Push latch device

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention generally relates to a push latch device serving to open and close a door of an audio rack and a cover of a control box accommodating a variety of switches in a television set, audio appliances, etc., and more particularly, to a small-sized and inexpensive push latch device capable of operating surely and smoothly.

#2. Description of the Prior Art

#FIGS. 1 through 7 in combination show one embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view;

#FIG. 2(A) is a plan view illustrating a state in which a door is opened by releasing an engagement projection, and FIG. 2(B) is an explanatory view of a guide groove;

#Directing now attention to FIGS. 1 through 4, there is shown one embodiment of a push latch device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the push latch device. FIG. 2(A) is a plan view illustrating the push latch device when a door thereof is opened. FIG. 2(B) is an explanatory view of a guide groove. FIG. 3 is a partially cut-away view illustrating the push latch device when the door is closed. FIG. 4 is a central cross-sectional view of FIG. 3.

#The push latch device generally designated 1 consists of a case 2, a slider 3, a guide lever 5 and a coil spring 6. The box-like hollow case 2 has an opening formed at one end thereof. The slider 3 is so accommodated in the case 2 as to be slidable inwardly and outwardly with respect to the case 2 and includes hooks 4 provided at its tip portion, the hooks 4 bidirectionally branching off. The guide lever 5 mounted on one side surface of the slider 3 is disposed between the slider 3 and the case 2 to regulate the slide motion of the slider 3. The coil spring 6 for elastically biasing the slider 3 towards the opening of the case 2 is interposed between the distal end inner surface of the case 2 and the proximal end of the slider 3. All the components except the coil spring 6 are formed of synthetic resin.

#The case 2 is a box in which the opening is formed at its one end. A support rod 18 for laterally supporting the coil spring is vertically provided on the distal end inner surface of the box. Stopping members 20 for fixation protrude from both side surfaces of the box. The stopping member 20 are employed for mounting the push latch device 1 on the audio rack or the like. The stopping member 20 may, however, arbitrarily be removed. An annular guide groove 7 corresponding to the guide lever 5 is chased in the inner side surface of the case 2. This guide groove includes: a front slant portion 7a which is so provided on the side of the opening of the case 2 as to obliquely extend from a point J on one side to a substantially mid-point K on the other side in the direction of the distal end thereof; a rectilinear portion 7b extending from the substantially mid-point K to the distal end L, this rectilinear portion 7b serving as a going-passageway, a crooked portion 7c extending in continuation from the distal end L through a substantially V-shaped stoppage portion 8 to another distal end M positioned closer to the other side than a substantially central point in the crosswise direction of the case 2; a rear slant portion 7d stretching from the distal end M to another mid-point substantially in parallel with the front slant portion 7a; and another rectilinear portion 7e stretching straight from the mid point N to the point J defined as the initial point of the guide groove 7, this rectilinear portion 7e serving as a returning-passageway. The guide groove 7 assumes an annular configuration on the whole. The substantially V-shaped stoppage portion 8 which is a part of the crooked portion 7c is formed so that a small-width portion 7c' is directed to the opening of the case 2. A guide member 10 of the guide lever 5 which will be mentioned later is stoppable with respect to the small width portion 7c'. The guide groove 7 has the same depth throughout the entire circumference thereof.