Latch construction including assembly, anti-violation and dead bolt features

Claim 2

In a latch construction of the type having a longitudinally slidable reciprocal bolt movable forwardly and rearwardly into extended and retracted positions by a generally longitudinally extending driving lever, a Forward end of said driving lever being pivotally connected to said bolt pivotal upwardly and downwardly about a transverse axis, a driving member rotatable about a transverse axis having a generally radially extending and transversely opening driving slot formed therein, a transverse driving pin through a rearward end of said driving lever and through said driving member driving slot slidable along said driving slot, said driving pin also extending through and being slidable along a guide slot formed in and opening transversely of a latch frame member, said guide slot having a longitudinally extending portion terminating at least forwardly in a generally downwardly projecting end, said driving pin sliding along said guide slot longitudinally extending portion during reciprocal movement of said bolt by rotation of said driving member and moving downwardly into said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved fully into its extended position; the improvements in combination therewith: said guide slot forward end including a rear wall undercut rearwardly from connection of said guide slot longitudinally extending portion dimensioned and located at least partially receiving said driving pin when said bolt is moved fully into its extended position resisting movement of said driving pin upwardly out of said guide slot forward end and rearwardly along said guide slot longitudinally extending portion when an outside rearward force is applied to said bolt tending to urge said bolt rearwardly from its fully extend position.

Claim 3

A latch construction as defined in claim 1 in which said rear wall undercut of said guide slot forward end is formed by said rear wall being rearwardly downwardly angled from said guide slot longitudinally extending portion.

Claim 4

A latch construction as defined in claim 1 in which said guide slot longitudinally extending portion terminates rearwardly in a generally downwardly projecting rearward end receiving said driving pin when said bolt is moved fully into its retracted position.

Claim 5

A latch construction as defined in claim 1 in which resilient means is operably connected to said driving lever for constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position.

Claim 6

A latch construction as defined in claim 1 in which resilient means is at said driving lever forward end effective spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt for constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position.

Claim 7

A latch construction as defined in claim 1 in which resilient means overlies said driving lever forward end bearing downwardly spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt for constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position.

Claim 8

A latch construction as defined in claim 1 in which a leaf spring is mounted at said driving lever forward end extending rearwardly along said driving lever, said leaf spring including a transverse portion overlying said driving lever spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt, said leaf spring at least through said transverse portion thereof constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position.

Claim 9

A latch construction as defined in claim 1 in which said rear wall undercut of said guide slot forward End is formed by said rear wall being rearwardly downwardly angled from said guide slot longitudinally extending portion; and in which resilient means is operably connected to said driving lever constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forwardly end within said undercut formed by said rearwardly downwardly angling of said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position.

Claim 10

A latch constrution as defined in claim 1 in which said rear wall undercut of said guide slot forward end is formed by said rear wall being rearwardly downwardly angled from said guide slot longitudinally extending portion; in which said guide slot longitudinally extending portion terminates rearwardly in a generally downwardly projecting end receiving said driving pin when said bolt is moved rearwardly to its fully retracted position; and in which resilient means is operably connected to said driving lever constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forward end and within said undercut formed by said rearwardly downwardly angling of said rear wall of said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position, said resilient means through said constant resilient urging of said driving lever rearward end downwardly also tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot rearward end when said bolt is moved into its fully retracted position.

Claim 11

A latch construction as defined in claim 1 in which said rear wall undercut of said guide slot forward end is formed by said rear wall being rearwardly downwardly angled from said guide slot longitudinally extending portion; and in which resilient means is operably connected to said driving lever forward end effective spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt for constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forward end received within said undercut formed by said rearwardly downwardly angling of said rear wall of said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position.

Claim 12

In a latch construction of the type having a longitudinally slidable reciprocal bolt movable forwardly and rearwardly into extended and retracted positions by a generally longitudinally extending driving lever, a forward end of said driving lever being pivotally connected to said bolt pivotal upwardly and downwardly about a transverse axis, a driving member rotatable about a transverse axis having a generally radially extending and transversely opening driving slot formed therein, a transverse driving pin through a rearward end of said driving lever and through said driving member driving slot slidable along said driving slot, said driving pin also extending through and being slidable along a guide slot formed in an opening transversely of a latch frame member, said guide slot having a longitudinally extending portion terminating at least forwardly in a generally downwardly projecting end, said driving pin sliding along said guide slot longitudinally extending portion during reciprocal movement of said bolt by rotation of said driving member and moving downwardly into said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved fully into its extended position; the improvements in combination therewith; resilient means at said driving lever forward end effective spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt for constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position.

Claim 13

In a latch construction of the type having a longitudinally slidable reciprocal bolt movable forwardly and rearwardly into extended and retracted positions by a generally longitudinally extending driving lever, a forward end of said driving lever being pivotally connected to said bolt pivotal upwardly and downwardly about a transverse axis, a driving member rotatable about a transverse axis having a generally radially extending and transversely opening driving slot formed therein, a transverse driving pin through a rearward end of said driving lever and through said driving member driving slot slidable along said driving slot, said driving pin also extending through and being slidable along a guide slot formed in an opening transversely of a latch frame member, said guide slot having a longitudinally extending portion terminating at least forwardly in a generally downwardly projecting end, said driving pin sliding along said guide slot longitudinally extending portion during reciprocal movement of said bolt by rotation of said driving member and moving downwardly into said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved fully into its extended position; the improvements in combination therewith; resilient means at said driving lever forward end effective spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt for constantly resiliently urging said driving lever rearward end downwardly tending to urge said driving pin downwardly into and retain said driving pin in said guide slot forward end when said bolt is moved into its fully extended position.

Claim 14

A latch construction as defined in claim 11 in which said resilient means overlies and bears resiliently downwardly against said driving lever forward end.

Claim 15

A latch construction as defined in claim 11 in which said resilient means includes a leaf spring operably connected to said bolt and extending rearwardly adjacent said driving lever forward end, said leaf spring having at least a part thereof transversely overlying said driving lever forward end engaging said driving lever forward end spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt

Claim 16

A latch construction as defined in claim 11 in which said resilient means includes a leaf spring operably connected to said bolt having transversely spaced and longitudinally extending portions extending rearwardly transversely adjacent said driving lever, said leaf spring longitudinally extendingportions terminating rearwardly in a transverse portion extending therebetween and overlying said driving lever spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt.

Claim 17

A latch construction as defined in claim 11 in which said resilient means is a leaf spring including a lower portion underlying said driving lever forward end and extending forwardly into said bolt, a forward portion forward of said driving lever forward end and within said bolt, an upper portion extending rearwardly from within said bolt adjacent said driving lever forward end and having at least a part thereof overlying said driving lever forward end spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt.

Claim 18

A latch construction as defined in claim 11 in which said resilient means is a leaf spring including a lower portion underlying said driving lever forward end and extending forwardly into said bolt, a forward portion forward of said driving lever forward end and within said bolt, an upper portion comprised of transversely spaced and longitudinally extending parts extending rearwardly from within said bolt transversely adjacent said driving lever forward end, said upper portion parts terminating rearwardly in a transversely extending part connected transversely therebetween and overlying said driving lever forward end spaced rearwardly of said driving lever forward end pivotal connection to said bolt. 17 In a latch construction of the type for mounting in doors and the like with a bolt extendable from a door edge, a latch driving mechanism mounted within the door operably connected to said bolt movable for moving said bolt between extended and retracted positions, an exterior operator projecting outwardly from an exterior door face including a lock frame mounting a lock cylinder telescoped by a surrounding annular cover inwardly abutting said exterior door face, an interior operator projecting outwardly from an interior door face including an annular cover inwardly abutting said interior door face, said exterior and interior operators being operably connected to said latch driving mechanism for selectively moving said latch driving mechanism, and fastening means engaged between said lock frame of said exterior door operator and said interior operator retaining assembly of said exterior and interior operator with said latch driving mechanism and said door; the improvements comprising: a thickened, hardened metal, annular guard plate in said exterior operator telescoping said lock frame between said lock frame and said cover totally exteriorly covered by said cover, said guard plate inwardly abutting said door exterior face and projecting inwardly of said door to spaced inwardly of said door exterior face surrounding said lock frame and said fastening means both inwardly and outwardly of said door exterior face, said guard plate being free of connection to said lock frame and door other than said telescoping and abutment, said guard plate through said telescoping and abutment of said lock frame and door being rotatable relative thereto.

Claim 19

A latch construction as defined in claim 17 in which said guard plate extends outwardly substantially coextensive with said exterior operator lock frame; and in which said exterior operator cover is free of connection to said lock frame and door other than said telescoping and abutment, said cover being rotatable relative to all of said guard plate, lock frame and door.

Claim 20

A latch construction as defined in claim 17, in which a thickened, annular guard plate is positioned in said interior operator inwardly of said interior operator cover inwardly abutting said interior door face, said interior operator guard plate extending across between said door interior face and said fastening means engagement with said interior operator to at least adjacent said fastening means inwardly supporting said interior operator cover and said fastening means at said interior operator.

Claim 21

A latch construction as defined in claim 17 in which said guard plate extends outwardly substantially co-extensive with said exterior operator lock frame; in which a thickened, annular guard plate is positioned in said interior operator inwardly of said interior operator cover inwardly abutting said interior door face, said interior operator guard plate extending across between said door interior face and said fastening means engagement with said interior operator to at least adjacent said fastening means inwardly supporting said interior operator cover and said fastening means at said interior operator; and in which said exterior operator cover is free of connection to said lock frame and door other than said telescoping and abutment, said cover being rotatable relative to all of said guard plate, lock frame and door.