Slidable bolt catch

[57] ABSTRACT

A catch for mounting on a swingable door including a support with a slidable bolt mounted within a chamber for movement between projected and retracted positions and urged toward the projected position by a spring. Two prongs formed integrally with and resiliently hinged to the bolt snap into a pair of elongated recesses in the chamber walls to prevent the bolt from sliding past its projected position. Flanges extending from the walls and into the chamber fit in corresponding grooves formed integrally in the bolt to guide the latter as it moves between its projected and retracted positions.

Claims, 4 Drawing Figures

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PATENTED JUN 2 o 1972

3,671,065

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3,671,065

SLIDABLE BOLT CATCH

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a catch with a sliding bolt which is mounted for movement between projected and retracted positions within a chamber and, more particularly, to a latch in which the bolt is normally urged toward the projected position by a spring acting between the bolt and a wall of the chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved catch of the foregoing general character which is simpler, less expensive, and more easily assembled than prior catches of the same general type. A related object is to achieve the foregoing through the provision of a bolt of unitary construction adapted to be snapped into and automatically captivated within the chamber.

A more detailed object is to provide the bolt with integrally formed resilient members which clip the bolt within the chamber and hold the bolt from sliding forwardly past the projected position.

The invention also resides in the comparatively simple construction of the bolt as a one piece unitary assembly, the simple construction of the chamber, and the coaction between the bolt and chamber to captivate and guide the bolt in the chamber and to hold the bolt from sliding forwardly past its projected position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a door and showing the door held in its closed position by a catch embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 2—2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the catch.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a catch 10 mountable on a closure member such as a cabinet door 11 and operable to latch the door in a closed position (FIG. 1). In the present instance, a bolt 12 mounted within a support or handle 14 connected to the door slides between projected and retracted positions to positively hold the door shut by interlocking with a strike 15 fixed to the cabinet adjacent the closed position of the door.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the handle 14 is generally U-shaped and is formed with depending bosses 17 and 19 which fit within countersunk portions of holes 20 extending through the door 11. Screws 21 extend through the holes and are threadably received in the bosses to mount the handle with its base flush against the outer surface of the door.

As shown in FIG. 3, a forwardly opening chamber 23 is formed at the front end of the handle and slidably receives the bolt 12. The latter herein is molded of plastic, is shaped generally as a block and is sized to fit into the chamber. A coil spring 24 is fitted into a hole 25 opening out of the rear end of the bolt and is compressed against the opposing wall of the chamber to urge the bolt forwardly toward its projected position and to hold the bolt yieldably in such a position.

To effect the interlocking action of the bolt 12 and the strike 15, the front end of the bolt includes an abutment surface 26 and a cam surface 27. The latter is inclined outwardly and forwardly of the chamber opening, as shown in FIG. 2, and merges at its upper terminus with the forward end of the abutment surface which extends forwardly from the front end of the bolt generally parallel with the surface of the door 11. As the latter is swung closed, the cam surface engages and rides over the strike, camming the bolt into its retracted position by overcoming the force exerted by the spring. Once the door is closed fully and the cam surface clears the strike, the spring 24 acts against the bolt causing it to snap forward so that the abutment surface 26 latches within the strike 15 to latch the door. To release the door 11 from its closed position, an exposed portion of the bolt defines a slanted thumb surface 29 which is located rearwardly of the abutment surface 26 (FIG. 2) and which may be pushed manually to slide the bolt rearwardly into its released position.

In accordance with the present invention, the construction of the catch 10 is simplified and assembly of its components is facilitated by forming the bolt 12 as a one-piece unit which may be simply snapped into the chamber 23 and which, automatically as an incident thereto, coacts with the chamber in a novel manner not only to guide the bolt for sliding between its retracted and projected positions but also to prevent the bolt from being slid forwardly past its projected position by the biasing force exerted by the spring 24. As a result, there is no need to employ separate elements for guiding and restraining the bolt and, in addition, the bolt and the handle 14 may be assembled quickly and easily.

More specifically, the chamber 23 is generally L-shaped and is formed with an open lower side 30 and open front end portions 31 and 33 as shown in FIG. 3, the sides of the chamber being defined by generally parallel retainer walls 34. As viewed in FIG- 3, the top inside edge 35 of each retainer wall includes an inwardly projecting and generally rectangular flange 36 paralleling the path of sliding of the bolt and guiding the bolt for movement between its projected and retracted positions. A generally rectangular recess or indentation 37 molded in the inner side of each retainer wall extends forwardly from the back end of that wall and terminates at a point spaced from the open front end 31 of the chamber. The forward edge of the indentation defines a shoulder 39 which acts as a catch to limit the forward motion of the bolt as it slides into its projected position.

As is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the bolt 12 includes a lower base 40, a rear wall 41 extending normal to the base, and spaced parallel side walls 43 also extending normal to the base. The distance between the side walls is less than the width ofthe opening 31, allowing the bolt to fit within the chamber 23. A portion of the base includes a pair of resiliently hinged prongs 44 formed by molding a T-shaped slot 45 in the bolt, the slot extending forwardly from the rear wall so that the upper portion of the slot extends through both side walls (see FIG. 4). The slot extends generally parallel to the base and terminates in the central portion of the bolt.

The free ehd 46 of each prong 44 includes a lug 47 projecting toward the inside of the closest retainer wall 34. When the prongs are relaxed, the tip ends of the lugs are separated from one another a distance greater than the width of the opening 31 so that they clip within the indentation 37 (FIG. 4) and hold the bolt 12 from sliding beyond its projected position. Rectangular grooves 49 spaced above the T-slot and formed along each side wall 43 of the bolt are sized to fit around the flanges 36 on the retainer walls and coact therewith to captivate the bolt against vertical movement within the chamber and to guide the bolt as it slides between its projected and retracted positions. Thus, it is seen that the bolt is a unitary piece with integrally formed prongs 44 and grooves 49 which coact with the chamber to hold the bolt and handle together as an assembly.

To hold the bolt 12 against sliding forwardly past its projected position, each lug 47 includes a catching wall 50 and a cam surface 51 (FIG. 3). The latter extends generally perpendicular to the base 40 of the bolt in a plane angled rearwardly toward the rear wall 41 and intersecting the plane of the other cam surface at a point spaced rearwardly of the rear wall (see FIG. 3). The back edge of the cam surface merges with the rear wall of the bolt while the front edge of the cam surface

3,671,065 merges with the tip edge S3 of the catching wall 50. The latter is formed integrally with and extends perpendicular from its prong 44 toward the closest retainer wall 34 when the bolt is mounted within the chamber 23.

As the bolt 12 is initially pushed into the chamber 23, the cam surfaces 51 engage the inside surfaces 35 of the retainer walls 34 thereby causing the prongs 44 to flex towards each other. Then, as the bolt is slid further in a rearward direction, the loaded prongs snap outwardly into the indentation 37. During normal latching, the lugs slide back and forth in the indentations with the catching walls 50 abutting the shoulders 39 (FIG. 4) on the forward stroke to hold the bolt from sliding forwardly past its projected position.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel catch 10 wherein the bolt 12 is held from sliding forwardly of its projected position by integrally formed prongs 44 catching against shoulders 39 formed in the walls of the chamber 23. Also, the flanges 36 and the grooves 49 coact to guide and captivate the bolt. The present invention thus simplifies the assembly of the catch and eliminates parts which were heretofore necessary in order to retain the bolt within the chamber.