Paddle lock with bolt-carried handle disconnect member

Claim 1

A flush-mountable door lock, comprising: (a) a body structure having side and back walls which cooperate to define a forwardly-facing recess, having an opening formed through the back wall, and having housing structure located behind the back wall and cooperating with the back wall to define an elongate slidebolt passage which communicates with the opening formed through the back wall; (b) an elongate bolt structure slidably supported within the slide bolt passage, the bolt structure being movable along a linear path of travel between a projected position wherein the bolt structure is extended with respect to the body and housing structures, and a retracted position wherein the bolt structure is retracted with respect to the body and housing structures, the bolt structure having a receiving formation communicating with the back wall opening; (c) a handle structure pivotally mounted on the body structure and being movable about a first axis between a nested position wherein the handle structure is nested with respect to the recess, and an operating position; (d) a projection carried by the handle structure and being movable therewith, and extending through the back wall opening into the slide-bolt passage and into the receiving formation of the bolt structure; (e) disconnect linkage means having a first portion extending into the receiving formation for engaging the projection, and having a second portion extending longitudinally of the bolt structure through the slide-bolt passage and out one end of the slide-bolt passage toward the key-control means, the disconnect linkage means being pivotally mounted on the bolt structure and being pivotally movable relative to the bolt structure about a second axis between a connecting position wherein it is operable to drivingly connect the handle and bolt structures such that when the handle structure is moved out of its nested position the bolt structure is caused to retract, and a disconnecting position wherein no driving connection is provided between the handle and bolt structures; (f) key-control means carried by the body structure and including a locking member movable between locked and unlocked positions; and, (g) the locking member being engageable with the second portion of the disconnect linkage means for moving the disconnect linkage means to its connecting position when the locking member is moved to its unlocked position, and for moving the disconnect linkage means to its disconnecting position when the locking member is moved to its locked position.