Emhart Inc.

Oakley W Mickle

Richard M Davidian

A door latch assembly 10 includes a rack 102 which is moved upon depression of a thumbpiece 12. Movement of the rack 102 results in rotation of an enmeshed pinion 136 and an assembled spindle 152. As the spindle 152 rotates, a latch 26 is moved from a latched position to an unlatched position to thereby permit opening of a door 20 on which the door latch assembly is mounted. When it is desired to lock the door 20, a key-operated lock cylinder 16 is operated to place into motion facilities for moving the rack 102 into a disabled poisition whereafter depression of the thumbpiece 12 will not result in movement of the rack. As the rack 102 is moved to the disabled position, teeth 104 of the rack remain enmeshed with teeth 138 of pinion 136. When the rack 102 is again moved to the enabled positon, the teeth 104 and 138 remain enmeshed and thereby avoid any deleterious reactions had they been separated upon disablement of the rack 102 and re-enmeshed upon enablement thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Rockfall, CT, United States of America

Oakley W Mickle