GB1596458A

GB1596458A - Rotary latch

Info

Publication number: GB1596458A
Application number: GB1331978A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-04-05
Filing date: 1978-04-05
Publication date: 1981-08-26
Also published as: DE7710769U1; FR2386670B1; FR2386670A1

Description

(54) ROTARY LATCH (71) We, A. RAYMOND, a Kommanditgesellschaft organised and existing under the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, of Teichstrasse 57, D-7850 Loerrach, the Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the followine statement:- This invention relates to a rotary latch wherein a latch lever is rotatably mounted on a carrier plate by the snap-in engagement of a pivot pin of the lever with a holding member which lies in abutment with the carrier plate.

Rotary latches are used for example to fasten hinged covers and hoods or also smaller doors such as cupboard doors and are usually constructed of metal. They should be able to be operated manually as easily as possible and as frequently as required and should offer a secure hold in the closed position.

According to the present invention, there is provided a rotary latch wherein a latch lever is rotatably mounted on a carrier plate by the snap-in engagement of a pivot pin of the lever with a holding member which lies in abutment with the carrier plate.

Embodiments of the invention are described in detail in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an elevation of a latch lever of a rotary latch partly in section; Figure 2 is a front view of the lever; Figure 3 is a headed plug-in pin of the latch: Figure 4 is a partly sectioned elevation of the latch in the closed position; Figure 5 is a front view of a latch lever of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a side view of the lever shown in Figure 5: Figure 7 is a side view of the lever shown in Figure 5. with a sleeve attached and a key in the disengaged position: Figure 8 is a front view of a lever of another embodiment of the invention:: Figure 9 is a lateral view of the lever shown in Figure 8; Figure 10 is an elevation of a housing for the lever shown in Figure 8; Figure 11 is a section through the housing with the lever fitted; and Figure 12 is an elevation of the same housing showing the latch in open and closed positions.

In Figures 1 and 2 a latch lever 1, preferably constructed of plastics, is squared off twice towards its end in the present form of construction. The form of the lever can, however, be varied and is altered to suit the pressure required in each individual case.

Lever 1 is made in one piece with a sleeveshaped pivot pin 2. The pin 2 acts as a receptacle for a plug-in pin 3 constructed of the same plastics material, which has a rotary knob or head 4 on its back end. The rotary head 4 consists of a collar ring 5 shaped like a plate, attached to which is a web 6 with web surfaces 7 running radially, through which torque is transmitted manually to the plug-in pin 3 in a manner to be described below.

The plug-in pin 3 is axially attached to the pivot pin sleeve 2 by means of a snap-in connection. For this purpose the plug-in pin 3 has a groove 9 in the mid region and an annular bead 10 at the front, while the sleeve-shaped pivot pin has an annular reduced portion 12 and an annular increased portion 13 at the corresponding points on its inside surface. The diameter of the bead 10 is designed slightly larger than the diameter of the reduced portion 12, so that the bead 10 can be pressed into the increased portion 13 until it snaps into place by means of flexible swelling of the reduced portion 12. To facilitate the penetration of the bead 10 into the reduced portion 12, a conical lead-in ring 8 is situated in front of the bead 10 and a lead-in cone designed accordingly is situated in front of the reduced portion 12 in the pivot pin 2.

In addition, the plug-in pin 3 has square flattened sections 14 and 15 situated next to the collar ring 5 and at the front end, which rest in square holes 16 and 17 of the pivot pin sleeve and thereby produce a locking con nection between plug-in pin 3 and pivot pin 2 against mutual rotation. In principle a single square connection 14. 16 would suffice for the transmission of power, but it has been proved advantageous to provide a square connection 14. 16 and 15, 17 both in front of and behind the snap elements 9. 12 and 10, 13. Naturally the square connection can be replaced by a connection with hexagonal or octagonal flattened sections.

As can be seen from Figure 4. pivot pin sleeve 2 is pivoted by its external surfaces 18 in a sleeve 19 attached to the carrier plate 20 and rests end on to this mounting sleeve 19 with a flange-like part 21. This flange-like part 21 has a rib 22 running radially outwards from sleeve 2 which moves freely through an angle of 90 in a recess 25 on the face 26 of the mounting sleeve 19. The recess 25 extends from the open position of the lever I to the closed position pictured in Figure 4 where the housing wall 23 of a housing (not illustrated) is inserted between the lever I and a frame 24 of the carrier plate, which is pivotally mounted in the said housing.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the latch lever I has a snap-in pivot pin 27 (similar to the plug-in pin 3 in Figure 3) and is pressed by means of this pin 27 into a suitable mating sleeve 28 which is inserted so that it sits firmly in the mounting bore 29 of the carrier plate 20, the reverse side of which acts as a support (see Figure 7). A flattened square hole 30 passes axially through the pin 27. A screwdriver or a suitably designed key 31 can, for example, be fitted into this square hole 30 in order to turn the locking lever I.

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate a further construction. In this case the latch lever 1 is similarly equipped with a snap-in pivot pin 27, by means of which it is pivotally mounted in a mating sleeve 33, in a housing 32, so that the lever I in its open position in sunk in a recess 39 of the housing 32 and can be swung out of this position into the closed position illustrated in Figure 12 by the dotted line.

The housing 32 is anchored in the corresponding holes of the carrier plate 20 by means of spreader feet 40.

In order that the lever 1 is held secure both in its open and in its closed position, there are two diametrically opposed projections 35 on the collar surface 34 of the lever 1 in the mounting position 33. which taper to a point.

These lock into corresponding grooves 36 which are situated on the front side 37 of the mounting position 33 in the open and closed positions of the lever 1. To be able to lift the projections 35 out of the groove 36, pin 27 must be bedded in the mounting position 33 with sufficient axial play. However, in order for the projections 35 to lock well into position in the groove 36 again, spring arms 38 project laterally on the reverse side of the pin 27 on the lever 1 and are supported flexibly by the carrier plate 20.

In this construction. sleeve 33 has an annular slot 41 extending from the recess 39 around the reduced portion 12, which lends a greater flexibility to the reduced portion 12 for the entry of the pin 27 as well as for the removal of the shaping die after casting.

As can be seen from Figure 12. the lever 1 engages the housing wall 23 from behind when in the closed position while in the construction illustrated in Figures 4 and 7.

the lever I is so designed that it presses against the housing wall 23 when in the closed position. It should, however, be pointed out that also in the case of the latch according to Figures 11 and 12 the lever 1 can be so inserted that it presses itself against the housing wall 23 as in Figure 4.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: I. A rotary latch wherein a latch lever is rotatably mounted on a carrier plate by the snap-in engagement of a pivot pin of the lever with a holding member which lies in abutment with the carrier plate.

2. A rotary latch according to claim 1 wherein the pivot pin or holding member has a peripheral surface comprising successively a conical lead-in portion, an annular bead, and an annular groove for engaging corresponding mating surfaces formed in the surface of an aperture in the holding member or pivot pin respectively.

3. A rotary latch according to claim 2 wherein the lever lies adjacent one side of the carrier plate; and the holding member comprises a plug element engageable in a bore in the pivot pin, and a collar to abut the carrier plate on the opposite side thereof.

4. A latch according to claim 3 wherein the mating surfaces of the plug and the bore have flats to prevent mutual rotation between the lever and the holding member.

5. A latch according to claim 4 wherein the holding member is formed as a knob on the side of the collar remote from the plug.

6. A latch according to any of claims 3-5 wherein the lever has a rib housed in a recess in the adjacent surface of the carrier plate to form means for limiting the amount of rotation of the lever.

7. A latch according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the holding member is a sleeve for housing the pivot, the sleeve being housed in an aperture in the carrier plate, the sleeve abutting a surface of the carrier plate on the side thereof opposite to the lever.

8. A latch according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the holding member is a housing fixedly mounted on the carrier plate and having a bore in which the pivot pin is rotatably engaged.

9. A latch according to claim 8 wherein

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Claims

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nection between plug-in pin 3 and pivot pin 2 against mutual rotation. In principle a single square connection 14. 16 would suffice for the transmission of power, but it has been proved advantageous to provide a square connection 14. 16 and 15, 17 both in front of and behind the snap elements 9. 12 and 10, 13. Naturally the square connection can be replaced by a connection with hexagonal or octagonal flattened sections.

As can be seen from Figure 4. pivot pin sleeve 2 is pivoted by its external surfaces 18 in a sleeve 19 attached to the carrier plate 20 and rests end on to this mounting sleeve 19 with a flange-like part 21. This flange-like part 21 has a rib 22 running radially outwards from sleeve 2 which moves freely through an angle of 90 in a recess 25 on the face 26 of the mounting sleeve 19. The recess 25 extends from the open position of the lever I to the closed position pictured in Figure 4 where the housing wall 23 of a housing (not illustrated) is inserted between the lever I and a frame 24 of the carrier plate, which is pivotally mounted in the said housing.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, the latch lever I has a snap-in pivot pin 27 (similar to the plug-in pin 3 in Figure 3) and is pressed by means of this pin 27 into a suitable mating sleeve 28 which is inserted so that it sits firmly in the mounting bore 29 of the carrier plate 20, the reverse side of which acts as a support (see Figure 7). A flattened square hole 30 passes axially through the pin 27. A screwdriver or a suitably designed key 31 can, for example, be fitted into this square hole 30 in order to turn the locking lever I.

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate a further construction. In this case the latch lever 1 is similarly equipped with a snap-in pivot pin 27, by means of which it is pivotally mounted in a mating sleeve 33, in a housing 32, so that the lever I in its open position in sunk in a recess 39 of the housing 32 and can be swung out of this position into the closed position illustrated in Figure 12 by the dotted line.

The housing 32 is anchored in the corresponding holes of the carrier plate 20 by means of spreader feet 40.

In order that the lever 1 is held secure both in its open and in its closed position, there are two diametrically opposed projections 35 on the collar surface 34 of the lever 1 in the mounting position 33. which taper to a point.

These lock into corresponding grooves 36 which are situated on the front side 37 of the mounting position 33 in the open and closed positions of the lever 1. To be able to lift the projections 35 out of the groove 36, pin 27 must be bedded in the mounting position 33 with sufficient axial play. However, in order for the projections 35 to lock well into position in the groove 36 again, spring arms 38 project laterally on the reverse side of the pin 27 on the lever 1 and are supported flexibly by the carrier plate 20.

In this construction. sleeve 33 has an annular slot 41 extending from the recess 39 around the reduced portion 12, which lends a greater flexibility to the reduced portion 12 for the entry of the pin 27 as well as for the removal of the shaping die after casting.

As can be seen from Figure 12. the lever 1 engages the housing wall 23 from behind when in the closed position while in the construction illustrated in Figures 4 and 7.

the lever I is so designed that it presses against the housing wall 23 when in the closed position. It should, however, be pointed out that also in the case of the latch according to Figures 11 and 12 the lever 1 can be so inserted that it presses itself against the housing wall 23 as in Figure 4.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: I. A rotary latch wherein a latch lever is rotatably mounted on a carrier plate by the snap-in engagement of a pivot pin of the lever with a holding member which lies in abutment with the carrier plate.
2. A rotary latch according to claim 1 wherein the pivot pin or holding member has a peripheral surface comprising successively a conical lead-in portion, an annular bead, and an annular groove for engaging corresponding mating surfaces formed in the surface of an aperture in the holding member or pivot pin respectively.
3. A rotary latch according to claim 2 wherein the lever lies adjacent one side of the carrier plate; and the holding member comprises a plug element engageable in a bore in the pivot pin, and a collar to abut the carrier plate on the opposite side thereof.
4. A latch according to claim 3 wherein the mating surfaces of the plug and the bore have flats to prevent mutual rotation between the lever and the holding member.
5. A latch according to claim 4 wherein the holding member is formed as a knob on the side of the collar remote from the plug.
6. A latch according to any of claims 3-5 wherein the lever has a rib housed in a recess in the adjacent surface of the carrier plate to form means for limiting the amount of rotation of the lever.
7. A latch according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the holding member is a sleeve for housing the pivot, the sleeve being housed in an aperture in the carrier plate, the sleeve abutting a surface of the carrier plate on the side thereof opposite to the lever.
8. A latch according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the holding member is a housing fixedly mounted on the carrier plate and having a bore in which the pivot pin is rotatably engaged.
9. A latch according to claim 8 wherein

the lever has a pair of projections selectively engageable in two corresponding pairs of recesses in the housing angularly spaced apart to provide limit stops for the rotation of the lever, and has spring means engageable with a surface of the carrier plate to urge the projections into the recesses.
10. A latch according to any of claims 7-9 wherein the pivot pin has an axially extending key hole to receive removable means for rotating the pin.
11. A rotary latch constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 1H, or 5-7, or 8-12 of the accompanying drawings.