Release pin

• US 20080056814A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jergens, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jergens, Inc.
• Inventors: Hageman, David Craig, Klingenberg, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,891,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 403/322.2
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 31/005 for temporarily connecting sheets before or during assembly operations
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/109 Temporary rivets, e.g. with a spring-loaded pin special clamping devices for workpieces to be riveted together, e.g. operating through the rivet holes B21J15/42; hand tools for temporarily connecting sheets before or during assembly operations B25B31/005
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/00 Hooks; Eyes if the attaching parts or means are concerned, groups F16B13/00, F16B15/00, F16B19/00, F16B25/00, F16B35/00, F16B47/00 take precedence; for hanging pictures or the like A47G1/16; towing hooks for ships B63B21/58; for hoisting or hauling purposes B66C; hooks or eyes with integral parts designed to facilitate quick attachment to cables or ropes at any point F16G11/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/592 Ball detent

Abstract

A quick release pin has an elongated body having an axial bore therethrough, a shaft extending at least partially through the axial bore for axial movement along the bore; a spindle separately mounted on a first end of the shaft; a button separately mounted on a second opposite end of the shaft; and a handle having a central passage through which the button extends, wherein the handle is mounted to the elongated body. The shaft can be interchanged with a variety of materials and lengths of shafts.

Claims

1. A quick release pin comprising:

an elongated body having an axial bore therethrough,

a shaft extending at least partially through said axial bore for axial movement along said bore;

a spindle mounted on a first end of said shaft wherein said spindle and said shaft are separate components assembled together;

a button mounted on a second opposite end of said shaft; and

a handle having a central passage through which said button extends, wherein said handle is mounted to said elongated body.

2. The pin of claim 1, wherein said button comprises a flange, and said handle comprises a flange formed within said central passage configured to engage said flange of said button to restrict axial movement of said button.

3. The pin of claim 1, wherein said button comprises an indentation to be pressed by an end user.

4. The pin of claim 1, further comprising a compression spring between said button and said elongated body which engages said button to bias said button in an axial direction.

5. The pin of claim 1, wherein said button is fixedly secured to said shaft.

6. The pin of claim 1, wherein said spindle comprises an edge which holds a pair of movable members.

7. The pin of claim 6, wherein said movable members move radially in lateral openings in said elongated body.

8. The pin of claim 7, wherein axial movement of said spindle brings said edge out of alignment with said movable members so said movable members move radially inwardly into openings of said elongated body.

9. The pin of claim 7, wherein axial movement of said spindle brings said edge into alignment with said movable members so said movable members engage a ramped edge of said spindle moving said movable member radially outwardly beyond an outer surface of said elongated body.

10. The pin of claim 1, wherein said spindle comprises a bearing surface to guide said spindle through said axial bore of said elongated body.

11. The pin of claim 4, wherein axial movement in a first direction is provided by a force exerted on said button and an axial movement in a second direction is provided by a force exerted by said compression spring.

12. The pin of claim 11, wherein said first direction is opposite to said second direction.

13. The pin of claim 1, wherein said shaft can be formed of varying lengths.

14. The pin of claim 1, wherein said spindle and said button and said shaft are not integrally formed.

15. The pin of claim 1, wherein said shaft is flexible.

16. The pin of claim 15, wherein said shaft comprises wire rope.

17. The pin of claim 1, wherein said shaft is guided by said axial bore of said elongated body.

18. The pin of claim 16, wherein said button is formed of aluminum.

19. The pin of claim 16, wherein said spindle is made of heat treatable steel.

20. The pin of claim 1, wherein said shaft is joined to said button via a locking bore formed in said shaft.

21. The pin of claim 1, wherein said shaft is joined to said spindle via a locking bore formed in said shaft.

22. The pin of claim 1, wherein said spindle is crimped to a said first end of said shaft.

23. A release pin comprising:

an elongated body having an axial bore therethrough;

said axial bore having an open first end and a closed second end having an opening therethrough;

a shaft extending through said bore for axial movement;

a spindle mounted at an end of said shaft;

a knob mounted at an opposite end of said shaft;

a handle mounted to said elongated body, said handle having a central passage extending therethrough; and

a biasing member positioned between said knob and a wall of said handle.

24. The release pin of claim 23, wherein said handle is threadably engaged to said elongated body.

25. The release pin of claim 23, wherein said knob comprises a cylindrical portion which abuts said wall of said handle wherein said knob is depressed.

26. The pin of claim 23, wherein said spindle comprises an edge which holds a pair of movable members.

27. The pin of claim 26, wherein said movable members move radially in lateral openings in said elongated body.

28. The pin of claim 27, wherein axial movement of said spindle brings said edge out of alignment with said movable members so said movable members move radially inwardly into openings of said elongated body.

29. The pin of claim 27, wherein axial movement of said spindle brings said edge into alignment with said movable members so said movable members engage a ramped edge of said spindle moving said movable members radially outwardly beyond an outer surface of said elongated body.

30. The release pin of claim 23, wherein said spindle comprises a ramped portion and said axial bore of said elongated body comprises a ramped portion which matingly engages said ramped portion of said spindle to prevent axial movement of said spindle.

31. The release pin of claim 23, wherein said handle comprises a first portion comprising said central passage and a second portion extending substantially 90 degrees from said first portion.

32. The release pin of claim 31, wherein said handle second portion comprises a gripping portion for manually gripping said handle.

33. The release pin of claim 23, wherein said handle comprises a first portion comprising said central passage and a second portion comprising a circular segment attached to said first portion.

34. The release pin of claim 33, wherein said second portion circular segment comprises a ring received by openings in said first portion of said handle.

35. A method of assembling a release pin, comprising:

attaching a spindle onto an end of a shaft;

attaching a knob onto an opposite end of said shaft;

attaching a handle to a shank;

inserting said shaft, said knob and said spindle along with a pair of balls into an axial bore of said shank and said handle; and

inserting a compression spring between said knob and a surface of said shank.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said step of inserting said balls includes aligning said balls with a pair of openings in said shank.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein said shaft is formed of different material than said knob and said spindle.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein said shaft is flexible.