Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2-324CA
LATCE~ AND LOCK ASSEMBLIES ~IT~ EXPANSIBLE I~TCll ELEMEraTS
The present invention relates generally to flush
mounted latches and locks of the type used with closures for
industrial cabinets, tool carts, electrical equipment enclosures
and the like. More particularly, the present invention relates
to novel and improved latches and locks that utilize a highly
versatile housing together with other interactive components of
novel form to provide desired types of latching and locking
actions.
Flush mounted latches and locks including a body, a
latch bolt movably carried on the body, and an operating handle
that is nested by the body are well known. Normally the handle
is in a flush or nested position when the bolt is in a latched
position; and unlatching movement of the bolt is effected by
moving the handle to an operating position. Latches and locks of
this type are well suited for use on industrial cabinets, tool
carts, electrical equipment enclosures and the like.
Flush-mounted latches and locks having pan-shaped
housings that nest paddle-shaped operating handles, and that have
spring-projected slide bolts are disclosed in such United States
patents as 4,335,595, 4,321,812, 4,320,642, 4,312,205, 4,312,204,
4,312,203, 4,312,202, 4,309,8~4, 4,231,597, 4,138,869, 3,707,862,
3,668,907, 3,449,005, 3,389,932, 3,357,734, 3,209,564, 3,209,563,
3,055,204, 2,987,908, 2,900,204 and 2,642,300, all of which are
assigned to the Eastern Company, a corporation of Connecticut.
Flush mounted latches and locks having latch bolts of
other than the spring-p~ojected, slide-mounted type are disclosed
in such United States patents as 4,413,849, 4,320,642, 4,312,203,
4,134,281, 3,857,594, 3,338!610, 3,044,814, 3,044,287 and
2,735,706, all o~ wh ch are assigned to the Eastern Company.
~ cabinet latch havincJ a housing that is usable ~ith a
variety of pivotally mounted latch bolts, and with a variety of
2-324C~
latching mechanisms is disclosed in United States patent
~,177,656, also assigned to the Eastern Company.
A variety of proposals have been made in efforts to
utilize resilient components of various types to provide latch
members that are expansible once they have engaged a suitably
configured retaining formationO Likewise, resilient, expansible
shock mount members of various types have been proposed for
resiliently coupling pairs of components in many types of appli-
cations. The use of resilient, expansible members to provide
releasable mounts in applications where a "blind fastener" is
needed also is known.
A simple means for retaining a key cylinder assembly in
a lock housing is disclosed in United States patent 4,683,736
which issued ~ugust 4, 1987 and is referred to hereinafter as the
"Parent Case." In the referenced Parent Case, a lock housing is
disclosed that has a generally cylindrical opening formed there-
through that extends along an axis for mounting a key cylinder
assembly for rotation about the axis. Axially extending grooves
are formed in an internal wall that defines the cylindrical
opening. One of the grooves (referred to as an "installation
groove") extends rearwardly and opens through such rear wall
portions of the housing as surround the cylindrical opening. The
grooves serve the function of cooperating with key operated
tumblers of the key cylinder assembly that project radially from
opposed s,ides of the key cylinder assembly to selectively permit
and prevent rotation of the key cylinder assembIy relative to the
housing. The installation groove serves the function of permit-
ting an offset projection that is carried on the back of the key
cylinder assembly to be inserted completely through the cylindri~
cal opening of the housing as the key cylinder assembly is
installed in the cylindrical opening. Once the key cylinder
assembly is installed, it is rotated to position the offset
projection out of alignment with the installation groove so that
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2-324CA
1~3~3
the offset projection extends in overlying relationship with such
rear wall portions of the housiny as surround the cylindrical
opening in which the key cylinder assembly is installed. By this
arrangement, 50 long as the key cylinder is prevented from rotat-
ing relative to the housing to a position where the offset pro-
jection aligns with the installation groove, the offset projec-
tion serves to retain the key cylinder assembly in place on the
housing.
As will be explained in greater detail, the type of
housing features that are described above, and that also are
disclosed in the referenced Parent Case, are utilized in the
preferred practice of the present invention.
The present invention provides novel and improved flush
mountable latches and locks for industrial cabinets, tool carts,
electrical equipment enclosures and the like, with the latches
and locks utilizing A highly versatile housing together with
other interactive components of novel form to provide desired
types of latching and locking actions.
A latch or lock embodying the preferred practice of the
present invention includes a one-piece housing on which are
mounted other interactive components that provide a variety of
desired features. As will become apparent from the description
that follows, the versatile housing that is used wikh latches and
locks that embody the preferred practice of the present invention
provides a rigid, sturdy base structure for securely supporting
latch and lock components. Latches and locks that embody the
preferred practice of the present invention advanta~eously employ
small numbers of relatively movable parts that ca~ be assembled
and serviced with ease.
The versatile housing on which other operating compo-
nents are mounted preferably is formed from a suitable thermo-
plastics material such as a glass reinforced polycarbonate based
polymer blendl which provides a dimensionally stable, impact
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2-324CA
~3;2~3
resistant structure that is rigid, strong and can be readily
machined as may be needed to provide mounting formations for
movably mounting operating handles of a wide variety of types.
The molded housing defines a pan-shaped structure that has a
forwardly facing recess for nesting an operatiny handle. A pair
of threaded mounting studs have enlarged head portions that are
embedded in the molded material of the housing so that the
threaded studs project rearwardly from a back wall of the housing
for receiving mounted posts that are threaded onto the studs for
mounting latch and lock operating components, and for establish-
ing connections with a mounting bracket.
A feature of the latch and lock units that embody the
preferred practice of the present invention resides in their use
of a pivotally mounted handle that is a component of a handle and
shank assembly which is installed on the housing concurrently
with a U-shaped bracket, with all of these components secured in
place by tightening a single nut that threads onto a barrel of
the handle and shank assembly. The U-shaped bracket engages the
shank and restrains the shank againsb rotation; and, if the unit
has a locking capability, to the bracket cooperates with a
slidably mounted locking member to restrain the shank against
both unwanted rotary movement and axial unlatching movement.
A further feature of latch and lock units that embody
the preferred practice of the present invention resides in their
use of an expansible latching member that provides something of a
resilient, shock-mount type of connection between a structure on
which the latch or lock assembly is mounted, and a structure on
which a ~eeper is mounted that is engaged by the resilient latch
member. The resilient, expansible latching member takes up play
or slack that might otherwise permit unwanted vibration and rat~
tling of loose parts in a vibration prevalent environment;
cushions the mounting of the components that are releasably
connected; prevents metal-to-metal contact of interengaged latch
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2-324CA
33
ports; and provides latches and locks that embody the preferred
practice of the present invention with a very secure and desir-
able type of "feel" associated with their operation.
While latch and lock structures that embody the pre-
ferred practice of the present invention have latch members of
the resilient, expansible type, not all of the features of th~
invention are limited to use with latches and locks that have
resilient expansible latch members, as will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from the description and claims that follow.
These and other features, and a fuller understanding of
the invention ma~ be had by referring to the description and
claims that follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of one form of
lock assembly that embodies features of the preferred practice of
the present invention, illustrating how the lock assernbly is
mounted on a closure;
FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of components
of the lock assembl~ of FIGURE 1;
FIGUR~ 3 is a schematic top plan view, showing portions
of the lock assembly of FIGURE 1 including a resilient latch mem-
ber approaching a keeper that is shown in cross section;
FIGURE 4 is a schematic top plan view similar to FIGURE
3, but with the resilient latch portion received in an opening
that is ~ormed through the keeper;
FIGURE 5 is a schematic top plan view similar to FIGURE
4, but with the resilient latch member in latched engagement with
the keeper;
: FIGURE 6 is a right side elevational view thereof, with
the handle in its normally nested position, with the resilient
latch member "latched," and with locking components locked;
FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view thereof;
FIGURE 8 is a bottom plan view thereof;
. -- 5
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2-324CA 1~2~3
FIGURE 9 is a rear elevational view slmllar to FIGURE
7, but with locking components unlockedlr
FIGURE lO is a rear elevational vlew similar to FIGURE
9, but with tbe resilien~ lstch member unlatched~
FIGURE ll i8 an exploded perspective view showing
selected portions of the lock assembly with the view showing
pri~cipally rear ieatures thereo~s
FIGURE 12 i8 a sectional view, on an enlarged scale,
showing portions of the locX's handle in its nested position~ as
seen form a plane indicated by a line 12-12 ln FIGURE l;
FIGURE 13 iB a ~ect~onal Yiew similAr to FIGURE 12, but
~howing the handle in its operating positiont
PIGURE 14 i5 a sectlonal Vi8W as seen from a plane in-
dicated by a line 14-14 in FIGURE llt and,
EIGURE l5 ls an exploded perspective view showing
selected portions of the lock assembly with the view showing
principally rear features thereof.
Referring to PIGURES 1 and 2, one form of a lock
assembly that embodi~s features of the preferred practice of the
present invention i~ indicated generally by the numernl 100. The
lock assembly lO0 has a hou~ing 200 that mounts a plurallty of
internctlve components that provlde latching and locklng func-
tiona. In preferred pr~ctlce, the latch and lock components that
are described below are formed elther lrom a durable ln~ection
molded thermoplastlcs materlal that will be described, or from
stainless steel, whereby the resulting latch and lock units can
be utilized in most normal envlronments without speclal concern
about deterioration ~rom causes cuah as corrosion.
In overview, and a8 wlll be explained in qreater
detall, the interactiYe component~ that are carried on the
hou~lng 200 principally ~nclude a handle and shank ~sembly 300
includlng a handle 3lO that ls mounted on an elongate shank 320
that ls ~ournaled by a barrel 330, wi~h the barrel 330 belng
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2-324C~
rigidly connected to the housing 200, and with the handle 310
being movable relative to the housing 200 between normal and
operating positions; a resilient, expansible latch member 400
that is mounted on the housing 200 for expansion and contraction
movements between what will be referred to as "latched" (i.e.,
"expanded") and "unlatched" (i.e., "contracted") positions; a
mounting bracket 500 that positions the resilient latch member
400 relative to the housing 200; and, a locking mechanism 600 for
selectively permitting and preventing latching and unlatching
(i.e., expansion and contraction) movements of the resilient
latch member 400 by the handle 310. If the locking mechanism 600
is omitted, the lock assembly 100 is thereby transformed into a
latch assembly, i.e., a unit which has a handle 310 that always
can be operated to "latch" and "unlatch" the the resilient latch
member 400.
Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the resil-
ient latch member 400 projects relatively rearwardly with respect
to the housing 200 for engaging a suitably configured keeper 180
or other structure that is located adjacent the lock assembly 100
when a closure 110 (on which the lock assembly 100 is mounted) is
"closed."
The keeper 180 has an elongate body structure 182 that
surrounds and defines a latch-member receiving opening 184 that
is of adequate size to receive a cylindrical body portion of the
resilient latch member ~00, and to releasably retain the resili-
ent latch member 400 when the resilient latch member 400 has been
expanded while extending through t:he opening 184. The manner in
which the latch member 400 engages, expands within, ~nd contracts
within the keeper opening 184 is illustrated in FIGURES 3-5.
Before turning to a more detailed description of the
components of the lock assembly 100, the preferred manner in
which the lock assembly 100 can be mounted on a closure 110 will
be described. The portion of the closure 110 that is shown in
7 -
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2-32~CA
3~
~IGURE 1 is a plate-like structure that has a mounting opening
112 formed therethrough. The closure portion 110 has a front
surface 114 and a rear surface 116 that extend about the perime
ter of the opening 112. The opening 112 has top and bottom
boundaries 122, 124, and left and right side boundaries 126, 128.
In order to mount the lock assembly 100 on the closure
110, the lock assembly 100 has a pair of mounting posts 700 that
project rearwardly for connection to a mounting bracket 750. The
mounting bracket 750 is of generally U-shaped configuration,
having a back wall 760 that connects at opposite ends with legs
762, 764. The legs 762, 764 extend forwardly from the plane of
the back wall 760 toward the mounting flange 202, and cooperate
with the housing 200 for clampingly mounting the lock assembly
100 on the closure 110.
When the lock assembly 100 is to be installed on the
closure 110, a gasket 270 is positioned to engage the mounting
flange 202, and portions of the lock assembly 100 are installed
through the closure opening 112 to position the gasket 270 adja~
cent the opening 112 in clamped engagement between the rear face
206 of the mounting flange 202 and the front surface 114 of the
closure 110. The mounting bracket 750 is positioned to overlie
the lock assembly 100, with the legs 762, 764 of the mounting
bracket 750 extending into engagement with the rear surface 116
of the closure 110. Threaded fasteners 702 are installed to
extend through holes 752 that are formed through the back wall
760 of the bracket 750. The fasteners 702 are threaded into the
mounting posts 700 of the lock assembly 100 to clamp the mounting
flange 202 into engagement with the gasket 270, to clamp the
gasket 720 into engagement with the front surface 114, and to
c].amp the legs 762, 76~ into engagement with the rear surface
116.
To facilitate an understanding of the various relative
positions of the principal relatively movable components of the
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2~324CA ~3~
lock assembly 100, reference is made to FIGURES 1 and 2 whereinthe handle 310 is in its "normal" or "nested" position; the
resilient latch member 400 is in its "latched" or expanded
position; and the lock mechanism 600 is "locked" so as to prevent
unlatching movement of the resilient latch member 400 in response
to attempted operation of the handle 310. In FIGURE 9, the lock-
ing mechanism 600 of the lock 100 is shown "unlocked" so as to
permit unlatching movement of the resilient latch member 400 by
operation of the handle 310. In FIGURE 10, the handle 310 is
shown in its "operating" position wherein the handle 310 func-
tions (in conjunction with the operation of other components, as
will be described) to move the resilient latch element 400 to its
"unlatched" or contracted position.
Turning now to a more detailed description of features
of the componel~ts of the lock assembly 100, the housing 200 is
preferably formed as a molded, one piece structure; thus it will
be understood that the mounting flange 202 together with the
walls that form an essentially pan-shaped housing portion 220
(i.e., the walls that define the width, length and depth of the
recess 210) are integrally-formed parts of the same one-piece
structure. The fabrication of the housing as a one-piece member
molded from thermoplastics material such as a glass reinforced
polycarbonate based polymer blend helps to provide a strong,
rigid, impact resistant structure, whereby the housing 200 is
capahle of providing a versatile mounting platform for su~porting
the various relatively movable components of the lock assembly
10~ .
A preferred material from which the housing 200 is
formed is a thermoplastic that is a glass reinforced polycar-
bonate based polymer blend, typically of the type sold by General
Electric Company, Pittsfield, MA 01~01 under the xegistered
trademark XENOY. The most pre~erred resin blend is about 10
percent glass reinforced, and i5 selected from the "6000 Series"
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2-324CA
of the X~NOY products sold by General Electric, with XENOY 6240
being preferred. While many other co~nercially available mold-
able plastics materlals can be used to form the housing 200, as
will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the preferred
material helps to provide a high strength housing that is light
in weiyht, resists crazing and hardening, is heat and chemical
resistant, is resistant to impact, and can be machined as needed
to provide suitable mounting holes and the like for movably
mounting a wide variety of handles within the confines of the
recess 210, as will be explained.
The mounting flange 202 has a front face 204 that
defines the front of the housing 200. The mounting flange 202
has a rear face 206 that is substantially flat, i.e., all por-
tions of the rear face 206 extend substantially in a single
plane. The mounting flange 202 is bordered by a perimetrically
extending edge surface 208 that joins the front a~d rear surfaces
204, 206 at their peripheries. While all portions of -the mount-
ing flange 202 are formed integrally and therefore serve to
define elements of a one-piece structure, for purposes of refer-
ence, the mounting flange 202 can be thought of as having a top
portion 212 that extends across the top of the recess 210, a
bottom portion 214 that extends across the bottom of the recess
210, and opposed side portions 216, 218 that extend along left
and right sides of the recess 210. Likewise, -the edge surface
208 can be thought of as having a top portion 222, a bottom
portion 224, and opposed side portions 226, 228~ The flange
portions 212, 214, 216, 218 and their associated edge portions
222, 224, 226, 228 cooperate to define a mounting flange 202 that
has a generally rectangular configuration, with corner regions
where adjacent ones of the edge portions 222, 224, 226, 228 join
preferably being gently rounded to give an enhanced appearance.
The pan-shaped portion 220 of the housing 200 (i.e~,
the portion of the housing 200 that defines the forwardly facing
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2-324CA
~Z~3~83
recess 210~ includes a top wall 232, a bottom wall 234, a pair of
opposed side walls 236, 238, and a back wall 242. The back wall
242 is arranged so that it extends substantially parallel to the
rear face 206 of the mounting flange 202. Stated in another way,
the back wall 242 has a front face 244 and a rear face 24Ç that
extend in planes that substantially pa~allel the plane of the
rear face 206. Particular attention is paid to the molding of
the rear face 246 of the back wall 242 so that the rear face 246
provides a smooth, planar back wall surface that can be utilized
for the important functions of mounting and guiding the movement
of other components of the lock assembly 100, as will be ex-
plained~
For the purpose of providing an enhanced appearance, it
is preferxed that front face 204 of the housing 200 be of curved,
slightly convex configuration. Stated in another way, the front
face 204 is convexly curved such that the thicknesses of the
mounting flange portions 212, 214, 216, 218 increase progressive-
ly the closer these formations extend toward an imaginary center
point of the front face 204. Likewise, the thicknesses of the
mounti.ng flange portions 212, 214, 216, 218 decrease progressi~e-
ly as these formations extend toward the edge surface portions
222, 224, 226, 228. Preferably, the thicknesses of the mounting
flange portions 212, 214, 216, 218 as measured at locations that
are adjacent to the edge portions 222, 224, 226, 228, are sub-
stantially uniform all along the edge surface 208 -- which is to
say that the edge surface 208 has a width that is substantially
constant as the edge surface 208 extends about the housing 200.
For the purpose of providing an enhanced appearance,
the positioning of the top and bottom walls 232, 234 of the pan-
shaped housing portion 220 that defines the recess 210 preferably
is asymmetrical relative to top and bottom edges 222 r 224 of the
mountiny flange 202. Likewise, for purposes of enhanced appear-
anc~, the positioning of the left and right side walls 236, 233
-- 11 --
2-324CA
~ J~ 3
of the pan-shaped housing portion 220 preferably is asymmetrical
relatlve to the left and right opposed side edges 226, 228 of the
mounting flange 202. This absence of symmetry in locating the
recess 210 relative to opposed top and side edge portions 222,
22~ and 226, 228 of the mounting flange 202 results in the top
wall portion 212 being relatively short in height in comparison
with the relatively tall height of the bottom wall portion 214
that depends beneath the recess 210, and results in the left
sidewall portion 216 being relatively wide, while the right side
wall portion 218 is relatively narrow.
Several functional features of the housing 200 are
arranged substantially symmetrically about the center plane 201,
including the side walls 236, 238 of the housing portion 220, and
a sleeve-like housing formation 280, which will be described.
With respect to the side-to-side positioning of the recess 210
relative to features of the mounting Elange 202, however, it will
be understood that this is a feature dictated solely by appear-
ance considerations, and not by functional considerations.
Indeed, functional features of the lock assembly 100 would not be
affected if the narrow flange portions 212, 218 were enlarged to
give the flange portions 212, 218 widths that are equivalent to
the relatively wider flange portions 214, 216, respectively.
Likewise the styling of the front face 204 of the mounting flange
202 is dictated entirely by appearance considerations.
Threaded studs 250 project rearwardly from the rear
face 246 of the back wall 242 for mounting various latch and lock
components, as will be explained. Referring to FIGURE 14, the
threaded studs 250 have enlarged head portions 252 with radially
outwardly extending prGjections 254 that have somewhat of a
toothed washer appearance and that are located adjacent the head
portions 252. The head portions 252 and the projections 254 are
embedded within the molded material of the back ~all 2~12 of tne
housing 200 to provide structures that are anchored securely to
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2-324CA
1~3;~33
the material of the plastic and will not rotate with respect
thereto. The studs 2~0 have elongate threaded shank portions 256
that project rearwardly from the head portions 252. The threaded
shank portions 256 e~tend along spaced imaginary axes 251 that
intersect the plane of the back wall 2~2 at right angles thereto.
The axes 251 ex-tend coaxially through the holes 752 that are
formed in the back wall 760 of the mounting bracket 750. The
axes 251 of the studs 250 are located equidistantly from the
: center plane 201, and are positioned on opposite sides of the
center plane 201.
In preferred practice, the threaded studs 250 are com-
mercially available fasteners that are sold by Penn Engineering
and Mfg. Corp. of Danboro, PA, under the trademark PEM. The
preferred part i5 model number CHN-832-4, is formed from stain-
less steel, has a tapered head 252 with a maximum diameter of
about 0.289 .inchl has radially extending projections portions 254
with a maximum outer diameter of about 0.328 inch, and has a
shank length of about 0.250 inch that is threaded with a standard
thread such as 8-32 NC. While these commercially available
fasteners are intended for use with sheet metal, not plastic,
they have been found to be quite suitable for use in the applica-
tion described here.
Locator projections 260 are provided at spaced loca-
tions along the side walls 236, 238 at junctures of the side
walls 236, 238 with the rear face 206 of the mounting flange 202.
As will be seen in FIGURE 7, the locator projections 260 are
arranged symmetrically in pairs on opposite sides of the center
plane 201. The locator projections 260 are intended to directly
engage opposite sides 126, 128 of the opening 112 to orient the
lock assembly 100 properly on the closure 110; however, if the
opening 112 has been formed so as to be slightly "oversized," the
locator projections 260 may be utilized during installation of
the lock assembly on the closure llO as "guides" to visually aid
"i - 13 -
2-324CA
in properly positioning the housing 200 with respect to the
closure opening 112, preferably with the locator projections 260
being arranged to be spaced substantially equidistantly from
opposite side portions 126, 128 of the opening 112.
While the gasket 270 is not essential in many applica-
tions where the lock assemb]y 100 can be used, the gasket 270
preferably is used in applications that present a possibility
that moisture may penetrate the opening 112 as by passing between
the back face 206 of the mounting flange 202 and the front face
114 of the closure 110. To aid in properly positioning the gas-
ket 270 about the lock assembly 100, the gasket 270 has an asym-
metrical configuration that causes the gasket 270 to extend in an
obviously skew, out-of-alignment relationship with respect to the
edge portions 226, 228 of the mounting flange 202 if the gasket
270 is installed incorrectly, e.g., in an "inside-out" manner.
Specifically, referrin~ to FIGURES 1 and 2, the gasket 270 has a
relatively wide left side portion 276 that underlies the rela-
tively wide left side wall 236; similarly, the gasket: 270 has a
relatively narrow right side portion 278 that underlies the rela-
tively narrow right side wall 238. Further, the gasket 270 has a
relatively large, generally triangular-shaped corner region 272
that is configured to underlie a correspondingly large corner
portion of the bottom wall 214 of the mounting flange 202, and a
relatively smaller, generally triangular shaped corner region 274
that is configured to underlie a correspondingly smaller corner
portion of the bottom wall 214 of the mounting flange.
The sleeve-like formation 280 of the housing 200 is
located below the recess 210 and extends rearwardly from the rear
face 206 of the mounting flange 202 along the bottom wall 234 of
the housing portion 220. In preferred practice, the sleeve
formation 280 is provided on the housing 200 regardless of
whether the sleeve ~ormation 280 is to be utilized to house
operating components of a latch or lock.
14 -
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2-324CA
~3~
If the sleeve formation 280 is to be utilized to house
latch or lock components, an opening 282 is formed through the
front wall 204 to communicate with a passage 284 that extends
through the sleeve formation 280. The opening 282 and the pas-
sage 284 extend coaxially along an imaginary axis 281 (see FIGURE
2) that lies within the imaginary center plane 201 and that ex-
tends substantially perpendicular to the planes of the rear face
206 and the back wall 246. If the sleeve formation 280 is not to
be utilized to house latch or lock components, either no opening
282 is formed through the front wall 204, or a suitably configur-
ed plug (not shown) is installed in the opening 282 to close the
opening 282.
Referring to FIGURES 15 and 16, features of the sleeve
formatiorl 280 are shown. The sleeve 280 has a shoulder 286 that
extends substantially radially with respect to the axis 281 to
form a transition between the relatively large diameter of the
opening 282 and the relatively smaller diameter of the passage
284. Axially extending top and bottom grooves 288 are formed in
opposed upper and lower portions of the passage 284~ The grooves
288 extend axiall~ rearwardly from the shoulder 286 and have
bottom walls 289 that are curved and represent continuations of a
cylindrical surface 290 of enlarged diameter -that is formed in
the rearward end region of the sleeve 280. Referring to FIGURE
16, a radially extending shoulder 292 forms a transition between
the passage diameter that is designated by the numeral 284, and
the enlarged diameter end region 290. A rounded installation
groove 294 of shallower depth than the grooves 288 is formed in a
side of the passage portion 284. The rounded installation groove
294 extends from the shoulder 286 to the shoulder 292~
Referring to FIGU~E 16, two opposed portions 296, 298
of the shoulder 292 extend radially outwardly and interrupt op-
posed side portions of the sleeve formation 280 to provid~
- 15 -
2-324C~
~3~33
radially extending, rearwardly opening notches that are designat-
ed by the numer~ls 296, 298.
In preferred practice, the housing 200 is formed with-
out any openings, holes, slots or the like extending through the
walls that define the recess 210, i.e., the top, bottom, and side
walls 232, 234, 236, 238, and the back wall 242 are smooth and
have no openings formed therethrough. By this arrangement, a
wide variety of types of handles as well as latch and lock com-
ponents of various forms may be utilized with the housing. De-
pending on the type of handle that is to be used with the housing
200, and on the type of latch or lock operating mechanism that is
to be mounted on the housing 200, one or more suitable passa~es
through the housing 200 are machined in the form of openings,
holes, slots and the like which are formed as by drilling,
milling or other conventional machining techniques.
For purposes of mounting the handle and shank assembly
300 on the housing, a single hole 336 is formed through the back
wall 242 of the housing 200, with opposite sides of the hole 336
having flat surface formations 338 for mating with similarly
configured flat surface portions formed on a threaded exterior
surface of the barrel 330 to prevent rotation of the barrel 330
relative to the housing 200, as will be explained.
The handle 310 is formed from molded plastics material,
preferably of the same thermoplastics material from which the
housing 200 is formed~ The handle 310 has a front surface 304
that is of complexly curved, generally con~ex shape~ and is con-
figured to extend in a flush, substantially contiguous manner to
smoothly continue the curvature of the complexly curved, convex
front surface 204 of the mounting flange 202 when the handle 310
is in its normal or nested position. The handle 310 is mounted
on the housing 200 for movement between a normally nested posi-
tion that is, shown in FIGURES l and 12, and an operating posi-
tion that is depicted in FIGU~ES 13.
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2-324CA ~9~83
The handle 310 has an end region 312 that defines a
mounting formation 314 that is pi~otally connected to the elon-
gate shank 320 by a roll pin 324. The roll pin 324 extends
through aligned holes 316 that are formed through spaced side
parts 315 of the mounting formation 314, and through a hole 326
that is formed in a front end region 322 of the elongate shank
320. The mounting formation 314 receives the front end region
322 of the shank 320 between its side parts 315. The holes 316
that are ormed in the spaced side parts 315 of the mounting
portion 314 receive opposed end regions of the roll pin 324 in a
: press fit~ The shank hole 326 receives the pin 324 in a slip
fit, whereby the pin 324 (and the handle 310 to which the pin 324
is rigidly connected) is free to pivot relative to the shank 320.
The handle 310 has a front surace 304 that i9 complex-
ly curved to conform to the complexly curved configuration of the
front face 204 of the housing 200. llhe front surface 304 over-
lies the front end region 322 of the shank 320 and extends away
from the shank 320 to provide an L-shaped handle portion that
includes a narrow connections leg 317 that connects with a rela-
tively wider leg 318 that can be engaged and grasped by an opera-
tor to move the handle 310 between its nested and operating posi-
tions. A stop formation 319 is formed on the connecting leg 317
for engaging the housing back wall 2~42 when the handle 310 is
nested, as is best seen in FIGURES 11 and 12.
- Referring to FIGURES 2 and 11, the barrel 330 has a
threaded body 332 with an enlarged, generally rectan~ular head
334 formed at its front end. ~ front surface 331 is provided on
the head 339. An end surface 333 is provided on the threaded
body 332. Flat surfaces 340 are provided on opposite sides of
the threaded body 332. The hole 336 that is formed through the
back wall 242 of the housin~ 200 is sized and configured to
closely receive the threaded body 332 of the barrel 330, with the
opposed flat surfaces 340 that are provided on the barrel 330
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2-324C~ 33;~
extending closely alongside the flat surface formations 338 of
the housing hole 336.
Referring FIGURES 12 and 13, a relatively small diame-
ter hole 335 is formed through the head 331. A relatively large
diameter hole 337 is formed through the body 332. The barrel 330
houses and O-ring seal 323, a washer 325, and a compression coil
spring 327 that acts on the washer 325 and on an enlarged diame-
ter portion 328 of the shank 320. The spring 327 biases the
shank 320 rearwardly with respect to the housing 200 toward the
position depicted in FIGURE 13.
Referring to FIGURES 11-13, the mounting portion 314 of
the handle 310 defines stop surfaces 360, 362 that extend at
right angles for engaging the front of the barrel 330 when the
handle 310 is in its nested and operating positions, respective-
ly. The stop surface 360 is formed on the upper end region of
the mounting formation 314 of the handle 310 for engaging the
front 331 of barrel 330 when the handle 310 i9 in its nested
position, as is shown in FIGURE 12. The stop surface 362 is
formed on an adjacent edge of the mounting formation 314 and
serves to engage the front 331 of the barrel 330 when the handle
310 is in its operating position, as is shown in FIGURE 13.
Referring to FIGURES 2 and 11-13, the threaded portion
370 of the shank 320 extends rearwardly from the central, rela-
tively large diameter portion 328 and has opposed flats 372
formed on opposite sides thereof. When the handle 300 is nested,
a central portion 328 of the shank 320 is housed within the con-
fines of the barrel 330, with a shoulder 374 at the rear end of
the central portion 328 extending flush with the barrel end 331.
A locking member 550 has a notch 552 that can be slided into
locking engagement with flats 372 to prevent rotation, of the
handle 300; and with the locking member portion 552 closely
u~derlying the central portion 328 of the shank 320, the central
portion 328 of the shank 320 is prevented from moving rearwardl.y
, ~ - 18 -
,.. ..
2-324CA
3i~3
out of the barrel 330 (i.e., rearwardly beyond the barrel end
surface 331) whereby the locking member 550 prevents rearward
movement of the shank 320.
The relative arrangement of the locking member 550 and
the shank 320 is depicted most clearly in FIGURE 11. The locking
member 550 has a central portion 552 that carries mounting slots
554~ and has rearwardly offset portions 560, 570 on opposite end
regions thereof. The offset portion 560 carries a notch 552 that
has opposed side walls 564 that are engageable in a slip fit with
opposed flats that are formed on the shank 320, to thereby pre-
vent rotary movement o~ the shank 320 and the handle 310. More-
over, the offset portion 560 defines a forwardly facing surface
566 that is engageable with a shoulder that is formed on the
shank 320 to prevent rearward axial movement of the shank 320
(and hence unlatching movement o~ resilient latch member 400).
The slots 554 receive the threaded studs 250; addition-
ally the mounting posts 700 have reduced diameter end regions 703
that extend into the slots 554. By this arrangement, the locking
member 550 is mounted for linear sliding engagement along the
housing back wall 242.
The offset portion 570 has a rectangular opening 572
that engages an offset projection 675 that is carried on the lock
cylinder 650 so as to move the locking member between locked and
unlocked positions in response to operation of the lock cylinder
550 to rotate the projection 675 within a 180 degree range of
travel. The opening 572 is of a size that prevents the offset
projection 675 from rotating to a position of alignment with the
installation grooves 624, 294 ~- whereby the locking member 550
also serves the function o~ retaining the locking plug 650 in the
housing 200.
A U-shaped bracket 500 is mounted on the housing 20Q.
The hracket 500 has a central leg 502 that connects a pair of
spaced, parallel e~tending legs 50~, 506. The ront leg 504 has
-- 19 --
~3; ~
~ 2-324CA 1~3~
a hole 508 formed through it to receive the threaded por~ion o~
the barrel 330. The hole 508 has flat surfaces 510 on opposite
side portions that engage the opposed flats on the barrel 330. A
forwardly e~tending side wall 512 is connected to the front leg
504 and extends along the side wall 238 of the housing portion
220. The rear leg 506 has a hole 514 formed therethrough to
receive the threaded shank portion, with the hole 514 having
opposed flat side surfaces 516 that engage the flats that are
formed on opposite sides of the threaded end region of the shank
320.
The bracket 500 is held in place on the housing 200 by
a stainless steel nut 520 that is threaded onto the barrel 330
and is tightened in place to clamp the barrel head 334 against
the front surface 244 of the back wall 242, and to clamp the
front leg 504 of the bracket 500 into firm engagement with the
back surface 246 of the back wall 242
The resilient latch member 400 is a commercially avail~
able shock mount component of the type that is designed to be
inserted through an opening to serve as a blind-mount expansible
anchor. A preferred commercially available part is sold under
the trademark WELL-NUT by the POP Fasteners Division of Emhart
Fastener Group, Shelton, CT 06484, with the most preferred model
being designated by the number 1/4-S, having a head diameter of
about 5/8 inch, a body diameter of about 1/2 inch, an overall
length of about 5/8 inch, a grip range of about 0.015 to 0.111
inch, and having a standard 1/4 20NC internal thread to receive
the threaded end region 370 of the shank 320. A nylon locking
nut 385 is threaded onto the threaded end region 370 of the shank
320 and is tightened into engagement with the resilient latch
member 400 to prevent relative rotation between the shank 320 and
the resilient latch member 400.
The lock mechanism 600 includes a key cylinder 650 that
is installed in the sleeve structure 280 of the housing 200 for
- 20 -
~;
2 324C~
slidably moving a locking member 550 between locked and unlockedpositions for selectively permitting and preventing the handle
310 from axially moving the shank 320 to effect latching and
unlatching movements of the resilient latch member 400.
The lock mechanism 600 includes a ring-like insert 610
that is provided for positioning in the rear end region 292 of
the sleeve portion 280 of the housing 200~ The insert 610 serves
the function of closing rear end regions of the top and bottom
grooves 288.
In order to provide an extension of the rounded instal-
lation groove 294 through the ring-like insert 610, a rounded
groove 624 is formed in the insert 610 and is aligned with the
rounded groove 294 of the sleeve members 280. In order to pro-
perly align the ring-like insert 610 for mo~lnting on the housing
200 a pair of radially extending formations 626, 628 are provided
to engage the grooves 296, 298 that are formed at the rear end of
the sleeve members 280. The groove 296 and the formation 696 are
of relatively small size and are configured to mate in a close
slip fit. The groove 298 and the formation 698 are of relatively
larger size and are configured to mate in a close slip fit. The
difference in sizes of the mating components 296, 626 and 298,
628 prevents inadvertent switch mating of these similarly con-
figured parts. The positioning of the relatively larger forma-
tion 628 as well as the rearwardly extending projection 620 at
locations adjacent the area of the ring-like insert 610 that is
structurally weakened by the provision of the rounded groove 624
serves to strengthen this area of the ring-like insert 610.
Referring to FIGURES 2, and 15, a key-receiving,
tumbler-carrying plug assembly 650 is provided that has an
enlarged diameter head portion 652 and a smaller diameter body
654 that are configured to be rotatably received in the opening
and passage 282, 284 respectively. Radially extensible tumblers
656 form components of the plug 650 assembly and are extensible
= 21 -
2-324CA
~93~3
into the top and bottom grooves 288 to selectively permit and
prevent rotation of the key cylinder assembly 650 with respect to
the housing 200.
An offset cylindrical formation 675 is provided at the
rear of the assembly 675 for engaging a back face of the insert
member 610 to hold the cylinder assembly 650 in place in the
housing 200. The plug assembly 650 is insertable into the sleeve
280 by inserting an appropriately configured key to retract the
tumblers 656, and by aligning the offset cylindrical formation
675 with the groove 288 to move through the sleeve 280 to a posi-
tion behind the insert 610. The plug 650 is retained in place on
the housing 200 by preventing the offset cylindrical formation
675 from rotating to a position of alignment with the groove 294
(at which position the key cylinder assembly 650 could be re-
moved).
If desi.red, the key locking cylinder assembly 650 can
be replaced by tool operated plugs, as designated by numerals
800, 810 in FIGUR.E 15. The plugs 800, 810 are shaped like the
plug 650 and are insertable into the sleeve 280 in the manner
described, with offset projections 675 aligned with the grooves
294, 624. The head portions of the plugs 800, 810 have circum-
ferentially extending grooves 652 for carr~ing O-rings 653.
Detent devices 802, 812 are preferably provided in the plugs 800,
810 as by forming radially extending bores 804, 814 that house
springs 806, 816 and halls 808, 818. The balls 808, 818 are
biased radially outwardly by the springs 806, 816 and cooperate
with the grooves 288, 294 to prevent undesired rotation of the
plugs 800, 810 and to give the operation of the locking plugs
800, 810 a good "feel."
The plugs 803, 810 carry tool receiving formations,
typically a hex recess 820 for rece.iving an Allen wre.nch, or a
narrow, shallow slot 822 for receiving a screwdriver.
; - ~2 -
2-324CA ~ 83
To the extent that orientation terms such as "front-
wardly," "rearwardly," "upwardly," "downwardly" and the like have
been used in this document, it will be understood that such terms
have been used simply for convenience and to facilitate under-
standing of the features that have been described, whereby the
use of such orientation term should not be deemed to limit the
scope of the claims that follow.
Although the invention has been described in its pre-
ferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is under-
stood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been
made only by way of example, and that numerous changes in details
of construction as well as the combination and arrangement of
parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as hereinafter claimed. It is intended that the
patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims,
whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention
disclosed.
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