Locking Channel Latch
AssigneeQRP, Inc.
InventorAndres Hernandez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A channel latch having a lock for holding the latch bolt closed which includes a secondary locking feature that prevents the lock from being turned. The lock mechanism has a tumbler barrel with a central reciprocal plunger that has a key portion which outwardly projects through the barrel into a keyway in the bolt. The plunger is depressed downward against a spring when a tool is inserted into the tumbler to turn it. The keyway includes longitudinal grooves and a pathway that restrict the upward release of the plunger only when the tumbler is turned to either the locked or unlocked position. Once the plunger is released the key and groove abutment prevents the lock from being turned.
Claims16
A locking latch, comprising:
- a housing;
- a bolt affixed to the housing rotatable between open and closed positions;
- lock means located within a cylinder in the bolt for locking the bolt in the closed position, said lock means comprising a tumbler having a top, a bottom, and a barrel portion closely fitted within said cylinder, said tumbler selectively rotatable between locked and unlocked positions;
- a plunger located within a longitudinal bore of said tumbler barrel, said plunger axially reciprocal within said bore between a depressed and a released home position;
- a radially extending key integral with said plunger;
- a longitudinal slot in the side of the tumbler barrel through which the plunger key outwardly projects;
- a keyway in a sidewall of the bolt cylinder into which said key extends which restricts movement of the key, wherein only upon a maximum depression of the plunger is the tumbler barrel free to rotate between the locked and unlocked positions;
- and,
- means for engaging said housing on a bottom portion of the tumbler to lock the bolt closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.