US1659849A - Reversible latch - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet l REVERSIBLE LATCH Filed July 22. 1926 A. F. WINTERS ET AL Feb. 2l,

Feb. 21, 1928.

A. F. WINTERS ET AL REVERSIBLE LATCH 2 Sheets-Shes t 2 mmm" . unuumllll' ,n H um" |IIIIIIIlIII|l1IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUMIIINI!x Patented Feb. v21, 1928.

, 1,659,849' UNITED 'STATES 1 a'1|:1\r1 OFFICE.

ALEXANDER r. Wm'rnns AND Basri. u. GRAMPTDN, or GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

REVERSIBLE LATCH.

Appucauon mea July a2, '1926. serial No. 124,230.

This invention relates to latches and is concerned with a reversible latch which may be used on doors swinging either to the right or tol the left. This is of particular value in p though 'it 5 the matter of refrigerator latches,

is also of value for latches in other relations such as kitchen cabinets and the like. The hardware for refrigerators, cabinets and like articles is normally manufactured vby'estabi lishments equipped for that purpose and sold to the refrigerator or cabinet manufacturers. Qrders are placed for a certain number of each kind of latch', that is, for rights or lefts and it is, of course, the intention i `that there shallalways be a suflicientv supply of each kind on hand to schedule going. At times, however, it is found that latches of the one kind are eX- hausted while possibly many thousands of the other kind Will be on hand.

The present invention makes'it possible tonot ronly manufacture both right and left latches with one set of dies, all of the `parts which enter intothe latch -being forined'the same whether the latch is of one ytype or the other, but it is also possible for the refrigerator or cabinet manufacturer, in case the supply of one type of latch should be exhausted, to very readily change latches of one type to a left hand, or vice versa with very little trouble and this will be done rather than different assembly of the parts, of being made either a right hand or a left hand typey i0 of latch; and also capable of being very ,readily changed A further object of the inventiony is :to provide in a latch of such character additional means whereby the latch when attached .to a door and the dooropened will be held in disengaged or retracted position until the door is closed, whereupon it is automatically tripped so that the matically with a keeper for holding the door closed; zand thiswill occur irrespective of which type of latch may be used, that is, either a right hand or av left hand latch. A still further object of the invention is to pro duce a latch of this character and yhaving the capabilities stated in a very. simple and economical manner, all parts of the latch for a keep the production which are onhand to the other.V rFhat is, a right 'hand latch may be changed a latch of from one type to the other.`

latch lever engages auto-` very simply and easily assem# bled.

For an understanding of the invention by means of which these results are attained reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a refrigerator door and casing having a latch and keeper applied thereto respectively, the latch casing being shown in section better disclosure of the interior structure. p y

Fig. 2 is a horizontal ysectionthrough the door and keeper substantially on the 'plane' of line 27-,2 of Figli.

Fig. 3 is an elevation and vertical section substantially on the plane of line 3-3 0f Fig.v l, .the door being in partly open position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverseV section through the latch lever prior to the permanent securing thereto of a rocker member with which the latch spring is engaged.

Fig. 5 is a similar view after said ,rocker member has been permanently secured.

FigQG is an under plan view of the latch. Figf? is a fragmentary section through said .latch on'the plane of line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section through the latch substantially on the plane of line 8-8 of Fig.y

6, lthe spring being removed, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view ofthe parts of a disassembled latch, the parts thereof being separatedand shown in a position inverted from that which they occupy when in use.

LikeV reference characters refer to like yparts in the several views of the drawings. vThe door l'to which the latch is applied may be a .door of any suitable article of furniture, such as a refrigeratorf The latch includes a covering of sheet metal having an intermediate raised housing 2 from which ears 3 extend in opposite directions through which screw fastenings may be passed to `attach Athe housing and the parts assembled therewith y'securely to the door l. In Opposite ends ofthe housing openings 4 andy 5 are made, as .best shown in Figs. 1 and y9. Against the upper side of said housing?.v a

bar 6 of flat metal is ,positioned having short end portions v7 turned at right angles with which `tongues 8 engage to securely vhold the bar in place. A. pin 9 ofsheet metal is Vbeing formed from sheet metal by means of vdies and being recess 15.

attached atene end to the bar 6 and extends therefrom at rightl angles at its free end being formed with tWo fingers 9a which may be turned outwardly, asV will'later appear, to secure the base plate in place.

' Through the housing described alatch bar, with an integral handle for operating the same, may be passed. The vlatch bar and handle are formed from a single piece of sheet metal making/the handle 10 from which lthe bar extends, said bar being of channel form including a web 11 and spaced apart flanges 12, which at the freeend of the bar Aare rounded inwardly toward each other making a keeper engaging end 13 of the form shown in Fig. 9. This latch bar or lever with the integral handle 10 is pivotally mounted onthe pin 9, previously described, a vrelatively large opening 14 being made through the web 11 for thepassage lof the in.

p A short distance from the opening 14 each of theilanges 12v is formed with a slot or A rocker member 16`of sheet metal is designed to be permanently attached to the latch lever and for thisl purpose it is made Witha rectangular opening so as to pass freely over the lever whereby across bar 16ZL of the member 16 is brought directlyin alignment with the slots l5 and may then be forced downwardly into said slots and into the channel between the flanges 12, as indicated at 16""inv Fig. 5, thismaking a very secure and rigid connection of the rocker member to the latch bar. Said rocker member at each end and a short distance outward from each flange 12 of the lever is turned lat right angles and formed into an arm 17. Each arm 17 terminates,n in a projection 18 at its free end and is formed with oppositely extendingl lugs 19 and 19?, the former of which is llocated a greater distance from the free-endof the projection 18 than is the f tion 21 from which a second Section '22 isY f turned at right angles, this terminating in a short lip 23 turned at right angles so as toA latter. p

A coiled spring 2O is'designed to be placed Vat one end over the projection 18 so as to bear against the shoulder of the lug 19a but by reason of the position of the lug 19 it will not bear against its shoulder in the same manner that it Ydoes against that of the lug 19a. Thisis fully shown in Fig. 2. The outer end of the-,spring 2O engages with a "sheet metal abutment which is located in the opening 4 of the housing at one side of the Alatch lever.

The sheet metal abutment includes a seclie in a plane parallel to the plane of the section 21. At` the opposite end of the section 21 the metal is bent inwardly and then .back upon itself, kas indicated at 24, terminating in a tongue 25 which lies a distance from and in parallel relation to the section 22 described. It is over the tongue 25 that the other endl of the coiled spring 20 is placed. The invert portion 24 of the abutfV mentis located back of the end of the housing 2 between the lip 7 on bar 6 at said Yend of the housing and the adjacent side of theV housing partly filling the opening 4 and lying in the same plane with saidend of the housing (see Fig. 2). It is held in this position at the opposite end of Said member by the base plate which closes the inner side 'ofthe housing and the construction of vwhich the same width as'the lip 23 so that said lip K may be received therein, as shown in Fig. 2,

vand hold the sheet metal memberdescribed against outward movement from pressure eX- ert-ed by the spring 20. The plate ,also at what may be termed its front edge has a.

shelfA 28 of triangular shape turned :back upon'it,'having sides 29 kcoming together at the point ofthe shelf,as shown in dotted linesl in Fig. 6. The plate also Vat the same edge is formed with tongues 30 pressed'inwardly so as to engage with the notches 3G made at opposite edges of the opening 4 in the latch casing, as best'shown in Fig. 9.

'When thus engaged a circular opening 31 in the plate may be broughtover the pinl 9 and the retaining fingers 9a on the free end of the pinare then turned'outwardly, as shown in Fig. '6, so as to securely hold the lill) plate in position. Of course, when the latch 'i is attached to a doorand the screws are passed through the ears 3 andl the base plate underneath themv thereV is no possibility of detachment of the base plate. y

The abutment including the parts 2l to 25 inclusive, as described, may be placed at either sideof the latch lever andthe spring 2O may be placed so .as to engage with the lug 18 at the free end of either arm *V 17. Such change in position of the abutment member against which the spring engages ywiththe corresponding change in position of the spring causes' the latch to be reversed, that' is, changed' from either a right to a left7 or vice 'versa The spring 2O and the abutment can be 'very readily disengaged `and detached through onek opening 27 and reassembled on the opposite side of the latch lever through the other opening 27. Should arefrigerator or cabinet manufacturer find that the supply on hand of latches of one type was exhausted Whileit still had on hand a great many of the other type, such y latches of the other type or asmany of them as may be needed can be very quickly changed so as to supply thenecessary latches l of both types or kinds. This is a very desirable and valable feature of our invention.

In addition, the possibility of making the latches of either type or kind with the same tools and dies is of great value. The manufacturing process in the factory does not have to be changed so far as fabricating the various parts is concerned. All that is necessary is-to reverse the position of the spring and the abutment against which it bears at its outer end to change from one type of latch to the other and this can be very readily taken care of inthe assembly department where, after a certain quantity of latches o-f one type have been assembled then the assembly is changed to make a desired quantity of latches of the reverse type.

lith a latch of this character when the latch lever is swung about its pivot beyond the shelf 28 it will engage -withan edge 29 of said shelf to hold the lever' in retractedposition, this appearing in dotted lines in Fig.r1. ThisV is caused by reason ofthe fact that the opening 14 is enouglrlarger than the =diameter of the pin 9 thatv the lever may rock on' the pivot due to the combined fr effect of `the outward pull on the handle 10 and thefor'ce of the spring 2O who-se line of force is from the center line of the tongue to the shoulder of the lug 19a against which the spring bears at itsopposite end,

thereby causing a tendency of the lever to tilt or rock about the pin'r 9 causing it to engage with an edge 29 of the shelf 28 when retracted far enough that it may pass by such edge. Upward movement of the lever `on the pin 9 is vprevented by the lugs 19.

When the lever is freed froml the shelf it returns to normal central position as shown in Fig. 1, being stopped insuch position by .engagement 'against an edge of the abut- `side 87 to closed position. A trip finger 38 extends mentbdescribed. Vhen the abutment member is changed tothe opposite side andthe spring is likewise changed, the lever may swing in the opposite direction and will, when swung far enough, engage with the opposite edge 29 `of the shelf 28.

The keeper which is attached to the door casing or jam 32 includes a base 33 from which a post 34 projects outwardly terminating in a head '35 which, with the post,

forms -a hook-like keeper having an outer cam sid-e 26 and an inner inclined side 37.A

The end 13 of the lever, when the door is closed and when it is engaged with the keeper, bears against said inclined` inner and acts to wedge the door tightly from the base 33 a short distance above the recess ofthe keeper and is in thev position such that when the lever on 'the door held Vin retained and retracted position, as shown -in dotted lines in Fig. 1, comes against the lfinger, it ,will dislodge said lever fromv the retaining shelf and free it so that it may engage with the keeper under the force of the spring 20, The keeper is also of a form such that it can be used with doors swinging either to the right or to the left.

It is apparent from the foregoing that we have devised a simple, practical andafter it has once been assembled into sup-y Y' posedly permanent form. The possibility of manufacturing the latch of either vtype with the same tools and dies andthe capability ofthe latch whereby it may be changed [from one to the other land at the same time incorporate therewith the latch lever retaining and tripping features so that strains on the latch fastenings and door hingesare eliminated when the door is closed, all 'combine to make this latch one of great value. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope. f

vWe claim: Y 1. A latch comprising 'a housing, a late lever extending through the housing and pivotally mounted between its ends within said housing, a rocking member attached to said latch lever transversely thereof, said rocking member having an arm at `each end spaced from and para'lleling the length of the lever, an abutment detachably located at one end of the housing and at one side of the lever in substantial valignment with one of said'arms of the rocking member, said abutment being adapted -'to be placed kat either side yof the lever and interchanged from one sidel kto the other, and a coiled spring disposed between vthe abutment and the arm of the rocking member at the 'side ofthe lever at which :the abutment is located. 2. In a latch, a. housing having openings in opposite ends, a latch lever extending through the housing, a pivot pin attachedto the housing and passing through the'latch lever between the ends thereof, a rocking member permanentlysecured to and located transversely of the latching lever, an abut-- ment locatedat one end of the housing` and closingthe opening at said end at one side of the latch lever, said abutment being adapted to be positioned at either side of the latch lever, and a coiled spring between said abutn itin lll)

pin, a vrocking'member connected to the lever and locatedv transversely thereof, said meni- ISU berfextending to each side ot the lever, an abutment locatedfbetween the housing and base plate at `one side of the lever and at one of the open ends of the housing andA closing adjacent said abutment, said shell' being oi triangular form and coming to a point a distance ,inward from the open end ot the housing where the abutmentis located.

5. In a latch, a sheet metal housingl having open ends, a bar secured inthe upper portion ofthe housingy lengthwise thereof, a

hollow pivot pinconnected to the bar, abase pla-te closing the4 inner end of the housing through which the pivot pin passes, said pivot pin at its free end being formed with lingers adapted to be bent outward as to hold, the base plate in place with respect to the housing, a latch lever extending through 'thehousing and pivotally mounted between its ends on the pivot pin, and spring means engaging with the latch lever tending to turn it about the pivot pin in one direction.

A 6. In a construction ot' the class described, a housing having open ends, a pivot pin connected with the housing and located within the same, a base plate closing the inner side of the housing, said base plate having two elongated openings therein, a latch lever extending through the housing above the base plate and pivotally mounted on said pivot pin,`said latch lever lying between said openingaan abutment having one end seatyed atone end o't' one oit said openings and its other end engaged against an end oic the housingiand closing` one ot the ends of the housing at one side ot the lever, a rocker member connected to the lever and disposed transversely thereof, and a coiled spring un-l der compression. disposed between one end of the rocker member and saidV abutment to,

holdthe abutment in place by spring presvsure'and causing the. lever to turn until it engages against the inner edge ot' said abutment, ysaid spring and abutment being readily detached and removed through the open- Y ing in the base plate overpwhich the spring is located and replaced Vthrough the other opening in said base plate at the Yother side of the latch lever to engage the spring with the other end of said rocker member.

In combination, a housing having an open inner side, a base plate closing said inner side of the housing, a latch lever extending through the housing, a pivot pin disposet between the housing and base plate on which in place on the housinfr.

the latch lever is pivotally mounted, a compression spring, means for selectively engaging the spring with the' latch lever at either side thereotwhereby the lever willv be turnedV by said spring in reverse directions, andr4 means-tor automatically `retaining the lever in retracted kposition when movedy against' the compression oi"i said spring irrespective of whichside ot the lever the spring is located.Y 8. in alatch, a sheet metal housing have ing an opening at each end and an open inner side, a bar ot metal located in the housing lengthwise thereof ateach end having a lip turned at right angles, tongues stuck tromv the housing at the open endsl thereof extending across and engaging with notches in said lips to permanently secure the bar in the housing, a hollow cylindrical pin connected with andvextending at right-angles. from said bar, a latch leverv pivotally mounted between its ends on said pin, a base plate closing the inner open side of the housing i and having an opening forl the i passage of the free end oit the pin, spring means acting on the lever to turn it in one direction, 1and lingers on said free end of the pinradapted to be bent outwardly to hold the base plate 9. A latch lever comprising a housing having open ends and an open inner lside, a base plate closing the open inner side of the housing, said base plate having. two parallel ,elongated openingsjtherethrough, a pivot pin carried by the housing and.v passing through said base plate, av latch lever pivotally mounted onfsaid pivot pin, a Vrocker member connected to and located transversely of the lever, a sheet metal abutment located at one -side of the llatch lever at one of the open ends of the housing closingthe opening at said side' of the latch lever, said abutment havinga lip engaging in one' of the openings in the base' plate at oney end and at its opposite endhavng avv projection bearing against the inner sideof the end of Y the housing above Vthe opening at said open end thereof, andra coiledv spring'located be tween one end of the rockerl member and said abutment releasably holding said abutment in place and turning the latch lever to Vengage against the edg'efof the abutment, said coiled spring and abutment being de-v tachable from the lever andthe housing in which they are located and removable through the opening inthe base plate over which thespring is located and replaceable in the housing ythrough the other opening in the base plate `with the spring engaged against the opposite end of the rocker member, substantially as described. Y

10. ln a latch, a housing having an "elon-` gated opening, a latch lever pivoted Within the housing andV projecting through said opening and adapted to swing both Ways from a central Vnormal position, aktransposable abutment associated with said housing and adapted to be located at either side of said lever for the purpose of preventing movement of said lever in one direction from central normal position. i

11. In a latch, a housing having an elongated opening, a latchlever pivoted within the housing and projecting through said opening and adapted to swing both ways from a central normal position, a transposable abutment associated witli said housing and adapted to be located at either side of sai-d lever for the purpose of preventing movement of said lever in one direction from central normal position and spring means acting upon said lever to move it into engagement with said abutment.

l2. In a latch, a housing having an elongated opening, a latch lever pivoted Within the housing and projecting through said opening vand adapted to swing both ways from a central normal position, a transposable abutment associated with said housing and adapted to be located at either side of said lever for the purpose of preventing movement of said lever in one direction from to retainv said abutment in place and to swing the lever into engagement with the abutment.

13. In a latch, a housing having an elongated opening, a latchl lever pivoted within the housing and projecting through said opening and adapted to swing both ways from a central normal position, a detent on the housing engageable with said lever to retain the lever when swung in either direction from central normal position, a transposable abutment associated with said heus ing and adapted to be located at either side of said lever for the purpose of preventing movement of said lever in one direction from central normal position, and spring means associated with said lever and said abutment to retain said abutment in place and to move the lever into engagement with the abut` ment. 1

In vtestimony whereof we affix our signa-v tures. v

ALEXANDER F. wiN'rERs. BASIL R. CRAMPTON.

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