Latching device
First Claim
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1. A latch assembly, the latch assembly comprising:
- an elongate housing having walls thereto and a hook-like shaped member extending outwardly transversely thereto from an outside of a said wall thereof;
a pawl pivotally attached to the housing and being movable between a closed and an open position, the pawl being provided with a torsion spring member that biases the pawl toward the open position;
a solenoid within the housing and operating parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof;
a locking member extending from said solenoid parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing and actuated by said solenoid, the locking member being movable to selectively intercept the pivotal path of the pawl; and
a spring positioned inboard of the locking member and operating against the solenoid from which the looking member extends to bias the locking member to extend outwardly from the solenoid;
wherein the pawl extends outwardly from said housing transversely to the longitudinal axis Thereof and in adjacent proximity to said housing hook-like shaped member.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a latching device for securing two panels together such as those of storage structures in which an enclosure is secured by means of a door or panel which will remain in a closed position until released. The present latching system is usually used in connection with automobile glove boxes or other compartments which are to be secured for storage of items therein. The latching device has a housing, actuation means and a pawl in communication with a movable retention means. The latching device can be electrically or manually operated.
108 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A latch assembly, the latch assembly comprising:
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an elongate housing having walls thereto and a hook-like shaped member extending outwardly transversely thereto from an outside of a said wall thereof; a pawl pivotally attached to the housing and being movable between a closed and an open position, the pawl being provided with a torsion spring member that biases the pawl toward the open position; a solenoid within the housing and operating parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof; a locking member extending from said solenoid parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing and actuated by said solenoid, the locking member being movable to selectively intercept the pivotal path of the pawl; and a spring positioned inboard of the locking member and operating against the solenoid from which the looking member extends to bias the locking member to extend outwardly from the solenoid; wherein the pawl extends outwardly from said housing transversely to the longitudinal axis Thereof and in adjacent proximity to said housing hook-like shaped member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A latch assembly for releasably securing a first member to a second member, said second member having a keeper in a fixed positional relationship therewith, the latch assembly comprising:
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an elongate housing having two opposing walls thereto and a hook-like shaped member extending outwardly from an outside of a said wall thereof, said hook-like shaped member being bifurcated having a pair of spaced apart hook-shaped flanges; a pair of lateral tabs, one each extending from each of the hook-shaped flanges, on an outboard face thereof; a pawl pivotally attached to said housing and pivotably movable between a closed position and an open position, said pawl engaging said keeper in said closed position; a spring member biasing said pawl to said open position; and means positioned within said housing and operating parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof for intercepting the pivotal movement of said pawl for holding said pawl in said closed position; a spring positioned inboard of said intercepting means and operating to bias the intercepting means to extend outwardly toward said pawl; wherein said pawl extends outwardly from said housing transversely to said longitudinal axis thereof and in adjacent proximity to said housing hook-like shaped member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A latch assembly for engaging a keeper, comprising:
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an elongate housing having walls and a longitudinal axis and sidewalls thereto and a hook-like shaped member, said hook-like shaped member being connected to one of said walls of said housing, and being bifurcated having a pair of spaced apart hook-shaped flanges; a pair of lateral tabs, one each extending from each of the hook shaped flanges, on an outboard face thereof; at least one pawl pivotally attached to said housing and pivotably movable between a first position and a second position, said pawl engaging said keeper in said second position; and means positioned within said housing and operating parallel to said longitudinal axis thereof for intercepting the pivotal movement of said pawl thereby prohibiting said pawl from pivoting; wherein said pawl extends outwardly from said housing transversely to said longitudinal axis thereof and in adjacent proximity to said housing hook-like shaped member wherein said intercepting means includes a solenoid and a locking member; and
a spring positioned to bais said locking member towards said pawl and away from said solenoid. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification