Patent Document

BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The invention relates to the field of push button latches, and more particularly is a sealed push button latch that resist the ingress of moisture and debris, and has a drain feature in case moisture or debris does enter the push button latch. Push button latches are used in a variety of applications including for use in securing cabinet doors and glove box doors in a closed position, such as on golf carts and the like. Push button latches include a push button which actuates a latch which is released or retracted to allow opening of the door. 
         [0002]    A shortcoming of existing push button latches is that they are not completely resistant to the ingress of moisture and debris, and when they become wet or inundated with debris, this can interfere with the latch&#39;s optimal operation. Moreover, when this occurs, corrosion is more likely to take place and can lead to premature failure of the latch. Lastly, the designs of many push latches remain unnecessarily complex and expensive to manufacture and assemble. 
         [0003]    There accordingly remains a need for improved sealed push button latches that are simple in design, easy to assemble, reliable in operation, low in cost, resistant to moisture and debris infiltration, and self-draining. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention comprises a sealed push button latch having a housing with an outer sidewall defining an upper cavity and a lower cavity separated by a wall with an aperture. The upper cavity preferably has a vertically oriented notch on its sidewall. The lower cavity has a latch opening formed in its sidewall, and preferably has drain/return clip apertures formed on the sidewall of the housing. These drain/return clip apertures are preferably formed generally opposite the latch opening and are provided so that any liquid that might have entered to housing will freely drain therefrom, regardless of the orientation and position of the push button latch mounted to a door. The push button (with or without a keyed lock) axially moves up and down in the upper portion of the housing to actuate a latch. 
         [0005]    In cases where the push button has an integral keyed lock, and it is desirable to provide for additional sealing between the keyed lock and the push button, a seal, e.g., such as an O-ring, will be placed in a groove formed around an outside wall of the keyed lock. The keyed lock will then be engaged with the push button, with the O-ring providing for additional sealing between the keyed lock and the push button. To provide for sealing between the push button and the housing, a seal, e.g., such as an O-ring, will be placed in a groove that will be formed around an outside wall of the push button. This O-ring will contact with the housing and help prevent the ingress of water and debris between the push button and the housing. 
         [0006]    The push button (or its keyed lock) connects at its bottom to an actuator having a pin, which pin passes through the aperture in the separating wall and extends downwardly in the lower portion. A coil spring positioned in the upper cavity is placed above the separator wall and around the actuator&#39;s pin and pushes it up into contact with the push button. This also biases the push button upwardly. A latch leg with a protrusion extending downwardly from the push button is aligned so that the protrusion is received in the vertically oriented notch on the sidewall of the housing, and prevents the push button from becoming separated from the upper cavity of the housing. In cases where the push button has a keyed lock, turning the keyed lock will rotate the actuator. The actuator has tabs and grooves formed thereon, which when turned by the keyed lock in a locked position will be aligned with stop rails and a guide rail formed on the inside wall of the upper cavity to prevent the push button from being depressed and actuating the locking latch. When the keyed lock is in its opened position, the actuator will be rotated such that its tabs and grooves clear the stop rails and the guide rail of the housing, so that the push button is free to be pushed down to operate the locking latch. 
         [0007]    The locking latch is located in the lower cavity. The locking latch has an outwardly facing slanted slam surface and an interior ramp surface which is aligned to be impinged by downward motion of the actuator&#39;s pin. In an extended mode of the locking latch, the outwardly facing slanted slam surface will project out of the housing. The slanted slam surface and the interior ramp surface both slant inwardly and downwardly towards the middle of the locking latch. A latch spring is located in the lower cavity and acts to bias the locking latch to project outside of the housing. The locking latch is adapted to be moved back into the lower housing portion in response to both a downward movement of the actuator and its pin, which pin impinges on the ramp surface, and the impact of the slanted slam surface of the locking latch with a strike plate. 
         [0008]    An optional return clip can be engaged with the housing to help maintain a tight and vibration-free contact between the sealed push button latch and the door frame to which the door is hinged, and also helps to pop open the closed door. The return clip will include a front lip portion from which extends two spaced apart forks. At the ends of the spaced apart forks are protrusions. The spaced apart forks are inserted into the latch opening above the locking latch, and the protrusions are passed through the drain/return clip apertures and thus secure the return clip to the housing. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing various parts of an exemplary embodiment of a sealed push button latch of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a partially exposed view of the housing of the push button latch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the housing of the push button latch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the push button and its engaged keyed lock of the push button latch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is another perspective view of the push button and its engaged keyed lock of  FIG. 4 , but rotated by 180 degrees. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the push button and keyed lock of the push button latch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the actuator of the push button latch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the push button and keyed lock engaged with the actuator in a locked mode. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the push button with attached actuator in a locked mode of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the push button with attached actuator in an unlocked mode. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a bottom view of the push button with attached actuator in an unlocked mode of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is front view of the housing of the push button latch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a rear view of the housing of the push button latch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a front view of the exemplary embodiment of the assembled push button latch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a left side view of the exemplary embodiment of the push button latch of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a right side view of the exemplary embodiment of the push button latch of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a back view of the exemplary embodiment of the push button latch of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  is a top view of the exemplary embodiment of the push button latch of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the push button latch of  FIG. 14 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  is a longitudinal cross-section view of the assembled push button latch through view lines  20 - 20  of  FIG. 14  with the push button in an un-depressed mode and with the locking latch projecting outside of the housing. 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  is longitudinal cross-section view of the assembled push button latch of through view lines  21 - 21  of  FIG. 15  and with the locking latch projecting outside of the housing. 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  is a longitudinal cross-section view of the assembled push button latch with the push button in a depressed mode to retract the locking latch into the housing. 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  is a left side perspective view of the push button latch of  FIG. 14  mounted on a door in a horizontal position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  is a right side perspective view of the push button latch of  FIG. 14  mounted on a door in a horizontal position. 
           [0033]      FIG. 25  is a left side perspective view of the push button latch of  FIG. 14  mounted on a door which is canted slightly from a vertical position and with its locking latch directed generally upwards and with its drain/return clip apertures directed generally downwards. 
           [0034]      FIG. 26  is a left side perspective view of the push button latch of  FIG. 16  mounted on a door which is canted slightly from a vertical position and with its locking latch directly generally downwards. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is an exploded view showing various parts of an exemplary embodiment of a sealed push button latch  10  of the invention. It includes a push button  12 , and in the case where a locking feature is desired, a keyed lock  14 . An opening  16  is formed in the push button  12  into which the keyed lock  14  is inserted. For provision of improved sealing between the keyed lock  14  and the push button  12 , a groove  18  is formed around an outside wall  20  of the keyed lock  14 . The keyed lock  14  has a head  22  with a key entrance. A seal, such as an O-ring  24 A, is placed in the groove  18 . The push button  12  has an outer wall  26  on which is formed an optional groove  28 . For provision of improved sealing between the push button  12  and a housing  50  into which the push button  12  engages, a seal, such an O-ring  24 B, is placed in the groove  28 . The push button  12  has a latch leg  30 . An actuator  32  is provided which is adapted to engage with the keyed lock  14 . The actuator  32  has an engagement  34  formed on its head  36 . The head  36  has tabs  38  formed thereon, the purpose of which will be described further below. A pin  40  extends downwardly from the head  36 . A coil spring  42  is placed around the pin  40  and biases the actuator  32  upwardly so that the engagement  34  in the head  36  of the actuator is brought into contact with a complementary engagement  44  on the bottom of the keyed lock  14 , which when the keyed lock is turned, will cause the actuator  32  to also rotate. The housing  50  has an upper opening  52  sized to slidably receive the push button  12 . The housing  50  also has an enlarged retention head  54 , and preferably has threads  56  formed on an outer wall  58  of the housing  50  below the retention head  54 . The housing  50  is preferably non-cylindrical, e.g., it can have flats  60  formed on sides thereof, to prevent the housing  50  from rotating once it is mounted in place, such as on a door “D”, as best shown in  FIGS. 23-26 . A latch opening  62  is formed through the outer wall  58  and communicates with a lower cavity  64  of the housing  50 . A vertically oriented notch  66  is formed in the sidewall  58  of the housing  50 , and is adapted to receive the latch leg  30  of the push button  12 . The latch leg  30  has a protrusion  68  at its end which will be captured in the vertically oriented notch  66  and prevent the push button  12  and its keyed lock  14  from being completely withdrawn from the housing  50  once the push button  12  has been inserted therein. This likewise makes assembly of the sealed push button latch of the invention extremely simple and a tool-free operation. 
         [0036]    A locking latch  70  is adapted to be received in the lower cavity  64  and transversely slide therein and be extendable outside of the latch opening  62 . The locking latch  70  has a front slanted slam surface  72  which extends up and out from a bottom  74  to a top  76  of the locking latch  70 . A latch spring  78  is placed in the lower cavity  64  between the locking latch  50  and acts to bias the locking latch  70  so that its front slanted slam surface  72  extends outside of the latch opening  62 , as shown  FIGS. 14-16  and  21 . An optional return clip  80  can be used to help stabilize the sealed push button latch  10  when it is latched to a frame and prevent the door from rattling. The return clip  80  has two spaced apart forks  82  with protrusions  84  at ends thereof, and a front lip portion  86 . Stops  88  are located rearwardly of the lip  86 . As the return clip  80  is engaged with the housing  50 , the two spaced apart forks  82  will flex together and the protrusions  84  at the ends of the forks  82  will pass through drain/return clip apertures  90  formed through the outer wall  58  of the housing  50  opposite the latch opening  62 . If desired, additional indents  92  can be formed at the top of the lower cavity at the entrance of the latch opening  62  to accommodate the passage of the forks  82 . After the return clip  80  is fully inserted into place with the housing  50 , the stops  88  will rest against the outer wall  58  of the housing  50  and the two forks  82  will spring apart and the protrusion  84  will lock in place in the drain/return clip apertures  90 . A lock washer  96  and nut  98  are used to retain the sealed push button latch  10  to a closure, such as a door “D”, as shown in  FIGS. 23-26 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  is a partially exposed view of the housing  50  the push button latch  10  of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a top view of same. The housing  50  includes the upper opening  52  sized to slidably receive the push bottom  12  (not shown). The housing  50  also has an oversized retention head  54  that will seat on an aperture formed in closure, such as shown in  FIGS. 23-26 . The housing  50  preferably has threads  56  formed on its outer wall  58  below the head  54 . The latch opening  62  is formed through the sidewalls and communicates with a lower cavity  64  of the housing  50 . The vertically oriented notch  66  is formed in the sidewall  58  of the housing  50 . A dividing wall  100  is located above the lower cavity and has an aperture  102  through which will pass the pin  40  of the actuator  32 , as shown in  FIGS. 20-22 . The lower cavity  64  has a lower end wall  104 , which can have tracks  106  formed thereon to guide the sliding motion of the locking latch  70 , as shown in  FIG. 20 . A spring keeper  108  is used to retain the coil spring  78  in place. Above the dividing wall  100  is the upper cavity  110 . It is in the upper cavity  110  that the push button  20  is received. Formed on inside walls  112  of the housing  50  is an elongate push button guide rail  114 . The push button  20  has a complementary elongate slot  116  formed on an outer surface thereof (see  FIG. 4 ), and when the push button  20  is placed in the upper cavity  110 , the push button  20  will thereby be allowed to move up and down but not rotate by virtue of the elongate push button guide rail  114  riding in the complementary elongate slot  116 . Also located on the inside sidewalls of the upper cavity  110  are stops  118 . The stops  118  are designed so that when the keyed lock  14  is operated and its locked position, the actuator  32  will be turned so that its tabs  38  will be aligned to intersect with the stops  118 , and thereby prevent the push button  12  from being pushed down. However, when the keyed lock  14  is in its opened position, the actuator  32  is turned so that its tabs  38  clear the stops  118 , thereby allowing the push button  12  to be pushed down. The upper region of the upper cavity  110  is defined by smooth inner sidewalls  130  which will provide a contact surface for the O-ring  24 B on the push button  12  in the groove  28  to ride along and provide a water tight yet moveable seal, which is best shown in  FIGS. 20-22 . An inner rim  132  is formed along the inside of the retention head  54  extends slightly inwardly to create a slightly smaller diameter opening. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a first side view of the push button assembled with its keyed lock  12 +14 of the push button latch of  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 5  is another side view of same rotated along its axis by 180 degrees.  FIG. 6  is a bottom view of same. The push button  12  has an outer wall  26  with an O-ring  24 B placed in the groove thereon (not shown). The latch leg  30  with it protrusion  68  are also shown. Also shown is the complementary engagement  44  on the bottom of the keyed lock  14 , and the elongate slot  116 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the actuator  32 . The engagement  34  formed on its head  36  and the tabs  38  formed thereon are shown. Also shown is a notch  130 . The notch is designed to allow the latch leg  30  and its terminal protrusion  68  to swing inwardly as the push button  12  is slide into the upper cavity  110  during assembly of the push button lock. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the push button with attached actuator  12 +14 in a locked mode, and  FIG. 9  is a bottom view of same. The O-ring  24 B is positioned in the groove (not shown) in the sidewall  26  of the push button  12 . The different positions of the tabs  38  are shown as the keyed lock  14  is moved from the locked mode, to the unlocked mode, shown in  FIG. 10 , which is a side view of the push button with attached actuator  12 +14 in an unlocked mode, and  FIG. 11 , which is a bottom view of same. Also shown is how the notch  130  aligns with the latch leg  30  to allow it and its proximal protrusion  68  to swing inwardly during insertion of the push button lock  12  into the upper cavity  110  of the housing  50 . In these views, the complementary elongate slot  116  formed on an outer surface  26  of the push button  12  is shown, as well as the pin  40  of the actuator  32 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 12  is front view of the housing  50  and  FIG. 13  is a rear view of the housing  50  of the push button latch  10  of  FIG. 1 . The various features shown include the retention head  54 , the threads  56  formed on the outer wall  58  of the housing below the head  54 , the drain/return clip apertures  90 , indents  92 , the vertically oriented notch  66 , its upper end  124 , the dividing wall  100  between the lower cavity  64  and the upper cavity, the lower end wall  104  with its tracks  106 , and the spring keeper  108 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 14  is a front view,  FIG. 15  is a left side view,  FIG. 16  is a right side view,  FIG. 17  is a back view,  FIG. 18  is a top view, and  FIG. 19  is a bottom view of the exemplary embodiment of the assembled push button latch  10 . In these views there are shown the push button  12 , the keyed lock  14 , the retention head  54 , the threads  56  formed on the outer wall  58  of the housing below the head  54 , the drain/return clip apertures  90 , the indents  92 , the vertically oriented notch  66 , and the protrusion  68  on the latch leg  30  (not shown), which protrusion  68  captures at the upper end  124  of the vertically oriented notch  66 , the locking latch  70  with its front slanted slam surface  72 , and the lower end wall  104 . In  FIG. 18  the keyed locked  14  is shown. 
         [0043]    Turning to  FIGS. 20-22 , there are shown various cross-sections views of the push button latch  10 .  FIG. 20  is a longitudinal cross-section view of the assembled push button latch  10  through view lines  20 - 20  of  FIG. 14  with the push button  10  in an un-depressed mode with the locking latch  70  extending outside of the housing  50 .  FIG. 21  is longitudinal cross-section view of the assembled push button latch through view lines  21 - 21  of  FIG. 15  with the push button in an un-depressed mode. Lastly,  FIG. 22  is a longitudinal cross-section view of the assembled push button latch with the push button in a depressed mode to retract the latch into the housing. The push button and its keyed locked  12 +14 are retained in the upper cavity  110  by virtue of the protrusion  68  on the latch leg  30  being captured at the upper end  124  of the vertically oriented notch  66 . A lower end  122  of the pin  40  of the actuator  32  will pass through the aperture  102  in the dividing wall  100  and contact an inwardly slanted surface  120  of the locking latch  70 . One end of the coil spring  78  is retained by the spring keeper  108  and the other end of the coil spring  78  is retained in a tunnel  126  formed through a back wall  128  of the locking latch  70 . The bottom  74  of the locking latch  70  rides on the lower end wall  104  of the housing and the track  106  located therein, and the top  76  of the locking latch  70  rides generally below the dividing wall  100 . The upwardly and outwardly slanted surface  72  of the locking latch is available for contact with a slam surface, such as a catch on a door frame (not shown.) The coil spring  78  will provide a biasing force that tends to bias the locking latch  70  out of the latch opening  62  of the lower cavity  64 , with the lower end  122  of the pin  40  extending into the locking latch  70  to prevent it from becoming completely separated from the lower cavity  64 . The coil spring  42  is placed around the pin  40  and at its upper extreme contacts an underside of the head  34  of the actuator, with the lower extreme of the coil spring  42  contacting the dividing wall  100 . As can be best seen in  FIG. 22 , when the push button  12  is in the opened position and is pushed down into the housing  50 , the lower end  122  of the pin  40  of the actuator  32  will impinge on the inwardly slanted surface  120  of the locking latch  70  and cause it to be drawn into the lower cavity  64 , thereby compressing the coil spring  78 . In these figures, the O-ring  24 B is seated in the groove  28  on the push button  12  and will lightly ride along the inside walls  130  of the housing  50  to provide a water resistant seal therewith. In the locked position shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the O-ring  24 B will also seat against the inner rim  132  formed along the inside of the retention head  54 . This seating of the O-ring  24 B with the inner rim  132  will help prevent the chance for water, other fluids, or debris from entering the push button lock. Indeed, in the normal condition, the push button latch  10  will be un-depressed, and therefore, a good seal will be maintained. When the push button  12  is depressed, however, the O-ring  24 B will be moved out of contact with the inner rim  132 , and therefore, a less tight seal between the O-ring  24 B and the inside walls  130  is required, thereby helping to ensure that the operation of the push button latch is smooth and unimpeded. This also eliminates the need for an unnecessary strong coil spring  42  to return the push button  12  to its locked position of  FIGS. 20 and 21 . Also shown is the locking engagement between the engagement  34  in the head  36  of the actuator  32  and the complementary engagement  44  of the keyed lock  14 . The coil spring  42  ensures that the actuator  32  is maintained in contact with the keyed lock  14 . Also shown is the O-ring  24 A which is placed in the groove  18  on the outside wall  20  of the keyed lock  14 . Once the keyed lock  14  is inserted into the push button  12 , its locks into place, and the O-ring  24 A helps prevent any moisture or debris from traveling between the outside walls of the keyed lock  14  and the inside  140  of the inner walls of the push button  12 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 23  is a left side perspective view of the push button latch  10  of  FIG. 15  mounted on a door “D” which is in a generally horizontal position and  FIG. 24  is a right side perspective view of the push button latch  10  mounted on door “D” which is in a generally a horizontal position. The nut  98  is used to retain the sealed push button latch  10  with its retention head  54  resting on one side of the door “D” and with the push button and keyed lock  12 +14 accessible on an “outside” of the door “D”. In case moisture or debris were to enter the sealed push button lock  10  from the outside, such moisture could pass though the housing  50  and exit through the latch opening  62  formed in the housing  50  around edges of the locking latch  70 , and/or thorough the drain/return clip apertures  90  formed through the outer wall  58  of the housing  50 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 25  is a left side perspective view of the push button latch  10  mounted on the door “D” and being canted slightly from a vertical position and with its locking latch  70  directly generally upwardly and with the drain/return clip apertures  90  being at a lower point. In this position, any moisture that might have entered the push button latch  10  can drain out through the drain/return clip apertures  90 , which are not completely block by the retention clip  80 .  FIG. 26  is a left side perspective view of the push button latch  10  mounted on the door “D” and being canted slightly from a vertical position and with its locking latch  70  directly generally downwardly. In this position, any moisture that might have entered the push button latch  10  can drain out through the latch opening  62  formed in the housing  50 . In  FIGS. 25 and 26 , the optional return clip  80  is engaged with the housing  50 , and can be used to help prevent the door “D” from rattling when it is closed and to provide a spring force that will tend to spring the door “D” open as soon as the push button lock is activated to withdraw the locking latch  70  into the housing  50 . The return clip  80  is engaged with the housing  50  so that its two spaced apart forks  82  with protrusions  84  at ends thereof are inserted into the drain/return clip apertures  90 . The front lip portion  86  will extend generally above the top locking latch  70 . The stops  88  located rearwardly of the front lip portion  86  will rest against the outside of the housing. As the return clip  80  is engaged with the housing  50 , the two spaced apart forks  82  will flex together and the protrusions  84  at the ends of the forks  82  will pass through drain/return clip apertures  90  formed through the outer wall  58  of the housing  50  opposite the latch opening  62 . Inclusion of the optional indents  92  in the housing  50  provide a place for the forks  82  to remain in place without impinge on the locking latch  70 . Even when engaged with the housing, the optional return clip  80  will not interfere with draining from the drain/return clip apertures  90 . 
         [0046]    Although the sealed push button lock  10  has been described as utilizing the O-rings  24 A and/or  24 B to provide for improved sealing and water-tightness, if the application is one where moisture is not expected to be an issue, such as the interior of an automobile, then one or both of the seals need not be included. However, in applications where moisture and debris entering the push button lock is more of a concern, such as golf carts, which are often cleaned by spraying down with water and detergent after use, and there is a chance that water, detergent, other moisture, and debris of entering the push button lack, including the seals is highly beneficial. 
         [0047]    Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove in connection with certain exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary is intended to cover various modifications and/or equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 4