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US 2016/0097210 A1Published application
Adjustable strut with locking mechanism
AssigneeParatech, Incorporated
InventorsKenneth E. Nielsen, William O. Teach
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable strut having a locking mechanism configured to removably-secure a pair of telescopic structural members to one another when positioned in a contracted configuration for transport and storage. Further, the locking mechanism allows for fast and intuitive unlocking of the pair of telescopic structural members for adjustment of a length of the strut for structural bracing.
Claims20
An adjustable strut, comprising:
- an outer housing having a first end, a second end, and a cylindrical bore;
- a cylindrical extendable member having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal length, the first end of the cylindrical extendable member received into the cylindrical bore through the first end of the outer housing, and the cylindrical extendable member slidable along a longitudinal length of the cylindrical bore between a fully-extended position and a contracted position;
- a lock mechanism received into a cavity in the first end of the cylindrical extendable member, the lock mechanism retained within the cavity by a first retainer element at the first end of the cylindrical extendable member, and configured to removably couple the outer housing to the cylindrical extendable member when in the contracted position, the lock mechanism further comprising:
- a cylindrical shaft having a first end with a cam channel configured to receive a pin, said pin rigidly-coupled at the second end of the outer housing;
- a base plate, rigidly-coupled to a second end of the cylindrical shaft;
- an upper plate having a bore configured to receive the cylindrical shaft, the upper plate configured to slide along a longitudinal length of the cylindrical shaft;
- and
- a compression element having a bore configured to receive the cylindrical shaft, the compression element configured to be compressed along the longitudinal length of the cylindrical shaft between a first surface of the base plate and a first surface of the upper plate, and the compression element configured to urge the upper plate towards a second retainer element positioned along the longitudinal length of the cylindrical shaft,
- wherein upon rotation of the cylindrical extendable member relative to the outer housing in a first direction about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical bore, the pin travels along the cam channel to a lock position, and simultaneously, the base plate is urged towards the first end of the cylindrical extendable member, the resulting compression of the compression element exerting a retention force on the pin.
6 more elements
A telescopic support strut, comprising:
- an outer housing having a first end, a second end, and a cylindrical bore;
- a cylindrical extendable member having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal length, the first end of the cylindrical extendable member received into the cylindrical bore through the first end of the outer housing, and the cylindrical extendable member slidable along a longitudinal length of the cylindrical bore between a fully-extended position and a contracted position;
- a lock mechanism configured to removably-couple the outer housing to the cylindrical extendable member when in the contracted position, the lock mechanism further comprising:
- a first lock structure rigidly-coupled to the second end of the outer housing;
- and
- a second lock structure at least partially retained within a cavity in the first end of the cylindrical extendable member by a retainer element,
- wherein first lock structure is engaged with the second lock structure to removably-couple the cylindrical extendable member to the outer housing by rotating the outer housing about a longitudinal axis in a first direction relative to the cylindrical extendable member when in the contracted position.
4 more elements
A telescopic support strut, comprising:
- an outer housing having a first end, a second end, and a cylindrical bore;
- a cylindrical extendable member having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal length, the first end of the cylindrical extendable member received into the cylindrical bore through the first end of the outer housing, and the cylindrical extendable member slidable along a longitudinal length of the cylindrical bore between a fully-extended position and a contracted position;
- a lock mechanism configured to removably-couple the outer housing to the cylindrical extendable member when in the contracted position, the lock mechanism further comprising:
- a threaded receiver at the second end of the outer housing;
- a spring-loaded connector at least partially received into a cavity in the first end of the cylindrical extendable member, the spring-loaded connector configured to slide within the cavity along the longitudinal length of the cylindrical extendable member, the spring-loaded connector further comprising:
- a base structure, having a first surface configured to compress a spring element along the longitudinal length of the cylindrical extendable member against a retaining surface of the cavity;
- and
- a threaded cylindrical shaft extending along the longitudinal length of the cylindrical extendable member, rigidly-coupled to a second surface of the base structure,
- wherein the threaded cylindrical shaft is configured to be received into the threaded receiver to removably-couple the cylindrical extendable member to the outer housing when in the contracted position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.