Patent Application
20090152875
This invention relates generally to a lockset for use with a door, and more particularly to a lockset with an adjustable backset distance for use with doors having different backset distances.
“Backset” is the distance between the edge of a door and the relatively transverse axis of rotation about which the latch operator moves for extending and retracting a latch bolt of a latch mechanism. Backset has been standardized by the industry. Standard backsets for commercial door openings are 2⅜ inches and 2¾ inches.
Manufacturers of latch constructions have satisfied the demand for latchsets having standard backset measurements by producing and marketing two different models of latch constructions. However, maintaining an inventory of assemblies and components for locksets having two different backsets is inefficient.
An alternative is providing adjustable latch mechanisms, which have become an accepted feature of tubular locksets. Unfortunately, adjustable latch mechanism solutions for this application have typically been of insufficient strength for a Grade 2 commercial lockset capable of meeting ANSI standards.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a new lockset which is easily adjusted for mounting on doors of differing backset distances. Such adjustment should be effected in a way that provides the assembly with inherent strength. Ideally, the new lockset construction would allow for relatively quick and easy selective adjustment between the two standard backset measurements.
According to the present invention, a lock assembly is provided comprising a housing and a latchbolt including an attachment member. A retractor element is disposed within the housing for linear reciprocating movement. The retractor element includes a first attachment location formed in the retractor element in a first position relative to the axis of reciprocation of the retractor element and a second attachment location formed in the retractor element in a second position relative to the axis of reciprocation of the retractor element. The second attachment location is spaced from the first attachment location by a distance along the axis of reciprocation of the retractor element. The attachment member of the latchbolt is selectively engageable with the retractor element at either the first attachment location or the second attachment location for movement together with the retractor element. An operator is operatively connected to the retractor element for facilitating selective reciprocation of the retractor element for moving the latchbolt between a latched position and an unlatched position.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference should now be had to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings and described below. In the drawings:
The adjustable backset arrangement according to the present invention is for use in a conventional lockset such as, for example, the locksets described by U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,773 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,970, the contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Moreover, it is understood that the overall construction of the lockset assembly is not critical to the present invention and, for purposes of illustration, may be as described herein or in the above-referenced U.S. patents. Accordingly, although the present invention will be described in detail herein with reference to an exemplary embodiment of an adjustable backset function, detailed explanations of the functioning of all of the lockset components are deemed unnecessary for understanding of the present invention by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the invention. For example, words such as “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “upward,” and “downward” merely describe the configuration shown in the FIGs. Indeed, the components may be oriented in any direction and the terminology, therefore, should be understood as encompassing such variations unless specified otherwise.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding or similar elements throughout the several views, a cylindrical lockset assembly for use with a conventional opening in a door (not shown) is shown in
The rose plates 26, 32 are each formed in a generally circular configuration and having an axial central opening 48, 50. Two pair of holes 52, 54 are formed on the periphery of each rose plate 26, 32. One pair of holes 52 are adapted to pass bolts 56 which extend through the door. The other pair of holes is provided for receiving screws (not shown) for fastening the rose plates 26, 32 to their respective roses 28, 34. A pair of inwardly extending tabs 58 are formed in the outside rose plate 32 by punching holes through the outside rose plate 32.
The roses 28, 34 are each formed in a generally circular configuration and include a side wall 60, 62 defining an inner dish-like cavity in the inside surface of the rose 28, 34. An axial opening 64, 66 is formed through each rose 28, 34 and extends through rotating spindles 68, 70 which extend outwardly from the roses. A return spring 72 is positioned in the cavity of each rose 28, 34. As described above, the rose plates 26, 32 are fastened to the roses 28, 34 using screws for retaining the springs 72 within the cavity.
The levers 30, 36 each include a handle 74, 76 which is formed integrally with a hub 78, 80. Each hub 78, 80 has an axial opening 81 which, in a locking lockset, may communicate with an axial opening formed through the handle for receiving a turn button or lock cylinder for locking of the latchbolt in the extended, or latched, position. Further, although levers are shown, it is understood that other latch operating means are suitable, such as a doorknob or the like.
Referring now to
The end caps 98 are generally circular and have a central axial opening 104. Four spaced notches 106 are formed in the end caps 98 for receiving the tabs 103 on the case 96.
The retractor 95 is formed with a base 108 having a cam surface 110 on each side and a pair of spaced, parallel arms 112. The ends of the arms 112 are formed with a pair of opposed outer lips 114 and a pair of opposed inner lips 116. The lips 114, 116 are preferably spaced apart by about ⅜ inches, which is the difference between the standard door backset distances of 2⅜ inches and 2¾ inches. As will be described below, when the outer set of lips have been engaged, the lockset will be maintained at the backset distance of 2¾ inches. When the inner set of lips is used, the backset distance will have been adjusted by the full difference in standard door backset distance to 2⅜ inches. However, it is understood that the present invention is not so limited and that more or differently spaced lips could be utilized to accommodate other backset distances.
The sleeves 92, 94 are each formed with a pair of cramming elements 93 at one end. The camming element 93 are formed by rolling back portions of the sleeves 92, 94 which extend from the end of the cylindrical portions. The sleeves are rotatably received in the openings 104 in the end caps 98.
In assembling the components of the chassis 40, the rollback sleeves 92, 94 are positioned so that the cramming elements 93 are located adjacent the cam surfaces 110 on each side of the retractor 95. The sleeves 92, 94 and retractor 95 are then located in the case 96 between the legs 102 and close to the inner surface of the base 100. The ends of two springs 120 are positioned over a pair of spaced posts 122 extending outwardly from the base 100 of the case 96. The other ends of the springs 120 engage a retainer 124, which fits in a corresponding opening in the rear of the retractor 95 thereby placing the springs 120 in a contained position for subsequent compression. To complete the housing 90, the end caps 98 are then slipped over the sleeves 92, 94 with the tabs 103 on the case 96 being inserted in the notches 106 in the end caps 98 and twisted. The retractor 95, the inward ends of the sleeves 92, 94, the springs 120 and the retainer 124 are contained within the housing 90. The sleeves 92, 94 extend outwardly from the openings 104 in the end caps 98. In this arrangement, the lips 114, 116 of the retractor 95 are exposed through the housing 90.
Referring now to
Another embodiment of the latch bolt 44 according to the present invention is shown in
In assembling the components of the cylindrical lockset assembly 20 of
According to the present invention, mounting of the latch assembly 42 to the chassis 40 may also involve the step of selectively modifying the latch case according to a larger backset of the door. Referring to
Next, the outside rose plate 32 is slid over the outside end cap 98. As seen in
The outside rose 34 fits against the outside rose plate 32. Openings in the outside rose plate 32 are aligned with threaded holes in the outside rose 34 for use with screws for securing the outside rose plate 32 to the outside rose 34.
The inside rose plate 26 is secured to the inside rose 28 and then moved over the inside end cap 98 and against the door surface. Bolt holes in the inside rose 28 are aligned with threaded bolt holes of the outside rose 34. The threaded ends of the bolts 56 are then passed through the unthreaded holes in the inside rose 28 and into the threaded holes of the outside rose 34. The bolts 56 are then tightened to draw the rose plates 26, 32 and roses 28, 34 to a secure assembled position on opposite sides of the door whereby the heads of the bolts 52 come to rest in countersunk holes in the outer face of the inside rose 28. It is noted that in attaching the roses 28, 34 in the manner described above, protrusions on the sleeves 92, 94 are aligned with corresponding slots (not shown) in the spindles 68, 70 such that the sleeves 92, 94 and spindles 68, 70 rotate together within the lockset assembly 20.
To complete the assembly, an inside rose scalp 152 is slipped over the inside spindle 68 and the inside rose 28 and the inside lever 30 is secured onto the inside spindle 68. Similarly, an outside rose scalp 154 is placed over the outside spindle 70 and the outside rose 34 and the outside lever 36 is secured onto the spindle 70. In attaching the levers 30, 36, the axial hub openings 79, 81 are positioned over the spindles 68, 70, which include a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal slots 156. The slots 156 receive corresponding ribs formed in the levers 30, 36 to facilitate rotation of the spindles 68, 70 upon actuation of the levers 30, 36. The hub openings 79, 81 are also formed with transverse depressions and are positioned for alignment with transverse slots formed in spindles 68, 70. Spring-biased detents or catch plates (not shown) extend through the slots and into the depressions to retain the levers 30, 36 on the sleeves 92, 94.
Although the present invention has been shown and described in considerable detail with respect to only a few exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that we do not intend to limit the invention to the embodiments since various modifications, omissions and additions may be made to the disclosed embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, although a cylindrical lock is shown, the novel retractor shown and described herein may be used with any type of latchset or lockset for accommodating two or more backset distances. Accordingly, we intend to cover all such modifications, omission, additions and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.
