Release pin

• US 7,731,465 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jergens, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jergens, Inc.
• Inventors: Stapulionis, Sean A., Hageman, David Craig, Klingenberg, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson; Victor
• Assistant Examiner(s): DELISLE, ROBERTA S
• Application Number:
  US11/480,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20070003391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 411/337, 411347-348, 292/9, 292/252, 292/DIG.37
• US Class Current: 411/348
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/165 with balls or rollers for connections of rods or tubes engaged telescopically F16B7/1409
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/37 Push button operators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0808 Sliding and roller
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/14 Ball

Abstract

A releasable locking device has a housing and an elongated member extending from the housing. The elongated member has an opening extending therethrough. A shaft extends through the opening of the elongated member. An actuator member extends from an end of the shaft and is positioned within an opening of the housing. A biasing member is positioned between the actuator member and a wall of the housing and is completely within an opening of the housing and not in the elongated member.

Claims

1. A releasable locking device, comprising:

a housing comprising an arcuate wall having an opening therein and a cylindrical portion having an opening therein, said cylindrical portion extends from the arcuate wall along a longitudinal axis of said housing;

an elongated member connected to and extending from said housing;

said elongated member having an opening extending therethrough;

a shaft extending through said opening of said elongated member and along said longitudinal axis of said housing;

an actuator member extending from an end of said shaft and positioned entirely within the confines of said arcuate wall, said actuator knob is actuated entirely within the confines of the arcuate wall; and

a biasing member extending along said longitudinal axis of said housing and positioned between said actuator member and said cylindrical portion of said housing and positioned entirely within the confines of said arcuate wall and entirely outside of cylindrical portion of said housing.

2. The releasable locking device of claim 1, further comprising a spindle formed at an end of said shaft.

3. The releasable locking device of claim 1, further comprising at least one ball which is positioned within a groove formed in said elongated member.

4. The releasable locking device of claim 3, wherein said at least one ball moves radially into at least one bore formed on an outer surface of said elongated member.

5. The releasable locking device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a substantially truncated cone-shaped section having an opening therein and a cylindrical section.

6. The releasable locking device of claim 5, wherein said biasing member comprises a compression spring interposed between a wall of said truncated cone-shaped section of said housing and a flange of said actuator member.

7. The releasable locking device of claim 1, wherein said actuator member comprises a knob.

8. The releasable locking device of claim 7, wherein said housing is attached to said elongated member via a threaded connection.

9. The releasable locking device of claim 6, wherein said biasing member is in an extended position between said actuator member and said housing wall when said actuator member is not depressed.

10. The releasable locking device of claim 1, wherein said biasing member is in a compressed position when said actuator member is manually depressed.

11. The releasable locking device of claim 4, wherein said shaft moves axially along said opening of said elongated member until said at least one ball radially extends into said bore of said elongated member.

12. The releasable locking device of claim 3, wherein said at least ball comprises a pair of balls positioned substantially 180 degrees apart.

13. The releasable locking device of claim 5, wherein said biasing member is positioned entirely within said opening of said truncated cone-shaped portion of said housing.

14. The releasable locking device of claim 5, wherein said truncated cone-shaped section of said housing comprises a wall having at least one opening therethrough for receiving a lanyard.

15. A releasable locking device, comprising:

a housing comprising a truncated cone portion and a cylindrical portions, said cylindrical portion extends from the truncated cone portion along a longitudinal axis of said housing;

a shank extending from an opening of said cylindrical portion of said housing;

said

shank having an opening extending therethrough;

a shaft extending through said opening of said shank;

an actuator knob extending from an end of said shaft and positioned entirely within the confines formed by said truncated cone portion of said housing, said actuator knob is actuated entirely within the confines of the truncated cone; and

a biasing member positioned entirely within the confines formed by said truncated cone portion and entirely outside of said cylindrical portion for biasing said actuator knob.

16. The releasable locking device of claim 15, wherein said actuator knob comprises a flange, wherein said biasing member extends between said flange and a wall of said shank.

17. The releasable locking device of claim 15, wherein said biasing member comprises a spring.

18. The releasable locking device of claim 15, wherein at least one of said truncated cone and said cylindrical portions of said handle comprise a pair of arcuate-shaped gripping portions.

19. The releasable locking device of claim 15, wherein said housing comprises an opening for receiving a lanyard.