JPH03281878A - Closure unit and latch assembly and method for assembling thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To insert a latch member into an opening formed in a component member to quickly and easily mounting by fixing a spring member to the latch member so as to operate between the latch member and component member. CONSTITUTION: A latch assembly 1 is constituted of a latch member 2, a spring member 3 and a handle member 4. A bifurcated opposed wall 10 and 11 is formed in the member 2 and, at the same time, a web 13 deviated from the center line is provided. Then, the member 2 is inserted into a hole 34 formed in a panel component 5, a wall portion 37 is received in the wall 10 and 11 and, at the same time, the web 13 is received in a slot 40 in a slidable manner. The members 3 and 4 are arranged in an opening 36 from both sides of the latch member 2, they are mounted with stud 22 and, at the same time, springs 18 and 19 are pushed against a contact surface 50, and the member 2 is energized outward. Accordingly, assembly can be easily and quickly executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a closure unit, a latch assembly for the reservoir of the unit, and a method for assembling the latch assembly and the closure unit.

<Prior Art> Knot assemblies are used for fastening or retaining components to which they are attached with respect to other components, especially doors, panels, or walls. It is well known that the components are hinged to a frame or wall for locking. Typically, latch assemblies such as 1, - engage, particularly snap engage, grooves or recesses for effective locking. In order to move against the spring biasing force, the latch member biased by the spring is latched such that it can be displaced in the direction of the drying force.

Conventionally, latch members have been provided with:
A receptacle is provided that projects from the component to which the latch assembly is attached. The tongue or insert has a beveled surface on one side thereof with beveled corners to facilitate latching engagement, and one side on the other side with a beveled surface for retaining the latch in the closed condition. It has a contact surface. It is important to fit the component member onto the component so that the ramp is properly positioned to facilitate latching engagement. Products often have two or more similar latch assemblies that require the angled surfaces of each latch member to be oriented in relative opposite directions, depending on the design of the product. Kotl,,<
+. Assembly of the product and installation of the latch assembly can sometimes be confusing, and certain latch members may be inadvertently installed with their slanted surfaces facing the wrong way.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a latch that is relatively simple in structure and handling, can be manufactured at relatively low cost by preferably using a plastic molded product, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch assembly that is easily and quickly attached to the components to be engaged.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a tallowsure unit having a latch assembly that alleviates the problems of the prior art described above. .

[Structure of the Invention] Means and Effects for Solving the Problems According to the present invention, there is provided a closure unit having a latch assembly attached to a component member, wherein the latch assembly facilitates latch engagement. a latch member having an inclined surface and a tongue or spigot projecting from said component member for latching engagement; and a latch member extending longitudinally so as to be longitudinally slidable over said component member. , spring means acting between the component member and the latching component member to longitudinally bias the component member into latching engagement, and between the component member and the component member; latch orientation means engaged with and offset from a centerline on the component member is provided, and the means determines the latch member with respect to the component member during mounting on the component member. A closure unit characterized by having a function is provided.

Furthermore, according to the invention, there is provided a method for assembling a closure unit as described above, comprising: a wall having an opening "" through which a component member projects from the member to said component 1 for latching engagement; providing a cavity in the component member so as to form a cavity, the latch orientation means being engaged on and between the component member and orienting the ramp in a predetermined direction with respect to the component member; inserting a component member into the opening, and securing the spring means on the component member so as to act between the component member and the component member within the cavity. A method for assembling a closure unit is provided.

The component member typically has the shape of, for example, the lid or wall of a plastic container, such that the latch member latches and holds closed another component, which is typically hingedly attached to the component. In such a configuration, it is necessary that the ramped surface of the latch member be oriented in a predetermined direction with respect to the component member carrying it, such that during closing, the ramped surface of the latch member abutting the component longitudinally displacing the component member against its spring biased horn and latching it into engagement by a snap fit.

According to the present invention, the latch direction indicating means is engaged between the latch member and the component member (7) and is offset from the centerline of the latch member extending in the longitudinal direction, so that the component member is assembled onto the component member. During soldering, the tongue or sloping surface of the spigot is properly positioned as described above to ensure that latching engagement is facilitated.The biasing of the direction means towards said latch makes it possible to For a closure unit of a particular structure, it is impossible for the latch member to be inadvertently attached to the component member with the inclined surface upside down. This is very advantageous for the mass production of plastic products, in which case the latch assemblies can only be attached to component parts with the tongues or slanted surfaces of the spigots oriented correctly with respect to the component parts on which they are carried. Advantageously, the component member (or at least the part to which the latch assembly is attached) is formed from a plastic molding, and the latch member is formed from a plastic molding, so that the latch member and the component member are !- is advantageously incorporated into the latch direction indicating means which engages between.

The latch direction indicating means includes a track extending longitudinally on or in either side of the component member, and a track extending longitudinally on one side of the component member, and a track on the latch when attaching the latch member to the component member. the other of said members being engaged and slidable along said track during longitudinal displacement on and between component members such that said latch is engaged or disengaged; -1 of the track driven body. The track is in the form of a longitudinally extending groove or recess on or in the component member, and the track follower comprises:
3 optionally in the form of a protrusion on said component member or latch member that engages said groove or recess;
In a preferred arrangement, the tongue or longitudinal end remote from the spigot on the component member, between which the latch member is partially inserted into the component member, receives the wall of said component member. It is bifurcated to form opposing walls for holding. Advantageously, said latch direction means engage between an end on the bifurcated component member and a wall received within said end.

Opposing walls of the bifurcated ends on the component member are interconnected by a web offset from the centerline of the latch member, and the walls of the component member received between the opposing walls include: The gob is slidably received therein and has a longitudinally extending groove that determines the orientation of the ramp on the component member -L with respect to the component member.

Further in accordance with the invention, there is provided a latch assembly for attachment to a component to form a closure unit, the latch assembly having a tongue or spigot projecting from said component member for latching engagement;
and a latch member longitudinally extending longitudinally slidably within the component member; and a latch member retained within the component for longitudinally biasing the component member into latching engagement; a spring member having a spring portion and a spring portion extending laterally between the head and on the component member and integrally displacing the head of the spring member on the component member in a longitudinal direction; and snap-engaging stud means for securing the latch assembly in a manner such that the latch assembly includes snap-fitting stud means for securing the latch assembly in the manner described above.

Also in accordance with the present invention is a method for attaching a latch assembly as described above to a component to form a closure unit, the component member projecting from said component for latching engagement passing therethrough. providing the component 5 with a cavity having a wall defining an aperture; inserting a component member into the aperture; a method of assembling a latch assembly comprising the step of snap-engaging said stud means to secure said spring member to said spring member for operation between said spring member and said component member. Ru.

Preferably, at least one of the component member and the spring member is formed of a plastic molding and has a laterally extending stud integrally formed for snap engagement with the other of said members. The latch assembly has a handle carried for integral displacement on the component member to facilitate manual longitudinal movement on the component member against its spring biasing force. Advantageously, said handle is carried by a handle member which is secured as part of said latch assembly by laterally extending snap-fitting stud means. The handle member may be a plastic molding having an integrally formed stud for the snap engagement. To facilitate assembly, the latch assembly, spring member, latch member and handle member may be secured together by a common stud that may be integrally formed with any of these members.

In a preferred configuration of the invention, the component member is arranged between the spring member and the handle member. According to this latter arrangement, a laterally extending retaining stud is formed integrally with or carried by one of said spring member or handle member and optionally snaps onto the other of said spring member or handle member. to engage,
It can be passed through an opening within the component member. According to the concept of the invention, said retaining stud allows for a snap engagement, thus on the component member and on the spring member (including the handle member, if any).
The snap fit that secures them together provides an optimal structure for quick assembly.

one or two spring portions of the spring member extending from the head such that they act longitudinally between the head and a wall or surface of the component in which the spring member is to be fitted; It is advantageous if it is designed as more than one leaf spring. Such leaf springs are conveniently molded plastics and usually have a single or U-shape. insofar as the spring portion acts to urge the head and latch member to integrally longitudinally displace the component member in the direction of projection of the component member from the component for effective latching engagement. , it is clear that it can take a variety of shapes.

The cavity within the component into which the latch assembly is mounted may be of various shapes, such as a recess or opening in the component in which the component member is primarily received.

In fact, the cavity may simply consist of a frame formed by flanges perpendicular to the sides of the component and generally shaped to accommodate the latch assembly.

a component member wherein the latch assembly positions a tongue or spigot on the component member within the opening in the side wall of the cavity and tightly and slidably receives a wall of the component, e.g. as described above; said component by cooperating with a forked end on said component member to slidably engage said end on said component member remote from said tongue or spigot to a distal wall of said cavity. It is convenient to hold it in the cavity of.

Advantageously, the cavity of the component which receives the spring element is formed by a plastic molding. It is advantageous if such a plastic molding is fixed to said component or formed integrally therewith, for example if said component itself is a plastic molded wall, panel, door or frame.

The cavities need not necessarily completely surround the latch assembly and may, for example, extend substantially through one of the tongues or spigots and into the other [7] in the longitudinal direction on which the spring means acts. It can be constructed with two opposing flanges.

Embodiment The latch assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes three parts, each of which is made of a plastic molding and constitutes a latch member 2, a spring member 3, and a handle member 4. The latch assembly shown in FIGS. Although the latch assembly is shown in an assembled state in FIGS. 1-4, such an assembled structure typically does not require the latch assembly to attach to the frame of the plastic container or to the opposite. The latch is attached to a component 5 (see FIGS. 15 to 17), usually consisting of a plastic molded panel forming a hinged wall or door of the container to be releasably locked to a side wall. Delivered only after assembly is installed.

The latch member 2 (FIGS. 5-8) has a hollow spigot 6 of generally rectangular cross section extending longitudinally from a shank portion 7 having a rectangular cross section. The shank part 7 is the insertion part 6
In the vicinity of , both sides on the component part are recessed or tapered to form a rectangular seat 8.9.

The end of the shank part 7 remote from the spigot part 6 is provided with a longitudinally extending opposing wall part 10.1 on the component part.
], it is bifurcated to form a.

This wall 10.11 has a center line 12 which is substantially parallel to the average plane of the plug-in part 6 and extends longitudinally on the component part as a whole; On both sides, the shape is similar to that of the opposing wall portion 10.11.
They are generally symmetrically formed except for longitudinally extending webs 13 located between and interconnecting them.

The web 13 is offset in plan from the centerline 12 and extends parallel to the centerline 12, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and 7. A hole 14 is arranged in the seat 8.9, which passes laterally through the shank on the component part. The insert 6 has at its end remote from the shank portion 7 an inclined surface 15 defining an acute angle with a generally planar longitudinally extending abutment surface 16 of said insert.

The spring member 3 (FIGS. 9 to 11) has a head 17 in the form of a generally flat rectangular mounting plate, and two cantilever leaf springs 18 generally in the shape of a letter 1 from the head 17. A spring section formed by .19 extends. A hole 20 is provided through the center of the head 17.

The handle member 4 (see FIGS. 12-14) has a generally flat rectangular mounting plate 21 with an integrally formed stud 22 in its center.

The stud 22 projects perpendicularly from the plane of the mounting plate 21 and has a barbed flange 23 at its free end. An integrally molded finger plate 24 is formed along the side edge of the mounting plate 21 and projects from the mounting plate in a direction opposite to the studs 22.

The three members 2 to 4 constituting the latch assembly are:
It is for assembling as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. During this assembly, the head 17 of the spring element 3 is arranged in such a way that the hole 20 coincides with the hole 7 and the leaf spring part 18.19 is oriented longitudinally towards said forked end on the component element. It is arranged in a tight fit within the seat 8 on the component member. Next, the stud 22 is placed in line with the hole 7 and further passes laterally in succession through the holes 7 and 20 so that the barbed flange 23 snaps into the head 17 of the spring member. Attach the handle member 4 to the side opposite the spring member on the component member by pressing the handle member 4 so that it fits.

In this state, the mounting plate 2] is attached to the finger plate 2.
4 projecting outwardly on the component member, the seat 9
and are received in a tight fit. The snap engagement of the barbed flange 23 to the spring member and the cooperative mounting of the spring member and handle member on respective component members generally provide rigidity to the structure of the latch assembly. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the latch assembly is generally symmetrical on both sides of the centerline except for the J-blade 13 provided at the forked end on the component member. has.

The panel component 5 (see FIG. 15) to which the latch member 1 is to be mounted has a cavity 30 (conveniently molded) adjacent to the edge 31 of said panel forming a wall 33 between them. is provided. A rectangular opening 34 is provided in the longitudinal direction through the wall 33 between the cavity 30 and the edge 31 and is approximately complementary to the cross section of the insert 6 . For purposes of illustration, panel component 5 is generally parallel to edge 31 such that edge 31- can be moved into latching engagement with an unillustrated frame of panel 5 or another panel not illustrated adjacent panel 5. It can be thought of as a lid member or a wall member attached using a hinge, indicated at 35, for pivoting about an edge forming a .

The latch member 1 is adapted to be accommodated within a cavity 30 consisting primarily of a hole 36 in the panel and a thin wall 37 of the panel. Thin wall portion 37 is generally coplanar with hole 34 and extends in longitudinal alignment with the reading tag. As can be seen in FIG. 15, the wall 37 has a longitudinally extending rectangular recess 38 formed on both sides of the panel so as to open into the hole 36 of the cavity.
．． Formed by 39. Hole 34 for insert 6
, the cavity holes 36 and recesses 38,39 are arranged along a longitudinally extending centerline 12-- in the plane of the panel.
It is roughly symmetrical on both sides. The wall 37 has a center line 12
Offset to one side of the hole 40 is formed extending parallel to the centerline and opening into the hole 36 of the cavity at a location 41.

To form the closure unit shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 in which the latch assembly 1 is attached to the panel φ component 5, the latch member 2 having a forked end is inserted into the hole 34 of the wall 33. 0.11 of the panel wall 37 so that the opposite wall 37 of the panel lies in a plane generally parallel to and on either side of the wall 37 of the panel. , move the forked end longitudinally into the hole 36. By further inserting the component part into the panel 5, the wall 3
7 is received between opposing walls 10.11 at said bifurcated ends on the component member, and a sleeve 3 on the component member is slidably received in an elongated groove 40. The forked end on the component member is
As shown in the figure (in which a portion of the wall 11 on the shank portion 7 is shown with the web 13 engaged in the groove 40), the center lines 12 and 12' are substantially Coincidentally, the bifurcated ends on the component members are received in recesses 38, 39 of the panel component in a generally complementary sliding fit.

The spring member 3 and the handle member 4 are then placed into the opening 36 from both sides of the latch member 2 and are firmly attached to the seat 8.9 by means of the laterally extending studs 22, as described above. An integrated latch assembly 1 (the assembled state is easily understood by comparing FIG. 2 and FIG. 17) is formed. With the latch assembly fitted in this way, the leaf spring 18
．． 19 acts against the abutment surface 50 of the panel component 5 in the hole 36 of said cavity I7, so that the latch member 2 is moved longitudinally with respect to the panel 5 (and in FIGS. 16 and 17). (to the left), the insert portion 6 is biased so that it can be latched in the conventional manner. When the insert 6 moves and latches in the conventional manner, the forked end wall 10.11 slides on the panel wall 37 and the web 13 follows the groove 40. While sliding, the component part is moved to the right with respect to the panel 5 and into it (against the biasing force of the leaf spring 18.9).

The finger plate 24 of the handle member projects laterally from the panel component 5 as shown in FIG. 17 for retracting the spigot 6 against the spring biasing force to release the latched condition. The latch assembly facilitates manual operation.

Once the latch assembly 1 has been introduced to the panel 5, inadvertent release of the latch member 2 will prevent the spigot 6 from being restrained within the hole 34 and the forked end of the latch shank 7 from above. The surface of the wall 37 within the hole 36 of the cavity engages the wall 37 of the panel and under the biasing force of the leaf spring either or both of the spring member and the plate-like portion 17.21 of the handle member This is prevented by contacting the

From FIG. 17, if it is convenient for release of said latch, the relative positions of spring member 3 and handle member 4 may be adjusted on latch member 2 so that finger plate 34 projects downwardly in the same figure. I know you can do the opposite.

According to the conventional method, the inclined surface 1 on the component member
5 is directed toward a closure member such as a frame with which the insert portion 6 is to be latched, so that when the latch engages, the inclined surface abuts against the closure member, thereby causing the on the component member until the spigot engages within the groove or recess of the closure member and is biased by its spring load to engage the flat surface 16 of the closure member and secure the latch. can be easily moved in the longitudinal direction against the spring biasing force. In the embodiment described above, only with the inclined surface 1.5 oriented in the direction shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, as predetermined by the need to engage the biasing web 13 in the biasing groove 40 , the latch member 1 can be attached to the panel component 5.

Said biasing webs and biasing grooves provide a preferred configuration of the track and track follower that need to be engaged to allow conditions for insertion onto the component member into the panel component. As a result,
If the component part is inadvertently inserted into the interior of said panel from the back to the front (i.e., if the sloped surface 15 is oriented opposite to that shown in FIGS. 16 and 17), , the web and the groove do not engage, and an assembly error is immediately apparent. This is such that the sloping surfaces 15 are arranged oppositely to each other, and each latch member is adapted to use its respective sloping surface 15 as its intended latch for a panel component of a particular product. About engagement, so that attachment is obtained only when placed correctly.
If the grooves 40 in each cavity are molded (effectively above or below the centerline 12' in FIG. 15), each will have two or more identical latch assemblies. It is advantageous for mass production of similar products.

From the above description of the preferred embodiment, it can be seen that the three-piece snap-fit structure of the latch assembly 1 makes it very easy and quick to assemble when attaching it to a panel component, and also allows for a spring-loaded assembly. It will be appreciated that the loaded component member is held securely within the closure unit. These particular advantages provide an improved concept that can be used effectively in the absence of latching orientation means.

According to another advantageous construction, therefore, the end of the shank on the component part is completely bifurcated to receive the wall 37 of said panel. In structures where web 13 can be removed, groove 40 is removed as well). As a result, such a latch member 2 can be received in a position similar to or opposite to the position shown in figure 17 in the panel 5 (so that the wall part 11 is on the underside of the wall part 10, and the inclined surface 15 is arranged downward in FIG. 17). It will be appreciated that in the absence of web 13, the appropriate orientation of ramps 1-5 must be determined by the assembly operation of the closure unit.

Although the plastic molded part 4 is referred to as a "handle part" and a handle or finger plate part on said part is preferred, said handle or finger plate need not necessarily be arranged on this handle part 4; and can be molded onto any of the other components of the latch assembly. For example, the finger plate can be formed on the latch member 2 or the spring member 31 at approximately the same location as shown in FIG.

In fact, the laterally extending snap-engaging stud and finger are arranged such that the stud engages between the spring member and the latch member to securely hold the spring member in a seat on the component member. If the plate is integrally molded with the spring member 3, the latch assembly 1 can be modified to have a two-part structure consisting of the spring member 3 and the latch member 1. Additionally, the three-piece latch assembly or the two-piece latch assembly, as the case may be, may have one or more integral studs disposed over the component members and through the apertures 34. one or more snap-engaging studs integrally molded on the component member to snap-engage the holes in the spring member and the handle member (if there is sufficient clearance to do so); is possible.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a latch assembly according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line ■--■ in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the latch assembly shown in the first figure. FIG. 4 is an end view of the latch assembly shown in the first figure. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a latch member incorporated into the latch assembly shown in the first figure. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the latch member shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an end view of the latch member shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view of a spring member assembled into the latch assembly of FIG. 1; FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the spring member taken along the line XX shown in FIG. 9. FIG. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a handle member incorporated into the latch member of FIG. 1. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the xur-xm line in FIG. 12. FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line xm-xm in FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the handle member shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view of the components to which the first illustrated latch assembly is attached. FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the handle member shown in FIG. 12. FIG. 15 is a partial perspective view of the components to which the first illustrated latch assembly is attached. FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a closure unit in which the latch member shown in the first drawing can be attached to the component shown in FIG. 15; FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the closure unit taken along the line X--X in FIG. 16.

Claims (34)

[Claims] (1) A closure unit having a latch assembly attached to a component member, the latch assembly having an inclined surface to facilitate latching engagement and a tongue projecting from the component member for latching engagement. a latch member having a bayonet portion and extending longitudinally so as to be longitudinally slidable over the component member; and a latch member for longitudinally biasing the latch member into latching engagement. a latch direction indicating means having spring means acting between the latch component member and the latch component member, the latch direction indicating means being engaged between the latch member and the component member and biased from a centerline of the latch member; a closure unit, characterized in that the means are operative to determine the orientation of the ramp with respect to the component member when attaching the latch member to the component member. (2) The latch direction indicating means comprises a track extending longitudinally on one of the latch member or the component member, and a track follower on the other of the two members, the track follower being on the other of the two members. a body that engages the track upon attachment of the latch member to the component member and is slidable along the track upon longitudinal displacement between the latch member and the component member; The closure unit according to claim 1, characterized in that: (3) The track according to claim 2, wherein the track comprises a longitudinally extending groove or recess, and the track follower comprises a protrusion that engages with the groove or recess. closure unit. (4) A closure unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the track comprises a longitudinally extending groove in a wall of the component member that receives the protrusion of the latch member. . (5) a longitudinal end of the latch member remote from the tongue or spigot portion is an opposite wall that receives a wall of the component member and partially retains the latch member on the component member; The closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the closure unit is bifurcated so as to constitute a section. 6. The closure unit of claim 5, wherein said latch direction indicating means engages between said wall portion of said component member and said forked end portion of said latch member. (7) the latch direction indicating means is formed in a longitudinally extending groove in the wall of the component member and in an opposing wall of the forked end of the latch member, and is longitudinally extending with the groove; 7. A closure unit according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises slidably engaging webs. (8) The closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the latch member is a plastic molded product. (9) The spring means includes a head fixed to the latch member so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction, and a spring portion that acts to generate the biasing force between the head and the component member. The closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a spring member having a spring member. (10) A ninth aspect characterized in that the spring portion comprises at least one leaf spring carried by the head.
A closure unit according to the claims. (11) The closure unit according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the spring member is made of a plastic molded product. 12. A closure unit according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the spring member is secured to the latch member by laterally extending snap-engaging stud means. (13) At least one of the latch member or the spring member is a plastic molded product, and the stud means is integrally formed with the one member so as to snap engage with the other of the two members. The closure unit according to claim 12, characterized in that: (14) The latch assembly includes a handle fixed as a part of the latch member for integral longitudinal displacement, and the handle resists manual displacement of the latch member against the biasing force thereof. 14. A closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the closure unit projects from the component member to facilitate access. 15. The closure unit of claim 14, further comprising a handle member secured to said latch member by said snap-engaging stud means. (16) The closure unit according to claim 15, wherein the handle member is made of a plastic molded product. (17) A sixteenth feature in which the stud means comprises a stud integrally formed with the handle member.
A closure unit according to the claims. (18) The closure unit according to claim 9, wherein the handle member and the spring member are held in an engaged state with the latch member by snap engagement of a common stud. 15th to 17th
A closure unit according to any of the claims. (19) The closure unit according to claim 18, wherein the common stud is integrally formed with one of the members. (20) the latch member is disposed between the spring member and the handle member, and the stud is carried by one of the spring member or the handle member to extend through the latch member and to extend through the spring member; 20. The closure unit according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the closure unit is snap-engaged with the other handle member. (21) The latch assembly is housed within the cavity of the component member with the tongue or spigot extending longitudinally into an opening in a side wall of the cavity for latching engagement. The closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 20. (22) The closure unit according to claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the component member forming the cavity and engaged by the latch member is a plastic molded product. (23) a latch assembly for attachment to a component to form a closure unit, the latch assembly having a tongue or spigot projecting from the component member for latching engagement; a latch member longitudinally extending longitudinally slidably within the component; and a head and spring member retained within the component for longitudinally biasing the latch member into latched engagement; and a spring member extending laterally between the head and the latch member, the head of the spring member being fixed to the latch member for integral displacement in the longitudinal direction. and snap-engaging stud means. (24) At least one of the latch member or the spring member is made of a plastic molded article, and has a laterally extending stud integrally formed for snap engagement with the other of the latch member or the spring member. 24. The latch assembly of claim 23, further comprising: (25) In order to facilitate manual displacement of the latch member in the longitudinal direction against the biasing force thereof, a handle is provided that is carried so as to be integrally displaced with the latch member. A latch assembly according to claim 23 or 24. 26. The latch assembly of claim 25, wherein said handle is carried by a handle member secured by laterally extending snap-engaging stud means. 27. The latch assembly of claim 26, wherein the handle member comprises a plastic molding having an integrally formed stud for snap-engaging and securing the handle member. 28. The latch assembly of claim 26 or 27, wherein the latch member, spring member and handle member are secured together by a common snap-coupling stud. (29) The latch assembly according to any one of claims 28 to 30, wherein the latch member is disposed between the spring member and the handle member. (30) The latch assembly according to claim 28, wherein at least one of the spring member or the handle member is made of a plastic molded product having an integrally formed stud, and the stud is formed of a plastic molded product having an integrally formed stud. or extending through the latch member for snap engagement with the other handle member.
A latch assembly according to the claims. (31) an end of the latch member distal from the tongue or spigot has an opposing wall for receiving a wall of the component therebetween during attachment of the latch member to the component; A latch assembly according to any one of claims 23 to 30, characterized in that it is bifurcated. (32) A closure unit comprising a component to which the latch assembly according to any one of claims 23 to 31 is attached. (33) A method for assembling a closure unit according to any one of claims 1 to 22, comprising: a wall portion having an opening through which the latch member protruding from the component member for latching engagement; providing a cavity in the component member such that the latch orientation means engages between the latch member and the component member and orients the inclined surface in a predetermined direction with respect to the component member; inserting the latch member into the opening so that the spring means acts within the cavity between the latch member and the component member; and securing the spring means to the latch member so as to act between the latch member and the component member within the cavity. A method for assembling a closure unit characterized by comprising the steps of: (34) 23rd to form a closure unit
32. A method for attaching a latch assembly to a component as claimed in any of claims 31 to 32, comprising: a wall having an opening through which the latch member projects from the component for latching engagement. inserting the latch member into the opening; and inserting the latch member into the cavity such that the spring portion acts between the latch member and the component member within the cavity. snapping the stud means to secure the member to the latch member.