US3120748A

US3120748A - Narrow stile lock and actuator

Info

Publication number: US3120748A
Application number: US62026A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sig R Rechberg
Original assignee: Adams Rite Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Adams Rite Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1960-10-11
Filing date: 1960-10-11
Publication date: 1964-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 1981-02-11

Description

Feb. 11, 1964 s. R. RECHBERG 3,120,748

' NARROW STILE LOCK AND ACTUATOR Filed Oct. 11, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet l 57y E. leecr g,

1 INVENTOR.

Feb. 11, 1964 s. R. RECHBERG NARROW STILE LOCK AND ACTUATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001- ll. 1960 51:7 1? Rec/r6617,

INVENTOR. WHANN 8- file/144M644 United States Patent Ofiice 3,129,748 Patented Feb. 11, 1964 3,129,748 NARRUW STHLE LUCK AND ACTUATQR Sig R. Rechberg, 'lujunga, Califl, assignor to Adams Rite Manufacturing Company, Glendale, Calif., a corporation of California Filed (lot. 11, 19669, Ser. No. 62,026 9 illairns. (til. 70-41%) The present invention relates generally to lock and latching mechanisms such as utilized in sliding doors, and the like; and is more particularly concerned with an improved actuator for a narrow stile door, wherein the actuator mechanism is supported on and forms a part of an escutcheon plate assembly.

eretofore, a problem has been presented in providing actuating means for narrow stile lock installations, due to the limited and restricted mounting space available for the actuating mechanism. This problem becomes even more acute in the case of doors which must slide past each other.

In an endeavor to meet the existing problem, attempts have been made to mount digitally movable members and key cylinder actuators on escutcheon plates of one type or another. In the main, these attempts have resulted in structures which have been crude in appearance, and generally mechanically unsatisfactory in operation.

Having in mind the problem and the early attempts to provide a satisfactory actuator for narrow stile doors, the present invention has for one object the provision of a unique arrangement for an actuator in which an escutcheon plate of pleasing appearance mounts an actuator for a locking element, which may be utilized singly or in combination with a companion escutcheon plate mounted on an opposite side of a door frame stile and containing a key cylinder operator for the locking element.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved selective lock control from opposite sides of a sliding door stile, wherein digitally operable members are associated with flush type escutcheon plates of pleasing appearance in such a manner as to not interfere with the movement of the doors past each other.

Still another object is to provide in connection with the lock actuating mechanism, unique means for mounting companion escutcheon plates in back-to-back relation, and securing them against separation and detachment, the securing means being adjustable to permit the escutcheon plates to be mounted on stiles of variable thickness.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purposes of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view showing one of the escutcheon plate lock actuators of the present invention and its relationship with the lock mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a similar View of a companion escutcheon plate actuator mechanism as mounted on the opposite side of the door stile;

RIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of an edge face of the door stile, portions be ng cut away to disclose details of the actuator parts and the cooperative relationship of the companion escutcheon plates mounted on the opposite sides of the door stile;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing the interconnection of the respective escutcheon plate actuator means with a common actuating strap by means of which a locking element of the lock is moved to locked and unlocked positions, taken substantially on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the common strap member for transmitting movement of the respective escutcheon plate actuators to the locking element of the lock mechanism.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the escutcheon plate actuators of the present invention are shown in FIG. 1 as being applied to a narrow stile door frame 19 of a sliding door, the frame being extruded or otherwise formed of aluminum or other suitable metal of tubular construction, so as to have spaced side walls 11 and 12 interconnected by a common edge wall 13.

Mounted within the door frame lti is a locking mechanism unit 14 which may constitute any one of a number of commercial available units, and may embody a locking unit such as disclosed in Charles L. Eads United States Leters Patent No. 2,789,852, issued April 23, 1957. Briefly, the unit in the present instance is disclosed as being contained within a separate casing .15 adapted to be mounted within an opening 16 formed in the edge wall 13 of the door frame. The casing 15 containing the parts of the lock mechanism has an edge opening 17 through which a locking member or element 13 is movable to an extended locking position as shown in PEG. 1, and a retracted unlocked position within the casing 15, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4. Movement of the locking member is effected by means of a rotatable actuating member 19 which extends through a side opening of the casing 15 of the lockin unit, and also contains a longitudinally extending rectangular bore 243.

From a consideration of FIG. 3, it will be apparent that with a locking mechanism unit such as illustrated therein, it would not be possible to mount a key actuated cylinder or other actuator means in s-ide-by-side relation to the locking unit and still have a door frame with substantially flush sides, due to the restricted space in the door frame between the side walls ll. and 12 and the locking mechanism unit casing 15.

The present invention in its broad concept proposes to provide a pair of cooperatively associated companion

escutcheon plate structures

21 and 22 of the substantially flush type, and which are vertically spaced with respect to the locking mechanism unit and secured to the opposite side walls of the door frame '10.

Basically, the

escutcheon plate structures

21 and 22 are similarly constructed to provide an outer elongate plate portion 23 which presents in mounted position an outer surface 24 adapted to be substantially flush with the outer surface of the adjacent side wall of the door frame upon which it is mounted. Extending from one end of each plate portion, the escutcheon plate structure has its surface depressed to provide an axially extending recessed portion 25 having a length which is shown as comprising substantially one-half of the plate portion 23. This re cessed portion 25 has a stepped bottom wall composed of a section 26a and section 26b which coact to divide the recess 25 into relatively deep and shallow recessed portions. At the respective ends of the recessed portion 25, each escutcheon plate structure is provided with

bosses

27 and 23 which are adapted to be in alignment when the escutcheon plate structures are mounted on the opposite walls 11 and 22; of the door frame in suitable openings therein. These bosses are drilled and threaded to receive connecting screws 29 and 3i? which serve to clamp the escutcheon plate structures into mounted position with the peripheral margins of their plate portions 23 in engagement with their associated side walls. It will be appreciated that with this arrangement, the escutcheon plate structure are readily mountable upon door frames of variable thickness.

It is only necessary to anchor one of the escutcheon plate structures against axial movement, since the other escutcheon plate structure will be retained against axial movement by virtue of the connecting screws 29 and 3!). Various means may be used for anchoring one of the escutcheon plate structures against axial movement, and as best shown in FIG. 3, the plate portion 23 of the structure 22 is provided with a lip or hook 31 at one end for engaging the adjacent edge of the opening in which this escutcheon plate structure is mounted. The opposite end of this structure has its boss 27 arranged to engage the ad jacent edge of the opening at this end. The lug 27 and lip 31 therefore retain the escutcheon plate structure against axial shifting movement.

The lock actuating mechanism associated with the escutcheon plate structure 21 will now be described. On the inside of the plate portion 23, there is provided an elongate strap member 32 constructed as shown in FIG. with an interend portion 33 which is adapted to lie in face engagement with the inner face of the upper end of the plate portion 23, as viewed in FIG. 3. The strap member is offset at its respective ends to form

end portions

34 and 35, respectively. An axially extending slot 36 in the interend portion 33 extends into the end portion 34 and is adapted to receive therein or straddle the boss 23 of the escutcheon plate structure with which it is associated. The slot permits reciprocable movement of the strap member, and for effecting this reciprocable movement the end portion 34 is secured by a suitable connection 37 to a digitally operable member 38 which is shown as being positioned within the shallow portion of the recess on the opposite side of the bottom from the end portion 34 of the strap member. The member 38 is mounted for reciprocable movement, which is thus imparted through the connection 37 to the strap member. While a reciprocably movable digitally operable member 38 is disclosed, it is within the concept of the present invention that other means such as a rotatable knob and crank or other connection with the strap member may be utilized to impart reciprocable movement thereto. The

ember 38 is so formed that it does not project beyond the outer surface 24 of the associated escutcheon plate structure, thus maintaining the desired fiush construction.

The end portion is constructed with a transverse slot 39 which is arranged to slidably receive therein a T-shaped end portion 40 formed at the outermost end of a crank arm 41 which is integrally formed with and extends radially from a right angled arm 42 which is arranged to slidably fit into the bore 29 of the actuating member 19 of the locking mechanism unit 14. With this arrangement, as indicated primarily in FIG. 4, it will be observed that reciprocable movement of the strap member 32 will operate to rotate the actuating member 19 in opposite directions and thus motivate the locking member 18 to its locked and unlocked positions. Moreover, by providing a slipjoint connection between the arm 42 of the crank and the actuating member 19, the structure provides a flexibility which enables the spacing between the escutcheon plate structures to be readily varied to meet installation conditions, without having to change the actuating mechanism.

The escutcheon plate structure 21 with the actuating mechanism carried thereby may be utilized as a single operating means for the locking mechanism unit, if desired. However, in many installations, it may be desirable to provide another actuating point on the opposite side wall of the door frame, and for this purpose the companion escutcheon plate structure 22 is arranged to mount and accommodate a key controlled actuating means which will also act through the strap member 32 to move the locking member 18 to its locked and unlocked positions. This structure will now be described.

In this case, the escutcheon plate structure 22 is provided adjacent its boss 28 with inwardly projecting integrally formed body portion 43 within which a key cylinder, as indicated by the numeral 44, is mounted for rotation, one end thereof being adapted to receive a suitable key 45 and the other end operatively supporting a cam plate 46.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cam plate 46 is positioned alongside the interend portion 33 of the strap member and has diametrically projecting lobes 47 having a path of movement such that these lobes selectively engage against a projecting pin 4-8 carried by the plate member and po sitioned in the path of movement of the cam lobes. The key cylinder may therefore be selectively operated to actuate the locking member 18 to locked and unlocked positions from one side of the door frame, while the digitally operable member 38 may be used to operate the lock member from the opposite side of the door frame.

While the escutcheon plate structures are illustrated as being installed adjacent the edge wall 13 of the frame structure, it may be desirable in some installations to vary the mounted positions of the escutcheon plate structures so that they will be spaced away from the wall 13. The structure of the present invention readily permits variations in the back-set of the escutcheon plate structures since these variations merely change the relative position of the T-shaped end portion 40 within the slot 39 of the strap member.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention and, hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Manually operable actuating means for the locking element of a narrow stile door lock, said means being positioned proximate to said lock, and being accessible for operation from one side of said door, said means comprising: a digitally movable member vertically spaced from said lock; means mounting said member on one side of said stile for reciprocable linear movements in opposite directions, including a fixed escutcheon plate having a recess in its main surface within which said member is substantially flush mounted with respect to said surface; an elongate strap mounted inwardly of said escutcheon plate within said stile for reciprocable longitudinal axial movements, said strap being connected with said member for movement thereby and having a transverse slot; and means for operating said locking element to locked and unlocked positions including a crank adapted for operative connection with said locking element having an outer end positioned in said slot, whereby reciprocable movements of said strap are converted into a rotary actuating movement.

2. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted between side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with the locking element, said mechanism comprising: an elongate escutcheon plate fixedly mounted on one side face of said stile in vertically spaced relation to said lock, said plate having an outer surface substantially flush with the adjacent stile face, and containing an elongate recess having a stepped bottom separating said recess into a shallow portion and a rela tively deeper portion providing a finger abutment for use in opening and closing the door; a digitally movable member slidably supported in said shallow portion of a thickness such that it does not project beyond the plane of said outer surface of said plate; an elongate strap member within said stile supported for lengthwise axial movement, one end of said strap being afiixed to said digitally movable member for movement therewith; and means operatively connected to said strap and adapted for connection with the rotatable operating member for converting reciprocable movements of said strap into rotary movement of said operating member.

3. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted between side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with the locking element, said mechanism comprising: an elongate escutcheon plate fixedly mounted on one side face of said stile in vertically spaced relation to said lock, said plate having an outer surface substantially flush with the adjacent stile face, and containing a portion depressed below its outer surface; a digitally movable member slidably supported in said depressed portion of a thickness such that it does not project beyond the plane of said outer surface of said plate; an elongate strap member within said stile supported for lengthwise axial movement, one end of said strap being aifixed to said digitally movable member for movement therewith; means for connecting the other end of said strap with the rotatable operating member of said lock for converting reciprocable movements of said strap into rotary movement of said operating member; and key controlled means accessible from the other side face of said stile including a rotatable cam member adapted upon rotation to engage a portion of said plate so as to impart reciprocable movements thereto.

4. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted between opposed side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lock including a rotatable Operating member connecting with the locking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of escutcheon plates fixedly mounted on said side faces in openings therein so as to be in back-tobaok relation and with their outer surfaces respectively substantially flush with the adjacent side face of the stile member, one of said plates having an end portion adapted for hooked engagement with a portion of the associated stile side; securing means engageable between said plates for releasably retaining them against separation and detachment from said stile; an elongate strap member within said stile supported between said escutcheon plates for reciprocable sliding movement longitudinally of said stile; a motion transmitting connection between said strap and said rotatable operating member for rotating the latter in response to a reciprocable movement of said strap member; and means for reciprocating said strap including substantially surface flush movable elements respectively carried by said esoutcheon plates, said elements being selectively operable for controlled actuation of said locking element from the opposite side faces of said stile.

5. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted between opposite side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with the locking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of esutcheon plates fixedly mounted on said side faces in openings therein so as to be in back-to-back relation and with their outer surfaces respectively substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the stile member; securing means engageable between said plates for releasably retaining them against separation and detachment from said stile; an elongate strap member within said stile supported between said escutcheon plates for reciprocable sliding movement longitudinally of said stile relative to said plates; a motion transmitting connection between said strap and said rotatable operating member for rotating the latter in response to reciprocable movements of said strap member; and means for reciprocating said strap including substantially surface flush movable elements respectively carried by said escutcheon plates, said elements being respectively operable for controlled actuation of said locking element from the opposite side faces of said stile.

6. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted between opposed side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with the locking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of escutcheon plates [fixedly mounted on said side faces in openings therein so as to be in back-to-back relation and with their outer surfaces respectively substantially flush with the adjacent side faces of the stile member, one of said plates having a depressed surface portion; securing means engageable between said plates for releasably retaining them against separation and detachment from said stile; an elongate strap member within said stile supported between said escutcheon'plates for reciprocable sliding movement longitudinally of said stile; a motion transmitting connection between said strap and said rotatable operating member for rotating the latter in response to reciprocable movements of said strap member; and means substantially flush with said opposite side faces for selectively reciprocating said plate from said opposite side faces including a digitally movable member in said depressed surface portion, and a key controlled member mounted on the other of said plates.

7. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted between opposite side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with the locking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of substantially flush fixedly mounted escutcheon plates in openings in said side faces so as to be in back-to-back relation, one of said plates having a depressed surface portion; clamping means extending between said plates for retaining them in said openings against separation and detachment from said stile; a strap member slidably mounted on said one of said plates for lengthwise reciprocable movements; a digitally movable member positioned in said depressed portion in substantially flush relation with said one of said plates operable to reciprocate said strap mem ber; key controlled cam means substantially flush mounted on the other of said plates with said cam positioned adjacent said strap member; a projection carried by said strap member engageable by said cam to reciprocably move said strap; and an operative connection between said rotatable operating member and said strap for actuating said locking element in response to reciprocable movements of said strap member.

8. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted between opposed side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with the locking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of substantially flush fixedly mounted escutcheon plates in openings in said side faces so as to be in back-to-back relation, one of said plates having a depressed surface portion; clamping means extending between said plates for retaining them in said openings against separation and detachment from said stile; a strap member slidably mounted on said one of said plates for lengthwise reciprocable movements relative thereto; a substantially flush mounted digitally movable member positioned in said depressed portion operable to reciprocate said strap member; key controlled cam means mounted on the other of said plates with said cam positioned adjacent said strap member; a pin carried by said strap projecting into the path of movement of said cam so as to reciprocate said strap in response to reverse directions of movement of said cam; and an operative connection between said rotatable operating member and said strap for actuating said locking element in response to reciprocable movements of said strap member.

9. Actuator mechanism for the locking element of a lock mounted between opposed side faces of a narrow stile frame member of a sliding door, said lock including a rotatable operating member connecting with said looking element, said mechanism comprising: a pair of substantially flush fixedly mounted escutcheon plates in openings in said side faces so as to be in back-to-back relation, one of said plates having a depressed surface portion; means for retaining said plates in said openings against separation and detachment from said stile; a strap member slidably mounted on said one of said plates for lengthwise reciprocable movements; a substantially flush mounted digitally movable member positioned in said depressed portion operable to reciprocate said strap member; key controlled cam means mounted on the other of said plates with said cam positioned adjacent said strap member; a pin carried by said strap projecting in the path of movement of said cam so as to reciprocate said strap in response to reverse directions of movement of said cam; and a crank having a slide connection with said rotatable operating member for adjusting the plane of rotation of the crank between said escutcheon plates, said crank having an outer end movable in a transversely extending slot in said strap member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,199,467 Saunders May 7, 1940 8 Eads Apr. 23, 1957 Rainman Jan. 28, 1958 Chittum et a1. July 22, 1958 Schaefer Nov. 10, 1959 Russell Feb. 9, 1960 Sitler July 26, 1960 Miller June 27, 1961