Patent Abstract:
A cremone bolt operator is provided which includes a small and a large pinion gear, each having gear teeth and a central aperture, a first and a second rack gear, each having a first and a second set of parallel teeth, the rack gears in opposed relation to one another wherein the first and second sets of teeth are in facing relation. The first set of teeth on each of the rack gears is in meshed engagement with the small pinion gear and the second set of teeth on each of the rack gears is in meshed engagement with large pinion gear. A spindle is sized to fit in each of the central apertures of the small and large pinion gears. A locking device that causes the spindle to selectively engage either the small pinion gear or the large pinion gear.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/461,724, entitled Cremone Bolt Latching Mechanism, filed Apr. 10, 2003, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A cremone bolt latching mechanism is a locking mechanism for a door to link two long vertical surface bolts together so that they can be operated in tandem with a knob or lever. Two bolts extend to a cremone operator, i.e., the mechanism that moves the actual bolts. A first bolt extends from the top of the door to the center mounted cremone operator and a second bolt extends from the bottom of the door to the center mounted cremone operator. A cremone bolt mechanism typically is designed to operate with either door knobs or door levers. If door levers are used, the lever is lifted from a horizontal position and rotated about the lever&#39;s spindle approximately ninety degrees to retract both the first and the second bolts at the same time. If knobs are used, the knob is rotated (with the top typically rotating towards the lock side of the door) through 180 degrees of rotation to retract both bolts at the same time. The mechanism needs to be adjusted or otherwise modified to change the direction of rotation for either left hand doors or right hand doors. 
     Past cremone operators were set from the factory for either left hand or right hand operation. They have been manufactured as either knob operators or lever operators. Changing hands required disassembling the mechanism, changing the location of springs and detent balls and or stop pins. Often the parts are reassembled incorrectly or lost all together. Cremone operators for knobs have not been convertible to levers and vice versa. 
     It would be beneficial to have a cremone bolt mechanism that enables use of a single cremone operator that allows for both lever and knob configurations (i.e., ninety or one hundred eighty degree rotation) and for both left and right opening doors. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A cremone bolt operator is provided which includes a small pinion gear having gear teeth and a central aperture, a large pinion gear having gear teeth and a central aperture, and a first and a second rack gear. Each rack gear has a first and a second set of parallel teeth. The first rack gear and the second rack gear are in opposed relation to one another wherein the first and second sets of teeth are in facing relation. The first set of teeth on each of the first and second rack gear are in meshed engagement with the gear teeth of the small pinion gear and the second set of teeth on each of the first and second rack gear are in meshed engagement with the gear teeth of the large pinion gear. The cremone bolt latching mechanism further includes a spindle having a cross sectional portion sized to fit in each of the central apertures of the small and large pinion gears. A locking device causes the spindle to selectively engage either the small pinion gear or the large pinion gear. Rotational movement of the spindle when the locking device is selectively engaged with either the small pinion gear or the large pinion gear causes a pair of bolts attached to the first and second rack gears of the cremone bolt operator to fully retract by approximately the same amount. 
     The locking device may take several forms. First, the locking device may be a slot in the spindle and a “T” plate adapted to be inserted into the slot in the spindle in a first and a second orientation. When the “T” plate is in the first orientation, the large pinion gear is held rigidly to the spindle. When the “T” plate is in the second orientation, the small pinion gear is held rigidly to the spindle. 
     Second, the locking device may be a pair of flat cutouts on the spindle with a pair of cheek plates adapted to be placed flat to the spindle in a first and a second orientation. When the pair of cheek plates is in the first orientation, the large pinion gear is held rigidly to the spindle. When the pair of cheek plates is in the second orientation, the small pinion gear is held rigidly to the spindle. 
     Third, the locking device may be a pair of longitudinally spaced holes on the spindle and a pin adapted to be placed in one of the longitudinally spaced holes. When the pin is in a first of the longitudinally spaced holes, the large pinion gear is held rigidly to the spindle and when the pin is in a second of the longitudinally spaced holes, the small pinion gear is held rigidly to the spindle. 
     Optionally, the spindle may include an adjustment feature such that the length of the spindle is adjustable. For example, the adjustment feature may include a two half spindle (i.e., a spindle having two halves) wherein each half of the spindle comprises a half-circular cross sectional shape that has a plurality of holes along the longitudinal length of the spindle. At least one pin is provided that mates with one of the plurality of holes on the opposing half spindle. Here, the two halves of the spindle mate with one another to form a spindle that is generally circular in cross section and adjustable in length by selection of appropriate pairs of the plurality of holes to mate with the pins. 
     A second embodiment of the cremone bolt attachment assembly includes the above assembly but also has a locking device for the cremone operator. The locking cremone operator includes a rotatable hub adjacent to one of the pinion gears and a bolt linearly movable upon rotation of the rotatable hub. The bolt has at least one tooth engagable with the one of the pinion gears. Rotation of the rotatable hub in a first direction causes the bolt to move linearly in a first direction such that the tooth is in locking engagement with one of the pinion gears. Rotation of the rotatable hub in a second direction causes the bolt to move linearly in a second direction such that the tooth is not engaged with the one of the pinion gears. 
     In a more detailed embodiment of the present invention, a cremone bolt operator is disclosed which includes a small pinion gear having gear teeth and a central aperture and a large pinion gear having gear teeth and a central aperture. The large pinion gear is coaxial to the small pinion gear and the large pinion gear is free to rotate about its axis independently of the small pinion gear. The cremone bolt operator also includes a first and a second rack gear, each having a first and a second set of parallel teeth. The first rack gear and the second rack gear are in opposed relation to one another wherein the first and second sets of teeth are in facing relation and the first set of teeth on each of the first and second rack gear are in meshed engagement with the gear teeth of the small pinion gear and the second set of teeth on each of the first and second rack gear in meshed engagement with the gear teeth of the large pinion gear. A spindle having a round cross sectional portion is sized to fit in each of the central apertures of the small and large pinion gears. The spindle projects through both the central apertures of the small and large pinion gears. A locking device causes the spindle to selectively engage either the small pinion gear or the large pinion gear such that rotational movement of the spindle causes a selected one of the small pinion gear and the large pinion gear to rotate while allowing a non-selected one of the small pinion gear and the large pinion gear to freely spin about the spindle. Rotational movement of the spindle when the locking device is selectively engaged with either the small pinion gear or the large pinion gear causes a pair of bolts attached to the first and second rack gears of the cremone bolt operator to fully retract by approximately the same amount. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described in conjunction with the following drawings in which like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the several views and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top, plan view of a pair of doors having cremone bolt latching mechanisms attached thereto; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of a pair of cremone bolt latching mechanisms as would be attached to a pair of doors wherein the cremone bolt operators provide for rotation of ninety degrees to retract the cremone bolts for use with door levers; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a pair of cremone bolt latching mechanisms as would be attached to a pair of doors wherein the cremone bolt operators provide for rotation of one hundred eighty degrees to retract the cremone bolts for use with door knobs; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of a pair of rack gears and a pair of pinion gears for use in an operator of a cremone bolt latching mechanism in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a two sided spindle for use in the cremone bolt latching mechanism of  FIG. 4 , showing a “T” plate for engaging one of the pinion gears, wherein the two sided spindle is adapted to be used in a cremone bolt latching mechanism that is operable from two sides of a door; 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an alternate two sided spindle for use in the cremone bolt latching mechanism of  FIG. 4 , showing a pair of cheek plates for engaging one of the pinion gears, wherein the two sided spindle is adapted to be used in a cremone bolt latching mechanism that is operable from two sides of a door; 
         FIG. 7  is an isometric view of another alternate two sided spindle for use in the cremone bolt latching mechanism of  FIG. 4 , showing a pin and pair of holes arrangement for engaging one of the pinion gears, wherein the two sided spindle is adapted to be used in a cremone bolt latching mechanism that is operable from two sides of a door; 
         FIG. 8  is an isometric view of yet another alternate two sided spindle for use in the cremone bolt latching mechanism of  FIG. 4 , showing a “T” plate for engaging one of the pinion gears, wherein the length of the spindle is adjustable for varying door thicknesses and wherein the two sided spindle is adapted to be used in a cremone bolt latching mechanism that is operable from two sides of a door; 
         FIG. 9  an isometric view of an alternate one sided spindle (and cheek plates) for use in the cremone bolt latching mechanism of  FIG. 4 , showing the pair of cheek plates for engaging one of the pinion gears, wherein the one sided spindle is adapted to be used in a cremone bolt latching mechanism that is operable from one side of a door; 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a one sided spindle for use in the cremone bolt latching mechanism of  FIG. 4 . A “T” plate for engaging one of the pinion gears as shown in  FIG. 11  is used here. The one sided spindle is adapted to be used in a cremone bolt latching mechanism that is operable from one side of a door; 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a “T” plate for the spindle as shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  8  and  10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of another alternate one sided spindle for use in the cremone bolt latching mechanism of  FIG. 4 , showing a pin and pair of holes arrangement for engaging one of the pinion gears, wherein the one sided spindle is adapted to be used in a cremone bolt latching mechanism that is operable from one side of a door; 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view of a cremone bolt operator mechanism showing a one sided spindle as attached to a door knob that operates by turning one hundred eighty degrees. The right side of this drawing is towards the door to which the cremone bolt operator is attached. The “T” plate engages the small pinion gear. This configuration is for a left hand door; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of a cremone bolt operator mechanism showing a one sided spindle as attached to a door knob that operates by turning one hundred eighty degrees. The left side of this drawing is towards the door to which the cremone bolt operator is attached. The “T” plate engages the small pinion gear. This configuration is for a right hand door; 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded view of a cremone bolt operator mechanism showing a one sided spindle as attached to a door lever that operates by turning ninety degrees. The right side of this drawing is towards the door to which the cremone bolt operator is attached. The “T” plate engages the large pinion gear. This configuration is for a left hand door; 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded view of a cremone bolt operator mechanism showing a one sided spindle as attached to a door lever that operates by turning ninety degrees. The left side of this drawing is towards the door to which the cremone bolt operator is attached. The “T” plate engages the large pinion gear. This configuration is for a right hand door; 
         FIG. 17  is an isometric view of a hub, plate and bolt for a locking cremone bolt operator in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 18A  is a front view of a locking bolt assembly in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in an unlocked configuration; 
         FIG. 18B  is a front view of a locking bolt assembly in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in a locked configuration; 
         FIG. 19  is a front elevation view a cremone bolt latching mechanism in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 20  is an isometric view of the cremone bolt latching mechanism of  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present design is for a cremone latching mechanism that uses a single cremone operator mounted in an outer case. The operator, once removed from the outer case, can easily and quickly be converted from knob to lever operation and/or configured for left hand to right hand operation, and back. By reinstalling the operator in varying orientations and using varying orientations for a special spindle, as described below, superior handing is achieved and knob/lever requirements for ninety or one hundred eight degree configurations are met. 
     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like part numbers refer to like elements throughout the several views, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a top view of a pair of doors  5  having cremone bolt latching mechanisms  10  in accordance with the present invention attached thereto.  FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the pair of cremone bolts latching mechanisms  10  as would be attached to a pair of doors. The doors are not shown for clarity. Cremone bolt operators  14  of the latching mechanisms  10  use mechanisms that rotate ninety degrees to retract the cremone bolts for use with door levers  12 . Typically, it is desirable for cremone bolt latching assemblies  10  to have levers  12  that only rotate 90 degrees such that the levers  12 , when fully rotated, do not protrude into the space of a facing door. Since sufficient leverage is obtainable by a lever type door handle, the smaller angle of rotation provides for an adequate force applied to the spring tension to disengage the bolts of the latching mechanism  10 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front elevation view of a pair of cremone bolt latching mechanisms  10  as would be attached to a pair of doors. Again, the doors are not shown for clarity. Here, the cremone bolt operators  14  use mechanisms that rotate one hundred eighty degrees to retract the cremone bolts  16  for use with door knobs  18  (here, shown as oval shaped knobs). Contrary to the requirements of the operator as configured in  FIG. 2 , a one hundred eighty degree rotation of the door knobs  18  is desirable such that sufficient leverage is obtained to open the cremone bolts  16 . 
     The cremone bolt operator  14  of the present invention provides for two configurations. A first configuration that provides for a ninety degree rotation of levers  12 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , or a second configuration that provides for a one hundred eighty degree rotation of knobs  18 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     As can best be seen in  FIG. 4 , the operator operates using a pair of rack gears (a first rack gear  20 A and a second rack gear  20 B), and a pair of pinion gears (large pinion gear  22  and small pinion gear  24 ). These two pinion gears  22  and  24  rotate independently about a common axis. Rotation of the small pinion gear  24  (in a lever  12  configuration) by ninety degrees causes the rack gears  20 A and  20 B to move in directions A and B, respectively, such that the bolts  16  (see  FIG. 2 ), which are attached to the rack gears  20 A and  20 B at apertures  23 A,  23 B, move about one inch. Rotation of the large pinion gear  22  is, for example, twice the diameter of the small pinion gear  24 . It therefore produces the same motion (here, about one inch) with only 90 degrees of rotation by a lever  12 . Each rack gear  20 A and  20 B has two sets of gear teeth, a first set of gear teeth  28 , and a second set of gear teeth  26 , that are integral or otherwise permanently attached to their respective rack gear. One hundred eighty degrees of rotation of the small pinion gear  24  moves the rack gears  20 A,  20 B through its approximately one inch of travel and causes the large pinion  22  to rotate ninety degrees. Ninety degrees of rotation of the large pinion gear  22  causes the rack gears  20 A,  20 B to move approximately one inch and the small pinion gear  24  to rotate one hundred eighty degrees. By alternately driving either the large pinion gear  22  or the small pinion gear  24 , knobs  18  or levers  12  and their appropriate rotational travel can be accommodated. 
     The drive is selectively delivered to either the large pinion gear  22  or the small pinion gear with a special spindle  30 , that mate with slots  39 A or  39 B in the pinion gears  22 ,  24 , various alternative designs of which are shown in  FIGS. 5–12 . 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the spindle  30  has a full round cross sectional portion  32  where it passes through the cremone operator  14  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ), including central apertures  22 A,  24 A in both the large pinion gear  22  and the small pinion gear  24 . This serves to align both pinions gears  22 ,  24 . 
     In this full round portion  32  of the spindle  30  there is a through slot  34 . A “T” plate  36  is inserted into this slot. By changing the orientation of the “T” plate  36 , either the large pinion gear  22  or the small pinion gear  24  may be selected to be driven. That is, if the top  36 T of the “T” plate  36  is oriented to the left as shown in  FIG. 5 , one of either the large pinion gear  22  or the small pinion gear  24  is selected. If the bottom  36 B of the “T” plate is oriented to the right (opposite to that shown in  FIG. 5 ), the other of the large pinion gear  22  or the small pinion gear  24  is selected. 
       FIG. 6  depicts a spindle  30 A which is a variation of the spindle  30  of  FIG. 5 . Here, a pair of cheek plates  38  that may be configured with a pin  38 A either to the right or the left as shown in  FIG. 6  operates in a similar manner to the spindle  30  of  FIG. 5 . The cheek plates  38  each sit flush to the spindle in a flat cutout  38 B in the spindle  30 A. 
     Similarly,  FIG. 7  depicts a spindle  30 B which is also a variation of the spindle  30  of  FIG. 5 . Here, a pair of holes  40  in the spindle  30 B may be configured with a pin  40 A that slides into one or the other of the pair of holes, either to the right or the left as shown in  FIG. 7 . Again, the result is a spindle  30 B having protruding protuberances similar to the spindle  30  of  FIG. 5 . 
     While the spindles have been described here with various types of protuberances that ultimately selectively engage slots  39 B,  39 A in either the small pinion gear  24  or the large pinion gear  22  (respectively), any known locking device associated with the spindle and the pinion gears  22 ,  24  is anticipated to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     The spindles  30 ,  30 A and  30 B are “two sided” spindles in that they are designed to operate with knobs  18  or levers  12  on two sides of a door. Spindles  30 C,  30 D and  30 E as shown in  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  12  are “one sided” spindles in that they are designed to have handles or levers on only one side of a door. Otherwise, as can easily be seen, they operate substantially the same as the spindles  30 ,  30 A and  30 B described above. 
       FIG. 11  depicts the “T” plate  36  of  FIGS. 5 and 10  (described above and below) and  FIG. 8  (described below). 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 8 , another spindle  30 F is shown that has an adjustable length feature. Here, the spindle  30 F operates in accordance with the design of spindle  30 , but here the spindle  30 F is split into two halves,  42  and  44 . Each spindle half  42  and  44  has a pin  42 A,  42 B, respectively, and a plurality of holes  46 . As can easily be seen in  FIG. 8 , the pins  42 A,  42 B align with one the holes  46  (the holes in spindle half  42  are not shown) in the opposite half such that a spindle of a desired length may be created. Sleeve  48  slides over the assembly to secure the spindle  30 F as a rigid assembly. 
     The spindle  30  (or any of the alternate spindles  30 A through  30 F) all operate to selectively engage either the large pinion gear  22  or the small pinion gear  24 . The operation of spindle  30  will be described in detail here, but suffice it to say that all of the other spindle designs operate in substantially the same manner. As can be seen in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , if the top  36 T of the “T” plate  36  is oriented to the left as shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the small pinion gear  24  is selected causing the mechanism to require a one hundred eighty degree rotation to fully move the bolts  16  by an appropriate and substantially equal amount, for example, approximately one inch. The protruding portions of the “T” plate engage slot  39 B in the small pinion gear  24 . 
     If the bottom  36 B of the “T” plate is oriented to the right (opposite to that shown in  FIG. 5 ), the large pinion gear  22  is selected. That is, the protruding portions of the “T” plate engage slot  39 A (see  FIG. 4 ) in the large pinion gear  22 . 
       FIG. 13  depicts an exploded view of a cremone bolt operator  14  showing a one sided spindle  30  as attached to a door knob  18  that operates by turning one hundred eighty degrees. The right side of this drawing is towards the door to which the cremone bolt operator  14  is attached. The top  36 T of the “T” plate  36  engages the slots  39 B in small pinion gear  24 .  FIG. 14  is an exploded view of a cremone bolt operator mechanism showing a one sided spindle  30  as attached to a door knob  18  that operates by turning one hundred eighty degrees. The left side of this drawing is towards the door to which the cremone bolt operator  14  is attached. Again, the top of the “T” plate  36  engages the small pinion gear  22 . It is noted that the teeth  26 ,  28  of the rack gears  20 A and  20 B face towards the door (away from the door knob  18  for a single knob configuration) for a left hand opening door and face away from the door (towards the door knob  18  for a single knob configuration) for a right hand opening door. 
       FIG. 15  depicts an exploded view of a cremone bolt operator  14  showing a one sided spindle  30  as attached to a door lever  12  that operates by turning ninety degrees. The right side of this drawing is towards the door to which the cremone bolt operator is attached. The top of the “T” plate  36 T engages slots  39 A of the large pinion gear  22 . This configuration is for a left hand opening door.  FIG. 16  depicts exploded view of a cremone bolt operator  14  showing a one sided spindle  30  as attached to a door lever  12  that operates by turning ninety degrees. The left side of this drawing is towards the door to which the cremone bolt operator is attached. The “T” plate  36  engages slot  39 A of the large pinion gear  22 . This configuration is for a right hand opening door. It is noted that the gears  26 ,  28  of the rack gears  20 A and  20 B face away from the door (towards the lever  12 ) for a left hand opening door and towards the door (away from the lever  12  for a single lever configuration) for a right hand opening door. The pinion gears  22 ,  24  are also configured so that they properly mate with the rack gears  20 A,  20 B. The pinion gears  22 ,  24  are also configured so that they properly mate with the rack gears  20 A,  20 B. 
     To configure for a left hand from a configuration for a right hand door, the rack gears  20 A and  20 B and the pinion gears  22 ,  24  are rotated one hundred eighty degrees relative to the door. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 17 through 20 , another variation on the cremone operator is a locking feature in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The locking feature uses the same basic mechanism as cremone operator  14 , as described above. However, in the locking cremone operator  14 ′, one of the rack gears  20 A is lengthened, noted by callout C in  FIG. 19 , so that there is additional space, for example, 2.5 to 3 inches of space, for additional mechanism. A deadbolt feature is now located in this space. 
     In a normal deadbolt application, a mechanism similar to that of  FIG. 17  is installed in a case which will fit into a 1″ diameter hole drilled into the edge of a door. The end of the case typically has a face plate 1″ wide by 2.5″ high. This face plate has two holes for mounting screws. The hub of the deadbolt mechanism (for example, similar to hub  50  as shown in  FIG. 17 ), is turned through 180 degrees. This forces the plate (analogous to that of plate  52  of  FIG. 17 ) and bolt (analogous to that of bolt  54  of  FIG. 17 ) forward. The bolt extends from the edge of the door and locks into the jamb. 
     In the locking cremone operator  14 ′ of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention, a deadbolt case (as is usually used with deadbolts) is deleted. A hub  50 , plate  52  and bolt  54  are installed in the cremone case (not shown for clarity). Rotation of the deadbolt hub  50  forces the bolt  54  towards the large pinion gear  22 ′ by pinned pivot point  56  which comprises a pair of holes  56 A in the hub  50  and a hole  56 B in the pivot plate  52 . The end of the bolt  54  has one or more gear teeth  58  which engage the large pinion  22 ′ (see  FIGS. 18A and 18B ) and prevents movement of the entire gear train. The plate  52  preferably has a peripheral configuration, for example, as shown in  FIG. 17 , to provide appropriate clearance for full movement of the bolt  54 . 
     Preferably, the hub  50  rotated through one hundred eighty degrees to lock or unlock the cremone operator. This rotation drives the plate  52  which in turn drives the bolt  54  with at least one gear tooth  58  that engages one of the pinions in the cremone operator. The deadbolt is operated from the inside of the door with a turnpiece and from the outside with a rim cylinder, as known in the art. 
     A primary difference between the present design and existing cremone designs is that the locking mechanism on other cremone bolts is only accessible from the inside. In addition, the lock is located off center from the bolts. This yields a less than desirable appearance. The present design results in a bolt where the lock is mounted in line with the bolts and is located on the outside of the door. Inside access is by turnpiece. 
     While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8