Lockable latch

• US 8,297,667 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2009
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pauken, Junko, Rocco, Charles Alan, Whitens, Michael James
• Primary Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US12/480,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 292 80- 89, 292/104, 292/107, 292/169.14, 292/194, 292/246, 242/65.H, 243/69, 245/987, 245/991, 246/009, 246/014, 246/25, 702/08, 702/10, 70D/IG.73
• US Class Current: 292/169.14
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/043 mounted on or under a seat
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 73/0005 using chains, cables or the like chain- or cable-locks of the padlock type E05B67/003; lockable clothing hangers or hanger racks E05B69/006
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/02 Hooks with pivoting or elastically bending closing member
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/028 the position-locking means being pivotally connected
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/036 with an elastically bending closing member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45408 Resilient, self-biased gate
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45429 Gate and hook formed from single piece of sheet metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45581 having inserted end formed by oppositely biased surface segments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/087 Loops
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0894 Spring arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0898 Cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0982 Bolt blocking or disabling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1043 Swinging

Abstract

A lockable latch system includes an anchor bar rigidly connected to a vehicle and a rigid hook operably engaged with the anchor bar. A springboard is disposed on the rigid hook. The springboard is operable between an obstructing position, wherein the springboard prevents disengagement of the rigid hook from the bar and an unobstructing position, wherein the springboard does not prevent disengagement of the rigid hook from the bar. A lock assembly includes a cam operable between an interference position, wherein the cam prevents the springboard from entering the unobstructing position and a non-interference position, wherein the cam does not prevent the springboard from entering the unobstructing position.

Claims

1. A lockable latch system for a vehicle comprising:

an anchor bar rigidly connected to a vehicle;

a rigid hook having an attachment end and a latching end for engaging the anchor bar;

a springboard having a mounting end attached to the attachment end of the rigid hook and an opposite end configured to engage with the latching end of the rigid hook, the springboard being operable between an obstructing position wherein the springboard prevents disengagement of the rigid hook from the bar, and an unobstructing position wherein the springboard does not prevent disengagement of the rigid hook from the bar; and

a lock assembly connected to the rigid hook and having a cam rotatable between an interference position wherein the cam is rotated along a plane substantially parallel to the attachment end of the rigid hook, abutting an underside of the springboard to prevent the springboard from moving to the unobstructing position and a non-interference position wherein the cam is rotated away from the underside of the springboard and does not prevent the springboard from moving to the unobstructing position.

2. The lockable latch system of claim 1, wherein the cam rotates approximately 90 degrees between the obstructed and unobstructed positions.

3. The lockable latch system of claim 2, wherein the cam of the lock assembly is rotated by a key.

4. The lockable latch system of claim 1, wherein the lock is assembly is attached to a plate fixedly connected to the rigid hook.

5. The lockable latch system of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible belt attached to the rigid hook.

6. The lockable latch system of claim 5, further comprising:

a lock box connected with the flexible belt.

7. A lockable latch comprising:

a hook defining a receiving portion;

a springboard attached to the hook and having an end configured obstruct passage to the receiving portion, and capable of being flexed to unobstruct the passage to the receiving portion; and

a key and lock assembly having a cam rotatable along a plane substantially parallel to the springboard end and configured to move between an interference position between the hook and springboard preventing movement of the springboard and a non-interference position allowing movement of the springboard.

8. The lockable latch of claim 7, wherein the cam abuts an underside of the springboard when the cam is in the interference position.

9. The lockable latch of claim 7, wherein the cam rotates approximately 90 degrees between the interference and non-interference positions.

10. The lockable latch of claim 7, wherein the key and lock assembly is attached to a plate fixedly connected to the rigid hook.

11. The lockable latch of claim 7, further comprising:

a flexible belt attached to the rigid hook.

12. The lockable latch of claim 11, further comprising:

a lock box connected with the flexible belt.

13. A method for locking a vehicle restraining latch to a vehicle, the method comprising:

forming a rigid hook having a bar receiving portion;

connecting a springboard to the rigid hook, the springboard having an end configured to block the bar receiving portion;

operating the springboard between an obstructing position wherein the springboard blocks the bar receiving portion and an unobstructing position wherein the springboard does not block the bar receiving portion;

operably connecting a lock assembly to the rigid hook;

forming a cam on the lock assembly that is rotatable along a plane substantially parallel to the springboard end and operable between an interference position wherein the cam abuts an underside of the springboard and prevents the springboard from moving to the unobstructing position and a non-interference position wherein the cam is rotated away from the underside of the springboard and does not prevent the springboard from moving to the unobstructing position;

operably engaging the rigid hook with an anchor bar of a vehicle;

positioning the springboard in the obstructed position; and

positioning the cam in the interference position.

14. The method of claim 13, the step of operating the springboard further comprising:

flexing the springboard to bias the springboard to the obstructed position.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the cam rotates approximately 90 degrees between the interference and non-interference positions.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

rotating the cam to abut an underside of the springboard when the cam is in the interference position.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

attaching the lock assembly to a plate that is fixedly connected with the rigid hook.

18. The method of claim 15, the step of rotating the cam approximately 90 degrees further comprising:

rotating the cam with a key adapted to operate with the lock assembly.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

locking the cam in the interference position.