GB2178102A

GB2178102A - A lockable latch mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2178102A
Application number: GB08615935A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Liechti
Original assignee: Amiet AG
Current assignee: Amiet AG
Priority date: 1985-06-28
Filing date: 1986-06-30
Publication date: 1987-02-04
Also published as: IT8667522A0; ES294670U; DE3532057A1; BR8602952A; ES294670Y; GB8615935D0; IT8653580V0; GB2178102B; IT1192020B; IT8667522A1

Abstract

A latch mechanism comprises a press button (16), which is linked to a first arm (46) of a pivotably arranged cranked lever (48). The second arm (50) of the lever (48) is coupled to a lockable slide rod (26), on which locking devices (12) engage. On the end away from the press button (16), the slide rod (26) carries a latch member (18). With a correctly set secret key the latch member (18) can be operated by pressure on the press button (16). The latch mechanism is provided in a single fitting which also includes a mounting (8) for a suitcase carrying handle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A lockable latch mechanism This invention relates to a lockable latch mechanism, particularly, although not exclusively, for articles of luggage such as bags and cases.

GB 2 053 341 discloses a latch mechanism which has an operating knob in the form of a press button which cooperates with one arm of a cranked lever, whose other arm carries a bolt nose for releasably holding fast the closing loop of a closing part of the latch mechanism. The latch mechanism also has locking devices which cooperate with a pivotable locking member having notch arms on one side which are spring loaded against recesses of locking discs. On the other side, the locking member has a locking arm which can be swung into and out of the way of the press button. For setting of the secret combination this latch mechanism requires an additional appliance for unnotching locking discs and blocking the press button.With this combination lock it is a disadvantage that the locking mechanism and its cooperation with the press button is relatively complicated and so costly and susceptible to failure.

It is an object underlying the present invention to provide a latch mechanism which has a simple, economical and reliable construction.

According to the present invention there is provided a lockable latch mechanism comprising a latch member which is mounted on a lockable slide member and is operable by an operating element, the operating element acting on the slide member through a cranked lever, the operating element acting on a first arm of the cranked lever and the second arm of the cranked lever acting on the slide member.

Because the second arm of the cranked lever is no longer provided with the latch member, but with a slide member of the locking device, which itself is connected to the latch member, a simple construction is achieved. The press button acts directly on the lockable slide member and effects a reliable operation of it. Complicated extra components are no longer needed.

The latch mechanism can utilise locking devices of the most varied type, such as those provided with keys, bars, toothed discs or the like.

The cranked lever can be supported by means of pins in the latch housing. In a particularly simple and economic design, however, the arms of the cranked lever are inclined to each other at an angle a, the lever having an outer edge at the junction between the arms, which outer edge engages a wall of a latch housing at the junction between two wall parts which are inclined to each other at an angle ss, the angle a being smaller than the angle ss.

Conveniently the press button is spring loaded towards an initial position. This can be achieved in various ways, for example by springs engaging in addition on the cranked lever. It is particularly advantageous for the cranked lever to be provided with a resilient arm which extends from the second arm of the lever and protrudes in the direction of the first arm.

In a particularly advantageous design of the cranked lever, the first arm is forked. This development makes possible a particularly broad bearing area and, in conjunction with the resilient arm, provides a stable and functionable arrangement of the cranked lever.

The free end of the second arm of the knee lever can be coupled in varied fashion to the slide member. For example, a spindle-like formation on the free end of the arm can engage into a corresponding receiving opening in the locking slide. In a particularly convenient embodiment, however, the second arm may be forked since this leads to a stable design of the second arm.The fork-like embodiment of the second arm is of particular advantage when used with a combination lock comprising at least two locking devices mounted on the slide member, these locking devices each comprising a setting element and a locking element which cooperates with a respective notch device, the second arm of the cranked lever being coupled to one end of the slide member and the latch member being movably mounted on the other end of the slide member and being biassed by a spring against an end stop on the slide member.

As already mentioned, the press knob mechanism can be used with locking mechanism of the most varied type, for example that disclosed in CH-PS 630 990. Particularly advantageous locking mechanisms are disclosed in CH-PS 642 709 and DE-OS 30 17 917.

The latch mechanism can be designed so that a latch element such as a closing hook or closing hasp of a closing part is introduced as usual from above into an opening in the cover plate. Preferably, however, the latch element is introduced from the side. Then the closing hook of the closing part lies protected within the housing in which the latch mechanism is accommodated.

With cases and bags the problem exists, that the latch mechanisms and other mountings, in particular the carrying handle parts, must be fitted and secured separately from one another. This also requires separate manufacture of the individual parts.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fitting suitable for bags and cases, the mechanism comprising a latch housing accommodating a latch mechanism, the housing having a cover plate which projects to one side of the housing, upper surface of the projecting part having attachment means for securing a carrying strap or a carrying handle, and the lower surface having means for fastening the fitting to a bag or a case.

With such a construction, the fitting of the latch mechanism, as well as the carrying handle part, to a case or to a bag requires only one or two parts, compared to three or four parts which are required with the known embodiment of bags and cases.

For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a suitcase fitting including a lockable latching mechanism; Figure 2 is a top view of the fitting of Fig.

1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of the latching mechanism; Figure 4 is a top view of the latching mechanism with part removed; and Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a suitcase having two of the fittings shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Figs. 1 and 2 shows an overall view of a fitting which has a latch mechanism provided with a combination lock. The fitting comprises a latch housing 2 covered by a cover plate 4 which has on one side a projection 6. The projection carries a hoop or mounting 8 for securing a carrying handle or strap. Fastening lugs 10, which protrude downwards, serve for fastening the fitting to a body, in particular to a case or a bag, as shown in Fig. 5. The combination lock comprises three locking devices 12, having setting rings 14 which project out of the cover plate 4. A press button 16 also projects out of the cover plate 4 and serves for operating a latch bolt 18, which is situated in the latch housing 2 and is accessible through a window 20 in a side wall of the latch housing. A latch part 22 has a latching hook which engages sideways with the latch bolt 18 within the latch housing 2.

Further details of the combination lock are apparent from Figs. 3 and 4, in which, however, the locking devices 12 are not shown in detail. The combination lock is preferably constructed in accordance with CH-PS 642 709 or DE-OS 30 17 917. For the present case the significant point is that the locking devices 12 having setting rings 14 which are arranged on a slide rod 26 and are linked via notch devices 28 to locking bushes 30 so that, when the secret combination is set correctly, the slide rod 26 is released for axial movement. The latch bolt 18 is mounted displaceably on the right hand end of the slide rod 26, as shown in Fig. 3. The latch bolt 18 is biassed against an end stop 34 of the slide rod 26 by a spring 36, which acts against the endmost setting ring 14.The force of the spring is transmitted through the setting rings 14 and locking bushes 30 to the left, the last locking bush 30 abutting a wall part 38 in the latch housing 2. The latching hook 24 has a cam surface 40, which acts in combination with a cam surface 42 of the latch bolt 18 so that insertion of the latching hook 24 causes the latch bolt 18 to be moved leftwards on the slide rod 26 against the force of the spring 36, until the latching hook 24 latches into the latch bolt 18, as shown in Fig. 4. An ejection spring 44 assists the pushing out of the latching hook 24, when the latch bolt 18 is withdrawn.

The slide rod 26 is operated by the press button 16, which acts on a first arm 46 of a cranked lever 48. A second arm 50 of the cranked lever 48 carries at its free end a fork 52, which engages behind a safety plate 54 mounted on the slide rod 26. The first arm 46 is forked, comprising two arm parts 56, which receive between them a spring arm 58.

This spring arm 58 is formed on the second arm 50 and extends approximately in the same direction as the first arm 46, but protrudes outwards under the first arm 46 and engages against a floor 60 of the latch housing 2. The arms 46, 50 of the cranked lever 48, or at least their outer surfaces, are inclined to each other at an angle a, which is smaller than the angle fi between the floor 60 and a wall part 62. The bend 64 of the cranked lever 48 abuts the junction between the floor 60 and the wall part 62 and thus forms the fulcrum about which the lever 48 can pivot.Pressure on the press button 16 causes the first arm 46 of the cranked lever 48 to pivot downards about the fulcrum 64, so that the second arm 50, by means of its fork 52, engages the slide rod 26 at the safety plate 54, and can displace it to the left if the secret combination is set correctly on the setting rings 14. If this combination is not set properly, movement of the slide rod 26 is prevented, which in turn prevents the press button 16 from being depressed.

Fig. 5 illustrates pictorially how two fittings according to Figs. 1 and 2, but constructed as mirror images of each other, are fitted to a case 66. Both fittings are mounted on the lower case part 68 at such a distance apart that a carrying handle 70 can be fastened to the hoops 8 of the fittings, as is indicated in dashed outline in Fig. 5. Two latching parts 22, as shown in Fig. 2, are fitted in a concealed manner to the lid 72 of the case for cooperation with the latch mechanisms of the respective fittings.

Claims

1. A lockable latch mechanism comprising a latch member which is mounted on a lockable slide member and is operable by an operating element, the operating element acting on the slide member through a cranked lever, the operating element acting on a first arm of the cranked lever and the second arm of the cranked lever acting on the slide member.

2. A latch mechanism as claimed in claim 1, in which the arms of the cranked lever are inclined to each other at an angle a, the lever having an outer edge at the junction between the arms, which outer edge engages a wall of a latch housing at the junction between two wall parts which are inclined to each other at an angle ss, the angle a being smaller than the angle ss.

3. A latch mechanism as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the operating element is biassed into an initial position by a resilient arm provided on the cranked lever.

4. A latch mechanim as claimed in claim 3, in which the spring arm extends from the second arm in the direction of the first arm and protrudes outwards from the first arm.

5. A latch mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the first arm of the cranked lever comprises two arm parts arranged like a fork.

6. A latch mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the second arm has at its end away from the first arm a fork for connection to the slide mem- X ber.

7. A latch mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a combination lock is provided comprising at least two locking devices mounted on the slide member, these locking devices each comprising a setting element and a locking element which cooperates with a respective notch device, the second arm of the cranked lever being coupled to one end of the slide member and the latch member being movably mounted on the other end of the slide member and being biassed by a spring against an end stop on the slide member.

8. A latch mechanism as claimed in claim 6, in which the latch housing has, at a region away from a cover plate, side apertures disposed adjacent the latch member to provide access for a latch element.

9. A fitting suitable for bags and cases, the mechanism comprising a latch housing accommodating a latch mechanism, the housing having a cover plate which projects to one side of the housing, the upper surface of the projecting part having attachment means for securing a carrying strap or a carrying handle, and the lower surface having means for fastening the fitting to a bag or a case.

10. A fitting comprising a lockable latch mechanism, substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

11. An article of luggage having at least one fitting or lockable latch mechanism in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.