GB753523A - Improvements in or relating to door latches - Google Patents

Abstract

753,523. Latch fastenings. COLDAIR, Ltd., and FURNIVALL, G. Nov. 2, 1954 [Nov. 12, 1953], No. 31416/53. Class 44. A door latch comprises a latching member 13 pivoted between its ends at 17 so as to be able to swing from a latched position (shown), through a dead-centre position to a retracted position (shown in dot and dash lines), means operable by the door handle (which is not shown, and is arranged to be separate from and mounted independently of the latch) for moving the member 13 over its dead-centre position from its latching position, and means for engaging a striker 5 on closing of the door, for tripping the member 13 from its retracted, to its latching position, by giving the member 13 an initial movement over its dead-centre position. The arrangement is such that if the member 13 is in its latching position during closure of the door, engagement of the member 13 with the striker 5 causes the member to pivot towards the dead-centre position and ride over the striker 5. As shown in Fig. 2, applied to the door of a refrigerator, the member 13 is in the form of a double-armed member carried by a pivot 17, which is rigid with the channelshaped latch body 11 riveted to the door 3. A member 18 is pivoted at 19 to the member 13 and has a slot 20 by which it is mounted on a pivot pin 21 rigid with the latch body 11. A spring 22 acts between the pivot pin 21 and a shoulder 23 at the other end of the member 18. The member 13 has a hook-like part 15 carrying a roller 16 for engagement with the striker 5. A second double-armed member 24 pivoted to the latch body 11 at 27, has a base 25 which is in engagement with a pin 26 slidably mounted in the door frame. The pin 26 is operable by a pad 126 by action of the door handle (not shown). The member 24 carries a roller 29 which engages the base 14 of the member 13. In operation, when the door is closed, movement of the door handle causes the roller 29 to bear on the member 13, and thus urge the toggle formed by the members 13 and 18 over the dead-centre position, into the retracted position of the latch. When the door is pushed into a closed position, a part 30 of the member 13 engages the striker 5 to pivot the member 13 back into the latched position. If the member 13 happens to be in its latched position when the door is open, on closing the door, the roller 16 will engage the usual sloping surface 7 of the striker 5 to throw the member 13 over its deadcentre and back to the unlatched position. When the door is finally closed, the member 13 will be thrown back again, as before, by the action of the part 30 engaging the striker 5. In a modification described in the Provisional Specification, the part 30 of the member 13 is replaced by a similar part on a separate arm pivotally mounted on the latch body 11.