Paddle operated vehicle latch
AssigneePierce Manufacturing Company
InventorWilliam S. Peters
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotary latch mechanism for engaging a latch post, for example to latch a vehicle door to its frame. The latch mechanism comprises a rotating cam having a recess to engage or release the latch post. A torsion spring or the like biases the cam for rotation toward the position in which it releases the latch post. A latch bar sliding perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the cam is biased for slidably engaging an abutment on the cam to latch the cam in its engaged position. A handle or other release is provided to retract the latch bar, freeing the cam for rotation to its disengaged position. The mechanism is quite simple and requires only a few moving parts, yet it provides the same functions as other more complex latch mechanisms.
Claims10
A rotary latch mechanism for engaging a latch post, comprising:
- A. a cam pivotally mounted for rotation between engaged and disengaged positions about an axis parallel to the direction of extension of said latch post, said cam having peripheral edges and first and second parallel faces;
- B. first biasing means to bias said cam toward said disengaged position at all times;
- C. a first recess, defined by first opposed outwardly extending leading and following edges formed in said cam, to receive said post when said door is closed, wherein said leading edge clears said post to allow said post to enter said recess when said cam is in its disengaged position, said leading edge engages said post in said recess to latch said door when said cam is rotated to its engaged position, and said following edge engages said post in said recess as said door is closed to rotate said cam from its disengaged position to its engaged position;
- D. a second recess, defined by second opposed outwardly extending leading and following edges formed in said cam;
- E. a latch bar having first and second ends, disposed parallel to said axis, and mounted for sliding lengthwise between a retracted position clear of said cam, an intermediate position wherein said first end bears against the nearest face of said cam when said cam is in its disengaged position, and an extended position wherein said first end passes into said second recess and engages said second following edge to latch said cam in its engaged position;
- F. second biasing means biasing said latch bar toward said extended position when said latch bar is free to slide;
- G. unlatching means to retract said latch bar to said retracted position from said extended position, whereby to withdraw said first end from said second recess to free said cam for rotation to said disengaged position responsive to said first biasing means, and thus to release said latch post when said unlatching means is operated;
- and
- H. safety latch means to latch said cam in a safety position between its engaged and disengaged positions to permit rotation of said cam toward said engaged position and to prevent rotation of said cam toward said disengaged position, said safety latch means comprising a step formed in said nearest cam face adjacent said second following edge to receive said first end of said latching bar when said cam is in said safety position, and to clear said first end to allow extension of said latching bar when said cam is rotated to said engaged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.