U.S. patent application number 11/618264 was filed with the patent office on 2010-10-07 for load-floor latch.
This patent application is currently assigned to SOUTHCO, INC.. Invention is credited to Colin Latham, Fabrice Vitry.
Application Number | 20100253096 11/618264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39582845 |
Filed Date | 2010-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100253096 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Vitry; Fabrice ; et
al. |
October 7, 2010 |
LOAD-FLOOR LATCH
Abstract
A latch having a housing, handle, actuators pawl and rotary pawl
torsion spring and two actuator torsion springs. The rotary pawl
torsion spring biases the pawl toward the unlatched or opened
position. The handle is pivotally attached to the housing and has
two paddles tat engage the actuator. The actuator is slidably
supported by the housing. Lifting the handle to the open position
causes rotating movement of the actuator which in turn causes the
pawl to rotate to the unlatched or retracted position.
Inventors: |
Vitry; Fabrice; (Worcester,
GB) ; Latham; Colin; (Rugby, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PAUL AND PAUL
2000 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2900
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
SOUTHCO, INC.
Concordville
PA
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20080157546 A1 |
July 3, 2008 |
|
|
Family ID: |
39582845 |
Appl. No.: |
11/618264 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/US05/23723 |
Jun 30, 2005 |
|
|
|
11618264 |
|
|
|
|
60584739 |
Jun 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/226 ;
292/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 292/57 20150401;
Y10S 292/31 20130101; E05C 3/162 20130101; Y10T 292/1059 20150401;
B60R 13/013 20130101; E05B 5/00 20130101; Y10T 292/1047 20150401;
E05C 3/122 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
292/226 ;
292/216 |
International
Class: |
E05C 3/16 20060101
E05C003/16; E05C 3/06 20060101 E05C003/06 |
Claims
1. A latch for releasably securing a first closure member to a
second closure member in a latched position, the latch comprising:
a housing adapted for being received in an aperture formed in the
first closure member; a handle pivotally attached to the housing,
the handle being pivotable between an open and a closed position,
the handle having at least one protuberance; a pawl provided on the
housing, the pawl being pivotable between a latched and an
unlatched position, a pawl biasing means for biasing the pawl
toward the unlatched position; and an actuator connected to the
housing, the actuator having at least one paddle for engagement
with the at least one protuberance of the handle when the handle is
pivoted from the closed position and an arm for engagement and
disengagement with the pawl; whereby pivotal movement of the handle
when the pawl is in the latched position provides for engagement of
the at least one protuberance of the handle with the at least one
paddle of the actuator such that the actuator is displaced and the
arm of the actuator disengages the pawl thus permitting the biasing
force of the pawl biasing device to rotate the pawl to the
unlatched position.
2. The latch of claim 1 further comprising at least one actuator
biasing means for biasing against the pivoting of the handle from
the closed position,
3. The latch of claim 2 wherein the pawl biasing means is a torsion
spring.
4. The latch of claim 3 wherein the at least one actuator biasing
means is a torsion spring.
5. The latch of claim 2 wherein the handle is ring-shaped.
6. The latch of claim 2, wherein the housing is provided with a
flange for contacting the closure member when the latch is provided
in the first closure member.
7. The latch of claim 2 wherein the handle has two protuberances
and the actuator has two paddles for engagement with a respective
protuberance on the handle.
8. The latch of claim 7 wherein the handle is located in a
depression of the housing such that the handle is flush with the
housing when the handle is in the closed position.
9. The latch of claim 8 wherein the housing is provided with a pawl
receptacle on the housing which houses the pawl and pawl biasing
means.
Description
BACKGROUND THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a latching device for
releasably securing a closure member, such as a panel or door, in
the closed position.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Trunks of automobiles are usually provided with removable
load floor panels. These panels ordinarily support the weight of
objects placed in the trunks of cars and are removable to allow
access to a spare tire, for example, which is commonly stored under
the load floor panel. It is common for the load floor panel to be
held in place by gravity and a floor mat that usually covers the
load floor panel. The load floor panels are usually equipped with
handles that are flush with the top surface of the load floor panel
in order to allow a user to remove the panel when necessary.
However, this commonly used arrangement has a draw back in that the
load floor panel may become dislodged when travelling over rough
roads. Further, because the panel is not positively secured in
place, it may become loose and rattle around in the trunk resulting
in undesirable noises. The need persists in the art for a latch to
positively secure such load floor panels in place.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to a latch for use with
closure members such as panels, drawers, doors, etc. Although the
operation of the latch will be described in the context of securing
the load floor panel of the trunk of an automobile, the latch of
the present invention is widely applicable to many kinds of doors,
windows, panels, and drawers The latch of the present invention
releasably secures a first closure member, such as a door, window,
panel, or drawer, to a second closure member, such as another door,
window, panel, or drawer or a fame surrounding the first closure
member. The latch of the present invention includes a housing, a
handle having two protuberances, a pawl, a pawl torsion spring, an
actuator with two paddles and two torsion springs connected to the
housing The latch housing has a depression which receives the
handle when the handle is in the closed position. The depression
has an essentially enclosed bottom and an open top surrounded by a
bezel or flange. The latch housing further has a pawl receptacle
attached to he bottom of the depression. The receptacle houses the
pawl torsion spring and the pawl, which is rotatable. The handle
can be in the form of a paddle or a ring to facilitate grasping of
the handle by a user using three or four fingers.
[0006] The latch body is installed in an aperture in die closure
member using any of several well-known fasteners. The receptacle
houses the pawl and pawl torsion spring and biases the pawl such
that the pawl is urged to rotate to the unlatched or open position.
The handle is pivotally supported by the housing and has actuating
protuberances that impinge upon paddles of the actuator. When the
latch handle is lifted out of the depression of the housing, the
protuberances on the handle act against paddles on the actuator to
retract the actuator to the unlatched position against the spring
action of the actuator torsion springs which urge the handle to the
closed position An arm on the actuator is displaced toward e rear
of the housing when the handle is moved to the open position
against the spring action of the actuator torsion springs, and the
spring action of the pawl torsion spring urges the pawl to the open
position against the rearwardly displaced actuator am thus opening
the latch and releasing a keeper on a second closure member.
[0007] When the latch is in the open position and the closure
member in which the latch is mounted is slammed closed, the shape
of the outwardly exposed surfaces of the pawl permit the action of
the keeper to provide slam-close action to the rotary pawl.
[0008] In order to close the latch in a manner other than ugh
slam-close action of the latch a user can lift the handle and
permit the keeper to contact the pawl and thereby rotate the pawl
into the closed position.
[0009] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to
provide a latch assembly which automatically engages a keeper on a
second closure member as a first closure member is slammed
shut.
[0010] It is a further object of the invention to provide a latch
having a low profile such that it does not project significantly
above the surface of a panel to which the latch is mounted.
[0011] Still another object of the invention is to provide a latch
assembly having a pivoting handle which rotates the pawl to the
unlatched position.
[0012] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a latch
assembly having a handle which can be used to move the panel to
which the latch is attached.
[0013] These and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the latch assembly of the
present invention, showing the latch assembly in the closed or
latched configuration.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the latch assembly of the
present invention, showing the latch in the open and unlatched
configuration.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of the latch assembly of the present
invention in the closed or latched configuration.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view of the latch assembly of the present
invention in the open or unlatched configuration.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the underside of the latch
assembly of the present invention, showing the latch assembly in
the closed or latched configuration.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the underside of the latch
assembly of the present invention, showing the latch in the open
and unlatched configuration.
[0020] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the bottom of the
housing of the latch assembly of the present invention showing the
pawl receptacle.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the of the latch assembly of
the present invention, showing the latch assembly in the closed or
latched configuration with the latch handle removed.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the latch assembly of the
present invention, showing the latch in the open and unlatched
configuration with the latch handle removed.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the top of the housing of
the latch assembly of the present invention showing the pawl
receptacle.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the bottom of the handle of
Me latch of the present invention.
[0025] FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective views of the top of the
actuator of the latch of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the pawl and pawl torsion
spring of the latch of the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the housing of the latch of
the present invention.
[0028] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-16, the present invention is directed
to a latch assembly 100 for use with closure members such as
panels, drawers, doors, etc. Although the operation of the latch
100 will be described in the context of securing the load floor
panel of the trunk of an automobile, the latch of the present
invention is widely applicable to many kinds of doors, windows,
panels, and drawers. The latch 100 of the present invention
releasably secures a first closure member, such as a door, window,
panel, or drawer, to a keeper on a second closure member, such as
another door, window, panel, or drawer or a frame surrounding the
first closure member. The latch assembly 100 of the present
invention includes a housing 102, a handle 104, a pawl torsion
spring 162, actuator 98, actuator torsion springs 232, and a pawl
110.
[0030] The latch housing 102 has a cavity or depression 112 which
receives the handle 104 when the handle is in the closed position
shown in FIG. 1 The depression 112 has an essentially enclosed
bottom 114 and is surrounded by a bezel or flange 118. The latch
housing further has a receptacle 206 attached to the underside of
the enclosed bottom 114 of the depression 112. The receptacle 206
houses the pawl 110 and pawl torsion spring 162. Cylindrical
sleeves 134 project downward from the flange 118. Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 102 is installed to a loadfloor panel by
providing a opening in the loadfloor panel. The perimeter of the
opening in the loadfloor panel should be smaller than the perimeter
of the flange 118. The housing 102 is installed I the opening with
the underside of the flange 118 abutting the outer surface of the
panel. The panel should have cutouts for the sleeves 134, or be
otherwise dimensioned and/or configured to allow access to the
sleeves 134 from the underside of the panel. The housing 102 can
then be secured to the panel using, for example, self-tapping
screws which engage die sleeves from the underside of the
panel.
[0031] The handle 104 can be in the form of a ring, as shown in
FIG. 12 to facilitate grasping of the handle 104 by a user using
three or four fingers. The handle 104 also has a par of cylindrical
projections 142 that project from either side of the handle 104.
The projections 142 snap into openings 144 to pivotally attach the
handle 104 to die housing 102. When the handle 104 is in the closed
position, the handle 104 is received in the cavity 112 such that
the top of the handle 104 is flush with the flange 118. This
feature gives the latch 100 a very low profile, because the flange
118 projects only slightly from the outer surface of the panel. The
handle 104 must be lifted in order to move the handle 104 to the
open position. The handle 104 is preferably sized to allow
insertion of three or four fingers of the users hand, which allows
the handle 104 to be grasped and lifted by a user.
[0032] As previously stated, the housing 102 is installed in an
aperture in the first closure member or panel using any of several
well-known fasteners. The receptacle 206 houses the pawl 110 and
pawl spring 162 such that the pawl 110 rotates in the receptacle
206 to the open or unlatched position due to the biasing force of
the pawl torsion spring biasing the pawl 110. The extended or
latched position of the pawl 110 is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, and 9,
while the retracted or unlatched position of the latch 100 is show
in FIGS. 2, 4, 6 and 10.
[0033] The handle 104 is pivotally supported by the housing 102 and
has actuating protuberances 126 that impinge upon paddles 234 of
the actuator 98 when e handle 104 is lifted. When the latch handle
104 is lifted out of the depression 112 of the housing 102, the
protuberances 116 seen in FIG. 12 on the handle 104 retract the
actuator 98 to the unlatched position against the spring action of
the actuator torsion springs 232 on actuator torsion spring prongs
236 which urge the handle 104 to the closed position. An arm 204 on
the actuator 98 is displaced toward the rear of the housing 102 as
seen in FIG. 6 when the handle 104 is moved to the open position
against the spring action of the actuator torsion springs 236. The
spring action of the pawl torsion spring 162 urges the pawl 110 to
the open position such that lug 156 of pawl 110 is released from
engagement with actuator arm 204 which has been displaced toward
the rear of the housing 102 thus opening the latch 100 and
permitting the pawl 110 to release a keeper (not shown) on a second
closure member.
[0034] Lifting the handle 104, causes the protuberances 126 of
handle 104 to push the actuator 98 and in turn actuator arm 204
toward the rear of the housing 102 which in turn permits the pawl
torsion spring 162 to urge pawl 110, toward the open or unlatched
position until the pawl 110 reaches its fully retracted, open or
unlatched position as shown. The panel can then be opened, i.e.
lifted away from the second closure member.
[0035] During closing of the first closure member, contact of a
keeper with the pawl 110 in receptacle 206 acts to rotate the pawl
110 to the latched position as the first closure member is slammed
shut. Thus, the first closure member is releasably secured in
place.
[0036] As seen in FIG. 15, the pawl 110 is has a body portion 154
with the pair of pawl pivot members 138 extending therefrom. The
pawl 110 has a lug or projection 156 and is provided with a pawl
slot 158 to retain the keeper member (not shown) when the pawl 110
is in the latched position. The keeper member will be positioned or
caught in the closed or latched position in pawl slot 158. The pawl
110 is also provided with an arm portion 160 extending from the
pawl boy 154.
[0037] A pawl torsion sprig 162 is installed on he pawl 110 wit the
coiled portions 166 and 166 surrounding the base portions 142 of
the pawl pivot members 138. The cross bar 168 of the torsion spring
162 engages the notch 70 in tie arm portion 160. In the illustrated
example the notch 170 is enlarged to more positively retain the
cross bar 168 in position relative to the pawl 110. The torsion
spring 162 also has tail portions 172 and arms 176. The vertical
spring arms 176 extend from the respective coiled portions 166 of
the torsion spring 162 and connect to cross bar 168. The pawl arm
160 is positioned intermediate the spring arms 176. When the pawl
110 is installed in the housing 102, the notch 170 is located
further to the rear relative to the pawl slot 158. The projection
or lug 156 has a flat surface 180 that extends roughly in a rad
direction relative to the pivot axis of the pawl 110.
[0038] As seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, actuator 98 has actuator arm 204
extending downwardly below the housing 102 when the actuator 98 is
mounted thereon. Actuator spring indents 238 on the actuator 98
provide for engagement of one of two actuator torsion spring legs
240. The actuator 98 can be mounted in the housing 102 by feeding
the actuator yokes 296 through actuator cutouts 290.
[0039] The latch of the present invention is fitted with cover
piece 202 as shown in FIG. 2, which has cover piece prongs 300
which snap fit into cover piece aperture 288 on cover piece support
286.
[0040] The latch 100 of the present invention also optionally has a
bump stop 284 seen in FIG. 10 which can dampen the motion of the
handle 104 as the handle 102 returns to the at rest and closed
position.
[0041] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *