US1970267A - Locker - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1934.

J. E. BALES 1,970,267

LOCKER Filed May 8; 1930 '3 Sheets-Sh'eet 1 J. E. BALES LOCKER s Sheets-sheaf 3 Filed ma 8, 1930 ||iiliuilinim! Patented Aug. 14, 1934 UNITED STATES LOCKER James E. Bales, Aurora, 111., assignor 'to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application May a, 1930, Serial No. 450,642

26 Claims.

This invention relates to lockers and particularly to lockers which are made of sheet metal More specifically, the invention relates to locker door construction and to locker door reinforcing 5 means and locking mechanisms.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a sheet metal locker which is provided with new and novel means for reinforcing the locker door, which is provided with improved means for housing a locking bar or rod, and which is provided with novel means for locking the door.

Another object is to provide a' locker door reinforcement and a hinge reinforcement for the door.

A further object is to provide a new and improved locking mechanism for sheet metal lockers.

A further object is to provide a door locking mechanism of novel construction which is manually operated for unlocking and which automatigo cally comesto locking position upon closing the door.

Another object is to provide a reinforced locker which is strong and durable in construction, which is efflcient in operation, and which can be readily g5 and economically manufactured.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved method of slidingly arranging a looking bar or rod in position.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be go apparent throughout the progress of the following specification.

The invention comprises in general a sheet metal locker of conventional design which has doors made from sheet metal. The doors are preferably made out of a sheet metal blank and are provided with extensions on each side which are folded back and overlapped to provide longitudinal side reinforcements and toprovide a housing into which a vertical locking bar or rod is'arranged.

Hinge reinforcing members or braces are fastened to a longitudinal reinforcement at the hinge side thereof to strengthen the door where it. is

hinged to the locker or cabinet body. The side reinforcing at the free side of the door is formed to provide a longitudinal recess into which a locking rod or baris slidingly mounted. This rod or bar is rectangular and hollow in shape and has a longitudinal recess or slot extending its fulllength. Notches are cut therefrom which engage rod clips fastened to the inside'of the door. The

rod or bar interfittingly or interlockingly engages these clips to hold the rod in position and to permit vertical slidable movement thereof. A plate is fixed to the rod and is movable therewith. It is adapted to engage a lock fixed to the inside of ,the' door and operated by keys from outside the door. When the lock is in locked position, the bolt engages the plate to prevent movement of the rod. When the lock is in unlocked position, the bolt is withdrawn and the rod is free to he slid vertically. An outside handle is fixed to the door and has a vertical slidable member cooperating therewith which engages the rod. This slidable member is provided for operating the vertical bar from the outside. The slidable member also has a hole provided in its lower end to receive a padlock so that the rod cannot be slid even though the regular door lock is in unlocked position. A door stop and keeper element is fixed to the jamb and engages a longitudinal slot in the rod for locking the rod to the locker body. A leaf spring member is fastened to 'a part of the door and extends inside of the rod.- Parts are struck-out from the rod which are engageable with the spring to hold the rod in up or unlocked position when the door is opened. This spring is engaged by the stop or keeper when the door is closed to move the spring away from the struck-out portions, thereby permitting the bar to slide downwardly by gravity and engage the stop or keeper.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a selected embodiment of the invention and the views therein are as follows:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of the improved locker embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the locker door in open position and hinged on the left side of the locker.

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1, except the door is hinged on the leftside instead of the right side as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6 showing the door in closed position with the rod in locked position.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the rod in raised or unlocked position.

Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of the door looking at the inside thereof.

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view of a, part of the door with the locking rod out of engagement therewith.

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the hinge brace.

Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the blank from which the hinge brace is made.

Fig. 10 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 1010 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a locker generally having side jambs 2 and 3. A sheet metal door 4 is swingingly mounted to the jamb 2 by means of hinges 5. The-side edge 6 of the door is bent inwardly at 7 and then folded back upon itself to provide two thicknesses of metal 8' and 9. Theside 9 extendsalong the inside face of the door as designated at 10 and then bent outwardly between the portion 10 and its free end 11 to provide a tubular portion 12, Fig. 3. The tubular portion 121 comprises the sides 13 and 14 and integrally joins the part 11 as designated at 15. The portion 10 and the end 11 may be fastened to the face of the door in any convenient manner such as by welding. The side 14 of the tubular member 12 has a lip 16 struck inwardly therefrom to provide a slot 17.

A hinge brace 18 is formed from a sheet metal blank as shown in Fig. 9. This blank is folded along the dotted lines shown in Fig. 9 and when so folded, forms the brace as shown in Fig. 8. The brace 18,- Fig. 8, comprises an integral finger 19 which has a turned end 20. The base portion 21 of the brace 18 is integral with the finger 19 and the reinforcing sides 22. The base 21, Fig. 3, abuts the inside of the metal where it is folded at the side of the door and is shaped to conform with the tubular portion 12 which reinforces the door. The turned end 20 of the finger 19, Fig. 3, is received in the slot 17 and engages the metal at the edge of the slot. Fastening means 23 which, in this instance comprise a bolt and nut, passes through holes 24 provided in the base 21 of the brace, the folded edge 6 of the door which comprises the parts 8 and 9, and a leaf 25 of the hinge 5. The other leaf 26 of the hinge 5 is fastened to the angle iron jamb 2 in any convenient manner such as by rivets 26'.

The extension on the other side of the door which is that part adjacent the jamb 3, is bent inwardly and then returned to provide the reinforced side edge 27. The metal is then bent downwardly to provide a side 28 which is fastened to the inside face of the door and then bent inwardly to provide the vertical face 29. The space between the reinforced edge 27, the front face 28, and the vertical edge 29 provides a longitudinal recess 30 for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. The free end of the metal is then bent laterally at 31 and then downwardly to provide a leg 32 which is fastened to the inside face of the door in any convenient manner such as by welding.

' Door rod clips 33 are fastened to the inside face of. the door, extending inwardly from the front face 28, Fig. 6. The clips 33 are formed from sheet metal and comprise upper and lower portions 34 and 35 and. an intermediate portion 36. The upper and lower portions 34 and 35 are fastened to the inside face 28 in any convenient manner such as by welding. The portion 36 is bowed outwardly from the portions 34 and 35 and is connected by the thin strip portions 3'7 and 38 respectively.

A locking rod or bar 39is made tubular in form from a single piece of sheet metal. The rear side 40 of the rod has its free ends 41 and 42 spaced apart, Fig. '7, to provide a longitudinal recess or slot 43. At spaced intervals the ends 41 and 42 are cut away at 44 and 45 respectively to provide notches 46. The rod is positioned in the recess 30 with its surface 40 against the side 28. The intermediate portions 36 of the clips 33 are re ceived in the notches 46 in the rod, thereby permitting vertical movement of the rod as the connecting strips 37 and 38 fit into the longitudinal recess 43. The front face 47 of the locking rod or bar 39 is provided with a longitudinal slot 48, Fig. 2, into which a part of a keeper element .49 extends.

The element 49 comprises a leg 50 which is fastened to the angle iron jamb 3 of the locker by means of rivets, Fig. 3. A rearwardly extending leg 51 is integrally connected with the leg 50. The leg 51 is bent at right angles providing an inwardly extending arm or leg 52. This arm or leg 52 is bent forwardly to provide a keeper portion 53. This keeper portion is cut away from the arm 52 as designated at 54, Fig. 10, and has a spaced lug or lip 55 providing a recess or keeper 56 into which the metal of the rod 39 adjacent the slot 48 is received for locking the locker door. A felt bumper 57 is fastened to the outer face of the leg 52 against which the edge 27 of the door abuts when it is closed and acts as a stop for the door, Fig. 3.

A handle 58 is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal and is curled or beaded-over as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 11, to provide a slotted or grooved portion 59. The upper edge 1 of the handle has a right angled lip 60 provided thereon which engages a slot provided in the face of the door to hold the upper end of the handle in position. The lower end of the handle has a downturned flange or lip 61 provided 1 thereon which fits flush with the face of the door and is held in place by means of the fastening bolt and nut, Fig. 11. 'A slidable member 62 is arranged inside the upper and lower limits of the handle 58 and has forwardly extending ends 63 1 and 64 which operate in the groove portion 59 of the handle. The slidable member has aprojection 65 provided thereon upon which outwardly extending fingers 66 are integrally formed. The projection and fingers extend through a 1 slot provided in the face of the door, and the fingers 66 extend through a slot 6'7 provided in an attaching plate 68. After the fingers are inserted in the slot 67, they are spread apart to connect the slidable member securely to the plate 68.1 The slidable member also has a projection 69 provided at its lower end, Fig. 11, which extends through a slot '70 provided in the bottom of the handle 58. The construction just described permits the slidable member 62 to be raised 1 upwardly to raise the sliding rod or bar 39. The extension 69 provided on the slidable member 62 has a hole '71 provided therein to receive a padlock '72, Fig. 1. When the padlock is fastened in position, the vertical member cannot be moved 1 as a part of the lock will engage the bottom of the handle 58 and prevent movement thereof.

The plate 68 is attached to the rod 39 as indicated at 73 and extends inwardly from the rod. The inner end '74 of the plate is provided 1 with a turned flange 75 which is adapted to be engaged by the draw bolt 76 of a key operated lock 77. The upper edge of the flange 75 is cut away as indicated at '78, Fig. 6, to permit the bolt '26-to pass over the face of the plate 68 and 1. become engaged with the part 75 when the lock 77- is in locked position so that the rod 39 cannot be operated.

A leaf spring '79, Fig. 10, is fastened to a fixed part of the door, such as to a clip 33, and nor- 1 mally extends in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10. A lug 80 extends inwardly from the rod 39. This lug may be either struck-out from a face of the rod or it may be an integral part of a clip 81. If the clip 81 is employed,

another'lug 82 is provided on the clip, the lugs 80 and 82 being bent inwardly to prevent it from' falling out of the rod 39. The spring when in the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 10, engages the bottom of the lug 80 and holds the tubular rod 39 upwardly. When the door is Operation When the door is pushed to closed. position, the part 53 of the keeper element 49 will extend through the slot 48 in the tubular rod 39 and push the leaf spring '79 to the left, Figs. 4, 5, and 10, pushing the end of the spring '19 away from the lug 80. The tubular rod 39 will then drop downwardly by gravity until the metal at the top of the .slot 48 engages the keeper 56. The door will then be in locked position as shown in Fig. 4. When in locked position, the slidable member 62 will be down as shown in Fig. 4 with the projection 69 extending below the bottom of the handle 58. If the padlock 72 is engaged with the hole '71 in the slidable member 62, the rod 39 cannot be raised upwardly to disengage the rod from the keeper. Or, if the lock 77 is in locked position with the bolt'extending outwardly as shown in Fig. 6, the rod cannot be moved upwardly as the flange 75 will engage the draw bolt 76. h

To unlock the door either the padlock 72 must be removed, or the lock 77 unlocked to withdraw the draw bolt 76. In this latter position, the slidable member may be moved upwardly to disen-. gage the tubular rod 39 from its keeper 56. When the rod is raised upwardly a predetermined distance due to raising the slidable member 62, the leaf spring 79 will engage the lug 80 and hold the tubular rod 39 in up or unlocked position as shown in Fig.- 5. The door may then be swung on its hinges 5. When the door is closed, the finger 53 will push the spring inwardly permitting the slidable member 62 and the rod 39 to drop downwardly into engagement. The lock 77 or the padlock 72 may then be used to prevent vertical movement of the slidable member and thereby maintain the door in locked position rel-- ative to the locker.

The slidable member 62 is guided by means of the upper and lower tongues or projections 63 and 64 entering the groovein the handle 58. The projection or tail-piece 69 on the slidable member 62 is not required as a guide for the slidable member to maintain it in position, the tail-piece 69 being provided merely for receiving a padlock.

Upper and lower bumpers 83 and 84 respectively are arranged in the handle 58 'to provide a surface against which the slidable member 62 strikes; These bumpers are made of resilient material, such as rubber, and are preferably made T-shaped. The head 85 of the T being inserted in the hollow handle with the leg'86 of the T projecting through the handle and providing a strike to-provide the bumpers which are inserted in the hollow handle with the leg 36 extending outwardly from the handle. This construction is more economical than fixing a rubber bumper to the top and bottom of the slidable member. The rubber bumpers are impinged within the hollow handle and are always located in proper position relative tothe slidable member 62.

The invention provides a locker which has its door reinforced at each side thereof and whichprovides a recess or pocket into which the tubular slidable member operates. The tubular locking rod is formed from a single piece ofsheet-metal and has vertical slidable movement due to the interlocking of the rod with the clips. The rod may be operated from the outside due to the slidable member having restricted movement within the handle. Operation of the slidable member or the tubular rod is prevented by either a door lock. or a padlock. The leaf spring holds the tubular rod 39 in up position when the door is open and automatically permits the rod to drop down by gravity when the door is closed. The entire locker can be readily and economically manufactured as itis composed of comparatively few and simple parts most of which have interlock-- ing engagement with other parts thereby preventing thevuse of numerous screws, bolts, and rivets.

The clips 33, by engaging the notches and longitudinal slot in the hollow locking bar, conceal all the means for attaching the bar to the door. The construction of the door, by providing the 10k recess 30 which is arranged between the jamb 27 and the tubular reinforcement 31, provides means for receiving the locking bar, said means being closed on three sides. When the bar is arranged inside of the recess 30, the front face of the locking bar is either flush with the outer face of the flange 27 and the tubular reinforcement 31, or else it may extend inwardly. By providing a member which is closed on three sides for re ceiving a bar, all the fastening means for holding the bar 31 are concealed and the locking bar is located in a position where it will not come into contact with any of the other operating parts or be easily damaged by coming in contact with outside objects. r

The bracket construction for providing a reinforcement at the hinges considerably strengthens the door at this point.

Changes may bemade in the form, construction, and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A sheet metal locker comprising side jambs, a sheet metal door between said jambs and having integral side extensions, said extensions be ing bent to provide a flange of double thickness at each side of the door, longitudinal tubular reinforcements on one face of the door and integral with the extensions, said tubular reinforcements being spaced from the flanges at the sides of the door, hinges on one side of the door and 140 fastened to a jamb, and a hinge reinforcing member engaging one of said tubular reinforcements and fastened to an adjacent side flange.

2. A sheet metal locker comprising side jambs, a sheet metal door between said lambs and having integral side extensions. said extensions being bent to provide a flange of double thickness at each side of the door, longitudinal tubular reinforcements on one face of the door and int gral withthe extensions, said tubular reinforcements being spaced from the flanges at the sides of the door, hinges on one side'of the door and a said jamb for swingingly mounting the door, a sheet metal hinge reinforcing member fastened to one of said flanges, and a'turned lip on said hingereinforcing member and engaging one of .said' tubular reinforcements to strengthen the door when a hinge is applied.

3. A sheet metal locker comprising side jambs, a sheet metal door between said jambs and having integral side extensions, said extensions being bent to provide a flange of double thickness at each side of the door, longitudinal tubular reinforcements on one face of the door and integral with the extensions, said tubular reinforcements being spaced from the flanges at the sides of the door, a hinge having a pair of legs for s'wingingly mounting said door to a jamb, one of said legs being fastened'to one of said jambs, the other hinge leg engaging an outer face of a flange, a sheet metal hinge reinforcing member engaging an inner face of the last named flange, a turned lip on said reinforcing member and engaging one of said tubular reinforcements, and fastening means passing through a part of said hinge reinforcing member, said last named door at each side of the door, longitudinaltubular reinforcements on one face of the door and integral with the extensions, said tubular reinforcements being spaced from the flanges at the sides of the door, hinges on one side of the door and a jamb, a sheet metal hinge reinforcing member fastened to one of said flanges, a turned lip on said hinge reinforcing member and engaging one of said tubular reinforcements to strengthen the door when a hinge is applied, a tubular locking rod arranged in a space between a flange and a tubular member, means for slidingly mounting v 'the rod insaid space, and means on a jamb and engaging the rod for locking the door.

5. A sheet metal locker comprising door jambs, a sheet metal door between said jambs and hinged to one of said jambs, an integral extension on said door, said extension being folded over to provide an inwardly extending door flange, a leg on said flange and arranged against the inside face of the door, an integral extension on said leg and providing a space between the flange and the last named integral extension, an inward extension on said last named extension and providing a longitudinal reinforcement for the door, a tubular sheet metal locking rod arranged in the space between the flange and the extension on the leg, means on said leg and engaging said rodfor slidingly mounting said rod on the door,

and means on the jamb and cooperating with the.

rod for locking the door.

6. A locker comprising door jambs, a door arranged between said jambs and swingingly connected to a jamb, clips fixed to a rear face of said door, said clips having their ends fastened to the inside face of the door and bowed between their ends, a relatively wide intermediate portion betwen the ends of said clips for attaching the clips, relatively narrow strips connecting the ends with the intermediate portion, a locking rod having a longitudinal slot and notches, said slot extending throughout the entire length of the rod, said notches receiving the intermediate portion whereby the rod is free to slide vertically, the slot in the rod engaging the strips on said clips and the intermediate portion being within the rod, and means on a jamb and adapted for engagement with the rod for locking the slidable member, and locking means engageable with the slidable member for ment thereof.

8. In a locker, a door'therefor, a hollow sheet metal locking rod removably and slidably connected to the inside of the door, a handle connected to the front of said door, a plate on said rod, a slidable member on the front of the door and engaging the plate for operating the 'rod, an extension on the slidable member and extending through the handle, and adapted to be engaged with a padlock for preventing operation of the slidable member.

9. In a locker, a door therefor, a hollow sheet metal locking rod removably and slidably connected to the inside of the door, a handle connected to the front of said door, a plate on said rod, a slidable member on the front of the door and engaging the plate for operating the rod, an extension on the slidable member and extending through the handle, and a key controlled lock fastened to the inside of the door and controlled from the outside thereof and engageable with the plate for preventing operationof the rod..-

10. A locker comprising door jambs, a door mounted between the jambs, a hollow slidable locking rod mounted on the door for preventing or permit-ting opening and closing of the door, a spring fastened to a part of said door and ex tending into said rod, a lug on said rod and engageable with the spring for holding the rod in unlocked position when the door is open, and a keeper element fixed to a jamb and engaging the spring to disengage it from the lug and to permit the rod to drop by gravity to locked position when the door is closed.

11. A locker comprising door'jambs, a door arranged between the jambs and pivotally attached to a jamb, a slidably mounted locking rod on the door for preventing or permitting opening and closing of the door, a spring fastened to a part of said door and extending intosaid rod, a lug on said rod and engageable'with the spring for holding the rod in unlocked position when the door is open, said rod having an opening therein opposite said spring, a keeper element on a jamb and having a part extending into said opening in the closed position of the door for disengaging the spring from the lug to permit the rod to drop by gravity to locked position during closing of the door. 8

12. A locker comprising a door jamb member, a doormember pivotally attached to said jamb member, a slidable locking rod mounted inside of the locker and upon one of said members, the other of said members having a keeper, said locking rod and keeper preventing or permitting opening and closing of the door, a spring fastened to a part of said door and extending into said rod, a lug on said rod and engageable with the spring for holding the rod in unlocked preventing moveposition when the door is open, said rod having 15 an opening therein opposite saidspring, a part of said keeper extending into said last named opening whenthe door is in closed position for :disengaging the spring from the lug to permit for locking thedoor in closed position, a handle on the front of said door, a slidable member on the door and engaging the rod for operating said rod, and horizontal extensions on said slidable member'and engaging the handle forguiding said slidable member.

15. A locker comprising a door, a slidable locking rod for locking the door in closed position, a

handle having a groove therein mounted on the front of said door, a. slidable member on the door and engaging the rod for operating said rod, and extensions on said slidable member for engaging I said groove in the handle and guided thereby.

16. In a locker, a door for said locker, a looking bar carried by the door on the inner face thereof for locking the door in closed position, a hollow handle fastened to the outer face of the door and having a groove therein, a slidable member mounted on the doorand cooperating with the bar, said slidable member engageable with said groove for operating the locking bar, and bumpers arranged in said groove and providing strikes for said slidable member.

1'7. A locker comprising door jambs, a door operably arranged between said jambs and swingingly connected to a said jamb, clips fixed to a face of said door, a hollow sheet metallocking rod having a longitudinal slot therein at the rear face of the rod, said clips extending into said slot for slidingly mounting the rod to the inner face of the door, and means on a jamb and cooperating with the rod for locking the door.

-l8. A locker comprising door jambs, a door operably arranged between said jambsand swingingly mounted on one of said jambs, clips fixed to the inside face of said door, a hollow sheet metal locking rod having a slot therein on its rear face and extending throughout the length of the rod, said clips extending into said slot for slidinglymounting the rod to the inner face of the door, means cooperating with the rod for locking the door, and means operable from the outside ofthe door for operating the slidable rod.

19. A locker comprising door jambs, a door arranged between the jambs, clips mounted on the inside face of the door, a hollow locking rod slidably mounted on the clips and on theinside face of the door, a keeper member fixed to one of said jambs and extending into said rod in the closed position of the door, means for holding the rod in a predetermined position, said means including a member fixed to the door and a member fixed to the rod whichmembers become engaged andhold the rod in unlocked position when the door is in open position, the keeper member disengaging the last two 'members and releasing the rod when the door is shut.

20. A locker comprising door jambs, a door ar-' ranged between the jambs and pivotally attached to a jamb, aslidable locking rod mounted inside gitudinal reinforcing member and a flange thereof the locker on the door and coperating with a keeper on a jamb for preventing or permitting opening and closing of the door, means operable from the outside of said locker for raising said rod to unlock the door, means extending inside of the rod for holding the rod in raised position when the first means are operated for unlocking the door, and means controlled by the closing-of the door whereby the rod and first named means return to normal position by gravity and the rod will engage the keeper. 4

21. A locker comprising, a door having longitudinal spaced reinforcing members and side flanges, one face of a reinforcing member and a flange providing a pocket, and a hollowlocking rod mounted in said pocket on the inner face of the door, said rod being substantially the same size as said pocket.

22. A locker comprising a door having a lonon and providing a pocket between the reinforcing member and the flange, fastening means fixed to said door between a said reinforcing member and the flange, and a hollow locking rod arranged in said pocket and engageable with said fastening means for operably fastening the 7 rod to the door, said rod having openings therein- I through which the fastening means extend, whereby the fastening means are concealed by the rod whenengaged.

23. In a locker having a door, a locking rod for said door, a three-sided pocketin the door. for receiving said locking rod, fastening means between two sides of said pocket,said locking rod having openings therein through which the fastening means extend and being engageable with said fastening means, said rod being constructed and arranged to receive and conceal said fastening means when the rod is fastened thereto.

24. A locker comprising a door having spaced longitudinal reinforcing members and'providing a three-sided pocket, fastening'means arranged in the bottom of the pocket and a hollow locking bar arranged in the'pocket and engaging saidl20 fastening means and having openings therein through which the fastening means extend, said bar being constructed and arranged to receive and conceal said fastening means when the fastening means are engaged by the locking bar.

25. In a locker, a door for said locker, a looking bar on the door and a keeper on'the locker for locking the door in closed position, a hollow handle fixed to the front of the door, a. slidable member mounted on the door and engaging the bar for operating said locking bar, the movement of the slidable member being limited by the handle, and lateral extensions on the slidable member and extending into the handle for holding the slidable member in proper operable position and alinement. I

26. In'a locker, a door for said locker, a looking bar on the door and a keeper on the locker for locking the door in closed position, a hollow handle fixed to'the front of the door, a slidable member mounted on the door and engaging the bar for operating said locking bar, the move- "ment of the slidable member being limited by JAMES E. BALES. 150

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