Claims
- 1. A latch assembly adapted for mounting on a door panel and securing said door panel to a frame, the latch assembly comprising:
a base adapted to be mounted to the door panel; a catch pivotally mounted to said base for rotation about a first axis and having a contact portion; a strike adapted for mounting to said frame so that said strike can receive said catch; a handle pivotally mounted to said housing for rotation about a second axis; and a link pivotally mounted to said catch at a first point and to said handle at a second point, said handle moveable between a first position where said contact portion of said catch is urged into contact against said strike via said link and a second position where said catch is retracted from said strike via said link.
- 2. A latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said link comprises a link member and said latch assembly forms a four bar linkage.
- 3. A latch assembly according to claim 2, further comprising a resilient compliance element that absorbs forces between said contact portion of said catch and said handle assembly.
- 4. A latch assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting device on said catch that adjusts said contact portion of said catch.
- 5. A latch assembly according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment device is a rotatable, threaded member mounted on said catch that adjusts said contact portion of said catch.
- 6. A latch assembly according to claim 5, further comprising a compliance element that absorbs forces between said adjusting device and said catch.
- 7. An adjustment device according to claim 5, wherein said adjustment device comprises a rotatable, threaded member mounted on said catch.
- 8. A latch assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a lock for locking said handle into said first position.
- 9. A latch assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a first aperture on said housing and a second aperture on said driving link for insertion of a padlock to lock said handle in said first position.
- 10. A latch assembly adapted for mounting on a door panel and securing said panel to a frame, said latch assembly comprising:
a base adapted to be mounted to said door panel; a catch pivotally mounted to said base for rotation about a first axis and having a contact portion; a strike adapted for mounting to said frame so that said strike can receive said catch; a handle pivotally mounted to said housing for rotation about a second axis, said handle moveable between a first position where said contact portion of said catch is urged into contact against said strike and a second position where said catch is retracted from said strike; and an adjusting device on said catch that adjusts said contact portion of said catch.
- 11. A latch assembly according to claim 10, wherein said adjustment device comprises a rotatable, threaded member mounted on said catch that adjusts said contact portion of said catch.
- 12. A latch assembly according to claim 10, further comprising:
first oblong holes on said strike that provide horizontal adjustment of said strike; and second oblong holes on said base that provide vertical adjustment of said base, and wherein said panel and frame are of sheet metal construction and said base has a surface area that distributes load from said base to said sheet metal.
- 13. A latch assembly adapted for mounting on a panel and securing said panel to a frame, said assembly comprising:
a base adapted to be mounted to said panel; a catch pivotally mounted to said housing for rotation about a first axis; a strike adapted for mounting to said frame so that said strike can receive said catch; a handle assembly pivotally mounted to said housing for rotation about a second axis, said handle assembly moveable between a first position where a portion of said catch is urged into contact against said strike with a contact force, and a second position where said catch is retracted from said strike; and a compliance mechanism that absorbs at least part of the contract force.
- 14. A latch assembly according to claim 13, where said compliance mechanism absorbs over compression forces which peak at a dead point and overload forces when said door seal is unusually stiffened by ice or other foreign material.
- 15. A latch assembly according to claim 13, wherein said compliance element comprises a resilient link between said handle assembly and said catch.
- 16. A latch assembly according to claim 13, wherein said compliance element comprises an elastomeric portion of said catch.
- 17. A latch assembly according to claim 13, wherein said compliance element is a leaf spring.
- 18. A method for latching a door to a frame using a catch received in a strike, comprising the steps of adjusting a contact point of the catch with the strike; and
urging the catch against the strike by moving a handle.
- 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the adjusting step includes rotating a threaded contact member that is threaded into bore of the catch.
- 20. A method of latching a door to a frame using a catch received in a strike, comprising the steps of:
urging the catch against the strike by using a handle; and absorbing at least part of a contact force between the catch and the strike with a compliance element when the handle is urging the catch against the strike.
- 21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the absorbing step is performed by a resilient link between the handle assembly and the catch.
- 22. A method according to claim 17, wherein the absorbing step is performed by an elastomeric portion of the catch.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of provisional patent application serial No. 60/256,547 entitled Door Latch filed Dec. 29, 2000, in the name of Allan D. Kelly, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60256547 |
Dec 2000 |
US |