Latch system with inertial lock mechanism
First Claim
1. A latch system comprising:
- a catch member capable of swinging between a latch position and a release position;
a sear element engaged with said catch member when said catch member is in said latch position, said sear element including first gear teeth; and
a swing lever having second gear teeth and a weight, wherein said second gear teeth are engaged with said first gear teeth of said sear element, and wherein said weight provides resistance to an acceleration event and causes said swing lever to pivot in a first direction in response to the acceleration event to cause said sear element to pivot in a second direction opposing said first direction thereby disengaging from said catch member such that said catch member is able to move to said release position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A latch system includes a catch member and a sear element engaged with the catch member when the catch member is in a latch position. A swing lever is in geared engagement with the sear element. When the latch system is subjected to an acceleration event, the swing lever pivots in one direction so that the sear element pivots in the opposite direction to move the sear element out of engagement with the catch member. The latch system may be installed on a container so that the catch member engages with a latch receptacle coupled to a hinged lid of the container. When the container experiences the acceleration event, the sear element disengages from the catch element and the hinged lid falls open thereby causing the catch member to pivot to the release position. The latch system automatically re-engages when the container is returned to its upright position.
84 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A latch system comprising:
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a catch member capable of swinging between a latch position and a release position; a sear element engaged with said catch member when said catch member is in said latch position, said sear element including first gear teeth; and a swing lever having second gear teeth and a weight, wherein said second gear teeth are engaged with said first gear teeth of said sear element, and wherein said weight provides resistance to an acceleration event and causes said swing lever to pivot in a first direction in response to the acceleration event to cause said sear element to pivot in a second direction opposing said first direction thereby disengaging from said catch member such that said catch member is able to move to said release position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus comprising:
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a container having an interior volume and an opening; a closure element covering said opening, said closure element being movable relative to said container; a latch receptacle secured to said closure element; and a latch system secured to said container and configured to lock said closure element to said container, said latch system including; a catch member, said catch member including a catch pivot and a hook, said catch pivot enabling pivotable movement of said catch member between a latch position and a release position, and said hook engaging with said latch receptacle in said latch position and pivoting out of engagement with said latch receptacle in said release position; a sear element engaged with said catch member when said catch member is in said latch position, said sear element including first gear teeth; a swing lever having second gear teeth engaged with said first gear teeth of said sear element, said swing lever pivoting in a first direction in response to an acceleration event to cause said sear element to pivot in a second direction opposing said first direction thereby disengaging from said catch member such that said catch member is able to pivot to said release position; a housing in which at least portions of said catch member, said sear element, and said swing lever are located; and a spring having a first end coupled to said swing lever and having a second end coupled to said housing, wherein said swing lever is biased toward a locked position by said spring to urge said sear element in substantially continuous engagement with said catch member in the absence of said acceleration event. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A latch system comprising:
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a catch member capable of swinging between a latch position and a release position; a sear element engaged with said catch member when said catch member is in said latch position, said sear element including first gear teeth located at a first end of said sear element, said sear element being pivotable about a first pivot axis located at a second end of said sear element, said second end opposing said first end; and a swing lever, said swing lever including a third end and a fourth end opposing said third end, said third end being pivotable about a second pivot axis, said swing lever further including second gear teeth and a weight, said second gear teeth being located proximate said second pivot axis, said fourth end including said weight, and said second gear teeth being in geared engagement with said first gear teeth, wherein said weight provides resistance to an acceleration event to cause said swing lever to pivot about said second pivot axis in a first direction so that said sear element pivots in a second direction opposing said first direction thereby releasing said catch member such that said catch member is able to move to said release position. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification