Patent Publication Number: US-6901632-B2

Title: Coupling assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The present invention relates to a coupling or latching assembly for removably coupling separate parts together, such as cover or panel or housing parts on a vehicle. 
   Cover panels on agricultural equipment have traditionally been attached with fastening hardware or latches which must be attached to the panel to facilitate mounting the panel on the vehicle. Such hardware is expensive, and labor is required to install such parts on the vehicle and subassemblies. When a cover is to be installed on a vehicle, such hardware must be carefully aligned so that the cover can be mounted correctly and retained securely during field operations. In some cases, the installation and function of the latch hardware may be compromised if the panels and mating parts do not have uniform wall thickness at the attaching points. 
   SUMMARY 
   Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive coupling mechanism for attaching two housing parts together. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide such a coupling mechanism which permits one of the housing parts to be removed from the other part. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide such a coupling mechanism which permits one of the housing parts to be pivoted with respect to the other part. 
   These and other objects are achieved by the present invention, wherein coupling assembly for coupling a first part to a second part includes a plurality of elongated slots formed in the first part and a plurality of latch devices projecting from the second part. Each latch device is releasably receivable by a corresponding slot. Each latch device includes a pair of spaced-apart fingers and a tab projecting from an outer portion of the second part. The tab is positioned between the fingers. The fingers define a plane which faces generally away from a main portion of the second part. The tab has a base, a first leg and a second leg. The base projects from the second part in a direction generally parallel to the fingers. The first leg extends away from the plane from a first end joined to the base to a second end joined to the second leg. The second leg extends towards the plane and away from the first leg. Each latch device pivotally couples the second part to the first part, whereby either end of the second part may be lifted away from the first part. The first leg engages an edge of the slot when the latch device is fully received by the slot, and the tab is biased to urge the latch device into the slot. All the latch devices can be removed from their corresponding slots to completely remove the second part from the first part. Each latch device pivotally couples the second part to the first part, so that either end of the second part may be pivoted and lifted away from the first part. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a panel latch assembly according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the present invention with the panel in a tilted position; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the present invention with the panel in a closed position; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view along lines  5 — 5  of  FIG. 4 ; and 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a panel latch assembly according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , a first housing or panel  10  has a section or opening  12  to be covered by a cover panel  14 . A plurality of elongated slots  16 ,  18  and  20  are formed in panel  10  adjacent to opening  12 . Referring now to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , each slot has first and second spaced apart substantially parallel side walls  22 ,  24  joined together at opposite ends thereof by a pair of end walls  26 ,  28 . From  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  it is seen that panel  10  forms a plate  11  which surrounds and extends away from the opening  12 . Slot side wall  24  forms an inner edge of a portion of plate  11 . A portion of plate  11  adjacent to side wall  24  extends only outwardly away from the slots  16 – 20  and extends generally perpendicularly to a surface of side wall  24 . 
   The panel  14  has a main body  30 , an outer portion  32  surrounding the body  30 , and a plurality of latches  34 ,  36  and  38  which project from opposite ends of the outer portion  32 . 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  5 , each set latch  34 – 38  has a pair of spaced apart fingers  40 ,  42  which project generally linearly and parallel with respect to each other. The fingers having outer surfaces  44 ,  46  which define a plane and which face generally away from a main body  30 . A tab  50  is positioned between each pair of fingers. Each tab  50  has a base  52 , a first leg  54  and a second leg  56 . The base  52  projects from panel  14  in a direction generally parallel to the fingers  40 ,  42 . The first leg  54  projects away from the base  52  and away from the plane defined by fingers  40 ,  42 . Each first leg extends from a first end joined to the base  52  to an outer end which is joined to the second leg  56 . Each second leg  56  extends away from the leg  54  and towards the plane defined by fingers  40 ,  42 . Thus, legs  54  and  56  form an apex  58  which is spaced outwardly apart from the plane of fingers  40 ,  42 . 
   The outer fixed fingers  40 ,  42  have flat planar surfaces which engage the long edge of the corresponding slot  20 . As each latch  34 ,  36  and  38  is inserted into a corresponding slot  16 ,  18  and  20 , each middle tab  50  deflects, pivots or hinges as the apex  58  engages and moves past the edge of the corresponding slot. The outer edges of the fingers  40 ,  42  are angled to aid in locating and installing the latches  34 – 38  within the slots  16 – 20 . The outer end of the middle tab  50  is aligned with the outer ends of the fingers  40 ,  42  to help insure that the middle tab  50  enters the slot along with the fixed fingers  40 ,  42 . 
   As each latch is inserted into the corresponding slot, the fingers  40 ,  42  engage and slide across one side of the slot as the second leg  56  engages the opposite side of the slot and causes the apex  58  of the tab  50  to deflect towards the fingers  40 ,  42 . After the apex  58  passes through the slot, the tab  50  partially rebounds and the first leg  54  and engages the bottom edge of the slot (as best seen in  FIG. 4 ). Preferably, the parts are dimensioned so that the tab  50  does not completely rebound or return to its undeflected starting position. As a result, the still partially deflected tab  50  is biased to exert a force on the bottom edge of the slot which tends to pull or clamp the cover  14  towards the housing  12 . The amount of pull of clamping force can be varied by varying the size and shape of the various parts. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 6 , the housing  10  has an inner raised rim  60  which surrounds the opening  12  and an outer rims  62  and  64 . Outer rim  62  has a slanted end or ramp surface  66  which extends upwardly and away from the outer end of slot  16 . Outer rim  64  has a slanted end or ramp surface  68  which extends upwardly and away from the outer end of slot  18 , and which faces generally towards surface  66 . Surfaces  66  and  68  help to align and guide the latches  34 ,  36  into their respective slots  16 ,  18  for easy installation. Although not illustrated, the rims  62  and  64  also preferably form similar ramp surfaces at opposite ends of slot  20 . 
   Each latch  34 ,  36  and  38  thus performs latch, tension, and release functions. The latches are located on opposite ends of the cover  14  and each defines a hinge axis about which the cover  14  can pivot so that either end of the cover  14  may be lifted. The latches on the end of the cover  14  being lifted are removed from their corresponding slots while the latches on the other end of the cover  14  remain pivotally retained within their slots. The cover  14  may also be totally removed from the housing  10  by lifting both ends of the cover  14  together to removing all the latches  34 – 38  from the slots  16 – 20 . As best seen in  FIG. 2 , each latch  34 ,  36 ,  38 , when fully inserted in the slots  16 ,  18  and  20 , is pivotally engagable with the slot side walls  22 ,  24  and is pivotal with respect to the side walls  22 ,  24 . 
   The latches may be placed on either the cover  14  or the panel  10  with the slots formed in the other part. The latches may be produced using known available pressure—forming technology. The cover and latches could be produced by a number of other technologies and provide similar functionality. Preferably, all of the latches are produced in the forming and trim operations used to produce the cover and mating panel. All the elements are integral with the cover  14  and the panel  10 , and no separate parts are needed. This coupling assembly is simple to use, inexpensive and reliable. Since latches and slots are placed at both ends of the panel  10  and the cover  14 , the cover  14  can function as a hinged lid with either end capable of being opened for easy access to compartments under the cover  14 . 
   While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is understood that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.