Pole trailer safety latch
OwnerLarry D. Smallinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This device is for an air operated safety latch designed to hold a folding pole trailer in its stationary or folded position when traveling. The device is comprised of a housing which supports jaw members which can move from an open to a closed position when a pole or other longitudinal member is placed between the jaw members, springs attached to each jaw member, a pivot arm attached to a latch block which locks the jaw members in place when the jaw members are closed, a spring to pull down on the pivot arm and to assist the locking mechanism, and a two-way air cylinder which can serve as a back-up to the locking system and which can be used to unlock and open the jaw members.
Claims12
A locking mechanism for latching an elongated member therein, said locking mechanism comprising:
- a housing having a opening adapted for the entry of the elongated member therein;
- a pair of oppositely disposed jaw members pivotally mounted to said housing, said jaw members being pivotable between a first unlocked position and a second locked position, said jaw members substantially surround said elongated member when said jaw members are in said second locked position;
- each of said jaw members having an interior portion and an exterior portion, wherein each of said jaw members is movably positioned with respect to each other and being movable in the same plane, the interior portion of each of said jaw members opposing each other on the opposite sides of said opening of said housing, said exterior portion of each of said jaw members being shaped such that a joined notched section is formed when the jaw members are in said second locked position;
- jaw member biasing means for urging said jaw members into said first unlocked position;
- and
- locking means for holding said jaw members in said second locked position, said locking means including a pivot arm having an upper arm portion and a lower arm portion joined at a bent elbow joint, said pivot arm being pivotable about a pivot arm swivel pin mounted on said housing and to said elbow joint, a latch block attached to the lower arm portion of said pivot arm, and pivot arm biasing means attached to said upper arm portion of said pivot arm for urging said latch block to engage said joined notch section of said jaw members in said second locked position;
- wherein said jaw members pivot from said first unlocked position to said second locked position in response to the insertion of said elongated member into said opening, contacting said interior portion of said jaw members, and generating a force to override the force of the jaw member biasing means, and said jaw members being automatically locked in said second locked position by said the insertion of the latch block into the joined notch section of the jaw members by the pivot arm biasing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.