US615076A - Latch - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

W. E. LUTT.

LATCH.

(Application fded Mar. '7, 1898.)

Ill

Patented Nov. 29, |898.

Nrrn .STATES ATnN'r anic.

VILLIAM EDWTARD IJOTT, OF MINEOLA, TEXAS.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,076, dated November 29, 1898.

Application filed March 7, 1898. Serial No. 672,86 '7. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM EDWARD Lorr, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Mineola, in the county of Wood and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches,of which the following is a speciflcatiomreference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in locks and latches, and particularly to that class known as gravity-latches, the object being to provide novel means whereby a gate or car or other door may be held closed by a catch so arranged as to automatically effect a lockingengagement with a member carried by said gate or door.

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the parts that they are applicable to sliding or swinging gates or doors, with either of which equal efliciency is acquired. Furthermore, provision is made for attaching the ordinary car-seal in such a manner that the latch cannot be released without destroying the seal. Other means are also provided for locking the parts in engagement.

Finally, the object of the invention is to produce a vlock of the character described which will be strong and durable, satisfactory in use, and comprising few parts so arranged as to allow ready substitution to renew those worn or broken, thus making it comparatively inexpensive to produce and sustain.

Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of con struction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part 0f this specication,where in like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure I is a view of a section of a car provided with a sliding door with my latch applied. Fig. 2 illustrates myinvention as applied to a swinging door or gate. Figs. 3, 1l, 5, 6, and 7 are detail views of the several parts of the invention.

In Fig. l of the drawings, l denotes the door-frame of an ordinary car, 2 the side of the boxcar, and 3 the sliding door. To the side of the car I bolt an arm 4, havin ga slotted extension 5 at its free end. Near the end of the extension and transversely thereof I provide apertures to receive a pivotal pin which supports the gravity-latch 6, said latch being approximately semicircular, with the end enlarged, as shown at 7, so that its descent may be limited. The edge 8 of the latch is slightly concaved, so as to prevent any cam action in case an attempt is made to push the door open without elevating the latch. This arrangement will prevent any accidental openin g of the door. But the edge 9 is curved that it may ride over the opposite locking member as it comes in contact therewith. The opposite locking member consists of an arm 10, attached to the door, having a slotted extension IO, said arm being rounded at its free end, which engages the latch. The extension is so arranged as to occupy a slightly-lower plane than that of the latch-arm 4.

After the parts are in locked position an effort to slide the door open would result in an engagement between the extension of the arm l0 and the concaved edge 8 of the latch, and since the force would thus be applied below the point at which the latch is pivoted v the tendency would be to press the latch down;

but since its further descent is obviated by the enlargement 7 engaging the arm 4.- it will be apparent that an efficient locking action results. The arms in this arrangement are provided with offsets to allow for the thickness of the door, duc., so that the locking parts are brought into operative position, (as here shown in vertical alinement.) The end of the latch 6 from the pivotal point is so curved as to clear the arm lO as it is pressed down in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. I. An aperture I2 in the latch admits a car-seal, or, if desired, a lock may be used in this position, or it may encircle the latch with the same result.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the invention applied to a swinging door,and in this arrangement ct denotes an ordinary door-jamb, and h an arm extending outwardly therefrom, said ,arm being slotted to receive the latch,which is in all respects the same as described in connection with Fig. l. c is an arm attached tothe door, provided with a slotted extension which receives the latch. In this construction the concaved edge 8 of the latch is adapted to engage the end S of the slotted portion of the arm should the door have a tendency to swing open and accidental displacement of the latch will be prevented. As the door swings shut the arm d will come in contact with the rounded edge 9 and said latch will be elevated until the slot registers with the latch.

The construction, operation, and advantages will, it is thought, be understood from the above, it being noted that changes in the proportions and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secu re by Let-ters Patent, is-

I. In combination with a sliding door, two arms having slotted extensions, a curved latch having a concaved edge 8, and an outwardlycurved edge 9, pivoted in the slot of one arm and adapted to fall within the slot of the opposite arm, as and for the purpose described.

2. In a device of the character described, an arm having a slotted extension, a latch pivoted within said extension, said latch having a concaved edge 8 and outwardly-curved edge 9, said latch having its end opposite the pivot enlarged, and an arm secured to the door, said arm having a slotted extension adapted to register with the slot of the firstnamed arm, whereby the latch is allowed to fall through said slot and lock the arms together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM ED\VARD LOT'l. XVitnesses:

II. M. GATE, ERNEST L. BRUCE.

Images