Cam latch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9915082-B2
Application number	US-201414535790-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 7, 2014
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

A latch for capturing a striker includes a latch cam, a trigger, a drive cam, a motor coupled to the drive cam, and a switch coupled to the motor. The latch cam is biased to rotate toward an open position and configured to capture the striker in a closed position. The drive cam uses at least one cam surface to contact the trigger, and the switch permits actuation of the motor to rotate the drive cam when sensing the trigger or the drive cam, thereby rotating the drive cam to urge the trigger toward an unlocked position, disengage the trigger from the latch cam, and allow the latch cam to rotate from the closed position toward the open position. A system incorporating the latch and method of capturing a striker is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A latch for capturing a striker, the latch comprising:
a latch cam mounted to rotate between a closed position and an open position, the latch cam being biased to rotate toward the open position and configured to capture the striker when in the closed position;
a trigger mounted to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position, the trigger being biased to rotate toward the locked position and positioned to contact the latch cam when the trigger is in the locked position, thereby retaining the latch cam in the closed position;
a drive cam having at least one cam surface positionable to contact the trigger;
a motor coupled to the drive cam;
a switch coupled to the motor via a motor circuit, the switch being in a closed state closing the motor circuit when the trigger is engaged with the switch, the motor being configured for separate actuation when the switch is in the closed state and the motor not being configured for separate actuation when the switch is not in the closed state; and
a spring for biasing the trigger toward the locked position of the trigger;
wherein in the closed state of the switch and upon the separate actuation of the motor, the motor rotates the drive cam, thereby urging the trigger from the locked position toward the unlocked position, disengaging the trigger from the latch cam and from the switch with the drive cam engaging the switch to maintain the closed state, and allowing the latch cam to rotate from the closed position toward the open position.

2. The latch of claim 1 , further comprising a housing at least partially enclosing one or more of the latch cam, the trigger, the drive cam, the motor, and the switch.

3. The latch of claim 2 , wherein the trigger includes an extension that extends outside of the housing and is configured such that a force applied to the extension urges the trigger toward the unlocked position.

4. The latch of claim 3 , further comprising a cable mounting bracket positioned to receive a cable for attachment to the extension of the trigger.

5. The latch of claim 1 , wherein a bearing surface of the latch cam prevents the trigger from returning to the locked position when the latch cam is in the open position.

6. The latch of claim 1 , wherein the switch is an SPDT micro switch.

7. The latch of claim 1 , wherein the spring is a compression spring positioned to extend between a surface of the housing and a surface of the trigger.

8. The latch of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor positioned to detect when the striker is captured by the latch cam.

9. The latch of claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic reed switch.

10. A latch system having a latched configuration and an unlatched configuration, the latch system comprising:
a latch and a striker movable with respect to one another between the latched configuration and the unlatched configuration, the striker having an engagement surface positioned to be engaged by the latch in the latched configuration;
the latch having
a latch cam mounted to rotate between a closed position and an open position, the latch cam being biased to rotate toward the open position and capturing the striker when the latch and the striker are in the latched configuration and the latch cam is in the closed position;
a trigger mounted to rotate between a locked position and an unlocked position, fire trigger being biased to rotate toward the locked position and positioned to contact the latch cam when the trigger is in the locked position, thereby retaining the latch cam in the closed position;
a drive cam having at least one cam surface positionable to contact the trigger;
a motor coupled to the drive cam; and
a switch coupled to the motor via a motor circuit, the switch being in a closed state closing the motor circuit when the trigger is engaged with the switch, the motor being configured for separate actuation when the switch is in the closed state and the motor not being configured for separate actuation when the switch is not in the closed state; and
a spring for biasing the trigger toward the locked position of the trigger;

wherein in the closed state of the switch and upon the separate actuation of the motor, the motor rotates the drive cam, thereby urging the trigger from the locked position toward the unlocked position, disengaging the trigger from the latch cam and from the switch with the drive cam engaging the switch to maintain the closed state of the switch, allowing the latch cam to rotate from the closed position toward the open position, and moving the latch from the latched condition toward the unlatched condition.

11. The latch system of claim 10 , further comprising a housing at least partially enclosing one or more of the latch cam, the trigger, the drive cam, the motor, and the switch.

12. The latch system of claim 11 , wherein the trigger includes an extension that extends outside of the housing and is configured such that a force applied to the extension urges the trigger toward the unlocked position.

13. The latch system of claim 12 , further comprising a cable coupled to the extension of the trigger and a cable mounting bracket receiving the cable.

14. The latch system of claim 10 , wherein a bearing surface of the latch cam prevents the trigger from returning to the locked position when the latch cam is in the open position.

15. The latch system of claim 10 , wherein the switch is an SPDT micro switch.

16. The latch system of claim 10 , wherein the spring is a compression spring positioned to extend between a surface of the housing and a surface of the trigger.

17. The latch system of claim 10 , further comprising a sensor positioned to sense when the striker is in proximity to the latch.

18. The latch system of claim 17 , wherein the sensor comprises a magnetic reed switch.

19. The latch system of claim 10 , wherein the latch is stationary and the striker is movable with respect to the latch.

20. The latch system of claim 10 , wherein the striker s stationary and the latch is movable with respect to the striker.

21. The latch system of claim 10 , wherein latch status is indicated based on the state of the switch, an open switch indicating that the latch is not secure and a closed switch indicating that the hitch is secure.

Assignees

• Southco

Inventors

• Garneau Gregory Gilbert

Classifications

• E05B2047/0024

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