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US 12,196,002 B2Granted
Latch apparatus
AssigneeThe Eastern Company
InventorsLee S. Weinerman, Scott Arthurs
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch (10,120,200) includes a rotatable jaw (18, 124, 204) that engages and holds a striker (32,128,210) in a latched position. A rotatable pawl (28, 132, 214) in an engaged position is operative to hold the jaw in the latched position. Movement of the pawl to a disengaged position enables the jaw to move to an unlatched position and to disengage the striker. The pawl is movable from the engaged position to the disengaged position through operation of either an electrical actuator (84, 152, 236) or through movement of an actuating end (26, 142, 224) of the pawl by a cable or similar mechanical connector (36, 246).
Claims22
Apparatus comprising:
- a latch including:
- a housing,
- a jaw, wherein the jaw
- includes a notch configured to engage a striker,
- is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- and is movable between
- a latched position in which the jaw is operative to hold the striker in engagement with the latch, and
- an unlatched position in which the striker is disengageable from the latch,
- a pawl, wherein the pawl
- is rotatably movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- is rotatable about a pawl pivot,
- includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, wherein each of the first arm portion and the second arm portion extend radially away from the pawl pivot,
- wherein radially furthest away from the pawl pivot the first arm portion includes a distal end, and wherein the first arm portion is angularly disposed from the second arm portion,
- wherein the second arm portion includes an actuating end, wherein the actuating end is radially disposed from the pawl pivot and is accessible from outside the housing,
- wherein the pawl is rotatably movable between
- an engaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion is in operatively engaged relation with the jaw, and is operative to hold the jaw in the latched position,
- a disengaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion enables the jaw to move from the latched position to the unlatched position,
- an electrically operated actuator, wherein the actuator
- extends in the housing,
- is in operative engagement with the first arm portion radially intermediate of the pawl pivot and the distal end,
- wherein the actuator is selectively operative to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to the actuator,
- wherein the actuating end is selectively movable to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position independent of operation of the actuator, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to actuating end movement.
19 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a latch,
- wherein the latch is configured to selectively hold a striker in engagement with the latch, and to release the striker from engagement with the latch,
- wherein the latch is selectively operative to release the striker from engagement with the latch responsive to either electrical actuation or mechanical actuation of the latch,
- wherein the latch includes:
- a housing,
- a jaw, wherein the jaw is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the jaw includes a notch, wherein the notch is configured to receive the striker therein,
- wherein the jaw is movable between
- a latched position, wherein in the latched position the striker is held in engagement with the jaw in the notch, and
- an unlatched position, wherein in the unlatched position the striker is enabled to disengage from the jaw,
- a pawl,
- wherein the pawl is rotatably movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- wherein the pawl is rotationally movable about a pawl pivot and includes a first radially extending arm portion and a second radially extending arm portion, wherein the first and second radially extending arm portions are angularly disposed from one another,
- wherein the second arm portion extends outside the housing and terminates outside the housing at a movable actuating end,
- wherein the first arm portion terminates within the housing at a distal end,
- wherein the pawl is rotatable between
- an engaged position in which the distal end is in engagement with the jaw in the latched position and is operative to hold the jaw in the latched position,
- a disengaged position in which the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position,
- wherein the first arm portion includes an arm opening, wherein the arm opening extends in the first arm portion radially intermediate of the pawl pivot and the distal end,
- a pin, wherein the pin extends in the arm opening,
- an electrical actuator, wherein the actuator is in operative connection with the pin,
- wherein the actuator is operative to move the pin in engagement with the arm opening so that the pawl is moved from the engaged position to the disengaged position, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position, and
- wherein the pawl is movable independent of the actuator responsive to movement of the actuating end from the engaged position to the disengaged position, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position.
19 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a latch including:
- a housing,
- a jaw, wherein the jaw
- includes a notch configured to engage a striker,
- is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- and is movable between
- a latched position in which the jaw is operative to hold the striker in engagement with the latch, and
- an unlatched position in which the striker is disengageable from the latch,
- a pawl, wherein the pawl
- is rotatably movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- is rotatable about a pawl pivot,
- includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, wherein each of the first arm portion and the second arm portion extend radially away from the pawl pivot, and the first arm portion is angularly disposed from the second arm portion,
- wherein the first arm portion includes
- a distal end, and
- an arm slot, wherein the arm slot,
- is radially intermediate of the pawl pivot and the distal end,
- is bounded by an arm slot side wall,
- wherein the second arm portion includes an actuating end, wherein the actuating end is radially disposed from the pawl pivot and is accessible from outside the housing,
- wherein the pawl is rotatably movable between
- an engaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion
- is in operatively engaged relation with the jaw and
- is operative to hold the jaw in the latched position,
- and
- a disengaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion enables the jaw to move from the latched position to the unlatched position,
- an electrically operated actuator, wherein the actuator
- extends in the housing,
- includes a pin, wherein the pin extends in the arm slot,
- wherein the actuator is selectively operative to cause movement of the pin,
- such that the pin is operative to cause movement of the pawl through engagement of the pin and the arm slot side wall, from the engaged position to the disengaged position, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to the actuator,
- wherein the actuating end is selectively movable to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position independent of operation of the actuator, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to actuating end movement.
27 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a latch including:
- a housing,
- a jaw, wherein the jaw
- includes a notch configured to engage a striker,
- is rotatably movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- and is movable between
- a latched position in which the jaw is operative to hold the striker in engagement with the latch, and
- an unlatched position in which the striker is disengageable from the latch, and
- a secondary latched position, wherein the secondary latched position is rotationally intermediate of the latched position and the unlatched position,
- wherein in the secondary latched position the jaw is operative to hold the striker within the notch and in engagement with the latch,
- a pawl, wherein the pawl
- is rotatably movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- is rotatable about a pawl pivot,
- includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, wherein each of the first arm portion and the second arm portion extend radially away from the pawl pivot,
- wherein the first arm portion includes a distal end, and wherein the first arm portion is angularly disposed from the second arm portion,
- wherein the second arm portion includes an actuating end, wherein the actuating end is radially disposed from the pawl pivot and is accessible from outside the housing,
- wherein the pawl is rotatably movable between
- an engaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion
- is in operatively engaged relation with the jaw and is operative to hold the jaw in the latched position,
- a disengaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion
- enables the jaw to move from the latched position to the unlatched position,
- and
- a secondary engaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion is in engagement with the pawl in the secondary latched position,
- wherein in the secondary latched position the jaw is prevented by engagement with the pawl from being moved to the unlatched position but is enabled to move in engagement with the pawl from the secondary latched position to the latched position,
- an electrically operated actuator, wherein the actuator
- extends in the housing,
- is in operative engagement with the first arm portion radially intermediate of the pawl pivot and the distal end,
- wherein the actuator is selectively operative to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to the actuator,
- wherein the actuating end is selectively movable to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position independent of operation of the actuator, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to actuating end movement.
26 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a latch including:
- a housing,
- a jaw, wherein the jaw
- includes a notch configured to engage a striker,
- is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- and is movable between
- a latched position in which the jaw is operative to hold the striker in engagement with the latch, and
- an unlatched position in which the striker is disengageable from the latch,
- a pawl, wherein the pawl
- is rotatably movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- is rotatable about a pawl pivot,
- includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, wherein each of the first arm portion and the second arm portion extend radially away from the pawl pivot,
- wherein radially furthest away from the pawl pivot the first arm portion includes a distal end, and wherein the first arm portion is angularly disposed from the second arm portion,
- wherein the second arm portion includes an actuating end, wherein the actuating end is radially disposed from the pawl pivot and is accessible from outside the housing,
- wherein the pawl is rotatably movable between
- an engaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion
- is in engaged relation with the jaw and
- is operative to hold the jaw in the latched position,
- a disengaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion enables the jaw to move from the latched position to the unlatched position,
- an electrically operated actuator, wherein the actuator
- extends in the housing,
- is in engagement with the first arm portion at a location that is radially intermediate of the pawl pivot and the distal end,
- wherein the actuator is selectively operative to move the first arm portion at the location and cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to the actuator,
- wherein the actuating end is selectively movable to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position independent of operation of the actuator, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to actuating end movement.
21 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a latch including:
- a housing,
- a jaw, wherein the jaw
- includes a notch configured to engage a striker,
- is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- and is movable between
- a latched position in which the jaw is operative to hold the striker in engagement with the latch, and
- an unlatched position in which the striker is disengageable from the latch,
- a pawl, wherein the pawl
- is rotatably movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- is rotatable about a pawl pivot,
- includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, wherein each of the first arm portion and the second arm portion extend radially away from the pawl pivot, and wherein the first arm portion is angularly disposed from the second arm portion,
- wherein the first arm portion includes
- a distal end, and
- an arm slot,
- wherein the arm slot is bounded by an arm slot side wall,
- wherein the second arm portion includes an actuating end, wherein the actuating end is radially disposed from the pawl pivot and is accessible from outside the housing,
- wherein the pawl is rotatably movable between
- an engaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion
- is in operatively engaged relation with the jaw, and
- is operative to hold the jaw in the latched position,
- a disengaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion enables the jaw to move from the latched position to the unlatched position,
- an electrically operated actuator, wherein the actuator
- extends in the housing,
- includes a pin,
- is in operative engagement with the first arm portion by the pin extended in the arm slot radially intermediate of the pawl pivot and the distal end,
- wherein the actuator is selectively operative to move the pin and cause the pawl to move through engagement of the pin and the arm slot side wall, whereby the pawl is moveable by the actuator from the engaged position to the disengaged position, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to the actuator,
- wherein movement of the actuating end independent of movement of the pawl by the actuator, is operative to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position while the pin is stationary and the arm slot is moved relative to the pin, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to actuating end movement.
25 more elements
Apparatus comprising:
- a latch including:
- a housing,
- a jaw, wherein the jaw
- includes a notch configured to engage a striker,
- is movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- and is movable between
- a latched position in which the jaw is operative to hold the striker in engagement with the latch, and
- an unlatched position in which the striker is disengageable from the latch,
- wherein the housing includes
- a switch, wherein the switch is in operative connection with the jaw,
- wherein the switch is always in a first electrical condition when the jaw is in the latched position and is always in a second electrical condition that is different from the first electrical condition, when the jaw is in the unlatched position,
- a pawl, wherein the pawl
- is rotatably movably mounted in operative connection with the housing,
- is rotatable about a pawl pivot,
- includes a first arm portion and a second arm portion, wherein each of the first arm portion and the second arm portion extend radially away from the pawl pivot,
- wherein the first arm portion includes a distal end, and wherein the first arm portion is angularly disposed from the second arm portion,
- wherein the second arm portion includes an actuating end, wherein the actuating end is radially disposed from the pawl pivot and is accessible from outside the housing,
- wherein the pawl is rotatably movable between
- an engaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion
- is in operatively engaged relation with the jaw, and
- is operative to hold the jaw in the latched position,
- a disengaged position in which the distal end of the first arm portion enables the jaw to move from the latched position to the unlatched position,
- an electrically operated actuator, wherein the actuator
- extends in the housing,
- is in operative engagement with the first arm portion radially intermediate of the pawl pivot and the distal end,
- wherein the actuator is selectively operative to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to the actuator,
- wherein the actuating end is selectively movable to cause the pawl to move from the engaged position to the disengaged position independent of operation of the actuator, whereby the jaw is enabled to move from the latched position to the unlatched position responsive to actuating end movement.
24 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.