Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-07
2001-05-08
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging
C292S100000, C292S336300, C292SDIG004
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227581
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many applications in which it is required to latch two components into engagement with one another. In many such applications it is difficult for a user carrying out the latching to assert sufficient force to ensure sufficient engagement or dis-engagement of the two components for the required purpose.
A good example of such a situation is the latching of an electrical circuit board to a housing, in which it is required that, when the board and housing are in engagement, the engagement be such that good electrical contact is made between the board and the housing. Given that, in many situations, such components are in a confined region with restricted access, it is difficult for a user to ensure good engagement unless force is applied to sections of the board or housing that are not designed to withstand such force.
Furthermore, once such components are in engagement, it is often very difficult to remove them from engagement with one another without, again, requiring force to be applied to regions that are not designed to receive such force.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a latch assembly for latching two components, the assembly comprising:
a support member arranged to latchably arrange, in use, to a first component;
a level member pivotally attached to the support member at a first pivot point; and
an engaging member being pivotally attached to the support member at a second pivot point and arranged to be moved, by movement of the lever member, from a position in which the engaging surface urges a second component out of engagement with the first component to a position in which the engaging surface engages with the second component to be latched to draw the second component into engagement with the first and latch the components, wherein the first pivot point is closer than the second pivot point to the engaging surface, and the lever member comprises an enabling member slidably attached thereto and arranged to slide, where the assembly is in a latching position to lock the assembly and actuate a switch.
The engaging member may have a pin formed therein, the pin engaging, in use, with a slot on the lever member.
If a slot and pin arrangement is provided the position of the slot and pin relative to the first and second pivot points may be selected such that, when the latch assembly is in a latched position, the latch is biased to remain in that position.
The first pivot point may be closer than the second pivot point to the engaging surface of the engaging member to provide good mechanical advantage.
The lever member may be arranged so that it can be folded into a storage position.
One example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 567621 (1896-09-01), Smith
patent: 960386 (1910-06-01), Obert
patent: 3446524 (1969-05-01), Barry
patent: 4003614 (1977-01-01), Geer et al.
patent: 4230351 (1980-10-01), Bisbing
patent: 4982303 (1991-01-01), Krenz
patent: 5045960 (1991-09-01), Eding
patent: 5435615 (1995-07-01), Schmitz
patent: 5706681 (1998-01-01), Gorokhovsky
patent: 5975556 (1999-11-01), Lehmann
patent: 35693 (1929-10-01), None
patent: 793975 (1958-04-01), None
Hoffman & Baron LLP
Luu Teri Pham
McKechnie (UK) Limited
LandOfFree
Latch assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Latch assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Latch assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2481973