Patent ID: 8336931
Filing Date: 2012-12-25
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A latching system comprising: a latch mechanism for selectively securing a first member in a closed position relative to a second member, said latch mechanism comprising: a socket that is moved rotationally to operate said latch mechanism, said socket having a main cavity having a wall having at least three lateral cavities therein; a shaft operably connected to said socket such that said shaft moves responsive to a movement of said socket; and a pawl operably connected to said shaft such that said pawl moves between a latched position and an unlatched position responsive to a movement of said socket, wherein said latch mechanism is adapted for mounting to the first member and wherein said pawl engages the second member so as to secure the first member in the closed position relative to the second member when the first member is in the closed position relative to the second member, said latch mechanism is mounted to the first member, and said pawl is in said latched position; and a latch actuator comprising: a sleeve having a bore extending along a longitudinal axis of said sleeve; a pair of lateral arms provided at a first end portion of said sleeve, said lateral arms extending in opposite directions from said first end portion of said sleeve so as to form a T-shaped configuration with said sleeve to thereby define a T-handle, wherein said sleeve has a hole at said first end portion thereof that communicates with said bore, said hole being located intermediate said lateral arms; a plunger supported for rectilinear motion in said bore, said plunger being rectilinearly movable between an extended position and a retracted position, said plunger having a button portion that projects from said hole when said plunger is in said extended position so as to define a pushbutton that is movable between an extended position corresponding to said extended position of said plunger and a retracted position corresponding to said retracted position of said plunger, wherein a user can move said plunger to said retracted position by pushing said pushbutton inward relative to said bore, said plunger having at least one portion of a first diameter and at least one portion of a second diameter, said first diameter being larger than said second diameter; a spring biasing said plunger toward said extended position; and at least three ball bearings received at least in part within said bore, said sleeve having a second end portion distal from said lateral arms that is dimensioned for insertion into said main cavity of said socket, said sleeve having at least three lateral openings in said second end portion of said sleeve, said sleeve having an exterior surface, said lateral openings extending between said bore and said exterior surface, each of said ball bearings being in registry with a respective one of said lateral openings, each of said ball bearings being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, each of said ball bearings projecting in part from said exterior surface when each of said ball bearings is in its extended position, each of said ball bearings being in its extended position when said plunger and consequently said pushbutton are in their extended positions, said portion of said plunger having said first diameter being in registry with said ball bearings to thereby maintain each of said ball bearings in its extended position when said plunger and said pushbutton are in their extended positions, said portion of said plunger having said second diameter being in registry with said ball bearings to thereby allow movement of each of said ball bearings to its retracted position when said plunger and consequently said pushbutton are in their retracted positions, wherein when said second end portion of said sleeve is inserted into said socket with each of said ball bearings in registry with a respective one of said lateral cavities in said socket and said plunger and said pushbutton are in their extended positions, each of said ball bearings will be in its extended position and projecting in part into a respective one of said lateral cavities of said socket such that a user can turn said sleeve by turning said T-handle to thereby turn said socket and thus operate said latch mechanism, and wherein when said second end portion of said sleeve is inserted into said socket with each of said ball bearings in registry with said respective one of said lateral cavities of said socket and said plunger and said pushbutton are in their extended positions, a user can push in said pushbutton to its retracted position to allow movement of each of said ball bearings to its retracted position and thereby allow said latch actuator to be removed from said socket.