Charles D Sherman

US Patent:

53019881, Apr 12, 1994

Filed:

Apr 28, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/054801

Inventors:

Douglas M. Davenport - Holmdel NJ
Charles J. Sherman - Westminster CO

Assignee:

AT&T Bell Laboratories - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

E05C 304

US Classification:

292067

Abstract:

A pawl latch that provides an integral gripping feature to facilitate opening panels and a visual indication of latch closure. The front portion of the latch has two pieces. In the open position, the two pieces are positioned with respect to each other so that the top piece reveals a colored face of the bottom piece. The colored face of the bottom piece can be observed at great distances from the latch. In the closed position, the top piece totally covers the bottom piece so that no color is visible on the latch. Further, in the open position, the front piece is at right angles to the bottom piece, and the front piece is positioned away from the panel so that it can be easily grasped with two fingers to allow the opening of an attached panel. Also, the latch is designed to be attached to a surface of the panel that is not horizontal to a frame to which the panel is to be secured to by the latch.