Closure fasteners – Latch-spindle catches
Patent
1994-11-25
1997-06-10
Lindsey, Rodney M.
Closure fasteners
Latch-spindle catches
2923363, 29216915, F05B 1300
Patent
active
056368828
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to door furniture and is concerned in particular with providing a releasible snib mechanism which may be incorporated into a door latch assembly or provided as a privacy adaptor for incorporation in a door latch assembly. In a particular though not exclusive aspect, the invention is concerned with locking systems adapted for retro-fitting to existing door furniture.
BACKGROUND ART
U.S. Pat. No. 4142748, assigned to the present applicant, disclosed a privacy lock arrangement for door latch assemblies which allows an internal door latch to be snibbed on a first side to lock the latch against entry from the other side, but to be automatically released by simple rotation of the handle at the first side. Privacy Lock arrangements in general ensure privacy for the occupant of a room against unexpected entry and are widely used on bathroom, toilet and bedroom doors. The particular arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 4142748 includes a pair of rotary members which interengage with one another so that they can rotate independently through a limited angle of rotation only. A pivoted snib member has a first dog engageable with one of the rotary members to positively lock it against rotation and a second dog which engages the other rotary member in such a way that the relative rotation of the rotary members is effective to move the snib member out of its engagement with the locked rotary member.
The arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 4142748 has the attraction that it may be provided as an adaptor assembly between a backing plate and an escutcheon and therefore does not require modification of the handle, but is also a relatively complex mechanism to manufacture.
Earlier privacy lock arrangements are to found, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 471190, and in British patents 861002 and 1159161.
A variation of the arrangement of U.S. Pat. No. 4142748 is disclosed in the present applicant's co-pending Australian patent application 19655192. In that case, the engagement between the releasing rotary member and the snib is by way of a lateral pin on the snib which projects parallel to the main spindle axis and is received in a V-shaped cut-out in a head portion of the rotary member.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a releasible snib mechanism for a door latch assembly which may be employed as an improved privacy lock arrangement.
The invention accordingly provides, in one aspect, a releasible snib mechanism for a door latch assembly which includes a body, and a first rotary member disposed in the body and adapted to be engaged by and rotated with a door latch spindle. A snib member is mounted on the body for movement between a snibbing position in which the first rotary member is snibbed against rotation and a freeing position in which the first rotary member is free to rotate with the door latch spindle. A second rotary member is disposed in the body adjacent the first rotary member and is adapted to be engaged by and rotated by a shaft means. This second rotary member is arranged upon initial rotation of the shaft means to move the snib member from its snibbing position to its freeing position and upon continued rotation of the shaft means to provide rotation to the first rotary member. The first and second rotary members include respective first and second formations which are disposed mutually adjacent when the rotary members are at a predetermined relative position, for cooperating with a complementary snib formation on the snib member. The first formation and snib formation affect the aforementioned snibbing of the first rotary member and the second formation is effective as camming means during said initial rotation to act on the snib formation to move the snib member to its freeing position.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a releasible snib mechanism for a door latch assembly which includes a body and a first rotary member disposed in the body and adapted to be engaged by and rotated with a door latch
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Gainsborough Hardware Industries, Ltd.
Lindsey Rodney M.
Millner Monica E.
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