US3212801A

US3212801A - Latch means

Info

Publication number: US3212801A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred R Roesinger; Norman E Frawley
Original assignee: North American Aviation Corp
Current assignee: North American Aviation Corp
Priority date: 1963-02-20
Filing date: 1963-02-20
Publication date: 1965-10-19
Anticipated expiration: 1982-10-19

Description

Oct. 19, 1965 F. R. ROESINGER ETAL 3,212,801

LATCH MEANS Filed Feb. 20, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS FRED R. ROESINGER Y NORMAN E. FRAWLEY mim ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 F. R. ROESINGER ETAL 3, 12,801

LATCH MEANS Filed Feb. 20, 1963 2 heets-Sheet 2 I NVEN TORS FRED R. ROESINGER NORMAN E. FRAWLEY FIG.4 Q M ATTORNEY United States Patent Oliice 3,212,801 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 Inc.

Filed Feb. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 259,917 Claims. (Cl. 29266) The device of this invention is a latch means, and more particularly an improved toggle latch assembly.

In holding the top and bottom covers of electronic drawers in place, when latches of the prior art are used, if the latches are inadvertently left opened when the drawer is being closed, damage to both the latch and the console frequently results.

It is desirable to use a latch mechanism which has a quick and positive release. It is also desirable that the latch have a positive open position so that the latch does not rattle when the box is handled. It is also desirable to have a latch which conforms as closely as possible to the shape of the box to which it is attached.

No known latches of the prior art have the advantages set forth above which result from the use of the new and novel latch described herein.

It is therefore an object of this invention to latch together, in an improved fashion, two mechanical members.

It is also an object of this invention to quickly and positively release a toggle catch.

It is another object of this invention to hold a toggle catch in a positively open position.

It is also an object of this invention to enclose the catch of a toggle latch assembly in a shallow protective base member.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a toggle latch assembly which is adapted to achieve the above objects.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the latch mechanism of this invention with the catch in its fully extended position;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partially in section, taken at 22 Of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partially broken view showing the release lever and the catch of the latch of this invention in a partially extended position;

FIGURE 4 is an oblique view of a second catch type used with a latch mechanism of this invention;

FIGURE 5 is an oblique view of a third embodiment of a catch used with the latch mechanism of this invention;

And, FIGURE 6 is an oblique view of a fourth embodiment of a catch used with the latch mechanism of this invention.

In FIGURES 1 and 2, a base member 10 has a base plate 12 and a pair of opposing

upstanding side members

14 and 16.

Members

14 and 16 are adapted to support a hinge member such asfor example-a pin 15. Upstanding members 14 and 16-in the preferred embodiment of this invention-are also adapted to shelter the mechanism of this invention by partially enclosing them thus preventing accidental damage.

Base plate 12 is shown attached to the side of a box 18 by

screws

22 and 24. It may be appreciated that the base plate 12 may be attached to any other desired surface by other means such asfor exampleriveting, gluing, or welding.

Hinge member is supported by

upstanding members

14 and 16 of base means 10. Hinge member 15 is adapted to support a release lever 26 for rotation about the axis of member 15. Release lever 26 is shaped and positioned, in its retracted position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, to nestle within the protection of

upstanding members

14 and 16 to protect it from accidental motion and damage. Sufficient clearance is provided at 28 to allow lever 26 to be moved into the position shown in FIGURE 3. Release lever 26 is biased into mechanical contact with base plate 12 by means of a spring 30. In the preferred embodiment, spring 30 is a spiral torsion spring which is connected between release lever 26 and base means 10 to bias lever 26 into the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Release lever 26 has a pair of upstanding sidewalls or members 32 and 34 which are adapted to receive a hinge member such asfor examplepin 36. The axis of pin 36 is positioned or offset toward base plate 12 when release lever 26 is in its fully retracted position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

A catch member 38 is mounted for rotation about the axis of binge member 36. Spring means such as-for example-a spiral torsion spring 40 is connected between release lever 26 and catch member 38 to bias member 38 into mechanical engagement with release lever 26 between

upstanding walls

14 and 16. Catch member 38 is contoured to avoid interference with spring 30 and pin 15 and to nestle within the contour of release lever 26 between

walls

14 and 16 when latch member 38 is in its fully retracted or disengaged position.

Catch means 38 is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 with a hook member 42 on the end thereof adapted to engage a hook flange 44 of lid 46.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4, catch 38 has a fiat hook 48 adapted to engage a flange 50.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 5, catch 38 has a recess 52 in the end thereof adapted to engage a stud 54.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 6, catch 38 has a hook member similar to that shown in FIGURES 1, 2, and 3 but adapted to engage a rod 56 instead of a hook 44.

The embodiments of FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 are exemplary of several typical catch means. The catch means are not intended to be limited to the embodiments of the figures. It is only necessary that the two parts of the catch be complementary, i.e., that they are adapted to engage each other.

Referring again to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, when release lever 26 and catch 38 are in their retracted positions, the latch is disengaged. The movement of latch 26 is shown by arrow 60 of FIGURE 3 and the movement of catch 38 is shown by arrow 62 of FIGURE 3. In its retracted position, release lever 26 is fully counterclockwise in FIGURE 3 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. In its fully retracted position, catch 38 is turned fully counterclockwise about the axis of pin 36 into engagement with lever 26.

To engage book 38 with hook 44, release lever 26 is moved into the position shown in FIGURE 3. Hook 38 may then be manually turned clockwise about the axis of pin 36 into engagement with hook 44. Catch 38 is then held with the fingers while release lever 26 is moved into the position shown in FIGURES l and 2. In the position of catch 38 and release lever 26 shown in FIGURES l and 2, catch 38 clamps lid 46 into its closed position. When the latch means of this invention is attached to some kinds of boxes, the lid 46, shown in FIG. 2, may have some give which causes it to tend to move to the right in FIG. 2. Such motion might occur, for example, with a different kind of lid and lip. Further, such motion might might occur if the lid and lip were fabricated of elastic material i.e., plastic, fiber board, and the like. Any motion to the right in FIGURE 2 of lid 46 does not release catch 38 because a line drawn between the point of contact between

hooks

42 and 44 and the center of pin 36 is to the right of the center of pin 15. That is, the

axis of rotation of pin is offset from a line between the axis of rotation of pin 36 and the point of contact of hook 42.

In the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, catch 38 is in its fully extended position while release lever 26 is in its fully retracted position. A fastener such as-for example-a cotter pin 70 or safety wire may optionally be inserted between

upstanding Walls

14 and 15 to hold re lease lever 26 into its fully retracted position which locks hook 42 into its clamped position. I

To release the latch of this invention, pin 70 is removed. Latch 26 is then rotated about the axis of hinge 15 in a clockwise direction in the view shown in FIGURE 3. motion of release lever 26 about the axis of pin 15 moves the axis of pin 36 which lifts hook 42 clear of hook 44. As soon as book 42 clears hook 44, spring 40 causes catch means 38 to rotate as shown in the FIGURE 3 in a counterclockwise direction to snap into nestled mechanical engagement with release lever 26. Release lever 26 may then be released by the hand. The biasing action or" spring 30 causes both catch 38 and lever 26 to nestle between the upst-anding

walls

14 and 16 of the base member 10.

Thus the device of this invention has a quick, positive release because of the biasing action of the springs. Merely inserting the finger and lifting allows instant positive release of the latch. The hook 42 withdraws completely from the vicinity of the drawer lid 46 so that it does not interfere with lid removal.

Further, the device of this invention has a positive open position.

Springs

30 and 40 cause the latch to take a positive open position so that the latch cannot rattle when the box is handled. The hook 42 is entirely withdrawn from the edge of the box 18 so that box 18 can be placed on a supporting surface without resting on hook 42. Hook 42 is enclosed by upstanding members -14- and 16 of base means 10 so that it cannot snag hands or clothing.

In both the open and closed positions, i.e., the extended and retracted positions, the entire latch is substantially enclosed by the planes described by the top edges of the base means 10 and the side of the box 18. This permits the actuation of drawers with latches without danger of damaging the latches or the cabinets.

Although the device of this invention has been described in detail above, it is not intended that the invention shall be limited by this description but only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A toggle latch comprising:

a base member;

a release lever hinged upon said base member;

first spring means, loaded to bias said lever toward said base member;

a catch member adapted to engage a complementary catch, pivoted upon said lever and having a fully extended position;

second spring means biased to urge said catch member to an open position into contact with said lever;

the axis of rotation of said lever being ofiset from a line between the point of said catch member which is adapted to engage a complementary catch when in its fully extended position and the axis of rotation of said catch member.

2. A toggle latch comprising:

a base member, including means upstanding from said base member adapted to receive a first hinge member;

a first hinge member mounted upon said upstanding means;

a release lever, including second upstanding means mounted upon said lever and adapted to receive a hinge means, mounted for rotation upon said first {hinge means about the axis thereof;

a first spring means adapted to urge said release lever into a mechanical engagement with said base means;

second hinge means mounted upon said second upstanding means;

a latch member, including catch means adapted to engage a complementary catch, mounted for rotation upon said second hinge means;

and second spring means adapted to bias said latch member to an open position into mechanical engagement with said release lever;

the axis of rotation of said second hinge means being nearer to said base means than the axis of rotation of said first hinge means when said release lever mechanically engages said base means.

3. In combination:

a base member, including a pair of aligned upstanding sides adapted to receive a hinge pin;

a first hinge pin mounted upon said first upstanding side,

a release lever mounted for rotation upon said hinge pin and engaging said base means when in its retracted position;

first spring means mounted between said base means and said lever to bias said lever into its retracted position;

second upstanding means mounted upon said lever and adapted to receive a second hinge pin;

a second hinge pin mounted upon said second upstanding means, the axis of said second hinge pin being positioned closer to said base means than the axis of said first hinge pin when said lever is in its retracted position;

a latch mounted for rotation upon said second hinge pin;

second spring means mounted between said lever and said latch to bias said latch into its retracted position in mechanical engagement with said release lever.

4. In combination:

a pair of upstanding members;

a first hinge member mounted upon said upstanding members;

a release lever adapted to receive a second hinge member, mounted for rotation upon said first hinge memher;

a first spring means adapted to urge said release lever into a first rotational direction;

second hinge means mounted upon said release lever;

a latch member mounted for rotation upon said second hinge means;

and second spring means adapted to bias said latch member substantially parallel and in contact with said release lever.

5. In combination:

a pair of upstanding members adapted to receive a first hinge member;

a first hinge member mounted upon said upstanding members;

a release lever adapted to receive a second hinge. member, mounted for rotation upon said first hinge member;

a second hinge member mounted upon said release lever;

a latch member, including catch means adapted to engage a complementary catch, mounted for rotation upon said second hinge member;

and second spring means adapted to bias said latch member in said first rotational direction in contact with said release lever;

the axis of rotation of said first hinge member being off-set from a line between the point of said latch member which is adapted to engage a complementary catch when in its fully extended position and the axis of rotation of said second hinge member.

(References on following page) 5 6 References Cited by the Examiner 2,795,946 6/57 Check 70--76 2,960,363 11/60 Cheney.

UNITED SFPATES PATENTS 3,030,137 4/62 Cheney 2921 13 10/26 Sche1der 292113 32; 2 5 292247 5 M. HENSON WOOD 111., Primary Examiner.

au ant e.

c1 1 Examiner.

Claims

1. A TOGGLE LATCH COMPRISING: A BASE MEMBER; A RELEASE LEVER HINGED UPON SAID BASE MEMBER; FIRST SPRING MEANS, LOADED TO BIAS SAID LEVER TOWARD SAID BASE MEMBER; A CATCH MEMBER ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A COMPLEMENTARY CATCH, PIVOTED UPON SAID LEVER AND HAVING A FULLY EXTENDED POSITION; SECOND SPRING MEANS BIASED TO URGE SAID CATCH MEMBER TO AN OPEN POSITION INTO CONTACT WITH SAID LIEVER; THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID LEVER BEING OFFSET FROM A LINE BETWEEN THE POINT OF SAID CATCH MEMBER WHICH IS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE A COMPLEMENTARY CATCH WHEN IN ITS FULLY EXTENDED POSITION AND THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID CATCH MEMBER.