EP-4736702-A1 - ANGLE LIMITING ROTATING LATCH

EP4736702A1EP 4736702 A1EP4736702 A1EP 4736702A1EP-4736702-A1

Abstract

A rotatable latch system is disclosed that provides controlled angular motion and mechanical retention in multiple planes. The system includes a base structure having a base neck, a base locking cap, and an angle limiting notch, and a latch defining a neck opening, a locking cap opening, and an angle limiting slot. The latch is rotatably coupled to the base structure such that the base neck and locking cap are received and retained within the latch openings, while the angle limiting slot and notch cooperate to define a limited range of rotation. The system resists both in-plane and out-of-plane disassembly forces and may include snap-fit joints, adjustable angular limits, or asymmetrical rotation ranges. The latch may include a strap slot or alternative coupling features, enabling integration with various mechanical, consumer, or industrial assemblies.

Inventors

MILLWARD, ERIC W.
KOLASA, SCOTT D.
PONTAOE, JOHN S.

Assignees

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20251030

Claims (15)

A rotatable latch system comprising: a base structure including a base neck, a base locking cap, and an angle-limiting tab; a latch including a latch body and a locking body, the locking body defining an opening comprising a neck opening dimensioned to receive the base neck and a locking cap opening dimensioned to receive the base locking cap; wherein the latch is rotatably coupled to the base structure; and wherein the latch further defines an angle-limiting slot configured to receive the angle-limiting tab configured to restrict rotation of the latch relative to the base structure within a predetermined angular range.
The rotatable latch system of claim 1, wherein the latch is rotatable about a central axis between a first extreme position at approximately -α° relative to a reference line and a second extreme position at approximately +α° relative to the reference line.
The rotatable latch system of claim 2, wherein a is between about 20° and about 60°, or wherein α is between about 35° and about 45°.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the angle-limiting slot defines an arc length that determines a total rotational range of the latch, and optionally wherein increasing the arc length of the angle-limiting slot increases the angular range of rotation, and decreasing the arc length of the angle-limiting slot reduces the angular range of rotation.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the angle-limiting slot defines an asymmetrical arc configured to permit greater rotation of the latch in one direction relative to the other.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a locking taper positioned between the neck opening and the locking cap opening, the locking taper configured to elastically deform the latch during assembly to allow the base neck to snap into the neck opening.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the base structure further comprises a plurality of snap-fit features.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the latch body defines a strap slot configured to receive a strap, and/or wherein the base neck, base locking cap, and angle-limiting tab are integrally formed as part of the base structure.
A rotatable latch system comprising: a base structure including a base neck and a base locking cap; a latch including a latch body, a locking body, and an angle-limiting tab, the locking body defining an opening comprising a neck opening dimensioned to receive the base neck and a locking cap opening dimensioned to receive the base locking cap; wherein the latch is rotatably coupled to the base structure; and wherein the base structure further defines an angle-limiting slot configured to receive the angle-limiting tab configured to restrict rotation of the latch relative to the base structure within a predetermined angular range.
The rotatable latch system of claim 9, wherein the latch is rotatable about a central axis between a first extreme position at approximately -α° relative to a reference line and a second extreme position at approximately +α° relative to the reference line.
The rotatable latch system of claim 10, wherein α is between about 20° and about 60°, or wherein α is between about 35° and about 45°.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the angle-limiting slot defines an arc length that determines a total rotational range of the latch.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 9 to 12, further comprising a locking taper positioned between the neck opening and the locking cap opening, the locking taper configured to elastically deform the latch during assembly to allow the base neck to snap into the neck opening.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the base structure further comprises a plurality of snap-fit features.
The rotatable latch system of any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the latch body defines a strap slot configured to receive a strap, and/or wherein the base neck and base locking cap are integrally formed as part of the base structure.

Description

RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 63/714,986, filed November 1, 2024, and entitled "Angle Limiting Rotating Latch," which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND In a wide range of industries, including outdoor equipment, tactical gear, protective clothing, luggage, and personal load-bearing systems, it is often necessary to securely attach hardware components such as straps, webbing, buckles, clips, or adjustment mechanisms to flexible fabric panels. These panels may form part of a backpack, vest, pouch, harness, or similar product, and are typically composed of textile materials such as woven, non-woven, or laminated fabrics. In some cases, it is desirable to attach a latch mechanism. Conventional latch systems often fail to combine rotational limitations with multi-directional force resistance. Systems that allow rotation frequently lack positive retention features to prevent inadvertent disassembly when subjected to axial or lateral forces. Accordingly, there is a need for a rotatable latch system that can be easily assembled, securely retained, and constrained to rotate within a predetermined range of motion, while maintaining resistance to both in-plane and out-of-plane dislodging forces. Conventional latch mechanisms frequently fail to combine rotational limitations with multi-directional force resistance. Systems that do provide rotation often lack positive retention features that prevent inadvertent disassembly when subject to axial or lateral forces. Accordingly, there is a need for a rotatable latch system that can be easily assembled, securely retained, and constrained to rotate within a predetermined range of motion, while maintaining resistance to both in-plane and out-of-plane dislodging forces. SUMMARY The present disclosure generally relates to a two-part multidirectional surface mount. substantially as illustrated by and described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the claims. DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the devices, systems, and methods described herein will be apparent from the following description of particular examples thereof, as illustrated in the accompanying figures, where like or similar reference numbers refer to like or similar structures. The figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the devices, systems, and methods described herein. Figure 1a illustrates an isometric assembly view of the rotatable latch system having a component and a latch assembly composed of a latch, a base structure, and a back plate.Figure 1b illustrates an isometric assembled view of the rotatable latch system with the component omitted for illustrative purposes.Figure 1c illustrates a first side assembled view of the rotatable latch system, the opposed side being substantially the same.Figure 1d illustrates a second side assembled view of the rotatable latch system, the opposed side being substantially the same.Figure 1e illustrates an assembled top plan view of the latch assembly.Figure 1f illustrates an assembled bottom plan view of the latch assembly.Figure 1g illustrates a side elevation view of the assembled latch assembly.Figure 1h illustrates a side elevation view of the assembled latch assembly.Figure 1i illustrates an isometric cross-sectional assembly view of the latch assembly taken along cutline A-A (Figure 1c).Figure 1j illustrates an isometric cross-sectional assembly view of the latch assembly taken along cutline B-B (Figure 1c).Figure 1k illustrates a top plan cross-sectional assembly view of the latch assembly taken along cutline B-B (Figure 1c).Figure 1l illustrates a top plan cross-sectional assembly view of the latch assembly taken along cutline A-A (Figure 1c).Figure 1m illustrates an isometric cross-sectional assembly view of the latch assembly taken along cutline C-C (Figure 1e).Figure 1n illustrates a side elevation cross-sectional assemblyview of the latch assembly taken along cutline C-C (Figure 1e).Figure 2a illustrates a top plan cross-sectional assembly view of the rotatable latch system taken along cutline B-B (Figure 1c).Figure 2b illustrates a top plan cross-sectional assembled view of the rotatable latch system taken along cutline B-B (Figure 1c).Figures 3a through 3c illustrates top plan cross-sectional assembled views of the rotatable latch system taken along cutline B-B (Figure 1c) in first, second, and third axial positions. DETAILED DESCRIPTION References to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Recitatio