Self-aligning catch and latch

• US 8,979,144 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Coast Chain Mfg. Co.
• Original Assignee: West Coast Chain Mfg. Co.
• Inventors: Paugh, Boake, Buesseler, Joshua R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Kristina
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cumar, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US13/458,693
• Publication Number:
  US 20130284743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 292/1, 292/200, 292/DIG.49, 292/240, 292/241, 292/247, 292/304, 292/202, 292/DIG.48, 292/DIG.63, 24/69.R, 24/69.ST, 24/69.CF, 24/68.K, 24/71.R, 24/71.ST, 241/70, 241/91, 24/69.SK, 24/70.SK, 24/68.SK, 24/71.T, 24/68.E
• US Class Current: 292/200
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1084 of the latch-and-catch type
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/14 with toggle action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0883 Swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/108 Lever

Abstract

A latch and catch assembly is provided to secure two or more components together in a locked or closed position. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a catch and a tensile member connected to a latch, wherein the assembly is moveable between an open position and a closed position. The catch includes a lip configured to engage a recess formed in the latch when the assembly is in the closed configuration. In a further embodiment, the latch includes a pull-tab extending from the latch, wherein the pull-tab is configured to enable the user to move the assembly between the open position and the closed position. In another embodiment, the catch has a wider proximal portion which tapers to a narrower distal portion, such that the catch has a “V”-shaped planform.

Claims

1. A latch and catch assembly for releasably securing together a first component and a second component of a container, comprising:

a catch affixed to the first component, the catch having a lip;

a latch having an attachment portion and a pull-tab opposite the attachment portion, the attachment portion having a recess configured to receive the lip, the recess tapering between a wider end distal to the pull-tab and a narrower end proximal to the pull-tab; and

a tensile member having two ends affixed to the second component, the tensile member having a portion connected to the latch,

wherein the latch is configured to pivot against the lip to move between a latched position and an unlatched position,

wherein the tensile member is configured to apply a force on the latch toward the catch when the latch is in the latched position,

wherein the lip is received in the recess when the latch is in the latched position, and

wherein the tensile member extends around the catch when the latch is in the latched position.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch is configured to assume a tipping position while moving between the latched position and the unlatched position.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the tensile member connected to the latch is a mid-portion of the tensile member.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the portion of the tensile member extends through the attachment portion of the latch.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the catch has a wider proximal portion which tapers to a narrower distal portion.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises thermoplastic polyurethane.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the catch comprises thermoplastic polyurethane.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the latch is located generally at a midpoint along the length of the tensile member.

9. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an opening formed in the latch, wherein the tensile member extends through the opening in the latch.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the opening formed in the latch is distal to the lip when the latch is in the latched position.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess formed in the latch is crescent-shaped.

12. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the attachment portion of the latch comprises a first thickness and the pull-tab formed on the latch comprises a second thickness, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness such that a step is formed between the attachment portion and the pull tab.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the pull-tab forms a reflex angle with an outer surface of the attachment portion of the latch.

14. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a ridge formed on a distal end of the pull tab.

15. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lip on the catch has a tapered convex shape and the recess in the latch has a tapered concave shape, and wherein the engagement between the lip and the recess is configured to bias the latch into proper alignment with the catch.

16. A latch and catch assembly for releasably securing together a first component and a second component of a container, comprising:

a catch affixed to the first component, the catch having a lip;

a latch having an attachment portion and a pull-tab opposite the attachment portion, the attachment portion having a recess configured to receive the lip, the recess tapering between a wider end distal to the pull-tab and a narrower end proximal to the pull-tab; and

a tensile member having two ends affixed to the second component, the tensile member having a portion connected to the latch,

wherein the latch is configured to move between an unlatched position and a latched position,

wherein the tensile member is configured to apply a force on the latch toward the catch when the latch is in the latched position,

wherein the lip is received in the recess when the latch is in the latched position, and

wherein the catch is disposed between the latch and the two ends of the tensile member when the latch is in the latched position.

17. The latch and catch assembly of claim 16, wherein the two ends of the tensile member are spaced apart by a distance greater than a width of the catch.