US 4,364,137 AGranted

Releasable locking device

AssigneeRite-Hite Corporation

InventorNorbert Hahn

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Abstract

A device is provided for releasably locking one member in a predetermined extended position relative to a second member to which it is hingedly connected. The device includes a rod having one end portion pivotally connected to the one member and spaced from the hinge connection between the members. The rod has elongated first and second sections in endwise relation. The second section circumferential dimension is less than that of the first section forming a beveled shoulder between the two sections. A guide is adjustably mounted on the second member and spaced from the member hinge connection. The guide has an open-ended passageway through which the rod sections slidably extend upon relative movement of the one member. The passageway end closest to the pivotally connected rod end portion has a beveled surface which at least partially delimits the passageway end. When the one member is in the extended position, the beveled shoulder and beveled surface frictionally engage one another and restrain relative movement of the one member from said extended position to a predetermined second position. Means is provided for applying an external force to the rod effecting movement of the one member from the second position to the extended position. Biasing means is provided on the guide laterally shifting the rod relative to the guide passageway to effect engagement between the beveled shoulder and surface when the rod second section is aligned in the passageway. The biasing means also effects variation in the frictional engagement between the shoulder and beveled surface.

A device for releasably locking one member of a pair of hingedly connected members in a predetermined extended first position relative to the second member of the pair, the one member being adapted to normally assume a predetermined second position relative to the second member;

said device comprising an elongated rodlike element having one end portion thereof adapted to be pivotally connected to the one member at a location spaced from the hinge connection between the pair of members, said element being provided with an elongated first section disposed adjacent the pivotally connected one end portion and an elongated second section extending longitudinally from said first section, said second section having a smaller circumferential dimension than said first section and corresponding exterior segments of said first and second sections coacting to form a beveled shoulder at least partially encompassing the exterior of said second section;
guide means adapted to be adjustably connected to the second member and spaced from the member hinge connection, said guide means being provided with an open-ended passageway through which the sections of the rodlike element slidably extend upon relative movement of the one member, the end of the passageway closest to the pivotally connected end portion of said rodlike element being provided with a beveled surface at least partially delimiting the passageway end, the beveled surface and the beveled shoulder frictionally engaging one another and resisting a predetermined force urging relative movement of the one member from the predetermined first position to the second position;
biasing means carried by said guide means and exerting a resilient force on said rodlike element causing the latter to laterally shift relative to the guide means passageway only when the second section of the element is aligned within the passageway;
and means engaging said rodlike element for applying a predetermined external force thereto effecting endwise movement of said element relative to said guide means and movement of the one member from the predetermined second position to the predetermined first position.

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Abstract

Claims9