Magnetic latch system

• US 7,044,511 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nationwide Industries Incorporated (PrimeSource Building Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nationwide Industries Incorporated (PrimeSource Building Products Incorporated)
• Inventors: Timothy, E. Erik, Kliefoth, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner, Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US10/971,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20050225098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 292/251.5, 292/341.15, 292/341.16, 292/DIG.29, 292/DIG.65, 292/130, 292/183, 292/230, 292/163, 292/254, 492/80, 702/76, 704/13, 702/781
• US Class Current: 292/251.5
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/163 a movable bolt being held in the striker by a permanent magnet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/18 Free-end-engaging means

Abstract

A magnetic latch system including a latch assembly and a keeper assembly. The keeper assembly includes a magnetically attractable keeper pin. The latch assembly includes a magnet and a movable internal lever which is arranged to engage the keeper pin to move it away from the permanent magnet. The system may also include a lock to hold the internal lever in a fixed position so that it cannot be moved to move the keeper pin away from the magnet.

Claims

1. A magnetic latch system adapted to secure a movable gate relative to a fixed post, said system comprising a latch assembly adapted for mounting on said gate and a keeper assembly adapted for mounting on said fixed post;

said keeper assembly comprising a keeper back plate, a keeper housing mounted on said back plate, a magnetically attractable keeper pin movably mounted on said keeper housing, a coil spring for biasing said keeper pin in a normally upward position;

said latch assembly comprising a base mountable on said movable gate, a spindle rotatably mounted on said base, a handle mounted on said spindle for manual rotation of said spindle, an internal lever mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith, said internal lever having an outward end spaced from said spindle, said outward end being movable in an upward and downward direction, a permanent magnet mounted on said base;

said latch assembly being adapted to be cooperatively arranged with said keeper assembly so that said permanent magnet attracts said keeper pin in a downward direction when the keeper pin is adjacent said magnet, the outward end of said internal lever being arranged to engage said keeper pin and move it in an upward direction away from the magnetic attraction between the keeper pin and said permanent magnet;

said base being movable into a position where said keeper pin engages said base when said keeper pin is in its downward position and disengages from said base when said keeper pin is moved in an upward direction by said outer end of said internal lever.

2. A magnetic latch system adapted to secure a movable gate element relative to a fixed post element, said system comprising a latch assembly adapted for mounting on said gate element and a keeper assembly adapted for mounting on said fixed post element;

said keeper assembly comprising a keeper base, a magnetically attractable keeper pin movably mounted on said keeper base, and a coil spring for biasing said keeper pin in a normally upward position;

said latch assembly comprising a base mountable on said movable gate element, a spindle rotatably mounted on said base, a handle mounted on said spindle for manual rotation of said spindle, an internal lever mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith, said internal lever having an outward end spaced from said spindle and movable in an upward and downward direction, and a permanent magnet mounted on said base;

said latch assembly being adapted to be cooperatively arranged with said keeper assembly so that said permanent magnet acts to attract said keeper pin in a downward direction when the keeper pin is adjacent said magnet, said internal lever being arranged to engage said keeper pin and move it in an upward direction to reduce the magnetic attraction between said keeper pin and said permanent magnet;

said base and gate element being adapted to be movable into a position where said keeper pin engages said base when said keeper pin is in its downward position and disengages from said base when said keeper pin is moved in an upward direction by said internal lever.

3. The magnetic latch system of claim 2, wherein said keeper base comprises a back plate for mounting on said fixed post element and a keeper housing mounted on said back plate.

4. The magnetic latch system of claim 3, wherein said keeper housing is slidably mounted on said back plate so that said housing is adjustable relative to said back plate.

5. The magnetic latch system of claim 4, wherein said keeper housing is slidable in a substantially vertical direction on said back plate.

6. The magnetic latch system of claim 4, wherein said keeper housing is connected to said back plate by a mortise and tenon attachment.

7. The magnetic latch system of claim 3, wherein said housing encloses said keeper pin and said coil spring.

8. The magnetic latch system of claim 2, wherein said spindle extends from the front to the back of said gate element and each end of said spindle has a handle for manual rotation of said spindle.

9. The magnetic latch system of claim 2, wherein said internal lever is mounted on said spindle by a lost-motion connection which includes an opening through said internal lever, said opening receiving said spindle and having an internal lug engageable by a surface on said spindle, said spindle and lug being arranged to permit partial rotation of said spindle in said opening until said spindle engages said lug and then begins to provide a turning movement to said internal lever.

10. The magnetic latch system of claim 2, wherein said permanent magnet is mounted on said base at a first vertical location and said internal lever is normally positioned with its longitudinal axis at substantially the same vertical location, and said keeper pin has a lower end that is positioned at substantially the same vertical location when said keeper pin is in its downward position.

11. The magnetic latch system of claim 10, wherein said keeper pin is spaced from said keeper base and said latch assembly base has a wall portion that is interposed between said keeper pin and said keeper base when said keeper pin is in its downward position, whereby said wall portion is held against said keeper base and is blocked from movement relative to said keeper pin.

12. The magnetic latch system of claim 2, further including means mounted on said base for locking said latch in the closed position.

13. The magnetic latch system of claim 12 wherein said means for locking includes a key cylinder, a locking ear mounted on said cylinder for movement into a locking position and into an unlocked position, said locking ear being arranged to cooperate with said internal lever to hold it in a fixed position when said keeper pin is in the latched position.

14. A magnetic latch system comprising a latch assembly and a keeper assembly,

said keeper assembly comprising means for providing a keeper base, magnetically attractable keeper pin movably mounted on said keeper base means, a coil spring for biasing said keeper pin in a retracted position;

said latch assembly comprising a base, a spindle rotatably mounted on said base, a handle mounted on said spindle for manual rotation of said spindle, an internal lever mounted on said spindle for rotation therewith, said internal lever having an outward end spaced from said spindle, said outward end being movable, and a permanent magnet mounted on said base;

said latch assembly being adapted to be cooperatively arranged with said keeper assembly so that said permanent magnet attracts said keeper pin when the keeper pin is adjacent to said magnet, the outward end of said internal lever being arranged to engage said keeper pin and move it into the retracted position away form the magnetic attraction between the keeper pin and said permanent magnet;

said base being movable into a position where said keeper pin engages said base when said keeper pin is in its extended position and disengages from said base when said keeper pin is moved into its retracted position by said outer end of said internal lever.