US2493624A

US2493624A - Latch mechanism

Info

Publication number: US2493624A
Application number: US17407A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerson Fred
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-03-27
Filing date: 1948-03-27
Publication date: 1950-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-03

Description

F. GERSON LATCH MECHANISM Jan. 3, 1950 Filed March 27, 1948 my ma www ad. mm f ,W M/ J f ,w www wall 26a, and bottom wall I1 during such swinging movement, either in the direction of arrow A or B for a purpose later to be described. One extreme left position, indicated in dot-dash lines and designated by numeral 38 is shown in Fig. 3, whereby jaw 3l engages the forward end of side wall I4 at 39 and whereby the swinging movement of spring 21 becomes thus limited This position may be predetermined so as to permit spring 21 to move either in its central Vposition (shown in full lines) or to its eXtreme outer positions, either in the direction oi arrow A or B to compensate for any misaligned position which the strike or keeper 35 may take with respect to the jaws 3I, 32 of spring member 21.

Fig, 4 shows keeper 35 in its nal or engagement position in which the jaws 3l and 32 of the latching spring 21 abut laterally at 39 vand 40 against the inner facesN of side walls I4 and I3, respectively, whereby the spring 21 is tensioned and substantially undisplaceably held in 'sideward direction, while the forwardV ends 33 and 34 of the spring jaws 3| and 32 engage with the outer curved ends 33a, 34a. of the keeper 35 in which position the spring 21 is pressed in outward direction.

Fig. 6 shows the latch housing seen in Figs. `2 and 3 together` with a diierently shaped spring 45. This spring 45 has the jaws 4B and 41 similar in shape to jaws 3|, 32 of spring member 21, and the forward, outwardly bentends 48 and 49.

While the rearward end 50 of spring 45 is somewhat curved or rounded, the legs I and 52 interconnecting the end 5 with the jaws 46.and 41, respectively, Vare of such formations that they form a knee or bend 53, 54, respectively,.which 'knee `53 in one position of springV 45 is adapted 41form a unitary section of the-spring 45, that these, spring jaws may move relativelyvto the point of support 53 at I4 and 54 at I3 and are thus biased at said locations of support.

Although jaws 3 I, 32 of Fig. 3 will also be somewhat biased with respect tothe remainderYA of spring 21 (when swung to the extreme positions of which one is indicated in Fig-r3 indotted lines), it will be quite Yobvious that due tothe fact that the location of contact betweenthe'respective knees and-the side walls within theV Vlatch housing I5 (Fig. 6) is more remote from the outer ends 48 and 49 of spring member.45,"the movability and tension of the spring jaws-and 41 willbe quite different as compared with the spring jaws 3l, 32 of spring 21. Thus, it will be seen thatV the same latch housing may be used rear end and projecting beyond said open housing end, and a retainer element forming an integral part of said latch housing and positioned spaced yfrom said inner walls of said latch housing, said rear end of said spring member extending within the space between said housing walls and said retainer element, said retainer element forming a pivot for said spring rear end, whereby said projecting jaws may swing Vwithin the confines of said walls lof said housing.

Having thusdescribed the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a latch mechanism having a keeper and a latch housing with an open end, which housing is dened by a bottom wall, a .top wall, a rear wall and opposite side walls; a single U-shaped spring member provided with an arcuate rear portion and two jaw-forming legs projecting from said rear portion through said open end of said housing for cooperationwith said keeper, the height of said spring member substantially corresponding to the distance between saidtop wall and said bottom wall, and an upright pivot element struck out of the bottom wall and bent to extend substantially parallel to said rear wall, said rear portion of said spring member being positioned for movement about said pivot element within the space defined by said upright pivot element and said rearwall, the extent of movement of said spring member being limitedY by said side walls within said housing against which said legs of said spring member are spread and braced in engaged position of said keeper with said jaws ofsaid spring, member. Y

2.'In a mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is shorter in length than that of said top wall, the height of said pivot elementY being approximately half the height of said rear wall. a Y Y FRED GERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS North et al. June 3, 1941