Paddle lock with pivotally mounted handle disconnect member

A door lock, comprising:

• (a) a body structure;
• (b) a bolt structure connected to the body structure for movement between latching and unlatching positions, the bolt structure having a connecting formation connected thereto for movement along a first path of travel as the bolt structure moves between its latching and unlatching positions;
• (c) a handle structure connected to the body structure for movement between normal and operating positions, the handle structure having an operating formation connected thereto for movement along a second path of travel as the handle structure moves between its normal and operating positions;
• (d) disconnect means interposed between the connecting formation and the operating formation, at least a part of the disconnect means being movable along a third path of travel into and out of intersection with a selected one of the first and second paths of travel as the part of the disconnect means moves between connecting and disconnecting positions, the disconnect means being operable:
• (i) when the part of the disconnect means is in its connecting position, to cooperate with the connecting and operating formations to drivingly connect the handle and bolt structures such that, when the handle structure is moved to its operating position, the bolt structure is caused to move to its unlatching position;
• and,
• (ii) when the part of the disconnect means is in its disconnecting position, to provide no driving connection between the handle and bolt structures;
• (e) key-control means connected to one of the structures and being operable to move the part of the disconnect means between its connecting and disconnecting positions and to selectively releasably retain the part of the disconnect means in its connecting and disconnecting positions;
• (f) guide means for:
• (i) mounting the part of the disconnect means for pivotal movement along a third path of travel as the part of the disconnect means moves between its connecting and disconnecting positions;
• and,
• (ii) mounting at least a portion of the disconnect means for translatory movement along a fourth path of travel while the part of the disconnect means is in its connecting position and while the disconnect means establishes a driving connection between the handle and bolt structures;
• (h) the bolt structure having a projection formed thereon;
• (i) the disconnect means part having an L-shaped slot formed therein with one leg of the slots being with the first path of travel when the part is in its disconnecting position, and with the other leg of the slot extending laterally with respect to one leg;
• and,
• (j) the bolt structure projection extending into the L-shaped slot for sliding movement along the first leg when the handle structure is moved while the other of the interconnected members is in its disconnecting position and for drivingly engaging a side of the second leg when the other of the interconnected members is in its connecting position.

A door lock, comprising:

• (a) a body structure;
• (b) a bolt structure connected to the body structure for movement between latching and unlatching positions, the bolt structure having a connecting formation connected thereto and being movable along a first path of travel between latching and unlatching positions;
• (c) a handle structure connected to the body structure for movement between normal and operating positions, the handle structure having an operating formation connected thereto and being movable along a second path of travel as the handle structure moves between its normal and operating positions;
• (d) disconnect means interposed between the operating formation and the connecting formation, and including a disconnect member, the disconnect member being movable into and out of driving engagement with a selected one of the connecting and operating formations as the disconnect member moves between connecting and disconnecting positions, the disconnect means being operable:
• (i) when the disconnect member is in its connection position, to drivingly engage the selected one of the formations to drivingly connect the handle structure and bolt structures such that, when the handle structure is moved to its operating position, the bolt structure is caused to move to its unlatching position;
• and,
• (ii) when the disconnect member is in its disconnecting position, to disengage the selected one of the formations to provide no driving connection between the handle and bolt structure;
• (e) key-control means connected to one of the structures and having a locking member movable between locked and unlocked positions, the key-control means being operable;
• (i) when the locking member is in its unlocked position, to position the disconnect member in its connecting positions;
• and,
• (ii) when the locking member is in its locked position, to position the disconnect member in its disconnecting position;
• (f) the disconnect means additionally including guide means for:
• (i) mounting at least a part of the disconnect member for lateral movement relative to the and,
• (ii) confining at least a segment of the disconnect means against lateral movement relative to the first path of travel;
• (g) first biasing means biasing at least a portion of the disconnect means into engagement with the other of the connecting and operating formations;
• (h) the disconnect member having an L-shaped slot formed therein, one leg of which is aligned with the second path of travel when the disconnect member is in its disconnecting position, the other leg of which extends laterally of the first leg;
• and,
• (i) the connecting formation extending into the L-shaped slot for sliding movement in the first leg when the handle structure is moved while the disconnect member is in its disconnecting position, and for drivingly engaging a side of the second leg when the disconnect member is in its connecting position.

A flush-mountable door lock, comprising:

• (a) a body structure having side and back walls which cooperate to define a forwardly-facing recess, and having an opening formed through the body structure;
• (b) an elongate bolt structure movably connected to the body structure, the bolt being movable relative to the body structure along a first path of travel between latching and unlatching positions;
• (c) a handle structure mounted on the body structure and being movable between a nested position wherein the handle structure is nested within the recess, and an operating position;
• (d) key-control means connected to one of the structures and including a locking member movable between locked and unlocked positions;
• (e) an operating formation connected to another of the structures and extending through the back wall opening and into the receiving formation of the bolt structure;
• (f) disconnect means interposed between key-control means and the operating formation, the disconnect means including a pair of pivotally interconnected members which are relatively movable between a connecting position wherein the pivotally interconnected members are operable to drivingly interconnect the handle and bolt structures such that when the handle structure is moved out of its nested position the bolt structure is caused to retract, and a disconnecting position wherein no driving connection is provided between the handle and bolt structure;
• (g) one of the interconnected members including a projection formed on the bolt structure;
• (h) the other of the interconnected members including an L-shaped slot having one leg which is aligned with the first path of travel, and one leg which extends laterally of the first leg;
• and
• (i) the bolt structure projection extends into the L-shaped slot for sliding movement along the first leg when the handle structure is moved while the other of the interconnected members is in its disconnecting position and for drivingly engaging a side of the second leg when the other of the interconnected members is in its connecting position.

A flush-mountable door lock, comprising:

• (a) a body structure having side and back walls which cooperate to define a forwardly-facing recess, and having an opening formed through the back wall;
• (b) an elongate bolt structure slidably supported on the body structure at a location behind a portion of the back wall, the bolt structure being movable between a projected position wherein the bolt structure is extended with respect to the body structure, and a retracted position wherein the bolt structure is retracted with respect to the body structure, the bolt structure having a receiving formation communicating with the back wall opening;
• (c) a handle structure mounted on the body structure and being movable between a nested position wherein the handle structure is nested within the recess, and an operating position;
• (d) connecting means carried by the handle structure and being movable therewith, the connecting means extending through the back wall opening and into the receiving formation of the bolt structure;
• (e) disconnect linkage means having a first element extending into the receiving formation for engaging the connecting means and having a portion extending longitudinally of the bolt structure toward the key-control means, the disconnect linkage means additionally having a second element which is coupled to the first element and which is movable between a connecting position wherein it is operable to cooperate with the first element to drivingly interconnect the handle and bolt structures such that when the handle structure is moved out of its nested position the bolt structure is caused to retract, and a disconnecting position wherein no driving connection is provided between the handle and bolt structures;
• (f) key-control means carried by the body structure and including a locking member movable between locked and unlocked positions;
• (g) the locking member being engageable with the second element of the disconnect linkage means for moving the second element to its connecting position when the locking member is moved to its unlocked position, and for moving the second element to its disconnecting position when the locking member is moved to its locked position;
• (h) the body structure has an elongate slot formed therein along one side of the bolt structure and paralleling the path of travel followed by the bolt structure in moving between its projected and retracted positions;
• (i) a connecting formation is carried by the bolt structure and extends through the elongate slot;
• (j) the second element drivingly engages the connecting formation when in its connecting position, and disengages the connecting formation when in its disconnecting position;
• (k) the second element has an L-shaped slot formed therein, one leg of which is aligned with the second path of travel when the disconnect member is in its disconnecting position, the other leg of which extends laterally of the first leg;
• and,
• (l) the connecting formation extends into the L-shaped slot for sliding movement in the first leg when the handle structure is moved while the disconnect member is in its disconnecting position and for drivingly engaging a side of the second leg when the disconnect member is in its connecting position.