Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ROTA~Y PADDLE LATCH
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FlELD OF THE lNVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a rotary paddle latch
for use on vehicle doors.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rotary paddle latches are often used on vehicle storage doors.
Rotary paddle latches may also be used for personnel doors on vehicles
committed to off-road or non-highway use. An example of a rotary paddle
latch is shown in Peters U.S. Patent No. 4,4383964.
The latch mechanism shown in the Peters patent includes a latch
bar rectilineQrly sliding perpendicular to the pl~ne of rotation of a pivotally
mounted, spring biased latch plate. The latch plate has a cam thereon
cooperating with the forward end of the sliding latch bar selectively to hold
the latch plate in one of three positions. The other end of the Peters latch
b~r has an abutment thereon selectively engaged by ~ lockis~g bar in its
locked position $o precludé sliding movement. The rotary latch structure of
the Peters patent includes certain manufacturing and operational dis-
adv~ntages.
For example, the pivotal latch plate in Peters is pivotally
mounted directly to the latch body pan in an off-center position. This off-
center pivotal mounting of the latch plate requires separate parts to be
made for left and right vehicle doors or requires the striker bars to be
mounted at dif~erent relative vertical positions on the left and right doors.
The pivotal mounting of the latch plate directly to the latch body pan may
not provide the structural integrity required since the latch plate is
repeatedly subjected to door closure forces. Additionally, when $he door is
open, the Peters latch bar is held in its retracted position by the latch plate
being pivoted to nn unlatched position across the latch bar's path of travel.
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In this position, the latch bar abutment blocks the latching bar from being
moved into its locked position.
Other-rotary paddle latch mechanisms are shown in the prior art
cited ln the iPeters patent. Particular attention is directed to the
refrigerator lateh shown in Burke U.S. Patent No 2,767,0û7 which includes a
spring biased, pivotally mounted latch bolt cooperating with a pivotally
mounted spring biased latch operating cam.
A mlmber of paddle latches are disclosed in U.S. p~tents issued
to The Eastern Company. Generally these latches include a ~'disconnect"
mechanism that connects or disconnects the paddle from the latching
mechanism according to whether or not the latch is unlocked or locked,
respectively. U.S. Patent 4,320,642 discloses such a paddle latchO In Figs.
14-24 of that patent, a latch having an engaging latch plate and cam is
shown. In that latch, the striker bar is encountered on one side of the latch
plate opposite the cam. In U.S. Patent 2,634,147 to Robertson Q latch is
discl~sed having a stepped cam on a tripping pawl and a cam follower on a
latch plate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide a rotaly
paddle latch having universRl application to left and right hand doors with
the striker bar being securely retained in the latched position. To
accomplish this purpose, the striker bolt is received along the center line of
the latch and is cooperatively surrounded by a latch plate recess and a
groove in a support bracket.
It is ~nother object of the present invention to provide a rotary
paddle latch that may be locked in ~ny position of the door or latch plate.
The lock assembly cooperates with a pivotal latch bar that permits the lock
to be moved to its locked position irrespective of the latch plate position.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a
rotary paddle latch ineluding a mam~al internal override of the lock. - The
pivotal tripping p~wl controlling movement of the latch plate toward its
unlatched position msy be independently actuated by an internal handle
manually to override the lock assembly.
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It is yet another object of the present invention to
provide a rotary paddle latch providing increased security for
vehicle storage compartments by omitting -the internal handle and
enclosing the latch components. A support bracket and shield
have the latch assembly components internally mounted
therebetween to provide increased latch strength and to enclose
the latch assembly components. The support bracket and shield
thus enhance latch life and shield the latch assembly components
from shifting loads in the compartment which might otherwise
inadverten~ly actuate the latch to open the door.
The above objects are met by the present invention
which provides a rotary paddle latch assembly having latched and
unlatched positions for cooperating with a striker bar, the latch
assembly comprising a latch body, a stepped cam pivotally mounted
relative to the latch body along a first axis and including an
abutment surface, a latch plate pivotally mounted relative to the
latch body along a second axis and having a throat therein for
receiving a striker bar in the latched position of the assembly
and for releasing the striker bar in the unlatched position of
the assembly, the latch plate being biased to pivot in a first
pivotal direction toward the unlatched position and having a cam
follower for engaging the stepped cam, the cam being biased to
pivot in a second pivotal direction opposite the first pivotal
direction for engaging the cam follower, the engaged striker bar
being disposed between the cam and the latch plate when the latch
assembly is in the latched position, a tripping pawl pivotally
mounted relative to the latch body for engaging the abutment
surface and pivoting the cam to disengage the cam and cam
follower to release the latch assembly from the latched position,
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and rotary paddle means pivotally mounted relative to the latch
body along a third axis for pivoting the tripping pawl to
disengage the cam follower from the cam, the first and second
axes being generally parallel and the third axis is substantially
perpendicular to the first axis.
The invention, ~hen, comprises the features hereinafter
fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the
following description and annexed drawings setting ~orth in
detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these
being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in
which the principles of the invention may be embodied.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the annexed drawings:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the inside of an
unlocked rotary paddle latch assembly according to the invention
with the latch plate in its unlatched position;
Fig, 2 is a plan view of the inside of the rotary
paddle latch of Fig, l;
Fig, 3A, 3B and 3C are partial sectional views of the
inside of the rotary paddle latch assembly of Fig, 1 taken along
line 3-3 with the latch plate in its latched t intermediate and
unlatched positions, respectively;
F'ig. 4 is a side elevation of the rotary paddle latch
of Fig. 1 with the lock in its locked position;
Fig, 5 is a bottom view of the rotary paddle latch of
Fig. l; and
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rotary paddle latch
of Fig, 1 mounted on a partially open vehicle door.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now in more detail to the drawings and
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initially to Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, tlle rotary paddle latch
according to the present invention
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indicated generally at 1 includes a latch body 2 having a peripheral
attachment flange 3 and a well or pan 4. Peripheral attachment flange 3
has holes 5 proxîm~te each of its corners. A support bracket indicated
generally ~t ~ is rigidly mounted, for example by welding, on the inside
surface of the well base wall. A shield 7 attached to support bracket 6
forms a housing for a latch plate and cam described below. Well 49 support
bracket 6 and shield 7 of latch 1 are received in a recess in the panel of
vehicle door 8. Latch body 2 is secured to door 8 by standard fastening
methods such as fasteners passing through holes 5 in the peripheral
attachment nange or welded threaded studs.
Door 8 is hinged to the door frame of the vehicle as shown at 9
selectively allowing the door to be swung between open and closed positions.
When the door is closed, rotary paddle latch 1 cooperates with a striker bar
10 mounted on the door frame to retain the door in its closed position. To
open the door, the rotary paddle latch may be unlatched from inside door 8
regardless of whether la1ch 1 is locked or unlocked. The latch may be
externally unlatched, if unlocked, to allow the door to be swung to its open
position as described in detail below.
The external rotary paddle 11 is normally received in the pan 4 of
latch body 2 as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. The rotary paddle handle is
pivotally connected to the side walls of the latch body well 4 by a pivot
shaft 12. The proximal end of rotary paddle 11 has an inwardly bent tongue 13
extending through an elongated rectilinear slot 14 in the base wall of well 4.
The distal end vf handle 11 is provided with an outwardly turned gripping
portion 15 to assist the operator in manually gripping the rotary paddle 11 to
pivot the same outwardly around pivot shaft 12. Rotary paddle 11 may be
spring biased in conventional fashion to return to its normal position nested
in the latch body pan or well 4. Outward pivotal actuation of handle 11
results in tongue 13 moving rearwardly (to the right in ~igs. 1 and 41 in slot 14
-to actuate a latch bar 17, if the latch is unlocked.
Latch bar 17 has a generally L-shape confi~ur~tion and is
pivotally mounted relative to the latch body 2. To this end, a first leg 18 of
the latch bar 17 is pivo~lly connected adjacent its end to pan 4 by a rivet 19.
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Leg 18 OI latch bar 17 is bent outwardly relative to the vehicle door as shown
at 20 to place the other leg 21 of l~tch bar 17 more clo~ely adjacent the base
uZall 4 of latch boay 2.
Second leg 21 of latch bar 17 has ~n inwardly turned actuation tab
22 on its forward end. Tab 22 is selectively engaged and driven by tongue 13
on rotary paddle 11 as will be described in more detail below. The rear end
of leg 21 of l~tch bar 17 has an inwardly turned abutment shoulder 23
selectively cooperating with a lock assembly, indicated generally at 24.
Lock assembly 24 includes a locking cylinder 25 fixedly secured
to and extending through the base wa~l of well 4. A key slot 26 in the
locking cylinder is flush with the outside surface of the base wall of well 4.
A key may be inserted into key slot 26 from outside door 8 and turned
through a 90 arc. Turning the key received in the key slot results in a
locking bar 27 on the inside of the latch being reciprocally arcuately moved
between the unlocked position shown in ~igs. 1 and 2 and the locked position
shown in Fig. 4. In the locked position, the end of locking b~r 27 either
bears against or is in close proximity to the abutment shoulder 23. Locking
bar 27 in its locked position against abutment flange 23 precludés any
movement in latch bar 17. The locked position of lock 24 precludes rotary
paddle 11 from pivotally moving latch bar 17 about its pivot 19, thereby
precluding movement of a tripping pawl 30.
Tripping pawl 30 principally lies in two planes and is generally L-
shape in the plan view of Fig. 2 and in the side view of Fig. 4. Tripping pawl
30 has a first leg 319 a second leg 32, and a central portion 33 join{ng legs 31and 32. Central portion 33 is pivotally mounted relative to the latch body 2
by a rivet 34 attached to~pan 4. First leg 31 is bent outwardly at 35 relative
to pan 4 so that leg 21 OI latc~h bar 17 is disposed between leg 31 and pan 4.
Connecting portion 3~ joi~s second le~ 32 to central portion 33. Connecting
portion 36 projects outwardly~from pan 4.
Tripping pawl 30 is SPring biased by a coil spring 37 wound
around the elongated head of pivot rivet 34. Coil spring 37 biases tripping
pawl 30 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2. An end 38 of coil
spring 37 is secured in a hole 39 in support bracket B, with the other end 40
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of spring 37 bearing on connecting portion 36 of tripping pawl 30 to impart
the clockwise bias to the tripping pawl.
- ' The spring bias of tripping pawl 30 normally ma;ntains a drive
connection between latch bar 17 and tripping pawl 30. To this end, the base
of the L~hape latch bar 17 has a drive pin 44 thereon extending outwaràly
with respect to pan 4. Drive pin 44 normally engages first leg 31 of tripping
pawl 30, leg 31 overlying latch bar 17. Thus, arcuate movement of latch bar
17 about its pivot 19 will drive tripping pawl 30 in the opposite arcuate
direction through the drive connection provided by drive pin 44 engaging the
first leg 31. This pivotal movement of latch bar 17 may be produced by
tongue 13, i.e. by actuating paddle 11 when lock 24 is unlocked.
Pivotal movement of tripping pawl 30 about its pivot 34 can also
be obtained independently of the latch bar 17 by an internal handle 45.
Internal handle 45, which may be provided for personnel doors or removed
for storage doors, is removably mounted on first leg 31 of tripping pawl 30.
Handle 45 permits a vehicle occupant manua'ly to actuate the latch by
pivoting tripping pawl 30 in counterclockwise direction for resultant move-
ment of a cam 48.
The distal end of second leg 32 of tripping pawl 30 is provided
with a surface 49 for engaging an ab,utment surface 50 of cam ~8. Cam 48
is pivotally mounted on a rivet 51 mounted in support bracket 6 and shield 7.
A spacer 52 on rivet 51 separates brack,et 6 from shield 7. A second rivet 53
is also mounted on support bracl~et 6 and shield 7 with a spacer 54 mounted
on rivet 53 between the bracket and shield. A latch plate 55 having a
stepped cam follower is pivotally mowlted on rivet 53. One of the coils 56
and 57 of a continuous two coil sp~ing 58 is mounted about each of spacers
52 and 54, respectively. As best seen in Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C, one end 59 of
spring 58 engages a notch in cam 48 to apply a bias turning cam 48
counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3A-3C. The other end 60 of spring 58
engages a notch in latch plate 55 to apply a clockwise bias to latch plate 55.
This bias ensures engagement of cam 48 with the stepped cam follower on
latch plate 55.
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Cam 48 has two steps, one defined by the outside ¢orner formed
by the intersection of surfaces 61 and 62 on cam 48, and another defined by
~he cusp formed by the intersection of sur~aces 6a and 63 on cam 48.
Sl~rface 649 adjoining sur~ace 63, provides a sliding surface on cam 48. The
corners and sliding surfaces on cam 48 are engaged by a cam followar 65 on
latch 55. Cam follower 65 includes an inside corner 66 for eng~ging the
corner and cusp on cam 48. A surface 67 on follower 65 adjoining corner 66
is provided for sliding along surface 64 of cam 48.
Latch plate 55 includes a throat 70 for receiving striker bar 10
mounted on the frame of door 8. Adjacent throat 70, an ear 71 of latch
plate 55 protrudes to engage a stop 72 on shield 7 to limit clockwise rotation
of latch plate 55. Shield 7 also includes a centered groove 73 for receiving a
striker bar and that aligns with throat 70 when latch assembly 1 is latched.
Although the operation of the rotary paddle latch of the present
invention is believed apparent from the above description, the operation of
the paddle latch of the present invention is briefly descri )ed below. When
door 8 is closed, latch plate 55 is in its fully latched position. Locking bar
27 may be in its locked position, all as illustrated in ~igs. 3A ~nd 4~ Inside
corner 66 of cam follower 65 engages the outside corner of surfaces 61 and
62 of cam 48 and holds the latch plate in its fully latched position as shown
in Fig. 3A. In that position, throat 70 of latch plate 55 fully receives
striker bar 10. Striker bar 10 is also received in centered groove 73 in shield
7. Striker bar 10 is disposed between cam 48 and latch plate 55 in throa$ 70
and groove 73 when the latch is in its latched position. Throat 70 and
groove 73 cooperate substanti~lly to s~Jrround and enclose striker bar 10 to
provide a secure connection between l~tch 1 and striker bar 10.
If a person outside the vehicle attempts to open door 8 without a
key, extern~l rotary paddle 11 cannot be pivotally actuated because the
locking bar a7 engages ~butment n~nge 23 on latch bar 17 and prevents
pivotal movernent of the latch bar and the rotary paddle 11.
However, the locked position of loek 27 may be manually
overriden from inside the vehicle. An occupant may grasp handle 45 and
pivot lthe same in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2~ This
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actuation will result in tripping pawl 30 urging abutment surface 49 of cam
48 so that cam 48 is pivoted in a clockwise direction. Cam follower 65
disengages from cam 48 resulting in the latch plate pivotally rnoving in a
clockw-ise direction as the cam follower goes from the corner to the cusp of
cam 48. This position is shown in ~ig. 3B. If handle 45 is moved farther,
cam follower 65 is disengaged from the cusp of cam 48. Surface 67 of latch
plate 55 then engages and slides along surface 64 of cam 48 until ear 71 hits
stop 72. Then latch plate 55 stops turning under the influence of the bias of
spring 58, having assumed its unlatched position shown in Fig. 3C. In the
unlatched position, latching throat 70 on latch plate 55 is totally removed
from and is free of striker bar 10 allowing the vehicle occupant to swing the
door from its closed to its open position. Latch plate 55 is held in its
unlatched position by spring bias. Spring 37 returns tripping pawl 30 to its
initial position when handle ~5 is released.
The closed, locked and fully latched door may also be opened by
an authorized person outside the vehicle having a key. The key would be
inserted into the key slot 26 and rotated 90~ to move the locking bar 27 from
its locked position shown in Fig. 4 to its unlocked position shown in Figs. 1
and 2. The latch bar 17 then has freedom for pivotal movement.
Thereafter, the person outside the vehicle may grasp the out~
wardly turned gripping flange l5 on rotary paddle 11 and pull the same
outwardly to pivot around shaft 12. The inwardly extending tab 13 on rotary
paddle U is then rearwardly pivotally moved in slot 14 to engage the
actuation tab 22 and drive latch bar 17 rearwardly about its pivot 19. This
pivotal movement of latch bar 17 results in drive pin 44 driving the tripping
pawl 30 in an opposite arcuate direction because of its engagement with leg
31. This arcuate counterclockwise movement of the tripping pawl 30 results
in the cam follower moving along the stepped cam surface as described
above to pivot the latch plate 55 to its unlRtched position shown in Fig. 3C.
Spring 37 returns pawl 3û to its original position and also paddle 11, unless
paddle 11 is also biased by another spring. The door may then be swung from
its closed to its open position by the person outside the vehicle.
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With the door open, the door can be locked if desired by inserting
a key in keyway 26 and turning the key through a 90~ arc. The locking bar
will concurrently swing through a 90 ar¢ for engaging abutment shoulder 23
with latch bar 17. If latch bar 17 hAppens to be displaced toward lock 24,
locking bar 27 will rotate latch bar 17 about pivot 19 to return the latch bar
17 to its forward position. ~ any event, the engagement of locking bal 27
and latch bar 17 prevents rotation of paddle 11 around pin 12, but not the
closing of the door. The door will remain locked while and after the door is
closed.
When an open door 8 is closed9 the trailing edge of latch plate
throat 70 will forcefully strike the striker bar 10 to pivot the latch plate 55
against its spring bias. In such counterclockwise pivotal movement of the
latch plate SS, cam follower 65 will ride downwardly along the stepped
surface of cam 48. If the door is closed with sufficient force3 latch plate 55
will move to its fully latched position of Fig. 3A with the cam follower
resting in corner 66. In that position, latch throat 70 fully receives striker
bar 10.
However, if the door is not closed with sufficient force, latch
plate 55 will only be pivoted to its intermediate safety position3 Fig. 3B7
wherein latch throat 70 only partially receives striker bar 10. In the safety
position, the cam follower rests upon the cusp of cam 48. The cam follower,
cooperating with the cusp, holds latch plate 55 in its safety position to
retain the door in its partially closed position to ~Yoid inadvertent opening.
The door may be fully closed by slamming, i.e. by applyirlg an additional
force that drives cam 48 to engage corner 66. Groove 73 in shield 7
encloses a portion of striker bar 10 in the safety position of lstch plate 55 toenhance the security of the latch connection.
The rotary padale l~tch of the present invention receives the
striker ber along center line 7 5 of the latch 1. This centered spacial
reletionship between the striker bar 10 and latch 1 permits the latch
universally to be used either in a left or a right hand door.
It will be apparent from the foregoing that changes may be made
in the details of construction and configuration without departing from the
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spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims. For exampleJ the
rotary paddle lock I may be used on storage compartment doors for vehicles.
IE- SO, the interior handle 45 would be omitted since it would not be reguired.
Without handle 45, latch bar 17, tripping pawl 30, latch plate 55 and their
associated components are substantially enclosed by support bracket 6 and
shield 7 to re~uce the likelihood of inadvertent unlatching caused by a
sliding load in the storage compartment engaging the latch actuating
components.
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