Retractable safety latch for cases

US4758031A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Thermodyne International Ltd. · US

Inventor

• Walter Wolf · Backnang, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 25, 1986
• Grant date: Jul 19, 1988
• Expiry date: Sep 25, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T292/0917
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A retractable safety latch is disclosed and includes a base mounting member having perpendicular base walls, a draw bar guide attached to the mounting base member by a hinge, a draw bar having an arcuate hook on one end and an eccentrically positioned oblong hole on the other end slidably mounted on the draw bar guide, a rotatable shaft mounted on the draw bar guide and having an eccentrically mounted pin extending through the oblong hole for driving and retaining the draw bar in the draw bar guide, and a handle having a safety catch pivotably mounted on the rotatable shaft. Between the handle and the rotatable shaft is a spring for the purpose of biasing the handle in one direction with respect to the rotatable shaft so that when the latch is closed, the handle is in contact with the perpendicular base walls and the safety catch catches on one of the perpendicular base walls to prevent the rotatable shaft on which the handle is mounted from rotating and opening the latch. When the latch is open, the spring biased handle is forced into contact with the draw bar and a second spring mounted on the hinge coupled between the mounting base member and the draw bar guide will force the dr…