Reversible lever detent spring mechanism

• US 6,695,365 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chong, Gerald B., Winardi, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US10/116,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20030189342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 292/348, 292/353, 292/347, 292/DIG.53, 292/DIG.61
• US Class Current: 292/348
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 3/00 Fastening knobs or handles to lock or latch parts E05B79/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 3/003 Fastening knobs or handles to hollow cylindrical spindles, e.g. of tubular locks
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 3/04 Fastening the knob or the handle shank to the spindle by screws, springs or snap bolts E05B3/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/53 Mounting and attachment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/61 Spring devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/57 Operators with knobs or handles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/82 Knobs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/85 Knob-attaching devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/869 Spring arm

Abstract

A spring detent mechanism for a reversible lever includes a cantilevered lever catch rigidly attached to the sleeve and a C-shaped clip disposed in a groove in the sleeve. The lever catch includes a button for engaging the lever and the C-shaped clip is disposed adjacent the button to prevent longitudinal movement of the lever unless the button is depressed.

Claims

1. A spring detent mechanism for a reversible lever the lever being coupled to a lockset chassis having a lever sleeve extending through a rose liner, the lever sleeve having a longitudinal axis, the mechanism comprising:

resilient means, rigidly attached to the lever sleeve, for releasably locking the lever to the sleeve, wherein the resilient means includes a band having a first button and a second button; and

clip means, coupled to the sleeve, for preventing the resilient means from collapsing in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

2. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the clip means includes a C-shaped clip.

3. A spring detent mechanism for a reversible lever, the lever being coupled to a lockset chassis having a lever sleeve extending through a rose liner, the lever sleeve having a longitudinal axis, the mechanism comprising:

a resilient band attached to the sleeve and including a first button configured to engage the sleeve and a second button configured to engage the lever; and

a C-shaped band coupled to the sleeve to prevent movement of the second button parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.

4. A spring detent mechanism for a reversible lever, the lever being coupled to a lockset chassis having a lever sleeve extending through a rose liner, the lever sleeve having a longitudinal axis, the mechanism comprising:

a cantilevered flat lever catch having a first end and a second end, the first end including a first button press fit into a hole formed in the sleeve and the second end including a second button for engaging the lever; and

a clip disposed on the sleeve orthogonally to the lever catch to engage the second button to prevent movement of the lever along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve.