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US 5,852,902 AGranted
Locking entry grid
AssigneeBalco/Metalines, Inc.
InventorJames J. Hopper, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An entry grid includes a plurality of spaced, side-by-side, grid sections each having a tread rail and a depending support leg with sections interlocked by a locking bar extending transversely through respective locking holes in the support legs. The support legs include locking teeth engaged by complementally configured element teeth of corresponding locking elements extending radially from the locking bar shaft.
Claims22
An entry grid comprising:
- a plurality of grid sections including respective tread rails and support legs depending therefrom, said support legs including means defining respective locking holes therethrough configured for registration with one another and having respective central portions and radial portions and including means defining a plurality of locking teeth adjacent each of said locking holes;
- and
- a locking bar including
- a shaft configured for reception through said central portions, and
- a plurality of spaced, aligned, locking elements extending from the periphery of said shaft, configured for reception through said radial portions and having means defining a plurality of element teeth configured for complementally engaging said locking teeth of said respective support legs,
- said locking bar being shiftable between
- a receiving position in which said bar is received through said locking holes with said locking elements aligned with said radial portions, and
- a locked position in which said bar is rotated from said receiving position so that said locking elements are out of alignment with said radial portions and so that said a plurality of element teeth of said locking elements are engaged with said a plurality of locking teeth of said support legs respectively thereby locking said grid sections in a spaced, side-by-side relationship to form said entry grid.
5 more elements
An entry grid comprising:
- a plurality of grid sections including respective tread rails and support legs depending therefrom, said support legs including means defining respective locking holes therethrough configured for registration with one another and having respective central portions and radial portions and including means defining locking surfaces adjacent each of said locking holes;
- and
- a locking bar including
- a shaft configured for reception through said central portions, and
- a plurality of spaced, aligned, locking elements extending from the periphery of said shaft, configured for reception through said radial portions and having means defining element surfaces configured for complementally engaging said locking surfaces of said respective support legs,
- said locking bar being shiftable between
- a receiving position in which said bar is received through said locking holes with said locking elements aligned with said radial portions, and
- a locked position in which said bar is rotated from said receiving position so that said locking elements are out of alignment with said radial portions and so that said element surfaces of said locking elements are engaged with said locking surfaces of said support legs respectively for locking said grid sections in a spaced, side-by-side relationship to form said entry grid,
- each of said grid sections including a pair of said support legs spaced from one another with each of said pair of support legs including said locking surfaces on the inboard surfaces thereof each of said locking elements being configured for reception between a respective pair of said support legs and with said element surfaces thereof being configured for engaging said locking surfaces of said respective pair of said support legs.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.