US1873560A

US1873560A - Latch

Info

Publication number: US1873560A
Application number: US558655A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ekman Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-08-22
Filing date: 1931-08-22
Publication date: 1932-08-23
Anticipated expiration: 1949-08-23

Description

Aug. 23, 1932. A EKMAN 1,873,560

LATCH Filed Aug. 22. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ndeaf E/mm BY ATTORNl-:lgVP

Allg.' 23, 1932. A EKMAN 1,873,560

LATCH Filed Aug. 22, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR o d/zcreaf Xi/nan ATTORN EYS Patented Aug. 23, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ANDREW IEKMAN, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN LATCH Application led August 22, 1931. Serial No. 558,655.

The main objects of my invention are: First, to provide an improved latch for cabinet doors, such as refrigerators and the like, which is, with the exception of the handle, substantially flush with the exterior of the door.

Second, to provide a latch of this type that is economical to manufacture, extremely neat in appearance, and effective in operation.

Third, to provide a door latch which automatically locks itself in retracted position upon grasping the handle to operatev door and automatically releases to project the bolt when the door is closed. y

Objects relating to details and economies of my invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims. y

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my' invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet having` a latch embodying my invention.

T5 F ig. 2 is an enlarged front view of my improved latch with the handle omitted.

Fig. 3 is an end View looking from the right of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View partially in horizontal section through the cabinet illustrating the arrangement or mounting of my improved latch therein.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View partially in longitudinal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2

with the bolt in projected position.

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 with the bolt in retracted position, and

Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 7--7 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 represents a cabinet the cabinet illustrated being a refrigerator cabinet. The front wall 2 of this cabinet is provided with a door opening 3, the door or closure 4 being hinged at 5.

The door has a recess 6 therein adapted to receive the latch, and a door casing or frame has a keeper recess 7 registering with the latch recess. The latch, designated generally by the numeral 9, is provided with an operating handle 10, the latch being mounted in the recess 6 for coaction with the keeper 11 mounted infthe recess 7 so that the operating handle 10 is substantially the only exposed part.

The latch casing comprises a U-shaped element or member 12 having rearwardly projecting arm portions 13 and outwardly projecting lugs 14. The web portion 16 of this member has a lip-like stop 15 at its forward en A second frame member 17 of U- or channel shape is disposed between the sides of the member 12 and is provided with outwardly extending flanges 19 having counter-sunk holes 20 therein to receive attaching screws. r1`he member 12 has outwardly turned flanges disposed in lapping relation relative to the flanges of the member 17 so that when the parts are mounted on the door they are secured in definite relation to each other. How- Y fever, a further securing means is provided way 25 in which is disposed the reciprocating Vbolt 26. The bolt 26 is provided with a keeper engaging roller 27 at its outer en d and with a supporting roller 28 on which 1t is pivoted at 29 intermediate its ends, so that the bolt may reciprocate, and also is support? ed for tilting orvswinging movement. The roller travels in the Way coacting with the stop 15 to limit the forward or projecting movement of the bolt. The operating lever 30 is pivoted between the lugs 14 by means of the pin 31 and is pivotally connected to v the inner end of the bolt by the pivot 34. The

handle 10 is secured to the lever, so'that it is mounted on the thrust member in sup- )o1-tin"engagement with the )in 37 the inner l n :s Y a end ot" the spring being in supporting enga gement with the shoulders 36 on the thrust or toggle member 33.

- This thrust or toggle member 33 engages the lever at such a point relative to the lever pivot and its connection with the bolt as to provide a. locking toggle as shown in Fig. G. This locking toggle may be broken by the roller 27 coming into engagement with the tappet 44 on the keeper ll. This keeper has a tappet 44 projecting beyond the keeper jaw 45, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, so that the door may be swung closed, bringing the bolt into engagement with the tappet, swinging the bolt on its pivot thereby breaking the toggle and allowing the spring 38 to project the olt.

On the grasping of the handle 10 to open the door, an outward pull or door opening movement'results in first retracting the bolt and locking it in retracted position and continued pull opens the door. -To engage the bolt, it is only necessary to swing the door to closed position. The device would be effec'tive if the keeper did not have the tappet 44, as an inward push on the handle 10 after the door had reached closed position would result -in the breaking of the toggle and the projection of the bolt.

In practice, the casing and keeper are preferably mounted prior to the placing of the

outer finishing panels

49 and 50 of the door and ca ing so that the latch and keeper are entirely enclosed in them and the handle portion of the latch which does not seriously disigure the same.

I thus provide a structure that is very neat in appearance. It is unnecessary to finish parts of the latch other than the handle and there is al minimum of projecting parts.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which I consider highly desirable. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe various adaptations and embodiments which I contemplate, as

it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as 'may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

` 1. In a latch, the combination of a casing having a bolt way, a bolt provided with a supporting roller traveling 1n said way, said bolt being pivotally mounted on said roller at a point intermediate its ends to permit tilting movement of the bolt on the roller, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connected to the inner end of the bolt, a thrust member pivotally and slidably supported on said casing at its outer end and engaging said lever at a point intermediate its supporting pivot and its connection to said bolt, a spring on said thrust member imparting a thrust thereto, said thrust member coacting with said lever to provide a locking toggle for holding said bolt in retracted position and acting to project said bolt when the toggle is broken.

2. In a latch, the combination of a casing having a bolt way, a bolt provided with a supporting roller traveling in said way, said bolt being pivotally mounted on said roller at a point intermediate its ends to permit tilting movement of the bolt on the roller, said way having a stop coacting with said roller limiting the forward movement of the bolt, a lever pivotally mounted in said casing and pivotally connected to the inner end of the bolt, a thrust member pivotally and slidably supported on said casing at its outer end and engaging said lever at a point intermediate its supporting pivot and its connection to said bolt, said .lever and thrust member being notched to provide co-engagingparts, a spring on said thrust member imparting a thrust thereto, said thrust member coacting with said lever to provide a locking toggle for holding said bolt in retracted position and acting to project said bolt when the togand its connection to said bolt, and a spring acting on said thrust member, said thrust member coacting with said lever to provide a locking toggle for holding said bolt in retracted position and acting to project said bolt when the toggle is broken.

4. In a latch, the combination, a sliding bolt supported intermediate its ends for limited tilting movement, a pivotally mounted actuating lever connected to the inner end of said bolt, a bolt actuating spring, and a locking toggle element operatively associated with said spring to be actuated thereby and with said lever for holding the bolt in retracted position.

5. In a latch the combination with means having a reciprocating-bolt way, of a roller disposed in said way, a bolt pivoted to said roller, means limiting the movement of said bolt, means for rocking said bolt about said 'roller pivot as it is recprocated, and toggle means including a spring and said way or locking said bolt in its retracted Position 'when fully retracted and for releasing said bolt from said position u on the reverse rocking of said bolt about said roller pivote In witness whereof T. have hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW EN.