Abstract:
A locker latch assembly has a bearing located on the part of the latch where the door-mounted portion of the latch contacts the frame-mounted portion of the latch which increases ease of use, effectiveness of latching, and reduces wear caused by friction between the parts.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a continuation in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/887,571 filed on Jul. 9, 2004 and titled “Locker Latch Assembly.” 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In many situations, lockers, and other lockable containers are very useful. Lockers are commonly used, for example, in schools and sports areas in order to provide temporary storage of personal belongings while a person is occupied in activities that do not require the belongings. For example, in a school, lockers permit students to store books for the appropriate class until needed, rather than carrying books for an entire day of classes all day. Another use of a locker permits changing clothes for working clothes to exercise clothes and back again.  
         [0003]     Such lockers and other lockable containers utilize a wide range of latch mechanisms to make the container securely lockable. However, all such latch mechanisms have at least one frictional contact point between the components of the latch mechanism where the parts abut and must slide across each other. Such sliding inherently creates friction between the parts and causes wear on the parts. Not only does the operation of the latch become more difficult as this wear increases, ultimately, but such wear leads to malfunction of the latch and continual maintenance. That malfunction, in turn, adversely affects the operability of the latch mechanism and ultimately use of the locker.  
         [0004]     The development of a latch assembly that minimizes and controls such friction-creating actions is very desirable and can greatly enhance the durability of a latch mechanism on a locker. With a latch assembly having reduced friction, wear is greatly reduced and the latch mechanism lasts longer, ultimately reducing maintenance issues and cost. Yet, prior art latch assemblies lack these desired features.  
         [0005]     Of critical importance, with latch mechanisms for lockers, is the need for providing an improved latch assembly, which requires minimal modification of the components of the latch mechanism.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a latch member for a latch mechanism that minimizes friction and wear between the interacting components.  
         [0007]     A further objective of this invention is the provision of a latch member that reduces premature wear on the components.  
         [0008]     Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of a latch member, which greatly reduces structural modifications to an existing latch mechanism components locker.  
         [0009]     A still further objective of this invention is the provision of a latch mechanism, which is easily installed into existing latch mechanisms. Another objective of this invention is the provision of a latch member, which minimizes a latch mechanism.  
         [0010]     These and other objectives of the invention, which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole, are met by providing a locker latch assembly with a bearing, which minimizes friction and increases ease of use of the latch mechanism. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art locker latch assembly typically disposed within a door of a locker.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged side view of the prior art slideable latch member  110  shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side cross-sectional view of the latch member of  FIG. 2  taken along the approximate centerline of the latch member.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged side view of the latch member of  FIG. 2  shown in cooperative retaining relationship with a well-known receiving bracket disposed on a locker in a well-known manner.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged side-view of an embodiment of the present application latch member.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of the latch member of  FIG. 5  taken along the approximate centerline of the latch member.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  but shown with an embodiment of the latch member of the present application.  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of the latch member of  FIG. 5  shown in abutting relation with the angled portion of the well-known receiving bracket.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is an enlarged perspective view of the latch member of  FIG. 6  shown in retaining relation with the receiving bracket.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 8 , but shown with an alternate embodiment of the latch member of the present application.  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a side-view of the latch member of  FIG. 10  shown in abutting relation with the angled portion of a well-known receiving bracket.  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the latch member of  FIG. 10  shown in retaining relation with the receiving bracket.  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective exploded view of the terminal end of an alternate embodiment of the latch member of the present application.  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional side view of the latch member of  FIG. 13  shown in retaining relation with the receiving bracket.  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective view of a lock bar and lock bar slip of the present application.  
         [0026]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the assembled lock bar with lock bar clip of the present application taken along line in  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a latch assembly  100  for a locker  102  defined by a container  104  with a hingedly mounted container door  130  is disclosed. The container door  130  is typically constructed of sheet metal defining a plurality of walls  130   a,  that in turn cooperatively define a cavity  130   b.  A slideable lock bar  140  is disposed within the cavity  130   b  adjacent to the side opposing the hinge and is adapted to move between locked and unlocked positions relative to the container door  130  in a well-known manner. The lock bar  140  may be biased to the locked position in a well-known manner. The lock bar  140  includes a plurality of elongated apertures  141  disposed therein. At least one of the apertures  141  is adapted to slideably receive a latch member  110  constructed on a plastic material.  
         [0028]     The latch member  110  is slideable between latched and unlatched positions relative to the lock bar  140 . When the latch member  110  is disposed in the latched position, the latch member  110  is adapted to cooperate with a receiving bracket  122 , which is coupled to the container  104  adjacent to the container opening and that communicates with the latch member  110  via apertures appropriately disposed on the container door  130  and lock bar  140 , to retain the container door  130  in a closed position, relative to the container  104 , in a well-known manner. More particularly, the terminal end of the latch body  180  is adapted to abut the receiving bracket  122  when the latch member  110  cooperates with the angled portion  122   a  of the receiving bracket  122  while the container door  130  is moved from the opened to closed positions, in a well-known manner. When the terminal end of the latch body  180  surpasses the edge  122   b  of the angle portion  122   a,  the latch member  110  is biased to the latched position wherein the latch body  180  is retainably received within the receiving bracket channel  122   c.    
         [0029]     The latch member  110  may be biased to the latched position in a well-known manner, such as with gravity or a spring coupled to the latch member  110 . A handle  170  is slideably coupled to the container door  130  and is adapted to operably communicate with the latch member  110  to cause the latch member  110  to move to the unlatched position, when desired.  
         [0030]     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , latch member  110  includes a latch body  180  and a raised portion  114  disposed in spaced relation to the latch body  180  and integrally coupled thereto via a leg  115 , thereby defining receiving slots  116 ,  116   a  therebetween that are adapted to slideably receive the sidewall  140   a  of the lock bar  140 , in a well-known manner, when the latch assembly  100  is in an assembled condition as shown in  FIG. 4 . The respective termini of the latch body  180  and raised portion  114  include chamfered edges  180   a  in order to facilitate easy assembly of the latch assembly  100  by receiving the sidewall  140   a  of the lock bar  140  in a well-known manner. The opposing termini of the raised portion  114  includes a chamfered edge  114   a  disposed on the outward side of the raised portion  114 , in relation to the latch body  180 . Accordingly, when the latch member  110  is appropriately disposed within an elongated aperture of the lock bar  140 , in a well-known manner, the latch member  110  can slideably move along the longitudinal axis of the lock bar  140  within the aperture, between the latched and unlatched positions, but cannot inadvertently be removed from the aperture.  
         [0031]     Latch member  110  includes a substantially cylindrical bore  118  longitudinally disposed along the mounting slots  116 ,  116   a  and terminating within the leg  115 . A biasing structure, such as a compression spring, may be disposed in the bore  118  to facilitate biasing of the latch member  110  to the latched position by abutting the edge of the sidewall  140   a  of the lock bar  140 . Such a latch assembly  100  is well-known.  
         [0032]     Now will be described the inventions of the present application. Referring to  FIGS. 5-15 , where like components of  FIGS. 1-4  have been numbered, the latch member  200  includes a bearing portion  201  disposed thereon in substantial perpendicular relation to the same longitudinal axis of the latch member  200 . In an embodiment, the bearing portion  201  is disposed at the terminal end  202  of the latch body  203  and is adapted to abut the angled portion  122   a  of the receiving bracket  122  when the latch member  200  cooperates with the receiving bracket  122  while the container door  130  is moved from the opened to closed position in a well-known manner. Accordingly, when the container door  130  is moved to the closed position relative to the locker  102 , bearing portion  201  abuts the angled portion  122   a  of receiving bracket  122 , thereby causing the slideable latch member  200  to move to the unlatched position relative to the lock bar  140 . While the container door  130  continues to be moved to the closed position, the bearing portion  201  causes the latch member  200  to remain positioned in the unlatched position until bearing portion  201  moves beyond the edge  122   b  of the angled portion  122   a,  whereupon the latch member  201  is biased to the latched position and is retained by the receiving bracket channel  122   c  in a well-known manner. With latch member  200  having bearing  201 , frictional engagement with receiving bracket  122 , and more particularly the angled portion  122   a,  is more efficient and decreases excessive frictional wear on the terminal end  202  of the latch body  203  and the angled portion  122   a.    
         [0033]     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 5-9  in an embodiment, the bearing  201  includes a roller bearing  201   a  comprising a substantially cylindrical member that is adapted to rotate relative to the later body  203 . Within latch body  203 , roller bearing  201   a  is supported in a U-shaped portion  182 . Base  184  of U-shaped portion  182  is within latch body  203  in substantial transverse relation thereto, and oppositely disposed from open end  185 . Extending from base  184  on either side of U-shaped portion  182  are arms  186 . Each of arms  186 , contains a pintle aperture  188 . Roller bearing  201  a has pintle pins  190  extending from a shaft  192 . Bearing surface  194  of roller bearing  112   a  is disposed on shaft  192 . Each pintle aperture  188  cooperatively receives a pintle pin  190  to retain bearing  112  in latch body  180 .  
         [0034]     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 10-12 , another embodiment, the bearing  201  includes a radiused edge  201   b  of the latch body  203  that faces the receiving bracket  122  in order to facilitate slideable cooperation with the angled edge  122   a.  In an embodiment, the radius of the radiused edge  201   b  is approximately ⅛ inch. In another embodiment, the bearing  201  includes a chamfered edge of the latch body  203  facing the receiving bracket.  
         [0035]     Referring particularly to  FIGS. 13-14 , in yet another embodiment, the bearing portion  201  includes a substantially U-shaped clip member  201   c  that is adapted to be inserted over the edge of the latch body  203   a.  In an embodiment, the clip member  201   c  is constructed of a metal material and is adapted to be frictionally coupled to a latch body  203   a  constructed of a plastic material. The corner  300  of the U-shaped clip member  201   c  that is adapted to abut the angled portion  122   a  of the receiving bracket  122  is substantially more arcuate compared to the opposing corner  301 , thus creating a radiused edge. The terminal end of the back leg  302  may include an inwardly turned leg portion  303  that is adapted to retain the clip member  201   c  on the latch body  203   a  by cooperating with a detent structure  304  disposed on the latch body  203 . In an embodiment, the latch body  203   a  includes a recess  305  adapted to receive the clip member  201   c.  Accordingly, in an assembled condition, the corner  300  facilitates a radiused edge of the latch body  180  that cooperates with the angled portion  122   a.    
         [0036]     Referring again to  FIGS. 5-12 , in an embodiment, the latch member  200  is constructed of a rigid material, such as metal. In an embodiment, the backside  400  of the latch body  203  includes recessed portions  401 ,  402  to conserve material usage during construction of the latch member  200 . Recessed portions  401 ,  402  may be any shape or formed in any size. In an embodiment, recessed portion  401  is elongated and assumes a majority of the backside of the latch body  203 . In an embodiment, recessed portion  402  is rectangular. In an embodiment, one or more corners  413  of each recessed portion may be accurate. In an embodiment, a third recessed portion  404  may be disposed on the frontside of the latch body  203  in a superimposed position relative to recess  402 .  
         [0037]     In another embodiment, an aperture  405  may be disposed on the latch body  203  in order to conserve material usage during construction of the latch member  200 . The aperture  405  may be rectangular and may be disposed on the latch body adjacent to the lower terminal end of the raised portion  114 .  
         [0038]     In an embodiment, the outer side of the raised portion  114  includes reinforcing rib  406 . Reinforcing rib  406  may extend substantially the length of the raised portion  114  and may be integrally formed therewith. In an embodiment, reinforcing rib  406  is substantially parallel to bore  118  and has an arcuate cross-sectional shape that proportionally conforms to the curvature of the sidewall of the bore  118 .  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIGS. 15-16 , an insert  600  for retaining the lock bar  140  in the door of a locker, wherein the door includes an aperture  104   a  disposed in substantial axial alignment with a substantially elongated aperture  140   a  disposed on the lock bar  140 , is disclosed. The insert  600  includes a head  601 , a body  602  extending substantially perpendicular from the head  601  and having a terminal end for insertion through the door aperture  104   a  and positionable in the lock bar aperture  140   a,  wherein the terminal end defines a guide along the lock bar aperture  140   a  for defined slideable movement of the lock bar  140  relative to the door  104 . The insert  600  terminal end includes outwardly extending resilient wings  603  disposed and extending toward the head for retainable engagement with the backside of the sidewall of the door  130   a  adjacent to the door aperture  104   a.  The insert head  600  may be substantially circular in shape and is preferably larger than the door aperture  104   a.    
         [0040]     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.