Closure fasteners – Bolts – Hooked end
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-02
2001-06-26
Luu, Teri Pham (Department: 3627)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Hooked end
C292S121000, C292S122000, C292SDIG004
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250694
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention is a latch wherein latching and unlatching is accomplished by an inward push of a keeper towards the latch.
2. Description of the related art
Although other inventors have proposed push-push latches, the present inventor is unaware of any other latch having the simplicity, or the advantage in quietness and ease of assembly, as the present invention.
An example of a prior push-push latch is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,489, issued to Robert H. Bisbing on Apr. 7, 1987. This latch hooks onto a corresponding keeper using a beam having a hook at one end. The movement of the beam is controlled by a shuttle, which is actuated by inward pressure applied by the keeper, and by a tension-compression spring. The compression portion of the spring biases the shuttle towards the frontal opening of the latch housing, and the tension end of the spring biases the front end of the beam rearward, causing the beam to rotate when acted on by the shuttle. This latch is also described in Southco, Inc., catalog, no. 48 NA. The present invention is an improvement over this latch, wherein the tension-compression spring is eliminated, and only a compression spring is used within the latch. Additionally, the present latch uses an improved housing and improved internal components, thereby reducing the number of parts and permitting single-direction assembly. The resulting latch has significantly quieter operation, fewer parts, and lends itself to automated assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a latch wherein latching and unlatching are controlled by an inward push by the keeper towards the latch, generally known as a push-push latch.
The latch includes a housing, containing a beam a shuttle below the beam, and a compression spring behind the shuttle, for biasing the shuttle for ward within said housing. The latch mates with a corresponding keeper to secure a moving member, such as a door or drawer, to a nonmoving member, such as the frame of the door or drawer. The latch will typically be secured to the moving member, with the keeper secured to the moving member, but the opposite arrangement will work equally well.
The housing is generally rectangular, and is preferably made of one-piece construction. The housing defines an opening in its front surface, and a pair of opposing openings in its side surfaces. A pair of opposing snap legs extends downward and inward into the housing from the front edges of the side openings. A second pair of opposing snap legs extends upward and outward from the rear portion of the housing's top and bottom sides, ending with a ridged surface. It should be noted that top and bottom are used herein for simplicity of reference only and the housing could be rotated to define a different top surface without changing the functioning of the latch.
The beam is located within the housing, extending from the front opening towards the rear of the housing. The beam may be located adjacent to either the top or bottom of the housing without altering the manner of operation, and for simplicity of reference, the following discussion assumes that the beam is adjacent to the housing's top. The front end of the beam includes a hook for engaging the keeper, described below. The hook includes a flange extending to one side. The rear end of the beam includes a pivot, which is preferably a pair of bosses extending between the inner snap legs and the rear of the side openings. The motion of the beam is thereby constrained to rotation around the axis of the bosses, and vertical translation within the housing. The rear of the beam also includes a rear downward projection, preferably having a hook shape, and a central, preferably triangular, downward projection extends from the center of the beam.
The shuttle is located below the hook. The rear of the shuttle defines a channel for guiding the compression spring, which abuts both the rear of the housing and the front of the channel. The front of the shuttle includes a front surface for making contact with the keeper (described later) and a top surface for supporting the beam's front hook. A flange extends upward to one side of the beam, immediately behind the flange extending from the beam's hook. An arm extends upward and rearward from the top of the shuttle, being dimensioned and configured to push against the rear downward projections of the beam.
The keeper includes a mounting plate, preferably having an adhesive backing, and a hook. The keeper's hook is dimensioned and configured to push inward on the shuttle's front surface, and to engage the beam's hook.
Assembly of the latch is accomplished by merely placing the spring, shuttle, and beam together so that they are positioned properly with respect to each other, and inserting the preassembled inner components into the housing. The inner snap legs engage the beam's bosses, securing the beam within the housing. The side flange of the beam's hook engages the shuttle's flange, thereby securing the shuttle within the housing. The spring is contained between the shuttle and housing. All components are thereby secured within the housing.
The latch will typically be installed within a socket. A preferred and suggested socket has the configuration of a pair of intersecting rectangles, corresponding with the shape of the housing, to prevent misalignment of the latch. Upon inserting the latch into the socket, the ridges on the outer snap legs will engage the edges of the socket, securing the latch within the socket. The keeper is then inserted into the latch, where it is secured therein as described below. The adhesive backing of the keeper is exposed, and the moving member to be secured by the latch is brought into its closed position, in contact with the adhesive. When the adhesive is dry, the keeper will be secured in the proper position to engage the latch.
The latching and unlatching cycle begins with the beam in its upward horizontal position, against the top of the housing, resting on the top surface of the shuttle. To actuate the latch, the moving member is moved into its closed position, thereby bringing the keeper and latch together, and inserting the keeper's hook into the latch. The keeper pushes the shuttle rearward, causing the shuttle's arm to push against the beam's rearward projection, rotating the beam's hook downward into engagement with the keeper's hook. The spring then pushes the shuttle forward, thereby pushing the keeper slightly outward The keeper pulls on the beam, thereby bringing the beam into a horizontal position. Continued forward motion of the shuttle is prevented by the shuttle's flange abutting the side flange of the beam's hook. The latch is now securely latched.
To unlatch the latch, the moving member is pushed inward, thereby causing the keeper to push the shuttle inward. The top surface of the shuttle pushes against the beam's central projection, rotating the beam upward and allowing the keeper's hook to exit the latch. The shuttle then moves fully forward. The shuttle's flange pushes on the side flange of the beam's hook, thereby moving the beam back into its original position.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a latch wherein latching and unlatching is accomplished by an inward push by the keeper on the latch.
It is another object of the invention to provide a latch having quieter operation than other push-push latches.
A third object of the invention is to provide a latch that can be assembled entirely from one direction.
A fourth object of the invention is to provide a latch that may be assembled using automatic assembly techniques.
A fifth object of the invention is to provide a latch that is easy to install.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent through the following description and claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1694023 (1928-12-01), Suck
patent: 2294683 (1942-09-01), Murphy
patent: 4383707 (1983-05-01), Nishimura
pat
Luu Teri Pham
Paul & Paul
Southco Inc.
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