Patent Publication Number: US-9422750-B2

Title: Range limited latch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/865,249, entitled “RANGE LIMITED LATCH” and filed Aug. 13, 2013, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Cabinets, such as, for example, mechanics&#39; cabinets and tool cabinets are commonly fabricated from sheet metal and may include a cabinet enclosure with one or more hinged doors and/or sliding drawers to provide access to the contents of the cabinet. In order to provide security for the contents within the cabinet, a locking system may be provided. The locking system will normally include a key actuated mechanism which enables locking of a door or drawer in a closed position. Actuation or release of the key operated mechanism is necessary in order to release or unlock the doors or drawers. Additionally or alternatively, a cabinet may be provided with a release latch for retaining an unlocked drawer or door in a closed position against inadvertent opening of the drawer or door (e.g., due to bumping, jostling, or tipping of the cabinet). User manipulation of a release member (e.g., a lever, knob, button, slideable or pivotable handle, or other such mechanism) moves the release latch to a drawer or door releasing position to allow the drawer or door to open. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present application, a latch mechanism includes a latchable structure and a latch member assembled with the latchable structure and movable between a latching position and a releasing position. The latch member includes a first stop portion positioned to engage a second stop portion carried by the latchable structure when the latch member is in one of the latching position and the releasing position. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a drawer includes a drawer enclosure including a front wall and a side wall, and a latch member assembled with the drawer enclosure and pivotable between a latching position and a releasing position. The latch member includes a first stop portion positioned to engage a second stop portion carried by the drawer enclosure when the latch member is in one of the latching position and the releasing position. 
     In still another exemplary embodiment, a cabinet includes a cabinet enclosure defining an internal cavity and a drawer assembled with the cabinet enclosure and slideable from a closed position disposed within the internal cavity to an open position. The drawer includes a drawer enclosure including a front wall and a side wall, and a latch member assembled with the drawer enclosure and pivotable between a latching position in which an interlocking end of the latch member interlocks with a strike plate of the cabinet enclosure, and a releasing position in which the interlocking end of the latch member disengages from the strike plate to permit movement of the drawer to the open position. The latch member includes a first stop portion positioned to engage a second stop portion carried by the drawer enclosure when the latch member is in one of the latching position and the releasing position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a schematic view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a schematic view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 1C  illustrates a schematic view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 1D  illustrates a schematic view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 1E  illustrates a schematic view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of a cabinet drawer including a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 2 , shown in a first limit position; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a side view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 2 , shown in a second limit position; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a perspective view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with still another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with yet another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 11 , shown in a first limit position; 
         FIG. 13  illustrates a side view of the latch mechanism of  FIG. 11 , shown in a second limit position; and 
         FIG. 14  illustrates a perspective view of a range limited latch mechanism, in accordance with another exemplary embodiment, with the drawer handle shown in broken lines to illustrate additional features of the mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The Detailed Description merely describes exemplary embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims in any way. Indeed, the invention as claimed and described is broader than and unlimited by the exemplary embodiments, and the terms used in the claims have their full ordinary meaning. 
     A cabinet release latch mechanism may include a pivotable latch member with a latching or interlocking portion that interlocks with a strike member (e.g., an apertured plate or flange) to retain a drawer or door in a closed position. In one embodiment, the pivotable latch member is assembled with, disposed on, or otherwise carried by a drawer or door of the cabinet, and the strike member is assembled with, disposed on, or otherwise carried by an enclosure of the cabinet. In another embodiment, the pivotable latch member is carried by the cabinet enclosure and the strike member is carried by the drawer or door. The pivotable latch member may be biased (e.g., by a spring, gravitational biasing, component flexure) toward the interlocking position, such that user operation of the latch member (e.g., by manipulation of a handle or other interface) is required to pivot the latch member out of interlocking engagement with the strike member to allow the drawer or door to be opened. Examples of pivoting drawer latch mechanisms are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,235 and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2008/0150407, and examples of pivoting door latch mechanism are described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,240,786, the entire disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present application describes arrangements for limiting a range of movement of a pivotable latch member, for example, to provide a positive stop for the latch member in at least one of an interlocking or latching position and a releasing position, to prevent over-rotation of the latch member, and/or to prevent marring or galling damage between the latch member and the strike member. According to an aspect of the present application, a pivotable latch member may be provided with one or more stop portions positioned to engage one or more stop portions to limit a range of movement of the latch member. In one such embodiment, the pivotable latch member is assembled with a latchable structure (e.g., a drawer, door, or cabinet enclosure) and is provided with one or more stop portions positioned to engage one or more stop portions carried by the latchable structure. Many different types of stop portions may be utilized for range limiting engagement between a pivotable latch and a latchable structure, including, for example, pins, fasteners, tabs, flanges, blocks, cutouts, slots, and notches. 
     In an exemplary latch mechanism  10   a , as schematically shown in  FIG. 1A , a latch member  20   a  is assembled with a latchable structure  30   a  and is pivotable about a longitudinal axis X between a latching position and a releasing position. The latch member  20   a  includes a first longitudinally extending stop portion  21   a  positioned to engage a second longitudinally extending stop portion  32   a  carried by the latchable structure  30   a  when the latch member  20   a  is in the latching position. 
     In another exemplary latch mechanism  10   b , as schematically shown in  FIG. 1B , a latch member  20   b  is assembled with a latchable structure  30   b  and is pivotable about a longitudinal axis X between a latching position and a releasing position. The latch member  20   b  includes a first longitudinally extending stop portion  21   b  positioned to engage a second longitudinally extending stop portion  32   b  carried by the latchable structure  30   b  when the latch member  20   b  is in the releasing position. 
     In still another exemplary latch mechanism  10   c , as schematically shown in  FIG. 1C , a latch member  20   c  is assembled with a latchable structure  30   c  and is pivotable about a longitudinal axis X between a latching position and a releasing position. The latch member  20   c  includes a first longitudinally extending stop portion  21   c  positioned to engage a second longitudinally extending stop portion  32   c  carried by the latchable structure  30   c  when the latch member  20   c  is in the latching position, and a third longitudinally extending stop portion  23   c  positioned to engage the second longitudinally extending stop portion  32   c  when the latch member  20   c  is in the latching position. 
     In yet another exemplary latch mechanism  10   d , as schematically shown in  FIG. 1D , a latch member  20   d  is assembled with a latchable structure  30   d  and is pivotable about a longitudinal axis X between a latching position and a releasing position. The latch member  20   d  includes a first longitudinally extending stop portion  21   d  positioned to engage a second longitudinally extending stop portion  32   d  carried by the latchable structure  30   d  when the latch member  20   d  is in the latching position, and positioned to engage a third longitudinally extending stop portion  33   d  carried by the latchable structure  30   d  when the latch member  20   d  is in the latching position. 
     In another exemplary latch mechanism  10   e , as schematically shown in  FIG. 1E , a latch member  20   e  is assembled with a latchable structure  30   e  and is pivotable about a longitudinal axis X between a latching position and a releasing position. The latch member  20   e  includes a first longitudinally extending stop portion  21   e  positioned to engage a second longitudinally extending stop portion  32   e  carried by the latchable structure  30   e  when the latch member  20   e  is in the latching position, and a third longitudinally extending stop portion  23   e  positioned to engage a fourth longitudinally extending stop portion  34   e  carried by the latchable structure  30   e  when the latch member  20   e  is in the latching position. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , a cabinet drawer  100 , having a front wall  108 , first and second side walls  104 , a bottom wall, and a rear wall (not shown), includes a pivotable latch member  120  attached to (e.g., integral to or assembled with) a user operable drawer release handle  140 . The drawer release handle  140  is pivotably mounted to the front wall  108  of the drawer enclosure, for example, by tabs  143  received in slots  103  in the front wall  108 , such that the handle  140  and latch member  120  are pivotable about a longitudinal axis X defined by the pivotable attachment of the handle  140  to the front wall  108 . 
     The exemplary latch member  120  includes a flange end  125  secured to the release handle  140  (e.g., by fasteners) and an interlocking end or tang  126  shaped and positioned to engage a strike member  150  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) secured to the cabinet enclosure  155  (e.g., an apertured strike plate, as shown in the above-incorporated U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,235 and U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2008/0150407). Pivoting movement of the release handle  140  pivots the latch member  120  to disengage the tang  126  from the strike member, thereby permitting withdrawal of the drawer  100  from a cavity  151  defined by the cabinet enclosure. 
     To limit pivoting movement of the latch member  120 , a stop pin  107  is assembled with a side wall  104  of the drawer  100 , and extends through a slot  127  in the latch member  120 . As shown, the stop pin  107  may be positioned such that the stop pin  107  engages a first end portion or stop portion  121  of the slot  127  when the latch member  120  is in the interlocking position (see  FIG. 4 ). Additionally or alternatively, the stop pin  107  may be positioned such that the stop pin  107  engages a second end portion or stop portion  122  of the slot  127  when the latch member  120  is in the releasing position (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The latch mechanism may include a biasing spring or other biasing component configured to bias the latch member and operatively connected handle toward the latched or interlocking position. In the illustrated embodiment, as evident in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a leaf spring  149  assembled between the handle  140  and the drawer front wall  108  applies a biasing force to the handle  140  to bias the handle  140  (and with it, the latch member  120 ) toward the interlocking position. In another embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a cabinet drawer  100   a  may additionally or alternatively include a spring (e.g., a torsion spring)  109   a  assembled between the stop pin  107   a  and the drawer side wall  104   a  to bias the latch member  120   a  (and with it, the handle  140   a ) toward the interlocking position. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring  109   a  is coiled around the stop pin  107   a , with a first end  109   a   1  anchored in a hole in the latch member  120   a , and a second end  109   a   2  retained within a folded upper flange  106   a  of the drawer side wall  104   a    
     Other types of stopping portions and stopping engagement of a latch member may additionally or alternatively be utilized. For example, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the cabinet side wall  104   b  may be provided with an integral bent tab  107   b  that extends through a slot  127   b  in the latch member  120   b . The tab  107   b  may be positioned such that the tab engages a first end portion or stop portion  121   b  of the slot  127   b  when the latch member  120   b  is in the interlocking position. Additionally or alternatively, the tab  107   b  may be positioned such that the tab engages a second end portion or stop portion  122   b  of the slot  127   b  when the latch member  120   b  is in the releasing position. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the latch member  120   c  may be provided with a stop pin  127   c  that extends through a slot  107   c  in the cabinet side wall  104   c . The stop pin  127   c  may be positioned such that the stop pin engages a first end portion or stop portion  101   c  of the slot  107   c  when the latch member  120   b  is in the interlocking position. Additionally or alternatively, the stop pin  127   c  may be positioned such that the stop pin engages a second end portion or stop portion  102   c  of the slot  107   c  when the latch member  120   c  is in the releasing position. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 9 , the latch member  120   d  may be provided with an integral bent tab  127   d  that extends through a slot  107   d  in the cabinet side wall  104   d . The tab  127   d  may be positioned such that the tab engages a first end portion or stop portion  101   d  of the slot  107   d  when the latch member  120   d  is in the interlocking position. Additionally or alternatively, the tab  127   d  may be positioned such that the tab engages a second end portion or stop portion  102   d  of the slot  107   d  when the latch member  120   d  is in the releasing position. 
     In still another exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the latch member  120   e  may be provided with an integral bent tab  127   e  positioned to engage an integral bent tab  107   e  disposed on the cabinet side wall  104   e  when the latch member  120   e  is in the interlocking position. Additionally or alternatively (not shown), a similar integral bent tab may be provided on the latch member for engagement with a bent tab on the cabinet side wall when the latch member is in the releasing position. 
     According to another aspect of the present application, a range limited latch member may be pivotally connected directly to the same wall or other structural element on which a latch engaging stop portion is disposed. In such an arrangement, the latch member may remain detached from a user operable handle or other interface, for example, to facilitate assembly of the cabinet drawer, or to reduce the number of manufacturing tolerances that can affect the consistent performance of the latch. 
     In one embodiment, a latch member may be pivotably mounted to a cabinet drawer side wall defining a latch engaging side portion. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 11-13 , a cabinet drawer  100   f  includes a pivotable latch member  120   f  having a first end  125   f  pivotably attached to a cabinet drawer side wall  104   f  by a mounted pivot pin  105   f  (e.g., a threaded fastener) installed through a hole in the latch member  120   f . The exemplary latch member  120   f  includes an interlocking end or tang  126   f  shaped and positioned to engage a strike member secured to the cabinet enclosure. 
     To limit pivoting movement of the latch member  120   f , a stop pin  107   f  is assembled with the side wall  104   f  of the drawer  100   f , and extends through a slot  127   f  in the latch member  120   f . As shown, the stop pin  107   f  may be positioned such that the stop pin  107   f  engages a first end portion or stop portion  121   f  of the slot  127   f  when the latch member  120   f  is in the interlocking position (see  FIG. 12 ). Additionally or alternatively, the stop pin  107   f  may be positioned such that the stop pin  107   f  engages a second end portion or stop portion  122   f  of the slot  127   f  when the latch member  120   f  is in the releasing position (see  FIG. 13 ). Other types of stopping portions and stopping engagement of a latch member may additionally or alternatively be utilized, as shown, for example, in the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 7-10 . 
     A drawer release handle  140   f  is pivotably mounted to a front wall  108   f  of the drawer  100   f , for example, by tabs received in slots in the front wall (similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 2-5 ), such that the handle  140   f  is pivotable about a longitudinal axis X defined by the pivotable attachment of the handle  140   f  to the front wall  108   f . To operatively connect the drawer release handle  140   f  to the latch member  120   f , the drawer release handle  140   f  is provided with a latch engaging projection  145   f  that extends above and proximate to the latch member  120   f , such that pivoting movement of the release handle  140   f  causes the projection  145   f  to engage an upper edge of the latch member  120   f , pivoting the latch member to disengage the tang  126   f  from the strike member, thereby permitting withdrawal of the drawer  100   f  from the cabinet enclosure. Other latch engaging arrangements may additionally or alternatively be utilized, including, for example, a pushbutton operated projection that engages an upper edge of the latch. 
     The latch mechanism may include one or more biasing springs or other biasing components configured to bias one or both of the latch member and operatively connected handle toward the latched or interlocking position. In the illustrated embodiment, as evident in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a leaf spring  149   f  assembled between the handle  140   f  and the drawer front wall  108   f  applies a biasing force to the handle  140   f  to bias the handle  140   f  toward the interlocking position. Also, similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the cabinet drawer may additionally or alternatively include a spring (e.g., a torsion spring) assembled between the stop pin and the drawer side wall to bias the latch member (and with it, the handle) toward the interlocking position. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a range limited latch member that is pivotably connected to a latchable structure may be directly connected to (e.g., assembled with or integral to) a user operable release member spaced apart from the latch member pivot axis. In the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 14 , a cabinet drawer  100   g  includes a pivotable latch member  120   g  pivotably attached to a cabinet drawer side wall  104   g  by a mounted pivot pin  105   g  (e.g., a threaded fastener) installed through a hole in the latch member  120   g . The exemplary latch member  120   g  includes an interlocking end or tang  126   g  shaped and positioned to engage a strike member secured to the cabinet enclosure. 
     Similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 11-13 , a stop pin  107   g  is assembled with the side wall  104   g  of the drawer  100   g , extending through a slot  127   g  in the latch member  120   g , to limit pivoting movement of the latch member  120   g . Other types of stopping portions and stopping engagement of a latch member may additionally or alternatively be utilized, as shown, for example, in the exemplary embodiments of  FIGS. 7-10 . 
     The exemplary latch member is provided with a drawer release member  140   g  extending outward of the pivot pin  105   g  (opposite the interlocking end  126   g ) through a slot  111   g  in the front wall  108   g  of the drawer  100   g  below a fixed drawer handle  110   g , such that the release member  140   g  is operable to pivot the latch member  120   g  about pivot pin  105   g . The drawer release member  140   g  may include a bent tab  141   g  or other user engageable portion to facilitate pivoting movement of the latch member  120   g . As described above, the latch mechanism may include one or more biasing springs or other biasing components configured to bias the latch member and release member toward the latched or interlocking position. 
     While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.