US4709949A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Latch device
Assignee: Nifco Inc
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Filing: 1986-06-23
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Granted: 1987-12-01
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Expires: 2006-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A latch device is provided with a stationary cylinder to be fixed on a structure on which a door is hinged and a rod adapted to be driven into the cylinder against the resilience of a spring by a strike on the rear side of the door during the closing of the door, and the rod has the front half thereof formed in the shape of a pair of retention pieces connected separately through hinges of a small wall thickness into the rear half of the rod, so that while the rod is pushed into the stationary cylinder, the inner wall surface of the stationary cylinder will enable the retention pieces to grasp the strike and, while the door is opened, the rod will protrude from the stationary cylinder and slightly push the door open and, at the same time, the retention pieces will release the strike from retention therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Umezawa
- 👤 Koji Watanabe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:24
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05C; E05C19/00; E05C19/02; E05C19/022; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/04; Y10S292/38; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/45; Y10T24/45225; Y10T24/45602; Y10T24/45675; Y10T24/45686; Y10T24/45775; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0801; Y10T292/0803; Y10T292/0805; Y10T292/0848; Y10T292/0849; Y10T292/0894; Y10T292/0907; Y10T292/1043; Y10T292/1075; Y10T292/1078
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
394 words
A latch system defined between a stationary support structure and a closure movably mounted upon said support structure between an open, unlatched position, and a closed, latched position, comprising: a cylinder fixedly mounted upon said stationary support structure; a strike fixedly mounted upon said closure; a rod, having strike-engaging means disposed thereon, and movably mounted within said cylinder between a first, strike-released outer position, and a second, strike-clamped inner position; first means disposed within said cylinder for biasing said rod toward said first, strike-released outer position; means disposed within said cylinder for releasably retaining said rod, and therefore said strike and said closure, in said second, strike-clamped inner position, and said closed, latched position, respectively; said strike being provided upon the leading end thereof with a radially expanded portion; said strike-engaging means of said rod comprising a central, strike-engaging portion for contact engagement with said leading end of said strike when said closure, and said strike and rod, are moved from said open, unlatched, and first strike-released outer, positions, respectively, toward said closed, latched, and second strike-clamped inner, positions, respectively, against the biasing force of said first biasing means; and a pair of strike-engaging arms projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said said central, strike-engaging portion for envelopingly engaging said radially expanded portion of said strike therebetween, said arms being mounted upon said central, strike-engaging portion of said rod for accommodation within said cylinder when said closure, and said strike and said rod, are moved from said open, unlatched, and first, strike-released outer, positions, respectively, toward said closed, latched, and second strike-clamped inner, positions, respectively; and rotary cam means mounted upon said rod for cooperation with said retaining means of said cylinder when said rod is moved from said first outer position to said second inner position so as to retain said rod at said second inner position such that said strike-engaging means are engaged with said closure strike whereby said closure is disposed in said closed state, and for disengaging said retaining means of said cylinder when an inwardly directed force is applied to said closed closure whereby said rod is able to move from said second inner position to said first outer position under the influence of said first biasing means so as to permit said strike-engaging means to disengage said closure strike such that said closure can assume said open state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
394 words
A latch system defined between a stationary support structure and a closure movably mounted upon said support structure between an open, unlatched position, and a closed, latched position, comprising: a cylinder fixedly mounted upon said stationary support structure; a strike fixedly mounted upon said closure; a rod, having strike-engaging means disposed thereon, and movably mounted within said cylinder between a first, strike-released outer position, and a second, strike-clamped inner position; first means disposed within said cylinder for biasing said rod toward said first, strike-released outer position; means disposed within said cylinder for releasably retaining said rod, and therefore said strike and said closure, in said second, strike-clamped inner position, and said closed, latched position, respectively; said strike being provided upon the leading end thereof with a radially expanded portion; said strike-engaging means of said rod comprising a central, strike-engaging portion for contact engagement with said leading end of said strike when said closure, and said strike and rod, are moved from said open, unlatched, and first strike-released outer, positions, respectively, toward said closed, latched, and second strike-clamped inner, positions, respectively, against the biasing force of said first biasing means; and a pair of strike-engaging arms projecting outwardly from opposite sides of said said central, strike-engaging portion for envelopingly engaging said radially expanded portion of said strike therebetween, said arms being mounted upon said central, strike-engaging portion of said rod for accommodation within said cylinder when said closure, and said strike and said rod, are moved from said open, unlatched, and first, strike-released outer, positions, respectively, toward said closed, latched, and second strike-clamped inner, positions, respectively; and rotary cam means mounted upon said rod for cooperation with said retaining means of said cylinder when said rod is moved from said first outer position to said second inner position so as to retain said rod at said second inner position such that said strike-engaging means are engaged with said closure strike whereby said closure is disposed in said closed state, and for disengaging said retaining means of said cylinder when an inwardly directed force is applied to said closed closure whereby said rod is able to move from said second inner position to said first outer position under the influence of said first biasing means so as to permit said strike-engaging means to disengage said closure strike such that said closure can assume said open state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said pair of arms includes recessed portions for housing said radially expanded portion of said strike.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said central portion of said rod and said pair of arms are integrally formed together as a single piece structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said rod is molded from a plastic material; and said arms are connected to said central portion of said rod by means of molded hinge mechanisms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 3, wherein: said arms are normally divergently disposed upon said opposite sides of said central portion of said rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 5, further comprising: second means biasing said strike-engaging arms to said normally divergent position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said second biasing means comprises spring means interposed between said strike-engaging arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 6, wherein: said rod is molded from a plastic material; and said second biasing means are defined by molded hinge mechanisms interconnecting said strike-engaging arms to said rod sides.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said rotary cam means is substantially rectangular in configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 9, wherein: said rotary cam means is mounted upon the inner end of said rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 10, wherein: the length of said rotary cam means is substantially equal to the width of an inner end portion of said rod upon which said rotary cam means is mounted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A latch system as set forth in Claim 9, wherein: said rotary cam means includes notch means defined within opposite ends of said rotary cam means for engaging said retaining means of said cylinder.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
137 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said retaining means of said cylinder comprises: a first projection defined upon an end portion of said cylinder for engaging a first one of said notch means of said rotary cam means when said rod is moved from said first outer position to said second inner position so as to rotate said rotary cam means; and a second projection defined upon a side portion of said cylinder for engaging a second one of said notch means of said rotary cam means when said rotary cam means has been rotated by said engagement with said first projection of said cylinder so as to rotate said rotary cam means still further and thereby prevent movement of said rod from said second inner position back to said first outer position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
137 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 12, wherein said retaining means of said cylinder comprises: a first projection defined upon an end portion said cylinder for engaging a first end of said rotary cam means when said rod is moved inwardly under the influence of said inwardly directed force applied to said rod disposed at said second inner position so as to rotate said rotary cam means to a first, partialrelease position; and a second projection defined upon a side portion of said cylinder for engaging a second end of said rotary cam means as said rod is moved under the influence of said first biasing means from said second inner position to said first outer position so as to rotate said rotary cam means from said first, partial-release position to a second, full-release position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 12, wherein: said notch means are substantially V-shaped in configuration.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A latch system as set forth in claim 15, wherein: said V-shaped notch means define diagonally opposed sharp and rounded corners with the longitudinal sides of said substantially rectangularly configured rotary cam means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-11-30 | 1991-06-01 | 1991-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-11-30 | 1995-06-01 | 1995-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-11-30 | 1999-06-01 | 1999-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |