Patent Application
20210238884
Traditional door locks may include a handle, a rotating latch, or knob to lock the traditional door. These external knobs may cause additional weight, cause a hazard for passersby, and may be prone to failure.
Many traditional appliances may employ rotary knobs with handles for the latching of a door. A handle or recess within a front surface of a food service door may cause buildup of undesirable food items within the recess causing a health hazard.
Locking devices incorporated within a door housing may be cost prohibitive requiring structure modifications to a housing to which the door may attach.
Therefore, a need remains for a system and related method which may overcome these limitations and provide a novel solution to a simple locking device operated via a single actuation of a button.
In one aspect, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a toggle latch device. The toggle latch device may include a housing having a Y axis and an X axis, the X axis normal to the Y axis. Within the housing, the toggle latch device may include a locking pin configured for an X axis translation within a pin conduit within the housing, the locking pin having a locked position extending from the housing and a retracted position within the housing, the locking pin having a locking end extendable from the housing and a slide end opposite the locking end within the housing.
The toggle latch device may include a button configured for a Y axis translation within a button conduit within the housing, the button having a flush position flush with the housing and an activation position within the housing, a motion of the button from the flush position to the activation position within the Y axis translation. Here, at least one button spring biased for extension of the button to the flush position may return the button to its flush position.
The toggle latch device may include a piston having a button end and a rod end, the button end rigidly coupled with the button, the piston limited to the Y axis translation within a piston conduit within the housing and a rod having a piston end and a crank end, the piston end rotationally coupled with the rod end of the piston via a wrist pin, the crank end configured with a rod spring housing.
The toggle latch device may include a crank having an arc end and a shaft end, the arc end rotationally coupled with the rod on the crank end of the rod via a crank pin, the shaft end rotationally coupled with the housing via a shaft, the crank configured for a crank rotation about the shaft. Here, the crank may have a crank axis aligning the shaft and the crank pin, the rod having a rod axis aligning the wrist pin and the crank pin;
The toggle latch device may include a slide 150 rigidly coupled with the locking pin, the slide having a crank pin extension channel 152, the slide configured for the X axis translation within a slide channel within the housing. Here, the crank pin 142 may be rotationally coupling each of the rod, the crank, and a crank pin extension 148 extending within the crank pin extension channel 152, the crank pin extension slidably coupled with the crank pin extension channel, the crank pin extension configured for the Y axis translation within the crank pin extension channel.
The toggle latch device may include a hat 180 rotatably coupled with the housing via a hat pin, the hat having a hat spring housing 182, the hat limited in rotation about the hat pin, the hat having a positive position 282 corresponding to the locking pin retracted position and a negative position 284 corresponding to the locking pin locked position.
The toggle latch device may include a buckling spring 170 having a fixed end and a hat end, the buckling spring rigidly coupled with the rod spring housing on the fixed end, the buckling spring including a knuckle 172 rigidly coupled with the hat end, the knuckle slidably coupled with and inserted within the hat spring housing, the knuckle having a positive force position 272 and a negative force position 274 within the hat housing, the buckling spring configured for asserting a buckling spring force on the crank end of the rod, the buckling spring force along the X axis and one of: a positive buckling spring force corresponding to the locking pin retracted position and a negative buckling spring force corresponding to the locking pin extended position.
In function, with the locking pin in the retracted position a first positive translation of the button causes a rotation of the crank aligning the crank axis with the Y axis positively translating the locking pin; and a first negative translation of the button allows the positive buckling spring force to force the arc end of the crank to positively comply with the positive buckling spring force positively translating the locking pin to the locked position causing the knuckle to slide to the negative force position, the knuckle causing the hat to rotate to the negative position.
Further, a second positive translation of the button causes the rotation of the crank aligning the crank axis with the Y axis negatively translating the locking pin and a second negative translation of the button allows the negative buckling spring force to force the arc end of the crank to negative comply with the negative buckling spring force negatively translating the locking pin to the retracted position causing the knuckle to slide to the positive force position, the knuckle causing the hat to rotate to the positive position.
A further embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may include a toggle latch device. The toggle latch device may include a button means for actuating the toggle latch device and a crank means for converting a Y axis translation to an X axis translation. Also, the toggle latch device may include a locking means for locking a door. Here, a first actuation and release of the button means in the Y axis translation converts to a positive translation of the locking means in the X axis translation from a retracted state to an extended state, and a second actuation and release of the button means in the Y axis translation converts to a negative translation of the locking means in the X axis translation from the extended state to the retracted state.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not necessarily restrictive of the inventive concepts as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the inventive concepts and together with the general description, serve to explain the principles of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
Implementations of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be better understood when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the included drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, and in which some features may be exaggerated and some features may be omitted or may be represented schematically in the interest of clarity. Like reference numerals in the drawings may represent and refer to the same or similar element, feature, or function. In the drawings in which
Before explaining at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detailed description of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the instant disclosure that the inventive concepts disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features may not be described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the instant disclosure. The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As used herein a letter following a reference numeral is intended to reference an embodiment of the feature or element that may be similar, but not necessarily identical, to a previously described element or feature bearing the same reference numeral (e.g., 1, 1a, 1b). Such shorthand notations are used for purposes of convenience only, and should not be construed to limit the inventive concepts disclosed herein in any way unless expressly stated to the contrary.
Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive or and not to an exclusive or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by anyone of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
In addition, use of the “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components of embodiments of the instant inventive concepts. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the inventive concepts, thus “a” and “an” are intended to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.
Finally, as used herein any reference to “one embodiment,” or “some embodiments” means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The appearances of the phrase “in some embodiments” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, and embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed may include one or more of the features expressly described or inherently present herein, or any combination of sub-combination of two or more such features, along with any other features which may not necessarily be expressly described or inherently present in the instant disclosure.
Broadly, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein are directed to a toggle latch device which functions to translate a first push and release of a button to a locking pin translation from retracted to extended from within a housing. A second push and release of the button reverses the locking pin translation from extended to retracted back within the housing. The latch button remains desirably flush with the housing after each push and release. The translation of the latch button and that of the locking pin is angularly displaced by 90 degrees allowing the toggle latch device to employ a unique lever system which includes a buckling spring combined with a reversing hat which forces the locking pin in each of extension and retraction. As ease of use may be desirable, a user with physical and/or mental challenges may find particular usefulness of the toggle latch device. Alternate embodiments (e.g., button size, linear displacement) of the toggle latch device may find successful incorporation within additional types of systems
Referring generally to
Generally, the toggle latch device may function to convert a Y axis translation of a first push and release of a button 110 into an X axis translation of a locking pin 160 from a retracted position to an extended position. Here, the first push and release of the button 110, enables the toggle latch device 100 to extend the locking pin 160 to an extended position thereby extending the locking pin from the housing 190 enabling a lock of, for example, a door. Additionally, a second push and release of the button 110 has the opposite effect on the locking pin 160 translating the locking pin from the extended position to a retracted position within the housing 190.
As used herein, a positive Y axis 102 translation may be indicated by the reference arrow in
As indicated herein, each shape shown in the figures may be an exemplary representation of a function of each element. Additional shapes and functions thereof may fall directly within the scope of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
A series view of
Referring to
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the button 110 may be configured for positive and negative Y axis translation 116 within a button conduit 192 within the housing 190. The button 110 may have a flush position even with or flush with the housing 190 and an activation position positive along the Y axis within the housing. The desirable flush position of the button 110 may prevent foreign matter from collecting within a button recess. Here, as the button 110 may rest even with the housing, little foreign matter may collect around the button 110 enabling continuous button 110 operation without obstacle.
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the motion of the button 110 from the flush position to the activation position is positive Y axis translation while the motion from the activation to the flush position is negative Y axis translation. To ensure the button 110 remains in the flush position when not in use, the toggle latch device 100 may include one or more button springs 112 biased for extension of the button to the flush position.
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the toggle latch device 100 may include a piston 120 having a button end and a rod end 326 (see
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the toggle latch device 100 may include a crank 140 having an arc end 346 and a shaft end 348, the arc end 346 rotationally coupled with the rod 130 on the rod crank end 336 via a crank pin 142 (best seen in
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the crank and the slide may be configured where four times the Y axis translation of the button 110 is approximately equal to the X axis translation of the locking pin 160. For example, one approximate Y axis translation of the button 110 may be four mm positive and similarly four mm negative enabling the locking pin 160 to move in the X axis translation by approximately 15 mm. In embodiments, additional linear displacement relationships between the Y axis translations of the button 110 and the X axis translation of the locking pin 160 may be desirable.
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the toggle latch device 100 may include a slide 150 may be rigidly coupled with the locking pin 160. The slide 150 and the locking pin 160 may move as one within the X axis translation. The slide 150 may be fitted with a crank pin extension channel 152 which may be configured for slidably receiving a crank pin extension 148 (
With reference to
Here, the slide 150 may be configured only for the X axis translation within a slide channel 194 within the housing 190 while the crank pin extension 148 is limited to a crank pin extension motion 156 within the crank pin extension channel 152 sliding within the Y axis 102 of the crank pin extension channel 152. The combination of the slide motion within the X and the crank pin extension within the Y may produce the crank pin arc 342. In embodiments, the crank pin 142 may rotationally couple each of the rod 130, the crank 140, and the crank pin extension 148 which extends within and slidably couples with the crank pin extension channel 152 within the slide 150. In embodiments, a size of the crank pin extension 148 may be slightly smaller than that of the crank pin extension channel 152 and configured for the Y axis translation within the crank pin extension channel 152.
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the toggle latch device 100 may include a hat 180 rotatably coupled with the housing 190 via a hat pin 184. The hat may include a hat spring housing 182 configured for slidably receiving a knuckle 172 (below). Here, the hat 180 may be limited in a hat rotation 186 about the hat pin dependent on distances required between the hat 180 and the locking pin 160. Contemplated herein, a more distant hat 180 from the locking pin 160 may require a greater hat rotation 186 than would a shorter distance. Here, the hat 180 may have a positive position 282 (
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the hat 180 may maintain a present position (positive or negative) until the locking pin reaches a position approximately equal with each of the retracted position (negative) and the extended position (positive). For example, as the locking pin 160 reaches the locked position, the hat 180 may rotate from the hat positive position 282 to the hat negative position 284. The hat 180 then remains in the hat negative position 284 while the pin remains in the locked position. Conversely, as the button 110 is actuated, the locking pin 160 begins to move from the locked position to the retracted position and the hat remains in the hat negative position 284 to enable to buckling spring 170 to provide the negative buckling spring force 174 until the locking pin 160 approximately reaches the retracted position. At this point, the hat 170 may rotate from the hat negative position 284 back to the hat positive position 282 to be ready for another extension of the locking pin 160.
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the toggle latch device 100 may include the buckling spring 170 which may have a fixed end 278 (negative Y) and a hat end 276 (positive Y). Here, the buckling spring 170 may be rigidly coupled with the rod spring housing 178 on the fixed end. The buckling spring 170 may also include the knuckle 172 rigidly coupled with the hat end, the knuckle slidably coupled with and inserted within the hat spring housing 182. Contemplated herein, each of the knuckle 172 and the hat spring housing 182 may be coated with a material which may reduce friction allowing the knuckle 172 to freely translate 176 (slide) within the hat spring housing 182. Each of the combination of the materials used (that come into contact with each other) may be specifically configured to have as little friction as possible with each other.
Referring specifically to
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the buckling spring 170 may be configured for asserting a buckling spring force 174 which acts both positively and negatively along the X axis on the crank end 336 of the rod 130 and therefore, the each of arc end 346 of the crank 140 and the crank pin extension 148 as well. The buckling spring force 174 may function to assist the crank 140 in continuing a desired rotation. As the crank 140 rotates to vertical in either direction, the buckling spring 170 compresses increasing a potential of the buckling spring 170. Depending on which position the knuckle 172 may be will depend on which direction (positive to aid in locking pin extension or negative to aid in locking pin retraction) the buckling spring force 174 may be applied to the rod 130 and crank 140.
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, the buckling spring 170 may be further configured to reach a compression less than a maximum compression as the crank axis 240 is aligned with the Y axis 102.
Here, the buckling spring force 174 may be limited to a vector along the X axis and in one of a positive buckling spring force corresponding to 1) the locking pin 160 in transit from the retracted position, 2) the hat 180 in the positive position 282 and 3) the knuckle in the positive force position 272. A negative buckling spring force may correspond to the locking pin 160 in transit from the extended position, the hat 180 in the negative position 284, and the knuckle 172 in the negative force position 274.
In operation, a Y axis push and release of the button 110 causes a positive X axis translation of the locking pin 160 from retraced to extended. A second push and release of the button 110 causes a negative X axis translation of the locking pin 160 from extended to retracted.
While the locking pin 160 may be in the retracted position, a first positive Y axis translation of the button 110 (
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, a second positive Y axis 102 translation of the button 110 may cause a clockwise rotation of the crank 140 aligning the crank axis 240 with the Y axis 102 negatively translating the locking pin 160. A second negative Y axis 102 translation of the button allows the negative buckling spring force to force the arc end of the crank to negative comply with the negative buckling spring force negatively translating the locking pin to the retracted position causing the knuckle to slide to the positive force position, the knuckle causing the hat to rotate to the positive position.
In one embodiment of the inventive concepts disclosed herein, some elements of the toggle latch device may be comprised of a high strength plastic material.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Contemplated herein, the toggle latch device 100 may be efficiently incorporated within a frame of an oven wherein the oven door may include an orifice aligning with the locking pin 160. Should a user wish to lock the oven door, the user may close the oven door with one hand, and actuate the button 110 with the same hand or other hand. Specifically, the toggle latch device 100 may be specifically configured for installation and use on board an aircraft within an aircraft oven.
An additional incorporation may include a dead bolt type of lock offering a single press of the button 110 to lock and a single press of the button 110 to unlock. A toggle latch device incorporated within a vehicle skin may offer less aerodynamic skin friction drag compared with traditional door handles. Here, the button 110 may maintain a flush position relative to a vehicle skin housing.
Users with physical and/or mental difficulties may find particular usefulness of the toggle latch device. Alternate embodiments of the toggle latch device 100 may find successful incorporation within additional types of systems.
In addition, as an aesthetic appearance of the button 110 may be beneficial to a controlled device within which the toggle latch device 200 may be functional, the button 110 may remain flush with the surface of the controlled device in both a locked and unlocked position of the locking pin 160. Therefore, the flush mount of the button 110 may allow the button 110 to be an external design feature of the controlled device despite the position of the locking pin 160.
As will be appreciated from the above description, embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein may provide a novel solution to a simple locking device operated via a single actuation of a button.
It is to be understood that embodiments of the methods according to the inventive concepts disclosed herein may include one or more of the steps described herein. Further, such steps may be carried out in any desired order and two or more of the steps may be carried out simultaneously with one another. Two or more of the steps disclosed herein may be combined in a single step, and in some embodiments, one or more of the steps may be carried out as two or more sub-steps. Further, other steps or sub-steps may be carried in addition to, or as substitutes to one or more of the steps disclosed herein.
From the above description, it is clear that the inventive concepts disclosed herein are well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the inventive concepts disclosed herein. While presently preferred embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed herein have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are accomplished within the broad scope and coverage of the inventive concepts disclosed and claimed herein.
