US 12,054,964 B1 · Latch apparatus

Abstract

A latch (10) is usable to selectively hold a closure member such as a door (188) in a closed position. The latch includes a body (12) which has a manually engageable handle (18) on a front side thereof. A shank (30) is in rotationally movable connection with the handle. The shank extends through the body and into an indexing cam bore (58) on the back side of the body. The shank is both axially and rotationally movable about a cam bore axis (62). An indexing cam (88) is connected to the shank. The shank is in operative connection with a striker (102). The striker is rotationally movable responsive to rotation of the handle between a latched position and unlatched position when the shank is in a second axial position. When the shank is in a first axial position, the shank is held in a fixed rotational position by the indexing cam, and the striker is held in the latched position. A cam bolt (164) is movably engageable with the striker to hold the striker in the latched position. The cam bolt is in operative connection with a lock cylinder (142). The lock cylinder is rotatable in engagement with a correct key to selectively position the cam bolt.

Apparatus comprising:

a latch including
a body, wherein the body includes
a front side,
a back side,
a shank opening,
wherein the shank opening extends through the body between the front side and the back side,
an indexing cam (IC) bore, wherein the IC bore
extends in fixed operative connection with the body on the back side in centered relation about an IC bore axis, wherein the IC bore axis is aligned with the shank opening,
includes an annular inner IC bore wall, wherein the inner IC bore wall includes at least one radially outward extending, axially elongated IC bore slot,
a lock cylinder (LC) bore,
wherein the LC bore extends in fixed operative connection with the body about an LC bore axis and includes an LC bore opening on the front side of the body,
a lock cylinder,
wherein the lock cylinder includes a key opening, wherein the key opening is configured to accept a correct key in engagement therein,
wherein the lock cylinder extends in the LC bore,
wherein with the lock cylinder in engagement with the correct key, the lock cylinder is enabled to be rotatably movable in the LC bore, and with the lock cylinder not in engagement with the correct key, the lock cylinder is enabled to be held in a fixed locked rotational position in the LC bore,
at least one rotatable eccentric projection or recess, wherein the at least one eccentric projection or recess
is in operative connection with the lock cylinder and is rotatably movable relative to the body,
extends parallel to and is transversely disposed from the LC bore axis,
a bolt guide, wherein the bolt guide
is in fixed operative connection with the body,
extends on the back side of the body, and
includes at least one bolt guide opening,
a shank, wherein the shank
includes a head portion and a shaft portion,
wherein the head portion is larger than the shaft portion and extends on the front side,
wherein the shaft portion extends through the shank opening and in the IC bore along the IC bore axis,
wherein the shank is movably mounted in operatively supported connection with the body such that the shank is movable both rotationally about and axially along the IC bore axis,
an indexing cam, wherein the indexing cam
is in operative fixed connection with the shaft portion of the shank,
is both axially movable along and rotationally movable about the IC bore axis within the IC bore,
includes at least one radially outward extending IC projection,
wherein in a first rotational shank position and a first axial shank position of the shank, a respective IC projection is engaged in a respective IC bore slot, whereby the shank is held in the first rotational shank position,
wherein in the first rotational shank position and in a second axial shank position axially disposed from the first axial shank position of the shank, the respective IC projection is not engaged in the respective IC bore slot, whereby the shank is not prevented by engagement of the IC projection and the IC bore slot from being rotationally movable away from the first rotational shank position,
a manually engageable handle, wherein the handle
is positioned on the front side of the body,
is in rotatably movable operative connection with the head portion of the shank,
is movable with the shank when the shank is in the first rotational shank position between
a retracted position, wherein in the retracted position the handle outwardly overlies the key opening, and
an extended position, wherein in the extended position the handle is disposed away from the key opening,
wherein movement of the handle between the retracted position and the extended position is operative to enable the shank in the first rotational shank position to move between the first axial shank position and the second axial shank position,
a cam bolt, wherein the cam bolt
is movable in operative supported connection with the body on the back side,
is constrained to move along a straight linear direction in guided relation with the at least one bolt guide opening,
includes a distal portion, wherein the distal portion extends outside the at least one bolt guide opening,
wherein the cam bolt is in operative connection with the at least one eccentric projection or recess,
wherein rotation of the lock cylinder in the LC bore is operative to move the cam bolt between
a locked cam bolt position, and
an unlocked cam bolt position,
a striker, wherein the striker
extends on the back side,
is in fixed operative connection with the shank,
is movable rotationally about and axially movable along the IC bore axis with movement of the shank,
includes a striker projection that extends radially outward from the IC bore axis,
wherein the striker projection includes a bolt engagement aperture,
wherein the bolt engagement aperture is sized to receive the distal portion of the cam bolt therein,
wherein in the locked cam bolt position of the cam bolt and in a latched rotational position of the striker,
the distal portion of the cam bolt extends in the bolt engagement aperture and prevents the striker from rotationally moving away from the latched rotational position, while the striker is axially movable in connection with the shank between the first axial shank position and the second axial shank position,
wherein in the unlocked cam bolt position of the cam bolt and in the latched rotational position of the striker,
the distal portion is disposed away from the bolt engagement aperture,
the striker is rotationally movable away from the latched rotational position responsive to rotational movement of the handle,
wherein the striker is configured to be operatively connected to a movable door bolt, wherein the door bolt
is operatively configured to hold a movable door in a closed position when the striker is in the latched rotational position, and
is operable to enable the door to be moved from the closed position to an open position when the striker is rotationally disposed away from the latched rotational position.

60 more elements

Latch apparatus

Life of this patent

Latch apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims34