Southco, Inc.

A latch system for remotely monitoring an engaged or disengaged status of a latch cam includes an enclosure having a panel mounted for movement relative to a frame, a latch mounted to the panel or to the frame, and a latch cam sensor mounted to the other one of the panel or the frame. The latch cam sensor detects the engaged status when the latch cam is in an engaged position and the panel is in a closed position and the disengaged status when the latch cam is in a disengaged position and the panel is in an opened position. When the latch cam is in the engaged position, the latch cam is spaced laterally from a facing surface of the latch cam sensor, such that a space or gap is maintained between the facing surface of the latch cam sensor and the latch cam.

A latch system for capturing a striker, the latch system comprising an actuator, a position sensor, or a combination thereof is disclosed. The latch system includes a latch having a latch cam and a trigger; an actuator having a connector and a motor; and a sensor assembly having a sensing arm and a sensor. The latch cam of the latch is configured to capture the striker when in a closed position. The latch cam is retained in the closed position when the trigger of the latch is in the locked position. The trigger of the latch is moved from an unlocked position toward the locked position by the connector of the actuator when it is moved by the motor from the unlocking position toward the locking position. The sensing arm contacts the striker when the striker is captured by the latch system. The sensor is deactivated when the sensing arm is in one of the latched position or the unlatched position and activated when the sensing arm is in the other one of the latched position or the unlatched position.

A wireless latch assembly comprises a latch for latching a secure space; a display configured to display information; a sensor port for coupling a sensor to the assembly and for receiving a signal corresponding to a condition associated with the secure space; a wireless transceiver for performing wireless communication with one or more wireless components external to the assembly; a processor coupled to the display and to the wireless transceiver for displaying information relating to operation of the assembly and the condition associated with the secure space, receiving a plurality of credentials relating to access to the secure space, detecting a user credential for access to the secure space, comparing the user credential to the plurality of credentials to determine when the user credential is valid, and enable operation of the latch to permit access to the secure space.

A latch assembly includes a frame and a pawl including a surface for receiving a striker and being movably coupled to the frame between an open and a closed position. A trigger is mounted to the frame and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, in the locked position of the trigger, the trigger is positioned to retain the pawl in the closed position. A striker bar is movably coupled to the trigger and is positioned to be contacted by the striker, wherein the striker bar is configured to move in the course of moving the striker into the pawl. A device for sensing a position of the striker bar, wherein the position of the striker bar is indicative of the position of the striker and the position of the trigger.

A latch assembly includes a frame and a pawl including a surface for receiving a striker and being movably coupled to the frame between an open and a closed position. A trigger is mounted to the frame and is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein, in the locked position of the trigger, the trigger is positioned to retain the pawl in the closed position. A striker bar is movably coupled to the trigger and is positioned to be contacted by the striker, wherein the striker bar is configured to move in the course of moving the striker into the pawl. A device for sensing a position of the striker bar, wherein the position of the striker bar is indicative of the position of the striker and the position of the trigger.

A latch system for capturing a striker, the latch system comprising an actuator, a position sensor, or a combination thereof is disclosed. The latch system includes a latch having a latch cam and a trigger; an actuator having a connector and a motor; and a sensor assembly having a sensing arm and a sensor. The latch cam of the latch is configured to capture the striker when in a closed position. The latch cam is retained in the closed position when the trigger of the latch is in the locked position. The trigger of the latch is moved from an unlocked position toward the locked position by the connector of the actuator when it is moved by the motor from the unlocking position toward the locking position. The sensing arm contacts the striker when the striker is captured by the latch system. The sensor is deactivated when the sensing arm is in one of the latched position or the unlatched position and activated when the sensing arm is in the other one of the latched position or the unlatched position.

According to one aspect of the invention, a universal latch and sensor system is provided for use with an enclosure having a panel and a frame and for latching the panel relative to the frame. The system includes a latch having a body configured to be mounted to the panel or to the frame of the enclosure. The latch also has a pawl movable relative to the body throughout a range of motion including an engaging position and a disengaging position. The system also includes a sensor having a body configured to be mounted to the other of the panel or the frame of the enclosure, the sensor also having a sensing range throughout which it is capable of sensing the pawl of the latch. The sensor and the latch are configured to be mounted in any of a plurality of orientations in which the range of motion of the pawl of the latch at least partially overlaps with the sensing range of the sensor while maintaining a gap between the body of the sensor and the pawl of the latch when the pawl is in the engaging position. The sensor is configured to sense the presence or absence of the pawl of the latch when the sensor and the latch are mounted in any of the orientations and when the pawl of the latch is moved in the range of motion of the pawl to any location within the sensing range of the sensor.

A latch is configured to fix a panel relative to a frame. The latch includes a housing having a longitudinal axis and defining an aperture along the longitudinal axis; a cap mounted within the aperture of the housing for rotation about the longitudinal axis, the cap comprising a drive surface; and a cover coupled to the housing to pivot about a lateral axis, the cover pivotable to be in a closed position in which the cover covers the cap; wherein when the cap is in an unlatched position, the drive surface of the cap is aligned with an engagement surface of the cover and positioned to block the cover from pivoting to the closed position; and wherein when the cap is in a latched position, the drive surface is unaligned with the engagement surface and positioned to permit the cover to pivot to the closed position.

A latch or connector system having a latch housing, a first latching component, a second latching component, and a handle. The first and second latching components are movably mounted to the latch housing, and movable respective latched and unlatched positions. The handle is movably mounted to the latch housing and operatively associated with the first latching component and the second latching component. The handle is movable from a closed handle position to an open handle position to cause the first latching component and the second latching component to move from their respective latched positions to their respective unlatched positions, and the handle is movable from the open handle position to the closed handle position only when the first latching component and the second latching component are in their respective latched positions.

A latch mechanism is provided having a housing, a cap, and at least one indicator. The housing may include a first top surface. The cap may include a second top surface and may be mounted for selective rotational movement relative to the housing between a latched position and an unlatched position. The at least one indicator may be interposed between the cap and the housing and mounted for axial movement relative to the cap. As the cap is rotated from the latched position to the unlatched position, at least a portion of the indicator is axially displaced to an extended position above at least one of the first and second top surfaces.