Patent ID: 6349981
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: E05C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An animal resistant, spring-biased latch for animal cages, comprising:a) an angled bracket having a front flange having a front bolt-receiving hole and a rear flange having a rear bolt-receiving hole at opposite ends thereof, and three generally orthogonal sides having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional profile and a slot which traverses at least two of said sides; b) a bolt having spring-engaging means and a bolt handle which is generally orthogonal to said bolt, said bolt being arranged to extend through said front hole and said rear hole and being arranged relative to said bracket such that said bolt handle extends through said slot, said bolt having a longitudinal axis, and a bolt locking end defining locking means for engaging a keeper and wherein the locking end is moveable between an unlocking position and a locking position in the latter of which said bolt locking end extends outwardly through said front bolt-receiving hole of said front flange; and c) spring means for biasing said bolt and said locking bolt end thereof toward said locking position, said spring means being a coil spring arranged coaxially with said bolt, said spring being disposed between said spring engaging means and said rear flange; said slot having a rear portion which is generally orthogonal to said axis and which traverses two of said sides, a central portion which is generally parallel to said axis and which traverses only one of said sides, a front portion which is generally orthogonal to said axis and which traverses two of said sides, and a forward portion which is generally parallel to said axis and which traverses only one of said sides, said forward portion having a rear end which merges with said front portion and a front end which extends toward said front flange of said bracket, said bolt being movable against spring bias from said forward portion defining said locked position to said rear portion defining an unlocked position by moving said handle through said slot such that said bolt is rotated and translated relative to said bracket, and wherein movement of said bolt is restricted by said slot and said handle such that said bolt cannot be moved out of either of said holes.