Abstract:
A helical gear actuator for use with a passage set or deadbolt set is provided. The helical gear actuator comprises a shaft including an at least one helical groove, a plunger and a receiver including two tracks, the receiver shaped to rotatably accept the shaft, the groove shaped to slidably accept the two tracks, such that in use, urging the shaft into the receiver effects rotation of the receiver relative to the shaft. Also provided are the passage set and the deadbolt.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/219,168, filed Sep. 16, 2015, entitled PUSH, PULL AND ROTATE DEADBOLT AND PASSAGE SET AND HELICAL GEAR MECHANISM THEREIN, the contents of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety including all tables, figures and claims. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present technology includes a helical gear mechanism for use in a deadbolt and a passage set and the deadbolt and passage set. More specifically, it is an easy to operate push, pull and rotate mechanism and push, pull and rotate deadbolt and passage set. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    Opening and closing of doors can be difficult for many people, simply because the door closure mechanism is a door knob, or lever, both that need to be rotated. Whether the user is disabled, or has their hands full, these styles of openers are not very user friendly. To address this, numerous push-pull passage sets and some push pull door locks have been developed. These are often difficult to manufacture, have many moving parts that are subject to stress and wear and are still not as user friendly as they could be. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,139,072 discloses a push-pull door lock. The push-pull door lock comprises a lock case installed within an installation hole of a door. A slider is slidably mounted within the lock case. A latch bolt is connected to the slider through an elastic member. A push member is slidably mounted to a first side of the lock case and operably connected to the slider by a first intermediation assembly so as to slide the slider. A pull member is slidably mounted to a second side of the lock case and operably connected to the slider by a second intermediation assembly so as to slide the slider. The first intermediation assembly comprises a push plate, a first slide projection and a push rod. The second intermediation assembly comprises a pull plate, a second slide projection and a pull rod. The push and pull plates are rotatably mounted around a fixing pin. The first and second slide projections are formed on the slider and are respectively in contact with the push and pull plates. The push and pull rods are respectively formed on the ends of the push and pull members. This mechanism only allows for the push action to effect opening of the door from one side. Similarly, the pull action only functions on the other side of the door. This limits the effectiveness of the mechanism, only assisting a user to open and close the door on one side. Further, this is a complex system that is difficult to manufacture and subject to stress and wear when in use. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,598 discloses a push-pull door latch mechanism for latching/unlatching a retractable latch bolt of a latch bolt assembly. The latch mechanism includes a pair of handles, one on either side of a door, each handle having an engagement portion configured to engage a pin on a corresponding first and second rotatable cam. Each cam is provided with a latch bolt assembly engaging portion operably connected to the latch bolt assembly. The first cam further has a locking shoulder configured for selective engagement with a first lock member. A lock coupling operably connects the first lock member with a second lock member such that rotational movement of one of the first and second lock members causes rotational movement of the other of the first and second lock members. A lock knob provided on the interior side of the door is operably connected to the first lock member and facilitates toggling of the first and second lock members between the locked and unlocked positions. An override knob provided on the exterior side of the door is operably connected to the second lock member and facilitates toggling of the first and second lock members between the locked and unlocked positions. This is a complex system that is difficult to manufacture and subject to stress and wear when in use. The plane of linear movement of the handle causes an engagement portion of the handle to pivot about a pivot axis and engage a pin, which causes the cam to rotate about an axis normal to the plane of linear movement. Only one side is configured to be pushed and only the other side is configured to be pulled. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,916 discloses a push-pull door lock chiefly comprising a sleeve on one side of a conventional door lock and a sleeve with a pull ring on the front edge on another side thereof, wherein two rollers are pivotally mounted in the sleeve and two protruding shafts are provided to the end of sleeve, each one neck of the conventional door lock handle is provided with an inclined slide groove to receive each one roller on the sleeve, each one thimble is provided to each one fixing ring on both sides of the conventional door lock so as to respectively install a compression spring and a stretch spring and to receive the two protruding shafts on the sleeve; therefore, a push-press handle is on the one side of door lock and a pull-open handle is on the another side thereof, and through pushing the sleeve on the one side of the conventional door lock by any one portion of the user&#39;s body or pulling the pull ring on the front of sleeve on the another side thereof by his any one finger, the sleeve actuates the door lock handle to rotate, and the lock tongue is thus retracted inwards, so that the purpose of opening the door can be achieved. This lock does not permit a user from pushing the lock on both sides of the door in order to open the lock. This limits the effectiveness of the mechanism, only assisting a user to open and close the door on one side. 
         [0006]    WO2014107048 discloses a push-pull door lock of which release can be carried out by a user by pushing a handle in a door-opening direction. The present invention pertains to a push-pull door lock, wherein a link body operates by the pushing of the handle member of a door lock main body such that the door lock is released so as to open a door. The link body includes a first link member and a second link member respectively provided to the upper end and the lower end of the handle member so as to rotate in one direction if the handle member is pressed; a connection bar for connecting and interlocking the first link member and the second link member; and a rack member provided to one end of the connection bar, which moves in a straight direction, so as to rotate a mortise rotation body. This lock does not permit a user from pushing the lock on both sides of the door in order to open the lock. This limits the effectiveness of the mechanism, only assisting a user to open and close the door on one side. 
         [0007]    United States Patent Application 20140260458 discloses a push-pull door lock capable of selecting a lever work direction which may be installed without needing to coincide a door opening direction with the lever work direction by driving a driving unit during both a push operation and a pull operation of a lever coupled to each of housings of a front surface and a rear surface of a door to unlock a lock mechanism received in the door. The push-pull door lock includes: a lever that is provided on a front surface of each of housings, which are respectively coupled to an inside and an outside of a door by supports, to pivot in a front-and-back direction and has a protruding portion protruding toward a door; and a selection member that is provided on a rear surface of the housing and limits a pivoting range of the protruding portion in order to select a push operation or a pull operation of the lever. This system does not allow for push and pull functionality without specifically selecting one or the other. This adds complexity for the user, and requires dexterity. 
         [0008]    What is needed is an easy to manufacture and easy to use mechanism for door locks and latches that provides them with push, pull and rotate functionality. The mechanism would preferably be adaptable for use in passage sets and deadbolts. What is further needed is a passage set that has push, pull and rotate functionality, using a split helical gear actuator. What is still further needed is a deadbolt that relies on a helical gear actuator and a cam mechanism disposed about an axis of rotation. The gearing system would have a minimum of moving parts, would have a minimum of movement and would therefore not be subject to undue wear. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present technology is a helical gear system for use in passage sets and deadbolts. The design has a minimum of moving parts and is easy to manufacture. The helical gear system provides push, pull and rotate functionality. For the passage set, a split helical gear system is used to allow the first and second sides of the passage set to operate independently. For the deadbolt, a single helical gear is used in conjunction with a cam mechanism disposed about an axis of rotation to provide the push, pull and rotate functionality. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, a helical gear actuator mechanism for use with a passage set or deadbolt set is provided, the helical gear actuator mechanism comprising a helical gear actuator and a receiver, the helical gear actuator including: a shaft, the shaft including an at least one helical groove extending along the shaft; a plunger, the plunger attached to a distal end of the shaft; and a housing, the housing moveably retaining the plunger, the receiver including two curved tracks extending into a receiver bore, the receiver bore rotatably retaining the shaft, and the groove slidably retaining the two tracks, such that in use, urging the shaft into the receiver with the plunger effects rotation of the receiver relative to the shaft. 
         [0011]    In the helical gear actuator, the shaft may be a split shaft comprising a first and a second half shaft, each half shaft including a smooth surface, a step and an outer surface, the smooth surface of the first half shaft adjacent the smooth surface of the second half shaft, the step of the first half shaft abutting the step of the second half shaft and the outer surface of each half comprising half of the at least one helical groove. 
         [0012]    In another embodiment, a passage set for use with a door is provided, the passage set comprising a first opener, a second opener, a first escutcheon plate, a second escutcheon plate, a first guide, a second guide, a first mounting plate, a cylinder, a first split helical gear actuator, a second helical gear actuator, a first plunger, a second plunger, a first housing, a second housing, and a latch assembly, the first opener moveably mounted in the first escutcheon plate, the second opener moveably mounted in the second escutcheon plate, the first and second guide housed in the first and second escutcheon plate, respectively, and attached to the first and second opener respectively, the first escutcheon plate mounted on the first mounting plate, the second escutcheon plate mounted on the cylinder, the first and the second split helical gear actuators each including: a split shaft, the split shaft including an at least one helical groove on an outer surface; the first plunger attached to a first end of the split shaft, the second plunger attached to a second end of the split shaft; and the first housing and the second housing moveably retaining the first plunger and the second plunger, respectively, the first and second housing slidably retained in the first and second guide, respectively, the latch assembly including a receiver, the receiver including two curved tracks on an inner surface of a bore, the receiver rotatably retaining the split shaft, the at least one helical groove of the split shaft slidably accepting the two tracks. 
         [0013]    In the passage set, the split shaft may include a first split shaft and a second split shaft, the first split shaft and the second split shaft each including a half of the at least one helical groove, the split shafts abutting one another to form the split shaft and the at least one helical groove. 
         [0014]    The passage set may be a push, pull and rotate passage set and the first and second opener each may include a first mating member, and the first and second plungers may each include a second mating member, each for mating with the first mating member on each of the first and second openers. 
         [0015]    In the passage set, one mating member may be a female mating member, the female member defining a two, three, four or five sided shape and the other mating member may be a male mating member, the male mating member defining a three, four or five sided shape. 
         [0016]    In the passage set, the female mating member may define a V-groove. 
         [0017]    In the passage set, the second mating member may be a four sided polyhedron. 
         [0018]    In the passage set, each first mating member may be the female mating member and each second mating member may be the male mating member, the first mating member pivotally mounted in a first and a second guide and in contact with the second mating member of the first and the second plunger, respectively. 
         [0019]    In the passage set, the first and the second openers may be pivotally attached to the first and second guides, respectively. 
         [0020]    In the passage set, each opener may be a lever. 
         [0021]    In the passage set, the latch assembly may include a latch, the latch rotatably engaged with the receiver. 
         [0022]    The passage set, may further comprise a striker plate, the striker plate comprising a latch aperture for accepting the latch, an at least one aperture for accepting an at least one screw, and a roller rotatably disposed in the latch aperture. 
         [0023]    In the passage set, the roller of the striker plate may include a body and a pin, the body rotatably mounted on the pin. 
         [0024]    In the passage set, the passage set may be a push and pull passage set and the first and second opener each include a first contact member and the first and second plungers each include a second contact member, the second contact members for contacting with the first contact members on the first and second openers. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, a set for use with a first and a second opener, a first and a second escutcheon plate, a mounting plate, a latch assembly and a cylinder is provided, the set comprising: a pair of first mating members; a first and second guide, each guide pivotally retaining one first mating members; a first plunger and a second plunger, the first and second plungers slidably retained in the first and second guide, respectively, the plungers each including a second mating member, the second mating member releasable mating with the first mating member; a first and a second split helical gear shaft each connected to one plunger, each split helical gear shaft including an at least one helical groove on an outer surface; and a receiver, the receiver including tracks in slidable engagement with the groove and rotatably retaining the first and second split helical gear shaft. 
         [0026]    In the passage set, the split helical gear shaft may comprise a first and a second half shaft, each half shaft including a smooth surface, a step and an outer surface, the smooth surface of the first half shaft adjacent the smooth surface of the second half shaft, the step of the first half shaft abutting the step of the second half shaft and the outer surface of each half comprising half of the at least one helical groove. 
         [0027]    In the passage set, the split helical gear shaft may comprise two helical grooves. 
         [0028]    In yet another embodiment, a deadbolt for use with a latch assembly is provided, the deadbolt comprising: a helical gear actuator shaft, the helical gear actuator shaft including an at least one helical groove on at least a proximal section; a plunging guide, the plunging guide rotatably housing the helical gear actuator shaft and including guide blocks, a track engaging the helical groove and a plurality of teeth; a positioning guide, the positioning guide including a plurality of ridges, the plurality of ridges meshing with the plurality of teeth of the plunging guide; a cam body, the cam body rotatably housing the plunging guide and the positioning guide and including a series of cams, slots and grooves, the cams abutting the ridges, the slots and grooves slidably accepting the guide blocks, the slots slidably accepting the ridges; a drive shaft, the drive shaft in linear relation to the helical gear actuator shaft and attached to the helical gear actuator shaft at a helical gear actuator shaft distal end; a gate distal to the cam body and defining a port, the port for extension of the drive shaft therethrough; and a biasing member, the biasing member housed in the cam body and biasing the positioning guide. 
         [0029]    In the deadbolt, the helical gear actuator shaft may include two helical grooves along a length of the shaft. 
         [0030]    In the deadbolt, the drive shaft may include a bevel bearing and the gate includes a bearing guide. 
         [0031]    The deadbolt may further comprise the latch assembly, the latch assembly including a latch, the latch in linear relation to the drive shaft and attached to the drive shaft at a drive shaft distal end. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]      FIGS. 1A , B, C, D and E show the helical gear actuator of the present technology.  FIG. 1A  is a single helical shaft;  FIG. 1B  is a double helical shaft;  FIG. 1C  shows the receiver for the shafts;  FIG. 1D  shows a split helical shaft; and  FIG. 1D  shows a cross section of on half of the split helical shaft. 
           [0033]      FIG. 2A  is an exploded side view and top view of a push, pull and rotate passage set of the present technology;  FIG. 2B  is an end view of an escutcheon plate;  FIG. 2C  is an end view of the guide; and  FIG. 2D  is an end view of a cylinder or mounting plate. 
           [0034]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the passage set of the present technology. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4A  is an exploded view of the receiver and split shaft of the passage set;  FIG. 4B  is a detailed view of the helical gear actuator;  FIG. 4C  is an end view of the plunger;  FIG. 4D  is a detailed view of the receiver; and  FIG. 4E  is the receiver in the latch mechanism. 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  is an alternative embodiment of the passage set of the present technology. 
           [0037]      FIG. 6  is a push and pull passage set of the present technology. 
           [0038]      FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of a deadbolt of the present technology. 
           [0039]      FIG. 8A  is a side view of the plunging guide of the deadbolt of  FIG. 7 ;  FIG. 8B  is a cross sectional view of the plunging guide of the deadbolt of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 9A  is a side view of the helical gear actuator shaft and the driving shaft of the deadbolt;  FIG. 9B  is a top view of the clip of the deadbolt. 
           [0041]      FIG. 10A  is a side view of the positioning guide;  FIG. 10B  is a cross sectional view of the positioning guide of the deadbolt. 
           [0042]      FIG. 11A  is a side view of the cam body;  FIG. 11B  is a cross sectional view of the cam body of the deadbolt. 
           [0043]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the gate of the deadbolt. 
           [0044]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the deadbolt in the extended position. 
           [0045]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the deadbolt in the compressed position. 
           [0046]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of a striker plate of the present technology. 
           [0047]      FIG. 16A  is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment of the passage set;  FIG. 16B  is a cross section of the plug of the alternative embodiment of the passage set of the present technology. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0048]    Except as otherwise expressly provided, the following rules of interpretation apply to this specification (written description, claims and drawings): (a) all words used herein shall be construed to be of such gender or number (singular or plural) as the circumstances require; (b) the singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in the specification and the appended claims include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise; (c) the antecedent term “about” applied to a recited range or value denotes an approximation within the deviation in the range or value known or expected in the art from the measurements method; (d) the words “herein”, “hereby”, “hereof”, “hereto”, “hereinbefore”, and “hereinafter”, and words of similar import, refer to this specification in its entirety and not to any particular paragraph, claim or other subdivision, unless otherwise specified; (e) descriptive headings are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any part of the specification; and (f) “or” and “any” are not exclusive and “include” and “including” are not limiting. Further, The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. 
         [0049]    To the extent necessary to provide descriptive support, the subject matter and/or text of the appended claims is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
         [0050]    Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Where a specific range of values is provided, it is understood that each intervening value, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, between the upper and lower limit of that range and any other stated or intervening value in that stated range, is included therein. All smaller sub ranges are also included. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges are also included therein, subject to any specifically excluded limit in the stated range. 
         [0051]    Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used, the acceptable methods and materials are now described. 
         [0052]    A helical gear actuator mechanism, generally referred to as  10  is shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D . As shown in  FIG. 1A , the gear actuator  10  has a shaft  12  with a helical groove  14 , or as shown in  FIG. 1B , a double helical groove  16  (there is at least one helical groove). The receiver  18  for the shaft  12  is shown in  FIG. 1C . The receiver  18  is located in the latch mechanism (See  FIG. 4E ). The shaft  12  is sized to slidably fit in the receiver bore  19 . A bore surface  20  of the receiver  18  has two curved tracks  22 ,  24  to slidably engage the helical groove  14  or the double helical groove  16 . As shown in  FIG. 1D , a split helical gear  26  has a first and a second split shaft, generally referred to as  30  and  32 . Each half of the split helical gear  26  has outer side  34 , which is a semi-circle (See  FIG. 1E ), with a helical groove  35  and an inner smooth side  36 , with a proximal step  38  on the smooth side  36  at the proximal end  37 . The split shaft  26  is sized to slidably fit in the receiver bore  19 . The bore surface  20  has two curved tracks  22 ,  24  to slidably engage the helical groove  14  or the double helical groove  16  of the split shaft  26 . A plunger  100  (See  FIG. 2A ) is attached to the distal end  27  of the shaft  12 ,  26  and is slidably housed in a housing  102  (See  FIG. 2A ). 
         [0053]      FIG. 2A  shows an exploded view of a passage set, generally referred to as  50 . The passage set has a first and second split helical gear actuator  30 ,  32 . Progressing from left to right, there is a first opener generally referred to as  52 , which is preferably a lever, but may be a knob, a first escutcheon plate generally referred to as  54 , a first guide generally referred to as  56 , a first split helical gear actuator generally referred to as  30 , a mounting plate generally referred to as  58 , a latch assembly generally referred to as  60 , with a latch  62 , a cylinder generally referred to as  64 , the second split helical gear actuator generally referred to as  32 , a second guide generally referred to as  66 , a second escutcheon plate generally referred to as  68  and a second opener generally referred to as  72 , which is preferably a lever, but may be a knob. 
         [0054]    The details of the passage set  50  components follow. The first opener  52  has a lever or knob end  76 , an arm  77  defining a V-groove  78  and a V-groove aperture  80 . The V-groove  78  is sized to slide in a bore  82  in the first escutcheon plate  54  ( FIG. 2B ). The guide aperture  84  and the V-groove aperture  80  align and are held in place with a pin  86  ( FIG. 2C ). The pin  86  allows for rocking of the V-groove  78  in the first guide  56 . The first guide  56  has a rim  88  at a proximal end  90 . The first split helical gear actuator  30  has a plunger  100 , a housing  102  and a shaft  104 . The plunger  100  has a four sided polyhedral head  106  that is shaped to mate with the V-groove  78 . The plunger  100  is moveably housed in the housing  102 . It is attached to the shaft  104  with the pin  86 . A spring  103  biases the plunger  100  outward towards the first opener  52 . The housing  102  has a stop  108  that abuts the rim  88  of the first guide  56 . The shaft  104  has the half helical groove  35  on the outer surface  34  and the smooth flat inner surface  36  with the step  38  (again, there is at least one half helical groove) as shown in  FIG. 1D . The housing  102  is housed in a bore  120  of the mounting plate  58  ( FIG. 2D ). The shaft  104  extends into the latch assembly  60 . 
         [0055]    The details of the components on the other side of the passage set  50  are identical to those of the first side of the passage set, with the exception that the mounting plate  58  is replaced with the cylinder  64 . The second opener  72  has a lever or knob end  76 , an arm  77  defining a V-groove  78  and a V-groove aperture  80 . The V-groove  78  is sized to slide in a bore  82  in the second escutcheon plate  68  and a bore  83  in the second guide  66 . The second guide  66  has a guide aperture  84 . The guide aperture  84  and the V-groove aperture  80  align and are held in place with a pin  86 . The pin  86  allows for rocking of the V-groove  78  in the second guide  66 . The second guide  56  has a rim  88  at a proximal end  90 . The second split helical gear actuator  32  has a plunger  100 , a housing  102  and a shaft  104 . The plunger  100  has a four sided polyhedral head  106  that is shaped to mate with the V-groove  78 . It is attached to the shaft  100  with the pin  86 . The plunger  100  is moveably housed in the housing  102 . A spring  103  biases the plunger outward towards the second opener  72 . The housing  102  has a stop  108  that abuts the rim  88  of the second guide  66 . The shaft  104  has the helical groove  35  on the outer surface  34  and the smooth flat inner surface  36  with the step  38  as shown in  FIG. 1D . The housing  102  is housed in the bore  122  of the cylinder  64 . The shaft  104  extends into the latch assembly  60 . 
         [0056]    The assembled passage set is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0057]    As shown in  FIG. 4A , the shafts  104  from each side of the passage set  50  align with each other with the smooth flat inner surfaces  36  of each shaft  104  abutting one another to form the split shaft  26 . This split shaft  26  provides the at least one helical groove  12  or double helical groove  14  that slidably engage the two curved tracks  22 ,  24  of the receiver  18  in the latch assembly  60 . Details of the helical gear actuator  56 ,  66  are shown in  FIG. 4B and 4C . Details of the receiver  18  and the receiver  18  in the latch mechanism  60  are shown in  FIGS. 4D  and E. 
         [0058]    Pushing or pulling on the lever  76  causes the latch  62  to withdraw from a striker plate in a door frame, allowing unlatching of the latch  62 . The action and interaction of the components is identical whether the lever  76  is pushed or pulled and whether it is one side of the passage set or the other side. The lever  76  pivots about the pin  86  causing the V-groove  78  to urge the plunger  100  forward towards the latch assembly  60 . This urges the shaft  104  into the receiver  18 , causing the tracks  22 ,  24  of the receiver  18  to slide up the helical groove  12  or double helical groove  14  provided by the split shaft  26 . The receiver  18  therefore rotates and, as occurs in a standard latch mechanism, causes the latch  62  to withdraw. As the plunger  100  on one side is being urged forward, the plunger  100  on the other side is being urged back into the housing  102  and the lever  76  to move in or out a small amount. 
         [0059]    The lever  76  can also be rotated to unlatch the latch  62 . Rotating the lever  76  causes the V-groove  78  again to urge the plunger  100  forward towards the latch assembly  60 . However, it does not pivot about the pin  80 . Instead, the faces of the polyhedral head  106  and the V-groove  78  catch on one another and as the V-groove rotates, it urges the polyhedral head  106  and therefore the plunger  100  towards the latch assembly  60 . The remainder of the actions and interactions are the same as for when the lever  76  is pushed or pulled. 
         [0060]    In the preferred embodiment a first mating member  78  and a second mating member  106  define the V-groove and the polyhedral head, respectively. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the first mating member is a male mating member and the second mating member is a female member. If only a push and pull mechanism is desired, mating of the members need only result in the second mating member being urged inward towards the latch mechanism. Hence, the mating members can be replaced with a first contact  200  and a second contact  202 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . Without being bound to theory, edges, as provided, for example by the V-groove and the polyhedral head, provide the rotational capability. For this functionality, a two sided, three sided, four sided or five sided indent can interact with a head having three, four or five sides. The head may be a block or a polyhedron. 
         [0061]    A deadbolt generally referred to as  300  is shown in  FIG. 7 . It has a plunging guide  302 , a helical gear actuator shaft  304 , a positioning guide  308 , a spring  310 , a drive shaft  312 , a cam body  314  and a gate  316 . 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIG. 8A  and B, the plunging guide  302  has guide blocks  352 , a track  354  and teeth  356  on an outer shell  358 . The blocks  352  extend outward from the outer shell  358 , the track  354  is located in a vicinity of a proximal end  360  on an inner surface  362  and the teeth  356  are at the proximal end  360 . The outer shell  358  defines a bore  364 . The plunging guide  302  provides the functionality of the plunger and receiver of the passage set, in addition to the other functions noted. The helical gear actuator shaft is equivalent to the shaft of the passage set. 
         [0063]    The helical gear actuator shaft  304  has an at least one helical groove  14  or a double helical groove  16 . The track  354  of the plunging guide  302  runs along the helical groove  16  of the shaft  304 . When urged, the shaft  304  rotates along the helix and moves into the bore  364  of the plunging guide  302 . 
         [0064]    The drive shaft  312  is attached to the helical gear actuator shaft  304  with a bolt  390 . It translates the forward and backward movement of the helical gear actuator shaft  304 , hence the same functionality can be obtained by simply extending the length of the helical gear actuator shaft  304 . If the helical gear actuator shaft is extended, the helical groove need only be in the proximal section. As shown in  FIG. 9 a   , the drive shaft  312  has a shaft body  392 , a hitch point  394 , a bearing bevel  396 , and an inner key housing  398 . As shown in  FIG. 9B , the hitch point  394  is used with a C-clip  400  to retain the drive shaft  312  in position in the gate  316 . The bevel bearing  396  improves rotational stability. The inner key housing  398  allows for an extension of the moment of rotation by accepting a key  402 . The drive shaft  312  is housed in the cam body  314  and gate  316 . It rotates and moves forward and back with the helical gear actuator shaft  304 . 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIGS. 10A  and B the positioning guide  308  has a load platform  370 , a plurality of ridges  372 , a lip  374 , a body  376  and optional teeth  378  at a distal end  380 . The positioning guide has a bore  382  therethrough. The optional teeth  378  can interdigitate with the teeth  356  of the plunging guide  302 . The ridges  372  abut the blocks  352  of the plunging guide  302  and mesh with the teeth  356  of the plunging guide. The lip  374  stabilizes the positioning guide  308  as it rotates and moves forward and backwards in the cam body  314 . 
         [0066]    As shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B , the cam body  314  has a series of cams, generally referred to as  410  around a central bore  412 . A first cam  416  has an angled top  418 . Beside it is a groove  420  and then a taller second cam  422  again with an angled top  418 . Beside this cam is a slot  424 . A second series then starts, again with the first cam  416 . The series continue around the inner surface  426  of the cam body  314  in a vicinity of the distal end  428 . Proximal to this is a housing region  430  with a shoulder  432 . The lip  374  of the positioning guide  308  sits on the shoulder  432  when in the first position. Proximate the proximal end  434  are pins  436  for retaining the gate  316 . 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the gate  316  has a pin catch  450  that lock with pins  436 , a bearing guide  452  for holding the drive shaft  312  in stable rotational motion and a port  454  for accessing the components. The gate may be integral with the cam body  314 . 
         [0068]    The spring  310  sits on the load platform  370  and extends to the proximal end of the gate  316 . It is housed in the housing region  430  of the cam body  314  and is wound around the drive shaft  312 . 
         [0069]    In a first position, shown in  FIG. 8 , the cam body  314  houses the positioning guide  308 . The ridges  372  of the positioning guide  308  are slidably located in the slots  424  and abut the guide blocks  352  of the plunging guide  302 , which are also slidably located in the slot  424 . As noted above, the teeth  356372  of the plunging guide  302  and the ridges  372  of the positioning guide  308  mesh. The spring  310  is extended. The guiding blocks  352  are in the slots  424  and the groove  420  of the cam body  314 . 
         [0070]    As it moves to a second position, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the plunging guide  302  slides over the helical gear actuator shaft  304 . The track  354  of the plunging guide runs along the helical groove  16  of the helical gear actuator shaft  304 , causing the helical gear actuator shaft  304  to rotate. As it is attached to the drive shaft  312 , the drive shaft  312  also rotates. Concomitantly, the positioning guide  308  is urged forward by the blocks  352  and the teeth  356  of the plunging guide  302 . As the positioning guide  308  moves forward, it compresses the spring  310 . The positioning guide  308  moves into the housing region  430  of the cam body  314 . This removes the ridges  372  from the slots  424 . 
         [0071]    Once in the second position, the blocks  352  of the plunging guide  302  are also removed from the slots  424  and the grooves  420 . The ridges  372  sit on the angled top  418  of the first cam  416  and is held in place by the taller second cam  422 . Further forward movement of the plunging guide  302  causes the ridges  372  to move up over the angled top  418  of the second cam  422 . This causes both the blocks  352  to re-enter the slots  424  and grooves  420  and for the ridges  372  to re-enter the slots  424 , returning to the first position. The plunging guide  302  and the positioning guide  308  have moved from one slot to the next and are positioned to repeat the process, proceeding around the cam body  314 . 
         [0072]    A latch assembly  450  is fitted around the drive shaft  312  that extends outside of the gate  316 . As the drive shaft  312  is rotated, the latch  452  extends from the assembly  450  and is retracted into the assembly  450 , locking and unlocking the door. The latch  452  is attached to a distal end  454  of the drive shaft  312  and is in linear relation with the drive shaft  312 . 
         [0073]    The preferred striker plate, generally referred to as  500 , is shown in  FIG. 10 . It has two apertures  502  for accepting screws, a latch aperture  504  for releasably retaining a latch  62 ,  452  and a roller, generally referred to as  506 . The roller includes a body  508  and a pin  510  that allows the body  508  to roll freely. The pin  510  is mounted in small pin apertures  512  in the striker plate  500 . 
         [0074]    In an alternative embodiment, shown in  FIG. 11 , a passage set, generally referred to as  600  has a first knob  602 , a first plug  604 , a helical gear actuator shaft  606 , a spring  608 , which can be any biasing member, a first mounting plate  610 , a latch assembly generally referred to as  60 , a second mounting plate  614 , a second plug  616  and a second knob  618 . The first and second plugs  604 ,  616 , fit into the door knobs  602 ,  618  and hold the helical gear actuator shaft  606  in a shaft aperture  620 . The ends  622  of the helical gear actuator shaft  606  are shaped to mate with the plugs  604 ,  616 . The shaft  606  has a helical groove  624  on the outer surface  626  that slidably engages the two curved tracks  22 ,  24  of the receiver  18  in the latch assembly  60  (as shown in  FIG. 1C  and  FIG. 3  [noting that there is a shaft  606  in this embodiment, rather than the split shaft shown in  FIG. 3 ]. 
         [0075]    While example embodiments have been described in connection with what is presently considered to be an example of a possible most practical and/or suitable embodiment, it is to be understood that the descriptions are not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the example embodiment. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific example embodiments specifically described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed in the scope of the claims, if appended hereto or subsequently filed.