Patent US3877858A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3877858A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Safety mechanism
Assignee: Newbury Industries Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-28
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1994-05-28
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to safety mechanism for machinery which incorporates relatively movable parts that cooperate to perform a work function. The movable parts are disposed within an enclosure and access to the latter is controlled by what is known as a safety gate. When the gate is open, the operator of the machine may inspect, adjust or replace the relative movable machine parts, and usually the operator''s hands are required to be within the enclosure during such operations. The improved safety mechanism of my invention is gravity-operated to prevent movement of the machine parts toward each other whenever the gate is open, to thus guard against injury to the machine operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger S Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 03:47
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C45/00; B29C45/17; B29C45/84; F; F16; F16P; F16P3/00; F16P3/08; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/626; Y10T83/869; Y10T83/872
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
Safety mechanism for a machine having a pair of plates, each adapted to mount one of a pair of complementary members for performing a work operation, said plates being movable toward and away from each other to respectively bring said complementary members to operative and inoperative positions, said mechanism comprising: a safety gate movable from one position wherein it blocks accessibility to said plates and members, to another position wherein it permits such accessibility, a bracket connected to one of said plates, having an opening therein, a post connected to the other of said plates, and extending therefrom, the end of the post extending into said openiNg when said complementary members are in operative position, and removed from said opening when said complementary members are in inoperative position, a guard movably carried by said bracket and urged to position to cover said opening and thereby prevent said post end from entering said opening, whereby said complementary members are prevented from being moved to operative position, and means movable with said safety gate and operable to move said guard to a position clear of said opening when said safety gate has been moved to said one position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
Safety mechanism for a machine having a pair of plates, each adapted to mount one of a pair of complementary members for performing a work operation, said plates being movable toward and away from each other to respectively bring said complementary members to operative and inoperative positions, said mechanism comprising: a safety gate movable from one position wherein it blocks accessibility to said plates and members, to another position wherein it permits such accessibility, a bracket connected to one of said plates, having an opening therein, a post connected to the other of said plates, and extending therefrom, the end of the post extending into said openiNg when said complementary members are in operative position, and removed from said opening when said complementary members are in inoperative position, a guard movably carried by said bracket and urged to position to cover said opening and thereby prevent said post end from entering said opening, whereby said complementary members are prevented from being moved to operative position, and means movable with said safety gate and operable to move said guard to a position clear of said opening when said safety gate has been moved to said one position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The construction according to claim 1 wherein said guard is weighted and disposed in off-balanced condition so that gravity alone urges it to position to close said opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The construction according to claim 1 wherein said guard is pivotally carried by said bracket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The construction according to claim 3 wherein said pivotal connection supports said guard in off-set balanced condition to influence a pivot point weight differential to insure a weight over friction safety factor and thus urge said guard to position to close said opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The construction according to claim 4 and further including a cam carried by and movable with said safety gate, said cam being engageable with said guard to swing the latter clear of said opening when said safety gate is in said one position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The construction according to claim 3 wherein said guard and said bracket have respective complementarily curved convex and concave surfaces with the center of the curvature located at the axis of the pivotal connection between said guard and bracket, said pivotal connection having limited floating movement to provide for engagement and disengagement of said complementarily curved surfaces, and means to urge said pivotal connection to a position wherein said complementarily curved surfaces are slightly spaced to provide for free pivotal swinging of said guard relative to said bracket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The construction according to claim 6 wherein engagement of said post end with said guard when the latter covers said bracket opening causes said complementarily curved surfaces to engage and provide a solid abutment opposing further movement of said post in the direction of said opening in said bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The construction according to claim 1 wherein said plates are superposed platens, the lower platen being stationary and supporting said bracket, and the upper platen being vertically movable toward and away from said lower platen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
The construction according to claim 8 wherein said bracket is L-shaped and has a base portion secured to said stationary platen and an upright portion extending upwardly from said stationary platen, and wherein said guard is L-shaped, having a horizontal arm overlying said bracket base portion and a vertical arm pivoted to said bracket upright portion, said bracket opening being formed in said bracket base portion and the horizontal arm of said guard being swingable to cover or uncover said opening, and said post being vertically arranged and connected to and depending from said upper platen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
The construction according to claim 9 wherein said safety gate is vertically movable, a cam carried by said safety gate, and a roller carried by the vertical arm of said guard in off-set relation to the pivot between said bracket and guard, said roller being engaged by said safety gate cam when said gate is moved downward and operable to swing said guard horizontal arm to uncover said bracket opening and permit said post end to enter said bracket opening.
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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |