US3152467A

US3152467A - Latch

Info

Publication number: US3152467A
Application number: US304335A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Fanning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-08-26
Filing date: 1963-08-26
Publication date: 1964-10-13
Anticipated expiration: 1981-10-13

Description

Oct. 13, 1964 J. J.

FANNING

3, 67

LATCH Filed Aug. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN J. FANNING wank/w ATTU RN EY$ Oct. 13, 1964 J. J. FANNING 3,152,467

LATCH Filed Aug. 26, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOHN J. FANNING q 'roknus United States Patent 3,152,467 LATCH John J. Fanning, 6521 Roe Blvd., Prairie Village, Kans. Filed Aug. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 304,335 12 Claims. (Cl. 70-74) This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in latches, and more particularly to fastening devices for luggage, suitcases, cabinets, foot lockers and the like.

The invention contemplates the use of a latch or locking mechanism adapted to fasten two objects in closed position such as a door secured to a support or the like. It is also adaptable for use in fastening one window sash relative to the other.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a bracket secured to one piece of a luggage having a spring urged cover member attached thereto and adapted to be engaged by spring means secured to a body member attached to the other portion of the suitcase and frictionally holding the cover member thereto.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide means for locking the cover member to the body member when the sash is in closed position; to provide a two-piece body member having curved slots in each part spaced from each other for the reception of a spring friction member therein having ends extending outwardly from the body for engaging the side walls of the hinged cover member to frictionally hold the cover member in engagement with the body member; to provide means for fastening the bracket to the cover portion of the luggage and the body portion to the main body of the luggage; to provide a pin or shaft for rotatably mounting the cover member to the bracket; to provide spring means engaging said pin to bias the cover member toward the body member for constantly urging the cover member to close position; to provide the cover member of channel shaped formation having sides parallel and the lower portion turned inwardly towards each other to act as a cam so that the ends of the springs in said grooves will pass thereover and hold the cover in closed position and to disengage the springs from engagement with the inside walls of the side members of the cover when the cover is to be opened; to provide the inside of the side walls of the cover with serrations for engagement by the ends of the spring members; and to provide a finger extension memher on the cover member for engagement of the use to disengage the cover from the body member.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a locking mechanism for the latch including a recess in one of the body portions intersected by a curved slot; to provide the other body member with a curved slot coinciding with the curved slot in the other body member and having a longitudinal slot intersecting the curved slot and extending to the end of the body member; to provide a T-shaped spring member having a curved end engaging in the curved slot in the body member and having the ends notched and extending outwardly of the sides of the body member to engage the walls of the cover member; to provide a pivoted lug on one of the body members having a locking mechanism spaced from the curved slot and extending outwardly and through one of said body members for engagement by a key for turning said lug to locking member and unlocking the same; to provide an opening in the hinged cover member for access to the locking mechanism; and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

"Ice

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the latch mechanism embodying the features of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectior1a1 view thereof taken on a line 22, FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on a line 3-3, FIG. 2 showing the ends of the coil spring engaging the bracket member.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on a line 44, of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a disassembled perspective View of the body portions and spring and locking member shown in disassembled relation.

FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of the hinged cover member with part broken away to illustrate mounting of the spring member.

FIG. 7 is a disassembled perspective view showing the hinged cover member fastened to a cover of a suitcase or the like and the body member attached to the body of such case.

1 designates a latching mechanism embodying the features of my invention shown attached to a piece of luggage or the like, 2 having a cover 3 and a body portion 4, the body portion showing a front wall 5 and the cover portion having a wall 6 mating therewith which constitutes the front side of the suitcase. A bracket 7 is secured to the front side 6 of the cover 3 by rivets or the like 8 extending through openings 9 in said bracket (FIG. 2). The bracket 7 has side wall 10 and 11 slightly tapered outwardly as indicated at 12 (FIG. 2) and provided at substantially the center thereof with aligned openings 13 for receiving a pin or the like 14 upon which is mounted a coiled spring 15 for a purpose later described.

A hinge cover member 16 is provided having a front portion 17,

side walls

18 and 19 provided with aligned openings 20 near the rear end 21 thereof through which the pin 14 extends for pivotally mounting the cover member 0n the bracket 7. The

sides

18 and 19 of the cover member 16 have their lower edges turned inwardly towards each other as indicated at 22 and 23 also for a purpose later described. The front 17 has an extension 24 for a finger-hold for movement of the cover member.

A body 25 is provided for the locking mechanism and is secured to the wall 5 of the body of the suitcase by rivets or the like 26 through

openings

27 and 28 in the body member for securing said body member to the wall 6 of the body 4 of the luggage.

The body 25 is made in two

pieces

29 and 30, the piece 29 being adjacent the wall 5 of the body of the suitcase, hereinafter referred to as the back member, and the piece 30 is referred to as the top member. The back member 29 is provided with spaced curved slots 31 and 32 and the top piece 30 is provided with

curved slots

33 and 34 mating with the slots 31 and 32. Adapted to engage in the

slots

31 and 33 and 32 and 34 respective ly are

leaf springs

35 and 36 having their ends extending outwardly of the

body pieces

29 and 30 as indicated at 37 and 38 (FIG. 3). While the

ends

37 and 38 are slightly rounded or curved outwardly as shown at 38'.

The insides of the

side walls

18 and 19 of the cover member 16 are provided with transversely extending serrations 33 (FIG. 6) and when the cover member is closed over the

ends

37 and 38 of the

springs

35 and 36, the ends will engage in these serrations but due to the curvature of the

members

35 and 36 there will be no appreciable resistance to the closing action of the cover member. The coil spring 15 has ends 4%) and 41 extending rearwardly and engaging the bottom 42 of the brackets 7 as illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the forward end of the cover member will always be spring urged or biased toward the body member of the latch mechanlsm.

When the luggage is open and the cover 16 moved toward closed position the inwardly curved

lower edges

22 and 23 of the

side walls

13 and 19 will only slightly engage the side walls 12 of the bracket 7 moving the walls outwardly only suihciently to move over the bracket and the body member 25. The walls of the cover 16 are slightly curved at the corners as indicated at 23' (FIG. 6). When the suitcase is closed any force tending to move the cover member 16 upwardly will be resisted by the

ends

37 and 38 of the

spring members

35 and 36 engaging the serrations 39. To release the latch outward force is applied to the finger member 24 to raise the cover member 16 causing the

ends

37 and 38 of the

springs

35 and 36 to be compressed inwardly by the cam action caused by said ends having to pass the inwardly turned

portions

22 and 23 of the

side walls

18 and 19.

A locking mechanism, if desired, may be provided in the body 25. The body portion 29 is provided with a recessed portion 42 having a straight upper wall 43, a straight side wall 44 and a curved side wall 45. The recessed portion 42 is intersected by a curved groove 46 having a greater width at the center as indicated at 47 than at the edges The body portion 36 has a curved groove portion 49 with a greater width at the center 50 than at the side edges 51 which correspond to the groove 4-6 in the body portion 29. The groove portion 48 is intersected by a slot 52 which extends to the lower end 53 of the body portion 36.

A locking member 54 is provided of substantially T shape having a vertical leg 55 which engages in the slot 52 of the body portion 3% and a leg 56 which extends outwardly from the bottom member as shown in FIG. 3. The lock 54 has a curved spring member 57 secured to the upper end of the leg 55 and having notched ends 58 and 59 which extend outwardly of the body member as indicated at 60 and 61 (FIG. 3). The inside walls of the

side members

18 and 19 of the cover member 16 have longitudinal serrations 62 which are engaged by the notched ends 58 and 59 of the locking member to assist in holding the cover member secured to the body member. The locking member 54 is movable longitudinally in the body member 25 through the slot 52 through the spring action to disengage the ends 58 and 59 from the side walls of the cover member. The body member 3% is provided at substantially the center thereof with an opening 63 and mounted therein is a lock mechanism 64 operated by a key (not shown) and which includes a pivoted lug or latch member 65 carried by a pin 66 of the lock mechanism. The cover 16 has an elongated opening 67 through which the lock mechanism may be manipulated by the key (not shown).

In operation of the locking mechanism, turning of the key in the loci; will cause the end 63 of the lug 65 to engage against the curved surface 6% of the spring member 57 of the locking mechanism 54 to push the locking mechanism outwardly of the body 25 as illustrated in PEG. 3. When in this position the notched ends 6t, and 61 of the spring member 57 engage the scration 62 of the side walls of the hinge cover member 16 and assist in retaining the same in locked position. When the lug 65 is moved out of contact with the locking member 54 upward pressure on the cross-bar 56 of the locking member will release the notched ends 6% and 61 from the grooves of the cover member so that the cover member may be raised and the cover member separated from the body 25 through disengagement of the spring iembers 35' and 36 from said cover member as previously described.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that I have provided an improved locking member for luggage, cabinets, suitcases, foot lockers or any other type of door opening wherein one member may be fastened to a support and the other member to a movable member.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A latch mechanism for securing two objects together, at least one of said'objects being movable with respect to the other, comprising,

(a) a body member having at least one curved fiat opening extending transversely therethrough secured to one of said objects,

(b) means in said opening having portions extending outwardly of saidbody member,

(0) a cover member having side walls extending over said body member when closed,

(d) means pivotally securing said cover member to the other of said objects,

(e) means carried by said last named means for urging said cover member toward said body member, whereby when said cover is closed over the body member the portions extending outwardly of said body member will engage the side walls of the cover member to retain the same in closed position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first named means are flexible plate members.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 including serrations on said side walls of the cover member adapted to be engaged by said portions of the flexible plate members extending outwardly of said body member.

4. A latch mechanism for a suitcase or the like having a top and a body with a front wall comprising,

(a) a two piece body member having spaced curved grooves extending transversely therethrough secured to the wall of said body of the suitcase, said pieces being adapted to lie one on top of the other with the grooves in alignment,

(b) means in said grooves having portions extending outwardly of said body member,

(0) a cover member having side walls extending over said body when closed,

(d) means pivotally securing said cover member to the wall of the top of said suitcase,

(e) means carried by said last named means for urging said cover member toward said body member, whereby when said cover is closed over the body member the portions of said first named means extending outwardly of said grooves will engage the side walls of the cover member to retain the same in closed position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first named means are flexible plate members.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including serrations on said side walls of the cover member adapted to be engaged by said portions of the flexible plate members extending outwardly of said body member and the lower edges of said side walls being turned inwardly toward each other to resist outward movement of the cover member.

7. A latch mechanism for a case or the like having a body portion and a top comprising,

(a) a body member having a back piece and a front piece providing mating faces, said mating faces having aligned curved grooves extending transversely through said pieces,

(1)) resilient means in said grooves having portions extending outwardly of the body member,

(c) a bracket fixed to the top of the case adjacent' said body member,

(d) a cover member having side walls with lower edges pivotally secured to said bracket adapted to engage over said body member, said lower edges of the side walls being turned inwardly toward each other and said side walls having serrations adapted to be engaged by said outwardly extending portions of said resilient means in said grooves, and

(e) spring means normally urging said cover toward the body member, whereby when said cover is closed over the body member the portions of said resilient means extending outwardly of said grooves will engage the serrations in the side walls of the cover member to retain the same in closed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the resilient means in said grooves are fiat spring steel.

9. A latch mechanism for a suitcase or the like having a top and a body with a front wall comprising,

(0) a cover member having side walls extending over said body when closed,

(e) means carried by said last named means for urging said cover member toward said body member, whereby when said cover is closed over the body member the portions of said first named means extending outwardly of said grooves will engage the side walls of the cover member to frictionally retain the same in closed position, and

(7") means carried by the body member locking said cover member thereto.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said locking means includes a recessed portion in one of said body pieces spaced from said grooves, a curved groove transversely of said body intersecting said recess, .a lug pivotally mounted in said recess, the other one of said body piece having a groove mating with the groove in the other body piece and having a slot intersecting said groove in the other body piece, a locking member having a leg engaging in said last named slot and having a transverse arm on one end extending outwardly of the body member, the other end of the locking member having a flat curved flexible spring member engaging in said last named mating grooves and having ends extending outwardly of body, and key means carried by said other of the body pieces for rotating said lug to cause the same to flex said spring member to cause the ends thereof to engage the sides of the cover member to lock said cover member to said body member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the side walls of the cover member are serrated longitudinally and the ends of said curved flexible spring member are notched to engage said side walls.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first named means are flexible plate members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

1. A LATCH MECHANISM FOR SECURING TWO OBJECTS TOGETHER, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID OBJECTS BEING MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER, COMPRISING, (A) A BODY MEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE CURVED FLAT OPENING EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THERETHROUGH SECURED TO ONE OF SAID OBJECTS, (B) MEANS IN SAID OPENING HAVING PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID BODY MEMBER, (C) A COVER MEMBER HAVING SIDE WALLS EXTENDING OVER SAID BODY MEMBER WHEN CLOSED, (D) MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING SAID COVER MEMBER TO THE OTHER OF SAID OBJECTS, (E) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID LAST NAMED MEANS FOR URGING SAID COVER MEMBER TOWARD SAID BODY MEMBER, WHEREBY WHEN SAID COVER IS CLOSED OVER THE BODY MEMBER THE PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID BODY MEMBER WILL ENGAGE THE SIDE WALLS OF THE COVER MEMBER TO RETAIN THE SAME IN CLOSED POSITION.