CA1320239C - Anti-vibration spring-loaded toggle latch - Google Patents
Anti-vibration spring-loaded toggle latchInfo
- Publication number
- CA1320239C CA1320239C CA000578525A CA578525A CA1320239C CA 1320239 C CA1320239 C CA 1320239C CA 000578525 A CA000578525 A CA 000578525A CA 578525 A CA578525 A CA 578525A CA 1320239 C CA1320239 C CA 1320239C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- spring
- hasp
- pivotable
- toggle latch
- lever
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05C—BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS
- E05C19/00—Other devices specially designed for securing wings, e.g. with suction cups
- E05C19/10—Hook fastenings; Fastenings in which a link engages a fixed hook-like member
- E05C19/12—Hook fastenings; Fastenings in which a link engages a fixed hook-like member pivotally mounted around an axis
- E05C19/14—Hook fastenings; Fastenings in which a link engages a fixed hook-like member pivotally mounted around an axis with toggle action
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Supports Or Holders For Household Use (AREA)
- Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract A fastener to removably secure two panels consists of a spring-loaded toggle latch (catch unit) on one panel and a keeper plate (strike) with a keeper lip on the other panel. The toggle latch comprises a pivot bracket with a flat base plate and opposite upstanding side ears, a pivotable operating lever (handle) and a pivotable hasp member (draw bar) having a downwardly turned lip at its free end to engage the keeper lip. The three members of the toggle latch are solely joined by left and right single-turn coiled torsion springs which spring-load the hasp member. One end of each spring is bent, after the toggle latch is assembled, to prevent damage from vibration or shock.
Description
ANTI-VIBRATION SPRING-LOADED TO~iGLE LATCH
Backqround of the I nvention The present invention relates to industrial fasteners and more particularly to an over-center toggle latch.
Latches to join two members, for example, two panels, so that they may be separated and rejoined, have been developed over many years. Such latches are commonly used to secure container lids, trunk lids, panel doors and for industrial applications. A toggle latch provides the advantage of being relatively secure against accidental opening after it has been closed.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,049,301 to Peter Schenk, entitled "Toggle Latch", the operating lever I handle) is pivotally mounted on the bracket by a first pin and the drawbar is mounted on the lever by a second pin. The drawbar is spring metal which is corrugated to provide spring action. In U.S.
Patent No . 4,025,094 entitled "Overcenter Latch", a handle member is provided on one pin and a tension member pivots on a second pivot pin. In U.S. Patent No. 3,026,133 to Swanson, the handle member pivots on a first pin, a coil spring in a housing pivots on a second pin on the handle rnember, and the movable hasp ~link) pivots on a third pin on the handle mernber. Two patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 3,847,423 and 4,243,255) to Rexnord, Inc. show the use of an internal coil spring in a toggle latch, both of which are relatively complex.
U.S. Patent No. 4,065,161, entitled "Container Or Panel Clamp", shows a device in which the movable hasp ( drawhook ) is a wire member with a spring loop along its length. U.S. Patent No. 2,820,995 to E. Schlueter, entitled "Spring Loaded Lock Fastener", shows a slidable hasp pivotally mounted, and spring-loaded, by spring wire pivot membe. s. It is not a toggle latch, but rather operates by a cam mechanism. U.S. Patent No.4,522,436 to Hoen et al shows a spring-loaded toggle latch having a pair of springs, which may come loose, causing the latch to fail, under certain vlbratory or shock conditions.
:L~2a239 Ob~tives and Features of the I nvention It is an objective of the present invention to provide a toggle latch which becomes more firmly fastened with an increase in the load and which stays assembled and latched under vibration and shock conditions.
It is another objective of the present invention that the toggle latch be tamper-resistant, so that it may not be disassembled without destr,oying or obviously mutilating the fastener.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an over-center toggle latch which, when the latch is locked, requires an initial larger force to unlock it, providing a securely locked arrangement.
It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide such a toygle latch in which the pivotable hasp is spring-loaded to allow for errors in the location of the keeper plate or bracket member and to more securely lock - the latch when it is closed ~
The fastener is preferably assembled from sheet metal parts and removably joins first and second panels. A fixed keeper member is adapted to be connected to the first panel and a toygle latch is adapted to be connected to the second panel.
The toggle latch includes a bracket member having a base plate and opposed uoraised side ~ortions ~ ears ), each side portinn having a through bearing hole. A lever member (handle member) is pivotally mounted on the bracket member (between its side portions) and has a pivot means (a pair of bearing holes I near one of its ends and a pair of elongated apertures ( slots I
farther from the same end.
13~239 The toggle latch also includes a pivotable hasp member having grasp means ( a lip ) near one end to removably grasp the keeper member and having pivot means near its opposite end. The pivot means is preferably a tunnel bore formed by a turned-back portion at the end of the hasp. A left coil torsion spring member and a right coiled torsion spring member each has a first inwardly extended spring arm captured in the pivot means of the lever member and the bearing holes of the bracket member. A second inwardly extended spring arm of each spring extends through the elongated second aperture (slot) in the lever and is captured in the pivot means (tunnel bore) of the pivotable hasp. After assembly, the first spring arms on both springs are bent so as to retain the springs in position under vibration and shock conditlons. If the springs were bent prior to assembly, their bearing holes would be required to be larger, and such larger holes would permit the latch to easily become accidentally disassembled when vibrated or shocked.
The fastener may be made tamper-resistant by a padlock or safety wire connecting the keeper member and the lip of the hasp member. Because of the post-assembly bends in the springs, the toggle latch cannot be opened and disassembled, for example by pliers, without destroying or mutilating it.
Such mutilation is readily detected if the fastener is reassembled.
~ ~ 2 lJ 2 3 9 Brief Description of the Drawinqs Other objectives and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the acompanying drawings .
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the assembled fastener of the present invention;
Figure 2 is 2 top plan view of the bracket member:
Figure 3 is a side plan view of the bracket member shown in figure 2;
and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the toggle latch of the present ~nvent~on .
Detailed Description of the Invention As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the toggle latch may be used to pull together the panels 10 and 11 and to lock the panels together until they are released . The panels 10 and 11, for example, may be the side wall and the lid of a çontainer.
A keeper member 12 lstrike) is attached to the panel 11 by the screws 13, rivets or welding. The keeper member 12 includes, as integral portions, a flat keeper plate 14, through which the screws 13 protrude, and an upraised lip 15. The lip 15 provides the female jointure of the fastener.
Preferably keeper member 12 is formed from sheet metal.
The toggle latch assembly 20 is attached to the opposite panel 10 and includes as portions of the toggle latch assembly a bracket 21, a pivotable hasp 22, and operating lever 23 ~ locking lever ) and a pair of springs 24.
As shown in Fiyures 2 and 3, the bracket member 21 has, as integral parts thereof, a flat anchor plate 30 and upstanding sides 31,32 (ears). The upstanding sides 31,32 are formed at opposite sides of the flat anchor plate 30, perpendicular to plate 30, and are in imayinary parallel planes.
Each of the upstanding sides 31,33 has a bearing hole 34,35 respectively therethrough.
The flat anchor plate 30 has a first aperture 36 and a second aperture 37, as best shown in Figure 2. Each of the apertures 36 and 37 has a flat forward wall, respectively 38,39. Each aperture 36,37 has a series of indentations which form the wall opposite the flat walls 38,39. The indentations form pairs, which are respectively 40a, 40b, 40c, 41 a, 41 b, 42a, 42b . The pairs of indentat;ons are adapted to hold the screws which hold the anchor 1c~2~239 A screw 43 having a head is shown in indentation 40a and a screw -44 having a head is shown in indentation 40b. These serews 43,44 may be loosened, - which permits anchor plate 30 to be moved on the panel 10. For example, the anchor plate 30 may be moved closer to the edge of panel 10 (the edge which -faces panei 11) by positioning the screws 43 and 44 in the respective indentations 42a, 42b. The indentations permit the anchor plate to be adjusted on the panel 10 without the necessity of removing the screws 43.44 and placing them in new screw holes in the panel.
The lever member toperable lever or handle member),as shown in Figure 3, is an integral member preferably formed from sheet metal. A central plate portion 45 has descending side portions 46 and 47. A curved handle portion 54 is positioned at the end of the plate portion 45. The descending side portions 46,47 are generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plate portion 45.
Each of the side portions 46,47 has an outwardly projecting ridge, respectively 48,49. The side portion 46 has a bearing hole 50 and a slot 51. Similarly, the side portion 47 has a bearing hole 52, whose imaginary center is aligned with the imaginary center of the hole 50, and a slot 53 which is aligned with the slot 51. The holes 50,52 are round and slightly larger in diameter than the round ( in cross-section ) springs which fit through those holes.
The pivo~able member (male slide or drawbarl is an integral member preferably formed from sheet metal. It consists of a central portion 60, an outer lip portion 61 and an inner pivotable means portion 62. The central plate portion _ has an elongated raised protrusion which strengthens and stiffens the movable hasp member and is preferably rounded in cross-section. The lip portion 61 has a turned-back edge portion, for example, at about 30 degrees, forming a lip ` 64 which interconnects with the lip on the keeper piate. Preferably the inner pivotable means portion 62 is formed by the turned-back metal, at the end of the hasp, forming a tunnel bore 65.
The toggle latch assembly, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, is assembled using the pair of springs 24, preferably consisting of left single turn coiled torsion spring 25 and right single-turn coiled torsion spring 25. Each spring 25,26 has a short free arm 25a,26a (first spring arm) respectively, and a longer free arm ~second spring arm) 25b,26b respectively. When assembled as shown in Figure 4, the spring action of the springs 25,26 is to tend to separate arm 25a from arm 25b and similarly to separate arm 26a from 26b.
The springs must be flexed sufficiently to absorb between them at least the minimum amount of force that the toggle lock is designed to impose. The springs, therefore, as contained in the assembly, are pre-loaded, so that when the fastener is being locked the minimum desired force must be produced by the toggle lock before the movement of the longer spring arms 25b,26b within the slots 51 and 53 can begin. Further movement of the spring arms 25b,26b in,and along, the slots 51,53 requires that the toggle lock produces somewhat more force until the spring arms finally move to the ends of the slots. Beyond this much movement the toggle lock "goes positive", i.e., cannot move more due to permitted spring action.
As shown in Figures 1 and 4, to assemble the toggle latch the shorter spring arm 25a is inserted through bearing hole 35 of the bracket 21 and also through bearing hole 50 of the lever 25. Similarly, the other shorter spring arm 26a is inserted through bearing hole 34 of the bracket 21 and also through the bearing hole 52 of the lever. The bearing holes 50,52 are in extension ~a239 arm portions 55,56 of the lever side portions 46,47. The spring arms 25a,26a act as a pivot which connects the lever 23 to the bracket 21 and permits the lever to pivot about spring arms 25a, 26b at its center.
The left longer spring arm 25b is inserted through the slot 51 of the lever 23 and into the tunnel bore 65 (pivot means) of the pivotable hasp 22. The right longer spring arm is inserted through the slot 53 of the lever member 22 and into the opposite end of the tunnel bore 65 of the pivotable hasp, The spring arms 25b,26b connect the pivotable hasp 22 to the lever and permit its pivoting action. The spring arms 25b,26b spring-load the pivotable hasp 22. After assembly, the ends 25c and 26c, of arms 25a,26a respectively, are bent at an angle ~preferably an angle of about 30 relative to spring arms 25a,26b respectively, see Figures 1 and 4~.
The bent portions 25c and 26c Isecondary angular form) prevent the spring arms 25a,Z6a from coming out of their respective bearing holes subjecteci to shocks,rough handling or vibration. In addition, if the fastener is a safety device, the bent portions 25c and 26c help prevent unauthorized opening of the toggle latch. The bent portions 25c,26c are formed by an additional finishing movement built into the assembly device wlthout adding to the cost of production.
In operation, when opening the toggle latch from its closed (locked) position, the operator lifts the handle portion 54 of the- lever member 23, which is a clockwise movement in respect to the illustration of Figure 4. Such lifting movement will rotate the lever member Z3 until limited by the contact of the leyer member's projecting ridges 48,49 with the top face of the respective bracket's upstanding sides 31,32. The lifting movement l,i the lever 2 ~ 9 member 23 not only unlocks the pivotable hasp 22, but also lifts it from the keeper member 12. When the lever member 23, after being fully opened, is drawn back (counterclockwise movement in regard to Figure 8) it automatically retracts the pivotable hasp 22 away from the keeper member 12.
When the lever member 23 is fully retracted, and the flat against the bracket 21, the pivotable hasp will be in about a vertical position.
When closing the toggle latch from its open (unlocked~ position to its closed (locked) position, the operator will lift the handle portion 54 of the lever member 23, which is a clockwise movement in respect to the illustration of Figure 4. Such lifting action brings the pivotable hasp 22 toward the keeper member 12. That lifting motion continues until the hasp 22 moves far enough, to the right in Figure 4, so that the lip 64 of the hasp 22 is brought past, and dropped down over, lip 15 to engage the two lips 15,64: although the operator's finger may be used to touch the two lips together. When the two lips are 0nyaged, hooking each other the operator rotates handle portion 54 in the opposite direction ( counterclockwise in Figure 41, reversing the direction of movement of the hasp 22 and causiny the keeper member 14 and bracket member 21 to be drawn toward each other. Such drawing movement continues until the bottom edges of side portions 46, 47 of the lever 23 contact the top face of the bracket member 21, which is the locked position illustrated in Figure 4.
The fastener functions to draw the keeper member and toggle latch together; for example, it draws a cover panel (fixed to the keeper member) to a container panel Ifixed to the toggle latchl. When the two panels are fully drawn together and cannot be moved closer, the continued counterclockwise rotation of the lever memlJer 23 will cause the pre-loaded spring arms to 1~2~2~
be further flexed. Such flexing causes the spring arms 25b, 26b to move within the slots 52,53, the movement being to the right in Figure 4 until the rotation of the lever member is completed by bottoming on the bracket member .
During the drawing and locking operation, when the panels cannot be drawn further together, the continued rotation of the lever member 23 moves the slots 51,53 downwardly, along an imaginary circle, centered on apertures 34,35 and 50,52, and away from the keeper plate . The hasp 22 retains the spring arms 25b, 26b as the slots 51,53 continue to move away from the keeper member, until the lever member bottoms on top of the bracket member. The slots 51,53 have moved to the left while the spring arms 25b,26b are retained by hasp 22. The keeper member and toggle latch are now spring-loaded together hy the deflection of the opening arms 25b,25a The bent portions 25c,26c ( angular forms ) cause the springs 25,26 to seat in the operating lever ( locking lever l as the springs 25,26 are compressed .
As the compression of springs 25,26 increases, for examp~e, because of increased load or vibrations, the springs are retained more securely due to the angular effect of the bent portions 25c,26c. The angles of the bends work against the sides and ends of bearing holes 50,52 of lever 23 and urye the springs toward each other. Such action helps prevent the springs from moving apart and becoming dislodged due to shocks, vibrations or rough handing.
Backqround of the I nvention The present invention relates to industrial fasteners and more particularly to an over-center toggle latch.
Latches to join two members, for example, two panels, so that they may be separated and rejoined, have been developed over many years. Such latches are commonly used to secure container lids, trunk lids, panel doors and for industrial applications. A toggle latch provides the advantage of being relatively secure against accidental opening after it has been closed.
In U.S. Patent No. 4,049,301 to Peter Schenk, entitled "Toggle Latch", the operating lever I handle) is pivotally mounted on the bracket by a first pin and the drawbar is mounted on the lever by a second pin. The drawbar is spring metal which is corrugated to provide spring action. In U.S.
Patent No . 4,025,094 entitled "Overcenter Latch", a handle member is provided on one pin and a tension member pivots on a second pivot pin. In U.S. Patent No. 3,026,133 to Swanson, the handle member pivots on a first pin, a coil spring in a housing pivots on a second pin on the handle rnember, and the movable hasp ~link) pivots on a third pin on the handle mernber. Two patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 3,847,423 and 4,243,255) to Rexnord, Inc. show the use of an internal coil spring in a toggle latch, both of which are relatively complex.
U.S. Patent No. 4,065,161, entitled "Container Or Panel Clamp", shows a device in which the movable hasp ( drawhook ) is a wire member with a spring loop along its length. U.S. Patent No. 2,820,995 to E. Schlueter, entitled "Spring Loaded Lock Fastener", shows a slidable hasp pivotally mounted, and spring-loaded, by spring wire pivot membe. s. It is not a toggle latch, but rather operates by a cam mechanism. U.S. Patent No.4,522,436 to Hoen et al shows a spring-loaded toggle latch having a pair of springs, which may come loose, causing the latch to fail, under certain vlbratory or shock conditions.
:L~2a239 Ob~tives and Features of the I nvention It is an objective of the present invention to provide a toggle latch which becomes more firmly fastened with an increase in the load and which stays assembled and latched under vibration and shock conditions.
It is another objective of the present invention that the toggle latch be tamper-resistant, so that it may not be disassembled without destr,oying or obviously mutilating the fastener.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide an over-center toggle latch which, when the latch is locked, requires an initial larger force to unlock it, providing a securely locked arrangement.
It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide such a toygle latch in which the pivotable hasp is spring-loaded to allow for errors in the location of the keeper plate or bracket member and to more securely lock - the latch when it is closed ~
The fastener is preferably assembled from sheet metal parts and removably joins first and second panels. A fixed keeper member is adapted to be connected to the first panel and a toygle latch is adapted to be connected to the second panel.
The toggle latch includes a bracket member having a base plate and opposed uoraised side ~ortions ~ ears ), each side portinn having a through bearing hole. A lever member (handle member) is pivotally mounted on the bracket member (between its side portions) and has a pivot means (a pair of bearing holes I near one of its ends and a pair of elongated apertures ( slots I
farther from the same end.
13~239 The toggle latch also includes a pivotable hasp member having grasp means ( a lip ) near one end to removably grasp the keeper member and having pivot means near its opposite end. The pivot means is preferably a tunnel bore formed by a turned-back portion at the end of the hasp. A left coil torsion spring member and a right coiled torsion spring member each has a first inwardly extended spring arm captured in the pivot means of the lever member and the bearing holes of the bracket member. A second inwardly extended spring arm of each spring extends through the elongated second aperture (slot) in the lever and is captured in the pivot means (tunnel bore) of the pivotable hasp. After assembly, the first spring arms on both springs are bent so as to retain the springs in position under vibration and shock conditlons. If the springs were bent prior to assembly, their bearing holes would be required to be larger, and such larger holes would permit the latch to easily become accidentally disassembled when vibrated or shocked.
The fastener may be made tamper-resistant by a padlock or safety wire connecting the keeper member and the lip of the hasp member. Because of the post-assembly bends in the springs, the toggle latch cannot be opened and disassembled, for example by pliers, without destroying or mutilating it.
Such mutilation is readily detected if the fastener is reassembled.
~ ~ 2 lJ 2 3 9 Brief Description of the Drawinqs Other objectives and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the acompanying drawings .
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the assembled fastener of the present invention;
Figure 2 is 2 top plan view of the bracket member:
Figure 3 is a side plan view of the bracket member shown in figure 2;
and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the toggle latch of the present ~nvent~on .
Detailed Description of the Invention As shown in Figures 1 and 8, the toggle latch may be used to pull together the panels 10 and 11 and to lock the panels together until they are released . The panels 10 and 11, for example, may be the side wall and the lid of a çontainer.
A keeper member 12 lstrike) is attached to the panel 11 by the screws 13, rivets or welding. The keeper member 12 includes, as integral portions, a flat keeper plate 14, through which the screws 13 protrude, and an upraised lip 15. The lip 15 provides the female jointure of the fastener.
Preferably keeper member 12 is formed from sheet metal.
The toggle latch assembly 20 is attached to the opposite panel 10 and includes as portions of the toggle latch assembly a bracket 21, a pivotable hasp 22, and operating lever 23 ~ locking lever ) and a pair of springs 24.
As shown in Fiyures 2 and 3, the bracket member 21 has, as integral parts thereof, a flat anchor plate 30 and upstanding sides 31,32 (ears). The upstanding sides 31,32 are formed at opposite sides of the flat anchor plate 30, perpendicular to plate 30, and are in imayinary parallel planes.
Each of the upstanding sides 31,33 has a bearing hole 34,35 respectively therethrough.
The flat anchor plate 30 has a first aperture 36 and a second aperture 37, as best shown in Figure 2. Each of the apertures 36 and 37 has a flat forward wall, respectively 38,39. Each aperture 36,37 has a series of indentations which form the wall opposite the flat walls 38,39. The indentations form pairs, which are respectively 40a, 40b, 40c, 41 a, 41 b, 42a, 42b . The pairs of indentat;ons are adapted to hold the screws which hold the anchor 1c~2~239 A screw 43 having a head is shown in indentation 40a and a screw -44 having a head is shown in indentation 40b. These serews 43,44 may be loosened, - which permits anchor plate 30 to be moved on the panel 10. For example, the anchor plate 30 may be moved closer to the edge of panel 10 (the edge which -faces panei 11) by positioning the screws 43 and 44 in the respective indentations 42a, 42b. The indentations permit the anchor plate to be adjusted on the panel 10 without the necessity of removing the screws 43.44 and placing them in new screw holes in the panel.
The lever member toperable lever or handle member),as shown in Figure 3, is an integral member preferably formed from sheet metal. A central plate portion 45 has descending side portions 46 and 47. A curved handle portion 54 is positioned at the end of the plate portion 45. The descending side portions 46,47 are generally parallel to each other and perpendicular to the plate portion 45.
Each of the side portions 46,47 has an outwardly projecting ridge, respectively 48,49. The side portion 46 has a bearing hole 50 and a slot 51. Similarly, the side portion 47 has a bearing hole 52, whose imaginary center is aligned with the imaginary center of the hole 50, and a slot 53 which is aligned with the slot 51. The holes 50,52 are round and slightly larger in diameter than the round ( in cross-section ) springs which fit through those holes.
The pivo~able member (male slide or drawbarl is an integral member preferably formed from sheet metal. It consists of a central portion 60, an outer lip portion 61 and an inner pivotable means portion 62. The central plate portion _ has an elongated raised protrusion which strengthens and stiffens the movable hasp member and is preferably rounded in cross-section. The lip portion 61 has a turned-back edge portion, for example, at about 30 degrees, forming a lip ` 64 which interconnects with the lip on the keeper piate. Preferably the inner pivotable means portion 62 is formed by the turned-back metal, at the end of the hasp, forming a tunnel bore 65.
The toggle latch assembly, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, is assembled using the pair of springs 24, preferably consisting of left single turn coiled torsion spring 25 and right single-turn coiled torsion spring 25. Each spring 25,26 has a short free arm 25a,26a (first spring arm) respectively, and a longer free arm ~second spring arm) 25b,26b respectively. When assembled as shown in Figure 4, the spring action of the springs 25,26 is to tend to separate arm 25a from arm 25b and similarly to separate arm 26a from 26b.
The springs must be flexed sufficiently to absorb between them at least the minimum amount of force that the toggle lock is designed to impose. The springs, therefore, as contained in the assembly, are pre-loaded, so that when the fastener is being locked the minimum desired force must be produced by the toggle lock before the movement of the longer spring arms 25b,26b within the slots 51 and 53 can begin. Further movement of the spring arms 25b,26b in,and along, the slots 51,53 requires that the toggle lock produces somewhat more force until the spring arms finally move to the ends of the slots. Beyond this much movement the toggle lock "goes positive", i.e., cannot move more due to permitted spring action.
As shown in Figures 1 and 4, to assemble the toggle latch the shorter spring arm 25a is inserted through bearing hole 35 of the bracket 21 and also through bearing hole 50 of the lever 25. Similarly, the other shorter spring arm 26a is inserted through bearing hole 34 of the bracket 21 and also through the bearing hole 52 of the lever. The bearing holes 50,52 are in extension ~a239 arm portions 55,56 of the lever side portions 46,47. The spring arms 25a,26a act as a pivot which connects the lever 23 to the bracket 21 and permits the lever to pivot about spring arms 25a, 26b at its center.
The left longer spring arm 25b is inserted through the slot 51 of the lever 23 and into the tunnel bore 65 (pivot means) of the pivotable hasp 22. The right longer spring arm is inserted through the slot 53 of the lever member 22 and into the opposite end of the tunnel bore 65 of the pivotable hasp, The spring arms 25b,26b connect the pivotable hasp 22 to the lever and permit its pivoting action. The spring arms 25b,26b spring-load the pivotable hasp 22. After assembly, the ends 25c and 26c, of arms 25a,26a respectively, are bent at an angle ~preferably an angle of about 30 relative to spring arms 25a,26b respectively, see Figures 1 and 4~.
The bent portions 25c and 26c Isecondary angular form) prevent the spring arms 25a,Z6a from coming out of their respective bearing holes subjecteci to shocks,rough handling or vibration. In addition, if the fastener is a safety device, the bent portions 25c and 26c help prevent unauthorized opening of the toggle latch. The bent portions 25c,26c are formed by an additional finishing movement built into the assembly device wlthout adding to the cost of production.
In operation, when opening the toggle latch from its closed (locked) position, the operator lifts the handle portion 54 of the- lever member 23, which is a clockwise movement in respect to the illustration of Figure 4. Such lifting movement will rotate the lever member Z3 until limited by the contact of the leyer member's projecting ridges 48,49 with the top face of the respective bracket's upstanding sides 31,32. The lifting movement l,i the lever 2 ~ 9 member 23 not only unlocks the pivotable hasp 22, but also lifts it from the keeper member 12. When the lever member 23, after being fully opened, is drawn back (counterclockwise movement in regard to Figure 8) it automatically retracts the pivotable hasp 22 away from the keeper member 12.
When the lever member 23 is fully retracted, and the flat against the bracket 21, the pivotable hasp will be in about a vertical position.
When closing the toggle latch from its open (unlocked~ position to its closed (locked) position, the operator will lift the handle portion 54 of the lever member 23, which is a clockwise movement in respect to the illustration of Figure 4. Such lifting action brings the pivotable hasp 22 toward the keeper member 12. That lifting motion continues until the hasp 22 moves far enough, to the right in Figure 4, so that the lip 64 of the hasp 22 is brought past, and dropped down over, lip 15 to engage the two lips 15,64: although the operator's finger may be used to touch the two lips together. When the two lips are 0nyaged, hooking each other the operator rotates handle portion 54 in the opposite direction ( counterclockwise in Figure 41, reversing the direction of movement of the hasp 22 and causiny the keeper member 14 and bracket member 21 to be drawn toward each other. Such drawing movement continues until the bottom edges of side portions 46, 47 of the lever 23 contact the top face of the bracket member 21, which is the locked position illustrated in Figure 4.
The fastener functions to draw the keeper member and toggle latch together; for example, it draws a cover panel (fixed to the keeper member) to a container panel Ifixed to the toggle latchl. When the two panels are fully drawn together and cannot be moved closer, the continued counterclockwise rotation of the lever memlJer 23 will cause the pre-loaded spring arms to 1~2~2~
be further flexed. Such flexing causes the spring arms 25b, 26b to move within the slots 52,53, the movement being to the right in Figure 4 until the rotation of the lever member is completed by bottoming on the bracket member .
During the drawing and locking operation, when the panels cannot be drawn further together, the continued rotation of the lever member 23 moves the slots 51,53 downwardly, along an imaginary circle, centered on apertures 34,35 and 50,52, and away from the keeper plate . The hasp 22 retains the spring arms 25b, 26b as the slots 51,53 continue to move away from the keeper member, until the lever member bottoms on top of the bracket member. The slots 51,53 have moved to the left while the spring arms 25b,26b are retained by hasp 22. The keeper member and toggle latch are now spring-loaded together hy the deflection of the opening arms 25b,25a The bent portions 25c,26c ( angular forms ) cause the springs 25,26 to seat in the operating lever ( locking lever l as the springs 25,26 are compressed .
As the compression of springs 25,26 increases, for examp~e, because of increased load or vibrations, the springs are retained more securely due to the angular effect of the bent portions 25c,26c. The angles of the bends work against the sides and ends of bearing holes 50,52 of lever 23 and urye the springs toward each other. Such action helps prevent the springs from moving apart and becoming dislodged due to shocks, vibrations or rough handing.
Claims (6)
1. A fastener to removably join first and second panels, a fixed keeper member adapted to be connected to the first panel and a toggle latch adapted to be connected to the second panel, said toggle latch including:
a bracket member having a base plate and opposed upraised side portions, each side portion having a through bearing hole:
a lever member pivotally mounted on said bracket member between its side portions and having opposed descending side arms with a bearing hole in each side arm;
a pivotable hasp member having grasp means near one end to removably grasp said keeper member and having pivot means comprising a bent-back end portion forming a bore;
a left coiled torsion spring member and a right coiled torsion spring member each having a first inwardly extended spring arm captured in the bore of said pivotable hasp member and a second inwardly extended spring arm through the bearing holes of said bracket member and said lever member, each of said first spring arms being bent at an angle, after assembly of the toggle latch, at its end beyond said bearing hole:
wherein the spring members hold the toggle latch together, pivotally mount the lever member and the pivotable hasp member, and spring-load the pivotable hasp member, and the bends in the first spring arms prevent accidental disassembly of the toggle latch due to shocks and vibration.
a bracket member having a base plate and opposed upraised side portions, each side portion having a through bearing hole:
a lever member pivotally mounted on said bracket member between its side portions and having opposed descending side arms with a bearing hole in each side arm;
a pivotable hasp member having grasp means near one end to removably grasp said keeper member and having pivot means comprising a bent-back end portion forming a bore;
a left coiled torsion spring member and a right coiled torsion spring member each having a first inwardly extended spring arm captured in the bore of said pivotable hasp member and a second inwardly extended spring arm through the bearing holes of said bracket member and said lever member, each of said first spring arms being bent at an angle, after assembly of the toggle latch, at its end beyond said bearing hole:
wherein the spring members hold the toggle latch together, pivotally mount the lever member and the pivotable hasp member, and spring-load the pivotable hasp member, and the bends in the first spring arms prevent accidental disassembly of the toggle latch due to shocks and vibration.
2. A fastener as in claim 1 wherein said left and right spring members are each a single-turn coiled torsion spring.
3. A fastener as in claim 1 wherein said bracket member, said lever member and said pivotable hasp member are sheet metal members.
4. A fastener as in claim 1 wherein the pivot means of the pivotable hasp member is a bent-back portion at one edge which forms a tunnel to enclose and capture said inward spring means.
5. A fastener as in claim 1 wherein said lever member has a flat plate portion and opposite side arms descending therefrom, and each side arm thereof has a slot through which the first spring arm extends and which is the lever member pivot means, and the pivot means of the pivotable hasp is positioned between said arms.
6. A fastener as in claim 5 wherein said lever member side arms have extension portions extending beyond said plate portion to form between them a space for said hasp pivot means, and said lever pivot means and slots are in said extension portions.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US16051288A | 1988-02-26 | 1988-02-26 | |
| US160,512 | 1988-02-26 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1320239C true CA1320239C (en) | 1993-07-13 |
Family
ID=22577178
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000578525A Expired - Fee Related CA1320239C (en) | 1988-02-26 | 1988-09-27 | Anti-vibration spring-loaded toggle latch |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1320239C (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2219033A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE4025861C1 (en) * | 1990-08-16 | 1991-11-07 | Mercedes-Benz Aktiengesellschaft, 7000 Stuttgart, De |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4522436A (en) * | 1983-04-06 | 1985-06-11 | Simmons Fastener Corporation | Spring-loaded toggle latch |
-
1988
- 1988-09-27 CA CA000578525A patent/CA1320239C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1988-10-17 GB GB8824290A patent/GB2219033A/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2219033A (en) | 1989-11-29 |
| GB8824290D0 (en) | 1988-11-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |