US3488984A - Closure latch and closure - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 13, 1970 T. R. SALONIA 3,488,984

CLOSURE LATCH AND CLOSURE Filed May 5, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR 7790/4/15 5ALO/V/A BY 7 {2 92 ATTORNEYS T. R. SALONIA CLOSURE LATCH AND CLOSURE Jan. 13, 1970 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 196'? m w Mwm M n f. A W r% T. R. SALONIA Jan. 13, 1970 CLOSURE LATCH AND CLOSURE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5 1967 k INVENTOR THOMAS A. SAw/W'A ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,488,984 CLOSURE LATCH AND CLOSU RE Thomas R. Salonia, New Britain, Conn., assignor to Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed May 5, 1967, Ser. No. 636,385

Int. Cl. E05b 9/08, 65/02, 65/44 US. Cl. 70-451 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved combination of closure latch and closure and an improved closure latch structure. The closure latch and closure act in combination, the particular structure of each being such that they cooperate to provide a simple and secure mounting of the latch on the closure. The latch comprises a body unit and a clip. The body unit is positioned in a specially sized and shaped opening in the closure with front and rear portions of the body unit projecting beyond opposite sides of the closure. The relationship between the closure latch and the closure is such that the said latch and closure are assembled only by insertion of the forwardly facing or front portion of the body unit in a pivotal movement through the opening from the rear-of the closure until stopped by a stop means on the latch body unit, the said body unit then being moved in a sliding movement in the plane of the closure until end abutment means on the body unit move into engagement with the walls of the opening, fixing the latch against further movement in the plane of the closure. The clip is then moved by a sliding movement into engagement between the said stop means and the closure to hold the latch and closure in secure as-, sembled relationship. The latch preferably includes a lock mechanism for locking the latch in closed position. The clip further includes a resilient tab cooperative with the body unit of the latch when the clip is in place for holding a lock key by its apertured top end. The key is held in place either when the clip and body unit are assembled on a closure, or when the clip and body unit are assembled in the absence of a closure, in the form of an integral shipping unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved combination of closure latch and closure and to an improved closure latch structure. The closures are primarily thin door or drawer panels, usually metal, such as encountered in fuse boxes, switch boxes, storage cabinets, and the like.

In closures of this type, it is desirable that the latch unit be applied to the closure by a simple operation, without the use of numerous closure fasteners and without the necessity for marking and cutting, or drilling, numerous openings in the metal door or drawer panel. Such drilling and cutting, particularly in metal, requires special tools, and the need for precision marking by templates or the like requires substantial mechanical training and skill.

It is desirable also that the substantial number of parts and fastenings found in the prior art closure and latch units be eliminated. In shipping cabinet units, for example, having various separate parts which are to be installed and assembled on the job, such as in the home, the smaller component parts easily become lost, either during the shipping or during the unpacking. In addition, the identification of these numerous parts may be a problem during assembly. It is desirable, therefore, to reduce the closure latches for cabinet closures to an absolute minimum of parts, and that the closure latch be assembled to the closure with a minimum number of movements by the mechanic or workman installing the designed project.

It is further desirable, from a commercial point of view, that there be no fastening units accessible from the front of the closure by means of which the security of the closure latch and associated lock may be easily broken, and unauthorized access obtained. The common problem in earlier latch and closure combinations, wherein the latch unit is inserted in an opening by rearward movement from the front of the panel, and secured by fastening means, is that the fastenings may be easily pried loose and the latch unit removed forwardly through the opening in the panel. This is, of course, highly undesirable.

Still another trend in the design of closure fasteners is a streamlining and simplification of line, which design is defeated by the use of separate and numerous fasteners. The hiding of such fasteners has, in the prior art, required the use of a separate masking cover, which is undesirable for many reasons. There is a problem in securing the cover itself, and the expense is greater because an additional part is required.

Still another need in the art is a unitary shipping unit, wherein all of the parts, including the key for the lock, may be assembled in one fixed unit, the parts being easily separated at the time the latch is installed on the closure.

Still another need in the latch art is a compact latch structure having minimum bulk and projection forwardly from the closure, a more simplified relation of parts, and a simplified and efficient manner of applying a key plug and a key plug locking finger to the latch body unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved combination of closure and closure latch and an improved latch, which may be assembled without special tools or mechanical skill or experience. The latch unit comprises only two parts, namely, a body unit and a fastening clip, no other fasteners being required. When the latch is assembled by a simple assembly operation, the exterior face thereof is devoid of any fastening members. No'trim or cover elements are required to complete the assembly.

It is an object of the invention to provide a latch and closure combination wherein the latch body cooperates with an opening in the closure, which opening is specially sized and shaped so that the latch may be mounted by insertion from the rear of the closure. More specifically, a front portion of the latch body unit is then inserted through the opening, and the body unit is rotated through the opening until the entire front portion has passed therethrough and abutment means on the rear of the latch stop the latch body unit from further forward movement. The latch body unit is then moved in the plane of the closure until the end abutment means on the latch body move into engagement with the end walls of the opening. A generally U-shaped clip is then slidably inserted between the stop means and the rear surface of the closure, preventing separation of the latch from the closure. Thus, the latch is fixed firmly in position with a single operation and a single fastening part. The latch may be easily removed, when the closure has been unlocked and opened, by sliding removal of the clip member. Unauthorized removal of the latch unit while the closure is locked is impossible without almost complete destruction of the latch or closure by force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure latch and closure wherein the closure latch may be applied by use of only a single precut opening of a precise size and shape in the closure panel. If the opening is not precut, or if the closure is not provided with the closure latch, then only a single opening need be cut. This opening may easily be blocked out by use of a carpenters square or rule, and special templates are not required.

Still another improved feature of the invention is that the fastening clip may be attached to the body unit for shipment when the latch body unit is not in place on a closure. The key is held by a resilient tab and the latch body unit and tab cooperate to close the tab opening, holding the key by its apertured end. The key may be removed by forcing it against the resilient tab or by sliding movement of the clip. The body unit, clip and key thus form a single shipping unit, without loose parts. Further, the key may be stored behind the closure if the key is needed only for occasional use. This invention completely eliminates the previously known expedient of taping the key to the latch structure during shipment.

A further feature of the present invention is an improved and simplified design of the latch body unit and an improved and simplified manner of mounting the key plug and key plug locking finger. More specifically, the latch arm and bolt are integral, with the pivot point of the latch arm being at the end of the latch body portion and in front of the latch bolt and closure strike. This reduces the overall length of the latch to a minimum, and holds the latch as close as possible to the edge of the closure. It further leaves the center of the latch completely clear for the reception of a key plug, again serving to reduce the size of the latch. The key plug locking finger need only engage an abutment means on the latch body unit. Therefore, the simplified latch of the present invention is more compact and more efiicient than those known in the prior art, and has a minimum of component parts.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the fOllOWing detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the closure latch and closure of this invention, and illustrates body portions of the latch projecting beyond opposite sides of the closure, and the clip securing these components in assembled relationship.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG- URE l, with the closure shown in fragmentary crosssection, and illustrating the manner in which a key is carried by a tap on the clip.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the rear of the latch and closure, illustrating the generally U- shaped configuration of the clip, and showing the manner in which the legs thereof are disposed between oppositely directed flanges of the latch and an inner surface of the closure.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, illustrating the locked position of the latch wherein a rotatable tongue of a keyactuated locking mechanism is received in a slot of the latch body.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, clearly illustrating the legs of the clip disposed between the flanges of the latch body and the closure,

FIGURE6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4, further illustrating the assembled relationship of the latch, the closure, and the clip therebetwecn.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4, illustrating the assembled relationship of the latch and closure from the side opposite that shown in FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the latch and closure, illustrating the manner in which the latch is initially inserted into the opening in the closure, followed by further relative swinging movement of the latch into a coplanar position relative to the closure,

view taken along 4 and final longitudinal sliding movement into the final position of FIGURES 2 and 4.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of the latch and closure in similar positions to those shown in FIG- URE 8, illustrating in phantom outline the final position of the latch and the position of the clip prior to insertion under the flanges of the latch body, with the legs of the latch between the latch body flanges and the inner surface of the closure.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A novel closure latch constructed in accordance with this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10, and is illustrated in assembled relationship with its related closure 11 in FIGURES 1-7 of the drawings. The closure 11 is a door of, for example, a fuse box, switch box, or other similar cabinet structures, and includes means defining a generally polygonal or rectangular opening 12. The opening 12 is defined by opposed longitudinal edges 13, 14 and opposed transverse edges 15, 16. The edge 16 is preferably, although not necessarily, of a stepped configuration and includes a central edge portion 17 and adjacent edge portions 20, '21. The transverse dimension of the opening 12 is designated by the reference character OT while the longitudinal dimension between the edge 15 and the edge portions 20, 21 is designated by the reference character OL (FIGURES 2, 3 and 9). The dimensions OT and CL, in combination with corresponding dimensions of the latch 10, are important features of the invention, as will become more apparent hereafter.

The closure 11 is preferably hingeably connected to the housing or cabinet (not shown), and includes an edge 22 which swings to a closed position (FIGURE 2) in overlying relationship to a keeper 23 carried by a panel 24 of the cabinet. In the closed position of the closure 11 and the panel 24, the two are generally in coplanar relationship, as is best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings.

The latch 10 comprises a latch body 25 having first and second body portions 26, 27, respectively disposed at first and second sides 28, 29 of the closure 11. In order to aid in the understanding of this invention, the first body portion 26 is defined as that portion of the latch 10 which projects through the opening 12 toward the exterior of the cabinet and is immediately adjacent the first side 28 of the closure 11, while the second body portion 27 is that portion of the latch 10 which projects through the opening 12 toward the interior of the cabinet and is adjacent the second surface 29.

The latch 10 includes a handle 31 mounted for swinging or pivoting movement relative to the first body portion 26 by a pivot pin 32. The pivot pin 32 is connected at opposite ends to side walls 33, 34 having respective transversely oppositely directed flanges 35, 36 at the second body portion 27. At opposite longitudinal end portions of the first body portion 27 the side Walls 33, 34 are relieved or notched to define shoulders 37, 38. Each shoulder 37 is defined by generally normally related edges 40, 41, while each shoulder 38 is defined by similar normally disposed edges 42, 43. The distance between the edges 41, 43 is designated by the reference character DE (FIGURE 9) which corresponds generally to the longitudinal dimension CL of the opening 12 in closure 11. In the assembled relationship of the latch 10 and closure 11, the edges 41 of the latch 10 oppose the edge portions 20, 21 of the opening 12 while the edges 43 oppose the transverse edge 15, thereby preventing linear longitudinal relative movement between the latch 10 and the latch carrying member 11, as is readily apparent from FIGURES 2 and 4 of the drawings. In this same position, the edges or shoulders 40, 42 of the second body portion 26 overlie and contact the outer surface 28 of the closure 11 and prevent the latch 10 from moving in a transverse direction toward the interior of the cabinet.

The flanges 35, 36 represent the maximum transverse dimension of the latch body, designated by the reference character DT (FIGURE 3), which dimension is greater than the transverse dimension OT of the opening 12 (FIG- URE 3). In the assembled condition of the latch and the closure 11, the flanges 35, 36 thereby define means carried by the second body portion 27 of the latch 10 which prevent transverse movement of the latch toward the exterior of the cabinet. The flanges 35, 36 also form one end of a dimension DL (FIGURE 9) as measured from a rearmost edge 35a or 36a of each flange to a forward end portion of wall 45 of the latch 10, and the significance of this latter noted dimension will be more apparent hereafter. The latch body further is provided with stop shoulders 42a having a function to be later described.

The handle 31 carries a housing 46 in which is rotatably mounted a key-actuated lock cylinder 47 having a rotatable locking tongue or keeper 48. In the latched position of the lock 47 the tongue 48 is received in a slot 50 or a wall 51 of the latch body portion 27, while in the unlatched position of the latch 10 the tongue 48 is displaced 180 and permits pivotal movement of the handle 31 and a latch nose 52 carried thereby. In the closed position of the closure 11 and the panel 24, the nose 52 overlies the keeper 23 (FIGURE 2), while swinging movement of the handle 31 from the solid to the phantom outline position in FIGURE 2 draws the nose 52 into the body portion 27 of the latch 10, and clear of the strike, to permit the opening of the door 11.

The latch 10 and the closure 11 are maintained in assembled relationship by clip means 53 in the form of a generally U-shaped or E-shaped clip having a pair of legs 54, 55, a bight portion 56 and a central tab 57 terminating in an end 58. The bight portion 56 includes an upstanding transverse wall 60 which is designed to be gripped by a person to facilitate the assembly or disassembly of the clip relative to the latch 10 and the member 11. The legs 54, 55 of the clip 53 include flanges 61, 62, respectively, which are normally directed toward and seat against the side 29 of the member 11 in the assembled position, as is best illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. In the assembled position of the clip 53, the latch 10 and the closure 11, the legs 54, 55 of the clip 53 are positioned between the respective flanges 35, 36 and prevent the disassembly of these components unless the clip is removed. The clip is preferably constructed from resilient metallic sheet material and is moved with a sliding motion from right-to-left, as viewed in FIGURES 2 and 9 of the drawings to secure the latch 10 to the closure 11, while opposite movement of the clip 53 results in the removal of the clip. The clip 53 thereby serves as the sole means for retaining the latch 10 and the member 11 in secure assembled relationship.

Referring to FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the tab 57 is directed inwardly out of the plane of the legs '54, 55 and the end 58 thereof is in contiguous overlying relationship to the wall 51 of the latch body 25. The tab 57 projects through an opening 0 of a key K which operates the lock cylinder 47. When a cabinet with the latch 10 secured thereto by the clip 53 is shipped, or when the clip and closure latch are assembled for shipping separately from the closure, the key is securely retained upon the tab 57 and is thereby prevented from accidental loss. The key K is removed by manually grasping the key and pulling the same toward and beyond the phantom outline position shown in FIGURE 2, causing the end portion 58 of the tab 57 to be deflected away from the wall 51 and release the key. The key K can also be removed by grasping the wall 60 of the clip '53 and sliding the same to space the end 58 of the tab 57 from the wall 51.

The latch 10, the closure 11 and the clip 53 are assembled in a manner which will be best understood with reference to FIGURES 8 and 9 of the drawings. Assuming the latch 10 and the closure 11 are completely disassembled, the end portion of the latch body remote from the end wall 45 is inserted through the opening 12 from the side 29 toward the side 28 until the ends 35a and 36a of the flanges 35 and 36 abut the side 29 of the closure 11 and prevent further movement. At this point the latch 10 and the member 11 are in the position shown in FIGURE 8 of the drawings with the rear edges of the flanges 35, 36 adjacent the transverse edge 15 of the opening 12. Thereafter, the latch 10 is swung or pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 9, causing the wall 45 to pass through the opening 12 adjacent the transverse edge 16 as indicated by the doubleheaded arrow in FIGURE 9. This relative pivoting movement is permitted because the distance DL of the latch 10 is less than the distance CL of the opening 12, as is readily apparent by comparing these dimensions in FIG- URE 9 of the drawings. At the completion of the pivoting movement, the shoulders 42a are positioned against the surface 28, and the latch 10 is free to move linearly relative to the closure opening until the edges 41 of the latch 10 engage the transverse edge portions 20, 21 of the opening 12. This is accomplished by simply sliding the latch 10 until the shoulders 43 drop off the edge 15 of the opening, into the opening, and the latch occupies the phantom outline positions shown in FIGURE 9. The clip 53, with the key K received on the tab 57, as shown in FIGURE 9, is then pushed from right-to-left (as viewed in FIGURE 9) to the final assembled position of FIGURE 2, at which time the resiliency of the clip draws the shoulders 40, 42 into intimate engaging relationship with the surface 28 of the member 11, thus maintaining these components in assembled relationship. By reversing the steps just described, these components can be as rapidly disassembled as assembled. Furthermore, should the clip 53 be at any time removed completely from the assembled position, relative transverse movement between the member 11 and the latch 10 in a direction normal to the plane of the member 11 will not dislodge the latch 10 from the opening 12. For example, assuming the clip 53 can be removed (FIGURE 2), outward or downward movement of the latch 10 through the opening 12 is prevented by the transverse flanges 35, 36 overlappingly abutting against the surface 29 of the closure 11, while upward or inward movement of the latch 10 through the opening 12 is prevented by the shoulders 40, 42 longitudinally overlapping and abutting the side 28 of the member 11.

Although only a preferred embodiment of the invention has been specifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of a latch carrying member and a latch comprising means defining an opening in said latch carrying member, said latch including a latch body positioned in said opening, said latch body including first means at a first side of said latch carrying member for preventing straight line movement of said latch body through said opening in a first direction, said latch body further including second means at an opposite second side of said latch carrying member for preventing straight line movement of said latch body through said opening in a second direction opposite to said first direction, means for assembling said latch carrying member and said latch by relative swinging movement therebetween, means for securing said latch and latch carrying member in assembled relationship, said latch body including first and second body portions projecting beyond said first and second sides respectively, said first and second means being carried by said respective first and second body portions, said first means being a pair of oppositely directed end portions of said first body portion in overlying relationship to said first side, and said second means being a pair of oppositely directed flanges of said second body portion in overlying relationship to said second side.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said securing means is clip means slidably engaged between said flanges and said second side.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said flanges are disposed in directions generally normal to said pair of oppositely directed end portions, and said securing means is clip means engaged between said flanges and said second side.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second body portions are defined in part by a pair of side walls, at least one of said side walls being notched to define a shoulder, and said shoulder being received in said opening in opposed relationship to an edge of said opening whereby movement of said latch relative to said opening in one direction is precluded by abutment between said shoulder and said edge.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said clip means includes a projecting tab having an end portion terminating at a point in contiguous relationship to said second body portion whereby a key carried by said tab is prevented from removal therefrom.

6. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said clip means includes a projecting tab having an end portion, and said clip means is mounted for sliding movement between first and second positions at which said tab end portion is closely adjacent to and spaced from said second body portion respectively whereby a key carried by said tab is respectively prevented from removal from and permitted to be assembled upon said tab.

7. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said latch includes a handle swingably carried by said latch body, a latch tongue carried by said handle, and a slot in said latch body for receiving said latch tongue to prevent swinging movement of said handle relative to said latch body.

8. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein one of said side walls includes a second shoulder at one end portion thereof opposite said first-mentioned shoulder, and said second shoulder is received in said opening in opposed relationship to another edge of said opening in opposed relationship to said first-mentioned edge whereby movement of said latch relative to said opening in a direction opposite said one direction is precluded by abutment between said second shoulder and said another edge.

9. The combination of a latch carrying member and a latch comprising means defining an opening in said latch carrying member;

said latch including a latch body and a movable latch bolt mounted on said body;

said latch body being positioned in said opening with a first portion projecting from a first side of said opening and a second portion projecting from the opposite side of said opening;

abutment means on said first portion of said body for preventing straight line movement of said first portion through said opening, said abutment means extending beyond the edges of said opening; abutment means on said second portion of said body for preventing straight line movement of said second portion through said opening, said abutment means extending beyond the edges of said opening;

means for permitting assembly and removal of said latch from said latch carrying member by relative swinging movement of one of said body portions through said opening;

said opening having a predetermined linear dimension of width, and the maximum width of said second body portion being less than the said width of said opening; and

means including :a removable element for securing said latch and latch carrying member in assembled relationship by preventing reverse relative swinging movement of said one of said body portions through said opening.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein said removable element of said securing means is positioned between one of said abutment means and a face of said latch carrying member.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 9, wherein said opening has a predetermined linear dimension of length,

said first body portion being shorter than said predetermined dimension and said second body portion being longer than said predetermined dimension,

the length of said first body portion being positioned between the ends of the length of said second body portion.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 11,

said second body portion having spaced stop shoulders spaced apart a distance substantially the same as said predetermined linear dimension.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 9,

said removable element having a hooked finger the end of which is contiguous to one of said bdoy portions when said latch and latch carrying member are in assembled relationship, said finger thereby providing a releasable key holding means for the assembled latch.

14. The combination as set forth in claim 9,

the abutment means on said second body portion being at right angles to the abutment means on said first body portion.

15. The combination of a latch carrying member and a latch comprising,

means defining an opening in said latch carrying member;

said latch including a latch body and a movable latch bolt mounted on said body;

said latch body being positioned in said opening with a first portion projecting from a first side of said opening and a second portion projecting from the opposite side of said opening;

abutment means on said first portion of said body for preventing straight line movement of said first portion through said opening;

abutment means on said second portion of said body for preventing straight line movement of said second portion through said opening;

means for permitting assembly of said latch carrying member and said latch by successive relative swinging and sliding movement of one of said body portions through and in the plane of said opening;

said opening having a predetermined linear dimension of width, and the maximum width of said second body portion being less than the width of said opening; and

means including a removable element for securing said latch and latch carrying member in assembled relationship by preventing reverse relative sliding and swinging movement of said one of said body portions through said opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1960 Gray et a1. 7086 8/1960 Vahlstrom 70370 s. 01. x i, 7o -77, 457

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