Patent ID: 6022055
Filing Date: 2000-02-08
Classification: F16B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A locked combination comprising:(a) an air cleaner housing having first and second housing sections;(i) said first housing section comprising a molded plastic section having a molded plastic latch mount thereon;(ii) said second housing section comprising:(A) a molded, plastic outwardly projecting circumferential flange having a first elongate receiving slot therein;(B) said outwardly projecting flange including a flange outer edge and a flange area separating the first elongate receiving slot from the flange outer edge;(C) said outwardly projecting circumferential flange having first and second portions positioned at opposite ends of said first elongate receiving slot;(b) a two-piece wire latch arrangement pivotally mounted on said molded plastic latch mount; said two-piece wire latch arrangement including a handle segment and a latch segment;(i) said handle segment comprising a single piece of bent wire having first and second ends pivotally mounted to said molded plastic latch mount;(ii) said latch segment comprising a single piece of bent wire having first and second ends pivotally mounted to said handle segment;(A) said latch segment including: a hook segment having first and second, spaced, shoulders; first and second, spaced, shoulder extensions and a lip;(B) said lip extending between said first and second, spaced, shoulder extensions; said lip including a center projecting tip defined by an obtuse-angled bend in said lip and first and second, generally oppositely directed, lateral extensions;(1) said first and second, generally oppositely directed, lateral extensions including first and second bearing surfaces, respectively;(c) said first elongate receiving slot having a first length;(d) said latch segment having a total distance between said first and second, spaced, shoulder extensions, where said lip joins said first and second shoulder extensions, of greater than said first length of said first elongate receiving slot;(e) said projecting tip of said lip projecting into said first elongate receiving slot;(f) said first and second, bearing surfaces bearing, respectively, on said first and second portions of said outwardly projecting circumferential flange at opposite ends of said first elongate receiving slot for spreading load across said first and second portions of said outwardly projecting circumferential flange; and(g) whereby said handle segment and latch segment are pivotally movable to position said projecting tip outside of said first elongate receiving slot to unlock the first housing section from the second housing section.