US3012803A

US3012803A - Friction catch

Info

Publication number: US3012803A
Application number: US24468A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl E Hafstad
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-04-25
Filing date: 1960-04-25
Publication date: 1961-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1978-12-12

Description

Dec. 12, 1961 c. E. HAFSTAD FRICTION CATCH Filed April 25, 1960 INVENTOR. CARL E. HAF'STAD 5 T TOEN E YS United States Pat -n 3,012,803 I FRICTION CATCH Carl E. Hafstad, 828 21st Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 24,468 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-76) This invention relates generally to door latch mechanisms, and more particularly it relates to a new and useful friction catch of the type which will yield under the application of a unidirectional force, as distinguished from the more positive type of locking catch.

More specifically, my invention relates to and is in the nature of an improvement upon the disclosure of my previous application entitled Door Latch Mechanism, Serial No. 823,429, filed on June 29, 1959, now Patent No. 2,957,719, dated October 25, 1960. Some specific advantages of this invention over the above-noted previous application reside in the provision of a friction catch which permits smaller constructions thereof, is more silent and positive in its action, and more economical to produce. Therefore, an important object of this invention is the provisionof a friction catch inwhich the last mentioned features thereof render the same particularly adaptable for use on the doors of relatively small cabinets. "Another object of this invention is the provision of afriction' catch which is highly resistant against accidental opening since the same exerts a greater force against the door during opening movements than during closing movements thereof.

Other objects of this invention reside in the provision of a friction catch which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to produce, durable and strong throughout continued use, and highly eflicient in the vindication of its purposes. a

' The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts or elements throughout the several views: I

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of cooperating door and jamb members having my novel friction catch attached thereto, with some parts shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the relative position of the parts thereof during initial opening movement of the door member;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and showing the relative position of the'parts thereof during final closing movement of the door member; and

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the friction catch only.

Referring with greater particularly to the drawings, a door member, represented generally by the reference letter A, is movably mountedin a jamb member, represented generally by the reference letter B. A conventional keeper element 1 is rigidly secured to the inner face b of the jamb member near the outer edge thereof by means of the fasteners 2. This invention resides specifically in the provision of a friction catch, represented generally by the reference numeral 3, the complete latch mechanism being represented generally by the reference numeral 4.

The friction catch includes a mounting bracket which is secured to the door member A adjacent the free edge a thereof by means of the fasteners 6 which are received within the apertures 7 defined in the base portion or mounted end 8 of the mounting bracket 5, the apertures 3,012,803 Patented be n, 1961 7 being elongated so as to provide for the adjustment of the mounting bracket 5 with relation to the free edge 1 of the door member A. The free or projecting end portion 9 of the mounting bracket 5 is bifurcated so as to define spaced spring-carrying generally co-planar tabs or car portions 19.

As shown, a pair of elongated coil springs, each being represented generally by the reference characters 11a and 11b respectively, are secured at their respective ends 12, preferably by welding or soldering, to the tabs 10 of the mounting bracket 5. As will hereinafter be described, the springs 11a and 11b are disposed in such relationship with the keeper element 1 that their individual functional characteristics combine to produce the novel friction catch 3. As seen particularly in FIG. 1, the mounting bracket 5 is formed so that each of the springs 11a and 11b after being connected thereto lies in spaced parallel relationship to the adjacent surface e of the door member A. In this position, the respective axes of the springs 11a and 11b are spaced in general parallelism to the edge d of the door member A and are also disposed in general axial parallelism with one another. The springs 11a and 111; are so positioned on the mounting bracket 5 relative to the keeper element 1 and further arranged in general longitudinal engagement with one another that the outer spring lla disposed closest to the keeper element 1 is so engaged by the keeper element 1 during initial opening movement of the door member A with respect to the jamb member B that concerted lateral deflection is imparted to both of said springs 11a and 11b in the same lateral direction during said movement, as seen particularly in FIG. 4. It should be obvious that such deflection during said initial opening movement is accomplished first by the engagement and subsequent movement of the outer spring 11a with the keeper element 1, followed by generally longitudinal engagement of the outer spring 11a with the inner spring 11b so that both of the springs 11a and 11b are gene'rally simultaneously deflected by the initial opening movement of the door member A. Thus, it is seen that a substantial force is required to open the door member A since both of the springs 11a and 11b must be deflected. However, the

to the keeper element 1 is such that their function during final closing movement of the door member A is quite different from their function durin the above-described opening movement.

FIG. 5 illustrates the function and action of the catch 3 during final closing movements of the door member A. As shown, the disposition of the coil springs 11a and 11b is such that lateral deflection in another direction from the deflection upon opening movement of the door member is imparted only to the inner spring 11a during final closing movement of the door member A with respect to the jamb member B. Thus, the force needed to close the door member A is approximately only one-half of the force needed to open the door member A. This relative difference in the applied forces necessary to open and close the door member A with respect to the jamb member B will be seen to be of substantial utility. One illustration of the merit of the above-described friction catch 3 is the use of my invention on a structure such as a cabinet, not shown, wherein substantial air pressure is built up in the enclosure by the closing action of the door. When my novel catch 3 is employed in such a situation, the door member A may be closed with relative case but the opening thereof is characterized by the need for the application of a substantially greater opening force. The fact that the force required to close the door member A is substantially less than the force required to open it is also advantageous in that the noise 3 produced by striking of the door member A against the outer edge c of the jamb member B is thereby reduced. It should also be noted that the action of the keeper element 1 against the springs 11a and 11b produces inherently less noisy operation than conventional door latch mechanisms.

This invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects; and while I have chosen a preferred embodiment thereof, I wish it to be specifically understood that the sarne may be modified without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a latch mechanism for latching a door member mounted for opening and closing movements relative to a cooperating jamb member, and in which one of said members is provided with a rigidly mounted keeper element, the improvement of a friction catch, said improvement comprising a pair of elongated coil springs carried by the other of said members in spaced relation thereto with their respective end portions fixedly disposed with respect to said other of said members, said coil springs being disposed in general axial parallelism with one an other, said coil springs being positioned on said other of said members in general longitudinal engagement with one another and further arranged relative to said keeper element so that one of said springs is so engaged by said keeper element during initial opening movement of said door member with respect to said jamb member that concerted lateral deflection is imparted to both of said coil springs in the same lateral direction during said movement, the disposition of said coil springs being such that lateral deflection in another direction is imparted only to said one of said springs during final closing movement of said door member with respect to said jamb member.

2. In a latch mechanism for latching a door member mounted for opening and closing movements relative to a cooperating jamb member, and in which said jamb' member is provided with a rigidly mounted keeper element, the improvement of a friction catch, said improvement comprising a mounting bracket carried by the door member adjacent the free edge thereof, and a pair of elongated coil springs having their respective end portions fixedly secured to said mounting bracket so that each of said springs lies in spaced parallel relationship to said free edge of said door member, said coil springs being disposed in general axial parallelism with one another and in general longitudinal engagement with one another and further arranged relative to said keeper element so that one of said springs is so engaged by said keeper element during initial opening movement of said door member with respect to said jamb member that concerted lateral deflection is imparted to both of said coil springs in the same lateral direction during said movement, the disposition of said coil springs being such that lateral deflection in another direction is imparted only to said one of said springs during final closing movement of said door member with respect to said jamb member.

3. In a latch mechanism for latching a door member mounted for opening and closing movements relative to a cooperating jamb member, and in which said jamb member is provided with a rigidly mounted keeper element, the improvement of a friction catch, said improvement comprising a mounting bracket carried by the door member adjacent the free edge thereof, said mounting bracket having a base portion adapted for sccurement to said door member and also having a laterally projecting end portion defined opposite of said base portion thereof, said end portion of said mounting bracket being bifurcated so as to define spaced spring-carrying tabs, said improvement further comprising a pair of elongated coil springs having their respective opposite end portions fixedly secured to said tabs of said mounting bracket so that each of said springs lies in spaced parallel relationship to said adjacent edge of said door member, said coil springs being disposed in general axial parallelism with one another and in general longitudinal engagement with one another and further arranged relative to said keeper element so that one of said springs is so engaged by said keeper element during initial opening movement of said door member with respect to said jarnb member that concerted lateral deflection is imparted to both of said coil springs in the same lateral direction during said movement, the disposition of said coil springs being such that lateral deflection in another direction is imparted only to said one of said springs during final closing movement of said door member with respect to said jamb member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,559,145 Borchets July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 487,749 Canada Nov. 4, 1952