SLIDING BOLT LATCH AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

A sliding bolt latch as disclosed herein is convenient to use and more reliable than counterpart door locking mechanisms of the prior art. A user may open and close a door with only one hand, but the present mechanism requires both a rotational movement and a translational movement of elements against a biasing force. Such requirement makes opening doors much more difficult for livestock confined to spaces by the closed doors. Also, the biasing of elements into the locking state makes embodiments of the invention less likely to unlock inadvertently in the presence of ambient vibrations.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A sliding bolt latch, comprising: a slidable bolt extending along a bolt axis and rotatable thereabout; a biasing member for biasing the slidable bolt along the bolt axis; a projection extending from the slidable bolt; and a base including: a bolt guide; and a barrier configured for being selectively engaged by the projection at a first distance from the bolt guide for limiting rotational movement of the projection about said bolt axis, and for limiting sliding movement of the projection along said bolt axis in a direction away from the bolt guide; wherein said barrier includes an open end facing said bolt guide; wherein said slidable bolt is displaceable between a locked position, in which said projection is engaged with the barrier at said first distance from the bolt guide, and an unlocked position, in which said projection is disengaged from said barrier and is free at least for rotating about said bolt axis, and in which said projection is disposed at any second distance from said bolt guide, which is greater than said first distance.

10. The sliding bolt latch according to claim 9, wherein said slidable bolt is further displaceable through a transition position between said locked position and said unlocked position, in which said projection is disengaged from said barrier and is free at least for rotating about said bolt axis, and in which said projection is disposed at any third distance from said bolt guide, which is shorter than said first distance.

11. The sliding bolt latch according to claim 10, wherein in said transition position is free for rotation about said bolt axis at an angle which is equal to or smaller than in said unlocked position.

12. The sliding bolt latch according to claim 10, wherein at said transition position, said projection is rotatable with respect to said barrier by an angle of at least 180 degrees.

13. The sliding bolt latch of claim 9, wherein in said unlocked position, said projection is rotatable with respect to said base by an angle of at least 180 degrees.

14. The sliding bolt latch of claim 13, wherein in said unlocked position, said projection is rotatable with respect to said base by an angle of 360 degrees.

15. The sliding bolt latch of claim 9, wherein said biasing member is disposed between said bolt guide and said projection.

16. The sliding bolt latch of claim 9, further comprising a handle integral with the slidable bolt.

17. The sliding bolt latch of claim 16, wherein said handle has a handle axis extending therealong, and the handle axis is angled with respect to the bolt axis.

18. The sliding bolt latch of claim 9, wherein said biasing member includes a spring.

19. The sliding bolt latch of claim 18, wherein said spring includes a compression spring.

20. A sliding bolt latch, comprising: a slidable bolt extending along a bolt axis and rotatable thereabout; a biasing member for biasing the slidable bolt along the bolt axis; a projection extending from the slidable bolt; and a base including: a bolt guide with a first side facing the projection and an opposite second side; and a barrier configured for being selectively engaged by the projection for limiting rotational movement of the projection about said bolt axis, and for limiting sliding movement of the projection along said bolt axis in a direction away from the bolt guide; wherein said barrier includes an open end facing said bolt guide; wherein said slidable bolt is displaceable between a locked position, in which said projection is engaged with the barrier and an end of the slidable bolt extends from said second side of the bolt guide to a first extent from the second side, and an unlocked position, in which said projection is disengaged from said barrier and is free at least for rotating about said bolt axis, and in which the end of the slidable bolt extends from the second side to a second extent, which is shorter than said first extent.

21. The sliding bolt latch according to claim 20, wherein said slidable bolt is further displaceable through a transition position between said locked position and said unlocked position, in which said projection is disengaged from said barrier and is free at least for rotating about said bolt axis, and in which the end of the slidable bolt extends from the second side to a third extent, which is greater than said first extent.

22. The sliding bolt latch of claim 20, further comprising a handle integral with the slidable bolt.

23. The sliding bolt latch of claim 22, wherein said handle has a handle axis extending therealong, and the handle axis is angled with respect to the bolt axis.

24. The sliding bolt latch of claim 20, wherein said biasing member is disposed between said bolt guide and said projection.

25. A sliding bolt latch assembly comprising: the sliding bolt latch of claim 9; and a brace for constraining translational movement of the slidable bolt to the bolt axis when the slidable bolt is in one region of axial positions and for allowing translational movement of the slidable bolt in addition to axial movement when the slidable bolt is in another region of axial positions.

26. A method for operating a sliding bolt latch comprising: a slidable bolt extending along a bolt axis and rotatable thereabout; a spring biasing the slidable bolt along the bolt axis; a projection extending from the slidable bolt; and a base having a bolt guide and a barrier having an open end facing said bolt guide; said method comprising: positioning said slidable bolt at a locked position, in which said projection is engaged with the barrier at a first distance from the bolt guide, so that rotational movement of the projection about said bolt axis is limited, and sliding movement of the projection along said bolt axis in a direction away from the slidable bolt is limited; and displacing said slidable bolt from said locked position to an unlocked position, in which said projection is disengaged from said barrier and is free at least for rotating about said bolt axis, and in which said projection is disposed at any second distance from said bolt guide, which is greater than said first distance.

27. The method of claim 26, said displacing said slidable bolt from said locked position to said unlocked position includes: sliding said slidable bolt along said bolt axis toward said bolt guide so as to position said projection at a third distance from said bolt guide, which is shorter than said first distance, and in which said projection is free to rotate about said bolt axis and is disengaged from said barrier, thereby causing said slidable bolt to assume a transition position; rotating said slidable bolt about said bolt axis; and sliding said slidable bolt in a direction away from said bolt guide.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said sliding of said slidable bolt along said bolt axis toward said bolt guide is performed against the force of said spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The invention is described below in the appended claims, which are read in view of the accompanying description including the following drawings, wherein:

[0016] FIGS. 1A-1D present a prior art locking mechanism;

[0017] FIG. 2 presents an alternative prior art locking mechanism;

[0018] FIGS. 3A-3C present a sliding bolt latch assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 3D presents a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3C;

[0020] FIGS. 4A-4E illustrate various positions of the bolt of FIGS. 3A-3C relative to the base and the brace of the same figures;

[0021] FIGS. 5A-5D present a sliding bolt latch assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

[0022] FIGS. 6A-6E illustrate various positions of the bolt and handle/projection of FIGS. 5A-5D relative to the base and barrier of the same figures; and

[0023] FIG. 7 provides a flowchart describing a method of unlocking a latch assembly, such as any of those shown in previous figures, in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The invention summarized above and defined by the claims below will be better understood by referring to the present detailed description of embodiments of the invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope of claims but instead to provide examples of the invention.

[0025] As disclosed herein, the present sliding bolt latch maintains doors, window, etc. in a closed position better than done by the prior art discussed in the preceding section. As a result, livestock is not able to open doors locked with this latch so easily, and ambient vibrations are not likely to cause the latch to transition to the open position.

[0026] A first exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3A-3C. FIG. 3A provides a prospective view of a sliding bolt latch assembly 38 comprising a sliding bolt latch 40 and an associated brace 42. FIGS. 3B and 3C provide unobstructed views of some of the components of the sliding bolt latch 40.

[0027] As shown, the sliding bolt latch 40 includes a bolt 44 and a base 46. The bolt 44 is slidable in that it can slide in the direction of its axis 48. The bolt 44 is also rotatable about that axis 48. A coil spring 50 surrounding the bolt 44 biases the bolt 44 along the bolt axis 48 toward the right in FIG. 3A. The bolt 44 has a projection 52 extending perpendicularly therefrom. The bolt 44 also has a handle 54 integral with the bolt 44.

[0028] The brace 42 of the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 is intended for placement at one end of the sliding bolt latch 40 (the left end in FIG. 3A). Typically, the brace 42 is mounted as on the door frame surrounding the door upon which the sliding bolt latch 40 is mounted. The brace 42 has a hole 56 functioning as a bolt guide 58 through which the bolt 44 slides. The bolt guide 58 allows rotational movement of the bolt 44 and constrains translational movement to the direction of the bolt axis 48.

[0029] The base 46 in this embodiment has two holes 60 forming two integral bolt guides 62 through which the bolt 44 slides and is free to rotate. As with the bolt guide 58 of the brace 42, the bolt guides 62 of the base 46 allow rotational movement of the bolt 44 and constrain translational movement of the bolt 44 to sliding in the direction of the axis 48.

[0030] Underneath the bolt 44, the base 46 has a barrier 64 that limits sliding and rotating movements of the projection 52. In the present embodiment, the barrier 64 compromises a shorter straight portion 66, a curved portion 68, and a longer straight portion 70 joined in the stated order to resemble a rod bent into a “J” shape. With such a shape of the barrier 64, the bolt 44 is free to slide axially between a region in which the barrier 64 prevents rotation of the bolt 44 in the both directions and a region in which the barrier 64 prevents rotation of the bolt 44 in only one direction. The reason for this shape is apparent when a method of the using the sliding bolt latch 40 is discussed below with reference to FIGS. 4A-4E.

[0031] FIG. 3D illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3C. Elements not illustrated in FIG. 3D are identical to the corresponding elements in FIGS. 3A-3C. In the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3D, a barrier 64′ comprises two straight portions 66′ each joined to a curved portion 68′ to resemble a rod bent into a “U” shape.

[0032] The barrier 64′ is useful with a sliding bolt latch that is formed so that the projection extending from the bolt can be removed and then reinstalled onto the bolt 180 degrees around the bolt axis from its original position so the sliding bolt latch assembly may be used on door that swings open in the opposite direction. One way to facilitate easy removal and reinstallation of the projection is to build the bolt and projection so that the two elements separate and rejoin by screwing the projection out of/into the bolt. The “U” shape of the barrier 64′ makes is more suitable for a sliding bolt latch that may be used for doors swinging open in either direction, because a longer straight segment portion of a “J” shape barrier does not allow bolt rotation in one of the two directions. A reason to change the position of the projection is to be able to install the sliding bolt latch so that the handle of the bolt stays pointing down due to gravity when a user is not momentarily rotating the bolt to lock or to unlock the door. Thus, the bolt handle is less likely to snag people, livestock, etc. passing near the door.

[0033] The present embodiment may also be embodied as a method of using a sliding bolt latch assembly. Such embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 4A-4E depicting use of the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 of FIGS. 3A-3C.

[0034] In FIG. 4A, the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 is in the “locked” position. The brace 42 may be affixed to a door frame while the sliding bolt latch 40 is affixed to a door. (In alternative embodiments, the brace 42 may be affixed to the door frame while the sliding bolt latch 40 is affixed to the door.) The spring 50 biases the bolt 44 so that the projection 52 (not visible in FIG. 4A) extending transversely therefrom contacts the curved portion 68 of the barrier 64.

[0035] To transition the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 to the “unlocked” position, the bolt 44 is forced against the biasing force of the spring 50 along the bolt axis toward the brace 42. This force may be applied by the user pushing the handle 54. As illustrated in FIG. 4B, when the bolt 44 slides in the direction of the arrow, the projection 52 from the bolt 44 moves away from the curved portion 68 of the barrier 64.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4C, the bolt 44 eventually slides far enough so that the projection 52 is no longer confined between the straight portions 66, 70 of the barrier 64. Accordingly, the bolt 44 is rotated in the direction which rotation is not constrained. This rotation may be effected by the user rotating the handle 54. The non-constrained rotation moves the projection 52 away from the longer straight portion 70 to an area beyond which the shorter straight portion 66 no longer extends. Accordingly, the “J” shape of the barrier 64 allows rotation of the bolt 44 in only one direction.

[0037] The user then allows the bolt 44 to slide back in the direction of the spring biasing force, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 4D. As the projection 52 is no longer in the position to have its translational movement blocked by the curved portion 68 of the barrier 64, the bolt 44 may slide further away from the brace 42 until the bolt 44 is no longer surrounded by the bolt guide 58 of the brace 42. The sliding bolt latch assembly 38 is now in the “unlocked” position, and the door upon which the sliding bolt latch 40 is mounted is free to open. In some implementations of the present embodiment, the length of the bolt 44 is set so that, when the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 is in the unlocked position, that is, when the bolt 44 has slid its maximum distance in the direction of the biasing of the spring 50, the end of the bolt 44 is flush with a bolt guide 62 of the base 46 as shown in FIG. 4D, and accordingly the bolt 44 will not snag clothes, users, livestock, or other objects passing by the door closely.

[0038] The handle 54 may be rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 4E so that there is less of a general protrusion of the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 that may snag clothes, users, livestock, or other objects likely to pass close to the door. By mounting the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 so that the handle 54 as shown in FIG. 4E is pointing down, if enough friction of rotational bolt movement is reduced, the handle 54 naturally points down by virtue of gravity. Accordingly, vibrations are less likely to cause the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 to open undesirably. Even without the reduced friction, though, the sliding bolt latch assembly 38 is less likely to open due to ambient vibrations because of the spring 50 forcing the projection 52 of the bolt 44 against the barrier 64.

[0039] If the present method is executed upon a sliding bolt latch assembly that has a barrier such as the barrier 64′ in FIG. 3D, that is, in which the straight portions were of equal length, the bolt could be rotated in either direction to allow it to be slid in the direction to unlock the sliding bolt latch assembly. The handle needs to have no impediment to its corresponding rotations; for example, a recess may be formed in the surface upon which the base of the sliding bolt latch is mounted.

[0040] Another exemplary embodiment of the invention, also a sliding bolt latch assembly, is illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5D. FIGS. 5A and 5B provide perspective and rear views, respectively, of the sliding bolt latch 72 of the sliding bolt latch assembly when in the “locked” state. In the view of FIG. 5A, a corresponding brace (not shown in the figures for clarity) is positioned to the upper left of the sliding bolt latch 72, and in the view of FIG. 5B, the brace is positioned to the right of the sliding bolt latch 72. FIGS. 5C and 5D show rear and top views, respectively, of the sliding bolt latch 72 when in the “unlocked” state. In both the views of FIGS. 5C and 5D, the brace is positioned to the right of the sliding bolt latch 72.

[0041] As with the first embodiment, the sliding bolt latch 72 of this embodiment includes a bolt 74, a base 76, a spring 78, two bolt guides 80, and a barrier 82. Unlike the first embodiment, though, the sliding bolt latch 72 has a single element 84 that is both the handle and the projection that the barrier 82 limits the movement thereof.

[0042] The method of the using the sliding bolt latch 72 of this embodiment is discussed with reference to FIGS. 6A-6E. As with FIGS. 5A-5D, the corresponding brace of this embodiment of the sliding bolt latch assembly is not illustrated for clarity. In FIGS. 6A-6E, the brace's position is to the upper left of the sliding bolt latch 72, as it is in FIG. 5A.

[0043] In FIG. 6A, the sliding bolt latch 72 is in the “locked” position, and the spring 78 biases the bolt 74 so that the handle 84 is pressed against the barrier 82. Accordingly, the handle 84 and bolt 74 cannot be rotated.

[0044] To transition the sliding bolt latch 72 to the “unlocked” position, the bolt 74 is forced against the biasing force of the spring 78 along the bolt axis toward the brace. As illustrated in FIG. 8B, when the bolt 74 slides, the handle 84 moves away from the barrier 82.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 6C, the bolt 74 eventually slides far enough so that the handle 84 is no longer prevented from rotational movement by the barrier 82. The user accordingly rotates the handle 84 in the direction not constrained by the base 76.

[0046] The user allows the bolt 74 to slide back in the direction of the spring biasing force as shown in FIG. 6D. The bolt 74 slides far enough away from the brace until the bolt 74 is no longer surrounded by the bolt guide of the associated brace of the sliding bolt latch assembly. The sliding bolt latch 72 is now in the “unlocked” position, and the door upon which the sliding bolt latch 72 is mounted is free to open.

[0047] The handle 84 may be rotated to the position illustrated in FIG. 6E so that there is less of a general protrusion of the sliding bolt latch 72 from the plane of the door.

[0048] Still another exemplary embodiment of the invention is a method of unlocking a latch assembly, and the method is described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. 7. The method may be executed on any of the latch assemblies described above. In particular, the latch assembly upon which the method is performed has a bolt and a spring biasing the bolt to an axial position in which the bolt cannot rotate. In any case, the embodiment is not limited to use on only the latch assemblies described above.

[0049] The method begins by forcing the bolt to move axially against the spring biasing. (Step 1.) For latch assemblies manufactured with strong spring biasing, if a handle is formed integral with the bolt, a user of the latch assembly may find it helpful to position the heel of his/her hand on the handle and position his/her fingertips on a base of the latch assembly to move the bolt by a squeezing motion of the hand. Alternatively, the user may want to grasp the handle and lean against the biasing force.

[0050] As discussed above, the bolt initially cannot rotate. However, the present latch assemblies allow bolt rotation after the bolt moves a sufficient distance axially against the spring biasing. Accordingly, the next step of the present method is to rotate the bolt. (Step 2.) If the user of user of the latch assembly discontinued forcing the bolt axially against the spring biasing without rotating the bolt, the bolt would return to its original position and the latch assembly would remain locked.

[0051] The bolts of the latch assemblies upon which the present method is practiced are initially constrained from moving axially with the spring biasing pass a certain point, due to the positioning of a barrier of some sort. However, after the bolt rotation of Step 2, the barrier no longer constrains this axial motion. Accordingly, the next step of the present method is to permit the bolt to move axially in the direction of the spring biasing (Step 3), and spring moves the bolt further axially than its original position. Eventually, the bolt is no longer surrounded by a bolt guide of a brace of the latch assembly, and the latch assembly is now unlocked. The method is concluded.

[0052] Accordingly, embodiments of the invention are convenient as in the prior art, as a user may open and close a door with only one hand. However, the embodiments are more reliable for locking doors, because of multiple factors. For example, the spring biasing the bolt into locking state makes the sliding bolt latch assembly less likely to fail in the presence of ambient vibrations. Also, the requirement for both rotational and translational movements of the bolt against a biasing force make opening the sliding bolt latch assembly much more difficult for livestock to maneuver the components of the sliding bolt latch assembly. It may be desired to use a strong spring so that one-handed opening requires squeezing while the heel of the hand is positioned on the handle and the fingertips are on the base. In any case, the spring improves the reliability of the sliding bolt latch assembly by returning the bolt to the locked position, if the proper sequence of translational and rotational movements to unlock the sliding bolt latch assembly is not completed.

[0053] Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Alternations, modifications, and improvements of the disclosed invention, though not expressly described above, are nonetheless intended and implied to be within spirit and scope of the invention. For example, instead of a coil spring surrounding the bolt and biasing it in one direction as in embodiments described above, other types of biasing mechanisms are implemented. As another example, embodiments of the invention are made also with a spring biasing the bolt rotationally, such as to position the handle in a particular direction without relying on gravity. Accordingly, the foregoing discussion is intended to be illustrative only; the invention is limited and defined only by the following claims and equivalents thereto.