Abstract:
A locking device includes a handle member, a rotatable member connected to the handle member, and a bolt member connected to the rotatable member so as to follow rotational movements of the handle between a locking position and an unlocking position of the locking device. The bolt member includes a latch bolt spring-loaded towards an extended locking position and operative to yield towards a less extended position when encountering a stationary part of a coaming when positioned in its locking position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/393,023, filed Mar. 21, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,854,774. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention concerns a locking device of the kind including a handle member, a rotatable member connected to the handle member, and a bolt member connected to the rotatable member so as to follow rotational movements of the handle between an open or unlocked position and a locked position. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   A locking device of this kind is often mounted in a hatch, a door or the like in order to enable locking of the hatch etc., and it is typically operated by turning the handle through 90° between the open and the locked position. Hereby, a free end of the bolt member is moved typically from a position underneath the hatch etc. to a position where it extends outside the limits of the hatch to engage a coaming of the hatch. In an open position of the hatch, it may inadvertently occur that the locking device is in a position where the bolt member projects more or less beyond the limits of the hatch. In case the hatch is slammed in such bolt position, there is an obvious risk that the bolt member and/or the coaming may be damaged. The present invention has as its object to provide a locking device of the kind initially stated that does suffer from this risk. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to the present invention there is provided a locking device including a handle member, a rotatable member connected to the handle member, and a bolt member connected to the rotatable member so as to follow rotational movements of the handle between a locking position and an unlocking position of the locking device, wherein the bolt member includes a latch bolt spring-loaded towards an extended locking position and operative to yield towards a-less extended position when encountering a stationary part of a coaming. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific example, while indicating a preferred embodiment of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a section through a portion of a deck provided with a hatchway closed by a hatch cover provided with a locking device according to the present invention shown in its locking position; 
       FIG. 2  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing also the locking device sectioned; 
       FIG. 3  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 1  but showing the lock in a preparatory step for opening; 
       FIG. 4  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 3  but showing the locking device rotated into its open position; 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 1 , but showing the locking device rotated back to its locking position and the hatch approaching its closed position. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the Figures,  10  designates a normally horizontal surface, such as the deck of, e.g., a yacht, having therein a typically rectangular hatchway  11 , of which only a minor portion is shown. The hatchway is defined by a coaming in the shape of a substantially S-shaped rim  12  integral with the deck and including a substantially U-shaped draining channel  13  and a downwardly turned edge portion  14 . A hatch cover  15  having a downwardly turned exterior edge  16  is dimensioned such that the edge  16  is located within the draining channel  13  in the closed position of the hatch shown. A resilient sealing element  17  is attached to the crest portion  18  of the rim  12  joining the draining channel and the edge portion  14  in order to seal the space underneath the hatch cover  15  from the exterior environment. 
   A locking device  20  according to the present invention is mounted in the hatch cover  15  close to one side thereof. Non-shown hinges are provided along an opposite side of the hatch cover. 
   The locking device  20  includes a handle member  21 , a rotatable member  22  connected to the handle member, and a bolt member  23  connected to the rotatable member. 
   More in detail, a housing  24  having a flange  25  is mounted in an aperture  26  in the hatch cover  15  with the flange resting on the upper surface of the hatch cover. The handle member  21  is shown to be a ring-like structure accommodated within a housing recess  27  having a bottom wall  28 . In the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the handle member is substantially flush with the upper surface of the flange  25 . A protrusion  29  at the exterior circumference of the handle member has a hole  30  for a pivot pin  31  pivotably connecting the handle member to the upper end of a spindle  32  vertically extending through the bottom wall  28 . By means of the hole  30  and the pivot pin  31  the handle member  21  may be swung from the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to the position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The shaft is guided for rotation by a sleeve-like protrusion  33  integral with the bottom wall  28 . A slot  34  is provided in the wall of the protrusion  33  to extend over an angle of preferably 90°. A pin  35  is received in a cross-bore  36  in the spindle  32  thereby limiting rotational movement of the spindle and the handle member by abutment against the ends of the slot  34 . 
   In the position of the handle member shown in  FIG. 3 , it may be rotated through 90° to the position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   The lower end of the spindle  32  is provided with threads  37 , and a latch bolt housing  38  is threaded thereon by means of internal threads  39  provided in an upper portion  40  of the housing. A peripheral, longitudinally extending groove  41  is provided in the spindle  32 , and a stop screw  42  is threaded through the upper portion  40  to arrest rotation of the latch bolt housing relative to the spindle in a chosen rotational position of the former. 
   A latch bolt  43  is received within the latch bolt housing to be slidingly guided between a fully extended position shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , and a fully retracted position not particularly shown. A spring  44 , having one end supported against a rear wall  45  of the latch bolt housing and an opposite end supported against the latch bolt, urges the latch bolt towards its extended position. A handle  46  connected to the latch bolt enables manual operation thereof. 
     FIG. 1  shows the locking device in its locking position with the latch bolt extended to be located underneath the lower edge  14 ′ of the edge portion  14 . To open the locking device, the handle portion is swung open as shown in  FIG. 3 , and the handle is rotated (counterclockwise as seen from above) through 90° to the position shown in  FIG. 4 , thereby moving the latch bolt free from its engagement under the edge  14 ′. The hatch cover is now free to be opened. 
   Of course, the hatch cover may be closed with the locking device in this last position, and then to turn the handle member to the position of  FIG. 1 , but, as a result of the present invention, it is also possible, and preferable, to rotate the handle member after opening of the hatch cover to the position according to  FIG. 3  and also to swing the handle member down to its position according to  FIG. 1 . In this position, the hatch cover may be slammed without any risk of damaging any part of the locking device, since the beveled surface  43 ′ of the latch bolt  43  will encounter the upper part of the edge portion  14  of the rim  12  at its crest portion  18  and cause displacement of the latch bolt towards its retracted position, as shown in  FIG. 5 . As soon as the latch bolt comes free from the edge portion  14 , it will snap into the locked position of the locking device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
   By proper adjustment of the vertical position of the latch bolt housing  38  relative to the spindle  32 , the vertical position of the latch bolt  43 , and thereby the resilient compression of the sealing element  17  may be adjusted. 
   In case a person should be trapped within the hatch, the handle  46  enables manual opening of the locking device and escape from the hatch. 
   The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.