Pivoting push latch

• US 20070120380A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Bella, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/541,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20070120380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/300
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/022 Released by pushing in the closing direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/42 Rigid engaging means

Abstract

A push-to-open and push-to-close latch mechanism for a latchable structure includes a protrusion movable in an arc and a push-push latch configuration that moves in an arc while opening and closing the structure.

Claims

1. A latch comprising:

a protrusion movable in an arc;

a push-push latch configuration having an entrance wall portion, an exit wall portion and a redirecting feature between said entrance wall portion and said exit wall portion, and a nest having a settling point for receiving said protrusion; and

said latch configuration being pivotal about an axis for movement in an arc as said protrusion traverses paths entering and exiting said latch configuration.

2. The latch of claim 1, said latch configuration being one face of a latch body, and an opposite face of said latch body defining a boss for controlling arcuate movement of said body.

3. The latch of claim 2, said opposite face of said body defining a snap connector for mounting said body, and said body being pivotal about said snap connector.

4. The latch of claim 1, said latch configuration being one face of a latch body, and an opposite face of said latch body defining a snap connector for mounting said body and defining a pivotal axis for movement of said body.

5. The latch of claim 1, said latch configuration including two said latch nests and two said settling points.

6. The latch of claim 5, said latch configuration being one face of a latch body, and an opposite face of said latch body defining a boss for controlling arcuate movement of said body.

7. The latch of claim 5, said latch configuration being one face of a latch body, and an opposite face of said latch body defining a snap connector for mounting said body and defining a pivotal axis for movement of said body.

8. The latch configuration of claim 7, said opposite face of said body defining a boss for controlling arcuate movement of said body.

9. A latchable structure comprising:

a first component having a hole and an arcuate slot;

a latch body having first and second faces, said first face having a snap connector disposed in said hole and a boss disposed in said arcuate slot, said second face having a push-push latch configuration including a latch nest;

said latch body being rotatable about said snap connection in said hole, and the rotation thereof being limited by said boss in said arcuate slot; and

a second component movable about a pivotal axis for opening and closing said structure, said second component having a protrusion movable in an arc and operating within said push-push latch configuration including being retained in said latch nest to secure a position of said second component relative to said first component.

10. The latchable structure of claim 9, said second face having first and second latch nests for retaining said protrusion to secure a first position and a second position of said second component relative to said first component.

11. A method for operating a latch, comprising steps of:

moving a protrusion in an arc;

providing a push-push latch configuration; and

tilting the latch configuration from one position to another position about a rotational axis while moving the protrusion within the latch configuration.

12. The method of claim 11, including latching the latch while performing said moving and said tilting steps.

13. The method of claim 11, including unlatching the latch while performing said moving and said tilting steps.

14. The method of claim 11, including performing said moving and said tilting steps for both latching and unlatching the latch.

15. The method of claim 11, including providing a first and a second latch nest, and positioning said protrusion in one of said nests.

16. The method of claim 15, including performing said moving and said tilting steps while moving said protrusion into one of said nests.

17. The method of claim 15, including performing said moving and said tilting steps while moving said protrusion out of one of said nests.

18. The method of claim 17, including performing said moving and said tilting steps when moving said protrusion from one of said nests to the other of said nests.

19. The method of claim 11, including a step of providing fixed stops and limiting said tilting by engaging the fixed stops.

20. The method of claim 19 including providing a first and a second latch nest, and positioning said protrusion in one of said nests.