Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-15
2001-03-20
Dayoan, B. (Department: 3627)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging
C292S099000, C292S341170, C292SDIG004
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203077
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to latches and more specifically to latches of the over-center toggle type.
Over-center toggle latches are generally known in the art. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,237, the complete specification of which is incorporated herein by reference, this invention being an improvement thereof. These known latches do not contain integral switches that provide an electronic signal for indication and actuation when the door or other panel cover and cabinet to which this latch is mounted is opened or closed, that is fool-proof, such that the latch keeper and therefore the door must actually be closed for current to flow through the switch. Integrating such a fool-proof switch into a latch has not until now been accomplished.
It would be advantageous to provide an over-center toggle latch with such an integral switch. The switch preferably has the capability to directly cut off a significant amount of current, e.g., for use as a safety switch for the main power to a electrical components in an enclosure to which this latch is attached.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an over-center toggle latch of the type where a door can be held closed at a predetermined, specific force. Additionally, the over-center toggle latch contains an integral switch. This integral, high power capacity, safety cutoff switch is provided, integral to the latch, that is preferably capable of handling relatively high currents, e.g. to cut off the power into an enclosure to which the switch is attached by, e.g., severing the main power line into the enclosure. Since the switch is integral with the latch, advantageously, no critical alignment of separate switches mounted on a door or panel, with respect to the fixed surface to which the door or panel is attached, is required. Moreover, it is not possible to close the contacts on the switch without the keeper being in position with the latch closed. By merely snapping the latch closed without the keeper in place, current does not flow through the switch. The keeper must be properly positioned within the latch and the latch must be in the closed position for current to flow through the switch. This is possible only because current must flow through a circuitous path through the conductor within the keeper itself.
The over-center toggle latch with integral safety switch of the present invention comprises a latch for securing two members together, the latch having a latch housing affixed to one of the members and a keeper having a projecting member affixed to the other of the members.
Inside the housing is a toggle, mounted within the housing for pivotal movement between a first position and a second position. In the second position, the projecting member of the keeper is retained within the housing. In the first position, the projecting member of the keeper is released from the housing. A retaining means disposed within the housing is in pivotal contact with the housing and the toggle for retaining the toggle in either of the first or second positions.
A switch operable between a closed position and an open position is provided where a circuit is closed only when the keeper is in the second position and the circuit is open only when the keeper is in the first position. The switch is inoperable until the keeper means is fully inserted in the housing.
The electrical circuit switch has two contact leads integral to the latch housing at upper and lower ends thereof and a conductor that is in the keeper. The switch is switched off when the door to which the latch is attached is opened since the conductor in the keeper is necessary to make a complete circuit.
While it is anticipated that this switch be used in the manner set forth above, this switch may be used for any purpose where, in an electrical circuit, it is desired that information be provided as to the status of a cabinet door being opened or closed.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an over-center toggle latch having an integral safety switch capable of handling relatively high current.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an over-center toggle latch having an integral safety switch where the switch will only provide electrical connection when the latch is in a closed position.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an over-center toggle latch having an integral safety switch that provides an extremely reliable switch.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 2 134 963 (1984-08-01), None
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Southco, Inc., Latches and Access Hardware, North American, Edition-47NA, pp. G1-G4, Concordville, PA.
Scientific Technologies, Inc., STI/Guardmster catalog, Hayward, CA.
K.A. Schmersal GMBH & Co., Schmersal Industrial Switchgear catalog.*
K.A. Schmersal GMBH & Co., Schmersal IndustriaeschaltGerate catalog, German language. See English language catalog above for similar products.*
Schmersal World Wide Web pages, 1998.*
Guardmaster Ltd., Guardmaster Safety Switches, Lancashire, England, Pub. No. 428C.
Dayoan B.
Paul & Paul
Southco Inc.
Vaterlaus Clifford B
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