Patent ID: 8556304

Claim:
A locking apparatus comprising: a main casing, said main casing having an interior cavity adapted to operatively engage moving components of the locking apparatus; a split spindle formed of first and second half spindles; first and second shafts extending to distal ends from engagements with each of a respective of said first and second half spindles, said first and second shafts adapted for door handles; a latch module having a latch casing, said latch casing having an internal cavity and having exterior dimensioned for engagement within said main casing; said latch module having a door latch having a proximate end and having an angled leading surface at a distal end; said proximate end of said door latch engaged with a latch body translatably engaged said internal cavity; said latch body biased to project said distal end of said door latch from a side surface of said latch module; a slide carrier communicating at a first end with said split spindle and at a second end with said latch body, the slide carrier comprising first and second legs; a switching lever being rotatable from a first position to a second position; a drive bar coupling the switching lever and said slide carrier so a rotation of said switching lever translates said slide carrier; and wherein: said first and second legs are engaged by said first and the second half spindles when said switching lever is in said first position so a rotation of either of said first or second half spindles causes a concurrent translation of said slide carrier resulting in a translation of said latch body in a direction to cause a retraction of said door latch into said internal cavity; only said first leg is engaged by said first half spindle when said switching lever is in said second position so only a rotation of said first half spindle causes said concurrent translation of said slide carrier resulting in said translation of said latch body in said direction to cause said retraction of said door latch into said internal cavity.