GB1574763A

GB1574763A - Door latching devices

Info

Publication number: GB1574763A
Application number: GB2078977A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SWALLOW W
Current assignee: SWALLOW W
Priority date: 1978-04-27
Filing date: 1978-04-27
Publication date: 1980-09-10

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO DOOR LATCHING DEVICES (71) I, WILLIAM SWALLOW, a British Subject, of Alderton Lodge, Ashridge Park, Berkhamsted, Herts: do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that- a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The invention relates to an improved door latching device attached to the closing edge of a door and its adjacent jamb and whilst it is adaptable particularly to doors of automobile bodies it has application also to doors of road and rail vehicles.

The object of this invention is to provide a door latching device which is cheap to-manufacture, which is very simple, with a minimum of moving parts, easy in operation, which ensures the proper guiding into and alignment of the door in its opening, requires the minimum of skill to mount, with facility for rapid adjustment and realignment of the door after mounting. and furthermore will hold the door positively to prevent rattling and also bursting open of the door if the doorway is accidentally distorted.

The invention comprises. on the closing edge of the door. a latch lever horizontally pivoted at right angles to a face plate enabling it to have rotational movement in the plane of the door edge, said plate having inward facing open ended slot to accept a staple fixed on the door jamb. The latch lever. on the inner side of the face plate, lies transversely across the slot when closed and swings so that when open its free end leaves a limited way into the slot. The aforementioned staple. of oblong shape. is set at an angle to the door closing direction so that when the door is closing the first leg of the staple enters the slot or recess without touching the end of the latch lever and the following leg of the staple strikes and pushes the pivoted latch lever ahead of it. the latch lever being profiled if necessary to facilitate this, thus imprisoning the latch lever and causing the first leg of the staple to fit into the end of the slot so that it cannot drop or sag. The slot or recess being of wedge shaped configuration to help guide the staple into alignment.

Thus when the door is closed the stale,-pro- jecting into the slot or recess in the ddor face plate, embraces the latch lever by reason of the free end of the latch lever having been guided into the staple thus limiting sideways movement of the door relative to the jamb.

After closing in this manner the pivoted latch lever is then prevented from rotating in a reverse direction by means of a ratchet catch on its periphery, or such like retaining device, which is arranged to be released by the operation of inside or outside door handles or levers connected to the catch. When the catch is released the latch lever swings back with the opening of the door to a position where it has retracted itself from the staple.

The ratchet on the periphery of the pivoted latch lever may have more than one holding position so as to hold the door when not fully closed as a safety measure.

The location of the staple on the jamb may be made adjustable if required by means of slotted bolt or screw fixing holes.

Depending on the size or magnitude of the forces required to hold the door closed the various parts of the device above described may be made of steel or other metal, or plastic.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which, Fig 1 is a perspective view of the latch assembly in the open position. Fig 2 is a perspective view of the staple in the disengaged position. Fig. 3 shows the latch assembly and the staple in the closed position.

Figs 4-9 show diagrammatically the elevation and plan views of the latch assembly and the staple in the open, partly closed and closed positions respectively.

Figs 10r12 show the side. elevation and plan views of a working example of a latch assembly for attachment to the closing edge of the door.

Figs 13 and 14 show the side view and elevation of the staple for attaching to the door jamb.

Referring to Fig 1, this comprises a latch lever 1 pivoted on the pin 2 which is attached to the face plate 3 which has a slotted recess 4. The latch lever is shown in the open position leaving a gap 5 which allows the forward leg 7 of the staple 6, Fig 2, to enter when the door is closing in the direction of arrow A. At the same time the rear leg 8 of the staple strikes the arm 9 of the latch lever causing it to commence rotating on the pin 2. The slot 4 in the face plate is of wedge shaped configuration so that when the door is closing it helps guide the staple into position and when closed it prevents any relative upward or downward movement of the staple legs 7 and 8. On the face plate is a catch lever 10 pivoted on the pin 11 attached to the face plate which can be raised by upward pressure on the lift pin 12 projecting from it. When the latch is fully closed, Fig 3, the projection 13 on the catch lever is caused to engage the complimentary face on the latch lever by reason of the tension spring 14 thus preventing the latch lever from rotating in a reverse direction and preventing the staple from being released. The latch lever can be released by upward pressure on the lift pin 12 thus disengaging the catch and allowing the latch lever to return to the open position assisted by the spring 14. It will be seen from Fig 3 that when in the closed position the arm of the latch lever 9 has been guided into the staple and is embraced by it. By reason of this and the arm of the latch lever lying across the slot the latch lever and the staple are prevented from bursting apart should the door aperture become distorted in an accident.

In Figs 4-5 the face plate 3 is shown attached to the closing face of the door B in the position when on closing the door the forward leg 7 of the staple 6 attached to the jamb C has freely entered the gap 5 and the rear leg 8 of the staple has started to press against the arm 9 of the latch lever.

Figs 6-7 show the device after further closing movement when the rear leg 8 of the staple 6 has pushed the arm 9 of the latch lever ahead of it thus causing the arm 9 to enter the staple and the secondary notch 15 on the periphery of the latch lever has received the catch thus preventing any reverse movement at this stage of closing as a safety measure.

Figs 8-9 show the device in the fully closed position whereby the latch lever 1 is prevented from rotating in a reverse direction and the staple 6 is held and prevented from moving up or down in the slot and by reason of it embracing the arm 9 the device cannot burst apart should the door aperture become substantially distorted in an accident.

Figs 10-12 embody the device as described in the previous drawings and in addition show a means of operating the latching device. The rocker bar 16 is pivoted on pins 17 on extended wings of the face plate thus providing the minimum of interference with the window channel D in the door. The rocker bar is rotated on its axis by means of levers 18 hinged on either side on the pivot pins 17. The levers 18 are extended beyond the pivot point and a projecting stud 19 abuts against the rocker causing the rocker bar 16 to rotate on its axis when either of the operating arms 18 is moved thus lifting the catch by means of the lift pin 12. Accordingly the catch can be raised by the closing of the door without either of the operating levers 18 moving or, either lever 18 can be operated to lift the catch leaving the other one stationary, the latter being retained by the tension spring 20 against the abutment 21.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that WHAT I CLAIM IS: Claim 1 -On the closing edge of a door, a latch lever horizontally pivoted on the inner side of a face plate and having rotational movement in the plane of the door edge, said plate having an inward facing open ended slot to accept a staple fixed on the door jamb.

When closed the latch lever lies transversely across the,slot and swings so that when open its free end leaves a limited way into the slot.

The staple is set at an angle so that when the door is closing the first leg of the staple enters the slot without touching the latch lever and the following leg strikes and pushes that latch lever ahead of it thus embracing the latch lever by reason of the free end of the latch lever having been guided into it. The latch lever is then prevented from rotating in a reverse direction by means of a catch on its periphery. To open the door the catch is released and the latch lever swings to a position where it has retracted itself from the staple.

Claim 2 -A door latching device as described in claim 1 in which the inward facing open ended slot is of wedge shaped configuration to help guide the staple into alignment.

Claim 3- A door latching device as described in claim 1 in which the catch on the periphery of the pivoted latch lever has more than one holding position so as to hold the door when not fully closed as a safety measure.

Claim 4 - A door latching device as described in claim 1 in which the location of the staple on the door jamb may be made adjustable by means of slotted bolt or screw

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

plan views of a working example of a latch assembly for attachment to the closing edge of the door.

Figs 13 and 14 show the side view and elevation of the staple for attaching to the door jamb.

Referring to Fig 1, this comprises a latch lever 1 pivoted on the pin 2 which is attached to the face plate 3 which has a slotted recess 4. The latch lever is shown in the open position leaving a gap 5 which allows the forward leg 7 of the staple 6, Fig 2, to enter when the door is closing in the direction of arrow A. At the same time the rear leg 8 of the staple strikes the arm 9 of the latch lever causing it to commence rotating on the pin
2. The slot 4 in the face plate is of wedge shaped configuration so that when the door is closing it helps guide the staple into position and when closed it prevents any relative upward or downward movement of the staple legs 7 and 8. On the face plate is a catch lever 10 pivoted on the pin 11 attached to the face plate which can be raised by upward pressure on the lift pin 12 projecting from it. When the latch is fully closed, Fig 3, the projection 13 on the catch lever is caused to engage the complimentary face on the latch lever by reason of the tension spring 14 thus preventing the latch lever from rotating in a reverse direction and preventing the staple from being released. The latch lever can be released by upward pressure on the lift pin 12 thus disengaging the catch and allowing the latch lever to return to the open position assisted by the spring 14. It will be seen from Fig 3 that when in the closed position the arm of the latch lever 9 has been guided into the staple and is embraced by it. By reason of this and the arm of the latch lever lying across the slot the latch lever and the staple are prevented from bursting apart should the door aperture become distorted in an accident.

In Figs 4-5 the face plate 3 is shown attached to the closing face of the door B in the position when on closing the door the forward leg 7 of the staple 6 attached to the jamb C has freely entered the gap 5 and the rear leg 8 of the staple has started to press against the arm 9 of the latch lever.

Figs 6-7 show the device after further closing movement when the rear leg 8 of the staple 6 has pushed the arm 9 of the latch lever ahead of it thus causing the arm 9 to enter the staple and the secondary notch 15 on the periphery of the latch lever has received the catch thus preventing any reverse movement at this stage of closing as a safety measure.

Figs 8-9 show the device in the fully closed position whereby the latch lever 1 is prevented from rotating in a reverse direction and the staple 6 is held and prevented from moving up or down in the slot and by reason of it embracing the arm 9 the device cannot burst apart should the door aperture become substantially distorted in an accident.

Figs 10-12 embody the device as described in the previous drawings and in addition show a means of operating the latching device. The rocker bar 16 is pivoted on pins 17 on extended wings of the face plate thus providing the minimum of interference with the window channel D in the door. The rocker bar is rotated on its axis by means of levers 18 hinged on either side on the pivot pins 17. The levers 18 are extended beyond the pivot point and a projecting stud 19 abuts against the rocker causing the rocker bar 16 to rotate on its axis when either of the operating arms 18 is moved thus lifting the catch by means of the lift pin 12. Accordingly the catch can be raised by the closing of the door without either of the operating levers 18 moving or, either lever 18 can be operated to lift the catch leaving the other one stationary, the latter being retained by the tension spring 20 against the abutment 21.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that WHAT I CLAIM IS: Claim 1 -On the closing edge of a door, a latch lever horizontally pivoted on the inner side of a face plate and having rotational movement in the plane of the door edge, said plate having an inward facing open ended slot to accept a staple fixed on the door jamb.

When closed the latch lever lies transversely across the,slot and swings so that when open its free end leaves a limited way into the slot.

The staple is set at an angle so that when the door is closing the first leg of the staple enters the slot without touching the latch lever and the following leg strikes and pushes that latch lever ahead of it thus embracing the latch lever by reason of the free end of the latch lever having been guided into it. The latch lever is then prevented from rotating in a reverse direction by means of a catch on its periphery. To open the door the catch is released and the latch lever swings to a position where it has retracted itself from the staple.

Claim 2 -A door latching device as described in claim 1 in which the inward facing open ended slot is of wedge shaped configuration to help guide the staple into alignment.

Claim 3- A door latching device as described in claim 1 in which the catch on the periphery of the pivoted latch lever has more than one holding position so as to hold the door when not fully closed as a safety measure.

Claim 4 - A door latching device as described in claim 1 in which the location of the staple on the door jamb may be made adjustable by means of slotted bolt or screw

fixing holes.

Claim 5 - A latching device for doors substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanyi-n-g drawings