US3379482A - Latching system - Google Patents

Description

April 23, 1968 G. T. BAGGOTT LATCHING SYSTEM Filed July 29, 1966 S RW M ,p 05,/ MMS w S# mf @i m ffii/f 5 v.. B

April 23, 1968 G. T. BAGGOTT LATCHING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 29, 1966 @lilo i-Filed July 29, 1966, Ser. No. 568,847 lli Claims. (Cl. S12-411) The present invention relates generally to latching systems, and more specifically to a system of locking one portable storage unit atop another.

ln the art of materials handling, various storage units or cabinets have been developed for different purposes. All too frequently, patterns of consumption require movement of particular material to particular locations in amounts not predictable at the time of storage. As a result, effort is expended in the time-consuming task of breaking down and repacking the stored material. Mobile vehicles are an obvious response to this problem. Almost inevitably, however, mobility results in an uneconomical use ot oor space, especially where the material involved is weighty' or bulky.

An additional problem is presented when some sort of control must be exerted on the environment of the material, such as temperature or pressure. In such cases, it may be impracticable to maintain such `control throughout the loading or unloading of a large storage unit.

Accordingly, the main object of this invention is to provide a system of latching storage units which permits mobility, effective use of floor space, and maintenance of separate environmental controls on separate units.

Another object is to provide a system for securely locking one storage unit atop another.

Still another object is to provide a system for material handling which avoids the necessity of repeated unloading or repacking.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment of it taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

.FGURE l shows in perspective two typical storage units including positioning and latching means holding the units in a stacked and locked relationship;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view in enlarged scale of the latching means and positions of the two stacked storage units shown in FIGURE l;

FGURE 3 is an end elevation view showing portions ot two stacked storage units and parts of the latching mechanism; and

BiC-URE 4 is an enlarged view ot the resilientlybiased connection assembly shown at the right of FlG- URE 2 with portions omitted for clarity.

A latching system typical of my invention is shown in lidURE 1 in connection and in combination with two stacked storage units l). Storage units 10 are of a convenient size and type commonly used in the food handling equipn'ient and other industries. These box-like units are often insulated and contain either refrigeration or heating apparatus to maintain the contents at a desired temperature. Units 10 are loadable or unloadable through doors ll and are provided with casters 12 for easy movement and maximum mobility. In the past, storage units of the general type shown have been used individually, each standing and moving on its own set of casters 12 and each occupying valuable space on the States Patent O ICC floor. The latching system of my invention now permits such storage units, both with and without casters, to be easily, conveniently, and safely stacked and used, moved, and transported in a stacked relationship as well as to be unstacked and employed individually as may be most convenient at the time.

As shown in FIGURE l, the latching system comprises tour latching assemblies i3. Each latching assembly 13 comprises a latch arm 14 and a latch arm storing bracket l5 mounted on one of the units to be latched, and a cooperating latch strike 16, mounted on the other of the units to be latched. The apparatus, as described and drawn, illustrates a form of the invention with the latch arm l and latch arm storing bracket 15 attached to the lower storage unit, and cooperating latch Strike 16 attached to the upper storage unit, though the reverse configuration would work as well. Unitormity in this respect among the storage units in use in a given arca is, of course, desirable.

The latch ram le of each latching assembly 13 is adapted to be extended from the unit carrying them towart and into a position and condition of latching engagement with the cooperating latch strike 16 of the assembly. When all the assemblies 13 comprising the system are latched, the two storage units are positively aligned and secured against relative movement. When the storage :units are to be separated, the latch arms and strikes disengaged and the latch arms retracted into a storing position of engagement with their respective storing brackets 15'.

The latching assemblies 13 making up the system are all the same in construction and operation and, therefore, only one will be described in detail. lEach latch arm 14 is pivotally connected at one end by shoulder screw 17 to a side of the lower storage unit 1l), preferably adiacent the top surface. The plurality of latch arms 14 comprising the system are preferably horizontally spaced apart around the top surface and along the unit sides to best secure the two units together and against relative movement between them.

Latch arm 14 is pivoted for swinging movement generally in the plane of the side to which it is attached and containing the latch strike 1.6 it is to engage, It swings between its associated latch arm storing bracket l5 and latch strike 16. Swinging movement through a greater arc is prevented by stop pins 18 and i9 xedly mounted on the side of a storage unit 1d. Stop pins 1S and 1 9 each serve to prevent latch arm 15 from swinging in one direction beyond its stored and latching positions, respectively. As explained more fully below, two or more latch arms ltand their associated stop pins l@ cooperate to vertically align and to positively position two storage units l() which they latch together.

The longitudinal edges of latch arms 14 preferably coinprise outwardly-turned flanges 2t), particularly shown in FIGURE 3, which contribute stillness to the arms and partially shield the moving parts of connection assembly 19 described below. Flanges 2o also provide adequate surfaces for bearing engagement with stop pins 1S when the latch arm is in stored position, and stop pins 19 when the latch arm is in its lat-ching position.

When extended for latching, latch arm 1d substantially reaches its associated latch strike 16 on the other storage unit. A resiliently-biased connection assembly 21 is mounted on the free, swinging end of each latch arm 14.

3 As viewed particularly in FGURE 4, a toggle lever 22 is mounted for swinging movement at the end of latch arm 14. Toggle lever 22 swings about hinge pin 23 carried in outwardly extending ears 24cm the end of latch arm 14.

Toggle lever 22 is also provided with a swinging bail 25 mounted for swinging movement about the axis of pin 26 carried in latch arm 14 spaced from the parallel to hinge pin 23. Swinging bail 25 preferably consists of a pair of resiliently yieldable side links connected together at one end by latch pin 27 and at the other end by pin 26. The yieldable resilience of the side links is preferably provided by means of two bar elements 28 and 29 extending longitudinally beside each other and passing through the center of a coil spring 30. One end 31 of each of elements 2S and 29 is turned outwardly to bear against an end of spring 30 so that any etort to lengthen the link by moving elements 23 and 29 apart is resiliently resisted by spring 30 acting in compression.

Toggle lever 22 terminates in a lifting tab 32 for convenient and easy operation. It will be seen that connection assembly 21 operates generally in the well-known manner of an overcenter toggle latch, enhanced, however, by the addition of the resiiiently yieldable side links described above. Operation of toggle lever 22 effectively changes the distance between latch pin 27 and pivot point 17 by twice the amount of the distance between hinge pin 23 and pin 26, plus anything realized by compression of springs 30 and consequent extension of the side links of bail 2S. The dimensions involved should require some compression of spring 30 when latching assemblies 13, including connection assemblies 21, are latched and engaged with latch strikes 16.

Latch strikes 16 are attached by suitable means, such as rivets 33, to the side of each storage unit at spaced apart points corresponding to and for cooperation with spaced apart latch arms 14. Each latch strike 16 is provided with an outwardly-extending hook portion 34, see FIGURE 3, adapted to receive latch pin 27 of a resiliently-biased connection assembly 21. Latch strikes 16 are preferably located on one storage unit 10 directly above pivot point 17 loc-ations of latch arms 14 on the other storage unit 10, though they may be located out of vertical alignment, it being desirable, however, that the latch arms act to pull the latched storage units together to a substantial extent.

Latch arm storing brackets -are attached on the side of the storage unit 10 by suitable fastening means such as rivets 35. Latch arm storing bracket 15 has outwardlyextending hooked portions 36 at either end adapted to receive latch pins 27 of resiliently-biased connection assemblies 21 of the adjacent latch arms 14 when the latch arms are in stored position.

As shown, the invention is useful in connection with storage units equipped with casters. With this invention, such. castered units would be most dilhcult, if not impossible, to use and move about in a stacked relationship. The casters 12 may be made of any suitable material. If rubber or resilient casters are used, for example, it is desirable that they be compressed when the storage units are latched together. The tension thus achieved in the latching assemblies 13, when added to that of their own springs 30, will aid in maintaining the units 10 in a secure stacked relationship.

Each storage unit is preferably provided. with tracks 37 for aiding in stacking and unstacking the units by receiving and guiding casters 12. Additionally, the tracks serve to align the units and to help maintain them in a secure stacked relationship.

To secure two storage units 10 together, one is positioned atop the other with the casters 12 of the upper one on the tracks 37 of the lower one and wtih the latch strikes 16 on the upper unit suitably aligned for engagement by the latch arm 14 on the lower unit. Latch arms 14 are released from their stored position of connection from swinging past that position by stop pin 19. Tab Y 32 of toggle lever 22 is again lifted so that latch pin 27 reaches over the hook portion 34 on latch strike 16. Tab 32 is then pushed down, drawing latch pin 27 into latching engagement with latch strike 16 and compressing springs 30. The compression of springs 30 resliently biases each latched connection between the storage units and, thus, resiliently draws them together.

When casters 12 are constructed, in whole or in part, of rubber or other resilient material, the latching system preferably operates to compress casters 12 when the units are latched together, resulting in additional resilientlybiased reaction tending to hold the latched units together and against relative movement.

When the plurality of latching assemblies 13 are thus latched, storage units 10, stacked one atop the other, should be capable of substantially all the mobility of a single unit 10, while capacity and utility are greatly increased.

VlVly invention envisions the possibility of utilizing different shapes of units, and possibly the stacking of more than two at once, as well as other variations on the preferred form. For this reason, l do not wish to be limited to the particular form described above.

I claim:

1. In combination,

a pair of separate movable cabinets adapted for stacking one atop the other, and a plurality of laterally spaced latching means for positioning and releasably latching the cabinets in a stacked relations-hip and for limiting relative movement therebetween, each of said latching means comprising a latch strike attached to one of said cabinets,

a latch arm storing bracket attached to the other of said cabinets,

a latch arm associated with said latch strike and pivotally connected to the other of said cabinets and swingable toward and away from said latch strike and said latch arm storing bracket when said cabinets are stacked, and

resilient tension means mounted on said latch arm for releasably connecting said latch arm to said latch strike in a resiliently-biased connection urging said latch strike toward the point of pivotal connection of said latch arm when directed toward said latch strike 'and restraining said separate movable cabinets against relative movement in their stacked relationship and for releasably connecting to said latch arm storing bracket for storing.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which each separate cabinet is equipped with a plurality of said latch strikes,

said latch arm storing brackets, said latch arms, and said resilient tension means.

3. The combination of claim 2 in which each separate cabinet is mounted on casters, and is provided with means for guiding the casters of an associated cabinet such that said cabinets are maintained in vertical alignment.

4. The combination of claim 3 in which each of said latch means is provided with means to prevent rotation of said latch arm beyond its locked and rest positions.

5. The combination 0f claim 4 in which said casters are compressed when said cabinets are stacked.

6. The combination of claim 2 in which each of said latch means is provided with means to prevent rotation of said latch arm beyond its locked and rest positions.

7. The combination of claim 3 in which said casters are compressed when said cabinets are stacked.

cabinet is mounted on casters, and is provided with means ,d S2 for guiding the casters of an associated cabinet such that 2,018,191 said cabinets are maintained in vertical alignment. 2,267,403 9. The combination of claim 8 in which said casters are 2,556,113 compressed when said cabinets are stacked.

1). The combination of `claim 9 in which each of said 5 latch means is provided with means to prevent rotation of 441,443 said latch farm beyond its locked and rest positions. 526,817 763,490

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/ 1935 Schmidt 292-246 12/1941 Herold 16-45 6/1951 Shaw et al. 292-246 FOREIGN PATENTS 3/ 1927 Germany. 11/ 1929 Germany. 12/1956 Great Britain.

10 BGBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. KOHNEN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF SEPARATE MOVABLE CABINETS ADAPTED FOR STACKING ONE ATOP THE OTHER, AND A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACED LATCHING MEANS FOR POSITIONING AND RELEASABLY LATCHING THE CABINETS IN A STACKED RELATIONSHIP AND FOR LIMITING RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, EACH OF SAID LATCHING MEANS COMPRISING A LATCH STRIKE ATTACHED TO ONE OF SAID CABINETS, A LATCH ARM STORING BRACKET ATTACHED TO THE OTHER OF SAID CABINETS, A LATCH ARM ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LATCH STRIKE AND PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER OF SAID CABINETS AND SWINGABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID LATCH STRIKE AND SAID LATCH ARM STORING BRACKET WHEN SAID CABINETS ARE STACKED, AND RESILIENT TENSION MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID LATCH ARM FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID LATCH ARM TO SAID LATCH STRIKE IN A RESILIENTLY-BIASED CONNECTION URGING SAID LATCH STRIKE TOWARD THE POINT OF PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF SAID LATCH ARM WHEN DIRECTED TOWARD SAID LATCH STRIKE AND RESTRAINING SAID SEPARATE MOVABLE CABINETS AGAINST RELATIVE MOVEMENT IN THEIR STACKED RELATIONSHIP AND FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING TO SAID LATCH ARM STORING BRACKET FOR STORING.

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