Magnetic latch mechanism

摘要

A latch with dual rotary magnets is particularly suited for releasably securing dual doors of a compartment in the closed position. Each rotary magnet holds in a closed position a magnetic insert attached to a respective door by magnetic attraction to secure both doors in the closed position relative to the compartment. Mechanical hook-like rotary pawls supplement the action of the magnets. In addition, the latch is provided with a safety feature that prevents the latch from opening in the event that the vehicle in which the latch is installed is involved in a collision.

主权项

1. A magnetic latch mechanism for securing a first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the first member being movable between the closed position and an open position relative to the second member, the magnetic latch mechanism comprising:
a magnetic insert capable of attachment to the first member; a housing adapted for attachment to the second member; at least one magnet rotationally supported by said housing, said at least one magnet being rotationally movable between latched and unlatched positions, said at least one magnet being positioned when in said latched position such that with the first member in the closed position relative to the second member said at least one magnet holds the first member with said magnetic insert attached thereto in the closed position through magnetic attraction between said at least one magnet and said magnetic insert, and said at least one magnet being positioned when in said unlatched position such that with the first member in the closed position relative to the second member said at least one magnet repels said magnetic insert that is attached to the first member so as to cause the first member to move from the closed position toward an open position relative to the second member; and an actuation mechanism capable of selectively moving said at least one magnet from said latched position to said unlatched position responsive to an input from a user, said actuation mechanism comprising: gear teeth supported for rotation with said at least one magnet; a rack bar supported for rectilinear movement by said housing, said rack bar having a plurality of gear teeth that are capable of engaging said gear teeth that rotate with said magnet such that said magnet rotates between said latched and unlatched positions as said rack bar moves rectilinearly between its latched and unlatched positions, respectively, relative to said housing; a ball bearing carried by said rack bar; and a sliding bar supported for rectilinear movement relative to said rack bar between a locked and an unlocked position relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing being capable of movement relative to said rack bar in response to movement of said sliding bar relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing moving into engagement with said housing in order to prevent movement of said rack bar from said latched position to said unlatched position when said rack bar is in said latched position relative to said housing and said sliding bar is in said locked position relative to said rack bar, said ball bearing being capable of disengagement from said housing when said sliding bar is in said unlocked position relative to said rack bar, said rack bar moving from its latched position to its unlatched position relative to said housing in response to further rectilinear movement of said sliding bar relative to said housing.