escutcheon plate 34.

The latch-bolt actuating means 6 also includes a second spindle 36, which is rotatable in the hub portion 3'1 of a circular plate 38 disposed against the other side of the door 8. The spindle 36 has an inner narrowed retractor-actuating portion 40 and at its outer end carries a door knob 4|. An escutcheon plate 42 is mounted on the hub 3'! of the plate 38. The spindle 36 preferably is held axially in place by means of a spring-ring 43.

The narrowed portions 33 and 40 of the respective spindles 3i] and 36 normally are disposed with the ends of their arcuate portions engaged against the side of a vertical portion l l of a latch-bolt retractor member 45. The member 45 also has a transverse vertical base portion 46, which rests against the inner surface of the plate 22 and is adapted to slide laterally thereagainst. The member 35, which is constructed from sheet metal, has a pair of opposite laterally projecting arms or runners All which are connected by an arcuate portion 48. The connecting portion 48 is provided with a finger i9 extending parallel to the axis of the spindles 3t and 36. The member 45 thus is adapted to slide laterally in the guideway 25, and is held from displacement by the retaining cars 26 which overlie the runners 41, see Figs. 2 and i. The latch-bolt retractor member #15 normally is held in the position shown in Fig. 2 under the influence of a coil spring 50 disposed between the vertical portion id and. the wall l3 of the housing l2, the ends of the spring embracing lugs 5i and 52 on these parts. When either of the spindles st or 3% are rotated through substantially 180, in either direction from the position shown in Fig. 2, the ends of their arcuate portions 33 or til act to slide the retractor member 45 toward the right, as viewed in this figure, to retract the latch-bolt in the manner explained hereinafter.

The latch-bolt unit 5 consists of a tubular bearing 55 of thin metal adapted to be slid inwardly into the transverse hole 9 of the door 8 and having a circular flange 55 at its outer end positioned against the edge of the door. The bearing 55 has a pair of diametrically opposite slots 57 (Fig. 3) adapted to receive the guide keys E8 of the housing l2. The latch-bolt 6% consists of a tubular sleeve 6i having an outer closed end or head 62, which is bevelled off on one side, as shown at $3 in Fig. 1, to adapt it to ride along the keeper of the look (not shown) and to i snap into the keeper opening, as is usual in looks or latching devices of this general type. The sleeve portion Si is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots iii; through which extends a spring retainer element 6%. Disposed within the sleeve portion El is a coil spring 5? having its opposite ends engaging against the inner end of the head 82 and the retainer element 66, respectively. The sleeve portion iii also has a pair of opposite transverse slots or open ings 68- adjacent its inner end, and it will be apparent that when the latch-bolt unit 5 is installed in the door 8 and the finger d9 disposed in either of the slots 85, the latch-bolt 63 may be withdrawn from its keeper by rotating either of the spindles 3B or 36.

The present invention provides an improved means for installing the latch-bolt actuating means 6 on doors of various thickness. To mount this means on the door 8, the housing l2 together with its enclosed parts is slid into the opening 7 in the door from one side thereof, and when slid completely into the door its flange i5 abuts the side of the door. The escutcheon plate St is then slid against the side of the door 8 to provide a neat joinder. After these parts have been disposed on the door, the assembly including the plate 38, spindle 36, knob ii, and escutcheon plate 42 is placed against the side of the door with the inner end 40 of the spindle 36 located in the operative position shown in the drawing. To retain the parts in place in the opening l of the door 8, I provide a pair of connecting pins or studs Ill, which are suitably attached, as by riveting, to the inner surface of the plate 33. As shown in Fig. l, the pins it are provided with a plurality of longitudinally-spaced circumferential slots ll, thus providing flanges or heads 72 between each two slots. The heads 82 are of a diameter to permit them to enter the enlarged openings H3 at the ends of the bayonet slots in the end wall it of the housing, and the slotted portions ll of the pins are of a diameter to perrnit them to slide in the slots 20. It is thus apparent that by placing the plate 38 against the side of the door and entering the pins 10 in the enlarged portions 13 of the bayonet slots 20 and thereafter turning the plate in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, the several parts are assembled together onv the door. If preferred, the metal at the sides of the bayonet slots 20 may be bent to provide frictional resistance to turning of the pins iii in the slots. It is to be noted that by providing a plurality of the slots H and heads 12 on the pins 18, the same latchbolt actuating means 6 may be employed with doors of various thicknesses, the pins being of any suitable length and the appropriate number of slots 5 i being provided for this purpose.

Prior to mounting the retracting unit 6 on the door, the latch-bolt unit 5 is slid into the hole El of the door 8, and as the housing [2 is slid into the hole i the guide keys N3 of the latter are caused to enter the slots 51' in the sides of the tubular bearing member 55 to retain the latch-bolt unit in the door. At the same time, the finger it enters one of the slots or openings of the latch 69 to operatively connect the latch and the retractor member 45. It is to be noted that the latch-bolt unit 5 may be inserted in either of two positions so that the same unit can be employed with either left or right-hand doors.

With the locking device installed in the door 3 in the manner explained above, it is ready for operation. To operate the device either knob 3% or all may be turned to cause the inner arcuate ends as or iii; of the spindles or 36 to urge the slidable retractor member toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. Sliding movement of the retractor member 45 in this direction against the action of the spring causes the finger 39 to draw the latch-bolt 60 inwardly in the bearing against the influence of the spring to withdraw the inclined end 62 of the bolt from the keeper of the look. When the knob is released, the bolt till will be projected outwardly by the combined action of the springsand El. When the door is closed against its jamb, the bolt he will yield to permit its end 62 to ride across the keeper plate and then will be projected into the keeper opening in the usual manner.

It will be observed from the foregoing that my invention provides a particularly simple, yet highly efficient looking or latching device which may be employed on doors of wooden or metal construction. As one feature of improvement, the present invention provides a simple means for adapting the locking device to be installed on doors of various thicknesses without the use of screws or other separate fastening means, as used in prior locking devices of conventional types. The invention further provides a new and improved bolt-retracting member and means for slidably mounting this member within the housing of the lock and connecting it to the bolt. As a still further improvement, my invention provides an ingenious means for retaining the latchbolt assembly within the door, and this means consists solely of the simple interengaging keyand-slot connection between the latch-bolt unit and the latch-bolt actuating unit. The locking device thus may be readily and quickly installed by a relatively inexperienced workman.

While I have herein shown and described the improved door lock as embodied in a preferred form of construction, by way of example, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein without department from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a lock structure adapted for use on a door: a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door and including a slidable latch-bolt; spring means normally operative to project the outer end of said latch-bolt outwardly from the edge of said door; a latch-bolt actuating unit insertable in a transverse opening in said door and including a housing having an open end and a slot through which the inner end of said latch-bolt extends, said actuating unit also including a plate member adapted to enclose said open end of said housing and having a traverse guideway; a retractor member slidable in said gnidevvay and operatively connected with the inner end of the latch-bolt, ears on said plate member overlying portions of said retractor memher for retaining the same in said guideway; and means for moving said retractor in said guideway.

2. In a lock structure adapted for use on a door; a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door and including a slidable latch-bolt provided with an aperture adjacent its inner end; spring means normally operative to project the outer end of said latch-bolt outwardly from the edge of said door; a latch-bolt actuating unit insertable in a transverse opening in said door and including a housing having an open end and a slot through which the inner end of said latch-bolt extends, said actuating unit also including a plate member adapted to enclose said open end of said honing and having a transverse guideway; a retractor member slidable in said guideway and provided with a finger engageable in the aperture of said latch-bolt; ears on said plate member overlying portions of said retractor member for retaining the same in said guideway; and means for moving said retractor in said guideway.

3, In a lock structure adapted for use on a door: a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door and including a slidable latch-bolt; spring means normally operative to project the outer end of said latch-bolt outward- 1y from the edge of said door; a latch-bolt actuating unit insertable in a transverse opening in said door and including a housing having an open end and a slot through which the inner end of said latch bolt extends, said actuating unit also including a plate member adapted to enclose said open end of said housing and having a transverse guideway; a retractor member having opposite runners slidable in said guideway and a connecting portion operatively connected with the inner end of the latch-bolt, said retractor mem her also having a plate portion extending between said runners; ears on said plate member overlying portion of said retractor member for retaining the same in said guideway; and means for moving said retractor in said guideway.

4. In a lock structure adapted for use on a door: a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door and including a slidable latch-bolt provided with an aperture adjacent its inner end; spring means normally operative to project the outer end of said latch-bolt outwardly from the edge of said door; a latch-bolt actuating unit insertable in a transverse opening in said door and includinga housing having an open end and a slot through which the inner end of said latch-bolt extends, said actuating unit also includinga plate member adapted to enclose said open end of said housing and having a transverse guideway; a retractor member having 0pposite runners slidable in said guideway and a connecting portion provided with a finger engageable in the aperture of said latch-bolt, said retractor member also having a plate portion extending between said runners; ears on said plate member overlying portions of said retractor memher for retaining the same in said guideway; and means for moving said retractor in said guideway.

In a lock structure adapted for use on a door: a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door; and a latch-bolt actuating unit including a cylindrical housing adapted for insertion in a transverse opening in said door, said housing having a flange engageable against one side of said door, and also provided with an end wall disposed in said transverse opening, said end Wall being provided with at least one arcuate bayonet slot, a plate engageable against the other side of said door, and. at least one pin on said plate engageable in said. bayonet slot to detachably connect said plate and said end wall to retain said housing in said transverse opening of said door, said pin having a plurality of longitudinally spaced beads, each adapted to engage the edges of said bayonet slot whereby to permit attachment of said actuating unit to doors of various thicknesses.

6. In a lock structure adapted for use on a door: a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door; and a latch-bolt actuating unit including a cylindrical housing adapted for insertion in a transverse opening in said door, said housing having a flange engageable against one side of said door, and also provided with an end wall disposed in said transverse opening, said end wall being provided with a pair of arcuate bayonet slots, and a pair of pins on said plate engageable in said bayonet slots to detachably connect said plate and said end wall to retain said housing in said transverse opening of said do or, said pins having a plurality of longitudinally spaced beads, each adapted to engage the edges of said bayonet slots whereby to permit attachment of said actuating unit to doors of various thicknesses.

'7. In a lock structure adapted for use on a door; a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door; a latch-bolt actuating unit insertable in a transverse opening in said door; means for interconnecting said units; said latch-bolt unit including a tubular bearing member, a latch-bolt slidable in said earing member, and having a pair of longitudinal slots at its opposite sides and a latching portion at its outer end; a retainer element extending transversely across said bearing member and through said longitudinal slots; and a coil spring engageable between said retaining element and said latch-bolt, said spring being normally operative to project said latch-bolt outwardly; said latch-bolt actuating unit being operatively connected to said latch-bolt for moving the same against the action of said spring.

8. In a lock structure adapted for use on a door; a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door; a latch-bolt actuating unit insertable in a transverse opening in said door; means for interconnecting said units; said latch-bolt unit including a tubular bearing memher, a hollow tubular latch-bolt slidable in said bearing member, and having a pair of longitudinal slots at its opposite sides and a latching portion at its outer end; a retainer element extending transversely across said bearing member and through said longitudinal slots; and a coil spring positioned within the tubular latch-bolt and engageable between said retainer element and the forward end portion of said latch-bolt, said spring being normally operative to project said latch-bolt outwardly; said latch-bolt actuating unit being operatively connected to said latchbolt for moving the same against the action of said spring.

9. In a lock structure adapted for use on a door; a latch-bolt unit insertable in an opening in an edge of said door; a latch-bolt actuating unit insertable in a transverse opening in said door; means for interconnecting said units; said latch-bolt unit including a, tubular bearing memher and a latch-bolt axially reciprocable therein, the latch-bolt having an aperture adjacent its inner end and a latching portion at its outer end; said latch-bolt actuating unit including a housing; and a manually operable retractor member slidable transversely Within said housing, said retractor member being provided with a finger extending transversely through the aperture of said latch-bolt for retracting the latter.

' ARTHUR W. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 812,904 Voight Feb. 20, 1906 1,751,101 Schlage Mar. 18, 1930 1,843,143 Rymer Feb. 2, 1942 1,876,079 Schlage Sept. 6, 1932

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