Shock absorbing disconnect latch for ball bearing slides
AssigneeAccuride International, Inc.
InventorJackie D. Parvin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shock absorbing disconnect latch comprises a lever, a wall for limiting travel of a longitudinal channel, and at least one vertical slot in a downwardly sloping body to enable rearward flexing of the disconnect latch for removal of the longitudinal channel. The flexing of the disconnect latch causes the lever to move counterclockwise providing space for the longitudinal channel to be disengaged. The flexing of the disconnect latch permits easy removal of the longitudinal channel, together with reliable return of the lever. When the longitudinal channel is stopped by the wall of the disconnect latch, the shock energy is absorbed using the slot by deflection of the disconnect latch.
Claims18
A disconnect latch for a slide assembly, the slide assembly including at least one elongated channel, the disconnect latch comprising the unitarily formed combination of:
- means for locking and preventing unintentional disconnection of the channel;
- and
- means for flexing the disconnect latch to clear the locking means such that the channel is released and for absorbing shock energy produced when the channel is stopped against the locking means.
A slide assembly comprising:
- at least one elongated slide member with a rail;
- and
- a disconnect latch comprising (a) means for vertically flexing the disconnect latch such that the elongated slide member can be disengaged without pivoting the disconnect latch and (b) means for attaching the disconnect latch to the rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.