US3201960A

US3201960A - Combination magnetic and mechanical latch

Info

Publication number: US3201960A
Application number: US324790A
Authority: US
Inventors: Irving L Berkowitz
Original assignee: KASON HARDWARE CORP
Current assignee: KASON HARDWARE CORP
Priority date: 1963-11-19
Filing date: 1963-11-19
Publication date: 1965-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-24

Description

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- Aug. 24, 1965 BERKOWITZ COMBINATION MAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL LATCH Filed Nov. 19, 1963 BY m ma M A 770/?A/E/5.

Aug. 24, 1965 1. BERKOWITZ COMBINATION MAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL LATCH Filed Nov. 19, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 "In-Er INVENTOR. F I 7 [RV/N6 L. BfIP/(OW/TZ WWW ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 24, 1965 l. L- BERKOWITZ COMBINATION MAGNETIC AND MECHANICAL LATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 19, 1963 U Wu RM E 00 N TK R mm m 7 m M A United States Patent m 3,201,960 COMBINATION MAGNETIC AND MECHANIQAL LATCH Irving L. Berkowitz, flceanside, Long Island, N.Y., assignor to Kason Hardware Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 324,7% 9 Claims. (Cl. 70-450) This invention relates to door latches and especially latches for refrigerator doors. object of the present invention is to provide an improved door latch incorporating improved magnetic means for quickly closing and holding the door as it moves into latching position, and wherein the latching mechanism includes improved means for breaking the magnetic hold on the door during initial unlatching of the door.

Another object is to provide a door latch having im proved striker means which permits simple adjustment of the striker means in a plurality of directions to compensate for wear or to accommodate misalignment.

A further object is to provide a door latch of the above ilescgibed type with provision for cylinder locking of the atc .Another object is to provide a door latch of the indicated type in which a permanent magnet is provided for the magnetic door holding operation and in which the magnet is mounted for swivel movement to compensate for any misalignment of the parts of the latch and for aiding in the breaking of the magnetic hold on the door during initial unlatching movement of the latch.

A further object is generally to provide an improved mechanical magnetic latch which is especially useful as a latch for refrigerator doors. a

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be mode fully understood from the following description of the invention considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings ofa presently preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a door latch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-.-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 2;

'FIG. 5 is. a vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

, FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of part of the striker assembly of the latch;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of another part of the striker assembly of the latch;

. FIG. 10, is a horizontal sectional view of part of the latch, similar to FIG. 2, and showing the relative positions of the parts at the completion of the initial unlatching movement; and

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view of part of the latch, similar to FIG. 2, and showing the relative positions of the parts of the latch in the locked condition thereof.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the latch is shown in connection with a refrigerator wherein the door of the refrigerator is represented at 12 and the door jamb at 14. The latch comprises a handle housing assembly 16 which is suitably secured to door 12, and a striker assembly 18 which is secured to the door jamb. Handle housing assembly 16 comprises a housing 18 which is Patented Aug. 24, 1965 secured to the door by any suitable means, as for example by mounting pins which extend through holes 20, provided in the housing. An elongated handle 22 is pivotally connected to the housing on a pivot pin 24 at a position which is spaced longitudinally from the operating end 26 of the handle. Pin 24 is fixed to the housing. Handle end 26 is provided with a projecting part 28 which operates a latch member 30 that is pivotally mounted on housing 18 by a pivot pin 32 which is fixed to the housing. The opposite end of the handle is shaped to provide the usual handle part 34 by which the handle may be grasped.

Latch member 30 is spring biased into a normal latching position as illustrated by FIG. 2. More particularly, a torsion spring 36 has its coiled part surrounding pin 32. One arm 38 of the spring extends into a cutout 4t) provided in housing 18 and the arm bears against the adjacent wall 42 of the cutout. The opposite end 44 of the spring bears against an adjacent wall 46 provided in a recess 48 in the latch member. It is to be noted, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, that the torsion spring is positioned in recess 48' between spaced side walls 56 which form the sides of the recess.

The main body portion of the latch member is triangular in shape and at one corner of the triangle there is a bearing surface 52 against which part 28 of the handle bears for operating the latch member. It is to be noted, as best seen in FIGS. 2, 10 and 11 that the pivot 32 for the latch member is positioned in offset relation with surface 52 to permit rotary actuation of the latch member. A bearing surface 54 extends transversely from surface 52 toward another corner or heel 56 of the triangular body portion of the latch member. Surface 54 slants away from pivotpin 32 and bears against a companion slanting surface or stop 58 provided on part of housing 18. The remaining corner 60 of the triangular shaped body portion of the latch member is provided with an extending refiexed part or hook 62 which is adapted to engage the striker end or tongue 64 of striker assembly 18 for latching the door. The outer surface 66 of the latch member is curved to provide a cam surface which strikes the beveled surface 68 of the striker end, during closing movement of the door, to rotate the latch member in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to clear the striker. When part 62 of the latch member moves past the striker, spring 36 causes the latch member to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to engage the striker, and the latch member is resiliently held in that position to hold the latch in its closed position, as illustrated by FIG. 2. The spring also biases surface 52 against projecting part 28. of the handle, whereby in the latched position of the latch, handle 22 is biased in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. The handle is provided with a projection 70 which is to the right of handle pivot 24. The projection abuts against a surface or stop 72 provided on housing 18 whereby the handle is resiliently held in its latched position illustrated by FIG. 2 and is prevented from being moved clockwise. Surface 58 is a stop for the latch member.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, housing 18 includes a pair of spaced side walls 74 which form a space in which is pivotally mounted a pair of permanent plate-like magnets 76 which are in adjacent side-by-side relation. More particularly, a pivot pin 78 extends between walls 74 and may be secured to one of the walls, as shown in FIG. 3.

A pair of pole plates 86 are positioned at opposite outer sides of magnets 76, between walls 74, and the plates and magnets have axially aligned apertures through which pin 78 extends, whereby the pole plates and magnets are pivotally mounted on the pin. The lengths of the pole plates and magnets are the same and, as best seen in FIG. 2, areslightly less than the longitudinal distance between walls 82 and S4 of the housing to permit slight swivel t a I movement of the magnets and the pole'plates. The widths of the magnets are slightly less than the widths of the pole end 34 of the handle is grasped and moved in a counterclockwise direction, from the dot-dash position illustrated plates so that the magnets do not abut against the striker assembly 18, but'only the pole plates do. This avoids any. I

, possible damage to the magnets which are softer than the comprising a web 89 having a longitudinally extending slot 90 through most of its length. A pair of screws 92'exswivel or floating mount of the magnet and its pole plates tend through the slot and are screwed into door jamb 14 to secure the striker insertto the door jamb. It is to be observed thatslot 90 permits longitudinal adjustment of the striker insert on the door jamb. The oppositeends of the insert are provided with

Wall parts

94 and 96 which extend inwardly from web 89 towardfthe striker'86; The I outer surface of end wall 94 isprovided with parallel serrations 98 which extend widthwise lot the end wall. 7 The inner surface of Striker 86 comprises an end wall 96 is provided with similar and parallel serrations-98. i a a. V f

' elongated web 100 which is' shaped at one of its ends to form a tongue 64 previously referred to. A pair of

opposite end walls

102 and 104" 1 extend outwardlyfrom web 100 and end wall 102 is positioned outwardly of end wall 94- of the striker insert, ad-

j acent thereto. 1 End wall 104 is positioned inwardly of end wall 96 of the striker'insert, adjacent thereto. The inner V surface of end wall 102 is provided with comating serra:

tions 98 similar to serrations 98 of end, wall 94 for interengagement with the latter to adjustably position end wall 102 on en-dwall 94. Similarly, the outer surface of end wall 104 is provided with comating serrations 98, similar a to the serrations provided on the inner-surface ofend wall I a 96 of the striker insertfor interengagementlwith such ser rationsto adjustably position end wall 104 on' end wall' 96. It is to'be noted that web 89; of the striker'insert is provided with a cutout 106 through wall 104 extends.

To adjustably secure whichthe end of end the end walls of the striker and striker insert to each other, end wall 102 is provided'with push the door toward a closing. position.

inFIG. 10 to the solid line position illustrated therein. 'Initial movement of the handle causes projection 28 to move against surface 52 of the latch member, causing the latch member to pivot in aclockwise direction about its pivot pin 32. This movement or the latch member causes its surface 56 to abut against the striker end of the striker simultaneously as the book 62 of the latch member moves out ofengagement with the striker end. The abutting of surface 56 of the latch member' against the striker end breaks the magnetic grip between the pole plates and the striker to release the door 'for' opening movement. The

help in the bre'aking of the magnetic grip. 1

1 To close and latch thedoo r, all that isnecess'ary is to 7 Edge 66 of the hook of the latch member strikes surface 68 of the striker end and is cammed in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to clear the striker end and, thereafter,

' is moved back by spring 36 to engage the striker for its latching position. As the pole'platesmove near striker 86, the plates are magnetically attracted tothe striker and quickly move into contact to provide a quick and positivelatching and closing movement of the door.

f While'I have shown and described a presently preferred embodiment-of the inventionjit will be understoodthat I the inventionmay be embodied in a form which is diiferent "from what is 'shown or described herein'but which inorporates the principles and-idea's of the present invention as set forth in the appended'c'laims.

.I claim: V 1 1 1. A latch comprising, a striker adaptedto beattached to a door jamb, 'support means adapted to be attached to a door, an actuating handle mounted for latching and unlat'ching movement on said support means, a latch member mounted for' latching and-unlatching movement on said 'support means and having a first partin the path of movement ofsaid handlefor engagement by the latter j V whichfit engages said striker to an unlatched position in to move said latch member from a latched position in which it is released from said striker, andspringfmeans engaging 'said' latch member and biasing 'thelatt'er toward .said' latched position,- said latch member having another part positioned to press said ,striker during unlatching movement of saidhandle to push I said su'pportineans ..away from. said striker and magnetic means mounted 104 of the striker is provided with a threaded hole. 116

It is to be observed that

screws

112 and 118 maybeon saidv support means and positioned to engage saidstrikan the latchedp'osition of said latch, said striker being loosenedwherein the striker may be moved toward or;

away from theinsert on the serrationsto adjust the;.posi

tion of striker end 64 with respect to hook 66 if latch. member 30. The serrations help keepthestriker parallel to the insert and also help prevent any movement-ofthe striker after

screws

112 and 118 are tighteneddue to the interengagement of the companion'serrations.

Provision is made forilocking latch.memb'er'30 in its latched position'. For this purpose, theend .of housing 18 is pnovidedwith an aperture120'in which is suitably mounted a'key-operated locking cylinder '122-to which is" attached a; locking cam 123 having a projection 124.- The cylinder-may be rotated 180, from'the positionshown in:

FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 11, wherein'projection 124 abuts against edge 126 of wall '50 of the latch member to preventmovement-thereof.

The operation of the latchwill now be' described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 10. In the latchedpositionof'latch "10 shown in FIG 2, the locking cylinder'has been roin contact with the outer surface of web of the striker the striker by magnetism; To unlatch 'thelatch, handle (FIGS. 2 and 3)-wherein the pole plates are held against I i made ofimaterial. which is attracted 'tovsaid magnetic means, and said another part of said latch member being operable to break the 'magnetic grip between said magnetic means and said striker during initial unlatching movement of said handle. s

2. A latch as definedin claim-1, said magnetic means being pivotally mounted on said support means.

3. A latch as defined in, claim, 1, said striker comprising a first elongated member having a longitudinally extending mounting slot for longitudinal adjustment 'of the positionfof said member'on thedoor jamb, said elongated member having a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls,

anda second elongated member having an end positioned tobe engaged by said latch member in the latched position" of said latch and having .a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls positioned adjacent a' corresponding end wall of saidfirst member, confronting wall surfaces of "adjacent end walls having-'comating interengagingm'eans to permit transverse adjusting movement of :theen'd walls of said second member with respect to the endwalls of said first member, and means to releasably secure adjacent end walls to each other.

'4. A latch asu'defined in claim 1 said support means having a. recess,"a key-operated cylinder lock mounted ffori rotation infsaid "recess. and having alocking cam {attached thereto land movable therewith into position to engage said latch member in the latched position thereof to lock said latch member.

5. The combination of claim 1, said striker having a tongue, and said latch member having a hook for engaging said tongue in the latched position of said latch member.

6. The combination of claim 1, and a cam member mounted for rotation on said support means, said cam member having a projection which is clear of said latch member in one position of said cam memberand which is in engagement with said latch member in another position of said cam member for preventing movement of said latch member.

7. A latch as defined in claim ll, said striker comprising a first member having means for positioning said member on said door jamb at difierent positions longitudinally of said first member, and a second member mounted on said first member for adjustable movement transversely of said first member.

, to move said latch member from a latched position in which it engages said striker to an unlatched position in which it is released from said striker, and spring means engaging said latch member and biasing the latter toward said latched position, said striker comprising a first elongated member having a longitudinally extending mounting slot for longitudinal adjustment of the position of said member on the door jamb, said elongated member having a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls, and a second elongated member substantially coextensive with said first elongated member and having an end positioned to be engaged by said latch member in the latched position of said latch and having a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls each positioned adjacent a corresponding end wall of said first member, confronting Wall surfaces of adjacent end walls having comating interengaging means to permit transverse adjusting movement of the end walls of said second member with respect to the end walls of said first members, and means to releasably secure adjacent end walls to each other.

9. A latch comprising, a striker adapted to be attached to a door jamb, support means adapted to be attached to a door, an actuating handle mounted for latching and unlatching movement on said support means, a latch member mounted for latching and unlatching movement on said support means and having a first part in the path of movement of said handle for engagement by the latter to move said latch member from a latched position in which it engages said striker to an unlatched position in which it is released from said striker, and spring means engaging said latch member and biasing the latter toward said latched position, said latch member having another part positioned to press said striker during unlatching movement of said handle to push said support means away from said striker, said striker comprising a first elongated member having a longitudinally extending mounting slot for longitudinal adjustment of the position of said member on the door jamb, said elongated member having a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls, and

a second elongated member substantially coextensive with said first member and having an end positioned to be engaged by said latch member in the latched position of said latch and having a pair of longitudinally spaced end walls positioned each adjacent a corresponding end wall of said first member, confronting wall surfaces of adjacent end walls having comating interengaging means to permit transverse adjusting movement of the end walls of said second member with respect to the end walls of said first member, and means to releasably secure adjacent end walls to each other.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,485 2/39 Roedding 292-226 2,252,144 8/41 Taylor et al. 292-251.5 2,798,754 7/57 Russell 292-34l.l8 2,947,560 8/60 Klee 292-2515 X 3,045,465 7/62 Larson 153 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,926 1/ 61 Great Britain.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, Examiner.

Claims

1. A LATCH COMPRISING, A STIKER ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A DOOR JAMB, SUPPORT MEANS ADATPED TO BE ATACHED TO A DOOR, AN ACTUATING HANDLE MOUNTED FOR LATCHING AND UNLATCHING MOVEMENT ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, A LATCH MEMEBR MOUNTED FOR LATCHINE AND UNLATCHING MOVEMENT ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND HAVING A FIRSST PART IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE LATTER TO MOVE SAID LATCH MEMBER FROM A LATCHED POSITION IN WHICH IT ENGAGES SAID STRIKER TO AN UNLATCHED POSIT ION IN WHICH IT IS RELEASED FROM SAID STRIKER, AND SPRING MEANS ENGAGING SAID LATCH MEMBER AND BIASING THE LATTER TOWARD SAID LATCHED POSITION, SAID LATCH MEMBER HAVING ANOTHER PART POSITIONED TO PRESS SAID STRIKER DURING UNLATCHING MOVEMENNT OF SAID HANDLE TO PUSH SAID SUPPORT MEANS AWAY FROM SAID STRIKER AND MAGNETIC MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND POSITIONED TO ENGAGE SAID STRIKER IN THE LATCHED POSITION OF SAID LATCH, SAID STRIKER BEING MADE OF MATERIAL WHICH IS ATTRACTED TO SAID MAGNETIC MEANS, AND SAID ANOTHER PART OF SAID LATCH MEMBER BEING OPERABLE TO BREAK THE MAGNETIC GRIP BETWEEN SAID MAGNETIC MEANS AND SAID STRIKER DURING INITIAL UNLATCHING MOVEMENT OF SAID HANDLE.