US2569043A - Floating bolt latch - Google Patents

Description

Sept- 25, 1951 w. A. ENDTER FLOATING BOLT LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1946 NVENTOR.

rrolPA/Y Sept. 25, 1951 W. A. EN DTER FLOATING BOLT LATCH F'led May 27, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @Trop/wry Patented Sept. 25, 1951 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLoA'rmG noL'r LA'rcn Waldemar A. Endter, Long` Beach, Calif. Application May z1,"194s,seria1No. 672,582

This invention has to do with improvements in latch mechanism of the take-up type characterized by the use of a floating bolt having capacity for both swinging and bodily movement in a latching action resulting in the closure (assuming it to carry the bolt) being urged in a closing direction with relation to its keeper.

Particularly the invention aims to simplify, improve and economise manufacture of the type of latch mechanisms disclosed in my Patent No. 2,376,992 issued May' 29, 1945, -to me on Latch Device, and in my copending applications Serial carried) abutment to transmit a closing thrust against the abutment while the reactive force is taken by the keeper. In further simplification of the previous forms, the present invention contemplates loosely retaining the bolt within the latch housing, in a manner obviating the necessity for bolt mountings involving the use of closely fitting parts or exact machining operations.

Additional objects are directed to the keeper and bolt combination, and particularly curved keeper surface shapes which serve such functions as to assure retention of the bolt against inadvertent release from either or both initial and advanced latched positions, and to present camming surfaces acting to thrust the bolt against the abutment while maintaining the bolt in blocking relation to opening movement of the closure.

All the objects and details of the invention will be understood from the following description of certain preferred forms, shown typically in mechanisms designed for use as automobile door latches, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a section taken on line I--I of Fig. 2 through the bolt assembly, and illustrating in elevation the associate control mechanism;

' 5 Claims. (Cl. 292-223) Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figs'.'3 and 4 are end and side views, respectively, of the bolt; I

Figs. 5 and -6 are end and side views, respectively, of the bolt control part;

Figs, 7 and' 8 are enlarged cross-sections on line I-I of Fig." 1 showing different bolt and keeper positions;

Figs. 9 and l0 are similar views illustrating a variational form of the invention; and

Fig. 11 is a view like Fig. 9 showing an additional variational form.

For'adaptation to an automobile door, the latch mechanism as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is mounted ina case structure I0 of ,the usual form comprising right angle flanges II and I2, the former of which carries the bolt and shaft assembly I3 at the door edge, flange I2 carrying the bolt control and locking mechanisms generally indicated at I4. Opening I5 in flange II contains the outwardly projecting bolt-containing bracket or semi-housing I6, which may be of the usual form adapted for reception in confinement between the keeper parts, as later described.

The bolt I1, detailed in Figs. 3 and 4, is mounted within the housing I6 for pivotal or swinging and bodily movement, one significant characteristic of the bolt mounting being that it permits free displacement of the bolt under the influence of the later described keeper, spring and stationary abutment. A pin I8 terminally secured within the housing I6 and the stationary deck plate I9, extends through an opening 20 in the bolt, which-may have the form of a slot extending generally in the direction of bodily displacement of the bolt, and for example at an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical in the home position of the bolt. Thus, except as the bolt may be restrained by spring 2| and the housing I6, it is freely displaceable, the pin I8 serving merely as a retainer and guide. As shown in Fig. 1, the bolt extends through the case flange I I and housing I6, and has a shoulder 22 engageable against the bottom horizontal edge 23 of opening I5 toA limit rotation of the bolt in a latching' direction.

The bolt has an associated control part, which for convenience of manufacture and assembly preferably is made as a separate element 24, see Figs. 5 and 6, carried by the inner end of the bolt. The control part has an opening 25 which receives the correspondingly shaped end projection 28 on the bolt so that the parts are interengsged This result is achieved by shaping lor slanting thc against relative rotation. The element Il carri@ engaged fhousing surface to make theangle bean arm 21 engaged -by coil spring 2| mounted at tween a tangent to the curved bolt surface Il. at Il on the*V case ilange il, the springexerting'a itsli'ne of contact withthehousinmandtheline constant thrust resisting anti-Iahing rotation of bolt reaction thrust (eilected by the thrust of oi' the bolt, and tending. in the latched positions the bolt against the keeper) extending through of tnebolt, to progressively advance the latter the fulcrum point oi the boit less than 90. into or along the keeper. Element ll carries a The intcrengagement of the bolt and housing second, laterally projectingarmor lug 2l engaged surfaces may be utilized to positively assure by parts of the mechanism Il to control the bolt 10 against inadvertent release of the bolt from operation in the manner later explained. 'laughed eendigien within mekeeper, as by uw Referring to Fig. l the pillar-carried keeperv provision more particularly constituting the sub'- assembly lo comprises a plate Il carrying the ject matter of my copendingapplication Ber. spaced horizontally disposed lug I2 and bolt re- .No. 640,859. referred to' above. For this lpurtaining keeper 33 between which the housing and 15 pose. the bolt surface 40 may have a flattened boit assembly is received to eiieot a dove-tail orstraighi-iine portion no engageable against latched relation of the parte. the bolt l1 being the flat or straight-line surfaceilb of the housreceived within the keeper and exerting against mg ai; an early 0r mitm] )embed pesmen of the the latter a thrust forcing the housing l into bolt. as shown by the dottedlines. Because of tight engagement With the under surface of the the fiat surface intcrengagement of the bolt and lug 32. The keeper 3l has o oonovely euri/ed abutment faces a and lib, anti-latching rotabolt engaging face M which has a camming retion of the bolt out of the keeper is effectively lation to the curved bolt surface It, such that resisted against any eombmeuon 0f pressure and latching advancement of the bolt along surface vibration applied to the door or otherwise tendll tends to bodily displace the bolt generally in 25 ing to release the bolt.

the direction of elongation of the Slot 2- The Y l In accordance with the variational form of the bolt has what may be termed a Sofety catch Biirinvention shown in Figs. 9 and l0, the bolt I face a offset radially inward from the surface has a circular, relatively large diameter opening Si and curved in conformity with the upper 4| loosely receiving the pin 42 to permit free relcurved portion a of the keeper Surface. So, tbt s0 ative bodily displacement of the bolt. Here the the surfaces interilt at the position shown in Fig. bolt has a true segmental circular curved keeper 8 in such relation w the housing thrust'against engaging ieee 43 having its center or eurveture the bolt and the transmission ofthe bolt thrust at the center of opening 4l. The keepr M has against the keeper, as to provide Bgnlnt any a concave bolt engaged face the upper portendency for the bolt to release. 86 tion 45a of which has a circular curvature cor- Assuming the door to be open With the bolt responding to the curvature of the bolt surface Position established' by the enagement of its 43. so that-in the initial latched position of Pig.

surface 22 against edge 23 of the case opening, 10, the ben, and keeper interengege 310m e, com.

as the closure is swung Shot. the bolt foco 3. enmon arc centered at the center of rotation of the gases the end 31 of the keeper. displacing the boit 4o boit. A umist and reactance relation um is upwardly until it overrides the top rounded edge established between the bolt and keeper, prevent- 3l of the keeper, Wherelipon'spring 2| acts to ading anti-latching rotation of the bolt out of the vance the bolt into .the keeper to the Safety Catch keeper as a result, of pressure applied to the potlOn 0f Fig. 8. AS the closure i8 Shut further door. In referring t0 -the keeper surface la u the boit overrides the keeper to the position et having a curvature corresponding to the bolt 'which its surface 35 is advanced into and along curvature (enel` the renewing applies es wen w the keeper Surface 34. the Spring 2| exerting n the relation between the bolt and cam surfaces progressive take-up action tending to crowd the 35a 'and 34a in Figs. 'I and 8), it is appreciated door against the usual cushion as. the bolt Bpthat the same security against unintentional repreaches the home position shown in Fig. 7. By lease of the bolt may be had'by giving the keeper reason of the camming relation of the keeper surface 45a greater concave curvature..always, and bolt surfaces 34 and Ii, the bolt i8 however, in a directi n or to a degree such that displaced to bring its curved surface 40 into enthe keeper reactance against the bolt tends either ggelnent With a Stationary butment presented to cause no rotation of the bolt, or to rotate thev by the inside surface of the housing It. Accordbolt in a latching, as distinguished from an antiingly, in all of its latchedl positions (including latching direction. More speciilcally the angle the safety catch position), the bolt Serves to between a tangent to the keeper surface, at its block opening movement of the door by reason line of contact with the bolt, and a line extendof the interposition of the bolt between the pillaring from said line of contact through the fulcarried keeper Il and the `.door-carried -abut- 0 crum point of the bolt should be 90 or less, ment il. such angle being measured on,v that side of thc From the foregoing it will be understood that line through the fulcrum point 'facing in the diduring latching rotation of the bolt after it enrection of anti-latching rotation of the bolt. In

' ters the keeper. the bolt has rocking and sliding other words, the keeper `surface a should be engagement'with 4the stationary housing surface o5 slanted or inclined with respect to the bolt surita. At the same time the bolt rocks and slides face u to provide a latching force component about the pin Il by reason of the shifting fulto the bolt by keeper reactance against thebolt. crum or line of contact between the underside Beyond the curved face "a, the keeper has a of the pin and the lower sidewall of the slot .lo cam surface 451i which tends, during bolt ad'- or opening 2l in the bolt. The curved bolt survancement toward the home position, tc bodily face 4l progressively -makes line contact with the displace the bolt with the curved bolt surface 4I inside surface of the housing', but this contact bearing against the inside face of the housing II. is utilized to effectively resist anti-latching ro- Upon reaching the fully latched position of Pig. tation of the bolt in any of its latched positions. u ,9, the bolt moves beyond and below the reversely ncurved end surface 45e of the keeper, with thev result that the bolt becomes blocked against inadvertent anti-latching rotation, the curvature i of surface 45e and its position in the path'of the bolt. tending, under the influence of pressurel exerted against the door, to cause the bolt to turn further in a latching direction.

The keeper and bolt -parts shown in Fig. 1l are similar to the form o f Figs. 9 and 10, except with respect to the shape of the keeper surface engaged by the bolt in its home position.' Here vthe circularly curved bolt surface 88 is engage- I able'against the correspondingly curved keeper surface 8| in an initial latched position corresponding to Fig. I0. Then as the bolt. with its curved surface 82 engaging the abutment surface of the housing I6, is advanced in a latching direction, the bolt surface has camming engage-l ment against the substantially straight keeper surface 83 of reduced angularity substantially as shown. This surface angularity is such as to effect a forceful take-up action, and also to assure against unintentional release of the bolt from advanced latched or home position. It will be observed lthat the housing thrust against the bolt surface 82 at point 84 is at a location above the point of engagement at 85 between the bolt and the pinI 88, and that the housing thrust is normal to a tangent to the curved surface 82 at the point 84. Accordingly. any opening tendency of the door, without intentional release of the bolt, is resisted by the transmission of a thrust from the housing i6 tending to rotate the bolt in a latching direction. Inuenced also by the relatively high coecient of friction between the housing and bolt at point 84, the bolt will remain'engaged with the keeper surface 83, until intentionally released.

The invention contemplates the provision of any suitable means for serving the purposes of the mechanism I4, to manually effect the bolt release from the keeper and to maintain separate combinations of the parts of the entire assembly in locked or ineffective conditions. Merely as illustrative, the mechanism I4 is shown to have the construction and operation more fully developed in my copending application Serial Number 640,860, entitled Lock Control Mechanism, filed January 12, 1946. For present purposes, a general description of the operating and control mechanism |4 will suilce.

The control mechanism includes the usual outside handle or operator (not shown) carried on a spindle 48 supported by the bracket 49 and carrying an arm 50 to which is pivotally attached at the bifurcated bodily movable element 52. The usual inside door handle or operator (not shown) reciprocally actuates the link 52|. Also for operation at the inside door is provided the usual push button rod 53. Bolt l1 is operated by a bell crank actuating lever 54 pivoted on the stationary pin 55 and having a bifurcated arm 56 carrying lugs 51 and 58 engaging and receiving between them lug 29 on the bolt control part 274. Thus the bolt and actuating lever 54 are associated or interconnectedfor rotation, one in response. to movement ofthe other. Lever 54 carries a lug 59 engaged by the end of coil spring 60 carried on the pin 55. the spring tending to urge the. lever in an anti-latch@ ing direction and to take up looseness in the lever engagement with associated parts. Y

Pin 55 also carries the pivoted control lever 8| having an arm 82 pivotally attached to the push s button rod` I8, and having a second arm 88 ezigageable by the key-controlled rotor 84 carried on spindle 85, to throw the lever between` its locking and releasing positions. An over-center coil spring 88 connects arm 88-to the case flange I2.

Rotation of spindle 4I by the outside operator swings arm 58 and element 52 down against the resistance of spring 81, producing anti-latching rotation of the bolt by the engagement of shoulder 88 on the arm 88 against the actuating lever lug 51. the starting positions of the parts being as in Fig. l. The bolt is similarly releasable by operation of the] inside -door handle, causing movement to the`left of link 52| and resultant swinging of lever 54 to rotate its lug 51 against the bolt part arm 28.

To lock the latch mechanism at the inside.

4depression of the push button rod 53 Irotates lever 8| counter-clockwise. causing its lug 18 to engage against arm 1| of the element 52, swinging the latter about pin 5|. a distance sumcient to clear shoulder 88 from the lug 51. The

outside operator then remains freely rotatable*- but ineffective to release the bolt. The same rotation of leverv 8| locks link 52| against retractive movement by lug 12 being brought down at the outside of and adjacent to the hook-shaped arm 18. As will be apparent, the lever 8| maybe key-actuated from the outside of the door and in a manner similar to its operation by the push button lever, by rotation of the key-controlled spindle 85 and rotor 84 to engage and swing arm 83 within the limits presented by the stops 14 and 15. Finally, it may be observed that assuming the door to be opened and with the bolt and control parts in the positions of Fig. 1, the lca pacity of element 52 .for pivotal movement and the lost motion pin and slot connection at 18 between link 52| and arm 54, permit antilatching rotation of the actuating lever and return of the parts to normal operating positions as thebolt enters the keeper.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a stationary member and a swinging closure member, the combination comprising: a pivot pin adapted to be mounted on one of the members; a bolt having a bearing opening of larger size than and receiving said pin to mount said bolt for rotation and radial bodily displacement thereon, said bolt having aconvexly curved peripheral surface portion for rotative latching engagement with a keeper mounted on the other of the members and another convexly curved surface portion peripherally spaced from and approximately opposite said keeper-engaging surface portion; and means adapted to be ilxedly mounted on the one member and defining an abutment surface progressively engageable by said other bolt surface portion, by the bodily displacement of said bolt upon engagement thereof with the 3.'1'hestructuredennedinclaim1in the abutment surface and the other bolt surface portion have nets engageable in lin-initially latched position of the bolt. k

4. The structure'denned in claim 1 in which the keeper-engaging bolt surface portion is arcuate having its center of curvature at the center of the bearing opening.A and'including a keeper having a concavely curved boit-engaging aurface, the initially bolt-engaged portion ofwhich is complementary to said bolt surface.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in which the keeper-engaging bolt surface portion is arcuate having its center of curvature at the center of the bearing opening. and including a keeper having a. concavely curved bolt-engaging surface, the initially bolt-engaged portion of which which is complementary tn said bolt surface and the re- I maining portion -of which has a progressively increasing radius of curvature.

. WALDEMAR A. ENDTER. l

umass crrm .Thefollol'vinlreferencdareofrecordlnthl ille of this potent:

' UNrrxD s'rwrls nm'rs uxnber DineY Name Lee, Sept. 26. 1811 Neidl Sept. 24. 18945 Conklin Sept. 7. 1307 sum oct. 22, 1212 Beringer ..-.v. Oct. 5, 1926 Schmidgall Jan. 11, 1027 Devereaux Aug. 16. 1927 B'onnbemi` Apr. 28, 1936 Schonitner Sept. 28, i931 ODonnell Oct. 25. 193| Dull June 24, 194i Murphy' June 16, 1942 Marshall Dec. 22, 1942 1045 maar May 22,

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