US3487666A - Lock - Google Patents

Description

Jan 1970 F. F. RICHARDS, JR 3,487,665

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United States Patent U.S. Cl. 70150 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved slide bolt with an associated locking mechanism in which a spring member constantly urges the bolt in a locking direction, and in which a. cylinder lock controls the positioning of a slide mechanism for locking the bolt in either of two alternative positions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to an improved slide-bolt lock mechanism of the type employed between a movable member and a fixed member.

Background of prior art The present invention pertains to improvements in the subject matter of prior US. Patent No. 2,722,819. In that patent, a sliding bolt, controlled by the action of a cylinder lock is movable, selectively, by the action of an operating handle, between two alternative positions. The present invention comprises a means for constantly engaging the bolt in a keeper; a cooperative means for providing two locking positions of the bolt; and a bolt head configuration of improved form causing automatic engagement of the bolt in the keeper upon coalignment when the bolt is in unlocked condition.

It has heretofore been proposed to provide lock bolt biasing means of the spring variety. Examples of such prior proposals are found in the following patents:

Patent No. Patentee Issued 370,235 Brady Sept. 20, 1887. 583,549 Richardson June 1, 1897. 821,337 Cline May 22, 1906. 977,783.." Colernam. Dec. 6, 1910 1,180,943 Prazmo April 25; 1916 Swanson June 15, 1937. Sehlage et al July 31, 1945.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a locking assembly having the general objectives of Holmsten Patent No. 2,722,819, and combining with those objects and further advantages of a spring pressed bolt which is normally held in extended position for engagement with a keeper and which is lockable in either said extended position or in a retracted position.

The foregoing particularly adapts the present assembly to use with doors and Windows of the sliding variety. Moreover, these improvements generally increase the functional range of applicability of the locking assembly and permits its use in positions to which the basic combination was inapplicable. Another and related objective of the invention, including the concept of incorporation of a spring mechanism therein, is that of permitting the 3,487,666 Patented Jan. 6, 1970 use of the lock in vertical arrangements wherein the bolt would otherwise gravitate to an open position and would not automatically engage its keeper.

Another objective relates to the provision of a tapered leading surface on the distal extremity of the bolt Whereby the bolt automaticlly engages its keeper upon contact therewith.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a lock constructed and assembled in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the lock as mounted on a member to be locked;

FIGURE 4 is a base view along the plane of the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the components in a first locked position;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, showing the components in an alternate, locked position;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a slide plate hereof; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the bolt hereof.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing in more detail, designated at 10 is a lock assembly as herein contemplated. The assembly 10 provides a lock-latch type of arrangement similar to that described in the aforementioned Holmsten patent, and includes a housing 12 which is normally mounted on a first member (not shown) such as a sliding door, a window, or the like. It will be understood that this first member is adjacent a second member such as a door frame, and that this frame would have a keeper plate with an opening thereinalso not shown in the drawing. The housing 12 has mounting flanges 14 at suitable locations, the flanges having openings 16 therein to receive changeable fasteners, such as screws. The housing is composed of rear side walls 18, 20 which merge into forward walls 22, 24, and a top wall 25, whereby the walls respectively define an enlarged rear section and a restricted for-ward section within the housing. The top wall is slotted, at 27, over a longitudinal portion of the forward section. The rear section is closed by an end wall 26, while the forward section has a passageway 28 therein extending longitudinally, the passageway being open at its inner and outer ends 30 and 32. The walls 18, 20 and 26 define the enlarged rear chamber, and interior abutment corners 34, 36 are provided at its forward extremity.

The rear compartment or chamber has a transverse division wall 38 extending partially thereacross, and a cylinder type lock 40 of the key controlled variety is mounted between the division wall and the rear wall 26. The cylinder has a projecting pin 42, serving a purpose appearing below. Slidably mounted between the division wall 38 and rear wall 26, behind the cylinder 40, is a substantially rectangular slide 44 having a main body section with a longitudinally elongated opening 46 therein and having a projecting tongue 48. The pin 42 of the cylinder is captively disposed in the opening 46, whereby rotation of the cylinder responsive to key actuation results in transverse movement of the slide 44 from side to side.

A bolt 50 has a forward extension lug 52 with a tapered distal end 54 and a fiat proximal end 56. The end 56 has a longitudinal bore 58 therein in which is seated one end 3 of a coil spring 60. The spring, at its opposite end, is in contact with the wall 38 whereby the bolt is constantly biased outwardly in the passageway 28, thus causing it to seat in its keeper when suitably aligned therewith.

The bolt further includes an offset shoulder 62 and a trailing section 64 with a detent 66 and a rear end 68. The bolt has a control knob 70 thereon which extends through the slot 27 to permit forward and rear movement of the bolt from one side of the member.

In operation, it will be observed that rotation of the cylinder 40 causes the slide 44 to move from side to side. The tongue 48 is dimensioned to seat in the detent 66 of the bolt rear section, and when so seated, as shown in FIGURE 5, the bolt is effectively locked in a retracted position. Release of the bolt from said position, causing it to be spring pressed outwardly into engagement with its keeper positioned wherein it may be retained against any further movement by re-locking of the slide to the position shown in FIGURE 4. In that position, the tongue 48 abuts against the rear end 68 of the bolt whereby inward displacement cannot be effected until the slide is moved in sidewise fashion.

Having described and illustrated the embodiment of this invention in some detail, it will be understood that this description and illustration have been offered only by way of example.

What I claim is:

1. In a lock-latch assembly of the type having a housing mounted on a first member, the housing having a restricted section and having a rear section with spaced apart side walls, the housing having a top wall with a slot therein, an abutment corner at the inward end of the rear section, keeper means on a second member, a bolt slidably mounted in the housing for extension and retraction from the keeper, the bolt having a forward extension lug with a control knob thereon extending through the slot in the housing top wall, the bolt further having an offset shoulder engageable against said abutment corner when the bolt is extended and having a trailing section with an inner end, a division wall extending transversely across said rear section; the improvement comprising:

spring means interposed between the division wall and the extension lug to constantly urge the bolt forwardly for engagement in said keeper means;

a slide having a key operated cylinder lock operatively associated therewith;

the slide having a main body section with an opening therein and having a projecting tongue;

the cylinder lock having a lug disposed in said opening for selective movement of the slide in a line of movement substantially perpendicular to the line of movement of the lugs; and

the lug trailing section having a detent therein engaged by the slide tongue when the extension lug is retracted by said control knob and the slide extended, and the inner end of the trailing section being engaged by the slide tongue when the extension lug is extended and the slide extended.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein:

the bolt has a bore formed therein opening in the direction adjacent said division wall; and

the spring means comprising a coil spring, one end of which is seated in said bore.

3. The improvement of claim 1, wherein:

the assembly is adapted to be mounted on a door and door frame comprising first and second members, respectively; and

the keeper means comprises an opening formed in said frame.

4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein:

the assembly is adapted to be mounted on a door and door frame comprising said first and second members, respectively; and

brackets on said frame, the brackets having openings therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 332,976 12/1885 Veit 70-150 2,083,878 6/1937 Swanson 70-90 2,722,819 11/1955 Holmsten 70-129 3,027,745 4/ 1962 Windmassinger 70-150 3,082,617 3/1963 Kerman 70-90 MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner E I. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 70-129

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