US3764172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Latch assembly
Assignee: CONS CONTROLS CORP
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Filing: 1971-10-29
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-10-29
Abstract
Abstract A latch assembly for a door swingable towards and away from a doorjamb comprising a pair of mechanically engageable latch means mounted on the doorjamb and movable relatively between an engaged, mechanically latched position and an unlatched position. Permanent magnet means is provided for holding mechanically latched engagement between said latch means, and electromagnet means is provided having a polarity while energized opposing said permanent magnet for overcoming the holding force thereof to cause unlatching. One of said pair of latch means includes a pair of relatively movable members with one member being fixed to the jamb and the other member movable relative thereto. Said permanent magnet means is positioned in fixed magnetic relation to the fixed member and normally attracts said movable member to a latch holding position in contact therewith. Said electromagnet means is positioned to act through a lever and repel the movable latch member away from said latched position to said unlatched position when said electromagnet means is momentarily energized.
Inventors
- 👤 H Standke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:28
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B47/00; E05B47/0001; E05B47/0002; B; B64; B64D; B64D11/00; B64D11/06; B64D11/0627; B64D11/0629; B64D11/0632; E05B47/0006; E05B47/06; E05B47/0603; E05B63/00; E05B63/12; E05B63/121; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0801; Y10T292/0814; Y10T292/0815; Y10T292/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A latch assembly for a door swingable toward and away from a doorjamb, said latch assembly comprising a pair of mechanically engageable latch means mounted on said door and jamb, respectively, and movable relatively between an engaged mechanically latched position and an unlatched position, permanent magnet means for retaining said mechanically latChed engagement between said latch means while in said latched position, electromagnet means having a polarity while energized opposing said permanent magnet means for overcoming the retaining force thereof for unlatching movement of said latch means to said unlatched position permitting said door to be opened, one of said latch means including a pair of relatively movable members, one member fixed relative to said jamb and the other movable relative thereto, said permanent magnet means in fixed magnetic relation to said fixed member and normally attracting said movable member to a latch holding position in contact therewith, said electromagnet means positioned to repel said movable member away from contact with said permanent magnet means to a latch releasing position when said electromagnet means is momentarily energized, said movable member including a lever mounted for pivotal movement relative to said fixed member toward and away from said permanent magnet, said permanent magnetic force normally biasing said lever toward said latch holding position, said movable member including a latch subassembly connected to said lever and movable to engage and release said other latch means, said lever including a magnetic armature means engageable with said permanent magnet means and a pole face of said electromagnet means in said latch holding position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
A latch assembly for a door swingable toward and away from a doorjamb, said latch assembly comprising a pair of mechanically engageable latch means mounted on said door and jamb, respectively, and movable relatively between an engaged mechanically latched position and an unlatched position, permanent magnet means for retaining said mechanically latChed engagement between said latch means while in said latched position, electromagnet means having a polarity while energized opposing said permanent magnet means for overcoming the retaining force thereof for unlatching movement of said latch means to said unlatched position permitting said door to be opened, one of said latch means including a pair of relatively movable members, one member fixed relative to said jamb and the other movable relative thereto, said permanent magnet means in fixed magnetic relation to said fixed member and normally attracting said movable member to a latch holding position in contact therewith, said electromagnet means positioned to repel said movable member away from contact with said permanent magnet means to a latch releasing position when said electromagnet means is momentarily energized, said movable member including a lever mounted for pivotal movement relative to said fixed member toward and away from said permanent magnet, said permanent magnetic force normally biasing said lever toward said latch holding position, said movable member including a latch subassembly connected to said lever and movable to engage and release said other latch means, said lever including a magnetic armature means engageable with said permanent magnet means and a pole face of said electromagnet means in said latch holding position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The latch assembly of claim 1 wherein said subassembly includes spring means for biasing said lever away from said latch holding position against the magnetic holding force of said permanent magnet means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The latch assembly of claim 1 wherein the other of said latch means includes an elongated stem supported at one end in cantilever fashion and an enlargement mounted adjacent the outer free end of said stem for latching engagement with said one latch means when in said mechanically engaged latched position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The latch assembly of claim 3 wherein said enlargement comprises a spherical ball mounted on said stem, said stem being laterally flexible adjacent said outer free end and movable toward and away from said one latch means upon opening and closing of said door into and out of latching engagement therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The latch assembly of claim 3 wherein said fixed member comprises socket forming means including a plurality of circumferentially spaced latching balls movable radially of the axis of said stem into and out of latching engagement with said enlargement on said stem and means for moving said balls into and out of latching engagement with said enlargement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The latching assembly of claim 5 wherein said socket forming means includes a hollow sleeve for containing said balls and a cam plunger mounted for axial sliding movement relative to said sleeve permitting radial movement of said balls in response to the axial position thereof, said permanent magnet means normally urging said plunger into an axial position wherein said balls are urged into latched engagement around said stem.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The latching assembly of claim 6 wherein the force exerted by said electromagnet means while energized is active to move said plunger into a second axial position permitting said balls to move radially outward out of latched engagement with said enlargement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The latch assembly of claim 6 including a lever pivotally mounted with respect to said sleeve and connected to move said plunger therein, said permanent magnet means positioned to exert bias on said lever normally maintaining said plunger in said sleeve in a latching position urging said balls into latching engagement around said stem.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The latch assembly of claim 8 wherein said lever carries a magnetic armature thereon and said electromagnet means includes a pole piece in magnetic circuit with said permanent magnet means, said lever armature adapted to magnetically interconnect one end of said pole piece and said permanent magnet means for holding said plunger in a latching position, said electromagnet means operable to repel said lever armature away from Said pole piece upon energization to move said plunger to an unlatch position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
177 words
A latching assembly including a hollow sleeve having an inwardly directed annular flange at one end defining an axial opening; a latch stem having an enlarged head on a free outer end and movable axially into and out of said sleeve through said opening for latching engagement therein; a plurality of retaining balls in said sleeve adjacent said flange for controlled latching engagement with said enlarged head of said stem; a cam plunger slidable in said sleeve including a first surface for camming said balls inwardly toward a latching position around said stem; a second oppositely sloping cam surface spaced axially of said first for urging said balls inwardly into said latching position, means for biasing said balls axially of said plunger toward said flange, and holding means including a permanent magnet for normally maintaining said plunger in a first axial position in said sleeve wherein said balls are urged inwardly into a latching position around said stem whereby withdrawal of said stem from the socket is prevented by engagement between said balls and said enlarged head.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
177 words
A latching assembly including a hollow sleeve having an inwardly directed annular flange at one end defining an axial opening; a latch stem having an enlarged head on a free outer end and movable axially into and out of said sleeve through said opening for latching engagement therein; a plurality of retaining balls in said sleeve adjacent said flange for controlled latching engagement with said enlarged head of said stem; a cam plunger slidable in said sleeve including a first surface for camming said balls inwardly toward a latching position around said stem; a second oppositely sloping cam surface spaced axially of said first for urging said balls inwardly into said latching position, means for biasing said balls axially of said plunger toward said flange, and holding means including a permanent magnet for normally maintaining said plunger in a first axial position in said sleeve wherein said balls are urged inwardly into a latching position around said stem whereby withdrawal of said stem from the socket is prevented by engagement between said balls and said enlarged head.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The latching assembly of claim 10 wherein said second cam surface defines a wall portion of an annular recess internally of said plunger for receiving said balls in an unlatched position permitting passage of said head thereby upon axial movement of said stem into said socket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The latching assembly of claim 10 including electromagnet means having a polarity when energized opposing said permanent magnet for activating said holding means to move said plunger axially in said socket to a ball releasing position wherein said balls are movable outwardly away from said stem.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The latching assembly of claim 10 wherein said plunger includes a third internal cam surface of gently tapered frustoconical shape for supporting said balls in latched position around said stem, said third cam surface compensating for friction between said stem head, said balls and said plunger allowing said plunger to move toward a stem head releasing position when axial load is applied to unlatch said stem.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |