Push-push latch with clicker

• US 6,247,733 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southco Incorporated (South Chester Tube Company)
• Original Assignee: Southco Incorporated (South Chester Tube Company)
• Inventors: Weiland, Nicholas Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US09/382,238
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 292/228, 292/341.17, 292/341.15, 292/DIG.4
• US Class Current: 292/228
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/022 Released by pushing in the closing direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/04 Automatic release latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1061 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/702 Pivoted or swinging

Abstract

A push-push type latch and a pin are mounted on corresponding moving and nonmoving components, such as a drawer or door and its frame. The latch uses a shuttle having a heart-curve to control the latching and unlatching of the pin. The shuttle is mounted on the housing using an off center pivot. As the pin moves back and forth within the shuttle, the shuttle pivots to control the pin'"'"'s location within the heart curve. The latch may include a spring-biased fork for making an audible click to denote the latching and unlatching of the latch.

Claims

1. A push-push latch for mating with a pin, said push-push latch comprising:

a housing defining an open front and an open top; and

a shuttle having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion corresponding to said front opening of said housing, said front portion having an off center pivot mating with said housing, and an entrance channel, said rear portion having a second channel having dimensions that are greater than dimensions of said entrance channel, said second channel defining a first forward-facing socket and containing an island, said island defining a forward facing ramp and a rearward facing second socket, said second channel further defining a forward facing third socket, said ramp being dimensioned and configured to deflect said pin towards said first socket.

2. The push-push latch according to claim 1, wherein said second channel, ramp, first socket, second socket, and third socket define a heart-curve.

3. A push-push latch for mating with a pin, said push-push latch comprising:

a housing defining an open front and an open top; and

a shuttle having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion corresponding to said front opening of said housing, said front portion having an off center pivot mating with said housing, and an entrance channel, said off center pivot comprises a pair of opposing pegs mating with a pair of opposing holes, said rear portion having a second channel having dimensions that are greater than dimensions of said entrance channel, said second channel defining a first forward-facing socket and containing an island, said island defining a forward facing ramp and a rearward facing second socket, said second channel further defining a forward facing third socket, said ramp being dimensioned and configured to deflect said pin towards said first socket.

4. The push-push latch according to claim 3, wherein said second channel, ramp, first socket, second socket, and third socket define a heart-curve.

5. A push-push latch for mating with a pin, said push-push latch comprising:

a housing comprises a bottom, a pair of sides, a back, an open top, an open front, and at least one flange extending over said open top; and

a shuttle having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion corresponding to said front opening of said housing, said front portion having an off center pivot mating with said housing, and an entrance channel, said rear portion having a second channel having dimensions that is greater than dimensions of said entrance channel, said second channel defining a first forward-facing socket and containing an island, said island defining a forward facing ramp and a rearward facing second socket, said second channel further defining a forward facing third socket, said ramp being dimensioned and configured to deflect said pin towards said first socket.

6. The push-push latch according to claim 5, wherein said at least one flange and said bottom define at least one pair of opposing holes.

7. The push-push latch according to claim 5, wherein said shuttle'"'"'s pivot is a pair of cylindrical pegs being dimensioned and configured to fit within said opposing holes.

8. The push-push latch according to claim 5, wherein said second channel, ramp, first socket, second socket, and third socket define a heart-curve.

9. The push-push latch according to claim 5, wherein said off center pivot comprises a pair of opposing pegs mating with a pair of opposing holes.

10. The push-push latch according to claim 5, further comprising a fork having a plurality of prongs arranged in order of increasing length, a rear juncture joining said prongs, and a pivot for mating with said housing, said fork being spring-biased towards an orientation wherein said prongs are substantially parallel to said front of said housing.

11. The push-push latch according to claim 10, further comprising biasing means biasing said fork towards an orientation wherein said prongs are substantially parallel to said front of said housing.

12. The push-push latch according to claim 11, wherein said biasing means is a spring.

13. The push-push latch according to claim 12, wherein said housing further has a spring-retaining flange and a pair of sides, said spring is a wire coiled spring having a central coil, a long end projecting outward perpendicular to the axis of said coil, and a short end projecting outward parallel to the axis of said coil, said long end is dimensioned and configured to fit between said spring-retaining flange and a corresponding side of said sides of said housing, said short end is dimensioned and configured to fit within a hole of said fork.

14. The push-push latch according to claim 5, further comprising a stem defining said pivot for mating with said housing.

15. The push-push latch according to claim 14, wherein said pivot includes a pair of opposing pegs on each end of said stem.

16. The push-push latch according to claim 15, wherein said housing further defines a pair of opposing holes dimensioned and configured to receive said opposing pegs on said stem.

17. A push-push latch for mating with a pin, said push-push latch comprising:

a housing defining an open front and an open top;

a shuttle having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portion corresponding to said front opening of said housing, said front portion having an off center pivot mating with said housing, and an entrance channel, said rear portion having a second channel having dimensions that are greater than dimensions of said entrance channel, said second channel defining a first forward-facing socket and containing an island, said island defining a forward facing ramp and a rearward facing second socket, said second channel further defining a forward facing third socket, said ramp being dimensioned and configured to deflect said pin towards said first socket; and

a fork having a plurality of prongs arranged in order of increasing length, a rear juncture joining said prongs, and a pivot for mating with said housing, said fork being spring-biased towards an orientation wherein said prongs are substantially parallel to said front of said housing.

18. The push-push latch according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of prongs are three in number.

19. The push-push latch according to claim 17, wherein said pivot is a pair of opposing pegs mating with a pair of opposing holes.

20. The push-push latch according to claim 17, further comprising a stem defining said pivot for mating with said housing.

21. The push-push latch according to claim 20, wherein said pivot includes a pair of opposing pegs on each end of said stem.

22. The push-push latch according to claim 21, where said housing further defines a pair of opposing holes dimensioned and configured to received said opposing pegs on said stem.

23. The push-push latch according to claim 17, further comprising biasing means biasing said fork towards an orientation wherein said prongs are substantially parallel to said front of said housing.

24. The push-push latch according to claim 23, wherein said biasing means is a spring.

25. The push-push latch according to claim 24, wherein said housing further has a spring-retaining flange and a pair of sides, said spring is a wire coiled spring having a central coil, a long end projecting outward perpendicular to the axis of said coil, and a short end projecting outward parallel to the axis of said coil, said long end is dimensioned and configured to fit between said spring-retaining flange and a corresponding side of said sides of said housing, said short end is dimensioned and configured to fit within a hole of said fork.

26. The push-push latch according to claim 17, wherein said second channel, ramp, first socket, second socket, and third socket define a heart-curve.