BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a latch assembly for a track device for, e.g., a drawer of a computer desk or furniture.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, a latch device and a handle are mounted to different positions on a drawer of a computer desk or furniture. The manufacture cost is high, as many elements are involved. Further, both hands of the user are required when pulling out the drawer; namely, one for unlatching operation and the other for pulling out the drawer. Although connecting elements have been proposed to allow unlatching while pulling out the drawer, the cost is increased for the additional connecting elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a latch assembly for a track device attached to a drawer, allowing unlatching with one hand while pulling out the drawer. This object is achieved by providing a latch handle on the track device to thereby simplify the unlatching operation and allow easy operation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a latch assembly for a track device attached to a drawer, the latch assembly including a latch handle and a latch seat that are mounted to the track device. Thus, the overall structure for the track device, the latch handle, and the latch seat is simplified.
In accordance with the present invention, a latch assembly is provided for a track device that includes a first track member fixed to, e.g., a drawer plate of furniture and a second track member fixed to, e.g., a wall of the furniture, the first track member being slidable relative to the second track member. The latch assembly comprises a latch handle mounted to the first track member and a latch seat provided on the second track member. The latch handle includes a latching portion and an unlatching member. The latching portion of the latch handle is releasably engaged with the latch seat, thereby preventing sliding movement of the first track member relative to the second track member. The unlatching member is operable to urge the latching portion to be disengaged from the latch seat, thereby allowing the sliding movement of the first track member relative to the second track member. Thus, by means of providing a latch handle on the first track member, the unlatching operation and pulling operation of the drawer plate is mounted can be accomplished by only one hand.
Other objects, specific advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and preferable embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a computer desk equipped with a latch assembly for a track device in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the track device and the latch assembly in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, wherein the track device is in a latched position.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the latch assembly in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the latch assembly in a latched state.
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, wherein the latch assembly is in an unlatched state.
FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating a track and a modified embodiment of the latch assembly in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view, partly exploded, illustrating a track device and another modified embodiment of the latch assembly in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the track device and the modified embodiment in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view f a computer desk equipped with a further modified embodiment of the latch assembly in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, a latch assembly in accordance with the present invention is mounted to a track device 10 for, e.g., a computer desk or furniture including a drawer plate 2 and a wall 1. The drawer plate 2 can be moved relative to the wall 1 along a horizontal direction.
Still referring to FIG. 1, the track device 10 includes a first track member 11 fixed to a side of the drawer plate 2, a first connecting portion 111 that is preferably integrally formed with the first track member 11, a second track member 12 fixed to the wall 1, and a second connecting portion 121 that is preferably formed with the second track member 12. In this embodiment, the first connecting portion 111 is an extension projecting from an outer end of the first track member 11 and extending in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the first track member 11. The second connecting portion 121 is an extension extending from an outer end of the second track member 12.
Referring to FIG. 2, the latch assembly in accordance with the present invention is designated by reference numeral 20 and comprises a latch handle 21 mounted to the first connecting portion 111 and a latch seat 23 provided on the second connecting portion 121. Thus, the overall structure of the latch assembly is simplified. The latch handle 21 comprises a latching portion 211 for releasably engaging with the latch seat 23. As shown in at least FIG. 2, the latch seat 23 includes a bent ring member longitudinally aligned with the latching portion 211. The latch handle 21 further includes an unlatching means 22 that includes a pair of actuating members 223. Unlatching is effected when the actuating members 223 are pressed, and the user may pull the latch handle 21 to thereby pull out the first track member 11 and the drawer plate 2 or push the latch handle 21 to thereby push the first truck member 11 into the second track member 12.
The track device in FIG. 2 is in an unlatched state and thus allows movement of the first track member 11 relative to the second track member 12. Namely, the drawer 2 is movable relative to the wall 1. Referring to FIG. 3, when the first track member 11 is retraced into the second track member 12 with the latching portion 211 being latched by the latch seat 23, the first track member 11 is not movable unless the actuating members 223 are pressed.
Referring to FIG. 4, in an embodiment of the invention, the latch handle 21 includes a casing consisting of two casing halves 21a and 21b that are symmetric to each other to allow easy manufacture and assembly. Each casing half 21a, 21b includes a compartment 212 for receiving the unlatching means 22. The compartment 212 has a recessed section 213 for receiving a return member 216 that can be compressed for subsequent returning operation. Further, each casing half 21a, 21b includes at least one hole 214 (two holes 214 in each casing half 21a, 21b in this embodiment) for receiving a pin 215. The holes 214 in the casing halves 21a and 21b are aligned with each other for respectively receiving two ends of the associated one of the pins 215. The compartment 212 in each casing half 21a, 21b is communicated with outside via an opening 217 in a side of the casing half 21a, 21b, and a restraining member 218 is provided adjacent to the opening 217 to allow partial extension of the unlatching means 22 out 11 of the casing 21a, 21b. When the casing halves 21a and 21b are engaged with each other, the openings 217 are located on two sides of the latch handle 21.
The unlatching means 22 further includes a first unlatching member 22a and a second unlatching member 22b. Each unlatching member 22a, 22b includes a hole 221 in an end thereof for pivotal connection with the associated pin 215, allowing the unlatching member 22a, 22b to pivot about the pin 215. Each unlatching member 22a, 22b further includes a hook 222 on the other end thereof. The hook 222 is normally exposed outside the latch handle 21 via the associated opening 217. The actuating members 223 are respectively mounted to two sides of the latch handle 21 for actuating the unlatching members 22a and 22b. When the respective pressing member 223 is pressed, it presses against the associated unlatching member 22a, 22b at a point adjacent to the end of the associated unlatching member 22a, 22b. Thus, the unlatching member 22a, 22b is pivoted about the pin 215 such that the hook 222 is moved into the latch handle 21. Each unlatching member 22a, 22b further includes an attaching section 224 that is opposite to the point where the associated actuating member 223 comes in contact with the unlatching member 22a, 22b during the unlatching operation. The return member 216 is an elastic element having two ends respectively attached to the attaching sections 224 of the unlatching members 22a and 22b. Thus, the unlatching members 22a and 22b are returned to their normal latching position under the action of the return member 216 when the actuating members 223 are released. Namely, the hooks 222 are moved out of the latch handle 21.
The latch seat 23 includes a hole 231 through which the latching portion 211 of the latch handle 21 extends. When in the latched position, the hooks 222 of the unlatching members 22a and 22b are engaged with an end wall of the latch seat 23, preventing outward sliding movement of the first track member 11 relative to the second track member 12, best shown in FIG. 5. When the actuating members 223 are pressed, as shown in FIG. 6, in this unlatched position, the hooks 222 of the unlatching members 22a and 22b are moved into the latch handle 21 and thus disengaged from the end wall of the latch seat 23, allowing outward sliding movement of the first track member 11 relative to the second track member 12. Thus, by means of providing a latch handle 21 on the first track member 11, the unlatching operation and pulling operation of the drawer plate 2 can be accomplished by only one hand.
FIG. 7 illustrates a modified embodiment of the latch assembly, wherein only one actuating member (now designated by 22′) is used. The structure of the latch handle 21 is simplified.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate another embodiment of the latch assembly. In this embodiment, the latch assembly includes a latch handle 21 and a latch seat 23 provided on the second track member 12. The latch handle 21 includes a latch member (or latch portion) 24 and an unlatching member 25 in the form of a turn piece or turn knob. The latch member 24 includes a hook 241 on an end thereof for releasably engaging with the latch seat 23. The latch member 24 further includes a second end 242 having a non-circular section. The second end 242 rotatably extends through a hole 110 in the first connecting portion 111 and is then engaged with a non-circular hole 250 in the unlatching member 25. Thus, the unlatching member 25 may be turned between a latched position shown in FIG. 9 and an unlatched position (not shown). The latch seat 23 has a hole 230 having a width smaller than a maximum width of the hook 241. Further, the hole 230 of the latch seat 23 has a height greater than the maximum width of the hook 241. When in the latched position, since the width of the hook 241 of the latching member 24 is greater than that of the hole 230 of the latch seat 23, the first track member 11 cannot be moved away from the second track member 12. When in the unlatched position, the latching member 24 is turned to an upright position such that the width of the hook 241 is orientated in an upright position. Since the width of the hook 241 is smaller than the height of the hole 230 of the latch seat 23, the first track member 11 can be moved away from the second track member 12. Thus, a drawer plate to which the first track member 11 is fixed can be pulled out of e.g., a computer desk or furniture. Accordingly, one may grasp the unlatching member 25 and turn it through 90 degrees and then apply a force to pull the first track member 11 outward, best shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 10 illustrates a further modified embodiment of the latch assembly for a track in accordance with the present invention, wherein the latch seat 23 is fixed to the wall 1 by fixing members 14, and the location of the latch handle 21 is correspondingly changed.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention.
Patent Grant
6883884
