Latch mechanism with status indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10329799-B2
Application number	US-201715647750-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Mar 3, 2016
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A latch mechanism is provided that includes a housing, a cap, and at least one indicator. The cap may include a central axis and may be mounted for selective rotational movement relative to the housing about the central axis between a latched position and an unlatched position. The at least one indicator may be interposed between the cap and the housing, such that the cap is in covering relationship to at least a portion of the at least one indicator. The at least one indicator may also be mounted for radial movement outwardly from the central axis relative to the cap as the cap is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position such that the cap is no longer in covering relationship to the portion of the at least one indicator.

First claim

We claim:

1. A latch mechanism comprising:
a housing;
a cap having a central axis and mounted for selective rotational movement relative to the housing about the central axis between a latched position and an unlatched position; and
at least one indicator interposed between the cap and the housing, such that the cap is in covering relationship to at least a portion of the at least one indicator, the at least one indicator being mounted for radial movement outwardly from the central axis relative to the cap as the cap is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position such that the cap is no longer in covering relationship to the portion of the at least one indicator.

2. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the cap is configured to receive a driver for turning the cap from the latched position to the unlatched position.

3. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the at least one indicator is mounted to the cap such that the at least one indicator pivots about at least one projection as the cap is rotated between the latched position and the unlatched position.

4. The latch mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the housing further comprises a first end and a second end, the second end of the housing having an opening and the first end of the housing having a top surface in opposing relationship to the bottom surface of the cap and the at least one indicator is interposed between the top surface and the bottom surface.

5. The latch mechanism of claim 4 , wherein the top surface includes at least one guide slot and the at least one indicator includes a peg located within the at least one guide slot, the guide slot being configured such that rotation of the cap from the latched position to the unlatched position causes the at least one indicator to pivot about the at least one projection away from the central axis of the cap.

6. The latch mechanism of claim 4 further comprising:
a cam having at least one cam slot, the cam being rotatably supported within the housing, the cam being coupled to the cap so as to rotate in response to rotation of the cap; and
a shaft positioned at least in part within the housing, the shaft extending through the opening in the second end of the housing, the shaft having at least one cam follower located within the at least one cam slot, the at least one cam slot being configured such that the shaft moves rotationally and axially as the cap moves between the unlatched position and the latched position.

7. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the at least one indicator is colored differently than the cap.

8. The latch mechanism of claim 1 comprising at least two indicators.

9. The latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a first end and a second end, the second end of the housing having an opening and the first end of the housing having a top surface, the at least one indicator having at least one projection extending therefrom, wherein the at least one indicator pivots about the at least one projection as the cap is rotated between the latched position and the unlatched position.

10. The latch mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the housing further comprises a cam surface and the indicator further comprises a pin configured to slide along at least a portion of the cam surface when the cap is rotated between the latched and the unlatched position to pivot the at least one indicator about the at least one projection.

11. The latch mechanism of claim 9 further comprising:
a cam having at least one cam slot, the cam being rotatably supported within the housing, the cam being coupled to the cap so as to rotate in response to rotation of the cap; and
a shaft positioned at least in part within the housing, the shaft extending through the opening in the second end of the housing, the shaft having at least one cam follower located within the at least one cam slot, the at least one cam slot being configured such that the shaft moves rotationally and axially as the cap moves between the unlatched position and the latched position.

12. The latch mechanism of claim 9 further comprising a shaft positioned through the housing, wherein the shaft moves rotationally as the cap moves between the unlatched position and the latched position.

13. A latch mechanism for securing a door to a compartment of a vehicle, said latch mechanism comprising:
a housing configured to be connected to either the door or the compartment;
a cap having a central axis and mounted for selective rotational movement relative to the housing about the central axis between a latched position and an unlatched position; and
at least one indicator interposed between the cap and the housing, such that the cap is in covering relationship to at least a portion of the at least one indicator in the latched position of the latch mechanism thereby indicating to a user of the latch mechanism that the latch mechanism is in the latched position and the door is secured to the compartment,
the at least one indicator being mounted for radial movement outwardly from the central axis relative to the cap as the cap is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position such that the cap is no longer in covering relationship to the portion of the at least one indicator thereby indicating to the user of the latch mechanism that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched position and the door is not secured to the compartment.

14. The latch mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the cap is configured to receive a driver for turning the cap from the latched position to the unlatched position.

15. The latch mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the at least one indicator is mounted to the cap such that the at least one indicator pivots about at least one projection as the cap is rotated between the latched position and the unlatched position.

16. The latch mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the housing further comprises a first end and a second end, the second end of the housing having an opening and the first end of the housing having a top surface in opposing relationship to the bottom surface of the cap and the at least one indicator is interposed between the top surface and the bottom surface.

17. The latch mechanism of claim 16 , wherein the top surface includes at least one guide slot and the at least one indicator includes a peg located within the at least one guide slot, the guide slot being configured such that rotation of the cap from the latched position to the unlatched position causes the at least one indicator to pivot about the at least one projection away from the central axis of the cap.

18. The latch mechanism of claim 13 , wherein the portion of the at least one indicator is colored differently than the cap.

19. The latch mechanism of claim 13 comprising at least two indicators.

Assignees

• Southco

Inventors

• Hastings Brandon V
• Langkamp Jr Richard B
• Nguyen Tommy Vu Phi

Classifications

• E05B17/22

  Means for operating or controlling lock or fastening device accessories, i.e. other than the fastening members, e.g. switches, indicators {(E05B39/00 - E05B45/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• E05B41/00 Primary

  Locks with visible indication as to whether the lock is locked or unlocked {(indicator lights E05B17/10)} · CPC title

• E05B35/008

  for simple tool-like keys · CPC title

• E05C3/00

  Fastening devices with bolts moving pivotally or rotatively · CPC title

• E05C3/06

  with operating handle or equivalent member moving otherwise than rigidly with the bolt · CPC title