Touch latch

Claim 2

A latch assembly for releasably securing first and second members mounted for relative movement in a certain general direction between proximate and remote positions including in combination, a resilient arm adapted to be secured to one of said members with its length generally parallel to said direction and with the end thereof occupying a normal position, a catch carried by said arm adjacent said end, a receptacle comprising a ramp having an upper end and a lower end, means forming a recess behind the upper end of said ramp, said recess having an upwardly opening mouth, said receptacle adapted to be secured to the other member with the length of said ramp extending in said direction and with the lower end of said ramp in a position to be engaged by said catch as said members are first moved relatively in said general direction generally to cause said catch to ride up said ramp against the inherent resilience of said arm and to engage in said recess, said catch moving out of said recess and behind said ramp in response to a second relative movement in said direction to permit said arm to return to said normal position, and a guide carried by said receptacle, said guide extending downwardly toward and being located generally centrally of said mouth positively to direct said catch into said recess in response to said first relative movement and for positively directing said catch out of said recess in response to said second relative movement.

Claim 3

A releasable latch assembly for holding in assembled relationship first and second members adapted to be moved relative to each other in a general direction of movement including in combination, a resilient arm carried by one of said members with its length extending generally parallel to said direction, a catch carried by said arm adjacent the end thereof, said catch having ends extending laterally oppositely outwardly from said arm, a receptacle comprising laterally spaced ramps having upper and lower ends and means forming recesses adjacent to the upper ends of said ramps, said receptacle adapted to be mounted on the other member with said ramps extending generally in said direction with the lower ends thereof adapted to be engaged by said catch ends in response to relative movement of said members in said direction between an open position and a closed position, said catch ends riding up the respective ramps against the resilience of said arm and into the respective recesses with said arm disposed between said ramps under the action of said arm in response to a first relative movement of said members in a certain direction between said positions, said catch ends riding out of said recesses in response to a second relative movement of said members in said direction and said arm moving through the space between said ramps to position said catch behind said ramps to release said latch, said recesses being located behind said ramps between the upper and lower ends thereof, said receptacle comprising a guide located above the upper ends of said ramps and adjacent to and generally centrally located with respect to the mouths of said recesses for guiding said catch ends into said recesses in Response to said first relative movement and for guiding said catch ends out of said recesses in response to said second relative movement.

Claim 4

A releasable latch assembly for holding in assembled relationship first and second members adapted to be moved relative to each other in a general direction of movement including in combination, a resilient arm carried by one of said members with its length extending generally parallel to said direction, a catch carried by said arm adjacent the end thereof, said catch having ends extending laterally oppositely outwardly from said arm, a receptacle comprising laterally spaced ramps having upper and lower ends and means forming recesses adjacent to the upper ends of said ramps, said receptacle adapted to be mounted on the other member with said ramps extending generally in said direction with the lower ends thereof adapted to be engaged by said catch ends in response to relative movement of said members in said direction between an open position and a closed position, said catch ends riding up the respective ramps against the resilience of said arm and into the respective recesses with said arm disposed between said ramps under the action of said arm in response to a first relative movement of said members in a certain direction between said positions, said catch ends riding out of said recesses in response to a second relative movement of said members in said direction and said arm moving through the space between said ramps to position said catch behind said ramps to release said latch, said recesses being located behind said ramps between the upper and lower ends thereof, said receptacle comprising a guide located above the upper ends of said ramps and adjacent to and generally centrally located with respect to the mouths of said recesses for guiding said catch ends into said recesses in Response to said first relative movement and for guiding said catch ends out of said recesses in response to said second relative movement.

Claim 5

A releasable latch assembly for holding in assembled relationship first and second members adapted to be moved relative to each other in a general direction of movement including in combination, a resilient arm carried by one of said members with its length extending generally parallel to said direction, a catch carried by said arm adjacent the end thereof, said catch having ends extending laterally oppositely outwardly from said arm, a receptacle comprising laterally spaced ramps having upper and lower ends and means forming recesses adjacent to the upper ends of said ramps, said receptacle adapted to be mounted on the other member with said ramps extending generally in said direction with the lower ends thereof adapted to be engaged by said catch ends in response to relative movement of said members in said direction between an open position and a closed position, said catch ends riding up the respective ramps against the resilience of said arm and into the respective recesses with said arm disposed between said ramps under the action of said arm in response to a first relative movement of said members in a certain direction between said positions, said catch ends riding out of said recesses in response to a second relative movement of said members in said direction and said arm moving through the space between said ramps to position said catch behind said ramps to release said latch, said catch being a hook on said arm, said recess comprising slots in said receptacle adjacent the upper ends of said ramps, said laterally extending ends of said hook adapted to engage in said recesses.

Claim 6

A releasable latch assembly for holding in assembled relationship first and second members adapted to be moved relative to each other in a general direction of movement including in combination, a resilient arm carried by one of said members with its length extending generally parallel to said direction, a catch carried by said arm adjacent the end thereof, said catch having ends extending laterally oppositely outwardly from said arm, a receptacle comprising laterally spaced ramps having upper and lower ends and means forming recesses adjacent to the upper ends of said ramps, said receptacle adapted to be mounted on the other member with said ramps extending generally in said direction with the lower ends thereof adapted to be engaged by said catch ends in response to relative movement of said members in said direction between an open position and a closed position, said catch ends riding up the respective ramps against the resilience of said arm and into the respective recesses with said arm disposed between said ramps under the action of said arm in response to a first relative movement of said members in a certain direction between said positions, said catch ends riding out of said recesses in response to a second relative movement of said members in said direction and said arm moving through the space between said ramps to position said catch behind said ramps to release said latch, said catch being a hook on said arm, said recess comprising slots in said receptacle adjacent the upper ends of said ramps, said laterally extending ends of said hook adapted to engage in said recesses.

Claim 7

A releasable latch assembly for holding in assembled relationship first and second members adapted to be moved relative to each other in a general direction of movement including in combination, a resilient arm carried by one of said members with its length extending generally parallel to said direction, a catch carried by said arm adjacent the end thereof, said catch having ends extending laterally oppositely outwardly from said arm, a receptacle comprising laterally spaced ramps having upper and lower ends and means forming recesses adjacent to the upper ends of said ramps, said receptacle adapted to be mounted on the other member with said ramps extending generally in said direction with the lower ends thereof adapted to be engaged by said catch ends in response to relative movement of said members in said direction between an open position and a closed position, said catch ends riding up the respective ramps against the resilience of said arm and into the respective recesses with said arm disposed between said ramps under the action of said arm in response to a first relative movement of said members in a certain direction between said positions, said catch ends riding out of said recesses in response to a second relative movement of said members in a certain direction between said positions, said catch ends riding out of said recesses in response to a second relative movement of said members in said direction and said arm moving through the space between said ramps to position said catch behind said ramps to release said latch, said receptacle comprising a base, means spacing the upper ends of said ramps from said base, said ramps being formed from resilient material, the lower ends of said ramps extending to positions closely adjacent to said base releasably to retain said catch ends between the lower ends of the ramp and said base following said second relative movement.

Claim 8

A releasable latch assembly for holding in assembled relationship first and second members adapted to be moved relative to each other in a general direction of movement including in combination, a resilient arm carried by one of said members with its length extending generally parallel to said direction, a catch carried by said arm adjacent the end thereof, said catch having ends extending laterally oppositely outwardly from said arm, a receptacle comprising laterally spaced ramps having upper and lower ends and means forming recesses adjacent to the upper ends of said ramps, said receptacle adapted to be mounted on the other member with said ramps extending generally in said direction with the lower ends thereof adapted to be engaged by said catch ends in response to relative movement of said members in said direction between an open position and a closed position, said catch ends riding up the respective ramps against the resilience of said arm and into the respective recesses with said arm disposed between said ramps under the action of said arm in response to a first relative movement of said members in a certain direction between said positions, said catch ends riding out of said recesses in response to a second relative movement of said members in a certain direction between said positions, said catch ends riding out of said recesses in response to a second relative movement of said members in said direction and said arm moving through the space between said ramps to position said catch behind said ramps to release said latch, said receptacle comprising a base, means spacing the upper ends of said ramps from said base, said ramps being formed from resilient material, the lower ends of said ramps extending to positions closely adjacent to said base releasably to retain said catch ends between the lower ends of the ramp and said base following said second relative movement.

Claim 9

An assembly as in claim 2 in which said receptacle comprises a stop for limiting the movement of said catch toward said receptacle.

Claim 10

An assembly as in claim 2 including means mounting said catch and said receptacle for limited sliding movement and a spring for biasing said catch and said receptacle to relatively remote positions.