Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to door locks and par-
ticularly a spring latch and dead bolt lock assembly
combination.
With the progressive increasing incidents of unlawful
entry into locked premises there have at the same time
been appreciable increases in employment of dead locks
built into what are commonly identified as key-in-knob
locks. Such key-in-knob locks offer relatively little
security because, whether or not the dead lock feature
is included, there is no more than about one-half inch
bolt projection. To compound the deficiency when a
one-eighth inch minimum gap between the door jam is
maintained there remains no more than about three- -
eighths inches of maximum positive engagement of the
latch bolt with the strike plate. When an installation
of such character is the object of unlawful entry the
door jam can be spread slightly further away from the
door using any one of a number of conventional prys
which is sufficient to have the latch bolt clear the
strike and permit the door to be swung open. The three-
eighths inch or less engagement is so little that on
some occasions it may be possible to pry the latch bolt
back by merely inserting a credit card into the clear- ,
ance until it engages the latch bolt.
In appreciation of these limitations there has been a
considerable increase in the use of auxiliary dead
bolts. Although such auxiliary dead bolts add appreci-
ably to the security of an installation they are an
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extra piece of hardware, require an additional in-
stallation hole in the door and the door jam, and
frequently reguire an additional key, where they cannot
be keyed to match the key-in-knob lock set. Such in-
stallations further complicate the inside panic pros-
pect which needs to be guarded against and which is
apt to be more prevalent as the security expedient is
increased.
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new
and improved door lock of the type wherein the latch
bolt serves simultaneously either as a spring latch or
a dead bolt lock in an arrangement such that the latch
bolt is normally extended to the spring latch position
but which can be further extended by key action in the
outside knob, by comparable activity on the inside
which may be either a turn button if desired or other
means, whereby to extend the latch bolt to dead bolt
position, the latch bolt then being capable of being
unlocked either by key actuation on the outside or by
merely knob action on the inside.
Thus, the present invention provides a door lock acting
as a combination spring latch and dead bolt comprising
a latch bolt subassembly with a cam engaging means thereon
and adapted to move between a partially extended spring
latch position, a dead bolt position, and a withdrawn
position, latch bolt actuating means comprising a spindle
means and a main cam member on said spindle means having
an operating engagement with said cam engaging means, a
key actuated outside knob member in operating engagement
~, .,
with said spindle means, an inside knob member having
a turn member thereon in operating engagement with said
spindle means, outside driving means adapted to engage
said spindle means for driving said spindle means in
a rotating direction, an outside drive housing having
a transversely reciprocating path of movement and adapted
to engage said outside driving means, and a cam drive
between said outside knob member and said outside
drive housing an inside driving means adapted to
emgage said spindle means for driving said spindle
means in a rotating direction, an inside drive housing
having a transversely reciprocating path of movement
and adapted to engage said inside drive means and a
cam drive between said inside knob member and said
inside drive housing, a clear way between said outside
drive housing and said outside drive means when said
latch bolt subassembly is in dead bolt position whereby
the outside knob member is free of operating engage-
ment with said spindle means when the latch bolt sub-
assembly is in dead bolt position.
The present invention will be best understood from thefollowing description of the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIGURE 1 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view of
a door and a door jamb showing a complete lock set mounted
in operating position;
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FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line
2 - 2 of Figure l;
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3 - 3
of Figure 2;
FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 3
in a different position of operationi
FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of the latch bolt
subassembly, with the latch bolt in spring latch posi-
tion on the line 5 - 5 of Figure 1;
FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6 - 6
of Figure 2;
FIGURE 7 is a cross-sectional view on the line 7 - 7 of
Figure 2;
FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the latch bolt
assembly similar to Figuxe 5 but in a withdrawn position;
FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 6
with parts in position for latch bolt retracted;
FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 7
with parts in position for latch bolt retracted;
FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the latch bolt
subassembly similar to Figure 5 but with the latch bolt
in dead bolt position;
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FIGURE 12 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure
6 with parts in locked position;
FIGURE 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure
7 with parts in locked position;
FIGURE 14 is an exploded perspective view with the
latch bolt subassembly disassembled;
FIGURE 15 is an exploded perspective view to slightly
larger scale with the escutcheon housings disassembled;
FIGURE 16 is a transverse fragmentary sectional view of
a door and door jamb showing a second form of a com-
plete lock set mounted in operating position;
FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the
line 17-17 of Figure 16;
FIGURE 18 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the
line 18 - 18 of Figure 16; and
FIGURE 19 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the
line 19 - 19 of Figure 16.
An embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose
of illustration features a lock set of the type used on
outside doors of houses, apartments and comparable
structures.
The combination of spring/dead bolt lock is shown
mounted on a fragment of door 10 which is adapted to
swing relative to a door jam 11. The device consists
in the main of an outer trim 12 applied to an outside
surface 13 of the door 10, an inner trim 14 applied
to the inside surface 15 of the door and a latch bolt
subassembly 16. The latch bolt subassembly includes
a latch bolt 17 reciprocatably mounted in a face and
case assembly 18 so that it can project through a hole
19 in a strike plate 20, the strike plate 20 being
attached to the door jam 11 over a latch bolt recess
21. A face plate 22 is attached to an edge face 23
of the door 10 by means of appropriate screws 24. An
edge hole 25 extending inwardly from the edge face 23
accomodates the face and case assembly 18 together
with a latch bolt subassembly operating with it. A
transverse hole 26 intersects the edge hole and accomo-
dates the sundry operating parts of the combination
spring/dead bolt lock.
As shown in the drawings the door 10 has been mounted
for swinging between open and closed position relative
to the door jam 11 in an arrangement such that there
is a gap or clearance 27 of a conventional distance
through which the latch bolt 17 must extend before en-
gaging the strike plate 20.
The latch bolt subassembly 16 is of substantially con-
ventional construction and operation such as has been
disclosed in U.S. Patent No.3,751,085 to Saunders, et
al. dated August 7, 1973 and U.S. Patent No. 3,790,196
to Saunders, et al. dated February 5, 1974. More
particularly there is provided in the latch bolt sub-
assembly a bolt extension 35 attached to the latch
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bolt 17 by means of a roll pin 36. The bolt extension
35 is slidably accommodated in a case extension 37
wherein shoes 38 on opposite sides of the bolt exten-
sion are guided by tracks 39 on the case extension.
A compression spring 42 acting between the bolt ex-
tension 35 and a shoulder 43 of the case extension,
serving as a spring keeper, serves normally to urge
the latch bolt and bolt extension outwardly to extended
position.
Assembled in the latch bolt subassembly is a main cam
member 45 consisting of a latch cam 46 extending
radially outwardly from a hub 47 about which the latch
cam is adapted to rotate. On a forward face 48 of the
latch cam is a detent notch 49 which in one position,
Figure 11, of the latch cam is adapted to engage a cam
engaging shoulder 50 extending transversely of the
latch bolt extension 35. On a rearward face 51 of the
latch cam is another detent notch 52 adapted to engage
another transversely extending cam engaging shoulder
53 of the bolt extension 35. An opening 54 intermed-
iate the cam engaging shoulders 50 and 53 accomodates
the latch cam.
Flat springs 55 and 56 which span the distance, Figures
5 & 8, between appropriate spring keepers 57 and 58 on
the case extension 37 are positioned to engage a pro-
jection 59 from the hub 47 so as to releasably hold
the latch cam in over center position when the latch
bolt subassembly is extended or withdrawn.
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Forming part of what has previously been referred to
as the outer trim 12 is an outside knob 65 rotatably
mounted on an outside rose 66. The knob houses a sub-
stantially conventional key actuated mechanism 64,
adapted to be manipulated by a key 68. Posts 69 and
70 attached to the inside face of the rose 66 extend
through the transverse hole 26 to positions adjacent
an inside rose 71 for an inside knob 72 where the posts
are engaged by trim attaching screws 73 and 74. The
key actuated mechanism in the outside kno~ 65 is oper-
ably attached to a spindle or tail piece 75, the spin-
dle or tail piece being of a length such that it ex-
tends through the door to a position of engagement with
a turn buttom or thumb turn 76, rotatably mounted in
the inside knob 72.
As shown to good advantage in the exploded Figures 14
& 15 of the drawing the spindle 75 projects through a
slot 77 the main cam member 45. As a result of this
arrangement the main cam member is rotated either by
action of the key 68 or by action of the turn button
or thumb turn 76. Rotation in one direction projects
the latch bolt 17 to dead bolt position. Rotation in
the opposite direction withdraws the latch bolt to a
completely withdrawn position.
For mounting the outside knob 65 in the outside rose 66
the outside knob is provided with a shank 85 extending
through the rose 66 to which it is secured by action of
a combination cam and retaining washer 86, the cam and
retaining washer being staked to the shank 85. On the
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. g
cam and retaining washer are two projections 87 spaced
180 degrees from each oth~r and which act as a rotation-
al stop for the knob 65 when the outer trim 12 is locked
by hitting posts 69 and 70. A raised surface 89 ad-
jacent one of the projecting stops serves to activatean outside drive housing 98.
An outside escutcheon housing 90 is provided with holes
91 and 92 for accomodation of the posts 69 and 70, the
escutcheon housing 90 being such that it is capable of
being drawn up snuggly against the inside face of the
outside rose 66. An opening 93 accommodates the cam
and retaining washer 86, Figures 14 and 15.
On the inner side of the outside escutcheon housing
are blocks 94 and 95 provided with inwardly directed
faces 96 and 97 spaced apart so as to provide a slot
or guideway between them. Slidably mounted in the
guideway is the outside drive housing 98 in the guise
of a slide which is capable of sliding in a transverse
direction within the guideway. A transversely extend-
ing aperture 99 in the outside drive housing 98 ac-
commodates the spindle 75 and allows drive housing to
slide transversely with respect to the spindle.
On the outer face 100 of the outside drive housing 98
are ledges 101 and 102 serving as cam ways for engage-
ment by one end edge or the other of the raised surface89 of the cam and retaining washer 86. It is the action
of the end edges of the raised portion on the ledges
which give the outside drive housing motion in a trans-
verse direction, namely diametrically with respect to
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the axis of the spindle 75. Bosses 103 and 104 provide
adequate thickness in order for the ledges to be formed,
Figures 2, 3, and 4.
On the inner face 106 of the outside drive housing 98
is another pair of bosses 107 and 108, located at the
opposite end of the aperture 99, which provide ledges
109 and 110, also serving as cam ways. These last men-
tioned ledges or cam ways are designed to cooperate
with a cam finger 111 which extends radially outwardly
from the hub 112. In the hub is a slot 113 for recep-
tion of the spindle 75 so that shifting the cam finger
111 causes the hub to rotate the spindle 75, thus pro-
viding an outside driving means.
Actually there is a second slot 114 angularly disposed
with respect to the slot 113, likewise adapted to re-
ceive the spindle. The second slot 114 is made use of
when the device is readjusted for installation on a
door which opens in the opposite direction. In a sense
the hub serves as a hub cam, the hub cam and cam finger
serving as a driving means for the spindle, and as a
consequence a driving means for the latch bolt sub-
assembly.
For confining the outside drive housing 98 in its re-
ciprocating position an escutcheon cover 115 is applied
to the surfaces of the blocks 94 and 95 and secured
thereto by appropriate pegs 116, riveted over or stak-
ing the cover in place. Holes 117 and 118 in the cover
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coincide with the respective holes 91 and 92 in the
escutcheon housing 90 for accommodation of the posts
69 and 70 (Figure 15).
For normally urging the outside drive housing 98 toward
one end of its transverse direction of travel, namely
upwardly as shown, there are provided springs 119 and
120 received in respective recesses 121 and 122 where-
in they press against bottoms 123 and 124 of the re-
cesses. Opposite ends of the springs are retained by
spring keepers 125 and 126 which extend from the ad-
jacent face of the escutcheon cover 115.
The inner trim 14 and associated parts are substan-
tially the same as the outer trim 12 and its associated
parts, except that the key actuated mechanism of the
lS outer trim is replaced by the turn button 76 in the
inner trim.
In a similar fashion an appropriate shank 135 enables
the inside knob 72 to be attached rotatably on the in-
side rose 71 by employment of a cam and retaining
washer 13Ç in the same manner as has been described
for the outside knob and outside rose. There is also
a similar inside escutcheon housing 137 with approp-
riate holes 138 and 139 for the posts 69 and 70 and an
opening 140 for accommodation of the inside cam and
retaining washer 136.
An inside drive housing 141 is identical with respect
to the outside drive housing 98 except that it is re-
versed side for side and end for end in its position
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1135(i70
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with respect to the other operating parts. An inside
escutcheon cover 142 acts in the same fashion as the
outside escutcheon cover 115, to hold the inside drive
housing 141 in its reciprocating position within an
S appropriate guideway 143.
An inside cam finger 144 and its hub 145 is substan-
tially the same as the outside cam finger 111 and its
hub 112 except for one slight difference. The inside
hub 145 has a single slot 146 for reception of the
spindle 75 but the disposition of the slot in its
angular relationship to the cam finger 144 is slightly
different. This different angular relationship is
relied on to enable rotation of the inside knob to be
always capable of withdrawing the latch bolt, as by
inside driving means.
In operation, let it be assumed that when ihe device
is serving as a spring latch the key operated mechan-
ism is in unlocked position, as is also the turn but-
ton 76. When this condition prevails, the compression
spring 42 is acting to extent the bolt extension 35
and attached latch bolt 17 outwardly to the position
of Figures 2 and 5. As thus extended, the latch bolt
will span the gap 27 and project into the hole 19 in
the strike plate 20. The distance extended is normally
about one-half inch.
When thus extended, the latch bolt can be withdrawn
by rotating either the outside knob 65 or the inside
knob 72. If it be the outside knob which is rotated,
Figures 2, 3, and 4, that rotation in turn will rotate
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the cam and retaining washer 86, in one direction or
the other as the case may be. Depending on which is
the direction of rotation, one end or the other of
the ~aised surface 89 will move downwardly into en-
gagement with the corresponding ledge 101 or 102serving as a cam way. This will cause the outside
drive housing 98 to move downwardly forcing the ledge
110, serving as a cam way into engagement with the
cam finger 111 thereby to rotate the hub 112 in a
clockwise direction (see Figures 6 and 7). Movement
as described will cause the spindle 75 to likewise
rotate in a clockwise direction. When the spindle 75
rotates as described the main cam member 45 and its
latch cam 46 will move its rearward face 51 against
the cam engaging shoulder 53 of the bolt extension 35,
causing it to move in a direction from left to right
as viewed in Figures 5 and 8. As a consequence the
latch bolt 17 will be withdrawn.
Should it be in the inside knob which is rotated under
these circumstances it will be the cam and retaining
washer which is rotated so that one end or the other
of the corresponding raised surface 89 will be moved
against a corresponding ledge 101, 102 of the inside
drive housing 141, serving as a cam way. In this in-
stance the drive housing is moved upwardly, the up-
ward movement causing the ledges 109, 110 serving as
cam ways to move upwardly as shown in Figure 10. In
this particular example the ledge 110 serving as a cam
way moves against the cam finger 144 causing it to
rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in
Figure 10 together with its hub 145. The counterclock-
wise motion causes the spindle 75 to rotate in a
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counterclockwise direction, the result of which is to
rotate the main cam member 45 in the same manner as
previously described thereby to withdraw the latch
bolt 17. Since Figures 6 and 10 are viewed in oppo-
site directions -the net effect on the spindle 75 is
the same.
Let it now be assumed that the latch bolt is to be
extended to dead bolt position, namely, in the posi-
tion of Figure 11. This can be accomplished either
by action of the key 68 or the turn button 76.Ifthe key
68 is rotated the key actuated mechanism 64 serves to
rotate the spindle 75 in a counterclockwise direction
as viewed in Figures 11 and 12. This has the effect
of rotating the main cam member 45 in counterclockwise
direction moving the forward face 48 against the cam
engaging shoulder 50 of the bolt extension 35. The
end result is shifting the latch bolt outwardly to
full extended dead bolt position as shown in Figure
ll. In that position the detent notch 49 engages the
cam engaging shoulder 50 so that the latch bolt is in
effect locked in the outwardly extended position.
The same result is accomplished when the turn button
is rotated. Such rotation also results in the counter-
clockwise rotation of the spindle with the same sequence
of events causing extension of the latch bolt to dead
bolt position. In that position the latch bolt can
be withdrawn by rotation of the inside knob 72 but
cannot be withdrawn by rotation of the outside knob 65.
1135~70
The reason for being able to withdraw the latch bolt
by action of the inside knob 72 is because, whether
the latch bolt is in the spring latch position of
Figure 5, partially extended, or the dead bolt posi-
tion of Figure 11, fully extended, the angular dis-
position of the cam finger 144 for the inside hub 145
is such that it continues to lie in the path of move-
ment of the ledges 110. Consequently rotation of the
inside knob and its cam and retaining washer 136,
when acting to move the inside drive housing 141 in
a transverse direction, serves to rotate the main mem-
bers, in any event, and thereby withdraw the latch
bolt until it clears the strike plate.
On the contrary, when the latch bolt is fully extended
to dead bolt position rotation on the outside knob
will not have the effect described. This is because,
as viewed in Figure 12, the cam finger 111 of the out-
side driving means or hub 112 has an angular disposi-
tion such that it lies within the clear way inter-
mediate the bosses 107 and 10~. In that position thecam finger 111 cannot be engaged by either of the
ledges 109 or 110. Consequently even though the out-
side knob 65 can be rotated, causing the outside drive
housing 98 to move transversely in the usual path and
for the usual distance, it has no effect on the spindle
and consequently no effect upon the latch bolt.
The latch bolt can however be withdrawn from dead bolt
position by manipulation of the key 68. The key, act-
ing through the key actuated mechanism (not shown) in
the outside knob 65 rotates the spindle 75 directly
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and as a consequence the main ca~ member 45 is rotated
so as to shift the bolt extension inwardly the neces-
sary distance thereby withdrawing the latch bolt,
against tension of the compression spring 42. Once
the key is released together with the outside handle
65 the compression spring 42 will return the latch
bolt to its partially extended spring latch position.
It is significant that when the latch bolt is released
after having been withdrawn and is urged outwardly by
the compression spring 42, the detent notch 52 will
catch on the edge of the cam engaging shoulder 53 and
hold the latch bolt assembly in that position namely
the partially extended spring latch position, approxi~
mately a one-half inch projection. From this position
retraction of the latch in any r,~anner as by slamming
the door or pushing it with the finger, with subsequent
urging of the bolt outwardly by the spring 42, the
latch bolt will stop at the same position thereby al-
ways projecting the bolt only as far as the spring
2~ latch position, approximately one-half inch outwardly.
The flat springs 55, 56 serve as a damper to inertia
created in the main cam member 45 when the latch bolt
is released suddenly thus preventing accidental over-
ride of the detent notch 52. To force the latch bolt
to the fully extended dead bolt position rotation of
the key 68 on one hand or rotation of the turn button
76 on the other hand can be made with sufficient force
to overcome the detenting action just described.
11~5070
~n interesting incident to the structure and opera-
tion just described is that rotational movement of
either of the knobs in either direction of rotation
is translated into transverse movement of one or
another of the drive housings. The transverse move-
ment ultimately causes rotation in one direction only
of the spindle 75, the main cam 45, and as a conse-
quence linear movement of the latch bolt 17.
- In a second form of the invention, particulars of
which are illustrated in Figures 16 through 19 in-
clusive, the turn hutton 76 for the inside knob 72 is
replaced with a key actuated means 150 adapted to be
manipulated by a key 68'. The keys 68 and 68' are
duplicates. A shank 151 for the inside knob 72
serves the same purpose as the shank 85 for the outside
key actuated mechanism 64 in that it engages the in-
side cam and retaining washer 136. The inside knob 72
therefore operates in the same manner as the outside
knob 65.
When two separate key actuated mechanisms are employed,
as in the second form of the invention, the spindle
then needs to be divided into two separate spindle
elements 75a and 75b. The spindle element 75a is in
engagement with the outside key actuating means 64 and
the spindle element 75b is in engagement with the in-
side key actuating means 150. These spindle elements
are in overlapped relationship and adapted to slide
endwise relative to each other, so that the lock can
accommodate doors of different thicknesses. In the
embodiment shown the spindle elements 75a and 75b are
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in overlapped relationship not only within the main
cam member 45 but may also be in overlapped relation-
ship within the hub 112' of the outside driving means
and the hub 145' of the inside driving means. Because
of the overlapped relation~hip a slo~ 77' in the hub
47' of the main cam 45 must have double the width to
accommodate the double thickness of the tWQ spindle
elements 75a and 75b. Similarily, when the spindle
elements are as long as are shown with a door of sub-
stantially minimum thickness the spindle elements,overlapping in the hub 112' of the outside driving
means necessitate crossed slots 113' and 114' of
double their previous width. The same circumstance
applies to the crossed slots 146' and 147' in the hub
145' of the inside driving means.
In the operation of the second form of the device,
the key 68' is necessarily inserted in the inside key
actuated means 150 to rotate the spindle extending or
withdrawing the latch bolt 17 to or from the fully
extending dead bolt position. In this second form of
the device the inside knob 72. although made use of
for withdrawing the latch bolt from the partially ex-
tended spring latch position, no longer has the panic
feature of the first form of the invention which per-
mits it also to withdraw the latch bolt from the fullyextended dead bolt position.
