Universal latch-lock assembly

Claim 2

A latch assembly adaptable for use with a panel mounted for either right-hand or left-hand swinging movement in a mating frame and between open and closed positions, said latch assembly being easily convertible to a latch-lock assembly and comprising a. a pan-shaped housing including a peripheral rim mounted on and surrounding an opening in said panel, and a depressed central surface positioned in the opening in said panel, b. a latch-operating stem supported for rotation in said depressed central surface of said pan-shaped housing and including an outer end portion extending through said depressed central surface of said housing, and an inner end portion extending inwardly from said depressed central surface, c. an operating handle secured to said outer end portion of said latch-operating stem, said handle being manually operable to rotate said latch-operating stem, d. a latching pawl including an inner end fixed on a medial portion of said latch-operating stem and a free outer end extending outwardly therefrom, said latching pawl being movable with rotation of said latch-operating stem between a latched position with said free outer end in engagement with said mating frame and an unlatched position with said free outer end out of engagement with said mating frame, e. a locking collar fixed on said latch-operating stem and adjacent the inside of said depressed central surface, and f. a knockout formed in said depressed central surface of said pan-shaped housing and positioned on each side of said latch-operating stem, said knockouts being shaped to selectively receive a key-operated locking cylinder which is engageable with said locking collar to convert the latch assembly to a latch-lock assembly.

Claim 3

A latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein one of said knockouts is removed and a key-operated locking cylinder is positioned therein, wherein said locking collar includes locking notches positioned on each side of said latch-operating stem, and wherein said key-operated locking cylinder includes a locking arm movable between a locking position in engagement with one of said locking notches and an unlocked position out of engagement with said one of said locking notches.

Claim 4

A latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein said operating handle is T-shaped, and wherein said inner end portion of said latch-operating stem includes an enlarged head, and including a pivot pin fixed in said enlarged head and pivotally supporting said T-shaped handle thereon so that said T-shaped handle can be moved between a position at a right angle relative to said latch-operating stem and a position in alignment with said latch-operating stem.

Claim 5

A latch assembly according to claim 3 including a spring pressed disk surrounding said enlarged head of said latch-operating stem and bearing against the pivotal connection of said T-shaped handle, said spring pressed disk being operable to resiliently maintain said T-shaped handle in both of said right angle and said aligned positions relative to said latch-operating stem.

Claim 6

A latch-lock assembly adaptable for use with a panel mounted for either right-hand or left-hand swinging movement in a mating frame and between open and closed positions and comprising a. a pan-shaped housing including a peripheral rim mounted on and surrounding an opening in said panel, and a depressed central surface positioned in the opening in said panel, b. a latch-operating stem supported for rotation in said depressed central surface of said pan-shaped housing and including an outer end portion extending through said depressed central surface of said housing, and an inner end portion extending inwardly from said depressed central surface, c. an operating handle secured to said outer end portion of said latch-operating stem, said handle being manually operable to rotate said latch-operating stem, d. a latching pawl including an inner end fixed on a medial portion of said latch-operating stem and a free outer end extending outwardly therefrom, said latching pawl being movable with rotation of said latch-operating stem between a latched position with said free outer end in engagement with said mating frame and an unlatched position with said free outer end out of engagement with said mating frame, e. a locking collar fixed on said latch-operating stem and adjacent the inside of said depressed central surface, f. a knockout formed in said depressed central surface of said pan-shaped housing and positioned on each side of said latch-operating stem, said knockouts being shaped to selectively receive a key-operated locking cylinder, one of said knockouts being removed, and g. a key-operated locking cylinder positioned in said one knockout opening, said key-operated locking cylinder being movable into and out of engagement with said locking collar for locking and unlocking said latch-lock assembly.

Claim 7

A latch-lock assembly adaptable for use with a panel mounted for either right-hand or left-hand swinging movement in a mating frame and between open and closed positions and comprising a. a pan-shaped housing including a peripheral rim mounted on and surrounding an opening in said panel, and a depressed central surface positioned in the opening in said panel, b. a latch-operating stem supported for rotation in said depressed central surface of said pan-shaped housing and including an outer end portion extending through said depressed central surface of said housing, and an inner end portion extending inwardly from said depressed central surface, c. an operating handle secured to said outer end portion of said latch-operating stem, said handle being manually operable to rotate said latch-operating stem, d. a latching pawl including an inner end fixed on a medial portion of said latch-operating stem and a free outer end extending outwardly therefrom, said latching pawl being movable with rotation of said latch-operating stem between a latched position with said free outer end in engagement with said mating frame and an unlatched position with said free outer end out of engagement with said mating frame, e. a locking collar fixed on said latch-operating stem and adjacent the inside of said depressed central surface, f. a knockout formed in said depressed central surface of said pan-shaped housing and positioned on each side of said latch-operating stem, said knockouts being shaped to selectively receive a key-operated locking cylinder, one of said knockouts being removed, and g. a key-operated locking cylinder positioned in said one knockout opening, said key-operated locking cylinder being movable into and out of engagement with said locking collar for locking and unlocking said latch-lock assembly.