US2926943A - Closure latch - Google Patents

Description

March l, 1960 J. D. LESLIE ETAL 2,926,943

CLOSURE LATCH Filed Oct. 4, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN T 0R23` J. D. LESLIE ETAL March l, 1960 y CLOSURE LATCH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 4, 1957 March l, 1960 1 D, LESLIE ETAL 2,926,943

CLOSURE LATCH Filed Oct. 4, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 @WEP/ffy are.

United States Patent O 1,926,943 cLosUaE LATCH Appleman cada 4. `15157, sena No. 688,192 9 Claims. A(Cl. 2921-53) 'Ihis invention relates to vehicle closure `latches and more particularly lto vehicle closure latches for pairs of swinging vehicle closures.

The vehicle closure latch of this invention .is intended particularly =for use with thelift gates and tail .gates of station wagon lbodies. lIn. general, the station wagon lift gate is swingably supported .on the vehicle body for upward swinging movement to open position while the tail gate is swingablysupported on the vehicle body for downward swinging movement to open position. In certain instances, such as for ventilation, the operator may desire to open the lift gate without opening the tail gate.

In the past it has beencommon to provide a `closure latch only for the tail gateto latch the tail gate to the body, with the -tail gate being arranged to overlap the vlift gate when both are `in closed position so that the `tail gate holds the lift gate in this position. Thus, if the Aoperator desired to open the lift gate only, `he `was requiredto rst unlock the closure latch and then partially open the tail gate, then movethe lift gate ,to open position, and iinally close `the tail gate Aand lock the closure latch. Thus, some eiort twas required of the `operator in order to merely open the lift gate and this is a disadvantage of past constructions. i

The vehicle closure 'latch of this invention overcomes this disadvantage of pasticonstructions by `permitting .the lift gate to overlap the tail gate so as to allowithe lift gate to be moved to an open position without .rst moving `the tail gate to an open voru partially open position. 1n-its `preferred embodiment the closure latch generally includes a center latch mountedon the tail gate and operative to latch the litt gate to the tail gate, and apair of side latches mounted on the tail gate and operative to latch the tail gate to each side of the body. A common operating means is provided each ofthe latches, with the operating `means being so arrangedas to permit selective operation of the center latch independently of .operationofthe side latches or selective sequential operation of the reenter latch and side latches. `Thus, if the operator desires to move only thef-lift gate to open position, he need only trelease the center latch so `as to release the lift `gate `from `.the -tail gate withouthaving to release-fthe side latches to reiease the tail gate from the body. Thus, an improved closure latch is provided for a pair of swinging vehicle closures.

The primaryobjectiof this inventionis toprovide a new and improved vehicle closure latch for pairs of `swinging vehicle closures. Another object of this invention is to provide a `new `and improved vehicle closure latch for station wagon liftugates and tail gates. A further object of this inventionisto provide a new and improved vehicle closure'latch for-pairs o f swinging `vehicle closures which latches fone oft the closures to the other of thefclosures Yand llatches ithef-othercf the closures tothe body an'dincludes an operating means `permittingselective release .of the one closure Ifrom the other closure independently of releaseof the other closure fromthebody. Y et another .object oftthisfinventionisz-toprovide atnew and `:irriproved rice vehicle closure latch for station .wagon lift gates and tail gates which latches the lift gate to the 4tail gate and latches the tail gate to the body and includes an operating means permitting selective release ofthe lift gate from the tail gate independently of release of the tail gate from the body. 'Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved vehicle closure latch for station wagon lift gates and tail gates which includes center latch means to latch the lift gateto the .tail gate and a pair of side latch means to latch the tail gate to the body, and a common operating means for selective sequential operation of the center latch andthe side latches so as topermit operation of the center latch independently of roperation of the side latches to effect movement of the lift gate to an open position independently of movement ofthe tail gate to an open position.

These and other objects of this invention will be readily ,apparent 4from .the following specification and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a `partial rear `elevational view of a station wagon body having a lift gate and a tail gate to close the rear opening thereof, with the tail gate 'being provided with a center latch according to this invention to latchthe lift gate to the tail gate and also being provided with `a pair of side latches according to this invention to latch the tail gate to -the`body;

-Figure 2 is an enlarged ,secional view taken on the plane indicated by line 2 2 Figure l showing the center latch;

Figure 3 is an `enlarged sectional view taken on tlie plane indicated Yby line 3&3 of -Figure 2; A

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional `view taken on `the plane `indicated by line `5,-- of Figure l and showing one of the side latches.

Referring nowparticularly .to Figure 1 ofthe drawings, a station `wagon body 10 `includes a lift gate 12' andla tail gate 14.,which close the rear opening 15 of the body when in ,closed position. Although not shownin the drawings, it will be understood, of course, that the lift gate i2 is swingably .mounted on the `tbody by suitablehinges whichinterconnectthe upper frame member 16 ofthe lift gate `and Vthe body for upward swinging movement of 'the lift gate between .closed position, `afs shown, 4ahd an open position, not shown. Suitable hinges, `indicated schematically at-118, interconnect the lower edge portion of thetail gate 4'14 and .thebody `for ,downward swinging movement of the Ytail gate between a closed position, asshow'n, .and an open position, `not shown. Thus, the lift gate and tail gate `swing oppositely `with respect to each other."

The vehicle closure `latch of this invention generally kincludes a center latch 2,0,mounted on the tail gate 14,and operative to latch the liftgate 12 to the tail gate, and a painof spaced like sidelatches 22 which are also mo'unted on the tail gate ..14 andlatch thetail gate to the `body to either side thereof. The closure latch is so arranged, as willbe hereinafter described, that the center latch 20 may beireleased independently of the side latches 22 so .as to AVallowtheliftgate 12 to be moved to open position without movement of the tail gate 14 to open position. Referring now particularly to Figures 2, `3 and 4 ofthe drawings, the center latch 20 will be described. The

`tail gate 14 generally comprises an inner panel 24,pan

upper panel 26 integral with panel 24 and an "outer,

panelZS joined to panelliby bending an edge .portion 3.0.of flange 31 of the outer panel over aange 32.0f panel -26. An ,angularlmounting bracket 34 issecured ina suitable mannerto the innersurface of. panel 24 and a. mounting plate 36 isbolted at A38 to bracket .4,.so as` to support the mounting plate within the tail gate 14. As canbe seen particularly in Figure 2 of the'drwings,

.the.\.inner.panel @provided with an `opening .40 providing access to the center latch, with this opening and the inner panel being covered by a trim panel 42 which is secured to the inner panel by bolts 44. As may be seen generally in` Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the mounting plate fextends generally between the inner and outer panels 24 and 28 of the tail gate.

A lock cylinder assembly 46 is secured in a suitable manner such as by bolts 48 to plate 36 and extends outwardly of panel 28 through an opening 50 therein, with an escutcheon 52 being provided to close the opening and to support the lock cylinder assembly within the opening. The escutcheon is secured to the panel 28 adjacent the opening 50 therein in a suitable manner. The details of the lock cylinder assembly are not shown since the assembly is substantially the same as that shown in Psik 2,724,958 assigned to the assignee of this invention. Generally, the lock cylinder assembly includes a push button 54 which is slidably mounted within the lock cylinder assembly and is spring biased outwardly, with the push button being secured to a push rod 56 so as to move the push rod inwardly of the tail gate when the bush button is operated.

Referring now particularly to Figures 3 and 4 of the gdrawings, the mounting plate 36 includes a pair of spaced upwardly offset apertured ears 58 and 60. An

.actuating lever 62 having a generally upright ange 64 .shouldered stud 65 which is secured to the ear and rotatably supports the one end of the lever. As may be seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, the iiange 64 of the lever is provided with a circular opening 66 having a keyway 68. The circular opening 66 slidably receives the circular end 70 of push rod 56, with this end being Joined to a generally polygonally shaped portion 72 of the push rod which is larger in size so as to provide a shoulder 74 therebetween. The end 70 of the push rod is provided with a lug or key 76 and the keyway 68 of opening 66 allows insertion of the end 70 through the ange 64 of lever 62. The other end of the lever 62 includes an offset ear 78, Figure 4, which extends through and slides withiin an arcuate slot 80 in plate 36 so as to guide swinging movement of the lever 62 about its pivot 60.

Referring now particularly to Figure 2 of the drawin gs, a generally U-shaped latch housing 82 is provided with a pair of generally parallel upright walls 84, only the right hand` of which is shown joined by a rear wall 86. Eachof the walls 82 is provided with a lateral fiange 88 which is adapted to be secured to the upper panel 26 of the tail gate to either side of an opening 90 therein which receives the housing 82. A forked latch bolt 92 is swingably mounted on housing 82 by a stud 94 which extends between the walls 84 and is secured therein. A coil spring 96 is mounted on stud 94 and has one end thereof 98 engaging the bolt 92 and the other end thereof 100 unhooked over the right hand wall 84 to bias bolt 92 in a clockwise direction toward unlatched position. A detent 104 is swingably mounted on a stud 106 which extends between the opposite walls 84 of the housing. The detent is adapted to engage a shoulder 108 of bolt 92 to hold the bolt in unlatched position, as shown in full lines, against the action of spring 96. A

.coil spring 110 mounted on stud 106 has one end thereof 112 engaging the detent and the other end 114 thereof hooked over the right hand wall 84 of the hous- ,ing to -bias the detent in a counterclockwise direction, Vas viewed in Figure 2. The detent includes a pair of Referring now again to Figure 2 of the drawings, the

`lower frame member 122 of the lift gate 12 includes a frame member 124' and a frame member 126 which are welded together at their inner flanged edge portions 128. The outer edge portions of the members are secured together by bending the edge portion of member 124 over an offset ilange 132 of member 126. Flange 132 mounts a weather strip 134 which engages the iiange 31 of the outer panel 28 to sealwthe space between the tail gate and the lift gate when both are in closed position.

From this description it will be apparent that the lift gate 12 overlaps the tail gate 14 since the flange 132 and edge portion 130 of the lower-frame member 122 of the tail gate are located outboard or rearwardly of the flange 31 of the outer panel 28 of the tail gate. This permits the lift gate to be swung upwardly to an open position, as will be hereinafter described, without any interference between the lift gate and the tail gate. A striker plate 136 includes opposite pairsl of V-shaped arms138, only the right hand' arm being shown, which support a striker bar 140, with arms 1 38 and bar 14% being formed integral with the plate 136. A shim 142 is positioned between the striker plate and the frame memyber 126 of the llift gate, and a number of bolts 144 extend through openings in the striker plate, the shim and frame member 126, and are threaded into a threaded block 146, which is adjustably mounted on frame mem- -ber 126 by means of a suitable cage 148 secured to member 126 and permitting movement of the block 146 within predetermined limits. When the latch bolt 92 is in latched position, as shown in full lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, the fork of the bolt receives the striker bar so as to latch the lift gate to the tail gate.

Before proceeding further with a description of the side latches and the operation thereof, it is believed best that the operation of the center latch be first described. If it is desired to move the lift gate 12 to an open position, the operator manually presses the push button 54 forwardly of the body or inwardly of the assembly 46 to move the push rod 56 inwardly of the tail gate. After the push rod moves slightly inwardly, the shoulder 74 of the push rod will engage the flange 64 of lever 62 around the opening 66 therein to swing the lever 62 inwardly of the tail gate` or counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 3, about its pivot 65. As the lever swings in this direction, the engagement of the shank of bolt 118 with ange 64 swings the detent 104 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, against the action of spring 110 to release the detent from, engagement with the shoulder 108 of bolt 92. The bolt 92 will then be swung clockwise, as viewed in Figure 2, by spring 96 to an unlatched position to release the striker bar 140 from engagement within the fork of the bolt to unlatch the lift gate from the tail gate. The unlatched position of the detent and the bolt are shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings, and it will be noted that an arcuate edge of the .detent slidably engages a similarly shaped arcuate edgey 152 of the bolt, with the detent being held in en gagement with the bolt by the spring 110 which biases the detent in a counterclockwise direction, as previously described.

The left hand wall 84 of housing 82 includes a laterally extending lug 153 which is engageable by the shoulder 108 of bolt 92 when the bolt is in unlatched position to locate the bolt in this position.

When the lift gate 12 is moved downwardly to closed position, the striker bar 140 will engage the leg 154 of the bolt to swing the bolt in a counterclockwise direction as the striker bar moves inwardly within the fork of the bolt. As the bolt swings in this direction, the arcuate edge portions 150 and 152 of the detent and bolt, respectively, slide relative to each other until the detent again engages against the shoulder 108 of the bolt to vhold the bolt in latched position.

Referring now particularly to Figure 5 of the drawings, the rightbaud Side latch which latches one side of the `tail gate `to Athe body twill be' described, and it will be :understood `that fthe `leftfhand .side .latch of the .same

`formed integral Atwithteach other. Atshim 166 is provided between the striker plate .and the right Lhand wall `1.68.0f 4the body which defines -the right hand rside .of the :rear

opening 15' thereof. Bolts 170 extend through 4suitable openingsintthe striker plate, `the `shim vand wall 168 and are threadedfinto a 4mounting'block 172 which is secured in a suitable `manner tto :the inner `surface of wall .168. A generally :Ul-shaped latch housing *17.4 includes .a pair `of upper and lower walls 176 joined by a generallyvertical walllfZS wit-honiy `the lower wall `176 being shown. Each of the vwalls 17.6 is provided with a laterallyextending .ange 180'which vis secured in asuitable manner to the .outer-.surface of the-right hand side panel 181 `of the tailgate on Yoppositesides of anopening 182'therein .which receives the `housing 174. Panel 181 is integral with panel 24 :and is joined to .panel 28 .by bendinganedge portion :183 of `panel 28 over flange 1185 of panel 181. A shouldered stud 184 issecured at oneend `thereof to the lower wall 176 and extends through a suitable .opening inthe upper wall '176, not shown. The stud rotatably supportsa forked :bolt186 tanda coilfspring :188 which has one leg 190 thereof `hookedtover a leg 192 of the boltand the `'other leg l1,94 thereof hooked over the upper wall `117.6

of .housing 6.174,-not shown, :so as to bias bolt `186counterclockwise toward unlatched position. The lower wall 176 of housing .174 isprovidedwith an upright lug 19.6 `which `is .adapted to .engage against a shoulder 198 ofthe bolt to flocate `the bolt in 'unlatched position, .as shown fin `dotted lines, A,againstthe .action of spring 188.

`A detent 200 is `swingably mounted between Vthe upper and lower legs 176.of f.housing'174 by .means of a stud 202 which :is -secured to `the lower wall ,and extends through 1an openingtin the upper wall, not shown. The

detent includes aishoulder 204 which is adapted to engage shoulder ,1980i Abolt 186 when `the bolt is inzlatched position, asshown, `to'retain'thelbolt .in this position against the action of spring 188. .A coilfspring `206 mounted on stud 202 has one leg 208 thereof hooked over the detent andthe otherileg 210 thereof .slidably engaging wall 178 to -bias ,thedetentclockwise toanaintain shoulder 204 of the detent in engagement with shoulder :198 of the bolt to maintainthe `bolt in latched position. When the bolt is `in unlatched position, an arcuate .edge 212 of the detent engages an arcuate .edge 214 of the `bolt under the action ofspring 2.06. The detent further includes an upwardly extending aperturedear 216 which receives one end of a rod 218 having ra bent end .220 whichis lspaced from ear 216 `when the bolt ,is1i`n latched` position for a purpose to be hereinafter described. i

.Referring -now particularly ,to Figures `2 through A4 of the drawings, the interconnection between lthe right `hand rod 218 and the .lock cylinder assembly `46 vwill be-described. As best shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings,a stud 221 isiixedto the oltsetear 60 of the mountingplate `36 `androtatably supports abell crank lever 222 and `.a :hooked .shaped lever 224. One leg `of the bell crank lever is provided `with La pair of upright threaded ears 226 which adjustably receive `a bolt 228, with the shank `of the bolt `engaginganupright `ear 230 of lever 224. A `tension spring `232 has one end 234 thereof hooked into an aperturedtupright ear'236 of plate 36 and the other endl238 thereof 4hooked into an apertured ear 240 `oflever 222 yto 'bias `.the lever in afcounterclockwise direction .and maintain the .shank of bolt 228 in engagementtwith :ear 23,0 and the ,hook shapedend'246 `of lever 222 `in `engagement with flange v64 oflever '62.

Thetotherleggofthe bell crank lever 222 is provided with an aperture .242 Awhich 4'receives the `other bent end 244 ofrod 218, with thisend `b eingoiset beneaththelever apanage .222, .not shown, so to prevent disassembly 0f therod from the lever.

A Although the left Ahand .side latch assembly is the same as the right hand side latehassembly, .although of different hand, as l:previously mentioned, the interconnection between the rod 218 of the .left hand `,side latch assembly and :the lock .cylinder assembly isdifierent .and will now be described .with reference particularly .to Figures 3 and 4. .bell crank 248 is 1rotatably mounted on the stud 65 which also rotatably mounts `lever 462, `as previously described. One leg of the bell `crank is `proyided with a pair of .downwardly extending threaded ears 25,0 which adjustably receivea `.bolt 4252, with .theshank `of the bolt engaging the upright -flange164 .of lever `62. The other leg of bell crank 248 includes `an aperture 254 which receives the other bent .end 2440i the left ,hand rod .218, with this end being .oiset .beneath the lever, not shown, in the same manner as the `right hand rod to interconnect the rod and the lever. A spring 256 has one .end A258 lthereof hooked .into `an Vupright .ear 26.0 ofplate and the other endu thereof Ahooked 4.into an `aperture 262 in lever 248 to lbias `the ylever `clockwise Aas viewed in `Figure 3 and maintain the .shank of bolt 25.2 inengagement with ange 64 of level' 62.

Ijhe operation of the .center `latch assembly has been previously described, .and .therefore K'it is believed that no further particular description ,need be given. `Referring now particularly toFigure 3 `of the drawings, vtheoperation of the side latchassemblies 4will be described. As previously mentioned, after the push rod .56 1is moved slightly inwardly, .the shoulder 74 .of the -rod `will engage the ange 64 `oflever` 62 ,to swing this `lever counterclockwise, as viewed `in Figure ,3, tomovethe detent 104 out of engagement with ,the center latch bolt ,92 to allow the boltto bemoved ,to unlatched position .byspririgt96. As lever 64 swings .counterclockwise theengagementof the flange ,6 4 .of the `lever with .the hooked end 246 of lever 224 will swing this ,lever in` a .clockwise direction, as viewed Lin `Figure 3., about ythe pivot ,221. ,In turn, the engagement of theshank of Ibolt228 .with the .ear 2300i lever 224 will swing `the bellcranklever 222m .the same direction so as to shift the right hand rod 218inwardly with respect to the center line of the body. Similarly, the engagement of .the shank 4of `bolt 252 withiiange 64 of lever .62 will swiriglhe `left .hand ,bell crank lever 248 counterclockwise, as `viewed vin `Figure `3, `to :also shift rthe left hand rod.2 .1.3 inwardly with Vrespect to the center line of the body.

"Referring `now to VFigure 5, it willbe remembered that the bent ends 220 of the `rods .218 are spaced Afrom the upright ears 216 of detents .200 when the side latches are in latched position. Thus, lrods .218 may be shifted inwardly toward thecenter line of thebody 1a certain distance before there is `any engagement of the ends 220 ofthe rods with the ears ,216. of detents 200. Thus, the push rod 56`may be moved inwardly ofthe body a certain distance to swing lever 62counterclockwise through a particular are prior to any movement ofthe detents 200 of the side latches. The engagement of .the detent 104 withlever 62 by `means of bolt ,11,8 `is so arranged that swinging movement of the lever.62 .through this particular arc is effective to `swing the detent clockwise, as Viewed in Figure 2, also through .a particular arc, to move the detent out of engagement `witlrtheshoulder 108 of bolt 92 to allow lthe ,boltto be moved to unlatched position b-y means of .spring9;6 atabout the same time that the bent ends 220 of`rods`-218 engage ears 216 but prior to any movement of either of the detents 200 out of engagement with .either of the bolts 186. Thus, the lift 7 the above release of the bolt 92 of the center latch assembly can easily be effected without release of either of the bolts 186 of the side latch assemblies.

However, it will be understood that if the push rod 56 is moved further inwardly of the tail gate, then the engagement of the bent ends 220 of rods 218 with detents 200 will swing these detents inwardly of the body, with the right hand detent swinging counterclockwise and the lleft hand detent swinging clockwise, to move the shoulders 204 of the detents out of engagement with the shoulders 198 of the bolts to allow the bolts to also swing inwardly of the body to unlatched position, with the right hand bolt swinging counterclockwise and the left hand bolt swinging clockwise. When the push button is released so that the push rod is again moved outwardly of the tail gate by the lock cylinder assembly 46, the springs 206 swing the detents 200 outwardly of the body until the arcuate edge 212 of each of the detents slidably engages the arcuate edge 214 of the bolts. Thus, the tail gate may be moved to an open position. When the tail gate is moved to closed position, the engagement of the legs 192 of the bolts 186 with the striker bars 164 swings the bolts outwardly of the body against the action of springs 188, with the right hand bolt swinging clockwise and the left hand bolt swinging counterclockwise. This causes the arcuate edges 212 `and 214 of the detents 200 and bolts 186, respectively, to'slide relative to each other until the shoulders 204 of the detents again engage shoulders 198 of the bolts to hold the bolts in latched position.

Thus, this invention provides a new `and improved vehicle closure latch for pairs of swinging vehicle closures, particularly station Wagon lift gates and tail gates. The latch of this invention permits the lift gate to overlap the tail gate so `as to be moved to an open position independently of any movement of the tail gate. By latching the lift gate to the tail gate and latching the tail gate to the body and by providing a common operating means for selective sequential release of the lift gate from the tail gate and the tail gate from the body, the latch provides `an improved arrangement for operation of pairs of vehicle closures.

We claim:

l. In a vehicle body having a pair of closures swingably mounted thereon for movement between open and closed positions, a Alatch mechanism comprising, rst latch means on one of said closures operative to latch theV other of said closures thereto, second latch means on said one of said closures operative to latch said one of said closures to said body, and a common operating means operatively interconnecting said first and second latch means and permitting release of said rst latch means independently of release of said second latch means to allow said other of said closures to be moved to open position without movement of said one of said closures to open position.

2. In a station wagon type of vehicle body having an opening therein and a tail gate and lift gate mounted on said body for swinging movement oppositely to each other to open and close said opening, with said lift gate overlapping said tail gate in the closed position thereof, a latch mechanism comprising, tirst latch means on said tail gate operative to latch said lift gate thereto, second latch means on said .tail gate operative to latch said tail gate to said body, and a common operating means operatively interconnecting said rst and second latch means and permitting release of said tirst latch means independently of release of said second latch means to allow said lift gate to be moved to an open position without movement of said tail gate to an open position.`

3. In a vehicle body having a pair of closures swingably mounted thereon for movement between open and closed positions, a closure latch comprising, rst latch means on f one of said closures operative to latch the other of said closures thereto, second and third latch means on said and vthird latch means and including lost motion means to permit operation of said actuating means without release of said detents of said second and third latch means.

4. In a latch mechanism, the combination comprising, a first latch bolt movable betwen latched and unlatched positions, la first detent operative to retain said bolt in latched position, an actuating member, means adjustably interconnecting said detent and said actuating member to effect release of said detent from said bolt to permit said bolt to be moved to unlatched position, a second latch bolt movable to latched and unlatched positions, a second detent operative to retain said second bolt in latched position, adjustable lever means engageable with said Iactuating member, and means including lost motion means operatively interconnecting said adjustable .lever means and said second detent.

5. In a latch mechanism, the combination comprising, a latch bolt movable between latched and unlatched positions, a detent member operative to retain said bolt in latched position and including an opening therethrough,

actuating means, means interconnecting said actuating means and said detent member and including a shiftable member having one end portion thereofA operatively connected to said actuating means and the other end portion thereof received through said opening in said detent member, said other end portion including an enlarged portion normally located in spaced relationship to the adjacent surface of said detent member, said enlarged portion being movable by said actuating means into engagement with said surface of said detent member to effect release of said detent member from said bolt and permit said bolt to be moved to unlatched position, and means for adjusting the spatial relationship between said enlarged portion of said shiftable member and said adjacent surface or" said detent member.

6. In a latch mechanism, the combination comprising, a latch bolt movable betwen latched and unlatched positions, a detent member operative to retain said bolt in latched position and including a laterally extending ange provided with an opening therethrough, an actuating member, means interconnecting said actuating member and said detent member and including a shiftable member having one end thereof operatively connected to said actuating member and the other end portion thereof received through said opening in said tiange, said other end portion including a portion of enlarged shape normally located in spaced relationship to the adjacent surface of said ange, said enlarged portion being movable into engagement with said surface of said ange by said actuating member :to effect release of said detent from said bolt and permit said bolt to be moved to unlatched position, and means for adjusting the spatial relationship between said enlarged portion of said shiftable member and said adjacent surface of said flange.

7. In a latch mechanism, the combination comprising, a latch bolt movable between latched and unlatched positions, a detent member operative to retain said bolt in latched position and including an opening therethrough, a swingable actuating member, a shiftable member having one end thereof operatively connected to said actuating member and the other end portion thereof received through said opening in said detent member, said other end portion including a portion of enlarged shape normally located in spaced relationship to the adjacent surface of said detent member, said enlarged portion being movable into engagement with said surface of said detent member upon swinging movement of said actuating member to effect release of said detent from said bolt and permit said bolt to be moved to unlatched position, and means for adjusting the rotative position of said swingable actuating member about the axis of rotation thereof to adjust the spatial relationship between said enlarged portion of said shiftable member and said adjacent surface of said detent member.

8. In a latch mechanism, the combination comprising, a latch bolt movable between latched and unlatched positions, a detent member operative to retain said bolt in latched position and including an opening therethrough, a swingable bell crank lever, an actuating lever coaxial with said bell crank lever, adjustable means interconnecting one leg of said bell crank lever and said actuating lever for conjoint rotation thereof, and a shiftable member having one end thereof operatively connected to the other leg of said bell crank lever and the other end portion thereof received through said opening in said detent member, said other end portion including a portion of enlarged shape normally located in spaced relationship to the adjacent surface of said detent member, said enlarged portion being movable into engagement with said surface of said detent member upon conjoint swinging movement of said levers to effect release of said detent from said bolt and permit said bolt to be moved to unlatched position, said adjustable means being operative to adjust the rotative position of said bell crank lever relative to said actuating lever to adjust the spatial relationship between said enlarged portion of said shiftable member and said adjacent surface of said de tent member.

9. In a latch mechanism, the combination comprising, a pair of latch bolts movable between latched and unlated positions, a pair of detent members operative to retain said bolts in latched position, each including an' opening therethrough, a pairY of swingable bell crank levers, a pair of actuating levers, each being coaxialwith one of said bell crank levers, adjustable means intercom necting one leg of each of said bell crank levers and a respective coaxial actuating lever for conjoint rotation thereof, means interconnecting said actuating levers for conjoint rotation thereof, and a pair of shiftable members, each having one end thereof operatively connected to the other leg of one of said bell crank levers and the other end portion thereof received through said openings in said detent members, said other end portions each including a portion of enlarged shape normally located in spaced relationship to the adjacent surface of said detent members, said enlarged portions being movable into engagement with said surface of said detent members upon conjoint swinging movement of said actuating levers and said bell crank levers to thereby edect release of said detents from said bolts and permit said bolts to be moved to unlatched position, each of said adjustable means being selectively operative to thereby adjust the rotative position of each of said bell crank levers relative to a respective coaxial actuating lever to thereby adjust the spatial relationship between said enlarged portions of said shiftable members and said adjacent surfaces of said detent members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,218,183 springer oct. 15, 1940 t 2,263,065 Baldauf Nov. 18, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTSA 1,039,871 France May 2o, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No., 2,926,943 March l, 1960 James D. Leslie et al.

It is herebjar certified that error appears in the-printed specification of the above numbered patent. requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 4l, for "withiin" read Within line 56, for "unhooked" read hooked --;l line 6l, for "unlatched" read latched column 9, lines, 34 and 35, for "unlated" read unlatched Signed and sealed this 16th day of August 1960n (SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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