US2452461A - Door latch - Google Patents

Description

oct. 26,1948. A.. J. HARRis 2,452,461

DOOR LATCH Filed Jan. 11, 1946 Illz'e/llor 45A J HARK/5 WWW Patented Oct. 26, 1948 UITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE DOOR LATCH Asa J. Harris, Long Beach, Calif. Application January 11, 1946, Serial No. .640,437

1 Claim.

My invention relates Vto improvements in door latches, the primary object in view being to DIO- vide means of simple form and inexpensive construction for Iautomatically latc'hing the usual hinged door open.

Another object i-s to provide an automatic door latch for holding a door open and latched to a wall, and which is `operative to unlatching position by turning of the door knob in opposite directions, respectively.

Still another object lis to p-rovide means of the character and for the purpose above set forth which is quiet in operati-on Iand is equipped to function `as a door bumper.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, a preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing, set forth in detail in the succeeding description, and dened in the claim appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure l is a View partly in vertical section and partly in side elevation illustrating my improved door latch in the preferred embodiment thereof,

Figure 2 `is a View in front elevation of the latching member `and the mounting therefor together with the bumper sleeve,

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 with the parts shown in latchng position, and I Figure 4 is a similar View with the parts shown in unlatching position.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, according to my invention, as illustrated, a vertically swingable latch member I, with a straight shank 2 and a downturned hooked end 3 is mounted on the wall 4 toward which a conventional hinged door 5 opens, and so that said member extends normally from said wall endwise and in horizontal alignment with ythe inside door knob 6 when said door in fully open.

The mounting for the latch member I comprises a wall plate l, preferably circular, and attached to the wall Il by screws i8, and a trough-like axial lug 9 extending forwardly from said plate 'I horizontally and in which an enlarged, at bottomed boss I0 on the rear end yof the latch member I is pivod by a transverse pin I I, so that the b-oss I0 coacts with the bottom of the lug 9 to maintain the latch member I horizontal, normally, while, at the same time, said latch member is swingable upwardly on said pin.

A recess I2 is provided in Ithe inside door knob 6, in the center thereof, with a bottom keeper ledge I3 extending, in the normal position of said knob 6, horizontally across the entrance to the recess I2 and which is provided `with a forwardly and upwardly inclined front cam face I4. Above the ledge I3, the recess I2 is of inverted T-shape provi-ding a Icenter top notch I5, with inwardly converging side walls I6, and a pair of diametrically opposite side notches I8, I8.

A resilient bumper sleeve I'I, lof rubber, or the like, is fitted at one end over the lug 9 :to extend forwardly from -said lug and be engaged by the inside knob 6.

The manner in which the described invention operates, will be readily understood. When the door 5 is `opened and the inside knob 6, and consequently the outside knob I9, are in normal position, the hooked end 3 of the latch member I enters the recess I2, is engaged by :the cam face i4 of the ledge I'3 :and said member is cammed upwardly by said face to fall, when the door is fully opened, behind the ledge I3, so that the door 5 is latch-ed open and to the wall 4. As--the latch member I falls, the inside knob 6 abuts the bum-per sleeve II, it being understood that said sleeve is properly dimensioned f-or that purpose, and said knob 5 is conned between said sleeve and the hooked lend 3 of the latch member I. The bumper sleeve I'I, as will be clear, operates in silence latching of the door 5 open. The bevel sided notch I-5 provides a clearance for the hooked end 3 of the latch member I when said member is cammed upwardly in the recess I2, and in -cooperation with Isaid -end 3 functions to hold the knob 5 `aga-inst being turned so as to move 4the ledge I3 out of operative position until the latch member I falls. By turning the knob 5 in either direction, through manipulation -of the outside knob I9, in the usual manner, the ledge I3 may be moved to one side or the other of the hooked end 3 and one or the other of the notches I8, I8', as the case may be, rotated int-o alignment with the hooked end 3 so that the latch member I is Iin unlatching position and the recess I2 may be moved from over said end 3 by movement of the door 5 toward shut position.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention wi-thout further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is sus- -ceptible of modification Without departingv from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall Within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a door catch for latching a door open and t-o a Wall, a hollow door knob adapted to be mounted on the door for Iturning in yopposite directions and forming a. recess in said knob, a, latch member having a hook end adapted to enter rsaid recess when said door is opened, and ia, mounting for said latch adapted to be attached to said Wall and in which the other end -of said member is pivoted for Vertical swinging of said member, said recess having a bottom camming ledge therein over which said hook end may ride upwardly to drop behind the same and latch said door open, and saidV recess having 'a front top notch tting said hook end when the same rides up- Wardly whereby turning of said knob is prevented until said hook end drops behind said ledge said 4 recess being Widen-ed between said ledge and notch to permit said hook end to be withdrawn from said recess when the knob is turned in opposite directions.

ASA J. HARRIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 389,110 Roselius Sept. 4, 1888 711,696 Cook Oct. 21, 1902

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