IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0874085
(2004-06-22)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Hidding,Matthew L.
- Light,Gene C.
- Larsen,Tyler G.
- Mishak,Kelly F.
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A latch assembly having a housing and a catch assembly on the housing. The catch assembly has at least one catch element that is repositionable relative to the housing to change the catch assembly between first and second different states. The catch assembly in the first state is capable of preventi
A latch assembly having a housing and a catch assembly on the housing. The catch assembly has at least one catch element that is repositionable relative to the housing to change the catch assembly between first and second different states. The catch assembly in the first state is capable of preventing a strike element engaged by the latch assembly from separating from the latch assembly. The catch assembly in the second state permits a strike element, engaged by the latch assembly with the catch assembly in the first state, to be separated from the latch assembly. The housing has a base wall defining a support for at least a part of the catch assembly, a first side wall extending angularly away from the base wall, and a return wall projecting angularly away from the first side wall. At least a part of each of the base wall, first side wall, and return wall is integrally formed to define a U-shaped portion that opens in a first direction and resists deflection of the housing in response to the application of force imparted through the catch assembly to the housing in the first direction and oppositely to the first direction.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A latch assembly comprising: a housing; and a catch assembly on the housing, the catch assembly comprising at least one catch element that is repositionable relative to the housing to change the catch assembly between first and second different states, the catch assembl
The invention claimed is: 1. A latch assembly comprising: a housing; and a catch assembly on the housing, the catch assembly comprising at least one catch element that is repositionable relative to the housing to change the catch assembly between first and second different states, the catch assembly in the first state capable of preventing a strike element engaged by the latch assembly from separating from the latch assembly, the catch assembly in the second state permitting a strike element engaged by the latch assembly with the catch assembly in the first state to be separated from the latch assembly, the housing comprising a base wall having a first substantially flat surface residing in a first plane and defining a support for at least a part of the catch assembly, a first side wall extending angularly away from the base wall, and a return wall projecting angularly away from the first side wall, at least a part of each of the base wall, first side wall and return wall integrally formed to define a U-shaped portion, consisting of a base and spaced first and second legs projecting away from the base in a common direction, that opens in a first direction and resists deflection of the housing in response to the application of a force imparted through the catch assembly to the housing in the first direction and oppositely to the first direction, wherein the base is defined by the first side wall, the first leg is defined by the base wall, and the second leg is defined by the return wall, wherein at least one axle is fixed on and projects from the base wall, wherein the at least one repositionable catch element comprises a rotor that is guided in pivoting movement by and relative to the axle about an axis that is substantially orthogonal to the first plane between first and second positions, the rotor in the first position with the catch assembly in the first state and in the second position with the catch assembly in the second state. 2. The latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the at least part of each of the base wall, first side wall, and return wall is defined by a single piece. 3. The latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a cover wall, the base wall has a first substantially flat surface, the cover wall has a second substantially flat surface, the first and second substantially flat surfaces face each other, and the return wall resides between the first and second substantially flat surfaces, the at least one axle fixed to the cover wall. 4. The latch assembly according to claim 3 wherein the cover wall abuts to the return wall. 5. The latch assembly according to claim 3 wherein the at least one axle connects between the base wall and cover wall to maintain the base wall and cover wall in a fixed relationship. 6. The latch assembly according to claim 3 wherein the base wall has an integral bent end that projects upwardly to the cover wall. 7. The latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a second side wall projecting angularly from the base wall and the base wall and first and second side walls cooperatively define a U shape that opens in a direction transversely to the first direction and consisting of a second base and spaced third and fourth legs projecting away from the second base in a common direction, wherein the second base is defined by the base wall, the third leg is defined by the first side wall and the fourth leg is defined by the second side wall. 8. The latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the housing has a length, a width, and a thickness, and the U-shaped portion extends over a majority of the length of the housing. 9. The latch assembly according to claim 8 wherein the base wall extends over substantially the full width of the housing and the return wall extends over less than the full width of the housing. 10. The latch assembly according to claim 9 wherein the return wall extends over less than one half the width of the housing. 11. The latch assembly according to claim 8 wherein the housing comprises a second side wall projecting angularly from the base wall, the base wall and first and second side walls cooperatively define a U shape that opens in a direction transversely to the first direction and consisting of a second base and spaced third and fourth legs projecting away from the second base in a common direction, wherein the second base is defined by the base wall, the third leg is defined by the first side wall and the fourth leg is defined by the second side wall, and the second side wall extends over a distance substantially less than the length of the housing. 12. The latch assembly according to claim 1 wherein the housing has a generally U-shaped opening that opens in the first direction and within which a strike element engaged by the catch assembly resides with the catch assembly in the first state. 13. The latch assembly according to claim 12 wherein the housing further comprises a cover wall, the base wall has a first substantially flat surface, the cover wall has a second substantially flat surface, the first and second substantially flat surfaces face each other, the return wall resides between the first and second substantially flat surfaces, and the U-shaped opening is defined through each of the base wall and the cover wall. 14. The latch assembly according to claim 1 in combination with a repositionable closure element to which the latch assembly is mounted, the repositionable closure element mounted for movement relative to a support with a strike element between first and second positions, and with the repositionable closure element in the first position the strike element is engaged with the catch assembly and the catch assembly is in the first state. 15. The latch assembly according to claim 14 further comprising a release assembly for selectively causing the catch assembly to be changed from the first state into the second state. 16. The latch assembly according to claim 15 wherein the rotor is movably biased toward the second position, and the latch assembly further comprises a latch element that is movable between a latched position and a release position, the latch element in the latched position preventing the rotor from moving from the first position into the second position, the latch element in the release position allowing the rotor to move from the first position into the second position. 17. The latch assembly according to claim 16 wherein the latch element is engagable with the rotor with the rotor in a third position between the first and second positions and with the rotor in the third position and the latch element in the latched position, the latch element prevents the rotor from moving from the third position into the second position. 18. The latch assembly according to claim 17 further comprising an operator for changing the latch element from the latched position into the release position. 19. A latch assembly comprising: a housing; and a catch assembly on the housing; the catch assembly comprising at least one catch element that is repositionable relative to the housing to change the catch assembly between first and second different states, the catch assembly in the first state capable of preventing a strike element engaged by the latch assembly from separating from the latch assembly, the housing comprising a base wall defining a support for at least a part of the catch assembly and having a first substantially flat surface bounding a component space within which the catch assembly resides, a cover wall having a second substantially flat surface facing the first substantially flat surface and bounding the component space, and a return wall having third and fourth oppositely facing surfaces respectively facing the first and second substantially flat surfaces, the base wall, cover wall, and return wall fixed in relationship to each other, one of the third and fourth oppositely facing surfaces facing into the component space, one of the third and fourth oppositely facing surfaces abutting to the return wall, wherein at least one axle is fixed on and projects from the base wall, wherein the at least one repositionable catch element comprises a rotor that is guided in pivoting movement by and relative to the axle between first and second positions, the rotor in the first position with the catch assembly in the first state and in the second position with the catch assembly in the second state. 20. The latch assembly according to claim 19 wherein the return wall resides between the base wall and cover wall. 21. The latch assembly according to claim 20 wherein the third oppositely facing surface faces into the component space and the fourth oppositely facing surface abuts to the second substantially flat surface. 22. The latch assembly according to claim 20 wherein the cover has a peripheral edge bounding an area and the cover is substantially flat over the entire area. 23. The latch assembly according to claim 20 wherein the housing further comprises a side wall extending between the base wall and return wall. 24. The latch assembly according to claim 20 wherein the housing has a length, a width, and a thickness, the base wall and cover wall extend over substantially the full width of the housing and the return wall extends over less than the full width of the housing. 25. The latch assembly according to claim 24 wherein the return wall extends over less than one half the width of the housing. 26. The latch assembly according to claim 20 wherein the housing has a generally U-shaped opening defined through each of the base wall and cover wall within which a strike element engaged by the catch assembly resides with the catch assembly in the first state. 27. The latch assembly according to claim 20 wherein the at least one axle connects between the base wall and cover wall to maintain the base wall and cover wall in a fixed relationship. 28. The latch assembly according to claim 20 in combination with a repositionable closure element to which the latch assembly is mounted, the repositionable closure element mounted for movement relative to a support with a strike element between first and second position and with the repositionable closure element in the first position the strike element is engaged with the catch assembly and the catch assembly is in the second state. 29. The latch assembly according to claim 28 further comprising a release assembly for selectively causing the catch assembly to be changed from the first state into the second state. 30. The latch assembly according to claim 29 wherein the rotor is movably biased toward the second position, and the catch assembly further comprises a latch element that is movable between a latched position and a release position, the latch element in the latched position preventing the rotor from moving from the first position into the second position, the latch element in the release position allowing the rotor to move from the first position into the second position. 31. The latch assembly according to claim 30 wherein the latch element is engagable with the rotor with the rotor in a third position between the first and second positions and with the rotor in the third position and the latch element in the latched position, the latch element prevents the rotor from moving from the third position into the second position. 32. The latch assembly according to claim 31 further comprising an operator for changing the latch element from the latched position into the release position.
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