US3823585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal key lock, privacy latch and doorknob
Assignee: AMERICAN BUILDERS HARDWARE Corp
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Filing: 1972-11-10
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1992-11-10
Abstract
Abstract An improved door latch set which may be converted from a basic latch set into a privacy latch set or into a key lock latch set. The set includes a latch assembly, an inside doorknob assembly and an outside doorknob assembly. The doorknob assemblies are interconnected by a spindle which fits through a cam of the latch assembly. Rotation of the doorknob drives the cam which, in turn, moves the bolt of the latch assembly into or out of engagement with a strike. The inside doorknob assembly may include a push button lock mechanism which locks the latch set upon depression of the push button. The locked latch set may be released by twisting the inside doorknob or by a key mechanism associated with the outside doorknob. That is, rotation of the key mechanism drives a latching bar connected with the push button mechanism and effects release of the push button mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 C Spon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:29
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B55/00; E05B55/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/096; Y10T292/0969; Y10T292/097; Y10T292/0977; Y10T292/0982; Y10T292/96; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5093; Y10T70/5155; Y10T70/5199; Y10T70/5372; Y10T70/5385; Y10T70/5389; Y10T70/5394; Y10T70/542; Y10T70/5442; Y10T70/5447
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: a latch assembly including a housing, bolt means slidable in said housing, means normally biasing said bolt means outwardly from said housing toward a strike; an inside knob assembly, including knob means, plate means, and means rotatably attaching said knob means to said plate means; an outside knob assembly including knob means, plate means, and means rotatably attaching said knob means to said plate means; spindle means interconnecting said knob assemblies and rotatable in unison with one of said knob means, said spindle means also operable to transport said bolt means in said housing against the force of said biasing means; the other of said knob means including a slidable plunger keyed on said spindle means, said plate means associated with said other knob means including a non-circular opening for receipt of said plunger; push button means in said other knob means for translating said plunger axially into said opening to a locking position to prevent manual rotation of said one knob means by holding the plunger and keyed spindle means in a non-rotatable position; and first and second locking projections extending respectively from said push button and said other knob means, said projections movable axially with respect to one another to engage and maintain the push button and plunger in the locking position over a selected range of rotation of the other knob means relative to the push button.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: a latch assembly including a housing, bolt means slidable in said housing, means normally biasing said bolt means outwardly from said housing toward a strike; an inside knob assembly, including knob means, plate means, and means rotatably attaching said knob means to said plate means; an outside knob assembly including knob means, plate means, and means rotatably attaching said knob means to said plate means; spindle means interconnecting said knob assemblies and rotatable in unison with one of said knob means, said spindle means also operable to transport said bolt means in said housing against the force of said biasing means; the other of said knob means including a slidable plunger keyed on said spindle means, said plate means associated with said other knob means including a non-circular opening for receipt of said plunger; push button means in said other knob means for translating said plunger axially into said opening to a locking position to prevent manual rotation of said one knob means by holding the plunger and keyed spindle means in a non-rotatable position; and first and second locking projections extending respectively from said push button and said other knob means, said projections movable axially with respect to one another to engage and maintain the push button and plunger in the locking position over a selected range of rotation of the other knob means relative to the push button.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved lockset of claim 1 including biasing means for normally maintaining one of said knob means in an unrotated position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved lockset of claim 2 wherein said biasing means comprise a coil spring having its opposite ends engaging respectively against said knob means and said plate means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved lockset of claim 1 including means connected to said one knob means for disengaging said plunger from said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improved lockset of claim 4 wherein said means for disengaging include key operated means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved lockset of claim 1 including means for limiting the amount of rotation of at least one of said knob means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The lockset of claim 1 including biasing means for normally biasing said plunger out of engagement with said opening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The lockset of claim 1 wherein at least one of said projections comprises an arcuate section engageable with the other projection, the span of the arcuate section defining the range of rotation of engagement of the projections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The lockset of claim 1 wherein one of said projections is comprised of a spring member biased toward the other projection to insure engagement of the projection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The lockset of claim 1 wherein said other knob means includes an axial tube rotatable therewith, said push button being coaxially received in said tube, said tube including an inwardly extending tab comprising one of said projections and said push button including an outwardly extending member comprising the other projection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The lockset of claim 1 wherein said push button and said plunger are independently rotatable and including a longitudinal member keyed to an unlocking assembly in said one knob means and to said push button whereby said unlocking assembly rotates with said push button.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The lockset of claim 1 wherein said spindle is hollow and including a longitudinal member extending through said spindle and keyed simultaneously to an unlocking assembly in said one knob means and said push button.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The lockset of claim 11 wherein said unlocking assembly is key operated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The lockset of claim 11 wherein said unlocking assembly includes a centering cam attached to the longitudinal member biased to engage a cam way fixed to the one knob means, said cam and cam way cooperative to maintain relative rotational alignment of said meMber, the one knob means and the push button.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The lockset of claim 14 wherein said other knob means includes a lost motion drive on said plunger by said other knob means whereby said plunger is rotatably driven by said other knob means whenever the projections are rotated out of position for relative engagement with each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
114 words
The lockset of claim 1 wherein said bolt means includes a bolt normally biased for engagement with a strike, a bracket member connected to said bolt, a cam drive member keyed to said spindle means, and engageable with the bracket member to drive said bolt in response to rotation of the spindle means, a dead bolt, a locking pawl including a locking tab cooperative with said bracket member to lock said bracket member and thus said bolt in an extended position whenever the dead bolt is in a retracted position, said dead bolt including a camming surface disengaging said locking pawl tab from said bracket whenever said bolt and dead bolt are extended together.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
198 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: a latch assembly including a housing, bolt means for engaging a strike, said bolt means slidable in said housing, means normally biasing said bolt means outwardly toward the strike; an inside knob assembly including plate means, knob means mounted for rotation on plate means; an outside knob assembly including separate plate means, second knob means mounted for rotation on said separate plate means; a spindle connected to one of said knob means for coincident rotation therewith, said spindle also connected to said bolt means for driving said bolt means against the force of said means for biasing; plunger means mounted in the other knob means, said spindle means being connected to said plunger means, said plunger means having lost motion connecting means with said other knob means, said lost motion connecting means comprising a projection from said other knob means positioned in a partial circumferential slot of said plunger, said slot having side engagement portions for engaging said projection as either of said knob means are rotated to thereby rotate first one of and then both of said knob means and the spindle in unison in one rotational sense or the other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
198 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: a latch assembly including a housing, bolt means for engaging a strike, said bolt means slidable in said housing, means normally biasing said bolt means outwardly toward the strike; an inside knob assembly including plate means, knob means mounted for rotation on plate means; an outside knob assembly including separate plate means, second knob means mounted for rotation on said separate plate means; a spindle connected to one of said knob means for coincident rotation therewith, said spindle also connected to said bolt means for driving said bolt means against the force of said means for biasing; plunger means mounted in the other knob means, said spindle means being connected to said plunger means, said plunger means having lost motion connecting means with said other knob means, said lost motion connecting means comprising a projection from said other knob means positioned in a partial circumferential slot of said plunger, said slot having side engagement portions for engaging said projection as either of said knob means are rotated to thereby rotate first one of and then both of said knob means and the spindle in unison in one rotational sense or the other.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
168 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: an outside knob assembly including an outside knob mounted for rotation on an outside mounting plate; an inside knob assembly including an inside knob mounted for rotation on an inside mounting plate, said plates including opposed openings; a spindle keyed to said outside knob and extending through said openings to the inside knob assembly; a plunger keyed to said spindle and movable axially on said spindle to cooperatively engage the opening of said inside plate for retention of said plunger in a relatively non-rotatable position; a push button in said inside knob assembly axially translatable between a depressed and non-depressed position, said push button cooperatively engaging the plunger to axially translate the plunger into the inside plate opening when said push button is in the depressed position; and cooperative latching means on said push button and said inside knob, said latching means being engaged by axial movement of said push button to maintain the push button and plunger in a depressed position.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
168 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: an outside knob assembly including an outside knob mounted for rotation on an outside mounting plate; an inside knob assembly including an inside knob mounted for rotation on an inside mounting plate, said plates including opposed openings; a spindle keyed to said outside knob and extending through said openings to the inside knob assembly; a plunger keyed to said spindle and movable axially on said spindle to cooperatively engage the opening of said inside plate for retention of said plunger in a relatively non-rotatable position; a push button in said inside knob assembly axially translatable between a depressed and non-depressed position, said push button cooperatively engaging the plunger to axially translate the plunger into the inside plate opening when said push button is in the depressed position; and cooperative latching means on said push button and said inside knob, said latching means being engaged by axial movement of said push button to maintain the push button and plunger in a depressed position.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
196 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: an outside knob assembly including an outside mounting plate for attachment to a door and an outside knob rotatably mounted in the outside plate; an inside knob assembly including an inside mounting plate for attachment to the door, an inside knob rotatably mounted in the inside plate, and a plunger axially movable to cooperate with a shaped opening in the inside plate to prevent rotation of the plunger relative to the inside plate; a bolt assembly including a bolt; a hollow spindle keyed to said outside knob and said bolt assembly to drive said bolt in response to rotation of said knob, Said spindle also being keyed to said plunger; means in said inside knob assembly for axially transporting and maintaining the plunger in the shaped opening; and a longitudinal member extending through said hollow spindle, said member being keyed at one end to said means for axially transporting and maintaining and being attached at its opposite end to means in the outside knob assembly for moving said member so as to disengage the means for axially transporting and maintaining the plunger and release the plunger from the shaped opening.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
196 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: an outside knob assembly including an outside mounting plate for attachment to a door and an outside knob rotatably mounted in the outside plate; an inside knob assembly including an inside mounting plate for attachment to the door, an inside knob rotatably mounted in the inside plate, and a plunger axially movable to cooperate with a shaped opening in the inside plate to prevent rotation of the plunger relative to the inside plate; a bolt assembly including a bolt; a hollow spindle keyed to said outside knob and said bolt assembly to drive said bolt in response to rotation of said knob, Said spindle also being keyed to said plunger; means in said inside knob assembly for axially transporting and maintaining the plunger in the shaped opening; and a longitudinal member extending through said hollow spindle, said member being keyed at one end to said means for axially transporting and maintaining and being attached at its opposite end to means in the outside knob assembly for moving said member so as to disengage the means for axially transporting and maintaining the plunger and release the plunger from the shaped opening.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
130 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: first and second opposed knob assemblies attached to opposite sides of a door and connected by a spindle; a bolt assembly including a bolt normally biased for engagement with a strike, a bracket member connected to said bolt, a cam drive member keyed to said spindle, and engageable with the bracket member to drive said bolt in response to rotation of the spindle, a dead bolt, a locking pawl including a locking tab cooperative with said bracket member to lock said bracket member and thus said bolt in an extended position whenever the dead bolt is in a retracted position, said dead bolt including a camming surface disengaging said locking pawl tab from said bracket whenever said bolt and dead bolt are extended together.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
130 words
An improved lockset comprising, in combination: first and second opposed knob assemblies attached to opposite sides of a door and connected by a spindle; a bolt assembly including a bolt normally biased for engagement with a strike, a bracket member connected to said bolt, a cam drive member keyed to said spindle, and engageable with the bracket member to drive said bolt in response to rotation of the spindle, a dead bolt, a locking pawl including a locking tab cooperative with said bracket member to lock said bracket member and thus said bolt in an extended position whenever the dead bolt is in a retracted position, said dead bolt including a camming surface disengaging said locking pawl tab from said bracket whenever said bolt and dead bolt are extended together.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |