Closure latch arrangement

Claim 2

In a closure assembly including a support and a lid disposed on said support for movement between an open position and a closed position, the combination comprising, a latch bolt disposed on one of said support and said lid for movement with respect to a striker on the other of said support and said lid between a first latched position and a second latched position and an unlatched position, a detent lever engageable on said latch bolt and disposed on said one of said support and said lid for movement between a detenting position and a dead bolt position and a releasing position corresponding respectively to the first latched and the second latched and the unlatched positions of said latched bolt, means biasing said detent lever toward the dead bolt position, a cam element disposed on said one of said support and said lid for pivotal movement and engageable on said detent lever for moving the latter between the detenting and the releasing positions thereof, said detent lever being operative under the influence of said biasing means to pivot said cam element to a positIon remote from said detent lever thereby to permit movement of the latter to the dead bolt position whereafter said cam is inoperative to move said detent lever to the releasing position thereof, lock means on said one of said support and said lid rotatably actuable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and disengageable connecting means between said lock means and said cam element connecting the former and the latter for unitary movement so that said lock means prevents movement of said cam element to the remote position thereof except upon disengagement of said connecting means corresponding to removal of said lock means from said one of said support and said lid.

Claim 3

In a closure assembly including a support and a lid disposed on said support for swinging movement between an open position and a closed position, the combination comprising, a latch bolt disposed on one of said support and said lid for pivotal movement with respect to a striker on the other of said support and said lid between a first latched position and a second latched position and an unlatched position, a detent lever engageable on said latch bolt and disposed on said one of said support and said lid for pivotal movement between a dead bolt position and a detenting position and a releasing position corresponding respectively to the first latched and the second latched and the unlatched positions of said latch bolt, means biasing said detent lever toward the dead bolt position, a cam element including an offset actuating portion defining a shoulder, means mounting said cam element on said one of said support and said lid for pivotal movement and with said actuating portion engageable on said detent lever for moving the latter between the detenting and the releasing positions, said detent lever being operative under the influence of said biasing means to pivot said cam element to a remote position wherein said shoulder permits movement of said detent lever to the dead bolt position whereafter said actuating portion is inoperative to move said detent lever to the releasing position thereof, lock means on said one of said support and said lid including a lockable element selectively rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and disengageable connecting means between said lockable element and said cam element connecting the former and the latter for unitary rotation so that said lockable element prevents pivotal movement of said cam element to the remote position thereof except upon disengagement of said connecting means corresponding to removal of said lockable element from said one of said support and said lid.

Claim 4

In a closure assembly including a support and a lid disposed on said support for swinging movement between an open position and a closed position, the combination comprising, a latch bolt disposed on one of said support and said lid for pivotal movement with respect to a striker on the other of said support and said lid between a first latched position and a second latched position and an unlatched position, a detent lever engageable on said latch bolt and disposed on said one of said support and said lid for pivotal movement between a dead bolt position and a detenting position and a releasing position corresponding respectively to the first latched and the second latched and the unlatched positions of said latch bolt, means biasing said detent lever toward the dead bolt position, a cam element including an offset actuating portion defining a shoulder, means mounting said cam element on said one of said support and said lid for pivotal movement and with said actuating portion engageable on said detent lever for moving the latter between the detenting and the releasing positions, said detent lever being operative under the influence of said biasing means to pivot said cam element to a remote position wherein said shoulder permits movement of said detent lever to the dead bolt position whereafter said actuating portion is inoperative to move said detent lever to the releasing position thereof, lock means on said one of said support and said lid including a lockable element selectively rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and disengageable connecting means between said lockable element and said cam element connecting the former and the latter for unitary rotation so that said lockable element prevents pivotal movement of said cam element to the remote position thereof except upon disengagement of said connecting means corresponding to removal of said lockable element from said one of said support and said lid.

Claim 5

In a closure assembly including a support and a lid disposed on said support for swinging movement between an open position and a closed position, the combination comprising, a fork type latch bolt including an elongated arm portion, means mounting said latch bolt on said lid for pivotal movement with respect to a striker on said support between a first latched position and a second latched position and an unlatched position, over center spring means disposed between said latch bolt and said lid adapted for biasing said latch bolt toward the unlatched position when the latter is on one side of the first latched position and toward the second latched position when said latch bolt is on the opposite side of the first latched position, a detent lever including a hook portion, means mounting said detent lever on said lid for pivotal movement between a detenting position wherein said hook portion engages said elongated arm for maintaining said latch bolt in the first latched position thereof and a releasing position releasing said elongated arm and dead bolt position beyond the detenting position corresponding to the second latched position of said latch bolt, spring means biasing said detent lever toward the dead bolt position, a cam element including an actuating portion defining a shoulder, means mounting said cam element on said lid for pivotal movemenT and with said actuating portion enagageable on said detent lever for moving the latter between the detenting and the releasing positions, said detent lever being operative under the influence of said biasing means to pivot said cam element to a remote position wherein said shoulder permits movement of said detent lever to the dead bolt position whereafter said actuating portion is inoperative to move said detent lever to the releasing position thereof, lock means on said lid including a lockable element selectively rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and disengageable connecting means between said lockable element and said cam element connecting the former and the latter for unitary rotation so that said lockable element prevents pivotal movement of said cam element to the remote position thereof except upon disengagement of said connecting means corresponding to removal of said lockable element from said lid.

Claim 6

In a closure assembly including a support and a lid disposed on said support for swinging movement between an open position and a closed position, the combination comprising, a fork type latch bolt including an elongated arm portion, means mounting said latch bolt on said lid for pivotal movement with respect to a striker on said support between a first latched position and a second latched position and an unlatched position, over center spring means disposed between said latch bolt and said lid adapted for biasing said latch bolt toward the unlatched position when the latter is on one side of the first latched position and toward the second latched position when said latch bolt is on the opposite side of the first latched position, a detent lever including a hook portion, means mounting said detent lever on said lid for pivotal movement between a detenting position wherein said hook portion engages said elongated arm for maintaining said latch bolt in the first latched position thereof and a releasing position releasing said elongated arm and dead bolt position beyond the detenting position corresponding to the second latched position of said latch bolt, spring means biasing said detent lever toward the dead bolt position, a cam element including an actuating portion defining a shoulder, means mounting said cam element on said lid for pivotal movemenT and with said actuating portion enagageable on said detent lever for moving the latter between the detenting and the releasing positions, said detent lever being operative under the influence of said biasing means to pivot said cam element to a remote position wherein said shoulder permits movement of said detent lever to the dead bolt position whereafter said actuating portion is inoperative to move said detent lever to the releasing position thereof, lock means on said lid including a lockable element selectively rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and disengageable connecting means between said lockable element and said cam element connecting the former and the latter for unitary rotation so that said lockable element prevents pivotal movement of said cam element to the remote position thereof except upon disengagement of said connecting means corresponding to removal of said lockable element from said lid.