Bidirectional latch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12441471-B2
Application number	US-202217845611-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2022
Priority date	Jun 21, 2022
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A bidirectional latching device for securing a cargo in a vehicle may have a latch catch assembly and a latch head. The latch catch assembly may selectably engage with the latch head. When engaged with the latch head, the latch catch assembly may lock the latch head in position to resist movement and the latch head may secure the cargo in the vehicle. When disengaged from the latch head, the latch catch assembly may release the latch head and the latch head may move to a stowed position. The latch catch assembly may lock the latch head to resist movement in one or more directions of movement. The latch head may be shaped to secure the cargo in the vehicle in at least two directions. Thus, cargo may be secured more efficiently by requiring a reduced number of latch devices because the disclosed latch device is bidirectional.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bidirectional latching device for securing a cargo in a vehicle comprising:
a latch catch assembly comprising:
a first pawl arm comprising an arm rotatably extending from a first hinge at a first end of the arm and having a first pawl adjacent a second end of the arm;

a latch head comprising:
a first force reaction arm comprising an arm rotatably extending from a first latch head hinge at a first end of the arm, the first force reaction arm defining a first locking slot adjacent a second end of the first force reaction arm, the first locking slot configured to receive the first pawl to prevent rotation of the first force reaction arm about the first latch head hinge in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions; and
a cargo retention flange extending outwardly from a second end of the first force reaction arm, the cargo retention flange configured to restrict movement of the cargo proximate to the bidirectional latching device in response to the receiving the first pawl into the first locking slot.

2. The bidirectional latching device of claim 1 , wherein the cargo retention flange comprises:
a first dimensional restraint member to restrict movement of the cargo in a first direction of movement; and
a second dimensional restraint member perpendicular to the first dimensional restraint member to restrict movement of the cargo in a second direction of movement that is perpendicular to the first direction of movement.

3. The bidirectional latching device of claim 2 , wherein the first dimensional restraint member and the second dimensional restraint member form a T-shape.

4. The bidirectional latching device of claim 1 , further comprising a base, the base comprising a platform supporting the first hinge and the first latch head hinge in fixed spaced apart relation as the first hinge rotates and the first latch head hinge rotates independently of the first hinge.

5. The bidirectional latching device of claim 4 , wherein the first hinge and the first latch head hinge are spaced so that the first force reaction arm and the first pawl arm are at about a perpendicular angle when the first pawl is in the first locking slot.

6. The bidirectional latching device of claim 4 , wherein the latch catch assembly further comprises a first handle arm extending from the first latch head hinge, wherein the first handle arm extends at an acute angle relative to the first force reaction arm.

7. The bidirectional latching device of claim 6 , further comprising a handle disposed at an end of the first handle arm opposite the first latch head hinge.

8. The bidirectional latching device of claim 7 , wherein the first handle arm and the first force reaction arm both extend away from the base.

9. The bidirectional latching device of claim 8 , wherein the first hinge is spring loaded to impel the first pawl toward the first locking slot.

10. The bidirectional latching device of claim 9 , wherein the first latch head hinge is rotatable in response to a force on the first handle arm to disengage the first pawl from the first locking slot.

11. The bidirectional latching device of claim 1 ,
wherein the latch catch assembly further comprises a second pawl arm comprising an arm rotatably extending from a second hinge at a first end of the arm and having a second pawl adjacent a second end of the arm,
wherein the latch head further comprises a second force reaction arm comprising an arm rotatably extending from a second latch head hinge at a first end of the arm,
wherein the second force reaction arm defines a second locking slot adjacent a second end of the second force reaction arm to receive the second pawl into the second locking slot to prevent rotation of the second force reaction arm about the second latch head hinge in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and
wherein a base comprising a platform further supports the second hinge and the second latch head hinge in fixed spaced apart relation as the second hinge rotates and the second latch head hinge rotates independently of the first hinge.

12. The bidirectional latching device of claim 11 , wherein the first hinge and the second hinge rotate in concert and wherein the first latch head hinge and the second latch head hinge rotate in concert.

13. The bidirectional latching device of claim 12 , wherein the latch catch assembly further comprises a second handle arm extending from the second latch head hinge, wherein the second handle arm extends at an acute angle relative to the second force reaction arm.

14. The bidirectional latching device of claim 13 , wherein a handle extends between an end of a first handle arm opposite the first latch head hinge and an end of the second handle arm opposite the second latch head hinge, wherein the first handle arm and the second handle arm are parallel and spaced apart.

15. The bidirectional latching device of claim 14 , wherein the second handle arm and the second force reaction arm both extend away from the base, wherein the second force reaction arm and the first force reaction arm are parallel and spaced apart.

16. The bidirectional latching device of claim 15 , wherein the second hinge is spring loaded to impel the second pawl toward the second locking slot.

17. The bidirectional latching device of claim 16 , wherein the first latch head hinge and the second latch head hinge are rotatable in concert in response to a force on the handle extending between the first handle arm and the second handle arm to disengage the first pawl from the first locking slot and the second pawl from the second locking slot.

18. An aircraft cargo retention system comprising:
a cargo compartment floor of an aircraft;
a plurality of rollers attached to the cargo compartment floor to support a first cargo item and a second cargo item; and
a bidirectional latching device attached to the cargo compartment floor and configured to selectably extend upward from the cargo compartment floor to restrict lateral movement and up-and-down movement of both the first cargo item and the second cargo item, wherein the bidirectional latching device comprises:
a latch head having a T-shape and extending upwardly from the cargo compartment floor, wherein the latch head is rotatable about a first latch head hinge; and
a latch catch assembly configured to selectably engage with the latch head to prevent rotation of the latch head about the first latch head hinge while restricting the lateral movement and the up-and-down movement of both the first cargo item and the second cargo item.

19. A method of securing cargo in a cargo compartment floor of an aircraft comprising:
slidably supporting a first cargo item on at least a first portion of rollers of a plurality of rollers;
selectably extending a bidirectional latching device attached to the cargo compartment floor between the first cargo item and a second cargo item upwardly from the cargo compartment floor;
slidably supporting the second cargo item on at least a second portion of rollers of the plurality of rollers;
restricting lateral movement of both the first cargo item and the second cargo item by the bidirectional latching device; and
restricting up-and-down movement of both the first cargo item and the second cargo item by the bidirectional latching device.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Lee Brandon
• Roberts Aaron J
• Schuh Michael

Classifications

• B64D11/003 Primary

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title

• B64D9/003 Primary

  Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers · CPC title