The following is basic terms used in the Architectural Hardware Industry and should assist in making your decisions regarding your door and cabinet

Active Door (in a pair of doors) - The leaf that opens first and the one to which the lock is applied.

AHC - Indicates that the individual so identified is a qualified Architectural Hardware Consultant and member of the Door and Hardware Institute.

Architectural Hardware - Term applied to all hardware used in building construction but particularly that used on or in connection with doors, windows, and cabinets.

Astragal - A molding or strip whose purpose is to cover or close the gap between the edges of a pair of doors. Some types overlap, others meet at the center line of the gap.

Backset (of a lock) - The horizontal distance from the face of the lock to the center line of knob hub (or lever) , key hole or cylinder. (Measured from the high side of a beveled door.)

Ball-Bearing Hinge - A hinge equipped with ball bearings between the hinge knuckles to reduce friction.

Bevel (of a door) - The angle of the lock edge in relation to the face of the lock stile. Standard bevel is 1/8" in 2". I f otherwise detailed it must be considered when ordering hardware.

Bevel (of a lock) - A term used to indicate the direction in which the latch bolt is inclined; regular bevel for doors opening in, reverse bevel for doors opening out.

Bevel (of a lock front) - The angle of a lock front when not at right angle to the lock case, allowing the front to be applied flush with the edge of a beveled door.

Bolt - A bar or barrier arranged to secure a door or other moving part, and to prevent its opening.

Butt (Hinge) - A type of hinge designed for mortising into the edge of the door and into the rabbet of door frame.

Cam - A rotating piece attached to the end of the cylinder plug to engage the locking mechanism.

Cane Bolt - A heavy cane-shaped bolt with the top bent at right angles; used on the bottom of doors.

Casement Fastener - A catch for fastening a casement or French window.

Chain Bolt - A coiled spring and chain attached to the top of the door and frame to limit the degree of opening of the door.

Chain Door Fastener - A device that limits the opening of a door by means of a chain.

Changes - The different biting or tumbler arrangements in a series of locks.

Communicating Door Lock - A lock, usually having a latch bolt and two dead bolts, one bolt of which is controlled by a turn knob or key from one side only, and the other dead bolt from the other side only, each independently of the other (as in connecting motel rooms).

Continuous Hinge (also called Piano Hinge) - A hinge designed to be the same length as the moving part to which it is applied, for example, the lid covering the keyboard of a piano.

Cremone Bolt - A surface applied device that, by a turn of knob or lever handle, locks the door or sash into the frame, top and bottom.

Cup Escutcheon - A door plate, for use on sliding doors, having a recessed panel to afford finger hold and to contain a flush ring and sometimes a cylinder, all being flush with the surface of the plate.

Cylinder (of a lock) - The cylindrical-shaped assembly containing the tumbler mechanism and the key way, which can be actuated only by the correct keys.

Cylinder Collar - A plate or ring used under the head of a cylinder.

Deadbolt (of a lock) - A lock having no spring action nor bevel, and which is operated by a key or a turn piece.

Deadlocking Latch Bolt - A latch bolt incorporating a plunger that is held in a retracted position when a door is closed, thus preventing the bolt from being retracted by end pressure.

Door Bolt - A manually operated rod or bar attached to a door providing means of locking.

Door Stop - A device to stop the swing or movement of a door at a certain point. Also an architectural term defining that part of a door frame against which the door closes.

Drawer Slides - A mechanism employing guides and rollers that guide and support the drawer permitting easy operation.

Dummy Cylinder - A mock cylinder without any operating mechanism for use where effect is desired.

Dummy Trim - Trim only, without lock; usually used on the inactive door in a pair of doors.

Dust-Proof Strike - A strike with a plunger that completely fills the bolt hole when the bolt is not projected.

Edge Pull - A pull mortised into the edge of a sliding door.

Elbow Catch - A spring-loaded device embodying a rocker arm and angular strike, for locking the inactive leaf of a pair of cabinet doors.

Electric Strike - An electrical device that permits releasing of the door from a remote control.

Escutcheon (Elongated) - A plate long enough to span a lock case and having holes for knob bushing, bit key, cylinder, turn knob and similar operating members as required.

Exit Device - A door-locking device designed to grant instant exit by pressing on a cross bar that releases the locking bolt or latch.

Extension Flush Bolt - A flush bolt in which the connection between bolt head and operating mechanism is by means of a rod inserted through a hole bored in the thickness of the door.

Face (of a lock) - The exposed surface that shows in the edge of a door after installation. (See

Finish Builders Hardware - Hardware that has a finished appearance as well as a functional

purpose and may be considered a part of the decorative treatment of a room or building. Also termed Architectural Hardware, Finish Hardware and Builders Hardware.

Flush Bolt - A door bolt so designed that when applied it is flush with the face or edge of the door.

Flush Cup Pull - A pull mortised flush into a door, having a ring pull that fold flat into the cup of the pull.

Foot Bolt - A type of bolt applied at the of the door and arranged for foot operation. Generally the bolt head is held up by a spring when the door is unbolted.

French Door - A full length glass paneled door. Sometimes called a French window or a sash.

Friction Catch - Any catch which when it engages a strike is held in place by friction.

Front (of a lock) - The plate through which the latching or locking bolts project. (See face)

Guard Bar - A series of two or more cross bars generally fastened to a common back plate to insure protection of a glass or screen door.

Hand (of a lock, etc.) - Indicates the direction of swing or movement, and/or locking security side of a door.

Handed (locks, etc.) - Indicates that the article is for use only on doors of the designated hand.

Hasp - A fastening device consisting of a loop and a slotted hinge plate, normally secured with a padlock.

Hinge - Two plates joined together by a pin and attached to a door and its frame whereby a door is supported and is enabled to swing or move.

Hinge Stile (of a door) - The stile to which the hinges are applied as distinguished from the lock stile.

Inactive Door (or leaf) - That leaf of a pair of doors that does not contain a lock, but is bolted when closed, and to which the strike is fastened to receive the latch or bolt of the active door.

Invisible Hinge - A hinge so constructed that no parts are exposed when the door is closed.

Key Change - The combination of cuts in a key that enable it to operate the lock for which it is intended.

Keyway - The aperture in lock cylinders that receive the key and closely engages with it throughout its length.

Kick Plate - A protective plate applied on the lower rail of the door to prevent the door from being marred.

Latch Bolt - A beveled spring bolt, usually operated by a knob, handle or turn.

Leaf (of a pair of doors) - One of the two doors forming a pair of doors.

Letterbox Back Plate - A plate, similar to a letterbox plate, attached to the inside of a door to

Letterbox Plate - A plate attached to the door with an opening to permit insertion of mail.

Lip of a Strike - The projecting part on which the latch bolt rides.

Lock Rail (of the door) - The horizontal member of a door intended to receive the lock case.

Lock Stile (of a door) - The stile to which the lock is applied as distinguished from the hinge stile.

Magnetic Catch - A cupboard catch that uses a magnet to hold the door.

Master Key - Operates any quantity of cylinders of different key changes.

Master keying - An arrangement of cylinders having individual key changes, which permits them all to be operated by a single key called a master key.

Mop Plate - a narrow plate similar to a kick plate, of sufficient height to protect against the swish of the mop.

Mortise - A cavity made to receive a lock or other hardware; also the act of making such a cavity.

Mortise Lock (or latch) - A lock designed to be installed in a mortise rather than applied to the doors surface.

Mullion - A fixed or movable post dividing an opening vertically.

Nightlatch - An auxiliary lock having a spring latch bolt and functioning independently of, and providing additional security to, the regular lock of the door.

Pin Tumblers - Small sliding pins in a lock cylinder, working against coil springs and preventing the cylinder plug from rotating until the pins are raised to the proper alignment by biting of the key.

Plug (of a cylinder) - The round part containing the keyway and rotated by the key to transmit motion to the bolt(s).

Push Plate - A plate applied to the lock stile to protect the door against soiling and wear.

Rabbet - A term used to describe the abutting edges of a pair of doors or windows so shaped as to provide a tight fit. One half of the edge projects beyond the other half, usually 1/2". Also used to define that portion of a door frame into which the door fits.

Rabbeted Lock (or latch) - A lock in which the face conforms to the rabbet found on a rabbeted door.

Rail (of a door) - A horizontal member that joins the stiles. May be exposed as in a paneled door, or concealed as in a flush door.

Rim - A term indicating articles of hardware designed for application to the surface of doors and windows.

Roller Latch - A friction door latch employing a roller latch head under spring tension, which engages a strike having a recess formed to receive the roller.

Roller Strike - A strike having a roller member at the point of latch bolt contact to minimize friction.

Rose - A trim plate attached to the door under the knob. It sometimes act as a knob bearing.

Screen Door Latch - A small locking or latching device used on screen doors and operated by a knob or a lever handle.

Screwless Knob - A knob attached to a spindle by means of a special wrench as distinguished from the more commonly used side knob screw.

Scrawls Rose - A rose with concealed method of attachment.

Secret Gate Latch - A surface-applied latch operated by a concealed button or other device; usually used on office gates.

Shank (of a knob) - The projecting stem of a knob into which the spindle is fastened.

Shelf Pin - A pin for supporting a shelf; also called a shelf support or shelf rest.

Side Knob Screw - A set screw used to fasten a knob or lever to a spindle.

Spindle (of a knob) - The bar connected with the knob or lever that passes through the lock mechanism and actuates the bolt(s).

Spring Hinge - A hinge containing one or more springs to move the door into the desired position. It may be either single or double acting.

Stile (of a door) - A vertical member of the door structure; each door has two: a lock stile and a hinge stile.

Stop (of a lock) - The button or other small device, that serves to lock the latch bolt against the

outside knob or thumb piece or unlock it if locked. Another type holds the bolt retracted.

Strap Hinge - A surface hinge on which one or both leaves are of considerable length.

Strike - A metal plate or box that is pierced or recessed to receive the bolt or latch when projected.

Surface Hinge - One having both leaves surface applied.

T Hinge - A surface hinge with the short member attached to the jamb and the long member attached to the door.

Threshold - A strip fastened to the floor beneath a door, usually required to cover the joint where two types of floor material meet.

Throw (of a deadbolt or latch bolt) - Measurement of the maximum projection when the bolt is fully extended.

Thumb Piece (of a handle) - The small pivoted part above the grip of a handle to be pressed by the thumb to operate a latch bolt.

Transom Bar - That part of a door frame that separates the top of a door or a window from the bottom of the transom.

Transom Catch - A fastener applied to a transom and having a ring by which the latch bolt is retracted.

Transom Chain - A short chain used to limit the opening of a transom; usually provided at each

Transom Lift - A vertically operated device attached to a door frame and transom by which the transom may be opened or closed.

Turn Piece - A small knob, lever or tee turn with spindle attached for operating the deadbolt of a lock or a mortise bolt. Also termed Thumb Turn.

Universal - A term used to describe a lock, a door closer or other device that can be used on doors of any hand without change.