Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-13
2001-07-24
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3628)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging
C292S123000, C292S097000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264252
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to multi-point door latches and more particularly to a multi-point door latch especially suitable for use with sliding doors.
In a typical sliding patio door installation, the door is maintained in a latched and/or locked condition by a latch mounted in the lock face of the stile of the sliding door and having a single hook or other latching element coacting with a keeper structure on the associated door jamb. Whereas these so called single point constructions are satisfactory for most installations, there is increasing need and demand for more security with respect to sliding patio doors to preclude forced entry. In an effort to increase the latch security, so-called multi-point latches have been developed and utilized in which more than one latching element engages the keeper structure of the jam to provide a more secure latching arrangement and provide more security against forced entry. Whereas these multi-point latch structure do increase the strength of the latch and thereby guard against forced entry, they tend to be very complicated and expensive and further, are difficult to install since they require substantial modification of the stile of the sliding door to accommodate the latch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to the provision of an improved sliding door multi-point latch.
More specifically, this invention is directed to the provision of a sliding door multi-point latch that is simple, inexpensive and requires minimal modification of the existing door structure.
The invention latch is adapted to be fitted in a single opening in the lock face of the stile of the door and is arranged for coaction with a keeper structure on an associated jamb and for coaction with a handle assembly mounted on the stile of the door and including a tail member operated by a thumb turn or a key lock.
The invention latch includes a unitary hollow housing sized to fit in the single stile opening; a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower hooks each mounted in the housing for movement between a retracted unlatched position within the hollow of the housing and an extended latched position extending out of the hollow of the housing for latching coaction with the keeper structure; and actuator means positioned in the housing intermediate the upper and lower hooks, adapted to receive a tail member from the handle assembly, and operative in response to turning movement of the tail member to move the upper and lower hooks in unison between their unlatched and latched positions. This arrangement provides multi-point security while minimizing latch expense and minimizing the required modification of the existing door structure.
According to a further feature of the invention, the hooks are pivotally mounted in the housing and the hooks move in opposite directions about their respective pivot axes. The opposing hook arrangement precludes vertical movement of the door to defeat the latch.
According to a further feature of the invention, the actuator means comprises upper and lower actuators positioned in vertically spaced side-by-side relation in the housing and each pivotally mounted in the housing and the actuators are ganged together by a gang link so that pivotal movement of one actuator generates corresponding pivotal movement of the other actuator. This twin actuator arrangement allows the latch to be used with handle assemblies having a center mounted thumb turn/key lock as well as with handle assemblies having an offset mounted thumb turn/key lock.
According to a further feature of the invention, the housing includes a sidewall and the sidewall defines upper and lower holes for passage of upper and lower fasteners utilized to attach the handle assembly to the stile of the door. This arrangement allows the fastener elements of the handle assembly to act to increase the security of the latch.
According to a further feature of the invention, the latch further includes an upper link interconnecting the upper actuator and the upper hook and a lower link interconnecting the lower actuator and the lower hook, the upper housing sidewall hole is positioned vertically between the actuator means and the upper hook, and the lower housing sidewall hole is positioned vertically between the actuator means and the lower hook. This arrangement provides a compact packaging for the latch while retaining the ability to utilize the handle fasteners to augment the security of the latch.
According to a further feature of the invention, the actuator means includes a pivot arm mounted at one end thereof for pivotal movement in the housing about a pivot axis and including a radially extending slot provided at another end of the arm; the housing defines an arcuate slot centered on the pivot axis and intersecting the pivot arm slot; the latch further includes a pin passing through the housing and pin arm slots and means operatively connecting the pin to the one of the hooks; the housing further defines a tail end slot portion communicating with one end of the arcuate slot and extending inwardly therefrom toward the pivot axis; and the latch further includes spring means biasing the pivot arm for movement about the pivot axis in a direction to cause the pin to move inwardly into the tail end slot portion following movement of the pin to the one end of the arcuate slot. This arrangement allows the latch to move automatically to a locked configuration following movement of the hooks to their latched positions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1716113 (1929-06-01), Carlson
patent: 3162472 (1964-12-01), Rust
patent: 3413025 (1968-11-01), Sperry
patent: 3899201 (1975-08-01), Paioletti
patent: 3904229 (1975-09-01), Waldo
patent: 4643005 (1987-02-01), Logas
patent: 4973091 (1990-11-01), Paulson
patent: 5125703 (1992-06-01), Clancy et al.
“Window Executive” Catalog, Summer 1996 issue, vol. 2, Issue 6, pp. 9-10.
W & F Mfg., Inc., Multi-Point Latch, 1 pg.
Browne Lynne H.
Conley Fredrick
Young & Basile P.C.
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