Patent ID: 6428060
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: E05C,Y10T

Abstract:
A latch mechanism for removably securing a panel member to a support member that includesa housing stationarily mounted in one of said members and having a cylindrical body that passes downwardly through said one member, said housing containing a bore that passes downwardly into said one member along the axis of said housing; a latching arm rotatably mounted upon the outside of said housing body that is movable between a latched position in engagement with said other member and an unlatched position out of engagement with said other member; a rotor mounted within the housing bore for rotation about the axis of said housing, said rotor having a hole passing axially therethrough; connecting means for coupling said rotor to said latching arm so that the rotor and the latching arm rotate together about the axis of said housing between the latched and unlatched positions, a cylindrical key mounted for rotation within said rotor, said key being slidably contained within the hole formed in said rotor for movement between a first raised locked position wherein the top of the key is in coplanar alignment with the top of the rotor and a lower unlocked position wherein the top of the key is recessed within said rotor, at least one radially extended lug mounted on said key that is adapted to ride in an axial channel in the wall of said bore when the latching arm is in a latched position and for guiding the key axially between the locked and the unlocked positions; and said channel passing through an annular shoulder formed in said bore so that said at least one lug can be rotated beneath the shoulder wherein said latching arm is rotated from the latched to the unlatched position.