Actuator with locking mechanism
AssigneeFasteners for Retail, Inc.
InventorsYun Hua, Michael Eric Liedtke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A product-dispensing device comprises a rod, a product-dispensing coil, an actuator, a locking gear, and a button. The rod is configured to support a product, and the product-dispensing coil is disposed about the rod. The actuator is operably coupled to the product-dispensing coil for rotation about a first axis. The locking gear is rotatable between a first position and a second position and includes a locking arm configured to inhibit rotation of the actuator in the second position. The button is operably coupled to the locking gear and is configured to rotate the locking gear between the first position and the second position.
Claims20
A product-dispensing device comprising:
- a housing;
- a rod configured to support a product;
- a product-dispensing coil disposed about the rod;
- an actuator supported by the housing and operably coupled to the product-dispensing coil for rotation about a first axis, the actuator rotatable in a first direction about the first axis and a second direction opposite the first direction about the first axis, wherein when the actuator is rotated in the first direction the product-dispensing coil is configured to rotate and cause the product to move closer to a free end of the rod;
- a locking gear rotatable between a first position and a second position and including a locking arm configured to selectively engage the actuator in the second position to inhibit rotation of the actuator in the second direction about the first axis;
- and
- a button disposed on an exterior of the housing, the button operably coupled to the locking gear and configured to rotate the locking gear between the first position and the second position.
A product-dispensing device comprising:
- a housing;
- a rod configured to support a product;
- a product-dispensing coil disposed about the rod;
- an actuator supported by the housing for rotation about a first axis and operably coupled to the product-dispensing coil;
- a locking gear supported by the housing for rotation between a first position and a second position about a second axis, the locking gear including a locking arm configured to inhibit rotation of the actuator in the second position;
- and
- a button supported by the housing for translation between a third position and a fourth position, the button operable to rotate the locking gear between the first position and the second position upon translation between the third position and the fourth position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.