Latch mechanism for cabinet doors

April 12, 1932.

J. G. JACKSON

1,853,428

LATCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET DOORS

Filed Jan. 13. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US1853428A_D0001.tif" />

April 12, 1932.

J. G. JACKSON

1,853,428

LATCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET DOORS

Filed Jan. 13, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US1853428A_D0002.tif" />

April 12, 1932.

J. G. JACKSON

1,853,428

LATCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET DOORS

Filed Jan. 13, 1930

Sheets-Sheet 3

<img file="US1853428A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US1853428A_D0004.tif" />

Patented Apr. 12, 1932

1,853,428

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

JOHN G. JACKSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SQUARE D COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN

LATCH MECHANISM FOR CABINET DOORS

Application, filed January 13, 1930. Serial No. 420.552.

This invention relates generally to latch mechanism for cabinet doors and consists of certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts that 5 will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet io showing parts broken away and having latch mechanism embodying my invention;'

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the cabinet ;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the 15 cabinet;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view through the cabinet, showing different portions of the latch bolts and operating handles;

•?n Figure 5 is a sectional, view taken on the line 5—5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6—6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of 25 one of the switch blade blocks and showing the latch receiving grooves therein.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 is a cabinet corresponding to the switching fuse cabinet set forth in a. companion application 30 Serial No. 420,553, and having a series of compartments 2 arranged in pairs, and doors 3 hingedly connected to the outer walls 4 of the compartments and adapted to seat upon the insulator blocks 5 upon opposite sides of 35 the intermediate centrally disposed aligned strips 6 and 7 respectively of the cabinet. 8 are latch bolts, 9 are striker plates for the bolts, 10 are operating handles for the bolts and doors, 11 are supporting brackets for the 40 handles and bolts, 12 are latches for holding the handles 10 in planes substantially at right angles and substantially parallel respectively to the doors, 13 is a reciprocating locking bar for the latch bolts, 14 is a rotary cam for ’·> actuating the bar, and 15 is a key-controlled operating handle for the cam. As shown, the latch bolts 8 are arranged in pairs, one pair to each door, and are engageable with the striker plates ^ to retain the. doors in closed ⁵⁰ position. Preferably these bolts 8 have substantially. L-shaped shanks 16 pivoted upon parallel side portions 17 of the brackets, and the bases 18 of the latter are rigidly secured to the inner sides of the doors 3. The striker plates 9 are secured to the lower faces of the gg strips 6 and 7 at spaced points thereof, and have rounded longitudinal edges 19 and 20 respectively. The operating handles 10 are sleeved upon bolts 21 terminally secured to the parallel shanks 16 of the latch bolts at the eo outer ends thereof. The latches 12 comprise narrow strips of metal pivoted intermediate their ends to the bolt shanks 16 and have lateral projections 22 at their inner ends alternately engageable with openings 24 and slots eg 25 in the side portions 17 of the brackets. Preferably a leaf spring 26 between the strips 12 and shanks 16 yieldably retain the projections 22 in operative latching position. Thus with.this construction the handles 10 are used to 70 manipulate the doors and to actuate the latch bolts and will be held by the latches 12 in either right angle or parallel planes relative to the doors.. As a result the latch bolts 8 will be held in either latched or unlatched posi- 7g tion by the latches 12. Moreover, the construction and arrangement of latch bolts 8 and striker plates 9 are such that the engagement of the latch bolts with the striker plates will complete the closing of the doors if that 80 has not already been accomplished by the mere pushing of the doors to closed position. In fact, the handle 10 and latch bolt 8 is such that the door 3 cannot be closed and an electrical contact between the blades 30 and jaws 85 31 cannot therefore be effected if the handle shanks 16 are improperly positioned relative to the door when the latter is pushed toward closed position. For example, if the handle shanks 16 are substantially parallel to the 80 door when the latter is closed, the latch bolts 8 will abut the outer face of the strip 7. As a result, the door cannot then be closed and no electilca] contact between the blades 30 and jaws 31 can be made. However, when the 85 handle shanks 16 are at substantially right angles to the door the latch bolts 8 may be. moved by the handle into engagement with the striker plate 9 to cause the door to be cammed to fully closed position. In other 100

1,853,428 blades 30 are at right angles and parallel to the doors 3. Hence the latter may be locked irrespective of whether the blades 30 are in “on” or “off” positions. ¹ '

While it is believed that from the foregoing ₇₀description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to what is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to 75 when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.