IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,880,871

Granted Patent B2

US 6,880,871 · App. 10/235,390 · Granted Apr 19, 2005

Drive-in latch with rotational adjustment

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 6,880,871
App. No.: 10/235,390
Granted: Apr 19, 2005
Kind: B2

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Abstract

At least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door. The removable drive-in housing assembly can include a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, the casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly. The removable drive-in housing assembly also can include a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of the cylindrical casing. Further, the removable drive-in housing assembly can include a unitary cylindrical outer collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of the inner collar. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. This abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims (53)

1. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door, the latch assembly including a latch bolt for latching the door in a predetermined position, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

a. a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch bolt;

b. a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing; and

c. a unitary cylindrical outer collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said inner collar, the inner collar including a flexible member configured to engage the outer collar to removably retain the outer collar on the inner collar.

2. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a combination of said inner collar and said outer collar is manually non-destructively removable from said cylindrical casing.

3. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said outer collar is non-destructively removable from said inner collar.

4. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said inner collar is longitudinally slidable around said outer circumference of said cylindrical casing.

5. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said outer collar is locked longitudinally relative to the inner collar and slidable around said outer circumference of said inner collar.

6. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , said cylindrical casing comprising at least one protrusion extending outward from said outer circumference of said cylindrical casing.

7. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , said inner collar comprising at least one circumferential groove.

8. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , said outer collar comprising at least one opening adapted to receive the flexible member of said inner collar to limit rotation of said outer collar with respect to said inner collar.

9. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , said outer collar comprising at least one opening adapted to receive the flexible member of said inner collar to limit longitudinal movement of said outer collar with respect to said inner collar.

10. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , the flexible member being adapted to releasably engage with the door.

11. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein, once installed in the door, the flexible member of said inner collar provides an interference fit with the door.

12. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein, once installed in the door, said outer collar is rotationally fixed with respect to said cylindrical casing.

13. A removable drive-in housing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein, once installed in the door, said outer collar is rotationally adjustable with respect to said inner collar.

14. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

a. a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly, said cylindrical casing comprising at least one protrusion extending outward from an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing, said at least one protrusion slidable through an longitudinally-extending groove of said inner collar;

b. a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing; and

c. a unitary cylindrical outer collar removable around an outer circumference of said inner collar, the inner collar including a flexible member configured to engage the outer collar to removably retain the outer collar on the inner collar.

15. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

a. a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly, said cylindrical casing comprising at least one protrusion extending outward from an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing, said at least one protrusion receivable in a circumferential groove of said inner collar;

b. a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing; and

16. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly a door, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

a. a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly, said cylindrical casing comprising at least one protrusion extending outward from an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing, said at least one protrusion receivable in a circumferential groove of said inner collar, said circumferential groove limiting rotation of said cylindrical casing with respect to said inner collar;

b. a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing; and

17. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

a. a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly, said cylindrical casing comprising at least one protrusion extending outward from an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing, said at least one protrusion receivable in a circumferential groove of said inner collar, said circumferential groove limiting longitudinal movement of said cylindrical casing with respect to said inner collar;

b. a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing; and

18. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

a. a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly;

b. a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing, said inner collar comprising a circumferential groove, said circumferential groove adapted to releasably receive a protrusion extending outward from said outer circumference of said cylindrical casing; and

19. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

a. a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly;

b. a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing; and

c. a unitary cylindrical collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said inner collar, the inner collar including a flexible member configured to engage the outer collar to removably retain the outer collar on the inner collar, wherein said outer collar is metallic.

20. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

d. a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly;

e. a unitary cylindrical inner collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said cylindrical casing; and

f. a unitary cylindrical outer collar removably receivable around an outer circumference of said inner collar, the inner collar including a flexible member configured to engage the outer collar to removably retain the outer collar on the inner collar, wherein said inner collar is plastic.

21. A removable drive-in housing assembly for securing a latch assembly in a door, said removable drive-in housing assembly comprising:

a. a first means for releasably engaging a unitary cylindrical inner collar around a cylindrical casing having a longitudinal axis, said casing adapted to at least partially surround the latch assembly, said inner collar adapted to releasably engage with the door, said first means limiting longitudinal and rotational movement of said inner collar with respect to said casing;

b. a second means for releasably engaging a unitary cylindrical outer collar around said inner collar, said second means limiting longitudinal and rotational movement of said outer collar with respect to said inner collar.

22. A system comprising:

a. a second means for latching a door in a predetermined position;

b. a third means for securing said second means in the door,

c. a fourth means, removably receivable around an outer perimeter of said third means, for limiting rotation of said third means with respect to the door; and

d. a fifth means, removably receivable around an outer perimeter of said fourth means, for allowing adjustment of a rotational position of said third means with respect to the door,

e. a combination of said fifth means, said fourth means, and said third means adapted to be driven into the door and non-destructively removable from the door.

Assignments (12)

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023

From: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.

Reel/Frame 064029/0313 →

NOTICE OF SUCCESSOR AGENT AND ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) REEL/FRAME 036131/0272 Recorded Jun 5, 2018

From: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH

To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA

Reel/Frame 046301/0425 →

MERGER Recorded Jun 22, 2016

From: KWIKSET CORPORATION

To: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.

Reel/Frame 039116/0293 →

SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2015

From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.

To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

Reel/Frame 036131/0272 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2015

From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL TRUSTEE

To: APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC., A CORP. OF FLORIDA; KWIKSET CORPORATION; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; ROV HOLDING, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; ROVCAL, INC.; ROVCAL, INC., A CORP. OF CALIFORNIA; RUSSELL HOBBS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO ROVCAL, INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE; TETRA HOLDINGS (US), INC.; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION; UNITED INDUSTRIES CORPORATION AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC., A CORP. OF DELAWARE

Reel/Frame 036102/0001 →

RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 2, 2015

From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT

To: RUSSELL HOBBS, INC.; APPLICA CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.; TOASTMASTER INC.; SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.; ROVCAL, INC.; TETRA HOLDING (US), INC.; UNITED PET GROUP, INC.; SEED RESOURCES, L.L.C.; PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.; LIQUID HOLDING COMPANY, INC.; TELL MANUFACTURING, INC.; SALIX ANIMAL HEALTH, LLC

Reel/Frame 036052/0845 →

SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 31, 2013

From: PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.

To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT

Reel/Frame 029731/0589 →

PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012

From: PRICE PFISTER, INC.; KWIKSET CORPORATION; NATIONAL MANUFACTURING CO.

To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Reel/Frame 029538/0186 →

PATENT ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 28, 2012

From: SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC.

To: KWIKSET CORPORATION