Patent GB-804933-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to latch assemblies
Inventor: LINDNER ADAM CARL
IPC: E05B65/19
Filed: 1956-12-11
Abstract: 804,933. Latches. CHICAGO FORGING & MANUFACTURING CO. Dec. 11, 1956, No. 37894/56. Class 44 A latch assembly comprises an elongated cylindrical keeper 6, Figs. 3 and 4, which is arranged to penetrate apertures 21 and 33 in a pair of parallel spaced walls of a latch housing 26 and be removably held thereby means including a hollow cylindrical sleeve 45 movably positioned in one of the wall apertures in axial alignment therewith and having a portion extending within the housing, the portion of the sleeve 45 within the housing having an aperture 50 arranged to receive partially a ball 60 which bears against a wall 42 inclined to the axis of the keeper 6 so that any tendency of the keeper to withdraw from the housing causes the ball to be forced against the keeper. As shown, the keeper is secured to a pivoted hood closure 2 of any automobile through a plate 5 for co-operation with the latch housing located on a part 1. The inclined wall 42 is provided by a ring 40 which is retained in the housing 26 by a plate 30 attached to the part 1. A spring-loaded latch-releasing member 67 is pivoted to a depending plate portion 29 of the housing 26 and carries vertically extending portions 70, 71 on a pair of arms 68, 69 which engage a flange on the lower end of the sleeve 45, the arrangement being such that the sleeve 45 and the balls 60 are urged upwardly to grip the keeper 6. A spring 8 acting between the plates 5 and 20 and tending to withdraw the keeper from the housing increases the gripping action of the balls on the keeper. A safety latch and operating lever 91 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 90 carried by the plate 29 and includes a hook portion 100 for co-operating with a member 101 on the closure 2, a manually operable grip portion 92 and an arm 95 connected by a spring 96 to the plate 29. When the portion 92 is raised from the position shown against the spring 96 an arm 93 of the lever engages an abutment 75 of the latch-releasing member 67, frees the hook portion 100 from the member 101 and pivots the arms 68 and 69 of the latchreleasing member 67 downwardly to withdraw the sleeve 45 downwardly thus to free the balls 60 and allow the keeper 6 to move upwardly under the influence of the spring 8. In a generally similar arrangement, Fig. 8 (not shown), the keeper is positioned on the part 1 of the automobile and the latch housing assembly is positioned on the part 2. In another arrangement; Fig. 9 (not shown), the spring 8 and its associated parts are omitted. In a further arrangement, Figs. 10, 11, 17 and 18 (not shown), the lower end of the movable sleeve carries a semicircular extension formed with laterally projecting ears which serve as a pivot for a spring-loaded latch-releasing element. In another arrangement, Figs. 12 to 16 (not shown), the keeper and latch structure are secured directly to the part 1 and the closure respectively, the latch-releasing element corresponding generally to that of the Fig. 10 arrangement and having a downwardly depending safety hook which, co-operates with a projection on the closure when the latter is in the closed position and also :serves as a lifting means for the closure with which it is associated.