Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. Non-provisional Application No. 11/735,323 filed on Apr. 13, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/792,572, filed on Apr. 16, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of locking mechanisms for latches. 
         [0004]    2. Brief Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Latches can be used to secure doors, panels or other members. It is desired that the latch be securely locked when the latch is not in use and therefore prevent unauthorized use by one who does not have a key or tool to unlock the latch. Once unlocked the latch can be opened and then closed. 
         [0006]    Although many locking mechanisms are known in the prior art, none are seen to teach or suggest the unique features of the present invention or to achieve the advantages of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a dual locking system that can be used in a latch. The duel locking system can be unlocked electrically without the manual assistance of a user and optionally the dual locking system can be electrically unlocked remotely. 
         [0008]    An example of a latch incorporating the present invention includes a housing, a latch pawl for engaging a surface such as a keeper on the second member, and a handle for moving the latch pawl between the latched position and the unlatched position. The latch pawl engages a surface of the second member such that the first member is fastened to the second member. A handle means such as a handle is connected to the pawl for moving the pawl between a closed or latched position in which the pawl engages the second member and an open or unlatched position in which the pawl does not engage the second member when the handle is in the closed position. 
         [0009]    The present invention includes a manual locking means and an electrically actuated locking means. 
         [0010]    The manual locking means is provided for preventing movement of the handle between a locked position in which the handle is prevented from moving from the closed position to the open position and an unlocked position in which movement of the handle from the closed position to the open position is permitted. The manual locking means is moveable between the locked position and the unlocked position by manual operation of the manual locking means. 
         [0011]    The electrically actuated locking means is provided for preventing movement of the handle or handle means between a locked position in which the handle means is prevented from moving from the closed position to the open position and an unlocked position in which movement of the handle means from the closed position to the open position is permitted. The electrically actuated locking means is moveable between the locked position and the unlocked position by electrical actuation of said electrically actuated locking means. 
         [0012]    A shuttle means or shuttle is connected to both the manual locking means and the electrically actuated locking means for moving between an engaged position in which the shuttle prevents movement of the handle from the closed position to the open position and an unengaged position in which movement of the handle from the closed position to the open position is permitted. The shuttle is moveable between the engaged and disengaged position in two ways. The shuttle is moveable between the engaged and disengaged position by movement of the manual locking means between the locked position in which the shuttle is in the engaged position and the unlocked position in which the shuttle is in the unengaged position. The shuttle is also moveable between the engaged and disengaged position by movement of the electrically actuated locking means between the locked position in which the shuttle is in the engaged position and the unlocked position in which the shuttle is in the unengaged position. 
         [0013]    The electrically actuated locking means is bistable which means that upon deenergization of the electrically actuated locking means the shuttle remains in the engaged position if the shuttle is in the engaged position prior to deenergization. The shuttle also remains in the unengaged position if the shuttle is in the unengaged position prior to deenergization. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0014]    The present invention will be now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a latch incorporating the present invention installed in a panel and in the closed position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the open position with the handle being rotated about 90 degrees; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  prior to the handle being placed in the closed position; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  having a pawl in the closed position; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a right side elevational view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a front side elevational view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a left side elevational view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a rear side elevational view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the closed position; 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the latch incorporating the present invention in the closed position in a panel member having a pawl securing a second member in the latched position; 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a front view of the latch incorporating the present invention in the open or unlatched position in a panel member having a pawl which is not engaging a second panel member; 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  showing the handle in the closed position and the latch in the locked or unlocked position; 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  showing the handle in the open position and the latch in the locked or unlocked position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  showing the handle in the open and rotated position and the latch in the locked or unlocked position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  shown partially in section and the latch in the unlocked position and the handle in the open and rotated position; 
           [0032]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the latch of  FIG. 1  shown partially in section and the latch in the unlocked position and the handle in the open position; 
           [0033]      FIG. 19  is a top view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the unlocked position and the handle closed; 
           [0034]      FIG. 20  is a sectional view taken along line  20 - 20  of  FIG. 19 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 21  is a top view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the locked position and the handle closed; 
           [0036]      FIG. 22  is a sectional view taken along line  22 - 22  of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 23  is a top view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the locked position at the moment of actuation of the locking of the handle in the closed position; 
           [0038]      FIG. 24  is a sectional view taken along line  24 - 24  of  FIG. 23 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 25  is a top view of the latch of  FIG. 1  in the unlocked position at the moment of actuation of the unlocking of the handle in the closed position; 
           [0040]      FIG. 26  is a sectional view taken along line  26 - 26  of  FIG. 25 ; 
           [0041]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view of the latch pawl of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0042]      FIG. 28  is a perspective view of the housing of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0043]      FIG. 29  is a top view of the housing of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0044]      FIG. 30  is a rear view of the housing of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0045]      FIG. 31  is a right side elevational view of the housing of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 32  is a front view of the housing of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0047]      FIG. 33  is a bottom view of the housing of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0048]      FIG. 34  is a perspective view of the handle of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0049]      FIG. 35  is a top view of the handle of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0050]      FIG. 36  is a rear view of the handle of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0051]      FIG. 37  is a bottom view of the handle of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0052]      FIG. 38  is a right side elevational view of the handle of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0053]      FIG. 39  is a perspective view of the bobbin cover of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0054]      FIG. 40  is a bottom view of the bobbin cover of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0055]      FIG. 41  is a perspective view of the lock pawl of the present invention; 
           [0056]      FIG. 42  is a left side elevational view of the lock pawl of the present invention; 
           [0057]      FIG. 43  is a top view of the lock pawl of the present invention; 
           [0058]      FIG. 44  is a rear view of the lock pawl of the present invention; 
           [0059]      FIG. 45  is a right side elevational view of the lock pawl of the present invention; 
           [0060]      FIG. 46  is a front view of the lock pawl of the present invention; 
           [0061]      FIG. 47  is a bottom view of the lock pawl of the present invention; 
           [0062]      FIG. 48  is a perspective view of the shuttle of the present invention; 
           [0063]      FIG. 49  is a bottom view of the shuttle of the present invention; 
           [0064]      FIG. 50  is a rear view of the shuttle of the present invention; 
           [0065]      FIG. 51  is a left side elevational view of the shuttle of the present invention; 
           [0066]      FIG. 52  is a front view of the shuttle of the present invention; 
           [0067]      FIG. 53  is a top view of the shuttle of the present invention; 
           [0068]      FIG. 54  is a perspective view of the cam restrictor of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0069]      FIG. 55  is a top view of the cam restrictor of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0070]      FIG. 56  is a perspective view of the mounting cup of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0071]      FIG. 57  is a top view of the mounting cup of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0072]      FIG. 58  is a front view of the mounting cup of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0073]      FIG. 59  is a right side elevational view of the mounting cup of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0074]      FIG. 60  is a bottom view of the mounting cup of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0075]      FIG. 61  is a perspective view of the bobbin of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0076]      FIG. 62  is a top view of the bobbin of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0077]      FIG. 63  is a front view of the bobbin of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0078]      FIG. 64  is a side view of the bobbin of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0079]      FIG. 65  is a perspective view of the pivot shaft of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0080]      FIG. 66  is a side view of the pivot shaft of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0081]      FIG. 67  is a front view of the pivot shaft of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0082]      FIG. 68  is a bottom view of the pivot shaft of the latch of  FIG. 1 ; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0083]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , an example of a latch  100  incorporating the present invention includes a housing  102 , a latch pawl  104 , a handle means such as handle  106  for selectively moving the latch pawl  104  in and out of engagement with a surface  116  on second member  118  as seen in  FIG. 11 . Handle  106  has handle swivel end  120 . Latch pawl engaging portion  122  engages engaging surface  116  on second member  118  when latch  100  is in the latched or closed position and handle  106  is in the closed position. Handle  106  has handle prong  114  which extends between handle prong supports  124  which in turn extend from lever  106 . When the handle  106  is in the closed position and the shuttle  126  is in the engaged position, shuttle catch  112  seen in  FIG. 3  engages handle prong  114 . To unlatch latch  100 , handle  106  from the open or up position is rotated such that latch pawl  104  no longer engages engaging surface  116  of second panel  118  such that first panel  108  can be unfastened from second panel  118  as seen in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0084]    The latch  100  is generally applicable wherever one or more closure members need to be secured in a certain position such as for a panel door in a frame of cabinet enclosure. In addition, the latch  100  may be mounted in any orientation depending upon the particular application. In one application as seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12  latch  100  can be mounted near an edge in panel  108  which can be a sheet metal panel such that latch pawl engaging portion  122  engages engaging surface  116  so as to fasten first panel  108  to second panel or member  118  when the latch is in the latched position. When the latch  100  is in the latched position, handle  106  is in the closed position. To unlatch panel  108  from second panel  118 , the latch  100  must first be unlocked by either manual locking means  40  or electrically actuated locking means  4  of the present invention. Then, handle  106  can be moved to the open position as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 15 . Finally, handle  106  can be swiveled as seen in  FIGS. 2 and 16  to rotate latch pawl  104  such that latch pawl  104  no longer engages second member surface  116  of  FIG. 11 . The latch is one example of an application for the present invention. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that the dual locking system of the present invention can be incorporated in other closure mechanisms. 
         [0085]    Reference is made to  FIGS. 21 and 22  to demonstrate the dual locking system of the present invention. In  FIGS. 21 and 22 , the latch  100  is in the locked position when handle  106  is in the closed position. Lock plug  40  is rotatable with lock pawl  80  which has lock pawl tooth  78 . When lock plug  40  is in the neutral position shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , lock pawl tooth  78  does not engage either shuttle stop  34  or shuttle catch  130 . If solenoid  4  is energized electrically energization from an electrical source then solenoid rod  12  moves in the direction of shuttle catch  130  such that a shuttle means, here shuttle  126  moves toward handle prong  114  of handle  106  thereby permitting shuttle hook  112  to engage handle prong  114  as seen in  FIG. 22 . 
         [0086]    By reversing the polarity of solenoid  4  which typically is a coil of wire around solenoid pin  30 , solenoid rod  12  which is connected by cotter pin  32  to shuttle  126  at shuttle aperture  134  can be moved in the opposite direction as that described above such that shuttle hook  112  no longer engages handle prong  114  as seen in  FIGS. 19 and 20 . Handle  106  is then permitted to move from the closed position to the open or up position from which the handle  106  can be swiveled so as to rotate latch pawl  104  so that latch pawl  104  disengages second member surface  116 . 
         [0087]    Alternatively, the latch  100  can be unlocked as seen in  FIGS. 25 and 26  by rotating lock plug  40  such that lock pawl tooth  78  engages shuttle stop  34  and moves shuttle  126  and solenoid rod  12  which is connected to shuttle  126  so as to move shuttle hook  112  out of engagement with handle prong  114 . The latch  100  is in the unlatched position and handle  106  can be lifted up to the open position, optionally by the use of handle tip  72  such that handle  106  can be rotated so as to disengage latch pawl  104  from second member surface  116  as described above. 
         [0088]    In addition to being unlockable by solenoid  4 , latch  100  can be locked by a manual locking means such as by lock plug  40 . As seen in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , rotation of lock plug  40  moves lock pawl tooth  78  into engagement with shuttle catch  130  such that shuttle  126  together with solenoid rod  12  move shuttle hook  112  into engagement with handle prong  114  thus preventing movement of handle  106  from the locked and closed position. 
         [0089]    Solenoid  4  can be provided with solenoid spring  3  and solenoid stop  14  here a washer so as to bias shuttle  126  and solenoid rod  12  to the locked position as seen in  FIGS. 26 and 13 . After being placed on solenoid rod  12  solenoid stop  14  does not move relative to solenoid rod  14  in normal operation. As seen in  FIG. 13 , solenoid  4  can be mounted on solenoid mount  5  by solenoid mounting screws  1 . Optionally, upon unlocking of the latch  100  by solenoid  4  or by lock plug  40 , solenoid pin  30  engages solenoid switch  28  which is connected to circuit board  53  which permits remote monitoring of the status of the solenoid  4 . Also latch  100  can be provided with antenna (not shown) connected to antenna switch which can permit opening of the solenoid  4  upon detection of an electromagnetic signal such as the motion of a metallic identificiation badge. Also the latch can be provided with reed switch  7  which can detect the proximity of a magnet mounted on second member or in close proximity thereto. As seen in  FIG. 37 , latch handle  106  can have a handle switch actuator  62  which engages handle switch  63  and transmits a signal to circuit board  53 . Wires from the circuit board  53  on circuit board support  56  can exit housing wire channel  44  in housing wire support  56  and terminate at cable connector  38  as seen in  FIGS. 21 ,  28  and  30 . Solenoid attaching means  48  seen in  FIG. 29  in housing  102  provide a means to mount solenoid mount  5 . 
         [0090]    Lock plug  40  can be inserted in housing lock plug support  46  seen in  FIG. 29  and has abutments which engage housing lock plug stop  58 . Wafers  59  in lock plug  40  disengage housing wafer channel  60  upon insertion of a key (not shown) thus permitting rotation of key between the locked and unlocked positions. Lock pawl  80  shown in  FIG. 41  fits onto the bottom of lock plug  40  by use of a wafer in lock pawl wafer channel  74 . Lock plug  40  is inserted in housing  102  from above the housing  102 . Lock plug protuberances extend and fit up into lock plug aperture  76 . O-ring  85  seen in  FIG. 13  fits between lock pawl  80  and housing so as to ease operation of the lock plug  40 . 
         [0091]    Handle  106  has handle lock plug aperture  70  seen in  FIG. 35 . Handle  106  also has handle pin aperture  68  which received pivot shaft pin  10  to fasten pivot shaft  146  by means of pivot shaft aperture  148 . Pivot shaft  146  has pivot shaft groove which receives pivot shaft O-ring  6  to ease swiveling of handle  106 . Handle  106  has handle swivel end  120  which receives pivot shaft  146  which in turn engages housing pivot support  52  of housing  102 . 
         [0092]    Latch pawl  104  engages pawl latch engaging means  152  on pivot shaft  146  and latch pawl attaching means, here screw  8  to attach latch pawl  104  to pivot shaft  146 . 
         [0093]    Cam restrictor  86  which has cam restrictor aperture  82  permits approximately  90  degree rotation of the handle  106  in clockwise or counterclockwise direction by means of cam restrictor teeth  84  which abut against housing pivot abutments  156 . 
         [0094]    Housing boss  50  can be made of a polymer and extend through bobbin aperture  140  of bobbin  138  which has top portion  142  and bobbin bottom portion  144  which enclose an antenna (not shown). The tips of housing boss  50  which extend above bobbin cover  110  through bobbin cover apertures  66  can be melted and sanded or peened for a smooth finish for the top of bobbin cover  110  which has bobbin cover sidewalls  64 . As seen in  FIGS. 34 to 40 , a mounting cup  36  which ahs moutning cup sidewalls  98  extending therefrom. Mounting cup aperture  96  provides a means for mounting cup attaching means  16 , here screws to fit into housing flange  102 . Mounting cup  36  has mounting cup slot  94  for receiving wires to cable connector  38 . 
         [0095]    The housing  102  can have housing flange  128  for fitting up against panel  108 . The shuttle  126  has sidewalls  132  extending therefrom. 
         [0096]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the dual locking system of the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, and it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of the latch which are within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Category: 4