Abstract:
A latch wherein latching and unlatching is accomplished by an inward push by the keeper towards the latch uses an improved spring arrangement, allowing for quieter operation. A modified housing configuration works in conjunction with improved internal components to permit single direction assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention is a latch wherein latching and unlatching is accomplished by an inward push of a keeper towards the latch. 
     2. Description of the related art 
     Although other inventors have proposed push-push latches, the present inventor is unaware of any other latch having the simplicity, or the advantage in quietness and ease of assembly, as the present invention. 
     An example of a prior push-push latch is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,489, issued to Robert H. Bisbing on Apr. 7, 1987. This latch hooks onto a corresponding keeper using a beam having a hook at one end. The movement of the beam is controlled by a shuttle, which is actuated by inward pressure applied by the keeper, and by a tension-compression spring. The compression portion of the spring biases the shuttle towards the frontal opening of the latch housing, and the tension end of the spring biases the front end of the beam rearward, causing the beam to rotate when acted on by the shuttle. This latch is also described in Southco, Inc., catalog, no. 48 NA. The present invention is an improvement over this latch, wherein the tension-compression spring is eliminated, and only a compression spring is used within the latch. Additionally, the present latch uses an improved housing and improved internal components, thereby reducing the number of parts and permitting single-direction assembly. The resulting latch has significantly quieter operation, fewer parts, and lends itself to automated assembly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a latch wherein latching and unlatching are controlled by an inward push by the keeper towards the latch, generally known as a push-push latch. 
     The latch includes a housing, containing a beam a shuttle below the beam, and a compression spring behind the shuttle, for biasing the shuttle for ward within said housing. The latch mates with a corresponding keeper to secure a moving member, such as a door or drawer, to a nonmoving member, such as the frame of the door or drawer. The latch will typically be secured to the moving member, with the keeper secured to the moving member, but the opposite arrangement will work equally well. 
     The housing is generally rectangular, and is preferably made of one-piece construction. The housing defines an opening in its front surface, and a pair of opposing openings in its side surfaces. A pair of opposing snap legs extends downward and inward into the housing from the front edges of the side openings. A second pair of opposing snap legs extends upward and outward from the rear portion of the housing&#39;s top and bottom sides, ending with a ridged surface. It should be noted that top and bottom are used herein for simplicity of reference only and the housing could be rotated to define a different top surface without changing the functioning of the latch. 
     The beam is located within the housing, extending from the front opening towards the rear of the housing. The beam may be located adjacent to either the top or bottom of the housing without altering the manner of operation, and for simplicity of reference, the following discussion assumes that the beam is adjacent to the housing&#39;s top. The front end of the beam includes a hook for engaging the keeper, described below. The hook includes a flange extending to one side. The rear end of the beam includes a pivot, which is preferably a pair of bosses extending between the inner snap legs and the rear of the side openings. The motion of the beam is thereby constrained to rotation around the axis of the bosses, and vertical translation within the housing. The rear of the beam also includes a rear downward projection, preferably having a hook shape, and a central, preferably triangular, downward projection extends from the center of the beam. 
     The shuttle is located below the hook. The rear of the shuttle defines a channel for guiding the compression spring, which abuts both the rear of the housing and the front of the channel. The front of the shuttle includes a front surface for making contact with the keeper (described later) and a top surface for supporting the beam&#39;s front hook. A flange extends upward to one side of the beam, immediately behind the flange extending from the beam&#39;s hook. An arm extends upward and rearward from the top of the shuttle, being dimensioned and configured to push against the rear downward projections of the beam. 
     The keeper includes a mounting plate, preferably having an adhesive backing, and a hook. The keeper&#39;s hook is dimensioned and configured to push inward on the shuttle&#39;s front surface, and to engage the beam&#39;s hook. 
     Assembly of the latch is accomplished by merely placing the spring, shuttle, and beam together so that they are positioned properly with respect to each other, and inserting the preassembled inner components into the housing. The inner snap legs engage the beam&#39;s bosses, securing the beam within the housing. The side flange of the beam&#39;s hook engages the shuttle&#39;s flange, thereby securing the shuttle within the housing. The spring is contained between the shuttle and housing. All components are thereby secured within the housing. 
     The latch will typically be installed within a socket. A preferred and suggested socket has the configuration of a pair of intersecting rectangles, corresponding with the shape of the housing, to prevent misalignment of the latch. Upon inserting the latch into the socket, the ridges on the outer snap legs will engage the edges of the socket, securing the latch within the socket. The keeper is then inserted into the latch, where it is secured therein as described below. The adhesive backing of the keeper is exposed, and the moving member to be secured by the latch is brought into its closed position, in contact with the adhesive. When the adhesive is dry, the keeper will be secured in the proper position to engage the latch. 
     The latching and unlatching cycle begins with the beam in its upward horizontal position, against the top of the housing, resting on the top surface of the shuttle. To actuate the latch, the moving member is moved into its closed position, thereby bringing the keeper and latch together, and inserting the keeper&#39;s hook into the latch. The keeper pushes the shuttle rearward, causing the shuttle&#39;s arm to push against the beam&#39;s rearward projection, rotating the beam&#39;s hook downward into engagement with the keeper&#39;s hook. The spring then pushes the shuttle forward, thereby pushing the keeper slightly outward The keeper pulls on the beam, thereby bringing the beam into a horizontal position. Continued forward motion of the shuttle is prevented by the shuttle&#39;s flange abutting the side flange of the beam&#39;s hook. The latch is now securely latched. 
     To unlatch the latch, the moving member is pushed inward, thereby causing the keeper to push the shuttle inward. The top surface of the shuttle pushes against the beam&#39;s central projection, rotating the beam upward and allowing the keeper&#39;s hook to exit the latch. The shuttle then moves fully forward. The shuttle&#39;s flange pushes on the side flange of the beam&#39;s hook, thereby moving the beam back into its original position. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a latch wherein latching and unlatching is accomplished by an inward push by the keeper on the latch. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a latch having quieter operation than other push-push latches. 
     A third object of the invention is to provide a latch that can be assembled entirely from one direction. 
     A fourth object of the invention is to provide a latch that may be assembled using automatic assembly techniques. 
     A fifth object of the invention is to provide a latch that is easy to install. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become apparent through the following description and claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top rear exploded perspective view of a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom front exploded perspective view of a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a top front exploded perspective view of a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the housing for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the housing for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the housing for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a front view of the beam for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG  9  is a side view of the beam for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the beam for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of the shuttle for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of the shuttle for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the shuttle for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a rear view of the keeper for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is a side view of the keeper for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the keeper for a latch assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 17 is a side view of a latch assembly according to the present invention, showing the position of the parts at the beginning of the latching cycle. 
     FIG.  18 . is a side view of a latch assembly according to the present invention, showing the position of the parts after completion of the first step of the latching cycle. 
     FIG. 19 is a side view of a latch assembly according to the present invention, showing the position of the parts at the completion of the latching cycle. 
     FIG. 20 is a side view of a latch assembly according to the present invention, showing the position of the parts after completion of the first step of the unlatching cycle. 
     FIG. 21 is a side view of a latch assembly according to the present invention, showing the position of the parts after completion of the unlatching cycle. 
    
    
     Like reference numbers denote like elements throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is a latch wherein latching and unlatching are controlled by an inward push by the keeper towards the latch, generally known as a push-push latch. Please note that the following description refers to a top, etc. for simplicity of reference only, and not to imply that the orientation of the latch is critical to its function. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the latch  10  includes a housing  12 , a beam  14  within the housing  12 , a shuttle  16  below the beam  14 , and a spring  18  biasing the shuttle  16  forward. The latch mates with a corresponding keeper  20 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5-7, the housing  12  is illustrated. The housing  12  is of one-piece construction, having a front  22 , back  24 , two sides  26 , a top  28 , and a bottom  30 . The front  22  defines an opening  32 , having a narrow portion  40  corresponding to the top  28  of the housing  12 , and a wide portion  42  corresponding to the bottom  30  of the housing  12 . The sides  26  each define an opening  34 . Each side opening  34  contains an inner snap leg  36 , extending from the front edge of the opening  34  rearward and inward. The rear edges of side openings  34  include a notch  38 , and an adjacent convex curved edge  39 . The housing is preferably secured in a socket by a pair of snap legs. The top  28  and bottom  30  each include an outer snap leg  44 , extending forward and outward from the back  24  of the housing  12 . Each outer snap leg  44  has a ridged front end  46 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 8-10, the beam  14  is illustrated. The beam  14  includes a front hook  48 , being dimensioned and configured to mate with the hook of the keeper  20  (described later). The bottom  49  of the hook is preferably a flat surface. A side flange  50  extends outward from the front hook  48 . The middle section of the beam  14  includes a central downward projection  52 , which is preferably triangular in configuration. The rear portion of the beam  14  includes a rear arm  54 , which in the preferred embodiment is configured as a hook having a flat end  56 . The rear portion of beam  14  also includes a pair of opposing bosses  58 , being dimensioned and configured to fit within the side openings  34 , behind and engaged by the inner snap legs  36 . Each boss  58  defines a notch  60 , being dimensioned and configured to correspond to the convex curved edge  39 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 11-13, the shuttle  16  is illustrated. The shuttle  16  defines a frontal surface  62  and an upper surface  64  within its front portion  68 . A flange  66  extends upward along one side of the shuttle  16 , being dimensioned and configured to abut the side flange  50  of the beam  14 . The shuttle  16  is spring-biased forward. The rear portion  70  defines a spring channel  72 , dimensioned and configured to contain and guide a compression spring  18 . The shuttle  16  also includes an arm  74 , preferably extending rearward and upward, and being dimensioned and configured to engage the rear arm  54  of the beam  14 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 14-16, the keeper  20  is illustrated. The keeper  20  includes a back panel  76  and a hook  78 . The hook  78  is dimensioned and configured to pass through the front opening  32  of the housing  12 , and to hook onto the beam&#39;s hook  48 . The hook  78  includes front surface  80  for pushing inward on frontal surface  62  of shuttle  16 . The rear of back panel  76  preferably includes an adhesive  82  for securing the keeper to one of the two components to be latched together using the latch. 
     The assembly of the latch  10  is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. Spring  18  is inserted into the spring channel  72  of the shuttle  16 , and the shuttle  16  is positioned adjacent to the beam  14  so that the bottom  49  of the beam&#39;s hook  48  corresponds to the upper surface  64  of the shuttle  16 , and the rear arm  54  of the beam  14  corresponds to the rear portion  70  of the shuttle  16 . The pre-assembled beam  14 , shuttle  16 , and spring  18  are then inserted through the front opening  32  of the housing  12 . The spring is now sandwiched between the shuttle  16  and the rear  24  of housing  12 . The beam&#39;s bosses  58  fit into the side openings  34 , and are engaged by the inner snap legs  36 . The shuttle&#39;s flange  66  abuts the beam&#39;s side flange  50 , thereby securing the shuttle  16 , beam  14 , and spring  18  within the housing  12 . In the unlatched, at rest position, the beam  14  is adjacent to the top  28  of the housing, with the front hook&#39;s bottom  49  resting on the upper surface  64  of the shuttle, and the side flange  50  abutting the shuttle&#39;s flange  66 . 
     The latch  10  and keeper  20  will typically be mounted on opposing moving and nonmoving members, such as a door or drawer and the frame supporting the door or drawer (not shown, and well-known). Typically, the latch  10  will be installed on the nonmoving member, and the keeper  20  will be installed on the moving member, but this may be reversed without affecting the operation of the latch  10 . The latch  10  will preferably be installed within a socket, with a preferred and suggested socket having the configuration of two intersecting rectangles, corresponding to the shape of the housing, to ensure proper alignment. Merely inserting the latch  10  into the socket, with the rear portion  24  entering the socket first, will cause the ridges  46  of the outer snap legs  44  to engage the edges of the socket, thereby securing the latch  10  within the socket. The keeper  20  is then inserted into the latch  10  for latching (as explained below), and the keeper&#39;s adhesive backing  82  is exposed. By bringing the moving member towards the nonmoving member, corresponding to the moving member&#39;s closed position, the keeper  20  is secured in the proper position on the opposing member to provide for latching and unlatching. 
     The operation of the latch  10  is illustrated sequentially in FIGS. 17-21. The housing has been omitted from these figures for clarity. The initial unlatched position of the latch&#39;s components is illustrated in FIG. 17, wherein the moving and nonmoving members are being closed, and the keeper  20  has been brought through the housing&#39;s front opening  32  and into contact with the shuttle  16 . The beam  14  is adjacent to the top  28  of the housing, with the front hook&#39;s bottom  49  resting on the upper surface  64  of the shuttle, and the side flange  50  abutting the shuttle&#39;s flange  66 . FIG. 18 illustrates the front surface  80  of keeper  20  pushing inward on frontal surface  62  of shuttle  16 . As the shuttle  16  is pushed rearward, the shuttle&#39;s arm  74  pushes against the beam&#39;s rear arm  54 . The shuttle&#39;s upper surface  64  is simultaneously removed from under the lower surface  49  of the beam&#39;s hook  48 . Because the beam&#39;s bosses  58  are constrained within the housing&#39;s side openings  34 , the beam  14  rotates counterclockwise (in the illustration) so that the beam&#39;s hook  48  engages the keeper&#39;s hook  78 . At this point, the user will release the pressure on the moving member, allowing the spring  18  to push the shuttle  16  slightly forward, into the position illustrated in FIG.  19 . The shuttle  16  pushes the keeper  20  slightly outward, which will in turn pull the beam  14  into a horizontal position lower than its original position. The latch  10  is now securely latched. 
     The latch  10  is unlatched by pushing inward on the moving member, which again causes the front surface  80  of keeper  20  to push inward on frontal surface  62  of shuttle  16 , illustrated in FIG.  20 . The upper surface  64  of shuttle  16  pushes upward on the central projection  52  of the beam  14 . The beam is constrained by the side openings  32  in housing  12 . More specifically, the beam&#39;s bosses  58  are within the notches  38  of the side openings  32 , and the notches  60  defined by the bosses  58  are abutting the convex curved edges  39  of the openings  32 . The beam  14  therefore rotates upward, releasing the keeper  20 . As the keeper  20  exits the housing  12 , the shuttle  16  is pushed forward by spring  18 , as illustrated in FIG.  21 . The shuttle&#39;s flange  66  engages the beam&#39;s side flange  50 , and the shuttle&#39;s upper surface  64  moves below the hook&#39;s lower surface  49 , thereby moving the beam  14  back into its original upper horizontal position. The unlatching process is now complete, and the latch  10  is ready to repeat the cycle. 
     It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described herein, but encompasses all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.