Push-pull latch assembly for a detachable media pick mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356296-A1
Application number	US-201615240335-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 18, 2016
Priority date	Dec 17, 2014
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A push-pull latch assembly for mounting to a cantilevered post. The latch assembly comprises a handle that is slidably and axially insertable into a handle base which is mountable to a member such as a pick mechanism housing. The handle base includes a pair of cantilevered, opposed latched arms having opposed catches for engagement with a groove positioned adjacent to a free end of a cantilevered post. The handle includes triangular rails having inner and outer ramps used to separate the opposed latch arms. The outer ramp separates the latch arms when the handle is inserted into the handle base. The inner ramp separates the latch arms during removal of the latch assembly from the cantilevered post. An axial pushing force engages the latch assembly to the groove and an axial pulling force disengages the latch assembly from the groove allowing for latch assembly removal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A latch assembly comprising:
a post having a first end mountable to a first member in a cantilever manner, the post having a free end having a circumferential groove inboard thereof; a handle base mountable to a second member, the second member and handle base each having respective aligned openings for receiving the free end of the post therethrough, the handle base including:
a pair of opposed guide arms; and
a pair of opposed resilient latch arms, the pairs of opposed resilient latch arms and guide arms depending from a same side of the handle base and being axially aligned with the opening in the handle base with each latch arm having a catch at a free end thereof; and,
a handle slidably coupleable to the handle base and axially movable within the handle base, the handle including:
a support body having a first end and a second end, the support body having an axial opening extending between the first and second ends and a pair of opposed channels axially extending along an outer surface of the support body from the first end and aligned with the pair of opposed guide arms and sized for receiving therein a corresponding guide arm;
a grip axially depending from the second end of the support body having an opening therein aligned with the opening in the handle base and sized for receiving the free end of the post;
an end wall radially extending from the support body and positioned adjacent to the second end thereof;
at least two opposed rails axially positioned between the first and second ends of the support body, each rail having:
a first and a second end extending along the outer surface of the support body from the first end of the support body toward the second end of the support body, the second ends of the at least two opposed rails being spaced apart from the end wall forming a respective dwell gap therebetween sized to receive therethrough the respective catches of the pair of opposed resilient latch arms;
an inner ramp having a bottom beginning adjacent to the second end of each rail and raising at a predetermined first acute angle; and
an outer ramp having a bottom beginning adjacent to the first end of each rail and raising at a predetermined second acute angle, the catches moveable along respective outer and inner ramps,

wherein, with the post mounted in the first member, the handle base mounted on the second member and the handle installed in the handle base, during mounting of the second member onto the post using an axial pushing force applied to the handle, the free end of the post initially separates the catches and deflects the pair of opposed resilient latch arms with the catches subsequently engaging the groove on the post and the pair of opposed resilient latch arms returning to a less deflected position thereby latching the second member to the post, and, during dismounting of the second member from the post using an axial pulling force applied to the handle, the catches slide up the inner ramps of the at least two opposed rails and disengage from the groove in the post separating the catches by a distance sufficient to allow the second member to slide off of the free end of the post.

2 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein for each rail a step is formed between respective upper ends of the inner and outer ramps, the step limiting axial movement of the pair of opposed resilient latch arms within the handle base when an axial pulling force is applied to the handle.

3 . The latch assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first acute angle is less than the second acute angle.

4 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein, with the pair of opposed resilient latch arms being in an undeflected position, the respective catches extend through respective dwell gaps into the opening in the handle base.

5 . The latch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the catches are separated by a distance that is less than or equal to a distance of an inner diameter of the groove.

6 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein, during installation of the handle into the handle base, the catches initially engage respective outer ramps of the at least two opposed rails and the pair of opposed resilient latch arms are increasingly separated as they travel therealong, and, as installation of the handle continues, the catches transfer to the respective inner ramps of the at least two opposed rails with the pair of opposed resilient latch arms being decreasingly separated until the respective catches enter the respective dwell gaps and the pair of opposed resilient latch arms return to a substantially undeflected position.

7 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein an aligned end of each catch has an axial notch therein forming a pair of opposed notches aligned with the respective first ends of the at least two opposed rails.

8 . The latch assembly of clam 1 , wherein the at least two opposed rails further comprise two pairs of opposed rails with each end of each catch having an axial notch therein forming two pairs of opposed notches between the respective catches with one pair of opposed rails axially aligned with a corresponding pair of opposed notches in the catches.

9 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the free end of the post is a semi-hemispherical camming surface.

10 . The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the free end of the post is a polygonal planar camming surface.

11 . A latch assembly, comprising:
a post having a first end mountable to a first member in a cantilever manner and a free end having a circumferential groove inboard thereof; a handle base mountable to a second member, both the handle base and the second member having respective axially aligned openings for receiving the free end of the post therethrough, the handle base including:
a body having opposed first and second ends with an opening extending therebetween sized to receive the free end of the post;
a guide arm disposed about and axially extending from the cylindrical body; and
a pair of opposed resilient latch arms disposed about and axially extending from the cylindrical body and each having an end extending radially towards an axis of the post defining a catch sized to engage about the circumferential groove along the opening of the body; and
a handle including:
a support body slidably coupled with the handle base, the support body having a first end and a second end, the support body including:
a first channel sized to receive the guide arm; and
a pair of second channels adjacent the first channel, the pair of second channels each including a rail, the first channel and the pair of second channels axially extending between the first end and the second end of the support body, the guide arm of the handle base sliding along an outer surface of the first channel and each latch arm deflecting based on being in contact with the free end of the post during initial engagement with the handle base to the post and a corresponding rail during disengagement with the handle base from the post; and
a grip axially extending and dependent from the second end of the support body,

wherein, with the catches retained about the circumferential groove of the post such that the handle base and the handle are latched to the post, an axial pulling force away from the post applied on the grip causes the catches to separate from the circumferential groove of the post and the pair of opposed resilient latch arms to travel along corresponding rails allowing the handle base and the handle to be detached from the post.

12 . The latch assembly of claim 11 , wherein, to engage the handle base and the handle to the post, an axial pushing force towards the post is appl

Assignees

• Lexmark Int Inc

Inventors

• Alagos Angel Macuha
• De La Cerna Generoso Tebordo

Classifications

• F16B7/042 Primary

  with a locking element, e.g. pin, ball or pushbutton, engaging in a hole in the wall of at least one tube · CPC title

• B65H2402/60

  Coupling, adapter or locking means · CPC title

• B65H2402/51

  Joints, e.g. riveted or magnetic joints · CPC title

• Y10T403/60

  Biased catch or latch · CPC title

• Y10T403/591

  having operating mechanism · CPC title