Door latch with lock and release for vending machines and the like
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Key operated latching apparatus for releasably latching and locking a first door element, such as a vending machine door, or the like, and a second door element, such as a vending machine frame, or the like, said apparatus comprising:
- a post member defining, at least, an axially extending, arcuate surface at a radius from a central axis of said post member, said post member being supportable by one of the door elements;
a collar assembly supportable by the other of the door elements, said collar assembly comprising a passage for accepting said post member therein, and a ball and cam means for effecting a frictional grip on said arcuate surface when said post is within said passage, thus resisting removal of said post from said passage of said collar assembly; and
releasing means for releasing said frictional grip between said post member and said collar assembly, thus facilitating removal of said post member from said passage of said collar assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A door latch comprises a post and collar gripping and release mechanism cooperatively mounted to the door and door frame of a vending machine, cabinet, or the like, to provide an initial latching function in the form of a frictional gripping of the post by the collar, and further comprises a lock assembly associated with the post and collar mechanism to provide a primary locking function and to effect release of the latching function.
60 Citations
38 Claims
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1. Key operated latching apparatus for releasably latching and locking a first door element, such as a vending machine door, or the like, and a second door element, such as a vending machine frame, or the like, said apparatus comprising:
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a post member defining, at least, an axially extending, arcuate surface at a radius from a central axis of said post member, said post member being supportable by one of the door elements; a collar assembly supportable by the other of the door elements, said collar assembly comprising a passage for accepting said post member therein, and a ball and cam means for effecting a frictional grip on said arcuate surface when said post is within said passage, thus resisting removal of said post from said passage of said collar assembly; and releasing means for releasing said frictional grip between said post member and said collar assembly, thus facilitating removal of said post member from said passage of said collar assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Door latching apparatus for releasably latching and locking one door element, such as a vending machine door, or the like, and another door element, such as a vending machine frame, or the like, said apparatus comprising:
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a post member comprising, at least, a first axially extending, arcuate surface defining, in profile, a surface at a first radius from a central axis of said post member, said post member being supportable by a first door element; a collar assembly being supportable by a second door element, said collar assembly comprising, at least; an outer sleeve; an inner shell defining, at least, a cylindrical passage for receipt of said post member, said inner shell and said outer sleeve being so arranged as to allow relative axial movement with respect to one another; and a detent means for, upon proper orientation, impeding movement of said post member in at least one axial direction relative to said collar assembly when said post member is at least partially located within said cylindrical passage; and a lock assembly means for selectively changing the relative positions of said post member and said inner sheel with respect to one another, said relative positions defining, at least, a first arrangement and a second arrangement wherein said first arrangement encourages said impeding action of said detent means and wherein said second arrangement discourages said impeding action of said detent means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. Door latching apparatus for releasably latching and locking one door element, such as a vending machine door, or the like, and another door element, such as a vending machine frame, or the like, said apparatus comprising:
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a post member being supportable by a first door element, said post member comprising, at least, a first axially extending, arcuate surface defining, in profile, a surface at a first radius from a central axis of said post member; a collar assembly being supportable by a second door element, said collar assembly comprising, at least; an outer sleeve; an inner shell defining, at least, a cylindrical passage for receipt of said post member and a plurality of angularly spaced radial openings, said inner shell and said outer sleeve being so arranged as to allow relative axial movement with respect to one another, said inner shell and said post member being so constructed as to allow relative angular movement between said post member and said inner shell when said post member is at least partially located within said cylindrical passage; a detent means for, upon proper orientation, impeding movement of said post member in at least one axial direction relative to said collar assembly when said post member is at least partially located within said cylindrical passage, said detent means comprising, at least, a radially movable ball located within each said radial opening and a guiding means associated with said inner surface of said outer sleeve for selectively guiding each said ball radially inward, said guiding means comprising an axially tapered surface; and a spring means for encouraging axial movement of said inner shell with respect to said outer sleeve in a direction which encourages inwardly guiding engagement of said balls by said tapered surface, said collar assembly being so constructed as to be continually capable of receiving said post member into said cylindrical passage, said collar assembly being so constructed as to, when said post member and said inner shell are in said first arrangement, allow the mere insertion of said post member to effect said impeding action, and said collar assembly being so constructed as to allow the minimum penetration of said post member into said cylindrical passage required to create said impeding action be less than the maximum possible penetration; and a lock assembly means for selectively changing the relative positions of said post member and said inner shell with respect to one another, said relative positions defining, at least, a first arrangement and a second arrangement wherein said first arrangement encourages said impeding action of said detent means and wherein said second arrangement discourages said impeding action of said detent means, said lock assembly means comprising, at least; a key-operated locking linkage for securing said lock assembly means against changing of the relative positions of said post member and said inner shell with respect to one another; an axial shaft; and an interface linkage connected to said axial shaft, whereby said lock assembly means changes the relative positions of said inner shell and said post member with respect to one another through angular rotation of said axial shaft. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification