Patent ID: 7360802
Filing Date: 2008-04-22
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A compression latch mechanism for releasably securing a first member to a second member, the compression latch mechanism comprising: a housing adapted for attachment to the first member; a shaft having a longitudinal axis, a first end and a second end, said shaft being supported for rotation about said longitudinal axis and for rectilinear motion in a direction coincident with said longitudinal axis, said shaft moving between a latched position and an unlatched position as the compression latch mechanism is operated between a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration, operation of the compression latch mechanism from said latched configuration to said unlatched configuration and then back to said latched configuration constituting an operating cycle of the compression latch mechanism; a kickstand pivotally connected to said shaft proximate said first end of said shaft, said kick stand having at least one bearing surface and at least one relief notch, said kickstand moving pivotally relative to said shaft about a pivot axis fixed in position relative to said shaft during at least a portion of said operating cycle of the compression latch mechanism; a bearing plate positioned between said first end of said shaft and said second end of said shaft, said bearing plate being supported by said housing and having at least a raised bearing surface and at least a lower bearing surface; a handle pivotally connected to said shaft proximate said first end of said shaft thereby defining a pivotal connection, said handle moving pivotally relative to said shaft about said pivot axis as said handle is moved between a folded-down position and a first raised position, said handle having a kickstand contact surface, said kickstand and said handle being pivotally movable relative to one another over a predetermined range of pivotal movement, said handle being capable of being turned to a second raised position to place the compression latch mechanism in said unlatched configuration, said handle having an underside and a grasping portion; first biasing means for biasing said shaft such that said second end of said shaft tends to project to a greater distance from said housing under bias imparted to said shaft by said first biasing means; second biasing means for biasing said handle from said folded-down position toward an intermediate position between said folded-down position and said first raised position and for biasing said kickstand into a latched position; and catch means for selectively securing said handle in said folded-down position, wherein with the compression latch mechanism in the latched configuration said handle is secured in said folded down position and said shaft is in said latched position and is held there by said bearing surface of said kickstand being positioned between said first end of said shaft and said raised bearing surface, wherein when said catch is operated by a user to release said handle, said handle moves to said intermediate position under bias provided by said second biasing means without affecting the position of said kickstand and said shaft, wherein as said handle is moved from said intermediate position toward said first raised position by a user, said handle moves said kickstand pivotally relative to said shaft, through contact between said first kickstand contact surface of said handle and said kickstand, until said relief notch registers with said raised bearing surface whereupon said shaft moves rectilinearly in a direction coincident with said longitudinal axis under the bias of said first biasing means such that said second end of said shaft moves toward an intermediate extended position, intermediate said latched position and said unlatched position, where said second end of said shaft projects to its maximum distance from said housing, and wherein subsequently said handle can be turned from said first raised position to said second raised position by the user to rotate said shaft about its longitudinal axis to said unlatched position.