EP0955433A1

EP0955433A1 - Latch assembly for padlocks

Info

Publication number: EP0955433A1
Application number: EP98108451A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hyok Goo Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-07
Filing date: 1998-05-08
Publication date: 1999-11-10
Also published as: JPH11293973A

Abstract

A latch assembly for personal custody boxes is disclosed. The latch assembly has a main plate member (1) mounted to a door (8) and an auxiliary plate member (6) mounted to a doorframe (9) at a position opposite to the main plate member (1). The main plate member (1) includes a main part having one or more screw holes (3) and a locking hole (2). A bending part (5) is perpendicularly bent from one end of the main part and provided with one or more screw holes (3) so as to allow the main plate member (1) to be mounted to the door (8). In addition, a knob part (4) is perpendicularly bent from the other end of the main part in the same direction as the bending direction of the bending part (5) and convexed at its central portion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to, in general, a latch assembly for padlocks and, more particularly, to a latch assembly used for personal custody boxes and capable of being firmly mounted to a door, thereby having effectively improved stability, durability and functional performance, etc.

Description of the Prior Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, personal custody boxes installed in primary schools include a plurality of doors with locking means. However, the above-mentioned custody boxes are problematic in that the locking means has to be changed with a new one or be unlocked by an expert when a key of the locking means may be lost.
In order to overcome the above problem, a typical latch assembly for padlocks is proposed. Such a latch assembly comprises a pair of plate members. That is, the latch assembly includes a main plate member mounted to one side edge of a door and an auxiliary plate member mounted to a doorframe at a position opposite to the main plate member. The other side edge of the door is hinged to another doorframe by hinges.
However, the typical latch assembly is problematic in that screw holes of the latch assembly are easily loosed, so the latch assembly may be easily removed from the custody boxes. In addition, the typical custody boxes have to be provided with a plurality of separate handles which are respectively mounted the front walls of the doors. When the doors are opened, the doors may be easily damaged by the latch assembly exposed toward the exterior of the doors. Also, users, in particular, children may be easily injured by the exposed latch assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made with the above problems occurring in the prior art in mind, and an object of the present invention is to provide a latch assembly for padlocks capable of being easily mounted to a door and having an additional function of a handle of the door besides its original function, thereby having improved stability, durability and functional performance.
In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a latch assembly for padlocks, comprising: a main plate member mounted to a door, the main plate member including: a main part having one or more screw holes and a locking hole; a bending part perpendicularly bent from one end of the main part and provided with one or more screw holes so as to allow the main plate member to be mounted to the door; and a knob part perpendicularly bent from the other end of the main part in the same direction as the bending direction of the bending part and convexed at its central portion; and an auxiliary plate member mounted to a doorframe at a position opposite to said main plate member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above object, and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a latch assembly for padlocks in accordance with the preferred embodiment the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a personal custody box provided with the latch assembly according to this invention; and
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a door provided with the latch assembly according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figs. 1 and 2 are views illustrating the construction of a latch assembly for padlocks in accordance with the present invention.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the latch assembly of this invention comprises a main plate member 1 and an auxiliary plate member 6 mating with the main plate member 1. Such a main plate member 1 is mounted to one side edge of a door 8, while the auxiliary plate member 6 is mounted to a doorframe 9.
With reference to Fig. 1, the main plate member 1 comprises a main part, a bending part 5 perpendicularly bent from one end of the main part and a knob part 4 formed on the other end of the main part. That is, the knob part 4 is bent in the same direction as the bending direction of the bending part 5. Also, the knob part 4 is smoothly and convexed at its central portion, thereby having additional function of a handle besides its original function.
In addition, a locking hole 2 is formed on the main part of the main plate member 1, while a plurality of screw holes 3 are formed on the main part and bending part 5, respectively. Also, another locking hole, having the same size as the lock hole 2 of the main plate member 1, is formed on the auxiliary plate member 6. Furthermore, a plurality of screw holes are formed on the auxiliary plate member 6, thereby allowing the member 6 to be easily mounted to the doorframe 9.
In order to mount the main plate member 1 to the door 8, the bending part 5 of the main plate member 1 is fixed to the rear surface of the door 8 by screws (not shown) as shown in Fig. 2. Also, the main part is fixed to the edge of the door 8 by screws (not shown) in such a manner that the locking hole 2 is out of contact with the door 8. As a result, the locking hole 2 and the knob part 4 are spaced apart from the door 8 at a predetermined distance. In addition, the auxiliary plate member 6 is fixed to the doorframe 9 by screws (not shown) in such a manner that the locking hole of the auxiliary plate member 6 is mated with the locking hole 2 of the main plate member 1. Therefore, the door 8 can be easily locked by a padlock 7 passing through the two locking holes 2 after closing the door 8 as shown in Fig. 3.
As mentioned above, the latch assembly of this invention has a configuration capable of being firmly fixed to a door, so the latch assembly is not unexpectedly removed from the door and has improved stability and durability.
In addition, since the knob part of the latch assembly is integrated with the main part of the latch assembly into a single body and is used as a handle of the door, so it is not necessary to mount a handle to the door. As a result, when the door is strongly opened, a neighboring door is free from any damage which is caused by a handle. Also, the latch assembly does not cause a user to be unexpectedly injured by a handle.
When the key of the padlock is carelessly lost, the latch assembly is easily cut, thereby allowing the existing padlock to be easily changed with a new one and reducing the cost of maintenance.
In the latch assembly of this invention, only the construction of the main plate member is changed, while the auxiliary plate member, screwed to a doorframe, has a typical construction. Therefore, the production cost of the latch assembly may be effectively reduced. Of course, the latch assembly may be used with various doors as well as personal custody boxes.
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

A latch assembly for padlocks, comprising:
a main plate member mounted to a door, said main plate member including:
a main part having one or more screw holes and a locking hole;

a bending part perpendicularly bent from one end of said main part and provided with one or more screw holes so as to allow the main plate member to be mounted to the door; and

a knob part perpendicularly bent from the other end of said main part in the same direction as the bending direction of said bending part and convexed at its central portion; and

an auxiliary plate member mounted to a doorframe at a position opposite to said main plate member.