Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2i9~~80
SLIDING DOOR LATCH WITH SELF-RETRACTING FINGER PULL
APPARATUS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
Disclosed is a self-latching mechanism for a sliding door that
includes deadbolt access means or a self retracting finger pull. More
specifically, an improved latch device or self-latching deadbolt assembly
for a sliding door is provided that includes, in addition to the self-
retracting
finger pull, a deadbolt having a single lever adapted with resilient means
for engaging a strike plate. With the aid of guiding means, the latching
mechanism of the self latching deadbolt assembly functions to engage the
~s strike plate both when the deadbolt is extended before or after closing the
door. To access sliding door from within the surrounding sliding door
framework, the self-retracting finger pull is fitted into the exposed end of
the deadbolt.
2. Description of the Backc7round Art
20 Door latches for pocket or sliding doors exist in various forms..Many
of these latching means have some form of sliding deadbolt that extends,
when the door is in a closed position, from within the door and into a
receiving strike plate in the door frame. However, these existing latches
require an additional means for accessing the sliding door from within the
25 surrounding framework. The subject invention combines the sliding door
219380
deadbolt as:~~;rr~biy with a fnger pall access rnechanisrra, thereby
overcoming previous space, appearance, and structural limitations
inherent in having bath a deadbolt and an access means within the sliding
door.
s A type of handletESS cabine# Latch that is found on specific styles of
cabinets to create a handle-free appearance is comprised of a mechanism
having an outer frame with an internal piston. The internal piston has a
magnet fitted to one end that binds a rr~tallic plate fastened to the inside
of the cabinet door thereby holding the door in a closed pasitiort when the
~a plunger is retracted within its outer frame. The cabinet Boar is pushed
slightly and the piston is released from within its outer frame and extends
to a position in which the door is sufficiently ajar for a user to grasp the
door edge as a handle for ~mpletely opening the cabinet. The internal
mechanism for the piston frame apparatus comprises a sloped track vsrithin
~s the piston in which one end of a guide pin {the other end effaced to the
outer framed travels to permit the closed and open positions as the only
options in a cyclic path that lead from closed to open or open to closed.
Specifically concerning issued patents, U.S. Patent No. 4,5,725
relates a deadlock mechanism for a sliding door that comprises a pair of
20 levers, each with an ear and a projecting lug. No ability for self-latching
is
present in this device. As the deadbolt is thrown into the strike plate, the
pair of levers e~ctend and tack behind the edges of the strike plate. Should
the deadbolt be extended before the door is closed, tile projecting levers
prevent the deadbolt frarn entering the strike plate.
~~~53~0
Further, disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,452,928, issued to the
inventor of the subject invention, is a sliding door selfi latching apparatus
that includes, except for the self retracting finger pull mechanism, many of
the features of the subject invention. However, a limitation that is found in
s the '928 invention is that since the sliding door when open is completely
within its surrounding frame and within the wail a separate handle or finger
pull is need to withdraw the door from its compartment. The subject
invention overcomes this limitation by providing an integrated deadbolt-
finger pull device for accessing the sliding door.
o SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to disclose an improved
latching mechanism having a finger access means for a sliding door.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved
sliding door latch that repeatedly, reliably, and securely holds a sliding
~s door closed against a strike plate mounted in a door frame and provides
an integrated handle or finger access means for accessing the door.
A further object of the present invention is to disclose an improved
simple self latching pocket door mechanism having a self retracting finger
pull that utilizes a guided single latching lever that engages with a
2o receiving strike plate mounted in a door frame and a self retracting finger
pull mechanism that cycles between a retracted position which is flush
within the end of a deadbolt and an extended position in which a user may
employ his or her finger or fingers to exert force upon the door for sliding
the door from within its surrounding enclosure within a wall.
~1~~3~~
4
Still another object ofi the present invention is to describe an
improved sliding door mechanism having a self retracting finger pull
pivotally secured within a deadbolt and utilizes a single spring associated
lever and guiding means also within the deadbolt for engaging and
s latching with a receiving strike plate mounted in a door frame.
Disclosed is a latch assembly for mounting to a sliding door and
engaging with a strike plate means that comprises a housing for fitting
within the sliding door, deadbolt means associated with the housing for
engaging with the strike plate means, and self-retracting finger pull means
~o associated with the deadbolt means for accessing the sliding door from
within a surrounding framework. Also, included is a deadbolt extension
means associated with the housing for sliding the deadbolt means
between a nonengaging position and an engaging position with the strike
plate means.
15 More specifically, the deadbolt means is usually a self latching
deadbolt means and the self-retracting finger pull means comprises a
finger pull member having first and second ends, fiinger grasping means
proximate the finger pull member first end, self retraction means within the
self-latching deadbolt means for providing access to the finger pull
2o member and for retracting the finger pull member, and finger pull
attachment means proximate the finger pull member second end for
providing a hinged connection to the self-retraction means. Further, the
self-retraction means comprises a plunger member fitted within a receiving
aperture formed in the self-latching deadbolt means, plunger biasing
zs means coupled between the plunger member and the receiving aperture, a
~195~8~
continuous channel formed in the plunger member, and channel following
means for locking the plunger in a retracted position and for retaining the
plunger in an extended position.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present
s invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows,
when considered in conjunction with the associated drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the subject invention with the
deadbolt in an extended position.
~o FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the subject invention with the
deadbolt in a retracted position and with the finger pull member retracted.
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the subject invention with the
deadbolt in a retracted position and with the finger pull member extended.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the subject invention with the
deadbolt in a partially extended position showing the partial pivoting of the
lever.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the subject invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the deadbolt assembly, minus the
front mounting plate.
2o F1G. 6 is a cross sectional view of the deadbolt showing internal
components of the self retracting finger puH means.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIGS. 1-G, there is shown a preferred embodiment
of the combination deadbolt means and self-retracting finger pull means
2s for a sliding door. Normally, the subject device is utilized in connection
with
2 t ~ 580
s
a typical sliding door. The sliding door itself is mounted in a pocket frame
or equivalent structure that fits within a wall. When a user desires to close
the door, the door is slid out of the pocket. The subject invention provides
the user with a means for accessing the door from within its packet frame
and for locking the closed door (slid out of pocket) against a strike plate S
mounted on the frame.
The subject invention is described in detail below in terms of
incorporating a self-retracting finger pull into a deadbolt assembly that
includes a self-latching deadbolt, however, the subject invention generally
~o comprises the self-retracting finger pull incorporated into any type of
deadbolt means. The use of a particular self-latching deadbolt assembly is
for illustrative purposes only and is useful for specifically describing one
preferred embodiment of the subject invention, but does not limit the use of
the self-retracting finger pull means to only deadbolt devices having a self
~5 latching property.
Specifically, the subject apparatus comprises a housing constructed
from a first side plate 5, a second side plate 10, a back plate 15, and a
front mounting plate 20. The four housing components (5, 10, 15, and 20)
cooperate to hold or encase the remaining elements of the subject
2o apparatus. Other equivalent configurations are contemplated to be within
the realm of this disclosure and include fabrication designs that
incorporate combined or additional similar elements.
The housing fits within the sliding door D. The front mounting plate
20 is secured to the door D by standard means such as screws, bolts, and
21 ~ ~3 ~~
the like. A recessed handle H is utilized #o permit the sliding door D to
slide within its surrounding framework within the wall.
Within the housing and part of a deadbolt assembly is a self-
latching deadbolt means that engages the strike plate S. As seen in FIGS.
1-5, a deadbolt 25 is held within the housing. F1G. 1 illustrates the
deadbolt 25 in an extended and strike plate S engaging position {the hook
means 55 on the lever 40 projects away from the perspective presented in
FIG. 1, see below for more details on the hook means 55 and the lever
40). FIGS. 2A and 2B depict the deadbolt 25 in a retracted and strike plate
1o S nonengaging position with the finger pull means either retracted in FIG.
2A or extended in F1G. 2B (see below for details). FIG. 3 depicts the
deadbolt 25 in an intermediate or partially extended position. Although
other equivalent conformations are possible for the deadbolt 25, FIGS. 4
and 5 show a typical structure for the deadbolt 25. The deadbolt 25 has a
~5 first end that enters the strike plate S and a second end that slides
within
the housing. A longitudinal aperture 30 is formed in the deadbolt 25 and
extends to proximate the deadbolt first end. A notch 35, utilized in sliding
the deadbolt 25 between open and closed positions, is formed proximate
the deadbolt second end. A deadbolt guide 32 fits within the housing to
2o stabilize the sliding of the deadbolt 25 and securing the two halves of the
housing 5 and 10 together.
A lever 40 has a first or head end that extends towards the strike
plate S and a second or foot end that is directed away from the strike plate
S. When assembled, the lever 40 is fitted within the longitudinal aperture
2s 30 and held by pivoting means that permit pivoting such as a pivot screw
19 53~~
or pin 45 mounted in a pivot screw or pin receiving aperture in the_
deadbolt 25.
Hooking means are associated with the lever first end and are
utilized for engaging or hooking within or to the strike plate S when the
s deadbolt 25 is extended. Preferably, the hooking means comprises a hook
55 formed proximate the lever first end.
A critical element of the present invention is the ability of the device
to Latch the hook 55 into the strike plate S even if the deadbolt 25 is
extended when the sliding door D is closed and the deadbolt 25 inserted
to into the strike plate S. This hooking or latching ability is provided, in
part,
by a channel 60 shaped into the lever 40. The channel 60 extends from
proximate the lever second end towards the lever first end. Within the
channel 60 is a biasing means that is typically a spring 65. The spring 65
fits within the channel 60 and provides a moving pivot point within the
~5 channel 60 for the pivot screw or pin 45. If the deadbolt 25 is partially
or
completely extended when the door is slid shut onto the strike plate S, the
hook 55 and associated lever 40 merely compress the spring 65. As the
spring 65 compresses and shifts the pivot point, the lever 40 pivots into the
longitudinal aperture 30. Since the lever 40 and hook 55 are within the
20 longitudinal aperture 30 the deadbolt 25 passes into the strike plate S and
the hook 55 snaps out of the longitudinal aperture 30 and behind the strike
plate S to secure or latch the sliding door closed.
Further aiding in the hooking and latching movement of the pivoting
lever 40 is a guide means comprising a guide aperture 95 formed in and
25 usually, but necessarily, through the lever 40 and a guide screw or pin 100
~~953~0
that extends through a guide screw or pin receiving aperture in the
deadbolt 25 and into and usually , but not necessarily, through the guide
aperture 95. The guide screw or pin 100 may merely ft within a guide
aperture 95 that partially penetrates the lever 40. Specifically, as seen in
s FIG. 4, the guide aperture is located within the lever 40 and extends from
proximate the first or head end of the lever 40 and proximate or partially
beside the channel 60. The interaction between the guide screw or pin 100
and the internal shape of the guide aperture 95 dictates the limits of the
path available to the lever 40 during the pivoting motion for latching and
~o unlatching with the strike plate S. Although the preferred shape of the
guide aperture 95 is generally triangular, other shapes for the guide
aperture 95 are considered acceptable if the selected shape of the guide
aperture 95 is such that when the deadbolt 25 is extended the lever 40 is
directed out of the channel 30 and when the deadbolt 25 is retracted, the
is shape of the guide aperture 95 aids in the directed movement of the lever
40 into the channel 30. The guide aperture 95 is no restricted to a tightly
confined pathway for the guide screw or pin 100, but is fairly spacious. The
guide aperture 40 has sufficient space for variability in the exact pivotal
position of the lever 40, thus permitting an assisting or aiding action in the
2o pivoting and not a strictly forced directional path. By placing limits of
the
pivoting motion of the lever 40, the guide means helps to establish a
reliable latching motion for the lever 40.
Deadbolt extension means are provided to actuate the sliding of the
deadbolt assembly between a nonengaging position and an engaging
2s position for latching the hook 55 with the strike plate S. Preferably,
21 X5380
although not exclusively, the extension means comprises a cam-lever 70
that fits within the deadbolt notch 35. The cam-lever 70 is pivoted within
the housing to slide the deadbolt 25 in and out by rotating with suitable
means such as a standard handle attached to the coupling region 75. As
s seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the cam-lever 70 is configured to fit within the
deadbolt notch 35 and upon appropriate rotation the cam-lever 70 forces
the deadbolt 25 out of and into the housing. In FIGS. 1-3 the top of the
cam-lever 70 is seen in three positions partially extending above the
deadbolt notch 35. To provide suitable resistance for the deadbolt 25 out
1o and in sliding movement, resilient means, usually a spring 80, is supplied.
Generally, the self retracting finger pull means is a mechanism that
supplies a finger pull from within its integrated placement within the
surrounding deadbolt 25. The term "self retracting" indicates that once the
finger pull has been accessed by releasing it from within the surrounding
1s deadbolt 25 it is reset to a retracted position either by manually pushing
it
back into the deadbolt 25 or by the mere action of inserting the deadbolt
25 within the strike plate means S. When the end of the deadbolt 25 that
contains the finger pull is forced against a back wall of the strike plate the
internal mechanism of the finger pull means cycles or "self-retracts" into
2o the retracted position and is held there until the user once again needs it
for accessing the sliding door from within its surrounding frame.
Specifically, the self-retracting finger pull means for accessing the
sliding door from within the surrounding framework comprises a finger pull
member 110 having first and second ends. The finger pull member 110 is
25 configured to fit flush in the end of the deadbolt 25 to provide a
generally
2~ 9~~so
flat surface which is actually the end of the finger pull adapted deadbolt 25.
Included in the self-retracting finger pull means is a finger grasping means
115 that is located proximate the finger pull member 110 first end. Usually
the finger grasping means 115 is a hooked configuration (see FIG. 6) that
is easy to grasp with one or more fingers. Additionally, finger pull
attachment means is adapted proximate the finger pull member 110
second end for providing a hinged connection 120 to the self-retraction
means at an attachment point 125. Generally, the finger pull attachment
means is a traditional hinge formed in the finger pull member 110 second
,o end via the hinged connection 120 to the attachment point 125.
As best seen in FIG. 5, self retraction means within the deadbolt 25
means is supplied for providing access to the finger pull member 110 and
for retracting the finger pull member 110 within the deadbolt 25 means
when not needed. More specifically, the self-retraction means comprises
,5 several components including a reciprocatable plunger member 130 fitted
within a receiving aperture 135 formed in the deadbolt means. Further,
included in the self retraction means is a plunger biasing means coupled
between the plunger member 130 and an anchoring point within the
receiving aperture 135. The biasing means is usually a spring 140 fitted
2o between the second end of the plunger 130 and the end wall of the
receiving aperture 135.
Additionally, a continuous channel 145 is formed in the plunger
member 130 that directs, in conjunction with a channel following means, a
cyclic refracted to extended path of the plunger 130 within the receiving
25 aperture 135 formed in the deadbolt 25. The continuous channel 145 is
Z1953~~
,2
inclined or sloped between its two outer end extremes and includes locking
regions 150 and 155 (for use in conjunction with the channel following
means described below) at each of the two outer end extremes.
Preferably, the channel following means for locking cyclically
or repeatedly the plunger 130 in a retracted position or in an extended
position within the receiving aperture 135 comprises an elongated channel
following member '! 60 having first and second ends. The channel following
member 160 is usually a thin and somewhat flexible wire that is shaped
into a suitable form. Included in the channel following member 160 is a
,o channel following finger 165 formed at the first elongated channel
following
member end. Additionally, provided is an elongated channel following
member biasing means associated with the second elongated channel
following member end. The biasing means is generally a spring 170 that
allows the channel following means to track within and follow the channel
~5 145. Anchoring means 175 are included for securing the elongated
channel following member biasing means 170 and the second elongated
channel following member end 180 proximate the receiving aperture
formed in the sliding deadbolt member 25. Generally, the anchoring means
175 is a protrusion around which the biasing spring 170 fastens to hold the
2o second elongated channel following member end 180.
Preferably, within the channel and located at approximately its two
outer end extremes are locking regions 150 and 155 into which the
channel following finger 165 fits to hold the plunger 130 in either its
retracted or extended positions. When the plunger 130 is pushed in
25 slightly (just enough to force the channel following finger 165 from within
~195~$~
13
its current locking region 150 or 155 and into the sloped channel 145
between the two extremes 150 and 155) the plunger 130 is freed to travel
into its next position (i.e. the retracted position in which the finger 165 is
in
region 150 and then travels to the extended position in which the finger
s 165 is in region 155 (F1G. 5 shows the extended position) or the reverse in
which the finger travels from the extended position to the retracted
position).
Typically, a user employs the subject device by mounting in a
suitable sliding door D. Specifically, with the self-latching deadbolt means
1o embodiment, the door D is accessed via pushing in on the self-retracting
finger pull which releases the finger pull member 110 for usage by the
operator. With the self-latching deadboit embodiment the operator does
not need to be worried about whether or not the deadbolt 25 is extended
when the door D is closed onto the strike plate S. in any withdrawn (FIGS.
15 2A and 2B), partially extended (FIG. 3), or totally extended (FIG. 1 )
position the deadbolt 25 will pass into the receiving strike plate S opening.
The lever 40 and associated hook 55 deflect into the deadbolt longitudinal
aperture 30 via the variable pivot point within the lever channel 60, as
aided by the limits set by guide means. When the subject finger pull means
2o is extended and the deadbolt 25 enters the strike plate 25, the finger pull
means retracts into a flush position and is internal to and integral with the
deadbolt 25. When the deadbolt 25 is withdrawn from the strike plate S
and back into the housing the lever 40 cooperates with the housing
structure, also aided by the guide means, to pivot the lever 40 back into
25 the longitudinal aperture to release the strike plate S. Usually, a nub 85
on
219530
14
the lever 40 catches within a slot 90 in the housing and initiates pivoting of
the lever 40 and associated hook 55 into the longitudinal aperture 30.
The invention has now been explained with reference to specific
embodiments. Other embodiments will be suggested to those of ordinary
skill in the appropriate art upon review of the present specification.
Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail
by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding,
it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications may be practiced
within the scope of the appended claims.
