Latch assemblies are mechanical apparatuses that are typically used to releasably hold/latch two elements in closed relation. For example, latch assemblies may be used to hold/latch a closure member such as a door or hatch in a closed position relative to a body member such as a door frame or hatch frame. Such latch assemblies are also operative to release/unlatch the closure member relative to the body member via mechanical manipulation of a portion of the latch assembly such as a handle. Latch assemblies may benefit from improvements.
The following is a brief summary of subject matter that is described in greater detail herein. This summary is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the claims.
In example embodiments of one or more inventions described herein, a latch assembly may include a water seal system that is operative to minimize water intrusion to the back side of the latch assembly. Examples of latch assemblies that may include embodiments of the water seal system described herein include paddle handle latches. An example of a paddle handle latch is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,513,353, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Such latches typically include a handle nested in a housing-defined receptacle, which handle pivots so as to move a linkage which is referred to herein as a trigger. Such a trigger may extend from the handle through an aperture in the base of the receptacle of the housing and engage with a latching mechanism mounted on a rear side of the housing. Such a latching mechanism may be operative responsive to the movement of the trigger to unlatch a closure member (e.g. a door/hatch) with respect to a body member (e.g. a door/hatch frame). For example, such a latching mechanism may include a rotary latch that is operative to engage with a striker of closed door. Movement of the handle is operative to move the trigger so as to cause the latching mechanism to release the striker and permit the door to open. Also, it should be appreciated that example embodiments of the described water seal system may be used with other forms and styles of latch assemblies which include a handle operated trigger.
An example embodiment of the water seal system includes the previously described trigger that is welded to (or otherwise fastened) to the handle. Mounted on this trigger is a deformable gasket mounted to a rigid backing plate. In an example embodiment the gasket may be attached to the backing plate via an adhesive (e.g., a pressure sensitive adhesive). In an example embodiment the backing plate may be comprised of a stainless steel or other type of metal that is operative to resist oxidation and/or that is coated in a manner that resists oxidation. The gasket may be comprised of a compressible water resistant material such as a neoprene or other synthetic rubber and/or any other type of material that is deformable and is operative to minimize water leakage between adjacent elements when compressed.
In an example embodiment, the backing plate and gasket include slots therethrough. The backing plate and gasket are mounted to the trigger by extending an end portion of the trigger through the slots. The trigger may include at least a stop surface (e.g., a ledge or shoulder) that is operative to receive the backing plate in abutting relation thereagainst, with the gasket facing towards the top of end portion of the trigger. This described water seal system operates by causing the stop surface to urge the backing plate so as to compress the gasket between the backing plate and the portions of the receptacle that surround the aperture through which the trigger extends. This compression seals the outward facing side of the receptacle from water intrusion to the back side of the receptacle.
In an example embodiment, the water seal system may be assembled on a latch apparatus via a method in which the backing plate (absent the gasket) is initially mounted on the trigger by relatively sliding the end of the trigger through the slot of the backing plate, until the backing plate rests on the stop surface of the trigger. The gasket may be provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive that is covered with a cover/liner. The cover/liner may be removed to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive and subsequently the gasket may be mounted on the backing plate (already on the trigger) by relatively sliding the end of the trigger through the slot of the gasket, until the side of the gasket with the pressure sensitive adhesive becomes pressed against the backing plate. The trigger may then be slid through the aperture in the receptacle of the housing, so as to extend to the back side of the latch assembly.
Other aspects will be appreciated upon reading and understanding the attached figures and description.
Various technologies pertaining to a water seal system for a latch assembly will now be described with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. Also, it is to be understood that functionality that is described as being carried out by certain components may be performed by multiple components. Similarly, for instance, a component may be configured to perform functionality that is described as being carried out by multiple components.
With reference to
The latch assembly 102 includes a housing 104 which includes a receptacle 106 for a pivotal handle 108. The handle 108 is operative to pivot between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the receptacle, wherein in the extended position, the handle extends relatively farther out of the receptacle than when in the retracted position.
The described latching mechanism may be configured such that when a lower portion of the handle 108 (shown in
As illustrated in
Also it should be appreciated that although a latching mechanism is shown that includes a rotary latch, it should be understood that the embodiments described herein may be used with other forms of latching mechanism that are capable of being operative via the described trigger. Other latching mechanism may include various linkages, rods, and brackets that are operative to manipulate one or more latching elements (including movable bolts) positioned adjacent to and/or remote from the described housing of the latch assembly.
In a typical implementation of the described latch assembly, the latch assembly may be mounted to a door, hatch or other closure member in a manner in which the front side of the assembly can be exposed to rain, snow, ice, washings, and other sources of water. As shown in
As shown in
As illustrated in
As shown in
As discussed previously,
In an example embodiment, the gasket may be mounted to the backing plate with a pressure sensitive adhesive. However, it should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments other forms of adhesives may be used that are operative to adhere a deformable gasket material to a backing plate. Also it should be appreciated that in further embodiments the gasket may not be adhesively mounted to the backing plate. In such embodiments, the gasket may have a sufficiently tight compression fit with the trigger through its slot, that the gasket is operative to hold itself and the backing plate adjacent the stop surface.
In an example embodiment the backing plate may be comprised of a sufficiently rigid material such as a metal that will not bend or degrade after many thousands of cycles of operating the handle. The backing plate may also be comprised of a metal that is resistant to oxidization such as a stainless steel. However, it should be appreciated that in alternative embodiments other metals or materials may be used. Further it should be appreciated that the backing plate may be coated with paint or other coating that is operative to minimize oxidation of the backing plate.
In an example embodiment, the gasket may be comprised of a deformable material such as a synthetic rubber or other material that is operative to compress and form a generally water tight seal between the trigger and the portions of the receptacle around the aperture through the receptacle. For example, the gasket may be comprised of a neoprene or other synthetic rubber, or other type of water resistant gasket material.
An example methodology of producing or replacing the described water seal system may include a series of steps. Such steps may include providing the previously described trigger such that the end portion of the trigger is accessible. The method may further include sliding a backing plate on the trigger, such that the end portion of the trigger extends through the slot in the backing plate. At this point or at a subsequent step, the backing plate may be moved sufficiently far onto the trigger to place the backing plate into abutting relation against the stop surface.
The method may also include removing a liner/cover from a side of the gasket that includes a pressure sensitive adhesive. After the liner/cover has been removed the method may include sliding the gasket (with the exposed pressure sensitive adhesive on the trigger, such that the end portion of the trigger extends through a slot in the gasket. At this point or at a latter point the method may include applying a sufficient amount of pressure to cause the pressure sensitive adhesive on the gasket to bond the gasket to the backing plate.
Once the gasket and backing plate have been mounted to the trigger, the method may include extending the end portion of the trigger through the aperture and into operative engagement with the latching mechanism on the rear side of the housing, such that the trigger is operative to cause the latching mechanism to operate, responsive at least in part to movement of the handle.
It should be appreciated that these described steps may be carried out to repair a worn out gasket. In such a case, the method may previously include steps of removing the end portion of the trigger from the aperture, and sliding the worn out gasket (and associated backing plate) off of the trigger.
In addition, it should be appreciated that a method of using the described latch assembly may include moving the handle from the extended position to the retracted position, which causes the stop surface to urge the backing plate to compress the gasket adjacent portions of the receptacle that extend around the aperture. In addition, the method of using the described latch assembly may include moving the handle from the retracted position to the extended position, which causes the trigger to cause the latching mechanism to change from a latched configuration to an unlatched configuration. Movement of the trigger via the handle may also cause the stop surface to cease urging the backing plate to compress the gasket adjacent portions of the receptacle that extend around the aperture.
It is noted that several examples have been provided for purposes of explanation. These examples are not to be construed as limiting the hereto-appended claims. Additionally, it may be recognized that the examples provided herein may be permutated while still falling under the scope of the claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20140210222 A1 | Jul 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61759094 | Jan 2013 | US |