US2929650A

US2929650A - Refrigerator door lock

Info

Publication number: US2929650A
Application number: US619517A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert D Squire
Original assignee: Midwest Manuf Corp
Current assignee: Midwest Manuf Corp
Priority date: 1956-10-31
Filing date: 1956-10-31
Publication date: 1960-03-22
Anticipated expiration: 1977-03-22

Description

March 22, 1960 H. D. SQUIRE REFRIGERATOR DOOR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001.- 31, 1956 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. Hub, D. 57w" BY FIG. a

March 22, 1960 H. D. SQUIRE 2,929,650 REFRIGERATOR DOOR LOCK Filed Oct. 31, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Her er/ 5f F76. 6' By niteri REFRIGERATOR DOOR LOCK Herbert D. Squire, Galesburg, lll., assignor to Midwest This invention relates 'to'improvements in door latches and more particularly to an improved latch for holding the door closed in householdrefrigerators.

As is well known to those versed in the art household refrigerators are provided with various kinds of operating handles for causing the release of the latch mechanism which holds the door closed. The type of handles varies with different models, some of them being pull type for causing the release and others being of the handle and push button type. Usually the latch mechanism must be selected to suit the particular type of handle or vice versa With the result that changes in handle typesoften cause a considerable amount of door redesign which is relatively expensive.

By the present invention it is possible to provide a single latch mechanism which may be used witha variety of handles and/or push button releases thus reducing the number of parts that need to be stocked for manufacture or replacement.

Basically, the invention contemplates a bolt mechanism with which is associated a latch and release mechanism wherein the latch and release mechanism may be assembled in difierent relations to the bolt mechanism to provide the versatility mentioned.

Other advantages of the invention and the invention itself will become more apparent from the'following'description of an embodiment thereof, which description is illustrated by the accompanying drawings and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a horizontal section through a fragment of a door and cabinet showing a plan view of the lock and its manner of cooperation with the door andcabin'et;

Fig. 2 is a view taken from the'line 2"-2 of Fig; 1

Fig. 3 is a view taken from the line 3'3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an'enlarged horizontal section through the lock;

Pig. 5 is a plan view of a release cam; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 4, show ing a difierent adjustment'for the release means.

As illustrated in the drawings, there is provided a main housing which comprises spaced parallel sidewalls '10 connected together by a bridging end wall 11. Each side wall is provided with a laterally extending flange.12 having openings 13 for the reception of screws for holding the same to a suitable frame on the door which carries the same.

Pivotally supported between theside Walls of the main housing on a pivot pin 15 is a bolthousing, Figs. 2 and 4, which comprises parallel side walls 16 held in spaced relation to each other by a bridging end wall 17. Opposite to the end wall 17, tongues 18 are struck from the side walls and bent inwardly normal to the side walls the extremities being provided with spring seating "lugs 19 that project toward the end wall 17. Beyond those portions the sides of the housing are provided with extending arms 20 the end of each of which carries an inwardly extending lug 22. The lugs project toward each other in a vertical plane to provide pawl engaging sur Patent 2.. faces that are engaged by a pawl which may be released to allow the bolt housing to pivot about the pin 15. Nor mally the bolt housing is held in the position shown wherein the end wall l7 lies fiat against the end wall ll of the main housing by'a spring50 which is coiled about the pin 15 and has anarm S Iengaging-Withthe wall 11 and an arm 52 engaging with a bolt pivot pin 28.

I The bolt is comprised ofa-pair-of spaced parallel members 25 connected together by a b'ridging'portion 26. The" lower portion of the bolt, a's'viewed in'the figures, provides" a pair of spaced parallel arins'27'which' are journalled; on a pivot pin 28 carried"at'the'lower rightha'nd'side o'fi the bolt housing. The upperfendof the bolt' is provided with a pair of spaced parallel-curved extensions'30 whichcarry a keeperengaging' roller 31. The'bolt is heldwith: the wall 26 against the inner side'of thebolt hou'sing'wall 17 by a heavy helical spring'32; one'end of which is seated" on the arms-18 of'thefbolthousingand held inpositioii by the lugs 19 while the other end of the'spring is seated on a boss 33 formedby'displacernentof the wall 26. Thus the bolt and bolt housing areheld in a'predete'rmined fixed position but the bolt may pivoton the pin 28 relative to" the bolt housing againstthe-heavy pressure of 'the spring" 32; I It should be pointed'out that normally the bolthous ing' is locked againstpivo'ting in the main housing and that. the pivot point 15 f'o'r'the 'bolt housing is'inwardly of right side (Fig. 4) of-the main housingand spaced from the pivot'point' 28 fonthe'bolt. The pivot point 28for the bolt is'very close'to a'lineruriiiing through the axis o'f-the bolt roller 31 and normal to the holdingjsurface' of the keeper (see Fig: 1). Hence, when the housing is'locked', the roller pressure against the keeper-isnorinal to its hOId-f ing surface and therefore the'door is'held'securely closed; When the bolt housing is" released" the pressure of the spring 32 is such that the bolt and the bolt housing'rnay be considered as one'elernent and up'on' release of thehousing it, along with the bolt, may pivot aboutthe'pivot 15" which is to one side of a line through the roller andthe keeper'surface. Thejpressure between the roller and'the keeper now allows the' h'ousingl'and boltto pivot and the roller rolls off of thekeepefsurfacebe'corningdisengaged therefrornl V When the doorisrrjiov'ed to'aclosed' position, however, the roller on the bolt en'ga'ges'with the slanting surface on the keeperandtheheavy spring is compressed allowing the bolt to move relative to the bolt housing. It rolls up" the cam surface and eventually is forced over intoengagement with theke'epe'r surface by thespring 32.

The bolt housing'is normally held against pivotingby" a pawl which comprises a pair of side walls 40 the lower endsof which are provided with enlarged circular portions 41 that are pivoted 'ona'pin 42 secured in and bridging the side walls 10 of the main housing: The two sidewalls of the pawl are bridged'bya wall 43 the upper end of which extends beyond the sidewalls 43 at 44 and is provided with a T extension 45 beyond the confines of'themain housing. At thelower' end the wall 43 follows the" contour of the sidewalls and then extends outwardly tangentthereto to provide an arm 46 which extends be yond the confines of the main housing. I

Pressure'may be applied to the T 45' or to the arm 46 to" tilt' the pawl againstthe pressure of a spring 56 which is'coiled about the'pin' 42 and has one' arm 57 engaged in an aperture 58 inthe' side wall of theho'usingland the other end 59 engaged with the arm 46 to hold the pawl" spring'pressed counterclockwise as viewed inFig. 4.

At their'upper ends, the side walls of the pawl are provided with steps 60 which underlie the pawl engaging surfaces 22 and hold the bolt housingaga'inst'pivoe ing. When this pawl is released, and the door pulledoutward, of'pressed' oiitwarc'i by springmeans, thebott keeper as previously described.

As previously stated, the arm 46 may be moved by anysuitablemeans such as a push button, not shown, or.

a lever as shown in Fig. l, or the arm 45 may be moved by suitable means to allow the pawl to be released. In addition, the pawl may be reversed and the pin 42 seated in the holes 58. When this is done, the arm 46 extendsbetween the walls of the main housing and is accessible for operation since the walls between the flanges 12 are open This enables a wider variety of locations for push button releases to be obtained and also allows the end 45 to be operated in the opposite direction.

Another form of release for the pawl which further increases its versatility includes apawl release cam 70 which isa flat elongated narrow plate that is slidably journaled in elongated openings 71 in the side walls of the housing. The plate is provided with spaced notches 72 the conformation of which defines cam surfaces 73 and stops 74. The edge of the plate at the bottom of the notches 72, when the plate is in position, engages with the edges of the opening in which the release slides. When the pawl release is slidrin the openings 71, the cam surfaces 73, riding on the edges causes the pawl release to move toward the pawl and engage with the upper edge surfaces 40a of the pawl to rock the pawl clockwise.

The pawl release is normally held in a position such that the stops 74 are engaged with one or both of the side walls of the housing, at which time it is-in a positionwhere the pawl is in locking engagement with the bolt hQusin'g by a spring 80, Fig. 2, which has an offset end 81 engaged in a transversely extending opening 82 in the, pawl release, the main body of the spring extending backward alongside the housing and having a bent end portion engaged in, a seat 83 formed by striking a portion outwardly ,from the end wall '11. The pawl release is provided with

openings

84 and 85 in each end through which a rod 86 may be connected for sliding the release in the housing. Thus the pawl release may be pushed or pul1ed to operate it. The release may also be reversed end for end, in which event the spring would be attached from the other side thus allowing a greater variety of connections to the door handle to be made.

, It is to be understood that, while there has been described in detail herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings a particular preferred embodiment of this invention, various modifications, omissions and refinements which depart from the disclosed embodiment may be adoptedtwithout departing 'from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

4 I claim: a 7 I, 1. In a latch mechanism adapted to engage a keeper, said latch mechanism having a housing adapted to be mounted on a support, a latch bolt carriage pivotally mounted on said housing and pivotable with respect thereto between a latching position and a released position, a latch bolt pivotally mounted on'said carriage and pivotable with respect thereto'about an axis parallel to and laterally displaced from 'the'pivotal axis of said bolt carriage, and a main latch spring resiliently urging said latch .bolt in a keeper engaging direction with-respect to said carriage; means for releasably maintaining said bolt carriage in said latching position comprising a member pivotally mounted on said housing and pivotable with. respect thereto between a carriage restraining position and avcarria ge releasing position on hearing means substantially removed from the pivotal axis of said bolt car-v thereto in different directions and difierent locations to move said member from said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing position.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein the pivotal axis of said member is parallel to and substantially displaced from the pivotal axis of said bolt carriage.

3. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said housing includes generally parallel walls defining two pairs of openings, and a pin is provided for reception by either. of said pairs of openings, said pin serving as a pivot for said member, whereby said member may be al ternatively oriented on said housing and each of said arms may be acted upon by a force of alternative character to move said member from said carriage restrain ing position to said carriage releasing position.

4. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein spring means are provided urging said bolt carriageto- Ward said latching position. I

5. The combination as specified in claim 1, wherein spring means are provided urging said member toward said carriage restraining position. t

6. In combination with a latch housing, a latch bolt carriage pivotally mounted on said housing and pivotable. with respect thereto between a latching position and a released position, a latch bolt pivotally mounted on said carriage and pivotable with respect thereto about an axis parallel to and laterally displaced from the pivotal axis of said bolt carriage, and a main latch spring resiliently urging said latch bolt in a keeper engaging direction with respect to said carriage; means for releasably maintaining said bolt carriage insaid latching position. comprisinga generally L-shaped member. pivotally mounted on said. housing and pivotable with respect thereto between a carriage restraining position and a carriage releasing position on bearing means adjacent the bend of said L-s haped member and substantially. removed from the pivotal axis of said boltrcarriage, one armof said L-shaped member being engageable with said bolt carriage when said L-shaped member .is in said carriage restraining position to restrain said carriage against movement from said latching position to said releasing position, the two arms of said L-shaped member being accessible from without said housing'for application of forces thereto different directions and diflFerent locations to move said L-shaped member from said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing position. p

V 7. In combination with alatch housing, a latch bolt carriagepivotally mounted on said housing andpivotable with respect thereto between a latching position. and a releasedposition, a latch bolt pivotally mounted on said carriage and pivotable with respect thereto about an axis parallel to and laterally displaced from the pivotal axis of said bolt carriage, and a main latch spring resiliently urging said latch bolt in a keeper engaging direction with respect to said carriage; means for releasably maintaining said bolt carriage in said latching position comprising a riage, said member being engageable with saidbolt cartending generallyf'radially of and angularly displaced about the pivotal axis thereof, said arms being accessi. ale-#99 tithes an-Pas es s a r liset w Q to -a member pivotally mounted on said housing and pivotable with respect thereto between a carriage restraining position anda carriage releasing position on'bearing means substantially removed from the pivotal axis of said bolt carriage, said member being engageable with said bolt carriage when saidmember is in said carriage restraining position to'restrain said carriage against movement from said latchingposition to said releasing position, said member including a plurality of arms extending generally radially of and vangularly displaced about the pivotal axis thereof, .said arms being accessible from without said housingforlapplication of forces thereto in difierent directions'and different locations to move said member from said carriage restraining position to saidcarriage releasing position, and release means for moving said member from said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing sa d release means, including a cam strip slidably mounted within a pair of slots provided in said housing in position to engage said member, said strip having cam means on one edge thereof whereby longitudinal movement of said cam strip in one direction causes movement of said member from said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing position, said cam strip being reversible end-to-end within said slots whereby longitudinal movement thereof in the direction opposite said one direction may effect carriage releasing movement of said member.

8. In combination with a latch housing, a latch bolt carriage pivotally mounted on said housing and pivotable with respect thereto between a latching position and a. released position, a latch bolt pivotally mounted on said carriage and pivotable with respect thereto about an axis parallel to and laterally displaced from the pivotal axis of said bolt carriage, and a main latch spring resiliently urging said latch bolt in a keeper engaging direction with respect to said carriage; means for releasably maintaining said bolt carriage in said latching position comprising a member pivotally mounted on said housing and pivotable with respect thereto between a carriage restraining position and a carriage releasing position on bearing means substantially removed from the pivotal axis of said bolt carriage, said member being engageable with said bolt carriage when said member is in said carriage restraining position to restrain said carriage against movement from said latching position to said releasing position, said member including a plurality of arms extending generally radially of and angularly displaced about the pivotal axis thereof, said arms being accessible from without said housing for application of forces thereto in different directions and difierent locations to move said member from said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing position, said housing having generally parallel walls defining two pairs of openings, said bearing means including a pin for reception by either of said pairs of openings, whereby said member may be alternatively oriented on said housing and each of said arms may be acted upon by a force of alternative character to move said member from said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing position, and release means for moving said member from said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing position, said release means including a cam strip slidably mounted within a pair of slots provided in said housing in position to engage said member, said cam strip having cam means on one edge thereof whereby longitudinal movement of said cam strip in one direction causes movement of said member from said carriage restraining position to said carriage releasing position, said cam strip being reversible edge-to-edge within said slots whereby said cam strip may engage and actuate said member in either orientation of said member.

9. The combination as specified in claim 8 wherein said cam strip is also reversible end-to-end within said slots whereby longitudinal movement thereof in the direction opposite said one direction may efiect carriage releasing movement of said member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 162,272 Colby Apr. 20, 1875 366,159 Downing July 5, 1887 2,078,073 Geske et al. Apr. 20, 1937 2,147,794 Leonard et al. Feb. 21, 1939 2,293,700 Curtiss Aug. 25, 1942 2,394,646 Wagner Feb. 12, 1946 2,552,390 Bacon et al. May 8, 1951 2,803,480 Foster Aug. 20, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 437,256 Great Britain Oct. 25, 1935