Patent Publication Number: US-2023134117-A1

Title: Lever-operated latch device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a lever-operated latch device, and more particularly to a lever-operated latch device, in which the operation section is connected with the actuation body to improve the shortcoming of the conventional structure that the length/specification is limited by the arrangement space. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A conventional latch device or the like device is mounted on a cover board structure of a computer/electronic apparatus, server chassis, etc. An operator can open/close or control the cover board structure to lock the chassis main body and enclose the computer/electronic apparatus therein so as to prevent the internal components of the chassis from being exposed to outer side. When the cover board structure is operated and opened, an operator can lay out the internal components of the chassis, service the internal components of the chassis, and so on. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,007 B1 “actuator assembly”, U.S. Pat. No. 7,201,407 B2 “sliding panel latch”, U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,737 B2 “leverage device and system using same”, CN 110388148 A “latch device”, CN 207829660 U “lock latch and case assembly including the lock latch” (Taiwanese Patent No. 107207996 “protective cover latch lock) and CN 206685594 U “lock latch and case assembly including the lock latch” (Taiwanese Patent No. 106215877 “chassis latch lock”) disclose typical embodiments of latch devices. 
     Such latch device generally includes a case body, an actuation handle and a slide plate. A pushbutton is disposed at one end of the case body. The actuation handle has a pivoted end pivotally connected with the other end of the case body in cooperation with springs. The other end of the actuation handle is pivotally connected with a link member. The other end of the actuation handle is formed with a protrusion section, which is permitted to insert with the pushbutton into a locking state. When an operator operates the pushbutton to release the protrusion section, the springs push the actuation handle to open the actuation handle, whereby the slide plate is driven to move to make the link member lift the actuation handle. 
     With respect to the assembling form, structure and operation application of the conventional latch device, under the fixed length or specification of the case body, when the actuation handle and the pushbutton are both arranged on the latch device, it is necessary to shorten the length of the actuation handle. This relatively affects the convenience in operation of the actuation handle. This is not what we expect. 
     To speak representatively, it is revealed from the above references that the conventional latch devices or the like mechanisms have some shortcomings in structure, assembly design and application. The structural form of the conventional latch device or the actuation handle can be redesigned to eliminate these shortcomings. In this case, the structure of the latch device will be different from the structure of the conventional latch device and the use form of the latch device can be changed to be different from that of the conventional latch device so as to practically enhance the application effect thereof. 
     It is found that a relatively idealistic latch device must have a structural form capable of overcoming or improving the aforesaid shortcomings of the conventional latch device. Several design requirements of the idealistic latch device should be taken into consideration as follows:
     1. In the condition that the structure (or the case body) has the same length or specification, the length of the actuation handle is elongated as greatly as possible. Accordingly, the length of the actuation handle is longer than the length of the conventional structure so that the latch device (or the actuation handle) can be more conveniently operated.   2. A press operation structure is further provided, which is directly connected with the actuation handle (or the actuation body). Such structural form is different from the conventional structure so that in the precondition that the length of the actuation handle is not affected or shortened, the operation structure can be still pressed and the actuation handle (or the actuation body) can be smoothly operated to move.   

     All the above issues are not taught or substantially disclosed in the above references. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a lever-operated latch device, which includes an assembly of a case body, an actuation body mounted on the case body, a linking member and a slide body. The actuation body has a free end and a pivoted end pivotally connected with the case body in cooperation with elastic members, whereby the actuation body can swing. The free end of the actuation body is formed with two protruding arms and an opening section positioned between the protruding arms. An operation section is disposed in the opening section. The linking member has a first end pivotally connected with the free end of the actuation body (or the operation section) and a second end connected with the slide body. When an operator presses the operation section, the actuation body is permitted to move from a closed position to an opened position so as to drive the linking member and the slide body to move. This improves the shortcoming of the conventional structure that the length/specification of the structure is limited due to the arrangement space/volume so that the convenience in operation is affected. 
     In the above lever-operated latch device, the operation section includes a press end for an operator to operate and an assembled end. The assembled end is pivotally connected with the first end of the linking member. The assembled end is formed with locating sections in the form of a hook structure. The slide body is formed with subsidiary locating sections corresponding to the locating sections. When the actuation body is positioned in the closed position (or the actuation body is closed into the case body), the locating sections are permitted to be assembled with the subsidiary locating sections, whereby the actuation body is latched on the slide body in a fixed state. 
     The present invention can be best understood through the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective assembled view of the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective exploded view according to  FIG.  1   , showing the structures of the case body, the actuation body, the linking member, the slide body and the elastic members of the present invention; 
         FIG.  3    is a plane sectional view according to  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a plane sectional view according to  FIG.  3   , showing that the locking mechanism is situated in a locking state; 
         FIG.  5    is a plane sectional view according to  FIG.  4   , showing that the locking mechanism is operated and situated in an unlocking state; 
         FIG.  6    is a plane sectional view of the present invention, showing that the locating sections of the operation section are connected with the subsidiary locating sections of the slide body to make the actuation body positioned in the closed position; 
         FIG.  7    is a plane sectional view according to  FIG.  6   , showing that an operator presses the operation section to make the locating sections leave the subsidiary locating sections; and 
         FIG.  8    is a plane sectional view of the present invention, showing that the elastic members drive the actuation body to move upward or to the opened position so as to drive the linking member and the slide body to move. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Please refer to  FIGS.  1 ,  2  and  3   . The lever-operated latch device of the present invention includes an assembly of a case body  10 , an actuation body  20 , a linking member  30  and a slide body  40 . 
     The case body  10  has a bottom wall  11 , two sidewalls  12  extending in a direction in parallel to an axis of the case body  10  and a primary end wall  13  and a subsidiary end wall  14  connected with the sidewalls and normal to the axis of the case body  10 . The bottom wall  11 , the two sidewalls  12 , the primary end wall  13  and the subsidiary end wall  14  together define an open chamber  15  of the case body  10  for receiving the actuation body  20 , the linking member  30  and the slide body  40 . Each sidewall  12  of the case body  10  is formed with a slot  16 . Each of the primary end wall  13  and the subsidiary end wall  14  is formed with a perforation  18 . 
     The upper section, upper side, lower section, lower side, right side, left side, lateral side, etc. mentioned in the description hereinafter are recited with the direction of the drawings as the reference direction. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the actuation body  20  is a plate body structure. The actuation body  20  is defined with a free end  21  and a pivoted end  22  pivotally connected with the case body  10  in cooperation with elastic members  50 , whereby the actuation body  20  can be operated to swing. 
     To speak more specifically, the pivoted end  22  of the actuation body  20  is formed with a shafted section  23  and two recessed sections  24  positioned at two ends of the shafted section  23  as spaces for receiving the elastic members  50 . Each of the elastic members  50  selectively has the form of a torque spring having a coiled section  53  and a first section  51  and a second section  52  connected the coiled section  53 . The shafted section  23  is assembled with a shaft  70 . The shaft  70  is fitted through the coiled sections  53  of the elastic members  50  and shaft holes  17  formed on the sidewalls  12  of the case body  10 . The first sections  51  of the elastic members  50  abut against the bottom wall  11  of the case body  10 , while the second sections  52  abut against the actuation body  20  (or the recessed sections  24 ), whereby the actuation body  20  can be operated to swing. 
     As shown in the drawings, the free end  21  of the actuation body  20  is formed with two (parallel) protruding arms  25  and an opening section  26  positioned between the two protruding arms  25 . Each protruding arm  25  is formed with a stop section  25   a.  A tail section of the protruding arm  25  is formed with a pinhole  27 . An operation section  80  is disposed in the opening section  26 . After the operation section  80  is assembled in the opening section  26  of the actuation body  20 , the stop sections  25   a  serve to keep the operation section  80  in a true position. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the operation section  80  includes a press end  81  for an operator to operate and an assembled end  82 . The assembled end  82  is formed with pinholes  87  and two leg sections  85  in parallel to each other. The two leg sections  85  define therebetween a hollow section  86 . Each leg section  85  has a tail end formed with a locating section  84  in the form of a hook structure. A pin member  77  is correspondingly pivotally fitted through the pinholes  87  of the assembled end  82  and the pinholes  27  of the protruding arms  25 , whereby the operation section  80  can be operated to swing. 
     To speak more specifically, the press end  81  of the operation section  80  is directed to the pivoted end  22  of the actuation body  20 . The assembled end  82  of the operation section  80  is pivotally connected with the linking member  30 . The linking member  30  is defined with a first end  31  and a second end  32 . The first end  31  is received in the hollow section  86  of the operation section  80 . The first end  31  is formed with a pinhole  37  and a dented section  35  for receiving a spring  55 . The spring  55  has a coiled section  56  and a first section  54  and a second section  58  connected with the coiled section  56 . 
       FIGS.  2  and  3    show that the pin member  77  is also fitted through the pinhole  37  of the first end  31  of the linking member  30  and the coiled section  56  of the spring  55 . In addition, the first section  54  of the spring  55  abuts against the linking member  30 , while the second section  58  of the spring  55  abuts against the operation section  80  (or the assembled end  82 ). 
     That is, the first end  31  of the linking member  30  is freely pivotally rotatably connected with the assembled end  82  of the operation section  80  and the free end  21  of the actuation body  20 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the second end  32  of the linking member  30  is formed with a pivoted section  33  for pivotally connecting with a shaft rod  73 , whereby the second end  32  of the linking member  30  is freely rotatable. In addition, the shaft rod  73  is assembled with the shafted section  33  of the linking member  30  and pivotally connected with the slide body  40 . 
     As shown in the drawings, the slide body  40  is a plate body structure. The slide body  40  is movably mounted in the case body  10  (or the chamber  15 ). The slide body  40  is defined with a primary end  43  and a subsidiary end  44 . An assembling section  41  is disposed between the primary end  43  and the subsidiary end  44 . The assembling section  41  has the form of a lug structure formed with a shaft hole  42 . 
     Accordingly, the shaft rod  73  is assembled with the pivoted section  33  of the linking member  30  and the shaft hole  42  of the assembling section  41  of the slide body  40 . In addition, (two ends of) the shaft rod  73  is pivotally connected in the slots  16  of the case body  10 . When an operator presses the operation section  80 , the actuation body  20  is permitted to move from a closed position to an opened position, whereby the linking member  30  is driven to move and make the shaft rod  73  move along the slots  16  so that the slide body  40  is driven to move. This improves the shortcoming of the conventional structure that the length/specification of the structure is limited due to the space/volume so that the convenience in operation is affected. 
     The aforesaid closed position means the position where the actuation body  20  is received in the case body  10  (or the chamber  15 ), while the opened position means the position where the actuation body  20  (or the free end  21 ) is moved away from the case body  10 . 
     The subsidiary end  44  of the slide body  40  is formed with subsidiary locating sections  45  corresponding to the locating sections  84  of the operation section  80 . When the actuation body  20  is positioned in the closed position (or the actuation body  20  is closed into the case body  10 ), the locating sections  84  are assembled with the subsidiary locating sections  45 , whereby the actuation body  20  is latched on the slide body  40  in a fixed state. 
     Please refer to  FIGS.  2  and  3   . A sink  28  is formed on the actuation body  20  between the free end  21  and the pivoted end  22 . A restriction section  29  is formed on the sink  28 . The restriction section  29  is a protruding plate structure. A locking mechanism  60  is mounted in the sink  28 . The locking mechanism  60  includes a rotary body  61  received in the sink  28  and a locking plate  62  pivotally connected with the rotary body  61 . 
     As shown in the drawings, the rotary body  61  is formed with a subsidiary restriction section  63  and a base section  64  in the form of a boss structure. The locking plate  62  has a connection section  65  in the form of a hole structure and wing sections  66  connected with the connection section  65 . After the locking mechanism  60  is mounted in the sink  28 , the base section  64  (protrudes) to pivotally connect with the connection section  65  of the locking plate  62 . When an operator operates the rotary body  61  to rotate, the restriction section  29  of the actuation body  20  provides a system to stop the subsidiary restriction  63 , whereby the rotational angle or rotational range of the rotary body  61  is regulated. 
     A locking hole  36  is formed on the linking member  30  between the first and second ends  31 ,  32  corresponding to the structure of the locking mechanism  60 , permitting the locking plate  62  (or the wing sections  66 ) to pass through. The locking hole  36  is composed of a through hole  38  and a cooperative annular protruding section  39  formed on the through hole  38 . 
     Please refer to  FIG.  4   . When the locking mechanism  60  is situated in a locking state, the wing sections  66  are engaged with the locking hole  36  (or the annular protruding section  39 ), whereby the actuation body  20 , the linking member  30  and the slide body  40  are securely closed in the case body  10  (or the chamber  15 ). 
       FIG.  5    shows that when an operator rotates the rotary body  61 , the wing sections  66  of the locking plate  62  are disengaged from the locking hole  36  of the linking member  30  into an unlocking state. 
       FIG.  6    shows that the locating sections  84  of the operation section  80  are connected or latched with the subsidiary locating sections  45  of the slide body  40 , whereby the actuation body  20 , the linking member  30  and the slide body  40  are kept closed in the case body  10  (or the chamber  15 ). 
     Please refer to  FIG.  7   . After the operator presses the press end  81  of the operation section  80 , the locating sections  84  of the operation section  80  leave the subsidiary locating sections  45  of the slide body  40 . At this time, the elastic members  50  release the stored energy to push the actuation body  20  to move toward the opened position, whereby the linking member  30  is driven to move as shown in  FIG.  8   . 
     Also, as shown in the drawings, the actuation body  20  makes the second end  32  of the linking member  30  drive the shaft rod  73  to move along the slots  16 , whereby the slide body  40  is moved between the primary end wall  13  (or the perforation  18  thereof) and the subsidiary end wall  14  (or the perforation  18  thereof) of the case body  10 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, when the actuation body  20  is closed in the case body  10 , the primary end  43  of the slide body  40  partially protrudes from the perforation  18  of the primary end wall  13  of the case body  10 . When the actuation body  20  is positioned in the opened position, the subsidiary end  44  (or the subsidiary locating sections  45 ) of the slide body  40  is relatively driven to protrude from the perforation  18  of the subsidiary end wall  14  of the case body  10 . 
     To speak representatively, in comparison with the conventional latch device, the lever-operated latch device of the present invention has the following advantages:
     1. The case body  10 , the actuation body  20 , the linking member  30 , the slide body  40  and the relevant component structures have been redesigned. For example, the free end  21  of the actuation body  20  is formed with two protruding arms  25  and an opening section  26 , in which the operation section  80  is mounted. The assembled end  82  of the operation section  80  is formed with leg sections  85 , a hollow section  86  and locating sections  84  for assembling with the first end  31  of the linking member  30 , the dented section  35  and the spring  55 . The first section  54  of the spring  55  abuts against the linking member  30 , while the second section  58  of the spring  55  abuts against the operation section  80 . The second end  32  of the linking member  30  is pivotally connected with the slide body  40 . The subsidiary end  44  of the slide body  40  is formed with subsidiary locating sections  45  inserted with the locating sections  84  of the operation section  80  to control the actuation body  20 , the linking member  30 , etc. to close in the case body  10  or permit the actuation body  20  to drive the linking member  30  and the slide body  40  to move. The lever-operated latch device of the present invention is obviously different from the conventional latch device. The structure or assembling relationship of the conventional latch device is changed so that the use and operation form of the lever-operated latch device of the present invention are different from the conventional latch device.   2. Especially, in the condition that the structure (or the case body  10 ) has the same length or specification (without affecting or shortening the length of the actuation handle), the operation section  80  is directly connected with the actuation body  20 . Such structural form is different from the prior art (the actuation handle and the pushbutton are respectively mounted on the case body to occupy different spaces/lengths). Therefore, the length of the actuation body  20  can be elongated as greatly as possible. Accordingly, the length of the actuation body  20  is longer than the length of the conventional structure so that the press end  81  of the operation section  80  can be pressed and the actuation body  20 , the linking member  30  and the slide body  40  can be more smoothly operated to move. This improves the shortcoming of the conventional structure that the length/specification of the structure is limited due to the arrangement space/volume so that the convenience in operation is affected.   

     In conclusion, the lever-operated latch device of the present invention is effective and different from the conventional latch device in space form. The lever-operated latch device of the present invention is greatly advanced, advantageous over the conventional latch device and patentable. 
     The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the above embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.