Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
, .
LATCHING MECHANISM
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0001] Example embodiments relate to a latching mechanism usable with
a
drawer and a drawer system.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Drawers are commonly used in various structures ranging from
dressers to
work benches. Many of these drawers do not have a latching mechanism thus
enabling
a person to simply pull the drawer out of the structure to access contents of
the drawer.
Other drawers have built-in latch systems which require an unlatching step to
gain
access to contents of the drawer. Some latching systems are configured so that
when a
handle of a drawer is pulled, the latching system is actuated thus allowing
access to
contents of the drawer.
SUMMARY
[0003] The inventor has noticed that drawers with latching systems
are, in some
cases, preferable over those without. In situations where the drawers are
mobile, for
example, a drawer used in a moving vehicle, latches prevent the drawers from
sliding
out of the structures they are associated with. However, many of the latching
systems
are relatively complicated to fabricate, install, and use. As such, the
inventor set out to
design a new latching mechanism which is usable with drawers. However, the
latching
1
CA 3074219 2020-02-28
system developed by the inventor can be used with many structures such as, but
not
limited to, electrical boxes. As such, the inventive concepts disclosed herein
should not
be limited to drawers systems as the inventive concepts may be implemented in
a
variety of ways.
[0004] In at least one nonlimiting example a latching mechanism may be
comprised of a mounting frame, a handle having an arm, and at least one latch
unit. In
example embodiments, the at least one latch unit may have a pivotally
supported latch,
a biasing element restraining structure, a biasing element having a first end
restrained
by the biasing element restraining structure and a second end restrained by a
biasing
element retaining region of the latch. In example embodiments the latch may
include a
tail region configured to contact the arm of the handle so that when the
handle is rotated
the arm exerts a force against the tail region of the latch to rotate the
latch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Example embodiments are described in detail below with
reference to the
attached drawing figures, wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a drawer system in accordance
with
example embodiments;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drawer in accordance with
example
embodiments;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a front view of the drawer in accordance with example
embodiments;
2
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[0009] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the drawer in accordance with
example
embodiments;
[00010] FIG. 5 is an end view of the drawer in accordance with example
embodiments;
[00011] FIG. 6 a perspective view of a mounting frame in accordance
with
example embodiments;
[00012] FIG. 7 is a side view of the mounting frame in accordance with
example
embodiments;
[00013] FIG. 8 is a back view of the mounting frame in accordance with
example
embodiments;
[00014] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a handle in accordance with
example
embodiments;
[00015] FIG. 10 is a section view of the handle in accordance with
example
embodiments;
[00016] FIGS. 11-14 are views of the handle supported by the mounting
frame in
accordance with example embodiments
[00017] FIG. 15 offers a first perspective view of a first and second
latch unit in
accordance with example embodiments;
[00018] FIG. 16 offers a second perspective view of a first and second
latch unit in
accordance with example embodiments;
[00019] FIG. 17 offers another perspective view of a first and second
latch unit in
accordance with example embodiments;
3
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[00020] FIG. 18 offers exploded view of the first and second latch
units in
accordance with example embodiments;
[00021] FIG. 19 illustrates an end view of the first and second latch
units in
accordance with example embodiments;
[00022] FIGS. 20-21 illustrate a handle being rotated within the first
latch unit in
accordance with example embodiments;
[00023] FIG. 22 illustrates a drawer in accordance with example
embodiments;
[00024] FIG. 23 illustrates a latching mechanism in accordance with
example
embodiments;
[00025] FIG. 24 illustrates an exploded view of a latching mechanism in
accordance with example embodiments;
[00026] FIGS. 25 and 26 are views of an extension piece in accordance
with
example embodiments;
[00027] FIG. 27 are views of end caps in accordance with example
embodiments;
and
[00028] FIG. 28 illustrates a view of an end cap connecting with a
latching unit in
accordance with example embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00029] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which example embodiments of the invention are
shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should
not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these
embodiments
4
CA 3074219 2020-02-28
. .
. .
are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will
fully
convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the
drawings, the sizes
of components may be exaggerated for clarity.
[00030] It will be understood that when an element or layer is
referred to as being
"on," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or layer, it can be
directly on,
connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer or intervening elements
or layers
that may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being
"directly on,"
"directly connected to," or "directly coupled to" another element or layer,
there are no
intervening elements or layers present. As used herein, the term "and/or"
includes any
and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[00031] It will be understood that, although the terms first,
second, etc. may be
used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers, and/or
sections,
these elements, components, regions, layers, and/or sections should not be
limited by
these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component,
region,
layer, and/or section from another elements, component, region, layer, and/or
section.
Thus, a first element component region, layer or section discussed below could
be
termed a second element, component, region, layer, or section without
departing from
the teachings of example embodiments.
[00032] Spatially relative terms, such as "beneath," "below,"
"lower," "above,"
"upper," and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe
one
element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as
illustrated in the
figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended
to encompass
different orientations of the structure in use or operation in addition to the
orientation
CA 3074219 2020-02-28
depicted in the figures. For example, if the structure in the figures is
turned over,
elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would
then be
oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term
"below" can
encompass both an orientation of above and below. The structure may be
otherwise
oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially
relative
descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
[00033]
Embodiments described herein will refer to plan views and/or cross-
sectional views by way of ideal schematic views. Accordingly, the views may be
modified depending on manufacturing technologies and/or tolerances. Therefore,
example embodiments are not limited to those shown in the views, but include
modifications in configurations formed on the basis of manufacturing process.
Therefore, regions exemplified in the figures have schematic properties and
shapes of
regions shown in the figures exemplify specific shapes or regions of elements,
and do
not limit example embodiments.
[00034] The
subject matter of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, is
described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the
description
itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the
inventors have
contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other
ways, to
include different features or combinations of features similar to the ones
described in
this document, in conjunction with other technologies.
Generally, example
embodiments relate to a latching mechanism usable with a drawer and a drawer
system.
[00035] FIG.
1 is a perspective view of a drawer system 10000 in accordance with
example embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, the drawer system 10000 may include a
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. .
. .
frame 50 supporting a plurality of drawers 1000, 2000, and 3000. Although FIG.
1
illustrates the drawer system 10000 as having three drawers, the number of
drawers
illustrated is for the purpose of example only as the drawer system 10000 may
include
more than three drawers or less than three drawers. In example embodiments,
the
drawer system 10000 may be used for multiple purposes including, but not
limited to,
storing tools and various types of equipment.
[00036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of drawer 1000. In this
nonlimiting example
embodiment, the drawer 1000 is comprised of a storage compartment 100 having a
drawer latching mechanism mounted on a front thereof. FIG. 3 illustrates a
front view
of the drawer 1000 and FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of the drawer 1000.
FIG. 5
is a partial side view of the drawer 1000 showing a close-up view of one end
thereof.
As shown in the various figures, the drawer latching mechanism may be
comprised of
several parts including, but not limited to, a mounting frame 200, a handle
300, a first
latch unit 400, and a second latch unit 500.
[00037] Referring to FIG. 4, the storage compartment 100 may
resemble a box
having a floor 110, a back wall 120, two side walls 130 and 140, and a front
wall 150.
The front wall 150 may have a top edge 151 which may partially support the
mounting
frame 200. The front wall 150 may also include a pair of holes which may
facilitate
connecting the mounting frame 200 to the front wall 150. For example, a pair
of
screws may be used to attach the mounting frame 200 to the front wall 150 and
the pair
of holes may allow a pair of screws to pass through the front wall 150 and
penetrate
into the mounting frame 200 to securely connect the mounting frame 200 to the
front
wall 150. It is understood that while a pair of holes are described to
facilitate a
7
CA 3074219 2020-02-28
connection between the front wall 150 and the mounting frame 200, in another
embodiment only one hole is provided since the mounting frame 200 may be
connected
to the front wall 150 by only a single screw. In another embodiment, three
holes in the
front wall 150 may be provided to allow for three screws to connect the front
wall 150
to the mounting frame 200. In yet another embodiment, the front wall 150
includes
more than three holes to allow for more than three screws to connect the
mounting
frame 200 to the front wall. Of course, the invention does not require that
the mounting
frame 200 be connected to the front wall 150 by screws. For example, an
adhesive may
be applied between the mounting frame 200 and the front wall 150 to attach the
mounting frame 200 to the front wall 150, in which case, screws are not
required thus
eliminating a need for the pair of holes. As such, in another embodiment, the
front wall
150 does not have a pair of holes to facilitate connecting the mounting frame
200 to the
front wall 150.
[00038] FIG.
6 is a perspective view of the mounting frame 200 and FIG. 7 is a
cross-section view of the mounting frame 200. In one embodiment the mounting
frame
200 may be fabricated from an extrusion process and therefore may have a
substantially
constant cross-section, however, the invention is not limited thereto. As
shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7, the mounting frame 200 may include a front wall 210, a bottom
wall
220, a back wall 230, and an extension 240 having a J-shaped end 250 which
forms a
channel 260. The channel 260, may have a thickness tc which is about the same
as a
thickness of the top edge 151 of the front wall 150. As such, the top edge of
the front
wall 150 may reside in the channel 260 as shown best in FIG. 5. In example
8
CA 3074219 2020-02-28
embodiments, the extension 240 may resemble a substantially flat plate which
may bear
against the front wall 150 of the storage compartment 100.
[00039] In example embodiments, the mounting frame 200 may include a
ledge
area 232 which extends from the back wall 230 to pivot structure 270 which
includes
an arcuate surface 272. The arcuate surface 272 may form a channel 275
configured to
receive a beaded portion 370 of the handle 300. More specifically, the arcuate
surface
272 is configured to trap the beaded portion 370 of the handle 300 in a manner
that
allows the handle 300 to pivot with respect to the mounting frame 200 while
preventing
the beaded portion 370 from translating transversely with respect to the
channel 275.
As will be explained shortly, this will allow an arm 360 of the handle 300 to
pivot
within the mounting frame 200 and actuate latches of the latch units 400 and
500.
[00040] In example embodiments, the mounting frame 200 may include
various
structures to reinforce the pivot structure 270. For example, the mounting
frame 200
may include a first leg 222 extending from the bottom wall 220, a second leg
232
extending from the back wall 230, and a third leg 274 extending from the pivot
structure 270 such that each leg 222, 232, and 274 terminate at a common
supporting
structure 280. These latter elements add strength and rigidity to the mounting
frame
200 which is desirable in a drawer system 10000.
[00041] FIG. 8 is a back view of the mounting frame 200. As shown in
FIG. 8, the
back wall 230 of the mounting frame 200 may include a pair of holes 234 and
236
which may be alignable with the previously described holes of the storage
compartment
100 in order to attach the mounting frame 200 to the storage compartment 100.
However, consistent with the previous description, rather than having two
holes to
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CA 3074219 2020-02-28
. .
. .
connect the mounting frame 200 to the storage compartment, the mounting frame
200
may have only a single hole or more than two holes, or may not have a hole at
all in the
event another attaching means is used to attach the mounting frame 200 to the
storage
container 100. For example, if an adhesive is used, holes in the back of the
mounting
frame 200 may be omitted.
[00042] FIG. 9 is a view of the handle 300 in accordance with example
embodiments. FIG. 10 is a cross-section of the handle 300. In example
embodiments,
the handle 300 may be formed from an extrusion process, as such, the handle
300 may
have a substantially constant cross-section. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the
handle
300 may include a grip 310 which may be gripped by the human hand. As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10 the handle 310 includes the beaded portion 370 which has an
arcuate
outside surface 372. The beaded portion 370, in cross-section, may resemble a
circle
having a diameter about the same as, or slightly smaller than, the arcuate
surface 272.
Thus, the beaded portion 370 may rotate within the arcuate surface 272. As
also shown
in FIGS. 9 and 10 is the arm 360. The end of the arm 360 has an upward and
downward motion as the beaded portion 370 is rotated within channel 275. These
actions are best shown in FIGS. 11-14 where FIG. 11 shows the handle 300
having the
beaded portion 270 captured within the channel 275 formed by the arcuate
surface 272.
FIG. 12 shows a cross section of this configuration. FIG. 13 shows the handle
300
rotated backwards. FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-section of the handle 300 and
the
mounting frame 200 with the handle 300 rotated backwards. As shown in FIGS. 11-
14
the arm 360 rotates with a space 290 of the mounting frame 200. Between the
front wall
210 and the pivot structure 270.
CA 3074219 2020-02-28
=
[00043] In example embodiments, a length of the handle 300 LH may be
longer
than a length of the mounting frame 200 LM. As such, ends of the handle 300
may
extend beyond ends of the mounting frame 200 and into the latching units 400
and 500.
The handle 300 may actuate latches therein.
[00044] FIGS. 15 to 19 illustrate an example of the first latch unit
400 and the
second latch unit 500. In example embodiments, the second latch unit 500 may
be
substantially the same as the first latch unit 400, as such, a detailed
description thereof
is omitted for the sake of brevity. It is pointed out, however, that the
second latch unit
500 may structurally mirror the first latch unit 400.
[00045] As one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, FIGS. 15 to
19 illustrate
various views of the first latch unit 400 and the second latch unit 500 along
with
component parts thereof. As shown in FIGS. 15 to 19, the first latch unit 400
may be
comprised of end cap body 410 having a first wall 420, a second wall 430, a
third wall
440, and a floor 450. The first latch unit 400 may also include a biasing
element
restraining structure 460. In one nonlmiting example embodiment, the biasing
element
restraining structure 460 may be configured to restrain an end of a biasing
element 470.
For example, the biasing element restraining element 460 may resemble an L-
shaped
ledge extending from the second wall 430. In example embodiments, the first
latch unit
400 may further include a latch 480 which may be pivotally supported in the
first latch
unit 400. For example, the first latch unit 400 may include a pin 490 about
which the
latch 480 may pivot. For example, the pin 490 may penetrate the latch 480 and
the
latch 480 may pivot about an axis of the pin 490. The pin 490, in one
nonlimiting
example embodiment, may be supported at one end by a spacer 494 and at another
end
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. .
. .
by the second wall 430. It is understood the second latch unit 500 may also
include an
end cap body 510 having a first wall 520, a second wall 530, a third wall 540,
a floor
550, a biasing element restraining structure 560, a biasing element 570, a
pivotally
supported latch 580, a pin 590, and a spacer 594 similar to the previously
described end
cap body 410, first wall 420, second wall 430, third wall 440, floor 450,
biasing
element restraining structure 460, biasing element 470, latch 480, pin 490,
and spacer
494.
[00046] In example embodiments, the latch 480 may include a biasing
member
retaining region 482. For example, in one nonlimiting example embodiment, the
biasing member retaining region 482 is a depression in the latch 480 and the
depression
may receive a second end of the biasing element 470 which may be, but is not
required
to be, a coil spring. In one nonlimiting example embodiment, the biasing
element 470
may be restrained by the biasing element restraining element 460 and the
biasing
member retaining region 482 so that the biasing member is in compression. In
this
configuration, the latch 480 would be maintained in a downward position as
shown in
FIGS. 15 and 16. However, because the latch 480 is pivotally supported within
the first
latch unit 400, a force applied to the tail region 484 of the latch 480 may
cause the latch
480 to rotate to an upward position as shown in FIG. 17 provided the force
applied be
great enough to overcome the force applied by the biasing element 470.
However, as
soon as the force applied to the tail region 484 is removed, the force from
the biasing
element 470 would cause the latch 480 to move back towards the downward
position.
[00047] In example embodiments, the latch units 400 and 500 may be
secured to
the mounting frame 200 in various ways. In one embodiment, the latch units 400
and
12
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=
500 are attached to ends of the mounting frame 200 by an adhesive. In another
embodiment, the latch units 400 and 500 and the mounting frame 200 may include
structures to enable them to be joined together by fasteners, for example,
screws. For
example, in the nonlimiting example embodiment of FIG. 7, the mounting frame
200
includes a first insertion area 282, a second insertion area 284, and a third
insertion area
288. These insertion areas 282, 284, and 288 may be configured to receive
threaded
ends of fasteners. Similarly, the first and second latch units 400 and 500 may
include
channels 487, 587 and 488, 588 that have the same spacing as insertions areas
282 and
284 so that screws that penetrate the channels 487 and 488 can be received in
the
insertion areas 282 and 284. In addition, the insertion area 288 may be in
substantial
alignment with pins 490 and 590 which may pass through apertures 489 and 589
in the
second walls 430 and 530 of the latch units 400 and 500 so that if the ends of
the pins
490 and 590 are threaded, the threaded ends of pins 490 and 590 may be
received in the
third insertion area 288 to attach the first and second latch units 400 and
500 to the
mounting frame 200.
[00048] FIGS.
20 and 21 illustrate a cross-section of the latch unit 400 with an end
of the handle 300 protruding therein. In FIGS. 20 and 21 it is understood the
handle
300 is supported by the mounting frame 200. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a
force
applied to the handle 300 may cause the handle 300 to rotate. The rotation of
the
handle 300 causes the end 362 of the arm 360 to press against the tail 484 of
the latch
480 thus causing the latch 480 to rotate. In this example, it is understood
the latch 480
protrudes into an opening of the frame 50 but that the rotated latch 480
allows the latch
480 to be moved to a position allowing the drawer 1000 to be pulled out of the
frame
13
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50. Thus, pulling back on the handle 300 rotates the latch 480 in a manner
that allows
the latch 480 to pass through the opening of the frame 50 allowing the drawer
1000 to
be drawn out of the frame 50. This same action would also cause latch 480 to
also be
rotated to a position where it may be pass through another opening in the
frame 50
[00049] In the embodiment of FIGS. 2-21 the drawer 100 has a depth
about the
same as a depth of the latching mechanism. However, this application includes
additional inventive features which allow the latching mechanism to be used
with
deeper drawers. For, example, drawers 2000 and 3000 may be somewhat deeper
than
the drawer 1000. To account for the difference in depth, the latching
mechanism is
configured to connect to extension pieces that allow the latching mechanism to
work
with deeper drawers. FIG. 22, for example, illustrates drawer 3000 with an
extension
piece 600 and two end caps 700 and 800 arranged at ends of the extension piece
600.
FIGS. 23 ¨ 28 show various inventive features associated with the latching
mechanism,
the extension piece 600 and the end caps 700 and 800.
[00050] In example embodiments, the extension piece 600 and end caps
700 and
800 may be attached to the first and second latch units 400 and 500 as well as
the
mounting frame 200. FIG. 23, for example, shows these pieces connected
together and
FIG. 24 shows these pieces in an exploded view.
[00051] FIG. 25 is a perspective view of extension piece 600 and FIG.
26
illustrates a cross-section view of the extension piece 600. As shown in FIGS.
25 and
26, the extension piece 600 may resemble a tubular member having a
substantially
rectangular cross section. For example, the extension piece may have a top
wall 620, a
first side wall 630, a second side wall 640, and a bottom wall 650 which may
14
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substantially resemble a hollow rectangular tube. Extending from the top wall
620 is a
protrusion 622 which may be configured to reside in a receiving structure 286
of the
mounting frame 200 (see at least FIG. 7). In example embodiments, a length of
the
extension piece 600 may be substantially the same as a length LM of the
mounting
frame 200. It is understood that this manner of connecting the extension piece
600 to
the mounting frame 200 is exemplary only. In another embodiment the mounting
frame 200 may have a protrusion similar to the protrusion 622 extending from a
bottom
of the bottom wall 200 and the extension piece 600 may have a channel similar
to the
receiving structure 286. In this latter embodiment, the extension piece 600
may
connect to the mounting structure 200 by inserting the mounting structures
protrusion
into the channel of the extension piece 600. Of course, these latter described
channels
and protrusions may be omitted as the extension piece 600 may be secured to
the
mounting structure 200 by another means, for example, an adhesive. In this
latter
embodiment it is envisioned an adhesive may be applied between the top wall
620 of
the extension piece 600 and the bottom wall 220 of the mounting structure 200
to
connect the two pieces together.
[00052] FIG.
27 illustrates example endcaps 700 and 800. As shown in FIG. 27,
the end cap 700 may resemble box-like structures having a top wall 730, a
first side
wall 710, a second side wall 720 and a back wall (not labeled). Protruding
from the
top wall 730 is a protrusion 750 which may be configured to insert into a
receiving area
452 of end cap 400. FIG. 28, for example, shows the protrusion 750 aligned
with the
receiving area 452 of the first end cap 400 as well as the protrusion 750
residing in the
first end cap 400. End cap 800 may have similar features. For example, end cap
800
CA 3074219 2020-02-28
may also include a top wall 830, a first side wall 810, a second side wall
820, a bottom
wall 840, and a back wall (not labeled). The end cap 800 may also include a
protrusion
850 which may insert into a receiving area of the second end cap 500.
[00053] In example embodiments, the first end cap 700 and the second
end cap
800 may include a lip 780 and 880. In example embodiments, lips 780 and 880
may be
inserted into the ends of the extension piece 600 so that outside surfaces of
the
extension piece 600 and the end caps 700 and 800 may be substantially flush.
In
example embodiments an adhesive may be applied to the lips 780 and 880 to
secure the
lips 780 and 880 to the extension piece so they may forma a substantially
monolithic
structure. In the alternative, screws may be provided as a fastening means to
connect
the end pieces 700 and 800 to the extension piece 600. For example, the first
and
second extension pieces 700 and 800 may be formed with passages 770 and 870
which
allow a threaded member to pass through and screw into a receiving area 652 of
the
extension piece 600. Thus, this latter example allows the end pieces 700 and
800 to be
removably coupled to the extension piece 600.
[00054] In example embodiments, the extension piece 600 serves both an
aesthic
and functional purpose. From a functional perspective, the extension piece 600
may
serve as a means to secure the latching mechanism to the storage compartment
100.
For example, holes may be cut into the back of the extension piece 600 which
may be
aligned with holes in the front of the storage compartment and the holes may
allow
screws be used to connect the extension piece to the storage compartment 100.
16
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