Pushbutton console latch

A pushbutton console latch is provided. The latch includes a cylindrical housing for housing a pushbutton therein. The pushbutton incorporates a lost motion feature such that when a pushbutton is in the locked position and depressed, the bolt of the latch remains extended. However, when the pushbutton is rotated to an unlocked position, a pushbutton may be depressed thereby retracting the bolt.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to latches, and more particularly, to a pushbutton 
console latch incorporating a lost motion feature. 
Pushbutton latches are used in a wide variety of applications to control 
unlimited number of elements and/or mechanisms. In the motor vehicle 
industry, pushbuttons are often used to unlatch compartments within the 
vehicle such as a glove compartment or the like. In addition, it is often 
times desirable to limit access to the interior of a compartment. This may 
be accomplished by incorporating a cylinder lock into the pushbutton latch 
which prevents the depression of the pushbutton without a mated key and as 
such, prevents retraction of the bolt. Hence, when a pushbutton is in its 
locked position, the cylinder lock incorporated therein maintains the 
pushbutton in its extended position. 
Due to increased safety concerns, automobile manufacturers now discourage 
incorporating rigid or fixed projections which extend into the passenger 
compartment of the vehicle. During an accident or sudden stop, any 
passengers within the passenger compartment may engage the projection 
causing injury. Hence, it is highly desirable to provide a pushbutton 
console latch wherein the pushbutton may be depressed when the cylinder 
lock is in the locked position. 
Therefore, it is a primary object and feature of the present invention to 
provide a pushbutton console latch wherein the pushbutton may be depressed 
with the latch in either the locked or the unlocked position. 
It is a further object and feature of the invention to provide a pushbutton 
control latch which incorporates a lost motion feature. 
It is a further object and feature of the present invention to provide a 
pushbutton console latch which is easy to operate, and yet may be used to 
deny access to a compartment in a vehicle. 
In accordance with the present invention, a pushbutton console latch is 
provided. The pushbutton console latch includes a cylindrical housing 
extending along a longitudinal axis, an external cylindrical surface, and 
an internal peripheral surface defining the pushbutton receipt cavity in 
the cylindrical housing. 
The pushbutton console latch further includes a pushbutton rotatably and 
slidably received within the pushbutton receipt cavity of the cylindrical 
housing. The pushbutton is rotatable between a first unlocked position and 
a second locked position, and is also axially slidable in the housing 
between a first extended position and a second depressed position. Means 
are provided for biasing the pushbutton toward the extended position. 
A bolt is slidably mounted in a bolt ward contained in the cylindrical 
housing. The bolt ward, and therefore the bolt, are orientated 
transversely in a plane passing perpendicularly through the longitudinal 
axis. With the pushbutton in the unlocked position, the bolt slides 
radially into the bolt ward in response to the depression of the 
pushbutton from the extended position to the depressed position. However, 
when the pushbutton is in the locked position, the bolt remains extended 
in response to the depression of the pushbutton from the extended position 
to the depressed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, a pushbutton console latch of the present invention is 
generally designated by the reference numeral 10. Console latch 10 
includes a pushbutton assembly 11 compressed of a pushbutton 12 extending 
along the longitudinal axis and which is rotatably supported within a 
sleeve 14. 
Pushbutton 12 is in the form of a cylindrical, substantially hollow 
housing, which defines a central longitudinal axis about which pushbutton 
12 is rotated. Pushbutton 12 includes a center keyway 16 disposed along 
the longitudinal axis for receiving a key (not shown) in a conventional 
manner to permit rotation of pushbutton 12. As is conventional, keyway 16 
opens at its front end to the front face of pushbutton 12 and is blind or 
closed at the opposite end of pushbutton 12. 
Pushbutton 12 is rotatable in sleeve 14 between a first locked position and 
a second fully rotated position. When a mated key is not present in the 
pushbutton 12, pushbutton 12 cannot be rotated. However, when a mated key 
is inserted in the keyway 16 of pushbutton 12, the key in the pushbutton 
may be rotated between the locked position and a fully rotated position in 
a known manner. 
A plurality of tumblers (not shown) are slidably mounted within a 
corresponding number of tumbler slots or wards 22 contained within 
pushbutton 12. Each ward 22, and therefore the tumblers (not shown), are 
orientated transversely in a plane passing perpendicularly through the 
longitudinal axis. As is known, each ward or slot 22 is defined by 
opposing walls in pushbutton 12 which guide the tumblers in their sliding 
movement. 
When a mated key is not present in the keyway 16 of pushbutton 12 and the 
pushbutton is in the first position, each tumbler projects from the outer 
cylindrical surface 24 of pushbutton 12 into a recessed channel 25 along 
the inner peripheral surface 23 of sleeve 14 so as to prevent rotation of 
pushbutton 12 with respect to sleeve 14. Similarly, when the mated key is 
not present in the keyway 16 of pushbutton 12 and the pushbutton is in the 
second fully rotated position, each tumbler projects from the outer 
cylindrical surface 24 of pushbutton 12 into a second recessed channel 26, 
FIG. 4, along the inner peripheral surface of sleeve 14 so as to prevent 
rotation of pushbutton 12 with respect to sleeve 14. 
Pushbutton 12 further includes a driver 28 extending laterally from the 
closed end of pushbutton 12. Driver 28 is adapted for receipt within a 
driver receipt cavity 30 formed in a first end 32 of plunger member 34. It 
is contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention to form 
driven 28 and plunger member 34 integrally. 
Sleeve 14 is in the form of a generally cylindrical, substantially hollow 
tube adapted for slidable receipt within a pushbutton cavity 36 in housing 
38. Sleeve 14 has a forward end 39 and a rearward end 41, and includes a 
cylindrical outer surface 44 and a cylindrical inner surface 43 which 
defines a passageway through sleeve 14 for receiving the elongated, 
rotatable pushbutton 12 therein. Cylindrical outer surface 44 forms an 
axially sliding interface with the cylindrical inner surface 43 of housing 
38. 
Sleeve 14 includes a pair of projections and 42 which extend axially along 
the cylindrical outer surface 44 of sleeve 14. Each projection 40 and 42 
terminates at a corresponding tab members 46 and 48, respectively, which 
project radially from the cylindrical outer surface 44 of sleeve 14. 
Projections 40 and 42 are constructed from a resilient material such that 
tab members 46 and 48 may be urged radially inwardly against the bias of 
projections 40 and 42, respectively, below the cylindrical outer surface 
44 of sleeve 14. 
An arcuate flange 50 extends axially from rearward end 41 of sleeve 14. 
Flange 50 and rearward end 41 intersect to form a spring engaging shoulder 
54 on sleeve 14. 
Housing 38 extends along the longitudinal axis and includes 
circumferentially spaced, first and second tab member receiving guide 
slots 56 and 58 which are adapted for receiving tab members 46 and 48, 
respectively, therein in order guide the axial movement of sleeve 14 
therein. Housing 38 further includes a radially extending bolt receipt 
cavity 60 therein. Bolt receipt cavity 60 communicates with pushbutton 
cavity 36 in housing 38 through passageway 62. 
A bolt 68 is slidably mounted within bolt receipt cavity 60 contained 
within housing 38. Bolt receipt cavity 60, and therefore bolt 68, is 
oriented transversely in a plane passing perpendicularly through the 
longitudinal axis. As best seen in FIG. 2, bolt receipt cavity 60 is 
defined by opposing walls 64 and 66 in housing 38 which guide bolt 68 and 
its sliding movement. 
Bolt 68 also includes a corresponding coil spring 70 extending between a 
recessed channel 72 formed along radially inner surface 74 of housing 38 
and a boss 76 formed in underside 78 of bolt 68. Thus, bolt 68 is 
continuously urged into an extended position by coil spring 70 such that 
the radial outer end 79 of bolt 60 projects from the cylindrical outer 
surface 81 of housing 38. Pushbutton cavity 36 opens at the front face of 
housing 38 and is blind or closed at the opposite end 81 of housing 38. 
Closed end 81 terminates at a sidewall 83 which is oriented transversely in 
a plane passing perpendicularly through the longitudinal axis, and which 
interconnects opposing wall 64 and 66 in housing 38 which guides bolt 68 
and its sliding movement. Sidewall 83 includes an inner surface 85 
directed toward the interior of housing 38. Inner surface 85 forms a 
sliding inner face with rearward surface 82 of bolt 68. Sidewall 81 
includes a projection 84 which extends in the direction perpendicular to 
the longitudinal axis. Projection 84 terminates at a tab member 86 which 
projects into the bolt receipt cavity 60 within housing 38. Projection 84 
is constructed from a resilient material such that tab member 86 may be 
urged from bolt receipt cavity 60 against the bias of projection 84. 
A shoulder 80 is formed in the rearward surface 82 of bolt 68. As bolt 68 
is biased radially by spring 70, shoulder 80 engages the underside 87 of 
tab member 86 which extends into bolt receipt cavity 60 in housing 38. As 
such, tab member 86 retains bolt 68 partially within bolt receipt cavity 
60 in housing 38, and provides a limit for the radial movement of bolt 68 
under the bias of spring 70. 
As best seen in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, bolt 68 includes an internal cavity 90. 
Internal cavity 90 is defined by first 92 and second 93 parallely 
extending sidewalls interconnected by upper 96, lower 94, and rearward 98 
sidewalls. A ramp 100 extends from lower sidewall 94, toward upper 
sidewall 96, and intersects rearward sidewall 98. Ramp 100 is laterally 
spaced from sidewall 94, as best seen in FIG. 5. 
Pushbutton console latch 10 is assembled such that sleeve 14 is retained in 
the housing 38 by tab members 46 and 48 of projections 40 and 42, 
respectively, which extend into guide slots 56 and 58, respectively. As 
such, pushbutton assembly 11 is axially slidable along the longitudinal 
axis between a first extended position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, and a 
retracted position shown in FIGS. 6 and 9. Axial sliding of pushbutton 
assembly 11 with respect to housing 38 is guided by tab members 46 and 48 
sliding along guide slots 56 and 58, respectively. A coil spring 102 is 
positioned about the arcuate flange 50 extending from the rearward end of 
sleeve 14, and extends between wall 104 in pushbutton receipt cavity 36 of 
housing 38 and spring engaging shoulder 54 on sleeve 14 such that coil 
spring 102 urges pushbutton assembly 11 into its extended position. 
When pushbutton assembly 11 is retained within housing 38, plunger 34 is 
axially aligned with arcuate passageway 62 in wall 104 of housing 38. 
As best seen in FIGS. 3-6, when pushbutton 12 is rotated in sleeve 14 to 
the first locked position, pushbutton assembly 11 is movable between a 
first extended position, FIG. 3, and a second retracted position, FIG. 6. 
As seen in FIG. 5, plunger 34 is in axial alignment with internal cavity 
90 of bolt 68 such that, when pushbutton assembly 11 is depressed to the 
second depressed position, FIG. 6, plunger 36 enters internal cavity 90 in 
bolt 68. As best seen in FIG. 6, with pushbutton assembly 11 depressed 
into housing 38, bolt 68 remains in its extended position. 
Referring to FIGS. 7-9, when a mated key is present in keyway 16 of 
pushbutton 12, pushbutton 12 may be rotated to the unlocked position. With 
pushbutton 12 in the unlocked position, pushbutton assembly 11 may be 
depressed between a first extended position, FIG. 7, and a second 
depressed position, FIG. 9. As best seen in FIG. 8, with pushbutton 12 in 
the unlocked position, plunger 34 is axially aligned with ramp 100 formed 
in the internal cavity 90 of bolt 68. As pushbutton assembly 11 is 
depressed, plunger 34 engages ramp 100 so as to urge bolt 68 against the 
bias of spring 70 thereby retracting bolt 68 within bolt receipt cavity 60 
contained within housing 38. 
As pushbutton assembly 11 is released, coil spring 102 urges pushbutton 
assembly 11 back to its extended position, FIG. 7. In addition, as 
pushbutton assembly 11 returns to its extended position, coil spring 70 
urges bolt 68 back to its extended position, FIG. 7. 
It is contemplated that with pushbutton assembly 11 in its extended 
position, FIGS. 3 and 7, bolt assembly 68 may be urged into bolt receipt 
cavity 60 in housing 38 by a force on radially outer end 79 of bolt 60. 
For example, if pushbutton console latch 10 is used in conjunction with a 
glove compartment door, the glove compartment door may be closed with the 
pushbutton assembly 11 in the extended position. The striker element may 
engage the outer end 79 of bolt 60 thereby urging the bolt 68 into the 
bolt receipt cavity 60 against the bias of spring 70 and hence, allowing 
bolt 68 to pass the striker element. Once past the striker element, coil 
spring 70 urges bolt 68 back into its extended position. 
Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being 
within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and 
distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.