Child-resistant latch release mechanism
AssigneeComsis
InventorsNeil D. Lerner, Richard W. Huey, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A child-resistant latch release mechanism which requires operation of two control members which are separated by a distance greater than that which can be effectively spanned by a preschool child. The two control members must be operated first in a certain sequence and then simultaneously in order to permit operation of the latch release mechanism. Conventional self-latching upon closure is retained by the invention latch release mechanism.
Claims17
A method of providing a latch release mechanism which is resistant to operation by a preschool child, comprising the steps of providing a latch, providing a cooperating latch keeper, providing upper and lower control members, mounting said upper and lower control members on said mechanism separated by a predetermined distance, selecting said predetermined distance such that it is greater than the distance which can be effectively spanned by a preschool child, providing means in said mechanism to require operation of said upper and lower control members in a predetermined sequence and then simultaneously in order to disengage said latch from said latch keeper, and the step of removably interlocking said upper and lower control members to prevent disengagement of said latch out of said latch keeper, said predetermined sequence requiring lifting and holding of said upper control member out of its interlocked relationship with said lower control member, connecting said lower control member to said latch, and then raising said lower control member to move said latch out of latching relationship with said keeper while said upper control member is held in its lifted position.
A child-proof latch release mechanism comprising a latch and a cooperating latch keeper;
- the combination comprising upper and lower control members, said upper and lower control members being mounted on said latch release mechanism separated by a predetermined distance, said predetermined distance being selected such that it is greater than the distance which can be effectively spanned by a preschool child, said mechanism comprising means to require operation of said upper and lower control members in a predetermined sequence and then simultaneously in order to disengage said latch from said latch keeper, said last-mentioned means to require operation comprising a lock member, means to removably interlock said lock member and said upper control member, means to connect said lower control member to said latch, said predetermined sequence requiring lifting and holding of said upper control member and pivoting of said lock member out of its interlocked relationship with said lower control member, and then raising of said lower control member to move said latch out of latching relationship with said keeper while said upper control member is held in its lifted position.
The combination of claim 8, said upper and lower control members each comprising an operating portion, said upper control member operating portion comprising a knob member, said lower latch control member comprising at least one foot pedal, and said predetermined distance being provided between said knob member and said foot pedal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.