Latch and catch assembly
AssigneeB/E Aerospace, Inc.
InventorRobert J. Lawrence
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch and catch assembly including a catch attachable to a first structure such as a door, and a latch mechanism attachable to a second structure such as a cabinet, the latch mechanism and the catch cooperating to secure the first structure relative to the second structure. The latch mechanism includes first and second hooks mounted for pivoting movement between an engagement position for engaging with the catch and a disengagement position for disengaging from the catch, a translating gear rail positioned between the first and second hooks coordinating pivoting movement of the first and second hooks, and an actuator mechanism for driving movement of the translating gear rail to drive the first and second hooks toward their disengagement position.
Claims17
A latch and catch assembly, comprising:
- a catch attachable to a first structure;
- and
- a latch mechanism attachable to a second structure, the latch mechanism and the catch cooperating to secure the first structure relative to the second structure, the latch mechanism comprising:
- i) a first hook and a second hook mounted for pivoting movement between an engagement position for engaging with the catch and a disengagement position for disengaging from the catch;
- ii) a translating gear rail positioned between the first and second hooks, the translating gear rail engaged on opposing lateral sides thereof with the respective first and second hooks;
- iii) an actuator mechanism operable for driving movement of the translating gear rail to drive simultaneous pivoting movement of the first and second hooks in opposite directions to drive ends of the first and second hooks apart toward their disengagement position;
- and
- iv) a base plate and a keeper attached to the base plate, the keeper maintaining persistent contact with the translating gear rail by a spring force of a clip, and the translating gear rail having ridges on an outer face thereof within which the clip engages to maintain the first and second hooks in their disengagement position.
A cabinet assembly, comprising:
- a cabinet having a latch mechanism mounted on an inner wall of the cabinet;
- and
- a door pivotally-attached to the cabinet and having a catch mounted on the door;
- wherein a portion of the latch mechanism engages with the catch to hold the door in a closed condition;
- and
- wherein the latch mechanism comprises:
- i) a base plate;
- ii) a first hook and a second hook mounted on shafts of the base plate for pivoting movement between an engagement position for engaging with the catch and a disengagement position for disengaging from the catch;
- iii) a translating gear rail positioned between the first and second hooks, the translating pear rail engaged on opposing lateral sides thereof with the respective first and second hooks to coordinate translating gear rail movement with pivoting movement of the first and second hooks;
- iv) an actuator mechanism operable for driving movement of the translating gear rail to drive simultaneous pivoting movement of the first and second hooks toward their disengagement position;
- and
- v) a keeper attached to the base plate, the keeper maintaining persistent contact with the translating gear rail by a spring force of a clip, and the translating gear rail having ridges on an outer face thereof within which the clip engages to maintain the first and second hooks in their disengagement position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.