The invention relates generally to folding handle operated door locks, and more specifically to folding T-handle operated door locks easily assembled from a relatively small number of components, which require minimum welding, and which positively open and close.
Locking door latches are well-known and are used in a variety of applications, including applications where flush mounting is desirable, such as door locks for equipment cabinets and for delivery vehicles. One feature common to locking folding T-handle door latches is that the door latches have a folding operating handle which can be folded down into a recess when not in use. Some drawbacks of prior art door latches include numerous moving parts and/or the requirement of utilizing a number of welds, springs and small parts which can be damaged or rendered inoperable by abuse and/or during painting, and accordingly may be subject to reliability problems.
The present invention overcomes drawbacks of prior folding handle latches by providing an improved, relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture folding handle operated door lock which has relatively few parts, which requires few welds, has no springs or other small parts which can be jammed with painting, and which utilizes a key locking system which could easily retain rotatable components in pre-determined positions relative to housing, namely, a latched and unlatched position.
The operating T-handle is preferably nestable within a pan when the T-handle is in its locked position. A key lock is included to releasably lock the T-handle and a latch cam connected to the T-handle. The locking cam and the key lock are spaced apart by virtue of a slide bar which is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the locked position being when it is moved into contact with a cutout area of a locking cam connected together with the latch cam. In the unlocked position, the slide bar is moved out of the cutout area of the locking cam. No springs are required to move the slide bar between the locked and unlocked positions, as the action is positive.