Thumb lever actuated latch operating device

Claim 2

In a thumb lever actuated latch operating device and the like of the type having a main frame with a thumb lever vertically pivotal thereon extending through said main frame between forward and rearward sides thereof, an actuating lever generally endwise pivotal on said main frame rearward side overlying a rearward end of said thumb lever at an actuating lever intermediate portion with an actuating lever free end projecting from said intermediate portion, a vertically movable slide having a lower portion downwardly engaging said actuating lever free end, an upper portion of said slide upwardly engaging a crank arm of a latch operating spindle rotatably mounted on said main frame, downward movement of said thumb lever at said main frame forward side moving said thumb lever rearward end upwardly to move said actuating lever, slide and crank arm upwardly rotating said spindle and operating a latch operably connected thereto; the improvements comprising: a slide frame mounted on said main frame having a vertically extending acuating block guide track therein and a vertically extending slide guide track therein; an actuating block vertically slidably guided in said actuating block guide track of said slide frame between said thumb lever rearward end and said acuating lever intermediate portion; and said slide being vertically slidably guided in said slide guide track of said slide frame.

Claim 3

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said slide frame is formed unitary of self-lubricating plastic forming said acuating block and slide guide tracks of self-lubricating plastic.

Claim 4

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said actuating block is a yoke having an inverted generally U-shaped opening therethrough and is positioned downwardly over said thumb lever rearward end and upwardly abutting said actuating lever intermediate portion.

Claim 5

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said slide is bar-like and is formed stepped on one generally vertical face thereof; and in which said actuating lever free end is engaged with a portion of said slide stepped face and said crank arm is engaged with a portion of said slide stepped face.

Claim 6

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which a rearward cover is mounted on said main frame rearward side extending rearwardly of said slide; and in which said slide includes a rearwardly projecting portion vertically slidably engaged and guided in a cover slot.

Claim 7

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which flat spring means is engaged between said actuating lever and said slide frame normally resiliently urging said actuating lever intermediate portion and free end pivotally downwardly.

Claim 8

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which an inverted L-shaped spring is engaged between said actuating lever and said slide frame normally urging said actuating lever intermediate portion and free end pivotally downwardly, said spring flexing from a lesser to a more full inverted L-shaped during upward pivoting of said thumb lever rearward end.

Claim 9

A thumb lever actuating latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said slide frame is formed unitary of self-lubricating plastic forming said actuating block and slide guide tracks of self-lubricating plastic; and in which said actuating block is a yoke having an inverted generally U-shaped opening therethrough downwardly encompassing said thumb lever rearward end and upwardly abutting said acuating lever intermediate portion.

Claim 10

A thumb lever actuating latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which said actuating block is a yoke having an inverted generally U-shaped opening therethrough downwardly encompassing said thumb lever rearward end and upwardly abutting said actuating lever intermediate portion; and in which said slide is bar-like and is stepped on one vertical face thereof, said slide stepped vertical face downwardly abutting said actuating lever free end and upwardly abutting said spindle crank arm.

Claim 11

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which a cover is mounted on said main frame rearward side projecting rearwardly of said slide; and in which said slide is bar-like and includes steps on a rearward vertical face thereof, certain of said slide steps downwardly engaging said actuating lever free end, certain of said slide steps upwardly engaging said spindle crank arm, at least one of said slide steps projecting rearwardly through a slot of said cover and being vertically guided therein during movement of said slide in said slide guide track of said slide frame.

Claim 12

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 1 in which a cover is mounted on said main frame rearward side projecting rearwardly of said slide; in which said slide is bar-like and includes steps on a rearward vertical face thereof, certain of said slide steps downwardly engaging said actuating lever free end, certain of said slide steps upwardly engaging said spindle crank arm, at least one of said slide steps projecting rearwardly through a slot of said cover and being vertically guided therein during movement of said slide in said slide guide track of said slide frame; and in which said actuating block is a yoke downwardly encompassing said thumb lever rearward end and having a rearwardly projecting tab thereon, said actuating block tab downwardly abutting said thumb lever rearward end and upwardly abutting said actuating lever intermediate portion, said actuating block tab extending rearwardly into a slot of said cover and being guided therein during vertical movement thereof.

Claim 13

In a thumb lever actuated latch operating device and the like of the type having a main frame with a thumb lever vertically pivotal thereon extending through said main frame between forward and rearward sides thereof, an actuating lever generally endwise pivotal on said main frame rearward side overlying a rearward end of said thumb lever at an actuating lever intermediate portion with an actuating lever free end projecting from said intermediate portion, a vertically movable slide having a lower portion downwardly engaging said actuating lever free end, an upper portion of said slide upwardly engaging a crank arm of a latch operating spindle rotatably mounted on said main frame, downward movement of said thumb lever at said main frame forward side moving said thumb lever rearward end upwardly to move said actuating lever, slide and crank arm upwardly rotating said spindle and operating a latch operably connected thereto; the improvements comprising: a slide frame mounted on said main frame having a vertically extending slide guide track therein, said slide frame being formed of a self-lubricating plastic; and said slide being vertically slidably guided in said slide guide track of said slide frame.

Claim 14

In a thumb lever actuated latch operating device and the like of the type having a main frame with a thumb lever vertically pivotal thereon extending through said main frame between forward and rearward sides thereof, an actuating lever generally endwise pivotal on said main frame rearward side overlying a rearward end of said thumb lever at an actuating lever intermediate portion with an actuating lever free end projecting from said intermediate portion, a vertically movable slide having a lower portion downwardly engaging said actuating lever free end, an upper portion of said slide upwardly engaging a crank arm of a latch operating spindle rotatably mounted on said main frame, downward movement of said thumb lever at said main frame forward side moving said thumb lever rearward end upwardly to move said actuating lever, slide and crank arm upwardly rotating said spindle and operating a latch operably connected thereto; the improvements comprising: a slide frame mounted on said main frame having a vertically extending slide guide track therein, said slide frame being formed of a self-lubricating plastic; and said slide being vertically slidably guided in said slide guide track of said slide frame.

Claim 15

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 12 in which said slide frame straddles said thumb lever rearward end and has a vertically extending actuating block guide track therein adjacent said thumb lever rearward end; and in which an actuating block is vertically slidably guided in said actuating block guide track of said slide frame between said thumb lever rearward end and said actuating lever intermediate portion.

Claim 16

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 12 in which flat spring means is engaged between said actuating lever and said slide frame normally urging said actuating lever intermediate portion pivotally downwardly, said downward pivotal movement of said actuating lever being transmitted downwardly to said thumb lever rearward end and urging said thumb lever rearward end downwardly.

Claim 17

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 12 in which said slide frame is positioned straddling said thumb lever rearward end and includes a verticAlly extending actuating block guide track adjacent said thumb lever rearward end; in which an actuating block is vertically slidably guided in said actuating block guide track of said slide frame between said thumb lever rearward end and said actuating lever intermediate portion, said actuating block downwardly engaging said thumb lever rearward end and upwardly engaging said actuating lever intermediate portion; and in which spring means is engaged between said actuating lever and said slide frame normally urging said actuating lever intermediate portion vertically downwardly, said spring means through said actuating lever also urging said actuating block and said thumb lever rearward end downwardly.

Claim 18

A thumb lever actuated latch operating device as defined in claim 12 in which said latch operating spindle includes a half round spindle having a semi-circular outer surface over a portion thereof, said operable connection between said latch operating spindle and said latch operationally requiring said half-round spindle semi-circular outer surface in non-operating position to always face in only a particular one direction relative to said latch regardless of which of two latch sides said latch operating device is positioned, a rotatable spindle retainer having said crank arm mounted thereon partially rotatable by said crank arm upon upward movement of said crank arm, alternate socket means on said spindle retainer selectively removably receiving and rotatably retaining an end of said half round spindle, one of said socket means receiving said spindle with said spindle semi-circular outer surface facing in said particular one direction when said latch operating device is at one side of said latch and the other of said socket means receiving said half round spindle with said spindle semi-circular outer surface facing in said particular one direction when said latch operating device is at the other of said latch sides.

Claim 19

In a latch operating device of the type imparting motion from an operating mechanism into partial rotation of a transversely extending spindle operably engaged with a longitudinally reciprocal latch, said spindle being half-round and having a semi-circular outer surface over a portion thereof, the operable connection between said spindle and latch operationally requiring said spindle semi-circular outer surface in non-operating position to always face in only a particular one of generally longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly regardless of the transverse side of said said latch at which said operating mechanism is positioned; the improvements comprising: a rotatable spindle retainer operably connected to said operating mechanism partially rotatable by said operating mechanism about a transverse axis; and alternate socket means on said spindle retainer selectively removably receiving and rotatably retaining an end of said half-round spindle, one of said socket means receiving said spindle with said spindle semi-circular outer surface facing in said particular one longitudinal direction when said operating mechanism is at one transverse side of said latch and the other of said socket means receiving said spindle with said spindle semi-circular outer surface facing in said particular one longitudinal direction when said operating mechanism is at the other transverse side of said latch.

Claim 20

In a latch operating device of the type imparting motion from an operating mechanism into partial rotation of a transversely extending spindle operably engaged with a longitudinally reciprocal latch, said spindle being half-round and having a semi-circular outer surface over a portion thereof, the operable connection between said spindle and latch operationally requiring said spindle semi-circular outer surface in non-operating position to always face in only a particular one of generally longitudinally forwardly and rearwardly regardless of the transverse side of said said latch at which said operating mechanism is positioned; the improvements comprising: a rotatable spindle retainer operably connected to said operating mechanism partially rotatable by said operating mechanism about a transverse axis; and alternate socket means on said spindle retainer selectively removably receiving and rotatably retaining an end of said half-round spindle, one of said socket means receiving said spindle with said spindle semi-circular outer surface facing in said particular one longitudinal direction when said operating mechanism is at one transverse side of said latch and the other of said socket means receiving said spindle with said spindle semi-circular outer surface facing in said particular one longitudinal direction when said operating mechanism is at the other transverse side of said latch.

Claim 21

The latch operating device as defined in claim 17 in which resilient means is positioned between said spindle and said spindle retainer when said spindle is received in either of said alternate socket means, said resilient means exerting a resilient force between said spindle and said spindle retainer removably retaining said spindle in said alternate socket means.

Claim 22

A latch operating device as defined in claim 17 in which said spindle retainer is hollow cylindrical in configuration opening axially toward said latch and forming said alternate socket means internally thereof; and in which said half-round spindle is end received in said spindle retainer in eitHer of said alternate socket means.

Claim 23

A latch opening device as defined in claim 17 in which said spindle retainer is hollow cylindrical in configuration and opens axially toward said latch, said alternate socket means being formed internally of said spindle retainer; in which said half-round spindle includes both semi-circular outer and inner surfaces, said half-round spindle having an end received in said spindle retainer interior in either of said alternate socket means; and in which said alternate socket means of said spindle retainer each include resilient means exerting a resilient force against said half-round spindle end when received in said socket means resiliently retaining said half-round spindle end in said socket means.

Claim 24

A latch operating device as defined in claim 17 in which said spindle retainer is hollow cylindrical in configuration and opens axially toward said latch, said alternate socket means being formed internally of said spindle retainer; in which said half-round spindle includes both semi-circular outer and inner surfaces, said half-round spindle having an end received in said spindle retainer interior in either of said alternate socket means, said half-round spindle end having a slot formed therethrough; and in which said alternate socket means of said spindle retainer each include resilient means engaged in said slot of said half-round spindle end exerting a resilient force against said half-round spindle end when received in said socket means resiliently retaining said half-round spindle end in said socket means.

Claim 25

A latch operating device as defined in claim 17 in which said spindle retainer is hollow cylindrical in configuration and opens axially toward said latch, said alternate socket means being formed internally of said spindle retainer; in which said half-round spindle includes both semi-circular outer and inner surfaces, said half-round spindle having an end received in said spindle retainer interior in either of said alternate socket means, said half-round spindle end having a slot formed therethrough; and in which said alternate socket means of said spindle retainer each include axially curled leaf-type spring means portions engaged in said slot of said half-round spindle end exerting a resilient force against said half-round spindle end when received in said socket means resiliently retaining said half-round spindle end in said socket means.