PLASTIC SPRING LOCK

• US 3,750,238 A
• Filed: 12/28/1971
• Issued: 08/07/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert G. Tanner
• Original Assignee: Robert G. Tanner
• Inventors: Tanner, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCall, James T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US05/212,968
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 24/21S,9PR,23F,217,28A,265B,1.8,1.81 85/8.3 287/58CT,13A 248/239,408
• US Class Current: 267/176
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/20 consisting of tongues, pins or similar projecting means coacting with openings A47B57/08, A47B57/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45476 with additional, similar projection for engaging different cavity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4718 Watch pintle connected

Abstract

This invention relates to a spring lock and particularly to one made entirely of plastic with the exception of the spring itself wherein there is included a stud member having means at one end to provide a seat for the spring and tapered protrusions on its side. A plastic thimble-type sleeve fits over the stud and has elongated slots in which the protrusions slide and means at its closed end for providing a seat for the spring. The stud has recesses which allow distortion of the open end of the sleeve as it is forced over the tapered protrusion for assembling the lock. The spring is mounted between the closed end of the sleeve and the stud to bias the sleeve away from the stud.

Claims

1. A spring lock device comprising a stud member having protrusions extending from its side, the protrusions being tapered outwardly from the front to the rear of the stud member, a sleeve slideably engaged over the stud member for axial movement with respect thereto, the sleeve having elongated slots in its side in which the protrusions slide, the slots terminating short of the sleeve ends, at least one end of the sleeve being open and sufficiently flexible to allow it to pass up and over the tapered protrusions for inserting the protrusions in the slots during assembly of the device, and a spring mounted between the sleeve and the stud member to bias the sleeve axially with respect to the stud member.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the stud member includes recesses adjacent the protrusions to allow distortion of the one end of the sleeve when forced over the protrusions during assembly.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the protrusions are diametrically opposed and the recesses are formed between the protrusions.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the rear sides of the protrusions are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the stud member, whereby once the device is assembled, the sleeve is locked in sliding engagement with the stud member by the perpendicular sides of the protrusions engaging the rear ends of the slots.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the spring is mounted between the front end of the stud member and the other end of the sleeve.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the stud member and sleeve are each formed of plastic as a one-piece unit.

7. A spring lock device comprising a stud member having protrusions extending from its side, a sleeve slideably engaged over the stud member for axial movement with respect thereto, the sleeve having elongated slots in its side in which the protrusions slide, the slots terminating short of the sleeve ends, at least one end of the sleeve being open and sufficiently flexible and the stud member having recesses adjacent the protrusions to allow distortion of the one end of the sleeve for passing it over the protrusions such that the protrusions fall into the slots during assembly, and a spring mounted between the sleeve and the stud member to bias the sleeve axially with respect to the stud member.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the front sides of the protrusions are tapered outwardly toward the rear of the stud member and the rear sides of the protrusions are substantially perpendicular to the axes of the stud member, the stud member and sleeve being each formed of plastic as a one-piece unit.