Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application, No. 60/121,375 Filed Feb. 25, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a latch assembly and more particularly to console latches where an actuation member is depressed to release the latch. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     Console latches are generally used to secure the cover of a compartment such as, for example, a console in a vehicle. Often, a console consists of a container, which is swingably hinged between passenger seats to swing out of the way when the vehicle operator or passenger desires. Often, the consoles can store objects therein such as loose change, sunglasses, maps, pens, paper and other articles, which the driver and/or passengers may find it necessary to use. In addition, some consoles also include cup holders, which may be integrally molded therein or can comprise a foldout member, which can be unfolded to form a cup-holding device. 
     It is desirable to maintain the console cover in a closed position to secure contents therein when the vehicle is being operated. In some instances, it is also desirable to lift the console from a horizontal position to a vertical position and have the console lid and container body move together so that the contents are secured inside. It is known to provide a depressible latching device, which can secure a console lid to the console body and be opened as the vehicle operator or passenger desires by depression of a latch button 
     There are, however, consoles, which employ more complex configurations than simple a cover and console body. The console, its cover and body themselves, may also operate as a unit to cover yet another compartment body which can store additional articles. In such an arrangement, often the second container compartment is merely covered by the adjacent positioning of the console cover and first console compartment, which swing into and out of position to cover the contents. However, it is often desirable to lock both the console cover and first console compartment, as well as the first console compartment to a second compartment so that unauthorized access can be prevented. This can be accomplished with a first latch, which will secure the first cover to the first console compartment, and a second latch, which can secure the first console compartment to a second compartment. 
     A need exists for an improved latch, which can selectively regulate the opening and closing of a first console compartment as well as a second console compartment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a novel latch which can secure a closure cover to a first compartment and can secure the first compartment to a second compartment to act as a cover thereof. The latch of the present invention has a housing, which carries a double pawl member for engagement with a keeper, which can be provided in the closure cover and on the second compartment. The keeper may consist of the cover panel or compartment itself An actuation member, such as a handle or button, is connected to the housing and is disposed for depression by an operator to actuate the latch. The actuation with the handle or button moves the pawl rearwardly with respect to the housing and out of engagement with a keeper. The actuation handle is provided to be actuated in two directions, one by depressing the top of the handle and a second by depressing the bottom of the handle. The handle preferably includes a living spring component to facilitate returning of the handle to its original position, once it has been depressed. The first pawl end of the double pawl member can be actuated with the corresponding top portion of the handle and the second pawl member of the double pawl member can be actuated with the lower portion of the handle. A locking member is selectively positionable to prevent deflection of the pawl and maintain the pawl ends in engagement with their respective corresponding keepers. The double pawl member is provided as a flexible or spring member, which permits the double pawl to be mounted on the housing for flexible displacement upon actuation by the handle. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch, which is useful for securing dual compartments of a console in a vehicle. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a latch, which includes a living spring pawl member, which can be released from engagement with a keeper by the actuation of an actuation member. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a pawl member, which has a latching element at each end thereof for securing two keepers to regulate access to one or more compartments. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a latch having a locking mechanism, which can selectively be positioned to prevent actuation of the latch. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a console latch, which can be positioned between a dual compartment console for regulating access to one or more compartment bins of a multi-tiered bin. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a living spring mechanism to return the actuation member to its original position after actuation. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism, which locks the pawl to prevent disengagement of the first pawl and second pawl end from respective keepers. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a latch according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a parallel perspective view of the double pawl member of the latch of FIG. 1, as viewed from the front right. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the double pawl member of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the housing of the latch of FIG. 1 taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the housing of the latch of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 6 is a parallel perspective view of the latch according to the present invention, shown without the handle, as viewed from the top right corner. 
     FIG. 7 is a left side elevation view of the actuation member of the latch of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 8 is a right side elevation view of the actuation member of the latch of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 9 is a rear elevation view of the actuation member shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the actuation member shown in FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevation plan view of the locking member of the latch of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 12 is a parallel perspective view of the locking member shown in FIG.  9 . 
     FIG. 13 rear elevation view of the latch of FIG. 1, shown with the locking member in the unlocked position. 
     FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the latch of FIG. 13, shown with the handle removed. 
     FIG. 15 is a rear elevation view of the latch of FIG. 1, shown with the locking member in the locked position. 
     FIG. 16 is a front elevation view of the latch shown in FIG.  15 . 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line  17 — 17  of FIG. 14, and showing the first pawl end engaging a keeper, which is provided as a slot of a panel. 
     FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line  18 — 18  of FIG. 14, showing the locking member guide means. 
     FIG. 19 is a parallel perspective view of a panel with a keeper slot for use in connection with the latch of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference now being made to FIG. 1 where a latch  10  according to the present invention is shown. The latch  10  has a housing  11  and actuation means, shown comprising the handle or actuation button  12  connected to the housing  11 . A double pawl member  13  is also provided, having a first pawl end  14  and a second pawl end  15 . A locking mechanism is preferably employed with the latch  10  to lock the double pawl member  13  into a secured position to prevent unauthorized opening of the latch  10 . The locking means is shown comprising a lock plug  16 , which can be any of those suitable, commercially available lock plugs, which can be disposed in a receiving bore  17  of the housing  11 . The pawl member  13  is shown, in FIG. 2, having a body portion  18  with a neck  19 ,  20  disposed on each end thereof, with a pawl engaging end  14 ,  15 , respectively, disposed on each neck  19 ,  20 . The double pawl member  13  is configured to flex at each pawl end thereof when the double pawl member  13  is constrained at the center. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the double pawl member  13  has a connecting tab  21  extending outwardly from the back surface of the body portion  18 . The pawl body portion  18  is provided with a first aperture  22  and a second aperture  23  disposed therein. Preferably, the pawl body portion  18  includes a first cutout  25  and a second cutout  26  to facilitate flexing movement of the pawl ends when an actuation force is applied. The pawl member  13  has a connecting tab  21 , which is preferably configured for mounting to the housing  11 . 
     As shown in FIG. 4, the housing  11  includes connecting means for connecting the double pawl member  13  thereto. The connecting means is shown comprising a pair of arms  30 ,  31 , which have barbs, respectively,  32 ,  33  disposed on an end thereof The housing  11  further has a retaining slot  36 , which is disposed between the arms  30 ,  31 . The retaining slot  36  is provided to receive the connecting tab  21 . The slot  36  is generally defined by a pair of sidewalls  37 ,  38 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, the housing  11  is shown comprising a body portion  45  with mounting posts  46  disposed thereon. Attachment means for attaching the handle or button  12  to the housing  11  are provided. The attachment means are shown preferably comprising a pair of pintles  49 ,  50 , which are supported on flanges  51 ,  52 , respectively, extending upwardly from the floor  53  of the housing  11 . The housing  11  has a sleeve  17  for accommodating a lock plug cylinder  16  (FIG.  6 ). 
     As described in connection with FIG. 4, the housing  11  includes retaining arms  30 ,  31  and a tab  35  which facilitate retention of the double pawl member  13  onto the housing  11 . As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the housing  11  has a first slot  60  and a second slot  61  disposed in the housing body  45 . Preferably, the first and second slots  60 ,  61 , respectively, are disposed in opposing relation to each other and are configured to accommodate the neck portions  19 ,  20  of the double pawl member  13  therein. 
     The actuation means is provided comprising an actuation button or handle  12 , which as shown best in the left side view of FIG. 7, comprises a face or actuating surface  70  with a lifting flange  71  disposed along the face  70  and extending outwardly therefrom. Mounting flanges  72 ,  73  are provided on the rear of the face  70  of the handle  12  and extend outwardly therefrom. Preferably, each mounting flange  72 ,  73  has an aperture  75 ,  76 , respectively, which are preceded by tapered slot portions  77 ,  78 , respectively, (FIGS. 7 and 8) for facilitating attachment of the handle  12  to the pintles  50 ,  49 , respectively, disposed on the housing  11  (FIG.  5 ). The handle  12  includes a first post member  80  and a second post member  81  connected to the rear of the face  70  of the handle  12  and extending outwardly therefrom. A plurality of ribs  82  are disposed along each post member  80 ,  81 . The ribs are tapered with the larger dimension starting where the posts  80 ,  81  meet the face  70  of the handle  12 , and the thinner dimension being the end of the rib  82  furthest from the handle face  70 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the handle  12  further includes means for returning the handle to its original position after it has been depressed. The handle returning means is shown comprising living spring members  120 ,  121 , disposed alongside of the mounting flange  73 . The spring elements  120 ,  121 , are preferably living spring elements which are connected at one end to the rear of the face  70  of the handle  12  for movement relative thereto when compressed by an engaging stop  125  located on the housing  11  (FIG.  5 ). A lower stop  126  is also shown provided on the housing  11  for engagement with the lower spring element  121 . The spring elements  120 ,  121 , when engaged with the stops  125 ,  126 , respectively, are moved rearwardly toward the handle face  70 , and thereafter, returned to their original positions (as shown in FIG. 7) to position the handle  12  in its original position after actuation. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 8, the spring element  122  is provided adjacent the mounting flange  72 . The spring element  122  is provided to function similar to those spring elements  120 ,  121 , described above. As shown in FIG. 5, the housing includes a third stop  127 , which the spring element  122  engages when the actuation button or handle  12  is depressed. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, the handle  12  includes an aperture  130  to permit access to the lock plug  16 . As shown in FIG. 10, the spring elements  120 ,  122  (the lower spring element  121  being hidden under the upper spring element  120 ) are shown extending rearwardly from the handle face  70 . Preferably, the handle  12  can also comprise a cored out carrier to permit gripping, such as the recessed  131 , shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Reference now being made to FIG. 11, wherein a locking member  90  is provided having a generally “Y” shaped configuration formed by a first arm  91 , a second arm  92 , a leg  93  and a tab portion  94 . The tab portion  94  is provided with a slot  95  disposed therein. The first arm  91  and second arm  92 , respectively, is each provided with a circular element  97 ,  98  at each end thereof. 
     Referring to FIG. 12, the first and second arms  91 ,  92  are shown connected to a connecting member  99 , which connects the arms  91 ,  92  with the leg  93 . The locking member  90  is provided for disposition on the housing  11  to align with the first and second apertures  22 ,  23 , respectively of the double pawl member  13 , in order to permit actuation of the latch assembly  10 . As shown in FIG. 13, the lock plug  16  has a lock pin or post  101  extending rearwardly therefrom and being rotatable over a range of positions with a key (not shown) which can be inserted in the key slot  140  (FIGS.  1  and  6 ). The post  101  is shown in FIG. 13 in a position at the bottom of the slot  95  of the locking member  90 . In the position shown in FIG. 13, the ends  97 ,  98  of the locking member  90  are positioned over the first and second apertures  22 ,  23 , respectively, of the double pawl member  13 , as shown also in the front view of FIG.  14 . With the locking member ends  97 ,  98  in this (FIGS. 13 and 14) position, the handle posts  80 ,  81  engage the ends  97 ,  98 , respectively, to force the pawl ends  14 ,  15  of the double pawl  13  rearward to disengage them from corresponding keepers (not shown). 
     As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the latch  10  is in its locked state, with the locking member  90 , shown retracted from alignment with the pawl apertures  22 ,  23 . In this position, the locking member  90  permits the handle posts  80 ,  81  to pass through the first and second pawl apertures  22 ,  23 , respectively, and no force is transferred to the pawl  13 , and the pawl ends  14 ,  15  remain engaged with a corresponding keeper, such as, for example, the slot  160  disposed in the panel  300 , as shown in FIG. 19 (not shown). 
     FIG. 17 is a sectional view showing the pawl member  13  installed on the housing  11 . The pawl connecting tab  21  is received in the slot  35  of the housing arm  39 , and is retained by the barbs  32 ,  33  (FIG.  16 ). 
     FIGS. 4 and 18 show the locking member guide  147  provided on the housing  11  to guide the locking member leg  93 , and support it thereon. 
     These and other advantages of the present invention will be understood upon a reading of the Summary of the Invention, the Brief Description of the Drawing Figures and the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment. Other modifications may be made consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention described herein.

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