US3134154A

US3134154A - Remotely operated latch

Info

Publication number: US3134154A
Application number: US146575A
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth A Smith; Stachyra Frances; Glova Edmund; Andrew P Wydra
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1961-10-20
Filing date: 1961-10-20
Publication date: 1964-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 1981-05-26

Description

y 26, 1964 K. A. SMITH ETAL 3,134,154

REMOTELY OPERATED LATCH Filed Oct- 20, 1961 Fig/ Kenneth A. Smith Frances Sfachyra 24 Edmund 6/0 va 44 40 Andrew P- Wydra 34 INVENTORS a 9 n 33 BY United States Patent REMOTELY OPERATED LATCH Kenneth A. Smith, 227 S. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; and Frances Stachyra, 357 E. Washington St.; Edmund (ii-ova, 341 E. Washington St.; and Andrew P. Wydra,

361 E. Washington St., all of Nanticoke, Pa.

Filed Get. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 146,575

Claims. (Cl. 24-230) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in latch mechanisms, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a latch mechanism which may be quickly and easily unlatched by remote control, so that it is not necessary to manually effect such unlatching at the location of the device.

In particular, the invention concerns itself with a latch mechanism which includes a pivotally mounted latch member swingable between latched and unlatched positions, a projectable and retractable keeper which, when projected, engages the latch member to retain the same in its latched position, and remotely controlled electromagnetic means for retracting the keeper whereby the latch member may be swung to its unlatched position. As such, the latch mechanism in accordance with the invention may be effectively utilized for various uses in numerous different environments. For example, a link of a dog chain may be engaged with the latch member to normally keep a dog tied up but upon actuation of the electro-magnetic means from a remote control point, such as the inside of a house, for example, the latch mechanism may be unlatched to release the chain and dog in the presence of prowlers on grounds surrounding the house. Similarly, the latch mechanism may be used in conjunction with ropes or chains for tying animals in barns, whereby they may be instantly released in the event of a barn fire. Alternatively, the latch mechanism may be used with ropes or chains for tying up boats at docks, especially boats for rent, whereby an attendant may release a particular boat for rental purposes without having to walk to the dock. Also, the latch mechanism may be employed for releasing various articles suspended in storage by overhead ropes or chains, it being understood that the foregoing examples are but a few of numerous possible uses of the invention.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, eflicient and dependable operation, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 33 but showing the latch member in its unlatched position; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in FIG- URE 2.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the remotely operated latch mechanism in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the numeral and embodies in its construction an elongated base plate 12 provided with a set of apertures 14 to receive screws, or the like, whereby the entire device may be secured to a suitable support, either horizontally or vertically, as desired. A unitary bracket 16 is mounted by screws 18 on one end portion of the base plate 12, the bracket 16 including a base portion 20 and two pairs of

upstanding ears

22, 24. A pivot pin 26 extends transversely through ice the ears 22 and carries a latch member 28 which is preferably angulated as shown and has a free end portion 30. As will be apparent, the latch member 28 is swingable on the pin 26 between an unlatched position shown in FIG URE 3 and a latched position shown by the full lines in FIGURE 2, wherein its free end portion 30 is disposed between the ears 24. The latch member is adapted to engage a link of a chain 32 so that the chain is fastened to the latch mechanism when the latch member is in its latched position, but may be readily released when the latch member is unlatched.

What may be referred to as a kick plate 34 is depressibly mounted adjacent the ears 24, the plate 34 being formed with a pair of slots 36 to slidably receive the ears 24 with the plate being disposed between the ears as well as exteriorly on both sides of the ears, as is best shown in FIGURE 4. The plate 34 is depressibly supported by a pair of compression springs 38 on a pair of upstanding pins 40 located at the outside of the ears 24 on the base plate 12, and when the latch member 28 is swung to its latched position, the free end portion 30 of the latch member engages the kick plate 34 between the cars 24, as will be apparent. The plate 34 is provided with an upstanding flange 42 formed with a U-shaped notch 44, the fi ige 42 being slidable upwardly and downwardly in a space 46 existing between the ears 24 and a guide block 48 on the base plate 12. The block 48 is provided with a passage 50 in which is slidable a projectable and retractable keeper 52. When this keeper is in its projected position as shown in FIGURE 2, it extends between the ears 24 and overlies the free end portion 30 of the latch member 28 whereby to retain the latter in its latched position. However, when the keeper 52 is retracted to the position shown in FIGURE 3, the latch member 28 is free to swing to its unlatched position, thus releasing the chain 32. It will be also noted that in order for the keeper 52 to be projected, the plate 34 must be manually depressed against the action of the springs 38 so that the keeper may pass through the notch 44 in the flange 42 to engage the latch member portion 30 between the ears. Consequently, when the keeper is retracted as will be hereinafter described, the springs 38 will cause the kick plate 34 to slide upwardly, thus forcibly ejecting the latch member 28 from its latched to its unlatched position. In its upwardly slid position the flange 42 of the kick plate 34 will cover the passage 50 in the block 48, whereby the keeper 52 will be prevented from being projected until the kick plate is again manually depressed to reset the latch, as already described.

A suitable electro-magnet 54 is mounted on the base plate 12 and includes a reciprocable armature 56 which is operatively connected to the keeper 52 by a pin 58, the arrangement being such that when the electro-magnet is energized, the armature thereof is slid in a direction shown by the arrow 60, which causes the keeper to be retracted. The armature 56 carries a cross bar 62 and a coil spring 64 has one end thereof connected to this cross bar as at 66 while its other end is anchored to the frame of the electro-magnet as at 68, the function of the spring 64 being to urge the armature 56 in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrow 60, thus biasing the keeper 52 to its projected position.

The electro-magnet 54 is remotely controlled and receives its supply of current through conductor means 70 from a suitable power supply, a switch 72 being provided in the conductor means as shown. This svw'tch may be of a momentary contact, normally open type, so that by simply holding the switch closed for a brief interval, the electro-magnet 54 may be energized to retract the keeper.

Auxiliary means are provided for retracting the keeper manually, for example, in the event of power failure which would render the electro-magnet inoperative. Such auxdesired or necessary. Of course, the cable 74 and its guide 78 may be of any suitable length to facilitate remote operation of the latch mechanism.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a remotely operated latch, the combination of a base, bracket means provided on said base and including first and second pairs of cars, a latch member pivoted at one end between the first pair of ears for swinging toward and away from said base between latched and unlatched positions, said latch member having a free end portion received between the second pair of ears when the latch member is in its latched position, an electromagnet mounted on said base and including a reciprocable armature, a projectable and retractable keeper connected to said armature and when in its projected position being orientated over and abutting the outer side of said free end portion of said latch member between the second pair of ears to retain the latch member in the latched posi tion, remote control means for said electro-magnet whereby the same may be energized to retract said keeper to permit swinging of the latch member to its unlatched position, a kick plate positioned between said second pair of cars beneath said free end portion and having the free end portion of said latch member resting thereon when the latch member is in its latched position, and resilient means operatively connected to said kick plate for swinging the latch member to its unlatched position upon retraction of said keeper.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means for urging said keeper to its projected position constiting of a cross bar secured to the armature, the ends of said bar projecting laterally beyond both sides of said armature, and spring means mounted on a first end 4 of said bar and biasing said bar and armature forward and said keeper into its projected position.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 together with manually operable means for retracting said keeper consisting of a pull cable, said cable'having one end secured to the second end of said bar and extending rearward therefrom.

4. In a remotely operated latch, the combination of an elongated base, a first pair of spaced ears on said base adjacent the forward end thereof, a second pair of ears spaced rearward of said first pair and in alignment therewith, an elongated latch member, said latch member at one end thereof being pivotally mounted between said first pair of ears for swinging movement between a latched position with the second end of the latch being orientated between said second pair of ears and an unlatched position with the second end of the latch being orientated outward of said second pair of cars, an electro-magnet mounted on said base rearward of said second pair of ears and including a reciprocable armature, a projectable and retractable keeper connected to said armature and projecting forward thereof, said keeper when in its projected position being orientated over and abutting the outer side of the second end of the latch when said second end is orientated between the second pair of ears so as to retain the latch member in the latched position, means whereby the electromagnet may be energized to retract the keeper so as to allow swinging of the latch member to its unlatched position, a kick plate positioned between said second pair of ears and in abutment with the inner side of the second end of the latch when said latch is in its latched position, and means biasing said kick plate outwardly for swinging the latch outwardly to its unlatched position upon retraction of the keeper.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 including means limiting the outward movement of the kick plate, said kick plate including an outwardly projecting flange, said flange being orientated so as to be positioned forward of the retracted keeper pin upon an outward movement of the kick plate thus retaining the keeper pin in its retracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 937,800 Hazzard Oct. 26, 1909 1,253,455 Adams Jan. 15, 1918 1,451,324 Casamayor Apr. 10, 1923 1,493,479 Deatrick May 13, 1924

Claims

1. IN A REMOTELY OPERATED LATCH, THE COMBINATION OF A BASE, BRACKET MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID BASE AND INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND PAIRS OF EARS, A LATCH MEMBER PIVOTED AT ONE END BETWEEN THE FIRST PAIR OF EARS FOR SWINGING TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID BASE BETWEEN LATCHED AND UNLATCHED POSITIONS, SAID LATCH MEMBER HAVING A FREE END PORTION RECEIVED BETWEEN THE SECOND PAIR OF EARS WHEN THE LATCH MEMBER IS IN ITS LATCHED POSITION, AN ELECTROMAGNET MOUNTED ON SAID BASE AND INCLUDING A RECIPROCABLE ARMATURE, A PROJECTABLE AND RETRACTABLE KEEPER CONNECTED TO SAID ARMATURE AND WHEN IN ITS PROJECTED POSITION BEING ORIENTATED OVER AND ABUTTING THE OUTER SIDE OF SAID FREE END PORTION OF SAID LATCH MEMBER BETWEEN THE SECOND PAIR OF EARS TO RETAIN THE LATCH MEMBER IN THE LATCHED POSITION, REMOTE CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID ELECTRO-MAGNET WHEREBY THE SAME MAY BE ENERGIZED TO RETRACT SAID KEEPER TO PERMIT SWINGING OF THE LATCH MEMBER TO ITS UNLATCHED POSITION, A KICK PLATE POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID SECOND PAIR OF EARS BENEATH SAID FREE END PORTION AND HAVING THE FREE END PORTION OF SAID LATCH MEMBER RESTING THEREON WHEN THE LATCH MEMBER IS IN ITS LATCHED POSITION, AND RESILIENT MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID KICK PLATE FOR SWINGING THE LATCH MEMBER TO ITS UNLATCHED POSITION UPON RETRACTION OF SAID KEEPER.