Latch assembly for movable closure element

A latch assembly kit including a latching subassembly, a first actuating assembly having a first configuration and normal and release states, and a second actuating assembly having a second configuration and normal and release states. The latching subassembly has a latched state, and a release state. The first actuating assembly is mountable on the first side of a movable closure element and causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state. The second actuating assembly is mountable in place of the first actuating assembly and causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the second actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to latch assemblies for releasably maintaining movable closure elements in a desired position relative to a support therefor.

2. Background Art

Myriad designs for latch assemblies for maintaining movable closure elements in a desired position relative to a support upon which the movable closure element is mounted have been devised over the years. Different demands are placed upon these mechanisms depending upon their particular environment. However, designers of these latch assemblies universally consider and balance the following factors in their designs: 1) reliability; 2) holding capacity; 3) convenience of operation; 4) ease of manufacture; 5) ease of assembly; 6) versatility; and 7) cost. Certain of the above factors are competing in the design process and, generally, particular applications will dictate where compromises must be made. Ideally, one would optimize each of these design areas.

The agricultural and construction industries are ones in which rather severe demands are placed upon latch assemblies. Severe stresses are commonly placed on closure elements on cabs of tractors and the like. At the same time, convenience of actuation is a prime consideration, as when a hasty exit must be made from such a vehicle. This has lead to the use of squeeze-actuated assemblies of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,284. The squeeze actuator is integrated into a bar which facilitates manipulation of the closure element as well as accessibility to the lever that is squeezed while gripping the bar to release the latch assembly to permit opening of the closure element. However, the latch assembly designs, of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,284, have tended towards the complicated. For example, the design shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,284 uses two separate, indirect mechanisms for moving a catch element through separate internal and external actuating assemblies on the closure element. This indirect actuation requires intermediate parts which may complicate the manufacturing process and increase associated costs. Indirect mechanisms, by their nature, introduce additional parts movement that could account for a field failure.

Typically, latch assemblies are designed to be operated by interior and exterior actuating assemblies, each with a specific design. There currently exist a number of different types of actuating assemblies, among which are actuating assemblies utilizing a pivotable trip lever that operates in conjunction with an elongate handle to be squeeze operated, actuating assemblies having a pull-type, graspable handle, and actuating assemblies utilizing a depressible element, i.e. a push button system. Some of these latch assemblies have mechanisms which cooperate with strike elements in the same manner. The difference between these latch assemblies may thus reside only in the configuration of the actuating assemblies. These various types of latch assemblies are conventionally sold with a single, specific combination of interior and exterior actuating assemblies.

Accordingly, purveyors of this type of equipment are required to anticipate demands for a particular overall latch assembly configuration. Unless the latch assemblies are built to order, purveyors must make an educated estimate as to demands for a particular type of latch assembly, at the risk of carrying excess inventory of one style and having a shortage of another.

Additionally, offering a line of latch assemblies with different combinations of actuating assemblies may add appreciably to the cost of such systems. An increased number of assembly steps and/or lines may be required to offer latch systems with all available combinations of actuating assemblies.

The industry is constantly seeking out latch assemblies that are improved in one or more of the areas noted above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, the invention is directed to a latch assembly kit including a latching subassembly for mounting upon a movable closure element, a first actuating assembly having a first configuration and normal and release states, and a second actuating assembly having a second configuration that is different than the first configuration and normal and release states. The latching subassembly has a latched state, wherein the latching subassembly releasably engages a strike element to maintain the movable closure element in a desired position relative to a support to which the movable closure element is attached, and a release state. The first actuating assembly is mountable on the first side of the movable closure element and causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state. The second actuating assembly is mountable to the first side of the movable closure element in place of the first actuating assembly. The second actuating assembly causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the second actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state. With the above structure, the first and second actuating assemblies can be selectively interchangeably mounted to the first side of the movable closure element to operate the latching subassembly.

In one form, the first actuating assembly is a pushbutton actuator that is translatable from a normal position into a release position to thereby change the latching subassembly from its latched state into its release state.

In another form, the first actuating assembly has an actuating handle that is mounted for pivoting movement between normal and release positions to thereby change the latching subassembly from its latched state into its release state.

The kit may further include a third actuating assembly mountable to the second side of the movable closure element and having normal and release states. The third actuating assembly causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the third actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state.

In one form, the third actuating assembly includes a trip lever that is pivotable around an axis between normal and release positions to thereby change the latching subassembly from its latched state into its release state.

In one form, the trip lever is pivotable around a first axis between its normal and release positions and the first actuating assembly further has an actuating handle that is mounted for pivoting movement around a second axis between normal and release positions to thereby change the latching subassembly from its latched state into its release state.

The first and second axes may be parallel or orthogonal to each other, or at another angle, preferably between parallel and orthogonal.

In one form, the first and second axes reside in planes that do not intersect the movable closure element upon which the latching subassembly and first and third actuating assemblies are mounted.

In one form, the latching subassembly has a rotor that is pivotable between a latched position and a release position. The rotor is engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position.

The latch assembly kit may further include a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between an engaged position, wherein the rotor is maintained in its latched position, and a disengaged position, wherein the rotor is permitted to move from its latched position into its release position.

The latch assembly kit may further include a trip catch that is movable from a first position into a second position to thereby change the catch block assembly from the engaged position into the disengaged position. The latch assembly kit may further include a third actuating assembly mountable to the second side of the movable closure element and having normal and release states, with the third actuating assembly causing the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into the release state as an incident of the third actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state. The third actuating assembly may include a trip lever that is movable between normal and release positions to thereby change the trip catch from the first position into the second position.

In one form, the trip catch is pivotable about a first axis between the first and second positions and the trip lever is pivotable about a second axis between its normal and release positions.

The first and second axes may be substantially parallel to each other. In one form, the first and second axes are coincident.

In one form, with the trip catch in the first position and the trip lever in its normal position, the trip catch can be moved from the first position into the second position without moving the trip lever from its normal position into its release position.

The actuating handle may have a projecting element/cantilevered connecting element that follows pivoting movement of the actuating handle and directly engages the catch block assembly.

In one form, the catch block assembly has a cantilevered post that engages the projecting element/cantilevered connecting element.

In one form, the catch block assembly has a second cantilevered post that is engaged by the first actuating assembly so that the catch block assembly moves from the engaged position into the disengaged position as the first actuating assembly is changed from its normal state into its release state.

The invention contemplates the above kit in combination with a movable closure element to which the latching subassembly is mounted.

The invention is further directed to a latch assembly including a latching subassembly for mounting upon a movable closure element having first and second sides and an operating assembly with a latching subassembly having a latched state, wherein the latching subassembly releasably engages a strike element to maintain the movable closure element in a desired position relative to a support to which the movable closure element is attached, and a release state. The operating assembly is operable to change the latching subassembly from the latched state into the release state. The operating assembly has a first actuating assembly with normal and release states. The first actuating assembly is mountable on the first side of the movable closure element and causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state. The operating assembly further includes a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between an engaged position, wherein the latching subassembly is maintained in the latched state, and a disengaged position, wherein the latching subassembly is permitted to be changed from its latched state into its release state. The operating assembly further includes a trip catch that is movable between a first position and a second position to thereby cause the catch block assembly to be moved from the engaged position into the disengaged position. The operating assembly further includes a trip lever that is movable between normal and release positions to cause the trip catch to move from the first position into the second position. The trip catch is movable from the first position into the second position without moving the trip lever from its normal position into its release position.

The latch assembly may further include a second actuating assembly on the second side of the movable closure element and having normal and release states. The second actuating assembly acts against the trip catch and causes the trip catch to change from the first position into the second position without moving the trip lever from its normal position into its release position as the second actuating assembly is changed from its normal state into its release state.

In one form, the second actuating assembly includes a pushbutton actuator having an element that is translatable between normal and release positions to change the trip catch from the first position into the second position.

In one form, the trip catch is movable between the first and second positions by pivoting around a first axis.

The trip lever may be movable from its normal position into its release position by pivoting around a second axis.

In one form, the first and second axes are substantially parallel to each other.

In one form, the first and second axes are substantially coincident.

The latching subassembly may include a rotor that is pivotable between latched and release positions and the rotor is engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position.

The latch assembly may further include a second actuating assembly on the second side of the movable closure element and having normal release states. The second actuating assembly causes the catch block assembly to be moved from the engaged position into the disengaged position as an incident of the second actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state without requiring movement of the trip lever from its normal position into its release position.

In one form, the catch block assembly has a first post which is engaged by the second actuating assembly and repositionable by the second actuating assembly as the second actuating assembly is changed from its normal state into its release state to cause the catch block assembly to be changed from the engaged state into the disengaged state.

In one form, the catch block assembly has a post which is engaged by the trip catch and repositionable by the trip catch from the engaged position into the disengaged position as the catch block is changed from its first position into the second position.

The posts may be spaced from each other and each project in cantilevered fashion.

In one form, the second actuating assembly has an actuating handle that is pivotable between normal and release positions to thereby change the catch block assembly from the engaged position into the disengaged position.

In one form, the actuating handle has a projecting element/cantilevered connecting element that follows pivoting movement of the actuating handle and directly engages the catch block assembly.

In one form, the catch block assembly has a cantilevered post that engages the projecting element/cantilevered projecting element.

The invention further contemplates the above latch assembly in combination with a movable closure element to which the latching subassembly is mounted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring initially toFIG. 1, a latch assembly10, according to the present invention, is shown on a closure element12mounted upon a support14. The closure element12is selectively movable relative to the support14between different positions. The latch assembly10cooperates with a strike element16on the support14to releasably maintain the movable closure element12in a desired position. The inventive latch assembly10is shown in a generic form inFIG. 1since it can be used on virtually any type of movable closure element in any type of environment. One representative environment for the latch assembly10is upon a movable closure element12such as an access door, on a support14in the form of a piece of agricultural or construction equipment, such as a tractor. However, the latch assembly10can be used in other dynamic and static environments, with the operation thereof being substantially the same in each.

As shown inFIG. 2, the latch assembly10is operable by first and second actuating assemblies18,19provided on opposite sides of the movable closure element12for independent interior and exterior operation of the latch assembly10. The first and second actuating assemblies18,19will be described herein in one form. However, it should be understood that both of the actuating assemblies18,19could have a substantially different form than the exemplary forms described herein.

The first and second actuating assemblies18,19are part of an overall operating assembly which is responsible for causing the latch assembly10to release the strike element16to permit repositioning of the movable closure element12from a particular position therefor that is maintained with the latch assembly10holding the strike element16. More particularly, as shown inFIGS. 3-7, the latch assembly10has a housing20to which a pair of cooperating rotors22,24are mounted for pivoting movement about parallel axes26,28, respectively. The rotors22,24may have the same construction, as shown, or a different construction. The rotors22,24are mounted on the housing by axles30,32, which extend through openings34,36in a housing wall38and are fixed by being deformed at an outer surface39of the wall38. The rotors22,24are journalled for rotation, one each, around the axles30,32.

The rotor22has a U-shaped free end with projecting legs40,42, which bound a throat44. The rotor24has corresponding legs46,48bounding a throat50. The rotors22,24are mounted upon the axles30,32so as to cooperate in a scissors-type action as they each move between a release position, shown inFIG. 4, and a primary latched position, as shown in FIGS.3and5-7. With the rotors22,24in the release position ofFIG. 4, movement of the rotors22,24against the strike element16, as by repositioning of the movable closure element12, causes the strike element16to be directed in the direction of the arrow51inFIG. 4. The strike element16progressively cams the rotors22,24so that they are pivoted in the direction of the arrows52,53about their axes26,28, respectively. Continued movement of the strike element16against the rotors22,24causes the legs40,42,46,48to cooperatively fully surround an opening54within which the strike element16becomes captive with the rotors22,24in their primary latched positions.

The rotors22,24are maintained in their primary latched positions by a catch block assembly at56consisting of a catch block58and an adaptor60, attached thereto and performing a function as hereinafter described. The catch block58is mounted to an L-shaped catch arm62for pivoting movement about an axis64. The catch arm62is in turn mounted to the housing20for pivoting movement around an axis66. The catch arm62has long and short legs68,70at the juncture of which an opening72is formed to received a mounting axle74which is mounted in an opening76in the housing20and deformed where it is exposed at the surface39so as to be fixed thereto.

The adaptor60has a post78with a stepped diameter. A larger diameter portion80of the post78is guided within a bore82through the catch block58. With a flat surface84at the base of the post78abutting to a surface86on the catch block58, a reduced diameter portion88of the post78projects beyond the catch block surface90facing oppositely to the surface86, and fixedly into a bore92adjacent to the free end of the long leg68of the catch arm62. The adaptor60has a tab94projecting in the same direction as the post78from the adaptor surface84and having an upwardly facing surface96which bears on a flat, downwardly facing surface98on the catch block58so as to prevent pivoting movement of the adaptor60relative to the catch block58. Resultingly, the adaptor60and catch block58move together as one piece in operation.

The rotors22,24are biased about their respective axes26,28by free ends100,102of projecting arms104,106on coil torsion springs108,110. The free end100of the spring108continuously exerts a bias on a shoulder112on the rotor22, thereby urging the rotor22in a counterclockwise direction around the axis26inFIG. 4towards the release position. The arm102on the spring110acts in like manner on a shoulder114on the rotor24to urge the rotor24in a clockwise direction about its axis28inFIG. 4towards its release position.

The rotors22,24are maintained in their primary latched positions inFIG. 5by oppositely facing catch block surface116,118, which bear bearing respectively on stop surfaces120,122on the rotors22,24, respectively. Separate stop surfaces124,126on the rotors22,24bear against the catch block surfaces116,118to maintain the rotors22,24in a secondary latched position (not shown), which is between the primary latched position ofFIG. 5and the release position ofFIG. 4.

The springs108,110are also responsible for cooperatively bearing the catch block assembly56upwardly to against the rotors22,24. More specifically, the free end128of the spring108opposite to the free end100bears on a downwardly facing shoulder130. The free end128is at the extremity of an arm132projecting from the coiled portion of the spring108which surrounds an axle134. Similarly, the free end136of the spring110, opposite to the free end102of the spring110bears upon a shoulder138on the catch block58. The free end136is carried on an arm140projecting from the coiled portion of the spring110which is supported on the axle74, which additionally guides pivoting movement of the catch arm62.

In operation, with the rotors22,24in their release position ofFIG. 4, movement of the strike element16against the rotors22,24, by reason of repositioning of the movable closure element12, cams the rotors22,24simultaneously from theFIG. 4release position towards the latched position ofFIGS. 5-7. As this occurs, the catch block assembly56is urged against the moving rotor22,24until the catch block assembly56aligns with the stop surfaces124,126thereon. The movable closure element12can be maintained in the previously described, secondary latched position if the strike element16is not caused to be urged with any additional force against the rotors22,24. Continued movement of the closure element12ultimately causes the catch block assembly56to align with the stop surfaces120,122and to be driven upwardly into confronting relationship therewith so that the rotors22,24are each maintained in their primary latched positions.

When it is desired to reposition the movable closure element12, the catch block assembly56has to be moved in translation downwardly, in a linear path in the direction of the arrow142(FIG. 5), until the catch block assembly56clears the stop surfaces120,122, whereupon the springs108,110urge the rotors22,24back towards their release positions. Because the catch block assembly56is allowed to pivot/float around the axis64, the angular orientation of the catch block assembly56relative to the catch arm62can be consistently maintained as it is moved downwardly in the direction of the arrow142. This avoids binding between the catch block56and rotors22,24.

The housing20and components mounted thereto, together define a latching subassembly143. According to the invention, the operation of the latching subassembly143, by repositioning of the catch block assembly56, can be directly accomplished independently through either of the first and second actuating assemblies18,19. The details of the first actuating assembly18are shown inFIGS. 8-17. The first actuating assembly18consists of a trip lever144which is mounted for pivoting movement relative to a mounting plate146, that is fixed to the housing20through the axles30,32. The latching subassembly143and the first actuating assembly18are thus joined as a combined subassembly that can be assembled to, and disassembled from, the movable closure element12and the second operating assembly19. The trip lever144has an elongate operating portion148at one end and is bifurcated at its opposite end to define spaced legs150,152which are received between spaced ears154,156on the mounting plate146. The legs150,152in turn straddle a trip latch158. A pin160extends through the trip lever144, trip latch158, and the ears154,156to maintain the same in operative relationship wherein the trip lever144and trip latch158are pivotable about a common axis162defined by the pin160. The axis162resides in a plane that does not extend through the closure element12.

The trip latch158has a shoulder164which bears against a surface166defined by a post168that is a extension of the post78on the adaptor60through which the catch block58is mounted. The post168projects in cantilever fashion. By pivoting the trip latch158in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow170inFIG. 16, the trip latch shoulder164bears against the post surface166and drives the catch block assembly56in the direction of the arrow142inFIGS. 5 and 16from its engaged position into its disengaged position. The pivoting movement of the trip latch158is imparted by the trip lever144by pivoting the trip lever144about the pin160and its axis162in the same counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow170inFIG. 16. The trip latch158has side extensions172,174which define shoulders176,178, respectively, which confront shoulders180,182on the trip lever legs150,152, respectively. The shoulders180,182on the trip lever144drive the shoulders176,178to pivot the trip latch158as the trip lever144is pivoted by the operator. The trip lever144and trip latch158could actually be formed to move as one piece to perform the function stated.

The trip lever144, in this particular embodiment, is mounted so as to be operable by a squeezing force. More particularly, the operating portion148of the trip lever144is associated with a hollow, tubular, graspable handle184so that the handle184can be surrounded by a hand in such a manner as to permit grasping by the operator's fingers of the operating part148of the trip lever144and simultaneously the repositioning of the movable closure element12through the handle184. The trip lever144is slid into a slot186, originating at one end188of the handle184. The slot186has a width W that is slightly greater than the width W1of the operating part148of the trip lever144. The slot length L is chosen so that the free end190of the trip lever144, remote from the mounting legs150,152, can pass through the slot186as the trip lever144is pivoted in operation.

The trip lever144has oppositely projecting tabs192(one shown). The trip lever144is directed into the slot186so that the tabs192reside within the hollow194of the tubular handle184. The tabs192effectively increase the width of the trip lever144thereat to a dimension that is greater than the width W. Accordingly, the trip lever144must be slid into the hollow194of the tubular handle184leading with the free end190. The tabs192confine outward pivoting of the trip lever144relative to the handle184.

A leaf spring196(FIG. 15) acts between the trip lever144and the inside surface198of the tubular handle184to normally urge the operating portion148of the trip lever144out of the slot186into a normal position. With the user grasping the tubular handle184in the vicinity of the trip lever144, the fingers can be wrapped around the exposed edge200of the trip lever144and drawn towards the palm in a squeezing action to move the trip lever144from a normal position into a release position, as shown in phantom lines inFIG. 15corresponding to normal and release states for the first actuating assembly18. As the trip lever144is moved from the normal position into the release position, the trip latch158is pivoted in turn to move the catch block assembly56from its engaged position into its disengaged position.

The tubular handle184is maintained in its operative position by directing a mounting bolt202through a bore204in a flange206on the mounting plate146and into a threaded receptacle208on a U-shaped spring clip210and which is maintained within the hollow194by sliding the U-shaped spring clip210over the tubular handle end188.

The opposite end212of the tubular handle184is mounted to the closure element12through an elbow-shaped fitting214. The fitting214has a male end portion216which fits slidably within the hollow194at the handle end212. An annular shoulder218abuts to the handle end212with the fitting214fully seated. The fitting214has a flange220which seats on one side222of the movable closure element12and has a threaded bore224to accept a mounting bolt226.

A protective shroud228, made of plastic, or the like, can be slid over the housing20and the components mounted thereto, i.e. the latching subassembly143, the mounting plate146, the trip latch158, and the adjacent portions of the tubular handle184and trip lever144. The shroud228has a slot230to accept the tubular handle184and an opening232through which the rotors30,32are exposed to permit engagement with the strike element16. The shroud228is maintained in its operative position by connection to the mounting plate146through screws234.

Details of the second actuating assembly19are shown inFIGS. 8,13, and15. The second actuating assembly19consists of a mounting base236defining a flat mounting surface238which can be facially placed against the flat, second side240of the movable closure element12. The mounting surface238extends over substantially the entire length (L) and width (W) dimension of the mounting base236. An actuating handle242is pivotably attached to the base236. The actuating handle242is U-shaped with a graspable base244and spaced first and second legs246,248. The leg248is pivotably connected to the base236through a pin250for pivoting movement around an axis252residing in a plane that does not extend through the closure element12. Through a spring assembly253, the actuating handle242is urged towards its normal position, as seen in solid lines in each ofFIGS. 13,15and17-22. More preferably, once the actuating handle242is operated, the biased catch block58loads the springs108,110so that the springs108,110urge the catch block58in a manner that causes the actuating handle242to be moved back towards its normal position, once the actuating force thereon is released. This obviates the need for the spring assembly253.

The leg246has a projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254which moves as one piece with the leg246. The projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254projects past the mounting surface238and is configured to engage a surface256defined by a cantilevered post258on the adaptor60on the catch block assembly56. The post258is spaced from, and longer than, the post168.

The projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254directly engages the post258. The projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254has an opening260formed therein into which the post258projects with the second actuating assembly19in operative position.

The actuating handle242is changeable between the normal position, shown inFIGS. 13,15, and17-22and a release position, as shown in phantom inFIG. 20to change the second actuating assembly19from a normal state into a release state. As the actuating handle242is changed from the normal position into the release position, the shoulder262bounding the opening260in the projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254, bears upon the post258, thereby drawing the catch block assembly56in the direction of the arrow142so as to thereby change the catch block assembly56from its engaged position into its disengaged position. The opening260is configured so that the post258can be directed thereinto to coact with the shoulder262with the first and second actuating assemblies18,19in a range of relative positions without the need for separate fasteners acting between the post258and projecting element/cantilevered projecting element254. More specifically, the first and second actuating assemblies18,19can be relatively repositioned about a line L through the length of the projecting element/cantilevered projecting element254through a range of preferably at least 90°. The relationship of the pivot axes162and252, for the trip lever144and actuating handle242, respectively, varies as this occurs between parallel and orthogonal. This allows the length of the actuating handle242to be oriented selectively horizontally and vertically. This is made possible by forming the opening262by cutting out the projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254over a substantial portion of its periphery yet while maintaining the free end265defining the shoulder262rigidly upon the projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254.

The second actuating assembly19has a lock assembly at266which has a key operated cylinder268. By directing a key270into the cylinder268, the cylinder268can be rotated to reposition a locking tab272between locked and unlocked states. In the locked state, the locking tab272is directed into a slot274in the projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254so as to prevent pivoting of the handle242as to draw the projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254along the line L to resituate the catch block assembly56in the disengaged position.

The first and second actuating assemblies18,19and movable closure element12are interconnected through an angled mounting plate276, as see inFIGS. 8,14, and15. The mounting plate276has a flat wall278which abuts to the movable closure element12. Mounting bolts280are directed through the wall278and the movable closure element12and into threaded receptacles282in an enlarged portion284of the mounting base236. A mounting bolt285extends through the mounting plate276, the movable closure element12, and into the mounting base236.

A flat wall286, orthogonal to the flat wall278on the mounting plate276, is secured to the flat side239of the housing20, either using separate bolts directed through prethreaded bores in the axles30,32,74,134, or by extending the axles30,32,74,134therethrough and conforming the axles30,32,74,134therearound. This mounting arrangement creates a space at290on the side of the movable closure element12at which the first actuating assembly18is mounted within which the locking tab272can move.

Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 23, the locking tab272can be mounted in a recess294on a modified form of a second actuating assembly19′, similar to the second actuating assembly19, and having corresponding parts identified with a“′”. The second actuating assembly19′ has a mounting base with a flat mounting surface238′ and an actuating handle242′ pivotably attached to the base236′. The actuating handle242′ has a leg246′ with a projecting element/cantilevered connecting element254′ with an opening260′ to receive the post258. The actuating handle has a slot296to receive the locking tab in the locked state therefor, as shown inFIG. 23. By rotating a cylinder268′, the tab272can be pivoted to an unlocked state, wherein the tab272resides outside of the slot270so as not to inhibit movement of the actuating handle242′. This embodiment affords a compact lock assembly266′ within the recess294in an enlarged portion284′ of the base236′. As seen inFIGS. 9-11and16, the configuration of the trip latch158is such that it is pivotable independently of the trip lever144around the pin axis162to cause the catch assembly56to be moved from the engaged position by applying a force in the direction of the arrow300on the surface302to the left of the pivot axis162inFIG. 16. This force can be imparted by a pushbutton actuating assembly19′ that can be used in place of the actuating assembly19on the door12. The pushbutton actuating assembly19′ has an actuating element302that is translatable substantially in a line304between normal and release positions by a push button305. In moving from the normal position to the release position, by movement in the line304in the direction of the arrow306, the actuating element302imparts an actuating force directly to the surface302.