BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to a latch assembly and more particularly to console latches where a button is depressed to release the latch.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Console latches are generally used to secure the cover of a compartment such as, for example, a console in a vehicle. Often, a console consists of a container which is swingably hinged between passenger seats to swing out of the way when the vehicle operator or passenger desires. Often, the consoles can store objects therein such as loose change, sunglasses, maps, pens, paper and other articles which the driver and/or passengers may find it necessary to use. In addition, some consoles also include cup holders which may be integrally molded therein or can comprise a fold-out member which can be unfolded to form a cup holding device.

It is generally desirable to maintain the console cover in a closed position to secure contents therein when the vehicle is being operated. In some instances, it is also desirable to lift the console from a horizontal position to a vertical position and have the console lid and container body move together so that the contents remain secured inside.

It is known to provide a depressible, latching device which can secure a console lid to the

console body and be opened as the vehicle operator or passenger desires by depression of a latch button.

There are, however, consoles which employ more complex configurations than simply a cover and console body. The console, its cover and body themselves, may also operate as a unit to cover yet another compartment body which can store additional articles. In such an arrangement, often the second compartment is merely covered by the adjacent positioning of the console cover and first console compartment which swings into and out of positioning to cover the contents of the second compartment. However, it will be desirable to lock both the console cover to the first console compartment, as well as the first console compartment to a second compartment so that unauthorized access can be prevented. This can be done with a first latch which will secure the first cover to the first console compartment and a second latch which can secure the first console compartment to a second compartment.

A need exists for an improved latch which can selectively regulate the opening and closing of a first console compartment as well as a second console compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A console latch is provided for securing a multi-tiered compartment bin by securing a closure panel to a first compartment and securing the first compartment to a second compartment. The latch permits the release and securing of one or more of the multi-tiered compartment bins. For example, the first compartment bin may be opened with the latch and the second bin remain closed, or alternately, both compartment bins

may be opened, or the second compartment bin only may be opened, or both bins may be closed.

The latch also includes locking means for locking the actuation member against depression to maintain the latch in a closed and locked position. The latch includes a housing which carries an actuating element which includes a living spring, a first button, a second button, a pawl member and a keeper member. The actuation member is configured for receipt within the housing. The pawl of the actuation member extends through a slot in the housing, and the first button and second button of the actuation member are seated in cutout portions of the housing front surface to be accessible to a user. The actuation member living spring is actuated by the depression of the first button, the second button, or both buttons to release a respective engaging element, such as an associated pawl member or keeper connected thereto.

A locking member is carried on the housing, and can be a lock cylinder, which regulates a locking cam which is disposed in the housing for movement between a first position, which permits depression of a button and actuation of the latch and a second position, which interferes with the actuation member to prevent depression of the button.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch which is useable for securing dual compartments of a console in a vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a latch which includes a living spring actuation member which can release a pawl from engagement with a keeper, release a keeper from engagement with a pawl, or do one or the other, or both.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a latch having a locking mechanism which can selectively lock an actuation member of the latch against actuation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a console latch which can be positioned between a dual compartment console for regulating access to one or more compartment bins of a multi-tiered bin console.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a latch which has a pawl member for selective engagement of a keeper member provided to secure a closure panel to the pawl.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a keeper which can receive a pawl member disposed on a closure panel or compartment surface to secure the surface to a compartment for which the latch is mounted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of a latch according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation view of the latch of Fig. 1, with the latch being inverted 180° from its Fig. 1 position.

Fig. 3 is a parallel perspective view of the top of the latch of Fig. 1, as viewed looking into the back of the latch.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the latch of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a left side parallel perspective view of the latch of Fig. 1, as viewed from the back looking into the latch.

Fig. 6 is a parallel perspective view of the actuation member of the latch of Fig. 1 according to the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation view of the actuation member shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the actuation member shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the actuation member shown in Figs. 6,7, and 8.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation view of the actuation member shown in Figs. 6-9.

Fig. 11 is a right side elevation view of the actuation member shown in Figs. 6-10.

Fig. 12 is a parallel perspective view of the locking cam of the latch according to the present invention.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the locking cam shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of the locking cam shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Fig. 15 is a side elevation view of the locking cam shown in Figs. 12-14.

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the latch of Fig. 1 taken along the line 16--16 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 17 is a parallel perspective view of an alternate embodiment of an actuation member of the latch according to the present invention.

Fig. 18 is a bottom plan view of the actuation member of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the actuation member shown in Figs. 17 and 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Fig. 1, a latch assembly 10 according to the present invention is shown having a housing 11 with a body portion 12 and a pair of apertures or cutouts 13, 14 disposed on the top surface 15 of the housing 11.

As shown in Fig. 2, an actuation member 20 is disposed within the housing body 12. The actuation member 20 has a pair of side flanges 21,22 which are received in grooves, respectively, 23,24 disposed on the housing body 12. The actuation member 20 has a pawl member 25 extending outwardly therefrom and through a slot 27 disposed in the top wall 28 of the housing 11 (Fig. 3). Mounting means is also provided for attachment of the latch 10 to a mounting surface, such as a console compartment (not shown) or a console closure cover (also not shown). The mounting means is shown in Fig. 3, comprising a pair of bores 30,31 which preferably can be threaded to receive a matingly threaded screw or bolt therein. It is also possible, within the spirit and scope of the invention, to provide other suitable mounting means for mounting the latch 10 onto a mounting surface, such as, for example, rivets, bolts, barbs, locking cams and the like.

The actuation member 20 is shown best in Fig. 6, having a first actuation button 34 and a second actuation button 35. Connecting means is provided to connect the first actuation button 34 and second actuation button 35 with the spring elements 36,37, which preferably comprise living spring members, to permit depression of the first button 34 and the second button 35 to actuate the pawl 25 and the keeper 38, respectively, when the actuation member 20 is installed in the housing body 12, as shown in Fig. 1.

The first spring element 36 includes a central member 40 with a first arm 41 and a second arm 42 connected thereto and extending toward a first button 34 and second button 35, respectively. The first arm 41 and second arm 42 include supporting posts 43, 44 disposed respectively at an end thereof. The supporting posts 43,44 are provided to engage, respectively, the first button 34 and the second button 35. The first arm 41 is shown having a connecting arm portion 45 which joins with a leg member 46 which has a

free end 47 and an attached end 48, the attached end 48 of the leg member 46 being connected to the first button 34. The pawl member 25 preferably is connected to the button 34. Similarly, the second arm 42 includes a connecting arm portion 50 which attaches to a leg member 51 which has a free end 52, which is chamfered, and a connected end 53, which is attached to the second button 35. The second spring element 37 is provided of a similar configuration and construction to that spring element 36, but instead, carries a keeper 38 in place of the pawl 25.

A bracing member 55 is provided to attach the first and second side flanges 21,22 and the spring elements 36,37 to maintain the actuation member 20 as a unit for installation in the housing 11.

Further details of the actuation member 20 are shown in the views of Figs. 7 through 11.

Referring to Figs. 12-15, the locking cam 70 is shown having an upper surface 73 with a lock pin slot 71 and an aperture 72 disposed therein. A first rib 74 and a second rib 75 are disposed along the bottom surface 77 of the locking cam 70 on opposite sides of the lock pin slot 71. A recessed edge is provided in the front of the locking cam 70 comprising a first recessed edge portion 78 and a second recessed edge portion 79. The locking cam 70 further has a tail 80 at the end opposite that where recessed surface portions 78,79 are disposed.

The latch 10 is actuated by depressing the buttons 34,35 to release the pawl 25 and to release the keeper 38 from a corresponding an engaging member (not shown).

Referring again to Fig. 1, the first button 34 actuates the pawl 25 and the second button 35 actuates the keeper 38. The actuation of the first button 34, for example, depresses the

legs 47,87 (Fig. 6) inwardly toward the central members 40,90, respectively, thereby causing the innermost portion of the first button 34 to be depressed while the outer portion of the first button 34 is lifted off of the supporting posts 43,93 (Fig. 6) to thereby move the pawl 25 out of position with a keeper member or surface. This permits unlatching of a compartment bin or closure cover. Similarly, the second button 35 is depressed in the same manner with its outer portion raising off of the supporting posts 44, 94 (Fig. 6), and with the leg members 51,101 being depressed inwardly toward the central members 40,90, respectively. The keeper 38 is moved with the second button 35 to release a pawl (not shown) from engagement therewith to open the second compartment or bin.

As shown in Fig. 16, the locking cam 70 is in an open position thereby permitting the chamfered end portion 52,152 of the legs 51,100, respectively (Fig. 6), to be depressed with the second button 35, the end portion 52 and leg 51 being hidden from view. A lock cylinder 110 is provided and is disposed in the housing 11. The lock cylinder 110, for example, may be any of those commercially available locks which can be turned with a key to move a lock plug pin 111 (Fig. 2) to regulate the movement of the locking cam 70 between a cleared position (as shown in Fig. 16) which permits depression of the second button 35 and spring leg members 51,100 to release the keeper 38, and an interfering position, shown by the dashed line 70'representation where the tail 80 of the locking cam 70 is positioned in a parallel relation with the spring leg member 100 of the second spring element 37, as well as with the spring leg member 51 of the first spring element 36 (not shown), to prevent movement of the leg members 51,100 and to therefore maintain the position of the keeper 38 in a locked state.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 15, the locking cam 70 is shown having transverse ribs or stops 74,75 disposed thereacross. The ribs 74,75 regulate the movement of the locking cam 70 within the housing 11 between a range of positions, as shown in Fig. 16.

Preferably, the housing 11 has a guide element which limits the movement of the locking cam 70 to a predetermined range by interfering with one or more of the ribs 74, 75 to stop the locking cam 70 from further translational movement by the lock pin 111.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be understood from a reading of the Summary of the Invention, the Brief Description of the Drawing Figures and the Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments. Other modifications, within the spirit and scope of the invention, can be made herein consistent with the invention.

For example, the latch 10 can be configured to have the first button 34 lock, as well, to prevent release of the pawl 25. A secondary locking cam can be provided to interfere with the spring leg members 47,87 of the first spring element 36 to prevent depression of the first button 34. It is also conceivable that a single locking cam which extends outwardly in both directions can be provided and selectively lock both the first and second buttons 34,35 from release.