Magnetic Latch Mechanism

• US 20080231060A1
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Southco Incorporated (South Chester Tube Company)
• Original Assignee: Southco Incorporated (South Chester Tube Company)
• Inventors: Carabalona, Eric, McCloskey, Kevin A., Talukdar, Robin, Speers Jr., Robert Benson
• Granted Patent: US 9,004,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 292/251.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 77/06 by means of inertial forces
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 79/20 using flexible connections, e.g. Bowden cables
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/20 for assisting final closing or for initiating opening
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/30 for glove compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/32 for console boxes, e.g. between passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0848 Swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0849 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0856 Gear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/086 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic

Abstract

A latch with dual rotary magnets is disclosed. The latch is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet holds in a closed position a magnetic insert attached to a respective door by magnetic attraction to secure both doors in the closed position relative to the compartment. Mechanical hook-like rotary pawls supplement the action of the magnets. In addition, the latch is provided with a safety feature that prevents the latch from opening in the event that the vehicle in which the latch is installed is involved in a collision.

Claims

1. A magnetic latch mechanism for securing a first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the first member being movable between the closed position and an open position relative to the second member, the magnetic latch mechanism comprising:

a magnetic insert capable of attachment to the first member;

a housing adapted for attachment to the second member;

at least one magnet rotationally supported by said housing, said at least one magnet being rotationally movable between latched and unlatched positions, said at least one magnet being positioned when in said latched position such that with the first member in the closed position relative to the second member said at least one magnet holds the first member with said magnetic insert attached thereto in the closed position through magnetic attraction between said at least one magnet and said magnetic insert, and said at least one magnet being positioned when in said unlatched position such that with the first member in the closed position relative to the second member said at least one magnet repels said magnetic insert that is attached to the first member so as to cause the first member to move from the closed position toward an open position relative to the second member; and

an actuation mechanism capable of selectively moving said at least one magnet from said latched position to said unlatched position responsive to an input from a user.

2. The magnetic latch mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic latch mechanism further comprises:

a striker capable of attachment to the first member;

a hook-shaped pawl supported for rotation with said at least one magnet, said pawl engaging said striker to mechanically prevent the first member from being moved to the open position when said at least one magnet is in said latched position.

3. The magnetic latch mechanism according to claim 2, further comprising gear teeth supported for rotation with said at least one magnet, and wherein said actuation mechanism comprises:

a rack bar supported for rectilinear movement by said housing, said rack bar having a plurality of gear teeth that are capable of engaging said gear teeth that rotate with said magnet such that said magnet and said hook-shaped pawl rotate together between said latched and unlatched positions as said rack bar moves rectilinearly between its latched and unlatched positions, respectively, relative to said housing.

4. The magnetic latch mechanism according to claim 3, further comprising a ball bearing carried by said rack bar, and wherein said actuation mechanism further comprises:

a sliding bar supported for rectilinear movement relative to said rack bar between a locked and an unlocked position relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing being capable of movement relative to said rack bar in response to movement of said sliding bar relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing moving into engagement with said housing in order to prevent movement of said rack bar from said latched position to said unlatched position when said rack bar is in said latched position relative to said housing and said sliding bar is in said locked position relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing being capable of disengagement from said housing when said sliding bar is in said unlocked position relative to said rack bar, said rack bar moving from its latched position to its unlatched position relative to said housing in response to further rectilinear movement of said sliding bar relative to said housing.

5. The magnetic latch mechanism according to claim 4, further comprising a motor that drives said sliding bar.

6. A magnetic latch mechanism for securing a first door and a second door in closed positions relative to a third member, the first and second doors each being movable between the respective closed position and a respective open position relative to the third member, the magnetic latch mechanism comprising:

a first magnetic insert capable of attachment to the first door;

a second magnetic insert capable of attachment to the second door;

a housing adapted for attachment to the third member;

a first magnet rotationally supported by said housing, said first magnet being rotationally movable between latched and unlatched positions, said first magnet being positioned when in said latched position such that with the first door in the closed position relative to the third member said first magnet holds the first door with said first magnetic insert attached thereto in the closed position through magnetic attraction between said first magnet and said first magnetic insert, and when said first magnet is in said unlatched position with the first door being in the closed position relative to the third member said first magnet is positioned such that said first magnet repels said first magnetic insert that is attached to the first door so as to cause the first door to move from the closed position toward the open position relative to the third member;

a second magnet rotationally supported by said housing, said second magnet being rotationally movable between latched and unlatched positions, said second magnet being positioned when in said latched position such that with the second door in the closed position relative to the third member said second magnet holds the second door with said second magnetic insert attached thereto in the closed position through magnetic attraction between said second magnet and said second magnetic insert, and when said second magnet is in said unlatched position with the second door being in the closed position relative to the third member said second magnet is positioned such that said second magnet repels said second magnetic insert that is attached to the second door so as to cause the second door to move from the closed position toward the open position relative to the third member; and

an actuation mechanism capable of selectively moving said first magnet and said second magnet from their latched positions to their unlatched positions responsive to an input from a user.

7. The magnetic latch mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the magnetic latch mechanism further comprises:

a first striker capable of attachment to the first door;

a first hook-shaped pawl supported for rotation with said first magnet, said first pawl engaging said first striker to mechanically prevent the first door from being moved to the open position when said first magnet is in its latched position;

a second striker capable of attachment to the second door; and

a second hook-shaped pawl supported for rotation with said second magnet, said second pawl engaging said second striker to mechanically prevent the second door from being moved to the open position when said second magnet is in its latched position.

8. The magnetic latch mechanism according to claim 7, further comprising a first set of gear teeth supported for rotation with said first magnet, a second set of gear teeth supported for rotation with said second magnet, and wherein said actuation mechanism comprises:

a rack bar supported for rectilinear movement by said housing, said rack bar having a first plurality of gear teeth that are capable of engaging said first set gear teeth that rotate with said first magnet such that said first magnet and said first hook-shaped pawl rotate together between their latched and unlatched positions as said rack bar moves rectilinearly between its latched and unlatched positions, respectively, relative to said housing, said rack bar having a second plurality of gear teeth that are capable of engaging said second set gear teeth that rotate with said second magnet such that said second magnet and said second hook-shaped pawl rotate together between their latched and unlatched positions as said rack bar moves rectilinearly between its latched and unlatched positions, respectively, relative to said housing.

9. The magnetic latch mechanism according to claim 8, further comprising a ball bearing carried by said rack bar, and wherein said actuation mechanism further comprises:

a sliding bar supported for rectilinear movement relative to said rack bar between a locked and an unlocked position relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing being capable of movement relative to said rack bar in response to movement of said sliding bar relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing moving into engagement with said housing in order to prevent movement of said rack bar from said latched position to said unlatched position when said rack bar is in said latched position relative to said housing and said sliding bar is in said locked position relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing being capable of disengagement from said housing when said sliding bar is in said unlocked position relative to said rack bar, said rack bar moving from its latched position to its unlatched position relative to said housing in response to further rectilinear movement of said sliding bar relative to said housing.

10. The magnetic latch mechanism according to claim 9, further comprising a motor that drives said sliding bar.