US2548046A - Latching device - Google Patents

Description

April l0, 1951 R. K. NOTTIGHAM LATCHING DEVICE Filed Aug. l2, 1946 INVENTOR. y Raf/nfl /Vollllz'njam BY Fgl7 . /wfm Ht't'orney Patented pr. 10, 1.951

LATCHING DEVICE Ralph K. Nottingham,

by mesne assignment Portland, Oreg., assignor, s, to Phillips Tutch Latch Co., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 12, 1946, Serial N 0. 689,887

9 Claims. l

The present invention relates to latching devices such as may be suitable for use in connection with doors, drawers, Windows, and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved latching device which may be mounted, for example, on a cabinet door, and which is operable solely in response to pressure exerted against the iront side of the door. The latching device is entirely concealed, with no portions thereof protruding from or visible from the front side of the door. The door is latched in the closed position upon closing movement of the door and is unlatched merely by exerting a further slight pressure against the iront surface of the door.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved latching device of the class described which is effective for retaining the door in the closed condition substantially irrespective of the force or speed with which the door may be closed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved latching device of the type described and which comprises a minimum number of movable parts, all of the parts of the device being of simple design and of low cost manufacture. Y

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying f drawings while the features of novelty will be pointed out with greater particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. l is a front elevation illustrating a cabinet with the flush type door equipped with a latching device of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one portion of the latching device of the present invention and taken along the line 2-7-2 of Fig. 1; Fig.` 3 is airont elevation illustrating a second part? of the latching device of the present invention and taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is aside elevation taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side elevation taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the parts in proper relative position of mounting; Figs. 7 to 16 inclusive are fragmentary detail views explanatory of the operationof the latching device of the invention; and Fig. 17 is a` fragmentary sectional view taken along the line I'I-I'I of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the latching device of the invention will be described as it may be mounted in a cabinet. It will become apparent; however, as `the v'description` proceeds that the latching device may be used in connection with other applications in which it may be desired to latch a movable member in any limit position relative to a stationary member. The cabinet shown in Fig. 1 comprises a movable member or door Ill hingedly mounted by hinges II within a stationary member or casing I2 dened by the cabinet frame. The doorIll is of the flush type and is held closed by the latching device, the cooperating parts of which are mounted as indicated at I3 at adjacent points of the outer edge of the door and of the door casing. The latching device has no parts projecting from the outer surface of the cabinet and is wholly concealed from View from the iront side of the cabinet. No knob, handle or pull is required so that there is no hardware iixture extending from the front surface to interfere with dusting,

f polishing or cleansing the outer surface of the cabinet. The door is biased outwardly at least when in the closed and partially closed conditions by any suitable spring means such as the button spring unit I4 sunk in the hinged edge of the door and shown in Fig. 17. The spring means may equally well be incorporated in the hinges or otherwise as desired.

The latching device of the present invention is comprised essentially of two parts, a latch part and a`keeper part, one of which is adapted to be mounted on one of the relatively movable cabinet members while the other cooperating part is adapted to be mounted on the other cabinet member. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 the keeper is mounted on a rectangular metal mounting plate I5 secured as by screws I6 to one of the cabinet members, such as the door casing i2. A keeper indicated generally at Il is loosely mounted for free pivotal movement upon the plate I5 by means of pin I8. The keeper being generally elongate, depends vertically downwardly from the pin I8 in the inoperative position as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. While the keeper I1 may be machined it is preferred for reasons of greater economy of manufacture to die cast the same of suitable metal alloy. The keeper comprises a pear-shaped back portion 20 with an outstanding boss 2| having symmetrical front and rear sides and defining a shoulder 22 therebetween facing away from the pin I8, there being a depending lip 23 on each of the opposite sides of the shoulder 22 extending toward the lower end of the body member. A stop portion 2li projects outwardly from the lower end of the back portion 20, the stop portion 24 being centrally angles to the base portion 3B. The prongs 34, 35.l

extend parallel with each other and with the ange portion 3l, the prongs being somewhat shorter than the width of the flange 3l. The latch unit as shown is adapted'to-be, mounted within a mortised recess provided.. inthe rear edge of the door and to be secured 'in place such as by screw 38. In Fig. 6 is illustrated the-proper relative locations for the latch unit and thekeeper unit in the corresponding portions of the cabinet. Theprongs 34, 35vextend in a vertical` plane parallelwith the vertical plane through the axis of the keeper pin I8 and are symmetrically spaced above andbelow the horizontal plane of the, keeper pin I8.- The lower prong 34 will hereafterbereferred to as a latch pin while the upper prong v 3 5 vwill be referred ,to` as the stop pin.

Referring nowparticularlyto the views of Figs. 7 toi 16 v inclusive the mode of operation of the late hingdevice of the present invention will now be described.V Referring first to Fig. 7 particular attention is ldirected to the fact that the upper surfaceof the latch pin 34 is spaced closerto the keeperpin I8 .than the shoulder 22 oi the keeper. As theI cabinet dooris moved tothe closed position the latch pin 34 will bear against the forward side of theboss 2l and cause the keeper to swing about itspivotal axis in the direction to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8. In Fig. 8 the keeper is shown in theY position atthe instant the edge of the lip 23 clears the edge of the latch pin 34. .As the lip 23 clears the latch pin the keeper will drop downwardly until the stop portion 24 of the keeper comes to rest against the upper surface of the latch pin'rasshown in Fig. 9. Engagement of the flange-3| ywiththe end of the keeper arrests further inward movement-ofthe door so that the latchvpinf34 cannot pass beyond the lower end of therstop-24. Theposition illustrated in Fig. 9 thereforerepresents the inward limit position of the-latch device and of the door. As pressure upon the front side of the door is released, the door will beurged outwardly by virtue of the biasing spring I4 mounted at the hinge edge of the doorwhereupon. the Y. latch pinwill move outwardlyaslight distance .and the stop portionr24.

of ,fthe keeper, will drop from the forward edge of thelatch pin as shown in Fig. 10. Continued outward. movement ofthe latch pin 34, and hence of the door, will be arrested by engagement of the latch pin against the shoulder 22;.of vthe keeper. The latchedposition is illustrated in Fig. 11 and it will be observed that in this position the keeper is tilted atan angle which may, for convenience, bereferred to as the operative or latched position of-the keeper. Outward movement of the latch pin, orto the left, as viewed in Fig. 11 isrendered impossible due to the fact that the distance rbetween the horizontal plane through the pivotal axis of the keeper and the upper surface of the latchn pinA is less thanthe distance between the pivotal Vaxis of the keeper and the shoulder 22.

Attention is directed to the fact that latching occurs irrespective of the speed or force with whichthegdoorrmay be closed.A Complete rotation of the keeper unit Il as upon sharp impact by latch pin 34 is precluded for as viewed in Fig. 8 the upper prong 35 forms a stop against which the swinging keeper will strike causing it to rebound against the latch pin 34. Since inward movement of the door isrpositively arrested by engagement of the angle flange 3l against the head of thevkeeper, as shown in Fig. 9, it is impossible forthe latch pin `V34 to Inove'beyond latching position, or beyond the stop portion 24 of the keeper. Thus upon slight outward movement of the door following the initial closure thereofengagement of the latch pin against the shoulder -2'2 of thekeeper is assured.

Unlatching isaccomplished merely by exertion of a slight,pressureagainst the front side of the door and movement of the door inwardly beyond the latched positionas illustrated in Fig. 11 towardthe` inward limit position, or as illustrated in Fig. 12. In Fig. 12 is illustrated the relative positionsof the latchparts following slight inward movement of thedoor and in lwhich position the rear lip 23 of the keeper is shown ready to slip free from the upper surface of the latch pin 34, to theinoperative position. In Fig. 13 the.

keeper is shown in the vertical or inoperative position free of the latch pin. Outward movement of the door under force of the biasing spring 28 is thus` permitted and as illustrated in Fig. 14 the keeper is tilted toward the left and the boss 2I,passes between the two pins 34 and135 until finally it swings entirely free as illustrated by the successive relative positions shown in Figs. 15 and `16.

Attention is'directed Itothe-fact that the keeper is symmetrical on opposite sides of the vertical plane through the pivotal axis and the stop portion24 thereof and that the latch pin 34 and stop pin 35 are symmetrical above and below the y horizontal plane throughr the pivotal axis of the keeper. The two latch yparts may therefore be inverted for use on a left hand d-oor instead of on a right hand doorasshown. Also, the keeper I1 is shown biasedto the inoperative position vby force of gravity which is satisfactory where the,

latch device istO-bemcunted inaV vertical position. It will be obvious thatif the.device is to.

be mounted in ahorizrontally extending position,

suitable springrmeans may be provided for bias-v ing the keeper tothe inoperative position.

FurthermoreZ it is not essential that the stop f flange 3l be provided on the latch plate 30. A suitable inward limit stop for the door ofthe cabinet may beA provided bythe'forward edge .of a shelf, such Aas is indicated at 40 in Fig. 2.,

Reduced to its essential elements therefore,the.

invention comprises al latch pin anda pivoted keeper, the keeper having a shoulderv which enfV gages the latch pinfupon closing ci thedoortdl hold it in .alatched position, the latch pin-being;r releasedI upon a `further inward movement-ofthe door which results in the keeper-,swinging free of I the latchpin to an inoperative position.

I1 am familiar with the prior United Statesf Patents 1,493,794and 1,509,780, both to NellA., Robertson and'no claim is made herein to any-f.v

thing disclosed 4in such patents.

What I claim is:

apart, said device comprising .a latch pin adapted to be mounted on one of said members, a keeper adapted to be pivotally mounted on the other of said members, said keeperincluding aboss lhay,

ing forward `and rear sides and dening a shoulder therebetween facing away from and spaced ,from the pivotal axis of said keeper a distance slightly greater than thev distance between said pivotal axis and the path of travel of said latch pin, said latch pin engaging the forward side of said boss of said keeper upon movement of said members relatively together and swinging said keeper from a normal inoperative .position to an operative position angularly disposed with respect to said inoperative position, said latch pin upon slipping past the edge of said boss engaging said shoulder whereby said latch pin is restrained against outward movement in a latched position, said keeper including -a stop portion spaced from said shoulder for precluding return movement of said keeper to said inoperative position prior to engagement of said latch pin against said shoulder, stop means on said one member for limiting movement of said members relatively together to a limit position slightly beyond said latched position, said latch pin being releasable in response to a subsequent movement of said members toward said limit position whereupon said latch pin disengages said shoulder permitting said keeper to swing freely to said inoperative position, said members being then free to separate.

2. In a latching device for a Ipair of members movable relative to each other along a predetermined line of movement and normally biased apart, said device comprising a latch pin adapted to be stationarily mounted on one of said members, a keeper adapted toV be pivotally mounted on the other of said members, said keeper including a boss having forward and rear sides and defining a shoulder therebetween facing away from and spaced from the pivotal axis of said keeper va distance slightly greater than the distance between said pivotal axis and the path o f travel of said latch pin, said latch pin engaging the forward side of said boss upon movement of said members relatively togetherV for swinging said keeper.- from an inoperative to an operative position, stop means on said one member spaced from said latch pin for limiting the swinging movement of said keeper on said other member, said latch pin upon slipping past the edge of said boss engaging said shoulder whereby saidflatch is restrained against outward movement in a latched position, said keeperincluding a stop portion spaced from said shoulder for precluding return swinging movement of said keeper prior to engagement of said latch pin with said shoulder, said latch pin being releasable in response to movement of said members toward each other beyond said latched position whereupon said latch pin passes between said shoulder and said stop portion permitting said keeper to swing freely from said latch pin, said latch pin engaging `with the rear side of said boss to swing said keeper forwardly as said members are subsequently moved relatively apart.

3. In a latching device for a pair of members movable relative to each other along a predetermined line of movement and normally biased apart, said device comprising a latch pin adapted to be mounted on one of said members, a keeper adapted to be pivotally mounted on the other of said members, said keeper including a boss having forward and rear sides and dening a shoulder therebetween facing away from and spaced from the pivotal axis of said keeper a distance slightly greater than the distance between said pivotal axis and the path of travel of said latch ping past the edge of said boss engaging said shoulder whereby said latch pin is restrained against outward movement in a latched position, said keeper including a stop portion spaced from said shoulder, said stop portion engaging said latch pin prior to engagement of said latch pin with said shoulder to prevent pivotal movement of said keeper to an inoperative position, said latch pin` being releasable in response to subsequent movement of said members toward each other beyond said latched position, whereupon said latch pin slips between said shoulder and said stop portion free of said keeper, said latch pin engaging with the rear side of said boss to swing said keeper outwardly to an inoperative position permitting free relative separation of said y members.

4. In a latching device for a pair of members movable relative to each other along a predetermined line of" movement and normally biased apart, said device comprising a latch adapted to be mounted on one of said members, a keeper adapted to be Ypivotally mounted on the other of said members, said keeper including a boss having forward'and rear sides dening a shoulder therebetween facing away from and spaced from the pivotal axis of said keeper a distance slightly greater than thedistance between said pivotal axis and the path of travel of said latch, said latch engaging the forward side of said boss upon movementvof said members relatively to-ether and swinging said keeper from an inoperative to an operative position, said latch upon slipping past the edge of said forward side of said boss engaging said shoulder whereby said latch is restrained against outward movement in a latched position, means on said keeper for precluding return movement of said keeper to said inoperative position prior to engagement of said latch against said shoulder, said latch being releasable in response to a further movement of said members relatively together beyond said latched position whereupon said shoulder slips free of said latch, said latch engaging with therear side of said boss to swing said keeper outwardly to an inoperative condition permitting free relative separation of said members.

5. In a latching device for cooperating fixed and movable members normally biased apart at least when in close proximity to each other, said members being movable toward each other to a limit position, said device comprising a latch stationarilycarried byone of said members, a keeper pivotally carried by the other of said members, said keeper being actuated to an operative position by said latch upon a first movement of said members together, said keeper including a shoulder for engaging and restraining said latch in said operative position against withdrawal, said keeper including stop means for maintaining said keeper in said operative position in event of movement of said members past said operative position to said limit position during said first movement, said stop means being spaced from said shoulder whereby upon a subsequent movement of said members from said latched position toward said limit position, said latch may pass between said shoulder and said stop means to permit pivotal movement of said keeper to an inoperative position and separation of said members.

6. A latching device comprising a latch and a keeper adapted to be mounted for movement relativo tcochzotherlooe @predetermined pethof. tlerolnsoidekoopor Y.beine elongated .cnopirctclly mopptcdct one ,cpd-for pivotalmovomcnt about an, exis .cxtcncimeot fight ongles. .mooie-pompt Heriot-Said lic-cpe' boing.. pvotollyfmpvablceipo plepcparallcl tooaid patriot trevctseid koop@ thccirtopcrotvc*position extending. in. .aoliroctipp.; amigo-tangles to sciofparoofetrovc1iconecten., including; .of.pcrtion;cneaeoeblc :witohci-sido1ofe-.s Soidtkocpclf upon@ rstmcvomcet .of;,;Soi i;1aichcloth/olvl toward. Soidgkcopor for Svi/,1.11eiinaSeid; kcopol'gopoot rScifi-#pcc to op operativo postionr, Seid-kooper- -inclpdipa o Shoulder. which; ip caio 1 opcrctiroepcsiton, engages Seid ;,1otcn;portion to. restrain scidfzlctchoioo oproc1otcrmiricdipostiopel said keeper beingrestored to said inoperativegpof sition-by further relative movement of said keeper ond-Saiddotchp tcwardlcach. ctllcr whereby Seid., latch. ist-,released for relativomovcmcptpway'from said keeper, said keeper including means .forupre cludinggetuin movement ofsaid keeper fro1n sa 1 d operative to said inoperative vlposii'donprionto engagement of said latch. against said shoulder upon` saidrrst movement oi said latohtoward Ysaid keepen 7. Inay latchingwdeviceior apair A-of relativelyj movable .members, saidjdevicepomprising arst f unitincludine o. latchodeptco tov'bczmcoptod op ong-of said )mem-bersi-and a -second unit including oekoopop adapted@ bo mcontcdpn-thc othcpcf-r Soidsmomborso pivot pinapvotelly supporting; seidekccpcracofooid- Second unit, Seid kccpcr do:`V ningfashpulder. facing away fromsaid pivot ping saidrst and secondvunitsmeing adapted tobe Scpositicpod with respect toccch: .cthclthet wop; 2f

ctflrst rolotivcfclosipsfmovomcpt of coidmcmocrs@ saidl latch engages behind said shoulderfto rez, Stlcnosoid mcmbcrsfin latchccposition` ande-oe Stop portionon; Soictcccopd -lmit spacco, from l said shoulder andyadapted tobelengaged by,said uf gegcmcpt .of caidlotchoeaicSt-Soid .clcicclclcrf` said; latch upon y,subsequent movementpf-said-memf, bers Y in. the same. directionbeyond said ,latched positior 1 disengaging said shoulderY -and .passing 45 o bctwccnf--sod Shoulder :ondfsoidstop .-portiopttc, porfinitseporotionof ooidmcmborise 8, In alatcning` device ,for .use with a.. pairlof t relatively ,movable members said devicercomprise. ing a rst unit including a latchfxadapdto bef. assooiatedfwithvone of said Amembersi` and aseccpo .unit including o kcepcr odeptcdA tolocfaccc? otcowith.-.tho-.otherof said members-o pivot Pipi,- protallvfsopportine seid kooporeon said secondo engagement ,of-'said latchfagainst said-shoulder,-r

saidf latch upon, subsequent movement of 1 saidunits in ,the same direction'beyond said latchedposition disengaging said shoulder and. passing betweenasaidsshouldergand.said stop portion to, permit separation of said units.

9-.3- In a latching device for use. in latchingtwo separable members together against theforceofv means urgingthe`v members apart, the improvement comprising aflrst latching unit adapted to 20v bemounted on one member, a latch mounted on said'firstfunit, asecond latching Iunit adapted' to'bemounted on therother member to cooperate with said'frst-,unit wherebyfto hold said mem@ bers in latched relation to each other, a pivot pin mounted on said second unit, akeeper pivota1ly-y mounted on. said pivot pin and defining a shoulder facing away from v said pivotA pin, and a sopf mounted on said second unit, said-stop being f engageable by said latch upon a rst relativerclosing movement ofsaid units to such-an extent' thatsaidlatch passes beyond vsaid shoulder; said-f` stop; relatively guiding said latch :and lkeeper .into A latching` relation to each other upon the initiationV Ofseparating movement of saidfunitsy whereby the forceof said means is restrained by said latch. and keeper to hold'the units in latchedposition. saidzlatehvandsaid=stop beingin such relativer. position when .the forcenof said f means is being.v restrained i thereby as .to permit -said latch topass 4beyond-'said stop upon a subsequent move-. ment; inv `tnedirection ofl closing vwhereby saidmembers may thereupon be separated.

RALPH'K. NOTTINGHAM.;-

REFERENCES CITED z The following referencesare of record11i-viziatafile of jthis -patent :Y l

UNITED STATES PATENTS..

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