Claim 1 of this specification.
This application is one of four applications 105 divided from co-pending application 8129877 (specification 2094388) which all relate to similar subject matter.
The invention may be started to reside in the concept of providing luggage hardware in 110 modular form. In accordance with this con cept, an elongate latch console assembly may be provided which can be attached interiorly to one section of a luggage article, and which may include spaced, hasp-engageable and disengageable latches and operating means therefor, the latches being adapted to cooperate with fixed hasps on a hasp assembly which can be attached interiorly to another section of the article. The console may be designed to function with separate manual actuator and lock assemblies which may be assembled to the console by a hardware manufacturer in different configurations to produce latching systems of different configu- 125 rations to produce latching systems of different appearance and/or function to meet individual customer preferences. Additionally, the console may be designed to operate with a composite actuator and lock assembly, and the console components themselves may be designed for assembly within the console in different operating modes, for example, to adapt the console selectively to left or right- hand operation.
Hardware in accordance with the invention lends itself to assembly of the console and the lock and actuator assemblies in the required configuration by the hardware manufacturer, and simple installation of the assembled system onto an otherwise completed luggage article.
Specific features of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description and claims taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.
Description of Drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of an attache case incorporating a latching system in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of certain of the individual assemblies constituting the latching system, such assemblies be- ing shown in their relationship to the body section of the attache case; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a hasp assembly of the system and the lid of the attache case; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the latch console assembly of the latching system; Figure 5 is an elevational view of the latch console assembly with the cover plate re- moved and with the console latches shown in engagement with their respective hasps; Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the latches released from the hasps; Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of an actuator assembly of the latching system; Figure 8 is an elevational view, partly broken away, of a lock assembly of the latching system shown in assembled relation with the latch console and body section of the attache case; Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Figure 10 is a sectional view on line 10- 10 of Fig. 9; Figure 11 is a sectional view of the lock assembly similar to Fig. 9 but shown in a combination-changing position; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a shift member used in the lock assembly; Figure 13 is a perspective view of a pivotal bolt of the lock assembly shown with part of a slide rod of the latch console; Figure 14 is a composite end view of a combination dial and a combination sleeve; Figure 15 is a perspective view of parts of the latching system and attache case illustrating the manner of preparing the case for installation of the system; Figure 16 is an elevational view of a latch console assembly similar to Fig. 5 but show- 2 ing components of the console arranged in an alternative, reverse configuration; Figure 17 is a perspective view of the latch console assembly as shown in Fig. 16 with the lock assembly and actuator assembly at- 70 tached; Figure 18 is a perspective view of the latch console assembly with a centrally at tached composite lock and actuator assembly; and Figure 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 but showing the composite lock and actuator as sembly attached to the console in an offset position.
Description of Preferred Embodiments Referring initially to Fig. 1, there is shown an attache case 10, which may be of known vinyl or leather covered wood-frame construc tion and which includes a body section 12 and a hinged lid 14. The case is fitted with a conventional handle 16 mounted on a front wall 12a of the body section, by handle studs 18a and 18b, and a latching system (shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3) is provided for releasably latching the body section to the hinged lid. In Fig. 1, only exteriorly exposed parts of the latching system are visible, nota bly a latch actuator 20 on one side of handle 16, dials 22 and a shift member 24 of a combination lock on the other side of handle 16, and escutcheon plates 26a and 26b surrounding the lock parts and actuator respectively. When dials 22 are set on combination, the case can be opened by drawing actuator to the left to release the latching system, as will be described, and when the dials are off combination, the lock prevents the case from being opened.
As shown in Fig. 2, body section 12 of the case is equipped with an elongate latch con sole assembly A (attached interiorly to wall 1 2a as will be described). an actuator as sembly B, fitting in an opening 34b of wall 1 2a and incorporating actuator 20, and a lock 110 assembly C incorporating the combination lock and fitting in a further opening 34a in wall 12a.
Actuator assembly B and lock assembly C are attached to console A (preferably prior to shipment by the manufacturer) by means of flanges 36, 38 on the respective assemblies, which align with corresponding openings in the console as will be described. Flanges 36, 38 have openings, as shown, for screwing the 120 flanges to the console, or alternatively the flanges may be formed with rearwardly ex tending shanks for riveting the flanges to the console.
The latch console A includes longitudinally spaced pivoting latches 40a and 40b, and drive means for operating the latches in uni son. In use, actuator 20 is connected with the drive means for operating the latches and the combination lock cooperates with the drive GB2146694A 2 means to selectively prevent it being operated by the actuator.
Escutcheon plates 26a and 26b frame openings 34a, 34b on the exterior of wall 1 2a and the plates have rearwardly projecting shanks 42a and 42b extending through wall 1 2a and attached, as by screws 44 (see Fig.
9) to latch console A through further openings in the console as will be described.
Mounting brackets 28a and 28b, which attach to side walls 1 2b and 1 2c of the case body, by screws or other fastening means, may be provided for supporting latch console A, or the support provided by the escutcheon plate shanks 42a and 42b and screws 44 may be sufficient to adequately secure the console. As shown in Fig. 2, brackets 28a and 28b may have channel-like portions for receiving the opposite ends of the latch console while allowing lengthwise adjustment prior to final fixing.
Latches 40a and 40b cooperate with fixed hasps 48a, 48b on a rod 30 forming part of a hasp assembly D (Fig. 3) attached interiorly to the case lid 14 by mounting brackets 32a and 32b which connect to side walls 14b and 14c of the lid. Brackets 32a and 32b also have channel-like sections receiving the end portions of rod 30 and providing for lengthwise adjustment so that the hasps and latches can be accurately aligned. Hasp assembly 30 and brackets 32a, 32b may be plastic moldings.
The construction of latch console A will now be described with particular reference to Figs.
4 to 6. The console may include an elongate tray-like base plate 50, the aforementioned latches 40a and 40b, drive means for the latches in the form of an elongate slide rod 52, latch springs 54a and 54b, hasp ejectors 56a and 56b, hasp ejector springs 58a and 58b and a cover plate 60. Conveniently, the base plate, latches and slide rod may be plastic moldings, and the remaining parts may be made of metal.
Right-hand latch 40a is in the form of a crank having a mounting section formed with opposed journals 62a, 62a' by which the latch is mounted in corresponding holes 64a, 64a' in the base plate and cover plate, respectively, a hooked hasp-engaging section 66a and an actuating section 68a formed with a cam surface 70a. In the assembled configuration of the console, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, latch 40a is mounted for counterclockwise pivoting movement from a hasp-engaging position (Fig. 5) to a hasp-disengaging position (Fig, 5) to a hasp-disengaging position (Fig. 6). An opening 72a in latch 40a houses spring 54a, and the spring operates against a base plate post 74a projecting into opening 72a to provide biasing means urging the latch towards the hasp-engaging position. An opening 76a in side wall 78 of the base plate provides access to latch 40a for hasp 48a.
Similarly, the left-hand latch 40b is also in 3 GB 2146 694A 3 the form of a crank having a mounting section formed with opposed journals 62b, 62bl by which the latch is mounted in corresponding holes 64b, 64b' in the base plate and cover plate, respectively, a hooked hasp-engaging section 66b and an actuating section 68b formed with a cam surface 70b. In the assembled configuration of the console, illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, latch 40b is mounted for clockwise pivoting movement from a haspengaging position (Fig. 5) to a hasp-disengaging position (Fig. 6). An opening 72b in latch 40b houses spring 54b, and the spring operates against a base plate post 74b projecting into opening 72b to provide biasing means urging the latch towards the hasp-engaging position. An opening 76b in side wall 78 of the base plate provides access to latch 40b for hasp 48b.
Hasp ejactor 56a fits between base plate projections 80a and 82a, the latter serving as a guide, and spring 58a urges the ejector towards opening 76a. When hasp 48a is engaged (Fig. 5), spring 58a is compressed and when latch 40a releases the hasp, the ejector urges the hasp upwardly by extension of spring 56a to facilitate opening of the attache case by lifting the lid. Ejector 56b is similarly arranged at the left ends of the base plate between projections 80b and 82b, to act on hasp 48.
Slide rod 52 is guided for lengthwise movement in an elongate base plate channel 84 defined between wall 78 and a land surface 86, and the rod is formed at its opposite ends with latch-actuating lobes 88a, 88b. Lobe 88a has a cam surface 90a providing cooperative camming means with cam surface 70a of latch 40a and lobe 88b has a cam surface 90b providing cooperative camming means with cam surface 70b of latch 40b.
When the latches are engaged with the respective hasps, the slide rod is in a righthand position with respect to the base plate (Fig. 5), and when the rod is moved lengthwise to the left in channel 84 (by means of actuator 20, as will be described), the cooperative camming surfaces effect simultaneous pivoting movement of the latches, in opposite senses respectively, from their hasp-engaging positions to their haspdisengaging positions (Fig. 6) accompanied by compression of latch springs 54a, 54b. Then, when the hasps are ejected and the actuator has been released, springs 54a, 54b return the respective latches to their hasp-engaging positions and through the cooperative camming surfaces, also return the slide rod to its initial position.
Lobe 88b of slide rod 52 is provided with an opening 96 for receiving a drive member 125 of the actuator assembly and lobe 88a has an opening 98 receiving a locking member of the lock member of the lock assembly. Further, the slide rod may have centrally disposed mounting recesses 100 to receive a mounting 130 bracket or the like for providing similar drive and locking means for the rod if the console is to be used with a centrally located composite lock and actuator assembly in place of the separate assemblies B and C (see Fig. 18).
It may here be noted that when the latches are in their hasp-engaging positions (Fig. 5) they are free to pivot toward their haspdisengaging positions independently of move- ment of the slide rod. Thus, when the hasps are disengaged, they can be re-engaged by effecting a camming action between hasp surfaces 92a and 92b and complementary latch surfaces 94a and 94b. Accordingly, the latch system incorporates a scramble feature enabling the hasps to be engaged even when the slide rod is locked in position by the combination lock.
Cover plate 60 (Fig. 4) includes an elongate slot 102 aligned with opening 96 in the slide rod and through which the actuator drive member projects into opening 96, the slot being of sufficient length to provide the required travel of the slide rod to release the latches. A smaller opening 104 at the opposite end of the cover plate provides access for the locking member into the slide rod opening 98. The cover plate and base plate have aligned openings 106, 106' used for as- sembling the cover plate to the base plate by means of the screws or rivet shands carried by the flanges 36, 38 on actuator assembly B and lock assembly C. Openings 46 in the base plate and 46' in the cover plate receive the screws, such as screws 44 (Fig. 9), which connect to the escutcheon plates 26a, 26b and fasten the console and attached lock and actuator assemblies to the attache case. The cover plate and base plate may also include further aligned openings 110, if it is required to fasten the attache case handle 16 through the latch console, and centrally disposed openings 107, 107' and 47, 47' for mounting a composite lock and actuator assembly and single escutcheon plate.
As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the components of the latch console are assembled for right-toleft movement of the slide rod to effect opening of the latches and for receipt of the actuator assembly B at the left end and lock assembly C at the right end of the console, respectively. In accordance with the invention, however, the console components can also be assembled in a reverse mode, for left- to-right movement of the slide rod to effect latch opening, with the actuator assembly at the right end of the console and the lock assembly at the left end. As indicated by the dashed-line arrows in Fig. 4, such reverse assembly may be effected by inverting and transporting the latches and by lengthwise inversion of the slide rod and cover plate relative to the base plate. The console is shown assembled in the reverse mode in Fig. 16 with the cover plate removed.
4 Actuator assembly B is shown in detail in Fig. 7 in conjunction with lobe 88b of slide rod 52. The assembly includes a body member 112 integrally formed with the flanges 36 and having a face plate portion 114 formed with a central opening 116. As previously indicated, the flanges may be formed with screw holes 118 for attaching the assembly to the latch console, or alternatively, the flanges may have rearwardly extending rivet shanks or the like. Futher, the flanges may have central openings 120 to receive shanks 42b of escutcheon plate 26b (Fig. 1).
The manual actuator 20 sits on face plate portion 114 and has an integral block 122 on its back face projecting through opening 116. An actuator bracket 124 is attached to block 122, for example by screws 126, the bracket including a projecting tab 128 adapted to fit through slot 102 in cover plate 60 of the latch console into opening 96 in slide rod 52. Tab 128 thus forms a drive member for moving the slide rod responsive to manual movement of actuator 20. A spring 130 mounted between a plug 132 integral with body member 112 and a further tab 134 on bracket 124 urges the actuator to the right as illustrated.
With the above arrangement, when actuator assembly B is attached to latch console A, manual movement of actuator 20 to the left against spring 130 draws slide rod 52 to the left thus releasing the latches 40a and 40b. When the actuator is released, latch springs 54a and 54b return the latches and slide rod to their initial positions and spring 130 re turns the actuator to its rest position.
The relative locations of the tab 128, slot 102 in the console cover plate, and opening 96 in slide rod 52 may be such that when the 105 latch console is assembled in the reverse mode as shown in Fig. 16 and the actuator assembly is swung around and mounted at the right end of the console, for left-to-right movement of actuator 20 (see Fig. 17), tab 110 28 will still accurately align with slot 102 and opening 96.
Lock assembly C is shown in detail more particularly in Figs. 8-14. A main body mem- ber 136 of the lock assembly is integrally formed with the mounting flanges 38 in like manner to the body member 112 of the actuator assembly. Flanges 38 also have a screw openings 138 (or alternatively may again have rivet shanks) for attachment of the 120 lock assembly to the latch console and the screw opening or shanks are preferably on the same centers as those of the actuator as sembly. Openings 140 between flanges 38 provide passage for the escutcheon plate fas- 125 tening screws 44.
The outer surface 140 of member 136 forms the face plate of the combination lock and is provided with openings 142 for the respective combination dials 22 and a further GB 2 146 694A 4 opening 144 for shift member 24. A dished cover plate 146 is secured internally to body member 136 (by suitable fasteners 148) to define with the body member a lock casing. A shaft 150 is mounted within the casing on suitable support surfaces of the body member and cover plate, the shaft having an integral or fixed collar 152 adjacent one end. Carried on the shaft, between collar 152 and a coil compression spring 154 are axially abutting combination sleeves 156, the left ends of which are formed as cams 158. On the opposite side of collar 152, shaft 150 carries the shift member 24. Spring 154 acts between a washer 160 and the endmost sleeve to urge the assembly of shaft, sleeves, and shift member to the right.
The sleeves are each encircled in known manner by one of the dials 22, the sleeves being coupled for rotation with the dials by means of sleeve teeth 162 engaging openings 164 in the respective dials (see Fig. 14). The dials each have a peripheral series of combination indicia with detents 166 therebetween and a dial spring 170 on the base of cover plate 146 has pairs of arms 17 2 (see Fig. 10) for engaging the detents, so that the dials may be manually rotated in equal increments between the respective indicia settings.
A bolt 174 (see Fig. 13) is pivotally mounted within the lock casing by means of projecting ears 178 carried in suitable open ings (not shown) in opposite end walls of cover plate 146. The bolt has cross-bars 180 formed with V-shaped ridges adapted to engage in corresponding V-shaped notches 132 in the cams 158 (see Figs. 10 and 14). Slots 184 between the bolt cross-bars accommodate the dials.
The bolt is urged upwardly by means of bolt springs 186 on the base of cover plate 146, the springs being located in bolt bosses 188, so that the ridge portions of the crossbars contact the peripheries of the cams 158. When all the cams are aligned so that the bolt ridges are all received in the respective cam notches (the on combination setting of the lock) the bolt is raised under the influence of springs 186, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and in full line in Fig. 10. When, however, any one or more of the cams is rotated by one or more dial-indicium settings away from the oncombination setting, the relevant ridge portion of the bolt is moved out of its respective notch by a camming action, so that the bolt is lowered to the position shown in phantom in Fig. 10, the ridge portion then engaging the circular periphery of the respective cam. (A more detailed desciption of a lock of this nature is contained in copending U.S. patent application Serial No. 033,540 to Remington, filed April 26, 1979 and commonly assigned herewith. The entire disclosure of the copending application is incorporated herein by refer- ence.) GB 2 146 694A 5 The free edge of the bolt opposite pivots 178 is bent down and projects through an opening 190 on one side of the lock casing. A depending tab 192, forming a locking member for the latch console slide rod, is provided on the free edge. When the lock assembly is suitably attached on the console cover plate, and the bolt is in its locked, lowered position (the lock being off combina- tion), tab 192 engages in opening 98 in the console slide rod through opening 104 in the cover plate and prevents the slide rod from being operated by the manual actuator, so that the attache case can be locked closed.
When the lock dials are moved to the oncombination setting, the bolt is allowed to rise, as described above, to lift tab 192 from within opening 93 and allow the manual actuator to operate the console slide rod and latches. The dials thus form control means for tab 192.
In the illustrated embodiment, tab 192 is asymmetrically located as between the left and right-hand flanges 38 of body member 136. Accordingly, if the lock assembly and actuator assembly are to be transposed into the positions illustrated in Fig. 17 (the latch console being assembled in the Fig. 16 mode), a substitute bolt 174 with a repositioned tab 192 may be provided in order properly to position the tab in relation to openings 98 and 104.
Shift member 24 may be used to change the set combination of the lock by uncoupling the sleeves from the dials when the lock is oncombination, allowing one or more of the dials to be rotated relative to the associated sleeve or sleeves. As seen more particularly in Fig. 12, the shift member has a body section 194 defining a transverse slot 196 through which shaft 150 passes when the lock is assembled, and a cam surface 198, an actuator portion 200 and a blocking portion 202. A rear section 204 of the body portion 194 fits in a recess 206 in body member 136 of the lock (see Figs. 9 and 11) to locate and guide the shift member for translatory movement transversely of the shaft.
When the lock bolt is lowered, the lock being off combination, an edge surface 208 of the bolt (see Figs. 10 and 13) is in blocking relationship to blocking section 202 of the shift member, to prevent the member being moved transversely. When the lock is on combination, however, and the bolt is raised, surface 208 clears blocking section 202 and the shift member can be moved transversely to the right as shown in Fig. 10. This movement effects a camming action be- tween surface 198 of the shift member and shaft collar 152, shifting the shaft and sleeves to the left as seen in Fig. 10, so that the sleeves are uncoupled from the dials. The shifted position of the lock is shown in Fig.
11. In this position, shaft collar 152 engages 1 a flat surface 210 of the shift member to prevent spring 154 from forcing the sleeves and shaft back into the Fig. 9 position. Accordingly, the shift member can be released and the lock's combination can be adjusted. It will also be noted that in the shifted position, blocking section 202 of the shift member sits under the bolt thereby preventing the bolt from being lowered and avoiding a possible loss of the set combination.
After the combination has been adjusted, the shift member can be returned to its initial position, thereby allowing spring 154 to force the sleeves back into coupling engagement with the dials and setting the new combination.
As previously indicated, the screw openings or shanks on flanges 36 and 38 of the actuator and lock assemblies are preferably on the same centers, to facilitate the transposition of these assemblies. Further, the body members of the respective assemblies may have the same outer profile, to provide a balanced appearance to the attache case and to facilitate the mounting of the assembled hardware on the case by allowing openings 34a and 34b in wall 12a of the case (see Figs. 2 and 16) to be identical irrespective of the mode in which the hardware is assembled and providing uniformity in the dimensions of escutcheon plates 26a and 26b.
Fig. 15 illustrates a convenient way in which the hardware may be simply installed on the attache case. Such assembly may for example be done after the case is otherwise fully assembled and covered. It is preferred for console A to be supplied to a luggage manufacturer with the actuator and lock assemblies B and C already in place. A suitable template or jig arrangement E, diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 15, may also be supplied for facilitating the formation of openings 34a and 34b in wall 12a of the case and also for locating the positions for forming openings to accept screws or the like for brackets 28a and 28b. (A similar jig or template may be supplied for forming openings in the case lid for attachment of hasp assembly D, or alternatively, a composite jig arrangment may be provided for forming the openings in both the case body and lid.) After suitably piercing the required openings in the case body member, it is merely necessary to insert the lock and actuator assemblies through openings 34a, 34b from the interior of the case and secure the hardware by insertion of the escutcheon plates from the exterior. Where separate lock and actuator assemblies are provided, as illustrated, it may be possible to dispense with brackets 28a and 28b, with the escutcheon plate attachments providing the sole support for the hardware. To provide flush fitting of the latch console against the interior of wall 1 2a, recesses may be formed in the wall to accommodate flanges 6 GB2146694A 6 36, 38 of the actuator and lock assemblies or alternatively, an insert sheet may be used.
After attachment of the latch console, the hasp assembly may be attached to the case fid by means of brackets 32a, 32b. Horizontal alignment of the latches and hasps may be checked by closing and opening the case, and the hasp assembly may then be fixed longitu dinally by driving twist nails, screws or the like, through the case lid into holes 93 in rod (see Fig. 3). The provision of a single rod incorporating both hasps provides accurate spacing and alignment of the hasps to relieve the luggage manufacturer of a hasp-aligning operation.
To further increase the versatility of the system in providing luggage hardware which can be produced from the same components in a variety of different appearances, the outer surfaces of, for example, actuator 20 and body members 112 and 13 6 may be covered with metallic covering sheets (as for example, sheet 212, see Figs. 8 and 9) selected from a range of such sheets having different surface finishes. Covering sheets of this nature and 90 the manner in which they may be secured are disclosed in copending U.S. patent application to 0. Vincent Scarnecchia, Serial No.
219,956, filed December 24, 1980, titled "Improvements Relating to Combination Locks", and commonly assigned herewith.
The entire disclosure of the copending appli cation is incorporated herein by reference.
Fig. 18 shows an arrangement wherein the latch console A, as previously described, is provided with a composite, centrally located, lock and actuator assembly F in place of the separate assemblies of the previous embodi ment. In this arrangement, slide 52 is pro vided with a central bracket, attached to one 105 of the recesses 100 (see Fig. 4) to cooperate with assembly F and suitable openings (not shown) are formed in cover plate 60 to pro vide access to the bracket. Lock and actuator assembly F may be of a type in which an actuator drive member engages an opening in the slide rod bracket and the lock has a locking member adapted to enter a further opening in the bracket to lock the slide rod in similar manner to the individual assemblies 115 previously described. Alternatively, assembly F may be of the type in which a locking member acts directly on the actuator rather than on the latch console slide member. A lock of this type is shown, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,800,571 to Heine, issued April 2, 1974, and commonly assigned herewith. In this case, only a single opening need be provided in the slide rod.
Fig. 19 shows an arrangement in which the 125 combined lock and actuator assembly F is mounted at the right end of console A, and it will beappreciated that with this arrangement a suitably located opening is again provided in the slide rod for the actuator drive member 130 and a further opening for the locking member, if appropriate. The system shown in Figs. 18 and 19 may be installed on a luggage case in a similar manner to the previously described embodiments and using the latch console end brackets 28a and 28b for stability, since only a single escutcheon plate will be used.
It will be seen from the foregoing description that the invention provides a latching hardware system for luggage articles which is extremely versatile and can be assembled to provide a variety of configurations, appearances or operating modes, all using the same basic latch console components, The latch console can be used with cases of different width and wall thickness and can be easily mounted using unsophisticated tools. The inventive system provides excellent alignment characteristics of the latches and hasps, with no rivets being visible from the top of the case, and provides automatic closure and smooth operation. Production costs may be made competitive with the cost of two conventional combination locks.
CLAIMS 1. A latch console for use on a luggage article including an elongate base plate, a pair of longitudinally spaced hasp-engageable and disengageable latches mounted on said base plate for pivoting movement in opposite senses respectively from hasp-engaging to hasp-disengaging positions, a slide rod extending longitudinally of said base, first cooperative cam means between said slide rod and one of said latches for translating lengthwise movement of said slide rod in one direction into pivoting movement of said one latch from its hasp-engaging position to its haspdisengaging position and second cooperative means between said slide rod and the other of said latches for translating lengthwise movement of the slide rod in said one direction into pivoting movement of the other latch from its hasp-engaging position to its hasp-disengaging position, whereby the latches are pivoted in unison in opposite senses by lengthwise movement of the slide rod in said one direction.