US2814518A - Door lock - Google Patents

Description

NOV- 26, 1957 G. A. ALEXANDER 2,814,518

DooR Locx Filed Aug. l:61, 195e DGOR LOCK Gordon A. Alexander, Newington, Conn., assignor to The American Hardware Corporation, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 31, 1956, Serial No. 607,400 7 Claims. (Cl. 292-169) This invention relates to a door lock, and more particularly to improvements in the cylindrical door lock disclosed in the copending application of Frank l. McConnell, Serial No. 513,483, led lune 6, 1955.

The lock disclosed in said copending application is provided with a clogging mechanism which is operable to dog the outer knob of the lock against rotation and includes a dogging bar that is adapted to be shifted into clogging position upon depression of a pushbutton projecting from the inner knob. The dogging bar carries a spring clip which is engageable with a pin on the retractor of the lock and yieldingly retains the bar in dogging position. The spring clip is arranged so that it exes as the bar moves into dogging position and therefore exerts a predetermined resistance to such movement which provides the required feel or action to the pushbutton. The dogging bar is biased toward normal undogging position by a return spring so that upon retraction of the retractor and disengagement of the pin thereon from the spring clip, the clogging bar will be automatically returned to undogging position. The spring clip also supplements the force exerted by the return spring to resist unintentional movement of the bar into dogging position due to the forces of inertia as when the door is forcibly closed.

Locks provided with the above described dogging mechanism are particulariy intended for use on the doors of bedrooms and bathrooms Where privacy rather than security is the primary requirement, but are not suitable for use on exterior doors since it has been found that the dogging bar could be knocked out of dogging position by forcibly striking the outer knob of the lock with a suitable implement.

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide the dogging mechanism of the prior structure with means for preventing its release when the outer knob of the lock is struck, thereby rendering said dogging mechanism useful in door locks for exterior doors Where a high degree of security is required.

A further object of this invention is to provide means for locking the clogging bar of the door lock in clogging position so that it cannot be released other than by retraction of the retractor of the lock in the usual manner.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such locking means which may be attached to the present dogging bar with only slight modifications thereof and which do not affect the operation of the lock or cause a noticeable increase in the force required to depress the pushbutton.

Another object of this invention is to provide locking means for the dogging bar which may, if necessary, function alone and which are capable of both retaining and locking the dogging bar in clogging position.

These and other objects of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially in central horizontal atnt ricc

section, of the cylindrical door lock embodying the present invention illustrating the dogging bar in normal undogging position.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the portions of the retractor and dogging bar of the lock further illustrating the present invention.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the lock partially in central vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. l, but showing the dogging bar in dogging position and illustrating the operation of the locking spring provided by the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevational view of portions of the retractor and dogging bar illustrating said bar in dogging position as shown in Fig. 4.

The cylindrical door lock disclosed herein is particularly adapted for use on exterior doors such as, for example, those opening to porches or patios, and is so constructed that the outer knob may be dogged against operation by depression of a pushbutton extending from the inner knob. The dogging mechanism is adapted to be released when the retractor of the lock is moved into retracted position either by rotation of the inner knob or upon depression of the latch bolt as it engages the strike when the door is closed, thus preventing unintentional locking of the door as it is closed from the outside.

The basic construction of the lock is the same as that disclosed in the copending application of Frank l. McConnell et al., Serial No. 508,018, filed May 13, 1955. However, in order to permit a clear understanding of the operation of the clogging mechanism embodying the present invention, the entire lock will be briey described.

In accordance with conventional practice, the cylindrical door lock disclosed herein includes an operating unit S and a latch unit 6 which are adapted to be mounted on a door 7 in the conventional manner; said operating unit being received in a hole 8 bored through the face of the door, and the latch unit being received in a hole 9 bored into the edge of the door at right angles to `and intersecting the hole 8. The latch unit is attached to the operating unit in the usual manner as will be hereinafter pointed out.

The operating unit comprises a cylindrical casing 10 which supports the entire lock mechanism and is positioned in the bore 8 in the door by inner and outer escutcheon plates 11 and 12 respectively. In the present structure, the outer plate 12 forms the outer wall of the casing 10 as fully described in said copending application Serial No. 508,018.

Inner and outer rollback members 13 and 14 are rotatably carried by the casing 10 and are provided with axially extending tubular spindles 15 and 16 which carry the inner and the outer knobs 17 and 18 of the lock. The rollbacks are adapted to actuate a retractor 19 which is mounted for sliding movement transversely of the axis of the lock upon a retractor guide 20 that is secured within the casing 10 and said retractor is urged into normal projected position, as shown in the drawings, by a suitable compression spring 21. The retractor includes a plate portion 22 which is slidably mounted upon the guide 20 and is normally urged against the rollbacks 13 and 14. Said plate has spaced lingers 23u-23 projecting therefrom which are slidably guided in an opening in la guide plate 24 and extend through the usual opening 25 in the wall of the case whose edges receive tabs 26-26 extending from the latch unit. The retractor fingers are received in slots in a tailpiece 27 which is attached at its outer end to the latch bolt 23.

It will thus be understood that when either of the rollbacks 13 or 14 is rotated by rotation of its respective knob,

one or the other of the edges of the rollback will engage the plate 22 of Athe retractor and force it rearwardly to thereby retract the latch bolt. It will also be understood that when the latch bolt is depressed upon engagement with the strike as the door is closed, it will injturn urge the retractor into retracted position.

The dogging mechanism incorporated in the present structure of the lock for selectively preventing rotation of the outer knob includes a at, one-piece dogging bar 29 which extends axially of the lock and is attached at its inner end to a pushbutton 30 which projects from the inner knob 17. Said bar extends between the fingers 23-23 of the retractor and transversely across the plate portion 22 thereof and has a foot portion 31 at its outer end that is slidably guided in the outer spindle 16.` A dogging plate 32 is carried by the bar in alignment with slots 33 and 34 in the outer rollback 14 and plate 12, respectively. A U-shaped spring clip 35 is secured to said dogging bar and has spaced leg portions 35-a-35a extending toward the outer side of the lock and behind an offset intermediate portion 36 thereof. The leg portions of the spring clip 35 have opposed projections 3'7-37 thereon which are adapted to engage a pin 3S that extends perpendicularly from the plate 22 of the retractor, between the legs of the springclip and through a slot 39 in the dogging bar. The dogging bar is urged towards normal undogging position byla compression spring 40 and when in this position, the projections 37-37 on the spring clip 35 are disposed on the inner side of the pin 38.

In accordance with the present invention, the dogging bar is provided with a flat, elongated locking spring 41 which is secured at `its outer end to the outer end of the dogging bar by means of a perpendicular extension 41-a which extends through a hole 42 in the bar and is clamped between the foot portion 31 and the edge of the dogging plate 32.` The locking spring extends inwardly over the front side of the dogging bar and has a free end portion 43 extending rearwardly at an angle therefrom and adapted to overlie the pin 38 when the dogging bar is in undogging position as shown in Figs. l and 2. The angularly disposed free end portion of the locking spring extends into the slot 39 in the dogging bar and the sides of said slot prevent lateral movement of the spring and maintain it in proper position. The spring is so tensioned that the free end portion 38 is normally biased rearwardly against the top `of the pin and toward the dogging bar.

When it is desired to dog the outer knob of the lock against operation, `the pushbutton 30 is depressed thereby moving the entire dogging bar toward the outer side of the lock against the light pressure of the return spring 40. As the dogging bar moves toward dogging position, the legs of the spring clip 35 will yield to permit the projections 3737 thereon to pass around the pin 38. The resistance to the movement of the bar offered by the spring clip causes a slight resistance to manual depression of the pushbutton and thereby gives a decided feel to the pushbutton which is of considerable advantage. The projections 37-37 will also snap over the pin 38 to thereby indicate to the person depressing the button that the lock has been dogged.

During the movement of the dogging bar to dogging position, the free end portion 43 of the locking spring 41 will ride over the top of the pin 38, and when the bar has been fully depressed, as determined by engagement of the end of the slot 39 therein with the pin 38, said free end portion will be biased rearwardly toward the dogging bar to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 wherein the free end of the locking spring is disposed in interfering position relatively to the pin 38 to thereby lock the bar in dogging position wherein the dogging plate 32 is disposed in the slots 33 and 3.4 in the outer rollback and the plate 12, respectively, and preventsrotation ofthe outer rollback and of the outer knob.

When the retractor is moved to retracted position either by rotation of the inner knob or upon depression of the latch bolt, the pin 38 will be carried rearwardly out of engagement with the spring clip 35 and the locking spring 43 to thereby release the bar, whereupon the return spring 40 will return the bar to undogging position. As the retractor returns to normal position, the pin 38 will pass between the legs of the spring clip, through the slot 39 in the bar and will engage the under side of the free end portion 43 of the locking spring and will flex said spring to the position shown in Fig. l.

It will be noted that the locking spring could, in itself, function to retain the dogging bar in dogging position in case the spring clip should break or for some other reason be rendered inoperative. However, it is preferred to retain the spring clip in order to provide the necessary operating characteristics to the pushbutton 30.

I claim:

1. ln a door lock, a retractor for a latch bolt movable transversely of the axis of the lock, a dogging bar extending transversely of said retractor and movable axially of the lock between undogging and dogging positions, said dogging bar having an elongated slot therein intermediate its ends and adjacent said retractor, a return spring urging said bar toward undogging position, a projection on said retractor extending through said slot and providing an abutment surface facing the outer side of the lock, an elongated locking spring having one end secured to the outer end of said dogging bar and extending inwardly thereover, said locking spring having an inner free end opposed to said abutment and extending inwardly thereover when the dogging bar is in undogging position, said free end being biased toward said abutment and movable into engagement therewith when the dogging bar is shifted into dogging position to thereby retain the bar in said position until the retractor is retracted whereupon said abutment is carried out of engagement with the free end of said locking spring and the dogging bar is returned to undogging position by said return spring.

2. In a door lock, a retractor for a latch bolt movable transversely of the axis of the lock, a dogging bar extending transversely of said retractor and shiftable axially of the lock between undogging and dogging positions, said dogging bar having an elongated slot therein intermediate its ends and adjacent said retractor, a return spring urging said dogging bar toward undogging position, a projection extending from said retractor into said slot and having an abutment surface facing the outer side of the lock, an elongated locking spring having one end secured to the outer end of said dogging bar and extending inwardly thereover, said spring having an angularly disposed inner free end portion overlying said projection when the bar is in undogging postion and extending into said slot whereby the sides of said slot maintain its free end in alignment with said abutment surface, said free end being biased toward said abutment surface and movable into engagement therewith when the `dogging bar is shifted into dogging position to thereby retain the bar in said position.

3. In a door lock, a retractor for a latch bolt movable transversely of the lock, a dogging bar extending transversely of the retractor and shiftable axially of the lock between a projected position in which the lock is undogged and a depressed position in which the lock is dogged, a return spring urging the bar toward undogging position, a projection on said retractor, a first spring carried by said dogging bar having portions engageable with said projection to yieldingly resist movement of the bar into undogging position, said first spring being adapted to yield to permit said portions to pass over said projection as the dogging bar is manually depressed, and a Second spring carried by said dogging bar having a free end portion adapted to engage said projection when the bar has been moved into dogging position to thereby lock the bar in said position.

4. In a door lock, a retractor for a latch bolt movable transversely of the axis of the lock, a dogging bar extending transversely of the retractor and shiftable axially of the lock between a projected position in which the lock is undogged and a depressed position in which the lock is dogged, a return spring urging the dogging bar toward undogging position, a projection on said retractor, a U-shaped spring clip secured to said dogging bar inwardly of said projection and having spaced legs with opposed portions adapted to engage said projection to yieldingly resist movement of the dogging bar into undogging position, said spring clip being adapted to yield to permit said portions to pass over said projection as the dogging bar is manually depressed, and an elongated locking spring secured at one end to the outer end of said dogging bar and extending inwardly thereover, said locking spring having a free end portion adapted to overlie said projection when the dogging bar is in undogging position and being biased theretoward whereby said free end is adapted to move into engagement with said projection when the dogging bar is shifted into dogging position to thereby lock said bar in said position.

5. In a door lock, a retractor movable transversely to the axis of the lock and adapted to be connected to a latch bolt, a dogging bar extending axially of the lock and shiftable transversely of said retractor toward the outer side of the lock from a projected position in which the lock is undogged to a depressed position in which the lock is dogged, an abutment on said retractor facing the outer side of the lock, a locking spring carried by said dogging bar and having a free end facing the inner side of the lock and aligned with said abutment, said free end being biased toward said abutment and movable into engagement therewith when the dogging bar is shifted into ldogging position to thereby lock said bar in dogging position until the retractor is retracted, whereupon said abutment is carried out of engagement with the free end of said locking spring, and a return spring urging said bar toward projected position.

6. In a door lock, a retractor movable transversely to the axis of the lock and adapted to be connected to a latch bolt, a dogging bar extending axially of the lock and shiftable transversely of said retractor toward the outer side of the lock from a projected position in which the lock is undogged to a depressed position in which the lock is dogged, a projection extending from said retractor adjacent said dogging bar and having an abutment surface facing the outer side of the lock, an elongated locking spring overlying said dogging bar and having one end secured thereto and a free end facing the inner side of the lock and aligned with said abutment surface, said free end being biased toward said abutment surface and movable into engagement therewith when the dogging bar is shifted into dogging position to thereby retain said bar in dogging position until the retractor is retracted, whereupon said projection is carried out of engagement with the free end of said locking spring, and a return spring urging said bar toward projected position.

7. ln a door lock, a dogging bar extending axially of the lock and shiftable toward its outer side from a projected position in which the lock is undogged to a depressed position in which the lock is dogged, a retractor for a latch bolt movable transversely to `the axis of the lock and having a portion disposed behind said dogging bar, a projection extending forwardly from lsaid portion of the retractor adjacent said dogging bar, said projection having an abutment surface disposed substantially perpendicular to said dogging bar and facing the outer side of the lock, an elongated flat locking spring secured at one end to the outer end of said dogging bar and extending inwardly over its forward side, said locking spring having a free end portion overlying said projection when the dogging bar is in projected position, the free end of said spring being normally biased rearwardly toward said projection and movable into engagement with said abutment surface when the dogging bar is shifted into dogging position to thereby retain said bar in said position until the retractor is retracted, whereupon said projection is carried out of engagement with the free end of said lockin-g spring, and a return spring urging said dogging bar into projected position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,038,907 Schlage Apr. 28, 1936 2,299,180 Schlage Oct. 20, 1942 2,63 3,732 Heizmann Apr. 7, 1953

Images