초록 ▼

Weather resistant push button operator assemblies usable with a variety of latch and lock systems are disclosed that employ O-ring seals along inner and outer diameters of tubular push button operators that may be provided with key operated lock cylinders. A clamp-on bracket and linkage assembly is

Weather resistant push button operator assemblies usable with a variety of latch and lock systems are disclosed that employ O-ring seals along inner and outer diameters of tubular push button operators that may be provided with key operated lock cylinders. A clamp-on bracket and linkage assembly is disclosed that may be used to enable the push button operator assemblies to pivot pairs of latch connected links in opposite directions to concurrently release pairs of remotely located latches. Also disclosed is a latch and lock system for holding closed a hinged lid of an elongate tool box of the type often mounted on pickup trucks, including lockable first and second push button operator assemblies located near opposite end regions of the tool box, and first and second rotary latch assemblies located substantially equidistantly from an imaginary center plane situated mid-way between the push button operator assemblies where a reversing crank is provided that connects with links arranged substantially symmetrically about the center plane to enable either of the push button operators to concurrently release the latch assemblies. Symmetrically arranged sets of left and right components of the latch and lock system give each of the push button operator assemblies-the same "feel" when used to concurrently release the latch assemblies.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A latch system for a pickup truck box having a body, with a length of the body being defined by opposed, relatively long sides that extend between opposed, relatively shorter ends of the body, and having a lid, with a length of the lid being defined by opposed sides that extend along the length o

1. A latch system for a pickup truck box having a body, with a length of the body being defined by opposed, relatively long sides that extend between opposed, relatively shorter ends of the body, and having a lid, with a length of the lid being defined by opposed sides that extend along the length of the body between opposed ends of the lid, with the lid being connected to the body by at least one hinge located along one of the opposed sides of the lid for pivoting the lid relative to the body between open and closed positions, with the latch system being operable to releasably retain the lid in the closed position, and comprising:a) first and second push button operators adapted to be attached to a selected one of the body and the lid at locations near the ends of the selected one of the body and the lid, with an imaginary center plane being located substantially mid-way between the locations where the first and second push button operators are attached to the selected one of the body and the lid, with each of the push button operators having a generally tubular housing that slidably mounts a push button within a central passage defined by the housing, with each push button having an operating arm associated therewith by being connected thereto for movement therewith, and wherein the push buttons and their associated operating arms are movable in directions toward and away from the center plane between non-operated positions of the operating arms and operated positions of the operating arms; b) a reversing crank adapted to be mounted inside the box and adapted to be connected to the selected one of the body and the lid at a location near the center plane for pivoting about an axis, and having opposed end regions that extend in opposite directions away from the axis to define first and second points of connection located on opposite sides of the axis and substantially equidistantly from the axis; c) first and second latch strikers adapted to be attached to a different one of the body and the lid at spaced locations along the length of the different one of the body and the lid, which locations are substantially equidistant from the center plane; d) first and second latch assemblies adapted to be attached to the selected one of the body and the lid at first and second locations for latchingly engaging a corresponding one of the first and second strikers when the lid is closed, with the latch assemblies having releases that are capable of being moved concurrently from non-operated positions of the releases to operated positions of the releases for substantially concurrently unlatching the latching engagement of the latch assemblies with the strikers so that the lid can be pivoted to the open position, with the first and second locations of the latch assemblies being substantially equidistant from the center plane, and with the releases being movable in opposite directions relative to the center plane when being moved from the non-operated positions of the releases to the operated positions of the releases to unlatch the latch assemblies; and, e) linkage means for connecting the operating arms, the releases and the points of connection of the reversing crank for enabling either of the operating arms, when moved from the non-operated position thereof to the operated position thereof, to effect substantially concurrent movement of the releases from the non-operated positions of the releases to the operated positions of the releases to unlatch the latch assemblies from latchingly engaging the strikers to thereby enable the lid to be pivoted from the closed position to the open position.