Latch and System

Abstract

A latch includes a lock bar post connected to a plate. A first lock bar is pivotably connected to the plate. The first lock bar is selectively moveable between at least a locked position and an open position. The locked position is at least partially defined by engagement of the first lock bar with the lock bar post. A pivot connect bar is pivotably connected to the plate. A first pivot bar is moveably connected to the first lock bar and the pivot connect bar. Pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the first lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position.

1 . A latch, comprising:
 a plate;   a lock bar post connected to the plate;   a first lock bar pivotably connected to the plate, the first lock bar selectively movable between at least a locked position and an open position, the locked position at least partially defined by engagement of the first lock bar with the lock bar post;   a pivot connect bar pivotably connected to the plate; and   a first pivot bar movably connected to the first lock bar and the pivot connect bar, wherein pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the first lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position.   
     
     
         2 . The latch of  claim 1 , further comprising a spring mounted between the first lock bar and the plate such that the spring biases the first lock bar in the locked position. 
     
     
         3 . The latch of  claim 2 , wherein the first lock bar comprises a stop projection, wherein when the first lock bar is in the locked position, the stop projection engages the lock bar post. 
     
     
         4 . The latch of  claim 3 , wherein the lock bar further comprises a curved locking surface extending away from the stop projection. 
     
     
         5 . The latch of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second lock bar pivotably connected to the plate, the second lock bar selectively movable between at least a locked position and an unlocked position, the locked position at least partially defined by engagement of the second lock bar with the lock bar post; and   a second pivot bar movably connected to the second lock bar and the pivot connect bar, wherein pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the second lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position.   
     
     
         6 . The latch of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a first spring mounted to the first lock bar, wherein the first spring biases the first lock bar into the locked position; and   a second spring mounted to the second lock bar, wherein the second spring biases the second lock bar into the locked position.   
     
     
         7 . The latch of  claim 6 , wherein the plate is a bottom plate and further comprising:
 a cover plate secured opposite the bottom plate, wherein the first and second lock bars, first and second springs, the first and second pivot bars, and the pivot connect bar are all secured at least partially between the bottom plate and the cover plate.   
     
     
         8 . The latch of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first pin extending between the bottom plate and the cover plate, the first lock bar pivotable about the first pin;   a second pin extending between the bottom plate and the cover plate, the second lock bar pivotable about the second pin;   a third pin extending between the bottom plate and the cover plate, the pivot connect bar pivotable about the third pin.   
     
     
         9 . The latch of  claim 8 , wherein the first pin and the second pin each comprise at least a first portion with a first diameter and a second portion with a second diameter and the first and second lock bars pivot about the respective first portions and the first and second springs secured about the respective second portions. 
     
     
         10 . The latch of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the first lock bar and a portion of the second lock bar extend out from between the bottom plate and the cover plate, when the first and second lock bars are respectively in the lock position. 
     
     
         11 . The latch of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the pivot connect bar extends out from between the bottom plate and the cover plate, the pivot connect bar movable between a first position of the pivot connect bar in which the first lock bar is moved into the lock position and the second lock bar is moved into the open position, a second position of the pivot connect bar in which the first lock bar is moved into the open position and the second lock bar is moved into the lock position, and a third position of the pivot connect bar in which the first and second lock bars are moved into the lock position. 
     
     
         12 . A movable platform comprising:
 first frame comprising at least two opposed rails, the first frame comprising at least two projections extending from the first frame;   a second frame comprising at least two opposed rails wherein the second frame is movable relative to the first frame;   a first latch secured to the second frame, the first latch comprising:
 a plate; 
 a lock bar post connected to the plate; 
 a first lock bar pivotably connected to the plate, the first lock bar selectively movable between at least a locked position and an open position, the locked position at least partially defined by engagement of the first lock bar with the lock bar post; 
 a pivot connect bar pivotably connected to the plate; and 
 a first pivot bar movably connected to the first lock bar and the pivot connect bar, wherein pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the first lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position; and 
   a handle operatively connected to the second frame and the pivot connect bar;   wherein the pivot connect bar is selectively operated with the handle to move the first lock bar between the locked position and the open position to selectively engage the first projection and the second projection to releasably secure the second frame to the first frame in at least a first relative position and a second relative position.   
     
     
         13 . The movable platform of  claim 12 , wherein the first latch further comprises:
 a second lock bar pivotably connected to the plate, the second lock bar selectively movable between at least a locked position and open position, the locked position at least partially defined by engagement of the second lock bar with the lock bar post; and   a second pivot bar movably connected to the second lock bar and the pivot connect bar, wherein pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the second lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position.   
     
     
         14 . The movable platform of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a second latch secured to the second frame, and the second latch selectively engages at least one of the at least two projections extending from the first frame , the second latch comprising:
 a plate; 
 a lock bar post connected to the plate; 
 a first lock bar pivotably connected to the plate, the first lock bar selectively movable between at least a locked position and an open position, the locked position at least partially defined by engagement of the first lock bar with the lock bar post; 
 a pivot connect bar pivotably connected to the plate; and 
 a first pivot bar movably connected to the first lock bar and the pivot connect bar, wherein pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the first lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
   
     
     
         15 . The movable platform of  claim 14 , wherein the second latch further comprises:
 a second lock bar pivotably connected to the plate, the second lock bar selectively movable between at least a locked position and open position, the locked position at least partially defined by engagement of the second lock bar with the lock bar post; and   a second pivot bar movably connected to the second lock bar and the pivot connect bar, wherein pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the second lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position;   wherein the handle is further connected to the pivot connect bar of the second latch such that first latch and the second latch are simultaneously selectively operated with the handle to selectively engage and disengage the first projection and the second projection with the first latch and the second latch.   
     
     
         16 . The movable platform of  claim 13 , wherein the second frame is movable in a first direction until the latch selectively engages a first projection from the at least two projections extending from the first frame with the first lock bar and the second lock bar and upon engagement, the second lock bar in the locked position prevents further movement of the second frame in the first direction and the first lock bar in the locked position prevents further movement of the second frame in a second direction, the second direction opposite the first direction. 
     
     
         17 . A dual direction latch, comprising:
 a base plate;   a cover plate spaced apart from the base plate;   a lock bar post connected between the base plate and the cover plate;   a first lock bar pivotably connected between the base plate and the cover plate, the first lock bar selectively movable between at least a locked position and an open position, the locked position at least partially defined by engagement of the first lock bar with the lock bar post, wherein in the locked position at least a portion of the first lock bar extends out from between the base plate and the cover plate;   a second lock bar pivotably connected between the base plate and the cover plate, the second lock bar selectively movable between at least a locked position and an open position, the locked position at least partially defined by engagement of the second lock bar with the lock bar post, wherein in the locked position at least a portion of the second lock bar extends out from between the base plate and the cover plate;   a first spring mounted to the first lock bar, wherein the first spring biases the first lock bar into the locked position;   a second spring mounted to the second lock bar, wherein the second spring biases the second lock bar into the locked position;   a pivot connect bar pivotably connected between the base plate and the cover plate, at least a portion of the pivot connect bar extends out from between the base plate and the cover plate;   a first pivot bar movably connected to the first lock bar and the pivot connect bar, wherein pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the first lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position; and   a second pivot bar movably connected to the second lock bar and the pivot connect bar, wherein pivoting movement of the pivot connect bar moves the second lock bar between the locked position and the unlocked position.   
     
     
         18 . The dual direction latch of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first channel located in the first lock bar;   a second channel located in the second lock bar;   a first pivot pin movable within the first channel and connected to the pivot connect bar, the first pivot pin movably connects the first lock bar to the pivot connect bar; and   a second pivot pin movable within the second channel and connected to the pivot connect bar, the second pivot pin movably connects the second lock bar to the pivot connect bar.   
     
     
         19 . The dual direction latch of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 wherein the pivot connect bar is movable to a first position in which the first lock bar is moved into the open position in which the first lock bar is retracted between the base plate and the cover plate and the second lock bar is secured in the locked position; and   wherein the pivot connect bar is movable to a second position in which the first lock bar is secured in the locked position and the second lock bar is moved into the open position in which the second lock bar is retracted between the base plate and the cover plate.   
     
     
         20 . The dual direction latch of  claim 19 , wherein the pivot connect bar is movable to a third position in which the first lock bar is in the locked position by a first bias force of the first spring and the second lock bar is in the locked position by a second bias force of the second spring, wherein the first lock bar is moveable to the open position if the first bias force is overcome and the second lock bar is movable to the open position if the second bias force is overcome.