US2334065A - Reerigerator latch - Google Patents

Description

NOV. 9, 1943. w o BURKE 2,334,065

REFRIGERATOR LATCH Filed June 5, 1940 3 cs-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 9, 1943. w. o. BURKE REFRIGERATOR LATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1940 R E IQ; l:

Nov. 9, '1943. w. o. BURKE REFRIGERATOR LATCH Filed June 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATEurjoFFlcE William 0. Burke, Rockford, .1ll.,,.assigmr to. Na..- tionalfLock 00,, Rockford, 111., a .corporation of Delaware Application Junefi, 1940, Serial'No..-338,8 '73 11 Claims. (crass-122x: 1

This invention relates in general to .door latches and is exemplified in the present instance as embodied in a latch particularly adapted for use onrefrigerator doors. The principles of my invention, however, may be utilized in latchesof different designs adapted for a variety of uses.

One of the advantageous features of my latch, particularly when used as a refrigerator latch, resides in the fact'that when the door is closed the latch will not only secure the door against accidental cpeningyas the result of pressure on the inside of the door, but will alsotend to draw the door into a more snugly closed position so as to obviate air leakage past the sealing strip around the door. I

Where a single latch is employed on a refrigerator door, such latch usually, in order to be most effective, must be located approximately midway between the top and bottom of the door. This position of the latch, however, locates the handle, if aligned with the-latch, toolow for-convenient manipulation.

Another purpose of my present invention, therefore, is to provide a latch in which the op-' erating handle willbe located-considerably above the latch bolt and will-be of such length as to be conveniently operable even should the user be carrying dishes or utensils in her hands.

Another'purpose is toprovide-alatch, the operating handle of which is universally mounted so that when pulled outwardly or moved laterally in either direction, such, handle movement will release, the latch bolt and permit the door to,

open.

Another purpose ,ofthe invention is tov provide,

a latch which will permit the latch bolt to be thrust inwardly upon engagement-with the strike in closing the door but without transmitting Fig. 1 is a perspective :view of a refrigerator cabinet showing the locationof my latch handle on the door thereof;

Fig. 2'is a vertical sectional view. on the'lin -2,.2of Figs. 1 and 3;

Eig. ,3:is,a sectional viewon the line of Fig. 2 with the latch bolt inprojected position;

.Fig. 4' is afragmentary view showing the'aotuation of .t-herslidea-produced byzlateralmovement ofthehan le; i

li iggaisa View similar to. Fig. 3 showing. the slide as actuated; by an outward {pull upon :the

handle;fi-= m Eig. 4631s a: sectional View of the latch the, boltinproiected position;

i Fig. .7 is 1a; similar-view sshowing the latzohzbolt inretractfid osltiom.' r 1 Fig. 8i isya- :view similar lid-Figs. 6 and: .illustrating a modified. form..qfailatch; and:

Fig-191s a'rsimil'ar: view of a further modification.

Referring to the drawings morein; detail, the refrigerator cabinetillustratediin'; Fig. l is designated .by reference character let-,thevdoor thereof: by L2, andlthe exposed la-tch-,handle-.for ojperating the :latch by referencecoharacter :13;

iTheohandle "is ilormed atrit's base :to provide a dished head having .a central, inwardly vex? tending stud ,-.or';proje :tion zltiproviding :an annular curved shoulder l b ?seated for. universal movementiin a: socket. *I'BdOrmedIinan escutcheon plate l9.. This plateiis providedzwith a peripheral, inwardly-extending flange 12 l; adaptedlto. seat against the outer fa'ce' of. the-door .122 .and .with tapped'studs 2-2., 23; and .24tuadapted to receive fastening screws 25- by which the escutcheon is fixedly-mounted on the door.

A- dished plate 26 overlying: the: socket carrying portion of the escutoheon serves. to close the space between the escutclieon and the ihandle base fiangeand also overlies the-outer end of the socket 1'8 so as to'prevent'l the' spring-l'linterposed between this' plate and the handle head from entering orbecomingcaught in the socket when the'handle is :tilted. This spring exerting an outward thrust onthe handle-head yieldinglyholds the head and-handle in the normal' position I illustrated in-Fig. 2 and restores the handle to such normal position after eachactuation or manipulation thereof, 3 1

The handle head -projection -lli is provided with'a;*preferably rectangular =bore adapted to receive the shank ili of a bar 4%projctingiin opposite directions from the shank-at th'e inner end of the projection-1KI A=-locking piri3l extendingthrough-the projection H5 --and the shank 28 rigidly connects -the bar with the handle head showin and contact of the :bar with the inner end :of

of" spring 21 normally tending rto "separate" them;

A channel-shaped housing 3'2 --is'-:providedat its The operating bar 29 is disposed contiguous to the upper end wall3l of this slideand in proximity to a pair of studs 38 and 88 carried by the housing. The slide is slotted to accommodate these studs and permits its reciprocatory movemerits. A coiled spring 4| disposed in a. slot 42 of the'slide and interposed between the lower end of this slot and an upturned lug 43 formed in the housing 32 urges the slide downwardly viewing Fig.v 3 to engage its 'end wall 81with' the bar 29.

An outwardpull exerted upon the'handle is will cause the handle head to pivot inits socket l8, thereby moving the bar 29 upwardly carry ing with it the slide 35 into v.thepositlon illustrated in Fig. 5; The corresponding position of the handle is shown in, Fig. 6 in dotted lines indicated by A. Should the-handle be swung laterally, for instance, to the right viewing Figs. I and 6, the bar 29 will be swung aboutits point of contact with thestud '38, thereby causing the other end of the bar to move the slide 55 upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 4. This movement of the bar 28 is accompanied by a rise in elevation ofthe inner end portion of the shank 28 whichcauses the end of the handle to travel away from the face of the door as it is moved laterally so that when the slide flhas been moved to the position shown in Fig. 4, the handle will assume the dotted line position indicated by B in Fig.6. 1 This rise .in elevation of the end of. the shank 28 will be apparent from:

a comparison of Figs. 3 and .4, the latter clearly showing the inner end of theshank raised relative to the stationary .studs 58 and.. Should the handle be swung to the left instead of to the right, the stud 88 will serve as the fulcrum for lever'29, and the parts will assume the reverse,

position with the handle end disposed at the left of its normal position and outwardlytherefrom.

' inner wall of the slide housing 32. Movement.

of the-bell crank lever by the slide from the normal position of Fig. 3 to the .unlatching position of Figs. 4 or 5 will cause bell crank lever 48 to be moved by lever 85 from the position indicated in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7. v A

coiled spring 52 urges bellggcranklever .48 into.

the normal or latching position shown in Fig. 6. The arm 54 of bell crank lever 48 is of channel shape comprising two side walls joined by the channel bottom 55. l v

A link 55, is slidably connected to the longer end of the bell crank lever 48 by atransversely extending pin 58 extending through a slot'5l in the link.; The opposite end of the link v is pivoted at 59 to the head 5| of an L-shaped latch member comprising the arm 62 pivoted at 58between the walls of the housing 5| and a latch bolt 64. ,preferablyof Bakelite or similar comof the head 5| and secured by rivets or the like 58. The end 55 of the latch bolt is rounded to ride against the inclined ,face 55 of the strike 61 and thereby force the latch bolt inwardly into the casing against the force of spring 58 when th door is swung to closed position, The bolding face 69 of the latch bolt is inclined or undercut to cooperate with the inclinedface ll of the strike socket so as to securely hold the door against accidental opening. A bolt escutcheon i2 surrounds the opening in the casing 5| through which the latch bolt projects.

The side walls of the latch mechanism housing 5| are provided at. their ends adjacent the latch boltwith laterally projecting flanges 18, the outer ends of which are bent at right angles to provide flanges 14. These flanges are secured by bolts or screws to the frame 15 o! the doorthereby, together with the fastening for the slide housing 82, securely and rigidly attaching the entire assembly to the door on which" it is mounted. s

A latchmounted in the manner disclosed is located onthe doorthat the latchbolt is disposed i substantially midway between the top; and bottom of the door, and the handle which is mountedsome distance above the latch boltextends'upwardly from its mounting to be disposed in a conveniently accessible position to the user. When it is, desired toopen the door, the handle is manipulated either by pulling outwardly vupon it or by pushing orpullingthe same laterally in either direction. The knob 15, with which the upper end of the handle iszequipped, isshown in its normal position in Fig. 6 in. full lines, and in two operative positions in dotted lines. .When moved from normal to any of the operative positions, the bar 25 moves the slide longitudinally in the manner previously described from the position shown in Fig. 3 to thatgshown in Figs. 4 and 5, and swinging bell crank lever ,45 from. the position shown in Fig, 3 to that shown in Fig. v5, thereby swinging bell crank lever 48 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 7. This movement of bell crank lever 48 retracts the latch bolt, 54 from locking position.

illustrated in Fig. .6, to the released position, shown in Fig, 7, thereby permitting the door to swing open When handle I3 is released. the

parts are all respectively restored to their normal position by the springs 21, 4| and 52.

When't-he door is swung to closed position,zthe

curved face 55 of latch bolt 54 rides over the inclined face 55 of the strike, thereby swinging the latch bolt about its pivot 63 in a clockwise direction viewing Fig. 6 against the force of spring 58. The bell crank lever 48 and all of the connections betweenit and the handle I8 remain stationary during this inward movement of the faces 59 and II of the latch bolt and tlie strike recess, respectively, are inclined with'respeot' to the opposed faces ofthe'door and lamb and'that the latch bolt travels in an' are about the pivot point so that the farther the latch'boit is projected into the strikerecess by the spring 58 the po ition, fixe ly mounted between the sidewalls tighter the door will be pulled against the lamb.

Any slight movement of. the door. as. the result of: jarring orxas. the resultofi pressure upon either the inside or outside of. UhE'zdOOI'IWlH tends to cause the bolt to :be projected st'ill farther; into thestrike. recesstor force the door: into more snug relation with. its jambeand thereby insure against air leakage around the door. 1

In Fig. .8 I have illustrated a; modified; iormof latch particularly adapted foruse with. refri erator doors which; overlie the front: edges-of: the cabinet side walls and: provide a door opening equalain width. tothe distance between .the side walls. "Onthis figure; m 'indicatesaone oi side walls .of a refrigerator cabinet, the. shell. only being shown with. the insulation. between the shell inner andouter'wallsbmitted. "The front face: of this wall is equipped with a strike base '13- .upon which astrike .Tljsaads'ustably mounted and .held in adjusted position by'one. or more screws .75.

'llhe door indicated generally by reference character 16 is provided with aicup-shaped element ll adaptedto receive .the strike. The latch bolt 1-8 is'pivotallysupported. at Hand connected by a link 8| with a rocker; .a-rmx82. pivoted. at 83 between the side Walls oi the latch mechanism housing 8.4. A. plunger .85 operable by a pivoted handle or other operating. mechanism (not shown) is adaptedtoswingthe rocker in a clockwise direction to withdraw the latch bolt "from engagement with the strike. .It will be observed that in this instance .the link at :is .directly pivoted at ca m the :latchbolt and at 851. to the rocker 82 without any lost motion. connection. The

latch. bolt is urged into the projected latching position shown on the drawing by an expansion spring 88 interposed between. the head .89 of a link-9! and .a stationary pin. 92xextending through a slot 93 of the link 9|. Upon retractionoi the latch bolt either by actuation -.of the rocker .82, or by engagementuof the bolt with the cam surfacezof the strike 14' upon closing the door, the link 9.! slides upon the pin. 92' permitting the spring 88. to be compressed. The normal position of the .parts with the latch bolt projected is shown on thedrawing.

Fig. *9 illustratesanother modification of structure in which the strike base 94 extends into the side wall of the cabinet and carries an adjustable strike 95 adapted to enter "a cup-shaped member 96 when the door is in closed position. as illustrated. 'In this instance, the bolt 91 is pivoted at 98 and connected by a link 8 9 with the bell crank member HH through the intermediary of a pin W2 and asl'ot 103 in the link. An expansion spring N14 is interposed between the pin Hi2 and the head of the link. 3

The bell crank member "NH is 'fulcrumed at 185 and carries a roller I06 interposed in the path of a second bell crank lB'l fulcrumed at A88 and positioned in the path of a reciprocatory plunger :09 which may be projected inwardly by manipulation of any suitably mounted handle. or other operating device (not shown).

In this instance, actuation of thejbell .crank I 0! willrock bell crank-[0| in a counterclockwise direction similarly to the operation of bell crank 48 previously explained in connection with Figs. 6 and 7. It will be noted also that the latch bolt in Figs. 8 and 9 is, in each instance, pivotally mounted to swing in an arc and is so shaped that any disturbance of the door will cause the latch bolt under the influence of its projecting spring to draw the door more closely into sealing. engagement with, the opposedcabinet.

The structural detailaillustrated and described may obviously be; varied. within considerable limits without;exceedingothe. scope :ofthe. invention. asidefined in the following-claims.

.1. In. a. refrigerator-latch. the combination .ofanielongatedzslideyhousing ladaptcdtozbe. mountedin vertical position upon. theiinner. race of. a door walk. a reciprocatory sli e member isposed. within. saidyhousing, a-;.handle. adapted .to be; .disnosedsunonlthe outeriacc of. the door and providedwith. a pro ection. extending throu h the door; wall. into said housin a socket fixe to the door. wall and in which; said projection is mounted for universaltmovement, an, arm. carried' by: said projection in; operative relation to said slide, a latch mechanism housing carried by said slide housing near the lower end thereof and :remoteinom s id. operating arm, a l cnankleveroperable by" said :slide, a latch bolt pivotally mounted in said; latch, mechanism housing. a. spring normally urging said latch bolt. into projected. position, and mechanism interposed between said latch bolt and said; bellycrank lever whereby said. latch boltv is: retracted upon manipulation; of, :said handle.v

2.. I-n-ia refrigerator latch; mechanism, the com.- binationof asocket adapted tobemountedupon a, door wall, :a. handle havin a head p vi e with. a projection mounted for universal movement within-said. (socket. and. extending, therethrough, an arm carried by said projection, a spring for yieldingly retaining. said: handle in normal position, .a. slide housing adapted ,to :be mounted upontheinside of the doorwalL: areoiprocatory slide mounted said housing with the upper end thereof, in cooperative relation with said arm, a. bell crank lever connected with the slower endiof said slide, a latch mechanism housing projecting from said. slide 'housing in proximity to said bell crank lever, a latch bolt pivotally mountedLi-n said latch mechanism housing, a spring urging .said latch :bolt into projected position, and mechanism. between. said latch bolt andsaidzbell. crank lever whereby said latch bolt is retracted upon. manipulation of saidhandle.

3. In a latch mechanism, the combination of a housingadapted to be mounted upon the inner face of a door wall, :a :pivotally mounted latch bolt mountedxwithin said housing,- av spring for projecting :the holding end of said latch bolt outwardly of .said housinginto cooperative relation with a strike to latch the d'OOI'xiD. closed position, a bell crank lever in said housing, a link connecting said bolt with said lever, a second zbell crank lever mounted to operate said first lever, aslide connected .tofisaid asecond' lever to operate the same, an arm lforactuating said slide, and ahandle carrying said arm, said handle being mounted for rotative and tilting movements :to retract said :latch bolt through the cooperative action of said slide, bell cranklevers and link.

4. In a latch mechanism, the combination of a slide housing adapted to be mounted on a door, a latch mechanism housing secured to said slide housing, latch mechanism within said housing comprising a pivotally mounted latch bolt, a bell crank lever, a link connecting said bolt and lever and a spring for projecting said bolt, 2. reciprocatory slide in said slide housing, a bell crank lever operable thereby to actuate said first wall; of;

mentioned bell crank lev'er, an arm for actuating said slide, and a universally mounted handle to which said arm is connected.

5.' In a latch mechanism, thecombination of a statlonarily mounted semispherical socket, a handle provided with a projection extending through an opening in said socket and having a semisphericalshoulder seated in the socket so as to permit universal movement of thehandle, an operating arm carried by said projectioma slide operable by said arm upon either rotating or tilting movement of thehandle, fixed tulcrum means engageable byan-end of said operating arm constraining saidarm and its projection to move about said fulcrum upon rotation of said handle, the opening in the socket through which the projection extends being enlarged at one portion thereof to permit movement of the projection therein laterally when said handle is eitherlrotated or tilted, a bell crank lever connected to said slide to be operated thereby, a second bell crank lever mounted to be operated by said'first bell crank lever, a pivotally mounted latch bolt,

a link connecting said'bolt with said second bell crank lever, and a spring for yieldably projecting said latch bolt. r

' 6. In a latch mechanism, the combination of a dished socket adapted to be mounted upon a door, a handle provided withan extension projecting loosely through an opening in, the socket and including an arcuate shoulderlseated in said socket for universal movement so as to permit universal movement of the handle relatively to the socket, an operating arm carried by the projection, a fixed fulcrum memberlocated at a point near one end of said operating arm,a reciprocatory slide, a spring for maintaining saidslide in proximity to said arm, a bolt, and means including a bell crank lever for transmitting movement from said slide to said bolt, said arm being movable in an are about the center of the socket upon tilting movement of the handle and being rotatable about said fixed fulcrum point near said one end of said operating arm upon rotative movement of said handle, to actuate said slide.

'7. In a latch mechanism, the combination of a bolt, a longitudinally movable slide, means disposed between said slide and bolt for actuating said bolt upon longitudinal movement of said slide, a socket adapted to be mounted on a door, a handle provided with a projection extending through said socket and including a shoulder seated in said socket so as to permit universal movement of said handle, a pair of fixed studs mounted in spaced relation, and an armmounted intermediate its ends on the inner end of said projection between said slide and said studs whereby. the slide is actuated by both tilting and rotating movements of said handle in the socket.

8... In a latch mechanism, the combination of a bolt, a longitudinallymovable slide, connections through which said bolt .is actuated upon movement of the slide, a supporting structure including a parti-spherical socket, the walls 01 the socket being formed'to provide a'hollow extension projecting from the bottom of the socket, a

handle having a parti-spherical portion seated in said socket and a projection into said socket extension, a pairoif stationary studs, and an oper-' ating bar mounted :on said handle projection and positioned betweena portion of. the slide and said studs whereby movement of the handle in having an opening ltherethrough a handle provided with a projection extending through said opening and having a parti-spherical' portion seated in saidisocket, a fixed stud carried by said housing and oilset from the axis of said projection, and an operating member carried by said studs, a handle having a projection extending through said socket and provided with a partispherical seating portion seated in said socket, an operating bar mounted intermediate its ends on i said handle projection, said bar being positioned between a portion of said slide and said studs, and a spring interposed between said supporting structure and said handle torrestoring the handle to normal position.

11. A latch operating means comprising a supporting structure, said supporting structure having a parti-spherical socket and-a shank-receiving opening communicating with said socket, a slidesupported for rectilinear sliding movement on said supporting structure and having laterally extending flange means at one end thereof, said flange means being disposed to one. side of the axis of, said shankrreceiving opening, a spring disposedupon the opposite side of the axisoi' said shank-receiving opening arranged 10.1101, mally urge said flange means in a dir'ectiontm ward said axis, a handlehaving a parti-spherical.

an, operating arm secured to the inner end of said shank and having slide engaging portions arranged to engage said flange means on the side thereof nearest the axis of said shank-receiving opening, wherebysaid slide is operated to efiect movement of said flange means in a direction farther away from the axis of said shank-receiw' ing opening against the resistance offered by said spring upon either a rotary or tilting movement of said handle.

' WILLIAM O. BURKE.

Images