This disclosure is related generally to latches, in particular, this disclosure is related to a reversible latches.
Latch assemblies are well known for maintaining swingable members, such as doors and gates, in a closed position. Swingable members are typically hinged on one side to a relatively fixed member, such as a frame or post. Existing latch assemblies are typically “handed,” which means the latch needs to be installed in a particular configuration depending on whether the swingable member is hinged on its left or right side. Therefore, the components must be installed in a certain manner, which leads to complexity during installation. Moreover, the latch itself may only be able to open in a single direction, towards the right or left, as dictated by the way the mounting plates are designed to mount to the swinging and fixed members, and the shape of the latch arm.
Therefore, there is a need for a reversible latch assembly that allows the decision to be made as to which direction the swingable member should open at the time of installation.
The present disclosure will be described hereafter with reference to the attached drawings which are given as non-limiting examples only, in which:
This disclosure relates generally to a reversible latch assembly. Although the latch assembly is discussed below in conjunction with a gate, the latch could be used with any swingable member, such as doors, cabinets, etc. The latch is reversible and therefore can be installed on either the left or right side of the swingable member. This provides easier and more convenient installation of the latch assembly.
Referring to
In the embodiment shown, the first mounting plate 20 and first latch holder 28 are symmetrical with the second mounting plate 24 and second latch holder 30 about an axis extending between and parallel to the first mounting plate 20 and second mounting plate 24. This symmetry allows the latch arm 40 to be reversibly mounted to either the first latch holder 28 or the second latch holder 30. In some embodiments, the first mounting plate 20/first latch holder 28 could be substantially identical to the second mounting plate 24/second latch holder 30 and could be mounted to either the left or side sides of the swingable member 16. This type of configuration not only makes installation easier by not requiring the user to know which parts are mounted to the post versus which are supposed to be mounted to the swingable member, but also reduces the number of parts needed for inventory purposes.
The latch arm 40 is reversibly mountable, which means it can be pivotally connected to either of the latch holders 28, 30 depending on whether a left-handed or a right-handed configuration is desired. In the example shown, the first latch holder 28 includes a pivot hole 42 (
In some embodiments, a spacer 52 may be provided with an opening 54 that is aligned with the opening 50 in the latch arm 40. For example, the spacer 52 may be a sleeve-like device that is received by an end of the latch arm 40 such that the openings 50, 54 are aligned when the spacer 52 is received on the latch arm 40. In the example shown, the spacer 52 includes an integral protrusion 55 on each side, which takes the place of one or more washers to simplify installation. As shown, the latch arm 40 and spacer 52 are symmetric about a generally horizontal axis, which allows the latch arm 40 to be reversed for a pivotal connection with either mounting plate 20, 24.
With the openings aligned, the latch arm 40 may be pivotally attached to either mounting plate 20, 24 using a pivot pin. In the embodiment shown, the pivot pin extends through both the latch holder 34 and mounting plate 20 to form a pivotal connection; however, embodiments are also contemplated in which the pivot pin may only extend through the mounting plate 20. In the example shown, the pivot pin comprises a first member 56 with an opening 57 that receives a second member 58 with a threaded connection. Although a two-piece pivot pin is shown for purposes of example, one skilled in the art should appreciate that other pivotal connections between the latch arm 40 and mounting plates 20, 24 could be used, whether with a single-piece pivot pin, multi-piece pivot pin or other arrangement. As shown, the latch arm 40 is pivotally connected with the first mounting plate 20 and therefore pivots about pivot pin 56, 58 in a clockwise direction from a latched position (as shown in
In the embodiment shown, the latch arm 40 includes a transversely extending locking flange 60 that defines an opening 62. The locking flange 60 is positioned on the locking arm 40 to be adjacent to a locking flange 64 with an opening 66 on the first latch holder 28 when the latch arm 40 is pivotally connected to the first mounting plate 20 or, if the latch arm 40 is installed on the second mounting plate 24, the locking flange 60 is adjacent a locking flange 68 with an opening 70 on the second latch holder 30. If the latch arm 40 is pivotally connected to the first mounting plate 20, such as shown in
As shown, the latch arm 40 includes a handle 72 on an end opposite the end with the opening 50. The handle 72 provides a place for a user to grip the latch arm 40 when pivoting the latch arm 40 between an unlatched and latched position. Although the handle 72 is a transversely extending flange in the embodiment shown, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the handle 72 could come in many different forms depending on the desired aesthetics of the latch assembly 10. In the embodiment shown, the handle 72 extends beyond the second wall 34, 38 of the latch holders 28, 30 depending on whether the latch arm 40 is pivotally connected to the first latch holder 28 or the second latch holder 30. With the latch arm 40 connected to the first latch holder 28, as shown in
During installation, the user can install the latch arm with a pivotal connection to either the first mounting plate 20 or the second mounting plate 24. Consider an example in which the user would like to pivotally connect the latch arm 40 to the first mounting plate 20. In this case, the user would place the spacer 52 over the latch arm 40 so the opening 50 is aligned with the opening 54. The user would position the latch arm 40 between the second wall 34 of the first latch holder 28 and the first mounting plate 20 so that openings 42, 44, 50, 54 are aligned. The first member 56 of pivot pin would be extended into opening 42 of the first latch holder 28 while the second member 58 of pivot pin would be extended into opening 44 of the first mounting plate 20 and screwed together. This forms a pivotal connection between the first mounting plate 20 and the latch arm 40. In the embodiment shown, the opening 42 has a non-circular shape that corresponds to the exterior shape of the first member 56 to prevent rotation of the first member 56 with respect to the opening 42. Although a generally square shape is shown for purposes of example, other non-circular shapes could be used. Upon making this pivotal connection, the mounting plates 20, 24 are fastened to the swingable member 16 and post 14. If the latch arm 40 is pivotally connected to the first mounting plate 20, the latch arm 40 will pivot in a clockwise connection from its latched position to its unlatched position. Conversely, if the latch arm 40 is pivotally connected to the second latch arm 30, the latch arm 40 will pivot in a counter-clockwise connection from its latched position to its unlatched position. If the user wants to reconfigure the latch assembly from a left-handed to a right-handed orientation (or visa-versa), the latch arm 40 could be reinstalled with the pivotal connection on the other mounting plate.
Illustrative examples of the latch assembly disclosed herein are provided below. An embodiment of the latch assembly may include any one or more, and any combination of, the examples described below.
Example 1 is a latch assembly with a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate. The assembly includes a first latch holder extending from the first mounting plate. A second latch holder is provided that extends from the second mounting plate. The assembly includes a latch arm including a first portion and a second portion. The latch arm is movable between an unlatched position and a latched position and is selectively reversible to be pivotally connected to either the first latch holder or the second latch holder.
In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 is further configured in which the latch arm is selectively reversibly such that: (1) the first portion is pivotally connected to the first latch holder while the second portion is proximate the second latch holder when the latch arm is in the latched position; and (2) the first portion is pivotally connected to the second latch holder while the second portion is proximate the first latch holder when the latch arm is in the latched position.
In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 1 is further configured in which the first latch holder includes a wall spaced apart from and approximately parallel with the first mounting plate and the latch arm is configured to be pivotally connected to the wall of the first latch holder and/or the first mounting plate.
In Example 4, the subject matter of Example 3 is further configured in which the second latch holder includes a wall spaced apart from and approximately parallel with the second mounting plate and the latch arm is configured to be pivotally connected to the wall of the second latch holder and/or the second mounting plate.
In Example 5, the subject matter of Example 4 is further configured in which the wall of the first latch holder defines an opening aligned with an opening in the first mounting plate and the wall of the second latch holder defines an opening aligned with an opening in the second mounting plate.
In Example 6, the subject matter of Example 5 is further configured with a pivot pin. When the latch arm is pivotally connectable to the first latch holder, the pivot pin extends through the opening in the first latch holder, an opening in the latch arm, and the opening in the first mounting plate.
In Example 7, the subject matter of Example 6 is further such that when the latch arm is pivotally connectable to the second latch holder, the pivot pin extends through the opening in the second latch holder, the opening in the latch arm, and the opening in the second mounting plate.
In Example 8, the subject matter of Example 7 is further configured with a pivot pin that includes a first member and a second member that are connected together.
In Example 9, the subject matter of Example 1 is further configured in which the first mounting plate and the first latch holder are symmetrical with the second mounting plate and the second latch holder about a generally vertical axis.
In Example 10, the subject matter of Example 1 is further configured in which the latch arm includes a locking flange extending approximately transversely from a longitudinal axis of the latch arm, wherein the locking flange defines an opening.
In Example 11, the subject matter of Example 10 is further configured in which the first latch holder includes a locking flange extending approximately transversely from the first mounting plate and the second latch holder includes a locking flange extending approximately transversely from the second mounting plate.
In Example 12, the subject matter of Example 11 is further configured such that when the latch arm is pivotally connected to the first latch holder, the locking flange of the latch arm is adjacent to the locking flange of the first latch holder and spaced apart from the locking flange of the second latch holder.
In Example 13, the subject matter of Example 12 is further configured such that when the latch arm is pivotally connected to the second latch holder, the locking flange of the latch arm is adjacent to the locking flange of the second latch holder and spaced apart from the locking flange of the first latch holder.
In Example 14, the subject matter of Example 1 is further configured with a sleeve-like spacer configured to receive at least a portion of the latch arm.
In Example 15, the subject matter of Example 14 is further configured such that the spacer defines an opening that is aligned with an opening in the latch arm when the latch arm is received in the spacer.
In Example 16, the subject matter of Example 15 is further configured such that the spacer includes an outwardly extending protrusion on at least one side.
Example 17 is a method of installing a latch assembly. The method includes providing a first mounting plate with a first latch holder extending therefrom, a second mounting plate with a second latch holder extending therefrom, and a latch arm movable between an unlatched position and a latched position. A determination is made whether the latch arm should be movable towards the latched position in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. The latch arm is pivotally connected to the first latch holder and/or the first mounting plate responsive to determining that the latch arm should move towards the latched position in a counter-clockwise direction. If a determination is made that the latch arm should move towards the latched position in a clockwise direction, the latch arm is pivotally connected to the second latch holder and/or the second mounting plate.
In Example 18, the subject matter of Example 17 is further configured by sliding a sleeve-like spacer onto an end of the latch arm prior to pivotally connect the latch arm to either: (1) the first latch holder and/or the first mounting plate; or (2) the second latch holder and/or the second mounting plate.
In Example 19, the subject matter of Example 17 is further configured such that when the latch arm pivot is pivotally connected to the first latch holder and/or the first mounting plate, a free end of the latch arm moves in and out between the second latch holder and the second mounting plate.
In Example 20, the subject matter of Example 19 is further configured such that the latch arm pivot is pivotally connected to the second latch holder and/or the second mounting plate, a free end of the latch arm moves in and out between the first latch holder and the first mounting plate.
Although certain embodiments have been described and illustrated in exemplary forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is noted that the description and illustrations have been made by way of example only. Numerous changes in the details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and operations may be made. Accordingly, such changes are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure, the protected scope of which is defined by the claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/277,187 filed Jan. 11, 2016, for a “Reversible Non-Handed Latch,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20170198501 A1 | Jul 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62277187 | Jan 2016 | US |