Secret latch

Claim 2

A secret latch comprising a lock frame adapted to be mounted on a door, a bolt mounted on said frame for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, a knob, means for mounting said knob for rotation on said lock frame, means for moving said bolt out of said locking position upon rotation of said knob, a key mechanism, means for mounting said key mechanism for rotation and for axial movement relative to said lock frame, means for moving said bolt out of said locking position upon rotation of said key mechanism, means for coupling said knob to said lock frame for precluding rotation of said knob relative to said lock frame, and means operable upon translation of said key mechanism for uncoupling said knob from said lock frame.

Claim 3

A device as in claim 1 in which said knob is an outer knob and said key mechanism is disposed within said outer knob.

Claim 4

A device as in claim 1 including an inner knob and in which said coupling means is a control disposed within said inner knob.

Claim 5

A device as in claim 1 including means for preventing axial movement of said key mechanism.

Claim 6

A device as in claim 4 including an inner knob and in which said preventing means is disposed within said inner knob.

Claim 7

A device as in claim 5 in which said preventing means includes an axially movable button movable between a preventing position and a releasing position, means for urging said button toward said releasing position, and means for holding said button in said preventing position.

Claim 8

A secret latch including the subcombination of a retractable bolt, a lock cylinder body, means for supporting said lock cylinder body for translation along an axis out of an extreme position, a lock cylinder plug mounted for rotation about said axis in said lock cylinder body, a knob rotatable about said axis, means for connecting said lock cylinder body to enable said knob to retract said bolt upon translation of said lock cylinder body along said axis, and means for connecting said lock cylinder plug to retract said bolt upon rotation of said lock cylinder plug around said axis.

Claim 9

A secret latch including the subcombination of a retractable bolt, a lock cylinder body, means for supporting said lock cylinder body for translation along an axis out of an extreme position, a lock cylinder plug mounted for rotation about said axis in said lock cylinder body, a knob rotatable about said axis, means for connecting said lock cylinder body to enable said knob to retract said bolt upon translation of said lock cylinder body along said axis, and means for connecting said lock cylinder plug to retract said bolt upon rotation of said lock cylinder plug around said axis.

Claim 10

A device as in claim 7 including means for resiliently urging said lock cylinder body toward said extreme position.

Claim 11

A secret latch including the subcombination of a lock frame, a bolt retractable on said frame, a bolt operator, a lock cylinder body, means for mounting said lock cylinder body on said frame for reciprocation, a lock cylinder plug, means for mounting said lock cylinder plug in said lock cylinder body for rotation relative to said lock cylinder body, means for enabling said operator to retract said bolt by reciprocation of said lock cylinder body relative to said frame, and means for retracting said bolt by rotation of said lock cylinder plug relative to said frame.

Claim 12

A secret latch including the subcombination of a lock frame, a bolt retractable on said frame, a bolt operator, a lock cylinder body, means for mounting said lock cylinder body on said frame for reciprocation, a lock cylinder plug, means for mounting said lock cylinder plug in said lock cylinder body for rotation relative to said lock cylinder body, means for enabling said operator to retract said bolt by reciprocation of said lock cylinder body relative to said frame, and means for retracting said bolt by rotation of said lock cylinder plug relative to said frame.

Claim 13

A device as in claim 9 in which Said means for retracting said bolt by rotation of said lock cylinder plug includes an axially movable slip joint.

Claim 14

A secret latch comprising a lock frame adapted to be mounted on a door, a bolt mounted on said lock frame for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, an outer knob, means for mounting said outer knob for rotation relative to said lock frame, means for interconnecting said outer knob and said bolt for moving said bolt from said locking position to said unlocking position upon rotation of said outer knob, an inner knob, means for mounting said inner knob for rotation relative to said lock frame, means for interconnecting said inner knob and said bolt for moving said bolt from said locking position to said unlocking position upon rotation of said inner knob, a button, means for mounting said button for axial movement in said inner knob between an out position and an in position, means controlled by said button for holding said outer knob against rotation when said button is in said in position and for releasing said outer knob when said button is in said out position, a lock cylinder body, means for mounting said lock cylinder body for axial movement in said outer knob, means interconnecting said lock cylinder body and said means controlled by said button for moving said button into said out position, a lock cylinder plug, means for mounting said lock cylinder plug for rotation in said lock cylinder body, and means controlled by said rotation of said lock cylinder plug for moving said bolt from said locking position into said unlocking position.

Claim 15

A secret latch comprising a lock frame adapted to be mounted on a door, a bolt mounted on said lock frame for movement between a locking position and an unlocking position, an outer knob, means for mounting said outer knob for rotation relative to said lock frame, means for interconnecting said outer knob and said bolt for moving said bolt from said locking position to said unlocking position upon rotation of said outer knob, an inner knob, means for mounting said inner knob for rotation relative to said lock frame, means for interconnecting said inner knob and said bolt for moving said bolt from said locking position to said unlocking position upon rotation of said inner knob, a button, means for mounting said button for axial movement in said inner knob between an out position and an in position, means controlled by said button for holding said outer knob against rotation when said button is in said in position and for releasing said outer knob when said button is in said out position, a lock cylinder body, means for mounting said lock cylinder body for axial movement in said outer knob, means interconnecting said lock cylinder body and said means controlled by said button for moving said button into said out position, a lock cylinder plug, means for mounting said lock cylinder plug for rotation in said lock cylinder body, and means controlled by said rotation of said lock cylinder plug for moving said bolt from said locking position into said unlocking position.

Claim 16

A device as in claim 11 including a lost-motion connection between said lock cylinder body and said means controlled by said button.

Claim 17

A device as in claim 11 including means for holding said button in said in position.

Claim 18

A device as in claim 11 in which said means controlled by said rotation of said lock cylinder plug for moving said bolt is independent of said means for interconnecting said outer knob and said bolt.

Claim 19

A secret latch comprising a lock frame, a bolt movably mounted on said frame, a spindle movably mounted on said frame, means for connecting said spindle to move said bolt, a handle, means for connecting said handle to move said spindle, means for holding said spindle against movement on said frame, and means accessible to the thumb of a user grasping said handle for disabling said holding means, said accessible means including at least in part a rotatable key-actuated means for moving said bolt.

Claim 20

A secret latch comprising a lock frame, a bolt movably mounted on said frame, a spindle movably mounted on said frame, means for connecting said spindle to move said bolt, a handle, means for connecting said handle to move said spindle, means for holding said spindle against movement on said frame, and means accessible to the thumb of a user grasping said handle for disabling said holding means, said accessible means including at least in part a rotatable key-actuated means for moving said bolt.

Claim 21

A secret latch comprising a lock frame, a bolt mounted on said frame for projection and retraction, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame, means for connecting said spindle when rotated to retract said bolt, a handle having an opening, means for mounting said handle on said spindle for rotation therewith and with said opening in alignment with said spindle, means for holding said spindle against rotation on said frame, a plunger mounted on said spindle and accessible through said opening, means for connecting said plunger to disable said holding means, and means included at least in part in said plunger and operable by a key for moving said bolt.

Claim 22

A secret latch comprising a lock frame, a bolt mounted on said frame for projection and retraction, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame, means for connecting said spindle when rotated to retract said bolt, a handle having an opening, means for mounting said handle on said spindle for rotation therewith and with said opening in alignment with said spindle, means for holding said spindle against rotation on said frame, a plunger mounted on said spindle and accessible through said opening, means for connecting said plunger to disable said holding means, and means included at least in part in said plunger and operable by a key for moving said bolt.

Claim 23

A secret latch comprising a lock frame, a bolt mounted on said frame for projection and retraction, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame and projecting therefrom along an axis, means for connecting said spindle when rotated about said axis to retract said bolt, means for holding said spindle against rotation on said frame, a pin tumbler mechanism including a body and a plug key-rotatable in said body, means for mounting said pin tumbler mechanism on said spindle for movement along said axis, means operated by axial movement of said pin tumbler mechanism for disabling said holding means, and means operated by rotation of said plug in said body for retracting said bolt.

Claim 24

A secret latch comprising a lock frame, a bolt mounted on said frame for projection and retraction, a spindle rotatably mounted on said frame and projecting therefrom along an axis, means for connecting said spindle when rotated about said axis to retract said bolt, means for holding said spindle against rotation on said frame, a pin tumbler mechanism including a body and a plug key-rotatable in said body, means for mounting said pin tumbler mechanism on said spindle for movement along said axis, means operated by axial movement of said pin tumbler mechanism for disabling said holding means, and means operated by rotation of said plug in said body for retracting said bolt.

Claim 25

A secret latch for a lock having a latch bolt retractable by rotation of a knob and retractable by key-rotation of a key plug in a body disposed within said knob and having means for holding said knob against rotation comprising means operated by depression of said key plug and said body relative to said knob for disabling said holding means.

Claim 26

A secret latch for a lock having a latch bolt retractable by rotation of a knob and retractable by key-rotation of a key plug in a body disposed within said knob and having means for holding said knob against rotation comprising means operated by depression of said key plug and said body relative to said knob for disabling said holding means.