Coupling apparatus
AssigneeThe Raymond Lee Organization, Inc.
InventorWilliam H. Thomson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus used for coupling and decoupling of model railroad cars which employs first and second coupling units, one on each car. Each unit employs a horizontal member having a curved opening at one end and a latching means which can be disposed either into the opening or outside of it and can be pivoted into either position. Each unit further employs a locking element having normal locked position at which the latching means can be moved into or out of the opening. A tiltable control lever extends through the member and has means cooperating with the locking element for unlocking same. The units are moved toward each other to couple and are moved away from each other to uncouple. When the units are coupled, the latching means engage each other and are disposed within the corresponding openings.
Claims4
Coupling apparatus comprising:
- first and second horizontally elongated members having adjacent ends which can be moved toward or away from each other into or out of coupling position, said ends having curved openings;
- first and second latching means, each latching means being pivotally secured to an adjacent end of a corresponding member, each latching means being disposed in the curved opening of its member and engaging the other latching means when the members are coupled, said latching means being disposed outside of the curved openings when the members are uncoupled;
- first and second locking elements, each element being disposed on a corresponding member adjacent the latching means, each element being normally in a first position at which the corresponding latching means is locked in position within the corresponding opening, each element having a second position at which the corresponding latching means is unlocked and is free to be moved out of the opening;
- and
- first and second tiltable control levers having positions extending downward through openings in the members, said levers when inclined in either direction causing said elements to be placed in the second position whereby the members can be moved out of coupling position and the elements returned to the first position, each lever having means cooperating with the corresponding element to produce the desired action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.