Patent · US Expired

Key operated latch with combined rotational and translational latching action

US6640592B2 · kind B2 · utility

30Cited by
10References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 2001
Grant dateNov 4, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 8, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T292/0887
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A key operated latch includes a housing which supports a lock plug, a motion control sleeve, and a sleeve-like cam therein. The cam rotates with the lock plug, while the motion control sleeve is stationary. The cam has at least one cam slot, and the motion control sleeve has at least one motion control slot. A shaft extends outward from the housing and has at least one projection which is engaged with both the cam slot and the motion control slot. The cam slot and the motion control slot are configured such that rotation of the lock plug imparts a sequence of rotational and axial movements to the shaft. A latching member attached to the shaft, moves between a latched position and an unlatched position in a sequence of axial and rotational motions in order to selectively secure a door, panel, or the like in the closed position. Also disclosed are additional embodiments that incorporate a wing knob or that have a lock plug sleeve and a motion control sleeve that are combined into a single part of one-piece construction. In one of the embodiments having a wing knob the wing knob freewheels without opening the latch when the lock plug is in the locked configuration.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.