US3817639A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Locking device for securing a pivotal member to one end of an arm member
Assignee: Horizon Global Americas Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-15
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1993-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A locking device which is utilized for securing a pivotal member, such as a ball part, to one end of an arm member which can have a socket part connected thereto to receive a ball part. Such a locking device includes a removable generally U-shaped elongated lock part which cooperates with a slot formed in the side wall of the socket part and which flexibly contacts and interlocks with the arm member to form a protrusion which extends into the socket part opening beneath the head of the ball part, thereby serving to prevent the ball part from being separated from the socket part.
Inventors
- 👤 A Good
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:04
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C11/04; F16C11/06; F16C11/0685; F16C11/069; F16B; F16B2/00; F16B2/20; F16B2/22; F16B2/24; F16B2/248; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32631
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
330 words
A locking device for securing a pivotal member to one end of an arm member, said pivotal member having a head portion and a reduced neck portion, a trasversely oriented receiver part carried at said end of the arm member and having an opening therein defined by a side wall, said locking device comprising an elongated removable generally U-shaped lock part, said lock part including two legs and an interconnecting web, said lock part having the end portion of one leg formed into a laterally bent tab and having the end portion of the other leg formed into a clip, said lock part web including a return bent lip, said receiver part side wall including a perimeter edge through which the head portion of said pivotal member is inserted into the opening thereof, said receiver part side wall having a slot formed therein next to and in general alignment with said arm member, said slot being spaced from said perimeter edge, said pivotal member fitting pivotally within said receiver part with the head portion thereof extending into said opening and with said neck portion thereof being located generally oppositely of said slot, said lock part lip fitted around said perimeter edge of the receiver part side wall and into said slot with parts of said lip protruding under said head portion and being directed toward said neck portion of the pivotal member fitted within said opening to prevent said pivotal member from being withdrawn from said receiver part through the perimeter edge thereof, said lock part clip fitting over one side part of said arm member and spaced from said receiver part, said lock part tab fitting over another side part of said arm member and spaced from said receiver part and located oppositely of said clip, said one lock part leg being flexed with said tab being spring urged over and into contact with said arm member to secure said lock part to said arm member and receiver part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
330 words
A locking device for securing a pivotal member to one end of an arm member, said pivotal member having a head portion and a reduced neck portion, a trasversely oriented receiver part carried at said end of the arm member and having an opening therein defined by a side wall, said locking device comprising an elongated removable generally U-shaped lock part, said lock part including two legs and an interconnecting web, said lock part having the end portion of one leg formed into a laterally bent tab and having the end portion of the other leg formed into a clip, said lock part web including a return bent lip, said receiver part side wall including a perimeter edge through which the head portion of said pivotal member is inserted into the opening thereof, said receiver part side wall having a slot formed therein next to and in general alignment with said arm member, said slot being spaced from said perimeter edge, said pivotal member fitting pivotally within said receiver part with the head portion thereof extending into said opening and with said neck portion thereof being located generally oppositely of said slot, said lock part lip fitted around said perimeter edge of the receiver part side wall and into said slot with parts of said lip protruding under said head portion and being directed toward said neck portion of the pivotal member fitted within said opening to prevent said pivotal member from being withdrawn from said receiver part through the perimeter edge thereof, said lock part clip fitting over one side part of said arm member and spaced from said receiver part, said lock part tab fitting over another side part of said arm member and spaced from said receiver part and located oppositely of said clip, said one lock part leg being flexed with said tab being spring urged over and into contact with said arm member to secure said lock part to said arm member and receiver part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
The locking device of claim 1 wherein said one lock part leg includes a laterally projecting grip means between said tab and said web of the lock part, said grip means for flexing said one leg outwardly relative to said arm member to shift said tab from over said arm out of contact therewith to free said lock part from engagement with said receiver part whereby said pivotal member can be freed from said receiver part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The locking device of claim 1 wherein said receiver part is a socket and said pivotal member is a ball part fitted pivotally within said socket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
202 words
A locking device for securing a pivotal member to one end of an arm member, said pivotal member constituting a ball having a head portion and a reduced neck portion, a socket part carried at said end of the arm member and having an opening therein defined by a side wall, said locking device comprising a removable generally U-shaped lock part, said socket part side wall including a perimeter edge through which the head portion of said ball is inserted into the opening thereof, said socket part side Wall having a slot formed therein next to and in general alignment with the said arm member, said slot being spaced from said perimeter edge, said ball fitting pivotally within said socket part with the head portion thereof extending into said opening and with said neck portion thereof being located generally oppositely of said slot, said lock part fitted around said perimeter edge of the receiver part side wall and into said slot with part of said lock part protruding under said head portion and being directed toward said neck portion of the ball fitted within said opening to prevent said ball from being withdrawn from said socket part through the perimeter edge thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
202 words
A locking device for securing a pivotal member to one end of an arm member, said pivotal member constituting a ball having a head portion and a reduced neck portion, a socket part carried at said end of the arm member and having an opening therein defined by a side wall, said locking device comprising a removable generally U-shaped lock part, said socket part side wall including a perimeter edge through which the head portion of said ball is inserted into the opening thereof, said socket part side Wall having a slot formed therein next to and in general alignment with the said arm member, said slot being spaced from said perimeter edge, said ball fitting pivotally within said socket part with the head portion thereof extending into said opening and with said neck portion thereof being located generally oppositely of said slot, said lock part fitted around said perimeter edge of the receiver part side wall and into said slot with part of said lock part protruding under said head portion and being directed toward said neck portion of the ball fitted within said opening to prevent said ball from being withdrawn from said socket part through the perimeter edge thereof.
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) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |