Patent Publication Number: US-10760304-B2

Title: Adjustable hook latch

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application relates to and claims the benefit of commonly-owned, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/212,669, filed Sep. 1, 2015, entitled “ADJUSTABLE HOOK LATCH,” the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to latches and, more particularly, adjustable hook latches. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an adjustable latch that offers a constant torque for adjusting the distance between two mounting points. 
     In an embodiment, a latch including a housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first chamber that extends from the first end to a location intermediate the first and second ends, a second chamber that extends from the first end to a location intermediate the first and second ends; a cylinder positioned within the first chamber, wherein the cylinder includes a body having a hollow portion, a compression spring positioned within the hollow portion of the body, and a ball positioned at one end of the compression spring proximate to the first end of the housing; a hook positioned slidably within the second chamber of the housing and including a shaft and a hook head at one end of the shaft; a star wheel positioned around the shaft of the hook and further positioned at the first end of the housing, wherein the star wheel includes a shaft and a flange located at one end of the shaft and having a face juxtaposed with the first end of the housing and a first plurality of holes formed within the face, wherein the ball aligns with and engages one of the first plurality of holes of the star wheel to retain the star wheel in a first position, wherein the star wheel is moveable rotatably relative to the housing, such that when the star wheel is rotated, the ball disengages the one of the first plurality of holes of the star wheel to enable the hook to move axially relative to the housing, and wherein, when the star wheel is rotated, the ball is adapted to engage another of the first plurality of holes of the star wheel to retain the star wheel in a second position; and a handle attached pivotally to the housing. 
     In an embodiment, the handle is attached to the housing by a pivot pin. In an embodiment, a mounting distance of the hook measured from a center of the pivot pin to a center point of the head of the hook is adjusted when the star wheel is rotated. In an embodiment, the cylinder includes a flange formed at one end of the body and having an opening, and the star wheel includes an annular portion, wherein a portion of the flange of the cylinder is positioned between the annular portion of the star wheel and the flange of the star wheel, and wherein the portion of the flange of the cylinder is positioned against a face of the annular portion of the star wheel, and wherein the ball protrudes through the opening of the flange of the cylinder. In an embodiment, the first plurality of holes of the star wheel is formed in a circular pattern. In an embodiment, the star wheel includes a circumferential edge and second plurality of holes formed within the circumferential edge, each of the second plurality of holes being adapted to receive an external tool for rotating the star wheel relative to the housing 
     In an embodiment, the handle is moveable between a closed position, in which the handle is attached releasably to the housing, and an open position, in which the handle is detached from the housing. In an embodiment, the housing includes a catch pin, and wherein the handle includes a trigger that is releasably engageable with the catch pin of the housing when the handle is in its closed position. In an embodiment, the handle includes a pair of opposing side members, each of which includes a slot formed therein, a pair of links, each having a first end and a second end opposite the first end of the link, and a bushing interconnecting the first ends of the links to one another, and wherein the second ends of the links are attached to the pivot pin, and wherein one end of the bushing extends through one of the slots and the other end of the bushing extends through the other one of the slots. In an embodiment, the hook is retracted when the handle is moved from its open position to its closed position. 
     In an embodiment, a latch including a housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first chamber that extends from the first end to a location intermediate the first and second ends, a second chamber that extends from the first end to a location intermediate the first and second ends; a cylinder positioned within the first chamber, wherein the cylinder includes a body having a hollow portion, a compression spring positioned within the hollow portion of the body, and a ball positioned at one end of the compression spring proximate to the first end of the housing; a hook positioned slidably within the second chamber of the housing and including a shaft and a hook head at one end of the shaft; and a star wheel positioned around the shaft of the hook and at the first end of the housing, wherein the star wheel includes a shaft and a flange located at one end of the shaft and having a face juxtaposed with the first end of the housing and a first plurality of holes formed within the face, wherein the ball aligns with and engages one of the first plurality of holes of the star wheel to retain the star wheel in a first position, wherein the star wheel is rotatably moveable relative to the housing, such that when the star wheel is rotated, the ball disengages the one of the first plurality of holes of the star wheel to enable the star wheel and the hook to move axially relative to the housing, and wherein the ball is adapted to engage another of the first plurality of holes of the star wheel to retain the star wheel in a second position. 
     In an embodiment, an adjustable hook latch having an anti-rotation feature that offers a constant torque for adjusting the distance between two mounting points. In an embodiment, the anti-rotation feature is self-enclosed so as to prevent damage thereto. In an embodiment, the hook latch is adapted for use in the aerospace field, such as aerospace doors, nacelles, etc. In other embodiments, the latch can be used in other fields and applications. 
     The latch of the present invention is advantageous over prior art latches in that it includes an adjustment feature, namely, a star wheel that is moveable rotatably such that the ball disengages one of the holes of the star wheel to enable the hook to move axially and be adjusted relative to the housing, while providing constant torque. The ball is adapted to engage another of the holes of the star wheel to retain the star wheel in place and prevent inadvertent rotation thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of an adjustable hook latch in accordance with an embodiment, the hook latch being shown in a closed position; 
         FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of the hook latch shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the hook latch shown in  FIG. 1 , but shown in an open position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in an embodiment, a hook latch  10  having a housing  12  with a first end  14  and a second end  16  opposite the first end  14 . In an embodiment, the housing  12  includes a first chamber  18  that extends from the first end  14  to a location intermediate the first and second ends  14 ,  16  of the housing  12 . In an embodiment, the first chamber  18  is sized and shaped to receive slidably a cylinder  20 . In an embodiment, the cylinder  20  includes an elongated body  22  and a flange  24  located at one end of the body  22 . In an embodiment, the flange  24  is circular in shape. In an embodiment, the flange  24  includes a circular-shaped, centralized opening  25  formed therein. In an embodiment, the body  22  of the cylinder  20  includes a hollow portion  26  that is sized and shaped to receive a compression spring  28  and a ball  30  positioned at one end of the compression spring  28  and proximate to the first end  14  of the housing  12 . In an embodiment, the opening  25  of the flange  24  is in communication with the hollow portion  26  of the cylinder  20 . In an embodiment, the compression spring  28  and the ball  30  nest in the hollow portion  26  of the cylinder  20  which is guided by the first chamber  18 . In an embodiment, a surface of the ball  30  protrudes through the opening  25  of the flange  24  of the body  22 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in an embodiment, the housing  12  includes a second chamber  32  that extends from the first end  14  to a point intermediate the first and second ends  14 ,  16 . In an embodiment, the second chamber  32  is positioned above the first chamber  18  relative to a longitudinal axis A-A of the housing  12 , as oriented and shown in the Figures. In an embodiment, the second chamber  32  is sized and shaped to receive a hook  34  having a shaft  35  and a hook head  36  formed on an end of the shaft  35 . In an embodiment, the second chamber  32  is sized and shaped to receive slidably the shaft  35  of the hook  34 . In an embodiment, a catch pin  38  extends through one end of the shaft  35  of the hook  34  transversely to the longitudinal axis A-A of the housing  12  and protrudes outwardly from the housing  12  at opposite side portions  40  thereof (only one side portion  40  shown in  FIG. 1 ). 
     In an embodiment, a star wheel  42  is positioned on the shaft  35  of the hook  34  and juxtaposed with the first end  14  of the housing  12 . In an embodiment, the star wheel  42  includes a hollow, elongated shaft  43  which is sized and shaped to receive the shaft  35  of the hook  34 , a flange  44  located at one end of the shaft  35 , and an annular portion  45  extending outwardly from the shaft  35  and located proximate to the flange  44 . In an embodiment, a portion of the flange  24  of the cylinder  20  is positioned between the annular portion  45  and the flange  44  of the star wheel  42 . In an embodiment, the flange  44  of the star wheel  42  includes a face  46  with a first plurality of holes  48  that are each sized and shaped to receive the portion of the ball  30  exposed through the flange  24  of the cylinder  20 , and a circumferential edge  50  having a second plurality of holes  52  that are each sized and shaped to receive an adjusting tool. In an embodiment, the holes of the first plurality of holes  48  are spaced apart from one another and form a circular pattern. In an embodiment, the star wheel  42  is adjustable rotatably either clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the longitudinal axis A-A of the housing  12 . In an embodiment, a portion of the flange  24  of the cylinder  20  is positioned and trapped between the flange  44  of the star wheel  42  and the annular portion  45  of the star wheel  42  and against a face of the annular portion  45  of the star wheel  42  while under the load of the compression spring  28 , while the ball  30  aligns with and engages one of the first plurality of holes  48  of the star wheel  42 . In this regard, pressure from the compression spring  28  on the ball  30  prevents the star wheel  42  from rotating relative to the longitudinal axis A-A. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , in an embodiment, the hook latch  10  includes a handle  54  attached rotatably to the second end  16  of the housing  12  by a pivot pin  56  extending through the second end  16  of the housing  12  and is moveable from a closed position to an open position, and vice-versa. In an embodiment, the handle  54  includes a trigger  58  having detents  60  that engage the catch pin  38  when the handle  54  is in its closed position. In an embodiment, the trigger  58  includes a trigger spring  59 . In an embodiment, the handle  54  includes a pair of opposing side members  53 , each of which includes a slot  57  formed therethrough. In an embodiment, each of the slots  57  is rounded rectangular-shaped and includes a first end  57   a  and a second end  57   b  opposite the first end  57   a . In an embodiment, each of the slots  57  can be rectangular in shape or consist of any other suitable shape. In an embodiment, the handle  54  includes a pair of links  61  and a cylindrical-shaped bushing  63  interconnecting one end of each of the links  61  to one another. In an embodiment, one end  63   a  of the bushing  63  extends through one of the slots  57  and the other end  63   b  of the bushing  63  extends through the other one of the slots  57 . In an embodiment, opposite ends of the links  61  are connected rotatably to the pivot pin  56 . When the handle  54  is in its closed position, the ends  63   a ,  63   b  of the bushing  63  are positioned proximate to the ends  57   a  of the slots  57 . 
     In an embodiment, when the trigger  58  is depressed, the detents  60  disengage the catch pin  38  to enable the handle  54  to move from the closed position to the open position, and, thus, retract the hook  34  from a first position to a second position. In this regard, when the handle  54  is moved from its closed position to its open position, the slots  57  move over the ends  63   a ,  63   b  of the bushing until the ends  63   a ,  63   b  engage the ends  57   b  of the slots  57  in order to rotate the links  61 , which, in turn, retract the hook  34 . In an embodiment, a back spring  62  surrounds the pivot pin  56  in order to maintain the handle  54  in its open position. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the mounting distance D of the hook  34  along the longitudinal axis A-A (i.e., measured from the center of the pivot pin  56  to a center point of the hook head  36 ) can be adjusted by turning the star wheel  42  with a standard tool, which engages one or more of the second plurality of holes  52 . In this regard, turning the star wheel  42  moves the star wheel  42  in a longitudinal direction along axis A-A and drives the cylinder  20  along with it, while the ball  30  disengages one of the first plurality of holes  48  of the star wheel  42  and then engages another (e.g., the next adjacent one) of the first plurality of holes  48  under constant spring load from the compression spring  28 . 
     It should be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make many variations and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.