Patent Application
20210317685
The present disclosure relates to a latch device, and more particularly to a thinned magnetic-actuation latch device capable of being embedded in a door.
Doors, windows, or furniture in human life often has a set of components, which need to be opened or closed with each other. In addition to maintaining the function of opening and closing, the components also need to be locked by a latch device.
With the changes in application requirements, the door latch device gradually tends to be light, thin, short and small in design. However, a conventional latch device applied to the door includes many components to provide the necessary function of opening and closing and the function of locking. Moreover, the opening, closing and locking operations for the door body are achieved through the operation of the user. For certain latch devices used in special environments, for example, the latch device applied to the door on a transportation vehicle, it further needs to provide the requirement of closing the door automatically.
Furthermore, in order to increase the application range of the latch device, a latch device combined with the magnetic force is provided on the market. However, when the latch device for the door body is combined with the magnetic component, the total number of components and the overall volume of the latch device are increased. The cost of production and assembly and the required installation space are also increased. It fails to thin the entire structure effectively and achieve a simplified appearance in design. It cannot meet the actual application requirements for being embedded in the door.
Therefore, it is necessary to provide a thinned magnetic-actuation latch device capable of being embedded in a door to solve the foregoing problems and overcome the above drawbacks.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a thinned magnetic-actuation latch device capable of being embedded in a door. With the components arranged in a flat housing, it facilitates the magnetic-actuation latch device to be embedded in the applied door body and meets the requirement of thinning. Moreover, by utilizing the actuation force between the magnetic blocks of the magnetic-actuation latch device, it is helpful for achieving the purpose of closing the door automatically. The entire structure of the magnetic-actuation latch device is compact. The overall structure is compact. It is easy to assemble, maintain and operate.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a thinned magnetic-actuation latch device capable of being embedded in a door. The magnetic-actuation latch device has a compacted-and-thinned structure, and can be assembled easily. The sliding plate is controlled to slide relative to the housing by the guiding slot disposed in the center and the elastic component connected on both sides. In addition to meeting the requirements of thinned design, it is also conducive to improving the sliding stability of the sliding plate relative to the housing. Furthermore, a guiding pillar and a guiding groove are disposed correspondingly between the sliding plate and the housing. It is helpful for enhancing the sliding stability of the sliding plate relative to the housing.
A further object of the present disclosure is to provide a thinned magnetic-actuation latch device capable of being embedded in a door. Compared with the conventional tenon structure, the magnetic-actuation latch device further provides the functions of automatically aligning and closing the door body by utilizing the actuation force between the magnetic blocks. Combined with the thinned design, the components of the magnetic-actuation latch device are arranged in a flat housing. It is easier to assemble, replace or maintain. The competitiveness of the magnetic-actuation latch device is improved effectively.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is a magnetic-actuation latch device for being disposed on a door body. The door body includes a movable component and a fixed component, the movable component includes an installation slot. The fixed component includes a first magnetic block. The magnetic-actuation latch device includes a housing, a latch element, a sliding plate, an elastic component, a rotating element and a limitation element. The housing is configured to be embedded in the installation slot of the movable component. The housing includes an accommodation seat and a lateral opening, the lateral opening is communication with the accommodation seat, and the lateral opening spatially corresponds to the first magnetic block. The latch element spatially corresponds to the lateral opening and includes a second magnetic block. When the second magnetic block is aligned to the first magnetic block, an actuation force is generated to drive the latch element to pass through the lateral opening, and the latch element is exposed from the lateral opening and engaged with the fixed component, so that the movable component and the fixed component of the door body are operated in a closed state. The sliding plate is received in the accommodation seat and connected to the latch element. The sliding plate includes two connection ends, a guiding slot and a guiding portion. The guiding slot spatially corresponds to the latch element and the lateral opening. The guiding portion is disposed adjacent to the guiding slot, and the guiding slot is located between the two connection ends. The elastic component is connected to the two connection ends of the sliding plate and the housing and configured to provide an elastic force to drive the sliding plate and the latch element to move away from the lateral opening. The actuation force is greater than the elastic force. The rotating element is pivotally connected to the housing and located in the guiding slot of the sliding plate. The rotating element includes an abutting end and a limited end disposed on the periphery of the rotating element, respectively. When the rotating element is rotated by an external force, the abutting end is engaged with the guiding portion to resist the actuation force and drives the guiding slot of the sliding plate to slide relative to the rotating element, the second magnetic block of the latch element is separated from the first magnetic block, and the latch element is free of passing through the lateral opening. When the second magnetic block and the first magnetic block are misaligned, the elastic force drives the sliding plate and the latch element to keep the latch element free of passing through the lateral opening. The limitation element is pivotally connected to the housing and includes a limitation portion spatially corresponding to the limited end of the rotating element, wherein when the limitation portion of the limitation element is rotated to be aligned to and engaged with the limited end, the rotating element is blocked.
In an embodiment, when the limitation portion of the limitation element is rotated to be misaligned to and separated from the limited end, the rotating element is rotatable.
In an embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device further includes a stopper disposed on a mounting slot of the fixed component and spatially corresponding to the latch element. The first magnetic block is embedded in an engaging slot of the stopper. When the second magnetic block is aligned to the first magnetic block, the latch element is driven to pass through the lateral opening, the latch element and the engaging slot of the stopper are engaged with each other, and the movable component is restricted from moving relative to the fixed component, so that the movable component and the fixed component of the door body are operated in a closed state.
In an embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device further includes an auxiliary elastic element disposed between the rotating element and the housing, and configured to provide a restoring force to rotate the abutting end to an initial position.
In an embodiment, the auxiliary elastic element is a torsion spring.
In an embodiment, the housing includes a first limiting pillar spatially corresponding to the abutting end of the rotating element. When the rotating element is subjected to the restoring force of the auxiliary elastic element, the first limiting pillar is configured to restrict the abutting end at the initial position.
In an embodiment, the housing includes a second limiting pillar spatially corresponding to the limitation portion of the limitation element and configured to restrict the limitation portion, so as to facilitate the limitation portion to align to and engage with the limited end.
In an embodiment, the sliding plate includes at least one guiding pillar, and the housing includes at least one guiding groove. The guiding pillar is received in the guiding groove and configured to guide a sliding direction of the sliding plate relative to the housing.
In an embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device further includes a handle and a first rotating shaft passing through the rotating element and at least partially exposed to the housing. The handle covers the first rotating shaft, and is exposed from the movable component and configured to be forced to rotate the rotating element.
In an embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device further includes a locking knob and a second rotating shaft passing through the limitation element and at least partially exposed to the housing, wherein the locking knob covers the second rotating shaft, and is exposed from the movable component and configured to rotate the limitation element.
In an embodiment, the elastic component includes two tension springs. First ends of the two tension springs are connected to the two connection ends of the sliding plate, respectively, and second ends of the two tension springs are connected to the housing, respectively. The guiding slot of the sliding plate is located between the two tension springs.
In an embodiment, the latch element and the sliding plate are connected through a pair of collars and a pair of protrusions matched and engaged with each other.
In an embodiment, the latch element includes an accommodation slot configured to accommodate the second magnetic block, wherein the accommodation slot has an opening facing to the sliding plate.
In an embodiment, the housing includes an upper cover.
The above objects and advantages of the present disclosure become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:
The present disclosure will now be described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this disclosure are presented herein for purpose of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
In the embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device 1 includes a housing 10, a latch element 60, a sliding plate 20, at least one elastic component 30a, 30b, a rotating element 40 and a limitation element 50. Preferably but not exclusively, the housing 10 is a flat housing and configured to be embedded in the installation slot 81 of the movable component 80. In the embodiment, the housing 10 includes an accommodation seat 12 and a lateral opening 11. The lateral opening 11 is communication with the accommodation seat 12, and the lateral opening 11 spatially corresponds to the first magnetic block 72. Preferably but not exclusively, in an embodiment, the housing 10 further includes an upper cover 14. The present disclosure is not limited thereto.
In the embodiment, the latch element 60 is for example but not limited to a tongue structure. The latch element 60 spatially corresponds to the lateral opening 11 and includes a second magnetic block 63. In the embodiment, the latch element 60 further includes an accommodation slot 62 configured to accommodate the second magnetic block 63. Preferably but not exclusively, the accommodation slot 62 has an opening facing the sliding plate 20. Certainly, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In the embodiment, when the second magnetic block 63 is aligned to the first magnetic block 72, an actuation force is generated to drive the latch element 60 to pass through the lateral opening 11, and the latch element 60 is exposed from the lateral opening 11 and engaged with the fixed component 90, so that the movable component 80 and the fixed component 90 of the door body 9 are operated in a closed state. Thereby, the function of automatic closing the door body 9 is achieved.
In the embodiment, the sliding plate 20 is received in the accommodation seat 12 of the housing 10 and connected to the latch element 60. The sliding plate 20 includes two connection ends 21a, 21b, a guiding slot 22 and a guiding portion 23. The guiding slot 22 spatially corresponds to the latch element 60 and the lateral opening 11. The guiding portion 23 is disposed adjacent to the guiding slot 22, and the guiding slot 22 is located between the two connection ends 21a, 21b. In the embodiment, the guiding slot 22 is configured to guide the sliding plate 20 to slide relative to the housing 10. Preferably but not exclusively, in the embodiment, the sliding plate 20 is slid against the bottom of the housing 10. The sliding plate 20 further includes at least one guiding pillar 25, and the housing 10 further includes at least one guiding groove 15. The guiding pillar 25 is received in the guiding groove 15 and configured to guide a sliding direction of the sliding plate 20 relative to the housing 10. Preferably but not exclusively, the extending direction of the guiding groove 15 is parallel to the extending direction of the guiding slot 22. Namely, the guiding slot 22 and the guiding groove 15 are parallel to each other. Certainly, the present disclosure is limited thereto.
In the embodiment, the latch element 60 and the sliding plate 20 are connected through a pair of collars 61a, 61b, and a pair of protrusions 24a, 24b, which are matched and engaged with each other, so as to achieve the connection therebetween. Certainly, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Moreover, in the embodiment, the elastic components 30a, 30b are connected to the two connection ends 21a, 21b of the sliding plate 20 and the housing 10 and configured to provide an elastic force to drive the sliding plate 20 and the latch element 60 to move away from the lateral opening 11. In the embodiment, the actuation force generated by aligning the second magnetic block 63 to the first magnetic block 72 is greater than the elastic force generated by the elastic components 30a, 30b. In that, when the second magnetic block 63 and the first magnetic block 72 are aligned to each other, it is advantageous for the latch element 60 and the fixed component 90 to be engaged reliably. Moreover, it ensures that the moving component 80 and the fixed component 90 of the door body 9 are operated in the closed state.
Preferably but not exclusively, the elastic components 30a, 30b include two tension springs. In the embodiment, first ends of the two tension springs are connected to the two connection ends 21a, 21b of the sliding plate 20, respectively, and second ends of the two tension springs are connected to two connection pillars 13a, 13b of the housing 10, respectively. In the embodiment, the guiding slot 22 of the sliding plate 20 is located between the two tension springs of the elastic components 30a, 30b, so as to provide a stable elastic force acting on the sliding plate 20 and the latch element 60. In other embodiments, two connection ends 21a, 21b of the sliding plate 20 and the elastic components 30a, 30b are disposed symmetrically with the guiding slot 22 as the center. The present disclosure is not limited thereto.
In the embodiment, the rotating element 40 is pivotally connected to the housing 10 and located in the guiding slot 22 of the sliding plate 20. The rotating element 40 includes an abutting end 41 and a limited end 42 disposed on the periphery of the rotating element 40, respectively. When the rotating element 40 is rotated by an external force, the abutting end 41 is engaged with the guiding portion 23 of the sliding plate 20 to move the sliding plate 20. Consequently, a pushing force is generated to resist the actuation force generated by aligning the second magnetic block 63 to the first magnetic block 72, and the guiding slot 22 of the sliding plate 20 is driven to slide relative to the rotating element 40. The second magnetic block 63 of the latch element 60 is separated from the first magnetic block 72, so that the second magnetic block 63 and the first magnetic block 72 are misaligned to each other to eliminate the actuation force. At this time, the latch element 60 is driven by the sliding plate 20 to retract into the accommodation seat 12 of the housing 10 and free of passing through the lateral opening 11, thereby achieving the purpose of opening the door body 9. When the second magnetic block 63 and the first magnetic block 72 are misaligned, the elastic force generated by the elastic components 30a, 30b drives the sliding plate 20 and the latch element 40 to keep the latch element 40 free of passing through the lateral opening 11.
Moreover, in the embodiment, the limitation element 50 is pivotally connected to the housing 10 and includes a limitation portion 51 spatially corresponding to the limited end 42 of the rotating element 40. When the limitation portion 51 of the limitation element 50 is rotated to be aligned to and engaged with the limited end 42 of the rotating element 40, the rotating element 40 is blocked by the limitation element 50 and not rotatable. The function of locking is achieved. On the other hand, when the limitation portion 51 of the limitation element 50 is rotated to be separated from and misaligned to the limited end 42 of the rotating element 40, the rotation of the rotating element 40 is not blocked. It allows the rotating element 40 to be rotated by the external force, so as to drive the sliding plate 20 and the latch element 60 to slide. In that, the latch element 60 is free of passing through the lateral opening 11, and the purpose of opening the door body 9 is achieved.
In the embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device 1 further includes a stopper 70 disposed on a mounting slot 91 of the fixed component 90. The stopper 70 spatially corresponds to the latch element 60. In the embodiment, the first magnetic block 72 is embedded in an engaging slot 71 of the stopper 70. In that, when the second magnetic block 63 of the latch element 60 is aligned to the first magnetic block 72, the latch element 60 is driven to pass through the lateral opening 11 of the housing, the latch element 60 and the engaging slot 71 of the stopper 70 are engaged with each other, and the movable component 80 is restricted from moving relative to the fixed component 90, so that the movable component 80 and the fixed component 90 of the door body 9 are operated in a closed state. Thus, the function of closing the door body 9 automatically is achieved.
In the embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device 1 further includes an auxiliary elastic element 31 disposed between the rotating element 40 and the housing 10, and configured to provide a restoring force to rotate the abutting end 41 of the rotating element 40 to an initial position. Preferably but not exclusively, the auxiliary elastic element 31 is a torsion spring. In the embodiment, the housing 10 further includes a first limiting pillar 16 spatially corresponding to the abutting end 41 of the rotating element 40. When the rotating element 40 is subjected to the restoring force of the auxiliary elastic element 31, the first limiting pillar 16 is configured to restrict the abutting end 41 at the initial position. In the embodiment, the housing 10 further includes a second limiting pillar 17 spatially corresponding to the limitation portion 51 of the limitation element 50 and configured to restrict the limitation portion 51, so as to facilitate the limitation portion 51 of the limitation element 50 to align to and engage with the limited end 42 of the rotating element 40. The purpose of locking the door body 9 is achieved.
In the embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device 1 further includes a handle 44 and a first rotating shaft 43 passing through the rotating element 40 and at least partially exposed to the housing 10. The handle 44 covers the first rotating shaft 43, and is exposed from the movable component 80 and configured to be forced to rotate the rotating element 40. Moreover, in the embodiment, the magnetic-actuation latch device 1 further includes a locking knob 53 and a second rotating shaft 52 passing through the limitation element 50 and at least partially exposed to the housing 10. The locking knob 53 covers the second rotating shaft 52, and is exposed from the movable component 80 and configured to rotate the limitation element 50. It will be described later that the user operates the magnetic-actuation latch device 1 through the handle 44 and the locking knob 53 to open, close and lock the door body 9.
Furthermore, as shown in
On the other hand, when the limitation portion 51 of the limitation element 50 and the limited end 42 of the rotating element 40 are misaligned and separated from each other, the rotation of the rotating member 40 is not restricted, and the magnetic-actuation latch device 1 makes the door body 9 maintained in the closed state, as shown in
In summary, the present disclosure provides a magnetic-actuation latch device applied to a door lock or a drawer lock. With the components arranged in a flat housing, it facilitates the magnetic-actuation latch device to be embedded in the applied door body and meets the requirement of thinning. Moreover, by utilizing the actuation force between the magnetic blocks of the magnetic-actuation latch device, it is helpful for achieving the purpose of closing the door automatically. The entire structure of the magnetic-actuation latch device is compact. The overall structure is compact. It is easy to assemble, maintain and operate. In addition, the magnetic-actuation latch device has a compacted-and-thinned structure, and can be assembled easily. The sliding plate is controlled to slide relative to the housing by the guiding slot disposed in the center and the elastic component connected on both sides. In addition to meeting the requirements of thinned design, it is also conducive to improving the sliding stability of the sliding plate relative to the housing. Furthermore, a guiding pillar and a guiding groove are disposed correspondingly between the sliding plate and the housing. It is helpful for enhancing the sliding stability of the sliding plate relative to the housing. Moreover, compared with the conventional tenon structure, the magnetic-actuation latch device further provides the functions of automatically aligning and closing the door body by utilizing the actuation force between the magnetic blocks. Combined with the thinned design, the components of the magnetic-actuation latch device are arranged in a flat housing. It is easier to assemble, replace or maintain. The competitiveness of the magnetic-actuation latch device is improved effectively.
While the disclosure has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 109112094 | Apr 2020 | TW | national |
