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US4978153A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Latch for a laboratory apparatus

Assignee: Heraeus Sepatech GmbH
•
Filing: 1989-06-29
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Granted: 1990-12-18
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Expires: 2009-06-29
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Abstract

Abstract A latch is known for a laboratory apparatus, for locking a cover or door on its housing, having a hook 12 in one of the parts to be locked and a lock 1 in the other. The lock has a pivotable locking element 3 with a claw-shaped opening 9 which engages the hook 12 against the pressure of a spring and is releasable from engagement with the hook by an actuating element 7. In order to provide a latch of this kind with means to meet strict safety requirements and ensure secure locking during operation of the apparatus, an additional closing element 4, opening element 5, and securing element 6, which engage one another, are disposed between the locking element 3 and the actuating element 7.

Inventors

  • 👤 Christian Hirsch
  • 👤 Dieter Schroder
  • 👤 Eckart Kopowski
  • 👤 Helmut Kocher

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 12:02
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05B; E05B47/00; E05B47/0001; E05B47/0002; B; B04; B04B; B04B7/00; B04B7/02; B04B7/06; E05B47/06; E05B47/0607; E05C; E05C3/00; E05C3/12; E05C3/16; E05C3/22; E05C3/24; E05B47/0003; E05B47/0004; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/1043; Y10T292/1044; Y10T292/1045; Y10T292/1047; Y10T292/1075; Y10T292/1082

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim 365 words
A latch for a laboratory apparatus, for locking a closing panel to its housing, having a hook (12) in one of said panel and said housing and a lock (1) in the other of said panel and said housing, said lock having a pivotable locking element (3) with a claw-shaped opening (9) which engages the hook against the pressure of a spring (17) and which is releasable from engagement with the hook (12) by an actuating element (7), comprising, in accordance with the invention, a closing element (4), which engages said locking element (3) under spring force, and an opening element (5), which engages a portion (21) of said actuating element (7) and acts on closing element (4), said opening and closing elements being pivotably disposed between said locking element (3) and said actuating element (7), for movement between a locking position and an opening position; a securing element (6), which engages opening element (5) and locking element (3), pivotably abutting opening element (5) under spring tension, disposed between said opening element (5) and said locking element (3), and wherein pivot axes (8) of locking element (3), closing element (4), opening element (5), and securing element (6) run parallel to one another, wherein opening element (5) has at one end a guide surface (25) for securing element (6), and at the other end a locking nose (23) which in said locking position fits behind a projection (24) on closing element (4), wherein securing element (6) has a retaining nose (28) in a middle area of a guide surface, into which nose a cam (26) of opening element (5) engages in the opening position, wherein closing element (4) has a first groove (13) at an end opposite opening element (5) in the locking position, into which groove (13) a first projection (10) of locking element (3), which delimits the claw-shaped opening (9) on one side, engages, and wherein securing element (6), on a pivot side which is opposite guide surface (27) and retaining nose (28), is releasably pivotable by an actuating cam (30) on locking element (3) in the opening position, releasing retaining nose (28) of securing element (6) out of engagement with opening element (5).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 365 words
A latch for a laboratory apparatus, for locking a closing panel to its housing, having a hook (12) in one of said panel and said housing and a lock (1) in the other of said panel and said housing, said lock having a pivotable locking element (3) with a claw-shaped opening (9) which engages the hook against the pressure of a spring (17) and which is releasable from engagement with the hook (12) by an actuating element (7), comprising, in accordance with the invention, a closing element (4), which engages said locking element (3) under spring force, and an opening element (5), which engages a portion (21) of said actuating element (7) and acts on closing element (4), said opening and closing elements being pivotably disposed between said locking element (3) and said actuating element (7), for movement between a locking position and an opening position; a securing element (6), which engages opening element (5) and locking element (3), pivotably abutting opening element (5) under spring tension, disposed between said opening element (5) and said locking element (3), and wherein pivot axes (8) of locking element (3), closing element (4), opening element (5), and securing element (6) run parallel to one another, wherein opening element (5) has at one end a guide surface (25) for securing element (6), and at the other end a locking nose (23) which in said locking position fits behind a projection (24) on closing element (4), wherein securing element (6) has a retaining nose (28) in a middle area of a guide surface, into which nose a cam (26) of opening element (5) engages in the opening position, wherein closing element (4) has a first groove (13) at an end opposite opening element (5) in the locking position, into which groove (13) a first projection (10) of locking element (3), which delimits the claw-shaped opening (9) on one side, engages, and wherein securing element (6), on a pivot side which is opposite guide surface (27) and retaining nose (28), is releasably pivotable by an actuating cam (30) on locking element (3) in the opening position, releasing retaining nose (28) of securing element (6) out of engagement with opening element (5).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
Latch according to claim 1, wherein said actuating element (7) is a lifting magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
Latch according to claim 2, wherein locking element (3) and closing element (4) have a pair of surfaces (39) which, in the position of closing element (4), swung out from projections (10, 11) abut one another as locking element (3) is swung into the position which releases hook (12).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
Latch according to claim 2, wherein locking element (3), closing element (4), opening element (5), and securing element (6) are flat components of limited thickness.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 39 words
Latch according to claim 2, wherein the movement of closing element (4) actuates at least one switch (38) which, in one position of closing element (4) which releases rocking element (3), interrupts an operating function of the laboratory apparatus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 34 words
Latch according to claim 5, wherein closing element (4) has a second groove (14) into which a second projection (11) of locking element (3), which delimits claw-shaped opening (9) on the other side, engages.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
Latch according to claim 6, wherein locking element (3), closing element (4), opening element (5), and securing element (6) are flat components of limited thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 49 words
Latch according to claim 5, wherein locking element (3) and closing element (4) have a pair of surfaces (39) which, in the position of closing element (4), swung out from projections (10, 11) abut one another as locking element (3) is swung into the position which releases hook (12).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
Latch according to claim 2, wherein opening element (5) abuts actuating element (7) under the force of a spring (22).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 49 words
Latch according to claim 9, wherein locking element (3) and closing element (4) have a pair of surfaces (39) which, in the position of closing element (4), swung out from projections (10, 11) abut one another as locking element (3) is swung into the position which releases hook (12).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 25 words
Latch according to claim 9, wherein locking element (3), closing element (4), opening element (5), and securing element (6) are flat components of limited thickness.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 34 words
Latch according to claim 2, wherein closing element (4) has a second groove (14) into which a second projection (11) of locking element (3), which delimits claw-shaped opening (9) on the other side, engages.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 39 words
Latch according to claim 1, wherein the movement of closing element (4) actuates at least one switch (38) which, in one position of closing element (4) which releases locking element (3), interrupts an operating function of the laboratory apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
Latch according to claim 13, wherein locking element (3), closing element (4), opening element (5), and securing element (6) are flat components of limited thickness.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
Latch according to claim 13, wherein opening element (5) abuts actuating element (7) under the force of a spring (22).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 49 words
Latch according to claim 13, wherein locking element (3) and closing element (4) have a pair of surfaces (39) which, in the position of closing element (4), swung out from projections (10, 11) abut one another as locking element (3) is swung into the position which releases hook (12).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 20 words
Latch according to claim 1, wherein opening element (5) abuts actuating element (7) under the force of a spring (22).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 49 words
Latch according to claim 17, wherein locking element (3) and closing element (4) have a pair of surfaces (39) which, in the position of closing element (4), swung out from projections (10, 11) abut one another as locking element (3) is swung into the position which releases hook (12).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 25 words
Latch according to claim 17, wherein locking element (3), closing element (4), opening element (5), and securing element (6) are flat components of limited thickness.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 34 words
Latch according to claim 1, wherein closing element (4) has a second groove (14) into which a second projection (11) of locking element (3), which delimits claw-shaped opening (9) on the other side, engages.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 49 words
Latch according to claim 1, wherein locking element (3) and closing element (4) have a pair of surfaces (39) which, in the position of closing element (4), swung out from projections (10, 11) abut one another as locking element (3) is swung into the position which releases hook (12).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 25 words
Latch according to claim 1, wherein locking element (3), closing element (4), opening element (5), and securing element (6) are flat components of limited thickness.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

GB918165A Cited
US3504511A Cited
US4203621A Cited
DE2816395A1 Cited
DE3120787A1 Cited
US4756563A Cited
US4783102A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-12-17 1994-06-18 1994-12-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-12-17 1998-06-18 1998-12-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-12-17 2002-06-18 2002-12-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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