US3604878A

US3604878A - Latch mechanism for releasably engaging pushbutton caps in electrical devices

Info

Publication number: US3604878A
Application number: US826962A
Authority: US
Inventors: James W Amis Jr; Maurice D Fuller; James B Dobson
Original assignee: KORRY Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: CRITON TECHNOLOGIES A WA CORP
Priority date: 1969-05-22
Filing date: 1969-05-22
Publication date: 1971-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-09-14

Abstract

A latch mechanism is disclosed whereby pushbutton caps and the like may be releasably engaged in electrical devices having flange means on a relatively stationary member therein, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof. The mechanism includes an elongated element which is longitudinally reciprocated in relation to the member transverse to the flange means, during engagement and disengagement of the cap; and which has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein forming a land therebetween which is spaced from the flange means on the member as the land passes the flange means in the reciprocable motion of the element. In addition, the mechanism includes slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and a pair of stop means which are slidably mounted on the element over the recesses, and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the element, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tends to remain on the land. The stop means are operatively insertable into the space between the land and the flange means, and the detent ball means is larger in dimension than the width of the space, but adapted to shift from side to side of the flange means under the bias of one of the stop means, when the detent ball means is displaced into the adjacent recess against the bias of the respective stop means as a consequence of abutting the adjacent side of the flange means as the element is reciprocated in relation to the member.

Description

United States Patent [72] lnventors James W. Amis,,lr.

Bellevue; Maurice D. Fuller, Mercer Island; James B. Dobson, Seattle, all of, Wash.

[21] App]. No. 826,962

[22] Filed May 22, 1969 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Korry Manulacturing Company Seattle, Wash.

[54] LATCII MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING PUSI-IBU'I'ION CAPS IN ELECTRICAL DEVICES 13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 200/167 A,

200/159 R, 200/169 PB [51] Int. Cl H0111 9/18 [50] Field oiSearch ZOO/167 A,

159, 169C, 169PB [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,904,662 9/ 1959 Spring 200/167 A 3,090,949 5/1963 Hallerberg 200/ 159 X 3,197,598 7/1965 Andersen et a1... 200/167 A 3,249,705 5/1966 Amis, Jr. et a1. 200/167 A X 3,267,245 8/1966 Vincent 200/ 167 A 3,268,889 8/1966 Ast 200/167 A X 3,509,300 4/1970 Hipple 200/167 A 3,511,954 5/1970 Pilla Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Attorney-Christensen & Sanbom ABSTRACT: A latch mechanism is disclosed whereby pushbutton caps and the like may be releasably engaged in electrical devices having flange means on' a relatively stationary member therein, fonning abutments on the opposite sides thereof. The mechanism includes an elongated element which is longitudinally reciprocated in relation to the member transverse to the flange means, during engagement and disengagement of the cap; and which has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein forming a land therebetween which is spaced from the flange means on the member as the land passes the flange means in the reciprocable motion of the element. In addition, the mechanism includes slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and a pair of stop means which are slidably mounted on the element over the recesses, and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the element, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tends to remain on the land. The stop means are operatively insertable into the space between the land and the flange means, and the detent ball means is larger in dimension than the width of the space, but adapted to shift from side to side of the flange means under the bias of one of the stop means, when the detent ball means is displaced into the adjacent recess against the bias of the respective stop means as a consequence of abutting the adjacent side of the flange means as the element is reciprocated in relation to the member.

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LATCH MECHANISM FOR RELEASABLY ENGAGING PUSHBUTTON CAPS IN ELECTRICAL DEVICES FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to latch mechanisms for releasably engaging pushbutton caps and the like in electrical devices; and in particular to a mechanism of this type which is operative to safeguard the cap against unintentional dislodgement by sudden impact forces of considerable magnitude but short duration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION INCLUDING CERTAIN OBJECTS THEREOF In many electrical installations, parts are often enclosed in small tubelike cartridges on a panel. Each cartridge is closed by a cap which is releasably inserted and latched in the open end of the cartridge so that it can be withdrawn in the opposite direction to replace worn or spent parts in the unit without removing the cartridge as a whole. If possible, the mechanism for latching the cap is designed so that a small force level is required to remove the cap, such as 2-3 pounds of finger pressure thereon. The intention in this respect is that the cap can be quickly and easily removed without damaging it or some other part in the unit at the time. However, certain of these installations are subjected to unintentional environmental forces which have a magnitude sufficient to dislodge the cap, even though the forces are of relatively short duration. In aircraft installations for example, electrical assemblies are often subjected to sudden shock or acceleration forces which generate a sufficient burst of energy to dislodge the cap from the cartridge. In all such cases as these, therefore, a cartridge unit of this nature may not be acceptable to the user, even though the cap is easily removable for access to the cartridge.

One object of the present invention is to devise a releasable latch mechanism which provides a positive and reliable latch for a cap or other such reciprocable element of this nature, yet still makes it possible to disengage the element with light finger pressure. Another object is to provide a mechanism of this type which positively and reliably latches the element against high magnitude impact forces of short duration, yet readily and easily releases the element for reciprocation when a force of the same magnitude or even one of lesser magnitude, is applied over a greater stroke. A further object is to provide a mechanism of this type and capability which if desired, can be released without the assistance of a too], even though it can withstand impact forces which are of high magnitude but short duration, as in the case of the shock or acceleration forces to which aircraft installations are subjected. Other objects include the provision of a mechanism of this nature which is operable to releasably latch the element against reciprocation in one direction thereof, whether the element is partially or wholly restrained against reciprocation in the other direction thereof; and which has a relatively small number of readily interchangeable parts that are cheaply manufactured and easily assembled in, or added to the electrical device. Still further objects will become apparent from the description of the invention which follows hereafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, these objects and advantages are realized by a latch mechanism of our discovery wherein the cap or the like is releasably engaged in an electrical device having flange means on a relatively stationary member therein, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof. The mechanism includes an elongated element which is longitudinally reciprocated in relation to the member transverse to the flange means, during engagement and disengagement of the cap; and which has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein forming a land therebetween which is spaced from the flange means on the member as the land passes the flange means in the reciprocable motion of the element. In addition,

the mechanism includes slidably guided detent member ball means on the land, and a pair of stops which are slidably mounted on the element over the recesses, and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the element, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tends to remain on the land. The stop means are operatively insertable into the space between the land and the flange means, and the detent ball means is larger in dimension than the width of the space, but adapted to shift from side to side of the flange means under the bias of one of the stop means, when the detent ball means is displaced into the adjacent recess against the bias of the respective stop means as a consequence of abutting the adjacent side of the flange means as the element is reciprocated in relation to the member.

To position the cap on the member, one of the stop means has a flange thereon which abuts the adjacent side of the flange means on the member to yieldably limit the travel of the element in the direction of reciprocation corresponding to the bias on the one stop means, after the one stop means has entered the space between the land and the flange means on the member, and the detent ball means has shifted to the other side thereof. Also the other stop means may be slidably engageable in the relatively stationary member for this purpose. For example, the relatively stationary member may have a socket therein which has a circumferential lip interposed around the mouth thereof, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof; and the aforesaid other stop means may be slidably engageable and disengageable in and from the socket as the element is reciprocated into and out of the same.

Preferably, the stop means comprise a pair of sleeves which are slidably engaged on one another on the element. For example, the element may comprise an elongated rod having flanges on the ends thereof, and a pair of spaced circumferential grooves therein which are interposed between the flanges on the rod; and the inner sleeve may normally abut the flange on one end of the rod and have the flange on the other end of the rod slidably engaged therein, there being a resilient compression element caged between the latter flange on the rod and the inner sleeve, and another resilient compression element caged between the outer sleeve and a flange on the inner sleeve. In the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, moreover, there is a pair of balls on the land which are slidably guided in a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots in the inner sleeve, at a position adjacent one end thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These features will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one of the preferred embodiments of the invention as it is used in latching an illuminated pushbutton cap of an electrical switch which is housed in a cartridge on a panel.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cap and cartridge assembly, including the latch mechanism therefor;

FIG. 2 is another part cross-sectional view of the assembly in FlG. 1, illustrating the operation of the latch mechanism as the cap is withdrawn;

FIG. 3 is a further part longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a further stage in the operation of the latch mechanism as the cap is withdrawn;

FIG. 4 is a part longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cap alone, illustrating the condition of the latch mechanism when the cap is disengaged from the cartridge;

FIG. 5 is a still further part cross-sectional view of the cap and cartridge assembly as the cap is reengaged in the cartridge;

FIG. 6 is a still further part longitudinal cross-sectional view of a later stage in the reengagement process; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view in perspective of those components of the latch mechanism which are carried on the cap.

3 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the cartridge 2 comprises a pair of rectangular metal tube sections 4 and 6 which are telescoped with one another so that the cartridge canbe mounted in an opening 8 of a panel 10 in the manner described in our copending application Ser. No. 826,964 filed on even date herewith. The inner tube section 4 has an outturned flange l2 thereon and according to the technique described in our above application, the edge of the panel opening 8 is clamped between the flange and the adjacent end 6 of the outer tube section when the cartridgeis mounted therein. The cap 14 is thereafter slidably inserted in the inner section 4 to engage theswitch, which, as seen, is represented only by a pair of spring-loaded contact posts 16 carried in an insulative mounting block 18 in the inner section. See our above-mentioned copending application for a more detailed description of the cartridge and the switch. Also see our other copending application Ser. No. 826,963 which was also filed on even date herewith, for a more detailed description of the rectangularly shaped elastomeric gasket 18 which is clamped between the flange of the inner section and the outer face of the panel, to form a moisture seal for the cap when it is engaged in the cartridge.

The posts 16 are carried in a pair of transversely spaced and mutually parallel bores 20 in the block, and have a third such bore 22 interposed therebetween which is occupied by an elongated Allen head screw, only the head 24 of which appears in the drawings. The head 24 is flanged to abut the upper face 18' of the block and has a stepped, deeply recessed socket 26 therein which has a characteristic hexagonal Allen head cross section in the bottommost portion 28 thereof. The remainder of the socket has a cylindrical cross section, however, and is relatively diametrically enlarged to receive an elongated latching shaft 30 projecting from the cap. The shaft slidably interengages in an intermediate portion 32 of the socket after passing through a still larger cavity 34 which forms the mouth of the socket. The cavity has a circumferential lip 36 at the opening thereof, and both the inner shoulder 38 of the lip and the lower end wall 40 of the cavity is chamfered to cooperate with the latch components of the shaft, as shall be explained hereinafter. The inner peripheral surface 42 of the lip is right angularly disposed, however, with respect to the outer face 44 of the lip.

The cap comprises a rectangular molded plastic tube section 46 which has an insulative mounting base 48 interconnected with the insertable end thereof. The base has three transversely spaced and mutually parallel bores 48' and 48 therein which are aligned with the bores in the cartridge and transversely interconnected with one another by rabbetted slots 50 opening therebetween. Two bulbs 52 are slidably engaged in the countersunk right and left-hand bores 48 of the base, to illuminate the projecting end of the tube 46. The bulbs are electrically interconnected with one another through the medium of a resilient, apertured U-shaped bus bar 54 carried on the shaft. The shaft is slidably engaged in the intermediate bore 48 of the base, to project from the cap, and has the bus bar carried thereon so that it is received in the rabbetted portions of the slots 50, to make contact with the conductive jackets 52 of the bulbs. Thus, when the bulbs also make contact with the spring loaded posts 16 in the cartridge, they may be jointly energized by a circuit closed through the medium of the shaft, or some component thereof. The resulting illumination serves to improve the visibility of a skirted legend cover 56 applied over the projecting end of the tube The latching shaft 30 has an elongated cylindrical rod 58 at the core thereof which is rigidly secured to a thick plastic beam 60 molded into the body of the tube 46 at a central location within the interior thereof. The rod has a flange 62 on the lower or relatively projecting end thereof, and a pair of spaced

circumferential grooves

64 and 66 in the body thereof, the upper shoulder 68 of the land 70 between which is chamfered in the same manner as the shoulders 38 and 40 in the mouth of the cavity 34 of the screw 24. in addition, the upper or inlying end portion 58' of the rod has a reduced cross section which is adapted to pass through an aperture 72 in the beam. After the portion has been received in the aperture, the end of 'it is peened to rivet" the rod to the beam. in advance of this step, however, the various latch components occupying the remainder of FIG. 7, are slidably engaged on the rod and loaded into the intermediate bore 48" of the base with the rod.

First to be slidably engaged on the rod is a coiled spring 74 i and a pair of biasing

sleeves

76 and 78 which are slidably engaged on one another and relatively yieldably biased by a larger diameter spring 80 interposed therebetween. The inner sleeve 76 is substantially coextensive in length with the body of the rod lying between the flange 62 and the reduced upper end portion 58' thereof. Also, the forward end portion 76 of the bore in the inner sleeve is considerably enlarged to accommodate the smaller diameter spring 74 which is caged between the shoulder 82 of the enlargement and the flanged end 62 of the rod. The remainder of the sleeve has diametrically opposed and axially extending slots 84 therein which terminate just short of the enlargement 76 so that the ends 84' of the slots form stops for a pair of detent balls 86 which are slidably engaged therein. The balls are retained against the ends of the slots by the outer sleeve 78 which is shorter in length and yieldably biased by the larger spring 80 into abutment with the balls. The spring 80 is caged between a raised circumferential rib 88 on the outer sleeve and the shoulder 90 of a rabbetted circumferential flange on the rearward or inlying end portion of the inner sleeve 76. Before the rod is secured to the beam 60 of the tube 46, moreover, the U-shaped bus bar 54 is snapped into a circumferential groove 94 in the inlying end portion 76' of the inner sleeve, and a resilient shock washer 96 is passed onto the body of the rod, over the reduced end portion 58' thereof, to be interposed between the beam and the inlying end of the inner sleeve. The bus bar has diametrically opposing tabs (not shown) which project inwardly of the aperture therein, to interengage in the slots 84 of the inner sleeve and fix the angular orientation of the bar on the shaft.

When the shaft 30 is disengaged from the socket 26 of the screw 24, and the latch mechanism is in a normal state, the inner sleeve 76 is abutted against the shock washer 96, and the washer in turn against the beam 60, and the detent balls 86 are positioned on the land 70 in a captive state between the ends 84' of the slots 84 and the forward portion 78' of the outer sleeve 78. See FIG. 4. Likewise, the rod is yieldably biased in relation to the sleeves, in the forward direction indicated by the arrow 98 in FIG. 5, but is retained within the sleeves by the abutted condition of the inner sleeve 76 with the beam 60. However, when the cap is advanced into the open end of the cartridge, in the direction of the arrow, and the shaft is inserted into the socket of the screw, and engaged in the intermediate portion 32 thereof, the balls abut the face 44 of the lip 36 and are rearwardly displaced in relation to the rod against the bias 80 on the outer sleeve 78. See FIG. 5. Ultimately, however, the rearward groove 64 of the two

grooves

64 and 66 registers with the balls, and the balls are displaced by the lip into the groove; whereafter the inner peripheral surface 42 of the lip retains the balls in the relatively retracted position thereof while they enter the mouth of the socket under the driving force accumulated in the spring 80. Still later, however, when the balls reach the cavity 34 of the mouth, they are released into the cavity by the counteraction of the chamfered shoulder 68 of the groove to the force of the outer sleeve. Simultaneously, the rib 88 of the sleeve abuts the face of the lip and further travel of the sleeve is thereafter prohibited in the direction of the arrow 98. Moreover, the balls have come under the influence of the inner sleeve 76, and as soon as the applied pressure on the cap is released, the accumulated compression of the spring 74 drives the balls into abutment with the shoulder 38 of the lip as the inner sleeve and rod are returned to the normal condition of FIG. 4. The cap is now latched against disengagement from the cartridge, although it can be displaced in either direction of reciprocation against the bias on the springs, within the longitudinal extent of the land to each side of the balls. See FIG. 1.

Should it become necessary or desirable to remove the cap from the cartridge, a light finger grip on the cap enables it to be withdrawn in the direction of the arrow 100 in FIGS. 2 and 3, to reverse the operation described above. Thus, when the forward groove 66 registers with the balls, the shoulder 38 of the lip drives the balls into the groove and they are driven past the lip by the inner sleeve, as the inner peripheral surface 42 of the lip retains them in the groove. Once they are outside the mouth of the socket, however, the accumulated compression of the spring 74 urges them back into their relatively raised position on the land, where they are retained by the outer sleeve as indicated in FIG. 4.

What is claimed is:

1. ln an electrical device, a relatively stationary member having flange means thereon forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, an elongated element which is longitudinally reciprocable in relation to the member transverse to the flange means, and which has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein forming a land therebetween which is spaced from the flange means on the member as the land passes the flange means in the reciprocable motion of the element, slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and a pair of stop means which are slidably mounted on the element over the recesses, and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the element, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tends to remain on the land, said stop means being operatively insertable into the space between the land and the flange means, and said detent ball means being larger in dimension than the width of the space, but adapted to shift from side to side of the flange means under the bias of one of the stop means, when the detent ball means is displaced into the adjacent recess against the bias of the respective stop means as a consequence of abutting the adjacent side of the flange means as the element is reciprocated in relation to the member.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein one of the stop means has a flange thereon which abuts the adjacent side of the flange means on the member to yieldably limit the travel of the element in the direction of reciprocation corresponding to the bias on the one stop means, after the one stop means has entered the space between the land and the flange means on the member, and the detent ball means has shifted to the other side thereof.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the other stop means is slidably engageable in the relatively stationary member.

4. The device according to claim 3 wherein the relatively stationary member has a socket therein which has a circumferential lip interposed around the mouth thereof, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, and the other stop means is slidably engageable and disengageable in and from the socket as the element is reciprocated into and out of the same.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein the stop means comprise a pair of sleeves which are slidably engaged on one another on the element.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the element comprises an elongated rod having flanges on the ends thereof, and a pair of spaced circumferential grooves therein which are interposed between the flanges on the rod.

7. The device according to claim 6 wherein the stop means comprise a pair of sleeves which are slidably engaged on one another on the rod, the inner sleeve normally abutting the flange on one end of the rod and having the flange on the other end of the rod slidably engaged therein, and there being a resilient compression element caged between the latter flange on the rod and the inner sleeve, and another resilient compression element caged between the outer sleeve and a flange on the inner sleeve.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the mner sleeve has a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots therein, and there is a pair of detent balls on the land which are slidably guided in the slots at a position adjacent one end thereof.

9. The device according to claim 7 wherein the relatively stationary member has a socket therein which has a circumferential lip interposed around the mouth thereof, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, and the inner sleeve is slidably engageable and disengageable in and from the socket as the rod is reciprocated into and out of the same.

10. The device according to claim 1 wherein the relatively stationary member has an electrical switch assembly therein, and the reciprocable element has a pushbutton cap thereon which operates the switch on reciprocation of the element.

11. A pushbutton cap which is releasably engageable in an electrical device having flange means on a relatively stationary member therein, forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, said cap having an elongated rod projecting therefrom which has a pair of longitudinally spaced grooves therein forming a land therebetween, slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and relatively inner and outer sleeve means which are slidably engaged on one another on the rod over the grooves and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the rod, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tend to remain on the land between the grooves, but are displaceable into either of the grooves against the bias of the adjacent sleeve means when a force is applied to the detent ball means in the longitudinal direction of the rod opposed to the bias of the sleeve means, as the rod is relatively reciprocated in the opposite longitudinal direction thereof.

12. The pushbutton cap according to claim 11 wherein the inner sleeve means has a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots therein, and a pair of detent balls are slidably engaged in corresponding ends of the slots at positions opposite the land.

13. The pushbutton cap according to claim 11 wherein the rod has a flange on the free end thereof, and the inner sleeve means is normally abutted against the cap with the flange of the rod slidably engaged therein, there being a resilient compression element caged between the flange and the inner sleeve means, and another resilient compression element caged between the outer sleeve means and a flange on the inner sleeve means.

Claims

1. In aN electrical device, a relatively stationary member having flange means thereon forming abutments on the opposite sides thereof, an elongated element which is longitudinally reciprocable in relation to the member transverse to the flange means, and which has a pair of longitudinally spaced recesses therein forming a land therebetween which is spaced from the flange means on the member as the land passes the flange means in the reciprocable motion of the element, slidably guided detent ball means on the land, and a pair of stop means which are slidably mounted on the element over the recesses, and yieldably biased relatively toward one another along the longitudinal axis of the element, with the detent ball means retained therebetween so that the detent ball means tends to remain on the land, said stop means being operatively insertable into the space between the land and the flange means, and said detent ball means being larger in dimension than the width of the space, but adapted to shift from side to side of the flange means under the bias of one of the stop means, when the detent ball means is displaced into the adjacent recess against the bias of the respective stop means as a consequence of abutting the adjacent side of the flange means as the element is reciprocated in relation to the member.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein the inner sleeve has a pair of diametrically opposed, longitudinally extending slots therein, and there is a pair of detent balls on the land which are slidably guided in the slots at a position adjacent one end thereof.