The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 14, 1998
Filed:
Sep. 08, 1993
Armand F Amelio, New Milford, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Stratford, CT (US);
Abstract
A low profile latch mechanism for an access panel that minimizes external structural discontinuities while concomitantly providing external access to engage and/or disengage the latch mechanism for closing and/or opening of the access panel. The latch mechanism includes an insert member mounted in rotatable combination with the internal surface of the access panel, a captured floating nut mounted in nonrotatable combination with the internal surface of a frame segment, a safety lock member mounted for axial displacement within the captured floating nut, and a removable key member. The removable key member is insertable through an access aperture in the access panel to engage the insert member for rotation thereof to threadingly engage the captured floating nut to close the access panel. The safety lock member is biased to engage the insert member to lock the low profile latch mechanism in the fully engaged state upon removal of the key member. The removable key member is inserted through the access aperture to mechanically disengage the safety lock member from the insert member to initiate the disengagement procedure. Counter-rotation of the key member causes the insert member to threadingly disengage from the capture floating nut, which causes the access panel to be biased to a partially open position wherein the access panel may be fully opened manually.