Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A door latch having special utility in recreational vehicles and the like comprising: a latch housing, said latch housing having a toothed rack assembly, a gear member rotatably coupled thereto, and an elongated shaft member; a retractable bolt member having an extended and a retracted position, said bolt member coupled to said rack such that movement of said rack in a predetermined direction causes said bolt member to move into said retracted position; a slideable bar member disposed across said housing, said bar member selectively positioning said elongated shaft in said housing; a door knob, said door knob having an elongated hollow stem, said shaft extending into said stem and being secured therein such that movement of said knob causing said gear member to rotate thereby moving said bolt into said retracted position; and wherein, a flexing means is disposed between said latch housing and said toothed rack assembly, said flexing means for yieldable coupling said gear member to said toothed rack assembly such that movement of said door knob in one direction causes said bolt to move into said retracted position without any flexing of said flexing means, said toothed rack assembly presses against said flexing means and is thereby selectively disengaged from said gear member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A door latch having special utility in recreational vehicles and the like comprising: a latch housing, said latch housing having a toothed rack assembly, a gear member rotatably coupled thereto, and an elongated shaft member; a retractable bolt member having an extended and a retracted position, said bolt member coupled to said rack such that movement of said rack in a predetermined direction causes said bolt member to move into said retracted position; a slideable bar member disposed across said housing, said bar member selectively positioning said elongated shaft in said housing; a door knob, said door knob having an elongated hollow stem, said shaft extending into said stem and being secured therein such that movement of said knob causing said gear member to rotate thereby moving said bolt into said retracted position; and wherein, a flexing means is disposed between said latch housing and said toothed rack assembly, said flexing means for yieldable coupling said gear member to said toothed rack assembly such that movement of said door knob in one direction causes said bolt to move into said retracted position without any flexing of said flexing means, said toothed rack assembly presses against said flexing means and is thereby selectively disengaged from said gear member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The door latch of claim 1 wherein said bolt member is a continuation of said rack assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The door latch of claim 1 wherein in addition thereto, a spring means is disposed in said latch housing such that said bolt remains in said extended position until said knob is activated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The door latch of claim 1 wherein said door lock is disposed on a door, said door having a strike member arranged and configured to selectively engage said bolt, said strike being adapted for overlay and for inset doors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The door latch of claim 1 where said flexing means is formed of two discrete arcuous member located adjacent the bottom length of said toothed rack assembly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The door latch of claim 1 wherein said flexing means is formed integrally with said toothed rack assembly adjacent to the bottom thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
222 words
A door latch having special utility in recreational vehicles and the like comprising: a latch housing, said latch housing having (i) first and second toothed rack assemblies; (ii) first and second gear members, said tooth rack assemblies being slidably disposed in said housing such that said gear members are disposed thereinbetween, and (iii) an elongated shaft disposed in said first gear assembly wherein said first gear is a working pinion gear and said second gear is a stablizing pinion gear, said first and second gears maintaining said first and second racks in a parallel and spaced apart configuration; a retractable bolt member having an extended and a retracted position, said bolt member disposed in said housing between said first and second rack assemblies such that movement of either of said racking assemblies causes said bolt to move into said retracted positions; a door knob, said door knob having an elongated hollow stem, said shaft extending into said stem and being secured therein such that movement of said knob causes said first gear member to rotate thereby moving said bolt into said retracted position; and wherein a spring means is circumferentially disposed about said shaft and adjacent said working pinion gear such that said working pinion gear is rendered selectively disengageable from said rack assembly thereby permitting lateral movement of said door knob.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
222 words
A door latch having special utility in recreational vehicles and the like comprising: a latch housing, said latch housing having (i) first and second toothed rack assemblies; (ii) first and second gear members, said tooth rack assemblies being slidably disposed in said housing such that said gear members are disposed thereinbetween, and (iii) an elongated shaft disposed in said first gear assembly wherein said first gear is a working pinion gear and said second gear is a stablizing pinion gear, said first and second gears maintaining said first and second racks in a parallel and spaced apart configuration; a retractable bolt member having an extended and a retracted position, said bolt member disposed in said housing between said first and second rack assemblies such that movement of either of said racking assemblies causes said bolt to move into said retracted positions; a door knob, said door knob having an elongated hollow stem, said shaft extending into said stem and being secured therein such that movement of said knob causes said first gear member to rotate thereby moving said bolt into said retracted position; and wherein a spring means is circumferentially disposed about said shaft and adjacent said working pinion gear such that said working pinion gear is rendered selectively disengageable from said rack assembly thereby permitting lateral movement of said door knob.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The door latch of claim 7 wherein each said first and second racks having inwardly extending arms adjacent one end thereof, and said bolt member is disposed in said housing such that one of said arm members engages and moves said bolt when said first gear member is rotated.