Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6568727
-
Patent Number
6,568,727
-
Date Filed
Monday, February 5, 200123 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 27, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Veltman; Richard J.
- Del Ponti; John D.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 292 347
- 292 348
- 292 349
- 292 350
- 292 351
- 292 352
- 292 353
- 292 354
- 292 355
- 292 DIG 53
- 292 3363
- 292 356
- 292 358
- 070 417
- 070 224
- 070 449
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A collar coacts with a chassis, sleeve and lever of a lockset to provide a retention and reinforcement system for lock assemblies. The collar has a flanged portion and a sleeve-engaging portion and is sandwiched between a lever and the cylinder. The sleeve-engaging portion includes at least one tab that engages the sleeve to retain the collar on the sleeve. Alternatively, the collar can be staked to the sleeve. A spring washer can be mounted between the collar and the chassis to take up variation in manufacturing tolerances. The result is a retention and reinforcement system that provides a protection against attack in the zone of attack around the handle-chassis interface.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to guards for protecting a zone between a lever, knob or the like and a chassis of a lock assembly, and to the lock assembly itself.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A sleeve in a lockset is most vulnerable at the zone where the knob or lever adjoins the hub, especially for those chassis cover appearance designs that do not provide overlap reinforcement. Accordingly, reinforcement and axial retention of a knob or lever sleeve to its chassis at the vulnerable zone is highly desirable. It is also desirable to provide for cost-efficient sleeve manufacturing options, and for additional chassis styling options for knobs and levers that are subject to forced-entry attack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a retention and reinforcement system for knobs, levers and the like. It also provides a lock assembly including a retention and reinforcement system for knobs, levers and the like. Use of a rigid, cylindrical support collar in combination with the knob or lever and the chassis achieves at least the following advantages:
1. axial retention of the sleeve to the hub;
2. improved resistance to axial wobble; operating stability is enhanced by the axial length of the support collar;
3. radial reinforcement of the sleeve to withstand sleeve distortion during forced entry attacks; and
4. the axial length of the collar is sufficient to allow the knob or lever itself to provide positive axial retention of the collar to the sleeve.
According to the present invention, a retention and reinforcement system for knobs, levers and the like, comprises a chassis defining an aperture, a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture, a collar, and a graspable member. The graspable member includes a sleeve-engaging portion defining an interior wall. The collar includes a flanged portion and a sleeve engaging portion and is sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve.
The flanged portion defines a flange extending radially outwardly a predetermined distance from the sleeve-engaging portion and the sleeve-engaging portion defines a sleeve-engaging member coupled to the sleeve. According to one aspect of the invention, the sleeve-engaging member includes at least one tab that engages an aperture in the sleeve to retain the collar on the sleeve. According to another aspect of the invention, the sleeve-engaging member includes an aperture having an edge that is staked to the sleeve. The sleeve-engaging member can further include a dimple engaging an aperture formed in the sleeve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters in the same or different Figures, indicate like parts:
FIG. 1
is a perspective schematic exploded view of the retention and reinforcement system of the present invention, in use with a lever;
FIG. 1
b
is a perspective schematic exploded view of a collar and spring washer for use with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional view taken along line
2
—
2
in
FIG. 1
with a rose and lever added; and
FIG. 3
is a perspective view of the collar of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the retention and reinforcement system.
FIG. 5
is a perspective view of a support collar for use with the embodiment of FIG.
4
.
FIG. 6
is a cross-sectional view taken along line
6
—
6
in FIG.
4
.
FIG. 7
is a cross-sectional view taken along line
7
—
7
in FIG.
4
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIGS. 1-3
illustrate one embodiment of the retention and reinforcement system of the present invention which is provided primarily to protect against attach upon the lock assembly directed to the zone Z where a graspable member such as a lever or knob is adjacent to the chassis.
As illustrated, a lock assembly
10
includes a chassis
12
and a sleeve
14
protruding from the chassis
12
, with a lever
20
or knob mounted on the sleeve
14
. The sleeve
14
includes a pair of diametrically opposed tab-receiving apertures
22
and a biased retaining member
24
that engages the lever
20
and axially retains it on the sleeve
14
. A cylindrical collar
30
with a proximal end
32
and a distal end
34
is disposed on the sleeve
14
with the proximal end
32
adjacent the chassis
12
. A standard, readily-available spring washer
38
is mounted on the sleeve
14
between the chassis
12
and the proximal end
32
of the collar
30
to take up excess axial clearance with the chassis
12
which may be caused by variations in manufacturing tolerances. The retaining member
24
is disposed adjacent the distal end
34
of the collar
30
.
As shown schematically and in dashed lines, the sleeve
14
is operatively associated in a conventional manner with a latch actuator
50
, which in turn is operatively associated with a latch mechanism
52
to move a latch bolt (not shown). A key cylinder
56
is mounted in the sleeve
14
and the lever
20
, such that the retaining member
24
engages a slot
60
in the lever
20
.
As shown more clearly in
FIG. 3
, the collar
30
includes a flange
40
extending radially outwardly from the proximal end
32
. If desired, notches
16
may be formed in the flange
40
to facilitate automated manufacturing. Alternatively, the flange
40
may be segmented, as illustrated by the dashed lines of FIG.
3
. The collar
30
further includes a pair of radially inwardly bent tabs
42
disposed at the distal end
34
and a pair of diametrically opposed apertures
44
offset 90° from the tabs
42
. Preferably, the collar
30
is formed from a single piece of metal.
The collar
30
is located on the sleeve
14
with the tabs
42
engaging their respective tab-receiving apertures
22
, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
. The interior wall
48
of lever
20
restrains the tabs
42
from disengaging from the tab-receiving apertures
22
. Furthermore, the proximity of the retaining member
24
and a counterbore
44
in the interior wall
48
of the knob or lever
20
provides additional axial reinforcement of the collar
30
itself, as shown in FIG.
2
.
Referring now to
FIG. 3
, the collar of the present invention is illustrated in two embodiments. Access apertures
44
are formed which, when the collar is mounted upon the sleeve
14
, provide access for a punching operation that rigidly couples the sleeve
14
to a locking mechanism (not shown).
Referring to
FIGS. 4-6
, a lock assembly
110
includes a chassis
112
and a sleeve
114
, with a lever
120
(
FIG. 6
) or knob mounted on the sleeve
114
. The sleeve
114
includes a pair of diametrically opposed apertures
122
. A cylindrical collar
130
with a proximal end
132
and a distal end
134
is disposed on the sleeve
114
with the proximal end
132
adjacent the chassis
112
.
As shown more clearly in
FIG. 5
, the collar
130
includes a flange
140
extending radially outwardly from the proximal end
132
. A decorative cover
136
(FIG.
6
), disposed between the chassis
112
and the lever
120
(FIG.
6
), covers the flange
140
to protect it from direct attack. If desired, notches
116
may be formed in the flange
140
to facilitate automated manufacturing. Alternatively, the flange
140
may be segmented. The collar
130
further includes a pair of diametrically opposed apertures
144
having edges
146
. Preferably, the collar
130
is formed from a single piece of metal.
The collar
130
is located on the sleeve
114
with the apertures
144
aligned with clearance apertures
115
formed in the sleeve
114
. Preferably, the diameter of the apertures
144
is less than the diameter of the clearance apertures. During manufacture, the clearance holes
115
provide access for a punching operation that rigidly couples the sleeve
114
to a locking mechanism (not shown). After the punching operation, a staking operation forces the edges
146
of the apertures
144
into the clearance apertures
115
to help secure the collar
130
to the sleeve
114
, as illustrated in FIG.
6
.
The collar
130
is also staked to the sleeve
114
at the apertures
122
, as illustrated in FIG.
7
. The staking operation forms dimples
170
in the collar
130
that engage the apertures
122
to provide additional strength and support.
The above-described embodiments, of course, are not to be construed as limiting the breadth of the present invention. Modifications and other alternative constructions will be apparent which are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
- 1. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers, comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture; a graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end; a collar having a flanged portion and a sleeve engaging portion; the collar being sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve, the sleeve-engaging portion defining a sleeve-engaging member coupled to the sleeve, the sleeve-engaging member being directed generally radially inwardly of the collar and into a receptacle formed in the sleeve, the flange and the sleeve-engaging member coacting to axially retain the collar on the sleeve.
- 2. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture; a graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end; a collar having a flanged portion and a sleeve engaging portion; the collar being sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve, the sleeve-engaging portion defining a sleeve-engaging member coupled to the sleeve, the sleeve-engaging member including an edge, the edge being staked into the sleeve.
- 3. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture; a graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end; a collar having a flanged portion and a sleeve engaging portion; the collar being sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve, wherein the collar defines a cylindrical wall having an end, the wall includes at least one tab adjacent the end and extending radially inwardly a predetermined distance, and the at least one tab engages a sleeve receptacle.
- 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the collar is formed of a single piece of metal, the at least one tab including a portion bent radially inwardly, the sleeve receptacle including a through-hole formed in the sleeve outer wall, and the bent portion lying within the sleeve through-hole.
- 5. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture; a graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end; a collar having a flanged portion and a sleeve engaging portion; the collar being sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve, wherein the flanged portion defines a flange extending radially outwardly a predetermined distance from the sleeve-engaging portion and the collar defines a cylindrical wall and the flanged portion defines a plurality of flanges extending radially-outwardly from the wall adjacent one axially-inner end of the collar.
- 6. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture and including a retaining member operatively associated with a graspable member; the graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end; a collar having a flanged portion, a sleeve engaging portion, an axially-outer end and defining two access apertures formed in the collar cylinder wall, the access apertures being located such that at least one of them is adjacent the retaining member, the retaining member extending radially outwardly from the sleeve adjacent an axially-outer end of the collar; the collar being sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve.
- 7. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture; a graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end; a collar having a flanged portion and a sleeve engaging portion; and a biasing member between the chassis and the collar, the collar being sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve.
- 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the biasing member is mounted on the sleeve.
- 9. The system of claim 7 wherein the biasing member is a spring washer mounted over the sleeve and adjacent the chassis, the collar being mounted on the sleeve such that the spring washer is compressed between the collar and the chassis.
- 10. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture and including a retaining member operatively associated with a graspable member; the graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end, the graspable member being a lever defining a slot into which the retaining member protrudes to retain the lever on the sleeve; a collar having a flanged portion, a sleeve engaging portion, an axially-outer end and defining two access apertures formed in the collar cylinder wall, the access apertures being located such that at least one of them is adjacent the retaining member, the retaining member extending radially outwardly from the sleeve adjacent an axially-outer end of the collar; the collar being sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve.
- 11. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture; a graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end; a collar having a flanged portion and a sleeve engaging portion including an edge defining a collar aperture, the edge being staked to the sleeve; the collar being sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve.
- 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the sleeve includes a first aperture and a second aperture with the edge being staked to the first aperture, the sleeve-engaging portion further including a dimple configured to engage the second aperture.
- 13. A retention and reinforcement system for knobs or levers, comprising:a chassis defining an aperture; a sleeve extending from the chassis aperture; a graspable member having an interior wall and being configured to engage the sleeve and having an axially-inner end; a collar having a flanged portion and a sleeve engaging portion; the collar being staked to the sleeve and sandwiched between the sleeve and the interior wall of the graspable member with the flanged portion disposed adjacent the chassis and the sleeve engaging portion disposed adjacent the sleeve.
US Referenced Citations (23)