US2834194A - Lock spindle construction - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE ETAL 2,834,194

LOCK SPINDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 6, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l I/WE/V TORS ERNEST L. SCHLAGE JOHN A. TORNOE ARM/N H. GREEN A T TORNEVS y 3, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE ETAL 2,834,194

- LOCK SPEfiDLE CQNSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 6, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ERNEST L. SCHLAGE JOHN A. TORNOE ARM/N H. GREEN A T TORNEYS United States Patent 2,834,194 LOCK SPINDLE coNs'rRUcTIoN Ernest L. Schiage, Burlingame, John Axel Tornoe, Redwood City, and Armin H. Green, San Mateo, Caliii, assignors to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation Application August 6, 1956, Serial No. 602,253 4 Claims. (Cl. 70-146) This invention relates to door locks and more particularly to the construction of the outer knob spindle and its connection to the retractor which retracts the latch bolt.

In the type of door lock here illustrated there is an inner and an outer independently operable knob spindle, and in the conventional case each spindle carries a rollback member which engages a retractor. When either spindle is rotated in either direction its rollback member imparts movement to the retractor, and as the retractor is connected to the latch bolt the latter moves in unison and is retracted with relation to the strike plate in the door frame. A pair of compression springs oppose retracting movement of the retractor and these springs serve two functions, first, that of returning the retractor to the outer or projected position of the latch bolt, and second, that of returning the spindles and rollbacks to a normal, centered position. These springs then maintain the retractor in engagement with the rollback members on the knob spindles in order to accomplish the above two functions.

In locks of this type it is also customary to provide a means for locking the outside knob spindle against rotation so as to prevent operating the latch from the outside. In some cases this is done by providing a manually actuatable dog that dogs the outside knob spindle to the lock housing, and which dog is held in dogged position by a latch engaging the retractor. In such a case retraction of the retractor in an amount in the order of 4;" releases the latch and the dog is spring urged to an inoperative position releasing the outer knob spindle.

It has been found that in the case of the conventional lock described, retraction of the retractor may be ac complished by an unauthorized person from the exterior side of the door, even though the outer knob spindle is dogged in locked condition, by imparting a sharp blow to the outer knob in the direction of projection of the latch. Since the knob spindles are supported in bearings there is always a slight clearance or play in the bearings, particularly after some wear has taken place. This clearance permits the outer spindle to momentarily assume a slight angle with relation to its normal axis of rotation when a sharp blow is imparted to the outer knob. Such blow will cause movement of the rollback member at the inner end of the outer knob spindle which is thereby transmitted to the retractor with which it is in engagement. Although the movement of the roll back member caused by the blow may be only 4 or less, it is sufficient to transmit a shock wave to the retractor of such force as to cause the latter to move toward its inner or retracted position sufficient to release the latch holding the dog in locking relation with the outer spindle and thereby permitting opening of the door by rotation of the outer knob.

In some cases it has been found that sufiicient force can be transmitted to the retractor through the outer rollback members by means of a sharp blow on the outer 2,834,194 Patented May 13, 1958 knob spindle to cause the retractor to be fully retracted and thereby to retract the latch bolt clear of the strike plate. In this event it is obvious that the door they be opened even though the outer knob spindle may remain locked with respect to the housing.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for preventing the transmission of the force of a sharp blow on the outer knob spindle of the lock of the class described to the retractor. I

Another object of this invention is the provision of means in a door lock for isolating the outer knob spindle from the retractor against transmission of forces except by rotation of said outer knob spindle. I

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal longitudinal section of agdoor lock constructed in accordance with the preferred form of this invention, and showing the main parts of the mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a semi-diagrammatic view showing how a blow imparted to a conventional lock knob may be imparted to the retractor;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on a reduced scale taken generally along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the lock mechanism being operated by the outer knob;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the lock mechanism being operated by the key and lock cylinder;

Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the outer lgnob spindle and the rollback elements of the device of ig. l;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view'similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified form of the improved spindle and rollback construction of this invention; and, i

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the modified form of Fig. 7.

In detail, referring to Fig. of this invention is illustrated lock of the cylindrical type.

1, the spindle construction in combination with a door A retractor, generally designated 5, is slidably mounted between a pair of thrust plates 6, 7 (Fig. 1) in housing engageable with a, lug 9 (Figs.

A portion of inner knob spindle 12. extends into lock housing 4 and is formed with a rollback member 20 which is in engagement with an intermediate thrust member 21 formed integrally with retractor 5 (Figs. 1, 3-5). B-y'this means rotation of inner knob 16in either direction imparts retracting movement to retractor 5 in the usualmannertoslide said retractor to its inner position against the force ofsprings 10. It will be seen that once inner knob 16 is released from its rotated position springs urge retractor -5 to its outer position and at the same time thrust member21 rotates spindle 12 through rollbackmemberZOback toits normal, centered position. Since springs 10 urge retractor 5 toward its outer positionat all times, thrust member 21 is at all times in engagement with rollback member '20 and therefore spindle 12is always centered at rest.

In previous lock construction it has been the practice to form the outsideknob spindle 13 with a similar rollback member 22 (Fig. 2). This rollback 22 has similarly been held in engagement with retractor 5 at all times for the purposes of centeringroutside knob 17, as previously described with respect to inner knob 16. This prior construction has, however, resulted in a serious deficiency in the lock structure. It has been found, for instance, that a certain amount of clearance or play mustbe-maintained between knob spindle 13 and its associated bearing 15 in order that knob 17 may be easily operated. This clearance may, of course, be increased due to wear between the spindle and bearing. In tests performed on the conventional structure indicated in Fig. 2 it has been noted that a blow imparted to outer knob 17 in the direction of 23 causes knob spindle 13to be tilted from its normal axis of rotation at 24 to the position represented by dot-dash line 26 and a slightly angularly disposed axis (Fig. 2). This tilting of knob 17 and spindle 13 causes the conventional outer rollback member 22 to drive retractor 5 in the direction of arrow 27 toward its inner position. Even though the tilting of knob 17 by a sharp blow results in only a slight movement of the rollback 22 the magnitude of the shock wave transmitted thereby to retractor '5 may be such as to drive said retractor'far enough toward its inner position (dotdash line 28) to retract latch bolt 2 clear of the strike plate in the door frame. In such an instance it is seen that with the conventional structure of Fig. 2 the door may be opened by an unauthorized person, even though knob 17 may be locked against rotation, by imparting a sharp blow to said knob.

Furthermore, it is not uncommon practice to provide means for locking the outside knob against rotation such as is illustrated in Fig. 1. Such locking mechanism may comprise a dog 31 which is adapted to enter a slot 32 formed in the outer spindle 13. Dog 31 is formed at the inner end of a bar 33 which extends longitudinally through the inner spindle 12 and is provided with a pushbutton 34 on its outer end operable from the exterior of knob 16. Intermediate its ends bar 33 is provided with a latch 35 adjacent a slide plate 36 of the retractor 5. The bar 19 is normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. l, with pushbutton 34 extending outwardly of inner knob 16, by means of a spring 29. However, if the button 34 is depressed, dog 31 enters a slot 37 formed in the housing 4 as well as slot 32 in outer spindle 13, and the dog will be retained in this position as latch35 engages and is held by the inner face of sideplate 36. When dog 31 is held by latch 35 in this inner position, it prevents rotation of outer spindle 13 by dogging together slots 32 and 37 formed in said outer spindle and the stationary housing 4, respectively.

It will be noted, however, that bar 33 and dog 31 may be returned to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1 by spring 29 upon retracting retractor 5 sufficiently to disengage plate 36 from latch 35. This amount of retraction of retractor 5 need only be of the order of at," which, it has been found, can be easily trans- -mitted by-rappingthe-outer knob 17 of the construction shown in Fig.2. It is because of these difliculties with conventional construction that the device of this invention is provided.

In the preferred form of Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6, outer knob spindle 13 is provided with an integral lug 38 extending axially into lock housing 4 to a position spaced from the thrust member 21 of retractor 5. A pair of separate rollback elements 39, 40 (Figs. 1, 3) are interposed between opposite sides of lug 38 and thrust member 21. In eliect, lug 38 and elements 39, 40 appear similar to a single rollback member, such as 22, since said elements are held in engagement with thrust member 21 of retractor 5 by spring 10.

Elements 39, 40 (Fig. 6) are formed as cars extending axially from a pair of circular, centrally apertured discs 41, 42, respectively, which are mounted in the inner end of knob spindle 13 for independent rotation about the axis of said outer knob spindle. Discs 41, 42 are also provided with radially extending shoulders 43, 44 respectively (Fig. 6) engageable by a lug 45 (Figs. 1, 3, 6) projecting axially into the lock housing from the lock cylinder mechanism, generally designated 46 (Fig. 1). As in a conventional lock, lug 45 may be rotated independently of outer-knob spindle 13 by means of the correct key in the lock cylinder. It will be noted that discs 41, 42 are supported between the inner end of the lock cylinder mechanism and one of the sides of retractor 5.

Since neither the outer spindle lug 38 nor the lock cylinder lug 45 engages the retractor 5 a sharp blow administered to the outer knob of the lock of this invention will not be transrnittedto said retractor as described with reference-to Fig. 2.

The structure of thisinvention therefore overcomes the disadvantages of conventional construction in this regard by isolating the retractor from this type of movement of the outer knob spindle. It will be noted, however, that rotational movement of outer knob spindle 13 is transmitted by the edges of lug 38 to either roll back element 39, 40 (depending upon which way the outer spindle is turned) for retracting the latch in the normal manner. Fig. 4 shows such normal retraction taking place by retation of an unlocked outer knob spindle 13 in the direction of roll back element 40.

Fig. 5 illustratesretraction of the latch bolt 2 by turning a key in the lock cylinder mechanism 46. Rotation of such mechanism causes lug 45 to engage either shoulder 43 or 44 (depending upon the direction of rotation of the lock cylinder) to thereby rotate the corresponding disc andits associated rollback element. It is seen in Fig. 5 that rotation of lug 45 causing rollback element 39 to urge retractor 5 to its inner position does not disturb the position of the lug 38 onouter spindle 13.

The opposite sides of lug 38 and rollback elements 39, 40 are formed so that they are in engagement in planes substantially parallel to the line of action of retractor 5. As a consequence any tilting of outer spindle 13, as previously described, may slightly separate lug 38 from roll back elements 39, 40 in the direction of the said line of action, but such tilting movement cannot be transmitted to retractor S. In eifect, rollback elements 39, 40 and lug 38 are formed to provide means for transmitting rotational motionfonly of outer spindle 13 to retractor 5.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned planes of engagement may be slantingly disposed so as to converge in the direction of the latch unit 1, but that said planes may not diverge in such direction and still be efiective in not transmitting the movement occasioned by rapping the outside knob to the retractor.

The modification of Figs. 7, 8 primarily comprises a dilferent mounting means for a pair of similar rollback elements 49, 59. Elements 49, 50 are interposed between lug 38 on outer spindle 13 and the thrust member of retractor 5, as in the preferred form. The surfaces of elements 49, 50 that are in engagement with lug 38 are also in engagement with a similar lug 51 (Figs. 7, 8) on the lock cylinder mechanism 46. These surfaces of elements 49, 50 are, as in the previous case, lying in planes substantially parallel to the line of action of retractor so that any tilting movement of outer knob spindle 13, as by a sharp blow administered to knob 17, is not transmitted through said elements to retractor 5. Likewise, lugs 38 and 51 are spaced from retractor 5 so that no such movement can be imparted directly to retractor 5 through said lugs.

Rollback elements 49, 50 are formed at right angles to a pair of arcuate bearing plates 52, 53, respectively. In place of the solid thrust plate 6 of the previously described form of the invention, a composite thrust plate, generally designated 54 (Fig. 7), is made up of three individual plates 55, 56, 57 (Fig. 8). Plates 55, 57 are centrally apertured as at 58, 59 for passing the inner end of outside knob spindle 13, as in a conventional case, and central plate 56 is provided with a circular opening 60 of greater diameter than apertures 58, 59. The bearing plates 52, 53 of the rollback elements 49, 50 are of substantially the same thickness as plate 56 and are adapted to be received within opening 60 and between plates 55, 57 when the three thrust plates are superimposed one over the other. In this manner elements 49, 50 are mounted for rotation about the axis of outside knob spindle 13 in tracks provided by the space between said outer knob spindle and the confines of opening 60 and bounded by plates 55, 57.

As previously explained, tilting knob spindle 13 from its longitudinal axis will not transmit force from lugs 38 or 51 to retractor 5. However, rotation of either of said lugs by authorized means causes one of said rollback elements 49, 50 (depending upon the direction of rotation of said lugs) to rotate in its track and thereby urge retractor 5 toward the inner or retracted position.

This modified form is then similar in operation to the preferred form in that only rotational movement of outer spindle 13 or lock mechanism 46 is transmitted to the retractor 5 through rollback elements 49, 50.

It will be noted in Fig. 3 that the lug 9 on the inner end of latch bar 3 is spaced from the jaws 8 of retractor 5. This feature is provided in a lock of the type having a dead locking plunger 61 (Figs. 1, 3) incorporated in the latch unit 1. This plunger 61 is depressed by the strike plate on the door frame and dogs the latch bolt against unauthorized retraction by means of a thin card or blade being inserted between the door and frame to cam the latch bolt back. Means (not shown) are usually provided, however, within the latch unit 1 for uudogging the latch bolt by a slight authorized retraction of latch bar 3 through retractor 5.

'In the case of the conventional lock shown in Fig. 2 in which the outside rollback 22 is in engagement with the retractor, it has been found possible to retract retractor 5 a sufiicient distance to perform the undogging operation by applying a pressure to the outside knob in the direction of arrow 23 (Fig. 2). The provision of the spacing between jaws 8 and lug 9, however, prevents this result because initial retraction of the retractor does not then retract latch bar 3. The conventional lock is therefore safeguarded against this type of unauthorized entry by the spacing between the latch bar lug and the retractor jaws as shown in Fig. 3.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is obvious that further modifications that may occur to one skilled in the art are within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a door lock having a bolt retractor slidably supported for movement from an outer position in which the bolt is projected to an inner position in which the bolt is retracted, spring means urging said retractor to said outer position, and inside and outside knob spindles supported for rotation about an axis independently of each other, and wherein said inside knob is provided with a roll back in engagement with said retractor for sliding said retractor toward said inner position upon rotation of said inner spindle, the 7 provement comprising: a lug on said outside spindle extending axi-ally thereof into spaced relation with said retractor, and a pair of separate rollback elements supported for rotation about-the axis of said spindle interposed between opposite sides of said lug and said retractor, said elements being in engagement with said lug only in planes substantially parallel to the line of movement of said retractor, whereby movement of said lug toward said retractor does not impart movement to said elements.

2. In a door lock having a bolt retractor slidably supported for movement from an outer position in which the bolt is projected to an inner position in which the bolt is retracted, spring means urging said retractor to said outer position, and inside and outside knob spindles supported for rotation about an axis independently of each other, and wherein said inside knob is provided with a roll back in engagement with said retractor for sliding said retractor toward said inner position upon rotation of said inner spindle, the improvement comprising: a lug on said outside spindle extending axially thereof into spaced relation with said retractor, a pair of separate rollback elements interposed between opposite sides of said lug and said retractor, said elements being in engagement with said retractor and being in engagement with said lug only in planes substantially parallel to the line of movement of said retractor, and means supporting said elements for rotation about said axis, said supporting means including a pair of overlying discs each rigid with one of said elements and mounted for rotation about the axis of said outside knob spindle adjacent the side of said retractor.

3. In a door lock having a bolt retractor slidably supported for movement from an outer position in which the bolt is projected to an inner position in which the bolt is retracted, spring means urging said retractor to said outer position, and inside and outside knob spindles supported for rotation about an axis independently of each other, and wherein said inside knob is provided with a rollback in engagement with said retractor for sliding said retractor toward said inner position upon rotation of said inner spindle, the improvement comprising: a lug on said outside spindle extending axially thereof into spaced relation with said retractor, a pair of separate rollback elements interposed between opposite sides of said lug and said retractor, said elements being in engagement with said retractor and being in engagement with said lug only in planes substantially parallel to the line of movement of said retractor, and means supporting said elements for rotation about said axis, said supporting means including a pair of arcuately formed plates each rigid with one of said elements, and circular tracks receiving said plates and formed concentric with said axis between the inner end of said outside knob spindle and said retractor.

4. In a door lock having a bolt retractor slidably supported for movement from an outer position in which the bolt is projected to an inner position in which the bolt is retracted, spring means urging said retractor to said outer position, inside and outside knob spindles supported for rotation about an axis independently of each other, and a lock mechanism housed in said outside spindle and independently rotatable, and wherein said inside knob spindle is provided with a rollback in engagement with said retractor for sliding said retractor toward said inner position upon rotation of said inner spindle, the improvement comprising: a pair of lugs one on said outside spindle and one on said lock mechanism, respectively, extending axially thereof into spaced relation with said retractor, and a pair dfseparate-rollback elements interposed between opposite sides misaiid lugs and said retractor, said lugs andsaid elements being formed at their points of engagement such that moving'saidlugs teward said inner position of said 5 2'297077 retractor separates said lugs from said elements.

References Cited in-the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schlage Nov. 13, 1928 Schlage Sept. 29,1942 Cerf N0v.'25, 1952

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