Accessory latching assembly

• US 20070182198A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radio Flyer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Radio Flyer Incorporated
• Inventors: Seckel, Timothy, Michelau, Frederick
• Granted Patent: US 7,625,033 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/100.60
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/007 Coaster wagons
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/14 Equipment protecting from environmental influences, e.g. Hoods; Weather screens; Cat nets
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/147 Attachments or holders for umbrellas, parasols or sunshade panels details of umbrellas A45B25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/10 Details of socket shapes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32483 Spring biased
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/595 Lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/599 Spring biased manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/604 Radially sliding catch

Abstract

A latching assembly for attaching an accessory such as a canopy to a wagon or other children'"'"'s vehicle. Body tubes are positioned within each corner of the wagon and each features an exposed annular notch. The body tubes are engaged by latches attached to the four corner poles of the canopy. Each latch includes a housing within which pivoting latch fingers reside. Each latch finger includes button and jaw portions as well as leaf springs that urge the jaw portions into engagement with the annular notch of a corresponding body tube. A latch may be removed from the body tube by squeezing the button portions of the latch fingers together. This procedure is repeated for the remaining three corners of the wagon so that the canopy may be removed there from.

Claims

1. A latch for attaching an accessory to an object comprising:

a) a latch housing including a first cavity;

b) a first latch finger pivotally mounted within the first housing cavity, said first latch finger including a button portion and a jaw portion, said jaw portion adapted to engage the object;

c) a first spring urging said first latch finger to pivot in a direction where the jaw portion of the first latch finger engages the object and wherein the latch may be disengaged from the object by pressing the button portion of the first latch finger.

2. The latch of claim 1 wherein said latch housing includes a second cavity and the latch further comprises:

d) a second latch finger pivotally mounted in the second housing cavity, the second latch finger including a button portion and a jaw portion, said jaw portion of the second latch finger adapted to cooperate with the jaw portion of the first latch finger to engage the object; and

e) a second spring urging said second latch finger to pivot in a direction where the jaw portion of the second latch finger engages the object and wherein the latch may be disengaged from the object by pressing the button portions of the first and second latch fingers.

3. The latch of claim 1 further comprising a pole adapted to support the accessory and to which the latch is mounted.

4. The latch of claim 3 wherein the object is a children'"'"'s wagon and the accessory is a canopy.

5. The latch of claim 1 wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

6. The latch of claim 1 wherein the first latch finger is pivotally mounted within the first cavity by a hinge pin.

7. The latch of claim 1 further comprising a neck extending from the latch housing and adapted to be received by the object.

8. A latching assembly for attaching an accessory to an object comprising:

a) a body tube adapted to be fastened to the object

b) a latch including;

i. a latch housing having a pair of cavities therein;

ii. a pair of latch fingers pivotally mounted one each in the cavities, each of said latch fingers including a button portion and a jaw portion;

iii. a pair of leaf springs positioned one each within the cavities of the latch housing and each urging a corresponding latch finger to pivot in a direction where the jaw portion engages the body tube; and

iv. said jaw portions disengaging the body tube when said button portions are squeezed towards one another.

9. The latching assembly of claim 8 wherein the latch includes a neck that engages the body tube.

10. The latching assembly of claim 9 wherein the body tube includes a top opening that is engaged by the neck.

11. The latching assembly of claim 8 further comprising a pole adapted to support the accessory and to which the latch is mounted.

12. The latching assembly of claim 11 wherein the object is a children'"'"'s wagon and the accessory is a canopy.

13. The latching assembly of claim 8 wherein the pair of springs are leaf springs.

14. The latching assembly of claim 8 wherein the body tube includes an annular notch that is engaged by the jaw portions of the latch fingers.

15. The latching assembly of claim 14 wherein the body tube includes a pair of spaced annular ridges that define the annular notch.

16. The latching assembly of claim 8 wherein said latch housing includes an annular channel which receives the top end of the body tube.

17. The latching assembly of claim 8 wherein said body tube includes a circumferential indentation that is sized to engage a hole in the object so that the body tube is mounted to the object.

18. The latching assembly of claim 17 wherein the body tube includes a circumferential barb portion positioned adjacent to the circumferential indentation to facilitate the insertion of the body tube into the object.

19. The latching assembly of claim 17 wherein the object is a plastic wagon and the circumferential indentation engages a hole formed in the wagon wall.

20. The latching assembly of claim 8 wherein the latch fingers are pivotally mounted within the cavities by hinge pins.