This invention relates to carrying cases, and, more particularly, to carrying cases with a double throw, triple action latch mechanism having a locking feature which substantially prevents inadvertent opening of the latch mechanism.
Carrying cases typically include a top case shell and a bottom case shell pivotally connected by a hinge. The two shells are maintained in a closed position by one or more latch mechanisms located along the front and/or the sides of the case. A variety of latch mechanisms have been employed in the past, such as single throw and double throw latches, some of which may be locked with combination locks or key locks.
Carrying cases intended for the transport of valuable items, and items which are relatively fragile, are preferably rugged in construction and not subject to inadvertent opening. While combination locks or key locks may reduce the incidence of inadvertent opening of a case, such features are more suitable for cases intended for use by one individual, e.g. brief cases and the like. If a carrying case may be used by several people, it is difficult to convey the combination of a lock to a group, whose members may change, and keys are easily lost. Further, security requirements at airports do not permit locking of cases or luggage, and such cases may be inadvertently opened by baggage handlers. There is therefore a need for a carrying case having a rugged construction with a locking feature which substantially prevents inadvertent opening of the case without the use of combination locks, key locks or the like.
This invention is directed to a carrying case with a latch mechanism having a locking feature which prevents inadvertent opening of the case.
In the presently preferred embodiment, the carrying case of this invention includes a top case shell and a bottom case shell pivotally connected by a hinge. A double throw, triple action latch mechanism maintains the case shells in the closed position. The latch mechanism comprises a latch body pivotally mounted to the bottom case shell, a latch locking element pivotally mounted to the latch body and a latch release coupled to the latch body. With the case in the closed position, the latch locking element engages a seat formed in the top case shell and clamps the two shells together. In response to pivotal motion of the latch body, the latch locking element may be disengaged from the top shell allowing the case to be opened.
The purpose of the latch release is to prevent inadvertent pivotal motion of the latch body, which, in turn, would allow the latch locking element to disengage the top case shell. As described in detail below, the latch release is movable between a locked position and a release position. In the locked position, the latch release engages the front wall of the bottom case shell and prevents pivotal motion of the latch body. In turn, the latch locking element is maintained in position against the seat of the top case shell thus retaining the case in the closed position. Upon movement of the latch release to the release position, the latch body is free to pivot thus allowing the latch locking element to disengage from the top case shell.
The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring initially to
With reference to
The latch locking element 36 comprises a front wall 68, spaced pivot arms 70 and 72 and a hook element 74. The pivot arm 70 is formed by an outer side plate 76 and an inner side plate 78. Similarly, the pivot arm 72 is formed by an outer side plate 80 and an inner side plate 82. A cross brace 84 spans the inner side plates 78 and 82. The front wall 68 has an opening 86, and the two pivot arms 70, 72 are formed with a through bore 88, 90, respectively.
The latch release 38 is sized and shaped to fit within the cavity 42 formed in the latch body 34. It includes a front wall 92, a back wall 94, a top wall 96 and a bottom wall 98 which are interconnected and collectively form a hollow interior within which a sleeve 102 is mounted. A button 100 extends from the bottom wall 98 through an opening 101 in the front wall 92. The top wall 96 has a recess 104 and an upwardly extending locking member 106 with a tapered top surface. As best seen in
The latch mechanism 16 is assembled by first inserting the latch release 38 within the cavity 42 of the latch body 34. The lower ends of the front and back walls 92, 94 of the latch release 38, and the holder 115, rest atop the bottom wall 48 of the latch body 34. The latch locking element 36 is then placed on the latch body 34 so that the pivot arm 70 rests atop the bearing surface 56 of the latch body 34, and the pivot arm 72 engages the bearing surface 54. With the latch locking element 36 and the latch release 38 in this position, a latch assembly pin 116 may be inserted through the bore 88 of pivot arm 70, through the bore 62 in the inner side wall 46 of the latch body 34, into the sleeve 102 of the latch release 38, through the bore 60 in the inner side wall 44 of latch body 34 and then into the bore 90 of pivot arm 72. This secures both the latch locking element 36 and the latch release 38 to the latch body 34, as depicted in
Operation of Latch Mechanism of
Referring now to
The latch release 38 is maintained in the locked position by operation of the spring 114. As seen in
In order to allow pivotal movement of the latch body 34, and, in turn, permit disengagement of the hook element 74 of the latch locking element 36 from the seat 26 in the top case shell 12, the latch release 38 must be moved to a release position shown in
With the latch release 38 in the release position, the latch body 34 may be pivoted in a clockwise direction about the case mounting pin 118 by grasping the tab 120 at the bottom of the latch body 34 and pulling outwardly relative to the bottom case shell 14, as illustrated in
Closure of the latch mechanism 16 is accomplished by reversing the steps noted above. The latch body 34 is initially pivoted in the clockwise direction to allow the hook member 74 of the latch locking element 36 to assume the position relative to the seat 26 shown in
Latch Mechanism of
Referring now to
Retention of the latch mechanisms 16, 18 in the embodiment of
The latch mechanism 130 is designed to avoid the potential, inadvertent pivoting of the latch body 34 prior to movement of the latch release 38 to its release position. To that end, a latch release 132 is provided having a front wall 134, a back wall 136, a top wall 138 and a bottom wall 140 which are interconnected to collectively form an interior within which a sleeve 142 is mounted. A cavity 141 is formed between the front and back walls 134, 136 which receives the coil spring 114. See
The operation of the latch mechanism 130 depicted in
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/762,497 filed Jun. 13, 2007, for all commonly disclosed subject matter. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/762,497 is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety to form part of the present disclosure.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11762497 | Jun 2007 | US |
Child | 12132654 | US |