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US 5,312,143 AGranted
Earthquake safety cabinet latch
OwnerAlmar W. Bucknerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tremor actuated cabinet door latch has a spring loaded arm held back by a weighted trip pin. The pin releases the arm in response to shaking of the cabinet, allowing the arm to engage a catch mounted on the cabinet door, to keep the door from swinging open during an earth tremor.
Claims16
A tremor actuated mechanism comprising:
- a base for mounting to a first surface;
- an arm having an end hinged to said base and an opposite free end;
- spring means urging said arm towards an elevated position relative to said base;
- trip means normally restraining said arm in a retracted position against said urging;
- said trip means being arranged and configured to move out of restraining relationship with said arm in response to disturbance of the first surface thereby to release said arm for movement towards said elevated position.
2 more elements
A tremor actuated latch mechanism for latching the door of a cabinet, comprising:
- a base for mounting to a first surface in the cabinet;
- an arm having an end hinged to said base and an opposite free end;
- spring means urging said arm towards an elevated position relative to said base;
- a trip pin having a lower end pivotably supported to said base, a free upper end, ad detent mean on said pin engageable with said arm for holding said arm in a retracted position against said urging;
- said trip pin being arranged and configured to move out of restraining relationship with said arm in response to disturbance of the first surface thereby to release said arm for movement towards said elevated position.
- a housing mounted to said base and enclosing said trip pin, there being an opening in said housing for admitting a tool into engagement with said upper end of said trip pin for reengaging said trip pin with said arm following release from said retracted position;
- and
- a catch for mounting to a second surface on the door of the cabinet for engagement by said free end of said arm in said elevated position, thereby to restrain said second surface against movement away form said first surface.
5 more elements
A tremor actuated latch mechanism for latching the door of a cabinet, comprising:
- a sheet metal base for mounting to a first surface in the cabinet;
- an arm of sheet material having an end hinged to said base and an opposite free end;
- a spring compressed between said base and said arm for urging said arm towards an elevated position;
- a trip pin extending through an opening in said arm, said pin having a lower end with a head loosely captive in a nipple formed in said base, a weighted free upper end, and a circumferential slot intermediate said lower end and said upper end, said slot engageable with an edge of said opening for holding said arm in a retracted position against said urging;
- said trip pin being free to move out of engagement with said arm in response to disturbance of the first surface thereby to release said arm for movement towards said elevated position.
- a housing mounted to said base and enclosing said trip pin, there being an opening in said housing for admitting a tool into engagement with said upper end of the trip pin for reengaging said trip pin with said arm following release from said retracted position;
- and
- a catch for mounting to a second surface on the door of the cabinet for engagement by said free end of said arm in said elevated position, thereby to restrain said second surface against movement away from said first surface.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.