US3841674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slam-latch
Assignee: Southco Inc
•
Filing: 1973-05-23
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Granted: 1974-10-15
•
Expires: 1993-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A sliding-action slam latch for securing a door panel, especially a hinged door panel, in closed position is constructed of one piece and is installed in a single opening in the door panel and is self-retained therein. The latch operates by springbiased sliding action to engage the door frame or striker plate. In one form, the spring bias is provided by the resilience of the plastic material of which the latch is made. Modified embodiments are shown in which the spring bias is provided by a separate spring member. Several forms of separate spring members are shown.
Inventors
- 👤 R Bisbing
- 👤 J Vickers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:51
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B5/00; E05B15/00; E05B15/16; E05B15/1635; E05B9/00; E05B9/08; E05C; E05C1/00; E05C1/08; E05C1/10; E05B15/04; E05B2015/0472; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/30; Y10S292/38; Y10S292/53; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/096; Y10T292/0969; Y10T292/097; Y10T292/0997
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
177 words
A latch of the sliding-action slam type for installation in an opening in a door panel, said latch comprising: a. a latch body having a shaped recess at its forward end for receiving cooperatively the forward edge of the panel opening; b. said latch body having a flexible leg element at its rearward end, the upper end of said leg element being spaced from the main portion of said latch body and adapted to flex forwardly during snap-in insertion of the latch body into the panel opening and to thereafter snap back into a position to retain the latch body in the panel opening; c. said latch body having also a frame-engaging latching portion at its forward end; and d. spring means for biasing said latch body forwardly toward latching position; e. said spring means comprising an additional metallic spring component carried by said latch body in the space between said flexible leg element and the main portion of said latch body, said metallic spring component being shaped to engage the rearward edge of the panel opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
177 words
A latch of the sliding-action slam type for installation in an opening in a door panel, said latch comprising: a. a latch body having a shaped recess at its forward end for receiving cooperatively the forward edge of the panel opening; b. said latch body having a flexible leg element at its rearward end, the upper end of said leg element being spaced from the main portion of said latch body and adapted to flex forwardly during snap-in insertion of the latch body into the panel opening and to thereafter snap back into a position to retain the latch body in the panel opening; c. said latch body having also a frame-engaging latching portion at its forward end; and d. spring means for biasing said latch body forwardly toward latching position; e. said spring means comprising an additional metallic spring component carried by said latch body in the space between said flexible leg element and the main portion of said latch body, said metallic spring component being shaped to engage the rearward edge of the panel opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A latch according to claim 1 characterized in that said additional metallic spring component is a torsion-bar spring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A latch according to claim 2 wherein one of the extremities of said torsion-bar spring engages the rearward edge of said panel opening and the other extremity is restrained against the latch body in order to bias the latch body toward its latched position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A latch according to claim 1 wherein said additional metallic spring component is a coiled torsion spring one of the extremities of which engages the rearward edge of said panel opening and the other extremity is restrained against the latch body in order to bias the latch body toward its latched position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A latch according to claim 1 wherein said additional metallic spring component is in the form of a coiled compression spring carried in said latch body, the rearward end of said spring being adapted to engage the rearward edge of the panel opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
A latch of the sliding-action slam type for installation in an opening in a door panel, said latch comprising: a. a latch body having a shaped recess at its forward end for receiving cooperatively the forward edge of the panel opening; b. said latch body having a flexible leg element at its rearward end, the upper end of said leg element being spaced from the main portion of said latch body and adapted to flex forwardly during snap-in insertion of the latch body into the panel opening and to thereafter snap back into a position to retain the latch body in the panel opening; c. said latch body having also a frame-engaging latching portion at its forward end; and d. an additional elastic element foR biasing said latch body forwardly toward latching position, said additional elastic element being carried by said latch body in the space between said flexible leg element and the main portion of said latch body, said additional elastic element being shaped to engage the rearward edge of the panel opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
A latch of the sliding-action slam type for installation in an opening in a door panel, said latch comprising: a. a latch body having a shaped recess at its forward end for receiving cooperatively the forward edge of the panel opening; b. said latch body having a flexible leg element at its rearward end, the upper end of said leg element being spaced from the main portion of said latch body and adapted to flex forwardly during snap-in insertion of the latch body into the panel opening and to thereafter snap back into a position to retain the latch body in the panel opening; c. said latch body having also a frame-engaging latching portion at its forward end; and d. an additional elastic element foR biasing said latch body forwardly toward latching position, said additional elastic element being carried by said latch body in the space between said flexible leg element and the main portion of said latch body, said additional elastic element being shaped to engage the rearward edge of the panel opening.
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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) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |