JP2004036094A - Latch device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a latch device retaining an unlatched state even if a latching target is a simple notch. <P>SOLUTION: The latch device has a latch member 1 which slides frontward and rearward to engage with/disengage from an engaging piece 5, a push button 2 which is movable upward and downward to withdraw the latch member1, and a holding member 3 which holds the unlatched state in which the latch member 1 is withdrawn. When the push button 2 is pressed down to move the latch member 1 rearward via an inclined engaging portion 12a, the holding member 3 is rotated to engage an engaging claw 17 of the holding member 3 with an engaging step 13a formed at the push button 2, and therefore upward returning of the push button 2 is inhibited, whereby the latch member 1 is prevented from protruding. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a latch device provided on a door or the like for easily attaching, for example, a door or a side plate of an electric device housing box to a box frame, and more particularly to a latch device having a function of holding an unlatched state.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Some latch devices for easily attaching a door, a side plate, and the like hold an unlatched state in order to easily remove a door or the like. As a conventional latch device for holding such an unlatched state, one having a configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-60924 is known. The latch device has a latch bolt that is inserted into and locked in a lock hole to be latched. The latch bolt supports a substantially L-shaped lock lever so as to protrude and rotate, and urges the lock lever to rotate with a spring. When the latch bolt is slid backward to the unlocking position, the tip of the lock lever is brought into contact with the edge of the lock hole to prevent the latch bolt from projecting and to maintain the latch release state.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-60924, the latched state is held by bringing the tip end of the lock lever into contact with the edge of the lock hole to be latched. The lever contact surface had to be provided. For this reason, the shape of the object to be latched cannot simply be a locking piece such as a notch at the end of the wall surface, and a complicated structure has to be used to maintain the latch unlocked state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a latch device that retains an unlatched state even when a latch target is a simple locking piece.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 is a latch member that is slidable back and forth, is protruded and urged forward by an elastic member, and has a tip that locks on a latch target, and is movable up and down. Latch release means, comprising: an inclined engagement portion that engages with an inclined surface provided on the latch member, wherein the latch member is moved downward to cause the latch member to retreat through the inclined engagement portion; A holding member that has a rotating shaft and a lower end portion rotates by moving in conjunction with the retreating movement of the latch member. As the member moves backward, the holding member rotates and latches on the latch releasing means which has been lowered to prevent the latch releasing means from returning upward, thereby preventing the retracted latch member from projecting forward. To keep the latch released. Characterized in that it.
[0005]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the holding member has an operating end projecting upward when the holding member is rotated in conjunction with the backward movement of the latch member, and the holding member is engaged with the latch release means. The holding member is unlocked by pushing the operating end protruding when the locking is stopped, the latch is released from the latch releasing means, the latch releasing means is raised, and the latch member is projected forward. It is configured to
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1A and 1B are side explanatory views showing an example of a latch device according to the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a latched state, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the latch is released and the released state is maintained. In FIG. 1, 1 is a latch member, 2 is a push button as a latch release means, 3 is a holding member, 4 is a housing of a latch device, and 5 is a latching piece to be latched.
[0007]
The latch member 1 is slidably disposed on the bottom of the housing 4 in the front-rear direction, ie, the left-right direction in the drawing. The left end in the drawing projects from the opening 4a of the housing 4 to form a latch portion 7, and the lower portion thereof engages with the latch target when the door or the like is pushed into the mounting target and retreats. A tapered portion 7a is provided so as to perform the operation. Further, a coil spring 6 which is an elastic member disposed in the inner part of the housing 4 presses the back of the latch member 1, and the latch member 1 is constantly urged forward.
Further, the latch member 1 is provided with a groove 8 for inserting the lower part of the push button 2 in the center, and the groove 8 is formed with an inclined surface 8a which is downwardly inclined forward. Further, a step portion 9 with which the lower end of the holding member 3 is engaged is formed in an upper part ahead of the groove 8. When the latch member 1 retreats, the step 9 contacts the lower end of the holding member 3 and rotates the holding member 3 backward.
[0008]
The upper part of the push button 2 is exposed from a window 4b formed on the upper surface of the housing 4, and the upper part is an operation surface 11 on which an operator presses down. An engaging portion 12 inserted into the groove 8 of the latch member 1 is provided at a lower portion, and an inclined engaging portion of the same inclined shape engaging with the inclined surface 8a of the latch member 1 is provided at a rear portion of the engaging portion 12. 12a are formed. In addition, a locking step 13a that locks with the lower end of the holding member 3 when pressed down is formed on the front side wall 13 of the operation surface 11.
[0009]
The holding member 3 is arranged adjacent to the front side of the push button 2, has a rotation shaft 15 at the upper front end, is pivotally supported on the left and right wall surfaces of the housing 4, and is assembled so as to be rotatable in the front-rear direction. An engaging projection 16 engaging with the latch member 1 and an engaging claw 17 engaging with the push button 2 are provided at a lower portion.
[0010]
Next, the operation of the latch device will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagram of FIG. FIG. 2A shows a state in which the latching piece 5 to be latched is latched, and corresponds to FIG. 1A. The latch operation is performed by pressing the latch device (actually, a door or the like on which the latch device is assembled) in the direction indicated by arrow A from above in the figure, so that the tapered portion 7a provided at the lower portion of the latch portion 7 The latch member 1 then press-fits into the housing 4. As a result, the latch member 1 moves over the locking piece 5 and moves downward as shown in the drawing to be in the latched state.
[0011]
2 (b) to 2 (d) are diagrams sequentially showing the latch release operation. When the push button 2 is pressed down below the arrow B in FIG. 2B, the inclined engagement portion 12a below the push button 2 pushes the inclined surface 8a of the latch member 1, and the latch member 1 extends the coil spring 6. It slides rearward as shown by arrow C against the force and moves backward. Then, the step 9 abuts on the engagement protrusion 16 of the holding member 3 on the way.
Further, when the pressing operation is continued, as shown in FIG. 2C, the latch member 1 further moves backward to rotate the contacting holding member 3. FIG. 2D shows a state in which the pressing operation has been completed. In this state, the latch member 1 enters the housing 4 and the latch operation to the locking piece 5 is completely released. Then, the holding member 3 is further rotated by the movement of the latch member 1, and the locking claw 17 at the lower end thereof abuts on the front side wall 13 of the push button 2.
[0012]
FIG. 2E shows a state where the pressing operation after the pressing operation of the push button 2 is stopped, and a state where the latch release state corresponding to FIG. 1B is maintained. When the pressing operation of the push button 2 is stopped after the state of FIG. 2D in which the push button is pressed down to the deepest portion, the push button 2 will return and move upward due to the forward output of the latch member 1 by the coil spring 6. And However, the locking claw 17 abutting on the front side wall 13 locks on the locking step 13 a formed at the lower end of the front side wall 13 of the push button 2 to prevent the push button 2 from returning. As a result, the latch member 1 cannot perform the projecting operation, and the latch release state is maintained.
[0013]
At this time, the rotation of the holding member 3 causes the operation end portion 19 provided with the upper rear end of the holding member 3 formed at an acute angle to protrude upward. In order to release the latch release state, the protruding operation end 19 may be pressed down. By pressing down, the lower part of the holding member 3 is pivoted forward around the pivotal support 15, and the locking of the locking claw 17 to the locking step 13 a is released. As a result, the push button 2 returns upward and the latch member 1 projects forward. Thus, the state returns to the state shown in FIG.
[0014]
As described above, since the holding member 3 is locked to the push button 2 serving as the latch release means to maintain the latch release state, the latch release state can be maintained regardless of the shape of the latch target. Therefore, the latch target only needs to have a locking piece that locks to the protruding latch member. Even if the cutout is a simple notch, the latch target can be latched and the unlatched state can be maintained. Further, when the operation end portion is pressed down, that is, rotated, the latch release state is stopped and the latch member protrudes, so that the latch member returns by a simple operation.
In the above embodiment, a coil spring is used as an elastic member. However, another elastic member may be used. For example, a leaf spring may be used.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the holding member is engaged with the latch releasing means to maintain the latch released state, the latch released state can be maintained regardless of the shape of the object to be latched. Therefore, the latch target only needs to have a locking piece that locks to the protruding latch member, and the latch operation can be performed even with a simple notch, and the unlatched state can be maintained.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, when the operating end is rotated, the latch member is released from the state of holding the latch release state and the latching member protrudes. It returns.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIGS. 1A and 1B show an example of an embodiment of a latch device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is an explanatory side view showing a latched state, and FIG. .
FIGS. 2A and 2B are explanatory diagrams of the operation of the latch device of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A illustrates a latched state, FIG. 2B illustrates a state in which a pressing operation of a latch release button is started, and FIG. (D) shows a state in which the latch release button is completely pressed to release the latch, and (e) shows a state in which the latch release state is maintained.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ··· Latch member, 2 ··· Push button as latch release means, 3 ··· Holding member, 6 ··· Coil spring as elastic member, 7 ··· Latch portion, 8 ··· Groove, 8a ··· Inclined surface, 9 ..Step portion, 11 operation surface, 12 engagement portion, 12a inclined engagement portion, 13a engagement step portion, 16 engagement projection, 17 engagement claw portion, 19 ..Operation ends.

Claims (2)

A latch member that is slidable back and forth and is protruded and urged forward by an elastic member to lock its tip to a latch target;
Latch release, comprising an inclined engagement portion movable up and down and engaged with an inclined surface provided on the latch member, wherein the latch member moves backward through the inclined engagement portion by moving downward. Means,
A holding member that has a rotating shaft at an upper portion and a lower end portion rotates by moving in conjunction with the retreating movement of the latch member,
By moving the latch release means downward, the latch member moves backward, and the holding member rotates to lock the latch release means which has been lowered, thereby preventing the latch release means from returning upward. A latch device in which a latch member that has been moved backward is prevented from protruding forward to maintain an unlatched state. The holding member has an operating end protruding upward when pivoted in conjunction with the backward movement of the latch member, and pushes the protruding operating end when the holding member is locked by the latch release means. 2. The latch device according to claim 1, wherein the holding member releases the locking operation, releases the locking to the latch releasing means, raises the latch releasing means, and causes the latch member to protrude forward.

Images