Convertible access panel latch assembly

{
  "publication_number": "US11542723B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Convertible access panel latch assembly",
  "abstract": "A latch assembly for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) enclosure includes a latch having a securement portion configured to couple to an access panel of the enclosure and having a rotational portion. The rotational portion has an engagement feature configured to engage with a tool face or a tool receptacle and the rotational portion has a first retainer adjacent to the engagement feature. The rotational portion is configured to rotate relative to the securement portion such that a locking portion of the rotational portion transitions between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The latch assembly includes a handle accessory having a handle engagement driver configured to engage with the engagement feature of the rotational portion along a first linking axis and having a second retainer configured to couple with the first retainer of the rotational portion along a second linking axis, transverse to the first linking axis.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A latch assembly for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) enclosure, comprising: a latch having a securement portion configured to couple to an access panel of the enclosure and having a rotational portion, wherein the rotational portion has an engagement feature configured to engage with a tool face or a tool receptacle and has a first retainer adjacent to the engagement feature, wherein the rotational portion is configured to rotate relative to the securement portion such that a locking portion of the rotational portion transitions between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and a handle accessory having a handle engagement driver configured to engage with the engagement feature of the rotational portion along a first linking axis and having a second retainer configured to be compressed along a second linking axis, transverse to the first linking axis, relative to the handle engagement driver to couple with the first retainer.",
    "2. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the tool face is a non-standard tool face or the tool receptacle is a non-standard tool receptacle.",
    "3. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement feature extends from a body of the rotational portion and has the tool face, and wherein the handle engagement driver has a recess defined within the handle accessory and having the tool receptacle.",
    "4. The latch assembly of claim 3, wherein the tool face is a hexagonal drive, and wherein the tool receptacle is a hexagonal socket.",
    "5. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the engagement feature has a recess defined within the rotational portion and having the tool receptacle, and wherein the handle engagement driver of the handle accessory has an extension protruding therefrom and having the tool face.",
    "6. The latch assembly of claim 5, wherein the first retainer is a groove defined within a surface of the recess, wherein the second retainer is a lateral protrusion from the extension of the handle accessory, and wherein the lateral protrusion is configured to engage with the groove.",
    "7. The latch assembly of claim 6, wherein the groove is formed around a full perimeter of the recess in the rotational portion.",
    "8. The latch assembly of claim 6, wherein the latch has an access channel formed between an exterior surface of the rotational portion and the surface of the recess, wherein the access channel is adjacent to the groove, and wherein the access channel is configured to receive a disengagement device to enable disengagement of the lateral protrusion from the groove.",
    "9. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotational portion has a third retainer, wherein the handle accessory has a fourth retainer configured to engage with the third retainer, and wherein the second retainer of the handle accessory is disposed on an opposite side of the handle engagement driver from the fourth retainer.",
    "10. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the locking portion has a cam, and wherein the latch is configured to rotate the cam between the closed configuration that blocks actuation of the access panel and the open configuration that enables actuation of the access panel.",
    "11. The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the tool face is a standard tool face having a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, a hexagonal shape, a double-bit shape, or a star shape.",
    "12. A latch assembly for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) enclosure, comprising: a latch having a securement portion configured to couple to an access panel of the enclosure and a rotational portion having an engagement receptacle and a retainer groove defined in a surface of the engagement receptacle, wherein the rotational portion is configured to rotate relative to the securement portion such that a locking portion of the rotational portion transitions between a closed configuration and an open configuration; and a handle accessory having a handle portion with an engagement extension protruding therefrom, wherein the engagement extension has a retainer extension protruding therefrom, wherein the engagement extension is configured to engage with the engagement receptacle along a first linking axis, and wherein the retainer extension is configured to move relative to the engagement extension along a second linking axis, transverse to the first linking axis, to couple with the retainer groove.",
    "13. The latch assembly of claim 12, wherein the engagement extension has a circular cross-section, wherein the retainer extension is formed around a partial circumference of the engagement extension, and wherein the retainer extension has an end face configured to apply torque to an end face of the retainer groove to enable rotation of the rotational portion.",
    "14. The latch assembly of claim 12, wherein the engagement extension has a non-standard tool face.",
    "15. The latch assembly of claim 12, wherein the retainer extension is formed around a full perimeter of the engagement extension.",
    "16. The latch assembly of claim 12, wherein the engagement receptacle of the rotational portion has chamfered edges to facilitate insertion of the engagement extension.",
    "17. The latch assembly of claim 12, wherein the handle accessory comprises: a circumferential sealing shoulder formed between the handle portion and the engagement extension; and a sealing gasket disposed between the circumferential sealing shoulder and the engagement extension, wherein the sealing gasket is configured to be compressed between the circumferential sealing shoulder and the rotational portion.",
    "18. A latch assembly for a heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) enclosure, comprising: a latch having a securement portion configured to couple to an access panel of the enclosure and having a rotational portion configured to rotate relative to the securement portion such that a locking portion of the rotational portion transitions between a closed configuration and an open configuration, wherein the rotational portion comprises: a latch engagement recess configured to interchangeably receive a tool engagement protrusion of a tool and a handle engagement protrusion of a handle accessory; and a retainer groove defined within the latch engagement recess and configured to receive a retainer extension of the handle engagement protrusion of the handle accessory via a snap fit to enable removable coupling of the handle accessory to the latch, wherein the rotational portion is configured to actuate the locking portion of the latch assembly upon rotation of the handle accessory engaged with the latch engagement recess and upon rotation of the tool engaged with the latch engagement recess.",
    "19. The latch assembly of claim 18, wherein the latch has a plurality of interior walls defining the latch engagement recess, wherein the plurality of interior walls cooperatively defines a geometry configured to interchangeably engage with the tool engagement protrusion of the tool and the handle engagement protrusion of the handle accessory, and wherein the retainer groove is formed in an interior wall of the plurality of interior walls.",
    "20. The latch assembly of claim 18, wherein the HVAC enclosure comprises a rooftop unit enclosure, and wherein the latch assembly is configured to control access to a heat exchanger disposed within an interior of the rooftop unit enclosure.",
    "21. The latch assembly of claim 18, comprising the handle accessory, wherein the handle engagement protrusion of the handle accessory is configured to be retained within the latch engagement recess to enable manual actuation of the locking portion of the latch assembly.",
    "22. The latch assembly of claim 18, comprising a compression groove formed in an external surface of the handle engagement protrusion of the handle accessory, wherein the retainer extension is positioned within the compression groove.",
    "23. The latch assembly of claim 22, wherein the retainer extension is configured to compress into the compression groove upon insertion of the handle accessory into the latch engagement recess, and wherein the retainer extension is configured to expand into the retainer groove of the latch engagement recess to retain the handle accessory to the latch.",
    "24. The latch assembly of claim 18, wherein the tool engagement protrusion and the handle engagement protrusion each correspond to a standard tool face."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to heating, ventilation, and/or air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and more particularly, to latch assemblies for enclosures of HVAC systems.\n\nA wide range of applications exists for HVAC systems. For example, residential, light commercial, commercial, and industrial systems are used to control temperatures and air quality in indoor environments and buildings. Such systems may be dedicated to either heating or cooling, although systems are common that perform both of these functions. Very generally, these systems operate by implementing a thermal cycle in which fluids are heated and cooled to provide air flow at desired temperature to a controlled space, typically the inside of a residence or building. For example, a refrigerant circuit may circulate a refrigerant through one or more heat exchangers to exchange thermal energy between the refrigerant and one or more fluid flows, such as a flow of air.\n\nHVAC systems and components, including heat exchangers, air handlers, heat pumps, and air conditioning units used to provide conditioned air to conditioned environments, may be disposed within enclosures. In some applications, the enclosures of the HVAC units are accessible without tools, such as by turning a handle on an access panel. In other applications, the enclosures of the HVAC units are locked to restrict access to the HVAC units, where a tool or key is utilized to open to the enclosure. Based on the unique specifications for each HVAC unit, access panel latches may be individually selected, complicating the manufacturing process for the HVAC units.",
  "cpc": [
    "E05B 1/0007",
    "E05B 35/008",
    "E05B 65/006",
    "E05C 3/042",
    "F16B 21/02",
    "F16B 21/125",
    "F16B 37/044",
    "F16B 5/0241",
    "F16B 5/0642",
    "F24F 13/029"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "E05B 1/00",
    "E05B 65/00",
    "F16B 21/02",
    "F16B 21/12",
    "F16B 5/02",
    "F16B 5/06",
    "F24F 13/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Curtis A. Trammell",
    "John L. McElvany"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2018-09-28",
  "publication_date": "2023-01-03",
  "grant_date": "2023-01-03",
  "priority_date": "2018-09-19",
  "application_number": "US-201816146074-A",
  "family_id": "69772794",
  "cited_by_count": 2,
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  ]
}