Deflectable unitary latch
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorsWilliam J. Brown, John M. Parks
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A deflectable unitary latch (10) of plastic material is disclosed for securing a pivoting window (12) or the like to a frame (14) having a striker member (28) thereon. The latch (10) has a base (30), a handle (32) and a spring-like arm (34) extending from the base (30), with the arm (34) having a proximal hinge portion (36), a support strut (38), a latch portion (40) and a press bar (42). The hinge portion (36) and the support strut (38) are constructed to allow the arm (34) to be deflected primarily about the hinge portion (36) as the press bar (42) is urged toward the handle (32) for release of the latch.
Claims7
A deflectable unitary latch adapted to be connected, in use, to a swingable window or the like to permit the window to be releasably secured to a frame having a striker member thereon, the latch comprising:
- a base adapted to be connected to the window;
- a handle extending from the base;
- and
- an arm extending from the base said arm formed by a proximal hinge portion adjacent to the base, a support strut which extends outwardly from the hinge portion generally along a central plane, a latch portion, and a press bar which extends from the support strut at a first angle from the central plane in generally overlying relationship to the handle said handle extending at a second angle from the central plane, the latch portion adapted in use to be interlockingly engaged with the striker member, the hinge portion being of a construction sufficient for allowing the arm to be deflectably swung therearound from a latched position toward a released position in response to manual movement of the press bar toward the handle.
A deflectable unitary latch of plastic material adapted to be connected, in use, to a substantially planar pivoting window in order to permit the window to be releasably secured to a frame having a striker member thereon having an ascending cam surface, an apex and a latch surface, the latch comprising:
- a base adapted to be connected to the window;
- a handle inclinably extending from the base;
- and
- an arm having in sequence, a proximal hinge portion, a support strut, a latch portion and a press bar, the hinge portion and the support strut being substantially aligned along a common central plane and sharing external surfaces which taperingly diverge outwardly from the base toward the latch portion permitting the arm to be deflectably swung primarily about the hinge portion from a latched position of engagement with the striker member toward a released position in response to movement of the press bar toward the handle by a squeezing action of an operator's fingertips, the press bar being disposed at an obtuse angle from the support strut in generally overlying relationship to the handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.