Pushbutton mechanisms for locksets

A method of installing a modular pushbutton mechanism to a lockset including an inside spindle rotatable about an axis, a plunger extending into the inside spindle, and a lock engaged with the plunger such that rotation of the plunger between an unlocking orientation and a locking orientation is correlated with movement of the lock between an unlocked state and a locked state, the method comprising:

• engaging a first component with the plunger such that the first component is rotationally coupled with the plunger for joint movement between the locking orientation and the unlocking orientation;
• engaging the first component with the inside spindle such that the first component is axially coupled with the inside spindle;
• engaging a second component with the inside spindle such that the second component is rotationally coupled with the inside spindle and is axially movable relative to the inside spindle;
• and
• engaging the first component with the second component via a cam interface such that axial displacement of the second component between a projected position and a depressed position is correlated with rotation of the first component and the plunger between the unlocking orientation and the locking orientation,
• wherein the cam interface comprises a pair of helical ramps and a pair of followers with the helical ramps.

A lockset, comprising:

• an inside housing;
• an inside spindle rotatably mounted to the inside housing;
• an outside housing;
• an outside spindle rotatably mounted to the outside housing;
• a latchbolt mechanism including a latchbolt having an extended position and a retracted position;
• a center spindle engaged with the latchbolt mechanism such that rotation of the center spindle drives the latchbolt from the extended position to the retracted position, wherein the center spindle is coupled with the inside spindle;
• a lock selectively coupling the outside spindle with the center spindle, the lock having an unlocked state in which the lock rotationally couples the outside spindle with the center spindle, the lock having a locked state in which the lock rotationally decouples the outside spindle from the center spindle;
• a plunger engaged with the lock and extending into the inside spindle, the plunger rotatable between an unlocking orientation corresponding to the unlocked state and a locking orientation corresponding to the locked state;
• and
• a pushbutton mechanism mounted in the inside spindle, the pushbutton mechanism comprising:
• a first component axially coupled with the inside spindle and rotationally coupled with the plunger for joint rotation between the unlocking orientation and the unlocking orientation;
• a second component rotationally coupled with the inside spindle and mounted for axial movement relative to the first component and the inside spindle, wherein the second component is axially movable between a depressed position and a projected position;
• and
• a cam interface defined at least in part by the first component and the second component;
• wherein the cam interface is configured to rotate the first component and the plunger from the unlocking orientation to the locking orientation in response to axial displacement of the second component from the projected position to the depressed position;
• wherein the cam interface configured to axially drive the second component from the depressed position to the projected position in response to rotation of the first component and the plunger from the locking orientation to the unlocking orientation, and
• wherein the cam interface comprises a pair of helical ramps and a pair of followers with the helical ramps.