Push/push latch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9523222-B2
Application number	US-201214119693-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2012
Priority date	Aug 9, 2011
Publication date	Dec 20, 2016
Grant date	Dec 20, 2016

Abstract

The instant disclosure provides a push latch having a pivotally mounted blocking hammer including a head with a lever arm extending away from the head to a counter-weight. Under normal operating conditions, the hammer is held in an inert/balanced condition. Under such normal conditions, a portion of the hammer head may be in periodic contact with a resin of tacky character defining a bumper to aid in dampening vibration. Upon the occurrence of a high impact force, the rotational force provided by the counterweight is sufficient to cause the hammer to rotate into blocking relation relative to the latching mechanism so as to prevent unlatching. In the rotated condition, the counterweight may be in contact with an optional resin of tacky character defining a bumper to reduce rebound action.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A push latch mechanism comprising: a housing including a slot; a latch body having a track disposed across a surface, the latch body being positioned within the housing and being movable relative to the housing such that the relative movement of the latch body defines a latch body travel path;
a follower positioned in the slot, the follower being operatively connected to a pin extending outward from the follower and in engagement with the track, such that the pin moves along the track while the follower moves along the slot;
a hammer pivotally mounted at a pin within an end cap secured to the housing, the pin defining an axis of rotation below the latch body, the hammer including a hammer head extending away from a lever arm and towards the latch body such that the lever arm and hammer head form a dogleg profile and a counter-weight extending away from the lever arm and away from the latch body at a position remote from the hammer head and wherein the pin is disposed above the intersection of the hammer head and the lever arm;
a biasing spring engaging the hammer at a position on the lever arm between the counter-weight and the axis of rotation, the biasing spring urging the lever arm and counter-weight towards the latch body, wherein the hammer is movable between a first position and a second position, such that in the first position the hammer head does not obstruct the travel path of the latch body, and such that in the second position the hammer head obstructs the travel path of the latch body, thereby preventing the latch mechanism from opening, such that when moving from the first position to the second position due to a g-force condition occurring during a collision, the counterweight moves in a first direction, and such that when the g-force condition has sufficiently dissipated, the hammer moves back to the first position in a direction that is opposite the first direction and wherein the hammer head in combination with a biasing force applied by the biasing spring overcomes the counterweight in the absence of the g-force condition.

2. The push latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a hammer head bumper of tacky, pliable resin is disposed along a wall of the housing in opposing relation to an outboard surface of the hammer head such that rotation of the hammer head brings the outboard surface into contact with the hammer head bumper.

3. The push latch mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the hammer head bumper is disposed within a containment slot along an interior wall of the housing such that an exterior surface of the hammer head bumper extends in raised relation outwardly from the containment slot.

4. The push latch mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the hammer head bumper includes a free end extending below the containment slot, the free end being positioned such that the hammer head contacts the free end when the hammer is in the second position.

5. The push latch mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a counter-weight bumper of tacky, pliable resin is disposed in opposing relation to an inboard surface of the counter-weight such that rotation of the hammer head brings the inboard surface of the counter-weight into contact with the counter-weight bumper.

6. The push latch mechanism of claim 5 , wherein the counter-weight bumper is disposed within a containment slot along a wall positioned along a travel arc for the counter-weight and wherein the counter-weight bumper extends in raised relation outwardly from the wall.

7. The push latch mechanism of claim 6 , wherein the counter-weight bumper is disposed within the containment slot along an outboard wall of a raised step positioned along the travel arc for the counter-weight within the end cap secured to the housing.

8. A push latch mechanism comprising: a housing including a slot; a latch body having a track disposed across a surface, the latch body being positioned within the housing and being movable relative to the housing such that the relative movement of the latch body defines a latch body travel path, the latch body including an outwardly projecting nose disposed below the track;
a follower positioned in the slot, the follower being operatively connected to a pin extending outward from the follower and in engagement with the track, such that the pin moves along the track while the follower moves along the slot;
a hammer pivotally supported by a single mounting pin within an end cap secured to the housing, the mounting pin defining an axis of rotation below the latch body, the hammer including a claw-shaped hammer head extending away from a lever arm and towards the latch body such that the lever arm and hammer head form a dogleg profile and a counter-weight extending away from the lever arm and away from the latch body at a position remote from the hammer head, wherein the mounting pin is disposed above the intersection of the hammer head and the lever arm, the hammer head having a distal tip projecting generally towards the outwardly projecting nose;
a biasing spring engaging the hammer at a position on the lever arm between the counter-weight and the axis of rotation, the biasing spring urging the lever arm and counter-weight towards the latch body, wherein the hammer is movable between a first position and a second position, such that in the first position the hammer head does not obstruct the travel path of the latch body, and such that in the second position the distal tip of the hammer head contacts a surface of the outwardly projecting nose of the latch body, thereby preventing the latch mechanism from opening, such that when moving from the first position to the second position due to a g-force condition occurring during a collision, the counterweight moves in a first direction, and such that when the g-force condition has sufficiently dissipated, the hammer moves back to the first position in a direction that is opposite the first direction and wherein the hammer head in combination with a biasing force applied by the biasing spring overcomes the counterweight in the absence of the g-force condition.

9. The push latch mechanism of claim 8 , wherein a hammer head bumper of tacky, pliable resin is disposed along a wall of the housing in opposing relation to an outboard surface of the hammer head such that rotation of the hammer head brings the outboard surface into contact with the hammer head bumper.

10. The push latch mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the hammer head bumper is disposed within a containment slot along an interior wall of the housing such that an exterior surface of the hammer head bumper extends in raised relation outwardly from the containment slot.

11. The push latch mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the hammer head bumper includes a free end extending below the containment slot, the free end being positioned such that the hammer head contacts the free end when the hammer is in the second position.

12. The push latch mechanism of claim 8 , wherein a counter-weight bumper of tacky, pliable resin is disposed in opposing relation to an inboard surface of the counter-weight such that rotation of the hammer head brings the inboard surface of the counter-weight into contact with the counter-weight bumper.

13. The push latch mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the counter-weight bumper is disposed within a containment slot along a wall positioned along a travel arc for the counter-weight and wherein the counter-weight bumper extends in raised relation outwardly from the wall.

14. A push latch mechanism comprising: a housing including a slot; a latch body having a track disposed across a surface, the latch body being positioned within the housing and being movable relati

Assignees

• Zhang Miao
• Berry Jr Toby
• Calby Daniel
• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Zhang Miao
• Berry Jr Toby
• Calby Daniel

Classifications

• E05B83/28

  Locks for glove compartments, console boxes, fuel inlet covers or the like · CPC title

• E05B77/06 Primary

  by means of inertial forces · CPC title

• E05C1/08 Primary

  with latching action · CPC title

• Y10S292/04

  Automatic release latches · CPC title

• E05C19/022

  Released by pushing in the closing direction · CPC title