# US 4,395,854 A · Universal latch means for drop seal assembly for a moveable wall

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- Number: US 4,395,854 A
- Document ID: US4395854A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/216,591
- Filed: 1980-12-15
- Granted: 1983-08-02
- Earliest claimed: 1980-12-15
- Assignees: American Standard Inc.
- Inventors: Dean S. White; Scott A. Shaffer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4395854A

## CPC

- E04B 2/827: {Partitions constituted of sliding panels}
- E06B 7/215: with sealing strip being moved to a retracted position by elastic means, e.g. springs
- E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001})
- E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00)

## Abstract

A universal latch means for a drop seal assembly which is adapted for mounting to the lower end of a movable wall assembly, is disclosed. The drop seal assembly includes a universal latch means mounted on each end thereof for releasibly coupling each adjacent drop seal assembly in longitudinal alignment and in which each panel is locked from transverse relative movement. The latch means includes an alternating tongue and groove so that the tongue of one latch means nests into the complimentary groove of the adjacent latch means to releasibly lock each adjacent drop seal in longitudinal alignment and each panel is locked against vertical, horizontal and transverse movement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A latch means adapted for mounting to a drop seal assembly of a movable panel, said latch means comprising: a front, vertical face having formed thereon in side-by-side relation, a pair of elongated triangular pyramids, one being the mirror image of the other so as to provide a tongue and groove latching means, and each pair of said triangular pyramids having a common side, said tongue pyramid having a camming surface so that when said tongue pyramid of one latch means is inserted into a groove pyramid of an adjacent latch means, said camming surface will cause said tongue pyramid to follow along the corresponding surfaces of said groove pyramid of the adjacent latch means, so that the drop seal assembly of said adjacent panel is mounted in longitudinal alignment and are locked against transverse movement.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The latch means of claim 1, wherein said camming surface is a bevelled surface formed at one end of said tongue pyramid.

### Claim 3

A movable wall panel having a shiftable drop seal assembly operatively mounted at the bottom thereof, said drop seal assembly arranged and constructed to facilitate longitudinal alignment of said movable wall panel with an adjacent wall panel, the improvement comprising:
a latch means mounted to said drop seal assembly, said latch means including a front, vertical face having formed thereon in side-by-side relation, a pair of elongated triangular pyramids, one being the mirror image of the other so as to provide a tongue and groove latching means, and each pair of triangular pyramids having a common side, said tongue pyramid having a camming surface so that when said tongue pyramid of one latch means is inserted into a groove pyramid of an adjacent latch means of said adjacent panel, said camming surface will cause the tongue to follow along the corresponding surfaces of said groove pyramid of the adjacent latch means so that said drop seal assemblies are mounted in longitudinal alignment and are locked against transverse movement.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The latch means of claim 3 includes a latch means mounted asymmetrically at each end of said drop seal assembly.