# US 12,763,563 B2 · Latch and method of inserting a latch into an aperture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,763,563 B2 - Document ID: US12763563B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/370,355 - Filed: 2023-09-19 - Published: 2024-01-04 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-19 - Assignees: Nylacast Engineered Products Ltd - Applicants: Nylacast Engineered Products Limited - Inventors: Gordon Conlon; Sheldon Shaun Jeffrey - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12763563B2 ## CPC - H02G 3/22: Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings - H02G 1/10: in or under water - H02G 15/013: Sealing means for cable inlets (inlets for cables filled with, or surrounded by, gas or oil H02G15/32) - F03D 80/85: {Cabling} - F05B 2240/95: offshore - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G ## Abstract A latch comprises a body having a forward end, a rearward end and a longitudinal axis, configured to be inserted into an aperture by its forward end in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The body comprises an inner part, and an annular outer housing surrounding at least part of the inner part and rotatable around the inner part. Latch fingers are moveably attached to the outer housing, each latch finger moveable between a closed and an open position, such that in the open position a latch finger prevents removal of the body from the aperture in the direction opposite to the first direction. A guide may be attached to the body and configured to bias the rotation of the outer housing, when the body is inserted into an aperture, to a predetermined rotational position, thereby also locating the latch fingers in a the predetermined rotational position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A latch, comprising: a body having a forward end, a rearward end and a longitudinal axis, configured to be inserted into an aperture by said forward end of said body in a first direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, said body comprising: an inner part, and an annular outer housing surrounding at least part of said inner part and rotatable around said inner part; a plurality of latch fingers moveably attached to said annular outer housing, each of said plurality of latch fingers moveable between a closed position and an open position, such that in said open position a latch finger of said plurality of latch fingers prevents removal of said body from said aperture in a direction opposite to said first direction; and a guide attached to said body and configured to bias rotation of said annular outer housing, when said body is inserted into said aperture, to one of a set of at least one predetermined rotational positions, thereby also locating said plurality of latch fingers in a predetermined position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The latch of claim 1, wherein said guide is attached to and rotates with said annular outer housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The latch of claim 1, wherein said guide comprises at least one buffer, said at least one buffer comprising a buffer end configured to prevent said rearward end from being inserted into said aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The latch of claim 3, wherein said at least one buffer further comprises a support to which said buffer end is attached, and said support is attached to said annular outer housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The latch of claim 4, wherein said buffer end is a wheel, and said support is an axle on which said wheel is rotatably mounted such that said wheel rotates around an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The latch of claim 3, wherein said buffer end is biased towards said forward end of said body, and said at least one buffer is compressible such that said buffer end is configured to be moved towards said rearward end of said body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The latch of claim 3, wherein said at least one buffer comprises at least two buffers, and ends of said at least two buffers are offset from each other with respect to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The latch of claim 3, wherein: said at least one buffer comprises four buffers, located equidistantly around a circumference of said body such that there exist a first pair of buffers opposite each other and a second pair of buffers opposite each other; and for said first pair of buffers, ends of said first pair of buffers are opposite each other with respect to said longitudinal axis, and offset from ends of said second pair of buffers such that said ends of said first pair of buffers are closer to said forward end than said end of at least one of said second pair of buffers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The latch of claim 1, wherein said plurality of latch fingers are arranged in three rows relative to said longitudinal axis, such that there is a top row closest to said forward end, a middle row, and a bottom row closest to said rearward end, configured such that when said body is fully inserted into said aperture in a wall, at least one latch finger from each row is in said open position and in contact with a surface of said wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The latch of claim 9, wherein: each of said plurality of latch fingers in said top row and said bottom row is rotatably mounted to said annular outer housing at a top end of said latch finger, and has a flat surface at a base of said latch finger; each of said plurality of latch fingers in said top row is configured such that when said latch finger is in said open position, said base of said latch finger is at an acute angle to said longitudinal axis, measured from said forward end; and each of said plurality of latch fingers in said bottom row is configured such that when said latch finger is in said open position, said base of said latch finger is at an oblique angle to said longitudinal axis, measured from said forward end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The latch of claim 9, wherein each of said plurality of latch fingers in said middle row is rotatably mounted to said annular outer housing at a top end of said latch finger, and has a curved surface at a base of said latch finger. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The latch of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of latch fingers is individually biased towards said open position of said latch finger. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The latch of claim 1, wherein: each of said plurality of latch fingers comprises a tip terminating a top end of said latch finger, and said annular outer housing defines a plurality of recesses aligned with said tips, such that for each of said plurality of latch fingers, said tip of said latch finger is received within said aperture when said latch finger is in said open position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The latch of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of rods, each of said plurality of rods defining at least one bead, each of said at least one bead aligned with one of said tips with respect to said longitudinal axis; such that when said plurality of rods are moved towards said forward end, each of said at least one bead engages with a tip and pushes said at least one bead out of a respective recess of said annular outer housing, thus moving said respective latch finger to said closed position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The latch of claim 1, wherein said inner part is annular, having a cylindrical internal bore along a length of said inner part. ### Claim 16 A method of locating a latch within an aperture in a wall, said latch comprising: a body having a forward end, a rearward end and a longitudinal axis, configured to be inserted into said aperture by said forward end of said body in a first direction parallel to said longitudinal axis, said body comprising: an inner part, and an annular outer housing surrounding at least part of said inner part and rotatable around said inner part; a plurality of latch fingers moveably attached to said annular outer housing, each of said plurality of latch fingers moveable between a closed position and an open position, such that in said open position a latch finger of said plurality of latch fingers prevents removal of said body from said aperture in a direction opposite to said first direction; and a guide attached to said body and configured to bias rotation of said annular outer housing, when said body is inserted into said aperture, to one of a set of at least one predetermined rotational positions, thereby also locating said plurality of latch fingers in a predetermined position; the method comprising steps of: inserting said body of said latch into said aperture, allowing said guide to rotate during insertion until said annular outer housing has reached said of said set of at least one predetermined rotational positions; and continuing insertion of said body until said plurality of latch fingers are in said open position, preventing removal of said body from said aperture. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising steps of: placing a first pair of half-shells around a cable and attaching said first pair of half-shells to each other, to form said inner part, placing a second pair of half-shells around said inner part and attaching said second pair of half-shells to each other, to form said annular outer housing, and attaching said latch to said cable; and said step of inserting said body into said aperture comprises a step of inserting an end of said cable and pulling said end of said cable through said aperture, thus also pulling said body into said aperture. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising steps of: pushing tips of said plurality of latch fingers out of respective apertures to move all of said plurality of latch fingers to said closed position; and removing said body of said latch from said aperture.