Electro-mechanical lock

A latch assembly for engagement with a strike, said latch assembly comprising:

• (a) a chassis defining an opening configured for receiving the strike;
• (b) an actuator having a plunger, said plunger moveable by said actuator between a first plunger position and a second plunger position;
• (c) a latch pivotal in said chassis, said latch having a keeper movable between a first locked position and a second unlocked position wherein, when said keeper is in said first locked position, a keeper seat prevents the strike from being removed from said opening and when said keeper is in said second unlocked position, the strike may be removed from said opening;
• (d) a trigger pivotally mounted in said chassis, said trigger having a cam surface engageable with a follower on said latch, wherein said trigger is moveable between a first keeper hold position and a second keeper release position;
• and
• (e) a transfer bar extending between said plunger and said trigger which in a first blocking position blocks pivotal movement of said trigger and in a second unblocking position permits movement of said trigger wherein, when said transfer bar is in said second unblocking position, said latch and said trigger are configured such that, when a first force generated by an external source is applied to said strike in a direction to remove said strike from said opening when said keeper is in said first locked position and said trigger is in said first keeper hold position, a second force applied to said trigger by said latch causes said trigger to move to said second keeper release position.

A latch assembly having a locked and unlocked position for engagement with a strike, said latch assembly comprising:

• (a) a chassis defining an opening configured for receiving the strike;
• (b) an actuator having a plunger, said plunger movable by said actuator between a first position and a second position;
• (c) a latch pivotal in said chassis, said latch having a keeper having a seat in a locked position which extends in a blocking position relative to said opening and in an unlocked position allowing the strike to enter or exit said seat wherein said latch has an end distal from said keeper having a slot extending in a direction that is transverse to a rotational axis of said latch;
• (d) a trigger pivotally mounted in said chassis having a cam surface engageable with a follower on said latch, wherein said follower extends across said slot, and wherein said cam surface of said trigger is configured for being received in said slot;
• and
• (e) a transfer bar extending between said plunger and said trigger which in a first position blocks pivotal movement of said trigger and in a second position permits said trigger to release said latch to allow said latch to rotate to said unlocked position.

A lock assembly comprising a strike assembly and a latch assembly,

• (a) said strike assembly comprising:
• (i) a strike base shield;
• (ii) a clevis member mounted to said strike base shield, and having a generally U-shape with a baseplate and spaced-apart arms extending away from said baseplate, each arm comprising a receiving hole;
• (iii) a striker sleeve mounted between said arms of said clevis member by mounting means received through each receiving hole;
• (iv) a cover plate affixed to said strike base shield, said cover plate having a housing section overlying said baseplate of said clevis member, said housing section being spaced from said strike base shield when said cover plate is affixed to said strike base shield;
• and
• (v) biasing means interposed between said housing section of said cover plate and said baseplate of said clevis member, said biasing means allowing said clevis member to swivel a range of motion to compensate for misalignment when said strike assembly is moved to cooperate with a latch assembly;
• and
• (b) a said latch assembly comprising:
• (i) a chassis defining an opening for receiving said strike assembly;
• (ii) a solenoid having a plunger and actuable to move said plunger between a first and a second position;
• (iii) a latch pivotal in said chassis defining a seat having a keeper, said latch having a locked position in which the said keeper extends in a blocking position relative to said opening and an unlocked position which allows said striker sleeve to enter or exit said seat;
• (iv) a trigger pivotally mounted in said chassis having a cam surface engageable with said latch;
• and
• (v) a transfer bar extending between said plunger and said trigger which in the locked position blocks pivotal movement of said trigger and in the unlocked position permits said trigger to release said latch to allow said latch to rotate to the unlocked position.

A strike assembly cooperating with a latch assembly, the strike assembly comprising:

• (a) a strike base shield;
• (b) a cover plate affixed to said strike base shield, said cover plate having a housing section, said housing section being spaced from said strike base shield when said cover plate is affixed to said strike base shield, said strike base shield and said housing section defining a recess;
• (c) a clevis member including a baseplate and a striker sleeve, said baseplate being moveable positioned within said recess to couple said clevis member with said strike base shield;
• and
• (d) a spring interposed between said cover plate and said clevis member, said spring allowing said clevis member to move in a range of motion to compensate for misalignment when said strike assembly is moved to cooperate with the latch assembly.