Patent Publication Number: US-2007120380-A1

Title: Pivoting push latch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      The present regular United States Patent Application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/737,678, filed on Nov. 17, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to latch mechanisms and, more particularly, the invention pertains to latch mechanisms that are pushed to open and pushed to close.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Latch mechanisms that are pushed to open and pushed to close are used extensively in many constructions and assemblies and have received broad acceptance in the automotive industry. So called “push-push latches” are known for use on container holders, storage compartments, ashtrays, sunglass bins and other compartments within automobiles. Such mechanisms are used also in the electronics industry for stereos, televisions, video devices and the like which have compartments and things for which it is convenient and/or desirable to use a pushing motion for both latching and unlatching the device. A push-push latch is operated by pushing the drawer, door, tray or other device both to open and close the object. For example, a cup holder in an automobile can be released from a closed or stored position by pushing it inwardly in its mounting. The inward movement of the cup holder releases the holder from its latching mechanism, allowing it to spring outwardly for use. From the extended or exposed position for use, the holder is returned to a stored condition by again pushing the holder inwardly in its mounting, causing the latch to engage the holder, retaining it in a stored position.  
      Some such push-push latch mechanisms have been relatively complex, with many component parts. As a result, such mechanisms are expensive to manufacture, assemble and install.  
      In a known push-push latch design directed at simplifying the latch, a latching body includes a mouth, an inlet channel in communication with the mouth and an outlet channel in communication with the mouth. A detent nest is provided for receiving a protrusion and holding the protrusion in a locked condition. Cam means disposed between the inlet and outlet channels direct the protrusion into the nest from the inlet channel and direct the protrusion from the nest into the outlet channel upon successive push operations. The latching body is held in straight slots along which it traverses during operation. Accordingly, the latching body and protrusion are movable in separate paths substantially orthogonal to each other.  
      While a sliding push-push latch as described above has achieved acceptance in some applications, in other applications the use thereof has been problematic. One such difficulty occurs when the latch is used on a door, bin or the like which pivots open from a fixed axis. When movement is straight line, the sliding latch mechanism described works easily. However, when a bin or the like is moved in an arc, pivoting about an axis, the pivotal movement must be translated to straight line movement for operating the latch. The result can be increased operating forces required to push the bin at both the opening and closing functions.  
      Further, it is sometimes desirable to have a two stage operation wherein the bin or the like can be secured at an intermediate position between fully opened and fully closed positions. For example, in an automobile, the first position can expose a mirror, and the second position can expose a storage bin behind the mirror.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a push-push latch mechanism wherein the latching body is secured about an axis and pivots about the axis as a part of the device on which it operates pivots around another axis when moved between closed and open positions.  
      In one aspect thereof, the present invention provides a latch with a protrusion movable in an arc, and a push-push latch configuration having an entrance wall portion, an exit wall portion and a redirecting feature between the entrance wall portion and the exit wall portion. A nest has a settling point for receiving the protrusion. The latch configuration is pivotal about an axis for movement in an arc as the protrusion traverses paths entering and exiting the latch configuration.  
      In another aspect thereof, the present invention provides a latchable structure with a first component having a hole and an arcuate slot, and a latch body having first and second faces. The first face has a snap connector disposed in the hole and a boss disposed in the arcuate slot. The second face has a push-push latch configuration including a latch nest. The latch body is rotatable about the snap connection in the hole, the rotation being limited by the boss in the arcuate slot. A second component is movable about a pivotal axis for opening and closing the structure. The second component has a protrusion movable in an arc and operating within the push-push latch configuration including being retained in the latch nest to secure a position of the second component relative to the first component.  
      In a still further aspect thereof, the present invention provides a method for operating a latch with steps of moving a protrusion in an arc; providing a push-push latch configuration; and tilting the latch configuration from one position to another position about a rotational axis while moving the protrusion within the latch configuration  
      An advantage of the present invention is providing a push-push latch mechanism that operates easily and conveniently in a pivoting environment where the device to be latched moves in an arc about an axis.  
      Another advantage of the present invention is providing a push-push latch mechanism that operates smoothly and easily.  
      A further advantage of the present invention is providing a push-push latch having multiple stops including a fully closed and a partly closed stop position.  
      Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used to designate like features. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a bin having a push-push latch mechanism in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one side of a latch body in the latch mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the latch body shown in  FIG. 2 , but showing the side opposite the side shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the bin illustrated in  FIG. 1 , with the latch body in one operating position;  
       FIG. 5  is a fragmentary view similar to that of  FIG. 4 , but illustrating the latch body in another operating position;  
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary view similar to that of  FIGS. 4 and 5 , but illustrating the latch body in a still further operating position;  
       FIGS. 7, 8 ,  9  and  10  illustrate sequential positions during operation of the latch mechanism, with  FIG. 7  illustrating the start of a latch operation,  FIG. 8  illustrating a further step in the latching process,  FIG. 9  illustrating the latched position and  FIG. 10  illustrating movement toward an unlatched condition; and  
       FIG. 11  illustrates another embodiment of the push-push latch mechanism in accordance with the present invention having multiple stops. 
    
    
      Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to  FIG. 1  in particular, numeral  20  designates a latchable structure, which in the exemplary embodiment is a bin assembly, having a latch  22  in accordance with the present invention installed therein for securing the bin in a closed position. It should be understood that the exemplary illustration of bin  20  is merely for illustrative purposes, and the present invention can be used on a variety of objects and devices of different shape and for different purpose than bin  20 . Generally, the present invention can be used for latching a structure having a first component and a second component movable relative to the first component.  
      Bin  20  includes a first component  24 , which is a housing  24 , and a second component  26 , which is a door  26 . Housing  24  is provided with a hole  28  and an arcuate slot  30  both for receiving latch  22 , as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. Door  26  is pivotally connected to housing  24  about an axis  32 . Door  26  further includes a pin or protrusion  34  to work with latch  22 .  
      Latch  22  is a body  40  of material such as molded plastic or the like and includes a mounting face  42  on one side of body  40  and an operating face  44  on the opposite side of body  40 . Mounting face  42  includes a snap connector  46 , which in the exemplary embodiment has two deflectable legs  48 ,  50  with outwardly projecting lips  52 ,  54 , respectively, for a snap-fit engagement with housing  24  via hole  28 . Mounting face  42  further defines a boss  56  received in arcuate slot  30 , for limiting rotation of latch  22  relative to housing  24  about the axis defined by the engagement of snap connector  46  in hole  28 . Boss  56  is arcuately shaped and is selected of a length with respect to a length of arcuate slot  30  to restrain rotation of latch  22  to extreme positions relative to the opposite ends of arcuate slot  30  for proper operation within the environment of bin  20 . The ends of slot  30  are fixed stops for the rotation of body  40 .  
      Operating face  44  defines a so-called push-push latch configuration  60  which cooperates with pin or protrusion  34  for a push-to-latch, push-to-unlatch opening and closing procedure for bin  20 . Latch configuration  60  includes an outer wall having an entrance wall portion  62 , an exit wall portion  64  and a redirecting feature  66  having both an entrance side  68  and an exit side  70 . Redirecting feature  66  interconnects entrance wall portion  62  and exit wall portion  64  so that a continuous barrier is provided from an end  72  of entrance wall portion  62  to an end  74  of exit wall portion  64 . Ends  72  and  74  are spaced from each other, defining a portal  76  through which protrusion  34  passes during opening and closing procedures.  
      A latch nest  78  is disposed between and spaced from entrance wall portion  62  and exit wall portion  64 , and is beneath and spaced from redirecting feature  66 . Accordingly, an entrance path  80  and an exit path  82  are defined between latch nest  78  and entrance wall  62 , exit wall  64  and redirecting feature  66 , leading from and toward the area of portal  76 .  
      Latch nest  78  is a generally heart-shaped configuration forming a settling point  84  defining the secured position for pin or protrusion  34  when bin  20  is closed. An entrance surface  86  and an exit surface  88  meet to define settling point  84  therebetween. On an opposite side from settling point  84 , latch nest  78  includes an entrance guide wall  90  and an exit guide wall  92 . Although latch nest  78  is shown as being heart shaped, it can be any shape, such as in the shape of a check mark or backwards “L”, that allows the mating pin or protrusion to enter the cam path, latch in the nest and unlatch while leaving the cam path, as is described herein.  
       FIGS. 4, 5  and  6  illustrate the limited movement of latch mechanism  22  relative to housing  24  during latching and unlatching procedures.  FIGS. 9-12  illustrate various positions of the pin or protrusion  34  during latching and unlatching, and various positions of latch mechanism  22  as latch mechanism  22  pivots about an axis defmed by snap connector  46 , with movement being limited by boss  56  in arcuate slot  30 . An arm  94  is shown connected to protrusion  34  in  FIGS. 7-10 , to better illustrate the manner in which latch body  40  tilts relative to the rotational axis about which protrusion  34  travels.  
      From an opened position, bin  20  is closed by raising door  26 . Protrusion  34  enters latch configuration  60  through portal  76  and follows along entrance wall portion  62 , guided as necessary by entrance guide wall  90 . As lifting pressure is applied and protrusion  34  slides along entrance wall portion  62 , latch mechanism  22  is caused to tilt toward the pivotal axis controlling the path along which protrusion  34  travels, axis  32  in the exemplary embodiment of bin  20 . Continued lifting of door  26  continues the traversing of entrance path  80  by protrusion  34  until protrusion  34  is fully raised at the juncture of entrance wall portion  62  and entrance side  68  of redirecting feature  66  ( FIG. 8 ). A person closing bin  20  will naturally release lifting pressure as no further movement of door  26  occurs. As lifting force is relieved, protrusion  34  follows entrance side  68  and drops into settling point  84  ( FIG. 9 ) as latch mechanism  22  rotates to a more centered position ( FIG. 4 ).  
      When bin  20  is to be opened, door  26  is again lifted slightly. Protrusion  34  is raised from settling point  84  and encounters exit side  70  of redirecting feature  66 . Protrusion  34  slides along exit side  80  to a juncture of exit side  80  and exit wall  64  as latch mechanism  22  tilts away from the rotational axis about which protrusion  34  travels ( FIG. 10 ). As the person opening bin  20  encounters resistance to further lifting, lifting pressure is relieved and door  26  falls open as protrusion  34  follows along exit wall portion  64  and exit path  82 .  
      Tilting of latch mechanism  22  both toward and away from the rotational axis controlling the path of protrusion  34  facilitates smooth, consistent operation in a pivoting closure with protrusion  34  moving along an arc from the pivot point of axis  32 .  
       FIG. 11  illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention for a latch mechanism  100 , and more specifically an operating face  102  thereof. Latch  100  is provided with a mounting face (not shown) similar to mounting face  42 , and is pivotally mounted for controlled tilting back an forth during operation as described for latch mechanism  22 , such as by mounting a snap connector  46  in a hole  28  and positioning a boss  56  in a slot  30 .  
      Operating face  102  defines a latch configuration  104  including an outer wall having an entrance wall portion  106 , a first exit wall portion  108  and a first redirecting feature  110  having both an entrance side  112  and an exit side  114 . A first latch nest  116  is disposed between and spaced from entrance wall portion  106  and exit wall portion  108  and generally beneath and spaced from redirecting feature  110 . Latch nest  116  is a generally heart-shaped configuration forming a settling point  118  defining the closed position for pin or protrusion  34 , but can be any suitable configuration in accordance with the present invention. At the opposite side of latch nest  116  from settling point  118  a second redirecting feature  120  is provided. Second redirecting feature  120  operates in conjunction with a second latch nest  122  having a second settling point  124  for securing the latch mechanism in a partly opened condition. A second exit wall portion  126  joins with first exit wall portion  108  at a directing point  128  to direct protrusion  34  toward second redirecting feature  120  and second latch nest  122 .  
      A two-stage latch mechanism  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 11  is operated in push-push operations. The user pushes a bin or the like to open it, and as the bin rotates open, the user interrupts the motion at an intermediate position between the fully closed and fully open positions by pushing the bin again upward slightly. When fully closed, a protrusion  34  is held in first latch nest  116 , and in a partly open condition protrusion  34  is held in second latch nest  122 . To fully open the device from the partly opened condition the device is again pushed to dislodge the protrusion from second latch nest  122  and permit movement of the protrusion to the fully open position.  
      Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.  
      Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.