Seth B Miller

US Patent:

60480017, Apr 11, 2000

Filed:

Mar 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/047069

Inventors:

Seth A. Miller - Ringwood NJ
Kenneth W. Schneider - Ringwood NJ

International Classification:

E05C 306

US Classification:

292198

Abstract:

A latching mechanism selectively maintains a first member and a second member in secured engagement by the interposition of a striker plate, mounted upon the second member, between spaced apart arms carried by a latching cam mounted on the first member for pivotal movement and locked in a latching position against such movement by a locking member, and moves the first member away from the second member upon selective release of the secured engagement by the actuation of a push-button assembly which unlocks the locking member and allows the latching cam to be moved out of the latching position by a biasing spring so that one of the spaced apart arms pushes against the strike plate to move the first member away from the second member. Selective movement of the first member toward the second member engages the one of the spaced apart arms with the strike plate and moves the latching cam against the biasing force of the biasing spring until the locking member locks the latching cam in the latched position, with the strike plate interposed between the spaced apart arms of the latching cam. In the event of a jam, an auxiliary latch retains the locking member in an unlocked position independent of the push-button assembly.