US2029002A - Keyhole illuminating means for doors - Google Patents

Description

Jim 2%, 11936. D. E. SMILEY KEYHOLE ILLUMINATING MEANS ,FOR DOORS Filed March 6, 1933 V INVENTOR.

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Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEYHOLE ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR- DOORS 2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to doors, and more particularly to looks thereof, and it is the purpose of this invention to provide means by which the keyhole of a lock can be illuminated to render it clearly visible in the dark, whereby to obviate the delay and annoyance attendant the effort of searching for the keyhole in a darkened location.

Only one form of the invention will be described, following which its novel features will be pointed out in claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a view showing in side elevation, partly broken away, the invention associated with a door and the lock thereof;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of an elec trical circuit embodied in the invention.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in each of the several views.

Referring specifically to the drawing, this invention is shown for the purpose of illustration associated with a conventional lock, including a rectangular casing l0 fitted in a recess H in the free edge of a door I2. A sliding latch bolt I3 is actuatable upon rotation of a spindle I4 having knobs l5 fixed thereto at opposite sides of the door; and the operative connection between the spindle and latch bolt includes a lever l6 fixed to the spindle and engaging one arm of a bell crank lever H, which arm is provided with a lug l8 working in a slot IQ of the latch bolt, all as shown in Figure 1. The lock also includes a locking bolt 20 adapted to be actuated by a key (not shown) insertable into the casing I0 through a keyhole 2| formed by registering openings in the casing, door and escutcheon plates 22.

The illuminating means embodying this invention comprises an electric lamp 23, the metallic shell 23 of which is threaded into an angle bracket 25 of conducting material, the bracket being secured to and insulated from the casing It to support the lamp in the recess immediately below the casing and in proximity to the keyhole 2|. Between the lamp and the keyhole,

- the casing is provided with an opening 26 through the control of a switch which is manually operable from exteriorly of the door. The battery 2! is fitted in a recess 28 formed in the free edge of the door adjacent the recess H; and the recess 28 is closed by a removable cover plate 23 of'insulating material.

From the battery terminals 30 and 3|, respectively, lead insulated conductors 32 and 33, the former of which is soldered to the bracket 25. The conductor 33 is extended about the lock casing through a slot 34 in the latter, and is bent upon itself to extend within the casing directly opposite that arm of the bell crank lever which is operatively connected to the latch bolt l3 through the medium of the lug I3 and slot l9 as previously described. The free end of the conductor 33 is bared and insulated from the casing by a strip of insulation 35 as shown in Figure 1. A third conductor 36 is soldered to a contact member 37 fixed to, and insulated from, the bracket 25, the contact member engaging the center terminal 38 of the lamp when the shell of the latter is screwed into the bracket as shown in Figure 1. The conductor 36 is extended about the casing I0 and through the slot 34 in spaced relation to the conductor 33, with the free end of the conductor 36 being bared and insulated from the casing and from the conductor 33 by the strip of insulation 35, as shown in Figure 3.

The operation of the invention is as follows:

Let it be assumed that the door is locked by the locking bolt 20. In order to illuminate the keyhole 2|, it is only necessary that one of the knobs l5 be turned to release the latch bolt l3, which operation rocks the bell crank lever into bridging engagement with the free ends of the conductors 33 and 36 to complete a circuit through the lamp 23 as follows:

From the terminal 30 of the battery 21, through conductor 32, bracket 25, shell 24 of the lamp, the lamp filament, center terminal 38 of the lamp, contact member 31, conductor 36, bell crank lever H, and conductor 33, back to the battery through the terminal 3|. So long as the knob is held in this position, the keyhole will be illuminated so as to be clearly visible in the dark, for the insertion of a key.

When the knob is released, it will be manifest that the circuit will be disrupted to extinguish the lamp, as the lever I1 is normally urged to disengage the conductors 33 and 38 under the action of the usual spring provided for the latch bolt |3.

The invention can be equally well associated with a cylinder lock or other forms of locks, and the switch can be provided independent of the latch mechanism, it only being desirable that the switch be conveniently accessible from exteriorly of the door, at a location on the knob or adjacent thereto. Furthermore, the usual 110 volt current supplied to consumers can be substituted for the local battery, by extending feed wires through the door jamb and having contacts on'the jamb and door which will establish electrical connection between the feed wires and the conductors 32 and 33 when the door is closed.

I claim:

1; A door having a lock provided with a key-- hole, latch bolt, and a manually operable actu ator for the latch bolt; an electric lamp supported within the door in a position for light rays from free for the insertion of a key; and a-circ'uit including a battery enclosed within the door, conductors insulated from each other and electrically connected to the battery and lamp, said conductors having spaced terminals, and means operable by said actuator from exteriorly of the door to complete the circuit through said terminals and thereby supply current from the battery to the lamp.

2. A door having a lock the casing of which is provided a keyhole and is mortised in the door; the lock having a latch bolt and a manually operable actuator therefor; an electric lamp supported by the casing of the lock in the door mortise in a position to project light rays through an opening in the casing so as to be visible through the keyhole from exteriorly of the door; and an electrical circuit including a battery enterminals; and a bridging member operable by said actuator fromexteriorly of the door to bridge said terminals so as to complete the circuit and thereby supply battery current to the lamp.

DAVID E. SMILEY.

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