Patent Abstract:
An improved button-type latch to releasably secure a door, having a spring loaded latch bolt retained within a cylindrical housing. The housing further comprises a pair of leaf springs longitudinally directed toward a front of the button latch, the leaf springs cooperating with a retaining lip on the housing to capture a structure surface to maintain the button latch therein.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Cabinetry and dressers are often times fitted with latching mechanisms that allow the drawers or doors of the cabinet to maintain a shut position. As the doors or drawers close, a spring loaded latched releases into a catch or cavity and prevents the door or drawer from opening until a handle is released or some other opening mechanism is activated. These may be paddle-type releases, such as those sold by the assignee of the present invention Ryadon Inc. of Foothill Ranch, Calif. These latching mechanisms are well known in the art, and an assortment of these latching mechanisms are shown at http://www.ryadon.com/latches. 
     One example of a latching mechanism for a cabinet or drawers is a button latch. Button latches typically have cylindrical housings with a spring loaded, beveled latch bolt mounted in the housing for retraction therein. The beveled front edge of the latch bolt is designed to make contact with the surface of the latch and cause the latch bolt to retreat into the housing of the button latch against the biasing of the spring. The latch bolt continues to retreat into the housing as the surface bears against the latch bolt until the latch bolt clears the surface. A cavity sized to receive the latch bolt captures the latch bolt as the spring, no longer compressed by the cabinet surface, releases to secure the drawer or door to the cabinet. The latch bolt may have a tab that projects out of the opposite end of the housing, such that retraction of the tab by a handle or the like withdraws the latch bolt back into the housing. In this event, the door may then again be opened as the interference between the latch bolt and the cabinet is eliminated when the latch bolt is withdrawn. 
     The foregoing operation and structure is well known in the art. However, because the button latches have substantially cylindrical housings that are inserted into a bore in the cabinet or dresser door/drawer, it is prone to loosening as the drawer/door is repeated opened and closed with the inherent jarring that occurs. As the button latch loosens, it can then become dislodged from the cabinet and there is little that can be done to prevent further detachments. Accordingly, what is needed is a mechanism for preventing a button latch from becoming dislodged once placed in a cabinet, dresser, housing, or the like. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a button-type latch having a housing that retain a spring-loaded latch bolt for releasable deployment in a socket or cavity, and where the latch bolt further includes a release tab that can be coupled to a bar or handle to withdraw the latch bolt and release the button latch. The housing is substantially cylindrical with an annular outer lip at a first end adjacent the projecting portion of the latch bolt, said outer lip adapted to bear against a surface of the door or drawer to provide a stop that limits the further ingress of the button latch into its designated fitting. As is customary, a portion of the cylindrical housing may have a flat portion extending the length of the housing from the lip to the opposite end. The housing of the present invention further comprises a circumferential recess extending around the perimeter, terminating at the respective sides of the flattened portion. The recess further includes first and second channels extending forward from the recess to the lip. The recess holds a leaf spring clip having a circumferential band sized to be retained in the circumferential portion of the recess, and first and second leaf spring extending forward toward the lip of the housing. The leaf springs angle slightly out (in the radial direction) of the forward positioned channels in an undeformed condition, but the leaf springs can be depressed into their respective channels. 
     In use, the button latch is inserted into a fitted aperture corresponding to the shape of the housing&#39;s profile. The button latch will insert into the aperture until the circumferential band of the leaf spring clip, whereupon the leaf springs begin to bear against the sides of the aperture with increasing resistance as the leaf springs are compressed. There is a small gap between the ends of the leaf springs and the inner surface of the housing&#39;s lip, that is selected to be slightly larger than the thickness of the panel or door that the button latch is being inserted into. When the button latch is fully inserted into the aperture such that the inner surface of the lip is flush against the outer surface of the door or drawer, the leaf springs clear the edge of the door and separate, trapping the edge of the door between the leaf springs and the lip of the housing. In this manner, the button latch is captured in a reliable manner and cannot easily be dislodged or removed from the aperture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cabinet with a handle release and three button latches of an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective, exploded view of the button latch housing and circumferential leaf spring band illustrating the circumferential recess and longitudinal channels; 
         FIG. 3  is perspective view of the button latch of  FIG. 2  showing the leaf springs in their unbiased or undeformed condition; and 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged, side view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  showing the button latch captured in the door of the cabinet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a cabinet  10  having a pivoting door  12  connected by two hinges  14  that allows the door  12  to open and close inside the opening of the cabinet. The door  12  includes a release handle  16  in the shape of a paddle that can be manually actuated by pulling the handle away from the door. The handle is connected to a series of pull-rods  18  that are used to retract the latch bolts in the button latches. The door&#39;s handle can simultaneously retract three different button latches at once using the three pull-rods  18  shown. The cabinet also includes three cavities  20  sized to receive the latch bolts  28  from the button latches  30  in the top surface  22 , the side wall  24 , and the bottom surface  26 . 
     The button latch  30  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and includes a hollow, generally cylindrical housing  40  defining a longitudinal axis. The housing is circular in profile except a rectangular face  42 . The aft surface of the housing includes a slot (not shown) that allows a release tab  64  on the latch bolt  50  to extend. At a forward edge of the housing is an annular lip  44  having a cut-out  46  shaped to receive the beveled projecting head  48  of the latch bolt  50 . The annular lip  44  operates to position the button latch  30  in the cabinet  10  as set forth below. The housing  40  further comprises a cylindrical recess  52  spaced from the annular lip  44  in the longitudinal direction, where the cylindrical recess  52  has a depth D. In a preferred embodiment, the cylindrical recess  52  extends around the housing  40  from one edge  56  of the rectangular face  42  to the other edge  58  of the rectangular face  42 . The housing also includes at least two channels  60  that have an approximate depth of D and extends from the circumferential recess  52  to the annular lip  44 . The circumferential recess  52  and channels  60  form a guide for a leaf spring clip  62  that fits over the housing and is seated in the circumferential recess  52  and channels  60 . 
     The housing holds a latch bolt  50  in the interior that is biased by a spring (not shown) so as to project out of the housing as shown. Connected to the latch bolt  50  is a release tab  64  having a hole  66  for receiving a pin  68  that couples the latch bolt  50  to the associated pull-rod  18 . In operation, when the handle  16  is pulled, it causes the pull-rods  18  to retract. This movement of the pull-rods  18  applies a tension force on the release tab  64  against the force of the biasing spring (not shown) in the housing  40 . The spring collapses, and the latch bolt  50  that is connected to the release tab  64  is withdrawn into the housing, allowing the door to be released from its captured position. 
     In  FIG. 3 , the leaf spring clip  62  is shown on the housing  40 , received in the circumferential recess  52 . The leaf spring clip  62  is formed of a circumferential band  70  and a pair of leaf springs  72  depending from the circumferential band in a longitudinal direction, about one hundred and eighty degrees apart. The leaf springs  72  are not parallel, but open outward slightly as they extend away from the circumferential band  70  in an undeformed condition. The leaf springs  72  should have some resiliency, such that when they are pressed radially inward they flex back out to their undeformed condition when the compressive force is removed. The leaf springs sit in and above the channels  60 , such that the leaf springs  72  can be pressed into the channels  60  during installation of the button latch  30  and not increase the profile of the latch. 
       FIG. 4  is taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1  and shows the button latch  30  mounted to the cabinet  10 . The button latch  30  is shown installed in the cabinet  10  at an opening shaped to receive the button latch. The opening is defined by a retaining surface  32  that is formed from a relatively stiff, thin material such as steel or aluminum. The manner in which the button latch  30  is secured to the retaining surface  32  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . As the button latch  30  is inserted into the opening of the cabinet, the release tab  64  passes through the opening first, followed by the back edge  80  of the housing  40 . As the housing continues to pass through the opening, the leaf spring clip  62  is reached. Because the circumferential band  70  sits in the circumferential recess  52  of the housing  40 , there is no discontinuity in the profile of the housing and it continues to pass through the opening. However, further insertion of the button latch causing the retaining surface  32  to bear against the leaf springs  72 , forcing the leaf springs radially inward as the button latch passes through the opening. The leaf springs  72  are compressed into the recesses  60  of the housing  40  as the leaf springs pass through the opening of the cabinet. When the leaf springs  72  clear the opening, which should occur as the annular lip  44  makes contact with the retaining surface  32 , the leaf springs  72  release to their unbiased or undeformed condition slightly splayed outward. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the retaining surface  32  is thus captured between the annular lip  44  of the housing  40  and the ends  88  of the leaf springs  72 . The button latch  30  is thus fixed in the cabinet opening, and the clip  62  prevents the button latch from loosening or becoming dislodged.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4