Electromechanical compression latch
First Claim
1. A latch (200) adapted for securing a closure member (300) in a predetermined position, the closure member being provided with a striker (308), the latch comprising:
- a latch housing (202);
a pawl (204);
a trigger (206), wherein said trigger (206) is biased into engagement with said pawl (204), said trigger (206) engaging said pawl (204) to thereby hold said pawl (204) in one of a first latched position and a second latched position, said trigger (206) being movable out of engagement with said pawl (204) to thereby allow said pawl to move to an unlatched position;
a cam gear (218) including a gear wheel (222) and a first cam (203), said cam gear (218) being rotationally supported in said housing (202) for rotation about an axis of rotation, said first cam (203) having a cam lobe (207) located at a distance from said axis of rotation of said cam gear (218), said first cam (203) acting to drive said pawl (204) from said first latched position to said second latched position when said cam gear (218) is rotated in a first direction;
a circuit board (230);
a latch control circuit (235);
a motor (210) selectively powering rotation of said cam gear; and
at least two sensors (332, 326), including a first sensor (332) and a second sensor (326), mounted on said circuit board (230);
wherein said pawl (204) is provided with a pawl slot (258) to capture and hold the striker (308) when said pawl (204) is in one of said first latched position and said second latched position, wherein with said pawl (204) initially in said unlatched configuration, as the closure member (300) is closed, the striker (308) will be positioned and captured in said pawl slot (258) with said pawl (204) being moved to said first latched position, andwherein said first sensor (332) detects when said pawl (204) reaches said first latched position, whereupon said first sensor (332) generates a signal to said latch control circuit (235) that causes electrical current to be supplied to said motor (210) to thereby cause rotation of said cam gear (218) to move said pawl (204) to said second latched position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed to improvements in latch design. The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is a rotary pawl latch with the capability to provide a compressive force between the first member and the second member. The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is of an electromechanical type. The control circuit of the latch detects when a striker attached to one member, for example a door, has moved the pawl to a first latched position. A motor is then activated that drives the pawl to a second latched position to provide compression between the first member and a second member, for example a door frame.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A latch (200) adapted for securing a closure member (300) in a predetermined position, the closure member being provided with a striker (308), the latch comprising:
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a latch housing (202); a pawl (204); a trigger (206), wherein said trigger (206) is biased into engagement with said pawl (204), said trigger (206) engaging said pawl (204) to thereby hold said pawl (204) in one of a first latched position and a second latched position, said trigger (206) being movable out of engagement with said pawl (204) to thereby allow said pawl to move to an unlatched position; a cam gear (218) including a gear wheel (222) and a first cam (203), said cam gear (218) being rotationally supported in said housing (202) for rotation about an axis of rotation, said first cam (203) having a cam lobe (207) located at a distance from said axis of rotation of said cam gear (218), said first cam (203) acting to drive said pawl (204) from said first latched position to said second latched position when said cam gear (218) is rotated in a first direction; a circuit board (230); a latch control circuit (235); a motor (210) selectively powering rotation of said cam gear; and at least two sensors (332, 326), including a first sensor (332) and a second sensor (326), mounted on said circuit board (230); wherein said pawl (204) is provided with a pawl slot (258) to capture and hold the striker (308) when said pawl (204) is in one of said first latched position and said second latched position, wherein with said pawl (204) initially in said unlatched configuration, as the closure member (300) is closed, the striker (308) will be positioned and captured in said pawl slot (258) with said pawl (204) being moved to said first latched position, and wherein said first sensor (332) detects when said pawl (204) reaches said first latched position, whereupon said first sensor (332) generates a signal to said latch control circuit (235) that causes electrical current to be supplied to said motor (210) to thereby cause rotation of said cam gear (218) to move said pawl (204) to said second latched position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of operating a latch (200) adapted for securing a closure member (300) in a predetermined position, the closure member being provided with a striker (308), wherein the latch comprises:
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a latch housing (202); a pawl (204); a trigger (206); and an electrically operated actuator assembly (208) capable of selectively moving said trigger (206) out of engagement with said pawl (204) and rotating said pawl from a first latched position to a second latched position to move the striker (308) inward relative to said housing (202), wherein said electrically operated actuator assembly (208) comprises; a cam gear (218) including a gear wheel (222), a first cam (203), and a second cam (205), said cam gear (218) being rotationally supported in said housing (202) for rotation about an axis of rotation, said first cam (203) having a cam lobe (207) located at a distance from said axis of rotation of said cam gear (218), said first cam (203) acting to drive said pawl (204) from said first latched position to said second latched position when said cam gear (218) is rotated in a first direction, said second cam (205) being in the form of a raised, arc-shaped, and elongated rib eccentrically positioned relative to said axis of rotation of said cam gear (218), said second cam (205) acting to disengage said trigger from said pawl when said cam gear is rotated in a second direction opposite to said first direction; a circuit board (230); a latch control circuit (235); a motor (210) selectively powering rotation of said cam gear; and at least two sensors (332, 326), including a first sensor (332) and a second sensor (326), mounted on said circuit board (230); wherein said pawl (204) is provided with a pawl slot (258) to capture and hold the striker (308) when said pawl (204) is in either one of a first latched position and a second latched position, wherein with the latch (200) initially in an unlatched configuration, as the closure member (300) is closed, the striker (308) will be positioned and captured in said pawl slot (258) with said pawl (204) being moved to said first latched position, wherein said second sensor (326) at least detects when said cam gear (218) is in its starting position, and wherein said second sensor (326) then generates a signal to said latch control circuit (235) when said cam gear (218) is in its starting position; the method comprising the steps of; detecting when said pawl (204) reaches said first latched position using said first sensor (332), whereupon said first sensor (332) generates a signal to said latch control circuit (235); supplying current with a first polarity to said motor (210) to cause rotation of said cam gear (218) in a first direction to move said pawl (204) to said second latched position; and ceasing the supply of current to said motor (210) when said second sensor (326) detects that said cam gear (218) is in its starting position. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification