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US 6,199,922 B1Granted
Latch unit and assembly, and method of operating a latch unit
OwnerAnthony Wilfred Kibbleinventor
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OwnerAnthony Wilfred Kibbleinventor
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to a latch unit which includes a bolt, a housing for the bolt, guides for the bolt in the housing, a first spring for the bolt in the housing, the first spring urging the bolt in a forwards direction towards a holding position in which an end part of the bolt is outside the housing, and a slot arrangement for the bolt, the slot arrangement comprising a first part and a second part, the slot arrangement having an active condition in which the first part is engaged with the second part whereby to retain the bolt against movement in the said forwards direction, characterized by a second spring to hold the first and second parts in the active condition. It is a particular feature of the invention that the bolt has a holding position in which it can engage a keeper, a non-holding position in which it is disengaged from the keeper and a retained position in which it cannot engage the keeper and in which it is retained by the slot arrangement, the non-holding position being between the holding and retained positions. There is also provided a method of operating a latch unit according as herein defined.
A latch unit which includes a bolt, a housing for the bolt, guide means for the bolt in the housing, first resilient bias means for the bolt in the housing, the first resilient bias means urging the bolt in a forwards direction towards a holding position in which an end part of the bolt is outside the housing, and retaining means for retaining the bolt in a retained position against movement in said forwards direction, the retained position being spaced from the holding position, the retaining means comprising a first part and a second part, the retaining means having an active condition in which the first part is engaged with the second part whereby to retain the bolt, second resilient bias means to hold the first and second parts in the active condition, characterized in that the second resilient bias means acts to resist movement of the bolt to the retained position.
A latch unit which includes a bolt, a housing for the bolt, guide means for the bolt in the housing, first resilient bias means for the bolt in the housing, the first resilient bias means urging the bolt in a forwards direction towards a holding position in which an end part of the bolt is outside the housing, retaining means for retaining the bolt in a retained position against movement in said forwards direction, the retained position being spaced from the holding position, the retaining means comprising a peg and a slot, the retaining means having an active condition in which the peg is engaged with a part of the slot whereby to retain the bolt, second resilient bias means to hold the peg and slot in the active condition, the second resilient bias means acting to resist movement of the bolt to its retained position, wherein the peg is carried by the bolt and the slot is formed in a movable lever, and wherein a disengaging means can be operated to move the lever whereby to overcome said second resilient bias means and disengage the peg from said part of the slot so as to permit said end part of the bolt to be urged towards the holding position by the first resilient bias means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.