Patent Publication Number: US-2002008388-A1

Title: Control mechanism for operating a latch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE  
     [0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/094,281 filed Jun. 9, 1998, entitled “Control Mechanism for Operating a Latch”. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] This invention relates to latches, as used for example on an enclosure element to releasably maintain the closure element in a closed state and, more particularly, to a control mechanism for changing the state of the latch. The invention is also directed to a system including the control mechanism and latch.  
       [0004] 2. Background Art  
       [0005] Push-button types of actuators are used to operate latch systems on doors, lids, and other types of closures, in a number of different environments. It is known to simultaneously operate multiple rotary or slide bolt latches through a push-button actuator. It is also known to use a push-button actuator for operating a single rotary or slide bolt latch.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] In one form of the invention, a control mechanism is provided for operating a latch. The control mechanism has a frame and a first arm attached to the frame for pivoting movement relative to the frame around a first axis between first and second positions. The first arm has a first edge and a first connecting portion. The first connecting portion is connectable to a latch to effect operation of the latch connected to the first connecting portion as an incident of the first arm moving from the first position into the second position. An actuator assembly is translatable relative to the frame between normal and actuating positions along a line that is transverse to the first axis. The actuator assembly engages the first edge and causes the first arm to move from the first position into the second position as an incident of the actuator assembly moving from the normal position into the actuating position.  
       [0007] In one form, a second arm is attached to the frame for pivoting movement relative to the frame around a second axis between third and fourth positions. The second arm has a second edge and a second connecting portion, with the second connecting portion being connectable to a latch to effect operation of a latch connected to the second connecting portion as an incident of the second arm moving from the third position into the fourth position.  
       [0008] In one form, the actuator assembly engages the second edge and causes the second arm to move from the third position into the fourth position as an incident of the actuator assembly moving from the normal position into the actuating position.  
       [0009] The actuator assembly may move as one piece between the normal and actuating positions.  
       [0010] The actuator assembly may be spring biased towards the normal position.  
       [0011] In one form, the first arm has an L shape.  
       [0012] In one form, the first and second axes reside within a single plane and the actuator assembly is translatable in a first line between the normal and actuating positions, and the first line is orthogonal to the single plane.  
       [0013] In one form, the frame has first and second transverse legs cooperatively defining an L shape, the actuator assembly is supported on the first leg, and the first and second arms are each pivotably connected to the second leg.  
       [0014] The first and second transverse legs may be formed as one piece.  
       [0015] In one form, the frame has an opening which is fully surrounded by the first leg. The actuator assembly includes a plate which causes the first arm to move from the first position into the second position and the second arm to move from the third position into the fourth position as an incident of the actuator assembly moving from the normal position into the actuating position. The plate may extend through the opening in the frame.  
       [0016] In one form, the actuator assembly plate abuts the first and second edges, and thereby causes the first arm to move from the first position into the second position and the second arm to move from the third position into the fourth position as an incident of the actuator moving from the normal position into the actuating position.  
       [0017] The first edge may have a curved configuration.  
       [0018] The plate may have a flat surface which abuts to the first edge.  
       [0019] The flat surface on the plate may reside in a plane that is substantially parallel to the single plane.  
       [0020] A cantilevered finger grip may be provided having a surface against which a user&#39;s finger on one hand can be placed to facilitate pressing by another finger on the user&#39;s one hand against the actuator assembly.  
       [0021] The control mechanism may be provided in combination with a latch having first and second operating states and a linkage acting between the first connecting portion of the first arm and the latch to change the latch from the first operating state into the second operating state as an incident of the first arm moving between the first and second positions.  
       [0022] The invention is also directed to a control mechanism for operating a latch, which control mechanism has a frame and a first arm attached to the frame for pivoting movement relative to the frame around a first axis between first and second positions. The first arm has a first connecting portion that is connectable to a latch to effect operation of a latch connected to the first connecting portion as an incident of the first arm moving from the first position into the second position. The actuator assembly is translatable relative to the frame between normal and actuating positions along a line that is transverse to the first axis. The actuator assembly causes the first arm to move from the first position into the second position as an incident of the actuator assembly moving from the normal position into the actuating position.  
       [0023] A second arm may be attached to the frame for pivoting movement relative to the frame around a second axis between third and fourth positions. The second arm has a second connecting portion that is connectable to a latch to effect operation of a latch connected to the second connecting portion as an incident of the second arm moving from the third position into the fourth position. The second arm moves from the third position into the fourth position as an incident of the actuator assembly moving from the normal position into the actuating position.  
       [0024] The first and second axes may be substantially parallel to each other. In one form, the actuator assembly is movable along a first line between the normal and actuating positions and the first line is substantially perpendicular to the first and second axes.  
       [0025] The control mechanism may be provided in combination with a latch having first and second operating states and a linkage which acts between the connecting portion on the first arm and the latch to cause the latch to change from the first state into the second state as an incident of the first arm moving from the first position into the second position. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0026]FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a control mechanism, according to the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of the inventive control mechanism;  
     [0028]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the inventive control mechanism;  
     [0029]FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the inventive control mechanism;  
     [0030]FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the inventive control mechanism;  
     [0031]FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the inventive control mechanism mounted to a wall on a closure element;  
     [0032]FIG. 7 is a reduced, perspective view of the inventive control mechanism operatively connected to a pair of latches and mounted on a closure  5  element, with the latches in a first state;  
     [0033]FIG. 8 is a view as in FIG. 7 with the control mechanism operated to change the latches from the first state into a second state;  
     [0034]FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the inventive control mechanism operatively mounted to a wall on a closure element and operatively connected to another type of latch and with the latch in a first state;  
     [0035]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the control mechanism and latch in FIG. 9, with the latch in the first state;  
     [0036]FIG. 11 is a view as in FIG. 9 with the control mechanism operated to change the latch into a second state; and  
     [0037]FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the control mechanism and latch, with the latch in the second state of FIG. 11. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0038] Referring initially to FIGS.  1 - 8 , a control mechanism, according to the present invention, is shown at  10 . The control mechanism  10  is operable to change the state of one or more latches associated with a closure element to which the control mechanism  10  is mounted, as hereinafter described, particularly with respect to FIGS.  7 - 12 . The control mechanism  10  consists of a frame  12  having first and second orthogonal legs  14 ,  16  made from substantially flat material so that the legs  14 , 16 , cooperatively define an L shape. In a preferred form, a single piece defines the first and second legs  14 , 16  and depending stops  18 ,  20 , which function as hereinafter described.  
     [0039] The first leg  14  defines a support for an actuator assembly  22 . The actuator assembly  22  consists of a keyed lock cylinder  24  which extends through a sleeve  26 . The forward end  28  of the cylinder  24  has a keyway  30  to accept a key (not show) used to operate a conventional locking mechanism at  32 . The rear end  34  of the cylinder  24  projects through and to rearwardly of the sleeve  26 . The rear end  34  has a projection  36  which is keyed within a complementary opening  38  through a plate  40 . A screw  42  captively holds the plate  40  to the cylinder end  34 .  
     [0040] The actuator assembly  22 , consisting of the lock cylinder  24 , sleeve  26 , and plate  40 , is movable as one piece guidingly in transiatory movement through a bore  44  in a housing  46 . The diameter of the external surface  48  of the sleeve  26  is sized to be slightly less than the diameter of the bore  44  to slide smoothly therethrough without significant interference. Diametrically oppositely projecting tabs  50 ,  52  are movable, one each in keyways  54  (one shown), so that the actuator assembly  22  is consistently angularly oriented relative to the housing  46 . The cooperating tabs  50 ,  52  and keyways  54  guide the lock cylinder  24  in translatory movement relative to the housing  46  along a line indicated by the double-headed arrow  56 , which is parallel to the central axis of the housing  46 .  
     [0041] The lock cylinder  24  is normally biased to a forward position by a coil spring  58 . The spring  58  surrounds the lock cylinder  24  and is captively loaded between a washer  60  at the rear end  62  of the housing  46  and the rear surface  64  of the sleeve  26 .The washer  60  is limited in rearward movement by a C-clip  68  which attaches conventionally at the rear end  62  of the housing  46 .  
     [0042] The housing  46  has a threaded external surface  70  with diametrically oppositely located flats  72 ,  74 . An unthreaded portion  76  of the housing  46 , having the same flatted configuration, extends through a complementary bore  78  to make a keyed connection with the first leg  14  on the frame  12 . Slots  80  (one shown) at diametrically opposite locations on the housing portion  76 , accept a conventional spring clip  81 , which maintains the housing  46  and frame  12  in operative relationship.  
     [0043] The housing  46  has an enlarged flange  82  defining a rearwardly facing, annular shoulder  84 . The shoulder  84  can be drawn against a wall  86  on an enclosure to which the control mechanism  10  is mounted through a nut  88  that is threaded to the surface  70  of the housing  46 . A metal washer  90 , which is keyed to the housing portion  76 , resides between the nut  88  and the rear surface  92  of the wall  86 . A rubber gasket  94 , also keyed to the housing portion  76 , resides between the front surface  96  of the wall  86  and the shoulder  84 . By tightening the nut  88 , the wall  86  can be firmly captively held between the nut  88  and shoulder  84 . The gasket  94  leakproofs the region between the housing surface  70  and an opening  98  in the wall through which the control mechanism  10  projects.  
     [0044] A grasping element  100  is provided and has a body  102  which is keyed to the housing portion  76  and a cantilevered finger grip  104  projecting from the body  102 . The finger grip  104  has a curved, rearwardly facing surface  106  which can be grasped as by the user&#39;s index finger, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, to brace the hand to facilitate pressing of the forward surface  108  of the actuator assembly  22  with the thumb on the same hand to effect rearward translatory movement thereof relative to the housing  46 .  
     [0045] The actuator assembly  22  is translatable between a normal position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, wherein the spring  58  biases the actuator assembly  22  fully forwardly, and an actuating position, shown in FIG. 8, wherein the actuator assembly  22  is shifted rearwardly.  
     [0046] Movement of the actuator assembly  22  causes operation of one or more remote latch assemblies  110 . The latch assembly  110  is but exemplary of a number of different latch assemblies that can be operated using the inventive control mechanism  10 . Each latch assembly  110  consists of a housing  112  which guides movement of a latch element  114  between an extended position, shown in FIG. 7, and a retracted position, shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 7 represents the latched state for the latch assembly  110 , whereas FIG. 8 represents the unlatched state for the latch assembly  110 . Each latch element  114  is movable through a slide plate  116  which is translatable in the line of the double-headed arrow  120 .  
     [0047] Movement of the slide plates  116 , and as a result the latch elements  114 , is imparted through linkages  122 , cooperating one each between the control mechanism  10  and a latch assembly  110 . The translatory movement of the actuator assembly  22  is converted to a transverse translatory movement of the linkages  122  through a mechanism, as described below.  
     [0048] More particularly, the second frame leg  16  supports first and second L-shaped arms  126 ,  128  for pivoting movement around axes  130 ,  132 , which are substantially parallel to each other and orthogonal to the line of movement of the actuator assembly  22 . In a preferred form, the axes  130 ,  132  reside in a plane which is orthogonal to the line of movement of the actuator assembly  22 .  
     [0049] The arms  126 , 128  have the same construction and are mounted as mirror images of each other upon the leg  16 . Exemplary leg  126  has a linkage connecting portion  134  and a driven portion  136 . The connecting portion  134  has an opening  138  to accept a bent end  140  on the linkage  122  so that the end  140  is pivotable about an axis  142  relative to the arm  126 .  
     [0050] The driven portion  136  of the arm  126  has a curved edge  144  that is engaged by a flat surface  146  on the plate  40  as the actuator assembly  22  is moved rearwardly. As the flat surface  146  engages the edge  144  and advances rearwardly, the arm  126  is caused to pivot in the direction of the arrow  148  around the axis  130 . The rounded contour of the edge  144  allows the edge  144  and surface  146  to slide against each other as the plate  40  and arm  126  reposition.  
     [0051] Through this interaction, the arm  126  is pivotable between a first position, shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, and a second position, shown in phantom lines in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 8. Movement of the arm  126  from its first position into its second position causes the linkage  122  to cause the latch assembly  110  to change from the latched state to the unlatched state therefor, i.e., from the state in FIG. 7 to the state in FIG. 8.  
     [0052] The plate  40  cooperates with the second arm  128  in the same manner to cause the second arm to reposition the associated linkage  122  to change the state of the associated latch assembly  110 .  
     [0053] The frame stops  18 ,  20  abut to the legs  128 ,  126  to limit pivoting of each arm  126 , 128  from its first position to beyond its second position. The edges  150 ,  152  of the frame leg  14  abut to the arms  126 ,  128  to limit movement of each of the arms  126 ,  128  from their second position to beyond their first position.  
     [0054] The frame leg  16  has an opening  154  formed therethrough which is fully surrounded by the single piece defining the first and second frame legs  14 ,  16 . The plate  40  projects upwardly into, and preferably through, the opening  154 . This allows the plate surface  146  to contact the arm edges  150 ,  152  at a location thereon below the top edge  156  of the plate  40 .  
     [0055] In FIGS.  9 - 12 , the control mechanism  10  is shown operatively connected to another type of latch assembly  160 . The latch assembly  160  has a U-shaped housing  162  which supports a catch element  164  for pivoting movement between the position shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, representing two different states for the latch assembly  160 . Changing of the latch assembly  160  between the states shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 and that of  11  and  12  is effected by pivoting an actuator arm  166  about an axis  168 , which is accomplished by connecting the arm  126  to the arm  166  through a linkage  170  in the same manner as previously described for the linkage  122 .  
     [0056] In this particular latch assembly construction, the catch element  164  is normally spring biased towards the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 by a coil spring  172 . The actuating arm  166  overcomes this spring bias and in the position of FIGS. 9 and 10 maintains the catch element  164  in the position of FIGS. 11 and 12. By pivoting the actuating arm  166  from the position in FIGS. 9 and 10 in the direction of the arrow  174 , the catch element is allowed to pivot under the force of the spring  172  to the position of FIGS. 9 and 10.  
     [0057] The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is intended to be illustrative of the broad concepts comprehended by the invention.