U.S. patent number 3,831,988 [Application Number 05/325,992] was granted by the patent office on 1974-08-27 for strike plate/face plate for door latches.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Keeler Brass Company. Invention is credited to Gerard N. Stelma.
United States Patent |
3,831,988 |
Stelma |
August 27, 1974 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
STRIKE PLATE/FACE PLATE FOR DOOR LATCHES
Abstract
A strike plate/face plate combination especially adapted for use
with vehicular doors which are subjected to multi-directional
forces tending to both separate the door and door jamb and swing
open the door. A low-profile strike plate includes adjustable,
shouldered screws which engage an opposing low-profile, face plate
to prevent separation of the door and door jamb. A central aperture
in the strike plate is engaged by an opposing lock bolt to prevent
the door from swinging open.
Inventors: |
Stelma; Gerard N. (Grand
Rapids, MI) |
Assignee: |
Keeler Brass Company (Grand
Rapids, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
23270354 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/325,992 |
Filed: |
January 23, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/302;
292/DIG.41; 292/340 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05F
7/04 (20130101); Y10T 292/68 (20150401); Y10S
292/41 (20130101); E05Y 2900/132 (20130101); Y10T
292/432 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05F
7/00 (20060101); E05F 7/04 (20060101); E05c
001/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;292/300,302,346,DIG.39,DIG.40,DIG.41,340 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moore; Richard E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Price, Heneveld, Huizenga &
Cooper
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike
plate for attachment to a door jamb and interlocking means for
attachment to an edge of a door opposing the door jamb; said strike
plate being generally planar and having a central area offset a
preselected distance in a direction away from the door jamb; said
central area including means for engaging a latch bolt means; said
strike plate further including at least one stud means
interlockingly engaging a slot provided in said interlocking means
when the door is closed; said stud means including an enlarged
portion engaging said slot for preventing the door jamb from being
pulled apart or separated from the door edge; means for moving said
stud means toward and away from said interlocking means; means for
locking said stud means in a predetermined position with respect to
said interlocking means.
2. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike
plate secured to a door jamb and interlocking means secured to an
edge of a door opposing said door jamb; said strike plate being
generally planar and having a central area offset a preselected
distance in a direction away from said door jamb; said central area
including means for engaging a latch bolt means; said strike plate
further including at least one stud means interlockingly engaging a
slot provided in said interlocking means when said door is closed;
said stud means including an enlarged portion engaging said slot
for preventing said door jamb from being pulled apart or separated
from said door edge; said stud means comprising at least one screw;
said screw including a shoulder spacing said enlarged portion away
from said door jamb; said shoulder also providing a means for
tightening said screw to prevent change in the spacing of said
portion with respect to said jamb.
3. The latch apparatus fo claim 2 wherein said enlarged portion has
a cross-sectional area larger than that of said shoulder, the width
of said shoulder being less than the width of said slot.
4. A latch apparatus for doors comprising in combination a strike
plate secured to a door jamb and interlocking means secured to an
edge of a door opposing said door jamb; said strike plate being
generally planar and having a central area offset a preselected
distance in a direction away from said door jamb; said central area
including means for engaging a latch bolt means; said strike plate
further including at least one stud means interlockingly engaging a
slot provided in said interlocking means when said door is closed;
said stud means including an enlarged portion engaging said slot
for preventing said door jamb from being pulled apart or separated
from said door edge; said door jamb including front and rear
surfaces and an aperture therethrough; said stud means comprising
two screws spaced on either side of said central area; said
enlarged portions comprising enlarged heads on said screws; said
interlocking means including two slots; said strike plate being
secured by said screws to said rear surface of said door jamb with
said central area projecting througn said aperture in said door
jamb; said screws including shoulders spacing said heads from said
door jamb a preselected distance such that said heads matingly
engage said slots; said shoulders being tightened against said door
jamb to prevent misadjustment of said spacing of said screw heads
from vibration or the like.
5. The latch apparatus fo claim 1 wherein said means for engaging a
latch bolt means defines an aperture receiving and engaging a bolt
from a latch bolt means to prevent the door from opening.
6. The latch apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interlocking means
comprises a generally planar face plate including at least one area
offset from the general plane toward said strike plate, said offset
area including said slot; said stud means including at least one
screw having an enlarged head thereon; the magnitude of the offset
of said area being large enough only to receive said enlarged head
of said screw when the door is closed in order to reduce to a
minimum the bending moment present in said offset area.
7. The combination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door
jamb and a face plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said
door edge opposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said
door including a latch mechanism adjacent said face plate, said
latch mechanism including a lock bolt; said strike plate including
projecting means interlockingly engaging said face plate for
resisting first forces tending to separate said door and door jamb
and for accommodating varying clearances between said door and door
jamb; means for moving said projecting means toward and away from
the position of said face plate when said door is closed; means for
locking said projecting means in a predetermined position with
respect to said face plate; and means cooperating with said lock
bolt for resisting second forces tending to open said door.
8. The combination of a strike plate secured to a vehicular door
jamb and a face plate secured to an edge of a vehicular door; said
door edge opposing said door jamb when said door is closed; said
door including a latch mechainsm adjacent said face plate, said
latch mechanism including a lock bolt; said strike plate including
variable projecting means interlockingly engaging said face plate
for resisting first forces tending to separate said door and door
jamb and for accomodating varying clearances between said door and
door jamb; and means cooperating with said lock bolt for resisting
second forces tending to open said door; said variable projecting
means including at least one threaded screw, having an enlarged
head, said screw threadedly securing said strike plate to said door
jamb; said face plate including a slotted area; said slotted area
engaging said head such that said head resists said first
forces.
9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said screw includes an
integral shoulder spacing said head from said door jamb.
10. The combination of claim 8 wherein said face plate is generally
planar; said slotted area being offset toward said strike plate
from said general plane; said offset being sufficient to allow said
enlarged head to be received therebehind.
11. The combination fo claim 7 wherein said means cooperating with
said lock bolt comprise apertures in each of said strike and face
plates; said apertures being in alignment when said door is closed
allowing said bolt to pass therethrough; said aperture in said
strike plate having an edge which contacts said bolt to resist said
second forces when said door is closed and said bolt is passed
therethrough.
12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said strike plate is
generally planar and said aperture in said strike plate is located
centrally therein adjacent said projecting means in an area of said
strike plate which is offset from said general plane toward said
face plate.
13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said door jamb includes
front and back surfaces; said strike plate being secured to said
back surface with said offset area protruding through said door
jamb beyond the front surface thereof.
14. The combination of claim 11 wherein said face plate is
generally planar and said aperture in said face plate is located
centrally therein between said projecting means and lies in the
general plane of said face plate.
15. A strike plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb of a door
closure; said plate being generally planar and having a central
area offset in a direction away from a door jamb when secured
thereto; said central area including an aperture adapted to receive
a lock bolt from a door opposing said door jamb whereby the door is
prevented from opening; said plate further including at least two
threaded screws having enlarged heads; said screws being axially
adjustable and securing said plate to a door jamb; said screws also
adapted to interlock with slots on a door opposing a door jamb via
said enlarged heads whereby said door and door jamb are prevented
from separating; said screws further including spacing means for
spacing said enlarged heads a preselected distance from a door jamb
and for tightening said screws against a door jamb to prevent
loosening and misadjustment thereof.
16. The strike plate of claim 15 wherein said spacing means
comprise a shoulder integral with each of said screws.
17. A strike plate adapted to be secured to a door jamb of a door
closure; said plate being generally planar and having a central
area offset in a direction away from a door jamb when secured
thereto; said central area including an aperture adapted to receive
a lock bolt from a door opposing said door jamb whereby the door is
prevented from opening; said plate further including at least one
threaded screw having an enlarged head; said screw being axially
adjustable and securing said plate to a door jamb; said screw also
adapted to interlock with a slot on a door opposing a door jamb via
said enlarged head whereby said door and door jamb are prevented
from separating; said screw further including spacing means for
spacing said enlarged head a preselected distance from a door jamb
and for tightening said screw against a door jamb to prevent
loosening and misadjustment thereof.
Description
This invention relates to latch mechanisms for doors and more
particularly, to a strike plate and face plate which in combination
provides a stronger, safer latching apparatus for doors, and
particularly vehicular doors, than has been heretofore known.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Strike plates are commonly used in conjunction with locking and
latching mechanisms on all doors and are typically secured to the
door jamb opposite an edge of the closed door to provide a surface
against which the lock bolt or other locking mechanism strikes and
engages to secure the door in a closed position. Strike plates
which interlock or mate with portions of a face plate secured to
the opposing door edge adjacent a locking or latching mechanism are
also very well-known. Such mating strike plates and face plates
generally include at least one projection on the face plate which
is received in a socket or a recess formed in the strike plate.
In vehicular applications such as in mobile homes, trailers,
automobiles, trucks and buses, the body of the vehicle is subjected
to forces transmitted both longitudinally and transverse of the
vehicle. Consequently, door latch mechanisms for use in such
vehicles must be able to withstand these forces transmitted in
several directions without allowing the door to open in order to
properly and adequately protect the occupants of the vehicle.
Although many interlocking strike plates and face plates have been
proposed and used in the past, such strike plate/face plate
combinations have not been well suited for such vehicular
applications but have been primarily designed for static
installations. Further, several drawbacks have been encountered in
using the prior strike plates and face plates.
First, the majority of the prior mechanisms have not been
adjustable. Thus, even with the more rigid production tolerances
known today, clearances between doors and door jambs, especially in
mass produced vehicles, are often less than uniform. Thus, a
variation in door and door jamb clearances dictates that different
sizes of interlocking strike plates and face plates must be used in
order to properly accommodate the clearances and allow the doors to
be properly fitted, Secondly, although some of the previous
combinations attempted to accommodate for adjustment, the
adjustment mechanisms were extremely susceptible to the vibration
normally present in vehicular environments. This vibration caused
the adjustment mechanisms to loosen thereby disrupting the
clearance between the door and door jamb and preventing the doors
from fitting properly. Finally, the prior combinations often
included large projections which were extremely susceptible to
forces and bending moments normally present in vehicles.
Consequently, these projections were easily deformed thereby
preventing proper fitting of the doors. Moreover, such large
projections and protuberances were hazardous to the users of the
vehicles since such persons were prone to catch or tear their
clothing on those mechanisms. Therefore, the previously known
strike plate/face plate combinations were undesirable for one or
more of the above reasons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a purpose of the present invention is to provide an
interlocking strike plate/face plate combination adapted for use
with locking and latching mechanisms on swinging doors, and
especially on swinging vehicular doors which are subjected to
multidirectional forces and bending moments. The present inventive
combination includes separate strike and face plates each having a
low-profile thereby avoiding potentially injurious projection from
the door or door jamb while including adjustable means for
accommodating varying clearances between doors and door jambs. It
is a further purpose to provide a face plate adapted to be secured
to a door edge, the face plate adapted to engage low-profile
adjustable means on the strike plate. The adjustable means also
serve as securing means for fastening the strike plate to the door
jamb.
In accordance with the foregoing purposes, the invention provides a
combination strike plate and face plate wherein the strike plate is
secured to a vehicular door jamb and the face plate is secured to
an opposing door edge. The strike plate includes axially adjustable
screws which secure the strike plate to the jamb and engage the
face plate when the door is closed. The strike plate is a generally
planar, elongated plate which is secured to the back or interior
surface of a vehicular door jamb. The plate further includes a
central offset portion which protrudes through an aperture in the
door jamb and extends beyond the front surface of the door jamb.
The axially adjustable screws which secure the strike plate in its
position include flat, enlarged heads and integral shoulders, the
shoulders spacing the heads a predetermined distance from the front
surface of the door jamb. The adjustable screws are received in
threaded nuts rigidly secured to the back surface of the strike
plate such that the screws extend through both the strike plate and
the door jamb.
The face plate is secured to an edge of a vehicular door, the said
door edge opposing the above-mentioned door jamb when the door is
closed. The door includes any type of locking and latching
mechanism the locking mechanism being recessed within the door
adjacent the door edge in the preferred embodiment. The face plate
is also generally planar but includes two areas which are offset
toward the strike plate from the general plane of the face plate
and spaced apart by a central area lying in the general plane. The
two offset portions include slots which receive and engage the
shouldered portions of the special screws when the door is closed.
The offset of the slotted portions is sufficient to allow the flat
heads of the special screws to be received therebehind. Thus, the
flat heads engage the rear surface of the slotted portions and
prevent the strike and face plates and, thus, the door and door
jambs to which they are secured, from separating under the
influence of forces present in the vehicle.
Additionally, the central portions of both the strike and face
plates include apertures which are aligned when the door is closed
and the adjustable screws and face plates are engaged. In the
preferred embodiment, the locking and latching mechanism fitted to
the door includes a sliding lock bolt which is passed through the
aligned apertures. Thus, the contact between the lock bolt and an
edge of the aperture in the strike plate resists the influence of
forces in the vehicle transverse to those tending to separate the
door and door jamb which would otherwise swing the door open.
Depending on the clearance between the door and door jamb, the
special adjusting screws may be adjusted axially toward or away
from the opposing face plate in order to allow the heads and
shoulders of the screws to properly mate with the slotted offset
areas of the face plate. The special shoulder on each screw is of a
sufficient height to properly space the screw head from the jamb.
Alternatively, additional separate washers may be inserted between
the shoulder and the door jamb to properly space the screw heads.
The special screws are securely tightened against the door jamb
thereby retaining the strike plate against the rear face of the
door jamb and to prevent the adjusting screws from loosening under
the vibrations present in the vehicle. An upstanding flange or door
stop on the interior edge of the door jamb may be provided to
extend outwardly a distance equivalent to that of the special screw
heads in order to prevent persons exiting the vehicle from catching
or tearing their clothes on the screws.
The present invention, therefore, provides a low-profile,
adjustable strike plate/face plate combination including separate
strike and face plates which protrude only slightly from their
respective door jamb and door edge and interlock in the above
manner. The combination resists the multidirectional forces present
in a vehicle since the face plate engages the special heads of the
adjustable screws to prevent separation of the door from the jamb
while the lock bolt from an associated locking and latching
mechanism engages an edge of the central aperture in the strike
plate to prevent the opening of the vehicular door.
These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the
invention will become apparent from a study of the following
description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the strike plate and face plate of
the present invention respectively mounted on an operatively
associated vehicular door jamb and door;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional, side elevation of the strike
plate/face plate combination shown with the door in a closed
position;
FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the present combination showing the
back surface of the face plate taken along plane III--III of FIG.
2;
FIG. 4 is a back elevation of the present combination showing the
back surface of the strike plate and taken along plane IV--IV of
FIG. 2; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional, plan view of the present combination
taken along plane V--V of FIG. 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, FIG. 1 shows a
door locking or latching assembly including the present inventive
strike plate/face plate combination 10. The locking or latching
assembly is shown installed on a typical swinging door of a mobile
home, although the present invention is equally applicable to other
swinging vehicular doors such as doors on trailers, automobiles,
buses and trucks and the like, and indeed, on all swinging doors.
The strike plate/face plate apparatus 10 includes a strike plate 20
secured to the rear or internal surface of a vehicular door jamb 12
via two adjustable shouldered screws 60. Apparatus 10 also includes
a face plate 40 secured to the front surface of an edge 14 of a
vehicular door 16. A door locking or latching mechanism 18, which
forms no part of the present invention, is mounted adjacent the
edge 14 of door 16 and face plate 40 such that a lock bolt means
such as sliding lock bolt 19 cooperates with the strike plate and
face plate when the door is in its closed position. Although the
present invention will be described for locking and latching
mechanisms including sliding lock bolts, mechanisms including other
types of lock bolts which operate via means other than sliding may
also be used without deviating from the spirit of the
invention.
FIG. 1 shows the vehicular door in an open position. When the
vehicular door is closed, the sliding lock bolt will strike against
strike plate 20 and be slid back into the mechanism 18 prior to its
entry into an aperture provided in strike plate 20 when the door
reaches its closed position. Further, when the door is in its
closed position, the face plate 40 engages the adjustable shoulder
screws 60 to prevent separation of the door 16 from door jamb 12
under the influence of longitudinal forces present in the
vehicle.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, the stroke plate/face plate apparatus
10 is shown in its engaged position with the door 16 being closed
and opposing the door jamb 12. The strike plate 20 is a generally
planar, elongated member having a central portion 22 offset a
distance from the general plane of the plate (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
The central portion 22 includes an integral flange 24 projecting
from one lateral edge thereof. Flange 24 provides a camming surface
which forces the sliding lock bolt 19 back into the lock mechanism
18 when the door 16 is closed. Lock bolt 19 includes a slanted cam
surface 17 for this purpose as shown in FIG. 5. The relatively thin
door jamb 12 includes a back or interior surface 13, a front or
external surface 15 and an aperture 21 as shown in FIG. 2. The
strike plate 20 is secured to the back surface 13 via two variable
projections comprising adjustable, shouldered screws received
through aligned apertures 25 and 26 in the door jamb and strike
plate, respectively. Apertures 25 are spaced adjacent the aperture
21 while apertures 26 are spaced adjacent the offset portion 22 of
strike plate 20. Threaded nuts 62 are secured via tack welding or
another similar process to the rear face of strike plate 20
concentrically with the apertures 26 and receive the screws 60
which are threaded thereinto.
As shown in FIG. 2, screws 60 include enlarged flat heads 64 and
integral spacing shoulders 66 abutting the undersurfaces of the
enlarged heads. Both the enlarged heads and spacing shoulders are
circular in shape in the preferred embodiment (FIG. 3) although
other shapes may, of course, be used. The spacing shoulder 66 has
an overall diameter and corresponding cross-sectional area which is
less than that of the enlarged head 64 but larger than the
apertures 25 in door jamb 12. Thus, the screws 60 when received
through apertures 25 and 26 and threaded into nut 62 are tightened
securely such that each of the spacing shoulders 66 bears against
the periphery surrounding the aperture 25 on door jamb 12 thereby
drawing the stroke plate 20 tightly against the back surface 13 of
the door jamb. This tightening of the shoulder against jamb 12 via
nuts 62 prevents the loosening of the screws and the strike plate
which would otherwise occur due to vibration.
It will be understood that the offset central portion 22 of strike
plate 20 is received through the aperture 21 in door jamb 12, the
offset being of sufficient magnitude to allow the central portion
to extend past the front surface 15 of door jamb 12 into the area
between the door jamb and door edge 14. The central portion extends
into the area between the offset areas of face plate 40 as will be
more fully explained below. Further, the central offset portion 22
includes an aperture 28 having a peripheral edge 30. The aperture
28 receives the sliding lock bolt 19 when the door is in its closed
position, the lock bolt 19 bearing against peripheral edge 30 to
prevent the door from opening until the bolt is retracted. In this
respect, it will be understood that the magnitude of the offset of
central portion 22 is not sufficient to make the offset portion
susceptible to deformation or bending due to the forces transmitted
thereagainst by lock bolt 19. However, the offset is sufficient to
extend the aperture 28 with edge 30 sufficiently close to the
locking mechanism 18 such that lock mechanisms providing only
relatively short paths of travel for their sliding lock bolts 19
may be utilized.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, face plate 30 is shown secured to
door edge 14. Face plate 40 also comprises a generally planar
elongated member having two areas 42 and 44 offset from the general
plane away from the door edge. In the preferred embodiment these
areas extend across only a portion of the entire width of the face
plate with their closed ends being rounded as at 47 and 47' to
provide room for the circumference of the heads 64 of screws 60 to
fit therein. Areas 42 and 44 are spaced apart by a central area 46
lying in the general plane of the face plate. The central offset
portion 22 of strike plate 20 extends into the area adjacent
central area 46 between offset areas 42 and 44. Providing offset
portion 22 and central area 46 closely adjacent one another reduces
the bending forces on the lock bolt 19 since the distance between
the contact or supporting points on bolt 19 is reduced.
Face plate 40 is secured to the door edge 14 via screws or other
fastening members 48 received through apertures 50 formed in the
outermost portions 52 and 54 of the face plate, which portions 52
and 54 also lie within the general plane of the face plate. It will
be understood that the heads 49 of screws 48 are recessed in the
thickness of the face plate 14 such that only the thickness of the
face plate extends into the area between the door jamb and door.
Offset areas 42 and 44 are spaced as close as possible adjacent
central area 46 and mounting screws 48 are located as close as
possible to the offset areas. The close proximity of all of these
elements helps reduce the effect of bending stresses in the face
plate due to the forces tending to separate the door and door jamb.
The central portion 46 includes an aperture 56 corresponding in
shape to the sliding lock bolt 19 such that bolt 19 may slide or
pass therethrough to engage edge 30 of aperture 28 of strike plate
20, as shown in FIG. 5. As will be understood from FIG. 5, the
apertures 28 and 56 on the strike plate and face plates,
respectively, are in alignment when the door 16 is closed and
opposing door jamb 12 such that the lock bolt 19 may slide freely
therethrough.
As shown in FIG. 3, the offset portions 42 and 44 of face plate 40
include slots 43 and 45 respectively, which receive and engage
spacing shoulders 66 and heads 64 of adjustable screws 60. The
inner edges of slots 43 and 45 may be tapered at the mouths of the
respective slots, as shown in 57 and 57', while the edges of the
entire slots may be chamfered, as shown at 58 and 58'. The tapering
and chamfering of the slots helps provide sufficient clearance for
the heads 64 of screws 60. Further, the width of the slots,
represented by "W" in FIG. 3, is slightly larger than the diameter
or overall dimension of the spacing shoulders 66 such that the
shoulders may be freely received therein when the door is closed.
Both the strike plate 20 and face plate 40 are preferably formed
from stamped steel.
The operation of the strike plate/face plate apparatus 10 will now
be understood. As the door 16 is closed, the locking and latching
bolt 19 is cammed away from the door jamb 12 via the contact of
camming surface 17 with flange 24 or, alternatively, is held in a
retracted position via the operating handle or handles of the
locking and latching mechanism 18. In either event, the face plate
20 moves into opposing alignment with the stroke plate 20 with the
spacing shoulders 66 and enlarged head 64 of screws 60 being
received in slots 43 and 45 of raised or offset areas 42 and 44 of
face plate 40. Areas 42 and 44 are offset sufficiently toward the
stroke plate 20, and the screws 60 are axially adjusted
sufficiently toward the face plate 40 such that the height or
thickness of the spacing shoulders 66 aligns exactly with the
thickness of the offset portions 42 and 44 as shown in FIG. 2.
Further, the magnitude of the offset of areas 42 and 44 is
sufficient to allow the enlarged heads 64 of screw 60 to be
received freely behind the offset portions between those portions
and the edge 14 of door 16. As will now be apparent, the under
surfaces of the enlarged heads 64 bear against the peripheries of
the slots 43 and 45 thereby restraining any movement between the
door and door jamb which would tend to separate the two. Thus, when
the strike plate/face plate apparatus is used in connection with a
door formed on the side of a mobile home or other vehicle, any
longitudinal forces transmitted along the vehicle tending to
separate the door and door jamb will be effectively countered and
opposed by the resistance of the head 64 against the raised
portions 42 and 44 of face plate 40.
Moreover, when the door is in its closed position, the sliding lock
bolt 19 will have slid through the aligned apertures 28 and 56
thereby securely locking and latching the door 16 in its closed
position with respect to door jamb 12. As with the above example,
when the stroke plate/face plate apparatus is mounted in a side
door of a vehicle, any transverse forces present in the vehicle
which would tend to swing open the door 16 are effectively
countered by the contact of the bolt 19 against the peripheral edge
30 of aperture 28 in strike plate 20.
The adjustable screws 60 will thus be understood to accommmodate
varying clearances between doors 16 and door jambs 12 encountered
during the production of various vehicles. The screws 60 are
screwed tightly against the door jamb 12 to rigidly secure the
strike plate against the rear surface 13 of door jamb 12 and also
to prevent the losening of adjustable screws 60 during vibration
encountered from movement of the vehicle. The accommodation of
varying door clearances is accomplished by providing screws 60
having different heights or thicknesses of spacing shoulders 66 or
by the use of additional spacing members such as washers inserted
between spacing shoulders 66 and door jamb 12. Thus, the insertion
of one, two or a plurality of washers enables the shoulder and head
of the screw to be spaced sufficiently away from the door jamb to
properly engage the face plate 40 while allowing the screw to be
rigidly and securely tightened against the door jamb to prevent
loosening from vibration.
Additionally, it will be understood that the separate elements of
the stroke plate/face plate apparatus, i.e., the striek plate 20
and face plate 40, each have a low-profile such that they do not
protrude a great distance from the door jamb 12 and door edge 14,
respectively. This low-profile has the dual advantage of reducing
the effect of any bending stresses transmitted through the combined
apparatus and also preventing any projection which would extend
outwardly from the door jamb or door edge and provide an obstacle
which might catch or tear the clothes of persons exiting or
entering through the doorway on which the apparatus is mounted.
This latter problem is further avoided by the use of a door stop or
flange 70 as shown in FIG. 5. Flange 70 is formed integrally on the
door jamb 12 adjacent the interior of the vehicle and projects into
the clearance area between the door and door jamb a distance equal
to or slightly less than the clearance area between the two. Thus,
if a person brushes against the door jamb as he exits through the
doorway, his clothes will be further prevented from catching on the
strike plate or adjustable screws as he passes.
Consequently, it will be understood that the present invention
provides a unique, adjustable strike plate/face plate apparatus
which may be used on different types of doors and door jambs having
varying clearances therebetween. A simple axial adjustment of the
adjustable screws 60 accompanied by the provision of additional
spacing members between the shoulders of the screws and the door
jamb enables the proper engagement with the offset portions of face
plate 40. Also, the sliding locking and latching bolt 19 forming a
part of locking and latching mechanism 18 passes through the
aligned apertures in the strike and face plates to keep the door
from opening. Thus, the door and door jamb are prevented from
separating due to imposition of longitudinal forces while the door
is prevented from opening due to the imposition of transverse
forces operating on the apparatus. Both effects are accomplished
without the actual interlocking of the strike plate and face
plates, since the face plate merely engages the two adjustable
screws 60 and not the strike plate itself. A third contact point is
provided where the sliding lock bolt 19 engages the strike plate.
Thus, the door is rigidly secured in its closed position with only
three contact points between the door and door jamb via the strike
plate/face plate apparatus and without the actual interlocking of
the strike plate and face plate. Consequently, neither the strike
plate nor the face plate need be changed to fit varying doors and
door clearances.
While one form of the invention has been shown and described, other
forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore,
it will be understood that the embodiment shown in the drawings and
described above is merely for illustrative purposes, and is not
intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by
the claims which follow.
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