Abstract:
The present invention relates to a latch having a button pawl shaft for attaching two panels together at two different points. The shaft of the latch has bezels in which the shaft rotates connected to one of the panels. The shaft has pawls at both ends which engage a keeper on a second panel and disengage and clear the keeper when a force is applied to the button on the shaft thereby rotating the shaft. A precompressed torsion spring provides a force on the button at all times. When a user presses on the button thereby rotating the shaft such that the pawls disengage with keepers the spring will rotate the shaft and button back to the same position as that prior to the user applying a force on the button.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims the benefit of U.S Provisional Application 60/393,181 filed Jul. 1, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Application 60/435,086 filed Dec. 19, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to latches for securing together two panel members at two points by a pawl at each point. The latches can be repeatedly latched and unlatched by a user who desires to fasten and unfasten the panels together. 
   Various latches are known for securing together panel members at two points. Previously, a latch having two pawls and a button could not be made from one piece due to warpage which would occur if one were to attempt to mold the pieces. Accordingly, defects due to warpage would lead to unreliable operation of the latch. 
   The above described latches can be used in compartments, bins and panels in various locations such as glove compartments and storage areas in vehicles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a two point latch for securing an upper and a lower panel. 
   In accordance with the present invention, it is an object to provide a latch for securing together two panels in a fastened position. When the latch is unlatched the two panels become unfastened and a user can refasten the two panels together by raising the lower panel until the lower and upper panel are fastened together by the action of the latch. 
   It is another object of the invention to provide a latch which includes a lockable button such that the latch can be secured and only opened when a key is inserted in the lock. 
   The present invention in one embodiment comprises a single piece shaft having a button, and two pawls wherein one pawl is on each side of the button and the shaft extends through a bezel which is secured to one of the two panels which are to be fastened. A torsion spring at each of the bezels is provided which maintains a force on the button even when the two panels are secured together in a closed position. The torsion spring can be inserted in the latch in a compressed position in order to minimize any rattling noise or slack which may arise during operation of a vehicle in which the latch is installed. The torsion springs also keep a force on the shaft when the latch is in the closed position thereby ensuring that the two panels stay fastened. This is accomplished by the installation of a precompressed spring in the latch which is always under compression. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a latch comprising a button pawl shaft having a button which is so constructed that the button of the latch is aligned with a rib on one of the panels around which portions of a lockplug in the button can fit when the button is unlocked. When the button is unlocked by the rotating action of the lockplug, portions of the shaft can be aligned with a rib which in turn ensures that two opposed portions of the lockplug that move along each side of the rib are aligned and are guided by the rib. The pawls of the shaft clear keepers when the shaft is in the open position. 
   It is yet another object of the invention to provide a latch which allows two panels to be fastened by a slam action and which allows the pawls on the shaft to be placed to remain engaged with a keeper by the force of a spring acting on the shaft. This is accomplished by the ramp shape of the top of the pawls which interacts with the keepers. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a button pawl shaft made from three snap together pieces for securing to a keeper on an upper structure and a lower structure to which the button pawl shaft is connected. 
   This embodiment comprises a three-piece shaft having a button on one piece, and a pawl on a second piece which snap fits into one end of the first piece, and a pawl on a third piece which snap fits into the other end of the first piece. When the three pieces are assembled one pawl is on each side of the button and the shaft extends through bezels which are secured to one of the two structures which are to be fastened. A torsion spring at each of the bezels is provided which maintains a force on the button even when the two structures are secured together in a closed position. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will be more readily apparent when taken into consideration with the following description and the attached drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a latch in accordance with the present invention with an inner bin piece. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  with an outer bin piece. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  with an inner bin piece and an outer bin piece. 
       FIG. 4  is a view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed position. 
       FIG. 5  is a view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the open position. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear view of a tie down bezel, and a pawl of  FIG. 1  engaged with a keeper such that the bin is retained in a closed position and a precompressed torsion spring. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a button and key on the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed and locked position. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a button, shaft and key on the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed and unlocked position. 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of an outer bin piece, and a key, and a pawl engaged in a keeper of  FIG. 1  such that the bin is retained in a closed position. 
       FIG. 10  is a side view of an outer bin piece and a key and a pawl of  FIG. 1  which clears a keeper such that the bin drops down to an open position in the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a view of ribs and flats on an inner bin piece which give the latch of  FIG. 1  position in the Z axis. 
       FIG. 12  is a view of a section of an inner bin piece and shaft of  FIG. 1  showing a lockplug directly against an upper rib and the shaft of the latch engaged with a lower rib in a locked position. 
       FIG. 13  is a view of a section of an inner bin piece and shaft of  FIG. 1  in a locked position showing an upper rib which falls between portions of a lockplug and showing that the shaft is engaged with a lower rib during rotation in order to keep the correct clearance between the lockplug and the upper rib in the Y axis. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a button pawl shaft in accordance with the present invention with a key inserted into a lock plug in the button of the button pawl shaft. 
       FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the center shaft piece of the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the left shaft piece of the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the right shaft piece of the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the lockplug and key of the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the snap on bezels of the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view of a torsion spring for the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 21  is a side view of the center shaft piece, the left shaft piece, and the right shaft piece of the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 22   a  is a side view of a portion of the left shaft piece and a portion of the center shaft piece of  FIG. 14  in an unassembled configuration. 
       FIG. 22   b  is a side view of a portion of the left shaft piece and a portion of the center shaft piece of  FIG. 14  in an assembled configuration. 
       FIG. 23   a  is a side view of a portion of the center shaft piece and a portion of the right shaft piece of  FIG. 14  in an unassembled configuration. 
       FIG. 23   b  is a side view of a portion of the center shaft piece and a portion of the right shaft piece of  FIG. 14  in an assembled configuration. 
       FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a torsion spring and a spring pocket of the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14  prior to insertion of the torsion spring in the spring pocket. 
       FIG. 25  is a perspective view of a torsion spring and a spring pocket of the button pawl shaft of  FIG. 14  after insertion of the torsion spring in the spring pocket. 
       FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a bezel of  FIG. 14  prior to being snap fit to the axis of the button pawl shaft. 
       FIG. 27  is a perspective view of a bezel of  FIG. 14  after being snap fit to the axis of the button pawl shaft. 
       FIG. 28  is a perspective view of a bezel of  FIG. 14  being rotated around the axis of the button pawl shaft. 
       FIG. 29  is a perspective view of a bezel of  FIG. 14  being rotated around the axis of the button pawl shaft to a set angle to preload the spring. 
       FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a bezel for a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a bezel for a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 32  is a perspective view of a bezel for a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements through the several views, there is shown in  FIG. 1–3 , a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a latch  16  in accordance with the present invention with an inner bin piece  2  and outer bin piece  3 . The inner bin piece  2  and the outer bin piece  3  are part of the bin which will drop open when the latch  16  of the present invention is opened. The shaft end location is designated by reference numeral  1 . 
   A preferred embodiment of the latch  16  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 4–6 . Two pawls  8  are at the end of the shaft  9 . A precompressed torsion spring  10  presses against a tie down bezel  7  which is fixed to the inner bin piece  2  in  FIG. 6 . A key  4  can be fitted into a lockplug  5  which in turn is located in a button  6 . The button  6  is part of the one-piece, monolithic button pawl shaft  9 . 
     FIG. 4  is a view of the latch  16  of  FIG. 1  in the closed position shown with pawls  8  engaging keepers  11 .  FIG. 5  is a view of the latch  16  of  FIG. 4  in the open position shown with the pawls  8  clearing keepers  11 . 
     FIG. 7  shows button  6  and key  4  of the latch  16  of  FIG. 1  in the closed and locked position.  FIG. 8  shows the button  6  and key  4  on the latch  16  in the closed and unlocked position after the key  4  has been rotated approximately 90 degrees.  FIG. 8  shows the button  6  in a pressed position.  FIG. 9  is a side view of the button  6 , shaft  9  and key  4  on the latch  16  of  FIG. 1  in the closed and unlocked position. 
   As shown in  FIG. 10 , upon unlocking of the lockplug  5 , the shaft  9  and pawl  8  rotate and clear keepers  11 . In  FIG. 10 , the latch  16  is in an open position and the pawls  8  clear the keepers  11 . As can be seen in  FIG. 10 , the pawls  8  clear the keeper  11  and permit rotation of the shaft  9  thereby allowing the outer bin piece  2  and the lower bin piece  3  to drop away due to their own weight from a panel connected to the keepers  11 . When the lower bin drops open, the lower bin rotates about hinges. 
   The one-piece button pawl shaft  9  has a tensioning force applied to it by torsion spring  10  which applies a force to bezel  7  as shown in  FIG. 6   
   The bezels  7  are fixed into position on the inner bin piece  2  and do not rotate. An upper rib  12  and a lower rib  13  are shown in  FIG. 12 and 13  on inner bin piece  2 . Flats  14  are also shown which give the latch  16  position in the Z axis. The inner bin  2  has screw bosses  15  for attaching the bezels  7  in which the shaft  9  of the latch  16  rotates. 
     FIG. 12 and 13  show views of a section of the latch  16  as the lockplug  5  is rotated 90 degrees so that the key  4  is rotated into the horizontal position. At that point, portions of the lockplug  5  clear the upper rib  12  and allow for rotational movement of the shaft  9 . In addition, as the shaft  9  rotates portions of the shaft  9  are aligned and engaged with the lower rib  13  so that the proper clearance is maintained between lockplug  5  and the upper rib  12 . 
   The assembly of the latch  16  can be performed easily by placing the four torsion springs  10  on the shaft  9  and snapping the four tie down bezels  7  into place. The lockplug  5  is then installed through a hole in the lockplug  5 . In its final form, the latch  16  is installed sandwiched between the inner bin piece  2  and the outer bin piece  3 . 
   In  FIG. 12 and 13 , the key  4 , which can be removed at any time, is rotated 90 degrees and the button  6 , which is a part of the one-piece button pawl shaft  9 , is pressed to rotate the button pawl shaft  9 . 
   It can be seen that the forces of the precompressed torsion spring  10  allow the bin to be retained in a closed position. When the shaft  9  rotates, as shown in  FIG. 4–6  the torsion spring  10  is compressed. When effort on the spring  10  is released after the pawls  8  have cleared the keepers  11 , the spring pushes the shaft  9  back to a closed position. When it is desired that the bin be closed and the latch  16  be relatched, the bin can be slammed shut and due to the ramp shape on the top surface of the pawls  8 , the pawls  8  are forced to rotate backward and the springs  10  are compressed. After the pawls  8  have cleared the keepers  11 , the torsion springs  10  relax and the pawls  8  rotate back above the striker wire of the keepers  11 , thus completing the latching process. 
   The tie down bezels  7  are fixed in position on inner bin piece screw bosses  15  which are near flats  14  as shown in  FIG. 11  on the inner bin piece  2 . The flats  14  give the latch  16  position in the Z axis. 
   The 90 degree rotation of the lockplug  5  is shown from a first position in  FIG. 12  to a rotated position in  FIG. 13  at which opposed protuberances  17  on lockolug  5  can clear rib  12 . 
   A second embodiment of the button pawl shaft of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 14 . Two pawls  108  are at the ends of the button pawl shaft  109 . A precompressed torsion spring (not shown) presses against each of bezels  107  which is fixed to a lower structure (not shown) which the user intends to fasten to an upper structure (not shown). A key  104  shown in  FIG. 18  can be fitted into a lockplug  115  which in turn is located in a button  106 . The button  106  is part of the button pawl shaft  109 . Also shown in  FIG. 14  is a left shaft piece  111 , a center shaft piece  112 , and a right shaft piece  113 . 
     FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the center shaft piece  112  of the button pawl shaft  109  of  FIG. 14 . Recesses  116  are shown at opposite ends of center shaft piece  112 . Button  106  is also shown and rotates the button pawl shaft  109  when a user presses on the button  106  when the button  106  is not placed in a locked position by lockplug  105 . 
     FIG. 16  shows left shaft piece  111  having pawl  108  and protuberance  115  at one end of left shaft piece  111 . Similarly,  FIG. 17  shows right shaft piece  113  having pawl  108  and protuberance  115  at one end of the right shaft piece  113 .  FIG. 21  shows the left shaft piece  111 , center shaft piece  112 , and right shaft piece  113 . Left shaft piece  111  and right shaft piece  113  are shown with protuberances  115  at one end. Protuberance  115  of left shaft piece  111  snap fits into recess  116  of center shaft piece  112 . In addition, protuberance  115  of right shaft piece  113  snap fits into recess  116  of the other end of center shaft piece  112 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 22   a  and  22   b , protuberance  115  of left shaft piece  111  snap fits into recess  116  of center shaft piece  112 . Similarly, protuberance  115  of left shaft piece  111  snap fits into recess  116  of center shaft piece  112 . 
     FIGS. 20 and 24  show a torsion spring  100  which can be of plastic or metal. As shown, the windings of torsion spring  100  has a U-shape at each end. Torsion spring  100  is shown placed and retained in spring pocket  118  where it is precompressed as in  FIG. 25 . In the first embodiment of the present invention, a bezel  107  is shown in  FIG. 19  wherein the bezel  107  has a snap fitting tongue  117 . As shown in  FIG. 25 , bezel  107  and snap fitting tongue  117  on the bezel are shown prior to being placed on the axis  119  of button pawl shaft  109 . Axis  119  has a flat portion  120  which provides a second snap position at a predetermined angle which thereby preloads the spring at the required position. The flat portions  120  assist the assembler of the button pawl shaft in placing the bezel  107  on the axis  119  of the shaft in a desired position. Bezel  107  is shown placed on the axis  119  as shown in  FIG. 29 .  FIGS. 27 and 28  show the bezel  107  in intermediate positions as the bezel  107  rotates around the axis  119  of the button pawl shaft  109 . 
   In  FIG. 30  a bezel of a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in a two piece configuration. The bezel  107  is provided with an aperture  121 . In this embodiment, rather than being snap fit onto the axis  119  of the button pawl shaft  109 , the bezel  107  can be clamped onto the axis when in combination with bottom piece  122 . 
   In  FIG. 31 , a bezel of a fourth embodiment is shown wherein essentially a half-bezel  123  is provided and the lower structure  126  which is to be fastened has a bottom half  124  of a bezel-shaped structure thereby forming a bezel. The two pieces together form a bezel in which the axis of the button pawl shaft  109  can be inserted. 
   In  FIG. 32 , a bezel of a fifth embodiment is shown wherein the lower structure  126  which is to be fastened has a structure having a snap fit portion  125  which can be snap fit to the axis  119  of the button pawl shaft  109 . 
   The above three alternate versions of bezels can be provided with wings for acting on the torsion spring  100  of the button pawl shaft  109 . 
   After assembly of the button pawl shaft of the present invention using one of the above-mentioned bezels, the one-piece button pawl shaft  109  has a tensioning force applied thereon by torsion spring  100  which applies a force to the bezels. 
   The assembly of the button pawl shaft can be performed easily by placing the four torsion springs  100  in the spring pockets  118  even prior to shipment of the pieces of the button pawl shaft  109  to the location where the button pawl shaft  109  will be assembled. At the assembly location, the left shaft piece  111  is inserted into the center shaft piece  112  and the right shaft piece  113  is inserted into the other end of the center shaft piece  112 . In its final form, the assembled button pawl shaft  109  is installed on a lower structure which a user desires to repeatedly fasten and unfasten from an upper structure. In its final installation location, the pawls of the button pawl shaft  109  engage a keeper which is installed on the upper structure. 
   It can be seen that the forces of the precompressed torsion spring  100  allow the lower structure to be retained in a closed position relative to the upper structure. When the button pawl shaft  109  rotates, the torsion spring  100  is compressed. When effort on the spring  100  is released after the pawls  108  have cleared the keepers on the upper structure, the torsion spring  100  pushes the button pawl shaft  109  back to a closed position. When it is desired that the lower structure be closed and the button pawl shaft  109  relatched, the lower structure such as a bin can be slammed shut and due to the ramp shape on the top surface of the pawls  108 . The pawls  108  are forced to rotate backward and the springs  100  are compressed. After the pawls  108  have cleared the keepers, the torsion springs  100  relax and the pawls  108  rotate back above the keepers, thus completing the latching process. 
   It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes may be made by the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing from the broad inventive concepts thereof. For example, each of the features described above do not all need to be included in a single device. Rather, one or more features can be provided in a single device where desired and in any combination. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but it is intended to cover all modifications which are within the scope and spirit of the invention.