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US 6,626,472 B1Granted
Load floor latch
AssigneeSouthco, Inc.
InventorGert Berg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pawl latch for securing a first member to a second member, such as, for example, a closure panel to a frame or enclosure compartment, the latch including a housing, a handle pivotally carried on the housing, an actuator, and a spring biased pawl, the handle having a tab which engages with the actuator to retract the pawl from engagement with a keeper member or surface to open the latch, the actuator being connected to the pawl through a plurality of slots, disposed in the floor of the housing. A locking mechanism is also provided for securing the latch from unauthorized opening, the locking mechanism having a locking element which holds the actuator against movement and prevents the retraction of the pawl.
Claims56
A pawl latch for securing a first member to a second member wherein a pawl of the latch is provided to engage a keeper, said latch comprising:
- a) a housing which is adapted for mounting to one of said first member and said second member;
- b) a pawl member connected to said housing and adapted to engage a keeper to secure the latch in a closed position, wherein said pawl member comprises a living spring member;
- c) a handle pivotally connected to said housing and being movable over a pivot range including open and closed positions, said handle including actuating means for selectively engaging the pawl member when the handle is pivoted.
A pawl latch for securing a first member to a second member, wherein the latch engages with a keeper, said latch comprising:
- a) a housing, including a pawl member connected thereto and being movable in relation to said housing;
- b) a handle pivotally connected to said housing and being pivotally movable over a pivot range, said handle including actuating means for engaging the pawl member;
- c) wherein said pawl member comprises a living spring member and includes a leg portion which is disposed for engagement with said handle actuating means upon rotation of said handle;
- d) wherein said pawl member is joined with said housing along an edge of the pawl member.
1 more element
A pawl latch for securing a first member to a second member wherein a pawl of the latch is provided to engage a keeper, said latch comprising:
- a) a housing which is adapted for mounting to one of said first member and said second member,
- b) a pawl member connected to said housing and adapted to engage a keeper to secure the latch in a closed position, wherein said pawl member comprises a living spring and has a leg extending from the housing at a top end thereof and an engaging element at the bottom leg end thereof, said top leg end being connected to said housing along an edge thereof to form a pivot axis about which said pawl member pivots, and wherein said living spring biases said pawl member engaging element away from said housing;
- c) a handle pivotally connected to said housing and being movable over a pivot range, said handle including actuating means for selectively engaging the pawl member when the handle is pivoted.
A latch for securing a first member to a second member, said latch comprising:
- a) a housing which is adapted for mounting to the first member;
- b) a pawl member slidably supported by said housing, said pawl member being movable between extended and retracted positions, and said pawl member being adapted to secure the first member relative to the second member when said pawl member is in said extended position and the first member is in a closed position relative to the second member;
- c) a handle pivotally supported by said housing and being movable over a pivot range including open and closed positions;
- and
- d) an actuator positioned such that said handle engages said actuator as said handle moves from said closed position to said open position, said actuator at least engaging said pawl member so as to move said pawl member from said extended position toward said retracted position in response to pivotal movement of said handle toward said open position, said actuator being supported for linear movement relative to said housing such that said actuator moves linearly rearward relative to said housing in a direction parallel to a direction of movement of said pawl member as said pawl member moves toward said retracted position, in response to said handle pivotally moving toward said open position.
2 more elements
A latch for securing a first member to a second member, said latch comprising:
- a) a housing which is adapted for mounting to the first member;
- b) a pawl member slidably supported by said housing, said pawl member being movable between extended and retracted positions, and said pawl member being adapted to secure the first member relative to the second member when said pawl member is in said extended position and the first member is in a closed position relative to the second member;
- c) a handle pivotally supported by said housing and being movable over a pivot range including open and closed positions;
- and
- d) an actuator for selectively engaging said pawl member and at least moving said pawl member from said extended position toward said retracted position in response to pivotal movement of said handle from said closed position toward said open position, said actuator being slidably supported by said housing such that said actuator moves rearward relative to said housing in response to said handle moving toward said open position,
- wherein said pawl member has a plurality of slots,
- wherein said actuator includes a base, a plurality of contact ribs extending upward from said base, and a plurality of legs which extend down ward from said base and into said plurality of slots provided in said pawl member,
- wherein at least one of said plurality of legs engages a rearward end of a respective one of said plurality of slots in said pawl member upon pivotally moving said handle to retract said pawl, and
- wherein said plurality of contact ribs are engaged by said handle during movement of said handle toward said open position.
6 more elements
A latch for securing a first member to a second member, said latch comprising:
- a) a housing which is adapted for mounting to the first member;
- b) a pawl member slidably supported by said housing, said pawl member being movable between extended and retracted positions and said pawl member being adapted to secure the first member relative to the second member when said pawl member is in said extended position and the first member is in a closed position relative to the second member;
- c) a handle pivotally supported by said housing and being movable over a pivot range including open and closed positions;
- d) an actuator for selectively engaging said pawl member and at least moving said pawl member from said extended position toward said retracted position in response to pivotal movement of said handle from said closed position toward said open position, said actuator being slidably supported by said housing such that said actuator moves rearward relative to said housing in response to said handle moving toward said open position;
- a lock plug supported by said housing for selective rotation between locked and unlocked positions;
- and
- a retaining member attached to said lock plug so as to move rotationally with said lock plug between locked and unlocked positions, said retaining member having an arm that interferes with rearward movement of said actuator when said lock plug is in said locked position such that movement of said pawl to said retracted position by actuation of said handle is prevented.
4 more elements
A latch for securing a first member to a second member, said latch comprising:
- a) a housing which is adapted for mounting to the first member;
- b) a pawl member supported by said housing, said pawl member movable between extended and retracted positions, and said pawl member being adapted to secure the first member relative to the second member when said pawl member is in said extended position and the first member is in a closed position relative to the second member;
- c) a handle pivotally supported by said housing and being movable over a pivot range including open and closed positions;
- d) a lock plug supported by said housing for selective rotation between locked and unlocked positions;
- and
- e) a retaining member attached to said lock plug so as to retain said lock plug in said housing, wherein said retaining member moves rotationally with said lock plug between locked and unlocked positions.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.