Toggle latch
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A toggle latch for latching together first and second structures when in juxtaposition for latching at a closed position, the toggle latch comprising:
- a first unit having a body for mounting on the first structure, the body having a receiving cavity with lateral apertures at opposite sides of the body;
a support received in the receiving cavity, the support having a support cavity;
a latch arm having one end mounted on the support cavity and an opposite end projected laterally through one of the apertures of the body, the latch arm being configured to pivot about a latch arm axis;
a second unit for mounting on the second structure and receiving in latching engagement the latch arm, the second unit having a body portion within which a laterally directed aperture is defined for admitting the latch arm and a cavity for retaining the latch arm in latching engagement; and
the body portion being characterized by a ramp surface profiled to pivot the latch arm upward when impacting thereon, and an interior curved wall defining superior and anterior walls profiled to pivot the latch arm down to an inferior wall in the cavity;
the superior wall has a lead-in surface above the ramp surface that extends rearwardly and substantially horizontally smoothly blending into the anterior wall with a vertical gap between the superior wall and the ramp surface;
wherein the first unit is configured to be invertible so that when installed with respect to the second unit position, the latch arm may be directed to the left or to the right through a respective aperture of the body towards the second unit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A toggle latch for a gate has a first unit mounting a pivotal latch arm and adapted to be mounted on the gate and a second unit providing a receiving and latching cavity and adapted to be mounted on a gate post, the body portion of the second unit having a forward nose to provide a ramp to deflect upwardly and over the nose the latch arm when impacting thereon and an interior retaining surface defined in the body and having upper and rear surfaces of the cavity to deflect down into the cavity the latch arm after it has ridden up over the nose.
17 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A toggle latch for latching together first and second structures when in juxtaposition for latching at a closed position, the toggle latch comprising:
-
a first unit having a body for mounting on the first structure, the body having a receiving cavity with lateral apertures at opposite sides of the body; a support received in the receiving cavity, the support having a support cavity; a latch arm having one end mounted on the support cavity and an opposite end projected laterally through one of the apertures of the body, the latch arm being configured to pivot about a latch arm axis; a second unit for mounting on the second structure and receiving in latching engagement the latch arm, the second unit having a body portion within which a laterally directed aperture is defined for admitting the latch arm and a cavity for retaining the latch arm in latching engagement; and the body portion being characterized by a ramp surface profiled to pivot the latch arm upward when impacting thereon, and an interior curved wall defining superior and anterior walls profiled to pivot the latch arm down to an inferior wall in the cavity; the superior wall has a lead-in surface above the ramp surface that extends rearwardly and substantially horizontally smoothly blending into the anterior wall with a vertical gap between the superior wall and the ramp surface; wherein the first unit is configured to be invertible so that when installed with respect to the second unit position, the latch arm may be directed to the left or to the right through a respective aperture of the body towards the second unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A toggle latch for latching together first and second structures when in juxtaposition for latching at a closed position, the toggle latch comprising:
-
a first unit having a body for mounting on the first structure, the body having a receiving cavity with lateral apertures at opposite sides of the body; a support received in the receiving cavity, the support having a support cavity; a latch arm having one end mounted on the support cavity and an opposite end projected laterally through one of the apertures of the body, the latch arm is configured to pivot about a latch arm axis; a second unit for mounting on the second structure and receiving in latching engagement the latch arm, the second unit having a body portion within which a laterally directed aperture is defined for admitting the latch arm and a cavity for retaining the latch arm in latching engagement, the body portion being characterized by a ramp surface profiled to pivot the latch arm upward when impacting thereon, and an interior curved wall defining superior and anterior walls profiled to pivot the latch arm down to an inferior wall in the cavity; and the body portion of each of the first unit and the second unit is molded in plastics material, the first unit is invertible with two spaced supports for the latch arm so that when installed the latch arm may be directed to the left or to the right towards the second unit, and wherein the superior, anterior and inferior walls follow a smooth curve decreasing in radius of curvature generally from the superior wall through the anterior wall to the inferior wall; wherein the first unit is configured to be invertible so that when installed with respect to the second unit position, the latch arm may be directed to the left or to the right through a respective aperture of the body towards the second unit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
Specification