Latch apparatus

• US 6,527,309 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2001
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hardigg Industries, Inc. (Pelican Products Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hardigg Industries, Inc. (Pelican Products Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gaydos, Mark, Hardigg, James
• Primary Examiner(s): ESTREMSKY, GARY WAYNE
• Application Number:
  US09/957,431
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 292/DIG.22, 292/95, 292/121, 292/122, 292/128, 292/102, 292/103
• US Class Current: 292/128
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/0093 Weight arrangements in locks; gravity activated lock parts E05B65/5292, E05B77/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/208 by means of an additional dogging movement of a rotary bolt
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/5276 parallel to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/10 Hook fastenings; Fastenings in which a link engages a fixed hook-like member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/22 Inertia operated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0934 Rigid

Abstract

A latch apparatus includes a release mechanism having a depending locking arm for selectively arresting the release mechanism in a locking position. The release mechanism further includes a center of gravity and an axis of rotation about which the release mechanism pivots between a release position and the locking position. The center of gravity of the release mechanism is located along the axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A latch apparatus, comprising:

a release mechanism including a depending locking arm for selectively arresting said release mechanism in a locking position;

an axis of rotation of said release mechanism about which said release mechanism pivots between a release position and said locking position;

a bar which is concentrically aligned with said rotational axis, said bar being integrally mated with said release mechanism and includes a pair of distal ends which are disposed in a matching pair of apertures formed in said release mechanism;

a housing which defines an opening in the exterior surface thereof, said release apparatus being mounted within said opening, wherein said distal ends of said bar extend through said matching pair of apertures and into receptacles formed in said housing; and

a center of gravity of said release mechanism, wherein said center of gravity is located along said axis of rotation.

2. The latch apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a biasing element for biasing said release mechanism into said locking position.

3. The latch apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

said biasing element comprises a spring oriented about said bar.

4. The latch apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

said release mechanism includes a planar actuation area which is substantially flush with said exterior surface; and

said planar actuation surface defines a depression thereon.

5. A latch apparatus, comprising:

a release mechanism pivotable about a bar between a locking position and a release position, said bar being coaxially aligned with a rotational axis of said release mechanism;

a center of gravity of said release mechanism and a housing which rotatably supports said release mechanism;

a torsion spring for biasing said release mechanism into said locking position;

a stop member integrally formed with said housing, said stop member being oriented below a planar actuation area of said release mechanism for limiting a pivoting action of said release mechanism;

said planar actuation area being mounted in an opening defined in an exterior surface of said housing;

a finger depression formed in said planar actuation area, said planar actuation are being substantially flush mounted with said exterior surface of said housing; and

wherein said bar extends through said center of gravity.

6. The latch apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a depending locking arm integrally formed with said release mechanism for selectively arresting said latch apparatus in said locking position.

7. The latch apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said bar extends through said torsion spring.

8. The latch apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

said torsion spring includes a first distal end and a second distal end; and

said first distal end is urged against said release mechanism and said second distal end is urged against said housing.

9. The latch apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a cavity formed in said housing for removably receiving said second distal end of said torsion spring.

10. The latch apparatus according to claim 5, wherein:

said housing and said release mechanism are comprised of injection molded plastic; and

said bar is a metallic bar.

11. A latch apparatus, comprising:

a release mechanism including a depending locking arm for selectively arresting said release mechanism in a locking position;

an axis of rotation of said release mechanism about which said release mechanism pivots between a release position and said locking position;

a bar which is concentrically aligned with said rotational axis, said bar being integrally mated with said release mechanism and includes a pair of distal ends which are disposed in a matching pair of apertures formed in said release mechanism;

a housing which defines an opening in the exterior surface thereof, said release mechanism being mounted within said opening;

said release mechanism further including a planar actuation area, defining a depression thereon, which is substantially flush with said exterior surface; and

a center of gravity of said release mechanism, wherein said center of gravity is located along said axis of rotation.