Latch mechanism
AssigneeJado Bathroom and Hardware Mfg. Corp.
InventorFranz Werner Jans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A latch mechanism includes a housing containing a force transfer member. At one end of the force transfer member, a first cam mechanism is provided which is intended to be rotated by an actuator handle. At the other end of the force transfer member, a second cam mechanism is pivotably mounted to the housing and is pivoted through movements of the force transfer member responsive to rotations of the first Cam mechanism. The second cam mechanism is coupled to a latch bolt so that rotations of the first cam mechanism will result in movements of the latch bolt. The improved latch mechanism is designed to permit complete retraction of the latch bolt through rotation of the first cam mechanism by less than one-twelfth of a revolution, in either direction of rotation.
Claims12
An improved latch mechanism, comprising:
- a) a housing containing a force transfer mechanism biased by biasing means and said force transfer mechanism being constrained to linearly reciprocate within said housing;
- b) a first cam mechanism coupled to said force transfer mechanism whereby rotation of said first cam mechanism about a first axis of rotation causes reciprocation of said force transfer mechanism against force exerted by said biasing means;
- c) a second cam mechanism coupled to said force transfer mechanism whereby reciprocation of said force transfer mechanism causes rotation of said second cam mechanism about a second axis of rotation spaced from said first axis of rotation;
- d) said second cam mechanism being coupled to a latch bolt whereby rotation of said second cam mechanism causes reciprocation of said latch bolt;
- e) whereby rotation of said first cam mechanism results in reciprocation of said force transfer mechanism, rotation of said second cam mechanism and reciprocation of said latch bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.