Panel latch

Claim 2

A polymeric latch for use with a first panel which is formed with a circular aperture to prevent relative movement between said first panel and a second panel which overlaps the inner face of said first panel adjacent but not overlapping said aperture, said latch comprising: a molded polymeric body piece formed with a knob having a planar bearing surface to contact the outer face of a said first panel and a shank extending from said bearing surface generally axially of said knob to project through a said panel aperture, said shank having lesser radial dimensions than a said panel aperture and being formed with a diametrical aperture which at its nearest point to said bearing surface is spaced therefrom a distance equal to the thickness of a said first panel; and a molded polymeric crosspiece formed with a central portion having cross-sectional dimensions equal to those of said shank aperture and a length greater than the diameter of a said panel aperture to extend through said shank aperture and bear on the inner face of a said first panel on opposed sides of a said panel aperture, a locking tab extending from said central portion generally perpendicular to the length thereof to extend along said shank into a said panel aperture and with said shank to generally fill a said panel aperture across at least a diameter thereof when said crosspiece extends through said shank aperture, and tongue means extending from one end of said central portion to fit through said shank aperture as said central portion is inserted therein and to engage a said second panel upon rotation of said crosspiece with said body piece, whereby upon insertion of said body piece shank through a said panel aperture and insertion of said crosspiece into said shank aperture, said body piece bearing surface is pulled against said outer face of a said first panel and said crosspiece locking tab extends along said shank into a said panel aperture to positively retain said crosspiece and said body piece on a said first panel, and upon rotation of said body piece knob said tongue means is rotated and may engage a said second panel and prevent relative movement of the said panels.

Claim 3

A latch as recited in claim 1 wherein said locking tab extends from said central portion of said crosspiece nearer one end thereof and said tongue means extends from the opposite end thereof.

Claim 4

A latch as recited in claim 2 wherein said crosspiece is formed with a shoulder extending therefrom opposed said locking tab to contact said body piece shank when said locking tab extends along said shank in a said panel aperture.

Claim 5

A polymeric latch for use with a first panel which is formed with a first circular aperture and a second aperture that is between a 90* arc and about a 180* arc of a second circular aperture concentric with and having a diameter greater than said first aperture to prevent relative movement of said first panel and a second panel which overlaps the inner face of said first panel adjacent but not overlapping said apertures, said latch comprising: a molded polymeric body piece formed with a knob having a planar bearing surface to contact the outer face of a said first panel, a shank formed with a central disc generally coaxial with said knob having one face coplanar with said bearing surface and having a thickness equal to that of a said first panel and a diameter equal to that of a said panel first aperture and a rectangular portion extending from and across the face of said disc opposed said one face, said rectangular portion having dimensions to fit through the said panel apertures as said shank disc is fit into a said panel first aperture and being formed with an aperture therethrough at least one surface of which is planar and defined by said opposed face of said shank disc, and a molded polymeric crosspiece formed with a central portion having cross-sectional dimensions equal to those of said shank aperture and a length greater than the diameter of a said panel second aperture to fit through said shank aperture with one planar surface bearing against the inner face of a said first panel on opposed sides of the said panel apertures, a locking tab extending perpendicularly from said one planar surface of said central portion a distance generally equal to the thickness of a said first panel, having the shape of an arc substantially less than 90* of a ring with an inner diameter equal to that of a said panel first aperture and an outer diameter equal to that of a said panel second aperture, and positioned on said central portion to mate with the periphery of said body piece disc when said crosspiece extends through said shank aperture, a shoulder extending from said central portion opposite said locking tab to contact said shank when said locking tab mates with said disc and tongue means extending from the end of said central portion to fit through said shank aperture with said central portion and to engage a said second panel upon rotation of said crosspiece with said body piece, whereby rotation of said latch is limited to the arc of a said panel second aperture by said crosspiece locking tab and upon rotation of said body piece knob through said limiting arc a said second panel may be engaged by said tongue to prevent relative movement of the said panels.

Claim 6

A polymeric latch for use with a first panel which is formed with a first circular aperture and a second aperture that is between a 90* arc and about a 180* arc of a second circular aperture concentric with and having a diameter greater than said first aperture to prevent relative movement of said first panel and a second panel which overlaps the inner face of said first panel adjacent but not overlapping said apertures, said latch comprising: a molded polymeric body piece formed with a knob having a planar bearing surface to contact the outer face of a said first panel, a shank formed with a central disc generally coaxial with said knob having one face coplanar with said bearing surface and having a thickness equal to that of a said first panel and a diameter equal to that of a said panel first aperture and a rectangular portion extending from and across the face of said disc opposed said one face, said rectangular portion having dimensions to fit through the said panel apertures as said shank disc is fit into a said panel first aperture and being formed with an aperture therethrough at least one surface of which is planar and defined by said opposed face of said shank disc, and a molded polymeric crosspiece formed with a central portion having cross-sectional dimensions equal to those of said shank aperture and a length greater than the diameter of a said panel second aperture to fit through said shank aperture with one planar surface bearing against the inner face of a said first panel on opposed sides of the said panel apertures, a locking tab extending perpendicularly from said one planar surface of said central portion a distance generally equal to the thickness of a said first panel, having the shape of an arc substantially less than 90* of a ring with an inner diameter equal to that of a said panel first aperture and an outer diameter equal to that of a said panel second aperture, and positioned on said central portion to mate with the periphery of said body piece disc when said crosspiece extends through said shank aperture, a shoulder extending from said central portion opposite said locking tab to contact said shank when said locking tab mates with said disc and tongue means extending from the end of said central portion to fit through said shank aperture with said central portion and to engage a said second panel upon rotation of said crosspiece with said body piece, whereby rotation of said latch is limited to the arc of a said panel second aperture by said crosspiece locking tab and upon rotation of said body piece knob through said limiting arc a said second panel may be engaged by said tongue to prevent relative movement of the said panels.

Claim 7

A latch as recited in claim 4 wherein said locking tab and shoulder extend from said central portion of said crosspiece nearer one end thereof and said tongue means extends from the opposite end thereof.

Claim 8

A latch as recited in claim 5 wherein said body piece knob comprises a disc coaxial with and having a diameter greater than that of said body piece shank disc and a raised rib extending from one face of said knob disc, the face of said knob disc opposed said one face thereof forming said planar bearing surface.