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US 11,236,524 B2Granted
Door lock chassis assembly
AssigneeSchlage Lock Company LLC
InventorsNathanael S. Murphy, Peter Malenkovic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus that at least assists in maintaining a lever or knob of a lock device in a relatively neutral and static position. The apparatus includes a biasing element that can be constructed from a compliant material that may at least assist in reducing impact forces between interfacing surfaces at least when the lever or knob is returns to the neutral, static position from one or more activated positions. The compliant nature of the damper can further alleviate issues relating to manufacturing tolerances and wear between interfacing surfaces.
Claims24
A door hardware apparatus, comprising:
- a housing including a first projection comprising a damper formed of a compliant material;
- an actuator rotatably mounted to the housing, the actuator comprising a second projection that is aligned with the first projection when the actuator is in a neutral position;
- and a torsion spring engaged between the first projection and the second projection such that the torsion spring biases the actuator toward the neutral position, wherein the torsion spring includes a first arm and a second arm, and wherein the first arm has a first arm unactuated position in which the first arm abuts the damper;
- and wherein, during rotation of the actuator in a first rotational direction from the neutral position toward a first rotated position, the damper maintains the first arm in the unactuated position such that the first arm remains in contact with the damper while the second arm remains in contact with the second protrusion.
1 more element
An apparatus for a door lock chassis assembly, comprising:
- a housing comprising a first projection;
- an actuator rotatably mounted to the housing, the actuator comprising a second projection that is aligned with the first projection when the actuator is in a neutral position;
- and
- a torsion spring comprising a first arm and a second arm having a gap defined therebetween, wherein the first projection and the second projection are positioned in the gap;
- and
- wherein at least one of the first projection and the second projection comprises a damper formed of a compliant material;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of the damper is positioned within the gap.
5 more elements
A door hardware apparatus, comprising:
- a housing comprising a first projection;
- an actuator rotatably mounted to the housing, the actuator including a second projection that is aligned with the first projection when the actuator is in a neutral position;
- a torsion spring biasing the actuator toward the neutral position, the torsion spring comprising:
- a first arm positioned on a first side of the first projection and the second projection when the actuator is in the neutral position;
- and
- a second arm positioned on a second side of the first projection and the second projection when the actuator is in the neutral position;
- and
- a damper formed of a compliant material, wherein at least a portion of the damper is positioned between the first arm and the second arm when the actuator is in the neutral position;
- wherein, during rotation of the actuator in a first rotational direction from the neutral position toward a first rotated position, the first arm remains in contact with the damper while the second arm remains in contact with the second protrusion;
- and
- wherein, during return of the actuator from the first rotated position toward the neutral position, the damper absorbs a force of impact between the first arm and at least one of the first protrusion or the second protrusion.
8 more elements
A door hardware apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
- a damper mounted to the housing, wherein the damper is formed of a compliant material;
- an actuator rotatably mounted to the housing, the actuator comprising an arm that is angularly aligned with the damper when the actuator is in a neutral position;
- and
- a torsion spring engaged between the damper and the arm such that the torsion spring biases the actuator toward the neutral position, wherein the torsion spring includes a first arm and a second arm;
- and
- wherein, during rotation of the actuator in a first rotational direction from the neutral position toward a first rotated position, the first arm remains engaged with the housing via the damper while the second arm remains engaged with the arm.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.