US3369832A

US3369832A - Door catch assembly

Info

Publication number: US3369832A
Application number: US522466A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edward M Webster
Original assignee: National Lock Co
Current assignee: National Lock Co
Priority date: 1966-01-24
Filing date: 1966-01-24
Publication date: 1968-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 1985-02-20

Description

Feb. 20, 1968 E. M. WEBSTER 3,369,832

DOOR CATCH AS SEMBLY Filed Jan. 24, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l :iiiL."

Feb. 20, 1968 E. M. WEBSTER 3,369,832,

DOOR CATCH AS SEMBLY Filed Jan. 24, 1 966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,369,832 DOOR CATCH ASSEMBLY Edward M. Webster, Rockford, Ill., assignor to National Lock Co., Rockford, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 522,466 1 Claim. (Cl. 292-78) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLQSURE A catch assembly utilized adjacent the hinged edge of a cabinet door or for sliding doors or drawers providing a positive action catch having a mounting bracket on the enclosure perpendicular to the plane of the door with a central elongated cutout having opposed end tabs and an opening adjacent the edge of the bracket removed from the door. A generally rectangular pivotally mounted member is disposed parallel and aligned with the bracket and has a pivot pin extending into the opening of the bracket and an aligned elongated cutout with end tabs; the aligned cutouts receiving a compression spring. The pivotally mounted member also has a lateral projection forming a retaining hook which cooperates with a roller or a strike mounted on the movable door or drawer.

The present invention relates to a novel catch mechanism adaptable to various applications upon cabinets and doors, sliding doors and drawer slides, and more particularly to a positive action catch having a self closing or pull-in action which may be used with a strike travelling in an arcuate path or a straight line.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a catch mechanism having a pivotal action member or hook and a reciprocating or oscillating strike member. The hook includes a curved camming surface adapted to be engaged by movement of the strike toward the hook and a second surface which intersects the camming surface at a high point forming the hook; the second surface retaining the strike in closed position. The hook is normally biased to the position retaining the strike but can be pivoted against the biasing force when the strike engages the camming surface or when the strike is pulled away from the hook.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a catch mechanism which can be utilized with a strike travelling in a straight line, such as for a sliding door or drawer slide, or in an arcuate path for swinging hinged doors on a cabinet. The strike is generally mounted upon the door or drawer and the catch is mounted on the cabinet frame. The engaging member of the strike and the action member of the catch are both preferably formed of a plastic material to reduce friction and promote ease of engagement.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a catch mechanism having a bracket secured to the cabinet frame and having a central opening with opposed tabs. The action member or hook is pivotally mounted on the bracket and has an aligned identical tabbed cutout. A compression spring is received in the aligned cutouts with each end of the spring receiving the aligned tabs on the hook and bracket. The spring provides yieldable biasing of the hook which allows the hook to pivot relative to the bracket when engaged by the strike.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a catch mechanism which may be combined with the hinge structure for a metal cabinet and door.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

Patented Feb. 20, 1968 In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a partial top plan view of the novel catch mechanism and strike utilized on a metal cabinet and door; the right-hand catch and strike being shown.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the catch mechanism similar to FIG. 1, but with the door in partially open position.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the catch mecha-- nism taken on theline 33 of FIG. 1 but with the cabinet and door omitted.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the catch taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the catch mechanism and hinge with the strike engaging the hook of the catch.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the hook.

FIG. 7 is a partial bottom plan view of a modified catch and strike as applied to a flush wooden door on a Wooden cabinet.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the catch and strike taken on the line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial bottom plan View of the catch and strike mechanism of FIG. 7 as applied to a recessed wooden door.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the catch and strike taken on the line 1010 of FIG.'9.

Referring more particularly to the disclosure in the drawings wherein are shown illustrative embodiments of the present invention, FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose a metal cabinet 10 having one or more metal doors 11 mounted on the cabinet 10 by hinges 12. Both the metal door 11 and the cabinet 10 have hollow walls to conceal substantially all of the hinge l2 and catch mechanism 13. The hinge 12 includes a door flange 14 which extends into and is secured in the door by screws 15 or other suitable fastening means; the flange 14 having a pivot mounting portion at the outer end. The cabinet flange 16 is mounted within the cabinet frame by suitable securing means such as screws 17, and has an outwardly extending portion 18 parallel to the door flange 14. A rivet 19 provides a pivot connection for the hinge and extends through the portion 18 and the pivot mounting portion of the door flange 14.

Also secured within the hollow cabinet frame is the mounting bracket 21 for the catch mechanism 13. The bracket is provided with a mounting flange 22 having a vertical channel or inset 23 containing an opening 24 for a mounting screw and an offset portion 25 mounted over the cabinet flange 16 of the hinge 12 and having openings 26 receiving the screws 17. The main portion 27 of the bracket 21 is perpendicular to the flange 22 and includes a central, generally rectangular cutout 28 and an opening 29 adjacent the edge of the portion opposite flange 22. Oppositely disposed tabs 31' and 32 extend inward into the cutout 28, the tab 31 being rounded and tab 32 having the general configuration of a rhomboid.

Mounted on the bracket 21 is a hook 33 preferably formed of a plastic material, such as nylon, to reduce friction. The hook 33 has a generally rectangular body 34 conforming with the configuration of the main portion 27 of the bracket 21 and a lateral projection 35 forming the hook cooperating with a strike 47. The body portion includes a generally rectangular cutout 36 having inwardly extending

tabs

37 and 38 aligned with and identical to the cutout 28 and

tabs

31 and 32, respectively, of the portion 27. Also, a pivot pin 39 is positioned in the body 34 to extend perpendicularly from both surfaces of the body and is aligned with the opening 29 into which one end of the pin 39 extends. I

The lateral projection 35 (FIG. 6) includes a generally rounded or arcu-ate camming surface 41 extending to a high point 42, and a pull-in or retaining surface 43 extending inward from the point 42 to the body 34 (FIG. 2). The surface 43 is generally flat with a rounded portion 44 adjacent the body 34; the surface 43 being at an acute angle to the edge 45 of the body. The hook 33 shown is for a right-hand installation, and to provide for a lefthand installation the hook is turned over and a left hand bracket 21 utilized.

A compression spring 46 is inserted into the aligned cutouts 28 and 36 in the bracket 21 and body 34, respectively, with the opposite ends of the spring receiving the aligned

tabs

31, 37 and 32, 38. When the hook 33 is pivoted around the axis of pin 39 relative to the bracket 21 as seen in FIG. 5, the spring is compressed between the rounded tab 37 of the book 33 and the stationary opposite (rhomboid) tab 32 of the bracket 21. When the force causing rotation is relieved, the spring 46 returns the hook 33 to to its normal position.

A strike 47 is also mounted on the door 11 and includes a strike bracket 48 having a lateral arm 49 at one end received within the metal door 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The arm 49 includes threaded openings 51 for suitable securing means such as screws 52. The opposite end of bracket 48 has a depending pin 53 secured thereto and a roller 54, preferably formed of a suitable plastic material such as an acetal, is mounted on the pin 53; the pin being headed below the roller 54 to retain the roller thereon. A solid pin of metal or plastic may be utilized as a depending member.

The strike 47 is positioned on the door so that the roller 54 engages the camming surface 41 of the hook 33 as the door is moved toward closed position. As the door closes from the position of FIG. 2 and the roller engages the surface 41, the hook 33 is rotated relative to the bracket 21 about the pin 39 against the action of the spring 46 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in FIG. 5. When the roller 54 reaches the high point 42 and passes therebeyond, the pressure against the force of the spring is reduced and the hook 33 returns to its normal position rotating behind the strike roller 54, and the surface 43 exerts a pull-in force until the maximum strike travel is reached (FIG. 1).

This catch mechanism 13 positively retains the door 11 in closed position without any additional catch mechanism at the edge of the door opposite the hinge 12. To release the catch mechanism 13 and open the door, the strike is pulled back against the surface 43 again causing rotation of the hook 33 until the roller 54 passes the point 42 and the hook 33 then returns to its initial posi tion. Thus, any substantial force is only applied to the door during the first few degrees of rotation in the opening movement.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, a modified catch mechanism 13 and strike 47 is shown for use on wooden doors and cabinets. FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose a wooden cabinet 55 having a flush door 56 hinged to the cabinet by hinges 57. The catch mechanism 13 has a bracket 21 with a horizontal mounting flange 58 parallel but offset from bracket 21 by an offset portion 59. The flange 58 has openings for suitable securing means such as screws 61 to secure the bracket to the upper edge 62 of the cabinet 55. Also the strike 47 has a bracket 48 with a depending flange 63 perpendicular to the bracket and having openings for suitable securing means 64 to secure the strike to the door 56.

In the present arrangement for a wooden cabinet and a flush door 56, the pin 53 extends upward above the bracket 48 and the roller 54 is above the bracket to cooperate with the hook 33 mounted on the upper surface of the mounting bracket 21 Operation of the catch mechanism for the separately hinged wooden cabinet 55 and flush mounted door 56 is identical with that described for the metal cabinet.

FIGS. 9 and disclose the utilization of the catch mechanism 13 and strike 47 on a wooden cabinet 55 4 with a recessed door 65 having a hinge 66 for a recessed door. The catch mechanism 13 is the same as for the flush door 56 except that the flange 58 is partially overlapped by the door 65, and the strike 47 is identical except that the mounting flange 63 is larger than in the flush door application.

Although the

catch mechanism

13, 13 and

strike

47, 47* have been shown with a hinged door where the

roller

54, 54 moves along an arcuate path, it is obvious that the mechanism can be utilized for a drawer or a sliding door where the strike and roller move in a straight line path of travel.

Having disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. A catch assembly for a movable closure member for a cabinet or other enclosure, comprising a catch mechanism mounted on the enclosure and a strike mounted on the closure member so that the catchmechanism and strike are movable toward and away from each other, said catch mechanism including a mounting bracket having a mounting flange at one edge thereof, said mounting bracket being positioned perpendicular to the plane of the closure member and having a central elongated cutout provided with opposed inwardly extending end tabs and an opening adjacent the edge of the bracket opposite the mounting flange, and a pivotally mounted hook having a body generally conforming to the configuration of and parallel to and aligned with the mounting bracket, a curved surface at one edge of the body facing the closure member, and a pin projecting from the body adjacent the edge opposite the curved surface and received in the opening in the mounting bracket to provide a pivotal mounting for the hook on said mounting bracket, said body having a central elongated cutout with opposed inwardly extending end tabs, said cutout in the body being aligned with the cutout in the mounting bracket, a compression spring received in the aligned cutouts with the ends of the spring encompassing the tabs at the ends of the cutouts, and a lateral projection on said body extending beyond said mounting bracket generally opposite to the pivotal mounting and having a curved surface facing the closure member that is the continuation of the curved surface on said body, an arcuate camming surface intersecting said curved surface at an obtuse angle, and a retaining surface generally perpendicular to asid body and intersecting said camming surface at a point, and said strike including a mounting flange at one end, a depending pin adjacent the opposite end, and a roller rotatably mounted on said pin and adapted to engage and be retained by the lateral projection on the hook, whereby said hook is yieldably biased by said compression spring to a position drawing the closure member to its closed position and retaining the strike roller on the retaining surface, said roller engaging said camming surface during closing movement and engaging the retaining surface during initial opening movement to pivot said hook against the force of the spring until the point of intersection of said camming and retaining surfaces is passed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 954,324 4/1910 Mooney 29270 2,504,540 4/ 1950 Lawless 29278 2,573,096 10/1951 Ender 29278 X 2,749,569 6/1956 Sandberg 29278 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,262,246 4/ 1961 France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

JOHN R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner.