Abstract
Provided is a door latch comprising a frame piece and door piece. The frame piece may include a lever comprising a lever connector; an actuator comprising an actuator connector; a cylinder comprising an arm; and a catch configured to be moved by the lever connector, the actuator connector and the arm. The door piece may include a bolt configured to laterally slide between the frame piece and the door piece, thereby transitioning the door latch between an unlatched position and a latched position.
Claims
1. A door latch comprising: a frame piece comprising: a lever comprising a lever connector; an actuator comprising an actuator connector; a cylinder comprising an arm; and a catch configured to be moved by the lever connector, the actuator connector and the arm, and a door piece comprising; a bolt configured to laterally slide between the frame piece and the door piece, thereby transitioning the door latch between an unlatched position and a latched position; wherein each of the lever, the actuator and the cylinder is independently configured to cause the catch to move, wherein in the latched position, when the catch is moved to prevent the bolt from laterally moving, the door latch is transitioned from an unlocked position to a locked position, and wherein in the latched position, when the catch is moved to allow the bolt to laterally move, the door latch is transitioned from the locked position to the unlocked position.
2. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the lever connector is pivotally connected to the frame piece.
3. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the actuator is connected to the frame piece.
4. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the catch is pivotally connected to the frame piece.
5. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the catch is configured to be pivotally connected to the lever connector and the actuator connector.
6. The door latch of claim 1, wherein each of the lever, the actuator and the cylinder is independently configured to cause the catch to pivot upward and downward.
7. The door latch of claim 6, wherein the cylinder has a notch, a grave, or a hole.
8. The door latch of claim 7, wherein in the latched position, when the catch pivots downward and thus fits into the notch, the grave, or the hole to prevent the bolt from laterally moving, the door latch is transitioned from an unlocked position to a locked position.
9. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a solenoid actuator.
10. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is a keyed cylinder.
11. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electronic actuator with a rod at one end of the actuator capable of linear movement when a current is applied to the actuator.
12. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the applied current causes the rod to move laterally, thereby causing the catch to move through the actuator connector.
13. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the cylinder is configured to be forced to rotate the arm, thereby causing the catch to move.
14. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the frame piece further comprises a spring that is configured to cause the arm to rest in a neutral position when no force is exerted on the cylinder.
15. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the lever is configured to be manually moved laterally to cause the catch to move through the lever connector.
16. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the bolt further comprises an interior handle and an exterior handle to laterally move the bolt.
17. The door latch of claim 1, wherein the bolt is attached to the door piece by a spring to slide laterally the bolt from a latched position to an unlatched position.
18. A door latch comprising: a frame piece comprising: a lever comprising a lever connector; an actuator comprising an actuator connector; a cylinder comprising an arm; and a catch configured to be moved by the lever connector, the actuator connector and the arm, and a door piece comprising; a bolt configured to laterally slide between the frame piece and the door piece, thereby transitioning the door latch between an unlatched position and a latched position; wherein each of the lever, the actuator and the cylinder is independently configured to cause the catch to pivot upward and downward, wherein in the latched position, when the catch pivots downward to prevent the bolt from laterally moving, the door latch is transitioned from an unlocked position to a locked position, and wherein in the latched position, when the catch pivots upward to allow the bolt to laterally move, the door latch is transitioned from the locked position to the unlocked position.
19. The door latch of claim 18, wherein the bolt comprises a notch, a groove, or a hole; and wherein in the latched position, when the catch pivots downward and thus fits into the notch, the groove, or the hole to prevent the bolt from laterally moving, the door latch is transitioned from the unlocked position to the locked position.
20. A door latch comprising: a frame piece comprising: a lever comprising a lever connector; an actuator comprising an actuator connector; a cylinder comprising an arm; and a catch configured to be moved by the lever connector, the actuator connector and the arm, and a door piece comprising; a bolt comprising a notch, a groove, or a hole and configured to laterally slide between the frame piece and the door piece, thereby transitioning the door latch between an unlatched position and a latched position; wherein each of the lever, the actuator and the cylinder is independently configured to cause the catch to pivot upward and downward, wherein in the latched position, when the catch pivots downward and thus fits into the notch, the groove, or the hole to prevent the bolt from laterally moving, the door latch is transitioned from an unlocked position to a locked position, and wherein in the latched position, when the catch pivots upward to allow the bolt to laterally move, the door latch is transitioned from the locked position to the unlocked position.
21. A door latch comprising: a frame piece comprising: a lever comprising a lever connector pivotally connected to the frame piece; an actuator comprising an actuator connector, the actuator being connected to the frame piece; a cylinder comprising an arm; and a catch pivotally connected to the frame piece, configured to be pivotally connected to the lever connector and the actuator connector, and configured to be constrained by the arm, and a door piece comprising; a bolt comprising a notch, a groove, or a hole and configured to laterally slide between the frame piece and the door piece, thereby transitioning the door latch between an unlatched position and a latched position; wherein each of the lever, the actuator and the cylinder is independently configured to cause the catch to pivot upward and downward, wherein in the latched position, when the catch pivots downward and thus fits into the notch, the groove, or the hole to prevent the bolt from laterally moving, the door latch is transitioned from an unlocked position to a locked position, and wherein in the latched position, when the catch pivots upward to allow the bolt to laterally move, the door latch is transitioned from the locked position to the unlocked position.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 shows an exterior prospective view of an exemplary compact powered door latch;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in locked position;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in transition from locked to unlocked position by use of a solenoid or lever;
[0014] FIG. 4 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in unlocked position;
[0015] FIG. 5 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in transition from unlocked to locked position by use of a solenoid or lever;
[0016] FIG. 6 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in a first transition from locked to unlocked position by use of a key;
[0017] FIG. 7 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in a second transition from locked to unlocked position by use of a key;
[0018] FIG. 8 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of an exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in a third transition from locked to unlocked position by use of a key;
[0019] FIG. 9 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in a first transition from unlocked to locked position by use of a key;
[0020] FIG. 10 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in a second transition from unlocked to locked position by use of a key;
[0021] FIG. 11 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in a third transition from unlocked to locked position by use of a key;
[0022] FIG. 12 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in transition from latched to unlatched position;
[0023] FIG. 13 shows an interior prospective view of the inside of the exemplary compact powered door latch of FIG. 1 in unlatched position.
[0024] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Described herein are devices, components, assemblies, systems, methods, etc, for compact powered door latches. The description and accompanying figures, which describe and show certain embodiments, are made to demonstrate, in a non-limiting manner, several possible configurations of compact powered door latches, apparatuses, components, assemblies, systems, etc. and various methods of using them according to various aspects and features of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described. Rather, the inventive principles associated with the embodiments described herein, including with respect to the apparatuses, devices, components, assemblies, systems, methods, etc. described herein, may be applied in a variety of ways, including to other types of apparatuses, devices, components, assemblies, systems, methods, etc. General and specific apparatuses, devices, components, assemblies, systems, methods, etc. are described herein sufficiently to enable one to develop a variety of implementations/applications without undue experimentation. In the development of particular applications, numerous implementation-specific decisions will be made to achieve the design-specific goals, which will vary from one implementation/application to another. It will be appreciated that, having access to this disclosure and reading this disclosure, such a development effort would be a routine undertaking for persons of ordinary skill in the art.
[0026] This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following discussion and in the claims, the terms including, includes, comprising, have, and has are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean including, but not limited to. The word or is used in the inclusive sense (i.e., and/or) unless a specific use to the contrary is explicitly stated, FIG. 1 shows an exterior prospective view of an exemplary compact powered door latch 1. As shown in FIG. 1, door piece 2 is that portion of compact powered door latch 1 that may be fixed to the door side of a door opening. Door piece 2 may be comprised of an outer exterior cover that may be made of plastic, metal, composite material, or a combination of materials. As shown in FIG. 1, door piece 2 may house handle 12 on its exterior facing side that may, when pressed or pushed, be used to unlatch compact powered door latch 1, as explained in detail below. Handle 12, as shown in FIG. 1, is fully recessed into the housing of the compact powered door latch so that no portion of it protrudes beyond the housing. Handle 12 may be comprised of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials and may include a seal to prevent ingress of water. As also shown in FIG. 1, frame piece 14 is that portion of compact powered door latch 1 which may be fixed to the frame or wall side of a door opening. Frame piece 2 may be comprised of an outer exterior cover that may be made of plastic, metal, composite material, or a combination of materials that may or may not be like the material used to construct door piece 2. Frame piece 14 may contain on its exterior side, as shown in FIG. 1, keyhole 36, which may be used to lock or unlock compact powered door latch 1 with a key as explained in detail below. Frame piece 14 may also contain an indentation that may allow a person space to insert his or her fingers in order to access handle 12 on door piece 2. Both door piece 2 and frame piece 14 may contain a seal or gasket between its exterior cover and the door, door frame, and/or wall, which may be comprised of rubber or some similar material that may form a seal between those exterior portions of compact powered door latch 1 and the door, frame, and/or wall preventing water intrusion.
[0027] FIGS. 2-13 show an interior prospective view of the inside of compact powered door latch 1, illustrating details of its main internal components as well as levers for manual latching and locking operations, accessible from inside a camper. The interior sides of door piece 2 and frame piece 2 may each contain covers (not shown in these figures) that may conceal the internal components leaving exposed components such as the recessed levers for manual operation. Those covers may be comprised of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials. For purposes of illustration of the internal components, door piece 2 and frame piece 14 are shown without any covers on the interior facing sides in FIGS. 2-13.
[0028] As visible in FIGS. 2-13, door piece 2 may further contain bolt 4, which may be a cylindrical component made of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials that may serve as a latching bolt to keep the door to which door piece 2 is attached in closed or latched position, as further explained below. Bolt 4 may sit inside a cylindrical opening in door piece 2 that may allow lateral movement between latched and unlatched positions as explained below. Bolt 4 may be slanted at one end and on the side of the bolt facing the interior side of the door which may allow it to hit strike plate 16 on frame piece 14 causing bolt 4 to be pushed back into door piece 2 and allowing the door to fully close, as further explained below. On the same end of bolt 4 that contains the slant, yet on the opposite side of the slant (i.e., the side of the bolt facing the exterior of the door), bolt 4 may have a straight edge. When bolt 4 is extended through an opening in strike plate 16, the straight edge of bolt 4 may prevent it from accidentally sliding out of strike plate 16, unless a force is applied to purposely retract the bolt, as further explained later. Bolt 4 may contain notch 6 toward its slanted end that may be a notch, gap, groove, indentation, cavity, hole, or other space that a portion of catch 18 may enter, to hold bolt 4 captive as explained below. Bolt 4 may be further attached to door piece 2 by spring 8. Spring 8 may be a metal or plastic spring that may be fixed on one end to door piece 2 and fixed on the other end to bolt 4. This may allow bolt 4 to slide laterally inside its cylindrical cavity from a resting position (latched) to a position requiring a small application of force (unlatched) as explained in detail below. Bolt 4 may be attached to lever 10, which may be made of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials, and may or may not include a cover for a more comfortable grip. Lever 10 is also recessed into door piece 2 and accessible through an opening in the cover (not shown) on the interior side of door piece 2 so that it may not protrude on the interior facing side of the latch. Lever 10 may be used to retract bolt 4 for unlatching of compact powered door latch 1 as explained below. Bolt 4 may also be fixed on the exterior facing side of door piece 2 to handle 12, not shown in FIGS. 2-13, which may also be used to retract bolt 4 for unlatching as further explained below.
[0029] Also shown in FIGS. 2-13 are the internal components of frame piece 14. Frame piece 14 may contain strike plate 16, that may be used to push bolt 4 by its slanted portion back into door piece 2 to fully close the door, as previously mentioned. An opening in strike plate 16 may allow bolt 4 to slide back into frame piece 14 once the door to which compact powered door latch 1 is closed, as mentioned. Strike plate 16 may be comprised of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials. Located near strike plate 16 may be catch 18, which may be made of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials. Catch 18 may contain a tooth-shaped portion on one end that may fit into notch 6 in bolt 4, as described previously, and shown in FIGS. 2-13. As also shown, catch 18 may be pivotally fixed to frame piece 14, to allow that portion that may fit into notch 6 to move into and out of that cavity for locking and unlocking of compact powered door latch 1 as described in detail below. Frame piece 14 may further contain solenoid 20 fixed to it, which may be an electronic solenoid with a rod at the end capable of linear movement when a current is applied to it. Solenoid 20 may be fixed to connector 22 on one end and connector 22 may be pivotally fixed to catch 13 toward its other end, as shown in FIGS. 2-13. Connector 22 may be comprised of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials. When current is applied to solenoid 20, it may cause the rod fixed to connector 22 to move laterally, thereby causing catch 18 to pivot upward or downward for locking and unlocking procedures as described in detail below. Frame piece 14 may further contain lever 24, which may be made of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials, and may or may not include a cover for a more comfortable grip. Lever 24 is recessed into the latch housing and accessible through an opening in the interior facing side of the latch cover (not shown in FIGS. 2-13) so that it may not protrude on the interior side of the latch housing. Lever 24 may be pivotally fixed to frame piece 14, as shown in FIGS. 2-13. Lever 24 may contain a portion, connector 26, that may also be pivotally and loosely fixed to catch 18, as shown in FIGS. 2-13. The joint between connector 26 and catch 18 may allow for both pivoting and sliding movement of both components. Lever 24 may be used to pivot catch 13 upward or downward for locking and unlocking of compact powered door latch 1 as further explained below.
[0030] Frame piece 14 further contains components of a keyed system to lock and unlock compact powered door latch 1. That portion of the keyed system, keyhole 36, that extends to the exterior side of frame piece 14 was previously shown in FIG. 1. That portion of the keyed system extending into the interior side of frame piece 14 is shown in FIGS. 2-13. Cylinder 28, which may accept a key, extends from the exterior side into the interior side of frame piece 14 and may be comprised of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials which may also contain an O-ring, seal, or gasket to prevent water intrusion from the exterior side of frame piece 14. As shown in FIGS. 2-13, cylinder 28 may be connected to arm 30, which may be a plate made of metal, plastic, composite material, or a combination of materials. Arm 30 may be a C-shaped member with an upper and lower portion. The upper and lower bounds of arm 30 may encompass portions of connector 26 and catch 18, as shown in FIGS. 2-13. As also shown in FIGS. 2-13, each of springs 32 and 34, which may be made of metal or plastic, is fixed on one end to frame piece 14 and fixed on the other end to arm 30. Springs 32 and 34 may cause arm 30, and by extension cylinder 28, to rest in a neutral position when no force is exerted on the cylinder. As explained in detail below, this neutral position may allow a certain amount of movement of those portions of catch 18 and connector 26 that are encompassed by arm 30, as shown. When cylinder 28 is turned by key, arm 30 may act upon those portions of catch 18 and connector 26 that are within its bounds which may cause catch 18 to pivot upward or downward for locking and unlocking, respectively, of compact powered door latch 1, as described below.
[0031] As already mentioned, compact powered door latch 1 may contain various components used in latching and locking a door. As mentioned, compact powered door latch 1 may be electronically locked or unlocked by wired or wireless remote, button, switch, keypad, or cell phone app which may all control solenoid 20. Alternatively, compact powered door latch 1 may be locked or unlocked manually from outside by use of a key inserted into cylinder 28. From inside, compact powered latch 1 may be locked or unlocked by use of lever 24. All three (3) methods of locking and unlocking compact powered latch 1 may cause catch 18 to either hold bolt 4 captive to lock the door or release it to unlock the door, so that it may then be unlatched and opened, if desired. Details of how each method works and how they may work together on the same bolt is described in detail below.
[0032] When compact powered door latch 1 is latched and locked (i.e., the door is closed, latched so that it does not swing open, and locked so that it cannot be unlatched), bolt 4 in door piece 2 is fully extended out of door piece 2, fully extended into frame piece 14, and held captive, as shown in FIG. 2. Bolt 4's default position when no force is exerted on it, is fully extended between door piece 2 and frame piece 14, latching the door in closed position, whether the latch is locked or unlocked. Bolt 4 is held in that position by bolt spring 8, as shown in FIG. 2. Compact powered door latch 1 is in locked position when bolt 4 is held captive in frame piece 14 by catch 18 inserted into notch 6, as shown in FIG. 2. In this position bolt 4 may not be retracted by lever 10, as shown in FIG. 2, or by handle 12, as previously shown in FIG. 1, to open the door.
[0033] To unlock compact powered door latch 1 so that the door may be opened, catch 18 must release bolt 4.
[0034] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in frame piece 14, solenoid 20 is pivotally fixed by connecter 22 to catch 18 which is also pivotally and loosely fixed to connector 26 that is in-turn attached to or a part of lever 24. As shown in transition in FIG. 3, catch 18 in frame piece 14 may begin to release bolt 4 in door piece 2 by moving out of notch 6. This may be done electronically when solenoid 20 extends its rod to the left causing connector 22 to lift catch 18, as shown in transition in FIG. 3. Or unlocking may be done manually by moving lever 24 to the right, which may cause connector 26 to also lift catch 18, as also shown in transition in FIG. 3. Movement of solenoid 20 will cause lever 24 to also move and vice versa, and movement of either solenoid 20 or lever 24 will cause movement of catch 18 through their respective connectors, connectors 22 and 26. Once either solenoid 20 or lever 24 has caused catch 18 to release bolt 4, compact powered door latch 1 is in unlocked position as shown in FIG. 4. With compact powered door latch 1 unlocked, bolt 4 may be retracted by either lever 10 or handle 12 to begin unlatching, as shown in transition in FIG. 12 and shown fully unlatched in FIG. 13 to allow opening of the door.
[0035] Similarly, compact powered door latch 1 may be locked either electronically or manually. By reversing the motions described earlier of either solenoid 20 or lever 24, compact powered door latch 1 may be locked. By moving solenoid 20's rod to the right, which may be fixed by connector 22 to catch 18, catch 18 will lower toward notch 6 in bolt 4, as shown in transition FIG. 5. This will simultaneously cause lever 24 fixed by connector 26 to catch 18 to move to the left. Alternatively, lever 24 may be manually moved to the left causing catch 18, through connector 26, to lower as shown in transition in FIG. 5, This will also simultaneously cause solenoid 20's rod, connected to catch 18 by connector 22, to move to the right. By either solenoid 20 moving fully to the right or lever 24 moving fully to the left, catch 18 may be lowered into notch 6 in bolt 4, causing bolt 4 to be held captive and putting compact powered door latch 1 in a locked position, as shown previously in FIG. 2. In this position, neither lever 10 nor handle 12 may be able to retract bolt 4 to open the door, as mentioned previously.
[0036] In addition to being locked or unlocked electronically by remote, button, switch, keypad, or cell phone app; or manually from inside, compact powered door latch 1 may also be manually locked and unlocked by key from outside, as mentioned before. As shown in FIG. 2, cylinder 28, which may accept a key from the exterior side, may be used to manually lock and unlock compact powered door latch 1. Cylinder 28 through arm 30 may be held in a neutral position by springs 32 and 34, as previously mentioned and shown in FIG. 2. Also as previously mentioned, arm 30 may have a C shaped edge that, when in neutral position as shown in FIGS. 2-4, encompasses a certain range of motion of portions of connector 26 and catch 18 (i.e., those portions of connector 26 and catch 18 that are enclosed by portions of arm 30) and may allow compact powered door latch 1 to be placed in either locked or unlocked positions or transition between them. This design allows free movement within the bounds of arm 30 of catch 18, solenoid 20, connector 22, lever 24, and connector 26, which may all be interconnected. These components that may be used to electronically lock or unlock or manually lock or unlock from inside compact powered door latch 1 may move without requiring cylinder 28, arm 30, and springs 32 and 34 to move as well, when these components remain in a neutral position. However, with a key inserted into keyhole 36 in frame piece 14, as shown in FIG. 1, cylinder 28 may be allowed to turn to lock or unlock compact powered door latch 1 by causing the internal components that are used to lock or unlock compact powered door latch 1 to move. With a key inserted into keyhole 36 and turned clockwise (when looking at compact powered door latch 1 from outside, as shown in FIG. 1) cylinder 28 will also turn (clockwise when facing compact powered door latch 1 from outside and counterclockwise when facing compact powered door latch 1 from inside). When looking at compact powered door latch 1 from inside, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 13, a counterclockwise turn of cylinder 28 may cause compact powered door latch 1 to lock and a clockwise turn of cylinder 28 may cause compact powered door latch 1 to unlock.
[0037] As shown in a first transition in FIG. 6, a clockwise turn of cylinder 28 may cause arm 30 to rotate downward, pulling portions of connector 26 and catch 18 down, which may begin the release of catch 18 from notch 6 in bolt 4. With arm 30 at its lowest position, as shown in a second transition in FIG. 7, catch 18 may be fully released from notch 6 in bolt 4. As shown in transition in FIGS. 6 and 7, catch 18, solenoid 20, connector 22, lever 24, and connector 26 will all transition into their unlocked positions by cylinder 28 as arm 30 rotates downward. When the key inserted into keyhole 36 is released, spring 32 may return arm 30 and cylinder 28 to their neutral positions, as shown in transition in FIG. 8, without any further movement of catch 18, solenoid 20, connector 22, lever 24 and connector 26, allowing them to remain in their unlocked positions. With bolt 4 free of catch 18, compact powered door latch 1 is in unlocked position and bolt 4 may be retracted out of frame piece 14 using lever 10 or handle 12 in door piece 2, as shown in transition in FIG. 12, to allow opening of the door.
[0038] As shown in a first transition in FIG. 9, a counterclockwise turn of cylinder 28 may cause arm 30 to rotate upward, pulling portions of connector 26 and catch 18 up, which may cause catch 18 to begin to enter notch 6 in bolt 4, With arm 30 at its highest position, as shown in a second transition in FIG. 10, catch 18 will have fully entered notch 6 in bolt 4. As shown in transition in FIGS. 9 and 10, catch 18, solenoid 20, connector 22, lever 24, and connector 26 will all transition into their locked positions by cylinder 28 as arm 30 rotates upward. When the key inserted into keyhole 36 is released, spring 34 may return arm 30 and cylinder 28 to their neutral positions, as shown in transition in FIG. 11, without any further movement of catch 18, solenoid 20, connector 22, lever 24, and connector 26, allowing them to remain in their locked positions. With bolt 4 held captive by catch 18, compact powered door latch 1 is in locked position, as previously shown in FIG. 2 and bolt 4 may not be retracted out of Frame piece 14 using lever 10 or handle 12 on door piece 2 to open the door.
