RELEASABLE SECURING DEVICE
First Claim
1. A spindle for an associated releasable securing device having a ball that cooperates with the spindle located in a shank of the associated releasable securing device, the spindle including:
- a tapered land region configured to selectively contact the associated ball of the associated releasable securing device urging the ball toward a radial opening formed in the shank of the associated releasable securing device, the land region tapering toward a central axis and a distal end of the spindle and the ball extends beyond an outer surface of the shank when contacted by the tapered land region; and
a ball pocket region spaced from the tapered land region toward a proximal end of the spindle, wherein the ball pocket region has a reduced size as compared to the tapered land region for allowing the ball to move inwardly into a ball pocket defined in the ball pocket region when the spindle is moved with respect to the shank of the associated releasable securing device such that the ball pocket region at least partially aligns with the radial opening in the shank of the associated releasable securing device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A spindle for a releasable securing device having a ball that cooperates with the spindle, which is located in a shank of the releasable securing device, is disclosed. The spindle includes a tapered land region and a ball pocket region. The tapered land region is configured to selectively contact the ball of the associated releasable securing device urging the ball outwardly in a radial opening formed in the shank of the associated releasable securing device. The land region includes an external surface tapering toward a central axis and a distal end of the spindle. The ball extends beyond an outer surface of the shank when contacted by the exterior surface. The ball pocket region is spaced from the tapered land region toward a proximal end of the spindle. The ball pocket region has a reduced diameter or size as compared to the tapered land region for allowing the ball to move inwardly into a ball pocket defined in the ball pocket region when the spindle is moved with respect to the shank of the associated releasable securing device such that the ball pocket region aligns with the radial opening in the shank of the associated releasable securing device
23 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A spindle for an associated releasable securing device having a ball that cooperates with the spindle located in a shank of the associated releasable securing device, the spindle including:
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a tapered land region configured to selectively contact the associated ball of the associated releasable securing device urging the ball toward a radial opening formed in the shank of the associated releasable securing device, the land region tapering toward a central axis and a distal end of the spindle and the ball extends beyond an outer surface of the shank when contacted by the tapered land region; and a ball pocket region spaced from the tapered land region toward a proximal end of the spindle, wherein the ball pocket region has a reduced size as compared to the tapered land region for allowing the ball to move inwardly into a ball pocket defined in the ball pocket region when the spindle is moved with respect to the shank of the associated releasable securing device such that the ball pocket region at least partially aligns with the radial opening in the shank of the associated releasable securing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A releasable securing device comprising:
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a shank including an axial passage extending along a longitudinal axis and a radial opening extending from the axial passage to an outer surface of the shank; a ball received in the shank and movable in a radial direction in the radial opening between a first position where a portion of the ball extends radially outward from the radial opening beyond the outer surface of the shank and a second position where the ball is offset radially inwardly or generally flush with the outer surface of the shank; a release mechanism; a spindle received in the axial passage and movable with respect to the shank in a first axial direction and a second axial direction, which is opposite the first axial direction, the spindle including a proximal end connected with the release mechanism, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a land region that acts against the ball to inhibit radial inward movement of the ball in the radial opening when the land region is aligned with the radial opening and a ball pocket region having a reduced size as compared to the tapered land region which allows the ball to move radially inwardly into a ball pocket as the ball pocket region moves into alignment with the radial opening, the land region, including an inwardly tapered exterior surface tapering inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and the distal end of the spindle, the exterior surface engaging the ball when in the first position; and a biasing member acting against the spindle to bias the spindle in the second axial direction such that the exterior surface of the tapered land region contacts the ball urging the ball radially outward in the radial passage. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A quick release pin comprising:
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a shank including an axial passage extending along a longitudinal axis and a radial opening extending from the axial passage to an outer surface of the shank; a ball received in the shank and movable in a radial direction in the radial opening between a first position where a portion of the ball extends radially outward from the radial opening beyond the outer surface of the shank and a second position where the ball is offset radially inwardly or generally flush with the outer surface of the shank; a release mechanism; a spindle received in the axial passage and movable with respect to the shank in a first axial direction and a second axial direction, which is opposite the first axial direction, the spindle including a proximal end connected with the release mechanism, a distal end opposite the proximal end, a land region that acts against the ball to inhibit radial inward movement of the ball in the radial opening toward the longitudinal axis when the land region is aligned with the radial opening and a ball pocket region having a reduced size as compared to the land region which allows the ball to move inwardly into a ball pocket when the ball pocket region moves into alignment with the radial opening, the land region having an exterior surface such that the ball exerts a force on the exterior surface made up of a first vector that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and a second vector that is parallel to the longitudinal axis and is in a direction away from the distal end of the spindle; and a biasing member acting against the spindle to bias the spindle in the second axial direction such that the exterior surface of the land region contacts the ball urging the ball radially outward in the radial opening. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification