Patent US4243255A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4243255A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low silhouette adjustable latch with secondary lock
Assignee: Fairchild Industries Inc
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Filing: 1979-04-06
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Granted: 1981-01-06
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Expires: 1999-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A tension latch, embodying an over-center latching principle, includes means for adjusting the latch tension in the fully closed and latched position. The adjustment means is readily accessible through a channel-like opening formed by the latch handle. The same portion of the latch handle contains a secondary locking mechanism which is laterally offset from the adjustment means and is activated from the side of the handle, thereby maintaining complete access for tension adjustment. The lateral mounting and action of the locking mechanism allows the low profile of the latch to be maintained.
Inventors
- 👤 Alexander Hornak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:56
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05C; E05C19/00; E05C19/10; E05C19/12; E05C19/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/49; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0911; Y10T292/0913; Y10T292/0914; Y10T292/0917; Y10T292/1043; Y10T292/1075; Y10T292/1083; Y10T292/1092
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
In a latch for joining two adjacent members including, an integral base and housing adapted to be secured to one of the members; a handle pivot with its axis transversely disposed and extending through the forward portion of the housing; a handle having a pair of legs attached by their ends to the handle pivot outwardly of the housing and joined rearwardly of the housing by integral side flanges and a top surface to form a channel-like longitudinal opening; a drawhook disposed forwardly of the housing, adapted to engage a catch on the other of the members, and having a pair of rearwardly extending arms each pivotally attached at its end to one of the legs of the handle rearwardly of and nearer the base than the handle pivot; the improvement comprising: (1) means in the housing permitting limited longitudinal movement of the handle pivot; (2) an end wall closing the rear of the housing; (3) an adjustment screw disposed longitudinally within the housing and having one end in threaded engagement with the handle pivot and a headed opposite end journalled in the housing end wall with its head bearing on the outer surface thereof; (4) means on the head of the adjustment screw engageable externally of the latch by a tool extending through the channel-like opening in the handle on the axis of the screw for turning the same; (5) locking means on the handle generally disposed and operable in a plane through the axis of the adjustment screw parallel to the base and offset laterally from said axis, said locking means adapted to releasably secure the handle to the housing against rotation thereof about the handle pivot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
In a latch for joining two adjacent members including, an integral base and housing adapted to be secured to one of the members; a handle pivot with its axis transversely disposed and extending through the forward portion of the housing; a handle having a pair of legs attached by their ends to the handle pivot outwardly of the housing and joined rearwardly of the housing by integral side flanges and a top surface to form a channel-like longitudinal opening; a drawhook disposed forwardly of the housing, adapted to engage a catch on the other of the members, and having a pair of rearwardly extending arms each pivotally attached at its end to one of the legs of the handle rearwardly of and nearer the base than the handle pivot; the improvement comprising: (1) means in the housing permitting limited longitudinal movement of the handle pivot; (2) an end wall closing the rear of the housing; (3) an adjustment screw disposed longitudinally within the housing and having one end in threaded engagement with the handle pivot and a headed opposite end journalled in the housing end wall with its head bearing on the outer surface thereof; (4) means on the head of the adjustment screw engageable externally of the latch by a tool extending through the channel-like opening in the handle on the axis of the screw for turning the same; (5) locking means on the handle generally disposed and operable in a plane through the axis of the adjustment screw parallel to the base and offset laterally from said axis, said locking means adapted to releasably secure the handle to the housing against rotation thereof about the handle pivot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A latch as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises: (1) a pair of lateral side walls extending perpendicularly from the base; and, (2) an integral top plate joining the side walls at their upper edges and lying parallel to the base.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A latch as defined in claim 2 wherein said means in the housing permitting limited longitudinal movement of the handle pivot comprises elongated aligned apertures in the side walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A latch as defined in claim 3 including a coiled bias spring surrounding the adjustment screw with the ends of said spring in compressive engagement with the handle pivot and the inner surface of the end wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A latch as defined in claim 2 wherein the top surface of the handle and the top plate of the housing are coplanar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
A latch as defined in claim 5 wherein the locking means comprises: (1) a slot in a side flange of the handle adjacent one side wall of the housing; (2) a locking pivot depending vertically from the top surface of the handle within the channel-like opening; (3) a lever disposed in the slot and pivotally attached intermediate its ends to the locking pivot; (4) a notch in the side wall of the housing adjacent one end of the lever; (5) a detent on said one end of the lever adapted to engage the notch; (6) a finger-engageable surface on the other end of the lever disposed outside the handle side flange; and, (7) means operatively attached to the handle and the lever for biasing the detent into engagement with the notch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-06 | 1984-07-07 | 1985-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-06 | 1988-07-07 | 1989-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-06 | 1992-07-07 | 1993-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |