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US 10,753,121 B2Granted
Privacy lock
AssigneeSpectrum Brands, Inc.
InventorsThomas P. Morse, Eric Xin, James Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A privacy lock assembly and method of operation are provided. The lock assembly has a push button offset from the central axis of the lock assembly for locking and unlocking the assembly. The lock assembly includes compression springs to maintain integrated handles in predetermined orientations when the handles are not subject to a load.
Claims20
A lock assembly comprising:
- a chassis including:
- an exterior and an interior portion configured to extend from an exterior and an interior of a door, respectively;
- and
- a spindle extending between the exterior and interior portions to translate a door latch;
- wherein, the exterior and interior portions each comprise:
- exterior and interior inserts configured to operatively connect the spindle to an exterior and an interior handle;
- and
- exterior and interior spring housings, each having compression springs configured to bias the exterior and interior handles;
- a locking mechanism having:
- a locking piece operatively connected to the interior insert and configured to receive the spindle therein,
- a locking notch;
- a toggle located offset from a central axis of the chassis and including a tail configured to be received into the locking notch to secure the lock assembly in a locked position;
- and
- an unlocking piece operatively connected to the interior insert and configured to receive the spindle therein, wherein, when the interior handle is actuated, the spindle will rotate the unlocking piece transferring a camming motion by a portion of the unlocking piece to the toggle so that the toggle is translated out of engagement with the locking piece, thereby allowing the locking piece to rotate with the spindle, wherein at least a portion of the unlocking piece radially overlaps the locking notch.
11 more elements
A lock assembly comprising:
- an exterior and an interior portion configured to extend from an exterior and an interior of a door, respectively, wherein the exterior and interior portions each include exterior and interior inserts;
- a spindle extending between the exterior and interior portion to translate a door latch, the exterior and interior portions being configured to operatively connect the spindle to an exterior and an interior handle;
- exterior and interior spring housings, each having compression springs configured to bias the exterior and interior handles;
- a toggle offset from a central axis of the exterior and interior portions;
- a locking piece being keyed to engage with the toggle to secure the lock assembly in a locked position;
- wherein the locking piece includes a keyed locking notch to receive a tail piece of the toggle;
- and an unlocking piece configured to receive the spindle therein, wherein at least a portion of the unlocking piece radially overlaps the locking notch, wherein translation of the tail piece out of the keyed locking notch positions the lock assembly into an unlocked position.
4 more elements
A lock assembly comprising:
- an exterior and an interior portion configured to extend from an exterior and an interior of a door, respectively, wherein the exterior and interior portions each include exterior and interior inserts;
- a spindle connectable to the exterior and interior portions to translate a door latch, the exterior and interior portions being configured to operatively connect the spindle to an exterior and an interior handle, respectively;
- an exterior spring housing and an interior spring housing coupled to the respective exterior and interior portions, the exterior and interior spring housings each having compression springs configured to bias the exterior and interior handles;
- a locking mechanism having a locking piece;
- a toggle offset from a central axis of the exterior and interior portions, the toggle being engagable with the locking piece of the locking mechanism to secure the lock assembly in a locked position, the toggle including:
- a toggle head;
- a button connected to the toggle head, the button extending from an opening in the interior portion, wherein the button is offset from a rotational axis of the spindle;
- and
- a toggle tail, wherein the toggle tail is configured to engage the locking piece when the lock assembly is in the locked position, wherein the toggle tail has a rectangular cross section;
- and
- an unlocking piece operatively connected to the interior insert and configured to receive the spindle therein, wherein, when the interior handle is actuated, the spindle will rotate the unlocking piece transferring a camming motion to the toggle so that the toggle is translated to position the lock assembly in an unlocked position.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.