U.S. patent number 3,602,723 [Application Number 04/839,329] was granted by the patent office on 1971-08-31 for catch with antirelease latch.
Invention is credited to Gunnar E. Swanson.
United States Patent |
3,602,723 |
Swanson |
August 31, 1971 |
CATCH WITH ANTIRELEASE LATCH
Abstract
A catch for releasably securing together two separable parts and
having a connecting member, an operating member for moving the
connecting member into and out of engagement with an associated
strike, and a latch element carried by and extending through the
operating member and latchingly engageable with another part of the
catch. The latch element releasably retains the catch in a closed
or active condition and is longitudinally and pivotally movable
relative to the operating member to permit the catch to be moved to
an open or inactive condition out of engagement with the
strike.
Inventors: |
Swanson; Gunnar E. (Middletown,
CT) |
Family
ID: |
25279440 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/839,329 |
Filed: |
July 7, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
292/113; 292/108;
292/DIG.49; 292/247 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05C
19/14 (20130101); Y10S 292/49 (20130101); Y10T
292/0959 (20150401); Y10T 292/0917 (20150401); Y10T
292/0871 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E05C
19/14 (20060101); E05C 19/00 (20060101); E05c
005/00 (); E05c 019/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;292/113,114,106,108,6,247,5,150,153,207,210,DIG.31,DIG.66 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Calvert; Ian A.
Assistant Examiner: Wolfe; Robert L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels one of
which carries a strike, said catch comprising a plurality of
connected members including a base member adapted for attachment to
the other of said panels in alignment with said strike, an
operating member supported for movement relative to said base
member between open and closed positions, and a connecting member
supported for movement into and out of engagement with said strike
in response to movement of said operating member between its open
and closed positions, respectively, one of said members having an
opening therethrough intermediate the ends thereof, a latch element
carried by said one member and extending through said opening, said
latch element having one portion disposed on one side of said one
member and another portion projecting beyond the opposite side
thereof, and means supporting said latch element on said one member
for both longitudinal and pivotal movement relative thereto between
latching and releasing positions in response to application of
pressure to said one portion, said other portion in said latching
position being engageable with another of said members to
releasably retain said one member against movement relative to said
other member.
2. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means includes biasing
means for urging said latch element toward said latching
position.
3. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 2 wherein said supporting means includes a pair of
generally opposed spaced-apart tabs extending each toward the
other, one of said tabs associated with said one member and the
other of said tabs associated with said latch element, and wherein
said biasing means comprises a helically coiled compression spring
extending between said tabs and having each end thereof closely
surrounding an associated one of said tabs.
4. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 3 wherein said one tab is laterally offset from said
other tab, at least one of said tabs extends for a substantial
distance into said spring, and said spring exerts a biasing force
on said latch element in both said longitudinal and said pivotal
direction toward said latching position.
5. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 3 wherein said one tab is disposed generally within
said opening and said other tab is laterally offset from said one
tab.
6. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 2 wherein said biasing means exerts biasing force in
both said pivotal and said longitudinal direction.
7. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means comprises at least
one bearing surface on said latch element for engaging one portion
of said one member for longitudinal sliding and pivotal movement
relative thereto and a cam surface on said latch member spaced from
said bearing surface for engaging another portion of said one
member.
8. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 7 wherein said other portion of said one member is
defined by an edge of said opening.
9. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said one portion comprises an operating
button positioned generally adjacent the forward face of said one
member and said other portion includes a pair of latch hooks
extending from said one portion and projecting rearwardly through
said opening, said latch hooks being spread apart rearwardly of
said opening a distance greater than the width of said opening and
coacting with said one portion to retain said latch element in
functional assembly with said one member.
10. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said connecting member comprises a drawbar
and said one member is said operating member and comprises an
operating lever providing pivotal connecting between said drawbar
and said base member.
11. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 10 wherein said drawbar comprises a plurality of
connected parts including an inner part connected with said
operating lever, a strike engageable outer part and an intermediate
part providing connection between said inner and outer parts and
said latch element includes a pair of spaced-apart latching hooks
arranged to receive said intermediate part therebetween and
latchingly engage one of the other said parts on opposite sides of
said intermediate part in said latching position.
12. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 including means for deflecting said latch element
from said latching position when said connecting member is in a
strike engageable position and said operating member is moved
toward its closed position to permit said operating member to be
moved to its closed position.
13. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 12 wherein said latch element includes at least one
latch hook for latching engagement with said other member in said
latching position and said deflecting means comprises a cam surface
on said one latch hook for coengagement with an associated edge of
said other member when said connecting member is in said strike
engageable position and said operating member is moved toward its
closed position.
14. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said opening is partially defined by at
least one tab bent from said one member, said tab comprising said
supporting means.
15. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said other member is said connecting
member.
16. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 24 wherein said other member is said base
member.
17. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said one portion is hollow and including a
spring for biasing said latch element toward said latching
position, at least a part of said spring being disposed within said
one portion.
18. In a catch for releasably connecting two separable panels the
combination comprising an operating member having an opening
therethrough, a latch element carried by said operating member and
extending through said opening, said latch element including one
portion disposed on one side of said operating member and another
portion extending beyond the opposite side of said operating
member, said latch element supported for both longitudinal and
pivotal movement relative to said operating member, a pair of
opposing spaced apart and generally parallel tabs each extending in
the general direction of and laterally offset relative to the
other, one of said tabs associated with said operating member and
the other of said tabs associated with said latch element, and a
helically coiled spring extending between said tabs and having each
end thereof closely surrounding an associated one of said tabs, at
least one of said tabs extending for a substantial distance into
said spring to cause said spring to exert a biasing force in a
direction transversely of said spring axis.
19. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said spring
exerts biasing force in both said longitudinal and said pivotal
directions.
20. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said one tab
is disposed within said opening.
21. The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said one
portion comprises a hollow button and at least a portion of said
spring is disposed within said button.
22. In a catch for releasably connecting two separable panels the
combination comprising an operating member, a latch member carried
by said operating member for movement relative thereto between
latching and releasing positions and including a hollow operating
button portion protruding beyond one face of said operating member,
said latch member and said operating member including a pair of
opposing spaced-apart tabs one of which is carried by said
operating member and the other of which is carried by said latch
member, and a compression spring located at least partially within
said hollow operating button portion of said latch member for
biasing said latch member relative to said operating member toward
said latching position, said spring extending between said tabs and
having each end thereof retained by an associated one of said
tabs.
23. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels as set
forth in claim 1 wherein said one member is said operating
member.
24. A catch for releasably connecting two separable panels one of
which carries a strike, said catch comprising a plurality of
connected members including a base member adapted for attachment to
the other of said panels in alignment with said strike, an
operating member supported for movement relative to said base
member between open and closed positions, and a connecting member
supported for movement into and out of engagement with said strike
in response to movement of said operating members between its open
and closed positions, a latch element supported on one of said
members for movement relative thereto between latching and
releasing positions, said latch element including a hollow
operating button portion protruding beyond one side of said one
member and another portion adapted for latching engagement with
another of said members to releasably retain said one member
against movement relative to said other member, said latch element
and said one member including a pair of opposing spaced-apart tabs,
one of which is carried by said one member and the other of which
is carried by said latch element, and a compression spring located
at least partially within said hollow operating button portion of
said latch element for biasing said latch element relative to said
one member toward said latching position, said spring extending
between said tabs and having each end thereof retained by an
associated one of said tabs.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates in general to a catch operative to secure
together two separable parts for quick release, such as the body
and cover of a packing case or box, and deals more particularly
with an improved catch of toggle-action type which includes a
manually releasable latch for retaining the catch in a closed or
operative condition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an improved catch of the
aforedescribed general type is provided which comprises a plurality
of connected members including a base member, a connecting member
and an operating member for moving the connecting member into and
out of engagement with a strike. A latch element carried by one of
the members and extending therethrough is engageable with another
of the members to releasably retain the catch in its operative or
strike-engaging condition. The latch element is longitudinally and
pivotally movable relative to the one member to release the other
member so that the catch may be moved to its open or inactive
condition out of engagement with the strike.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a catch embodying the
invention, the catch being shown in a closed condition.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the catch of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is generally similar to FIG. 3 but shows the catch in an
open condition and in a partially closed condition indicated by
broken lines.
FIG. 5 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary rear elevational view
taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken
along the line 6--6 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the operating
lever and latch member.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8--8 of
FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 is generally similar to FIG. 3 but shows another catch
embodying the invention.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 10--10
of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The present invention may be practiced with any type of catch which
includes an operating member movable relative to another part of
the catch and between open and closed positions for releasably
holding two parts together in connected relation. In the drawing,
the invention is shown embodied in a toggle catch designated
generally by the reference numeral 10 and adapted to releasably
secure together two separable panels 12 and 14 for quick release.
The panels may, for example, comprise parts of the body and cover
respectively of a packing case or the like. The catch 10 includes a
base 16, a connecting member or drawbar 18, and an operating member
or lever 20 pivotally connected to the drawbar and the base for
moving the drawbar into and out of engagement with a strike 22
mounted on the panel 14 in alignment with catch 10. A latch element
or member 24 carried by the operating lever 20 includes at least
one latch hook for engaging a part of the drawbar 18 to releasably
retain the catch 10 in its closed or active condition as it appears
in FIGS. 1-3.
The base 16 is adapted to rest flatly against the surface of the
panel 12 and includes two transversely spaced and forwardly
extending flanges 26, 26. A flat cantilever spring 27 is preferably
received between the flanges 26, 26 and secured at its lower end by
fasteners 28, 28 which also secure the base 16 to the panel 12. The
upper or free end portion of the spring 27 is arranged to exert a
biasing force on the drawbar 18. The operating lever 20 is received
between the flanges 26, 26 and includes two transversely spaced and
longitudinally extending side flanges 30, 30. Pivotal connection
between the lever 20 and the base 16 is provided by a pair of
coaxially aligned pivot pins or trunnions 32, 32. Each pivot pin 32
passes transversely through an opening in an associated base flange
26 and is riveted or otherwise suitably secured at its inner end to
an associated lever flange 30. The upper or free end portion of the
lever 20 is provided with an arcuately contoured finger grip 34. An
opening 35 through the central portion of the lever 20 receives the
latch member 24 and will be further described with reference to the
latter member.
The invention may be practiced with drawbars of various kinds,
however, the drawbar 18 is an adjustable type and has an inner part
36, an outer part or strike engageable claw 38 and an intermediate
part or shank 40 which connects the inner and outer parts, as best
shown in FIG. 5. In the illustrated case, the shank 40 forms an
integral portion of the outer part 38 and is formed from sheet
metal. The inner part 36 may also be made from sheet metal, as
shown, and has a transversely extending opening at its lower end
for receiving a pivot pin 42. Each end of the pin 42 is received in
an associated one of the lever flanges 30, 30. The lower part 36
also defines a longitudinally extending centrally arranged opening
for loosely receiving the shank 40 and has a transversely extending
upper edge 43 which cooperates with the latch 24 in a manner
hereinafter described. Another opening 44 through the part 36
communicates with the longitudinally extending opening and receives
a nut 46 therein which threadably engages the shank 40 as shown in
FIG. 5. When the nut 56 is secured against rotation the claw 38 can
easily be rotated by hand to change the length of the drawbar.
Considering now the latch member in further detail, the manner in
which it is assembled with the operating lever and referring
particularly to FIGS. 5-7, the latch member 24 is assembled with
the operating lever 20 through the opening 35. The lower portion of
the latter opening is generally rectangular and has a transversely
extending lower edge 48 which provides a fulcrum for the latch
member 24. The upper portion of the opening is defined by a
centrally depending tab 50 and a pair of tabs 52, 52 bent
rearwardly at opposite sides of the opening. The latch member 24 is
preferably formed from sheet metal and includes an operating button
53 positioned adjacent the forward face of the operating lever 20
and defined by a central portion 54 and an integral pair of
transversely spaced longitudinally extending side flanges 56, 56. A
latch hook 58 projects rearwardly from each flange 56 and through
the opening 35. Each latch hook has a forwardly facing abutment
surface 60 near its free end and a cam surface 62 inclined
rearwardly and upwardly from the abutment surface 60 as the latch
member 24 appears oriented in FIG. 6. The lower part of the central
portion 54 is bent rearwardly and upwardly between the flanges 56,
56 and includes an elongated generally upwardly extending tab 64
which is somewhat longer than the tab 50. Rearwardly facing bearing
surfaces 66 and 67 at the upper and lower ends of each flange 56
respectively engage the forward face of the lever 20 above and
below the opening 35 when the latch member 24 is in its latching
position, as it appears in full lines in FIG. 6. An arcuate recess
or relief space 68 is formed in each flange 56 below each bearing
surface. At its lower end, each flange 56 has a rearwardly and
upwardly inclined cam surface 70 generally aligned with the
inclined part of the central portion 54 for camming engagement with
the lower edge 48. It will be noted that the latch hooks 58, 58 are
transversely spread apart rearwardly of the opening 35 to receive
the shank 40 therebetween as best shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 10. More
specifically each latch hook 58 has a leg portion bent transversely
outwardly along a line 71 inclined rearwardly and upwardly from the
rear surface of the operating lever as best shown in FIG. 6. The
free end portion of each latch hook 58 is bent rearwardly along a
line generally parallel to the line 71 so that an angular shoulder
73 is formed across the leg portion of each latch hook as best
shown in FIG. 10. Thus, the spread latch hooks 58, 58 coact with
the button 53 to aid in retaining the latch member in assembly with
the operating lever 20 and to permit pivotal action of the latch
member relative to the operating lever as will be hereinafter
further discussed.
To assemble the latch member 24 with the lever 20, each tab 52 is
bent rearwardly to a position generally indicated by broken lines
in FIG. 8. The latch member is inserted through the opening 35 from
the rear side of the lever after which the tabs 52, 52 are bent
inwardly or toward each other to their respective full line
positions as shown in FIG. 8 so that each tab 52 is positioned
generally above an associated latch hook 58 to retain the latch
member 24 in functional assembly with the lever 20 for movement
relative thereto. A helically coiled compression spring 72 made
from relative heavy spring wire is positioned between and retained
by the tabs 50 and 64. The spring 72 is preloaded to retain the
latch member 24 for longitudinal sliding and pivotal movement
relative to the operating lever and urges the latch member toward
its latching or full line position as it appears in FIG. 6. It will
be noted that when the latch member is in the latter position the
bearing surfaces 66 and 67 engage the front surface of the lever
20. It should be further noted that the lower end of the spring 72
closely surrounds the relatively long tab 64 which extends upwardly
for some distance into the spring coils. It will be noted that the
lower end of the spring 72 engages the tab 64 forwardly of the
opening 35 whereas the upper end of the spring engages the somewhat
shorter tab 50 within the latter opening. Due to the laterally
offset arrangement of the tabs 50 and 64 the straight spring 72
becomes arcuately bent or deformed along its axis when positioned
in assembly. The compressed condition of the spring 72 causes it to
exert a downwardly directed biasing force on the lower end portion
of the button 53 as previously discussed. However, the axial
deformation of the spring and the manner in which it is arranged
with respect to the tabs 50 and 64 also causes it to exert another
biasing force on the latch member which tends to urge the latch
hooks 58, 58 in a clockwise direction about the fulcrum 48 or
toward the latching position, as the latch member appears in FIG.
6.
When the catch 10 is in its closed condition as it appears in FIGS.
1--3, the operating lever 20 extends upwardly from the base 16 and
overlies the drawbar 18 and the strike 22. The axis of the pivot
pin 42 is so located that when the catch 10 is closed it is located
further from the strike 22 than the axis of the trunnions 32, 32
and is also preferably located on the opposite side from the panel
21 of a plane passing through the axis of the trunnions 32, 32 and
the point of contact between the drawbar and the strike, as shown.
The pivot pin 42 is thus moved from a position on the panel 21 side
of a fixed axis defined by the trunnions 32, 32 to a position on
the opposite side of the latter axis as the operating lever 20 is
moved between its opened and closed positions. This arrangement
provides a preferred over-the-center action which, under toggling
force retains the operating lever in its closed position.
Referring now particularly to FIG. 4, in closing the latch 10, the
lever 20 is pivoted in a clockwise direction from its solid line
position while pressure is simultaneously manually applied to the
drawbar 18 to pivot it to its broken line position in generally
engaging alignment with the strike 22 against the biasing force of
the spring 27 and the latch 24. These pivotal movements can be
effected with a simple one-hand motion. The latch 24 is positioned
with respect to the drawbar lower part 36 so that the latch hooks
58, 58 are biased upwardly when the cam surfaces 62, 62 engage the
lower part upper edge 43 on opposite sides of the shank 40 as the
lever 20 is pivoted toward its closed position and as shown by the
broken line positions of the lever and drawbar in FIG. 4.
Coengagement of the cam surfaces 62, 62 and the upper edge 43
causes the latch 24 to pivot generally about the lower edge 48 to a
position indicated at 58a in FIG. 6.
When the catch 10 attains its fully closed position, the cam
surfaces 62, 62 are disposed rearwardly of the upper edge 43 and
the biasing spring 72 urges the latch 24 to its latching or full
line position of FIG. 6. In the latter position, the latch hook
abutment surfaces 60, 60 bear against the rear surface of the lower
member 36 to releasably retain the catch 10 in its closed
condition.
To release the latch 24 and open the catch 10, pressure is
initially applied to the button 53 in a longitudinally upwardly
direction relative to the lever. When the lower bearing surface 67
moves into alignment with the opening 35 the inclined cam surface
70 engages and travels upwardly along the edge 48 while the bearing
surfaces 66 slide upwardly in engagement with the face of the lever
20 for some distance so that the latch 24 simultaneously pivots and
moves upwardly to its broken line or releasing position indicated
at 58b in FIG. 6. The spring 72 which is arcuately bent under force
along its axis in the latching position moves toward a straightened
condition and is further compressed as the latch 24 moves toward
its releasing position, indicated by broken lines at 58b in FIG. 6,
thereby exerting a biasing force on the latch which aids in
releasing it. When the latch member 24 reaches the position 58b the
latch hooks 58, 58 are disposed above the upper edge 43 so that the
lever 20 may be pivoted outwardly or away from the strike and
toward its open position and disengagement.
The latch 10 may be opened with a simple one-hand motion by
applying pressure to the lower end of the latch member 24 while
simultaneously applying force to the finger grip 34 to pivot the
lever away from the strike 22. This movement of the lever 20 causes
the drawbar 18 to move upwardly until the upper part 38 moves out
of engagement with the strike. If the catch 10 is provided with a
spring 27, as shown, the biasing action of the latter spring will
cause the drawbar 18 to pivot about the pin 42 so that it is
displaced a substantial angular distance from the strike as shown
in FIG. 4.
Considering now FIG. 9, another catch embodying the invention is
indicated generally at 10a and shown in a closed condition
releasably securing together two separable panels 12a and 14a.
Parts of the catch 10a which are similar to parts of the catch 10
bear the same reference numerals as parts previously described but
include a letter "a" suffix and will not be hereinafter further
described. The catch 10a is similar in most respects to the catch
10, but differs therefrom in the manner in which the latch member
releasably retains the catch in its closed condition.
The catch 10a includes a base 80 which has a central part 82 and
two transversely spaced and forwardly extending flanges 84, 84. The
central part 82 extends upwardly for some distance above the
flanges 84, 84 and has an upper end portion bent forwardly and
upwardly to form a lip 86 spaced forwardly of the panel 12a. The
latch member 24a includes a pair of latch hooks 58a, 58a, which are
transversely spaced a sufficient distance to receive an associated
portion of the drawbar 38 therebetween when the catch 10a is in its
closed position. The latch member 24a is positioned with respect to
the operating lever 20a to coact with the lip 86 for releasably
retaining the catch 10a in its closed position in the manner
previously described.
The invention has been illustrated and described with reference to
the manner in which the latch member is used to retain a catch in a
closed condition. It will now be evident that the latch member may
also be used to retain the operating lever and the drawbar in
releasably connected condition for movement in unison relative to
the base when the drawbar is out of engagement with the strike.
When the latch member is arranged for latching engagement with the
base it may also be employed to retain the operating lever and the
drawbar in fixed position relative to the base when the drawbar is
disengaged from the strike.
* * * * *