Patent Application
20050046202
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for actuating a lock mechanism, and, more particularly, to a turn-button with a leading helical edge.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many locksets include a lock mechanism that may be actuated, for example, by a turn-button. The turn-button includes a shaft for engaging an aperture formed in an actuator of the lock mechanism. During assembly of the locksets, it has been found that it can be difficult at times to properly align the shaft of the turn-button for proper insertion into the aperture of the actuator of the lock mechanism.
What is needed in the art is a way to facilitate self-alignment of a shaft of a turn-button with an aperture of a lock mechanism as the shaft is inserted into the aperture.
The present invention facilitates self-alignment of a shaft of a turn-button with an aperture of a lock mechanism as the shaft is inserted into the aperture.
The present invention, in one form thereof, relates to a lockset including a lock mechanism having an aperture; an operator; and, a turn-button. The turn-button is mounted to the operator. The turn-button includes a head portion, and a shaft extending from the head portion. The shaft has a leading helical end portion for engaging the aperture of the lock mechanism.
In another form thereof, the invention relates to a turn-button for a lockset. The turn-button includes a head portion and a shaft extending from the head portion. The shaft has a leading helical end portion.
In still another form thereof, the present invention relates to a lockset including a lock mechanism that includes an actuator having an aperture; an operator; and a turn-button mounted to the operator. The turn-button includes a shaft. Means is provided for facilitating self-alignment of the shaft of the turn-button with the aperture of the lock mechanism as the shaft of the turn-button is inserted into the aperture of the lock mechanism.
An advantage of the present invention is that assembly of a lockset is simplified.
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate one embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.
Referring now to the drawings and particularly to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring again to
As engagement portion 36 of shaft 22 of turn-button 12 is inserted into aperture 34, leading helical surfaces 40 of leading helical end portion 26 of shaft 22 engages one or more of side walls 38 of aperture 34 of lock mechanism 14, thereby causing turn-button 12 to rotate in a self-aligning manner until perimeter 28 corresponds with aperture 34 defined by sidewalls 38, at which time the remainder of engagement portion 36 having perimeter 28 is slid into aperture 34. Once engaged, a rotation of turn-button 12 effects a corresponding rotation of rotatable actuator 32 of lock mechanism 14.
While this invention has been described with respect to one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
