Abstract:
A slidable latch mechanism is provided that may be used to latch and unlatch rotatable structures, such as doors or compartments in automobiles that rotate or pivot when they open or close. The slidable latch mechanism includes structure that permits the latch mechanism to remain stationary when mounted to an inclined slot and when subject to the forces of gravity. This structure will hold the latch mechanism in position when not engaged by a pin of the rotatable structure and, when engaged by the pin of the rotatable structure, the structure that holds the latch mechanism in position will permit the latch mechanism to slide or move along the slot and thus allow the latching or unlatching of the rotatable structure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to sliding latches that incorporate a push-push configuration: and more specifically to sliding latches that may be used with rotational members.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It is known that latch mechanisms are used to latch one slidable structure to another stationary structure. Many of these know latch mechanisms use a “push-push” configuration. With this configuration, the mechanism becomes latched by a pushing action from the user, and becomes unlatched by a similar or identical pushing motion. Typically, the known latching mechanisms are used in automobiles for the latching and unlatching of slidable cup holders, or similar slidable compartments. For some time, the known latch mechanisms included a relatively large number of pieces and were complicated to manufacture, assemble and install. This added complexity resulted in a higher cost assembly. To overcome these problems, the latch mechanism described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,333 to Wach, and assigned to Illinois Tool Works, Inc., was developed which reduced the number of parts, reduced the cost to manufacture, and provided a solid, robust feel to the user.  
         [0003]     The present invention is directed at improving upon the known latch mechanisms and in particular the mechanism described: in U.S. Pat. No. 6,056,333 by providing a latch mechanism that may be used with storage compartments that rotate or pivot, as well as compartments that slide.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention is directed to a slidable latch mechanism that may be used to latch and unlatch rotatable or pivotable structures, such as doors or compartments that rotate or pivot when they open or close. The slidable latch mechanism also includes structure that permits the latch mechanism to remain stationary when mounted in an inclined position and subject to the forces of gravity. More specifically, the latch mechanism includes structure that will hold the latch mechanism in position when the mechanism is mounted in an inclined slot and not engaged by a pin of the rotatable compartment. When engaged by the pin of the rotatable compartment, the structure that holds the latch mechanism in position will still permit the latch mechanism to slide or move to thereby facilitate the latching or unlatching of the rotatable compartment. Moreover, the invention uses a minimal number of components, resulting in reduced costs and improved assembly operations.  
         [0005]     Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a latch mechanism of the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is another plan view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIGS. 4A-4D  are plan views of various positions of a rotatable member engaging the latch mechanism of  FIG. 1   
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of an exemplary rotatable structure.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a partial view of an exemplary rotatable structure mounted to a body and illustrating a mounted latch mechanism of the invention. 
     
    
       [0012]     Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an exemplary embodiment of a sliding latch mechanism  10  is depicted. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the latch mechanism  10  may be mounted to a pair of slots  12  that are formed in a body  14 , such as an interior wall of an automobile, and may move along the slots  12 . The latch mechanism  10  includes a latching body  20  that is designed to latch a pin or protrusion, such as pin  100  depicted in  FIG. 4 , to the latch mechanism at various positions on the latch mechanism, as discussed below. With the invention, the pin or protrusion  100  may be mounted to a rotational member  102  such as a rotating door or compartment. To operate the latch mechanism  10 , the user merely pushes the rotatable door or compartment to latch the door or compartment and pushes it again to unlatch the door or compartment as described below. The latch mechanism  10  thus provides a “push-push” operation to latch or unlatch the rotatable door or compartment.  
         [0014]     The latching body  20  defines a planar base  22  and a plurality of mounting legs  24  extending outwardly from the base  22 . The legs  24  are sized and shaped to snap fit within the slots  12  formed in the body  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the legs  24  define pointed ends  25  that permit the latching body  20  to be snap fit into the slots  12 . The legs  24  further define ledges  27  that permit the latching body  20  to be held within the slots  12 , and permit the latching body  20  to slide along the slots  12 .  
         [0015]     As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , ridges  29  and  31  may be formed on the underside of planar base  22  in the direction of travel of the latching body  20  in order to lift the planar base  22  from the body  14  and reduce the friction between the base  22  and the body  14 . In addition, a guide rail  43  may extend outwardly from the underside of the planar base  22  to engage a slot  13  formed in the body  14 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the slot  13  will extend in a substantially parallel manner with the slots  12 . The rail  43  will serve to guide and align the latching body  20  along the slot  13  as well as to guide the legs  24  along the slots  12 . The rail  43  and slot  13  configuration will also create a more robust mounting of the latching body  20  to the body  14 .  
         [0016]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , the latching body  20  defines laterally extending flexible arms  36  on opposing sides of the base  22 . The flexible arms  36  provide biasing forces that further provide points of pressure contact between the latch mechanism  10  and the body  14 . The flexible arms  36  permit the latch mechanism to slide along the slots  12  and yet prevent the latch mechanism  10  to slide on its own due to an incline or gravity. The flexible arms  36 , which may also be referred to as pressure arms, are slightly deflected when the latch mechanism  10  is mounted to the slots  12 . This configuration results in the flexible arms  36  exerting a small force on the body  14  as depicted by force arrows  68  ( FIG. 2 ). The force is small enough to allow the latch mechanism  10  to slide along the slots  12  when the mechanism is engaged by the pin  100  but large enough to prevent to the latch mechanism to slide on its own due to gravity. As exemplified by  FIG. 3 , the latch mechanism  10  may be mounted in an inclined manner. Without the use of the flexible arms  36 , the latch mechanism  10  will tend to slide in the direction depicted by direction arrow  70  due to the forces of gravity.  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 2 , extending outwardly from the base  22 , opposite the direction of the legs  24 , is a cam path or guide path wall  26 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cam path wall  26  forms a cam path mouth  28 . Also extending outwardly from the base  22  is an island wall  30  that defines a curved notch  32 . As described below, during the opening and closing operation of a rotatable door or compartment, the pin or protrusion  100  will enter the cam path mouth  28 , travel along the cam path wall  26  and island wall  30 , and will seat in the notch  32 .  
         [0018]     As illustrated by  FIG. 1 , the cam path wall  26  defines generally a curvilinear shape that permits the latch mechanism  10  to operate with a rotational member such as the rotational member  102  generally depicted in  FIG. 4 , the rotational member  104  depicted in  FIG. 6 , the rotational member  110  depicted in  FIG. 5 , or other similar rotational members or compartments. The cam path wall  26  defines multiple wall portions including curvilinear wall portions  40  and  42 . The wall portions  40  and  42  are joined together at a rounded apex wall portion  44 . The wall portion  42  extends to a generally straight wall portion  46  which joins to a curvilinear wall portion  48 . The wall portion  48  extends to a rounded apex wall portion  50  which joins the wall portion  48  to a wall portion  52 . The wall portion  52  extends at substantially a right angle with the wall portion  48 . However, other angles are possible.  
         [0019]     The island wall  30  is formed near the center of the base  22  and is substantially surrounded by the cam path wall  26 . The island wall  30  defines the curved shape notch  32  that is formed by curvilinear wall portions  31  and  33 . The island wall  30  further defines lower curvilinear wall portions  35  and  37 , which in use, direct the pin  100  around the island wall  30 . As described below, the pin  100  will sit on the curved shape seat  32  when the rotational member  102 , for example, is in the closed or retracted position. The island wall  30  divides the interior area formed by the wall  26  into an inlet channel  62  and an outlet channel  64 .  
         [0020]     As illustrated by  FIG. 4A , the pin  100  is typically round-shaped (though other shapes are possible) and travels along a generally arcuate path when the rotational member  102  is rotated about an axis of rotation  80 . As the pin  100  enters the latching body  20  and engages the cam path wall  26 , the relative arcuate direction of pin travel combined with the curvilinear shape of the cam path wall  26  will cause movement of latching body  20  within the slots  12  and effect the latching and unlatching of the rotational member  102  to the latching body  20 . This movement is exemplified by  FIGS. 4A-4D .  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4D , the operation of the latch mechanism  10  and the engagement of the pin  100  of the rotational member  102  is illustrated. As depicted, the pin  100  will rotate about the axis of rotation  80 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , the pin  100  will enter the mouth  28  and rotatably travel along the inlet channel  62  until the pin  100  contacts the wall portion  35  of the island wall  30 . As the pin continues to rotate about the axis of rotation  80 , the pin  100  will travel along the wall portion  35  and urge the latching body  20  in a leftward direction, as illustrated by  FIG. 4B .  
         [0022]     Referring to  FIG. 4B , the pin  100  will pass the island wall  30  and continue to the wall portion  40  where it will travel along the wall portion  40  until the pin  100  reaches a junction  82  between the wall portion  40  and the apex  44 . Once the pin  100  reaches this position, the user will sense that the rotational member  102 , such as a door, is closed and will release the rotational member  102 . The pin  100  will then travel from the junction  82  toward the notch  32  of the island wall  30 .  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIG. 4C , the pin  100  will contact the wall portion  31  and urge the latching body  20  in the rightward direction until the pin  100  seats within the notch  32 . Once in the notch  32 , the rotational member  102  is latched to the latching body  20  until the user pushes again on the rotational member  102  to unlatch the rotational member. Once this occurs, referring to  FIG. 4D , the pin  100  will rotatably travel along the apex  44  and the wall portion  42  until the pin  100  reaches a junction  84  between the wall portion  42  and the wall portion  46 . As depicted in  FIG. 4D , this pin  100  movement urges the latching body  20  along the slots  12  to the rightward direction. Once the pin  100  reaches the junction  84 , the user will sense or detect that the rotational member  102  cannot rotatably travel any farther and will release the rotational member  102  causing the rotational member  102  to move to the open or unlatched position. As the pin  100  moves to the open or unlatched position, the pin  100  will rotatably travel across the outlet channel  64  along the wall portions  46  and  48  and the apex portion  50  until the pin  100  exits out the mouth  28 . To close or latch the rotational member  102  to the latch mechanism  10 , the action described above is repeated.  
         [0024]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , another exemplary rotational member  110  is depicted and includes a rotational body  112  that defines opposing side walls  114  and pivot pins  116  that extend outwardly from the side walls  114  and serve to mount the rotational body  112  to other structures. The pivot pins  116  provide an axis of rotation for the rotational member  110 . Also extending outwardly from the side walls  114  are protrusions or pins  118  that engage the latch mechanism  10 , as described above. The latch mechanism  10  of the invention permits the latching and unlatching of the exemplary rotational member  110 .  
         [0025]     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the latch mechanism  10  is shown mounted through slots  120  formed in a wall  122  of a structure, such as an interior wall of an automobile or the like. A rotational member  104 , such as a storage compartment typically found in an automobile, is pivotably mounted to the wall  122  through the use of opposing pivot pins  126 . The pivot pins  126  provide the axis of rotation for the rotational member  104 . The rotational member  104  also includes a latching body engagement member  130  such as a protrusion or pin extending outwardly from the rotational member  104 . The latching body engagement member  130  will engage the latch mechanism  10  in the manner described above to facilitate the closing and opening of the rotational member  104 .  
         [0026]     Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.  
         [0027]     Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.