Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background of the Invention:
This invention relates to a knob assembly for
doorlatches and, more particularly, to such an assembly
having an improved free knob rotation which freely
5. rotates when locked, or an improved front end loading
which permits simple lock changing, or both. In the
improved free knob rotation, the knob will rotate freely
when locked and will become engaged in the normal manner
when positioned for operation. Furthermore, the change
10. between the lock and operating modes can be from an
exterior lock, if provided, or an interior operator of
one type or another, with or without an exterior lock.
Still in addition, both the improved free knob rotation
and the improved front end loading are of simplified
15. forms over those previously provided and are constructed
properly operable over a long period of useful life.
Various types of free knob rotations have
heretofore been provided incorporated in various of the
prior doorlatches. Basically, all of the free knob
20. rotations have been similarly operable. In the locked
position, the mechanism for the free knob rotation is
set to permit the knob to rotate freely so that it does
not actuate the particular latch construction, thereby
providing increased safety. When, however, the free
25. knob rotation is set to an operable position, motion is
~264343
transmitted through the knob into the latch constr~ction
for operating the same in the usual manner. Such free
knob rotation mechanisms may operate totally alone
without a lock being involved or may operate in
5. conjunction with a lock so as to provide a second
locking means in addition to the lock.
As far as the various constructions of free
knob rotations are concerned, all o the prior
constructions have been quite complicated, both to
10. fabricate and assemble, yet they still are not totally
positive of operation as far as many are concerned and,
particularly, over a long period of life. One basic
difficulty is that the entire structure must be of
relatively small size in order to fit the size
15. limitations of the latch constructions in doors. The
more sophisticated the construction of free knob
rotation is concerned, the small size requires increased
precision of workmanship resulting in a relatively
complex and expensive construction as far as the prior
20. constructions are concerned.
In addition, the provision of the front end
loading lock mechanisms have suffered from the same
disabilities. In this case, the operator mounting the
lock, such as a knob, is constructed so that the lock
25. may be removed and replaced directly from the knob
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without disassembly of other parts o~ the doorlatch. The lock
is formed as a cylinder and plug assembly so that the unitary
lock is inserted and engaged or disengaged and removed relatively
expeditiously.
The major difficulty with the prior constructions has,
again, been involved with a relatively small size, yet of
sufficient strength to suit the particular purpose involved with
doorlatch constructions. The engagement means between the lock
unit and knob or other type of operator have resulted in
relatively complex constructions, all between the lock unit and
knob. The result is that the overall constructions have been
quite complicated in assembly and expensive to produce.
SummarY of the Invention:
According to one aspect of the present invention there
is provided, in a latch construction of the type for mounting in
doors and the like and having a latch driving mechanism mounted
within the door operably connected to exterior and interior
operators for driving a latch bolt between extended and retracted
positions projecting from a door edge the improvements
including: said exterior operator having an outer shell thereof
mounted freely rotatable, a part of said exterior operator
radially inwardly of said outer shell being directly rotationally
disconnected from said outer shell, said outer shell terminating
axially inwardly in a mounting collar; cam means adjacent said
exterior operator mounting collar movable between engaged and
disengaged positions, said cam means in engaged position
1~64~43
interrupting said free rotation and transmitting movement from
said exterior operator outer shell to said latch driving
mechanism for driving said latch bolt, said cam means in
disengaged position freeing said exterior operator outer shell
for said free rotation; positioning means operably connected to
said cam means for selectively shifting said cam means between
said engaged and disengaged positions.
According to a further aspect of the present invention
there is provided, in a latch construction of the type for
mounting in doors and the like and having a latch driving
mechanism mounted within the door operably connected to exterior
and interior operators for driving a latch bolt between extended
and retracted positions pro~ecting from a door edge; the
improvements including: said exterior operator having at least
an outer shell thereof mounted freely rotatable, said outer shell
terminating axially inwardly in a mounting collar; cam means
adjacent said exterior operator mounting collar movable between
engaged and disengaged positions, said cam means in engaged
position interrupting said free rotation and transmitting
movement from said exterior operator outer shell to said latch
driving mechanism for driving said latch bolt, said cam means in
disengaged position freeing said exterior operator outer shell
for said free rotation; positioning means operably connected to
said cam means for selectively shifting said cam means between
said engaged and disengaged positions; said exterior operator
mounting collar having at least one engagement notch formed
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therein positioned engageable and disengageable by said cam
means.
According to yet another aspect of the present
invention there is provided in a latch constr~ction of the type
for mounting in doors and the like and having a latch driving
mechanism mounted within the door operably connected to exterior
and interior operators for driving a latch bolt between extended
and retracted positions projecting from a door edge; the
improvements including: said exterior operator having at least
an outer shell thereof mounted freely rotatable, said outer shell
terminating axially inwardly in a mounting collar; cam means
adjacent said exterior operator mounting collar movable between
engaged and disengaged positions, said cam means in engaged
position interrupting said free rotation and transmitting
movement from said exterior operator outer shell to said latch
driving mechanism for driving said latch bolt, said cam means in
disengage~ position freeing said exterior operator outer shell
for said free rotation; positioning means operably connected to
sa$d cam means for selectively shifting said cam means between
said engaged and disengaged positions; said cam means comprising
a cam adjacent said exterior operator mounting collar and a
locking slide movable relative thereto, said locking slide
engaging and disengaging said exterior operator mounting collar.
According to a still further aspect of the present
invention there ~s provided in a latch construction of the type
for mounting in doors and the like having a latch mechanism
mounted within the door operably connected to at least an
lZ6A343
exterior operator retracted positlons pro~ecting from a door
edge; the improvements including: said lock being of the type
unitarily insertable for use axlally into and removable for
replacement from said exterior operator; said lock having a
cylinder rotatably mounting a plug; securement means on said lock
axially inward of said cylinder axially abutting said cylinder
and rotatable exactly with said plug, said securement means
preventing outward axial movement of said plug relative to said
cylinder, said plug and securement means being rotatable between
a lock non-secured position and a lock secured position;
engagement means on said exterior operator disengaged from said
securement means when said securement means is in said non-
secured position and outwardly axially engaged with said
securement means holding said lock in operable position when
said securement means is engaged with said engagement means and
moved to said lock secured position a key in said lock plug
turnable to certain posltions for rotating said plug to rotate
said securement means said securement means comprising a C-shaped
retaining collar with an opening therein secured on said lock
plug at an inner end of said cylinder rotatable with said lock
plug for movement between said lock non-secured and lock secured
position; and in which said lock cylinder has a recess formed
therein opening outwardly at said lock cylinder inner end, said
C-shaped retaining collar having said opening movable with said
lock plug to said recess in said lock non-secured position and
away from said recess to said lock secured position.
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Brief DescriPtion of the Drawinqs:
FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of an embodiment
of knob assembly for doorlatches including free knob rotation and
front end loading according to the principles of the present
invention, the construction being mounted in a door and in the
unlocked position;
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~ IG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the
knob assembly of FIG. 1 and looking in the direction of
the arrows 2-2 in FIG. l;
FIG~ 3 is a vertical sectional view looking in
5. the direction of the arrows 3-3 ~n FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view looking in
the direction of the arrows 4-~ in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5is a vertical sectional view looking in
the direction of the arrows 5-S in FIG.l;
10. FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with a
cylinder removal key in place and the lock plug rotated
180 degrees in the lock cylinder and ready for removal
or just after insertion of a unitary lock cylinder and
plug, a unitary lock cylinder and plug also being shown
15. in phantom lines to the right of the knob assembly;
FIG. 7 is a disasse~.bled perspective view of
all of the right-hand side or exterior parts of the
exterior knob assembly shown disassembled and in
exploded view, the left-hand side or interior side and
20. the latch driving mechanism and bolt being removed;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but only
the showing of the right-hand or exterior knob of the
assembly unlocked and enlarged for illustrating
primarily the free knob rotation construction;
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FIG. 9 is a ~ectional view looking in the
direction of the arrows 9-9 in FIG. 8, the knob assembly
still unlocked;
FIG. 10 is a sectional view looking in the
S. direction of the arrows 10-10 $n FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a sectional view iooking in the
direction of the arrows 11-11 in FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a sectional view looking in the
direction of the arrows 12-12 in FIG. 9;
10. FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but with
the lock plug turned 90 degrees in the lock cylinder
placing the free knob rotation in the locked position
with the knob free to rotate;
~IG. 14 is a sectional view looking in the
15. direction of the arrows 14-14 in FIG. 13; .
FIG. 15 is a sectional view looking in the
direction of the arrows 15-15 in FIG. 14;
FIG. 16 is a sectional view looking in the
direction of the arrows 16-16 in FIG. 14;
20. FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but
showing only the right-hand or exterior knob with the
lock plug rotated 180 degrees in the lock cylinder and
the lock cylinder and plug entering using the special
cylinder removal key;
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FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 17, but with
the lock cylinder and plug fully entered and the special
cylinder removal key acting on the torque blade;
FIG. l9 is a view similar to FIG. 18, but with
5. the special enlarged cylinder removal key turned 90
degrees from FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 is a sectional view looking in the
direction of the arrows 20-20 in FIG. 18;
FIG. 21 is a sectional view looking in the
10. direction of the arrows 21-21 in FIG. l9;
FIG. 22 is a sectional view looking in the
direction of the arrows 22-22 in FIG. 19; and
FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 21, but with
the lock plug rotated 180 degrees to place the front end
15. loading lock construction in fully operable position.
Description of the Best Embodiment Contemplated:
Referring to the drawings, a preferred embodi-
ment of the knob assembly for doorlatches is illustrated
therein and will hereinafter be explained in detail. It
20. is pointed out, however, that the present embodiment of
knob assembly incorporating the inventions of the
present application is merely one form thereof and that
various portions or all of the inventive concepts may be
incorporated in different forms of knob assembly, the
25. same to be explained further later and to be included in
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the principles of the present invention. Furthermore,
except as pointed out in detail later, all of the ele-
ments and parts may be formed using standard materials
and manufacturing procedures, and using standard skills
5. of workmanship.
The drawings herein depict the overall knob
assembly for doorlatches and inventive principles
relating to both freely rotatable knob construction and
front-end loading for lock cylinders and plugs. The
10. freeiy- rotatable knob construction is opera~le for
providing, say, the exterior knob freely rotatable when
the exterior knob is locked and fully actionable for
operating the latch when the exterior knob is unlocked.
The front-end loading for the lock cylinder and plug,
15. the unitary lock, is provided to permit the unitary
locks freely removable and replaceable from the front of
the particular knob or the like, and even though once
properly placed in a particular knob, they are extremely
difficult to remove without proper keys and procedure.
20. First, as it primarily relates to the freely
rotatable knob construction, and referring to FI(;S. 1
through 5 and 7 through 16, the preferred embodiment
shown includes an exterior or outer operating device
generally indicated at 30 and an interior or inner
25. operating device generally indicated at 32, both of
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which are mounted in usual manner on a door generally
indicated at 34. Either of the exterior or interior
operating devices 30 or ~2 are mo~nted for driving a
latch driving mechanism generally indicated at 3fi within
5.the door 34 to move a latch bolt generally indicated
at 38 and an auxiliary deadbolt generally indicated
at 40 from extended to retracted and from retracted to
extended positions at a door edge generally indicated
at 42, again, all in usual manner. As pointed o~t, the
lO.principles of the present invention relate to the
exterior and interior operating devices 30 and 32 so
that the latch driving mechanism 36, and the latch bolt
and auxiliary deadbolt 38 and 40 may be of any usual
constructions adaptable for satisfying the combinations.
15.The exterior or outer operating device 30
includes a reinforcing collar 44 which is received par-
tially within a door opening 46, as well as extending
outwardly along the door outside face 48. The
reinforcing collar 44 is, in turn, telescoped outwardly
20.by the liner 50. Liner 50 has spaced locators 52 which
have retaining rings 54 and extend through the latch
driving mechanism 36, as well as screw stems 56 which
engage with screws 58 extending from the interior
operating device 32 a~d form the main mount for the two
2g.exterior and interior operating devices 30 and 32 within
12
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the door opening 46. As particularly seen in FIGS. 1
and 2, although partialiy shown in other views, a
rosette 60 telescopes over the liner 50 and completes
the outer portion of the exterior operating device 30 as
5. far as the door outside face 48 is concerned.
~ xtending centrally through the liner ~0 and
the rosette 60 spaced inwardly therefrom, and extending
both inwardly and outwardly thereof, is a cylinder
retaining sleeve 62 which at its outer end portion
10. internally mounts a lock assembly generally indicated
at 64 and discussed more completely below. Outwardly
telescoping the outer end portion of the cylinder
retaining sleeve 62 is an exterior or outer knob 66
which at its outer end telescopes with the lock
15. assembly 64, but is rotatable relative thereto. ~nob 66
has an outer shell 68 which terminates toward the door
opening 46 in a knob collar 70 spaced inwardly a deter-
mined distance beyond the rosette 60 and along the outer
surface of the cylinder retaining sleeve 62. The knob
20. collar 70 has diametrically opposed engagement
notches 72 which extend from just inwardly of the
rosette 60 and opening inwardly at the inner end of
these engagement notches. Thus, without engagement at
one of the engagement notches 72, the exterior knob 66
25. is freely rotatable.
12fi4343
Outwardly telescoped by the liner 50 and a
portion thereof by the reinforcing collar 44 is a
bearing sleeve 74 which partially outwardly surro~nds
the screw stems 56. The bearing sleeve 74 surrounds a
5. portion of the cylinder retaining sleeve 62 and forms
the bearing for such cyli'nder retai'ning sle'eve. A
torque housing 76 and a torque spring 78 are received
over the inner end o'f the c'ylinder retaining sleeve 62,
the inner end of the cylindër retaining sleeve 62 being
10. turned radially outw'ardly to complete the housing for
the torque spring.
Inwardly of the cylinder retainins sleeve 62
over an inner portion thereof is a half-round
spindle 80. The half-round spindle 80 is of a generally
15. usual type extendi,ng slightly over halfway into the
door 34 for acting in th,e usual manner with the latch
driving mechanism 36. Further, the half-round
spindle 80 has a leg 82 bent outwardly into interference
~ith the cylinder retaining sleeve 62 and the cylinder
20. retaining sleeve has spaced impressions 84 to extend
inwardly and grip the edges of the half-round spindle.
A stop spacer 86 serves to form the separate outer edges
for the half-round spindle 80 and radially inwardly also
forms the outer edges ror the cam 88 having the locking
25. slide 90 thereon.
14
lX~i434~
The cam 88 moves rotatably a given distance,
while the locking slide 90 moves in and o~t on a set
axial line, guided by a spring retainer 92 and a
compression spring 94. As can be seen particularly well
5. in FIGS. 7 and 14, the cam has a cam surface 96 which
provides the movement for the locking slide 90 inwardly
and outwardly and movement of engagement arm 98 of the
locking slide 90 inwardly and outwardly to disengage
from or engage with one of the engagement notches 72 of
10. the knob collar 70. It will be noted that the engage-
ment arm 98 of the locking slide 90 projects radialiy
through the cylinder retaining sleeve 62 and into
engagement or disengagement with the knob collar 70 of
the exterior knob 66. It will also be noted that when
15. the locking slide 90 is withdrawn inwardly out of
engagement, the engagement arm 98 tnereof is received in
a pocket 100 formed in the bearing sleeve 74, the pocket
being particularly seen in FIGS. 7 and 13.
Sufficient for the freely rotatable knob
20. construction of the present invention, the lock
assembly 64 includes a lock cylinder 102 having a usual
chimney 104 projecting upwardly through a slot 106 of
the cylinder retaining sleeve 62 and telescoping a lock
plug 108 which projects slightly inwardly of the lock
25. cylinder as is shown. The lock cylinder and plug 102
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and 108 are held in position relative to each other and
are secured within the cylinder retaining sleeve 62 by a
retaining collar 110 which is retained against axial
movement by engagement in a retaining slot 112 of the
5. lock plug 108 against the inner edge of the lock
cylinder 102 and behind a depression 112 formed out-
wardly within the cylinder retaining sleeve 62, also as
seen. With a usual key and the lock assembly 64 being
of the usual pin type, the lock plu~ 108 may be rotated
10. within the lock cylinder 102 in the usual manner.
The lock plug 108 opens inwardly with a torque
slot 114 which receives the outer end of a torque
blade 116, the inner end of which is received in an
oyter opening 118 of a switching spindle 120. As is
15. clearly seen, for instance, in FIGS. 8, 10, 11 and 13,
the torque blade 116 passes from the lock plug 108,
through the stop spacer 86 and telescopically through
the cam 88. Partially through the cam 88, the torque
blade 116 is supported by a bearing ring 122 at a
20. reduced diameter so that the bearing ring within the
cam 88 forms the forward limit for movement of the
torque blade 116. The outer end of the switching
spindle 120 has a notch 124, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 13,
with this end portion of the switching spindle being
25. received in the cam 88 while in turn telescoping the end
16
1264343
of the torque blade 116. The cam 88 is formed down-
wardly over the switching spindle notch 124 to retain
that assembly and a compression spring 12O is positioned
within the outer opening 118 of the switching
5. spindle 120 bearing against the inner termination of the
torque blade 116.
The interior or inner operating device 32, as
specificaliy seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a
reinforcing collar 128 partially received in the door
10. opening 46 and partially lying against a door inside
face 130. A liner 132 telescopes over the reinforcing
collar 128 and mounts the screws 58 which pass through
the door 34 for engagement with the screw stems 56 as
previoùsly alluded to. Finally, a rosette 134
15. telescopes over the liner 132 to cover against the door
inside face 130 and complete the inside assembly except
for the interior or inner knob 136 and its particular
mounting.
The interior or inner knob 136 is, in this
20. embodiment, of usual form and is partially received
inwardly through the rosette 134 and partially through
the liner 132. It is mounted in a first bearing
sleeve 138 telescoping a second bearing sleeve 140. The
second bearing sleeve 140, in turn, mounts a washer 142
25. and a half-round spindle 144 which extends inwardly
17
~Z6~343 .
through the latch driving mechanism 36 directly inside
the half-round spindle 80 of the exterior operating
device 30. A torque housing 146 with a torque
spring 148 telescopefi the half-round spindle 144 and
5. serve the usual function of urging the half-round
spindle to neutral position.
A turn button 150 is rotatably mounted
centrally of the interior knob 136 and has a stem 152
projecting inwardly. As shown, the stem 152 is
10. telescoped by the inner opening 154 of the switching
spindle 120. Thus, the turn button 150 through the
switching spindle 120 may have operable effect on the
freely rotatable knob construction at the exterior
knob 66 as will be hereinafter discussed more in detail.
15. In operation of the freely rotatable knob
construction of the present invention, the knob assembly
is shown in an unlocked state in FIGS. 1 through 5 and 8
through 12. A normal key 156 is shown in the lock
assembly 64, but it is not needed at this time for
20. operating the latch driving mechanism 36 to operate the
latch bolt and auxiliary deadbolt 38 and 40. Thus, the
lock assembly 64 need not be actuated and the latch bolt
and auxiliary deadbolt 38 and 40 may be withdrawn with
the exterior knob 66 merely by turning the same.
18
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As shown, particularly in FIGS. 8 through 12,
a partial rotation of the exterior knob 66 transmits
rotation into the engagement arm 98 of the locking
slide 90 throagh engagement of the engagement arm 98
5. within one of the engagement notches 72 of the exterior
knob 66. Movement of the locking slide 90 in turn,
again, through the engagement arm 98 thereof transmits
rotation into the half-round spindle 80. Movement of
the half-round spindle 80 causes actuation of the latch
lO. driving mechanism 36 to move the latch bolt and
auxiliary deadbolt 38 and 40 for withdrawing the same.
At the same time, if the latch bolt and
auxiliary deadbolt 38 and 40 are to be withdrawn from an
interior side of the door 34, as viewed in FIGS. l
15. and 2, the interior knob 136 is rotated a partial turn.
~his transmits rotation from the interior knob 136 into
the half-round spindle 144 and ultimately into the latch
driving mechanism 36. The latch driving mechanism 36
then transmits the rotation to the latch bolt and
20. auxiliary deadbolt 38 and 40 for withdrawing the same.
Now assume that it is desired to place the
knob assembl~ in locked position, this can be done in
two ways, by placing the lock assembly 64 in locked
position or by placing the turn button 150 of the
- 25. interior knob 136 in locked position. If it is done by
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the lock assembly 64 at the exterior knob 66, the key is
inserted and the lock assembly 64 placed in locked posi-
tion. If it is done with the turn button 150 at the
interior knob 136, the turn button 150 is merely reposi-
5. tioned in a locked position by partial rotation.
Specifically, as viewed in FIGS. 8 through 16and accomplishing the same by the lock assembly 6g, the
normal key 156 is inserted and turned a partial
rotation. This turns the lock plug 108 relative to the
10. lock cylinder 102 and causes the torque blade 116 to
move the switching spindle 120. Rotation of the
switching spindle 120 outwardly rotates the cam 88 which
moves and repositions inwardly the locking slide 90 to
withdraw any rotational connection between this locking
15. slide and the exterior knob 66. The exterior knob 66,
therefore, rotates freely, as well as the lock
assembly 64 being in locked position.
This same locking and placing the exterior
knob 66 in freely rotational position may also be
20. accomplished from the turn button 150 on the interior
knob 136. The turn button 150 may be turned from non-
locking to locked position which transmits rotation
through the switching spindle 120 to the cam 88 rotating
this cam a partial turn to withdraw the locking
25. slide 90. This, again, withdraws the locking slide 90
~2643~3
from its engagement with the exterior knob 66 so that
the exterior knob is freely rotatable. ~ack to the
unlocked position is accomplished merely by the opposite
rotation of the turn button 150 at the interior
5. knob 136.
Thus, with the exterior knob 66 including the
lock assembly 64 and the interior knob 136 including the
turn button 150, with the latch bolt and auxiliary
deadbolt 38 and 40 in their locked positions, the
10. exterior lock assembly 64 and the position of the turn
button 150 places these in locked position and the
external knob 66 is freely rotatable. To place the
elements in unlocked position, the lock assembly 64 in
the exterior knob 66 may, with a key, be turned to
15. unlocked position which will turn the turn button 150 to
unlocked position and enga~e the exterior knob 66 with
the elements including the half-round spindle 80 to
permit manipulation of the latch bolt and auxiliary
deadbolt 38 and 40 to open the door 34. At the same
20. time, from the interior, the movement from locked to
unlocked position is merely turning the turn button 150,
which thereby permits rotation of the interior knob 136
to rotate the half-round spindle 144 to withdraw the
latch bolt and auxiliary deadbolt 38 and 40.
21
126~43
As hereinbefore briefly alluded to, the
preferred embodiment of knob assembly including the free
knob rotation construction just described is only one of
various constructions making use of these same inventive
5. principles. For instance, the exterior pin-type lock
assembly 64 in the exterior knob 66 could be eliminated.
In that case, the entire locking and non-locking wo~ld
be controlled by the turn button 150 or some other
similar device on the interior knob 136. Turning in one
10. direction would place the exterior knob 66 in freely
rotatable position so that the door 34 could not be
opened from the exterior side, and movement of the turn
button 150 to the opposite position would provide the
exterior knob 66 fully engaged so the latch bolt and
15. auxiliary deadbolt 38 and 40 would be withdrawn to open
the door 34.
The exterior ope.rating device 30 could have
the same construction of exterior knob 66 capable of
free rotation, the exterior knob including the pin-type
20. lock assembly 64, but the interior knob 136 having a
pin-type lock assembly similar to the exterior knob 66.
ln this case, the freely rotatable or solidly engaged
exterior knob 166 could only be obtained by manipulation
of one of the pin-type locks, that is, the exterior or
25. interior. If the exterior lock assembly is eliminated
22
1264343
and only the interior lock assembly is included, the
manipulation of the exterior knob 66 to either freely
rotatable or solidly engaged could only be accomplished
at the interior knob having the pin-type lock. Thus,
5. there are a variety of constructions all broadly
satisfying the freely rotatable knob construction
principles of the present invention.
Referring now to the front-end loading concept
of the present invention, the same is shown particularly
10. in FIGS. 6, 7 and 17 through 23. In the preferred
embodiment, in most cases, the normal key 156 is removed
and a special cylinder removal key 158 is inserted.
Thus, in this case, internal accer.s to the door 34 is
not required and everything is accomplished from
lS. outwardly or exterior of the door.
Referring to FIG. 17, the lock assembly 64 is
a unitary lock assembly wherein the lock cylinder 102,
the lock plug 108 and the retaininq collar 110 ~ay be
removed and replaced as a unit. The lock cylinder 102
20. has the chimney 104 including the front flange 160. The
lock plug 108 is received in the lock cylinder 102
rotatable therewith and extending from the inner
extremities of the cylinder. The retaining collar 110
is received over the inner end of the lock plug 108 in a
~5. channel 162 thereof, thereby completing the unit.
12643~3
Prior to insertion, the normal key 156, if
present, would be removed and the ~ylinder removal
key 158 would be inserted. You will note that the
cylinder removal key 158 extends slightly further
5, inwardly than the lock plug 108 as clearly shown. ~he
lock plug 108 is rotated by the cylinder removal key 158
180 degrees fro~ normal and as you will clearly see, for
instance, in FIG. 20, the retaining collar 110 is
movable with the lock plug 108 due to interfitting
10. contours thereof.
The unitary lock assembly 64 is now fully
inserted within the cylinder retaining sleeve 62 and
fully with the front flange 16~ of the lock cylinder 102
tightly against the exterior knob 66, that is, fro~ the
15. position of FIG. 17 to the position of FIG. 18. You
will note that the depression 112 extending inwardly
from the cylinder retaining sleeve 62 is covered
received in slot 106 so that the retaining collar 110 is
just inwardly beyond the depression 112. As can be seen
20. in FIG. 20, the retaining collar 110 is C-shaped having
a recess permitting the depression 112 of the cylinder
retaining sleeve 62 to pass axially therethrough and
assume the position within the slot 106 of the lock
cylinder 102. Kee~ in mind that the lock plug 108 is
25. still rotated 180 degrees from normal and equaliy
24
~643~3
important, as the unitary iock assembly 64 is fully
received in the cylinder retaining sleeve 62, the end of
the cylinder removal key 158 engages the end of the
torque blade 116 forcing it away from the lock plug 108,
5. along with its bearing ring 122.
The lock plug 108 by the cylinder removal
key 158 is then rotated 180 degrees back to normal while
the torque blade 116 is retained away from the lock
plug 108 by the long cylinder removal key 158. FIGS. 19
10. and 22 show the lock plug 108 rotated a partial
90 degrees and, of course, the lock cylinder 102 remains
stationary within the cylinder retaining sleeve 62 and
its interfitting relationship therewith. More
important, the retaining collar 110 relationship with
15. the depression 112 of the cylinder retaining sleeve 62
is shown from insertion to 180 degrees rotation in
FIGS. 20, 21 and 23. In FIG. 20, the unitary lock
assembly 64 has just been inserted with the lock
plug 108 turned the 180 degrees. In FIG. 21, the lock
20. plug 108 has been turned by the cylinder removal key 158
a total of 90 degrees and it is seen that the retaining
collar 110 has engaged behind the depression 112 of the
cylinder retaining sleeve 62. Finally, FIG. 23 shows a
rotation back the full 180 degrees ready for a proper
2g. key.
1;~64343
The cylinder removal key 158 ls removed and if
desirable, could be replaced by the norm~l key 156. In
any event, when the cylinder removal key 158 is removed,
the torque blade 116 is forced outward by the
5.compression spring 126 within the switching spindle 120.
Thus, the torque blade 116 reengages with the end of the
lock plug 108 and is ready for operation. Furthermore,
removal of the unitary lock assembly 64 is exactly
opposite of the foregoing procedure.
10.In the event that a cylinder removal key 158 is
not available and it is still desirable to insert or
remove different locks of the unitary lock assembly 64,
in the present embodiment shown, this can be done by
using the switching spindle 120 at the interior
15.knob 136. The switching spindle 120 is grasped and
pulled from the interior side after removal of the turn
button 150 and its stem 152 which moves the switching
spindle 120 and ultimately the torque blade 116 toward
the interior knob 136 until the torque blade is removed
20. totally from the lock plug 108. Thereafter, the pro-
cedure is identically the same, keeping in mind that the
torque blade 116 must be retained throughout the pro-
cedure of inserting or removing the particular unitary
lock assembly 64. As far as other embodiments of the
25. present invention are concerned, it will depend on the
i26~134~
particular embodiment as to which procedure would be
used, a simple guideline, it depends on what element is
accessible for removing and retaining the torque
blade 116.
5. Although the principles of the present inven-
tion, whethee the freely rotatable knob construction or
the front end loading of the lock, have been herein
illustrated in a particular embodiment of knob assembly
for doorlatches, it is not intended to limit such
. 10. principles to that construction alone, since the same
principles are readily applicable to. various other forms
of knob assembly for doorlatches. Thus, the principles
of the present invention should be broadly construed and
not limited beyond the specific limitations set forth in
15. the appended claims including the patent equivalents
thereof.
27
