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US4071270A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Mortise lock having internal auxiliary spring for lever

Assignee: Assa Abloy Access and Egress Hardware Group Inc
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Filing: 1976-10-08
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Granted: 1978-01-31
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Expires: 1996-10-08
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Abstract

Abstract A mortise lock operated by a two-directional inner knob and an outer lever handle has means within its case to limit rotation of the outer lever handle in one direction. An auxiliary hub spring also contained in the case and associated with the outer rollback hub provides additional yieldable resistance to rotation of the lever handle in said one direction to compensate for the movement of the lever handle which results from its radially offset center of gravity. The auxiliary hub spring also provides additional reactive torque to compensate for increased mechanical advantage attained through utilization of a lever handle.

Inventors

  • 👤 Gordon A. Alexander

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-03 06:22
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B59/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/096; Y10T292/0969; Y10T292/097; Y10T292/0977; Y10T292/0989; Y10T292/099

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 241 words
In a mortise latch having a case including opposing side walls, a latch bolt supported in the case for movement between projected and retracted positions relative thereto, a latch bolt spring normally biasing the latch bolt to its projected position, inner and outer hubs supported in the case between the side walls and journalled for independent coaxial angular movement relative to said case and each other, a linkage for retracting the latch bolt in response to angular movement of either of the hubs, and a first spring acting between the linkage and the case for yieldably resisting angular movement of either and both of the hubs, the improvement comprising means in said case for limiting angular movement of at least one of said hubs in one direction relative to said case, said one hub having a radially extending arm, a second spring in said case engaging and acting between said arm and said case for yieldably resisting angular movement of said one hub in the other direction, said second spring comprising a spiral spring having one end secured in fixed position relative to said case and another end engaging said one hub and biasing it in said one direction, and a spacer having one portion disposed between said inner and outer hubs and another portion extending outward beyond said hubs and disposed adjacent said spiral spring, said other portion retaining said spiral spring in an associated side portion of said case.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 241 words
In a mortise latch having a case including opposing side walls, a latch bolt supported in the case for movement between projected and retracted positions relative thereto, a latch bolt spring normally biasing the latch bolt to its projected position, inner and outer hubs supported in the case between the side walls and journalled for independent coaxial angular movement relative to said case and each other, a linkage for retracting the latch bolt in response to angular movement of either of the hubs, and a first spring acting between the linkage and the case for yieldably resisting angular movement of either and both of the hubs, the improvement comprising means in said case for limiting angular movement of at least one of said hubs in one direction relative to said case, said one hub having a radially extending arm, a second spring in said case engaging and acting between said arm and said case for yieldably resisting angular movement of said one hub in the other direction, said second spring comprising a spiral spring having one end secured in fixed position relative to said case and another end engaging said one hub and biasing it in said one direction, and a spacer having one portion disposed between said inner and outer hubs and another portion extending outward beyond said hubs and disposed adjacent said spiral spring, said other portion retaining said spiral spring in an associated side portion of said case.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 1 the combination wherein said means for limiting angular movement of said one hub comprises an abutment surface on said case.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 43 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 2 the combination wherein said one hub has a pair of arms extending radially outwardly in generally opposite directions therefrom and said abutment surface is disposed in the path of one of said arms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 3 the combination wherein said one hub comprises two separable parts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 27 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 4 the combination wherein one of said parts is journalled in an associated side wall of said case.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
In a mortise lock as set forth in claim 1 the combination wherein said means for limiting the angular movement of said one hub comprises a stop fastened to said case for engagement by said one hub.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 94 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 1 the combination wherein said inner and outer hubs are journalled for coaxial rotation about an axis extending transversely of said case, each of said hubs is journalled in an aperture in an associated one of said side walls, said one hub has a pair of arms extending radially outwardly therefrom, said means for limiting angular movement comprises a stop secured to said case and engageable with one of said arms and said spiral spring acts between the other of said arms and said case.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 1 the combination wherein said other end is disposed generally adjacent said other portion in all angular positions of said one hub relative to said case.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 25 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 1 the combination including means for retaining said spacer in fixed position relative to said case.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 41 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 9 the combination wherein said means for retaining said spacer in fixed position comprises one of said hubs and means for securing said one end in fixed position relative to said case.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 42 words
In a mortise latch as set forth in claim 10 the combination wherein said means for securing said one end comprises a stump secured to one of said side walls and extending through an opening in said other portion of said spacer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 169 words
In a mortise latch having a case, a latch bolt supported in the case for movement between projected and retracted positions relative thereto, inner and outer hubs journalled in the case for independent angular movement relative to said case and each other, means for retracting the latch bolt in response to angular movement of either of the hubs, first biasing means yieldably resisting angular movement of either and both of the hubs, and stop works including a stop member movable generally toward and away from said hubs between locking and releasing positions relative to at least one of said hubs, the improvement comprising means in said case for limiting angular movement of at least one of said hubs in one direction relative to said case, second biasing means in said case for yieldably resisting angular movement of said one hub in the other direction, and a spacer partially disposed between and separating said inner and outer hubs and providing support for an associated portion of said movable stop member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 169 words
In a mortise latch having a case, a latch bolt supported in the case for movement between projected and retracted positions relative thereto, inner and outer hubs journalled in the case for independent angular movement relative to said case and each other, means for retracting the latch bolt in response to angular movement of either of the hubs, first biasing means yieldably resisting angular movement of either and both of the hubs, and stop works including a stop member movable generally toward and away from said hubs between locking and releasing positions relative to at least one of said hubs, the improvement comprising means in said case for limiting angular movement of at least one of said hubs in one direction relative to said case, second biasing means in said case for yieldably resisting angular movement of said one hub in the other direction, and a spacer partially disposed between and separating said inner and outer hubs and providing support for an associated portion of said movable stop member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 209 words
In a mortise latch having a case, a latch bolt supported in the case for movement between projected and retracted positions relative thereto, a latch bolt spring normally biasing the latch bolt to its projected position, inner and outer hubs journalled in the case for independent angular movement relative to said case and each other, a linkage for retracting the latch bolt in response to angular movement of either of the hubs, a first spring acting between the linkage and the case for yieldably resisting angular movement of either and both of the hubs, and a stop works including a stop member movable generally toward and away from said hubs between locking and releasing positions relative to at least one of said hubs, the improvement comprising means in said case for limiting angular movement of at least one of said hubs in one direction relative to said case, said one hub having a radially extending arm, a second spring in said case engaging and acting between said arm and said case for yieldably resisting angular movement of said one hub in the other direction, and a spacer partially disposed between and separating said inner and outer hubs and providing support for an associated portion of said movable stop member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 209 words
In a mortise latch having a case, a latch bolt supported in the case for movement between projected and retracted positions relative thereto, a latch bolt spring normally biasing the latch bolt to its projected position, inner and outer hubs journalled in the case for independent angular movement relative to said case and each other, a linkage for retracting the latch bolt in response to angular movement of either of the hubs, a first spring acting between the linkage and the case for yieldably resisting angular movement of either and both of the hubs, and a stop works including a stop member movable generally toward and away from said hubs between locking and releasing positions relative to at least one of said hubs, the improvement comprising means in said case for limiting angular movement of at least one of said hubs in one direction relative to said case, said one hub having a radially extending arm, a second spring in said case engaging and acting between said arm and said case for yieldably resisting angular movement of said one hub in the other direction, and a spacer partially disposed between and separating said inner and outer hubs and providing support for an associated portion of said movable stop member.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US606246A Cited
FR530411A Cited
US1564463A Cited
US1857684A Cited
US2262133A Cited
GB686945A Cited
FR1541405A Cited
US3708191A Cited
US3811717A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1981-01-30 1981-08-01 1982-01-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1985-01-30 1985-08-01 1986-01-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1989-01-30 1989-08-01 1990-01-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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