Door latch apparatus
AssigneeBaldwin Hardware Manufacturing Corporation
InventorsPeter Fayerman, Elwood Shaffer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A door latch mechanism for controllably securing a door, the latch mechanism of the type having a spindle and operating handles, comprises a fusible connecting member rigidly attaching the handle and spindle at room temperature, the fusible connecting member melting at elevated temperatures to permit relative rotation of the handle and spindle. The handle is mounted using a connecting member which is attached to the latch trim using a screwless connection. It is particularly applicable to latches using lever handles in that a positive positioning mechanism holds the handles at their selected positions, regardless of wear and age.
Claims8
A latch mechanism for a door, having concealed and protected mounting means, comprising:
- a rotatable spindle shaft disposed in the door and extending beyond opposite surfaces of the door, rotation of the spindle shaft causing operation of the latch mechanism, the shaft having handles rigidly mounted on the ends thereof, at least one of the handles having a separate bushing mounted in a bore in the handle and extending therefrom to form a handle extension, the extension having an annular groove spaced from the handle;
- first and second trim plates mounted on opposite surfaces of the door, the spindle shaft passing through openings in said first and second trim plates;
- at least one post rigidly attaching the first and second trim plates to one another through the door, the post being endwise attached to a rear portion of both the first and second trim plates facing inwardly toward the door, exposed, outwardly-facing surfaces of the trim plates protecting the post from access;
- a trim bushing removably connected to at least one of said trim plates, the trim bushing having a central bore, the handle extension extending through the bore in the trim bushing;
- and,
- a retaining ring fit in the annular groove of the handle extension, the retaining ring in the groove being dimensioned larger than the bore in the trim bushing, whereby said handle and spindle shaft are locked against movement along an axis defined by the spindle shaft, due to interaction of the retaining ring and the trim bushing.
The handle mount of claims 1 or 9, further comprising means for positively positioning the handle at a predetermined orientation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.