Abstract:
At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door. The removable drive-in housing assembly can include a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, the casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly. The removable drive-in housing assembly also can include a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of the cylindrical casing. Further, the removable drive-in housing assembly can include a unitary cylindrical outer collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of the inner collar. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Description:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
   The invention and its wide variety of potential embodiments will be readily understood via the following detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 

   
       FIG. 1  is a 3-dimensional front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a 3-dimensional rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective assembly view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention taken along section lines  5 — 5  of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a 3-dimensional front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a casing  1200  and an inner collar  1400  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a 3-dimensional rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a casing  1200  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention taken along section lines  9 — 9  of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention taken along section lines  11 — 11  of  FIG. 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a rear view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 13  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 16  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 17  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention taken along section lines  17 — 17  of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 18  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention taken along section lines  18 — 18  of  FIG. 14 ; 
       FIG. 19  is a detail view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention taken at detail A of  FIG. 18 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a front perspective assembly view of an exemplary embodiment of an collar assembly  1300  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 21  is a 3-dimensional front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a collar assembly  1300  of the present invention; 
       FIG. 22  is a 3-dimensional rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a collar assembly  1300  of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 23  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of a collar assembly  1300  of the present invention taken along section lines  23 — 23  of FIG.  4 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Certain embodiments of the present invention can include a removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door. The removable drive-in housing assembly can include a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, the casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly. The removable drive-in housing assembly also can include a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of the cylindrical casing. Further, the removable drive-in housing assembly can include a unitary cylindrical outer collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of the inner collar. 
     FIG. 1  is a 3-dimensional front perspective view, and  FIG. 2  is a 3-dimensional rear perspective view, of an exemplary embodiment of a removable drive-in door latching system  1000  of the present invention. In this particular exemplary embodiment, system  1000  includes a latch assembly  1100  and a removable drive-in housing assembly  1050 , which includes a generally cylindrical casing  1200  and collar assembly  1300 . Latch assembly  1100  is at least partially contained within casing  1200  and is adapted to be coupled to a door grasp, such as a door knob, door handle, or other door grasping means, and is further adapted to be coupled to the door to latch the door in a predetermined position (such as the closed position). Surrounding a portion of casing  1200  can be a collar assembly  1300 , which can include inner collar  1400  and outer collar  1500 . Inner collar  1400  can include an engagement mechanism to releasably engage inner collar  1400  with the door. 
   Inner collar  1400  can resemble an axially-extended annulus. That is, inner collar  1400  can be generally cylindrical, hollow, and of a one-piece, unitary construction, having a generally circular longitudinal cross-section that defines an inner generally-circumferential surface and/or wall and an outer generally-circumferential surface and/or wall. Alternatively, inner collar  1400  can comprise at least one removable component. In another alternative embodiment, inner collar  1400  can have a generally polygonal longitudinal cross-section that defines an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. Any portion of inner collar  1400  can be fabricated of metal, polymer, and/or the like, such as an injection molded plastic (e.g., polyethylene, LDPE, HDPE, and/or nylon, etc.). 
   Outer collar  1500  also can resemble an axially-extended annulus. That is, outer collar  1500  can be generally cylindrical, hollow, and of a one-piece, unitary construction, having a generally circular longitudinal cross-section that defines an inner generally circumferential surface and an outer generally circumferential surface. Alternatively, outer collar  1500  can comprise at least one removable component. In another alternative embodiment, outer collar  1500  can have a generally polygonal longitudinal cross-section that defines an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. Any portion of outer collar  1500  can be fabricated of metal, polymer, or the like, such as a drawn metal (e.g., steel, brass, etc.). 
   Prior to installation, outer collar  1500  can be slid over inner collar  1400 , which can be slid over casing  1200  to form removable drive-in housing assembly  1050 . In certain embodiments, either of these sliding actions can performed manually, without the aid of any tools. In some embodiments, either of these sliding actions can performed with the assistance of tools and/or automatically. In certain embodiments, either of these sliding actions can be performed non-destructively. 
   Likewise, prior to installation, either collar assembly  1300  or inner collar  1400  can be removed from casing  1200 , and outer collar  1500  can be removed from inner collar  1400 . In certain embodiments, either of these removals can be performed non-destructively. In some embodiments, either of these removals can be performed manually, without the aid of any tool. In certain embodiments, a general purpose and/or special purpose tool can be employed. 
   During installation, removable drive-in housing assembly  1050  can be driven into a bore of the door until a flange of outer collar  1500  contacts the door, thereby at least partially securing casing  1200  longitudinally in door. Then, latch assembly  1100  can be inserted into removable drive-in housing assembly  1050 . 
   Once installed, the engagement mechanism(s) of inner collar  1400  can releasably fix inner collar, both rotationally and longitudinally, with respect to the door. Casing  1200  and outer collar  1500  can be a least partially free to rotate and/or can be partially rotationally adjustable, with respect to inner collar  1400  and the door, to compensate for some misalignments, such as misalignment of latch assembly  1100  relative to the door. Outer collar  1500  can be releasably fixed in rotation relative to casing  1200 . Collar assembly  1300 , inner collar  1400 , and/or outer collar  1500  can be releasably fixed longitudinally with respect to casing  1200 . 
   Once installed, collar assembly  1300  can hold latch assembly securely inside the door. Assuming that outer collar  1500  is fabricated of a strong and/or attractive metal, collar assembly  1300  can show mostly metal to optimize strength and/or aesthetics. If desired, drive-in housing assembly  1050  and/or latch assembly  1100  can be relatively easily and non-destructively removed from the door. Moreover, once drive-in housing assembly  1050  has been removed from the door, the door can be relatively easily converted from a drive-in latch design to a mortised screwed-on faceplate design. 
     FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention. In this particular exemplary embodiment, latch assembly  1100  is secured at least partially within casing  1200 , a portion of which is surrounded by collar assembly  1300 , which includes an inner collar  1400  and an outer collar  1500 . 
     FIG. 4  is a front perspective assembly view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention. In this particular exemplary embodiment, latch assembly  1100  has been slid inside of casing  1200 , such that a rear portion  1110  of latch assembly  1100  is visible protruding from the rear of casing  1200 . Also, a front portion  1120  of latch assembly  1100  is visible protruding from the front of casing  1200 . 
   Collar assembly  1300  can be slid over casing  1200  by aligning groove  1450  (shown in  FIG. 8 ) in inner collar  1400  of collar assembly  1300  with one or more alignment protrusions  1230  of casing  1200 . Once collar assembly  1300  has been slid over casing  1200 , alignment protrusion  1230  can reside within a circumferentially-extending rotational groove  1460  (shown in FIG.  8 ). The interaction of alignment protrusion  1230  with rotational groove  1460  can lock and/or limit the longitudinal movement of casing  1200  with respect to inner collar  1400 . The interaction of alignment protrusion  1230  with rotational groove  1460  also can limit the rotational movement of casing  1200  with respect to inner collar  1400 . If protrusion  1230  becomes realigned with alignment groove  1450 , inner collar  1400  can be slidably removed from casing  1200 . In an alternative embodiment, alignment protrusion  1230  can be integral to inner collar  1400 , and alignment groove  1450  and rotational groove  1460  can be integral to casing  1200 . 
   Once collar assembly  1300  is in place around casing  1200 , the inner circumferential surface of inner collar  1400  can frictionally engage with the outer circumferential surface of casing  1200 , providing at least slight resistance to relative movement between inner collar  1400  and casing  1200 . Considering rotation, if sufficient differential torque is applied to inner collar  1400  with respect to casing  1200  to overcome the frictional engagement of inner collar  1400  and casing  1200 , inner collar  1400  can only rotate with respect to casing  1200  until protrusion  1230  encounters the limit of groove  1460 . 
     FIG. 5  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of a system  1000  of the present invention taken along section lines  5 — 5  of FIG.  3 . In this particular exemplary embodiment, latch assembly  1100  has been slid inside of casing  1200 , which has been slid inside of inner collar  1400 , which has been slid inside of outer collar  1500 . 
     FIG. 6  is a 3-dimensional front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a casing  1200  and an inner collar  1400  of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a 3-dimensional rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a casing  1200  of the present invention. Visible from this view is the outer circumferential surface  1210  of casing  1200 , as well as the latch chamber  1220  defined by casing  1200 . Also visible is an alignment protrusion  1230  and a partial flange  1240 . 
     FIG. 8  is a rear perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention. Visible in this view is longitudinally-extending alignment groove  1450 , circumferentially-extending rotational groove  1460 , and front cut-out  1470 . As shown for this particular exemplary embodiment, inner collar  1400  has a generally circumferential outer surface  1410  and a generally circumferential inner surface  1420 . Inner collar  1400  also includes at least one front engagement mechanism  1430  and/or at least one rear engagement mechanism  1440 . 
     FIG. 9  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention taken along section lines  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 .  FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention.  FIG. 11  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention taken along section lines  11 — 11  of FIG.  10 .  FIG. 12  is a rear view, and  FIG. 13  is a front view, of an exemplary embodiment of an inner collar  1400  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention. Visible is generally cylindrical outer collar body  1510 , which defines outer circumferential surface  1512  and inner circumferential surface  1520 . Also visible is front engagement groove  1530 , rear engagement groove  1540 , rear cut-away  1550 , faceplate  1560 , and front flange  1570 . 
     FIG. 15  is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention.  FIG. 16  is a front view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention, with faceplate  1560  having a different configuration to accommodate a different latch style. 
     FIG. 17  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention taken along section lines  17 — 17  of FIG.  14 .  FIG. 18  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention taken along section lines  18 — 18  of FIG.  14 .  FIG. 19  is a detail view of an exemplary embodiment of an outer collar  1500  of the present invention taken at detail A of FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20  is a front perspective assembly view of an exemplary embodiment of a collar assembly  1300  of the present invention. In this particular exemplary embodiment, to form collar assembly  1300 , an inner collar  1400  can be releasably slid inside of an outer collar  1500 . Note that two alternatives are shown for outer collar  1500 , which vary in the configuration of their faceplate  1560 . 
   As shown, inner collar  1400  can include a front engagement mechanism  1430  and a rear engagement mechanism  1440 . In certain embodiments, these engagement mechanisms  1430 ,  1440  can differ. In certain embodiments, engagement mechanisms  1430 ,  1440  can have similar or identical features. For example, engagement mechanism  1440  can include a tooth  1442  residing on the end of a springboard  1444 . Tooth  1442  can be deflected radially inward toward a longitudinal axis of inner collar  1400  to allow inner collar  1400  to slide within outer collar  1500 . 
   Once tooth  1442  encounters an appropriately sized open space in outer collar  1500 , such as an engagement groove  1540 , tooth  1442  is biased radially outward to return to its original position with respect to inner collar  1400 . Thus, depending on the geometries of tooth  1442  and groove  1540 , tooth  1442  can lock, and/or partially lock outer collar  1500  to inner collar  1400 . In certain embodiments, this locking action can be releasable, manually and/or via the assistance of one or more tools. 
   Moreover, the inner surface of outer collar  1500  can frictionally engage with the outer surface of inner collar  1400 . Thus, outer collar  1500  can at least slightly resist movement with respect to inner collar  1400 . Considering rotation, if sufficient differential torque is applied to overcome the frictional engagement of outer collar  1500  and inner collar  1400 , outer collar  1500  can only rotate with respect to inner collar  1400  until engagement mechanism  1440  encounters the limit of groove  1540 . 
   When inner collar  1400  and outer collar  1500  are assembled into collar assembly  1300 , a front engagement mechanism  1430  can interact with front engagement groove  1530 , and a rear engagement mechanism  1440  can interact with rear engagement groove  1540 . The interaction of engagement mechanisms  1430 ,  1440  and engagement grooves  1530 ,  1540  can prevent and/or resist longitudinal movement of inner collar  1400  with respect to outer collar  1500 , and/or can limit rotational movement of inner collar  1400  with respect to outer collar  1500 . 
   Outer collar  1500  can be rotationally linked to casing  1200  due to the shape of faceplate opening  1560  matching that of the front portion  1120  (sometimes called the latch bolt) of the latch assembly  1100 . 
   Other means are possible for providing engagement mechanisms  1430 ,  1440 . For example, springboard  1444  can be replaced with a Belville spring. As another example, if inner collar  1400  is of sufficient wall thickness, springboard  1444  can be replaced with a tooth attached to a coil spring recessed within the wall of inner collar  1400 . Springboard  1444  can obtain its spring properties from any material possessing a shape memory, such as a thermoplastic, niconel, steel, etc. Tooth  1442  can be a single tooth, a ridge of teeth, a roughened surface, or any other means for securing inner collar  1400  within outer collar  1500  and/or for providing an interference fit with the door. 
   Moreover, the securing function can be provided separately from the interference function. For example, a rearward extending springboard  1444  could have a means for securing inner collar  1400  to outer collar  1500  (such as an engagement ridge, bump, or hemisphere located at some point along the length of springboard  1444 ). Alternatively, the securing function can be provided on outer collar  1500  and can engage with a feature in inner collar  1400 . 
   Springboard  1444  (or a separate springboard, or other means as described previously) could have an interference-generating tooth located at its end, that end potentially extending beyond the overlap of inner collar  1400  and outer collar  1500 . With this approach, the interference tooth could be replaced by an interference semi-ring that partially surrounds casing  1200  (possibly as an extension of inner collar  1400 ). 
   Front engagement mechanism  1430  and/or rear engagement mechanism  1440  can protrude beyond outer circumferential surface  1512  of body  1510  of outer collar  1500 . The protrusion of the engagement mechanisms is apparent in  FIGS. 21-23 . This protrusion can allow front engagement mechanism  1430  and/or rear engagement mechanism  1440  to contact an inner surface of the bore of the door, thereby forming an releasable interference fit between inner collar  1400  and the door. 
     FIG. 21  is a 3-dimensional front perspective view, and  FIG. 22  is a 3-dimensional rear perspective view, of an exemplary embodiment of a collar assembly  1300  of the present invention.  FIG. 23  is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of a collar assembly  1300  of the present invention taken along section lines  23 — 23  of FIG.  4 . 
   Although the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood that numerous variations, modifications and additional embodiments are possible, and accordingly, all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, references specifically identified and discussed herein are incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.