G-FORCE PUSH-PUSH LATCH
First Claim
1. A push-push latch attached to a storage compartment having a door that moves between an opened position and a closed position, said push-push latch comprising:
- a track member defining a generally heart shaped track having a generally V-shaped notch;
a guide member that moves within said track to facilitate positioning said compartment door in the closed position when said guide member rests in the V-shaped notch;
wherein said track member is molded from a polymer and includes an integrated enclosed retaining section adjacent said V-shaped notch and a double wall charnel connecting said V-shaped notch and said enclosed retaining section, wherein said channel has a width dimension less than the width dimension of said guide member; and
wherein when the compartment door is in the closed position and the guide member is positioned in the V-shaped notch and when subjected to a force greater than a predetermined value said guide member is forced directly from said V-shaped notch through said channel and locked into said retaining section locking said compartment door in the closed position.
16 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The push-push latch of the present invention is attached to a storage compartment and allows the door of the compartment to move between an open position and a closed position. The latch will remain closed and in a locked position when the door is subjected to a force greater than a predetermined force. The latch includes a track member and a guide member. The track member is molded of a polymer and generally defines a heart shaped track having an integrated retaining section and a channel connecting the heart shaped track and the retaining section. The guide member moves within the heart shaped track to facilitate opening and closing of the compartment door. In the event that the compartment door is subjected to a force greater than a predetermined value while in the closed position, the guide member will be forced through the channel and locked into the retaining section, thereby retaining the door in its closed position.
16 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A push-push latch attached to a storage compartment having a door that moves between an opened position and a closed position, said push-push latch comprising:
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a track member defining a generally heart shaped track having a generally V-shaped notch;
a guide member that moves within said track to facilitate positioning said compartment door in the closed position when said guide member rests in the V-shaped notch;
wherein said track member is molded from a polymer and includes an integrated enclosed retaining section adjacent said V-shaped notch and a double wall charnel connecting said V-shaped notch and said enclosed retaining section, wherein said channel has a width dimension less than the width dimension of said guide member; and
wherein when the compartment door is in the closed position and the guide member is positioned in the V-shaped notch and when subjected to a force greater than a predetermined value said guide member is forced directly from said V-shaped notch through said channel and locked into said retaining section locking said compartment door in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23)
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4. (canceled)
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5. (canceled)
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15. A storage compartment comprising:
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a compartment body;
a compartment door that is attached to said compartment body and moves between a closed position and an opened position;
a push-push latch that is attached to said compartment body and engages said compartment door, said push-push latch having a track member defining a generally heart shaped track having a generally V-shaped notch, a guide member that moves within said track to facilitate positioning said compartment door in the closed position when said guide member rests in the V-shaped notch, wherein said track member is molded from a polymer and includes an integrated bounded retaining section adjacent said V-shaped notch and a two wall channel connecting said V-shaped notch and said retaining section, said channel has a width dimension that is less Fan a width dimension of said heart shaped track; and
wherein when the compartment door is in the closed position and the guide member is positioned in the V-shaped notch and when subjected to a force greater than a predetermined value said guide member is forced directly from said V-shaped notch through said channel causing said walls to flex out and locked into said retaining section when said walls flex back in. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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16. (canceled)
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19. A method of locking a compartment door in a closed position when subjected to an excessive force, wherein the compartment door moves between an opened and a closed position via a push-push latch made from a polymer and having a track member and a guide member, comprising the steps of:
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A) subjecting the door of the compartment to an excessive force;
B) causing a guide member to move through a channel in a track member wherein the channel walls flex out allowing the guide member through; and
C) retaining the guide member in an integrated bounded retaining section when the channel walls flex in. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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24. (canceled)
Specification