US2777722A - Latch construction - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 15, w O BURKE LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 15, W. o BURKE LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed May 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent LATCH CONSTRUCTION William O. Burke, Rockford, 111., assignor to National Lock Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application May 18, 1954, Serial No. 430,476

4'Claims. (Cl. 292-332) The present invention relates to a novel latch construction for a refrigerator lock whereby to facilitate closing and effectively latching and sealing the door of a refrigerator cabinet.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel door latch assembly carried by the door or closure of a refrigerator cabinet and adapted to have latching engagement with a keeper on the cabinet, and when moved into latching engagement applies a positive closing pressure that efiectively compresses the sealing gasket carried on the inner periphery of the door and maintains this sealing pressure while the door remains closed.

To efifect positive and adequate sealing about the door or closure of a refrigerator cabinet, the present novel latch construction holds the door tightly closed under pressure and thereby holds and maintains the gasket about the door opening under compression. This latching is accomplished without slamming or supplying external pressure to the door for the novel latch construction supplies the closing and sealing pressure as the latch is tripped and retains this pressure so long as the door remains latched.

In the novel disclosed embodiment, the latch bolt when tripped upon closing of the door, engages the keeper or strike and positively draws the door into tight sealing engagement with the cabinet. Thus the operator is assured of an ultimate closing and sealing pressure applied to the gasket each time the door is moved to closed position and the latch bolt is tripped. This greatly reduces the manual effort required to move the door to its latched position, and eliminates all necessity for slamming the door in order to eifect latching and sealing engagement.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a novel latch assembly for the door of a refrigerator or other cabinet of the type in which the space between the adjacent edges of the door and the cabinet is sealed by a compressible gasket, including a novel togglearrangement for positively controlling the actuation and operation of the latch bolt and automatically supplying the pressure required for effective sealing.

The present invention further comprehends the provision of a novel toggle-actuated latch bolt assembly of simplified construction and operation for latching the door of a refrigerator cabinet and the like, and requiring but a relatively light spring for supplying the force required for compressing the sealing gasket and maintaining it under effective sealing pressure when the door is moved to its closed position. By this novel construction and assembly, there is provided a latch mechanism that permits easy closing of the door and operation of the latch mechanism with a minimum of manual effort.

The present invention further resides in the construc tion, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change,

2,777,722 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 and comprehends other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in which is embodied the novel latch construction or assembly.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view in horizontal cross section through the novel latch assembly and the mounting therefor in the door of the refrigerator, the view showing the door closed and the latch bolt in engaged and latched position with the keeper or strike on the cabinet.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in horizontal cross section similar to Fig. 2, but with the latch mechanism in unlatched or unlocked position and showing the latch bolt about to be tripped into latching engagement with the keeper or strike as the door is being moved to closed position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 but showing the position of the latch bolt and its associated parts as the door is being opened and the latching end of the latch bolt is about to leave the keeper or strike on the cabinet.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the latch handle and showing in dotted outline the manner in which the latch mechanism is tripped by the handle to open the door.

Fig. 6 is a view in rear elevation of the latch assembly in the door of the refrigerator, the view being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrows and showing the parts in latched position when the door is closed.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawings and more particularly to the novel illustrative embodiment therein shown, the disclosed latch assembly is shown mounted in a refrigerator door 10 for latching engagement with a keeper or strike assembly 11 on a refrigerator cabinet 12. For sealing the interior of the cabinet and the dividing space between the edge of the door and the cabinet when the door is closed, a compressible sealing gasket 13 is shown mounted on the edge of the door 10 adapted to have sealing contact with the adjacent face of edge 14 of the cabinet 12. This door 10 is hinged for opening and swinging movement along its vertical edge 15.

The keeper assembly designated generally by the reference character 11, comprises a U-shaped bracket 16 having its base 17 mounted in an ofiset at 18 in the side jamb 19 of the cabinet 12. Bridging the outwardly projecting ends of the sides or walls 20 of the bracket 16 is a pin 21 and a roller 22 providing a strike or keeper adapted to be engaged by a latch bolt 23 of the latch mechanism carried in the door 10 adjacent one edge 24 thereof. The forward end of the keeper bracket 16 and its roller or keeper 22 project beyond the face or forward edge 25 of the cabinet 12 and are adapted to enter and be received Within an opening 26 in the rear wall 27 of the door 10, when the door is moved to closed position.

The door latch assembly is mounted within the door 10 upon a substantially U-shaped bracket or housing 28 having its base 29 anchored to the interior of the outer wall 31 of the door by bolts or other securing means 32 projecting through opposed outwardly extending flanges, ears or projections 33, and at its inner end the spaced sides 34 of the bracket 28 are anchored to the inturned flange 35 on the rear or inner wall 27 of the door by means of oppositely extending ears or projections 36 receiving anchoring bolts or other securing means 32.

Mounted within the bracket 28 is the latch or lock 7 bolt 23 having a hooked latching end 37 and a spaced projection or trip 38 extending beyond the end 37 and defining a relatively deep slot or recess 39 therebetween for receiving and latching onto the roller or keeper 22 as the door 19 is moved toward closed position and retaining the door latched and sealed when closed. The latch or lock be t 23 is provided adjacent one end with a hub pivotally or rotatably mounted upon a transverse or cross pin ll bridging and anchored in the spaced sides 34 of the housing or bracket 23. intermediate its ends the latch bolt 23 is provided with a laterally extending arm or projection 42 connected adjacent its outer end by a transverse pin 43 to adjacent one end of the spaced sides 44 of a toggle link do".

The toggle link 45 is of substantially channel or U-shape with its spaced sides joined by a base or connecting web 46, and is carried and pivotally mounted on a pin or rivet 47 Within and between the spaced sides 48 of an operating lever 49 also of substantially U-shape. This operating lever adjacent its base 54} is pivotally and rotatably mounted Within the'housing or bracket 28 upon a cross or transverse pin 51 having its ends anchored in the side walls 34 of the housing or bracket 28 and with the spaced sides 4-8 of the operating lever 49 held in spaced relation with the adjacent sides 34 of the housing by spacers or washers S2.

The transverse pin 43 projects through aligned arcuate slots 53 one in each side 48 of the operating lever 49, through tie spaced sides d4 of the toggle link 45 and through the arm or projection 42 of the latch bolt 23 disposed within the toggle link, with the ends of the pin 43 projecting through the arcuate slots 53. The opposite sides -524 of the operating lever 49 are notched at and provided with anchoring projections or lugs 55 to receive and anchor one end of a coil or compression spring 56, the other end of this spring encompassing an annular collar or embossment 57 on a transverse or cross member 58 ah'ixed to the housing or bracket 23.

A lift spring 59 is wrapped about the hub 49 on the latch bolt 23 and at one end 61 engages the underside of the latch bolt with the other end 62 of the spring 59 V anchored to an inturned tongue es on a side wall 34 of the housing or bracket 28, whereby to spring-bias the latch bolt 23 in a clockwise direction to elevated or cocked position as shown in Fig. 3. in this cocked position, the pin 43 is elevated to the upper end of the slots 53 with this pin disposed above a line A intersecting the pin or rivet 47 on which the toggle link 45' is pivotally connected to the operating lever 49, and the cross pin 41 on which the latch bolt 23 is rotatably or pivotally mounted in the housing or bracket 28. Thus the latch bolt 23 is held in cocked position but ready to be tripped upon closing the door.

As the door 11 is moved toward closed position (Fig. 3), the roller or keeper 22 is engaged by the lower projection or trip 33 on the latch bolt to depress and rotate the latch bolt in a counter-clockwise direction, whereby the toggle pin 43 is moved downwardly along the arcuate slots away from the position shown in Fig. 3. As the toggle pin 43 passes below a line connecting the pin or rivet 47 and the pivot pin -ll'for the latch bolt 23, spring pressure of the relatively heavy coil spring 56 is released or relieved, causing the operating lever 49 to pivot or rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin SI. and the toggle link 45 to also pivot or rotate in a clockwise direction about its pivot pin d7 whereupon the latch bolt 23 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction to locked position (Fig. 2).

A handle he is provided to permit unlatching and opening of the door it} from its locked or latched position (Fig. 2). This handle is pivotally mounted adjacent its one end 65 on a pin es in a bracket 67 secured to the exterior of the door it? by screws, bolts or other attaching means 68. The-end d5 of the operating handle 64 is so contoured as to engage or abut the enlarged head or end 69 of a plunger "in, the latter being slidably mounted in a stationary or fixed collar or embossment 71. Thus the end of the handle is adapted to depress .or force inwardly this plunger with its inner end 72 engaging the base 59' of the operating lever 49, whenever the free end 73 of the operating handle is pulled outwardly by the operator for opening the door. As the handle is-pulled upon to open the door (see Fig. 4), the end 72 of the plunger 7% which bears against the base 50, pivots or rotates the operating lever 4-9 in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 51 and against the force of the coil spring 56. Such pivotal movement of the operating lever 49 also moves therewith the toggle link 45 which is pinned thereto at 47, whereby the toggle pin 43 is moved upwardly or inwardly toward the upper or inner end of the arcuate slots 53 and when the toggle pin reaches the upper or inner end of the slots it passes the line A, connecting the axis of the pin or rivet 47 pivotally mounting the toggle link to the operating lever 4 and the cross pin 4-1 on which the latch bolt 23 is pivotally mounted, and the latch bolt 23 is rotated or moved in a clockwise direction to fully open position by the bolt lift spring 59. In this position the latch bolt 23 is held and remains cocked until the door it? is again moved toward closed position and tripped. I

Actuation of the latch bolt 23 requires but little pressure or force on the projection or trip 38 and elfects reversed over-center movement of the toggle whereby to throw the toggle from its extended position in which-the toggle link 4-5 is in substantial alignment with the arm or extension $2 on the latch bolt 23 (Fig. 3), and rotate the latch bolt to latching position (Fig. 2). The novel arrangement and location of the parts is such that the force of the spring 56 is greatly multiplied as the latch bolt 23 is rotated to latching position and the gasket 13 is compressed and retained compressed to effectively seal the space or dividing line between the door and cabinet.

When the door is closed it is securely and positively latched and retained in closed and sealed position by the novel toggle and spring arrangement and cannot be opened except by movement or" the latch handle 64 which effects reverse movement of the toggle arrange ment. In the closing of the door from its cocked position (Pig. 3), the toggle pin 3-3 is required to be moved but a relatively short distance to over-centerposition and the spring 56 compressed but slightly, so that but slight pressure is required in closing the door to move the toggle pin 43 past the line A whereupon the spring 56 moves the latch bolt 23 to latched position with a snap action.

I Having thus disclosed the invention, 1 claim: 7

1. In a latch construction having latch mechanism carried by a door for latching engagement with a keeper on the cabinet, said latch mechanism comprising a support on the door housing the latch mechanism, a latch bolt pivotally mounted adjacent one end in the support for rotation about a' fixed axis at its other end provided with a hooked latching end and a trip member spaced from the latching end for tripping the latch bolt, a lateral projection intermediate the ends of said latch bolt, an operating lever pivotally mounted adjacent one end in the support and provided with an arcuate slot, adjacent its other end, a toggle link pivotally mounted at one end on the operating lever with its other end provided with and carrying a pin extending through the projection on the latch bolt and into the arcuate slot whereby the latch bolt is pivotally connected to the other end of the toggle link but the latter is swingably mounted relative to the operating lever and latch bolt, means for moving said operating lever and toggle link with the toggle pin in the slot whereby when the toggle pin is moved'to a position in one end of the slot beyond a line connecting the pivotal axes of the mounting of the toggle link on the operating lever and the pivotal mounting of the latch bolt in the support, the latch bolt is tripped to latch position and when the toggle pin is moved into the opposite end of the slot and in a position beyond said line and in which position the toggle link and projection on the latch bolt are in substantial alignment, the latch bolt is moved to and held in cocked position, a compression spring bearing against the operating member adjacent its other end for springbiasing the operating lever in one direction for moving the latch bolt into latched position, and means for spring-biasing the latch bolt in the other direction for moving the latch bolt when released to unlatched, cocked position.

2. A latch assembly comprising a latch member adapted to be moved into and out of latching engagement with a keeper, a housing member for the latch assembly, means for pivotally mounting the latch member upon a fixed axis in said housing, means for spring-biasing the latch member to unlatched, cocked position, an operating member also pivotally mounted in the housing, a toggle joint connecting the operating member to the latch member and spaced from the pivotal mounting of said operating member and said latch member in said housing, said toggle joint consisting of a link pivotally connected at one end to and carried by the operating member, a toggle pin carried by the other end of the toggle link and connecting this end to the latch member, an arcuate slot in the operating member permitting this toggle pin and adjacent end of the toggle link to pivot and be guided in the slot as the latch member rotates about its fixed axis and relative to the operating member, means for rotating the operating member in one direction to move the toggle link and its pin in the slot in one direction and the latter in turn move the latch member to unlatched, cocked position, and a compression spring hearing at one end against the housing member and at its other end engaging the operating member for rotating the operating member in the opposite direction when the unlatched and cocked latch member is tripped, whereupon the toggle link and pin are moved in the slot in the other direction to cause the latch member to forcibly engage the keeper in latched position.

3. A latch construction comprising a rotatable latch member adapted to be rotated into and out of latching engagement with a keeper, a supporting housing, a latch operating member pivotally mounted adjacent one end in the housing and provided with an arcuate slot adjacent its other end, a compression spring engaging and spring-loading the other end of the latch operating member for biasing said latch operating member and moving the latch member into latching engagement, means for pivotally mounting the latch member in the housing for rotation about a fixed axis, toggle mechanism for connecting the latch operating member to the latch member and consisting of a toggle link pivotally connected at one end to the latch operating member and its other end movable over the latch operating memher and this other end provided with a pin projecting into the arcuate slot and pivotally connecting this other end to the latch member, and means for rotating the latch operating member to compress the spring and move the toggle and latch member to unlatched and cocked position in which the pin in the arcuate slot is disposed at one side of a plane connecting the pivotal mounting for the latch member and the toggle link in the latch operating member, and trip means on the latch member for rotating the latch member, toggle link and pin from unlatched, cocked position to latching engagement in which the spring snaps the latch member into latching engagement and the pin is moved in the arcuate slot to the other side of said plane.

4. In a latch construction for a refrigerator includ ing a latch assembly mounted on the door of the refrigerator and carrying a' pivotally mounted latch member for movement into and out of latching engagement with a keeper on the cabinet of the refrigerator, said latch assembly consisting of a support mounted in the door, an actuating member pivotally mounted adjacent one end on said support and provided with an arcuate slot, a latch member also pivotally mounted at one end on the support for rotation about a fixed axis and provided with a latching part at its other end adapted to be moved into and out of latching engagement with the keeper and a laterally projecting arm intermediate its ends, a toggle link between said actuating member and said arm with one end of the toggle link connected to said actuating member adjacent said slot and the other end carrying a pin pivotally connecting the toggle link with the arm on said latch member and movable in said arcuate slot in said actuating member, means for spring-biasing said actuating member to move the link into retracted position in the slot and the latch member into engagement with the keeper, and means for moving the actuating member whereby to move the toggle link to extended position in which it is in substantial alignment with said laterally projecting arm and the latch member to unlatched, cocked position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,136,662 Anderson Nov. 15, 1938 2,186,795 Anderson Ian. 9, 1940 2,662,790 Hogg Dec. 15, 1953 2,679,425 Johnson May 25, 1954

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