Claims
- 1. A handle and latch assembly, comprising:a latch housing; a latch bolt movably contained at least in part within said latch housing movable between a first latch bolt position and a second latch bolt position; a biasing means for urging the latch bolt towards said first latch bolt position; a first handle connected to said latch housing; and at least one engagement pin mounted to said latch bolt for engagement with at least said first handle; wherein said first handle comprises a first camming surface for engaging said at least one engagement pin; wherein said latch housing further comprises at least one slot capable of allowing said at least one engagement pin to pass therethrough; and wherein said at least one engagement pin extends beyond said latch housing such that said first camming surface engages said at least one engagement pin outside of said latch housing.
- 2. A closure mechanism having a closure brace comprising of a pair of brace halves that form at least one opening, and having a sliding member comprising a lateral structure, a catch structure, and one or more positioning levers, said lateral structure positioned either extending beyond said at least one opening or substantially retracted within said closure brace, said closure mechanism further comprising:a biasing means for biasing the sliding member towards extending beyond said at least one opening in said closure mechanism; a first release mechanism pivotally connected to said closure brace and having a first actuator assembly for adjustable positioning said one or more positioning levers; a second release mechanism pivotally connected to said closure brace and having a second actuator assembly for adjustable positioning said one or more positioning levers in a manner operationally distinct from and independent of the first actuator assembly; wherein said closure brace comprises one or more guidance tracks for said positioning levers; and wherein said one or more positioning levers extends beyond said closure brace such that said first actuating assembly of said first release mechanism displaces said one or more positioning levers outside of said closure brace.
- 3. A closure mechanism having a closure brace comprising of a pair of brace halves that form at least one opening, and having a sliding member comprising a lateral structure, a catch structure, and one or more positioning levers, said lateral structure positioned either extending beyond said at least one opening or substantially retracted within said closure brace, said closure mechanism further comprising:a biasing means for biasing the sliding member towards extending beyond said at least one opening in said closure mechanism; a first release mechanism pivotally connected to said closure brace and having a first actuator assembly for adjustably positioning said one or more positioning levers; a second release mechanism pivotally connected to said closure brace and having a second actuator assembly for adjustable positioning said one or more positioning levers in a manner operationally distinct from and independent of the first actuator assembly; wherein said closure brace comprises one or more guidance tracks for said positioning levers; and wherein said first actuating assembly has a actuating surface that comprises a radially outward section and a radially inward section, said radially inward section having a relatively tight curvature for nearly immediate engagement with said positioning lever upon the initiation of rotation of said first release mechanism for minimizing any play therebetween, and said radially outward section having a progressively beveled surface for maximizing the lateral displacement of said sliding member.
- 4. A closure mechanism having a closure brace comprising of a pair of brace halves that form at least one opening, and having a sliding member comprising a lateral structure, a catch structure, and one or more positioning levers, said lateral structure positioned either extending beyond said at least one opening or substantially retracted within said closure brace, said closure mechanism further comprising:a biasing means for biasing the sliding member towards extending beyond said at least one opening in said closure mechanism; a first release mechanism pivotally connected to said closure brace and having a first actuator assembly for adjustable positioning said one or more positioning levers; a second release mechanism pivotally connected to said closure brace and having a second actuator assembly for adjustably positioning said one or more positioning levers in a manner operationally distinct from and independent of the first actuator assembly; wherein said closure brace comprises one or more guidance tracks for said positioning levers; and wherein said second actuating assembly has a actuating surface that comprises a radially outward section and a radially inward section, said radially inward section having a relatively tight curvature for nearly immediate engagement with said positioning lever upon the initiation of rotation of said second release mechanism for minimizing any play therebetween, and said radially outward section having a progressively beveled surface for maximizing the lateral displacement of said sliding member.
- 5. A handle and latch assembly, comprising:a latch housing; a latch bolt movably contained at least in part within said latch housing movable between a first latch bolt position and a second latch bolt position; a biasing means for urging the latch bolt towards said first latch bolt position; a first handle connected to said latch housing; and at least one engagement pin mounted to said latch bolt for engagement with at least said first handle; wherein said first handle comprises a first camming surface for engaging said at least one engagement pin; and wherein said first cam surface comprises a radially outward section and a radially inward section, said radially inward section having a relatively tight curvature for nearly immediate engagement with said at least one engagement pin upon the initiation of rotation of said first handle for minimizing any play therebetween, and said radially outward section having a progressively beveled surface for maximizing the lateral displacement of said latch bolt.
- 6. A handle and latch assembly, comprising:a latch housing; a latch bolt movably contained at least in part within said latch housing movable between a first latch bolt position and a second latch bolt position; a biasing means for urging the latch bolt towards said first latch bolt position; a first handle connected to said latch housing; and at least one engagement pin mounted to said latch bolt for engagement with at least said first handle; wherein said first handle comprises a first camming surface for engaging said at least one engagement pin; said handle and latch assembly further comprising a shaft in communication with said latch bolt; a shaft collar assembly connected to said shaft and having a second camming surface for engaging the latch bolt or said at least one engagement pin; and a second handle connected to said shaft, wherein said second cam surface on said shaft collar assembly comprises a radially outward section and a radially inward section, said radially inward section having a relatively tight curvature for nearly immediate engagement with said at least one engagement pin upon the initiation of rotation of said second handle for minimizing any play therebetween, and said radially outward section having a progressively
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This Application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/345,284 filed on Jun. 30, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,174,005 which by this reference is incorporated as if fully set forth herein.
US Referenced Citations (11)