Refrigerator door lock
AssigneeFort Lock Corporation
InventorGary L. Myers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved refrigerator door-locking device is provided for locking a refrigerator door to a refrigerator body which may preferably be manufactured substantially of molded plastic parts. The locking device has an elongated first mountable casing which has an elongated opening, and a plunger member which has a projecting rod end and slotted outer rod end slidably fits within the opening. A bayonet connector is located at the projecting rod end of the plunger and a spring biases the plunger toward the projecting rod end. A bayonet receiver is located in a second mountable casing and interacts with the projecting rod end bayonet connector. The locking device provides a visual indication of when it is locked or unlocked.
Claims20
For use in association with a sealable door system that includes a door carrying a seal and a body, an improved locking device comprising, in combination;
- an elongated first mountable casing adapted to be mounted to said door and having a longitudinal opening;
- a plunger member having a centrally located disk, a projecting rod end extending from the disk in a first direction, and an outer rod end extending form the disk in a direction opposite from the first direction, said member slidably fit to said opening;
- bayonet connector means located at said projecting rod end;
- a catch means second mountable casing adapted to be mounted to said body;
- spring means urging said plunger in said first direction and toward said catch means;
- and
- mutually engageable means carried by said catch casing for receiving said bayonet connector means.
For use in association with a sealable door system that includes a door carrying a seal and a body, an improved locking device comprising, in combination:
- an elongated first mountable casing adapted to be mounted to said door and having a longitudinal opening;
- a plunger member having a centrally located disk, a projecting rod end extending form the disk in a first direction, and an outer rod end extending from the disk in a direction opposite from the first direction, said member slidably fit to said opening;
- bayonet connector means located a sad projecting rod end;
- a catch means second mountable casing adapted to be mounted to said body;
- spring means urging said plunger in said first direction and toward said catch means;
- and
- mutually engageable means carried by said catch casing for receiving said bayonet connector means;
- and
- pop out means associated with said plunger member for providing axial displacement of said plunger member if a door is closed with said plunger member in a locked position.
For use in association with a sealable door system that includes a door carrying a seal and a body, an improved locking device comprising, in combination:
- an elongated first mountable casing adapted to be mounted to said door and having a longitudinal opening;
- a plunger member having a centrally located disk, a projecting rod end extending from the disk in a first direction, and an outer rod end extending from the disk in a direction opposite the first direction, said member slidably fit to said opening;
- bayonet connector means located at said projecting rod end;
- a catch means second mountable casing adapted to be mounted to said body;
- spring means urging said plunger in said first direction and toward said catch means;
- mutually engageable means carried by said catch casing for receiving said bayonet connector mean ;and
- pulling means associated with said engageable means for pulling said plunger member towards aid catch casing upon rotation of said plunger member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.