BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side view of the tumbler and spring, with spring inside of cavity of tumbler, with tumbler exposed of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the tumbler of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the tumbler and the stopping member of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tumbler and spring of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the vent stop, with the tumbler not exposed, of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of tumbler of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a side view of night latch of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the night latch secured in the stopping member, of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an exploded view of night latch and stopping member, of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the night latch, stopping member, and oval opening on stopping member, of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a left side view of the night stop of the present invention, with tumbler exposed;
FIG. 12 is an angled view of the night stop of the present invention, with tumbler exposed;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the night latch of the present invention, with tumbler exposed.
FIG. 14 is a side view of the night stop of the present invention, with a different flexible clip, with the tumbler exposed.
FIG. 15 is a side cross sectional view of the night stop of the present invention, with different forces being applied to the tumbler.
FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the night stop of the present invention, with the tumbler in a deactivated position.
FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the night stop of the present invention, with the tumbler in an activated position.
FIG. 18 is a side view of the night stop, of FIG. 14, set inside a different style of window frame.
FIG. 19 is a side view of the night stop, of FIG. 14, set inside a yet another style of window frame.
FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the night stop, of FIG. 14, being inserted into a window frame.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
In FIG. 1 the night latch of the present invention is shown generally at 10. The night latch 10 is shown positioned over slot 11 in sliding member 12 as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. The slot 11 is shown as having an oval shape, but any other suitable shape and size slots including but not limited to a square, rectangle, oval, etc. can be used depending on the shape of the latch. Preferably, however, the night latch 10 of the present invention will have a portion similarly shaped to the slot 11 as to present a clean appearance when placed in the stopping member 12, as seen in FIG. 8. In the present embodiment an oval shape for illustration purposes was used. The stopping member can be a sash, doorframe, or any other member that has another piece sliding over it, where restriction of the sliding member is desired. The tumbler 80 can be either in a raised or lowered position. When raised it prevents movement of the door or sash, as seen in FIG. 1.
A housing 13 is generally defined by a first sidewall 14, and a second sidewall 15, not shown, and a front wall 16, and a rear wall 17, not shown, and a bottom wall 18, as shown in FIG. 7. Bottom wall 18 can also serve as a cover. In the present embodiment however bottom wall 18 is sealed, and no cover is present. It is noted that the terms “front” and “rear” are used only for descriptive purposes and do not read on orientation of the device. Sidewalls 14, as seen in FIG. 1 and 15, not shown, are preferably the same length, as are front and rear walls 16 and 17, respectively, providing for a generally rectangular shape to housing 13. Preferably, when in place within slot 11, sidewalls 14 and 15 contact the edges of slot 11 to provide for a tight fit, and prevent a lateral movement of the night latch 10 within slot 11. Front wall 16 can have a front flexible clip 19 and rear wall 17 can have a rear flexible clip. In the present embodiment there is only one flexible clip, front flexible clip 19, as seen in FIG. 1. Rather then use a rear clip; one can use a rear notch 20 to produce the same fastening effect as a rear clip, as seen in FIG. 1. The rear notch 20 is of non flexible nature, it is located at the end of the housing 13; it is created between a surface 26, which runs parallel to lip 23, and the bottom surface 24 of the top plate 25. Front flexible clip 19 can extend generally in an upward fashion, originating at or near the bottom surface 21 of housing 13 and ending typically just below top plate 25, as seen in FIG. 1. In addition, flexible clip 19 may be solid or hollow. In the present embodiment flexible clip 19 is comprised of two generally rectangular protrusions, so as to resemble two teeth, tooth one 140 and tooth two 141, as seen in FIG. 6, located on sidewalls 14 and 15. Tooth one 140 has inner and outer surfaces 27, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 28, as seen in FIG. 7, located adjacent to sidewall 14. Tooth two 141 has inner and outer surfaces 29, as seen in FIGS. 7, and 30, as seen in FIG. 6, located adjacent to sidewall 15. Flexible clip 19 may be affixed to front wall 16 or flexible clip 19 may be an integral part of housing 13, in the present embodiment flexible clip 19 is an integral 19 part of housing 13. In addition, flexible clip 19 has top surfaces 142 and 143, located on teeth 140 and 141 respectively.
In another embodiment one can use a rear clip 19a with more flexibility than the front clip as seen in FIG. 14. It may be located at the end of the housing 13. In this embodiment the night latch of the present invention can be more compatible with different style doorframes as seen in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18. For more ease of installation, there is a raised member 19b protruding from side surface 17 of housing 13 as seen in FIG. 14, which ensures enough space between the clip and the housing 13. When the night latch 10 is depressed into slot 11 on a stopping member 12, the rear flexible clip 19a should be inserted sideling into slot 11 as seen in FIG. 20. Flexible clips 19 and 19a can engage a portion of the stopping member 12, as seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. This engagement can prevent vertical (front and back) movement of the night latch 10 within the stopping member 12, as well as preventing the night latch 10 from being easily dislodged from slot 11.
First sidewall 14 has an inner surface 30, not shown, and outer surface 31, as seen in FIG. 1. Second sidewall 15 has inner surface 32, not shown, and outer surface 33, not shown. On sidewalls 14 and 15 there can be four apertures, apertures 34 and 35 on sidewall 14, as seen in FIG. 1, and apertures 36 and 37 on sidewall 15, as seen in FIG. 11. Apertures 34 and 36 of sidewalls 14 and 15, respectively, are aligned along the same central axis and are positioned towards rear wall 17, and are used to prevent tumbler 80 from rotating passed a predetermined area and to support a substantial upward force associated with the lifting of the lower sash against the stopping surface of the latch. Apertures 35 and 37 of sidewalls 14 and 15, respectively, are also aligned along the same central axis; these apertures are designed so as to allow tumbler 80 to rotate in an outwardly fashion. In another embodiment one could implement bored cavities, aligned in a similar fashion, instead of apertures.
In yet another embodiment, sidewalls 14 or 15 may have at least one rotation member extending there from. In this type of embodiment tumbler 80 would have apertures or bored cavities aligned along the same central axis so as to allow tumbler 80 to rotate in an outwardly fashion.
The lip 23 attached to top plate 25 is preferably at least the same size or larger and the same general shape as slot 11. Thus, when night latch 10 is placed into slot 11, lip 23 will contact at least the edges of slot 11 or over spread the upper surface of the stopping member 12. These dimensional attributes will allow for a tight fit that will exhibit a finished smooth exterior, which can be aesthetically pleasing. Although top plate 25 is referred to as a “plate”, it is understood that housing 13, clip 19, lip 23 and top plate 25 can be integral pieces, without any need for adhesives or assemblage.
In another embodiment rear clip 19a, attached to the rear of the housing, is preferably almost as high as the lower portion of the housing under the slot 11. Thus, when night latch 10 is placed into slot 11, clip 19a will contact at least the edges of slot 11 or over spread the upper surface of the stopping member 12. These dimensional attributes will allow for a tight fit that will exhibit a finished smooth exterior, which can be aesthetically pleasing. Although top plate 25 is referred to as a “plate”, it is understood that housing 13, clip 19, clip 20 and top plate 25 can be integral pieces, without any need for adhesives or assemblage.
A tumbler 80 is preferably designed to fit within cavity 130 of housing 13, as seen in FIG. 2. Tumbler 80 may have an upper surface 38, which is preferably smooth and/or flat on the front portion, as seen in FIG. 2. A flat surface 38 will exhibit a more finished look for the night latch 10 when it is placed in stopping member 12. Tumbler 80 may have an indent 81 located toward the rear top surface. In addition tumbler 80 may have a grooved top portion 82 located right above indent 81, as in the present invention, which may act as a button 95, so as to allow the user to activate tumbler 80. The rear edge 83 of tumbler 80 slopes downward and comes to a point 84, where rear edge 83 meets arcuate bottom portion 85. Tumbler 80 can have a front end 86 and a rear end 87, along with side surfaces 88 and 89. Tumbler 80 can have rotation members 70 and 71, which can fit in apertures 35 and 37, of sidewalls 14 and 15 respectively, of housing 13. The rotation members 70 and 71 can be located on side surfaces 88 and 89, respectively, close to rear end 87. Preferably, rotation members 70 and 71 are cylindrical pegs, which protrude from side surfaces 88 and 89 of tumbler 80, respectively. The rotation members 70 and 71 can allow tumbler 80 to extend outwardly, thus exposing front end face 90 of tumbler 80, which would prevent movement of sliding member 12. The tumbler 80 will be allowed to rotate until surface 85 of tumbler 80 comes into contact with outer surface 50 of stopping member 51, as seen in FIG. 3. The stopping member may be constructed of any type of material known in the art, but not limited to plastic, metal, wood, etc., capable of withstanding the downward force of tumbler. The stopping member may be of any shape known in the art, but not limited to a cylindrical peg, a rectangular block, or a square peg. In the present embodiment a plastic cylindrical peg was implemented. In addition, stopping member, cylindrical peg 51, may be separate or an integral part of tumbler 80, in the present embodiment cylindrical peg 51 is a separate member.
Tumbler 80 has a cavity 100 that houses the plate spring 60, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. However, this is not the only possible method of attaching a spring to tumbler 80. For example, tumbler 80 can have a protruding peg on either of the side surfaces 88 or 89 that could hold the plate spring 60 in place. If this type of spring configuration is implemented, then housing 13 would have to be of such dimensions so as to allow for the additional needed space. Tumbler cavity 100 has a top and bottom surface, 47 and 48, respectively, equal in width to plate spring 60 it houses. Plate spring 60 also has a rounded bottom portion that contacts the left arcuate nest 111 and the right recession 112 in the inner bottom surface 110 of the housing 13 such that the tumbler is forced to a retracted position in the housing or an extended position out of the housing, as seen in FIGS. 16 and 17. In another embodiment rounded bottom portion 61 may be replaced by any angled shaped portion known in the art, which is capable of sliding. Inner bottom surface 110 of housing 13 has an arcuate nest 111 for cradling rounded bottom portion 61 of plate spring 60, as seen in FIG. 5. A divide point 113, where the left arcuate nest 111 meets the right recession 112, confines the bottom rounded portion 61 of plate spring 60 to be forced in different directions when the vent stop is activated or deactivated, as seen in FIG. 15. In normal operation when the user wishes to activate tumbler 80, the user will apply a downward, or inward force to button 95, this will cause rounded bottom portion 61 of plate spring 60 to move out of arcuate nest 111 and pass the divide point 113 and move into the right recession 112 of bottom surface 110 of housing 13. One must point out that arcuate nesting portion 111, divide point 113, right recession 112 of the bottom surface 110 and bottom rounded portion 61 of the plate spring 60 are of great consequence in the operation of this invention.
In addition to the tumbler cavity 100 of tumbler 80, there exists an arcuate surface 85 that interacts with an arcuate surface 50 of cylindrical peg 51. Arcuate surface 85 is preferably located on the rear bottom portion of tumbler 80. Tumbler 80 may have a protruding portion 120 located at the bottom front end wall of tumbler 80, as seen in FIG. 3. The protruding portion 120 has a top surface 121 that extends perpendicularly from the front end face 90 of the tumbler 80. The protruding portion 120 also has two sides 122, as seen in FIG. 3, and 123, not shown, a front face 124, and a bottom 125. Bottom 125 of the protruding portion 120 extends outwardly in the same direction as top surface 121 so as to meet with the outside edge of front end face 124 and is parallel to the upper surface 38 so as to come into contact with the bottom surface of back wall 110 of the housing 13 and limit further rotation of the tumbler 80 in the housing 13 when the tumbler 80 is in the retracted position, as seen in FIG. 15. The protruding portion 120 may be designed as to allow a meshing between the protruding portion 120 and the bottom surface of top plate 25, which would cause tumbler 80 from further rotating outwardly; thus if needed, protrusion 120 could be used as a limiting device.
The release of the tumbler 80 from housing 13 can be controlled by an interaction between button 95 and plate spring 60 in tumbler 80 and bottom surface 110 of the housing 13. Button 95, as mentioned previously, is located on the rear end portion of tumbler 80, can have a grooved top surface 82, which can be in the same plane as the upper surface 38 of the tumbler 80, where the user can engage button 95 easily with any suitable instrument known in the art, including but not limited to a finger, fingernail, pen, pencil etc., as seen in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. When the user engages grooves 82, it will move rounded bottom portion 61 of plate spring 60 from a cradled position to a freed position within cavity 130 of housing 13. In the present embodiment the user applies a downward or inward force to groove 82 of tumbler 80.
When the user wishes to activate tumbler 80, so as to prevent movement of a sliding window member, the user will exert a downward, or upward force, greater than the force being exerted by the rounded bottom portion 61 of plate spring 60 against the top surface of the arcuate nesting area 111 of the bottom portion 110 of housing 13, on groove 82, of button 95. This force will cause plate spring 60 to move in a direction opposite that of the force applied by the user. When the force applied by the user has reached the critical point, it will cause the rounded bottom portion 61 of plate spring 60 to move out of equilibrium with nesting area 111 of bottom surface 110 of housing 13 and slide across divide point 113 of bottom surface 110 of housing 13 and comes in the next equilibrium with right recession 112 of bottom surface 110 of housing 13, as seen in FIGS. 15, 16 and 17. The critical point is reached when the force applied by the user overcomes the static frictional force, at which time bottom round portion 61 of plate spring 60 will begin to slide and the frictional force will drop back to a nearly constant value equal to that of the kinetic frictional force. When tumbler 80 is free to pivot on rotation members 70 and 71, the upward force of spring 60 will cause tumbler 80 to rotate in an outwardly direction until the rounded bottom portion 61 of plate spring 60 comes into contact with right recession 112 of bottom surface 110 of housing 13. In the same instance arcuate surface 85 of tumbler 80 will come in contact with arcuate surface 50 of cylindrical peg 51. In addition, a protruding portion 120 can also be implemented, so as to further limit movement of tumbler 80 by coming into contact with bottom surface of top plate 25. Once rounded bottom portion 61 of plate spring 60 has stopped sliding tumbler 80 will be exposed, thus preventing sliding window member from opening any further.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
The operation of the night latch according to the present invention will be obvious from the above description thereof.
Patent Application
20070246953
