Catch or lock

• US 4,500,120 A
• Filed: 12/22/1982
• Issued: 02/19/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Limited (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Limited (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Vallis, Keith, Ridgewell, Terence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wolfe, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gall, Lloyd A.
• Application Number:
  US06/452,142
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 292/19, 292/20, 292/83, 292/85, 292/27, 292/124, 70/123, 70/67-76, 70/95-97
• US Class Current: 292/19
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0858 comprising simultaneously pivoting double hook-like locking members
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/06 in which the securing part if formed or carried by a spring and moves only by distortion of the spring, e.g. snaps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/082 Spring arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0829 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0898 Cam

Abstract

A catch or lock with a cam (3) rotatable to move one or two resilient latching arms (20) at the end of which may be latching means (25) engageable on a hasp (4) to catch or lock an article. The cam (3) or casing (1) has a follower (18) which acts in a groove (15) with a ramped bottom dividing the groove into two portions and preventing the cam from being rotated from the second back to the first portion. When the cam is in a first position (X) with the follower in the first portion the latching means are held open and are inoperative for latching. The key is then inserted to move the cam so the follower is in the second portion, the cam being movable between positions (Y) and (Z) in which the latching means open and close respectively, and the key is removable in position (Z).

Claims

1. A lock comprising a casing, a rotatable cam mounted to the casing, means of the cam for accepting a key, a latch comprising at least one latch arm including a hasp engaging latching means, the latch being in co-operable relationship with the cam, a hasp with which each latching means is engageable for locking, the arrangement being such that on insertion of the key into the lock the cam may be rotated to disengage the latch from the hasp, two abutments forming stop means for determining releasing and locking positions of said cam, the key being insertable or removable when the cam is in the locking position, wherein a groove and follower cooperatively couple the casing and cam, the groove having a first and second portion, said first portion having a ramp with a raised end forming one of said abutments at an end of said second portion, another of said abutments formed at another end of said second portion, the follower engaging in the groove and acting with the abutments to limit the movement of the cam relative the casing and acting with said ramp to limit said movement in a direction from said first portion to said second portion and not in reverse of said direction, an end of said first portion remote from said second portion defining a first supplementary releasing position of the cam, the key being insertable or removable from said lock at said first supplementary releasing position.

2. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein the latch is formed as a member with a securing portion which is secured to the casing, said latch arms being at least partially resilient and extending from the securing portion to said latching means and being engageable with the hasp.

3. A lock as claimed in claim 2 wherein a bridge means extends over said arms to prevent undue movement in a direction parallel with an axis of rotation of the cam.

4. A lock as claimed in claim 2 wherein the cam is provided with a circular retaining portion which is engageable under said arms to retain the cam between the arms and the casing.

5. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cam is substantially triangular.

6. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein the groove and cam follower act so as to guide the cam in its arcuate movement.

7. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein said groove extends substantially over 180°

, said first portion extending over substantially 120°

.

8. A lock as claimed in claim 1 wherein said follower protrudes from said cam.