US3747273A

US3747273A - Door closure structure

Info

Publication number: US3747273A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Johnson
Original assignee: YEAR A ROUND CAB CORP
Current assignee: YEAR A ROUND CAB CORP
Priority date: 1972-03-20
Filing date: 1972-03-20
Publication date: 1973-07-24
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-24

Abstract

Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors in open disposition and arranged to provide a firm solid support for operator ingress and egress. The structure includes a cab frame, a door, and hinge means for controlling opening and closing of the door panel. Latch means are operatively coupled to the hinge means and are arranged to releasably secure the door in open disposition, with the latch means being pivotally secured to the cab frame about a pivot axis which is generally parallel to but spaced from the pivot axis for the door hinge. The latch includes a hinge means which is pivotally coupled to the cab frame along a pivot axis which is generally parallel to the main hinge, and which axis is spaced from the main hinge axis. The latch hinge includes an elongated plate which is guided along the length of the door panel, and which is provided with a locking detent adjacent one edge thereof. The latch means further includes a generally ''''U''''shaped gripping handle having a pair of leg elements extending from the gripping handle, one leg element being arranged to engage the slotted detent formed in the hinge element, and thereby provide a gripping handle and releasable door latch.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Johnson July 24, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors in open disposition and arranged to provide a firm solid support for operator ingress and egress. The structure includes a cab frame, a

[ DOOR CLOSURE STRUCTURE 75 Inventor: John A. Johnson, Madison Lake,

Minn.

[73] Assignee: 'Year-A-Round Cab Corp., Mankato,

Minn.

door, and hinge means for controlling opening and closing of the door panel. Latch means are operatively coupled to the hinge means and are arranged to releasably secure the door in open disposition,

with the latch means being pivotally secured to the cab frame about a pivot axis which is generally parallel to but spaced from the pivot axis for the door hinge. The latch includes a hinge means which is pivotally coupled to the cab frame along a pivot axis which is generally parallel to the main hinge, and which axis is spaced from the main hinge axis. The latch hinge includes an elongated M B 6 4 n I521 2 l. 1 7 9 m m... 9 4 U "6 1 ""4 9 0 7 U u 2 1 Wu 3 nnm n M m m; M 2 Inn J 82 u d m d 8 .l H P mh F A UIF 1 1]] 2 l 2 8 2 2 555 .lri .l

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS plate which is guided along the length of the door panel, and which is provided with a locking detent adjacent one edge thereof. The latch means further includes a generally U"-shaped gripping handle having 292/263 g g g g a pair of leg elements extending from the gripping handle, one leg element being arranged to engage the slotted detent formed in the hinge element, and thereby provide a gripping handle and releasable door latch.

1,046,266 12/1912 Clemons 1,386,740 8/1921 Subroyar..... 1,965,723 7/1934 Rupp Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney-Orrin M. Haugen 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 4 I975 sumzurz DOOR CLOSURE STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to an improved door latch, and more particularly to an improved door latch which is arranged to releasably secure vehicle cab access doors in opened disposition for providing a firm support to assist the operator in gaining access to the vehicle cab. The apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted for use on vehicle cabs which are elevated a substantial distance from the ground, such as enclosed cabs for farm tractors and other agricultural implements.

In the operation of heavy mechanized equipment, including agricultural implements, farm tractors, and other vehicles with substantial running terrain clearances, the operator is required to climb to a significantly elevated level in order to gain access to the cab area. Such access is normally gained by utilizing steps or other items provided along the wall of the vehicle. Because of the desirability of maintaining such assist devices relatively small, and relatively closely spaced to the vehicle wall, it has been found desirable to provide additional means for steadying the operator during his ingress and egress. In the past, portions of the vehicle, such as vertical posts or the like, have been provided with grab handles, with these grab handles normally being restricted for use with but one hand. The present invention provides the operator with means for both releasably securing the cab access door in opened disposition, and for providing an additional grab handle for assisting during climbing. The latch means is arranged so that as the force exerted on the grab handle during climbing increases, the stability of the door likewise increases.

In the past, various assist devices have been proposed which may be utilized by a vehicle operator to assist in steadying the operator during his climb into the vehicle cab. As previously indicated, these assist devices have normally been in the form of grab handles secured to upright posts on the cab or the like. The normal latch handle for vehicles has frequently been utilized to assist the operator in steadying himself during the climb, howeverthe conventional handle is spring-biased and is normally free to rotate against only slight spring pressure during the climb. Thus, the conventional latch provides little, if any, steadying support for the operator as he initiates his climb.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, an improved door latch is provided for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors in opened disposition, the latch means comprising, in combination, cab frame means, door panel means operatively associated with the cab frame, and hinge means for pivotally securing the door panel to the cab frame. Latch means are provided which are operatively coupled to the door panel and secured to the cab frame, these latch means being arranged to releasably secure the door in opened disposition. The latch means include auxiliary hinge means which comprise a first plate having one end pivotally coupled to the cab frame, and a second elongated plate pivotally coupled to the cab frame and guided for relative motion with the door panel means. The elongated plate is provided with a slotted detent along and adjacent the bottom edge thereof. The-latch means further includes a generally U"-shaped gripping handle having a pair ofleg elements which are pivotally secured to the door panel, the leg elements having pin means securing the legs to the door panel, and

adapting the handle for rocking pivotal motion about the pin means. One of the leg elements of the gripping handle is arranged for engagement with the lower edge of the elongated hinge plate, the arrangement being such that when the leg portion in contact with the edge of the elongated plate engages the slotted detent, the door panel is secured in its opened disposition. As the operator exerts a greater downward force-on the gripping handle, the stability of the system is improved, and the door is retained more firmly in its stable open dis position.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved latching mechanism for cab doors which will function to releasably hold the door in steady open disposition so as to permit the door to be used as an aid in entering the cab.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved latching mechanism for a vehicle cab which includes, in combination with the latching means, a gripping handle for use by the operator in entering the cab while the door is being rigidly and securely maintained in open disposition.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a study of the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a typical vehicle cab utilizing a side pivoted access door incorporating the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 22 of FIG. 1,

and illustrating the features of the latching mechanism DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and with particular attention being directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a vehicle cab structure generally designated 10 is shown mounted upon a farm tractor vehicle, a portion of which is shown generally at 11. The vehicle 11 includes a frame or chassis portion as at 12, this frame or chassis portion being arranged to receive the base of the cab frame means of the vehicle cab. The cab frame means include, for example, the base frame member 14, along with generally upright

post members

15 and 16 extending therefrom. A roof or other cover is shown at 17.

A door panel for the vehicle cab is shown generally at 20, the door panel including a frame means including a horizontal base frame member 21, along with a pair of generally vertically arranged

posts

22 and 23, along with an upper cross-member 24. Windows are arranged as at 25 and 26, the windows being separated by a handle enclosure area as at 28. The handle enclosure is utilized to confine the conventional latch mechanism shown, for example, at 29, along with the door latch means for releasably securing the door in open disposition, the handle portion of which is shown at 30.

The door latch means of the present invention are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2-5, and attention is directed to these figures for an explanation of the details of this structure. As is indicated, the door panel means are hingedly secured to the cab frame means, such as by the hinge elements 35, two of which are provided for each door. The hinge 35 as illustrated in FIG. 2 is the lower hinge, and its pin member 36 is in vertical axial alignment with a second hinge arranged at the upper portion of the door, such as is illustrated in FIG. 1 at 37. As is conventional in structures of this type,

hinges

36 and 37 are designed to provide the hinge arrangement to open and close access door 20. As is apparent in FIG. 2, a second hinge means is provided as at 40, which hinge means forms a portion of the latching mechanism for releasably securing the door in open disposition.

With continued attention being directed to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the hinge member 40 utilizes a pivot pin as at 41 to couple elongated plate or bar 42 to the cab frame post 16. It will be observed that the elongated plate 42 is disposed along a plane generally centrally disposed of the panel area 28, this plane being spaced from the plane of the hinge member 35. It is this spacing which provides for relative motion of the member 42 within door member 20 when the door is pivotally opened. It will be further observed that grab handle generally designated 44, which is U shaped, is arranged to function in cooperation with member 42.

Grab handle 44 includes a gripping handle segment 1 46, along with a pair of

leg members

47 and 48, the

leg members

47 and 48 being pivotally mounted to the door frame by

pins

49 and 50, the door frame being shown by the side panel plate 51. It will be noted that this method of mounting grab handle 44 onto the panel 20 provides for rocking pivotal motion of the member 44 about the pin means 49 and 50.

With continued attention being directed to FIG. 2 of the drawings, leg element 48 has a continuing portion 52 extending beyond the pin means and arranged for engagement with the lower edge of member 42. This engagement feature is better illustrated in FIGS. 4 and of the drawings, along with the relationship of the leg portion 52 with the detent formed in member 42 to be described more fully hereinafter.

In addition to the means for releasably securing the vehicle access door in opened disposition, a conventional latex mechanism is shown at 55, this mechanism including the handle 29 for actuating latch 56 for locking engagement with a striker plate in post 15, such as is illustrated at 57. The operation and function of this member is well-known in the art and does not require any detailed discussion here.

With particular attention now being directed to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the elongated plate 42 has a bottom edge surface as at 60, into which is formed a slotted detent as at 61 to receive leg portion 52 of grab handle 44, particularly in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3, and in the manner illustrated in solid lines in FIG. 5. Elongated plate 42 is provided with a guide slot as at 62, into which is received guide pin 63, with guide pin 63 being secured to the frame of door 20. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the guide means including the slot 62 and pin 63 retain the plate 42 generally along the plane of the door panel, and in a plane spaced from the pivot axis of

main door hinges

35 and 35.

In actual operation, the operator will open door 20 by means of exterior latch or handle member 29a, with the door being permitted to swing open sufficiently far so as to permit leg portion 52 to engage slotted detent 61. At this point, door member 20 will be held in opened disposition, and will remain in opened disposition until the latching means are actuated to achieve closure. The operator will then mount the unit by grasping grab handles 44 and 65, while climbing ladder 66. Downward force on the grab handle 44 will enhance the stability of the door 20 and the grab handle because of the converging side walls of slotted area 61. When situated within the cab 10, the operator will grasp handle 44, particularly along gripping handle portion 46, pivot the member upwardly, and pull the door closed in the normal fashion. In order to achieve release of leg portion 52 from slotted portion 61, the gripping handle 46 is raised upwardly to the disposition illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5, thereby clearing leg member 52 from slot 61. Latch 56 will, of course, retain door member 20 in closed disposition until the operator wishes to dismount the cab.

I claim:

1. Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors in open disposition an comprising, in combination:

a. cab frame means, door panel means operatively associated with said cab frame, hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel and pivotally securing said door panel to said cab frame along a first pivot axis;

b. latch means operatively coupled between said access door and said cab frame means and arranged to releasably secure said door in open disposition;

c. said latch means including second hinge means with a first portion thereof coupled to said cab frame, and with a second portion which comprises an elongated plate pivotally coupled to said first portion along a second pivot axis and having at least one slotted detent means formed therein, said door panel including guide means for guidably retaining said elongated plate generally along the plane of said door panel, and with said second pivot axis being laterally spaced from and generally parallel to said first pivot;

d. said latch means being pivotally secured to said door panel and including a generally horizontally disposed U-shaped gripping handle having a base and a pair of leg elements, said leg elements coupling said gripping handle to said door panel;

e. said leg elements having pin means extending transversely therethrough to pivotally secure said leg elements to said door panel and adapting said handle for rocking pivotal motion about said pin means, one of said leg elements having a portion extending in continuation away from said gripping handle and beyond said pin means and arranged for engagement with he lower edge of said elongated plate and said slotted detent, the arrangement being such that when said gripping handle base is pivoted downwardly, said continuing leg portion engages said slotted detent, and said door panel is releasably lockably secured in open disposition. 2. The door latch means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel are disposed toward the rear of said vehicle cab.

3. Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors in open disposition and comprising, in combination:

c. said latch means including second hinge means with a first portion thereof coupled to said cab frame, and a second portion comprising an elongated plate pivotally coupled to said first portion along a second pivot axis laterally spaced from said first pivot axis and having at least'one slotted detent means formed therein inwardly from the free end thereof, said door panel including guide means for guidably retaining said elongated plate generally along the plane of said door panel;

d. said latch means further including a generally horizontally disposed UT-shaped gripping handle having a base and a pair of leg elements extending therefrom and with means pivotally coupling the leg elements of said gripping handle to said door panel;

e. said leg elements having pin means secured thereto for pivotally securing said leg elements to said door panel and adapting said gripping handle for rocking pivotal motion generally about said pin means, at least one of said leg elements having a shank portion extending away from said gripping handle and beyond said elongated plate and arranged for engagement with one elongated edge of said elongated plate and with said slotted detent, the arrangement being such that when said gripping handle base is pivoted downwardly and when said leg extension portion engages said slotted detent, said door panel is releasably locked in open disposition.

4. The door latch means as defined in claim 3 being particularly characterized in that said hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel are disposed toward the rear of said vehicle cab.

Claims

1. Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors in open disposition and comprising, in combination: a. cab frame means, door panel means operatively associated with said cab frame, hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel and pivotally securing said door panel to said cab frame along a first pivot axis; b. latch means operatively coupled between said access door and said cab frame means and arranged to releasably secure said door in open disposition; c. said latch means including second hinge means with a first portion thereof coupled to said cab frame, and with a second portion which comprises an elongated plate pivotally coupled to said first portion along a second pivot axis and having at least one slotted detent means formed therein, said door panel including guide means for guidably retaining said elongated plate generally along the plane of said door panel, and with said second pivot axis being laterally spaced from and generally parallel to said first pivot; d. said latch means being pivotally secured to said door panel and including a generally horizontally disposed ''''U''''-shaped gripping handle having a base and a pair of leg elements, said leg elements coupling said gripping handle to said door panel; e. said leg elements having pin means extending transversely therethrough to pivotally secure said leg elements to said door panel and adapting said handle for rocking pivotal motion about said pin means, one of said leg elements having a portion extending in continuation away from said gripping handle and beyond said pin means and arranged for engagement with he lower edge of said elongated plate and said slotted detent, the arrangement being such that when said gripping handle base is pivoted downwardly, said continuing leg portion engages said slotted detent, and said door panel is releasably lockably secured in open disposition.

2. The door latch means as defined in claim 1 being particularly characterized in that said hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel are disposed toward the rear of said vehicle cab.

3. Door latch means for releasably securing side pivoted vehicle cab access doors in open disposition and comprising, in combination: a. cab frame means, door panel means operatively associated with said cab frame, hinge means adjacent one lateral edge of said door panel and pivotally securing said door panel to said cab frame along a first pivot axis; B. latch means operatively coupled between said access door and said cab frame means and arranged to releasably secure said door in open disposition; c. said latch means including second hinge means with a first portion thereof coupled to said cab frame, and a second portion comprising an elongated plate pivotally coupled to said first portion along a second pivot axis laterally spaced from said first pivot axis and having at least one slotted detent means formed therein inwardly from the free end thereof, said door panel including guide means for guidably retaining said elongated plate generally along the plane of said door panel; d. said latch means further including a generally horizontally disposed ''''U''''-shaped gripping handle having a base and a pair of leg elements extending therefrom and with means pivotally coupling the leg elements of said gripping handle to said door panel; e. said leg elements having pin means secured thereto for pivotally securing said leg elements to said door panel and adapting said gripping handle for rocking pivotal motion generally about said pin means, at least one of said leg elements having a shank portion extending away from said gripping handle and beyond said elongated plate and arranged for engagement with one elongated edge of said elongated plate and with said slotted detent, the arrangement being such that when said gripping handle base is pivoted downwardly and when said leg extension portion engages said slotted detent, said door panel is releasably locked in open disposition.