Simplified draw latch with bent wireform mid-linkage
A camera housing includes a simplified draw latch for securing a first portion and a second portion of the camera housing together. The draw latch can include a draw hook and a wireform mid-linkage. The draw latch enables a user to easily open and close a camera housing, and to establish an air-tight or water-tight seal between the housing portions for use in various activities, including scuba diving.
1. A draw latch for securely coupling a first housing portion to a second housing portion, the draw latch comprising:
a panel base hinge coupled to the first housing portion;
a panel hook lip coupled to the second housing portion;
a draw hook comprising a draw hook hinge end and a draw hook lip end, the draw hook lip end detachably coupled with the panel hook lip; and
a bent wireform mid-linkage having a unibody structure, the bent wireform mid-linkage comprising a wire having a cross-sectional shape with a constant radius, the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage comprising a straight segment pivotally coupled to the panel base hinge and extending between a first end of each of two curved segments, each of the two curved segments having a uniform 180-degree curvature and each coupled to a different additional straight segment, protruding linearly from a second end of each curved segment, the additional straight segments are aligned and separated by a spatial separation and each are pivotally coupled with the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook;
wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is configured to operate in at least four states comprising:
a fully open state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is fully decompressed;
a partially open state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is partially compressed, but where the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook is not adjacent to the first housing portion;
an over-center state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is compressed more than in the partially open state; and
a closed state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is compressed less than in the over-center state, and where the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook is adjacent to the first housing portion; and
wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is configured to fit into a mid-linkage cavity within the draw hook when the draw hook is in the closed state such that the bent wireform mid-linkage is flush with a raised inner surface of the draw hook.
2. The draw latch of claim 1 , wherein the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage comprises a substantially c-shape.
3. The draw latch of claim 1 , wherein the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage comprises a substantially o-shape.
4. The draw latch of claim 1 , wherein the first housing portion is securely coupled to the second housing portion when the bent wireform mid-linkage is configured in the closed state such that the first housing portion and the second housing portion form a water-tight seal.
5. A draw latch for securely coupling a first camera housing portion to a second camera housing portion, the draw latch comprising:
a draw hook comprising a draw hook hinge end and a draw hook lip end, the draw hook lip end detachably coupled with the second camera housing portion; and
a bent wireform mid-linkage having a unibody structure, the bent wireform mid-linkage comprising a wire having a cross-sectional shape with a constant radius, the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage comprising a straight segment pivotally coupled to the panel base hinge and extending between a first end of each of two curved segments, each of the two curved segments having a uniform 180-degree curvature and each coupled to a different additional straight segment protruding linearly from a second end of each curved segment, the additional straight segments are aligned and separated by a spatial separation and each are pivotally coupled with the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook;
wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is configured to operate in at least four states comprising:
a fully open state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is fully decompressed;
a partially open state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is partially compressed, but where the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook is not adjacent to the first housing portion;
an over-center state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is compressed more than in the partially open state; and
a closed state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is compressed less than in the over-center state, and where the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook is adjacent to the first housing portion; and
wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is configured to fit into a mid-linkage cavity within the draw hook when the draw hook is in the closed state such that the bent wireform mid-linkage is flush with a raised inner surface of the draw hook.
6. The draw latch of claim 5 , wherein the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage comprises a substantially c-shape.
7. The draw latch of claim 5 , wherein the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage comprises a substantially o-shape.
8. The draw latch of claim 5 , wherein the first camera housing portion is securely coupled to the second camera housing portion when the bent wireform mid-linkage is configured in the closed state such that the first camera housing portion and the second camera housing portion form a water-tight seal.
9. A draw latch for securing a first housing portion to a second housing portion, the draw latch comprising:
a panel base hinge coupled to the first housing portion; a panel hook lip coupled to the second housing portion;
a draw hook comprising a draw hook hinge end and a draw hook lip end, the draw hook lip end detachably coupled with the panel hook lip; and
a bent wireform mid-linkage comprising a wire having a cross-sectional shape with a constant radius, the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage comprising first and second curved portions, each with a uniform 180-degree curvature, a first segment coupling the first and second curved portions to one another and extending linearly between a first end of each of the first and second curved portions, a second segment extending linearly from a second end of the first curved portion, and a third segment extending linearly from a second end of the second curved portion, wherein the second segment and the third segment are aligned and separated by a spatial separation, and the bent wireform mid-linkage is pivotally coupled with the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook and is pivotally coupled with the panel base hinge;
wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is configured to operate in at least four states comprising:
a fully open state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is fully decompressed;
a partially open state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is partially compressed, but where the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook is not adjacent to the first housing portion;
an over-center state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is compressed more than in the partially open state; and
a closed state, wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is compressed less than in the over-center state, and where the draw hook hinge end of the draw hook is adjacent to the first housing portion; and
wherein the bent wireform mid-linkage is configured to fit into a mid-linkage cavity within the draw hook when the draw hook is in the closed state, and
wherein the draw hook, when configured in the closed state, substantially encloses the bent wireform mid-linkage between the draw hook and the first housing portion.
10. The draw latch of claim 9 , wherein the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage is substantially c-shaped.
11. The draw latch of claim 9 , wherein the wire of the bent wireform mid-linkage is substantially o-shaped.