Latch with a built-in adjustment mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9797425-B2
Application number	US-201615079282-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 24, 2016
Priority date	May 3, 2013
Publication date	Oct 24, 2017
Grant date	Oct 24, 2017

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for adjusting a latch. An apparatus comprises a latch body, a first member, and a second member associated with the latch body. A receiving area extends through at least a portion of the latch body. The first member is configured to be at least partially received within the receiving area of the latch body. The first member has a first coupling element. The second member has a second coupling element. Movement of the first member along an axis through the receiving area changes a distance between the first coupling element and the second coupling element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a latch body, wherein a receiving area extends through at least a portion of the latch body and comprising a slot forming a control area having a closed end and an open end;
a first member configured to be at least partially received within the receiving area of the latch body, wherein the first member has a first coupling element and a stop feature protruding radially from the first member and configured to ride in the slot forming the control area within the latch body when the first member is at least partially received within the receiving area of the latch body;
an end element associated with the latch body and comprising an opening including a notch, wherein the stop feature is configured to pass through the notch in the end element and the open end of the slot forming the control area when the end element is positioned with respect to the latch body such that the notch in the end element is aligned with the slot forming the control area and such that the open end of the slot forming the control area is closed to prevent movement of the stop feature through the open end of the slot forming the control area when the end element is positioned with respect to the latch body such the notch in the end element is not aligned with the open end of the slot forming the control area;
a second member associated with the latch body, wherein the second member has a second coupling element and wherein movement of the first member along an axis through the receiving area changes a distance between the first coupling element and the second coupling element;
a first attachment structure configured to engage the first coupling element of the first member; and
a second attachment structure configured to engage the second coupling element of the second member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment structure is associated with a first panel and wherein the second attachment structure is associated with a second panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:
the first panel having the first attachment structure associated therewith; and
the second panel having the second attachment structure associated therewith;
wherein the first panel and the second panel are configured for use in forming a sidewall for an interior of an aircraft.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein moving the first member along the axis through the receiving area such that the distance between the first coupling element and the second coupling element changes a width of a gap between the first panel and the second panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the latch body further comprises:
a structural attachment feature configured for attachment to a structural member of an aircraft, such that the first panel and the second panel are associated with the structural member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the structural member is selected from the group consisting of a frame of the aircraft, a stringer of the aircraft, a rib of the aircraft, and a spar of the aircraft.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first attachment structure comprises a first hook configured to engage the first coupling element of the first member and the second attachment structure comprises a second hook configured to engage the second coupling element of the second member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first coupling element comprises:
a first elongated portion of the first member configured to receive the first hook; and
a first plurality of retention collars configured to axially constrain the first elongated portion in the first hook;
wherein when engaged, the first hook is unable to move along the axis independently from the first member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the second coupling element comprises:
a second elongated portion of the second member configured to receive the second hook; and
a second plurality of retention collars configured to axially constrain the second elongated portion in the second hook;
wherein when engaged, the second hook is unable to move along the axis independently from the second member.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the end element is used to close the open end of the control area with the stop feature of the first member located within the control area such that a distance by which the first member can be moved along the axis is determined by a length of the control area.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
an adjustment member configured to form a portion of the receiving area and receive at least a portion of the first member and wherein relative rotation between the adjustment member and the first member causes the first member to move along the axis.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the adjustment member is a separate component positioned relative to the latch body and configured to be held within a retaining area formed by the latch body such that a channel through the latch body opens into a hole within the adjustment member to form the receiving area.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the first member has outer threads configured to engage inner threads along a hole in the adjustment member.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
a locking mechanism configured to prevent the relative rotation between the adjustment member and the first member.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
a pivotable element, wherein rotation of the pivotable element into a locked position locks the adjustment member in place to prevent the relative rotation between the adjustment member and the first member and wherein rotation of the pivotable element into an unlocked position unlocks the adjustment member to allow the relative rotation between the adjustment member and the first member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment member comprises:
a plurality of grooves, wherein the pivotable element is configured to enter a groove in the plurality of grooves when the pivotable element is in the locked position.

17. A method for adjusting a latch, the method comprising:
engaging a first coupling element of a first member to a first attachment structure wherein the first member comprises a stop feature protruding radially from the first member;
engaging a second coupling element of a second member associated with a latch body of the latch to a second attachment structure, wherein the latch body comprises a slot forming a control area having a closed end and an open end;
positioning an end element associated with the latch body and comprising an opening including a notch in a first position with respect to the latch body wherein the notch in the end element is aligned with the open end of the slot forming the control area;
inserting the first member having the first coupling element at least partially through a receiving area that extends through at least a portion of the latch body by passing the stop feature protruding from the first member through the notch in the end element and into the slot forming the control area when the end element is positioned in the first position with respect to the latch body;
positioning the end element in a second position with respect to the latch body wherein the notch in the end element is not aligned with the open end of the slot forming the control area such that the end element prevents movement of the stop feature through the open end of the slot forming the control area; and
moving the first member along an axis through the receiving area such that a

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Pacini Phillip E
• Branham Russell J
• Cheng Kam Wang

Classifications

• F16B5/0607 Primary

  joining sheets or plates to each other (F16B5/0692, F16B21/082 take precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T403/29

  Rotarily connected, differentially translatable members, e.g. , turn-buckle, etc. · CPC title

• F16B5/0233

  allowing for adjustment perpendicular to the plane of the plates · CPC title

• B64C1/066 Primary

  Interior liners · CPC title

• Y10T403/293

  having operating mechanism · CPC title