LATCH BOLT INSTALLATION STRUCTURE AND DOOR LOCK USING SUCH STRUCTURE

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of lockset and provides a lock body a latch bolt installation structure comprising a latch bolt body having a driving part and a latch part, wherein the latch part is detachably connected with the driving part. The latch part is configured with a male part inserting into a female part on the driving part; the female part comprises a first installation position and a second installation position for installing the latch part; when the latch part is installed at the first installation position, a flat surface of the latch part faces towards a first direction; when the latch part is installed at the second installation position, the flat surface of the latch part faces towards a second direction which is opposite to the first direction. The present invention is advantageous in fast reversal of the installation of the latch bolt as well as the construction progress control and user experiences.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A latch bolt assembly for a door, comprising: a body adapted to be mounted in a mortise of the door; a latch extendable from and retractable into the body in opposite directions, and having a male member; a driving part in the body to retract and extend the latch, and having a female member; the male member mating with the female member for selective positioning of the latch in opposite forward and rearward directions; and a retention member engaging the male member to retain the male member in the forward and rearward directions, and disengaging the male member to allow the male member to be reversed for movement between the forward and rearward directions without disassembling the male member from the female member.

22. The latch bolt assembly of claim 21 wherein the retention member moves in a direction perpendicular to retraction and extension directions of the latch.

23. The latch bolt assembly of claim 21 wherein the male member includes a recess for receiving the retention member.

24. The latch bolt assembly of claim 21 further comprising a spring to bias the retention member into engagement with the male member.

25. The latch bolt assembly of claim 21 wherein the driving part includes a channel for receiving a tool to disengage the retention member from the male member.

26. The latch bolt assembly of claim 25 wherein the body includes an opening for the tool to reach the retention member while the body is mounted in the door.

27. The latch bolt assembly of claim 21 wherein the latch moves horizontally and the retention member moves vertically.

28. The latch bolt assembly of claim 21 wherein the latch moves horizontally and rotates about a horizontal axis.

29. The latch bolt assembly of claim 21 further comprising a stop member on the male member and a groove on the driving part to receive the stop member and align the latch in the forward and rearward directions.

30. A method of installing a latch bolt in a door, comprising: mounting a latch body into a mortise in the door, the latch body including a latch normally extending out of the door to retain the door in a closed position, and the latch being retractable into door to allow the door to be opened; rotating the latch about a horizontal axis to opposite forward and rearward positions while the latch body is in the door; and retaining the latch in a selected one of the forward and rearward positions.

31. The method of claim 30 further comprising moving the latch between the extended and retracted positions with a latch drive on the body.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the latch driver includes a female member and the latch includes a male member received in the female member, and the method further comprising rotating the male member in the female member to change the latch between the forward and rearward positions.

33. The method of claim 30 further comprising biasing a retention member in the body into engagement with the latch to retain the latch in the selected position.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising inserting a tool through a hole in the latch body to overcome the bias on the retention member and thereby allow the male member to be rotated relative to the female member.

35. The method of claim 30 further comprising releasing the latch from the selected position by inserting a tool through a hole in the latch body.

36. The method of claim 30 further comprising moving the latch horizontally between the extended and retracted positions.

37. The method of claim 30 further comprising rotating the latch about a horizontal axis between the forward and rearward positions.

38. A latch bolt assembly for a door, comprising: a latch body mountable in the door; a latch in the body and being moveable horizontally between extended and retracted positions and being rotatable about a horizontal axis between forward and rearward positions without removing the latch body from the door.

39. The latch bolt assembly of claim 38 further comprising a retention member in the body to hold the latch in the forward and rearward positions.

40. The latch bolt assembly of claim 39 further comprising a retention m a tool insertable through a hole in the latch body to disengage the retention member from the latch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention will be described hereinafter in details with reference to the figures and the embodiments for the sake of better understanding. Any non-substantive, obvious alterations or improvement by the technician of this technical field according to the present invention may be incorporated into ambit of the claims of the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the latch bolt body according to the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled latch bolt body according to the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the latch bolt body taken along a centered vertical plane, according to the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the latch bolt body installed in a lock according to the present invention;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the interior structure of the door lock having the latch bolt body, according to the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0030] 1 Latch Bolt Body [0031] 11 Driving Part [0032] 111 Female Part [0033] 112 Limit Groove [0034] 113 Flat Surface [0035] 12 Latch Part [0036] 1210 Limit Stop [0037] 121 Male Part [0038] 1211 Recess [0039] 1212 Guiding Surface [0040] 13 Elastic-engaging Mechanism [0041] 131 Engaging Block [0042] 132 Spring [0043] 14 Adjusting Mechanism [0044] 141 Adjusting Channel [0045] 142 Contacting Portion [0046] 2 Lock Body [0047] 21 Adjusting Hole

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] The present invention will be described hereinafter in details with reference to the figures and the embodiments for the sake of clarity. It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention and the features in different embodiments may be combined if they do not conflict each other. Although certain embodiments are described in detail for a better understanding, it should be understood that there may be more embodiments. Various changes and modifications may be obtained by those skilled in the art on the basis of the present invention without creative works and without departing the scope of the claims.

[0049] The technical terms used herein have the general meanings well understood by those skilled in the art unless otherwise defined. The terms in the description of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustrating the embodiments, not limiting the present invention.

EMBODIMENT

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, an embodiment according to the present invention provides a latch bolt installation structure, comprising a latch bolt body 1 having a driving part 11 and a latch part 12, wherein the latch part 12 is detachably connected with the driving part 11, In use, the driving part 11 is arranged inside a lock body 2 of a multipoint lock, and the latch part 12 is arranged at one side of the driving part 11 and moves in and out of the lock body 2.

[0051] Further, the latch part 12 is configured with a male part 121 inserting into a female part or opening 111 on the driving part 11. The female part 111 comprises a first installation position and a second installation position for installing the latch part 12. When the latch part 12 is installed at the first installation position, the flat surface 113 of the latch part 12 faces towards a first direction, which is called forward installation; and when the latch part 12 is installed at the second installation position, the flat surface 113 of the latch part 12 faces towards a second direction which is opposite to the first direction, which is called reverse installation. In this embodiment, the latch part 12 is installed at the first installation position and is forward installed; the reverse installation is operated by flipping the latch part 12 horizontally, that is rotating the latch part 12 180 degrees around the axis of the male part 121.

[0052] As one embodiment of the present invention, the female part 111 is configured to have a shape matched with the shape of the male part 121, for example, they are both in the shape of a circle, an oval, or centrosymmetric polygon; in this way, the male part 121 could be inserted into the female part 111 regardless of whether the latch part 12 is installed at the first installation position or flipped horizontally to the second installation position, allowing the latch part 12 to be turned over without disassembling the lock body 2. Preferably, an anti-falling feature, for example a snap fit feature is further provided between the male part 121 and the female part 111 for preventing the latch part 12 from falling out of the driving part 11, The specific structure of the anti-falling feature may be in any available form in the prior art, which will not be explained in detail here.

[0053] As another embodiment of the present invention, the female part 111 may not strictly matched with the male part 121 as long as the female part 111 is big enough to receive the male part 121, and the latch part 12 is fixed or restrained by other features. In this case, the cross-section of the male part 121 may be in the shape of one of circle, oval, or polygon.

[0054] Specifically, an elastic-engaging mechanism 13 is provided in the driving part 11, for engaging with the male part 121. The elastic-engaging mechanism 13 comprises an engaging block 131 and a spring 132, wherein the engaging block 131 may be forced by the spring 132 to move to engage with the male part 121 by inserting into a recess 1211 configured on the male part 121, in order to prevent the latch part 12 from falling off during use. Preferably, the moving direction of the engaging block 131 is perpendicular to the moving direction of the male part 121 inserting into the driving part 11, such that the engaging block 131 and the male part 121 are firmly engaged together, moreover, such arrangement helps to optimize layout of interior space, making the lock body 2 more impact. Thus, the block 131 functions like a spring biased detent.

[0055] An adjusting mechanism 14 is further provided in the driving part 11, for cooperating with the elastic-engaging mechanism 13. The adjusting mechanism 14 moves the engaging block 131 against the elastic force to release the male part 121, allowing the latch part 12 to be detached.

[0056] Preferably, the adjusting mechanism 14 comprises an adjusting channel 141 configured in the driving part 11 for receiving an external feature or tool, a contacting portion 142 configured in the engaging block 131 for contacting with the external feature or tool, wherein the external feature or tool may reach to the contacting portion 142 through the adjusting channel 141. The height adjustment range by the external feature or tool is no less than the insertion depth of the engaging block 131 in the recess 1211. The external feature or tool may be a straight bar or screwdriver, for example, with one end of the straight bar inserted into the adjusting channel 141 and reaching to the contacting portion 142, and then forcing the engaging block 131 to move against the elastic force, in this way, the engaging block 131 will depart from the male part 121.

[0057] The adjusting mechanism 14 provided in this embodiment is able to control the engagement between the engaging block 131 and the male part 121 by providing a channel. The adjusting mechanism 14 has the advantage of simplicity and skillful design and cost saving without adversely affecting the structure of the lock body.

[0058] Further, the male part 121 provided in this embodiment is a cylindrical structure on the latch part 12, which is easy to be processed and formed; a limit stop 1210 is provided at the side of the latch part 12 where the male part 121 is arranged, and a corresponding limit groove 112 is provided at the driving part 11 for receiving the limit stop 1210, such that the latch part 12 cannot rotate when the limit stop 1210 inserts into the limit groove 112.

[0059] Preferably, the male part 121 has a frustum cone-like guiding surface 1212 for smoothly inserting into the female part 111, such that the male part 121 could achieve engagement with the engaging block 131.

[0060] The embodiment further provides a door lock comprising the above-mentioned latch bolt installation structure and the lock body 2. Preferably, an adjusting hole 21 is provided on the lock body 2 for communicating with the adjusting channel 141, which allows an external feature or tool to insert and therefore adjust the latch part 12.

[0061] The embodiment described hereinbefore is merely preferred embodiment of the present invention and not for purposes of any restrictions or limitations on the invention. It will be apparent that any non-substantive, obvious alterations or improvement by the technician of this technical field according to the present invention may be incorporated into ambit of claims of the present invention.