US2736596A

US2736596A - Latch construction

Info

Publication number: US2736596A
Authority: US
Inventors: William O Burke
Original assignee: National Lock Co
Current assignee: National Lock Co
Priority date: 1952-12-04
Filing date: 1952-12-04
Publication date: 1956-02-28
Anticipated expiration: 1973-02-28

Description

LATCH CONSTRUCTION 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed Dec. 4, 1952 in 1/22: a 14 ll/z'llz'a m 0311 rlz Feb. 28, 1956 w. 0. BYURKE 2,736,596

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United tates Patent p LATCH CONSTRUCTION William 0. Burke, Rockford, Ill., assignor to National Lock Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 4, 1952, Serial No. 324,088

4 Claims. (Cl. 292-332) The present invention relates to a latch construction and more particularly to a novel latch assembly for the door .or closure of a refrigerator cabinet or the. like re quiring latching mechanism that is durableand. positive in operation and when tripped upon closing the door draws the door into tight sealing engagement and maintains it closed, yet permits its manual opening with a r minimum of effort.

An important object of the present invention. is the provision of a novel latch assembly in which the latch bolt. is automatically moved to cocked position upon opening of the door or closure, and which when the door is moved to closed position elfects positive latching with a strike hook or keeper on the cabinet.

A further object of the present invention is the pro.-. vision in a latch construction of a novel tripping mecha-- nism that assures positive and quick release of the latch bolt when the door is to be opened, and positive latching; and sealing engagement of its gasket with the cabinet when the door is moved to closed position.

The present invention further comprehends. a latch assembly provided with a novel cooperating latch bolt 'andpanying drawings a preferred embodiment, it-is,tof-be understood that the same is susceptible of modification, and change and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing; from the spirit of the invention. 1 v 7 I In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a refrigerator or the like the door of which is provided with the novel. latch construction. 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view in horizontal cross section through the door or closure of the refrigerator or the like and through the novel latch assembly, the latch construction and the strike hook or keeper mounted on the cabinet of the refrigerator being shown in their closed and latched position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the door or closure partially open and the latch construction in its normal, cocked position ready to be tripped as the door or closure is moved toward closed and latched position, the novel latch construction being automatically moved to such cocked position when the door or closure is opened. 7

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the po sition assumed by the novel latch mechanism as the door or closure is being opened and the latch mechanism'is' automatically moved to cocked position.

Fig.5 is a fragmentary enlarged view in sideelevatiod 2: j of the lower end-of the latch handle and. showing the manner of; itsengagement withthe actuating plunger for releasing the latch bolt. Y

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the irregular line 6 -6of Fig. 2.

. -Fig. 7- is a cross sectional view taken on the irregular line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings and more particularly to the illustrative embodiment of the novel latch-zconstruction, the present invention is shown in Figs. .1-to 4,ainclusive, as mounted in the door or closure.

10 of a cabinet 11 for a refrigerator or the like, the latch assembly being positioned adjacent a'vertical edge 12 of the-door or closure hinged or swingably mounted in any suitablemanneralong its other vertical edge 13. Along the edge of the door orclosure-there is provided a sealing: stripor gasket '14 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) adapted to engage and seal against azface 15 of the side or door jamb 16 of the cabinet llwhich defines or encompasses the usual refrigerating compartment inthis cabinet.

"Mounted in the. side or :door jamb 16 of the cabinet is a-"support 17 and an angle bracket 18 for adjustably but 'securely mountingand retaining a strike hook or keeper" 19 in its adjusted, operative position, the strike hook or; keeper projecting outwardly and forwardly through an' opening inthe jamb 16 of the cabinet and toward the door-or closure'l l, with-its projected latching end provided with a latch engaging face or ledge 21 and an incli'ne'd'or tapered surface-22'. The door or closure 10:?is'showi1 provided with-spacedtinner and outer Walls 23' and 24 ofgsuitablesh'eet'metalor the like with the innernWall1-23 provided; with a' grommet '25 defining an opening :26 for receiving the-forwardly projecting or latching, end ,of thestrike hook or keeper 19 when the door; is in closed or substantially closed position.

Asshown more particularlyin Figs, 2, 3 and 4, the novel latch construction for latching engagement with thestrike hook-or; keeper;19 is mounted in the interior or hollow of-thedoor or closure 10 upon a substantially U- shaped housing 27 rigidly secured or fixed to an inturned flange 28 on'the interior of the door or closure by a pair of outwardly projecting ears -or projections 29 (Fig. 7) eachextendingfrom a spaced side wall 31 of the housing, and a. base 32 rigidlysecured or aflixed to the inner face of the outer wall 24. of the door or closure 10, the oppositely disposed ears-or projections 29 and the base 32 being retained inlfiir'ed positionbybolts or other suitable attaching means 33.. .The side Walls 31fof the'hou'sing are joined by 'a connecting or, rear wall 34. 1 I

The .latch mechanism comprisesabolt operating cam 35 and latch bolt 36, both movably or 'rotatably mounted within the housing 27. The bolt operating cam 35 is formed or provided with spaced sidewalls 37 joined by a connecting wall-38 with .each'side wall provided with an arcuate slot 39 adjacent one end,' through which aligned and spaced slots projects a'rivet or pin 41 having each of itsop'pos'ite ends anchored in a projection 42 in a side wall 31 of the bolt housing 27. Each side wall is also provided with an approximately kidney-shaped slot 43 disposed in spaced, aligned relation'with a rivet or pin 44 bridging these spaced side walls 37. This rivet or pin 44 carries anenlargement or collar 45 and a roller 46 adjacent the collar (Fig. 6). A rivet or pin 47 similar to the rivet or pin 41 and having its opposite ends anchored in the spaced side walls 31 of the housing '27, carries a pair of encompassing spring spacers 48 and provides a pivotal mounting for the bolt operating cam 35 within the housing 27. The opposite side walls 37 of the bolt operating cam 35 are laterally offset at 49.

The latch bolt 36 has spaced sides or side walls 51 with oneehd52 of each-sidebeing-pivotally mounted upon the rivet or pin-41 and at its other end provided with an up- Pat ented Feb. 28, 1956- standing and laterally offset projection 53 carrying a roller pin 54 anchored at its opposite ends in these offset projections and carrying a roller 55 providing a latch member for engagement with the strike hook or keeper 19. The side walls 51 are joined by spaced connecting walls 56 and 57 at the base of the latch bolt, the wall 57 being provided with a downwardly and outwardly bent lip 58 adapted to engage or contact the rounded outer face 59 of the strike hook or keeper 19 when the cocked latch mechanism is about to be tripped as'the door 19 is being moved to closed position (Fig. 3).

A relatively heavy coil spring 61 encompasses the spring spacers 43 having one end 62 anchored in an opening 63 in the rear or connecting wall 34 of the housing 27 and its other end 64 bearing against the collar 45 on the rivet or pin 44.

The bolt or latch member 36 is spring-loaded and biased or rotated in a clockwise direction toward its elevated position by a coil spring 65 encompassing the rivet or pin and having one end 66 bearing against the rear or connecting wall 34 of the housing 27 and its other end 67 hearing against the end of the connecting wall 56 at the base of the lock or latch bolt 36.

Carried by the latch bolt 36 is a rivet or pin 68 With the ends thereof projecting through the side walls 51 ino the confines of the kidney-shaped slots 43 and thereat each end carries a roller 69 guided within these slots from the cocked position of the latch or lock bolt 36 (Figs. 3 and 4) to its uncocked or locked position (Fig. 2). In the cocked and uncocked or locked positions these rollers 69 are disposed and retained in the recessed ends of the slots 43 at it? or 70 respectively.

To permit opening of the door or closure 10 from its locked position (Fig. 2), the door or closure is provided with an operating handle 71 (Figs. 1 and pivotally mounted upon a rivet or pin 72 and provided with an embossment 73 hearing against the extended end of a plunger 74 slidably mounted in a sleeve-like member 75. The inner, enlarged end 76 of this plunger is adapted to bear against the roller 46 on the pin or rivet 44 and when the,

door 1% is in closed position with the roller 55 on the latch bolt 36 engaging the face 21 of the strike hook or keeper 19, an outward pull on the upper end of the handle 71 depresses or forces the plunger 74 inwardly causing the enlarged end 76 thereof to press against the roller 46 (Fig. 6) and pivot the bolt or latch operating cam 35 about its pivot pin 47. Such movement releases the rollers 69 on the ends of the pin or rivet 68 carried by the latch bolt 36 from the rear or inner end of the slots 43 and the biasing of the coil spring 65 and the pulling effort on the handle 71 causes the latch bolt to pivot in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin 41 to withdraw the roller 55 from the strike hook or keeper 19 and move this bolt to its cocked position (Figs. 3 and 4) where the rollers 69 are moved to and seat in the forward end or recess 70 of the slots 43.

When in cocked position and the door is open, moving the door toward closed position causes the lip or tongue 58 to engage the rounded face 59 of the strike hook or keeper 1.9 (Fig. 3) thereby depressing and rotating the latch bolt 36 in a counter-clockwise direction to force or withdraw the rollers 69 from the forward or outer end of the slots 43 and the latching roller 55 into engagement with the face 21 of the strike hook or keeper. Simultaneously, the heavy coil spring 61 rotates or move the latch operating cam 35 about its pivot pin 47 in a counterclockwise direction from the outer or forward end to the inner end or rear of the slots 39. In this latter position the roller 46 is disposed adjacent the enlarged end 76 of the plunger 7 i for subsequent release to open the door or closure 1t", and the rollers 69 are disposed in the inner end or rear recess 76 of the slots 43 (Fig. 2).

The rollers 46 and 55 and the spacers 48 are preferably of nylon or other long-wearing composition.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawings, it will be apparent that the present invention ll comprehends a novel latch assembly that is of a simplified and durable construction, one that is easily and readily opened and closed, and one that effects and assures positive sealing when the door or closure is moved to closed position.

Having thus disclosed the invention, 1 claim:

1. In a latch construction for retaining a refrigerator door in closed and sealed relation with a cabinet for a refrigerator and the like and when the door is opened the latch construction is automatically moved to cocked position ready to be tripped to latch onto a keeper on the cabinet when the door is closed, a latch assembly arranged within the hollow of the door and comprising a housing mounted in fixed position in the door, a spring-loaded latch bolt cam pivotally mounted intermediate its ends in the housing and provided with spaced side walls each provided with a slot having a recessed portion at its opposite ends, and a second slot spaced from said first mentioned slot, 21 substantially U-shaped and spring-loaded latch bolt carried within and movable relative to the latch bolt cam and pivotally mounted adjacent one end in the housing and at its other end carrying a roller for latching engagement with the keeper, a pin projecting through the second mentioned slot of the latch bolt cam upon which the latch bolt is pivotally mounted and having its ends anchored in the housing, a pin affixed to and carried by the latch bolt intermediate its ends and a roller on each end of said pin and at the opposite sides of the latch bolt with said rollers conformably received within and guided by said first mentioned slots in the side walls of the latch bolt cam for maintaining the latch bolt in cocked position when the rollers are disposed in one end of said slots and in uncocked or latched position when said rollers are in the other end of said slots.

2. In a latch assembly adapted to be mounted within the closure of a cabinet for a refrigerator and the like and adapted for latching engagement with a strike hook on the cabinet, a stationary housing in the closure and a latch bolt cam and a latch bolt each swingably mounted in the housing upon separate pivots and capable of relative movement therebetween, said latch bolt cam having spaced side walls each provided with an arcuate slot with these slots disposed in alignment, a transverse pin carried by the housing and projecting through the aligned arcuate slots upon which the latch bolt is pivotally mounted and another slot in each side wall of the latch bolt cam, and a pair of rollers affixed to and carried by the latch bolt with a roller disposed at each side of the latch bolt and said rollers conformably received and guided in each of said last mentioned slots, said last mentioned slots each provided with a recess adjacent its opposite ends for receiving and retaining the rollers and latch bolt in cocked or in uncocked and latched position.

3. In a latch construction for retaining a door closed and in sealed relation with a refrigerator cabinet and the like and when the door is opened the latch is automatically moved to cocked position ready to be tripped to engage a keeper when the door is again closed, a latch assembly including a latch bolt adapted to engage the keeper and draw and maintain the door in closed position, a latch bolt cam and a stationary housing in which the latch bolt cam' and the latch bolt are separately and pivotally mounted, said latch bolt cam having spaced sides and said latch bolt being disposed within said spaced sides and movable relative to the latch bolt cam and pivotally mounted adjacent one end in the housing and adjacent its other end carrying a roller for latching engagement with the keeper and a tongue spaced from the roller for engaging the keeper to trip the latch bolt as the door is being closed, means for spring-biasing said latch bolt and said latch bolt cam for swinging movement about their pivots, a transverse pin afiixed to and carried by the latch bolt intermediate its pivotal mounting and the latching roller, and a roller on each end of said transverse pin and at each side of said latch bolt and each roller seating and conformably received and guided in a slot in each of the spaced side walls of the latch bolt cam, each of said slots having an offset at its opposite ends to receive and retain the rollers and latch bolt in cocked or uncooked and latched positions.

4. In a latch construction for retaining a refrigerator door in closed and sealed relation with a cabinet and when the door is opened the latch construction is automatically moved to cocked position ready to be tripped into latching engagement with a keeper when the door is closed, a latch assembly comprising a housing mounted in fixed position in the door, a latch bolt cam pivotally mounted in the housing and provided with spaced side walls each having spaced and aligned arcuate slots with one pair of aligned slots having an offset adjacent each of its ends, a substantially U-shaped latch bolt carried within and movable relative to the latch bolt cam, a pin carried by the housing and passing through the second pair of slots in the side walls of the latch bolt cam providing a pivot adjacent one end about which the latchbolt swings, a spring for biasing the latch bolt in a clockwise direction, a spring for biasing the latch bolt cam in a counter-clockwise direction, and a pin afiixed to and carried by the latch bolt and provided with a roller at each end of the last mentioned pin and at each side of the latch bolt with these rollers disposed in the first pair of arcuate slots in the side walls of the latch bolt cam for maintaining the latch bolt in cocked position when said rollers are disposed in the ofiset in one end of said slots and in latched position when said rollers are in the otfset in the other end of said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,341,416 Anderson et al Feb. 8, 1944 2,359,150 Peglow Sept. 26, 1944 2,444,180 Anderson June 29, 1948 2,679,425 Johnson May 25, 1954