Latch usable optionally by arthritic and disabled persons

摘要

A latch for detachably attaching a door to a jamb and convertible to an arrangement wherein the door can be opened and closed without manipulating the knob so that people with arthritis and certain disabilities may be relieved from having to manipulate the knob. In the converted arrangement, the bolt is held in a retracted position relative to the latch housing by a screw received in apertures in the housing and in the bolt. The knob is also held non-rotatably by the screw also being threadedly received in a threaded aperture in a cam to which the knob is attached.

主权项

1. A device comprising a housing attachable to a door, a bolt received at least partially within said housing, a spring, and a knob, the device being convertible between a first arrangement wherein said bolt is spring-biased by said spring to move from a retracted position to an extended position for engaging a fixture attached to a jamb for latching the door to the jamb and wherein said knob is rotatable for effecting movement of said bolt to the retracted position to unlatch the door from the jamb and a second arrangement wherein said bolt is attached to said housing so that said bolt is held immovable in said retracted position, whereby the door can be opened and closed without manipulating said knob, and the device comprising means for holding said bolt immovable in said retracted position relative to said housing and further comprising means for holding said knob non-rotatably.