Push releasable magnetic latch

Claim 2

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly to latch a movable object to a stationary object, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising first magnetic means, a pivotal second latch member comprising an arm member and second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being pivotally mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation whereby said arm member is movable between a forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a rearward position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another to weaken the magnetic attraction therebetween and position the magnetic means in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: stop means on the same object as said rotatable second latch member for positioning said arm member in a forward position for accurately aligning the movable object in a closed position relative to the stationary object, push means on the arm member of the pivotal second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its forward and rearward positions, said push means engages said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its rearward position to its forward position against said stop means for repositioning the objects in a closed aligned position and for propelling the movable object away from the stationary object to overcome the weakened magnetic attraction of the first and second magnetic means when moving from said rearward position to said forward position such that the movable object swings open away from said stationary object.

Claim 3

The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein there is a mounting bracket fixedly attached to said second object, with said arm member being mounted to said bracket, and said stop means being mounted to said bracket.

Claim 4

The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said push means comprises a forwardly protruding surface portion of said arm, formed by two forward surfaces of said arm member joining at an angle with respect to one another.

Claim 5

The improvement recited in claim 1, wherein said second magnetic means is mounted to said arm in a manner to permit limited forward and rearward motion of the second magnetic means, whereby when said arm moves from its rearward to its forward position, the inertia of said second magnetic means causes it to be positioned further rearwardly in said arm member, to reduce the magnetic attractive force between said first and second magnetic means.

Claim 6

The improvement as recited in claim 4, wherein said second magnetic means is mounted in slot means in said arm having a lengthwise dimension greater then that of the second magnetic means for providing forward and rearward movement of said second magnetic means relative to said arm.

Claim 7

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through its associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, wherein there is stop means positioned to engage said arm member at its forward position so as to limit further forward movement of said arm member, wherein there is a mounting bracket fixedly attached to said second object, with said arm member being mounted to said bracket, and said stop means being mounted to said bracket, and wherein said spring means has one end anchored to said stop member, and another end anchored to said arm.

Claim 8

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through its associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, wherein there is stop means positioned to engage said arm member at its forward position so as to limit further forward movement of said arm member, wherein there is a mounting bracket fixedly attached to said second object, with said arm member being mounted to said bracket, and said stop means being mounted to said bracket, and wherein said spring means has one end anchored to said stop member, and another end anchored to said arm.

Claim 9

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through its associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, wherein there is stop means positioned to engage said arm member at its forward position so as to limit further forward movement of said arm member, wherein there is a mounting bracket fixedly attached to said second object, with said arm member being mounted to said bracket, and said stop means being mounted to said bracket, and wherein said spring means comprises a coil spring mounted adjacent the axis of rotation of said arm, said coil spring having a first end anchored to stop means and a second end anchored to said bracket.

Claim 10

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through its associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, wherein there is stop means positioned to engage said arm member at its forward position so as to limit further forward movement of said arm member, wherein there is a mounting bracket fixedly attached to said second object, with said arm member being mounted to said bracket, and said stop means being mounted to said bracket, and wherein said spring means comprises a coil spring mounted adjacent the axis of rotation of said arm, said coil spring having a first end anchored to stop means and a second end anchored to said bracket.

Claim 11

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move realtive to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a loctaion which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through its associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, and wherein there are: a. a generally plate-like mounting bracket mounted to said second object, b. a pivot pin connected to and extending from said bracket with its axis generally perpendicular to said path of travel of said objects toward each other, c. a stop member upturned from said bracket and positioned to engage said arm at its forward position to prevent further forward rotation of said arm, d. said spring means being a coil spring mounted to said pin, with one end of said coil spring anchored to said stop member, and the other end of said coil spring anchored to said arm.

Claim 12

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move realtive to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a loctaion which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through its associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, and wherein there are: a. a generally plate-like mounting bracket mounted to said second object, b. a pivot pin connected to and extending from said bracket with its axis generally perpendicular to said path of travel of said objects toward each other, c. a stop member upturned from said bracket and positioned to engage said arm at its forward position to prevent further forward rotation of said arm, d. said spring means being a coil spring mounted to said pin, with one end of said coil spring anchored to said stop member, and the other end of said coil spring anchored to said arm.

Claim 13

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through its associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, and wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring having a first end anchored to said arm member and a second end extending forwardly toward said first object, with the second end of said spring being arranged to engage said first object and be deflected thereby as said first object is moved toward said second object, with said leaf spring pushing from said first object to urge said arm forwardly against said first object.

Claim 14

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through its associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, and wherein said spring means comprises a leaf spring having a first end anchored to said arm member and a second end extending forwardly toward said first object, with the second end of said spring being arranged to engage said first object and be deflected thereby as said first object is moved toward said second object, with said leaf spring pushing from said first object to urge said arm forwardly against said first object.

Claim 15

The improvement as recited in claim 9, wherein said leaf spring is fixedly attached to said arm at a location adjacent said axis of rotation, and said leaf spring extends forwardly and laterally in a direction generally opposite to that in which the arm member extends from said leaf spring, whereby as said first object is moved against said arm member and said leaf spring, said arm member and said leaf spring are caused to rotate rearwardly in opposite directions from one another, with both said leaf spring and said arm exerting a forward force against said first object.

Claim 16

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through tis associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, and wherein there is a generally plate-like mounting bracket secured to one of said members, and a bracket member upstanding from the bracket, a pivot pin extending from said bracket member generally parallel to said plate-like bracket member, a coil spring mounted to said pin, with one end of said coil spring anchored to said arm and a second end of said coil spring anchored to said upstanding bracket member, and a stop member mounted to said upstanding bracket member.

Claim 17

In a push releasable magnetic latch assembly adapted to latch two objects, as in latching a door to a stationary structure, said objects being adapted to move relative to one another on a general path of travel toward each other and away from each other into, respectively, latching and unlatching positions, where the latch assembly comprises: a. a first latch member mounted to one of said objects and comprising a first magnetic means, b. a second latch member comprising an arm member and a second magnetic means mounted thereto, said arm member being swing mounted to said other object for movement about an axis of rotation having a substantial vector component perpendicular to said path of travel, whereby said arm member is movable between a first forward latching position with said first and second magnetic means being proximate one another in magnetic latching relationship and a second rearward non-latching position with said first and second magnetic means spaced from one another in non-latching relationship, the improvement comprising in combination: a. a push means on the arm member of the second latch member, said push means being spaced from said axis of rotation and positioned at a location which is between said axis of rotation and said second magnetic means and forwardly toward said first object, such that as said arm member swings between its first and second positions, said push means is capable of engaging said first object, such that said arm member is capable of acting as a lever arm against said first object, b. spring means operatively engaging said arm member to urge said arm member from its second rearward position to its forward position, the strength of said spring means being of a sufficient magnitude relative to the attractive force of said first and second magnetic means and relative to the length and position of application of the lever arm action of the arm member against said first object, that when said first and second objects are in latching position and one of said objects is pushed toward the other to force said second arm member to its second non-latching position, the force exerted by said spring means through tis associated arm member to the first object imparts sufficient relative velocity to the moving object to overcome the attractive force of the two magnetic means so that the movable object continues to move to its unlatching position, and wherein there is a generally plate-like mounting bracket secured to one of said members, and a bracket member upstanding from the bracket, a pivot pin extending from said bracket member generally parallel to said plate-like bracket member, a coil spring mounted to said pin, with one end of said coil spring anchored to said arm and a second end of said coil spring anchored to said upstanding bracket member, and a stop member mounted to said upstanding bracket member.

Claim 18

The improvement as recited in claim 1, wherein said spring means includes a coiled wire spring wrapped around the pivot axis.