Flush-type door lock

Abstract

A flush mountable door lock includes a recessed body member, a lock bolt slidably mounted on the body member, and a paddle-shaped operating handle for moving the bolt. The handle is movable between nested and projected positions. A bolt actuator extends from the handle into a receiving formation provided on the bolt for drivingly interconnecting the handle and the bolt to effect retracting and extending movements of the bolt when the handle is moved toward its projected and retracted positions. A torsion coil spring is interposed between the body member and the handle, and serves the several functions of biasing the handle toward its nested position, maintaining play-free engagement between the handle and the body member when the handle is nested, and maintaining a play-free driving connection between the handle and the bolt when the handle is projected. A ball-spring detent system is interposed between the body member and the bolt, and serves the several functions of assisting in effecting final movement of the bolt to its extended and retracted positions as the bolt approaches these positions, releasably retaining the bolt in its extended position when the handle is nested, and releasably retaining the bolt in its retracted position when the handle is projected. The ball-spring detent system preferably includes a hardened steel ball carried in a closed-ended hole provided in the bolt. A compression coil spring is carried in the closed-ended hole and biases the ball outwardly of the closed-ended hole for selective engagement with spaced formations provided on the body member. One or more plastic inserts carried in the bolt may define the closed-ended hole and/or may define at least a part of the actuator receiving formation.