Rotary Pawl Glove Box Latch
First Claim
1. A latch assembly, comprising:
- a housing;
a paddle mounted to rotate on said housing between an open position and a closed position;
a rotary pawl mounted to rotate in said housing between an open position and a closed position; and
a lock plate carried on the paddle and positioned by said paddle movement to engage said pawl when said paddle is fully in the open position;
wherein, when said paddle is fully open, said lock plate holds said pawl with a friction interference contact whereby said paddle is also held in said open position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A slam to close, glove box latch includes a housing, a paddle structure connected to rotate on the housing, a rotary pawl mounted to rotate in the housing, and a lock plate carried by the paddle structure to selectively engage the rotary pawl to inhibit its movement. The rotary pawl is spring biased to the open position. The paddle structure is spring biased to the closed position. The paddle structure includes guideways in which the lock plate operates. When the paddle is moved to the open position, the pawl is released to rotate open and the lock plate is carried to an interference-friction position with the pawl whereby the paddle is held in the open position. When the pawl is closed by the slam action of the latch, the interference-friction with the lock plate is released and the paddle structure returns to the closed position. Biasing is limited to two springs. The volume (envelope) of the latch is minimized.
70 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A latch assembly, comprising:
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a housing; a paddle mounted to rotate on said housing between an open position and a closed position; a rotary pawl mounted to rotate in said housing between an open position and a closed position; and a lock plate carried on the paddle and positioned by said paddle movement to engage said pawl when said paddle is fully in the open position; wherein, when said paddle is fully open, said lock plate holds said pawl with a friction interference contact whereby said paddle is also held in said open position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A low profile glove box latch assembly, comprising:
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a housing; a paddle-type handle mounted to rotate on said housing with a goosed neck high pivot point and operable between an open position and a closed position, said handle having at least one guideway thereon; a lock plate engaging each of said handle guideways for sliding movement therein; a pawl mounted to rotate in said housing between an open position and a closed position; a first torsion spring biasing said handle to said closed position; a second torsion spring biasing said pawl to said open position; and wherein said lock plate holds said pawl closed with one face of said lock plate and holds said pawl open with another face of said lock plate. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A slam to close latch assembly, comprising:
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a housing; a paddle mounted to rotate on said housing between an open position and a closed position, said paddle having a plurality of walls, two of which extend in parallel; a rotary pawl mounted to rotate within said housing between an open position and a closed position; a pair of opposed guideway channels extending in parallel said two parallel paddle walls; a lock plate extending between said pair of paddle opposed guideway channels and riding therein, said lock plate including a tapered surface; wherein said lock plate selectively engages said pawl at said tapered surface when said paddle is in said open position. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification