Patent ID: 9234369
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: E05B,E05C,F24C,F27D,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A latch assembly for securing a furnace door to a furnace casing, comprising: a latch for placement on an inside of the furnace door and rotatable between a latched position and an unlatched position, the latch comprises a latch body, the latch body having a first latch portion, a diametrically opposed second latch portion, and a latch cylindrical portion that is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the latch body; a knob operable for placement on a front surface of the furnace door; a latch plate for placement between the latch and the knob, wherein the latch plate comprises a latch plate body having a second cylindrical portion and a bore, the latch plate comprising a plurality of protrusions located circumferentially around the bore; and a threaded screw for threadably coupling the knob to the latch such that rotation of the knob causes rotation of the latch; wherein the latch plate supports the weight of the furnace door in a closed position and reduces a pinch force used for rotating the knob; wherein the latch cylindrical portion includes a plurality of tabs, each of the tabs operable to engage one of the plurality of protrusions on the latch plate to hold the latch in position in the latched position or the unlatched position, the latch is rotatable 360 degrees relative to the latch plate.