US3207541A - Safety latch - Google Patents

Safety latch Download PDF

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US3207541A
US3207541A US294898A US29489863A US3207541A US 3207541 A US3207541 A US 3207541A US 294898 A US294898 A US 294898A US 29489863 A US29489863 A US 29489863A US 3207541 A US3207541 A US 3207541A
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Prior art keywords
shaft
latch
key
elements
housing
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US294898A
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William E Bartlett
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    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05BLOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B13/00Devices preventing the key or the handle or both from being used
    • E05B13/005Disconnecting the handle
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T292/00Closure fasteners
    • Y10T292/08Bolts
    • Y10T292/1043Swinging
    • Y10T292/1051Spring projected
    • Y10T292/1052Operating means
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T70/00Locks
    • Y10T70/50Special application
    • Y10T70/5611For control and machine elements
    • Y10T70/5757Handle, handwheel or knob
    • Y10T70/5765Rotary or swinging
    • Y10T70/5805Freely movable when locked
    • Y10T70/581Combination lock
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10TTECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T70/00Locks
    • Y10T70/70Operating mechanism
    • Y10T70/7153Combination
    • Y10T70/7169Complex movement or puzzle type

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a latch and more particularly to a safety latch which is adapted for use with medicine cabinets or the like to effectively prevent children of relatively tender age from opening the cabinets.
  • no latch has been available which was complicated for children to operate but simple enough for persons attaining the age of reason to operate if they knew the sequence required for opening the latch.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch having a latching element engageable with the jamb of a door frame or the like and a shaft which loosely carries the latching element whereby the shaft is turned in one direction while an axial force is applied thereto and then in the opposite direction while an axial force is applied thereto before the latching element is released.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch having latch and unlatch positions
  • a safety latch having latch and unlatch positions
  • a housing an elongated shaft mounted in the housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said housing including a pair of oppositely facing abutments which are spaced from the shaft, alignment means carried by the shaft, a pair of elements in the housing loosely mounted on the shaft including a latching element and an operating element, each of the elements having an opening therein adapted to receive the alignment means, resilient means operatively connected to the elements for urging the operating element against one of the abutments and the latching element against the other of the abutments which corresponds to the latch position, said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto until the alignment means on the shaft is received in the opening in the operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards the other abutment along with the operating element while an axial force is applied thereto as before until the alignment means
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch of the aforementioned type wherein additional resilient means is located between the housing and the shaft for biasing the shaft to a position corresponding to the latch position where the alignment means is spaced axially from the elements.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch of the aforementioned type wherein a revil) 3,2%?,541 Patented Sept. 2l, 1965 leasable lock is carried by the housing engageable with the shaft to limit or prevent complete axial movement thereof when the latch is in the latch position.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch of the aforementioned type wherein a stop abutment is carried by the operating element closely adjacent the opening therein, said stop abutment being engageable with the alignment means or key on the shaft for preventing rotation of the shaft in said one direction once the alignment means or key thereon has been moved axially towards the operating element and rotated past the opening or key-way therein.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch of the aforementioned type wherein each of the resilient means is in the form of a spring.
  • FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the safety latch.
  • FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the safety latch with the cover plate removed and looking in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIGURE l.
  • FGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE l.
  • FIGURE 4 is a pictorial view of the safety latch, illustrating the manner in which the component parts are assembled and certain structural features of the invention.
  • the latch is designated by the numeral 10 and is illustrated as being mounted on a door 12 of a medicine cabinet or the like.
  • the latch 1t is provided with a mounting flange 14 which is adapted to engage the inside surface of the d-oor 12 as best illustrated in FIGURE l.
  • a plurality of screws or bolts 16 threadedly connect the latch 10 to the door 12.
  • the door 12 is provided with a circular opening Ztl which receives the boss 22 which extends outwardly from one side of the mounting plate or flange 14.
  • the boss 22 is of circular cross section and is substantially hollow.
  • An interior transverse wall 26 is provided in the boss 22 and is provided with a centrally located circular opening 28.
  • Extending inwardly from the other side of the mounting plate or ilange 14 is an outer cylindrical cover or part 30 which forms part of the latch housing.
  • a cover plate 32 provided with a centrally located circular opening 34 is attached to the outer end of the cylinder part 3i) by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced screws or bolts 36.
  • the flange 1li, boss 22, cylinder part 30 and cover plate 32 form the latch housing.
  • An elongated shaft 4@ extends centrally through the housing including the boss 22, and openings 28 and 34.
  • the wall 26 is provided with a recess 42 of substantially rectangular cross section.
  • the shaft 40 is provided with alignment means in the form of a key 44 of rectangular cross section which is adapted to be received in the recess 42, as best illustrated in FlGURE l, for limiting the outward movement of the shaft 40. This position results when the latch 10 is in the latch position.
  • the outer end of the shaft i0 is provided with a handle or knob 42 which is connected to the shaft 40 by a pin or set screw 43. Part of the knob 42 includes a knurled flange 48 for rotating and ⁇ axially moving the shaft 40 as will subsequently appear.
  • the cylindrical part Si) of the knob 42 is tubular and includes an inner Wall 51 which is spaced from the shaft 40 to dene a spring cavity 52.
  • a biasing spring 54 is interposed around the shaft 40 between the surface 56 of the partition or wall 26 and the wall 58 of the knob 42 for biasing the shaft 40 in an outward direction to the limiting position which is determined by the engagement of the key 44 with the end wall of the slot 42 as best illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • an inner cylinder part 60 which is concentric with the outer cylinder part 30.
  • the inner cylinder part 60 extends throughout more than 180 as best illustrated in FIGURE 3 and has its center on the elongated axis of shaft 40.
  • the opposite ends of the inner cylinder part 60 form a pair of oppositely facing abutments 62 and 64.
  • the cylinder part 30 is provided with a notch or groove 66 having end walls 68 and 70.
  • the operating element 74 has a centrally located opening 7S for receiving the shaft 40.
  • a key-way 79 is provided inthe operating element 74 in communication with the opening 78.
  • the operating element 74 includes an outwardly extending lug 80 which is provided with an integral spring tab S2.
  • the latching element 76 includes a centrally located circular opening 86 having in communication therewith a key-way 88.
  • the latching element 76 includes a radially extending elongated prong or tang 90 which extends through the slot 66, as best illustrated in" FIGURE 2 when the latching element is mounted on the shaft 40.
  • the latching element 76 also includes an integral spring tab 92.
  • the prong 90 effects the latching action between the door 12 and the door frame as is conventional in the art.
  • the operating element 74 is located immediately adjacent the mounting flange 14 while the latching element 76 is located adjacent the cover plate 32 as best illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • Resilient means such as the spring 94 is provided for biasing the latching element 76 to a latch position.
  • the spring 94 has one end connected to the spring tab 82 and the other end connected to the spring tab 92, with the .spring 94 extending around the outer periphery of the inner cylinder part 60.
  • the latch is illustrated in a latch position in FIGURE 2, with the lug 80 having a side 96 biased against the abutment 64 Aprovided on the inner cylinder part 60 and the latching element 76 having a side 98 biased against the other abutment 62 provided on the inner cylinder part 60.
  • the key 44 is spaced axially from the operating and latching elements.
  • the operating element 74 is provided with a stop pin or abutment 100 on the side thereof facing the wall 26.
  • the stop abutment 100 is located closely adjacent one edge of the key-way 79 for the specific purpose of engaging and camming the key 44 into the key-way 79 as will subsequently appear.
  • the latch housing carries as an extra safety precaution a shiftable locking device 102 which includes a pivoted stop element 104 and a handle 106 which are operatively connected by a pin 103. Rotation of the handle 102is effective to shift the stop element 104 towards and away from the shaft 40 into and out of the path of movement of the knob 42.
  • the locking device 102 may be placed at any convenient location to work in conjunction with the shaft 40 and knob 42 so that the locking device 102 must be released, as an example, before the last inward movement of the shaft 40 engages the latching element 76 in the process of opening the latch 10.
  • the particular design of the locking device 102 may vary depending on the location thereof.
  • the locking device 102 is released so as to move the element 104 out of the path of movement of the knob 42.
  • An axial inward force is applied to the shaft 40 thereby moving the key 44 out of the slot 42 :and thereafter rotating the ⁇ shaft 40 in a clockwise direction while continuing to apply the axially inwardly directed force to the shaft 40.
  • the key 44 engages the stop pin or abutment 100 which indicates to the person operating the latch that the key is in close proximity to the key-Way 79 as provided in the operating element 74.
  • the amount of movement is determined by the engagement of the prong 90 on the latching element with the Wall 70 of the slot 66 provided in the outer cylinder part 30 or preferably by engagement of the lug with the stop abutment 64, depending on the clearances and tolerances involved in the construction of the latch.
  • the spring 54 is effective to return the latch to the piston illustrated in FIGURE 1.
  • the spring 54 urges the key 44 out of the key-ways 79 and 88.
  • the spring 94 returns the operating element 74 and latching element 76 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2.
  • the locking device 102 is moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 such that if a person would again apply ⁇ an .axial force to the shaft 40 the stop element 104 would engage the left-hand end of the knob 42 thereby preventing further inward movement of the shaft 40.
  • the key 44 cannot engage the key-way 79 when the shaft 4@ is moved in a counter-clockwise direction.
  • the key 44 will only engage the keyway 79 when the shaft 40 is turning in a clockwise direction, when looking at the latch in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1.
  • the latch is fairly easy to operate if -a person knows the sequence of operation. A person who has attained the age of reasoning could still operate the latch with a little imagination and perseverance. However, it should be appreciated that a child of relatively tender age would find it extremely diicult if not impossible to actuate the latch 10.
  • a safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising a housing, an elongated shaft mounted in said housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said housing including a pair of oppositely facing abutments which are radially spaced from said shaft, alignment means carried by said shaft, a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and including a latching element and an operating element, each of said elements having an opening therein adapted to receive said alignment means, resilient means operatively connected to said elements for urging said operating element against one of said abutments and said latching element against the other of said abutments which corresponds to the latch position, said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto to move said shaft axially with respect to said elements until the alignment means on said shaft is received in the opening in said operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards said other abutment along
  • a safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising a housing, an elongated shaft mounted in said housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said housing including a pair of oppositely facing abutments which are radially spaced from said shaft on one side of the axis thereof, a key on said shaft, a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and including a latching element .and an operating element, each of said elements having a key-way therein, resilient means operatively connected to said elements for urging said operating element against one of said abutments and said latching element against the other of said abutments which corresponds to the latch position, said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto to move said shaft axially with respect to said elements until the key on said shaft is received in the key-way in said operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction
  • a stop abutment is carried by said operating element closely adjacent the opening therein, said stop abutment being engageable with said key for preventing rotation of said shaft in said one direction once the key has been moved axially towards said operating element and rotated past the key-way provided therein.
  • a safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising a housing, an elongated shaft mounted in said housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said housing including a pair of oppositely facing abutments which are radially spaced from said shaft on one side of the axis thereof, a key on said shaft, a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and including a latching element and an operating element, each of said elements having a key-way therein, resilient means operatively connected to said elements for urging said operating element against one of said abutments and said latching element against the other of ⁇ said abutments which corresponds to the latch position, said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto to move said shaft axially with respect to said elements until the key on said shaft is received in the key-way in said operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards
  • a safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising: a housing having a mounting plate, a pair of "concentrically arranged cylinder parts extending in one direction from one side of said plate and arranged substantially perpendicular thereto, a hollow boss extending in the opposite direction from the other side of said mounting plate, an interior transverse wall in said boss having an opening therein, and a cover plate attached to the outer cylinder part and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said wall; an elongated shaft mounted in said housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said shaftextending through the openings in said wall and said cover plate; the inner cylinder part having an angular extent greater than 180, with the ends thereof forming a pair of oppositely facing circumferentially spaced abutments; a notch in the outer edge of the outer cylinder part; a key on said shaft; a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and
  • a safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising: a housing having a mounting plate, a pair of concentrically arranged cylinder parts extending in one direction from one side of said plate and arranged substantially perpendicular thereto, a hollow boss extending in the opposite direction from the other-side of said mounting plate, an interior transverse Wall in said boss having an opening therein, and a cover plate attached to the outer cylinder part and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said wall; an elongated shaft mounted in saidphousing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said shaft extending through the openings in said wall and said cover plate; the inner cylinder part having an angular extent greater than with the ends thereof forming a pair of oppositely facing circumferentially spaced abutments; a notch in the outer edge of the outer cylinder part; a key on said shaft; a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements
  • a stop abutment is carried by said operating element closely 4adjacent the key-way therein, said stop abutment being engageable with the key on said shaft for preventing rotation of said shaft in said one direction once the key has been moved axially towards said operating element and rotated past the key-way therein.

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  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Description

Sept 21 1965 w. E. BARTLETT 3,207,541
SAFETY LATCH Filed July 15, 1963 INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. BARTLETT ,MMO R N EYS United States Patent O 3,207,541 SAFETY LATCH William E. Bartlett, 8547 Meyers, Detroit, Mich. Filed `uly 15, 1963, Ser. No. 294,898 16 Claims. (Cl. 292-220) This invention relates to a latch and more particularly to a safety latch which is adapted for use with medicine cabinets or the like to effectively prevent children of relatively tender age from opening the cabinets. Heretofore no latch has been available which was complicated for children to operate but simple enough for persons attaining the age of reason to operate if they knew the sequence required for opening the latch. While combination locks and key operated locks and latches are available none of them are completely successful due to the fact that the combination of the lock may be easily lost as is also the case with the key of a key operated lock. In addition the key or combination may not be readily available when it is required to obtain certain of the contents from the cabinets.
With the present invention, unauthorized manipulation of the latch is rendered diicult, if not impossible, by children under six years of age thereby providing a safe and effective means for protecting the children from the medicine, poison or the like stored in the cabinet.
It is an object `of the present invention to provide an improved latch which possesses the characteristic of safety to a marked degree and which is practically impossible to operate by a child of tender age.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch having a latching element engageable with the jamb of a door frame or the like and a shaft which loosely carries the latching element whereby the shaft is turned in one direction while an axial force is applied thereto and then in the opposite direction while an axial force is applied thereto before the latching element is released.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising a housing, an elongated shaft mounted in the housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said housing including a pair of oppositely facing abutments which are spaced from the shaft, alignment means carried by the shaft, a pair of elements in the housing loosely mounted on the shaft including a latching element and an operating element, each of the elements having an opening therein adapted to receive the alignment means, resilient means operatively connected to the elements for urging the operating element against one of the abutments and the latching element against the other of the abutments which corresponds to the latch position, said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto until the alignment means on the shaft is received in the opening in the operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards the other abutment along with the operating element while an axial force is applied thereto as before until the alignment means carried by the shaft is also received in the opening in the latching element, said shaft thereafter being rotatable in said one direction along with both of the elements to a position limited by the engagement of the elements with said one abutment which corresponds to the unlatch position.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch of the aforementioned type wherein additional resilient means is located between the housing and the shaft for biasing the shaft to a position corresponding to the latch position where the alignment means is spaced axially from the elements.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch of the aforementioned type wherein a revil) 3,2%?,541 Patented Sept. 2l, 1965 leasable lock is carried by the housing engageable with the shaft to limit or prevent complete axial movement thereof when the latch is in the latch position.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch of the aforementioned type wherein a stop abutment is carried by the operating element closely adjacent the opening therein, said stop abutment being engageable with the alignment means or key on the shaft for preventing rotation of the shaft in said one direction once the alignment means or key thereon has been moved axially towards the operating element and rotated past the opening or key-way therein.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety latch of the aforementioned type wherein each of the resilient means is in the form of a spring.
It is thus another object of this invention to provide a simplified low cost structure of the aforementioned type having certain advantages contributing to efficiency, safety, reliability and long life as well as ease of maintenance.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the safety latch.
FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the safety latch with the cover plate removed and looking in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIGURE l.
FGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE l.
FIGURE 4 is a pictorial view of the safety latch, illustrating the manner in which the component parts are assembled and certain structural features of the invention.
Referring now to the drawing, the latch is designated by the numeral 10 and is illustrated as being mounted on a door 12 of a medicine cabinet or the like. The latch 1t) is provided with a mounting flange 14 which is adapted to engage the inside surface of the d-oor 12 as best illustrated in FIGURE l. A plurality of screws or bolts 16 threadedly connect the latch 10 to the door 12.
The door 12 is provided with a circular opening Ztl which receives the boss 22 which extends outwardly from one side of the mounting plate or flange 14. The boss 22 is of circular cross section and is substantially hollow. An interior transverse wall 26 is provided in the boss 22 and is provided with a centrally located circular opening 28. Extending inwardly from the other side of the mounting plate or ilange 14 is an outer cylindrical cover or part 30 which forms part of the latch housing. A cover plate 32 provided with a centrally located circular opening 34 is attached to the outer end of the cylinder part 3i) by means of a plurality of circumferentially spaced screws or bolts 36. The flange 1li, boss 22, cylinder part 30 and cover plate 32 form the latch housing.
An elongated shaft 4@ extends centrally through the housing including the boss 22, and openings 28 and 34. The wall 26 is provided with a recess 42 of substantially rectangular cross section. The shaft 40 is provided with alignment means in the form of a key 44 of rectangular cross section which is adapted to be received in the recess 42, as best illustrated in FlGURE l, for limiting the outward movement of the shaft 40. This position results when the latch 10 is in the latch position. The outer end of the shaft i0 is provided with a handle or knob 42 which is connected to the shaft 40 by a pin or set screw 43. Part of the knob 42 includes a knurled flange 48 for rotating and `axially moving the shaft 40 as will subsequently appear. The cylindrical part Si) of the knob 42 is tubular and includes an inner Wall 51 which is spaced from the shaft 40 to dene a spring cavity 52. A biasing spring 54 is interposed around the shaft 40 between the surface 56 of the partition or wall 26 and the wall 58 of the knob 42 for biasing the shaft 40 in an outward direction to the limiting position which is determined by the engagement of the key 44 with the end wall of the slot 42 as best illustrated in FIGURE 1.
' Mounted within the interior of the housing formed by the outer cylinder part 30 and cover plate 32 is an inner cylinder part 60 which is concentric with the outer cylinder part 30. The inner cylinder part 60 extends throughout more than 180 as best illustrated in FIGURE 3 and has its center on the elongated axis of shaft 40. The opposite ends of the inner cylinder part 60 form a pair of oppositely facing abutments 62 and 64. The cylinder part 30 is provided with a notch or groove 66 having end walls 68 and 70.
Located within the housing are a pair of elements or washers including an operating element 74 and a latching element 76 `which are loosely carried by the shaft 40. The operating element 74 has a centrally located opening 7S for receiving the shaft 40. A key-way 79 is provided inthe operating element 74 in communication with the opening 78. The operating element 74 includes an outwardly extending lug 80 which is provided with an integral spring tab S2. The latching element 76 includes a centrally located circular opening 86 having in communication therewith a key-way 88. In addition, the latching element 76 includes a radially extending elongated prong or tang 90 which extends through the slot 66, as best illustrated in" FIGURE 2 when the latching element is mounted on the shaft 40. The latching element 76 also includes an integral spring tab 92. The prong 90 effects the latching action between the door 12 and the door frame as is conventional in the art.
The operating element 74 is located immediately adjacent the mounting flange 14 while the latching element 76 is located adjacent the cover plate 32 as best illustrated in FIGURE 1. Resilient means such as the spring 94 is provided for biasing the latching element 76 to a latch position. The spring 94 has one end connected to the spring tab 82 and the other end connected to the spring tab 92, with the .spring 94 extending around the outer periphery of the inner cylinder part 60. The latch is illustrated in a latch position in FIGURE 2, with the lug 80 having a side 96 biased against the abutment 64 Aprovided on the inner cylinder part 60 and the latching element 76 having a side 98 biased against the other abutment 62 provided on the inner cylinder part 60. When the latch 10 is in the latch position, the key 44 is spaced axially from the operating and latching elements.
The operating element 74 is provided with a stop pin or abutment 100 on the side thereof facing the wall 26. The stop abutment 100 is located closely adjacent one edge of the key-way 79 for the specific purpose of engaging and camming the key 44 into the key-way 79 as will subsequently appear.
The latch housing carries as an extra safety precaution a shiftable locking device 102 which includes a pivoted stop element 104 and a handle 106 which are operatively connected by a pin 103. Rotation of the handle 102is effective to shift the stop element 104 towards and away from the shaft 40 into and out of the path of movement of the knob 42. The locking device 102 may be placed at any convenient location to work in conjunction with the shaft 40 and knob 42 so that the locking device 102 must be released, as an example, before the last inward movement of the shaft 40 engages the latching element 76 in the process of opening the latch 10. The particular design of the locking device 102 may vary depending on the location thereof.
When it is required to operate the latch 10, it is necessary to bring the key or the alignment means 44 into contact with the key-way provided in both of the elements 76 and 74. Since the key- ways 79 and 88 provided in the operating and latching elements are not in alignment with the key 44, it is necessary to not only move the shaft 40 axially, toward the left as viewed in FIGURE 1, but
4 also to rotate the shaft 40 in one direction so as to bring the key 44 first into alignment with the key-way 79 provided in the operating element 74 and thereafter rotate the shaft 40 in the opposite direction while continuing to apply an axial force so as to bring the key 44 into alignment with the key-way 88 provided in the latching element 76. This sequence of operations is accomplished only after releasing the locking device 102. Thereafter, the shaft 40 and the operating element 74 and latching element 76 which are now coupled to the shaft are rotated in the opposite direction to effect the release of the latching element 7 6.
Assume that thelatch 10 is in a latch position with the door 12 closed as illustrated in FIGURES 1-3 and it is required 'to open the door 12. As mentioned previously when the latch is in the latch position the operating element 74 has a side 96 abutting the stop abutment 64 and the latching element 76 has a side 98 abutting the stop abutment 62 due to the provision of the spring 94.
The following description of the operation of the latch applies when looking in the direction of" arrow A in FIGURE' 1. Initially, the locking device 102 is released so as to move the element 104 out of the path of movement of the knob 42. An axial inward force is applied to the shaft 40 thereby moving the key 44 out of the slot 42 :and thereafter rotating the` shaft 40 in a clockwise direction while continuing to apply the axially inwardly directed force to the shaft 40. As a result thereof the key 44 engages the stop pin or abutment 100 which indicates to the person operating the latch that the key is in close proximity to the key-Way 79 as provided in the operating element 74. Due to the location of the stop pin 100 it is effective to cam the key 44 into the key-way 79 as long as the axial force is continued. Upon engagement of the key 44 with the key-way 79 provided in the operating element 74 the shaft 40 is rotated in -a counterclockwise direction thereby moving the operating element 74 in the same direction away from the stop abutment 64. The shaft 40 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction While 4an axial inwardly directed force is applied thereto so as to bring the alignment means or key 44 to a position opposite the key-Way 88 provided in the operating element 76 and nally into engagement with the keyway 88. At this time the shaft 40 has been moved to its inwardly limiting position. Thereafter, the shaft 40 and the coupled elements 74 and 76 `are rotated in the clockwise direction so as to move the latch element 76 away from the stop abutment 62,to effect the release of the latch. The amount of movement is determined by the engagement of the prong 90 on the latching element with the Wall 70 of the slot 66 provided in the outer cylinder part 30 or preferably by engagement of the lug with the stop abutment 64, depending on the clearances and tolerances involved in the construction of the latch.
It will, of course, be appreciated that when the axial force is applied to the shaft 40 that the spring 54 is compressed. are rotated the effect of the spring 94 is overcome.
Once the force has been removed from the shaft 40 the spring 54 is effective to return the latch to the piston illustrated in FIGURE 1. In other words, the spring 54 urges the key 44 out of the key- ways 79 and 88. 'Ihereafter, the spring 94 returns the operating element 74 and latching element 76 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2. Later on the locking device 102 is moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 such that if a person would again apply `an .axial force to the shaft 40 the stop element 104 would engage the left-hand end of the knob 42 thereby preventing further inward movement of the shaft 40.
In the sequence of opening thelatch, if the shaft 40 is rst moved axially against the operating element 74 and then turned in a counter-clockwise direction, the key 44 will be moved against the abutment 100. If the counterclockwise motion is continued, the element 74 can 'be In addition, when the elements 74 and 76.
moved over to the stop abutment 62., and will come to rest against it. The key 44, cannot engage the key-way 79 when the shaft 4@ is moved in a counter-clockwise direction. The key 44 will only engage the keyway 79 when the shaft 40 is turning in a clockwise direction, when looking at the latch in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1.
It will be appreciated that at any time during the `operating sequence of opening the latch, if the axial force is removed, the latching elements will return to the latched position and the sequence of opening the latch will have to be started over again.
Referring once again to the operation of the latch it should be noted that if the person fails to `apply an axial force to the shaft 44) while rotating same in a counterclockwise direction after engaging the operating element 74, that the key 44 fails to mesh with the key-way 88 in the latching element 76 and as a result thereof the shaft 40 is rotated past the key-way S8 to a position determined by the engagement of the surface 110 provided on lug 80 with the lstop abutment 62. This, of course, will depend on the relative angular distance between the keyways 88 and 79 when in a position corresponding to the latch position. This is an additional and optional safety feature for the latch lil.
It should be appreciated that the latch is fairly easy to operate if -a person knows the sequence of operation. A person who has attained the age of reasoning could still operate the latch with a little imagination and perseverance. However, it should be appreciated that a child of relatively tender age would find it extremely diicult if not impossible to actuate the latch 10.
The drawing and the foregoing specication constitute `a description of the improved safety latch in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.
What I claim as my invention is:
1. A safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising a housing, an elongated shaft mounted in said housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said housing including a pair of oppositely facing abutments which are radially spaced from said shaft, alignment means carried by said shaft, a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and including a latching element and an operating element, each of said elements having an opening therein adapted to receive said alignment means, resilient means operatively connected to said elements for urging said operating element against one of said abutments and said latching element against the other of said abutments which corresponds to the latch position, said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto to move said shaft axially with respect to said elements until the alignment means on said shaft is received in the opening in said operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards said other abutment along with said operating element while an axial force is applied thereto as before until the alignment means carried by said shaft is also received in the opening in said latching element, said shaft thereafter being rotatable in said one direction along with both of said elements to a position limited by the engagement of said elements with said one abutment which corresponds to the unlatch position.
2. The safety latch defined in claim l wherein resilient means is provided between said housing and said shaft for biasing said shaft to a position corresponding to the latch position where said alignment means is spaced axially from said elements.
3. The safety latch defined in claim 2 wherein said last-mentioned resilient means is in the form of a spring.
4. The safety latch defined in claim 1 wherein a releasable lock is carried by said housing engageable with said shaft to prevent axial movement thereof when the latch is in the latch position.
5. The safety latch dened in claim 1 wherein a stop abutment is carried by said operating element closely adjacent the opening therein, said stop abutment being engageable with the alignment means on said shaft for preventing rotation of said shaft in said one direction once the alignment means thereon has been moved axially towards said operating element and rotated past the opening therein.
6. The safety latch defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means is in the form of a spring.
7. A safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising a housing, an elongated shaft mounted in said housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said housing including a pair of oppositely facing abutments which are radially spaced from said shaft on one side of the axis thereof, a key on said shaft, a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and including a latching element .and an operating element, each of said elements having a key-way therein, resilient means operatively connected to said elements for urging said operating element against one of said abutments and said latching element against the other of said abutments which corresponds to the latch position, said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto to move said shaft axially with respect to said elements until the key on said shaft is received in the key-way in said operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards said' other abutment along with said operating element while an axial force is applied thereto as before until the key on said shaft is also received in the key-way in said latching element, said shaft thereafter being rotatable in said one direction along with both of said elements to a position limited by the engagement of said elements with said one abutment which corresponds to the unlatch position.
S. The safety latch defined in claim 7 wherein resilient means is provided between said housing and said shaft for biasing said shaft to a position corresponding to the latch position where said key is spaced axially from said elements.
9. The safety latch defined in claim 8 wherein said last mentioned resilient means is in the form of a spring.
lil. The safety latch dened in claim 7 wherein a releasable lock is carried by said housing engageable with said shaft to prevent axial movement thereof when the latch is in the latch position.
11. The safety latch delined in claim 7 wherein a stop abutment is carried by said operating element closely adjacent the opening therein, said stop abutment being engageable with said key for preventing rotation of said shaft in said one direction once the key has been moved axially towards said operating element and rotated past the key-way provided therein.
12. The safety latch dened in claim 7 wherein said resilient means is in the form of a spring.
13. A safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising a housing, an elongated shaft mounted in said housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said housing including a pair of oppositely facing abutments which are radially spaced from said shaft on one side of the axis thereof, a key on said shaft, a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and including a latching element and an operating element, each of said elements having a key-way therein, resilient means operatively connected to said elements for urging said operating element against one of said abutments and said latching element against the other of` said abutments which corresponds to the latch position, said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto to move said shaft axially with respect to said elements until the key on said shaft is received in the key-way in said operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards said other abutment along with said operating element while an axial force is applied thereto as before until the key on said shaft is also received in the key-way in said latching element, said shaft thereafter being rotatable in said one direction along with both of said elements to a position limited by the engagement of said elements with said one abutment which corresponds to the unlatch position, resilient means between said housing and said shaft for biasing said shaft to a position corresponding to the latch position where said key is spaced axially from said elements, a releasable lock carried by said housing engageable with said shaft to prevent axial movement thereof when the latch is in the latch position, and a stop abutment carried by said operating element closely adjacent the opening therein, said stop abutment being engageable with said key for preventing rotation of said shaft in said one direc- Vtion once the key thereon has been moved axially towards said operating ,element and rotated past the key-way therein.
14. A safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising: a housing having a mounting plate, a pair of "concentrically arranged cylinder parts extending in one direction from one side of said plate and arranged substantially perpendicular thereto, a hollow boss extending in the opposite direction from the other side of said mounting plate, an interior transverse wall in said boss having an opening therein, and a cover plate attached to the outer cylinder part and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said wall; an elongated shaft mounted in said housing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said shaftextending through the openings in said wall and said cover plate; the inner cylinder part having an angular extent greater than 180, with the ends thereof forming a pair of oppositely facing circumferentially spaced abutments; a notch in the outer edge of the outer cylinder part; a key on said shaft; a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and including a latching element and an operating element; each of said elements having a key-way therein; said operating element being carried by said shaft within the space defined by said cylinder parts and including a lug having sides engageable with the abutments on said inner cylinder part; said latching element being carried by said shaft within the space defined by said cylinder parts and including a tang which extends outwardly through said notch (and having sides engageable with the sidesof said notch; a spring surrounding the outer periphery of said inner cylinder part and having one end thereof connected to the lug of said operating element and the other end connected to said latching element for urging said operating element against one of Vsaid abutments and said latching element against the other of said abutments which corresponds to the latch position; said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto until the key on said shaft is received in the key-way in said operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards said other abutment along with said operating element while an axial force is applied thereto as before until the key on said shaft is also received in the key-way in said latching element, said Shaft thereafter being rotatable in said one direction along with both of said elements to a position limited by the engagement of said elements with said one abutment which corresponds to the unlatch position.
15. A safety latch having latch and unlatch positions comprising: a housing having a mounting plate, a pair of concentrically arranged cylinder parts extending in one direction from one side of said plate and arranged substantially perpendicular thereto, a hollow boss extending in the opposite direction from the other-side of said mounting plate, an interior transverse Wall in said boss having an opening therein, and a cover plate attached to the outer cylinder part and having an opening therein aligned with the opening in said wall; an elongated shaft mounted in saidphousing for rotational movement and for axial movement, said shaft extending through the openings in said wall and said cover plate; the inner cylinder part having an angular extent greater than with the ends thereof forming a pair of oppositely facing circumferentially spaced abutments; a notch in the outer edge of the outer cylinder part; a key on said shaft; a pair of elements in said housing provided with holes through which said shaft extends, said elements being loosely mounted on said shaft to permit axial movement of said shaft with respect to said elements and including a latching element and an operating element; each of said elements having a key-Way therein; said operating element being carried by said shaft within the space defined by said cylinder parts and including a lug having sides engageable with the abutments on said inner cyl- Vinder part; said latching element being carried by said shaft within the space defined by said cylinder parts and including a tang which extends outwardly through said notch and having sides engageable with the sides of said notch; a spring surrounding the outer periphery of said inner cylinder part and having one end thereof connected to the lug of saidoperating element and the other end connected to said latching element for urging said operating element against one of said abutments and said latching element against the other of said abutments which corresponds to the latch position; said shaft being rotatable in one direction towards said one abutment while an axial force is applied thereto to move said shaft axially with respect to said elements until the key on said shaft is received in the key-way in said operating element and thereafter rotatable in the opposite direction towards said other abutment along with said operating element while an axial force is applied thereto as before until the key on said shaft is also received in the key-way in said latching element, said shaft thereafter being rotatable in said one direction along with both of said elements to a position limited by the engagement of said elements with said one abutment which corresponds to the unlatch position; a knob carried by said shaft; a spring surrounding 'said shaft engageable with said transverse wall and said knob for biasing said shaft to a position corresponding to the latch position where said key is spaced axially from said elements; and a releasable lock carried by said housing engageable with said knob to prevent axial movement of said shaft when the latch is in the latch position.
16. The safety latch defined in claim 15 wherein a stop abutment is carried by said operating element closely 4adjacent the key-way therein, said stop abutment being engageable with the key on said shaft for preventing rotation of said shaft in said one direction once the key has been moved axially towards said operating element and rotated past the key-way therein.
References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,843,013 1/32 Buettner 70--219 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., Primary Examiner,

Claims (1)

1. A SAFETY LATCH HAVING LATCH AND UNLATCH POSITIONS COMPRISING A HOUSING, AN ELONGATED SHAFT MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT AND FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT, SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY FACING ABUTMENTS WHICH ARE RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID SHAFT, ALIGNMENT MEANS CARRIED BY SAID SHAFT, A PAIR OF ELEMENTS IN SAID HOUSING PROVIDED WITH HOLES THROUGH WHICH SAID SHAFT EXTENDS, SAID ELEMENTS BEING LOOSELY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT TO PERMIT AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAID SHAFT WITH RESPECT TO SAID ELEMENTS AND INCLUDING A LATCHING ELEMENT AND AN OPERATING ELEMENT, EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN ADAPTED TO RECEIVE SAID ALIGNMENT MEANS, RESILIENT MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SID ELEMENTS FOR URGING SAID OPERATING ELEMENT AGAINST ONE OF SAID ABUTMENTS SAID LATCHING ELEMENT AGAINST THE OTHER OF SAID ABUTMENTS WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE LATCH POSITION, SAID SHAFT BEING ROTATABLE IN ONE CDIRECTION TOWARDS SAID
US294898A 1963-07-15 1963-07-15 Safety latch Expired - Lifetime US3207541A (en)

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1983000910A1 (en) * 1981-09-10 1983-03-17 Donald Bebbington Smith Fastening and control operating device
US5148692A (en) * 1989-03-20 1992-09-22 Gieseker Gerald A Maze-type locking device
US5718468A (en) * 1995-05-31 1998-02-17 Schlage Lock Company Door handle modular return spring cage assembly
US6038897A (en) * 1998-09-18 2000-03-21 Mas-Hamilton Group, Inc. Back cover lock for a combination lock
US20050023846A1 (en) * 2003-07-29 2005-02-03 Eller Darren C. Lever handle return spring assembly
US20070176435A1 (en) * 2006-02-02 2007-08-02 Sargent Manufacturing Company Return spring assembly for a lock mechanism
WO2020123256A1 (en) * 2018-12-14 2020-06-18 Raytheon Company Weight-triggered locking feature

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1843013A (en) * 1931-05-11 1932-01-26 Abraham Goldman Keyless lock mechanism

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1843013A (en) * 1931-05-11 1932-01-26 Abraham Goldman Keyless lock mechanism

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1983000910A1 (en) * 1981-09-10 1983-03-17 Donald Bebbington Smith Fastening and control operating device
US5148692A (en) * 1989-03-20 1992-09-22 Gieseker Gerald A Maze-type locking device
US5718468A (en) * 1995-05-31 1998-02-17 Schlage Lock Company Door handle modular return spring cage assembly
US6038897A (en) * 1998-09-18 2000-03-21 Mas-Hamilton Group, Inc. Back cover lock for a combination lock
US20050023846A1 (en) * 2003-07-29 2005-02-03 Eller Darren C. Lever handle return spring assembly
US6880872B2 (en) 2003-07-29 2005-04-19 Sargent Manufacturing Company Lever handle return spring assembly
US20070176435A1 (en) * 2006-02-02 2007-08-02 Sargent Manufacturing Company Return spring assembly for a lock mechanism
US7900978B2 (en) * 2006-02-02 2011-03-08 Sargent Manufacturing Company Return spring assembly for a lock mechanism
AU2006337680B2 (en) * 2006-02-02 2012-05-24 Sargent Manufacturing Company Return spring assembly for a lock mechanism
TWI381086B (en) * 2006-02-02 2013-01-01 Sargent Mfg Co Return spring assembly
WO2020123256A1 (en) * 2018-12-14 2020-06-18 Raytheon Company Weight-triggered locking feature
US10954983B2 (en) 2018-12-14 2021-03-23 Raytheon Company Weight-triggered locking feature

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