Patent ID: 8491023

Claim:
A lock assembly for use with a latch movable from an extended position to a retracted position, the lock assembly comprising: an interior assembly including, an interior handle manually movable to retract the latch, a locking member manually operable such that the locking member is movable from an unlocked position to a locked position, an exterior assembly including, an exterior handle manually operable to retract the latch when the locking member is in the unlocked position and inoperable to retract the latch when the locking member is in the locked position, and a biasing member that biases the locking member toward the unlocked position, and wherein when the locking member is in the locked position, movement of the interior handle to retract the latch causes the biasing member to move the locking member to the unlocked position, wherein the interior assembly further includes a coupling that when the locking member is in the locked position retains the locking member in the locked position against the bias of the biasing member, and wherein movement of the interior handle to retract the latch disengages the coupling and the locking member to allow the locking member to move into the unlocked position, wherein the interior assembly further includes a coupling biasing member that biases the coupling towards the locking member.