Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2~53731
DOOR LATCH DEVICE
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-
10pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 466,993, filed January
18, 1990, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent
Application Serial No. 392,5~4, filed August 11, 1989.
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a latch device for doors and,
more particularly, to a latch device which incorporates a
mechanism enabling the operator to actuate a privacy lock feature
by pushing an outwardly accessible member rather than pulling a
member as would normally be dictated by the interior mechanism of
the latch device. The mechanism incorporates structure which
allows actuation of the privacy lock from a preselected side of
the door by restricting movement of the member. More
specifically, the mechanism includes an arrangement which permits
the memher to be pushed to actuate the privacy lock from a
particular side o~ the door established at the time of
installation of the latch device. This is readily accomplished
by suitable positioning of locking elements incorporated in the
latch device upon installation.
: -
.
2~3731
BACXGROUND ART
Co-pending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 392,564
filed August 11, 1989, relates to an improved latch de~ice for
doors. More particularly, the application discloses a latch
device characterized by relative simplicity and compact siz2.
Such latch device incoxporates structure enabling it to be
utilized as a passage latch actuatable ~rom both sides of the
door with which it is associated or, alternatively, as a privacy
loc~ing system which is selectively adjustable by the operator to
permit handle or doorXnob actuation from only one side of the
door.
While the latch device just ~escribed in general terms
has a number of desirable features, it incorporates an externally
actuatable control member which must be pulled, rather than
pushed, to utilize the privacy lock feature.
The invention disclosed in U.S. Patent Application
Serial No. 466,993 relates to a latch device generally of the
type disclosed in the aforesaid U.S. Patent Application Serial
No. 392,S64. However, the latch device 4f U.S. Patent
Application Serial No. 466,993 incorporates structure adding to
the overall convenience and ease of use thereof.
More sp~cifically, the latch device disclosed in U.S.
Patent Application Serial No. 466,993 incorporates structure
enabling the privacy lock feature to be actuated by a push,
rather than pull, manual motion. It will be appreciated that
privacy locks are conventionally actuated by push, rather than
- ,;.' ' ' - .
~ . :
2 ~
pull, and failure to adhere to this convention can confuse the
user, resulting in deactuation of the privacy loc~ when actuation
is desired and vice versa.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention is an improvement over the latch device
shown in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 466,993, and in
common therewith the latch device of the present invention
includes a housing having opposed sides and defining an interior
and an opening at one end of the housing communicating with said
interior.
A latch element is disposed in said housing interior
and includes a latch body and a latch head, said latcn element
movable between an e~tended position and a retracted pcsition.
Means is operatively associated with the latch element
for moving the latch element from said extended position to said
retracted position, said latch element moving means including
first and second actuator mechanisms selectively operatively
associated with said latch element to move said la~ch element to
said retracted position.
A reciprocatable control member is movable along a
first predetermined path of movement extending between said
housing opposed sides for controlling which of said actuator
mechanisms is operatively associated with said latch element.
In the present arrangement, a mounting member is
attached to said housing and defines spaced apertures. A shaft
,: . . . . . . . . . .
`,
.
2~3~31
projects through said spaced apertures and is manually accessible
from outside said mounting member for moving said control member,
said shaft being mounted on said mounting member for axial
reciprocatable movement in a direction generally opposed to the
direction of movément of said control member.
The present invention further includes lock means
operatively associated with said mounting member and shaft for
selectively preventing at least one of said actuator mechanisms
from being operatively associated with said latch element.
Other features, advantages, and objects of the present
invention will become apparent with reference to the following
detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side view of a latch device constructed in
accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the latch device with a
portion thereof broken away;
Figs. 2A and 2B are enlarged, partial sectional, plan
views illustrating selected components of the latch device in
alternate positions;
Fig. 2C is an exploded plan view of the latch device;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, cross-sectional view of the
latch device taken along the line 3~3 in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a plan, sectional view taken along line 4-4
of Fig. l, illustrating the latch device in a door; and
2 ~
Fig. 5 is a cross~sectional view of the latch device of
the present invention taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings, a latch device
constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention is illustrated and includes a housing 10 defining an
interior 12. An opening 14 is disposed at one end of the housing
and communicates with the housing interior.
The housing is comprised of two housing segments 16, 18
secured together by any suitable means such as a screw 20 which
has threads engaging mating threads in housing segment 16.
Segment 16 includes a wall 17 and segment 18 includes a wall 19
opposed thereto.
A latch element 22 is disposed in housing i~terior 12
and includes a latch body 24 and a latch head 26. As is
conventional, the latch head includes a generally tapered
suxface 28 and a substantially flat abutment surface 30. The
latch head is enlarged as at 32 and a circular-shaped boss 34
projects therefrom. Boss 34 is disposed within a recess 36 of
generally corresponding configuration formed in latch body 24.
A coil compression spring 44 has one end thereof
disposed in a recess 45 formed in the latch body 24. The other
end o~ spring 44 engages wall member 46 and surrounds a circular-
shaped projection 48 integral with the wall member. As may
perhaps best be seen with reference to Fig. 4, wall member 46 is
.. .. . .. . .... . . . . . . . . . .. . .
,
i. : - - ; - . -
2~37~
prevented from moving toward the right as viewed in that figure
~ecause it is in en~agement with a peripherally extending
abutment surface 50 defined by the housing.
Spring 44 con'cinuously urges the latch element 22 to
the left as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The latch element is
linearly reciprocatably moveable relative to housing 10 between
an extended position whereat the head projects ~rom the housing
interior through opening 14 and a re~racted position whereat the
head is substantially completely retracted in the housing
interior.
Means is operatively associated wit~ the latch element
for moving the latch element from the extended position to the
retracted position. The latch element moving means includes
actuator mechanisms including cam means rotatably mounted
relative to the housing and adapted to be rotated by means
accessible outside the housing. In particular, the ca~ means
includes two relatively moveable cam elements 52, 54 disposed
side by side within the housing. Each cam element includes a
round boss 56 which projects through a corresponding hole formed
in one of housing segments 16, 18 whereby the cam elements are
maintained in position and yet are rotatable to a predetermined
degree within the housing.
Each cam element defines a channel 58, the channels 58
being curved and accommodating therein double-ended coil
compression springs 60O One end of each coil compression spring
engages an indent 62 formed in the housing wall. With specific
. ,
. ~ ' ` ' ' `- .
2~3~1
reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that cam element 52 is
continuously biased by its associated spring 60 in a counter
clocXwise direction as viewed in that figure. The same, of
course, holds true for cam element 54. Engagement bet~een the
cam elements and the wall of the housing limits such rotation
and springs 60 are always maintained under compression.
Each cam element includes a lobe 64 engageable with a
transmission arm 70. More specifically, the lobes 64 are
engageable with a first projection 72 of said transmission arm.
The transmission arm 70 is pivotally mounted on a pin 74 which
extends between support recesses formed at spaced locations in
the housing wall.
Transmission arm 70 also includes a second
projection 76 which engages latch body 24. Again making specific
reference to Fig. 3, clockwise rotation of a cam element having
its lobe 64 in engagement with the first projection 72 causes the
transmission arm 70 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction.
This action causes the latch element 22 to move against the
compression of spring 44 and retract.
In Fig. 4, a portion of a shaft 80 is shown. Such
shaft projects completely through the housing 10, passing through
apertures 82 formed in the cam elements at the location of
~osses 56. It will be appreciated that the shaft 80 has attached
at the opposite ends thereof manually manipulable elements such
as lever handles or doorknobs.
2~37~1
Shaft 80 is comprised of two relatively rotatable shaft
components 83 connected together by a connector which allows the
shaft components to be individually rotated by their respective
associated knobs or levers. A shaft of this type, which is split
into two parts capable of independent movement, is known in the
prior art and will not be described in detail.
When transmission arm 70 is in the position illustrated
in Fig. 4, therP is engagement between the lobes 64 of both cam
elements 52, 54 and first projection 72 of the transmission arm.
Thus, rotation of either of the cam elements 52, 54 by shaft
components 83 will result in pivoting of the transmission arm and
retraction of the latch element 22. The latch device, however,
can be readily adjusted to permit latch element retraction by
either of the cam elements to the exclusion of the other. In
other words, the latch device has a built-in privacy loc~ing
feature. This will now be described.
Disposed immediately adjacent to transmission arm 70 is
a control member 84 including a control element 86 and
spindles 88, 90 projecting from opposed sides of the control
element. The control element 86 includes two legs 92, one of
which is shown in Fiy. 3. Second projection 76 of transmission
arm 70 is disposed between the two legs.
It will be appreciated that lateral movement of control
element 88, i.e. movement along the axis of spindles 88, 90,
causes a corresponding lateral movement of the transmission
arm 70. When displacement is in the direction of spindle 90, the
. . .- - . - - . . . .
- , :; ~ . . . .
. . , - .
2~7~
first projection 72 of the transmission arm is in engagement with
lobe 64 of cam element 54. Rotation o~ cam element 54 will cause
retraction of the latch element 22 but rotation of cam element 52
will not.
Just the opposite condition exists when the control
member and transmission arm have been displaced in the direction
of spindle 88 and ~irst pro~ection 72 is engaged only by the lobe
on cam element 52. In this latter situation, only cam element 52
ls effective to cause retraction of the latch element.
The structural arrangement just described is
essentially shown in aforesaid U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
392,564. In such arrangement, if one wishes to activate the
privacy locX feature from a particular side of the housing 10 the
splndle (either spindle 88 or spindle 90) must be pulled. For
example, assuming that the spindles are the structural elements
employed to manually actuate the privacy lock feature, spindle 88
would have had to been pulled for it to have assumed the position
shown in Fig. 2. That is, someone on the side of the door
corresponding to spindle 88 would have had to pull that
particular spindle to prevent the latch device from being
actuated by a person on the opposite side of the door, i.e. the
side of the door corresponding to spindle 90.
This approach has caused difficulties for some users.
First of all, in most prior art latch devices, a privacy lock is
actuated by pushing in, rather than pulling out, the element
which brings the privacy lock feature into operation. Also, it
.. .
2 ~
~s, o~ course, much easier to push in spindles 88, 90 rather than
to manually grasp them and attempt to pull th~m outwardly.
The structure disclosed in U.S. Patent Application
Serial No. 466,993 incorporates all of the advantages of the
latch devics of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 392,564 but
allows the privacy lock feature thereof to be actuated by a
manually actuatable element which i5 pushed, rather than pulled,
relative to the housing.
In common with the latch device disclosed in U.S.
Patent Application Serial No. 466,993, the present latch device
includes a manually operable member accessible from outside the
housing opposed sides for moving the control member. The
manually operable member is mounted on the housing for
reciprocatable movement in a direction generally oppcsed to the
direction of movement of control mamber 84 which, of course,
includes control element 86 and spindles 88, 90. The manually
operable member is in the form of a shaft 110.
Shaft llO, as illustrated in Figs. 2~ and 2B, defines a
recess 112. Shaft 110 is slidably disposed in two spaced
apertures 111 and 113 defined by a mounting member 114 which is
secured to housing 10. The mounting member 114 has leg elements
116, 117 and the means utilized to secure the mounting member 114
to the housing 10 comprises screw-type fasteners 120 passing
through apertures (not shown~ in the leg elements and matingly
engaging screw threads formed in the housing.
,
.. . . . . . .
2 0 3 3 7 3 ~
A linkage arm 122 has one end thereof positioned in
recess 112. That end of linkage arm 122 therefore will move with
shaft llO. The other end of linkage arm 122 is connected to
control element 86. In particular, a pin 124 projecting from
s control element 86 is disposed in an indent formed at the end of
linkage arm 122 remote from shaft 110.
Linkage arm 122 is pivotally disposed on a pivot
element in the form of a pin 126 af,ixed to housing 10. It will
be appreciated that with such an arrangement axial movement of
shaft 110 in a given direction will result in opposit2 axial
movement of control member 84. Figures 2A and 2B show the
relative positions assumed by the control memher and the
shaft llO when the shaft 110 has been pushed to its two opposite
extreme positions. When shaft 110 is in its first position shown
in Fig. 2A, control element 86 is closely adjacent to housing
wall 17. ~hen the shaft 110 has been pushed into its second
position shown in Fig. 2B, on the other hand, the control element
86 is closely adjacent to side 19.
With the arrangement just d~scribe~, one wishing to
actuate the privacy lock feature can do so merely by pushing
shaft 110 in the direction of the housing, greatly adding to the
convenience and usefulness of the latch device.
In contrast with the device disclosed in U.S. Patent
Application Serial No. 466,993, the present invention
incorporates lock means operatively associated with said mounting
member and shaft for selectively preventing said actuation
., .,...,.. . , . . - :
.
~ . . .
20~3~3~
mechanisms from being operatively associated with the latch
element. More specifically, shaft 110 defines spaced
pexipherally extending grooves 140, 142. When the shaft 110 is
located in an intermediate position (shown in Fig. 2) bet~een its
first and second positions described above, the grooves 140, 14Z
are disposed externally of the mounting member 114 and closely
adjacent to the opposed sides of the mounting member.
Grooves 140 and 142, respectively, are adapted to
receive therein locking elements in the form of split defor~able
iO retention rings or C-clips 144, 146 formed of spring steel or the
li~e, such elements being of well known construction. Retention
rings 144, 146 may be sPlectively snapped in or out of the
grooves by the operator, either manually or by means of a
suitable tool such as a pliers ~not shown).
When grooves 140, 142 both accommodate a retention ring
or clip as shown in Fig. 2, shaft llO cannot be moved axially by
pushing ~or by pulling, for that mattsr) from its intermediate
position since the rings will engage the walls of mounting member
114 when this is attempted.
Upon installation of the latch device on a door,
however, the installer removes one of the rings from shaft 110,
the ring being removed depending upon which side of the door one
wishes to allow the user to actuate the privacy lock by pushing.
For example, Fig. 2A shows the condition which exists when ring
or clip 144 has been removed from groove 140. In this situation,
the privacy lock feature may be actuated by pushing end 150 of
12
. . .
2~37~
shaft 110. It cannot be activated by pushing end 152 of shaf~
110 .
on the other hand, if clip 146 is removed and clip 144
remains in place, as shown in Fig. 2B, the privacy loc~ may be
actuated by pushing end 152 but not by pushing end 1~0.
Thus, the present arrangement provides a quick and easy
means for ensuring that the privacy lock can only be astivated
from the desired door side. This is particularly desirable when
the latch device employs a latch body which may be rotated to
alternate positions as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application
Serial No. 392,564.
Shaft 110 defines threaded recesses at its opposed ends
150, 152. These recesses alternatively accommodate the threaded
end o~ a manually graspable extension element 154, depending of
course upon which end of the shaft is the primary lock actuating
end, that is, the end which is pushed to actuate the pri~acy
lock.
.' ' , ,.'','~'~'~' ' '" ' '' `' .
. , , . . ~ . . . . . .
