Patent ID: 7641243
Filing Date: 2010-01-05
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A latch assembly, comprising: a handle rotatably mounted to a housing, a spindle extending from said handle in rotatably slaved fashion, a pair of fixed mounting rods extending from said housing in parallel fashion relative to said spindle; a backset subassembly arranged in substantially perpendicular extending fashion relative to said spindle and mounting rods, said backset operatively engaging said handle and, in turn, actuating a latch bolt assembly to linearly withdraw in a direction towards said backset, upon rotation of said handle, said backset comprising: an inner casing part; an outer spaced apart and aligning casing part; a linearly actuating plate and a follower plate sandwichingly engaged between said inner and outer casing parts; each of said inner and outer casing parts having a specified shape and size and including a centrally located and aligning opening through which extends said spindle, in combination with at least first and second pairs of individual positioning holes arranged on opposite sides of said central aligning openings and for receiving said mounting rods therethrough; said actuating plate further comprising a lengthwise extending and open interior for facilitating passage therethrough by said spindle and mounting rods, said actuating plate further comprising an extending end exhibiting oppositely extending hook portions for engaging said latch bolt assembly; said follower plate seating between said casing parts and against said actuating plate to facilitate extension and retraction of said latch bolt assembly, said follower plate being linearly repositioned between shorter and longer backset positions relative to said casing parts; said follower plate having a specified shape and size and further comprising, said follower plate having a specified shape and size and further comprising: a first edge extending and arcuate recess terminating, at opposite ends, in a pair of teeth; and a second opposite edge including a likewise central extending and arcuate recess; whereupon, in said shorter backset position, a selected on of said teeth engages said rotating spindle simultaneously with contacting protrusions associated with end legs of said actuating plate opposite said hook portions and to indirectly retract said bolt; whereupon, in said longer backset position, said follower plate is moved longitudinally relative to said inner and outer casing parts such that said first arcuate recess is positioned in alignment with a selected pair of aligning and individual positioning holes through which a selected mounting rod extends, and further such that said second arcuate recess operates as an axle bearing against said spindle in order to rotate at a fixed point; said follower plate further comprising a pair of bead shaped protrusions extending from an exposed face thereof, a pair of angled edge tabs associated with said outer casing part contacting said beads to define a linear end stop position of said follower plate; and said latch bolt assembly further comprising a cylinder shaped and interiorly open body within which is mounted a bolt in spring biasing fashion, a stem portion extending from said bolt including gripping tabs for seating said hook portions of said actuating plate and for thereby translating said linear retraction of said actuator plate to said bolt.