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US 5,961,162 AGranted
Apparatus and method for mounting latching devices
AssigneeSouthco, Inc.
InventorsGerald Glaser, J. Thomas Weuthen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch is mounted in an aperture in a door, panel or the like by first and second retaining members. The first retaining member limits rotational movement of the latch and the second retaining member limits axial movement of the latch.
Claims18
A latch comprising:
- a housing generally elongate in an axial direction;
- and
- first and second retaining members on said housing and with said first and second retaining members having mounting and mounted positions, wherein said first and second retaining members are movable in said mounting position and substantially fixed in said mounted position;
- said first retaining member received onto said housing for axial movement relative to said housing in said mounting position;
- means between said first retaining member and said housing for substantially preventing rotational movement of said first retaining member relative to said housing in said mounting position;
- said second retaining member received onto said housing for rotational movement relative to said housing in said mounting position;
- means between said second retaining member and said housing for limiting axial movement of said second retaining member relative to said housing in said mounting position;
- and
- means for connecting said first and second retaining members for substantially preventing relative movement of either member in said mounted position.
6 more elements
In combination, a latch and retainer assembly comprising:
- a first retaining member having an aperture therethrough defining at least one retaining surface and encircling a first portion of said latch, wherein said first portion of said latch in cross-section comprises a latch retaining, surface substantially corresponding in configuration to said at least one retaining surface of said aperture of said first retaining member, whereby said first retaining member is adjustable in a longitudinal direction of said first portion of said latch and substantially fixed against rotation relative to said first portion of said latch;
- and
- a second retaining member having a threaded aperture therethrough and encircling a second portion of said latch having a threaded outer surface, whereby said second retaining member is rotatable relative to said second portion of said latch for adjusting a position of said second retaining member in a longitudinal direction of said second portion of said latch, wherein said first and second retaining members each include at least one mounting hole therethrough and said retainer assembly further includes at least one fastening member extending through said at least one mounting hole of said first and second retaining members.
In combination, a latch and retainer assembly comprising:
- a first retaining member having an retaining aperture therethrough defining at least one retaining surface and encircling a first portion of said latch, wherein said first portion of said latch in cross-section comprises a latch retaining surface substantially corresponding in configuration to said at least one retaining surface of said retaining aperture of said first retaining member, whereby said first retaining member is adjustable in a longitudinal direction of said first portion of said latch and substantially fixed against rotation relative to said first portion of said latch;
- and
- a second retaining member having a threaded aperture therethrough and encircling a second portion of said latch having a threaded outer surface, whereby said second retaining member is rotatable relative to said second portion of said latch for adjusting a position of said second retaining member in a longitudinal direction of said second portion of said latch, wherein said retaining aperture of said first retaining member is substantially non-circular in configuration and said first portion of said housing in cross-section is configured substantially corresponding to said non-circular aperture of said first retaining member said first retaining member further comprising at least one mounting aperture and said retainer assembly further comprising a fastener member adapted to extend through said mounting aperture to be secured to a panel for substantially fixing an axial position of said first retaining member.
In combination, a latch and retainer assembly comprising:
- a first retaining member having a retaining aperture therethrough defining at least one retaining surface and encircling a first portion of said latch, wherein said portion of said latch in cross-section comprises a latch retaining surface substantially corresponding in configuration to said at least one retaining surface of said retaining aperture of said first retaining member, whereby said first retaining member is adjustable in a longitudinal direction of said first portion of said latch and substantially fixed against rotation relative to said first portion of said latch;
- and
- a second retaining member having a threaded aperture therethrough and encircling a second portion of said latch having a threaded outer surface, whereby said second retaining member is rotatable relative to said second portion of said latch for adjusting a position of said second retaining member in a longitudinal direction of said second portion of said latch, wherein said first retaining member engages said second retaining member said second retaining member further comprising at least one mounting aperture and said retainer assembly further comprising a fastener member adapted to extend through said mounting aperture to be secured to a panel for substantially fixing an axial position of said second retaining member.
A method for mounting a latch in a panel, the panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and an aperture therethrough, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a latch comprising a first retaining member having an aperture therethrough defining at least one retaining surface, a second retaining member having a threaded aperture therethrough and a housing having an upper end, a lower end and an outer surface, with said outer surface having a first portion defining a substantially threaded section and a second portion defining a latch retaining surface having a cross-section substantially corresponding in configuration to said at least one retaining surface of said first retaining member;
- and
- installing said latch in said panel comprising:
- inserting at least said outer surface of said housing into said aperture of said panel;
- inserting said first retaining member on said latch so that said aperture of said first retaining member substantially encircles said housing;
- inserting said second retaining member on said latch so that said threaded aperture of said second retaining member substantially encircles and engages said threaded section of said housing;
- adjusting a position of said first retaining member and said second retaining member relative to said upper end of said housing by rotating said second retaining member and sliding said first retaining member in a substantially axial direction so that said at least one retaining surface of said first retaining member is adjacent said retaining surface of said housing;
- providing said first retaining member and second retaining member each having at least one aperture therethrough;
- providing a generally elongate fastening member;
- inserting said generally elongate fastening member through said at least one aperture of said first retaining member and said second retaining member;
- and
- securing said generally elongate fastening member to said panel.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.