Interlocking device and anchoring system

• US 6,629,710 B1
• Filed: 07/14/2000
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Winkelhake, Bernd, Fenner, Christian, Shafry, Gavriel, Schindler, Klaus, Seigel, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/616,836
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 292/216, 292/201, 292/DIG.23, 292/DIG.42, 292/DIG.43
• US Class Current: 292/216
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01583 locking on transversal elements on the vehicle floor or rail, e.g. transversal rods
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/684 the back rest being mounted or joined with an easy attachment system to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/42 Trunk latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an interlocking device and in more particular to an interlocking device with a rotary latch that receives a latching bolt. In operation, the rotary latch can swing out of a release position into a locked position, by means of the bolt engaging a coupling jaw of the rotary latch. When the rotary latch is in a locked position, a safety element in an arresting position prevents rotary latch from swinging into its release position.

Claims

1. An interlocking device comprising:

a rotary latch having a coupling jaw;

a latching bolt received within said rotary latch, wherein said rotary latch can swing out of a release position into a locked position for locking, by way of said bolt engaging said coupling jaw of said rotary latch;

a safety element, wherein when said rotary latch is in the locked position, said safety element in an arresting position prevents said rotary latch from swinging into the released position; and

a control element arranged relative to said rotary latch and said safety element, wherein said control element detects a presence of said bolt in said coupling jaw and releases said safety element to move into said arresting position when said bolt is inserted into said coupling jaw and wherein said control element triggers a movementof said safety element into said non-arresting position and a movement of said rotary latch into said release position when said bolt is removed from said coupling jaw.

2. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein a transition of said rotary latch out of an interlocking position into said release position is triggered by a movement of said safety element out of its arresting position into its non-arrested position or by removing said bolt perpendicularly to a plane over which said coupling jaw extends.

3. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein said control element moves said safety element into said arresting position when said bolt is inserted into said coupling jaw.

4. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein said control element moves said safety element into its non-arresting position and said rotary latch into said release position when said bolt is removed from said coupling jaw.

5. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein said control element prevents said safety element from moving into its arresting position when said bolt is not in said coupling jaw.

6. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said rotary latch, said safety element and said control element are under a load of a spring.

7. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein said rotary latch is held in the release position by said safety element.

8. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein said rotary latch and said safety element abut each other in a region on their face and at least one of said rotary latch and safety element features a rolling contour.

9. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein said coupling jaw of said rotary latch features a sliding contour for a peripheral surface of said bolt on at least one edge, which abuts the bolt when locking.

10. The interlocking device of claim 1, wherein said control element is designed as a two-armed lever.

11. An interlocking device comprising:

a rotary latch having a coupling jaw, said rotary latch biased toward a release position by a spring;

a latching bolt received within said rotary latch, wherein said rotary latch can swing out of the release position into a locked position for locking, by way of said bolt engaging said coupling jaw of said rotary latch;

a safety element, wherein when said rotary latch is in the locked position, said safety element in an arresting position prevents said rotary latch from swinging into the released position; and

a control element arranged relative to said rotary latch and said safety element, wherein said control element detects a presence of said bolt in said coupling jaw and releases said safety element to move into said arresting position when said bolt is inserted into said coupling jaw.

12. An interlocking device comprising:

a rotary latch having a coupling jaw;

a latching bolt received within said rotary latch, wherein said rotary latch can swing out of a release position into a locked position for locking, by way of said bolt engaging said coupling jaw of said rotary latch;

a safety element, wherein when said rotary latch is in the locked position, said safety element in an arresting position prevents said rotary latch from swinging into a released position; and

a control element arranged relative to said rotary latch and said safety element wherein said control element detects a presence of said bolt in said coupling jaw, whereby the inter-cooperation of said rotary latch, safety element, and control element forces said rotary latch into said release position when said bolt is not in said coupling jaw, wherein said control element is designed as a two-armed lever, and wherein when said rotary latch is in the release position, one lever arm of said control element covers said coupling jaw of said rotary latch under the effect of a spring.

13. The interlocking device of claim 12, wherein when said rotary latch is in the release position, said lever arm of said control element blocks entry to said coupling jaw of said rotary latch and when said bolt is inserted into said coupling jaw, said bolt presses said lever arm out of the region of said coupling jaw opposite the effect of at least one spring.

14. An interlocking device comprising:

a rotary latch having a coupling jaw;

a latching bolt received within said rotary latch, wherein said rotary latch can swing out of a release position into a locked position for locking, by way of said bolt engaging said coupling jaw of said rotary latch;

a safety element, wherein when said rotary latch is in the locked position, said safety element in an arresting position prevents said rotary latch from swinging into the released position; and

a control element arranged relative to said rotary latch and said safety element, wherein said control element detects a presence of said bolt in said coupling jaw and releases said safety element to move into said arresting position when said bolt is inserted into said coupling jaw;

wherein said rotary latch, safety element, and control element are pivotally mounted in two opposite side walls of a casing.

15. The interlocking device of claim 14, wherein said side walls of said casing each feature a cutout, which is fitted at least in size to the cross section of said bolt, and which bounds the contour of said bolt within said casing on three sides of the perimeter when the bolt is within the cutout.