Abstract:
A latching system that is comprised of a detent assembly and a securing plate. The detent assembly is comprised of a detent and a biasing member, which biases the detent in a first direction. The securing plate includes a curvilinear portion. The curvilinear portion is comprised of a detent traveling portion and a detent securing portion, which is located proximate to the detent traveling portion. The detent traveling portion is adapted to engage the detent and encourage the detent towards a second direction, which is approximately opposite of the first direction, upon engagement with the detent. When the detent is in contact with the detent securing portion, the detent assembly is reversibly secured relative to the securing plate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/521,696 filed on Jun. 18, 2004, the specification of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to a latching system for doors and drawers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a detent latching system for the latching of doors and drawers.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Doors, drawers, and other enclosing members are employed in a variety of ways to accomplish many functions. Doors are typically used to enclose and conceal the interior of cabinets, cupboards, or other such enclosures and enclosable areas. Normally a door is opened and closed by rotating about a set of hinges or by sliding along a track. Drawers are typically used to organize and conceal various items in a neat and orderly fashion within a cabinet, dresser, or other such enclosures and enclosable areas. Normally a drawer is opened and closed by sliding into and out of an enclosure along a set of tracks. Often doors and drawers remain unsecured when in the closed position and are able to open freely. Accordingly, if an enclosure with an unsecured door or drawer is moved, the door or drawer may open during such movement, which may be undesirable. Alternatively, doors and drawers may be secured when in the closed position through the use of latching or locking devices that must be manually disengaged before the door or drawer can be opened.  
         [0004]     A typical use of cabinets with door and drawers is garage storage units. Garage storage units usually have multiple spaces, shelves, and other storage areas enclosed by doors, drawers, and other such enclosing members. These multiple spaces allow for storage of items typically kept in a garage, such as tools, spare parts, cleaning agents, and cleaning clothes. Often these garage storage units are mounted on wheels to allow for easy relocating of the storage unit within the garage. This frequent movement can cause for hazardous conditions as unsecured doors and drawers can open freely during relocation, which can cause tools, cleaning agents, etc. to fall or spill out of the storage cabinet.  
         [0005]     It is desirable to develop a device or system that ensures doors and drawers remain in a closed position without the use of latching or locking devices that must be separately and manually disengaged before the door or drawer can be opened. In addition, it is desirable to create a device or system that can be disengaged by simply exerting a sufficient opening force upon the door or drawer. Finally, it is desirable to develop a door or drawer securing device or system that allows the door or drawer to be opened and closed smoothly without requiring excessive or abrupt force.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     A latching system that is comprised of a detent assembly and a securing plate. The detent assembly is comprised of a detent and a biasing member, which biases the detent in a first direction. The securing plate includes a curvilinear portion. The curvilinear portion is comprised of a detent traveling portion and a detent securing portion, which is located proximate to the detent traveling portion. The detent traveling portion is adapted to engage the detent and encourage the detent towards a second direction, which is approximately opposite of the first direction, upon engagement with the detent. When the detent is in contact with the detent securing portion, the detent assembly is reversibly secured relative to the securing plate. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]     The detent latching system of the present invention may be more readily understood by reference to the following drawings. While certain embodiments are shown as illustrative examples of the door and drawer securing device, the scope of this application should not be construed as limited to these illustrative examples.  
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a detent latching system;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an elevated view of a detent assembly of the detent latching system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the detent assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the of the detent assembly shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the detent assembly shown in  FIG. 2 , taken along the line  5 - 5  shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the securing plate of the detent latching system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the detent latching system shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to a door and cabinet with the door in an open position;  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the detent latching system shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to a door and cabinet with the door in the closed position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the detent latching system shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to a drawer and cabinet with the drawer in the open position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the detent latching system shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to a drawer and cabinet with the drawer in the closed position;  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a top view of a detent assembly with an extended bottom panel; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  is a bottom view of a detent assembly with an extended bottom panel.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]     While the described embodiments herein are presented in the context of a detent latching system for doors and drawers, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention may be used to latch a variety of different components and items. The examples presented in this disclosure are intended to illustrate the broad application of the invention for a detent latching system. The specific design and operation of the detent latching system selected provide no limitations on the present invention.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a detent latching system  10  is comprised of a detent assembly  12  and a locating or securing plate  14 . In this embodiment of a detent latching system  10 , the securing plate  14  is designed and arranged to engage with the detent assembly  12 .  
         [0022]      FIGS. 2 through 5  illustrate the detent assembly  12  in greater detail. The detent assembly  12  includes a detent  16 , biasing member  18 , a housing  20 , and a support member  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the detent  16  takes the form of a cylindrical roller  16  and the biasing member  18  takes the form of a coil spring  18 . The spring is a component of a biasing assembly  24 , which further includes a bolt  26  and a wing nut  28 . The housing includes a pair of side panels  30  (best seen in  FIG. 2 ), a bottom panel  32  (best seen in  FIG. 4 ), and a face plate  34  (best seen in  FIG. 3 ), which together form a partially enclosed space. The side panels  30  include a hinge pin opening  36  and a pair of fastener openings  38 ; the bottom panel  32  includes a detent access opening  40  and a pair of fastener opening  42 ; and the face plate includes an aperture  44 . The housing  20  is typically formed out of metal or plastic, although other suitable materials may also be used. The support member includes two parallel L-shaped walls  46  connected by a connector wall  48 .  
         [0023]     The detent  16  is attached to the pair of L-shaped walls  46  of the support member  22  by an axle pin  50 , which passes through a central passage in the detent  52  and through apertures  54  located in each L-shaped wall  46 . In this embodiment the configuration and arrangement of the detent  16  and the axle pin  50  allows for the detent  16  to rotate about the axle pin  50 . The biasing assembly  24  is in contact with the support member  22  through the bolt  26 . The bolt  26  passes through an aperture in the connector wall  56  so that the head  58  of the bolt  26  is in contact with the connector wall  46 , as best seen in  FIG. 5 . The bolt  26  also passes through the aperture  44  in the face plate  34 . As can be best seen in  FIG. 2 , the spring  18  is mounted onto the shaft of the bolt  26  with one end in contact with the face plate  34  and the other end in contact with the wing nut  28 , which is positioned on a threaded portion of the bolt  26  opposite the head  58  of the bolt  26 . The spring  18  is preferably in compression when mounted between the face plate  34  and the wing nut  28 . The amount the spring  18  is compressed can be adjusted by moving the position of the wing nut  28  relative to the bolt  26 .  
         [0024]     The L-shaped walls  46  of the support member  22  are coupled to the housing  20  by a hinge pin  60  which passes through the hinge pin opening  36  in the side panels  30  and through apertures  62  in the L-shaped walls  46 . The hinge pin  60  and the L-shaped walls  46  are arranged in a manner to allow for rotation of the support member  22  relative to the side panels  30  of the housing  20 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge pin  60  is a rivet; however, those skilled in the art would readily recognize that other hinging mechanisms could be used. For example, cotter pins, nut and bolt assemblies, and inter-engaging tabs and slots could be utilized.  
         [0025]     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 2 through 5 , the compression in the mounted spring  18  causes a force to be transferred from the head of the bolt  58  to the connector wall  46  of the support member  22 . This force encourages the support member  22  to rotate counterclockwise about the hinge pin  60  and encourages contact between the upper portion of the L-shaped walls  46  and the face plate  34 . The force that is generated by the compressed spring  18  is controlled by the positioning of the wing nut  28 . The closer the wing nut  28  is positioned to the head of the bolt  58  the more compressed the spring  18 , which leads to greater force applied to the connector wall  46 . The detent assembly  12  will remain in this state of rest until forces act upon the detent assembly  12 , particularly forces acting on the detent  16 , change this state of rest.  
         [0026]     The detent assembly  12  is designed to allow the biasing member  18  to interact with the detent  16  through the support member  22 . When a force is applied to the detent  16  that encourages the detent  16  to move upward (with respect to  FIG. 5 ) the support member  22  is encouraged to rotate clockwise about the hinge pin  60  (again, with respect to  FIG. 5 ). This clockwise rotation is resisted by the spring  18 . The clockwise rotation causes the spring  18  to compress further between the face plate  34  and the wing nut  28 , which results in a force, applied by the head  58  of the bolt  26  to the connector wall  46 , that encourages the support member  22  to rotate counterclockwise. When a force encouraging the detent  16  upward is greater than the force applied by the spring  18  to the support member  22  (through the head  58  of the bolt  26 ), the support member  22  will rotate clockwise. When the force applied by the spring  18  is greater than the force applied to the detent  16 , the support member  22  will rotate counterclockwise. The rotation of the support member  22  serves to move the position of the detent  16  with respect to the housing  20 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of the locating or securing plate  14 . The plate has a main portion  64 , which includes two apertures  66 , and an engagement portion  68 . The outer perimeter of the engagement portion forms a curvilinear path or portion  70 . This curvilinear path  70  is divided into a detent traveling portion  72  and a detent securing portion  74 .  
         [0028]     The engagement portion  68  of the securing plate  14  is adapted to pass through the detent access opening  40  in the bottom panel  32  of the housing  20  and engage the detent  16 . Generally, as the engagement portion  68  passes through the detent access opening  40  the detent  16  traveling portion  72  encounters and engages the detent  16 . This encounter encourages the detent  16  to move upward (relative to  FIG. 5 ). As the securing plate  14  continues to pass through the detent access opening  40 , the detent  16  proceeds to move along the detent traveling portion  72 . The curvilinear nature of the traveling portion  72  causes the maximum rotation of the support member  22  to occur when the detent is in contact with the traveling portion  72  near the peak  76  of the traveling portion  72 . As the securing plate  14  is advanced through the detent access opening  40 , the detent  16  proceeds to move across the peak  76  of the traveling portion  72  and towards the detent securing portion  74 . Once the detent  16  passes the peak  76  of the traveling portion  72 , the support member  22  is encouraged to rotate counterclockwise towards its state of rest. This rotation is further encouraged by the compressed spring  18 . As the detent  16  encounters the detent securing portion  74  of the securing plate  14 , the position of the detent  16  and support member  22  is substantially the same as when the detent assembly  12  is at a state of rest. Locating the detent  16  in contact with the securing portion  74  of the securing plate  14  secures the detent assembly  12  with respect to the securing plate  14 .  
         [0029]     Once the detent assembly  12  is secured relative to the securing plate  14 , the securement can be reversed by withdrawing the securing plate  14  from the detent access opening  40 . As a force is applied to the securing plate  14  to withdraw the plate  14  through the detent access opening  40 , the detent  16  proceeds to move away from the securing portion  74  of the curvilinear path  70  and back along the traveling portion  72  of the curvilinear path  70 . This process causes the support member  22  to rotate clockwise and compress the spring  18 . As the detent  16  passes the peak  76  of the traveling portion  72 , the support member  22  begins to rotate counterclockwise and the spring  18  further encourages the withdrawal of the securing plate  14  from the detent access opening  40 .  
         [0030]     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the detent  16  is able to roll or rotate as it moves along the traveling portion  72  of the curvilinear path  70 . This can facilitate ease of movement along the traveling portion  72 , but is not a necessary function of the invention. The detent  16  can be configured to eliminate any rolling, causing the detent  16  to slide along the traveling portion  72 . This configuration may actually be preferable for certain embodiments. An embodiment may rely on friction between the detent  16  and securing plate  14  to increase the force needed to cause movement of the detent  14  along the traveling portion  72  when the detent  16  is engaged with the securing plate  14 .  
         [0031]     The curvilinear nature of the perimeter of the engagement portion  68  of the securing plate  14  serves to enable a smooth engagement and disengagement of the securing plate  14  and the detent  16 . As the securing plate  14  is moved relative to the detent assembly  12  and the detent  16  moves along the traveling portion  72 , the curvilinear nature of the perimeter of the securing plate  14  changes the forces applied between the detent  16  and the securing plate  14  in a gradual and smooth manner. This lessens the tactile sense perceived by an operator that an excessive force or a sudden thrust or abrupt force is needed to secure or unsecure the detent  16  relative to the securing plate  14 .  
         [0032]     The detent latching system can be utilized in cooperation with a door or a drawer. Referring to  FIG. 7 , a detent latching system  10  can be seen applied to a door  78  and a cabinet  80 . The detent assembly  12  is coupled to a door jam  82  in the cabinet by fasteners passing through the fastener openings  42  in the bottom plate  32  of the housing  20 . The securing plate  14  is coupled to the door  78 , near the hinged edge of the door, through the fastener openings  66  in the main portion  64  of the securing plate  14 . A slot (not shown) is included in the door jam  82  that coincides with the detent access opening  40 . The securing plate  14  and detent assembly  12  are arranged so that as the door  78  is closed, by a closing force, the engagement portion  68  of the securing plate  14  passes through the slot in the door jam  82  and through the detent access opening  40  to engage the detent  16 . As the door  78  is further closed by the closing force, the detent  16  moves along the traveling portion  72  of the curvilinear path  70  and comes to rest in the securing portion  74  as the door  78  is fully closed. When the detent  16  comes to rest in the securing portion  74 , the detent  16  is secured relative to the securing plate  14 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The detent assembly  12  is coupled to the door jam  82  of the cabinet  80  and the securing plate  14  is coupled to the door  78 . Consequently, securing the detent  16  relative to the securing plate  14  serves to hold the door  78  in the closed position until a force is applied to the door  78  to change this state.  
         [0033]     Once the door  78  is in the closed position, the door  78  can be move back to the open position, as shown in  FIG. 7 , by simply applying an opening force to the door  78  itself or through a handle or other similar device (not shown). As the door  78  is pulled open, the detent  16  will move back along the traveling portion  72  of the curvilinear path  70 . The curvilinear nature of the perimeter of the engagement portion  68 , in cooperation with the spring  18 , will provide a gradually changing resisting force, which can be overcome by applying a gradually increasing opening force to the door handle or other such device. Once the detent  16  moves past the peak  76  of the traveling portion  72 , the force provided by the spring  18  adds to the opening force. The interaction of the curvilinear perimeter of the engagement portion  68  and the spring  18  provide for a smooth opening of the door without the need for excessive or abrupt force to be applied to the door  78 .  
         [0034]     The amount of force needed to open and close the door  78  is dependent on the configuration of the biasing member or spring  18 . The greater the biasing force applied to the detent  16  by the spring  18 , the greater the force needed to either open or close the door  78  of the cabinet  80 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , the biasing force is adjusted by controlling the placement of the wing nut  28  on the bolt  26 . As the wing nut  28  is positioned closer to the face plate  34 , thus causing greater compression in the spring  18 , the force the spring  18  applies to the detent  16  (through the support member  22 ) becomes larger. Conversely, as the position of the wing nut  26  becomes farther from the face plate  34 , thus causing less compression in the spring  18 , the force the spring  18  applies to the detent  16  lessens. Therefore, the placement of the wing nut  28  adjusts the biasing force applied to the detent  16 . In order to open or close the door of a cabinet, the biasing force applied to the detent  16  needs to be overcome. One reason for adjusting the biasing force is to account for the items stored in a cabinet. If the items are heavy or dangerous, the biasing force can be increased to lessen the chances the items will inadvertently open the door by falling against a door as a cabinet is moved. If the items in the cabinet are light weight, the biasing force can be lessened to make it easier for a user to open and close a door of a cabinet.  
         [0035]     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the detent latching system  10  is applied to a drawer  84  in a cabinet, dresser or other such enclosures  86 . The detent assembly  12  is coupled to the door jam  88  of the cabinet  84  and the securing plate  14  is coupled to the drawer  84  in manners similar to that described above. Again a slot is formed in the door jam  88  that coincides with the detent access opening  40 . As the drawer  84  is closed, the engagement portion  68  of the securing plate  14  encounters the detent  16  though the slot in the door jam  88  and the detent access opening  40  in the bottom plate  32  of the housing  20 . The detent  16  moves along the traveling portion  72  of the curvilinear path  70  in a similar manner as that described above until the detent  16  comes to rest in the securing portion  74 . This securement is reversed by applying an opening force to the drawer  84 , also in a similar manner as described above.  
         [0036]     The configuration of the detent assembly  12  and the securing plate  14  results in a compact arrangement that occupies a limited space within the cabinet. The locations of the detent assembly  12  and the securing plate  14 , both when engaged and disengaged, do not interfere with storage areas or items stored in the storage area. In addition, the action of the securing member  22  during engagement of the detent  16  by the securing plate  14 , is contained within the housing  20  of the detent assembly  12 . Therefore, the action of the securing member  22  also does not interfere with storage areas or items stored in the storage areas.  
         [0037]     The methods of attachment of the detent assembly  12  to the cabinet  80 ,  86  and the securing plate  14  to the door  78  and drawer  84  as shown in  FIGS. 7 through 10  are exemplary only. Any method that secures the detent assembly  12  and the securing plate  14  to either a generally stationary object, such as a cabinet, bureau, wall, etc., or a generally moveable object, such a door, drawer, or other enclosing member, is incorporated in the detailed invention. For instance, the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 7 through 10  would be equally effective if the securing plate  14  were coupled to the cabinet  80 ,  86  and the detent assembly  12  were coupled to the door  78  or drawer  84 . In another embodiment, the detent assembly  12  could be coupled to a cabinet  80 ,  86  through fastener openings  38  located in the side panels  30  of the housing  20 . In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the bottom panel  32  of the housing can be extended so that fastener openings  90  are located in an extended portion  92  of the bottom panel  32  and not in line with the detent access opening  40  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this configuration the extended portion  92  can be utilized to fasten the detent assembly  12  to a door jam of a cabinet, leaving the detent access opening  40  accessible above the door jam. This would eliminate the need for a slot to be included in the door jam and the securing plate  14  could access the detent assembly without having to pass through the door jam.  
         [0038]     While various aspects of the invention are described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects may be realized 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 invention. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects and features of the invention, such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices, 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 aspects, concepts or features of the invention into additional embodiments within the scope of the present invention even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the invention 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. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present invention however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense.