[0001] This invention relates generally to a latch assembly and to a latchbolt for use in
such an assembly. Such latch assemblies may be used on their own or in combination
with a locking assembly, for example a mortise lock assembly.
[0002] In a well known latch assembly a latchbolt is movable between an extended position
in which a head of the latchbolt projects out of a casing through an opening in the
casing, and a retracted position in which the head of the latchbolt is contained at
least substantially within the casing. The latchbolt is spring biased into its extended
position and is chamfered so that a first side face of the bolt extends outwardly
in a plane at about 45 degrees to the direction of movement of the latchbolt between
the retracted and extended positions while a second side face opposite the first extends
outwardly in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of the latchbolt. A handle
mechanism is provided for moving the latchbolt from the extended position to the retracted
position against the spring bias. When the latchbolt is in its extended position and
is retained in a keeper, the latchbolt is arranged with the second side face lying
adjacent to an approximately parallel side face of the keeper; that side face of the
keeper prevents movement of the latchbolt head in a direction towards the side face
of the keeper, unless or until the latchbolt is moved into its retracted position.
On the other hand if the latch assembly is moved from a position outside the keeper
towards the keeper with the first inclined side face of the latchbolt head cammingly
engaging an external face of the keeper, then, by virtue of the inclination of the
first side face, the latchbolt is moved into its retracted position (without operation
of the handle) until the latchbolt head becomes aligned with an opening in the keeper
and is free to move into its extended position in the keeper.
[0003] A latch assembly of the kind described above has been known for many years and many
modifications and enhancements of the design have been proposed and in some cases
implemented.
[0004] Sometimes, it is not desired for the latchbolt to prevent movement of the bolt out
of the keeper when a force above a threshold level is applied. In that case, it has
for example been proposed to replace the latchbolt described above with an outwardly
spring biased ball which is biased into an extended position in which a portion, more
particularly less than half, of the ball projects outwardly from the casing, but upon
camming engagement with any part of a keeper is moved into a retracted position. This
simple arrangement can be useful but is of limited flexibility: for example, the force
required to move the ball back into the retracted position depends upon which part
of the ball the keeper makes contact with, so that the clearance between the keeper
and the casing of the latch assembly can significantly affect the operation of the
latch assembly. Also the force required to move the ball into the retracted position
when the ball is leaving the keeper cannot be controlled separately from the force
required when the ball is moving back into the keeper.
[0005] The present invention seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively
or additionally, the present invention seeks to provide an improved latch assembly
and latchbolt for use in such an assembly.
[0006] According to the invention there is provided a latch assembly comprising a casing
and a latchbolt mounted in the casing, the latchbolt including a head assembly movable
between an extended position in which the head assembly projects out of the casing
through an opening in the casing, and a retracted position in which the head assembly
is contained at least substantially within the casing, the head assembly being biased
toward the extended position, wherein
[0007] the head assembly of the latchbolt is biased into a first condition in which it is
able to operate as a conventional chamfered latchbolt, the head assembly being cammed
from the extended position into the retracted position when a first side of the latchbolt
head assembly is subjected to a lateral force in a first direction and the head assembly
being resistant to being cammed from the extended position into the retracted position
when a second side of the latchbolt head assembly, opposite to the first side, is
subjected to a lateral force in a second direction opposite to the first direction,
and
the head assembly of the latchbolt is able to be transformed against the bias into
a second condition in which the head assembly is cammed from the extended position
into the retracted position when the second side of the latchbolt head assembly is
subjected to the lateral force in the second direction.
[0008] By providing a latchbolt head assembly that has first and second conditions, it becomes
possible to provide a more versatile arrangement. The latchbolt may operate in the
first condition of its head assembly in very much the same way as the conventional
latchbolt described above, but, when the head assembly is transformed into the second
condition, it may allow movement of the latchbolt out of a keeper without the need
for a separate operation of a handle. Consequently, there is no need for a handle
to be provided for retracting the latchbolt. That may be of particular advantage when
the latch assembly is provided in a door of a prison cell.
[0009] Preferably a lateral force applied to the head assembly in the second direction is
effective to transform the head assembly of the latchbolt from the first condition
to the second condition. Such a lateral force may be automatically generated by a
user pressing the head assembly against a keeper.
[0010] Preferably the head assembly has a shape corresponding substantially to a latch head
chamfered on one side in the first condition and a shape corresponding substantially
to a latch head chamfered on its opposite side in the second condition. The angle
of chamfering may in each case be approximately 45°.
[0011] The head assembly preferably comprises a first part providing the cam surface on
the first side of the assembly and capable of receiving the lateral force in the first
direction to cam the head assembly from the extended position into the retracted position,
and a second part providing the cam surface on the second side of the assembly and
capable of receiving the lateral force in the second direction opposite to the first
direction, the second part being movably mounted on the first part. The head assembly
preferably further comprises a spring biasing the second part into a position corresponding
to the first condition of the head assembly. The level of the spring bias affects
the force required to transform the head assembly from the first condition into the
second condition and therefore affects the force required to open a door on which
the latch assembly is mounted.
[0012] The second part is preferably pivotally mounted on the first part for pivotal movement
about an axis transverse to the direction of movement of the head assembly between
the retracted and extended positions and substantially parallel to said first and
second directions. The spring is preferably a torsion spring.
[0013] As will now be understood, a latch assembly according to a preferred arrangement
of the invention is able to present a chamfered face on either of its two opposite
sides according to whether it is in the first condition or the second condition. According
to a second aspect of the invention, closely related to the first aspect of the invention,
there is provided a latch assembly comprising a casing and a latchbolt mounted in
the casing, the latchbolt including a head assembly movable between an extended position
in which the head assembly projects out of the casing through an opening in the casing,
and a retracted position in which the head assembly is contained at least substantially
within the casing, the head assembly being biased toward the extended position, wherein
the head assembly of the latchbolt is biased into a first condition in which it has
a shape corresponding substantially to a latch head chamfered on one side, and is
able to be transformed against the bias into a second condition in which it has a
shape corresponding substantially to a latch head chamfered on its opposite side.
[0014] The latch bolt is preferably resiliently biased towards the extended position by
a spring. The spring is preferably a compression spring.
[0015] The latch assembly preferably further comprises a locking bolt movable between an
extended position in which a head of the locking bolt projects out of the casing through
an opening in the casing, and a retracted position in which the head of the bolt is
contained at least substantially within the casing. Preferably movement of the locking
bolt is effected by a manually operable key. The latch assembly may be a mortise lock
assembly. The provision of a locking bolt enables a secure latch assembly to be provided.
[0016] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a latch bolt suitable for use
in a latch assembly as defined above, the latch bolt comprising a head assembly having
any one or more of the features defined above.
[0017] By way of example an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying schematic drawings, of which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a latchbolt embodying the invention;
Fig. 2 is an isometric view of part of a lock casing in which the latchbolt of Fig.
1 is mounted, the latchbolt being shown in its extended position;
Fig. 3 is an isometric view of part of the casing of Fig. 2 showing the latchbolt
in a first condition; and
Fig. 4 is an isometric view of the assembly showing the latchbolt being manually transformed
from the first condition towards a second condition.
[0018] Referring first to Fig. 1, the latchbolt generally comprises a rear part 1 and a
head assembly 2 comprising a first part 3 fixed to the rear part 1 and a second part
4 pivotally mounted on the first part 3 by a pin 5. The pin 5 passes through a pair
of apertures in the part 3 and passageways 7 in a pair of lugs on the part 4. A torsion
spring 8 is carried on the pin 5 and spring biases the part 4 to the orientation shown
in Fig. 3.
[0019] A compression spring 9, schematically shown in Fig. 1, biases the latchbolt outwardly
(to the left as seen in Fig. 1). The spring 9 acts between a fixed part of the casing
of the assembly and the rear of the latchbolt. When the part 4 of the head of the
latchbolt is in the orientation shown in Fig. 3, the head assembly 2 is in its first
condition and the latchbolt operates in the manner of a conventional chamfered latch
and indeed, as can be seen in Fig. 3, the shape of the latchbolt is that of a conventional
chamfered latch. Thus if a force is applied in the direction of the arrow I in Fig.
3, the latchbolt is moved inwardly into the casing.
[0020] When a door, in which the latch assembly is mounted, is in a closed position, the
latchbolt is housed within a keeper. If pressure is now applied to open the door,
the head assembly is brought into contact with the keeper and sideways force is applied
to a flat face 10 of the part 4 of the head assembly. Arrow II in Fig. 3 shows the
direction of this force. That sideways force is mimicked in Fig. 4 where a finger
11 is shown applying the force. With sufficient sideways force, the resilient bias
of the torsion spring 8 is overcome and the part 4 pivots on the pin 5, as shown in
Fig. 4. In Fig. 4 the part 4 is shown pivoted only partway to its other position but
it will be understood that, when fully pivoted, it provides an inclined plane comprising
the flat face 10 on the part 4 and faces 12 on the part 3. This is the second condition
of the head assembly 2, in which the faces 10 and 12 are inclined and able to engage
with the keeper and through a camming action with the keeper cause the latchbolt to
be driven inwardly against the bias of the spring 9.
[0021] As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the casing is preferably also provided with a locking bolt
opening for receiving a locking bolt (not shown). The locking bolt is operated by
a key and when the locking bolt is in an extended position in a keeper, the bolt retains
the door in a closed position.
[0022] It will be noted that the force required to open the door when it is latched closed
is determined partly by the stiffness of the torsion spring 8 and can be set to a
greater force than the force required to move the latchbolt inwardly as the door is
closed.
[0023] The invention may be applied to a wide variety of applications, not necessarily limited
to doors. It may be of particular advantage for a door of a prison cell since it removes
the need to provide a handle on the inside of the door for the purpose of operating
the latchbolt.
[0024] The latchbolt described above may be supplied as part of a latch assembly or may
be retrofitted to an existing latch assembly.
[0025] Where in the foregoing description, integers or elements are mentioned which have
known, obvious or foreseeable equivalents, then such equivalents are herein incorporated
as if individually set forth. Reference should be made to the claims for determining
the true scope of the present invention, which should be construed so as to encompass
any such equivalents. It will also be appreciated by the reader that integers or features
of the invention that are described as preferable, advantageous, convenient or the
like are optional and do not limit the scope of the independent claims.
1. A latch assembly comprising a casing and a latchbolt mounted in the casing, the latchbolt
including a head assembly movable between an extended position in which the head assembly
projects out of the casing through an opening in the casing, and a retracted position
in which the head assembly is contained at least substantially within the casing,
the head assembly being biased toward the extended position, wherein
the head assembly of the latchbolt is biased into a first condition in which it is
able to operate as a conventional chamfered latchbolt, the head assembly being cammed
from the extended position into the retracted position when a first side of the latchbolt
head assembly is subjected to a lateral force in a first direction and the head assembly
being resistant to being cammed from the extended position into the retracted position
when a second side of the latchbolt head assembly, opposite to the first side, is
subjected to a lateral force in a second direction opposite to the first direction,
and
the head assembly of the latchbolt is able to be transformed against the bias into
a second condition in which the head assembly is cammed from the extended position
into the retracted position when the second side of the latchbolt head assembly is
subjected to the lateral force in the second direction.
2. A latch assembly according to claim 1, in which a lateral force applied to the head
assembly in the second direction is effective to transform the head assembly of the
latchbolt from the first condition to the second condition.
3. A latch assembly according to claim 1 or 2, in which the head assembly has a shape
corresponding substantially to a latch head chamfered on one side in the first condition
and a shape corresponding substantially to a latch head chamfered on its opposite
side in the second condition.
4. A latch assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the head assembly comprises
a first part providing the cam surface on the first side of the assembly and capable
of receiving the lateral force in the first direction to cam the head assembly from
the extended position into the retracted position, and a second part providing the
cam surface on the second side of the assembly and capable of receiving the lateral
force in the second direction opposite to the first direction, the second part being
movably mounted on the first part.
5. A latch assembly according to claim 4, in which the head assembly further comprises
a spring biasing the second part into a position corresponding to the first condition
of the head assembly.
6. A latch assembly according to claim 4 or 5, in which the second part is pivotally
mounted on the first part for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the direction
of movement of the head assembly between the retracted and extended positions and
substantially parallel to said first and second directions.
7. A latch assembly according to claim 5 and 6, in which the spring is a torsion spring.
8. A latch assembly comprising a casing and a latchbolt mounted in the casing, the latchbolt
including a head assembly movable between an extended position in which the head assembly
projects out of the casing through an opening in the casing, and a retracted position
in which the head assembly is contained at least substantially within the casing,
the head assembly being biased toward the extended position, wherein the head assembly
of the latchbolt is biased into a first condition in which it has a shape corresponding
substantially to a latch head chamfered on one side, and is able to be transformed
against the bias into a second condition in which it has a shape corresponding substantially
to a latch head chamfered on its opposite side.
9. A latch assembly according to any preceding claim, in which the latchbolt is resiliently
biased towards the extended position by a spring.
10. A latch assembly according to claim 9, in which the spring is a compression spring.
11. A latch assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising a locking bolt
movable between an extended position in which a head of the locking bolt projects
out of the casing through an opening in the casing, and a retracted position in which
the head of the bolt is contained at least substantially within the casing.
12. A latch assembly according to claim 11, in which movement of the locking bolt is effected
by a manually operable key.
13. A latch assembly according to claim 11 or 12, in which the latch assembly is a mortise
lock assembly.
14. A latchbolt comprising a head assembly according to any preceding claim.