JPS5817886Y2 - turn button latch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a turn button latch, and more particularly to providing a turn button latch that is better than the prior art.

The turn button latch requires little manual dexterity,
Easy-to-operate push-to-close, turn-to-open (push-to-close, turn-to-open) latches are designed to prevent long openings during rough handling and are particularly suitable for, for example, school bags or travel bags. It is something to give.

One type of conventional turn button latch is shown in Lowndes US Pat. No. 2,487,895.

In the latch, a post integral with the base and of a rover leaf design is concentric with the stud to which a fastening member of the same design is attached by a nut threaded onto the end of the stud.

one end of a coil spring supported concentrically within the stud engages the clamping member to bias the clamping member in a closed position;
The other end is bent to form a trigger and a catch that holds the clamping member in its open position until the trigger is depressed by the female member of the latch.

A pin projecting from the base into a slot in the clamping member limits pivoting movement of the clamping member.

In this Lowndes device, a single spring must be tightly shaped and necessarily perform multiple functions.

The device does not have a smooth exterior and is not constructed of parts that are easy to mass produce, easy to assemble, and designed to reliably perform its intended function over an extended period of time.

Another type of turn-button latch, now commercially available as part of binocular cases, provides a nice appearance, but this device is constructed almost entirely of metal and has several drawbacks. have

The turn button is a multi-piece sheet metal shell wall supported on one end of a hollow sheet metal stud by a rivet that acts as a pivot for the turn button.

A sheet metal tab of the turn button projects into an arcuate slot in the end wall of the stud and engages one arm of a wire spring biasing the turn button toward its closed position.

A sheet metal base closes off the opposite end of the stud and supports the trigger, with one portion of the trigger being fairly rigid sheet metal and another portion extending into a slot in the base to provide a tab supporting the trigger on the base. It is a leaf spring with

The sheet metal lug of the helical lever passes through a hole in the end wall of the stud and enters a hole in the turn button to hold the turn button in the open position until the trigger is depressed.

When the turn button is pivoted from its closed position to its open position, the ear disengages from the hole in the turn button by camming action, but then snaps into another hole in the turn button when the turn button reaches its closed position.

This type of turn button latch arrangement is quite fragile and does not appear to provide reliable operation with rough handling over long periods of time.

There is a gap between the facing surfaces of the turn button and the stud,
In the gap you can see the tab extending from the turn button into the stud, and you can see the ears extending from the stud into the turn button.The central rivet support for the turn button prevents some wobbling of the turn button. It is inappropriate to do so.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved male portion of a turn button latch.

Another object of the present invention is that most of the operating parts of the male part are hidden within the hollow stud and are not visible, and the turn button is supported on the hollow stud so that it can make smooth, accurate and reliable turning movements. The purpose is to provide a turn button latch.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a turn button latch in which the stud and turn button are each unitary elements that can be easily produced, for example by die casting.

Still another object of the invention is that the trigger is a rigid plate, and that the bolt fixed to the turn button within the stud cooperates with the trigger to hold the turn button in the open position until the trigger is depressed; It is an object of the present invention to provide a turn button latch whose trigger is held depressed until it is manually returned to this open position.

Yet another object of the invention is that when the turn button is pivoted to its open position, the substantial movement of the trigger away from the depressed position provides a significant force to separate the male and female portions of the latch. To provide a turn button latch that allows the user to

Briefly stated, one of its broad aspects is that the turn button latch male portion of the present invention has one end adapted to be mounted on a support and the female portion at the other end adapted to be mounted on the turn button and stud. a hollow stud having a turn button mounted for limited pivoting movement between an open position in which it can be placed and a closed position in which the turn button prevents removal of the female part from said stud; a bolt secured to said turn button within said stud; first spring means within said stud biasing said turn button toward said closed position; a trigger supported within said stud and having one end projecting through a slot on one side of said stud; second spring means within said stud biasing said trigger toward said turn button; means including a cooperating element with the bolt and the trigger for retaining the turn button in the open position until the trigger is released from the turn bolt.

The invention will be further illustrated by the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment.

1 and 2, the improved male portion 10 of the turn button latch according to the present invention consists of a hollow stud having a base 14 at one end and a turn button 16 at the other end.

The base is adapted to be attached to a support such as a book bag, tote bag panel or wall or other support as described in more detail below.

Although in the illustrated form the stud and turn button are square in cross-section and slightly tapered (as is the base), the invention is not limited to this shape.

The studs and turn buttons may have any desired non-circular shape, such as lily-shaped, triangular, oval, etc.

In order to provide a smooth and attractive exterior that is easy to maintain, the outer contour of the turn button is preferably a continuation of the outer contour of the stud when the turn button is in the open position shown in the first figure.

In the closed position shown in FIG. 2, the elements of the turn button (in this example the corners) project beyond the sides of the stud so as to retain the female portion 18, shown in phantom in FIG.

This female portion may be removed from a cover attached to a flap or cover of a case such as a book bag, luggage, etc., as is well known in the art.

The hole in the female part is shaped to accommodate a stud somewhat loosely so that the female part can easily rest on the male part when the turn button is in its open position (Figure 1). ,
The projecting element of the turn button is sufficiently small to prevent removal of the female part from the male part when the turn button latch is in its closed position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the stud has a rectangular slot 20 extending through one side wall through which a trigger 22 projects.

In the open position of the turn button latch (Figure 1), the trigger is biased toward one end of the slot 20 by a trigger flap (described below), and in the closed position (Figure 2), the trigger is biased toward one end of the slot 20, as described below. 20 is held at the other end.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the hollow stud 12
(including the integral base 14) and turn button 16 are each unitary elements.

Each can be die-cast from the appropriate metal and given an appropriate finish.

As desired, the hollow stud and turn button are suitable.

It may be molded from plastic or composite resin.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the base 14 at one end of the stud 12 may have a projecting boss 15 for mounting the stud on a support (not shown).

In an exemplary form of the invention, two such bosses are shown which correspond to cooperating mounting plates (not shown) on the side of the support wall opposite the wall from which the male portion 10 projects. Can be received within the hole.

A self-tapping screw may then be inserted through the mounting plate into the boss 15 to secure the male portion 10 to the support wall.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the stud 12 has at its other end a projecting cylindrical rim 24 on which the turn button 16 is mounted.

In the illustrated form, the turn button has an end wall 26 supported on a rim 24 and a skirt 28 that covers the rim.

The outer contour of the skirt is shaped to complement the outer contour of the stud 12, as described above.

The turn button is also formed with a boss 30 (see FIG. 5), which has a cylindrical central portion with a closing shank 33 that can be expanded to attach the turn button to the bolt described below.

The radial portion 34 of the boss 30 has a hanging ear 36 for keying the turn button to the bolt so that they both pivot together.

As shown in FIG. 6, the hollow stud 12 has a top wall 38 (
3) from which a rim 24 projects.

The top wall preferably has a keyhole-shaped opening 40.

The central circular portion of the aperture 40 receives the cylindrical portion 32 of the turn button boss 30 and provides a bearing for pivoting movement of the turn button.

The flared outer portion of the opening 40 is connected to the radial portion 34 of the boss 30.
and its ends engage the radial portion of the boss to limit pivoting movement of the turn button (limited to about 45° in an exemplary form of the invention).

The solid line illustration of the boss in FIG. 6 corresponds to the open position of the turn button latch (FIG. 1), and the phantom line illustration of the boss in FIG. 6 corresponds to the closed position of the latch (FIG. 2).

FIG. 8 shows the bolt 42 attached to the turn button.

This bolt may be, for example, a stamped steel workpiece in the form of a plate with an opening 44 for receiving the closing shank portion 33 of the turn button, as shown in FIG.

The turn button is thus attached to the stud because the expansion of the closing shank causes the bolt to attach to the turn button, and the size of the bolt is greater than the size of the opening 40 in the top wall 38 of the stud 12.

The turn button ear 36 enters a cooperating notch 46 in the bolt to key the turn button to the bolt for pivotal movement.

See Figures 4 and 7.

The turn button is heavily loaded by a spring 48 (FIGS. 3, 4 and 7).

The spring preferably has a helical center supported on a post 50 projecting from the inner surface of the stud 12 and a pair of flared legs 4.
9.51, in which one of the spread legs 49 engages a notch 52 of the bolt 42 and the other 51 engages the inner surface of one side wall of the stud 12. There is.

To aid in spring handling and positioning, one of the legs may have a right angle bend 54 shown in phantom in FIG.

Spring 50 biases the turn button to its closed position.

In this position of the turn button, bolt 42 assumes the position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 4 and 7.

The trigger 22 described above is shown in detail in FIG.

In a preferred form, the trigger is a rigid plate, such as a stamped steel plate, to which the trigger can be plated.

It has a generally rectangular profile with one end 56 protruding from the slot in stud 12 as described above.

The other end may be provided with a notch 58 which fits onto a post 60 projecting from the inner surface of the hollow stud 12 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7.

The column is enlarged at its base, as shown at 62, to complete the support for the trigger.

The trigger has sufficient freedom for pivoting movement on the support so that the protruding end 56 can move toward and away from the turn button within the slot 20.

An ear 64 formed on the l-IJ trigger prevents the trigger from escaping from the stud 12 through the slot 20, as shown in FIG.

The trigger is always biased toward the turn button by the trigger spring 66.

See Figures 3 and 9.

The trigger spring is preferably stamped from flat spring stock and has a base 6 that fits within the rim of the base 14 of the stud 12 and closes the base opening in the hollow stud.
It has 8.

A closing shank 72 integral with the base 14 enters the opening lower portion 4 of the spring 66 and is inflated to hold the spring in place.

The aforementioned boss 15 passes through the hole 76. The active portion of the spring 66 curves away from the base 68 at -778, which base 68 is notched at 80 for this purpose.

No. 778 engages one side of trigger 22 as shown in FIG. 3, thereby forcing the trigger toward turn button 16.

When the turn button is closed (FIG. 2), tab 82 (FIG. 8) on bolt 42 engages the opposite side of the trigger to force the trigger against the bias of spring 66, shown in solid lines in FIG. Press it down.

When the turn button is in the open position (Fig. 1), tab 82
is pivoted enough to release the trigger, and the trigger moves toward the turn button as shown in phantom in FIG.

The tab is then positioned adjacent the trigger edge within the trigger notch 84 and blocked by the trigger, as shown in phantom in FIG.

The turn button is therefore restrained from moving to the closed position under the bias of its spring 48.

In operation of the device, turn button 16 is moved to its closed position (
(Fig. 1) by hand.

When the female portion 18 is placed over the turn button 16 and the stud 12 and the trigger 22 is depressed, the trigger no longer blocks the tab 82 and the bolt 42 pivots freely under the bias of the spring 48.

The turn button therefore automatically pivots to the closed position shown in the second figure.

Tab 82 slides onto the trigger and maintains the trigger depressed.

The female portion of the latch is now restrained by the corner of the turn button 16 and fits somewhat loosely onto the stud to hold the trigger itself depressed, at least to the extent that the trigger is held depressed by the tab 82. Do not hold.

To release the latch, manually turn the turn button clockwise from the Figure 2 position to the Figure 1 position.

When the tab 82 passes the trigger 22, the trigger spring 66
snaps the trigger onto the turn button 16 causing the female portion to at least partially pop out of the male portion of the turn button latch.

The female part can then be freely removed from the male part.

As can now be seen, the moving parts within the stud 12 are hidden from view but shielded from adverse external forces.

The turn button and the hollow stud may be formed as a solid unit, the turn button being rigidly supported on the stud for precise pivoting movements and, together with the stud, giving a smooth and attractive external profile.

The trigger is a separate rigid member configured to reliably perform its intended function over time.

Similarly, each biasing spring is specifically designed to ensure that it performs its intended function over several years, and the trigger spring serves to close the open end of the hollow stud.

The bolt cooperates with the trigger to hold the turn button in its open position and to depress the trigger in the closed position of the turn button (to provide the popping action described above);
It is completely housed within the hollow stud and serves to retain the turn button on the stud.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes can be made to this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention. .

The present invention can be summarized as follows.

1. one end adapted to be mounted on a support and the other end in an open position in which the female part can rest on the turn button and stud and the turn button prevents removal of the female part from said stud; a hollow stud having a turn button mounted for limited pivoting movement between a closed position and a closed position; a bolt secured to the turn button within the stud; a first spring means for biasing the button into the closed position; and an end supported within the stud and projecting through a slot on one side of the stud for accessing and moving away from the turn button. a second trigger within said stud biasing said trigger toward said turn button;
and means including a cooperating element with said bolt and said trigger for retaining said turn button in said open position until said trigger is released from said turn button.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means for retaining the turn button in its closed position comprises a tab extending from the bolt and being blocked by a trigger when the turn button is in its open position. Turn button latch male part.

3. The turn button according to item 1 above, further comprising: holding the trigger away from the turn button against the bias of the second spring means when the turn button is in its closed position; A male turn button latch, characterized in that it comprises means including cooperating elements of said bolt and said trigger for releasing the trigger when said bolt and said trigger are pivoted to their open position.

4. In accordance with paragraph 3 above, the means for holding said trigger away from said turn button is provided on the bolt before engaging one side of the trigger when the turn button is in its closed position. A male turn button latch characterized by comprising a tab.

5. The male part of the turn button latch according to item 1, wherein the stud has an annular rim at the other end for supporting the turn button.

6. The male turn button latch according to item 5, wherein the turn button has an end wall supported on the rim and a skirt covering the rim.

7. Male turn-button latch according to claim 6, characterized in that the stud and the turn-button have corresponding square cross-sections.

8. The male turn button latch according to item 5, wherein the stud has an end wall adjacent to the turn button from which the rim projects.

9. The end wall of the stud has a keyhole-shaped opening therethrough, and the turn button has a boss projecting into the opening, the boss extending into the opening. a cylindrical portion that fits into a corresponding circular portion to provide a bearing for pivoting movement of the turn button, and the boss is located in the flared portion of the aperture to limit pivoting movement of the boss within the aperture; A male turn button latch having a radial portion, the boss further having an ear for engaging a notch in the bolt, thereby constraining the bolt to pivot with the turn button.

10. In the item according to item 9 above, the bolt comprises a plate fixed to the boss on the opposite side of the stud end wall from the turn button, the iron plate being larger than the opening, so that the turn button is A male turn button latch characterized by being retained on a stud.

11. In the item as set forth in paragraph 1 above, said trigger is a rigid plate, said second spring means being free from a leaf portion that engages the trigger and a base portion that substantially closes said one end of the stud. Features a male part of the turn button and latch.

12. In accordance with paragraph 1 above, the first spring means is a torsion spring having a helical portion supported on a post within the stud and having opposed arms, one of the arms being within the stud. a turn button latch male portion, the other engaging the inner surface of the turn button latch;

13. The male part of the turn button/latch according to item 1 above, wherein the stud and the turn button are each made of a single casting.

14. In accordance with paragraph 4 above, said means for retaining the turn button in its open position comprises said tab;
A male turn button latch, characterized in that it separates from the edge of the trigger to engage and prevent the tab when the turn button is in the open position.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the male portion of the turn button latch of the present invention in the open position, and FIG. 2 illustrates the latch in the closed position and shows in phantom lines the relationship between the male portion and the female portion of the latch. Similar views, FIG. 3, are enlarged vertical cross-sectional views of the male portion of the latch showing the closed position of the latch, shown vertically oriented for illustrative purposes; FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of the turn button showing the bottom surface facing the stud; FIG. 6 is a top view of the stud showing the base of the turn button in cross section; FIG. 7 8 is a bottom view of the stud showing the bolt and turn button biasing spring therein, with the trigger and trigger biasing spring removed for illustrative purposes; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bolt; FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the biasing spring, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the trigger. Explanation of symbols of main parts 10... Male part of turn button/latch, 12... Stud, 16...
...Turn button, 20...Slot, 2
2...Trigger, 42...Volt, 48
...First spring, 66...Second spring, 82...Tab.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A male part of a turn button latch having a hollow stud, the hollow stud having one end adapted to be mounted on a support and a female part at the other end adapted to rest on the turn button and stud. a turn button latch male portion having a turn button mounted for limited pivoting movement between a temple open position and a closed position in which the turn button prevents removal of the female portion from said stud; the turn button (e.g. 16) within the stud;
a bolt (e.g. 42) secured to the spring, a first spring (e.g. 48) within the stud biasing the turn button toward a closed position;
a trigger (e.g. 22) supported within said stud (e.g. 12) and having one end projecting through a slot (e.g. 20) provided in a side wall of said stud for access to and removal from said stud; in the stud to connect said trigger (e.g. 22) to said turn button (e.g. 16).
) and means for retaining the turn button in its open position until the trigger moves away from the turn button. Means is movable in engagement with a bolt element (e.g. 82) located inwardly of said stud and said bolt element (e.g. 82) located inwardly of said stud when said turn button is in an open position. trigger abutment means (e.g. 84) for blocking the bolt so that when the turn button is in the closed position, the turn button can be in the open position without manually depressing the trigger. A male turn button latch, characterized in that an element (e.g. 82) depresses said trigger. 2. Utility model registration In the turn button/latch male part according to claim 1, the bolt element (for example
2) A turn button characterized by a hanging tab.
Latch male part. 3. Utility Model Registration In the male part of the turn button latch according to claim 1, the bolt and the trigger cause the trigger (e.g. 22) to move the trigger (e.g. 22) to the second means (e.g. 8) for holding away from said turn button (e.g. 16) against the bias of a spring (e.g. 66) but releasing said trigger (e.g. 22) when said turn button returns to its open position;
2) A turn button latch male part comprising: 4. Utility Model Registration In the male part of the turn button latch according to claim 3, the means for holding the trigger away from the turn button is such that the turn button (e.g. 16) is in its closed position. the bolt (e.g. 42) that sometimes engages the negative side of the trigger (e.g. 22);
A turn button latch male portion comprising a tab. 5. Utility model registration In the turn button/latch male part according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the stud (for example, 12) is connected to the turn button (for example, 16
), the turn button (eg 16) having an annular rim (eg 24) at one end for supporting an end wall (eg 26) supported by the rim (eg 24) and a skirt (eg 28) covering the rim. ). 6. Utility model registration In the male part of the turn button latch according to claim 5, the stud (for example, 12)
A male turn button latch having an end wall (e.g. 38) proximate said turn button (e.g. 16) from which said rim (e.g. 24) projects. 7. In the male part of the turn button latch according to claim 6, the stud (for example, 12)
The end wall (e.g. 38) of the turn button (e.g. 16) has a keyhole shaped opening (e.g. 40) therethrough.
) is a boss (e.g. 3) projecting into the opening (e.g. 40).
0), said boss having a cylindrical portion (e.g. 32) that fits in a corresponding circular portion of said opening to provide a bearing for the pivoting movement of said turn button (e.g. 16); (e.g. 30) has a radial portion (e.g. 34) located in the flared portion of said aperture to limit movement of the boss within said aperture, said boss further having a notch (e.g. 42) in said bolt (e.g. 42). a male turn button latch, characterized in that it has an ear (e.g. 36) which engages the latch (e.g. 46), thereby constraining said bolt to pivot with said turn button. 8. Utility Model Registration In the male part of the turn button latch according to claim 7, the bolt (for example 42) is connected to the stud (for example 12) opposite to the turn button.
) has a plate fixed to a boss (e.g. 30) on the side of the end wall of the turn button, the iron plate being larger than the opening (e.g. 40) so that the turn button is retained on the stud. Turn button latch male part. 9. Utility Model Registration In the turn button/latch male part according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the trigger (e.g. 22) is a rigid plate, and the second spring (e.g. 66) A male turn button latch having a leaf portion (e.g. 78) for engaging said trigger (e.g. 22) and a base portion (e.g. 68) substantially closing one end of the stud. 10. In the male part of the turn button latch described in any one of claims 1 to 9 of the utility model registration claims,
The first spring (e.g. 48) is a torsion spring having a helical portion supported on a post (e.g. 50) in the stud (e.g. 12) and an opposing arm (e.g. 49.51); One of the arms engages the inner surface of the stud and the other engages the ear (e.g. 5) on the bolt (e.g. 42).
2) A male part of a turn button latch, characterized in that it engages with the male part of the turn button latch. 11. Utility model registration In the male part of the turn button latch according to any one of claims 1 to 10, the stud (e.g. 12) and the turn button (e.g. 16) have a corresponding square cross section. A male part of a turn button latch characterized by having: 12. Utility model registration In the turn button/latch male part according to any one of claims 1 to 11, the stud (for example 12) and the turn button (for example 16) are each made of a single casting. Turn button latch male part characterized by: