US3748011A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closure controlling means
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-05-18
•
Granted: 1973-07-24
•
Expires: 1991-05-18
Abstract
Abstract Means for varying the force required to open a closure member, drawer, or the like. A stationary compartment and a movable closure member for said compartment, a keeper member fixed in said stationary compartment, and a latch mechanism fixed on said movable closure member and in closure member closed position coactive with said keeper member. Means associated with said latch mechansim for varying the coactive tension between it and the keeper member to vary the force necessary to open the closure member, drawer or the like. A method of assembling the latch mechanism and the keeper member and for affixing the keeper member to the compartment in alignment with said latch mechanism for proper coaction therebetween when the closure member, drawer, or the like is in closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 K Schlein
- 👤 R Hazzard
- 👤 P Trotter
- 👤 A Clute
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:10
CPC Classifications
E; E05; E05C; E05C19/00; E05C19/02; E05C19/04; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S292/00; Y10S292/65; Y10T; Y10T292/00; Y10T292/08; Y10T292/0876; Y10T292/088
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
Closure controlling means, including in combination, a compartment having solely one end open and a closure member operative to open and close said open end of said compartment, a stationery keeper member fixed to and extending from a wall of said compartment, and a latching mechanism fixed to and movable with said closure member in its opening and closing movements, said latching mechanism including a casing having a slot therein and said keeper member being received in said slot and positioned in said casing when the closure member is in closed position, means positioned in said latching mechanism and in engagement with said keeper member when the closure is in closed position, finger operable means having a portion thereof extending exteriorly of said casing and a portion thereof extending into said casing and connected with said means positioned in said latching mechanism and operable to vary the tension of said means positioned in said latching mechanism on said keeper member to thereby vary the force required to open said closure member, and said exteriorly extending portion of said finger operable means being completely within said compartment and inaccessible exteriorly thereof when said closure member is in position closiNg the open end of said compartment and an elongated element being mounted in said casing, said elongated element being supported at one end thereof in said casing and means on said casing limiting movement of said elongated element at said one end, the other end of said elongated element being freely movable, the freely movable end of said elongated element being in engagement with and operable on said means positioned in said latching mechanism and said finger operated means being in engagement with said elongated element and finger operable to vary the pressure of said elongated element on said means positioned in said latching mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
Closure controlling means, including in combination, a compartment having solely one end open and a closure member operative to open and close said open end of said compartment, a stationery keeper member fixed to and extending from a wall of said compartment, and a latching mechanism fixed to and movable with said closure member in its opening and closing movements, said latching mechanism including a casing having a slot therein and said keeper member being received in said slot and positioned in said casing when the closure member is in closed position, means positioned in said latching mechanism and in engagement with said keeper member when the closure is in closed position, finger operable means having a portion thereof extending exteriorly of said casing and a portion thereof extending into said casing and connected with said means positioned in said latching mechanism and operable to vary the tension of said means positioned in said latching mechanism on said keeper member to thereby vary the force required to open said closure member, and said exteriorly extending portion of said finger operable means being completely within said compartment and inaccessible exteriorly thereof when said closure member is in position closiNg the open end of said compartment and an elongated element being mounted in said casing, said elongated element being supported at one end thereof in said casing and means on said casing limiting movement of said elongated element at said one end, the other end of said elongated element being freely movable, the freely movable end of said elongated element being in engagement with and operable on said means positioned in said latching mechanism and said finger operated means being in engagement with said elongated element and finger operable to vary the pressure of said elongated element on said means positioned in said latching mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
Closure controlling means in accordance with claim 1, wherein said casing is substantially closed and is provided with a slot therein in line with said keeper member and said keeper member being received in said slot when the closure member is in position closing the open end of said compartment, said finger operable means being disposed exteriorly of said casing and said means positioned in said latching mechanism being positioned within said casing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A closure controlling means in accordance with claim 2, wherein spaced apart members depend in said casing providing an unobstructed area there between and in alignment with the slot, and said means positioned in said latching mechanism is operably mounted in one of said spaced apart members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
Closure controlling means in accordance with claim 3, wherein one of said spaced apart members is provided with an aperture therein and said means positioned in said latching mechanism is operably positioned in said aperture, and said elongated element is in operable engagement with said means positioned in said latching mechanism at a point thereon remote from the unobstructed area and the other of said spaced apart means is imperforate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Closure controlling means in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated element and said means positioned in said latching mechanism are positioned within the casing laterally of said slot.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-23 | 1977-01-22 | 1977-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-23 | 1981-01-22 | 1981-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-01-22 | 1985-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |