Gravity-sensitive latch

Closure fasteners – Bolts – Hooked end

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C292S231000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06761382

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is a gravity-sensitive latch. The latch is operable when in a first orientation, secured in its closed position when in its second orientation.
2. Description of the Related Art.
Although other inventors have proposed various means for selectively permitting and preventing opening of a latch, the present inventor is unaware of any other publicly known latches that provide the option of using gravity for this purpose.
Some presently existing latches incorporate a catch fitting within a T-shaped slot in the handle. When the latch is in the closed position, the catch fits within the narrow portion of the T-shaped slot, thereby preventing the handle from being actuated to open the latch. To open the latch, the catch must first be moved to the wide portion to the T-shaped slot. The catch must be moved manually, and does not rely on gravity for automatic movement, unlike the present invention.
While not limited to such use, the present invention is directed towards lids attached to a center console of an automobile. Such consoles sometimes pivot between a horizontal position providing access to the console, and a vertical position wherein the console is contained within the seat back. An example of such a latch is pictured in Southco, Inc. Catalog No. 48 NA, 1998, p. G-10. This latch does not permit the use of gravity to selectively permit or prevent opening of the latch.
Other latches intended for use on automobile consoles use a push-button actuator to control a pair of hooks that engage a keeper in a scissors-like manner. Pushing the button pushes the hooks apart, and releasing the button allows the hooks to come together.
None of the above-referenced publications, taken singly or in combination, is seen to describe the present invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a gravity-sensitive latch. When the latch is in a first orientation, such as horizontal, the latch may be actuated. When the latch is in a second orientation, preferably vertical, the latch cannot be actuated. The latch includes a housing, a handle or button, a pendulum, a pawl dimensioned and configured to engage a keeper, and means for connecting the pendulum to the pawl.
The critical feature of all embodiments of the present invention is the pendulum, because the pivoting of the pendulum in response to gravity permits or prohibits actuation of the latch. A preferred and suggested pendulum is triangular in shape, having a connection corner pivotally secured to a pawl assembly, a weighted corner, and an abutment corner dimensioned and configured to abut a corresponding surface of the handle or button.
A housing for a first embodiment of the present invention is preferably rectangular and elongated, with the sides having the largest surface area forming the top and bottom. The top is substantially open within the housing's front portion, and the bottom is substantially open within the rear portion. The housing includes a front end dimensioned and configured to receive a button, preferably including a central aperture and a pair of slots on either side.
The button includes a body having a front surface. A short, wide shaft protrudes from the rear of the button, and is dimensioned and configured to fit within the central aperture of the housing's front. The button includes means for securing to the housing, preferably in the form of flanges on either side of the shaft, dimensioned and configured to fit within the slots on the housing's front. When the button is installed on a latch, the end of the central shaft will abut the abutment corner of the pendulum. The button is spring-biased away from the housing, towards its forward position.
The pendulum is pivotally secured to a connecting rod, which is in turn secured to a pawl. The weighted corner of the pendulum extends upward. A preferred and suggested pawl is configured as a box with a bottom surface having a pawl-engaging aperture. The pawl is secured to the housing by a pawl-retaining bracket, with the pawl-retaining bracket having a second pawl-engaging aperture substantially the same as the pawl's aperture, and located adjacent to this aperture. The pawl reciprocates between a latched position wherein the two apertures are slightly offset from each other, and an unlatched position wherein the apertures are aligned with each other. The pawl is spring-biased towards its latched position. A second spring preferably extends downward from the top of the pawl's box.
A keeper corresponding to the first embodiment of the latch will typically be a cylindrical shaft having a channel around its upper end. The upper end or tip of the keeper has a tapered configuration. Typically, the latch will be secured to a lid, and the keeper will be secured to the frame surrounding the lid.
Latching the latch is accomplished by inserting the keeper into the two apertures in the pawl and flange, causing the tapered tip of the keeper to bias the pawl towards its unlatched position, allowing the keeper to enter the pawl. The pawl's upper spring is thereby compressed. Once the keeper's channel is even with the pawl's bottom surface, the pawl moves under spring pressure towards its latched position, thereby trapping the keeper's channel between the edge of the pawl's aperture and the edge of the pawl retaining flange's aperture.
When the latch is in its horizontal position, the pendulum abuts the central shaft of the button, so that a rearward push on the button pushes rearward on the pendulum. The connecting rod and pawl are thereby also pushed rearward, releasing the keeper's channel from between the pawl aperture and pawl flange's aperture. The pawl's top spring then pushes the keeper out of the latch.
When the latch is in its vertical position, the pendulum pivots away from the button through gravity acting on the pendulum's weighted comer. When the button is pressed rearward, it is thereby prevented from actuating the latch. Rotating the latch into a horizontal position will again pivot the pendulum into engagement with the button, permitting actuation of the latch.
A second embodiment of a latch according to the present invention uses a handle that is pulled to actuate the latch, instead of a button to be pushed. The handle is preferably L-shaped when viewed from either side. The handle includes means for pivotally securing to the housing, and a rearward-projecting flange for abutting the pendulum. The handle preferably includes a stop to prevent travel beyond the desired range of motion. The handle pivots between a latched position and an unlatched position, and is spring-biased towards its latched position.
The pendulum is pivotally secured to a pawl-retaining arm. The pawl-retaining arm is pivotally secured to the housing at its end adjacent to the pawl, permitting it to pivot between a latched position and an unlatched position. The pawl-retaining arm is spring-biased towards its latched position, wherein its opposite end engages a pawl.
The pawl is pivotally secured to the housing. The pawl includes a pair of arms extending towards the handle, and a third arm extending rearward. The rearward arm is dimensioned and configured to engage the pawl-retaining arm. The two forward arms are dimensioned and configured to secure a keeper, which will typically be an inverted U-shaped wire or rod. The pawl pivots between a latched position wherein the two forward arms are substantially horizontal, and an unlatched position wherein the two forward arms point downward. The pawl is spring-biased towards its unlatched position The housing includes a slot dimensioned and configured to receive a keeper.
Typically, the latch will be secured to a lid, and the keeper will be secured to a frame surrounding the lid. When the lid is closed and the keeper enters the housing, it engages the upper forward arm of the pawl, pushing the pawl towards its horizontal position. As the pawl rotates, the pawl's rearward arm pushes the pawl retaini

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