NZ778767B2 - A Lock and Latch Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

sub-assembly of a lock/latch assembly, the sub-assembly being configured to be mounted to the face of a door, the assembly comprising: a actuator; a hollow member that is in communication with the actuator such that movement of the actuator causes a rotation of the hollow member; and a connecting rod having first end that includes a head portion, and a shaft portion that projects rearwardly with respect to the sub-assembly to a second end, such that, when the sub-assembly is mounted to the door, the shaft portion extends into or through the door for rotational engagement with another component of the lock/latch assembly, wherein the head portion is disposed within the hollow member, wherein the hollow member has an aperture through which the shaft portion extends, and wherein the aperture and the shaft portion have complementary engaging shapes such that the connecting rod rotates with the hollow member, further comprising a second member that closes an open end of the hollow member, and a compression spring that is disposed in the hollow member and extends between second member and the head portion to bias the connecting rod away from the second member.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS :

1. A sub-assembly of a lock/latch assembly, the sub-assembly being configured to be mounted to the face of a door, the assembly comprising: a actuator; 5 a hollow member that is in communication with the actuator such that movement of the actuator causes a rotation of the hollow member; and a connecting rod having first end that includes a head portion, and a shaft portion that projects rearwardly with respect to the sub-assembly to a second end, such that, when the sub-assembly is mounted to the door, the shaft portion extends into or through 10 the door for rotational engagement with another component of the lock/latch assembly, wherein the head portion is disposed within the hollow member, wherein the hollow member has an aperture through which the shaft portion extends, and wherein the aperture and the shaft portion have complementary engaging shapes such that the connecting rod rotates with the hollow member, 15 further comprising a second member that closes an open end of the hollow member, and a compression spring that is disposed in the hollow member and extends between second member and the head portion to bias the connecting rod away from the second member. 20

2. A sub-assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second member is a trim plate of the sub-assembly.

3. A sub-assembly according to claim1 1 or claim 2, further comprising a mechanism that is movable in response to movement of the actuator, whereby movement of the 25 mechanism is transferred to rotation of the hollow member.

4. A sub-assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the actuator is manually operable. 30

5. A sub-assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the actuator is a rotatable actuator, and whereby rotation of the rotatable actuator causes a rotation of the hollow member.

6. A sub-assembly according to claim 5, wherein the rotatable actuator is any one of 35 a group of rotatable actuators that include knobs, levers, turn snibs, and lock cylinders.

7. A sub-assembly according to claim 3, wherein the mechanism includes a slide plate supported for movement transverse to an axis of rotation of the hollow member.

8. A sub-assembly according to claim 4, wherein the hollow member includes a 5 radially spaced protrusion that engages with a contact surface of the slide plate, the engagement being effective to translate sliding displacement of the slide plate into rotational displacement of the hollow member.

9. A sub-assembly according to claim 8, wherein the actuator is a rotatable actuator, 10 and wherein rotation of the rotatable actuator causes a rotation of the hollow member.

10. A sub-assembly according to claim 9, wherein the rotatable actuator includes a lobe that bears against a cam surface of the slide plate during a rotation of the actuator to cause sliding displacement of the slide plate and thereby rotational displacement of the 15 hollow member.

11. A lock/latch assembly that is to be installed on a door, the assembly comprising: a first sub-assembly configured to be mounted to a first face of the door, the first sub-assembly being in accordance with the sub-assembly of any one of claims 1 to 10; 20 a second sub-assembly configured to be mounted to a second face of the door; at least one of a latch and a deadbolt, wherein, when the lock/latch assembly is installed on a door, the connecting rod of the first sub-assembly extends through the door and is in rotational engagement with a 25 hollow member of the second sub-assembly, such that the hollow members of the first and second sub-assemblies rotate in unison.

12. A sub-assembly of a lock/latch assembly, the sub-assembly being configured to be mounted to the face of a door, the assembly comprising: 30 a manually operable actuator; a hollow member that is in communication with the actuator, the hollow member having a radially spaced arm such that movement of the actuator causes a rotation of the hollow member by action on the radially spaced arm; and a connecting rod having first end that includes a head portion, and a shaft portion 35 that projects rearwardly with respect to the sub-assembly to a second end, such that, when the sub-assembly is mounted to the door, the shaft portion extends into or through the door for rotational engagement with another component of the lock/latch assembly, a housing of the sub-assembly; and a compression spring that is disposed in the hollow member and applies a bias 5 that has the effect of urging the connecting rod away from the housing towards an extended position, wherein the head portion is disposed within the hollow member, wherein the hollow member has an aperture through which the shaft portion extends, wherein the aperture and the shaft portion have complementary engaging shapes such that the 10 connecting rod rotates with the hollow member, and wherein the connecting rod is displacable from the extended position against the bias to reduce the separation of the second end from the housing.

13. A sub-assembly according to claim 12, wherein the compression spring extends 15 between the housing and the head portion of the connecting rod, and wherein the connecting rod is displacable relative to the hollow member.

14. A sub-assembly according to either claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the housing includes a cover plate with an aperture within which the hollow member is disposed.

15. A sub-assembly according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the actuator is a rotatable actuator that is any one of a group of rotatable actuators that include knobs, levers, turn snibs, and lock cylinders, and whereby rotation of the rotatable actuator causes a rotation of the hollow member.

16. A lock/latch assembly that is to be installed on a door, the assembly comprising: a first sub-assembly configured to be mounted to a first face of the door, the first sub-assembly being in accordance with the sub-assembly of any one of claims 12 to 15; a second sub-assembly configured to be mounted to a second face of the door; 30 and at least one of a latch and a deadbolt, wherein, when the lock/latch assembly is installed on a door, the connecting rod of the first sub-assembly extends through the door and is in rotational engagement with a hollow member of the second sub-assembly, such that the hollow members of the first 35 and second sub-assemblies rotate in unison. – 1 / 16 – 16 12 32 32