US2717796A

US2717796A - Flush latch

Info

Publication number: US2717796A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles G Cudney
Original assignee: ELEANOR M HARTWELL
Current assignee: ELEANOR M HARTWELL
Priority date: 1952-02-08
Filing date: 1952-02-08
Publication date: 1955-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 1972-09-13

Description

Sept. 13, 1955 c. G. CUDNEY FLUSH LATCH Filed Feb. 8, 1952 llllllluv y. d i f mn Nw ma 5%/ L W Cw c. G. cuDNEY 2,717,796

FLUSH LATCH Sept. 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1952 F25 J5 mn 9 BY l , M /TroR/YE/j United States Patent O FLUSH LATCH Application February 8, 1952, Serial No. 270,579 1 Claim. (Cl. 292-229) My invention relates to flush latches, that is, to latches which, when closed, are dush with the surface of the door or the like in which they are mounted. Included in the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a heavy duty rugged dush latch which is dependable in its operation, easily manipulated into its latching or nnlatching positions, but which maintains its latching position under adverse conditions or vibrational or accelerational forces.

Second, to provide a flush latch which incorporates a novel self-adjusting, self-accommodating latch bearing plate capable of compensating for widel tolerance latitudes in other parts of the latch as well as the structure in which the latch is mounted.

With the above and other objects in view as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of my latch structure taken through 1-1 of Figure 10, showing the part in its latched position and indicating fragmentarily adjacent portions of the surrounding door structure and frame.

Figure 2 is a sectional View similar to Figure l with the latch and keeper levers shown in elevation and in their unlatched positions.

Figure 3 is an inside elevational view of the dush latch shown in its latched position.

Figure 4 is an end View of the latch lever showing particularly the latch bearing plate.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, partially in plan and partially in section of the latch lever showing a modied form of the latch bearing member, the view being taken substantially through 5 5 of Figure 7.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof, taken through 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a partial sectional and partial elevational view thereof, taken through 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the latch lever taken through 8 8 of Figure 9 showing a further modified form of the latch bearing member.

Figure 9 is an end view thereof.

Figure l0 is a reduced outside elevational view showing iragmentarily the exposed parts of the latch and the surrounding door and adjacent frame.

Reference is rst directed to Figures 1 through 4.

My ilush latch includes a base plate 1 having coplanar marginal portions 2 adapted to receive rivets or other securing means for fastening the base plate to the inside surface of a door or door-like structure A. Opposite the central portion of the base plate, such door structure is cut to form a slot B of such dimensions as to receive the opposed portions of the latch as will be brought out hereinafter. The door or door-like structure is intended to set flush in a frame or surrounding sheet metal structure C.

Along the margin of the door structure which receives the flush latch, the adjacent frame is provided with a stop plate D. The base plate 1 is provided with a longi- 2,71 7', 796 Patented Sept. 13, 1955 tudinal slot extending from one end which corresponds to the slot B in the door structure. The base plate slot is bordered by two pair of mounting lugs or danges 3 and 4. The marginal portions 2 of the base plate at their extremities, remote from the edge of the door are joined Journaled between the mounting lugs 3 intermediate 1ts ends on a journal pin 6 is a latch lever 7. The latch lever 1s channel shaped in cross section. One arm 8 of to extend under the stop plate D.

I'nterposed between the odset arm 9 and the stop plate The sides of the flanges of the odset arm 9 are connected by a transverse mounting pin 12 extending parallel with and between the flanges 11 of t e latch bearing member bearing member. By reason of the connection between the latch bearing member and odset arm of the latch lever adorded by the springs 13, the latch bearing member is capable of limited movement to or from the odset arm 9 as well as limited tilting movement as indicated by the arrows in Figures l and 4. lt will thus be seen that the latch bearing member lil is capable of accommodating The second pair of mounting lugs 4 receive a journal pin 14 which pivotally supports a keeper lever 15 of channel-shaped cross section. The keeper lever is adapted to occupy a flush position in the slot B beyond the ush arm 8 of the latch lever 7. rlihe keeper lever is provided with an odset end 16 which extends under the cross web 5 of the base plate l. The other end of the latch lever 7 is odset slightly to form a catch 17 adapted The extremity of the ush arm 8 is also shaped to form a cam element 1S. It will Operation of the dush latch is as follows:

The spring 19 tends to force the latch lever 7 into its right-angular portion shown in Figure 2, and to hold the keeper lever l5 in its flush portion shown in solid lines in Figure 2. However, the latch lever may be rotated counterclockwise against the force of the spring 19 to cause the cam element i8 to engage the adjacent end of the keeper lever and displace the lever until clear of the mal position and restrams the latch lever 1n its flush, position as shown in Figure 1. By pressing inwardly on the keeper lever, the latch lever may be freed.

As pointed out hereinbefore, the latch bearing member 10 accommodates itself to the stop D irrespective of substantial misalignment or inaccuracies in the mounting of the `ush latch or 'inaccuracies due to variations in the dimensions of the parts of the location of their pivotal axes.

Reference is directed to Figures 5, 6 and 7. In this construction, the latch lever 7 is provided with a modified latch bearing member 31. This member is channelshaped in cross section and is provided with lateral stop lips 32. The latch bearing member 31 extends outwardly through a slot in the extremity of the lever 7 and is limited in its outward movement by the stop lips 32. Secured between the flange sides of the latch lever 7 by means of a cross pin 33 is a cross bar 34. The cross bar is provided with a central socket 35 which receives a coil spring 36. The coil spring extends into and urges the latch bearing member 31 outwardly. lt will be observed that the latch bearing member 31 fits relatively loosely in the slot provided in the latch lever 7 so that it is capable of limited universal movement as in the first described structure.

Reference is now directed to Figures 8 and 9. In the construction here illustrated, the latch lever 7 is provided with a circular aperture which receives a cylindrical latch bearing member 4-1 having a head 42 at its outer end. Opposite from the head 42 and within the latch lever 7, the bearing member is provided with an annular groove 43 which receives the bifurcated end of a leaf spring 44. The -leaf spring is provided with reverse folds 45 and 46, the fold 46 passing around and fulcrumed on the spring 20 which surrounds the shaft 6. The leaf spring 44 continues to form an arm 47 which bears against the latch lever 7. -lt will be observed that the latch bearing member 41 is capable of limited universal movement and may be depressed as in the case of previously described structures.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that l do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A flush latch adapted to be set in an accommodation opening provided 'in a door-like structure for engagement with a surrounding frame, the combination of: tandem disposed latch and keeper levers of channel crosssection adapted to occupy coplanar closed positions flush with the surface of door-like structure and angular open position; said keeper lever being pivoted at one end and including a lip at its extended end restrained by said doorlike structure when said keeper lever is in its closed position, and a latch lever retaining means spaced radially from its journaled end', said latch lever being pivoted intermediate its ends to form opposed arms, one arm terminating in a lip adapted to it under said retaining means when the keeper lever is in its closed position, said rctaining means adapted to clear said latch lever when said keeper lever is in its open position, the other arm of said latch lever being offset and adapted to extend under and confront said frame', a rectangular aperture in the offset arm of said latch lever; a bearing member of channel cross-section and having laterally directed stop lips at the extremities of its anges, said bearing member extending through said aperture and limited by said stop lips; a cross pin carried by the offset arm of said latch lever in registry with said aperture; and a coil compression spring extending from said cross pin and into said latch bearing member to permit limited universal movement of said bearing member relative to said latch lever, thereby to compensate -for maladjustment between said latch lever and said frame.

References 'Cited 'inthe iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS