US4094540A — Closure device for locking a movable element with…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 275 words

A closure comprising: (a) two elements relatively movable toward and away from each other, and means for separably locking said elements together, said locking means comprising: (b) a male member in the form of a flat plate mounted on and protruding from one of said elements, the plane containing said plate being in the direction of relative movement between said elements, (c) a casing carried by the other of said elements, said casing having an opening through which said plate can move freely into and out of said casing when the two elements are brought together and separated, said opening extending continuously along two adjacent sides of said casing, (d) a female member within said casing, said female member being a flat plate movable about an axis perpendicular to the direction of relative movement between said elements between a position substantially perpendicular to the direction of relative movement between the elements and a position oblique to that direction, said plate having an elongated slot perpendicular to the direction of relative movement between said elements, said slot being aligned with said casing opening and slightly wider than the thickness of said male member plate, and said slot extending to one edge of said plate, and (e) resilient means urging said female member plate toward its oblique position, said male member plate moving said female member plate toward its perpendicular position against the force of said resilient means when said elements are moved together to insert said male member plate through said casing opening and said slot in said female member plate, said male member plate becoming wedged within said slot upon attempted separation of said elements.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 275 words

A closure comprising: (a) two elements relatively movable toward and away from each other, and means for separably locking said elements together, said locking means comprising: (b) a male member in the form of a flat plate mounted on and protruding from one of said elements, the plane containing said plate being in the direction of relative movement between said elements, (c) a casing carried by the other of said elements, said casing having an opening through which said plate can move freely into and out of said casing when the two elements are brought together and separated, said opening extending continuously along two adjacent sides of said casing, (d) a female member within said casing, said female member being a flat plate movable about an axis perpendicular to the direction of relative movement between said elements between a position substantially perpendicular to the direction of relative movement between the elements and a position oblique to that direction, said plate having an elongated slot perpendicular to the direction of relative movement between said elements, said slot being aligned with said casing opening and slightly wider than the thickness of said male member plate, and said slot extending to one edge of said plate, and (e) resilient means urging said female member plate toward its oblique position, said male member plate moving said female member plate toward its perpendicular position against the force of said resilient means when said elements are moved together to insert said male member plate through said casing opening and said slot in said female member plate, said male member plate becoming wedged within said slot upon attempted separation of said elements.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 40 words

Closure according to claim 1 including means for moving said female member plate toward its perpendicular position when said elements are together so as to permit removal of said male member plate from said slot and separation of said elements.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

Closure according to claim 1 including means for displacing the male and female members with respect to each other substantially in the direction of the elongated slot in said female member plate.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

Closure according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that it is provided with means for increasing the frictional engagement between the female member and the male member.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 29 words

Closure according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the means for increasing the wedging consist of notches provided on the said flat plate of the male member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 136 words

Closure according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the means for permitting the removal of the plate of the male member from the cutout of the female member comprise a handle on the element which bears the female member, said handle being movable with respect to the case of the female member and being connected to a bar for transmitting the movement of the handle to the flat piece of the female member, by the fact that the bar is adapted to push the latter back into its unwedged position against the elastic return means of the flat piece, and by the fact that the bar is provided with a return spring of its own to urge it towards a position where it does not push the flat piece back towards its unwedged position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

Closure according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the return spring of the bar itself also acts on the handle to bring the latter back into a normal position corresponding to the joined condition of said elements.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 89 words

Closure according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the handle is a turnable handle which carries along the said bar with it in rotation, and by the fact that the bar is provided with a guide yoke the arms of which are arranged on opposite sides of the flat plate of the female member so that the action of rotation of the handle results in a guiding of said flat plate by the yoke, returning it into its unwedged position against the action of the resilient means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 63 words

Closure according to claim 8 characterized by the fact that the resilient means of the flat plate consist of a spring arranged between the case of the female member and the flat plate, and that a first receiving position for said spring is provided on one side of the flat plate and a second position on the opposide side of the flat plate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 77 words

Closure according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that the entire female member is essentially symmetrical with respect to a plane perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the movable elements when the flat plate is in its unwedged position, with the exception of the spring for the latter which is arranged either on one side or the other of the flat plate depending upon the desired direction of displacement of the movable elements upon closing.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 96 words

Closure according to claim 6, characterizedby the fact that the said bar is an elongated plate resting on one side against a portion of the handle penetrating into the case, that the said handle is capable of being actuated by push or pull in the direction of relative displacement of the moving elements, that the action on the handle displaces the bar, and that the flat piece of the female member rests against another portion of the bar so that it can be returned by the bar into its unwedged position by actuation of the handle.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 36 words

Closure according to claim 11, characterized by the fact that the bar is arranged transversely to the direction of actuation of the handle so that actuation of the handle displaces the bar substantially parallel to itself.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 67 words

Closure according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the return spring of the bar rests on the one side on the case of the female member and on the other side on the bar to maintain the latter against a stop which is provided on a portion of the handle within the case in order to transmit the movement of the handle to the lever.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 53 words

Closure according to claim 13, characterized by the fact that the bar is disposed between the stop of the handle and the return spring of the bar in order to urge the handle towards a pulled position, the opening taking place by pushing on the handle against the action of the return spring.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 42 words

Closure according the claim 13, characterized by the fact that the return spring of the bar is disposed between the handle and the bar in order to maintain the latter in a pushed position, the opening being effected by pulling the handle.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 90 words

Closure according to claim 11, adapted to be mounted on a room door, characterized by the fact that it comprises a second handle mounted on a common support rod with the first, each handle being located on its respective side of the door, the first handle being carried along into a pushed position when the second handle is pulled and vice versa, in order to permit opening by a person located on either side of the door by actuating the corresponding handle in the direction of opening of the door.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 109 words

Closure according to claim 16, characterized by the fact that it comprises a blocking piece fastened on the common support rod of the two handles, that at least one handle is adapted to turn while carrying the blocking piece in rotation with it, that a stationary stop is provided which cooperates with the blocking piece when the turning handle is in a first position in order to prevent transverse displacement by pull or push of the handles, the turning of the handle towards a second position acting to free the blocking piece from the fixed stop and permit the opening of the door by pulling or pushing a handle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 49 words

Closure according to claim 17, characterized by the fact that the other handle is mounted for free rotation onthe common support rod of the handles and that it is provided with a key safety device acting on the blocking piece to lock the transverse displacement of the two handles.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 52 words

Closure according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the means for displacing the male and female members with respect to each other comprise a handle which acts on the male member and is adapted to pivot it in its own plane around an axis which is spaced from the cutout.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 57 words

Closure according to claim 19, characterized by the fact that the handle is a pivoted handle that the male member is rigidly connected with the handle and mounted around the same axis as the handle, and that a return spring is provided which acts to bring the male member and the handle back into a closed position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 88 words

Closure according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the means for displacing the male and female members with respect to each other in the direction of the cutout comprise a rod or a cable connected to the male member and adapted to slide in a direction which is the direction of the elongated cutout when the movable elements are in closed position, and opening control members adapted to cause the rod or the cable to slide and thus drive the male member out of the cutout.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 48 words

Closure according to claim 21, characterized by the fact that a spring is provided for returning the male member towards a position in which it can introduce itself into the cutout of the female member by simple pushing of the movable members in their direction of relative displacement.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 51 words

Device according to claim 21, characterized by the fact that a handle is provided which can be actuated by push or pull in order to act on the rod or cable, the direction of action on the handle being substantially the same as the direction of displacement of the movable elements.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 45 words

Closure according to claim 3 for the interlocking of two elements of a safety belt, characterized by the fact that the means for the relative displacement of the male and female member in the direction of the cutout consists of the two belt elements themselves.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 65 words

Closure according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the case of the female member is provided with a rear opening to permit the passage of the male member from one side to the other, the male member being capable of penetrating to a greater or lesser depth into the case and of being held therein by wedging in any intermediate position of penetration.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 60 words

Closure according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that the case of the female member is sufficiently deep in the direction of penetration of the male member and the male member is sufficiently long to permit a penetration of greater or lesser depth and the holding by wedge action of the male member in any intermediate position of penetration.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1981-06-12	1981-12-12	1982-06-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1985-06-12	1985-12-12	1986-06-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1989-06-12	1989-12-12	1990-06-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Closure device for locking a movable element with respect to another element

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag