Lock Mounting Clip And Placement Tool Therefor

Abstract

Lock mounting means for securing a lock frame structure edgewise in a receiving opening provided in a wall of a hollow narrow stile door frame by means of a clip assembly arranged to be positioned by means of a placement tool and thereafter secured in a mounted position by means of an appropriate tool, such as a screw-driver, at the opposite ends of the opening, each clip assembly having a rigid body of generally H-shape configuration constructed from a generally flat plate material to provide an integral bridging portion with side legs at its ends, in which a tongue extends from the bridging portion and has an opening for receiving a lock anchoring member such as a screw. The side legs have diverging end portions for supporting associated wedging screws thereon in angular diverging relation, and with their head portions in the mounting position of the clip assembly, being accessible for actuation by a screwdriver inserted through the lock receiving opening. The placement tool is releasably engageable with the clip assembly by means of a spring detent, and is easily detached from the clip assembly after it is anchored in its mounting position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to the field of locks and mountings therefor.

Heretofore, a multiplicity of securing arrangements have been utilized for the mounting of locks, and particularly in installations in which the lock frame structure is to be mounted in an extruded narrow stile type of door frame. The generally known arrangements for this purpose have in the main been relatively inflexible and expensive, and in some cases have embodied undesirable inherent disadvantages with respect to their installation.

The present invention in general constitutes improvements in lock mounting means of the type previously known in the Charles L. Eads U.S. Pat. No. 3,204,439 which utilizes a rigid mounting bracket and associated spring retainer arranged to be positioned within a hollow stile frame structure at each end of a lock receiving opening in the nose wall of the stile. In the mounting means of this patent a special tool is required for installing the mounting bracket and associated spring retainer.

Another previously known concept is shown in R. E. Davidson, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,479,851 which embodies briefly a simplified structure over that shown in the first patent as mentioned above, wherein a rigid bracket member is provided in the form of a mounting clip which is so fabricated that it can, without the need of any special tools, be attached to an extruded integral part of the nose wall of the stile. This attachment is accomplished by a simple procedure in which the clip is inserted into a receiving passage constructed as a part of the stile body structure during its initial extrusion.

The present invention is directed to an improved concept which, in a sense, incorporates desirable features of both of the above mentioned patents and provides a unitary clip assembly which can be positioned and held in place by a much simplified placement tool, the clip assembly incorporating unique wedging means which can be actuated by means of a simple screwdriver inserted through the lock mounting opening. Also, the clip assemblage of the present invention can be utilized with extruded tubular narrow stiles having the conventional nose wall construction and do not have to depend upon the more expensive extrusion of the last above mentioned patent, which has a longitudinally extending integrally formed rib on the inner side of the stile nose wall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mounting means for securing a lock frame structure edgewise in an edge opening of a hollow narrow stile door frame, and is more particularly concerned with a unitary mounting clip assembly and unique placement tool for use during its installation.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a simple, easily operable unitary mounting clip assembly and placement tool for its installation in an extruded narrow stile door frame, such that a lock frame structure may be securely mounted in an opening in the nose wall of the stile.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique mounting clip assembly for locks which does not necessitate precision manufacturing techniques, and which includes wedging means operable through the lock receiving opening in the stile so as to positively anchor the clip as assembled in its operative position.

Another object is to provide as an article of manufacture, a mounting clip assembly of unique design and construction for use in the mounting of lock frames in an opening provided in the nose wall of an extruded tubular frame member.

Still another object is to provide as an article of manufacture, a placement tool for installing clip assemblies constructed according to the present invention.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitation thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a stile extrusion and associated lock frame structure in phantom, together with the clip mounting means of the present invention as shown in full lines, and indicating the manner in which these parts are assembled and utilized;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of FIG. 1 showing the cooperative relationship of the mounted clip assembly and the associated stile;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the clip assembly;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the assembly;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded view of the clip assembly and placement tool, showing the parts by which they are releasably connectable;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective exploded view showing the interconnected clip assembly and placement tool and the initial position of the assembly for passage through the lock receiving opening into the stile;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the final placement position of assembly in the stile; and

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 8--8 of FIG. 6, showing the interconnected relationship of the connected clip assembly and placement tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the manner of utilizing the lock mounting clip of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The mounting clip assembly, as generally indicated at 10, is arranged to be mounted within an extruded hollow narrow stile 11 which forms the frame structure of a door, and which normally includes a bottom wall 12, side walls 13 and 14 and a top or nose wall 15.

The nose wall in the conventional arrangement is provided with an elongate slot or opening as indicated by the numeral 16 which is adapted to receive the frame structure, as generally indicated at 17, of a lock mechanism. This frame structure is provided with a lock mounting plate 18 adapted to fit within the opening 16. The lock mounting plate is provided with an opening 19 through which a bolt (not shown) of conventional construction is adapted to be extended and retracted into locking and non-locking positions.

The clip assemblies 10 of the present invention are arranged to be secured within the stile 11 adjacent the ends of the frame receiving opening 16 in positions bridging the opening, and provided with means, as will hereinafter be described in detail, for receiving securing screws 21 when positioned in the screw receiving openings 22--22 at the ends of the lock mounting plate. In the usual installation, a trim plate (not shown) will be secured to the lock mounting plate.

The mounting clip assemblies 10 are of composite construction and comprise in each case components which are preassembled prior to mounting in their operative positions in the tubular style.

As clearly shown in the drawings, the clip assembly includes a rigid body member, as generally indicated at 23, of H-shaped configuration and which is preferably constructed from a sheet of plate material such as steel or other appropriate metal of uniform thickness. The plate material is stamped or otherwise deformed to provide a bridging portion 24 having integrally formed side legs 25 and 26 which are deflected into right angled relationship to the bridging portion and project outwardly from the same side of the bridging portion.

Intermediate its ends, the bridging portion 24 is provided at its upper edge with an integrally formed tongue 27 which is deflected into right angled relation to the bridging portion and projects from the same side thereof as the side legs. This tongue is provided with an opening 28 for the reception of a holding screw 21 when the lock frame is secured in mounted position. As thus constructed, it will be observed that each of the side legs is spaced from the tongue to provide open areas or spaces 29 and 30, respectively.

The side legs at the portions 25a and 26a at the ends of the bridging portion extend in parallel relation and project above the plane of the tongue 27. As shown in FIG. 2, these projecting ends are adapted to abut the inner surface of the nose wall of the stile on opposite sides of the lock receiving opening 16. In those stile structures in which the nose wall is crowned or curved, these projecting ends will be of similar length, whereas if the nose wall is at an angle to the side walls of the stile, then the projecting ends would be made of different lengths in order to properly abut the nose wall when installed in the tubular stile.

The other end portions of the side legs as indicated at 25b and 26b, respectively, are inwardly offset at points 31 and 32 so as to permit the leg portions 25b and 26b to diverge outwardly.

Each of the leg portions 25b or 26b and their associated offset points 31 and 32 are longitudinally slotted as indicated at 33, FIG. 5, and transversely severed to provide a plurality of transverse band portions 34 which are deflected alternately in opposite directions to provide arcuate sections for threadedly receiving an associated screw 35 therein. Due to the offset points in the side legs, the head of each screw will be accessible through the space 29 or 30 depending upon which leg the screw is mounted. The opposite end of the screw extends beyond the end of the associated leg to provide an adjustable extension. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be readily apparent that by tightening the screws 35--35 in the respective side legs, the abutment end portions 25a and 26a will be wedgingly forced against the adjacent inner surface of the nose wall.

To facilitate the placement and mounting of the clip assemblies, there is provided a unique placement tool 36, as shown in FIG. 5. This tool comprises an elongate handle 37 which is provided at one end with a side projecting head structure 38 which is arranged to be releasably coupled with a clip assembly to facilitate its positioning and securement in an operating position in the tubular stile.

As shown in FIG. 6, the head structure includes a transversely extending body 39 which is formed with wing portions on opposite sides of the handle. This body has a transversely extending abutment planar surface 40 as shown in FIG. 8 as having right angled relation to the longitudinal axis of the handle. At the other ends of this surface are rearwardly offset shoulders 41--41. Between these shoulders, a projecting portion of the body 39 is constructed to provide a slot 42 between parallel walls 43 and 44, this slot being in right angled relation to the planar surface 40 and having a transverse axis parallel to the transverse axis of this planar surface. A ball detent 45 is movably supported so as to extend into the slot 42. The ball detent is resiliently urged to a holding position by means of a compression spring 46 within a bore 47 in which it is retained by a screw plug 48.

In order to interconnect the placement tool and a clip assembly, it is only necessary to insert the tongue 27 into the slot 42 and push it to a seated position against the abutment planar surface 40. At this position, the edges of the side leg portions 25a and 26a will be respectively seated against the rearwardly offset shoulders 41--41 so that the placement tool and clip assembly will be connected together as shown in FIG. 6.

In order to insert the clip assembly through the lock receiving opening 16 and place it in a mounting position, the placement tool and associated clip assembly should be oriented as shown in FIG. 6 so that the side legs of the clip assembly will be oriented lengthwise of the lock receiving opening 16. By properly manipulating the placement tool, the clip assembly can be inserted into the tubular stile a sufficient distance to permit clearance of the abutment ends, whereupon by rotating the placement tool to a position as shown in FIG. 7, the clip assembly can be easily turned so as to extend transversely of the lock receiving opening and may be easily oriented into a proper mounting position. When in the proper position, a screwdriver 49 is readily insertable through the spaces 29 and 30 into engagement with the heads of the screws 35 so that they may be actuated to move the mounting clip assembly into wedged engagement with the inner surface of the nose wall of the tubular stile. As soon as the clip assembly is anchored in its desired position, it is a simple matter to detach the placement tool from the assembly by moving it in a direction such that the ball detent will be disengaged from the tongue 27.

With a clip assembly mounted as shown in FIG. 2, the securement will be very stable, and the diverging side legs provide ample spaces under the bridging portions of the rigid body for the passage of auxiliary operating member such as rods, bars, etc., which may be connected with the locking mechanism to operate a remotely positioned device on the narrow tubular stile adjacent to the locking mechanism.

From the foregoing description, it is believed clearly evident that the designated objects of the invention will be obtained.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention, and, hence, we do not wish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned.

Claims

We claim:

1. Means for mounting a lock in an elongate wall opening of a tubular narrow stile of a door frame structure, comprising:

a. a rigid body member adapted to be placed in a mounting position within the stile adjacent an end of the wall opening, said member in the mounting position having at least one portion adapted to abut an inner surface of the wall adjacent said opening, and another portion adapted to underlie said wall opening;

b. threaded means carried by said body member operable through said wall opening for wedging said body member in a direction to force said one portion against the associated wall surface; and

c. means carried by said another portion operable to anchor a lock mounting screw positioned in said opening.

2. Means for mounting a lock according to claim 1, wherein said one portion extends transversely of the stile and abuts said inner surface of the wall on opposite sides of said lock mounting opening, and said other portion comprises a tongue having a threaded opening for operably engaging said lock mounting screw

3. Means for mounting a lock according to claim 2, wherein the threaded means comprises a pair of screws operably connected with said one portion and being positioned on opposite sides of said lock mounting opening, each of said screws having a head end portion engageably by a tool inserted through said lock mounting opening, and an opposite end engageable with a stile wall opposite the wall containing the lock mounting opening.

4. Clip means for mounting a lock in a tubular narrow stile of a door frame, said stile having spaced side walls extending between a bottom wall and a nose wall having a lock receiving opening therein, comprising:

a. a rigid body adapted to be positioned within the stile so as to extend generally transversely between the side walls adjacent an end of the lock receiving opening;

b. said body having side leg portions respectively positioned adjacent said side walls;

c. wedging means carried by each of said legs engageable with the bottom wall of said stile, and being independently operable by a tool inserted through said opening to force said rigid body against the nose wall and anchor the same in a mounting position; and

d. means on said body operable to anchor a lock mounting screw of a lock positioned in the lock receiving opening.

5. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a. a generally H-shaped rigid body providing a bridging portion connected at its ends to side legs;

b. an upwardly facing flat surface portion carried by the bridging portion positioned between and in spaced relation to said legs, said surface portion having an opening therein; and

c. an elongated screw carried by and extending along each of said side legs, and being positioned with a head portion accessible through the space between the leg and said flat surface portion, and an opposite end portion projecting beyond the adjacent end of the leg so as to form an adjustable extension of the leg.

6. An article of manufacture according to claim 5, wherein the rigid body is formed from a flat plate, and in which the side legs and the flat surface portion comprise deflected areas projecting from the same side of the bridging portion.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein the leg portions at the ends of the bridging portion are in parallel relation and extend outwardly beyond said flat surface portion.

8. An article of manufacture according to claim 7, wherein one of said leg portions extends outwardly beyond said flat surface portion a greater distance than the other.

9. An article of manufacture according to claim 5, wherein the side legs support said screws in diverging relation away from their head ends.

10. An article of manufacture according to claim 6, wherein the side legs on the opposite side of the bridging portion from said flat surface extend outwardly in diverging relation and support said screws at an angle.

11. An article of manufacture according to claim 10, wherein the screw of each leg is threaded into struck-out arcuate band portions of the leg material.