U.S. patent number 3,808,849 [Application Number 05/347,338] was granted by the patent office on 1974-05-07 for mortise lock having freely movable external manipulator.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Emhart Corporation. Invention is credited to Gordon A. Alexander.
United States Patent |
3,808,849 |
Alexander |
May 7, 1974 |
MORTISE LOCK HAVING FREELY MOVABLE EXTERNAL MANIPULATOR
Abstract
A mortise lock for use on an entrance door or the like has a
latch operated by a thumbpiece from the outside except when the
thumbpiece is released by a locking or disabling mechanism. In the
released position, the thumbpiece and an associated operating lever
contained within the lock casing are freely movable relative to
other parts of a latchbolt retracting mechanism. The latchbolt may
be retracted by a manual manipulator from the inside at all times.
Various means compatible with parts of a conventional mortise lock
are provided for effecting locking release of the thumbpiece.
Inventors: |
Alexander; Gordon A.
(Newington, CT) |
Assignee: |
Emhart Corporation (Bloomfield,
CT)
|
Family
ID: |
23363294 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/347,338 |
Filed: |
April 2, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
70/149; 70/107;
70/DIG.73; 292/165 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B
59/00 (20130101); E05B 65/1086 (20130101); Y10T
70/5226 (20150401); Y10S 70/73 (20130101); Y10T
292/0971 (20150401); Y10T 70/5496 (20150401); E05B
13/005 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E05B
59/00 (20060101); E05B 65/10 (20060101); E05B
13/00 (20060101); E05b 055/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;70/107,149,DIG.73
;292/34,165,DIG.27 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Craig, Jr.; Albert G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McCormick, Paulding & Huber
Claims
I claim:
1. In a mortise lock having a casing, a latchbolt mounted in said
casing for movement longitudinally thereof and forwardly therein to
projected position and rearwardly therein to retracted position and
having a forwardly facing abutment thereon, means for biasing said
latchbolt toward projected position, and inside operated means
including a latch lever mounted in said casing for pivotal movement
about an axis extending transversely thereof and at all times
aligned with said abutment for retracting said latchbolt in
response to actuation of said inside operated means, the
combination comprising outside operating means including an
operating lever mounted in said casing to pivot about an axis
extending transversely thereof and having an operating abutment
thereon exposed within an opening in the casing to engage an
operating extension on a manually manipulated outside operating
member for pivoting said operating lever, externally operated
locking means movable between unlocked and locked positions
relative to said casing and including a carrier member mounted in
said casing and movable relative thereto between first and second
positions respectively corresponding to said unlocked and locked
positions in response to operation of said locking means, and
enabling member mounted on said carrier member for movement
therewith and relative thereto, said enabling member being
engageable with said latch lever and said operating lever when said
locking means is in its unlocked position to provide motion
transmission connection between said latch lever and said operating
lever to permit latchbolt retracting actuation of said latch lever
in response to pivotal movement of said operating lever, said
enabling member being out of operative engagement with said
operating lever when said locking means is in its locked position
to permit free pivotal movement of said operating lever relative to
said enabling member and said latch lever in response to manual
manipulation of the outside operating member.
2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including means for
limiting the pivotal movement of said operating lever in the
direction of said latch lever to prevent engagement
therebetween.
3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the inside
operating means includes a hub journalled in said casing and said
means for limiting pivotal movement comprises an abutment surface
on said operating lever.
4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein said hub extends
through an aperture in said operating lever and said abutment
surface comprises a surface of said operating lever defining said
aperture.
5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for
limiting pivotal movement comprises an abutment on said operating
lever for engaging an abutment on said casing.
6. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier
member is mounted in said casing for rectilinear movement
longitudinally thereof and said enabling member is supported on
said carrier member for pivotal movement relative thereto.
7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the casing
includes a face plate at the forward end thereof, said externally
operated locking means comprises a pair of stop buttons supported
in said casing for movement in unison and in opposite directions
relative thereto and which project outwardly through said face
plate, and said carrier member comprises one of said stop
buttons.
8. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said externally
operated locking means comprises a key operated lock cylinder
mounted on said casing.
9. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier
means comprises a connecting lever pivotally mounted on said
casing.
10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said enabling
member is pivotally supported on said connecting lever.
11. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said externally
operated locking means comprises a key operated lock cylinder
mounted on said casing for pivoting said connecting lever between
its first and said second positions.
12. In a mortise lock having a casing, a latchbolt mounted in said
casing for movement longitudinally thereof and forwardly therein to
projected position and rearwardly therein to retracted position and
having a forwardly facing abutment thereon, and means for biasing
said latchbolt to projected position, the combination comprising a
latch lever mounted in said casing for pivotal movement about an
axis extending transversely thereof and at all times aligned with
said abutment, a first operating lever mounted on said casing to
pivot about an axis extending transversely thereof and having an
operating abutment thereon exposed in an opening in the casing to
engage an operating extension on a manually manipulated first
operating member for pivoting said first operating lever, a second
operating lever mounted on said casing to pivot about an axis
extending transversely thereof and having an operating abutment
thereon exposed in said opening to engage an operating extension on
a manually manipulated second operating member for pivoting said
second operating lever, externally operated locking means movable
between locked and unlocked positions relative to said casing and
including a carrier member mounted in said casing and movable
between first and second positions respectively corresponding said
unlocked and locked positions, an enabling member mounted on said
carrier member for movement therewith and relative thereto, said
enabling member being engageable with said latch lever and one of
said operating levers to provide motion transmission connection
therebetween when said carrier member is in either of its positions
to permit latchbolt retracting actuation of said latch lever in
response to manual manipulation of said operating member associated
with said one operating lever, said enabling member being out of
operable engagement with the other of said operating levers when
said carrier member is in its second position to permit pivotal
movement of said other operating lever relative to said enabling
member and said latch lever in response to manual manipulation of
said operating member associated with said other operating
lever.
13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said enabling
member is generally disposed between said first and second
operating levers.
14. The combination as set forth in claim 13 wherein said enabling
member is adapted to be selectively mounted on said carrier member
in a first position and in a second position, said first operating
lever comprising said one lever and said second operating lever
comprising said other lever when said enabling member is mounted in
its first position, said second operating lever comprising said one
lever and said first operating lever comprising said other lever
when said enabling member is mounted in its second position.
15. The combination as set forth in claim 14 wherein said enabling
member is pivotally supported on said carrier member.
16. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first and
second operating levers are mounted on said casing to pivot about a
common axis.
17. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said carrier
member comprises a connecting lever pivotally supported on said
casing.
18. The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said enabling
member is pivotally mounted on said carrier member.
19. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said
externally operated locking means comprises a key operated lock
cylinder mounted on said casing.
20. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said carrier
member is mounted in said casing for movement longitudinally
thereof and said enabling member is pivotally mounted on said
carrier member.
21. The combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said casing
includes a face plate at the forward end thereof, said externally
operated locking means comprises a pair of stop buttons projecting
from said casing and supported for movement in unison relative
thereto, and said carrier member comprises one of said stop
buttons.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to mortise locks and deals more
particularly with a mortise lock for an entrance door and which has
an inside operating mechanism operable at all times and an outside
operating mechanism which includes an external manipulator or
thumbpiece which may be locked.
Locks of the aforedescribed general type are commonly used on
apartments, public buildings or the like where large numbers of
people can be expected to gather, to permit egress from the
building at all times and particularly in case of emergency such as
fire or accident.
Safety requires that the inside manually manipulated actuating
mechanism for the lock shall always be directed associated with the
latchbolt retractor so that the door may be opened at all times
from the inside regardless of the locked condition of other
associated mechanism. When the door is to be locked to prevent
entrance from the outside, it has been customary to provide means
for dogging the outside manual manipulator or thumbpiece. However,
experience has proven that vandals often attempt entry through
forced manipulation of the outside manual manipulating means even
though the same is quite obviously dogged. Under some
circumstances, repeated juggling of an outside manipulator such as
a thumbpiece may result in sufficient retraction of the latchbolt
to permit entry. Damage to the outside operating mechanism often
results, even when entry is not achieved.
This problem has been overcome in some types of locks by providing
for disablement of the outside manual manipulating means so that
the latter means will be freely movable relative to essential parts
of the latchbolt retracting mechanism when the door is locked. A
typical disabling mechanism of the aforedescribed general type is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,724,258 to McConnell, issued Nov. 22,
1955 and assigned to the assignee of the present application.
The present invention is concerned with the aforedescribed general
problem as particularly related to mortise-type entrance locks. It
is the general aim of the present invention to provide a locking or
disabling mechanism for locks of the aforedescribed general type
having various functions and which may incorporate parts of a
conventional mortise lock mechanism whereby only minor modification
of such parts is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to improvements in a mortise lock
of a type which includes a casing and a latchbolt supported in the
casing for movement forwardly thereof to projected position and
rearwardly thereof to retracted position. The latchbolt has a
forwardly facing abutment thereon and is biased toward its
projected position. An inside operated means including a latchbolt
retracting lever mounted in the casing for pivotal movement about
an axis which extends transversely thereof and which is at all
times aligned with the abutment surface and means operable at all
times to pivot the retracting lever whereby to retract the
latchbolt. In accordance with the invention, an improved outside
operating means is provided which includes an externally operated
locking mechanism movable between unlocked and locked positions
relative to the casing. The locking mechanism includes a carrier
member which supports an enabling member for movement therewith and
relative thereto. When the locking mechanism is in its unlocked
position, the enabling member is supported by the carrier member in
a position wherein it provides motion transmission connection
between an outside manual manipulator such as a thumbpiece and the
retracting lever whereby the latchbolt may be retracted by
operation of the outside manipulator. However, when the outside
locking means is in its locked position, the carrier supports the
enabling member to another position wherein operative connection
between the retracting lever and the outside manipulator is
interrupted whereby the outside manipulator is freely movable
relative to the lock casing but out of driving relation with the
retracting lever.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional mortise lock
embodying the present invention shown with its cover plate broken
away to reveal the mechanism therein and the face plate thereof
shown in vertical section.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the mortise lock
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the mortise lock of FIG. 1
shown mounted on a door.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1, but shows the
condition of the latchbolt retracting mechanism when the external
locking mechanism is in its locked position and the outside
thumbpiece is depressed.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4, but shows the
condition of the latchbolt retracting mechanism when the external
locking mechanism is in its unlocked condition and the outside
thumbpiece is depressed.
FIG. 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1, but shows
another mortise lock embodying the invention.
FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of parts of the mortise lock
of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 1,
but shows still another mortise lock embodying the present
invention.
FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the mortise lock of FIG. 8
shown mounted on a door.
FIG. 10 is an exploded isometric view of parts of the mortise lock
of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 1,
but shows yet another mortise lock embodying the present
invention.
FIG. 12 is an exploded isometric view of parts of the mortise lock
of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a
conventional mortise lock embodying the present invention is
indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The lock 10 is
particularly adapted for use on an entrance door and includes a
latchbolt designated generally by the numeral 12 which may be
operated from the outside by an outside operating mechanism 14
which includes an external manipulator or thumb-piece 15 except
when the thumbpiece is released or disabled by a locking mechanism
indicated generally at 16 and exposed in the face plate or front of
the lock. The latchbolt 12 may be operated or retracted at all
times from the inside by an inside operating mechanism 18 and from
the outside by a key 20. The illustrated lock further includes a
deadbolt 22 operable at all times from the inside by a turn piece
24 and from the outside by the key 20.
Considering the lock 10 in further detail and referring now
particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 25 generally denotes the
casing of the lock which has a generally rectangular shape and
includes spaced parallel inner and outer side walls 26 and 28,
respectively, and an end wall 30. The end wall 30 is integral with
the outer side wall 28 and contiguous to the upper and lower edges
thereof. The side wall 26 comprises a separate cover plate
detachably secured against the edge of the wall 30 by screws (not
shown) to form a closure for the casing, as well known in the art.
An opening or slot 32, partially defined by side walls 26 and 28,
opens through the bottom of the casing and communicates with the
interior thereof. The slot 32 is further defined by a downwardly
facing abutment surface 34 on the outer side wall 28 and a similar
abutment surface on the inner side wall (not shown). The casing 25
also includes a face plate 36 which overlies the open forward edge
thereof and has openings therethrough to accommodate the latchbolt
12, the deadbolt 22 and stop buttons which comprise the locking
mechanism 16 hereinafter further described.
The casing is adapted to be mounted in a mortise opening formed in
the edge of a door with the face plate 36 disposed flush with the
door edge and is secured to the door by mounting screws which
extend through holes (not shown) in opposite end portions of the
face plate. A finish trim piece or scalp 38 overlies and generally
complements the face plate to conceal the aforementioned mounting
screws and is secured to the face plate by threaded fasteners.
The illustrated latchbolt 12 is generally symmetrical about a
horizontal plane and mounted in the casing 25 for reciprocable
sliding movement longitudinally thereof between a forward,
projected position and a rearward, retracted position. It includes
an anti-friction, multiple part head portion 40 which extends
through an opening in the face plate 36 for engagement with a
strike or keeper on an associated door frame (not shown). The
latchbolt also includes an elongated tailpiece 42 which extends
axially rearwardly from the head 40 and is slidably guided by a
bifurcated lug 44 which projects from the outer side wall 28. The
latchbolt is biased forwardly toward its normal projected position
as shown in FIG. 1 by a compression spring 46 which surrounds the
tailpiece 42 between the lug 44 and the rear end of the latchbolt
head 40. A foot 48, mounted at the rear end of the tailpiece 42,
defines a forwardly facing abutment surface 50 on the latchbolt
12.
The latchbolt 12 may be retracted or moved rearwardly from its
normally projected position at all times by the inside operating
mechanism 18 which includes a generally L-shaped latch-bolt
retracting lever 52. The latter lever is supported to pivot about
an axis which extends transversely of the casing 25 and is mounted
at one end on a pivot stud 54 which projects into the casing from
the side wall 28. The other end portion of the retracting lever 52
is at all times aligned with the abutment surface 50. A headed stud
56, mounted on the lever 52 intermediate its ends, projects
transversely therefrom. The inside operating means 18 also includes
a hub 58 which extends between the side walls 26 and 28 and is
journalled thereon for rotation about an axis 60 which extends
transversely of the casing 25. The hub 58 has rollback cams thereon
and a coaxial bore of polygonal cross section therethrough to
receive a knob spindle of generally complementary shape adapted to
carry a door knob or the like such as indicated at 62 in FIG. 3.
The rollback cams on the hub 58 are arranged to operate the
retracting lever 52 through an intermediate hub lever 64 pivoted at
one end on a pivot stud 65 on the casing 25 and having its free end
disposed between the hub 58 and the stud 56, as best shown in FIG.
1. When the door knob 62 (FIG. 3) is rotated in either direction,
one of the rollback cams on the hub 58 engages the hub lever 64 to
pivot it in a clockwise direction from its position in FIG. 1. The
hub lever 64, in turn, imparts counterclockwise rotation to the
retracting lever 52 to cause the free end thereof to engage the
abutment surface 50 on the foot 48 to move the latchbolt 12
rearwardly from its normal projected position to its retracted
position or broken line position in FIG. 1. Such rearward movement
is limited by engagement of the foot 48 with the end wall 30.
The illustrated mortise lock 10 also includes a conventional key
operated latchbolt retracting mechanism indicated generally at 66
which may be operated from the outer side of the door at all times
by the key 20 to retract the latchbolt 12. The latter mechanism
includes a cylinder latch lever 68 pivotally mounted intermediate
its ends on a boss 70 associated with the outer side wall 28. The
lower end of the lever 68 is at all times aligned with the abutment
surface 50. The upper end of the lever 68 is disposed in the path
of an eccentric cam 72 mounted at the inner end of a key plug (not
shown) associated with a lock cylinder 74 threaded into the outer
side wall 28, as is well known in the art, and best shown in FIG.
1. Rotation of the key 20 (FIG. 3) in a clockwise direction causes
corresponding counterclockwise rotation of the cam 72, as it
appears in FIG. 1. The cam engages the upper end of the lever 68 to
pivot it in a clockwise direction whereby the lower end of the
lever 68 engages the abutment surface 50 to move the tailpiece 42
rearwardly to retract the latchbolt 12.
The deadbolt 22 is movable through an opening in the face plate 36
between projected and retracted positions by a turn knob hub 76
which is journalled on and extends between the casing side walls 26
and 28. The deadbolt 22 may be projected or retracted from the
inside of the door at all times by the turn piece 24 which is
connected to the turn knob hub 76 by a conventional spindle. The
turn knob hub 76 has a recess 78 for reception of the lock cylinder
cam 72. The deadbolt 22 may be moved from its retracted to its
projected position by operating the key 20 to rotate the cam 72 in
a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, or from its projected
to its retracted position by rotating the key in an opposite
direction, all of which is conventional and well known in the
art.
In accordance with the present invention, the outside operating
mechanism 14 is operated by the thumbpiece 15, best shown in FIG.
3, to retract the latchbolt 12 except when the latter mechanism is
disabled by the external locking means 16. The operating mechanism
14 comprises an operating lever 82 and an enabling member or lever
84 which cooperate to pivot the retracting lever 52. The operating
lever 82 is mounted at one end on a pivot stud 85 fixed to the
casing to pivot about a transverse axis and has an upwardly facing
bearing surface 86 at its opposite end and an aperture or upwardly
extending slot 88 intermediate its ends which receives the hub 58
therethrough. A tab 89 projects transversely from the lower edge of
the lever 82 within the slot 32 and defines a downwardly facing
operating abutment. The operating lever 82 is biased in a
counterclockwise direction about the pivot stud 85 by a spring 90.
Counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 82 is limited by engagement
with the casing 25. The enabling member 84 is supported by the
locking mechanism, as hereinafter described, and comprises an
inverted, generally U-shaped lever which straddles the hub 58 and
has a pivot aperture 93 at its forward end. A finger 94 projects
transversely outwardly from the rear end of the enabling lever 84
and defines a downwardly facing abutment surface 96 for engaging
the bearing surface 86 on the operating lever 82.
The thumbpiece lever 80, best shown in FIG. 3, is pivoted on the
door about an axis 98 which extends longitudinally of the casing 25
and has an operating extension or lever arm 100 at its inner end.
The lever arm is disposed within the slot 32 and engages the
operating abutment on the tab 89 within the slot 32, as best shown
in FIG. 1. Depressing the thumbpiece 15 causes the operating lever
82 to pivot in a clockwise direction about the pivot stud 85 (FIG.
1). However, clockwise rotation of the lever 82 is limited by
engagement of the hub 58 with the wall of the aperture 88.
The locking mechanism 16 which enables or disables the operating
mechanism 14 and the thumbpiece 15 associated therewith comprises a
pair of stop buttons which project through the face plate 36 and
scalp 38 and which includes an upper stop button or carrier member
102 and a lower stop button 104. The upper and lower stop buttons
are respectively pivotally connected to opposite ends of a link or
stop connecting lever 106 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on
the pivot stud 85. Thus, the stop buttons are supported for
movement in unison and in opposite directions longitudinally of the
casing 25 as is well known in the lock art. The upper stop button
102 which carries the enabling member 84 has a pivot stud which
projects from the offset rear end portion thereof and is received
in the pivot aperture 93.
The operation of the outside operating mechanism 14 and its
associated locking mechanism 16 is best understood with reference
to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. In FIG. 1, the outside operating mechanism 14
is shown in its disabled or locked position, being held in the
latter position by the locking mechanism 14 which is in its locked
position, the upper stop button 102 being depressed to support the
enabling member 84 in its rearmost position in the casing. In the
latter position, the downwardly facing abutment surface 96 on the
enabling lever 84 is disposed rearwardly of and out of vertical
alignment with the upwardly facing bearing surface 86 on the
operating lever 82. When the thumbpiece 15 is depressed, the lever
arm 100 at the inner end thereof, moves upwardly to pivot the
operating lever 82 in a clockwise direction from its normal
position in FIG. 1 to its full line position in FIG. 5. Upward
movement of the lever arm 100 relative to the casing 25 is limited
by engagement of the lever arm with the abutment surface 34 on the
casing. Clockwise movement of the operating lever 82 in the
direction of the retracting lever 52 is limited by engagement of
the aperture wall 88 with the hub 58. Thus, when the locking
mechanism 16 is in its locked position, the operating lever 82 is
freely movable relative to the enabling lever 84 and the retracting
lever 52 in response to depression of the thumbpiece 15. Since the
clockwise pivotal movement of the lever 82 is limited, as
aforedescribed, no motion is transmitted to the latchbolt
retracting lever by the operating lever 82 when the locking
mechanism 16 is in its locked position.
The operating mechanism 14 is unlocked or enabled by depressing the
lower stop button 104 to unlock the mechanism 16 and in FIG. 5, the
locking mechanism 16 is shown in its unlocked position. In the
latter position, the carrier member 102 supports the enabling
member 84 in its forward-most position so that the abutment surface
96 on the enabling member is generally vertically aligned and in
engagement with the bearing surface 86 on the operating lever 82.
When the thumbpiece 15 is then depressed, the operating lever 82
and the enabling lever 84 pivot in unison in a clockwise direction
about their respective pivotal axes to the position shown in FIG.
5. The enabling lever 84 cooperates with the operating lever 82 and
the retracting lever 52 to provide motion transmission connection
therebetween whereby depression of the thumbpiece 15 causes
counterclockwise rotation of the retracting lever 52 to retract the
latchbolt 12.
The terms inner and outer have been employed in the foregoing
description, for convenience; however, it should be understood that
the locks of the present invention are reversible. It will be
apparent that the operating extension 100 on the thumbpiece 15 may
enter the slot 32 from either side of the casing 25. Accordingly,
the thumbpiece 15 may be mounted on either side of a door to
cooperate with a lock 10 mounted therein. The illustrated lock may
be adapted for mounting on a door of opposite hand by simply
reversing the position of the latchbolt, that is, by removing the
latchbolt from the lock casing, rotating it 180.degree. about its
longitudinal axis and reassembling it in the casing to reverse the
position of cam surfaces thereon.
In the description of the further embodiments which follow, parts
similar to parts previously described bear the same reference
numerals and a letter suffix and will not be hereinafter further
described. Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, another
mortise lock embodying the present invention and indicated
generally by the reference numeral 10a is similar in some respects
to the lock 10 previously described. The lock 10a includes a
latchbolt 12a which may at all times be retracted from the inside
by an inside operating mechanism indicated generally at 18a. The
latchbolt may also be operated from the outside by an outside
operating mechanism indicated generally at 14a which includes an
external manipulator or thumbpiece 15a except when the thumbpiece
is released or disabled by an externally operable locking mechanism
indicated generally at 108 which includes a key operated lock
cylinder 74a.
The illustrated lock 10a has a cylinder latch lever 110 operable at
all times in response to operation of the lock cylinder 74a to
retract the latchbolt 12a. It also has an auxiliary latch mechanism
which includes an auxiliary latch 112, an auxiliary latch lever 114
and a deadlocking lever 116, all of which is well known in the art.
The lock 10a further includes a latch hold-back mechanism which
comprises a spring biased latch hold-back lever 118. The latter
mechanism is or may be operated by another lock cylinder (not
shown) threaded into the inner wall of the lock casing 25a. The
cylinder latch lever, auxiliary latch mechanism, and latch
hold-back mechanisms are not immediately germane to the invention,
but are shown to illustrate the dual function and interrelation of
various parts of the lock 10a. A more complete disclosure of the
illustrated latch hold-back mechanism may be found in U.S. Pat. No.
3,141,320 to McConnell, issued July 21, 1964 and assigned to the
assignee of the present invention.
Considering now the lock 10a in further detail, the casing 25a has
inner and outer side walls 26a and 28a and an end wall 30a. A slot
32a opens through the bottom of the casing, is partially defined by
the inner and outer side walls and further defined by the
downwardly facing abutment surface 34a on the outer wall 28a and a
similar abutment surface on the inner wall (not shown). The face
plate 36a and scalp 38a are provided with suitable openings to
receive the latchbolt head 40a and the auxiliary bolt 112 which
may, if desired, be reversibly positioned therein to facilitate
installation on doors of either hand.
The inner operating mechanisms 18a includes a hub 58a, a hub lever
64a and a latchbolt retracting lever 52a. The lever 52a differs
slightly in shape from the lever 52 previously described, but is
identical in function to the latter lever. The outside operating
mechanism 14a is also quite similar to corresponding mechanisms
previously described and includes an operating lever 82a, in all
substantial respects identical to the lever 82, and an enabling
member 84a generally similar in form and identical in function to
the member 84 previously described. However, the enabling member
84a is supported to move with and pivot relative to a carrier
member or connecting lever 120 which comprises a part of the
locking mechanism 108.
Considering now the locking mechanism 108 in further detail, the
connecting lever 120 is pivoted about a transverse axis
intermediate its ends on a pivot stud 122 and has a pivot stud 124
at its lower end which carries the enabling member 84a. At its
upper end, the lever 120 is provided with a finger 126 which
extends perpendicularly inwardly therefrom. The locking mechanism
108 also includes a stop cylinder lever or rocker member indicated
generally at 128 which is mounted on a stud 130 on the casing for
pivotal movement in opposite directions about an axis normal to the
longitudinal axis of the latchbolt 12a. The rocker member 128 has a
generally U-shaped configuration and comprises a substantially flat
body portion 132 which has a pair of arms extending upwardly
therefrom in spaced and diverging relationship. The free end
portions of the arms have pads 134 and 136 respectively formed
thereon which extend transversely thereof and have opposed concave
faces. The body portion 132 has a downwardly opening slot 138
formed therein below the pivot stud 130 which receives the finger
128. Pivotal movement of the rocker member 128 is limited through
engagement of abutment surfaces 140 and 142 on the body with a stop
pin 144 which extends perpendicularly inwardly from the outer wall
of the lock casing. The rocker member 128 is biased toward one or
the other of its positions by a double acting leaf spring 146 which
rests against the end wall of the casing and is provided with a
yieldable leg which has a detent portion 148 engageable with a
projection on the body of the rocker member 128.
Considering now the operation of the locking mechanism 108 as
employed to enable or disable the outside operating mechanism 14a,
when the rocker member 128 is in the position shown in FIG. 6, the
connecting lever 120 is in its full line position and supports the
enabling lever 84a in a position wherein the abutment surface 96a
on the enabling lever 84a is out of vertical alignment with the
bearing surface 86a on the operating lever 82a. Thus, if the
thumbpiece 15a is depressed, the operating lever 82a may pivot
freely in a clockwise direction to the limit of its travel and
clear of the enabling lever 84a without transmitting motion to the
latter lever or to the retracting lever 52a. When it is desired to
unlock the outside operating mechanism 14a so that the latchbolt
12a may be retracted by actuating the thumbpiece 15a, the lock
cylinder cam 72a is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by
rotating a key (not shown) associated therewith in a clockwise
direction to cause the latter cam to engage the pad 136 to rock the
cylinder lever 120 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot
122 to its broken line position in FIG. 6 to move the enabling
member 84a to its enabling position. When the enabling member 84a
is supported in the latter position, pivotal movement of the
operating lver 82a, in response to depression of thumbpiece 15a,
causes the operating lever 82a and the enabling lever 84a to move
in unison whereby the retracting lever 52a is pivoted in a
counterclockwise direction by the enabling lever 84a to retract the
latchbolt 12a.
The previously described mortise locks are arranged for inside
operation by a door knob or other suitable operator which imparts
rotary motion to a hub. However, for some applications, it may be
desirable to provide a lock which may be operated from both inside
and outside by manually operated lever-type manipulators. Such a
lock may, for example, be operated by inside and outside
thumbpieces or by an inside panic bar adapted to operate a lever
and an outside thumbpiece.
In FIGS. 8-10 of the drawings, there is illustrated an entrance
lock indicated generally at 10b and operated by inner and outer
thumbpieces, respectively indicated at 150 and 152, and best shown
in FIG. 9. The lock 10b includes inside and outside operating
mechanisms, respectively designated at 154 and 156. The inside
operating mechanism is operable at all time to retract the
latchbolt 12b in response to depression of the inner thumbpiece
150. The outside operating mechanism 156 is operable to retract the
latchbolt except when disabled by an external locking mechanism 16b
which comprises a stop button mechanism substantially identical to
the mechanism 16 previously described. The lock 10b also includes
an enabling member 158 associated with the locking mechanism 16b
and which forms part of both the inside and the outside latchbolt
operating mechanisms 154 and 156, as will be hereinafter further
evident.
Considering now the lock 10b in further detail, it includes a
casing 25b similar to the casing 25 aforedescribed, however, the
casing 25b is provided with a partition or dividing wall 159 which
projects from the outer wall 26b into the slot 32b to divide it
into two parts. The outside operating mechanism 156 includes an
outside operating lever 162 pivoted at its forward end on a pivot
stud 58b. The lever 162 has a generally U-shaped downwardly opening
recess 164 therein aligned with the rear portion of the slot 32b
and a tab 166 which projects into the slot forward portion to
define a downwardly facing operating abutment for engagement with
an operating extension on the thumbpiece 152. The lever 162 has an
upwardly facing bearing surface 168 on its rear end portion and an
upwardly extending portion intermediate its ends which defines an
upwardly facing abutment surface 170.
The inside operating mechanism 154 includes an inside operating
lever 172 also pivoted at its forward end on the stud 85b. A tab
174 at the rear end of the lever 172, positioned within the rear
portion of the slot 32a, is adapted to move freely within the
recess 164 in the lever 162 and defines another operating abutment.
The lever 172 also has an upwardly facing bearing surface 176 at
the rear end thereof and an upwardly extending intermediate portion
which defines an upwardly facing abutment surface 177. A finger 178
projects transversely outwardly from the lever 172 therefrom to
engage the inner side of the lever 162 and thereby maintain the two
levers in proper transversely spaced relationship. The enabling
member 158 is disposed between the two operating levers and carried
by the upper stop button or carrier member 102b. It has an
elongated body which includes ears 180 and 182 at the forward end
thereof. Each ear is provided with a pivot aperture for selectively
receiving the pivot pin 108b therein. At its rear end, the member
158 carries a generally L-shaped end piece which defines a
longitudinally elongated downwardly facing abutment surface 184
which extends along the inner side of the member 158 and another
downwardly facing abutment surface 186 of somewhat lesser
longitudinal extent associated with the outer side of the member
158. The enabling member 158 is adapted for reversible mounting as
will be hereinafter evident and also includes upwardly facing
abutment surfaces 184' and 186' on the upper surface of its end
portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the aperture associated
with the ear 182 receives the pivot pin 108b. Thus, the elongated
abutment surface 184 engages the bearing surface 176 on the inner
operating lever 172.
In FIG. 6, the locking mechanism 16b is shown in its locked or
disabling position, the upper stop button 102b being depressed. In
the latter position, the carrier member 102b supports the enabling
member 158 in a position such that downwardly facing abutment
surface 186 thereon is out of vertical alignment and engagement
with the upwardly facing bearing surface 168 on the outside
operating lever 162. Thus, the outer operating lever 162 is free to
pivot in a clockwise direction, from its position in FIG. 6, out of
engagement with the enabling member 158. The abutment surface 170
is arranged to engage an associated stop such as indicated at 188,
which projects from the inner wall of the lock casing, to limit
clockwise pivotal movement of the lever 162. The latter stop
prevents the lever 162 from attaining a position where the abutment
surface 168 thereon engages the stud 56b on the retracting lever
52b.
Operation of the lower stop button 104b, to unlock the mechanism
16b, shifts the carrier member 102b and the enabling member 158 in
a forward direction to a position wherein the abutment surface 186
on the enabling member is aligned with the corresponding bearing
surface 168 on the lever 162. When the enabling member 158 is in
the latter position, it cooperates and moves in unison with the
operating lever 162 in response to depression of the thumbpiece 152
to pivot the retracting lever 52b and thereby retract the latchbolt
12b. The bearing surface 176 on the inner operating lever 172
engages at least a portion of the inner abutment surface 184 on the
enabling lever 158 at all times, that is, in both positions of the
enabling lever so that the inner operating lever 172 is at all
times operable through the enabling lever 158 to transmit motion to
the latch-bolt retracting lever 52b and thereby retract the
latchbolt.
For convenience in description, the terms inner and outer have also
been employed with reference to operating mechanisms for the latch
10b. However, it should be understood that functions of the
operating mechanisms may be readily reversed by simply reversing
the mounting position of the enabling member 158 on the carrier
member 102b. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot pin 108b is
engaged in the pivot aperture associated with the ear 182.
Accordingly, the elongated abutment surface 184 on the enabling
lever 158 cooperates in both locked and unlocked position with the
bearing surface 176 on the lever 172, which has been arbitrarily
designated the inner operating lever. To effect reversal of
function, the enabling lever may be rotated 180.degree. about its
longitudinal axis and assembled so that the pivot pin 108b is
received in the pivot aperture in the ear 180b. The abutment
service 186' now cooperates with the bearing surface 176 on the
lever 172, but only when the lock mechanism 16b is in its unlocked
position. When the enabling member 158 is mounted in the
aforedescribed manner, the operating lever 172 functions as an
outer operating lever and operation of the lock mechanism 16b is
effective to release the thumbpiece 150. It will be understood that
the latchbolt and other parts of the lock mechanism will also be
reversed, as required and as well known in the art.
Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings, still another
mortise lock embodying the present invention is indicated generally
by reference numeral 10c. The inner and outer operating mechanisms
designated 154c and 156c are substantially identical in most
respects to the corresponding operating mechanisms of the
previously described lock 10b. However, the enabling member 158c is
positioned by a locking mechanism 108c which is substantially
identical to the corresponding locking mechanism previously
described with reference to the lock 10b. More specifically, the
lock 10c includes a pivoted connecting member 120c which is pivoted
intermediate its ends on a pivot stud 122c associated with the
outer wall of the lock casing. At its lower end, the connecting
lever 120c has a pivot stud 124c which is received in the pivot
aperture associated with the ear 182c on the enabling member. In
FIG. 11, the enabling member 158c is shown in its locked or
disabling position wherein the outer operating lever 162c is freely
movable relative thereto in response to depression of the outer
thumbpiece 152c. The connecting lever 120c may be shifted to its
locked or broken line position by operating a lock cylinder (not
shown) to pivot the rocking member 128c in the manner generally
aforedescribed with reference to the lock 10b.
* * * * *