Patent Application
20170260777
Vehicle door latches, both for the driver and passenger compartments as well as other storage compartments, include latches to secure the door in a closed position. Strength and durability of the latches are usually important features for the long-term life of the latch through repeated use.
Also, versatility of the latch for various applications is a desired feature which minimizes latch variations, inventory, and costs.
Therefore, there is a need for a strong, durable, and versatile latch useful for many applications.
Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly with an improved plate structure having strength, durability and versatility.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly having a front C-shaped front plate with top and bottom flanges, and to which a back plate can be easily mounted.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly having a front plate with a strength-enhancing embossment extending beneath the rotor and catch and extending continuously between the opposite ends of the plate.
Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly having multiple points for alternative connections of trip levers for actuating the catch and rotor.
Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly having modular components that can be assembled for right and left-handed applications.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly having indicia for aligning the striker to the latch.
Still another objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly having a back plate with hex-shaped holes for mounting the axles for the rotor and the catch.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly having a back plate with tabs to limit rotation of the trip lever.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly having a back plate with tabs to retain the ends of springs for the rotor and catch.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a rotary latch assembly which is economical to manufacture and install, and which is safe and simple to use.
These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.
The rotary latch assembly of the present invention includes a front plate and a back plate which are assembled together with stepped axles to support a rotor and catch in between. The front plate is C-shaped, with opposite top and bottom flanges and a front face. The top flange and front face have a cut-out for receiving a striker. An embossment is provided on the front face beneath the rotor and catch and extending substantially along the length of the latch. The front and back plates are symmetrical about a center line, so as to have opposite mirror image ends, which allows the plates to be assembled in both a right-hand and a left-hand configuration. The plates include multiple connection points for trip levers. One or more trip levers can be connected to the latch assembly for different configurations to serve alternate applications. A mark, hole or other indicia is provided on the latch assembly to facilitate alignment with the striker. The back plate includes a center tab to limit rotation of the trip levers, and opposite end tabs to retain ends of springs for the rotor and the catch.
The latch assembly 10 of the present invention includes modular components which allow the latch to be assembled for right-handed applications, as shown in
The front plate 12 is C-shaped, with a top flange 24, a bottom flange 26, and an interconnecting front face 28. The front plate 12 includes a cut-out 30 for receipt of a striker. The back plate 14 has a similar cut-out or notch 34 for receipt of the striker. An embossment 35 extends continuously along the length of the front face 28. The rib 35 adds strength to the front plate 12 and provides a support surface for the rotor 16 and the catch 18. Since the width of the rib 35 is less than the diameters of the rotor and the catch, contact friction between the rib and the rotor/catch is minimized.
The back plate 14 includes a pair of tabs 36 for receipt in a pair of slots 38 in the inner leg 24 of the front plate 12. This mounting configuration of the back plate 14 to the front plate 12 via the tabs 36 and the slots 38 is the same for both the right-handed and left-handed latch assemblies.
The axles 20 are mounted between the front plate 12 and the back plate 14. The front plate 12 includes a pair of holes 40 for receiving one end of the axles 20, and the back plate 14 includes a pair of holes 42 to receive the opposite end of the axles 20. The holes 42 are hex-shaped to reduce axle spin during mounting. The hex holes 42 let the axles 20 form into the corners of the hex, which allows a greased axle to achieve the desired axle torque resistance after assembly. Thus, the hex holes 42 increase axle torque resistance after the axles are assembled in the front and back plates 12, 14.
The rotor 16 and the catch 18 are mounted on the axles 20 for rotation about the axle axis between latched and unlatched positions relative to a striker. The rotor 16 and the catch 18 can be exchanged or interchanged on the pair of axles 20 so as to form a right-handed latch, as shown in
The springs 22A and 22B are mounted on the axles 20. A first end 52 of each spring 22 is retentively engaged on a pair of outer tabs 54 on the back plate 14. Preferably, each tab 54 has a small hook 56 to facilitate retention of the spring end 52. The second end 58 of each spring 22A and 22B is retentively received in a notch or hook 60 on the rotor 16 and notch 62 on the catch 18. The mirror image configuration of the springs 22A and 22B allow each spring to be used with either the rotor 16 and the catch 18, depending on the right hand and left hand orientation of the rotor and the catch. The springs 22 bias the rotor 16 towards the unlatched position and bias the catch 18 towards the latched position. A center tab 55 on the back plate 14 limits the rotation of a trip lever such as 86 shown in
The latch assembly 10 of
The front plate 12 has opposite ends which are mirror images of one another relative to a line or plane passing through the center of the front plate. Similarly, the back plate 14 has opposite ends which are mirror images of one another relative to a line or plane passing through the center of the back plate. This symmetrical design of the front and back plates allows for increased versatility of the latch assembly 10.
The latch assembly 10 is also designed for multiple options for a trip lever for releasing the rotor 16 and the catch 18 from the latched position to the unlatched position. For example, one or more trip levers 74, 86, 92 and 96 can be secured in the holes 68, 76, 90, 98, respectively in the latch plates. Since each plate 12, 14 is symmetrical, the trip levers can be mounted for both left-handed and right-handed latch assemblies, or for left and right hand trip levers. The trip levers are connected to manual door handles or power assist mechanisms, as is known in the art, so that actuation releases the catch 18, and thereby the rotor 16, from the latched position to the unlatched position.
A multiple actuator option is shown in
The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.
