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AssigneesThe Eastern Company, BAE Systems Survivability
InventorsLee S. Weinerman, Scott A. Arthurs, David J. Wolf, Gerald M. Szpak, John W. Jostworth
Estimating the term…
A latch, latching system and other components are disclosed that are particularly well suited for use with the heavy doors of armored military vehicles. Some component embodiments are usable in normal and emergency modes to provide access, entry, egress and rescue through vehicle door openings. Included among the disclosed components are latches having separate operating components that can be used to retract spring projected latch bolts and that usable advantageously in pairs and readily reconfigurable for use on left, right, front and rear doors of a vehicle at locations where door thicknesses differ. Also disclosed are operating linkages intended to extend exteriorly of door armor to turn shafts to operate latches situated interiorly of the door armor.
An armored vehicle door having door armor and having plural latches concurrently operable by a handle movable relative to the door at one point of connection where the handle is releasably connected to the door and from which the handle can be disengaged and moved to other points of connection on the door that are provided for enabling the handle to individually operate the latches.
A door of an armored vehicle that is provided with door armor, wherein the door carries plural latches connected to the door interiorly of door armor, with the latches being operable concurrently by moving an exterior handle of the door and, alternatively, by moving an interior handle of the door, and with the latches also being operable individually by individually turning emergency connectors on the door that each is associated with a different one of the latches.
The door of claim 37 wherein the selected one of the handles is the interior handle, and the exterior handle is so ruggedly attached to the door as to define a point of attachment to which a towing force can be applied to remove the door from a door opening normally closed by the door when secured by the latches.
The door of claim 39 wherein the other of the two shafts also connects with a link that extends interiorly with respect to the door armor to a location where an interior operating handle is provided that can be turned to apply torque to the other of the two shafts to operate the latch.
12-14. (canceled)
18-35. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.