US3744103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lock and release for strap connector
Assignee: —
•
Filing: 1972-02-22
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1992-02-22
Abstract
Abstract This lock and release is for the rocking shaft of the type of strap connector used on parachutes, for instance, of the type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,183,568, wherein a rocking shaft has a cut away portion to permit the insertion of the prongs of the male connector and then it is turned into a notch in the prongs of the male connector for locking the male connector in the female connector. The rocking shaft is locked in place by a lever at a reduced end thereof and a gas actuator valve and plunger pushes a spring pressed bolt out of a keeper to free the lever and the rocking shaft for rotation and substantially simultaneously with the freeing to admit the gas pressure into a cylinder to move a piston against the action of a spring, which piston is connected to said lever to rock the lever and the rocking shaft into prong releasing position. The coil spring in the cylinder automatically returns the piston into its initial position and thereby rocks the lever and the shaft into locking position whereupon the spring pressed bolt pushes the plunger and the valve back into the initial locking position.
Inventors
No inventors recorded.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:36
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D17/00; B64D17/22; B64D17/38; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/45; Y10T24/45225; Y10T24/45466; Y10T24/45602; Y10T24/45675
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
181 words
A lock and release device for locking and turning a rocking shaft in a female connector of a strap connector device, comprising, a main cylinder on said female connector, a piston working in the main cylinder, transmission means to connect the pistoN to the rocking shaft to convert reciprocation of the piston into turning of the rocking shaft in respective opposite directions, a valve cylinder adjacent said main cylinder connected to a source of a pressure medium, means to communicate said valve cylinder with said main cylinder for transmitting said pressure medium from said valve cylinder into said main cylinder, a valve in said valve cylinder, said valve in its initial position closing said communicating means, connecting means to connect said valve to said rocking shaft to obstruct turning of the rocking shaft in an initial position of said valve wherein said pressure medium transmitting means is inoperative, and to free said obstruction in valve opening position substantially simultaneously to admit pressure medium to said communicating means thereby to actuate said piston for turning said rocking shaft into connector releasing position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
181 words
A lock and release device for locking and turning a rocking shaft in a female connector of a strap connector device, comprising, a main cylinder on said female connector, a piston working in the main cylinder, transmission means to connect the pistoN to the rocking shaft to convert reciprocation of the piston into turning of the rocking shaft in respective opposite directions, a valve cylinder adjacent said main cylinder connected to a source of a pressure medium, means to communicate said valve cylinder with said main cylinder for transmitting said pressure medium from said valve cylinder into said main cylinder, a valve in said valve cylinder, said valve in its initial position closing said communicating means, connecting means to connect said valve to said rocking shaft to obstruct turning of the rocking shaft in an initial position of said valve wherein said pressure medium transmitting means is inoperative, and to free said obstruction in valve opening position substantially simultaneously to admit pressure medium to said communicating means thereby to actuate said piston for turning said rocking shaft into connector releasing position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The lock and release device for strap connectors specified in claim 1, and said transmission means connecting the piston to the rocking shaft including, a lever extended from said rocking shaft, a piston rod extended from said piston and connected to said lever for rocking said shaft according to the reciprocation of said piston.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The lock and release device for strap connectors specified in claim 2, and said obstructing connecting means including, a valve stem, a resiliently yieldable obstruction element extended from said rocking shaft to said stem and being movable by said stem into a non-obstructing position when said valve is moved from said initial position to a position admitting pressure medium to said main cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The lock and release device for strap connectors specified in claim 2, and said valve connecting means including, a hub on said lever fixedly connected to said rocking shaft, an obstruction element extended from said hub to said stem, a body adjacent to said valve cylinder having a recess therein to receive said obstructing element in its obstructing postion, and resiliently yieldable means in said hub to normally urge said obstructing element into said recess, and to permit said obstructing ele-ment to be pushed by said valve stem out of said recess into non-obstruct-ing position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The lock and release device for strap connectors specified in claim 1, and said main cylinder and said valve cylinder being parallel on the body of said female connector, a hollow casing below said cylinders, and said obstructing and valve connecting means being in said casing and being connected to said transmission means from said piston for substantially simultaneous actuation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
168 words
The lock and release device for strap connectors specified in claim 5, and said casing having a recess in registry with said valve stem, said transmission means including, a lever connected to said rocking shaft, a connecting rod connecting said piston to said lever for rocking said shaft according to the reciprocation of said piston, said means to communicate said valve cylinder with said main cylinder being a valve passage normally covered by said valve in said valve cylinder, said valve being moved in said valve cylinder by the pressure medium introduced into said valve cylinder toward said rocking shaft, said lever having a hub secured on said rocking shaft, said obstructing valve connecting means, including an obstructing element movable in said hub, resiliently yieldable means to normally urge said obstructing element into said recess thereby to obstruct rocking of the shaft and permit said stem to push said obstruction element out of said recess into non-obstructing position when said valve is moved away from said valve passage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |