Latching device

Abstract

To provide a latch device with a simple structure that can be locked and unlocked by rotational operation alone. [Solution] The knob member 50 of the latch device 10 has a pin 56 with a latch 56a at its tip and is biased forward by a biasing means 7 housed in the case 40. The pin 56 is inserted through a pin insertion hole 9 that extends in the front-rear direction Z in the case 40. In the biased state, the latch 56a advances rearward from the case 40 and is inserted through the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20, and by rotating the knob member 50 against the bias, the latch 56a moves forward and disengages from the latch insertion hole 21a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a latch device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, latch devices, for example, bolt-type latch devices, are known.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a latch device that includes a catch, a cylindrical main body having a lateral groove extending in the axial direction and a vertical groove extending to intersect the lateral groove, a latch rod whose tip portion (latch) engages with the catch during locking, a coil spring that biases the latch rod in the retraction direction, and an operation pin.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] According to Patent Document 1, by advancing the latch rod against the biasing force of the coil spring, the tip portion of the latch rod can be engaged with the catch to perform locking.

[0006] However, while the latch rod is slid when locking, the operation pin needs to be pressed when unlocking, requiring different operations for locking and unlocking, which is cumbersome.

[0007] In addition, while the operation portion of the latch rod is located at the rear end of the cylindrical main body, the operation pin is located on the side surface of the cylindrical main body. Therefore, when it is necessary to perform locking and unlocking operations in a limited space where the latch device is surrounded by equipment or the like, it is conceivable that either the latch rod or the operation pin may be difficult to operate.

[0008] Furthermore, while latch devices that can be locked and unlocked solely by rotation using electrical action, such as electric locks, are also known, such latch devices have a relatively complex structure and are expensive to manufacture.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch device that has a simple structure and can be locked and unlocked by rotational operation alone, as an improvement over conventional latch devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the above problems, the present invention relates to a latch device having a front-to-back direction and comprising a device body and a receiving plate.

[0011] The latch device according to the present invention comprises a main body of a knob member having an operating part and a case to which the knob member is rotatably mounted, the knob member having a pin with a latch at its tip and being biased forward by a biasing means housed in the case, the pin being inserted through a pin insertion hole in the case that extends in the front-rear direction, and in the biased state, the latch advances rearward from the case and is inserted through an insertion hole in the receiving plate, and by rotating the knob member against the bias, the latch moves forward and disengages from the insertion hole.

[0012] The latch device according to the present invention includes the following embodiments. (1) The case has a housing portion in which the biasing means is housed and a tubular portion that protrudes forward from the housing portion, the tubular portion has a front opening and a cam surface formed at the opening end of the opening, the knob member has a hollow cylindrical covering portion that covers the tubular portion, the covering portion has an engaging projection having a shape that conforms to the cam surface, and by rotating the knob member the engaging projection and the cam surface slide against each other, the knob member moves in the front-rear direction. (2) The operating parts are multiple in number, extending over the entire front-to-back dimension of the covering part, and protruding in a convex curve from the outer surface of the covering part, and are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the covering part. (3) The operating section has an L-shape and includes a transverse portion located on the front end surface of the covering portion and a longitudinal portion that extends in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the transverse portion. (4) The tubular portion has an annular groove, and an annular indicator is located in the annular groove. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to one or more embodiments of the latch device of the present invention, when the knob member is biased, the latch moves backward from the case and is inserted into the insertion hole of the receiving plate, and by rotating the knob member against the biasing force, the latch moves forward and disengages from the insertion hole. Thus, with a simple structure, locking and unlocking by the latch can be easily performed by rotational operation alone. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] The drawings illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein, including not only essential components of the invention but also optional and preferred embodiments. [Figure 1] A diagram showing the housing locked by the latch device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] A diagram showing the casing in an unlocked state. [Figure 3] (a) Perspective view of the latch mechanism in the locked state. (b) Perspective view of the latch mechanism in the unlocked state. [Figure 4] (a) Exploded perspective view of the device body as seen from the front. (b) Exploded perspective view of the device body as seen from the rear. [Figure 5] (a) Plan view of the main body of the device. (b) Enlarged view of the cam surface. (c) Enlarged view of the engaging projection. [Figure 6] (a) Cross-sectional view along the line VI(a)-VI(a) in Figure 3(a). (b) Cross-sectional view along the line VI(b)-VI(b) in Figure 3(b). [Figure 7](a) A diagram showing the state of the engaging protrusion and the cam surface in the locked state. (b) A diagram similar to Fig. 7(a) with the knob member rotated. (c) A diagram similar to Fig. 7(a) in the unlocked state. [Figure 8] A perspective view showing a use state in an example of the embodiment of the latch device according to the present invention. [Figure 9] (a) A diagram showing a state where the drone main body and the box are separated. (b) A diagram showing a state where the drone main body and the box are connected by the latch device. [Figure 10] (a) A diagram similar to Fig. 4(a) in an example of the embodiment. (b) A diagram similar to Fig. 4(b) in an example of the embodiment. [Figure 11] (a) A diagram similar to Fig. 3(a) in an example of another embodiment. (b) A diagram similar to Fig. 3(b) in an example of another embodiment. [Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]

[0015] The details of the latch device 10 according to the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] Referring to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3, the latch device 10 according to the present invention is used as a locking device for a housing 1, and has a vertical direction Y, a lateral direction X, and a front-rear direction Z, and includes a catch 20 attached to the main body 2 of the housing 1, and a device main body 30 attached to the lid 3 of the housing 1. Although not shown, the lid 3 is pivotally fixed to the housing 1 via a hinge.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 3(a), (b) and Fig. 6(a), (b), in the locked state, the latch 56a of the device main body 30 is inserted through the latch insertion hole 21a of the catch 20. By rotating the knob member 50 of the device main body 30 by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction, the knob member 50 moves forward, the latch 56a disengages from the latch insertion hole 21a, and the unlocked state is achieved.

[0018] In the illustrated example, the latch device 10 is used as a locking device for the housing 1. However, the latch device 10 can be used for various purposes, such as a mounting means for a box that can be detachably attached to a drone, a mounting means for the cargo bed of a truck, or a locking device for a box housing an electrical distribution panel, as long as the latch can move in and out of the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20.

[0019] The receiving plate 20 has a fixing portion 21 fixed to the main body 2 of the housing 1, and an extension portion 22 that bends upward from the fixing portion 21. In the front-rear direction Z, the extension portion 22 is positioned opposite a notch 2a that has a downwardly convex shape formed at the open end of the main body 2, and has a latch insertion hole 21a through which the latch 56b of the knob member 50 is inserted. As shown in Figure 2, in the locked state, a part of the device body 30 is inserted into the notch 2a from above.

[0020] Referring to Figures 3(a), (b) and 4(a), (b), the main body of the device 30 includes a case 40 and a knob member 50. The case 40 has a fixing part 41 fixed to the lid 3, a housing part 42 extending in a convex curve from the fixing part 41 and having a housing space S in which a coil spring (biasing means) 7 is arranged, and a cylindrical tubular part 43 extending forward from the housing part 42. The fixing part 41 is provided with a plurality of through holes 41a for inserting screws, and a central opening 44 is located in the central part that communicates with the housing space S of the housing part 42. In addition, a through hole 42a is formed on the rear surface of the case (housing part) 40.

[0021] The tubular portion 43 has a base end portion 45 located within the housing portion 42 and having a through hole 45a, and a forward extension portion 46 extending forward from the base end portion 45 and further forward from the housing portion 42. The forward extension portion 46 has a forward opening 46a and a cam surface 60 located at its opening end.

[0022] Referring to Figure 5(b), the cam surface 60 has a shape that is convex toward the rear and has first and second inclined portions 61 and 62 and a rear end 63 where they intersect each other. The first and second inclined portions 61 and 62 extend from the leading edge of the tubular portion 43 to the rear end, gradually inclining toward the rear and toward the radially inward direction of the tubular portion 43.

[0023] In case 40, the front opening 46a of the forward extension 46 of the tubular portion 43, the through hole 45a of the base end portion 45, and the through hole 42a located on the rear surface of the housing portion 42 are in communication with each other in the front-rear direction Z, forming a pin insertion hole 9 that extends in the front-rear direction Z through which the cylindrical pin 56 of the knob member 50 is inserted.

[0024] An annular groove 43a extending in the circumferential direction is formed at the base end of the forward extension 46 of the tubular portion 43, and an annular indicator 5 is positioned in the annular groove 43a. The indicator 5 is covered by the covering portion of the knob member 50 when locked and is exposed to the outside only when unlocked, and is used to make the locking and unlocking of the latch device 10 visible to the outside. It is colored in a color that attracts the operator's eye, different from the case 40, such as red or blue.

[0025] However, the indicator 5 may use identification elements such as marker letters, numbers, or patterns, either individually or in combination. Furthermore, it is preferable that it is coated with fluorescent paint so that it can be easily seen even at night.

[0026] The knob member 50 includes a hollow cylindrical covering portion 53 having a front end surface 51 which is a closed end and a rear opening 52, a plurality of operating portions (finger rest portions) 55a to 55c protruding from the outer surface of the covering portion 53, and a cylindrical pin 56 that penetrates the covering portion 53 and extends rearward.

[0027] The operating sections 55a to 55c extend over the entire length of the covering section 53 in the front-rear direction Z, and protrude convexly from the outer surface of the covering section 53, and are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the covering section 53. The front end surfaces 55d of the operating sections 55a to 55c have an inclined surface shape that extends downward toward the rear. In the illustrated example, there are three operating sections 55a to 55c, but there may be one, two, or three or more.

[0028] Referring to Figures 4(b) and 5(c), an engaging projection 70 is located on the inner surface of the covering portion 53 of the knob member 50, which engages with the cam surface 60 of the tubular portion 43. The engaging projection 70 has an inner cylindrical portion 74 with a through hole in the center through which a pin 56 is inserted, and first and second sliding portions 71 and 72 that are located on the outer circumference surrounding the inner cylindrical portion 74 and conform to the shape of the cam surface 60 located on the tubular portion 43 of the case 40.

[0029] The first and second sliding portions 71 and 72 approach each other as they move forward from the inner surface of the front end surface 51 of the covering portion 53, and gradually inclinate radially outward, intersecting each other at the flat tip 73.

[0030] A circular recess with a through hole in the center is formed on the front end surface 51 of the knob member 50, and a washer 8c is placed in this recess. In the assembled state of the device body 30, the tip 56a of the pin 56 is inserted through the washer 8c and crimped in place.

[0031] Referring to Figures 4(a) and (b), the pin 56 has a tip portion 56a, a latch (rear end portion) 56b, and an intermediate portion 56c located between them. The latch 56b is larger in diameter than the intermediate portion 56c, and a step is formed between the intermediate portion 56c and the latch 56b.

[0032] Referring to Figures 4(a), (b) and 5(a), when assembling the device body 30, the tubular portion 43 of the case 40 is inserted into the knob member 50 with each component positioned appropriately, and the inner cylindrical portion 74 of the knob member 50 is inserted into the tubular portion 43. Next, the tip 56a of the pin 56 is inserted through the through hole 42a of the case 40, and the pin 56 is moved forward so that it penetrates both the case 40 and the knob member 50, and the tip 56a is inserted through the washer 8c and then crimped in place. In the assembled state, the latch 56b of the pin 56 is inserted through the through hole 42a of the case 40.

[0033] Furthermore, a coil spring 7 is wound around the middle portion 56c of the pin 56. The coil spring 7 is spring-loaded between the base end 45 and the latch 56b of the pin 56 within the housing space S of the housing portion 42 of the case 40. The front end of the coil spring 7 is in contact with a washer 8a located on the rear side of the base end 45.

[0034] A washer 8b is positioned between the rear end of the inner cylinder portion 74 of the knob member 50 and the front end of the base portion 45 of the case 40. Washers 8a and 8b are preferably made of metal, and when the knob member 50 and case 40 are made of synthetic resin, placing these washers 8a and 8b in the areas that will be subjected to force can prevent damage to the parts.

[0035] Referring to Figure 3(a), in the locked state of the latch device 10, the pin 56 is biased rearward by the coil spring 7, and the rear end (latch) 56b of the pin 56 of the knob member 50 is inserted through the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20. By inserting the pin 56 through the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20, the upward movement of the lid 3 is restricted, and the lid 3 is locked to the main body 2 of the housing 1.

[0036] Referring to Figure 7(a), in the locked state, the engaging projection 70 of the knob member 50 is engaged with the cam surface 60 of the case 40. Specifically, the first inclined portion 61 of the cam surface 60 is in contact with the first sliding portion 71 of the engaging projection 70, and the second inclined portion 62 is in contact with the second sliding portion 72 of the engaging projection 70, with the rear end 63 of the cam surface 60 and the front end 73 of the engaging projection 70 facing each other.

[0037] To unlock the latch device 10, the operator places their fingers on the operating parts 55a to 55c of the knob member 50 and rotates it in the direction of arrow R1. By rotating it in the direction of arrow R1, the first sliding part 71 of the engaging projection 70 slides against the first inclined portion 61 of the cam surface 60 and moves forward. In this way, by moving the knob member 50 forward against the biasing force of the coil spring 7, the latch 56b of the pin 56 disengages from the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20 and moves into the storage space S, resulting in an unlocked state.

[0038] In the unlocked state, the rear end 63 of the cam surface 60 of the case 40 and the tip 73 of the engaging projection 70 of the knob member 50 are positioned opposite each other. Furthermore, the latch 56b can be retracted into the case 40 and released by rotating the knob member 50 by 90 degrees or more.

[0039] The operator releases the latch device 10 and lifts the lid 3, which separates the lid 3 from the main body 2, opening the housing 1 and allowing the contents to be stored inside. After storing or removing the contents, the operator grasps the operating part 55 of the knob member 50 and rotates it to the left or right, retracting the latch 56b of the pin 56 into the storage space S. With the lid 3 closed and the operator releases their hand from the operating parts 55a to 55c, the biasing force of the coil spring 7 causes the knob member 50 to automatically rotate in the opposite direction of rotation R2 (see Figure 7(c)) to the rotation direction R1, and the first sliding part 71 moves backward as it slides down on the first inclined portion 61 of the cam surface 60.

[0040] As a result, the pin 56 moves backward from the storage space S of the storage section 42, and the latch 56a of the pin 56 is inserted into the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20, thereby locking it again.

[0041] Thus, since locking and unlocking can be performed solely by rotating the knob member 50, it offers superior operability compared to cases where locking and unlocking are performed by combining rotation with other operations such as sliding or pressing. Furthermore, since only enough space is required to grasp the operating parts 55a to 55c of the knob member 50 and perform the rotation operation, locking and unlocking can be easily performed even in relatively narrow spaces where the operator must insert their fingers to perform the operation.

[0042] The knob member 50 can be unlocked even when rotated 90 degrees or more in the rotation direction R2, rather than in the rotation direction R1. By rotating it in the rotation direction R2, the second sliding portion 72 of the engaging projection 70 slides along the second inclined portion 62 of the cam surface 60 and moves backward. In this way, the operator can unlock or lock the device by rotating it in either the rotation direction R1 or R2, providing excellent convenience.

[0043] Furthermore, since there are multiple operating parts 55a to 55c, even if the operator cannot directly see the operating parts 55a to 55c at night or in other situations, they can easily grasp the operating parts 55a to 55c by touching the knob member 50 and perform rotational operations by placing their fingers on them or grasping them.

[0044] Referring again to Figures 3(a) and 3(b), in the locked state, when the latch 56a of pin 56 is inserted into the latch insertion hole 21a, the indicator 5 is covered by the covering portion 53 and is not exposed to the outside. On the other hand, in the unlocked state, the indicator 5 is not covered by the covering portion 53 and is exposed to the outside.

[0045] In this embodiment, the indicator 5 is formed from an annular synthetic resin material placed in a groove located in the tubular portion 43, but it may also be a colored flange-like portion that protrudes outward from the outer circumferential surface of the tubular portion 43.

[0046] For example, if the latch 56a of the pin 56 of the knob member 50 is not inserted through the latch insertion hole 21a but is in contact with the receiving plate 20 when the lid 3 is closed, the indicator 5 will be exposed to the outside, allowing the operator to visually confirm that it is unlocked.

[0047] Figures 8 and 9 show an example of how the latch device 10 according to the present invention is used in one embodiment. In this embodiment, a pair of latch devices 10 are used as a device for detachably attaching a box 90 to the drone body 81 of a drone 80.

[0048] Referring to Figure 9, a fixing plate 83 for fixing the device body 30 of the latch device 10 is attached to a frame 82 that extends downward from the drone body 81. Various known methods can be used to fix the device body, but for example, the device body 30 can be fixed to the fixing plate 83 by connecting the through hole in the case 40 with the bolt hole in the fixing plate 83 and screwing a bolt 85 into the bolt hole.

[0049] The receiving pin 20 is fixed to the upper surface of the box 90 via a fixing portion 21, and the extension portion 22 has a latch insertion hole 21a through which the latch 56a of a centrally located pin 56 is inserted, and a pair of sleeves 24 that open upward.

[0050] When attaching the box 90 to the drone 80, the operator first rotates the operating parts 55a to 55c of the knob member 50 in the direction of arrow R1 to move the pin 56 into the housing space S, and then aligns the end of the bolt 85 that protrudes downward from the fixing plate 83 of the drone into the pair of sleeves 24 of the receiving plate 20.

[0051] In this state, the through-hole 42a located on the rear surface of the case 40 is in communication with the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20. When the operator releases their hands from the operating parts 55a to 55c, the biasing force of the coil spring 7 automatically causes the knob member 50 to rotate in the direction of arrow R2 and move forward, and the latch 56b of the pin 56 is inserted into the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20, thereby completing the installation of the box 90.

[0052] The installation of the box 90 is difficult because the operator has to crouch down and crawl under the drone 80. Furthermore, if the installation and removal work requires combining multiple operations such as sliding and pressing in addition to rotation, it becomes a burden for the operator.

[0053] The latch device 10 according to the present invention allows for the attachment and removal of the box 90 by rotation alone, resulting in excellent operability. Furthermore, since only the operating parts 55a to 55c located on the front side of the box 90 need to be operated, rotation can be performed even if the operator is in a position where they cannot directly see the operating parts 55a to 55c. In addition, during the attachment process, the tip of the pin is automatically inserted into the insertion hole when the operator releases their hand from the operating part, allowing for quick attachment.

[0054] The components constituting the latch device 10, namely the case, knob member, and receiving plate, can be formed from known hard materials without particular limitations, such as metal, thermoplastic synthetic resins such as ABS resin, polyacetal resin, and polycarbonate resin, glass, wood, etc.

[0055] <Other examples> Figures 10(a) and 10(b) are similar to Figures 4(a) and 10(b) in an example of an embodiment, in which the tip 56a of the pin 56 is an open end and a helical groove 95 is formed on its inner circumferential surface. When assembling the device body 30, the pin 56 can be fixed by inserting the threaded portion 97 of the screw 96 into the front end hole 51a of the knob member 50 and screwing the threaded portion 97 into the helical groove 95 of the tip 56a of the pin 56.

[0056] With this configuration, it is possible to replace the pin 56, and for example, as shown in the figure, a pin 156 having a latch 156b that is slightly smaller in diameter than the latch 56b of the pin 56 can be used in combination. This allows for the free selection and use of pins 56 and 156 having latches 56b and 156b of a size appropriate to the size of the latch insertion hole 21a of the receiving plate 20. It offers excellent convenience.

[0057] Figures 11(a) and 11(b) are similar to Figures 3(a) and 11(b) in an example of another embodiment. In this embodiment, the operating portion 155 of the knob member 150 has an L-shape and includes a transverse portion 155a that protrudes from the front end surface 151 of the covering portion 153 and a longitudinal portion 155b that is connected to the transverse portion 155a and extends in the front-rear direction Z. The operating portion 155 is generally curved, with the tip of the transverse portion 155a extending to the outer peripheral edge of the front end surface and the tip of the longitudinal portion 155b extending to the opening end of the rear opening 152 of the covering portion 153.

[0058] In this embodiment, since it has an L-shape consisting of a transverse portion 155a and a longitudinal portion 155b, even if the operator cannot directly see the operating part 155 at night or in other situations, they can easily grasp the operating part 155 by touching the knob member 50 and perform the rotation operation by grasping either the transverse portion 155a or the longitudinal portion 155b. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0059] 5 Indicators 7. Coil spring (biasing means) 10 Latching device 20 Receipt 21a Latch insertion hole 30 Main unit of the device 40 cases 42 Storage Unit 43 Tubular part 43a Ring groove 46 Front extension 50 Knob component 53 Covering part 55a~55c Operation section 155a Cross section 155b Longitudinal section 56 pins 56a Pin tip (latch) 60 Cam surface 70 Engagement protrusion Z front and rear direction

Claims

1. A latching device having a front-to-back direction and comprising a device body and a receiving plate, The device body comprises a knob member having an operating section and a case on which the knob member is rotatably mounted. The knob member has a pin with a latch at its tip and is biased forward by a biasing means housed within the case. The aforementioned pin is inserted through a pin insertion hole extending in the front-rear direction in the case, The latch device is characterized in that, when biased, the latch extends rearward from the case and is inserted into the latch insertion hole of the receiving plate, and the latch moves forward and disengages from the latch insertion hole by rotating the knob member against the biasing force.

2. The latch device according to claim 1, wherein the case has a housing portion in which the biasing means is housed and a tubular portion protruding forward from the housing portion, the tubular portion has a front opening and a cam surface formed at the opening end of the opening, the knob member has a hollow cylindrical covering portion covering the tubular portion, the covering portion has an engaging projection having a shape conforming to the cam surface, and the knob member moves in the front-rear direction by rotating the knob member, the engaging projection and the cam surface sliding contact being made.

3. The latch device according to claim 2, wherein the operating parts are a plurality, extending over the entire front-to-back dimension of the covering portion, protruding in a convex curve from the outer surface of the covering portion, and arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the covering portion.

4. The latch device according to claim 2, wherein the operating portion has an L-shape and comprises a transverse portion located on the front end surface of the covering portion and a longitudinal portion extending in the front-rear direction perpendicular to the transverse portion.

5. The latch device according to claim 2, wherein the tubular portion has an annular groove, and an annular indicator is located in the annular groove.

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