US4366965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gladhand and plug keeper for trucks
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1980-09-19
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Granted: 1983-01-04
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Expires: 2000-09-19
Abstract
Abstract A keeper (10) is adapted for installation on a rear panel of a truck cab for holding a pair of gladhands (18,20) and an electric plug (22). The keeper is a one-piece unitary structure of molded plastic. It comprises a pair of gladhand receptacle members (32,33) and a plug receptacle member (34). The receptacle members are mounted on a panel of the cab by mounting brackets (24,26). The gladhand receptacle members (32,33) each defines a gladhand receptacle slot which receives a gladhand by insertion and rotation in a plane perpendicular to the mounting panel. The receptacle member (34) for the plug comprises a vertically disposed socket (50) between the pair of gladhand receptacle members (32,33).
Inventors
- 👤 Murray G. Rhodes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60D; B60D1/00; B60D1/58; B60D1/62; B62; B62D; B62D33/00; B62D33/06; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/60; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/6851; Y10T137/6855; Y10T137/6881
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
253 words
A gladhand keeper for mounting on a vertical panel of a truck cab having at least one air hose terminating in a first gladhand, said gladhand being of the type having a heel portion, a palm portion, and a finger portion, a fitting for an air hose at the heel portion with an air passage extending to an opening in the palm portion, said opening being surrounded by an annular seal, a first flange on the finger portion and a second flange on the heel portion, the first and second flanges being on opposite sides of said opening, said keeper comprising, mounting means defining a surface adapted to be seated against said panel, a body connected with the mounting means, said body having a first J-shaped receptacle member with a longer stem and a shorter stem connected by a transverse bar and defining a gladhand receptacle slot, the inner wall of said longer stem being adapted to receive the annular seal of the gladhand with the first flange being disposed between the stems and the second flange being disposed outside the longer stem, said slot having a length extending substantially parallel to said surface of the mounting means and having a depth extending substantially perpendicular to said surface, said inner wall of said longer stem being substantially perpendicular to said surface of the mounting means, whereby said gladhand may be inserted into said receptacle slot and rotated in a plane substantially perpendicular to said surface to interlock it with the first receptacle member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
253 words
A gladhand keeper for mounting on a vertical panel of a truck cab having at least one air hose terminating in a first gladhand, said gladhand being of the type having a heel portion, a palm portion, and a finger portion, a fitting for an air hose at the heel portion with an air passage extending to an opening in the palm portion, said opening being surrounded by an annular seal, a first flange on the finger portion and a second flange on the heel portion, the first and second flanges being on opposite sides of said opening, said keeper comprising, mounting means defining a surface adapted to be seated against said panel, a body connected with the mounting means, said body having a first J-shaped receptacle member with a longer stem and a shorter stem connected by a transverse bar and defining a gladhand receptacle slot, the inner wall of said longer stem being adapted to receive the annular seal of the gladhand with the first flange being disposed between the stems and the second flange being disposed outside the longer stem, said slot having a length extending substantially parallel to said surface of the mounting means and having a depth extending substantially perpendicular to said surface, said inner wall of said longer stem being substantially perpendicular to said surface of the mounting means, whereby said gladhand may be inserted into said receptacle slot and rotated in a plane substantially perpendicular to said surface to interlock it with the first receptacle member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said truck cab has a second air hose terminating in a second gladhand and wherein, said body has a second receptacle member of the same structure as the first receptacle member, said first and second receptacle members being disposed side-by-side, whereby first and second gladhands may be inserted into respective receptacle slots and rotated in a plane substantially perpendicular to said surface to interlock the gladhands with the respective receptacle members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said truck cab has an electric cable terminating in an electric plug, and wherein, said body has a third receptacle member defining a socket adapted to receive said electric plug.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said keeper is constructed of a unitary piece of plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein, said third receptacle member defines a socket having a longitudinal axis adapted to be oriented vertically, and said first and second receptacle members are disposed on opposite sides of said third receptacle member with the length of said slots and said inner wall of the longer stems extending substantially parallel to said axis of the socket.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein the slots of the first and second receptacle members are canted about 10° relative to each other so as to be divergent at their lower ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein, said mounting means comprises an upper bracket and a lower bracket, said third receptacle member being connected between said upper bracket and said lower bracket, the upper ends of said first and second receptacle members being connected with said third receptacle member and the lower ends of said first and second receptacle members being connected with said lower bracket.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
203 words
The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein each of said gladhands is of the type in which the first arcuate flange has a first cam surface on the back of the finger portion offset from the palm portion, and the second arcuate flange has a second cam surface facing and offset from the palm portion and wherein, said longer stem of each of said first and second members includes a circular convex land adapted to receive said annular seal in sealing engagement and to constitute a center of rotation in the motion required for interconnecting the gladhand with the respective gladhand receptacle member, the center of said land on each of said first and second members is spaced outwardly from said mounting surface by a distance greater than the spacing between the center of said seal and the end of the finger portion of said gladhand, whereby said finger portion of the respective gladhand is adapted to enter the receptacle slot from the rear with said first cam surface in engagement with said shorter stem and said heel portion of the gladhand is adapted to enter said slot from the front with said second cam surface in engagement with said longer stem.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein each of said gladhands includes a detent recess on the backside of said finger portion, and wherein, each of the shorter stems of said first and second receptacle members includes a detent element adapted to coact with the respective detent recess.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as defined in claim 4 or 8 wherein said plastic is an alloy of ABS and PVC resins.
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) | 1986-01-03 | 1986-07-05 | 1987-01-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-03 | 1990-07-05 | 1991-01-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-03 | 1994-07-05 | 1995-01-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |