US3785670A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Security coupling
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-29
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Granted: 1974-01-15
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Expires: 1991-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A security coupling is mounted in the wheel of a shopping cart. A pair of wheel retainers are secured together to prevent removal of the wheel from the frame of a shopping cart and include a pair of mating threaded connectors having enlarged heads carried in counterbores in the outer ends of the retainers such that only the outer faces of the connectors are accessible. To unscrew the connectors and disconnect the wheel from the frame a special wrench is provided having spaced tines which fit in corresponding lug sockets diametrically spaced across the ends of the connector heads. The connectors are releasably locked against rotation in the retainers by a spring key or spline. The key is sinuous shaped and in operative position is biased to project into confronting keyways on the connectors and retainers. One of the wrench tines is elongated to extend into the keyway and engage the slope of the spring key to retract it from its operative position so the connectors may be unscrewed with the wrench.
Inventors
- 👤 R Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:07
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62B; B62B5/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S411/00; Y10S411/91; Y10S411/924; Y10S411/949; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/40; Y10T70/413; Y10T70/437; Y10T70/439; Y10T70/443; Y10T70/50; Y10T70/5611; Y10T70/5854; Y10T70/5858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
In a shopping cart having wheels journalled to a frame a security axle, comprising a pair of cylindrical retainer members formed for securing and rotatably supporting a wheel on the frame, said retainers being formed with an axially extending bore and enlarged counterbores at the outer ends of said bore, a pair of threadably engaged connector members extending through said bore and formed for securing the retainer members to the frame, said connector members having enlarged heads carried in the counterbores such that only the outer faces of the heads are accessible, and spaced sockets formed in the outer faces of the connector heads for effecting relative rotation and unscrewing of said connector members from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
In a shopping cart having wheels journalled to a frame a security axle, comprising a pair of cylindrical retainer members formed for securing and rotatably supporting a wheel on the frame, said retainers being formed with an axially extending bore and enlarged counterbores at the outer ends of said bore, a pair of threadably engaged connector members extending through said bore and formed for securing the retainer members to the frame, said connector members having enlarged heads carried in the counterbores such that only the outer faces of the heads are accessible, and spaced sockets formed in the outer faces of the connector heads for effecting relative rotation and unscrewing of said connector members from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 and wherein said bore and each of said counterbores define an interior shoulder therebetween, and said enlarged head abuts said interior shoulder and is adapted to draw the retainers together and to conceal the threaded portion of said connectors when the latter are screwed together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 and wherein said connector members have an enlarged cylindrical body portion slidable in said bore, and said threaded connection is defined by male and female threaded portions contained within said enlarged cylindrical body portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a shopping cart having wheels journalled to a frame member, a security coupling comprising a pair of mating retainer members having a threaded connection therebetween and formed for securing and supporting a wheel on the frame, each of said retainer members having a stepped bore therein defining an interior shoulder, spaced wrench sockets in said shoulder for turning the threaded retainer members relative to one another, a pair of mating cylindrical connector members having a threaded connection therebetween and formed to be carried in said bore, said connector members each having an enlarged head formed to abut one of said shoulders and overlie said spaced wrench sockets therein, said head being carried in said bore such that only the outer face thereof is accessible, said retainer members having spaced wrench sockets in the outer faces of said head for turning said retainer members, said wrench sockets and said threaded connection of the connector member having a different configuration than the wrench sockets and threads of the retainer member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
169 words
In a shopping cart having wheels journalled to a frame member, a security coupling comprising a pair of mating retainer members having a threaded connection therebetween and formed for securing and supporting a wheel on the frame, each of said retainer members having a stepped bore therein defining an interior shoulder, spaced wrench sockets in said shoulder for turning the threaded retainer members relative to one another, a pair of mating cylindrical connector members having a threaded connection therebetween and formed to be carried in said bore, said connector members each having an enlarged head formed to abut one of said shoulders and overlie said spaced wrench sockets therein, said head being carried in said bore such that only the outer face thereof is accessible, said retainer members having spaced wrench sockets in the outer faces of said head for turning said retainer members, said wrench sockets and said threaded connection of the connector member having a different configuration than the wrench sockets and threads of the retainer member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus as described in claim 1 and having releasable locking means carried between said retainer member and said connector member to prevent relative turning therebetween when said locking means is in an operative position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as described in claim 5 and wherein said locking means is biasEd into said operative position and is selectively retractable therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as described in claim 5 and wherein said locking means includes releasable key means carried between the retainer members and connector members and biased into joint engagement therewith to prevent relative turning therebetween when said key means is engaged.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as described in claim 7 and further comprising tool means formed to release the key from said joint engagement and turn said connector member while said key is released.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as described in claim 7 and wherein corresponding retainer members and connector members have confronting keyways formed therein for receiving a retractable key to prevent relative turning therebetween, and said retainer members include means to prevent relative turning between said retainer members when said connector members are securing said retainer members to the frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a shopping cart having a wheel journalled to a frame, a security axle comprising a threaded member adapted for threaded operative connection to secure the axle within the frame for connecting the wheel to the frame, a releasable key adapted for connection to the axle and positioned to engage said threaded member and prevent turning thereof relative to the axle. means to intercept said releasable key and deflect it from its engaged position, said means being adapted for simultaneously turning said threaded member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a shopping cart having a wheel journalled to a frame, a security axle comprising a threaded member adapted for threaded operative connection to secure the axle within the frame for connecting the wheel to the frame, a releasable key adapted for connection to the axle and positioned to engage said threaded member and prevent turning thereof relative to the axle. means to intercept said releasable key and deflect it from its engaged position, said means being adapted for simultaneously turning said threaded member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a shopping cart having a wheel journalled to a frame, a security axle comprising a first member formed for supporting a wheel, said member having a bore therethrough, a second member carried in the bore of said first member and formed to secure the wheel to the frame through a threaded connection, a releasable key carried in said bore and spring biased into opposed keyways on said first and second members and adapted to prevent relative turning of said members when said keyways are in confronting relation, a longitudinal access opening intersecting said key, and a tool formed to enter said opening and deflect said key from one of the keyways whereby the threaded connection may be turned to release the wheel from the frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a shopping cart having a wheel journalled to a frame, a security axle comprising a first member formed for supporting a wheel, said member having a bore therethrough, a second member carried in the bore of said first member and formed to secure the wheel to the frame through a threaded connection, a releasable key carried in said bore and spring biased into opposed keyways on said first and second members and adapted to prevent relative turning of said members when said keyways are in confronting relation, a longitudinal access opening intersecting said key, and a tool formed to enter said opening and deflect said key from one of the keyways whereby the threaded connection may be turned to release the wheel from the frame.
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) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |