US3181904A

US3181904A - Latch with emergency release means

Info

Publication number: US3181904A
Application number: US322159A
Authority: US
Inventors: James V Fallarino; Buksbaum Edward
Original assignee: METPAR STEEL PRODUCTS CORP
Current assignee: METPAR STEEL PRODUCTS CORP
Priority date: 1963-11-07
Filing date: 1963-11-07
Publication date: 1965-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 1982-05-04

Description

y 1965 J. v. FALLARINO ETAL 3,181,904

LATCH WITH EMERGENCY RELEASE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 7, 1963 INVENTOR.

JHMES v- FnLLHR/No EDWHZD BUksbpuM FIG-7 ATTozNEj United States Patent York Filed Nov. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 322,159 6 Claims. (Cl. 292-93) This invention relates to a latch with emergency release means, and in particular, a latch which is adapted to be used on a door having normal locking and unlocking means on only one side, for example, the inside of the door, and yet having emergency release means which can be operated from outside the door.

A latch made in accordance with this invention may be used in many types of applications. However, it is particularly suited for use with partition doors in rest rooms and the like so that privacy may be ailforded to the occupant of a cubicle or partition in a rest room, and a provision may be made for unlatching the partition door in the event of an emergency so that the door may be opened easily from the outside.

It is customary in designing buildings where large numbers of the public congregate such as office buildings, theatres, restaurant constructions and the like, to provide sanitary facilities for the occupants which comprise individual facilities partitioned off, and each having its own partition door which can be locked from the inside for privacy. From time to time, an emergency may arise where the occupant of such a partitioned area or cubicle may become ill or incapacitated, and for such reason or other reason, it may be necessary for the persons in control of the facilities to be enabled to open the partition door from the outside, sometimes even against the will of the occupant.

This is particularly true of schools where the pupil may latch the door of the partition and climb out leaving the compartment inoperative. The custodian would then have difficulty in reopening the compartment since the latching mechanism is on the inside.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a latch having a bolt which may be operated manually from one side of a door or closure means, and which will have secret emergency release means operable from the outside of the door or closure means.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a latch which is simple in construction, and requires a minimum of mechanically operable parts.

It is also an object of this invention to provide such a latch adapted for use with a partition door which is simple to install in a permanent manner, and it is a further object of this invention to provide a latch for a partition door having securing means which are completely concealed from view and having no bolts, screws or other exposed fastening means.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a latch which is vandal and theft proof.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the speciiication hereinbelow. These objects and advantages are achieved with the invention illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partition incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section along the lines 2-2 in P16. 1 with some of the lines in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of a detail of the latch portion of the invention similar to that shown in FIG. 2 with some of the lines shown dotted and in phantom to indicate various positions of the latch;

FIG. 4 is an exploded end view of the latch as shown in FIG. 3;

3,l8l,9h4 Fatented May 4, 1965 FIG. 5 is a detail in perspective of that portion of. the door shown in H6. 1 to which the latch is mounted with the rest of the door broken away;

PEG. 6 is an alternate form of upper hinge of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an alternate form of lower hinge of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a detail in perspective of the latch bolt and strike of the invention; and

P16. 9 is a detail in perspective of an alternate form of latch bolt and strike of the invention.

in the usual type of rest room provided for public use, there are one or more cubicle or partition assemblies 20 made up of panels 22, pilasters 24 and doors 26. The pilasters 24- provide the door frame for the door as. In modern construction, these components, such as the panels, pilasters and doors, are formed of spaced opposed metal sheets or skins such as sides 28, 3t? and 32 respectively. 'F or purposes of showing how the latch construction of the invention is installed in a door such as door 26, the opposed metal sheets of the door will be identified by

reference numerals

52 and 34 in order to distinguish between the respective outer and inner sides.

In the usual practice, the hardware for use with such doors and panels is bolted to the said components in much the same manner as hinges as are fastened to piiasier or door frame as; and door so by means of fastening means such as bolts at) and 4-2.. The novel components of our invention comprise the hinges 36 and the latch 44. The latch dd is provided with a latch bolt 46 having a leading edge or nose 4% with offset or bevelled portions 53. Since the latch is adapted for both right and left hand installation, at least one bevelled portion 50 will always be in an upper corner of the nose of bolt 46.

The hinges 36 have stationary leaves 52 and swinging leaves 5 constructed so that the swinging leaves 54 have male pintle means, or pintle pin means such as pintles 56 adapted to float in sliding fitting relationship within axial and radial female pintle means, or pintle pin connecting means such as pintle shafts 58 located in the stationary leaves 52. The male 56 and female 58 pintle means together comprise the pintle means of the invention.

Latch bolt 45 is adapted to move linearly from the door 26 toward strike means such as a strike bracket 69 which is mounted on pilaster 24 by fastening means 62 to receive the nose 4-3 of latch bolt 46 within a strike opening at. Strike opening 64 will normally have faced opposing lateral stops or strikes on and 6S, and in addition an upper stop or strike 70. Stops 66 and 68 will be in a vertical plane, and stop 7t) will be in a horizontal plane. Latch bolt 46 will normally be of rectangular cross section, and have sides such as sides 72 which will engage stops 6d and 66 when the latch bolt is in extended position with nose 4% within strike 64.

This Will prevent door 26 from being opened, and will effectively lock the door.

When latch bolt as is in withdrawn position, nose 43 will not extend into strike 64- and door 26 will be permitted to swing freely on hinges as to be opened or closed without hindrance. A stop '74 having a resilient block of rubber or plastic 76 is provided to align door 26 in proper closed position with relation to strike 64 so that latch bolt as may be extended into the strike with facility.

A finger grip 8%, located on inside of door 26, is provided for cooperation with latch bolt 46 so that the latch bolt may be moved in the direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings to lock and unlock the door as.

In the form of invention shown in the drawings, the

nose 48 of latch bolt 46 extends from the door 26 through an opening 82 when in locking position, and may be completely withdrawn into opening 82 in unlocked position. Thus, it is apparent that when door 26 is in locked position with latch bolt 46 in extended position, strike 64 will effectively prevent the door from being opened from the outside except for the provision of the secret release means of the invention which comprise the floating pintle means 56 and 58 and the offset or bevelled portion 50 of latch bolt 46 and the upper stop 70 of strike 64. These components cooperate with each other to unlatch the bolt 46 when the door 26 is raised as will be described.

Reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings will show that if force or pressure is applied to door 26 in an upward direction as signified by arrows underneath the door, the door will move up from its normal position carrying swinging hinge leaves 54 upwardly away from stationary leaves 52. This movement from lower normal position to upper raised position is possible because pintle 56 floats within pintle shaft 58 and is capable not only of rotatable movement but also of axial movement. As door 26 is lifted to upper position, offset or bevelled edge 50 will hit upper stop 70, and the force of contact will push latch bolt 46 from its second extended, or locking position, to its first withdrawn, or unlocking position, and at the same time clear latch bolt 46 from strike 64. At this point, door 26 will be unlocked and will swing inwardly.

Thus, a latch mechanism has been described in combination with at least one hinge which permits a door to be locked from the inside affording privacy, and yet permits the said door to be opened from the outside by a person having an understanding of the secret release features.

Because of the construction of the latch part of the mechanism as shown in the drawings, it may be permanently fastened to a door construction without means of external bolts or other external fasteners. This is accomplished by providing a latch housing 90 comprised of

sub housings

92 and 94 which can be fitted into

openings

96 and 98 respectively in outer sheet 32 and inner sheet 34 of door 26 to form the combined housing 90. Sub housing 92 has an outer surface 100 with a flanged edge 102 and an inner platform means 104 as well as nosed insertion means 106 and hook receiving means 108. Inner insertable portion 92 also has an elongated opening 110 through which operating means 80 may be inserted for contact with latch bolt 46.

Sub housing 94 has an outer surface 112 having flanged edge 114, nosed inserting portion 116, inner platform means 118 and spring hook means 120 attached thereto. Spring hook means 120 is attached to the outer latch housing portion 94 by means of a rivet or other fastener at point 122 at its first end, and has a hook formation 124 at its second end which is adapted to fit into hook receiving means 108. Latch bolt 46 has connecting means such a circular opening 126 which receives the end 128 of means 80. Means 80 comprises a shaft 130 adapted to fit through opening 110, and has a connecting means such as the circular washer 128 swedged onto the inner end thereof. Thus means 80 is pro-attached to sub housing 92 of latch housing 90. The connecting means 128 is adapted to ride between

platforms

104 and 118.

Openings

96 and 98 are generally rectangular in shape, and are relatively smaller than the outside flanged perimeter of

surfaces

100 and 112. They are placed in the sides of the door 26 in relative position to opening 82 on the end of the door. The latch 44 is mounted in the following manner.

Latch bolt 46 is placed on sub housing 92 by placing latch bolt 46 on platform 104 with its opening 126 on connecting means 128. Nosed portion 166 of sub housing 92 as well as nosed portion 116 of sub housing 94 are then inserted into

openings

96 and 98 respectively from opposite sides toward opening 82. Leading edges 140 and 142 of the

flanges

102 and 114 respectively will engage outside of

edges

144 and 146 of

openings

96 and 98 respectively. Spring hook means 120 which is affixed to outer portion 94, will engage the hook engaging means 108 of inner portion 92. In addition, inner portion 92 has been provided with spacing means 150 and 152. The function of spacing means 150 and 152 is auxiliary to the permanent closure of the device, and helps to space the parts apart during insertion and afterwards. When the latch 44 is completely inserted, the

flanged edges

102 and 114 will be pulled together by means of the spring 120 and the hooking of the leading edges as described so that the two outer surfaces and 112 will be snugly fitted by a bond between them within the spaced

openings

96 and 98 of the door 26.

The purpose of providing the connecting means in the form of a spring is so that the hook 124 will have a resiliency to go around and enter the hook engaging means 108.

In FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings, we show other forms of hinges made in accordance with the invention. FIG. 6 shows an upper hinge and FIG. 7 a lower hinge 151. Upper hinge 150 comprises a U-shapcd insert 152 which is fitted to the edge of a door 153. There are

suitable openings

154 and 155 through which male pintle means, such as pintle pin 156, may be inserted and maintained in position. This constitutes the swinging leaf 150. The stationary leaf portion 158 comprises a U-shaped base 159 adapted to be m0unt ed on a pilaster or door frame 24 having extending therefrom an arm 160 with an annular opening 161 (comprising the female pintle means) adapted to receive pintle pin 156. If desired, a collar of Teflon or other low friction material 162 may be inserted within annular opening 161 to provide for friction-free radial and axial movement of the components. It will be appreciated by referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings that swinging leaf 157 of hinge 150 is adapted for axial movement within the limits of the opening within insert 152. A shield may also be provided for purposes of design beauty where indicated at reference numeral 164.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, we illustrate lower hinge 151 which comprises a swinging leaf 165 having a channeled bracket 166 adapted to fit in a cutout lower corner of door 153, and having a laterally extending arm 167 with an annular opening 168. Stationary leaf 170 comprises a U-shaped bracket 171 adapted to be fastened to pilaster 24 having a laterally extending arm 172 to which a pintle pin 173 is connected by suitable fastening means such as a bolt 174.

It will be appreciated that hinge 151 is adapted for both radial and axial movement since opening 168 rests over pintle pin 173 by means of force of gravity only. In a preferred form, we also provide a sleeve around pintle pin 173 and an internal insert 181 within opening 168 made of Teflon or other low friction material, and we also provide for gravitational alignment of the door in closed position by bevelling the facing and normally contacting

inner ends

182 and 183 of the said sleeve 180 and insert 181 respectively.

While the invention has form, there are other forms which it may take. For example, the combination of the cammed offset or bevelled portion 50, latch nose 48 and floating hinges 36 may be used with other types of door constructions, and need not be incorporated with the particular latch housing described herein for use in a double surfaced metal shell door. In such case, the construction of the latch mechanism could vary so long as it had the essential offset portion such as portion 50 cooperating with a horizontal stop such as stop 70 and a pair of floating hinges.

In addition, while the preferred form of latch 46 has been described as rectangular in cross section, it is posbeen described in its preferred 5 sible to build the device with a latch such as latch 46a which is circular in cross section, and is adapted to cooperate with a circular strike such as strike 6 in. However, this will not depart from the spirit of the invention so long as there is an ofiset or bevelled portion such as 56:: at the upper part of nose 48a of the latch bolt 45a.

in addition, we have described our latch mechanism f t as being fitted into openings in the outer and inner sheets of a metal door. The same latch mechanism housing 90 may be fitted into a through opening in a solid wooden door or into opposed facing openings in any type of door.

There are also other forms which the invention may take, and we, therefore, desire to have protection for all forms of the device coming within the scope of the claims hereinbelow.

Wherefore we claim:

1. In an emergency release for a partition door lock set, the combination of a door comprising latch construction having a bolt mounted for linear movement from a first position within the door to a second position protruding from the door, said latch bolt comprising an upper edge with at least a portion thereof which protrudes from the door in the said second position having a bevel, and said door having attached to it a leaf of at least one hinge comprising a pair of leaves connected by pintle means, and in which said pintle means are adapted for both radial and axial movement of the said leaves with relation to each other; whereby when the said latch bolt is in the said second position and the said door is moved axially with relation to the said pintle means in the direction of the said upper edge of the said latch bolt, the said bevel of the said latch bolt is adapted to engage strike means and be thereby forced back from the said second position to the said first position.

2. The combination as described in claim 1 together with a door frame having a strike means with at least one stop in a vertical position with relation to the door frame, and at least one stop in a horizontal position with relation to the door frame, and having the other of said hinge leaves attached to said door frame whereby when the said door is mounted in the said door frame by means of the said hinges, and the said latch bolt is in second position, it will extend past both the said vertical and horizontal stops in the strike means, and the bevelled 1 portion of the said latch bolt will be beneath the horizontal portion of the said strike means.

3. A lock and hinge set for a partition door adapted to be mounted within a door frame: comprising in combination, lock means including a latch adapted to be mounted on the said door, and a strike means adapted to be mounted on the said door frame, and hinge means including a plurality of hinges having leaf means adapted to be mounted on said door, and said door frame respectively, in which the said latch comprises a latch bolt having a nose portion with bevel means, and said strike means comprises a body portion with an opening therethrough providing at least one upper strike and at least one side strike; and in which each of said pair of hinges comprises a leaf means including male pintle means and another leaf means including female pintle means, said male and female pintle means being engaged in slide fitting relation to provide for rotational and axial movement relative to each other; in which the said nose portion of the said latch bolt is adapted to be moved within the said body portion of the said strike means to provide locking engagement in cooperation with the said side strike thereof, with said bevel means of said latch bolt being positioned beneath said upper strike, so that when the said door to which the said lock and hinge set is adapted to be mounted is moved axially on said hinges with relation to the said door frame, in an upward direction, the said latch bolt will be raised and the said bevel means ti will engage the said upper strike thereby to force the said latch bolt out of the said strike means.

4. A lock and hinge set for a partition door adapted to be mounted within a door frame: comprising in combination, lock means including a latch adapted to be mounted on the said door, and a strike means adapted to be mounted on the said door frame, and hinge means including a plurality of hinges having leaf means adapted to be mounted on said door and said door frame respectively; in which the said latch comprises a latch bolt having a nose portion with bevel means, and said strike means comprises a body portion with an opening therethrough providing at least one upper strike and at least one side strike; and in which each of said pair of hinges comprises a leaf means including pintle pin means and another leaf means including pintle pin connecting means, said pintle pin and pintle pin connecting means being engaged in slide fitting relation to provide for rotational and axial movement relative to each other; in which the said nose portion of the said latch bolt is adapted to be moved within the said body portion of the said strike means to provide locking engagement in cooperation with the said side strike thereof, with said bevel means of said latch bolt being positioned beneath said upper strike, so that when the said door to which the said lock and hinge set is adapted to be mounted is moved axially on said hinges with relation to the said door frame, in an upward direction, the said latch bolt will be raised and the said bevel means will engage the said upper strike thereby to force the said latch bolt out of the said strike means.

5. A latch mechanism having a main body portion comprising a latch bolt and adapted to be installed in a door having a through opening: in which said main body portion of the said latch is comprised of at least two parts, each of said parts having an outer face relatively larger than the said through opening to form in each of said parts respectively at least a pair of shoulders, one of said parts having hook receiving means, and the other of said parts having a hook so that when the said body portion parts are placed into the through opening from opposite sides, the said hook will engage the said hook receiving means to prevent the said parts from being separated, and the said shoulders will be in opposed faced relationship contacting and gripping the opposite sides of said through opening.

6. A latch mechanism having a main body portion comprising a latch bolt and adapted to be installed in a hollow door comprising two surface skins having openings in the said surface skins; in which said main body portion of the said latch is comprised of at least two parts, each of said parts having an outer face relatively larger than the said openings to form in each of said parts respectively at least a pair of shoulders, one of said parts having hook receiving means, and the other of said parts having a hook so that when the said body portion parts are placed into the opening from opposite sides, the said hook will engage the said hook receiving means to prevent the said parts from being separated, and the said shoulders will be in opposed faced relationship contacting and gripping the said openings from opposite sides.

References ilted by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,202,068 10/ 16 Iuruick 20-16 1,775,681 9/30 Marino 20-16 2,118,722 5/38 Bock 292-93 2,558,361 6/51 Johnston 292-74 2,997,751 7/61 McPherren 2016 3,004,303 10/61 Wilmer 20--16 3,057,649 10/62 Check 292--74 3,078,502 2/63 Nelson 16-468 M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. IN AN EMERGENCY RELEASE FOR A PARTITION DOOR LOCK SET, THE COMBINATION OF A DOOR COMPRISING LATCH CONSTRUCTION HAVING A BOLT MOUNTED FOR LINEAR MOVEMENT FROM A FIRST POSITION WITHIN THE DOOR TO A SECOND POSITION PROTRUDING FROM THE DOOR, SAID LATCH BOLT COMPRISING AN UPPER EDGE WITH AT LEAST A PORTION THEREOF WHICH PROTRUDES FROM THE DOOR IN THE SAID SECOND POSITION HAVING A BEVEL, AND SAID DOOR HAVING ATTACHED TO IT A LEAF OF A LEAST ONE HINGE COMPRISING A PAIR OF LEAVES CONNECTED BY PINTLE MEANS, AND IN WHICH SAID PINTLE MEANS ARE ADAPTED FOR BOTH RADIAL AND AXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE SAID LEAVES WITH RELATION TO EACH OTHER; WHEREBY WHEN THE SAID LATCH BOLT IS IN THE SAID SECOND POSITION AND THE SAID DOOR IS MOVED AXIALLY WITH RELATION TO THE SAID PINTLE MEANS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SAID UPPER EDGE OF THE SAID LATCH BOLT, THE SAID BEVEL OF THE SAID LATCH BOLT IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE STRIKE MEANS AND BE THEREBY FORCED BACK FROM THE SAID SECOND POSITION TO THE SAID FIRST POSITION.