US2981090A - Chain fastener device - Google Patents

Description

April 1961 G. P. PATRIQUIN ET AL 2,981,090

CHAIN FASTENER DEVICE Filed Jan. 16, 1959 INVENTORS GEORGE P. PATRIQUIN NORMAN R. ADLER BY 6 MA'ITORNEY CHAIN FASTENER DEVICE George P. Patriquin, Gardner, and Norman R. Adler,

Fitcliburg, Mass., assignors to Independent Lock Conipany, Fitchburg, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Jan. 16, 1959, Sen No. 787, 1 57 9 Claims. .(Cl. 70-.93)

This, invention relates to an auxiliary. door fastener, and more particularly to a door fastener of the chain type, commonly used in conjunction with a conventional door lock assembly in order to provide an additional measure of security and privacy by permitting the inhabitant of a dwelling or the like to open the door part way, as for inspection of a caller, while at the same time assuring the security of the inhabitant by preventing the caller from further opening the door without the assistance of the inhabitant.

This invention further relates to a door chain fastener assembly having a key operable cylinder plug'whereby the chain member is adapted to be released by the key operation of the plug from outside of the door.

Still more particularly, this invention relates to a door chain fastener as aforesaid having novel means whereby accidental unseating of the chain from the door is prevented and the possibility of disengaging the chain from the door connector by unauthorized persons is minimized- This invention relates further to an improved key operated door chain fastener.

As is well known in the art, door chain fastener devices have been used as a means of providing additional security in conjunction with the use of locking means commonly employed on doors, rim locks, night locks, and conventional cylinder lock constructions being examples of the same. Such devices have permitted the resident to open the door part wayv without compromising the security of the door since the door cannot be opened further than the limitations of the chain length without unhooking or unlatching the chain from the door. Such knownstructures have been very simple in nature, comprising merely a chain anchored at one end to the door jamb and having afiixed to the other end a hook or shackle adapted alternatively to besecured to or removed from a complemental shackle affixed to the door.

A well known danger involved in the use of such an assembly lies in the fact that if some accident should be fall the only inhabitant of'a house or apartment in which a chain fastener has been applied to the door, there is no way of gaining entrance short of breaking in the door or destroying the chain lock assembly. 1 I

' A recent development concerning an improved form of chain fastener device has been the'subject' of United States patent application Serial No. 757,355, filed August 26, 1958. The subject matter of such application concerns a chain fastener device adapted under certain conditions to be released by an authorized person from outside the door. The instant application is directed to an improved chain fastener device generally, and specifically to an improved device of the type disclosed in the prior filed application aforesaid.

Accordingly, it isan object of this invention to provide a chain fastener assembly wherein the chaining member may be disengaged by authorizedpersons from outside the door. A further object of this invention is to provide a chain fastener assembly'whichrmay be operated and A controlled by a cylinder plug,-thereby'permitting those persons havingthe correct key, for the plug to disengage ,the chain member from the. outside of the door.

Still a furtherobject of this invention is to pro vide a 2,981,09fi Patented Apr. 25, 1961 hereof, in which- Figure l is a' horizontal section through a door and door frame upon which the device has been mounted;

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the device, with parts broken away to show details;

Figure 3 is a magnified section taken on the line. 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a magnified view similar to Figure 2, depicting an intermediate position of parts of the device during the opening or disengaging cycle thereof;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the lines 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a magnified exploded perspective of the chain connector element in accordance with the invention.

Reference is now made specifically to the drawings wherein a cylinder plug assembly 10 of any conventional type, preferably the disk tumbler or pin tumbler type, is provided with a rotatable plug member 11, key controlled to be released for rotation when a torque is applied to said plug'by a properly cut key (not shown).

The plug assembly 10 is mounted in a transverse boring 12 through the door D by means of headed bolts 13, which extend through apertures 14 in back plate 15, which bolts, when drawn tight through complementally threaded olfset apertures 16 secured to the assembly 10', serve to maintain the assembly securely in the transverse boring,

with the back plate 15 drawn tightly against the rear face of the door and the front drawn tightly against the front of the door. For ornamental purposes, and as a tamperp roof shield for the plug assembly 10, a rose plate 16a may be interposed between the front face of the door and the assembly, to be relatively rotatable.

The back plate 15 is provided with a pair of spur members 17, 18, which members serve, as the bolts 13, 13 are drawn tight, to engage the rear face of the door, indenting the latter to prevent rotation of the entire assembly within the transverse boring 12.

The key plug ll'of the cylinder is provided with a connecting bar 20, which bar in turn is engaged within a slot 21, formed in a trunnion member 22. The trunnion 22 is provided with an annular shoulder-or flange 23 and an adjacent bearing surface 24, the said shoulder 23 being with an annular recess 29, in which recess there is adapted said split washer, in the' to be seated a split Washer 39, assembled position of said trunnion on the said back plate, lying against the boss 31 surrounding the bearing aperture 26, thereby preventing the trunnion from moving endwise inwardly. of theassemhly. The back plate 15 of the assembly is eccentrically formed in relationtothe center of the plate 15 with a pair of cam seats 40, one said'seat lying symmetrically to each side of the vertical-axis of said back plate in communicating relationship with the periphery of thesaid plate. The cam seats 40 include inclined entry portions 41 cut deeply into the back plate 15 and sloping rearwardly to crest portions 42 coterminus with the plane of the rearmost face 43 of the said back plate 15. The entering cam face 41 desirably includes adjacent flared portions 44, 45, which portions act as a finder or guide to facilitate location of the follower portion, to be dedescribed, within the said seats.

An inwardly inclined cam face 46 is formed adjacent each crest 42 in trailing position with respect to the periphery of the back plate 15. Each of the cam faces 46 slopes inwardly, terminating at a line 47, which line marks the innermost penetration of the said cam faces 46. Each of the said lines 47 forms the bottom portion of a generally V-shaped cross-sectional configuration, the inward sloping face 48 and the previously defined cam face 46 forming the branches of the said V.

The upper and lower boundaries defining the seats 40 are likewise formed by inclined or canted walls 49, 50, as is best seen in Figure 3. 7

Referring to the last mentioned figure, upper wall 49 and lower wall 50 complete what may be roughly described as an inwardly extended slot of pyramidal outline defined by the walls 46, 48, 49, 50, said pyramid having a four-sided base coterminus with the rear face 43 of the back plate 15, the line 47 comprising an apex of the said pyramid.

A clevis plate 55, bifurcated to provide spaced arms 56 and 57 with a slot 55a therebetween is mounted to trunnion 22 by means of a headed bolt 58 which, in the assembled position of the clevis plate, maintains said plate in proximate spaced relation from the back plate by the threading of the bolt within the complemental aperture 59 formed in the trunnion 22. The clevis plate is positively locked to the trunnion to be rotatable with the key plug by means of the keying aperture 27a which is complementally formed to be received by the crown 27 of the trunnion 22, and maintained over said crown by the headed bolt aforesaid.

It will thus be seen that through the driving connection of the parts 20, 21, 27 and 27a, a unitary structure is formed of the plug and plate, thereby assuring torque communication not dependent in any way upon frictional engagement of the parts.

The assembly is completed by means of a chain portion 60 having one end 61 anchored to a shackle 62, which is secured to the frame of a door by means of anchoring screws or otherwise. The free end 63 of the chain 60 is secured about a clevis pin member 64. As best seen from Figures 3 and 6, the clevis pin member comprises a body portion 65, having an annular recess 66 of a dimension slidably to be received between the arms 56 and 57 of the bifurcated plate 55. The recess 66 is defined, adjacent the leading portion of the said clevis pin by shoulders 67 and 68. The body portion 65 is formed with a central bore 69 along the axis of said body portion, the bore 6h including an oversized portion '76 communicating with a smaller bore 71, the two bores being separated by a tapered shoulder 72.

A pin member73, having a headed portion 74, is positioned within the said bore 69, the end 75 of the said pin being adapted axially slidably to be received by the narrower bore portion 71, the head portion 74 of the said pin being likewise slidably receivable within the wider portion 70 of thebore 69. The head and body portions 74, 75, respectively, of the pin are separated by a tapered annular headed portion or shoulder 76, corresponding generally with'the tapered portion 72 separating the bores 71 and 7t).

As a result of such construction, the pin 73 may be inserted through the wider end 77 of the body of the clevis pin member, the action ofthe shoulders 72 and 76 preventing endwise removal .ofthe pin from the body portion. A coiled expansion spring 80 is seated within thebore 69, one end ,of the said springlying against and biasing the head 74 of the pin 73 outwardly of the narrower bore 71 of the body portion, the other end 80 of the said spring lying against a cap 81 which is permanently applied over the end 77 of the body portion.

As best seen from Figure 6, the body portion may be provided with a peripherally serrated shank 82 in order to provide a frictional fit of the cap 81 to the body portion. However, other ways of securing the cap to the body portion permanently will suggest itself to the assembler.

The cap 81 is provided, in addition, with a spring seat portion 83, which portion forms the reaction point for the end of the spring opposite to the end biasing the head 74 of the pin 73.

It should be observed that the end link 90 of the chain 60 may conveniently be applied and retained on the clevis pin assembly by sleeving the said link over the body portion of the clevis pin prior to the application of the cap 81. In such case, the shoulders 91, 92 of the body portion and cap portion, respectively, secure the loop or link 90 of the chain againstremoval from the pin assembly.

Describing now the operation of the device, the plug assembly and connectors are designed in a manner to align the walls of the crown 27 substantially horizontally and vertically when the plug is in the locked position. The clevis plate 55, which includes the keying aperture 27a, will, accordingly, in the locked position of the door, also be substantially horizontal, in which position the slot 55a, defined by the arms 56, 57, will overlie one or the other of the cam seats 40, depending upon the desired handing of the door, which handing operation will hereafter be explained more fully.

To apply the chain 60 to the plug assembly, it is merely necessary to slide the pin assembly horizontally onto the slot 55a of the clevis plate 55, the shoulders or flanges 67, 68, after application, lying to either side of the arms 56, 57 of the said plate, thereby serving to prevent removal of the pin assembly from the plate other than outwardly in the direction of slot 55a. As the pin assembly is guided inwardly by arms 56, 57, the tip 75:! 0f the pin 73 will follow the entering cam surface 41, causing the pin to move axially inwardly within the clevis body 65 toward the end 77 thereof, thereby compressing the spring 80. As the clevis pin assembly is slid further inwardly onto the clevis plate 55, the follower tip 75a rides over the crest 42 and is thereupon urged by the expanding spring 80 outwardly of the body 65 and into the apex line 47 (see Figure 3).

With the chain thus applied, the door may be partially opened, permitting interviewing and inspection of a caller without compromising the security of the door, since an inwardly directed exertion of force on the door will merely tighten the chain. If, after inspection of the caller, the inhabitant wishes to open the door, it is merely necessary to slack off on the chain, by partially closing the door, and remove the clevis pin from the clevis plate by horizontally sliding the pin in the reverse direction to the direction of application.

It is possible for a person provided with a key for the plug 11 to release a chain thus applied from outside the door. When the plug is key-rotated as aforesaid, the clevis plate which is operatively connected to rotate with the plug turns downwardly (see Figure 4), the initial downward movement serving to cam the pin 73, which follows the wall 50, axially inwardly of the clevis pin body 65 against the biasing influence of the spring 80.

I Upon further turning of the plate 55, the pin 73 will I pass the ledge or peak 50aof the wall 50, and eventually 'the clevis pin assembly and chain 60 will fall free of the clevis plate SSunder the influence of gravity, thus re-' leasing the door for normal operation.

Where it is desired to change the assembly for left or right handed operation, it is merely necessary to release the headed bolt 58, remove the clevis plate 55, rotate the plate through 180, reseat the aperture 27a of the plate over the crown 27 of the trunnion member 22, and reapply the bolt 58. It will be readily recognized that upon such reversal, the other of the pair of cam seats 40 will be in registry with the slot 55a of the clevis plate in the locked position of the plug.

The provision of the novel spring detent pin and cam seats in the combination aforesaid serves to prevent accidental or intentional release of the clevis pin from the clevis plate under the influence of jogging vibration, or manipulation of the door structure. Likewise, since it requires a fair amount of force horizontally along the clevis plate to unseat the clevis pin from the clevis plate, the danger of an intruder releasing the pin from the plate by reaching around the edge of the door is minimized.

While the invention has been illustrated as used in conjunction with a single slotted or lobed clevis plate, it should be understood that variations from such form, such as the use of a double lobed or slotted plate, further to facilitate handling, may be made without varying from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention and illustrated its use, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A door chain fastener having a key operable cylinder plug assembly arranged to be mounted on a door or the like, said fastener including a keyway extending to one side of the door and a back plate member situated on the other side of the door, said back plate having a cam seat portion on its rearward face, a cylinder plug, a clevis plate coupled to said plug in proximate, rearwardly spaced relation from said back plate formed with walls defining a slot extending inwardly from the periphery of said plate, said slot being positioned on said plate to register with said cam seat portion in locked position of said plug, a chain having one end adapted to be anchored to a door frame and having at its other end a clevis pin, with a retaining portion of a size to be slidably engaged within said slot, and a spring loaded detent normally extending from said pin a distance effective to project said detent into said cam seat portion when said retaining portion of said pin is engaged with said slot in the locked position of said plug.

2. A door chain fastener comprising a key rotatable plug mounted within a cylinder lock assembly, having a back plate adapted to be non-rotatably secured to the rear face of a door, a concave cam seat formed in said back plate, a clevis plate coupled to said plug in proximate spaced relation to said back plate, and having mounting means arranged in a locked position of said plug to register with said seat, a clevis pin having complemental mounting means to said clevis plate mounting means and adapted to be mounted on and detached from said mounting means by a sidewise slidable movement, said pin including a spring detent arranged to be projected into said seat when said pin is mounted on said clevis plate in a locked position of said plug, and withdrawn from said cam seat when said plug is rotated, and a chain having one end fixed to said pin and its other end adapted to be anchored to a door frame.

3. A fastener in accordance with claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises a slot formed in said clevis plate and extending to the periphery thereof, and said complemental mounting means comprise a pair of flanges extending normal to the axis' of said pin, connected by a neck portion, said flanges being of a dimension greater than said slot and said neck portion being of a dimension less than said slot.

4. A fastener in accordance with claim 2 wherein said cam seat is provided with an entering cam surface in leading position outwardly of said seat, whereby upon mounting said pin on said clevis plate in the locked position of said plug, said detent is sequentially depressed by said leading step and released when registered with said seat.

5. A chain fastener assembly for a door or the like comprising, in combination, a key rotatable plug, a clevis plate coupled to said plug and adapted to be rotated with said plug in proximate spaced relation to the rear of the door, a cam seat secured to the back face of the door and registering with a slot formed in said clevis plate, a clevis pin insertible sidewise into said'slot of said plate and including a detent arranged tobe spring biased into said seat when said pin is inserted into said slot, said seat including a cam portion arranged, upon key operation of said plug, to coact with said detent to cam the latter out of said seat.

6. A chain fastener device comprising a key operable plug assembly adapted to be mounted on a door to expose a keyway on the front face of the door and a back plate on the rear face, said device including a rotatable plug, a. clevis plate coupled to and rotatable with said plug in proximate spaced relation to said back plate, a slot formed in said clevis plate and radially extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, a cam seat on said back plate, a cam step on said back plate adjacent said seat, said seat and step arranged to register with said slot in the locked position of said plug, with said step in the leading position relative to said seat with respect to the periphery of said clevis plate, a chain having one end adapted to be anchored to a door frame and having at the other end a clevis pin slidably insertible into and removable from said slot of said clevis plate, and a spring loaded detent normally extending from said pin and arranged, when said pin is inserted into said slot, in the locked position of said plug, to be biased inwardly by said steps and to spring into said seat, said pin being arranged, upon turning of said plug, to be ejected from said slot.

7. A chain fastener device comprising a key operable plug assembly adapted to be mounted on a door to expose a keyway on the front face of the door and a back plate on the rear face of the door, said device including a rotatable plug, a clevis plate coupled to and rotatable with said plug in proximate spaced relation to said back plate, a slot formed in said clevis plate and extending inwardly from the periphery thereof, a seat member on said back plate, said seat member arranged to register with said a slot in the locked position of said plug, a chain having one end adapted to be anchored to a door frame and having at the other end a clevis pin slidably insertible into and removable from said slot of said clevis plate, and a spring loaded detent member normally extending from said pin and arranged, when said pin is inserted into said slot in the locked position of said plug, to be projected into said seat member, said detent member and seat member including cam means on one of said members and follower means on said other members whereby, upon key rotation of said plug, said detent member will be cammed out of said seat member.

8. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said pin includes a flange member lying in the clevis plate inserted position of said pin between said back plate and said clevis plate, said flange being of a size to prevent endwise removal of said pin through said slot.

9. A device in accordance with claim 7 wherein said slot of said clevis plate is adapted, in the door mounted position of said assembly, to lie in a substantially horizontal plane and, upon key rotation of said plug, to be shiftable to a downwardly depending vertical plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,824,045 Fetyk Sept. 22, 1931 2,075,015 Beaumont Mar. 30, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS 338,136 Germany June 13, 1921

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