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US 4,865,368 AGranted
Slide latch gravity lock
AssigneeSmith Corona Corporation
InventorsMelvin D. McCall, Lawrence D. Greene
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The slide latch gravity lock of the present invention includes means which prevent the lock from opening when the article with which the lock is utilized is in its vertical position. When the article is moved from its horizontal position to a vertical position, a ball located within the lock mechanism moves by gravity from a first position wherein it does not restrain movement of the slide latch to a second position where it does.
Claims5
A slide latch gravity lock for locking first and second portions of an article together, said lock comprising:
- a fastening device having an eye therein secured to the first portion of the article;
- a slide latch slidably secured to the second portion of the article, said slide latch includes
- an integrally formed hook fixedly attached to said slide latch which is moveable into and removable from the eye of the fastening device for locking and unlocking the first and second portions when the article is in a horizontal position,
- an integrally formed ball housing section, and an integrally formed abutment;
- a ball supported within said ball housing section when the article is in a horizontal position for allowing said hook to be removed from the eye of the fastening device for unlocking the first and second portions;
- and
- means on the second portion for maintaining the ball outside said ball housing section and in the path of said abutment of said slide latch when the article is in a vertical position to cause said abutment to abut against the ball to prevent unlocking movement of said slide latch for locking the first and second portions together.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.