Abstract:
A latch for securing a cabinet door to a cabinet body is disclosed. The latch includes a cam and cam follower configured to move in a pivoting manner to engage and disengage a hook to and from a striker. All the working parts of the latch are installed inside the cabinet such that they are hidden from view, whether the drawer is opened or closed. To prevent the striker from punching through the cabinet door and damaging the decorative bezel or button situated at the external side of the door, the internal side of the door defines a pocket that provides an integrated striker stop to receive the striker when the cabinet is closed. The decorative bezel or button may be detached and replaced independent of the latch.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for securing a door. Specifically, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a cabinet latch configured in a cam and cam follower arrangement. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Cabinets used to hold items can have an internal latch mechanism for securing the door in a closed position. This feature ensures that the door will not open simply because the cabinet is jostled, for example, while in an airplane during take off, landing, or turbulence. To release the latch and gain access to contents contained in the cabinet, a user must activate a release mechanism of the latch that allows the cabinet door to open. 
         [0005]    For instance, one type of latch is a sliding bolt latch. This type of latch requires a lot of clearance for the sliding parts and creates a fair amount of friction during use over time, requiring the user to exert a considerable amount of force to open and close the cabinet door. Furthermore, because the user is more inclined to slam the cabinet door shut to ensure that it is securely closed on the first try, a striker of the latch protruding from the cabinet body is forcibly and repeatedly punched against the internal side of the cabinet door. The door may be coated with a decorative veneer that is aesthetically pleasing, but fragile and easily damaged. Eventually, the striker will punch through the door, damaging not only the door, but a decorative design at the external side of the door. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The invention is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1A  is a diagram of an exterior isometric view of one embodiment of a cabinet door and latch (push to release). 
           [0008]      FIG. 1B  is a diagram of an exterior side view of one embodiment of a cabinet door and latch. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2A  is a diagram of a cross-sectional isometric view of one embodiment of a cabinet door and latch. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2B  is a diagram of a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a cabinet door and latch. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  is a diagram of an exterior isometric view of one embodiment of a latch housing with striker stop and striker. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a diagram of a cross-sectional isometric view of one embodiment of a latch housing with striker stop and striker. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3C  is a diagram of a cross-sectional top view of one embodiment of a latch housing with striker stop and striker. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a diagram of an exterior isometric view of one embodiment of a button and bezel. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a diagram of an interior isometric view of one embodiment of a button and bezel. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a cabinet door and latch (pull to release). 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a diagram of a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a cabinet door with a single actuator and two latches. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a cabinet door and latch with the actuator on the door positioned away from the latch. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a cabinet door using a bellcrank to release multiple bolts. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1A  is a diagram of an exterior isometric view and  FIG. 1B  is a diagram of an exterior side view of one embodiment of a cabinet latch for a door or drawer. As used herein, “cabinet” is intended to be broad enough to include closets and pull out drawers. 
         [0021]    From an external view, the cabinet door includes a first panel  105  that is the main structural piece of the door. The first panel  105  and the second panel  110  are secured together by a latch, which is housed within the first panel  105  and concealed from view. The second panel  110  is the upper ceiling of a cabinet. In another embodiment, the second panel  110  may be a side or bottom wall of the cabinet. In these views, the first panel  105  and the second panel  110  are engaged by the latch, i.e., the cabinet would be closed. The first panel  105  and second panel  110  can be made of plastic, wood, metal, or other solid material. The latch prevents a closed cabinet from opening when the cabinet is jostled or bumped, such as on an airplane. The latch can be released upon activation of an actuator  120  residing on the first panel  105 . The physical location of the actuator  120  on the cabinet may differ in other embodiments depending on the configuration of the cabinet and latch. 
         [0022]    The second panel  110  secures a striker  115  in position with a spacer  112 . The spacer  112  is attached to the second panel  110  with screws  130  and holds the striker  115  in correct alignment with an opening of the first panel  105 . The spacer  112  can be shorter or taller in height to position the striker  115  closer to or farther from the second panel  110 , respectively, depending on where the striker  115  should be received in the first panel  105 . The striker  115  can be secured in another manner, such as by glue or welding. The striker  115  is a solid piece of wire approximately 1/16 of an inch thick formed into a rectangular shape that remains static in position while the first panel  105  moves towards the second panel  110  as the cabinet door is closing. The striker  115  can be formed into a different size or shape to correspond to the particular latch and cabinet used. The first panel  105  defines an opening to receive an end portion of the striker  115  protruding from the second panel  110 . The striker  115  is secured inside the first panel  105  when the first panel  105  and the second panel  110  meet. 
         [0023]    The actuator  120  can be a push button type. The push button actuator  120  and a bezel  125  surrounding the actuator  120  reside at an outer surface of the first panel  105  of the cabinet door. The bezel  125  is a decorative piece only. The button  120 , while also a decorative piece, serves as the physical contact point for a user to initiate activation of the actuator  120  that releases the latch contained in the first panel  105 . To open the cabinet, the user presses the button  120  and slides the drawer out. If the user does not press the button  120 , the cabinet will not open because the latch inside the cabinet has not been released and thus the first panel  105  and the second panel  110  remain secured together. In another embodiment, the actuator  120  can be of another type, such as a paddle with pull activation or a sensor with touch activation. The latch may be used in embodiments other than sliding drawer cabinets, such as hinged doors or side sliding doors (e.g., screen doors that slide to the side). 
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a cross-sectional isometric view and  FIG. 2B  depicts a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a cabinet door and latch. In these views, the latch resides inside the first panel  105 . The first panel  105  and the second panel  110  are positioned in the same manner as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , where the cabinet would be closed and the latch engaged. Engagement and disengagement of the latch will be described with reference to the hook  225 , which pivots between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In other words, the hook  225  is in the engaged position when securing the striker  115  (corresponding to a closed orientation of the hook  225 ) and the hook  225  is in the disengaged position when releasing the striker  115  (corresponding to an open orientation of the hook  225 ). 
         [0025]    To open the cabinet, a user presses the actuator button  120  situated within a bezel  125  on the exterior side of the first panel  105  of the cabinet door. An actuator contact  210  (interfacing with a boss for contact with the actuator button  120 ) residing on the other side of the actuator button  120  moves with the actuator button  120  to cause rotation of a cam  215  and cam follower  220 . The cam to cam follower movement pivots a hook  225  from an engaged position to a disengaged position. 
         [0026]    When the actuator is not activated, the hook  225  is biased in the engaged position by a biasing member that in one embodiment is a pair of torsion springs. One spring returns the actuator  120  to its rest position and the other spring returns the hook  225  to its rest (engaged) position. In the engaged position, the striker  115  is secured into place by the hook  225  inside the first panel  105 . The striker can be released from the hook  225  inside the first panel  105  only when the hook  225  pivots to the disengaged position. While this embodiment is configured so that the hook  225  rotates towards the second panel  110 , other embodiments can be configured so that the rotation of the cam  215  and cam follower  220  cause the hook  225  to pivot in a different direction, such as an opposite or sideways rotation. Further, an embodiment using a paddle actuator that requires a user to pull, rather than push, the actuator can be configured with a complementary cam and cam follower that causes the hook to pivot in the same direction depicted in  FIG. 2B . This embodiment is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B, and  5  position the hook  225  to rotate in the direction as shown to maximize physical compactness of the overall latch. 
         [0027]    A housing  205  in the first panel  105  defines a pocket that retains the cam  215 , the cam follower  220 , and the hook  225 . The pocket receives the portion of the striker  115  protruding from the second panel  110  when the cabinet is closed. The housing  205  conceals the moving parts of the latch inside the first panel  105  and away from view. The housing  205  provides an integrated striker stop to prevent the striker  115  from punching through the first panel  105 , which is discussed in more detail with reference to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C. 
         [0028]    Turning to  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C, these drawings present a latch housing and striker showing the striker stop feature.  FIG. 3A  illustrates an exterior isometric view,  FIG. 3B  illustrates a cross-sectional isometric view, and  FIG. 3C  illustrates a cross-sectional top view of an embodiment of a striker stop and striker. The housing  205  defines a pocket  305  with an opening to receive a striker  115  to be engaged with a hook (not shown). When the striker  115  is inserted into the housing  205  and positioned as shown in  FIGS. 3A ,  3 B, and  3 C, the hook captures and secures the striker  115  so that the striker  115  cannot be removed from the housing  205  until a user initiates release of the hook by activating an actuator (not shown). 
         [0029]    The latch housing  205  includes a distal wall  310  that serves as a physical barrier for the striker  115 . Since the distal wall  310  prevents the striker  115  from traveling past the wall  310 , the striker is not able to reach the exterior wall of the first panel and therefore cannot damage the first panel and any decorative coverings residing along the first panel, as well as any working parts that are in the way. 
         [0030]    If a user exerts excessive force in slamming the cabinet shut, the striker  115  still cannot travel past the distal wall  310  of the housing  205  to damage any working parts of the latch, the cabinet door, or any decorative features on the cabinet door. If the striker  115  is misaligned when installed in the cabinet body and protrudes too far from the second panel, the striker  115  would have a tendency to travel past the position of the wall  310  and damage any parts in its path when the cabinet is closed. However, the wall  310  is positioned to preclude the striker  115  from causing this destruction and thus serves as a striker stop for the latch. If the striker  115  protrudes too far from the second panel, the cabinet will not close completely, but the latch will still secure the cabinet door in its displaced position. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are views of one cosmetic version of a push button actuator and decorative bezel.  FIG. 4A  is a diagram of an exterior isometric view and  FIG. 4B  is a diagram of an interior isometric view of one embodiment of a button and bezel. The bezel  125  is a decorative piece that surrounds the button  120  and is for cosmetic purpose only. The button  120  is an actuator that initiates disengagement of a latch. The button  120  and bezel  125  can be formed as any shape, size, color, or material desired for aesthetic, ergonomic, or cost purposes. The button  120  and bezel  125  can be easily interchanged with other buttons and bezels without replacing the remaining assembly of the latch. The button  120  may be replaced by an actuator of a different type, such as a paddle or sensor actuator, as mentioned above. If the button  120  is secured to fit in the cabinet door, then a bezel  125  may not be required. 
         [0032]    The button  120  in this embodiment has  5  decorative ovals on the exterior side, as viewed in  FIG. 4A . The other side of the button  120  has an actuator contact  210  that is coupled with the button actuator  120  as well as the cam to cam follower assembly of the latch (not shown). The actuator contact  210  serves as an intermediate piece that transfers force initiated by a user on the button  120  to the cam to cam follower coupled with the hook. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of a cross-sectional side view of a paddle latch. The operation differs from a push button latch in movement, but the main structural pieces are similar to those illustrated in  FIG. 2B . The latch is housed in a latch housing  540  in a first panel  505  of a cabinet door. The latch housing  540  provides the same striker stop protection described in connection with  FIGS. 3A-3C . 
         [0034]    To release the latch, a user pulls the actuator  515  in the direction shown by the arrow. Movement of the actuator  515  causes the actuator contact  520  to move in the same manner. The actuator contact  520  is coupled to a cam  525  that rotates and causes the cam follower  530  also to rotate. The cam follower  530  is coupled to a hook  535  that pivots with the rotation of the cam follower  530  between an engaged and disengaged position. When the hook  535  is in the engaged position, a striker  510  is secured in position inside the latch housing  540  of the first panel  505 . When the hook  535  is in the disengaged position, the striker  510  is released from the hook  535  and can be removed from the latch housing  540  so that the cabinet can open. 
         [0035]    It is noted that in the above embodiments, whether the actuator is a push button type or a paddle type, adjustment of the physical placement of the actuator changes its pivot point, affecting the degree in which the hook is rotated away from the striker when the actuator is pressed or pulled. For example, for the paddle type actuator  515  of  FIG. 5 , a user is precluded from pulling it past a certain point when either the top part of the paddle  515  is blocked by contact with the first panel  505  or the hook  535  is blocked by the ceiling of the latch housing  540 . If the actuator  515  is placed too high, it is precluded by contact with the first panel  505  from rotating enough to allow the cam  525  and cam follower  530  to pivot the hook  535  with sufficient clearance to release the striker  510 . Other adjustments may be made to change the amount of rotation allowed for an actuator, such as varying the depth of the hook, varying the width of the first panel, varying the size of the bezel, or varying the size of the striker. 
         [0036]    In additional embodiments, a cabinet door can have multiple latches individually corresponding to multiple actuators or simultaneously corresponding to a single actuator. For example, a tall door may include latches at the top and bottom of the door to enhance strength of closure and require a user to activate a top actuator and a bottom actuator at the same time to open the door. In another example,  FIG. 6  depicts a two latch cabinet corresponding to a single actuator. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  adds a second latch to the existing latch of  FIG. 2B . As illustrated also in  FIG. 2B , a first panel  605  is coupled to a second top panel  610 . The second top panel  610  can be a ceiling of a cabinet. The first panel  605  includes a top latch housing  638  that houses a top cam  692 , a top cam follower  634 , and a top hook  636 . The top hook  636  receives a top striker  615  positioned against a second top panel  610  with a top spacer  612  and top screws or bolts  630 . 
         [0038]    The first panel  605  is also coupled to a third bottom panel  650  parallel to the second top panel  610 . The third bottom panel  650  can be a bottom wall of a cabinet. The first panel  605  also includes a bottom latch housing  670  that houses a bottom cam  662 , a bottom cam follower  662 , and a bottom hook  664 . The bottom hook  625  receives a bottom striker  654  positioned against the third bottom panel  650  using a bottom spacer  652  and bottom screws or bolts  656 . 
         [0039]    The top latch and the bottom latch rotate simultaneously with the push of the button actuator  620 . The actuator contact  640  controls movement of both the top cam  692  and the bottom cam  662 . In this embodiment, the actuator is a push button, but in other embodiments, a paddle may instead be used. The push button is centrally located and, when operated, releases both remotely located latch bolts. The movement of the button is transferred to the latch bolts via individual connecting rods. A single push button therefore pushes one rod and pulls another to release their respective strikers. In the alternative, individual connecting cables may be used instead of rods. These cams cause their respective cam followers  634 ,  660  and hooks  636 ,  625  to rotate and release the strikers  615 ,  654  attached to the top and bottom panels  610 ,  650 . Both strikers  615 ,  654  are disengaged from the hooks  636 ,  625  before the cabinet can be opened. 
         [0040]    Furthermore, the actuator may be physically positioned a substantial distance away from where the working parts of the latch are located. In  FIG. 7 , the latch is configured similar to the latch of  FIG. 2B , except the actuator is located near the bottom of the cabinet door.  FIG. 7  includes a first panel  705  is coupled to a second panel  710 . The first panel  705  includes a latch housing  738  that houses a cam  732 , a cam follower  734 , and a hook  736 . The hook  736  receives a striker  715  positioned against a second panel  710  using a spacer  712  and screws or bolts  730 . The push button actuator  720  is located within the bezel  725  near the bottom of the first panel  705  and coupled to an actuator contact  740  that is coupled to a rod  745  (or cable) that, in turn, rotates the cam  732 , as similarly configured in  FIG. 6 . Thus, a user can press the actuator button  720  to release the latch and open the cabinet even when the latch is physically located quite a distance away from the button. 
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a cabinet door using a bellcrank to release multiple bolts. This embodiment differs from  FIG. 7  in that a bellcrank operation is utilized. Here, the actuator button  820  is pressed to move rod  830  upward. As mentioned above, the rods illustrated may alternatively be cables in another embodiment. The upward movement of rod  830  rotates bellcrank  840 . As bellcrank  840  pivots, rod  850  is pushed upward, and at the same time, rod  860  is pushed downward. The upward movement of rod  850  releases the top bolt in the manner of  FIG. 7 . Likewise, the downward movement of rod  860  releases the bottom bolt in a mirrored manner of the top bolt. 
         [0042]    In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.