Claims
- 1. In combination, a first panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and aperture therethrough extending in an axial direction between said outer surface and said inner surface and a latch flush mounted in said first panel, the latch comprising:
a housing defining an upper terminating end and a lower terminating end along a longitudinal axis and an outer surface between said upper and lower terminating ends, wherein at least a portion of said outer surface of said housing adjacent to said upper terminating end is received in said aperture in said first panel and said upper terminating end is positioned substantially flush with said outer surface of said first panel; retaining means for securing said housing when said housing is received within said aperture of said first panel, wherein said retaining means comprises mounting and mounted positions, with said retaining means being movable in said mounting position and substantially fixed in said mounted position, said retaining means further including means for retaining both an axial position and a rotational position of said latch in said mounted position, and with said rotational position retaining means in said mounting position being movable along said longitudinal axis and substantially fixed against rotation relative to said longitudinal axis; fastening means for releasably securing said first panel and said second panel; and actuating means for operating said fastening means.
- 2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said retaining means further comprises means for substantially preventing movement of either said rotational position retaining means or said axial position retaining means in said mounted position.
- 3. A combination according to claim 2, wherein said rotational position retaining means comprises a retaining washer having a non-circular shaped aperture therethrough received onto at least a portion of said outer surface of said housing having a non-circular shaped cross-section.
- 4. A combination according to claim 3, wherein said axial position retaining means comprises a retaining nut having a substantially circular aperture therethrough defining an annular wall having a series of threads therein received onto at least a portion of said outer surface of said housing having a series of corresponding threads formed therein.
- 5. A combination according to claim 4, wherein said means for substantially preventing movement of either said retaining washer or said retaining nut in said mounted position comprises at least one fastening member.
- 6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said housing further includes an opening within said upper end into which said actuating means is received so that said actuating means is confined within said housing.
- 7. A latch adapted for mounting in a member having an outer surface, an inner surface and an aperture extending in an axial direction through said outer surface and said inner surface comprising:
a housing generally elongate adapted for mounting in said aperture of said member and defining an upper end and a lower end; retaining means associated with said housing and having mounting and mounted positions for securing said latch, said retaining means comprising a first retaining member and a second retaining member; said first retaining member in said mounting position being adjustable relative to said upper end of said housing and in said mounted position being substantially fixed relative to said upper end of said housing; said second retaining member in said mounting position being rotatable incrementally relative to said housing from an original position to an adjusted position and with said adjusted position being less than 90 degrees from said original position for positioning said first retaining member in said mounted position.
- 8. A latch according to claim 7, wherein said second retaining member includes an a threaded aperture therethrough substantially encircling a threaded portion of said housing.
- 9. A latch according to claim 8, wherein said first retaining member includes an aperture therethrough substantially encircling a portion of said housing defining a cross10 section generally corresponding in configuration to said aperture.
- 10. A latch according to claim 9, wherein said aperture of said first retaining member is substantially non-circular in configuration and said portion of said housing in cross-section is configured substantially corresponding to said non-circular aperture of said first retaining member.
- 11. A latch according to claim 10, wherein said first retaining member engages said second retaining member and said first retaining member is positioned closer to said upper end of said housing than said second retaining member.
- 12. In combination, a latch and retainer assembly comprising:
a first retaining member having an aperture therethrough defining at least one retaining surface and encircling a first portion of said latch, wherein said first portion of said latch in cross-section comprises a latch retaining surface substantially corresponding in configuration to said at least one retaining surface of said aperture of said first retaining member, whereby said first retaining member is adjustable in a longitudinal direction of said first portion of said latch and substantially fixed against rotation relative to said first portion of said latch; and a second retaining member having a threaded aperture therethrough and encircling a second portion of said latch having a threaded outer surface, whereby said second retaining member is rotatable relative to said latch for adjusting a position of said second retaining member in a longitudinal direction of said second portion of said latch.
- 13. A combination according to claim 12, wherein said first portion of said latch comprises at least a section of said second portion of said latch.
- 14. A method for mounting a latch in a panel, the panel having an outer surface, an inner surface and an aperture therethrough, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a latch comprising a first retaining member having an aperture therethrough defining at least one retaining surface, a second retaining member having a threaded aperture therethrough, an upper terminating end, a lower terminating end and an outer surface, with said outer surface having a first portion defining a substantially threaded section and a second portion defining a latch retaining surface having a cross-section substantially corresponding in configuration to said at least one retaining surface of said first retaining member; and installing said latch in said panel comprising: inserting at least said outer surface of said latch into said aperture of said panel; inserting said first retaining member on said latch so that said aperture of said first retaining member substantially encircles said outer surface; inserting said second retaining member on said latch so that said threaded aperture of said second retaining member substantially encircles and engages said threaded section of said outer surface; adjusting a position of said first retaining member and said second retaining member relative to said upper terminating end of said latch by rotating said second retaining member and sliding said first retaining member in a substantially axial direction; and securing said first retaining member and said second retaining member in said adjusted position on said latch.
- 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said first retaining member and said second retaining member are secured in said adjusted position on said latch by fastening means.
- 16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said step of installing said latch in said panel further comprises the step of mounting said latch flush in said panel by adjusting a position of said latch so that said upper terminating end is substantially flush with said outer surface of said panel.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/931,993 filed Sep. 17, 1997.
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08931993 |
Sep 1997 |
US |
Child |
09345292 |
Jun 1999 |
US |