Linkage assembly for operating one or more latches

A linkage assembly for moving a latch connected link to operate a latch that is connected to the link in response to movement of an actuator along a path of movement defined by a housing to which the actuator is connected, comprising:

• a) a generally right angle frame adapted for connection to the housing, said frame having a first leg and a second leg;
• b) a first arm having a first outer end adapted for connection to the link, having a first inner end, and having a first central region located between the first inner end and the first outer end;
• c) a second arm having a second outer end adapted for connection to the link, having a second inner end, and having a second central region located between the second inner end and the second outer end;
• d) a slide connected to the first leg of the frame and adapted to be engaged by the actuator to be moved along a path of travel defined by the frame in response to movement of the actuator along the path of movement defined by the housing;
• e) a pivot assembly connected to the frame, for defining a first pivot axis that extends through the first central region and about which the first arm pivots relative to the frame, and for defining a second pivot axis that extends through the second central region and about which the second arm pivots relative to the frame, wherein the first and second pivot axes are located on opposite sides of the path of travel of the slide at substantially equal distances from the path of travel of the slide, and wherein the first and second pivot axes extend substantially parallel to each other within a plane that extends substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the slide;
• f) a slide connection defining a third pivot axis that substantially parallels the first and second pivot axes and that extends through the first inner end region of the first arm and through the second inner end region of the second arm, and for concurrently pivoting the first and second arms about the first and second pivot axes, respectively, in response to movement of the slide along the path of travel of the slide to move the first and second outer end regions of the first and second arms in unison in one direction away from each other to an extended position, and in unison in a second direction toward each other to a retracted position;
• and,
• g) means for connecting the link to a selected one of the first and second outer end regions of the first and second arms for causing the latch connected to the link to be operated when the selected one of the first and second outer end regions is moved in a selected one of the first and second directions.

A linkage assembly for moving at least one latch connected link to operate at least one latch that is connected to the link in response to movement of a push button actuator along a path of movement defined by a housing to which the push button actuator is connected, comprising:

• a) a frame adapted for connection to the housing;
• b) at least one arm having an outer end adapted for connection to the latch connected link, having an inner end, and having a central region located between the inner end and the outer end;
• c) a slide connected to the frame and adapted for being engaged by the actuator to be moved along a path of travel defined by the frame in response to movement of the push button actuator along the path of movement defined by the housing;
• d) means for being connected to the frame, for defining one pivot axis that extends through the central region and about which the arm pivots relative to the frame, wherein the one pivot axis is located to one side of the path of travel of the slide, and wherein the one pivot axis extends within a plane that extends substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the slide;
• e) means for being connected to the slide, for defining another pivot axis that substantially parallels the one pivot axis and that extends through the inner end region of the arm and through the slide for pivoting the arm about the one pivot axis in response to movement of the slide along the path of travel of the slide to move the outer end region of the arm to move the link to operate a latch connected to the link in response to movement of the push button actuator along the path of movement of the push button actuator;
• and,
• f) a release cable connected to the means for being connected to the slide that can be pulled to move the slide along the path of travel of the slide to move the outer end region of the arm to move the link to operate the latch connected to the link without causing movement of the push button actuator along the path of movement of the push button actuator.

A linkage assembly for moving a plurality of latch connected links to operate latches that are connected to the links in response to movement of an actuator along a path of movement defined by a housing to which the actuator is connected, comprising:

• a) a generally rectangular frame adapted for connection to the housing, said frame having a first leg and a second leg;
• b) a first arm having a first outer end adapted for connection to one of the latch connected links, having a first inner end, and having a first central region located between the first inner end and the first outer end, wherein the first outer end, the central region and the first inner end all extend within one plane;
• c) a second arm having a second outer end adapted for connection to another of the latch connected links, having a second inner end, and having a second central region located between the second inner end and the second outer end, wherein the second outer end and the second central region extend in the one plane, and the second inner end extends in a second plane that parallels the one plane and overlaps the first inner end;
• d) a slide connected to the first leg of the frame and adapted for being engaged by the actuator to be moved along a path of travel defined by the frame in response to movement of the actuator along the path of movement defined by the housing;
• e) a pivot assembly connected to the frame, for defining a first pivot axis that extends through the first central region and about which the first arm pivots relative to the frame, and for defining a second pivot axis that extends through the second central region and about which the second arm pivots relative to the frame, wherein the first and second pivot axes are located on opposite sides of the path of travel of the slide at substantially equal distances from the path of travel of the slide, and wherein the first and second pivot axes extend substantially parallel to each other within another plane that extends substantially perpendicular to the path of travel of the slide;
• and,
• f) a slide connection defining a third pivot axis that substantially parallels the first and second pivot axes and that extends through the overlying inner end regions of the first and second arms, and for concurrently pivoting the first and second arms about the first and second pivot axes, respectively, in response to movement of the slide along the path of travel of the slide to move the first and second outer end regions of the first and second arms to move the one and another links to operate latches connected to the one and another links in response to movement of the actuator along the path of movement of the push button actuator.

A linkage assembly for operating a latch, comprising:

• a) a frame having first and second legs made from substantially flat material so that the first and second legs cooperatively define an L shape;
• b) a first arm attached to the first leg of the frame for pivoting movement relative to the frame around a first axis between retracted and extended positions of the first arm, and having a first inner end and a first outer end adapted to be connected by a link to a first latch to effect operation of the first latch as an incident of the first arm moving from a selected one of the retracted and extended positions to the other of the retracted and extended positions;
• c) a slide slidably engaging the first leg for movement along a path of travel of the slide that is transverse to said first axis, and pivotally connected to the first inner end region of the first arm for pivoting the first arm about the first axis in response to movement of the slide along the path of travel of the slide;
• d) a housing attached to the second leg;
• and,
• e) a push button actuator supported in the housing for movement relative to the frame and the housing between normal and actuating positions along a path of travel of the push button actuator that is transverse to said first axis and that aligns with the path of travel of the slide, wherein movement of the push button actuator along the path of travel of the actuator from the normal position to the actuating position causes engagement of the actuator with the slide to move the slide along the path of travel of the slide to pivot the first arm about the first axis.