Device for releasably engaging an object

An engaging device for releasably engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart pivot axes between two stable conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said pivot axes, wherein the engaging part moves into the release condition only when a force is being applied to the bridge portion.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart pivot axes between two conditions one of which is an engaging condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said pivot axes, and a weakening means provided in the engaging part for causing the engaging part to lock in the engaging condition upon an attempt being made to disengage the object from the engaging means.

An engaging device for releasably engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart pivot axes between two stable conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said pivot axes wherein the engaging part is provided with means for causing at least a portion of the bridge portion to initially deflect away from a line extending between the two pivot axes in response to the application of a force of sufficient magnitude to the engaging means when the engaging device is in the engaging condition thereby to at least inhibit movement of the engaging part from the engaging condition to the release condition.

An engaging device for releasably engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart pivot axes between two stable conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said pivot axes, wherein the engaging part is provided with extension means other than said engaging means extending outwardly therefrom and wherein initial contact with the object for the purpose of causing the engaging part to move from the release condition to the engaging condition is made by way of said extension means.

An engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart pivot axes between two conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said pivot axes, said engaging means comprising first and second parts, said first part projecting beyond a surface of said bridge portion facing one direction of movement of the bridge portion between the two conditions, said second part projecting beyond an opposed surface of the bridge portion facing another direction of movement between the two conditions, wherein each of first and second part of said engaging means engages a respective object upon application of a contact force of sufficient magnitude to the bridge portion by said object.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart pivot axes between two stable conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said pivot axes, the bridge portion having opposed ends whereby the engaging part is movable from the engaging condition to the release condition by pressing the ends of the bridge portion inwardly towards each other.

An articulable article comprising a supporting part, a bridge portion mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two positions, said bridge portion comprising two opposed surfaces each of which faces a respective direction in which the bridge portion can move upon movement thereof between said two positions, wherein a portion of the supporting part disposed between the two axes faces a surface of the bridge portion other than said two surfaces thereof, wherein the distance between the two axes when the bridge portion is in either one of the two positions is such as to cause compressive stresses in the bridge portion during movement of said bridge portion between the two positions and wherein said compressive stresses are at their greatest when the bridge portion passes through a line extending between said pivot axes.

An articulable article comprising a supporting part, a bridge portion mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two stable positions, said bridge portion comprising two opposed surfaces each of which faces a respective direction in which the bridge portion can move upon movement thereof between the two stable positions, wherein said axes are defined by means carried on two spaced apart portions of the supporting part, said portions being fixed with respect to each other during movement of the bridge portion between the two stable positions and wherein the distance between the two axes when the bridge portion is in either one of the two stable positions is such as to cause compressive stresses in the bridge portion during movement of said bridge portion between the two stable positions, wherein the bridge portion is urged between the two stable positions upon application of force to the bridge portion.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said axes, wherein the distance between the two axes when the bridge portion is in either one of the two conditions is such as to cause compressive stresses in the bridge portion during movement of said bridge portion between the two conditions, wherein the bridge portion is urged between the two conditions upon application of a force of sufficient magnitude to the bridge portion, said engaging part being provided with weakening means defined by at least one weakening located closer to one pivot axis than to the other pivot axis.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said axes, wherein said engaging means co-operates with said supporting part to engage an object by in combination on with the other embracing the object, said bridge portion being exposed for contact with the object when the engaging part is in the release condition whereby said engaging part engages said object upon application of a contact force of sufficient magnitude to the bridge portion by the object.

An engaging device for releasably engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart pivot axes between two stable conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising two spaced apart arm portions and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said pivot axes, wherein the application of a pulling force of sufficient magnitude to either one of said two arm portions to cause said one arm portion to deflect away from a line extending between said two axes causes the other one of said two arm portions to at least initially deflect towards said line extending between said two axes.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said axes, wherein said bridge portion is of deflectable construction and wherein said bridge portion comprises two opposed surfaces each of which faces a respective direction in which the bridge portion can move upon movement thereof between said two conditions, wherein the distance between the two axes when the bridge portion is in either one of the two conditions is such as to cause compressive stresses in the bridge portion during movement of said bridge portion between the two conditions and wherein the bridge portion deflects in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the bridge portion when moving from the engaging condition to the release condition upon application of a force of sufficient magnitude to the engaging means.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said axes, wherein said supporting part comprises a housing and at least a portion of said engaging part is accommodated within said housing, and wherein the engaging part is provided with extension means extending beyond said housing whereby the engaging part is movable from the engaging condition to the release condition by manipulation of said extension means.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart pivot axes between two conditions one of which is an engaging condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said pivot axes, and a weakening means provided in the engaging part, said weakening means being located on a portion of the engaging part outside of the section of that portion of the engaging part disposed between the two axes.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said axes, said bridge portion comprising two opposed surfaces each of which faces a respective direction in which the bridge portion can move upon movement thereof between said two conditions, wherein a portion of the supporting part, disposed between the two axes, faces a surface of the bridge portion other than said two surfaces thereof, wherein the distance between the two axes when the bridge portion is in either one of the two conditions is such as to cause compressive stresses in the bridge portion during movement of said bridge portion between the two conditions and wherein said compressive stresses are at their greatest when the bridge portion passes through a line extending between said pivot axes.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said axes, said bridge portion comprising two opposed surfaces each of which faces a respective direction in which the bridge portion can move upon movement thereof between the two conditions, wherein said axes are defined by means carried on two spaced apart portions of the supporting part, said portions being fixed with respect to each other during movement of the bridge portion between the two conditions and wherein the distance between the two axes when the bridge portion is in either one of the two conditions is such as to cause compressive stresses in the bridge portion during movement of said bridge portion between the two conditions, wherein the bridge portion is urged between the two conditions upon application of a force of sufficient magnitude to the bridge portion.

An engaging device for engaging an object, the engaging device comprising a supporting part, an engaging part mounted on the supporting part for pivotal movement about two spaced apart axes between two conditions one being an engaging condition and the other being a release condition, the engaging part comprising engaging means and a bridge portion, said bridge portion extending between said axes, wherein the bridge between the two axes when the bridge portion is in either one of the two conditions is such as to cause compressive stresses in the bridge portion during movement of said bridge portion between the two conditions and wherein the bridge portion is urged between the two conditions upon application of a force of sufficient magnitude to the bridge portion, said engaging part being provided with extension means other than said engaging means or part thereof to manipulate said bridge portion from one condition to the other condition.