Door latch operator apparatus

1. A mortise lock operable with a latch operator, the mortise lock comprising:

a housing;

a latch bolt disposed at least in part in the housing for reciprocal linear movement;

a first hub defining a central opening about an axis of rotation, the first hub in operative communication with the latch bolt to transmit force to retract the latch bolt;

a first spindle having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, and a first peripheral groove proximate to the first end, the first end of the first spindle received in the opening in the first hub to apply rotational force to the first hub, the second end of the first spindle adapted to be in operative communication with the latch operator;

a linearly moveable securing element having

a first end,

a second end, and

two spaced parallel sides extending from the first end, each side defining opposing slots aligned with the direction of linear movement of the securing element, and each side including a lip portion spaced from the first end,

wherein the securing element is moveable between a first position where a portion of the securing element is received in the first peripheral groove of the first spindle and the first spindle is secured to the first hub, and a second position where the securing element is spaced from the first peripheral groove and the securing element is disengaged from the first spindle and the first spindle may be freely removed from the opening in the first hub;

a retaining element slidably mounted to the securing element between the two sides and in the slots of the securing element and mounted to the housing; and

means for biasing the first end of the securing element away from the retaining element,

wherein the securing element is capable of being moved from the first position to the second position by an implement inserted through an opening in the housing.

2. The lock of claim 1 , wherein the means for biasing comprises a coil spring.

3. The lock of claim 2 , wherein the coil spring is interposed between the first end of the securing element and the retaining element.

4. The lock of claim 1 , wherein the retaining element is substantially planar.

5. The lock of claim 4 , wherein the retaining element has a first end and a second end, including a prong on each end that extends through one of the slots in the securing element.

6. The lock of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first spindle has beveled corners, and wherein the first spindle applies force to the lip portion when inserted in the opening of the first hub to move the securing element from the first position to the second position.

7. The lock of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first spindle is tapered, and wherein the first spindle applies force to the lip portion when inserted in the opening of the first hub to move the securing element from the first position to the second position.

8. A mortise lock operable with a latch operator, the mortise lock comprising:

a housing;

a latch bolt disposed at least in part in the housing for reciprocal linear movement;

a first hub defining a central opening about an axis of rotation, the first hub in operative communication with the latch bolt to transmit force to retract the latch bolt;

a first spindle having a longitudinal axis, a first end, a second end, and a first peripheral groove proximate to the first end, the first end of the first spindle received in the opening in the first hub to apply rotational force to the first hub, the second end of the first spindle adapted to be in operative communication with the latch operator;

a securing element having a first end, a second end, and two spaced parallel sides extending from the first end, each side including a lip portion spaced from the first end, wherein the securing element is moveable between a first position where a portion of the securing element is received in the first peripheral groove of the first spindle and the first spindle is secured to the first hub, and a second position where the securing element is spaced from the first peripheral groove and the securing element is disengaged from the first spindle and the first spindle may be freely removed from the opening in the first hub; and

a second hub defining a central opening about an axis of rotation, the second hub in operative communication with the latch bolt to transmit force to retract the latch bolt,

wherein each of the first hub and the second hub is rotatably mounted to one of the lip portions of the sides of the securing element and to the other hub, and

wherein the securing element is capable of being moved from the first position to the second position by an implement inserted through an opening in the housing.

9. The lock of claim 8 , further comprising a second spindle having a longitudinal axis, a first end, and a second end, the second spindle first end received in the opening in the second hub to apply rotational force to the second hub, the second spindle defining a second peripheral groove proximate to the first end, the second end of the second spindle in operative communication with the latch operator.

10. The lock of claim 9 , wherein in the first position the securing element is received in the second peripheral groove and the second spindle is secured to the second hub, and in the second position the securing element is completely outside the second peripheral groove and the second spindle may be freely removed from the opening in the second hub.