Latching mechanism and assembly

• US 7,043,861 B1
• Filed: 04/06/2004
• Issued: 05/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregg Hugh Crawford
• Original Assignee: Gregg Hugh Crawford
• Inventors: Crawford, Gregg Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): HOGE, GARY CHAPMAN
• Application Number:
  US10/817,913
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 406/111.1, 406/111.2, 406/060.1, 406/12, 404/6, 248/228.3, 248/231.41, 248/231.21, 248/316.4
• US Class Current: 40/611.11
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44402 with operator for moving pivoted member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44462 Coil spring

Abstract

A spring loaded latching mechanism for a sign holding mechanism permitting rapid changes of thin, rigid sinage, which is rugged and able to withstand heavy wind buffeting including such caused by rapidly moving cars and trucks. The latching mechanism comprises a pair of jaw-like actuators or hook members, at least one of which includes a shoulder bolt retainer member and compression spring member.

Claims

1. A sign holding mechanism permitting rapid changes of thin, rigid signage, which is rugged and able to withstand heavy wind buffeting caused by speeding cars and trucks, said sign holding structure comprising,

an external mounting structure having at least one upright post with a sign fastened thereto, said post having a lower end and an upper end, an upwardly facing hook member secured to said lower end of said upright post for attachment to said external structure, and a downwardly facing hook member secured to the upper end of said post for attachment to said external structure, said upper end having at least one threaded bore hole therein and said downwardly facing hook member having at least one though bore hole, said downwardly facing hook member having a spring stop shoulder in said through bore hole, a retainer member extending through the bore hole, said retainer member having a smooth shank, a threaded lower end and a head, said threaded lower end extending past the shoulder and being in threaded engagement with said threaded bore hole, and a spring between said head and said spring stop shoulder, whereby said downwardly facing hook member can be moved so as to compress and load the spring to expand the space between said upwardly facing and downwardly facing hook members so that the post with the two hook members and said spring urging said downwardly facing hook member downward is securely grasped by said hook members to the external structure.