초록 ▼

A latch, latching system and other components are disclosed that are particularly well suited for use with the heavy doors of armored military vehicles. Some component embodiments are usable in normal and emergency modes to provide access, entry, egress and rescue through vehicle door openings. Incl

A latch, latching system and other components are disclosed that are particularly well suited for use with the heavy doors of armored military vehicles. Some component embodiments are usable in normal and emergency modes to provide access, entry, egress and rescue through vehicle door openings. Included among the disclosed components are latches having separate operating components that can be used to retract spring projected latch bolts and that usable advantageously in pairs and readily reconfigurable for use on left, right, front and rear doors of a vehicle at locations where door thicknesses differ. Also disclosed are operating linkages intended to extend exteriorly of door armor to turn shafts to operate latches situated interiorly of the door armor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A latch for a passenger door of a motor vehicle having a slide bolt that is biased toward an extended position to latchingly engage a strike formation to hold the passenger door closed, having a first operating element that engages a first formation of the slide bolt and can be turned to move the

1. A latch for a passenger door of a motor vehicle having a slide bolt that is biased toward an extended position to latchingly engage a strike formation to hold the passenger door closed, having a first operating element that engages a first formation of the slide bolt and can be turned to move the slide bolt to a retracted position, having a second operating element that engages a second formation of the slide bolt and can be turned to retract the slide bolt to the retracted position, and having a retainer that engages the second operating element when the second operating element has moved the slide bolt to the retracted position to thereby retain the slide bolt in the retracted position, wherein the slide bolt is translatably supported for movement along a path of travel that extends through opposed walls of a housing of the latch and opposite end regions of the slide bolt are movable through openings defined by the opposed walls, and wherein the housing includes first and second housing elements between which extend posts located along opposite sides of the path of travel and engageable with opposed surfaces of the slide bolt to guide movement of the slide bolt along the travel path. 2. The latch of claim 1 wherein the first and second formations of the slide bolt are located on opposite side portions of the slide bolt and are symmetrically configured. 3. The latch of claim 1 wherein the door is provided with door armor, the latch is located interiorally relative to the door armor, and the latch is configured to provide a point of connection to which a handle can be attached in an emergency to turn the second operating element to retract the latch bolt. 4. A latching system for a passenger door of a motor vehicle comprising a latch that has a spring projected latch bolt which can be retracted in a first way by turning a first operating arm of the latch situated on one side of the latch bolt, and in a second way by turning a second operating arm of the latch situated on an opposite side of the latch bolt, wherein the system includes handles situated exteriorly and interiorly on the door that are connected to the first operating arm by a linkage that permits each handle to turn the first operating arm without causing movement of the other handle on the door, and wherein the latch includes a point of connection to which a handle can be attached in an emergency to turn the second operating arm to retract the latch bolt, wherein the door is provided with door armor, and the latch is located interiorally relative to the door armor. 5. The latching system of claim 4 wherein the spring projected latch bolt defines symmetrically configured formations located on opposite sides of the latch bolt, one of which is engaged by the first operating arm when the first operating arm is turned to retract the latch bolt, and the other of which is engaged by the second operating arm when the second operating arm is turned to retract the latch bolt. 6. The latching system of claim 5 wherein the latch includes a retainer that engages the second operating arm to retain the latch bolt in a retracted position once the second operating arm has been turned to cause movement of the latch bolt to the retracted position. 7. A latch having a housing that slidably mounts a spring projected latch bolt, and that supports first and second arms each of which can be turned independently of the other to retract the latch bolt, wherein: the first arm will retract the latch bolt while torque is applied thereto;the second arm will retract and retain the latch bolt in a retracted position in response to a temporary application of torque thereto;the door is provided with door armor;the latch is located interiorally relative to the door armor; andthe latch includes a point of connection to which a handle can be attached in an emergency to turn the second operating arm to retract the latch bolt. 8. The latch of claim 7 wherein the latch is one of a pair of substantially identical latches provided at spaced-apart locations interiorally with respect to the door armor. 9. The latch of claim 8 wherein the door is provided with an interior handle that can be used to independently turn each of the first and second arms. 10. A latch having a housing that slidably mounts a spring projected latch bolt, and that supports first and second arms each of which can be turned independently of the other to retract the latch bolt, wherein: the first arm will retract the latch bolt while torque is applied thereto;the second arm will retract and retain the latch bolt in a retracted position in response to a temporary application of torque thereto; andthe door is provided with a point of connection to which a handle is releasably connectible to retract the latch bolt. 11. The latch of claim 10 wherein the point of connection is one of two points of connection provided on the door, with one being located interiorally with respect to door armor in the door, and the other being located exteriorally with respect to the door armor. 12. A latch having a housing that slidably mounts a spring projected latch bolt, and that supports first and second arms each of which can be turned independently of the other to retract the latch bolt, wherein: the first arm will retract the latch bolt while torque is applied thereto;the second arm will retract and retain the latch bolt in a retracted position in response to a temporary application of torque thereto; andthe door is provided with an interior handle for operating the latch, and with a safety catch engageable with the interior handle when the interior handle is pivoted to a position that does not cause retraction of the latch bolt. 13. The latch of claim 12 wherein the safety catch also is engageable with the interior handle when the interior handle is pivoted to a position that disables an exterior handle on the door from retracting the latch bolt. 14. A latch having a housing that slidably mounts a spring projected latch bolt, and that supports first and second arms each of which can be turned independently of the other to retract the latch bolt, wherein the first arm will retract the latch bolt while torque is applied thereto, and the second arm will retract and retain the latch bolt in a retracted position in response to a temporary application of torque thereto, wherein the latch is one of two substantially identical latches connected to shafts that can be turned to operate the latches substantially simultaneously, and wherein the shafts are journaled by bearing blocks that are adjustably mounted on the door. 15. The latch of claim 14 additionally including handles situated exteriorly and interiorly on the door that are connected to the first arm by a linkage that permits each handle to turn the first arm without causing movement of any other handle on the door. 16. The latch of claim 14 additionally including an interior handle capable of being turned to retract the latch bolt, wherein the interior handle is removable and can be attached to an exteriorally located connection point and turned when so attached to retract the latch bolt. 17. A latch having a housing that slidably mounts a spring projected latch bolt, and that supports first and second arms each of which can be turned independently of the other to retract the latch bolt, wherein the first arm will retract the latch bolt while torque is applied thereto, and the second arm will retract and retain the latch bolt in a retracted position in response to a temporary application of torque thereto, wherein the latch is one of two substantially identical latches carried at spaced apart locations on the door that function concurrently to hold the door securely closed, and wherein the door is provided with a ring formation to which force of such magnitude can be provided as will cause the door to be pulled from an opening normally closed by the door. 18. The latch of claim 17 wherein the first arm engages a first formation of the slide bolt and can be turned to retract the latch bolt, and the second arm engages a second formation of the slide bolt and can be turned to retract the latch bolt. 19. The latch of claim 18 wherein the first formation and the second formation are located on opposite sides of the latch bolt.