Support arm assembly for a safe lid

• US 6,932,396 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sentry Safe, Inc. (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: John D Brush & Company Incorporated (Fortune Brands Innovations, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nowicky, David A., Masseth, James E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stodola, Daniel P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lugo, Carlos
• Application Number:
  US10/305,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• Field of Search: 292/DIG.15, 292/DIG.19, 292/DIG.59, 292/DIG.65, 292/338, 292/262, 292/265, 292/267, 292/268, 292/270, 292/272, 292/DIG.11, 220/560.01, 220/831, 220/832, 232/4.R, 109/60, 248/449, 248/455, 164/04, 16D/IG.17, 296/193.11, 180/169.2, 180/69.21, 217/60.B
• US Class Current: 292/338
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 17/20 sliding through a guide E05C17/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/005 Portable strong boxes, e.g. which may be fixed to a wall or the like E05G1/08, E05G1/14 take precedence; devices to prevent theft or loss of bags, trunks, baskets, or the like A45C13/18; coin boxes for coin freed apparatus G07F9/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/11 Cover fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/28 Extension link
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/285 Notched bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/288 Swinging catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/289 Slotted bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/293 Swinging catch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/299 Slotted keeper
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/65 Braces

Abstract

This support arm assembly for connection between a safe'"'"'s lid and base includes a bracket for connection to the base and a linear support arm that connects between the bracket and lid. The bracket includes a side face adapted for connection to the inside of the base. An upward facing side of the bracket includes a linear slot that is parallel to the side of the safe when the bracket is mounted. The support arm has a generally flat planar configuration that is adapted for placement through the slot transverse to the upward facing side of the bracket. The support arm has an upper end pivotally connected to the lid and a lower end having a bend that prevents it from being withdrawn from the slot. The lower end also has an abrupt notch adjacent the bend that is adapted to interlock with the slot to hold the lid open.

Claims

1. A support arm assembly for a fire-resistant safe, the fire-resistant safe having a lid part and a base part, wherein the base and lid parts include internal and external shells that form a mold, wherein the mold is filled with insulating material, and wherein said support arm assembly is connected between the lid part and the base part, said support arm assembly comprising:

a bracket having an upward facing side and a side face, the upward facing side having an opening defined therein, and the side face being fixedly coupled with the internal shell of one of said parts, said opening having a width; and

a linear support arm, said linear support arm being adapted for placement through said opening transverse to the upward facing side of the bracket such that it can slide in said opening, said linear support arm also having an upper end and a lower end, one of said ends of said linear support arm being adapted for pivotal connection to the part opposite to the one that is coupled with the bracket, and the other end of said linear support arm having a bent section with a width and an abrupt catch proximate said bent section, wherein said catch is adapted to interlock with the opening to hold the safe'"'"'s lid part open, and wherein the width of said bent section is greater than the width of said opening to prevent said linear support arm from being withdrawn from said opening.

2. A support arm assembly as described in claim 1, wherein one of the ends of said support arm has a connection member pivotally connected thereto, which connection member is adapted to pivotally connect the end to the corresponding safe part.

3. A support arm assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said upward facing side of said bracket is generally fiat, and wherein said bracket has a generally “

L”

shaped cross-section, and wherein said side face is adapted for placement adjacent to and connection to an inner side of said internal shell of the safe'"'"'s corresponding part proximate an upper edge thereof.

4. A support arm assembly as described in claim 2, wherein said upward facing side of said bracket is generally fiat, and wherein said bracket has a generally “

L”

shaped cross-section, and wherein said side face is adapted for placement adjacent to and connection to an inner side of said internal shell of the safe'"'"'s corresponding part proximate an upper edge thereof.

5. A support arm assembly as described in claim 4, wherein said opening is a linear slot that extends parallel to the inner side of the internal shell, and wherein the support arm has a generally flat planar configuration adapted to slide transversely in said slot.

6. A support arm assembly as described in claim 5, wherein said catch is an abrupt edged notch in a lower edge of said support arm.

7. A support arm assembly as described in claim 6, wherein said bent section is bent away from the inner side of the internal shell.

8. A top-opening fire-resistant safe with support arm assembly, comprising:

a base part having internal and external shells that form a mold, the mold is filled with insulating material, and the interior shell having a top opening for accessing its interior;

a lid part hinged along one edge of said base, said lid being disposed so as to be swung open and closed over said opening by its hinged connection to said base, the lid part having internal and external shells that form a mold, the mold is filled with insulating material;

a bracket having an upward facing side and a side face, the upward facing side having an opening defined therein, and the side face being fixedly coupled with the internal shell of one of said parts, said opening having a width; and

a linear support arm, said linear support arm being adapted for placement through said opening transverse to the upward facing side of the bracket such that it can slide in said opening, said linear support arm also having an upper end and a lower end, one of the ends of said linear support arm being adapted for pivotal connection to the part opposite to the one that is coupled with the bracket, and the other end of said linear support arm having a bent section with a width and an abrupt catch proximate said bent section, wherein said catch is adapted to interlock with the opening to hold the safe'"'"'s lid part open, and wherein the width of said bent section is greater than the width of said opening to prevent said linear support arm from being withdrawn from said opening.

9. A support arm assembly as described in claim 8, wherein one of the ends of said support arm has a connection member pivotally connected thereto, which connection member is adapted to pivotally connect the end to the corresponding safe part.

10. A support arm assembly as described in claim 8, wherein said upward facing side of said bracket is generally flat, wherein said bracket has a generally “

L”

shaped cross-section, and wherein said side face is adapted for placement adjacent to and connection to an inner side of said internal shell of the safe'"'"'s corresponding part proximate an upper edge thereof.

11. A support arm assembly as described in claim 9, wherein said upward facing side of said bracket is generally flat, wherein said bracket has a generally “

L”

shaped cross-section, and wherein said side face is adapted for placement adjacent to and connection to an inner side of said internal shell of the safe'"'"'s corresponding part proximate an upper edge thereof.

12. A support arm assembly as described in claim 11, wherein said opening is a linear slot that extends parallel to the inner side of the internal shell, and wherein the support arm has a generally flat planar configuration adapted to slide transversely in said slot.

13. A support arm assembly as described in claim 12, wherein said catch is an abrupt edged notch in a lower edge of said support arm.

14. A support arm assembly as described in claim 13, wherein said bent section is bent away from the inner side of the internal shell.

15. A method for connecting a support arm assembly to a fire-resistant safe having a lid part and a base part, wherein the base and lid parts include internal and external shells that form a mold, wherein the mold is filled with insulating material, said method comprising:

providing a bracket having an upward facing side and a side face, the upward facing side having an opening defined therein, and the side face being fixedly coupled with the internal shell of one of said parts, said opening having a width;

providing a linear support arm, said linear support arm being adapted for placement through said opening transverse to the upward facing side of the bracket such that it can slide in said opening, said linear support arm also having an upper end and a lower end, one of the ends of said linear support arm being adapted for pivotal connection to the part opposite to the one that is coupled with the bracket, and the other end of said support arm having a bent section with a width and an abrupt catch proximate said bent section, wherein said catch is adapted to interlock with the opening to hold the safe'"'"'s lid part open;

sliding the bent section through the opening; and

affixing the side portion of the bracket to one of said parts and the upper end of the support arm to opposite part, wherein the width of the bent section is greater than the width of the opening to prevent the linear support arm from being withdrawn from the opening.

16. A method for connecting a support arm assembly to a safe as described in claim 15, wherein the bracket is fixedly coupled to the safe base before the bent section is slid through the opening.

17. A method for connecting a support arm assembly to a safe as described in claim 15, wherein the upper end of the support arm is connected to the safe lid before the bent section is slid through the opening.

18. A method for connecting a support arm assembly as described in claim 15, wherein said bent section is bent away from an inner side of the internal shell of the safe.

19. A method for connecting a support arm assembly as described in claim 16, wherein said bent section is bent away from an inner side of the internal shell of the safe.

20. A method for connecting a support arm assembly as described in claim 17, wherein said bent section is bent away from an inner side of the internal shell of the safe.