Latch with toggle linkage having first and second pivots sharing a displaceable common pivot

• Main Authors: NIGEL VICTOR SPURR, PETER COLEMAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 23.09.2009
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HANDCUFFS; KEYS; LOCKS; SAFES; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

A latch mechanism has a latch chassis 12, a latch bolt 14 and a pawl 16 and a first release handle operably connected to the pawl via a transmission path to selectively move the pawl an engaged position to a disengaged position. The transmission path includes a toggle linkage 20 having a first link 22 pivotable about a first axis 42 and a second link 24 pivotable about a second axis 58. The first and second links 22, 24 are pivotable relative to each other about a common axis 52. The latch mechanism further includes a stop to limit rotation of the second link in a first direction relative to the first link. The toggle linkage 20 has a first toggle linkage position wherein the common axis is positioned on a first side of the line L joining the first and second axis and the stop is engaged so as to operably couple the first release handle with the pawl and a second toggle linkage position wherein the common axis is positioned on a second side of the line L joining the first and second axes 42, 58 so as to operably decouple the first release handle from the pawl. Alternatively, the line L may join the first axis 42 with a load application point on abutment 74.