Accessory latching assembly

• US 7,625,033 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radio Flyer Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Radio Flyer Incorporated
• Inventors: Michelau, Frederick, Seckel, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ferguson; Michael P
• Application Number:
  US11/342,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 403/109.3, 403/325, 403/109.8, 403/326, 403/322.1, 403/328, 403/322.4, 403/330, 403/338, 403/361, 403/300, 403/302, 403/109.2, 403/109.5, 403/321, 403/327, 403/332, 403/38, 403/378, 403/379.1, 403/379.4, 296/102, 296/163, 296/177, 135/88.01, 135/96, 135/88.07, 135/117, 135/88.09, 135/118, 135/199, 135/119
• US Class Current: 296/177
• 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 wagon comprising:

a wagon bed comprising a body having a generally vertical sidewall extending along the periphery of the body to define an enclosed area for the transport of children and cargo, the sidewall having a top edge having a plurality of holes;

a plurality of accessory poles having a top portion supporting an accessory and a bottom portion attachable to the wagon bed; and

an accessory latching assembly for removably attaching the accessory poles to the wagon bed, the accessory latching assembly comprising;

a body tube fastened within each hole in the top edge of the sidewall, the body tube having a longitudinally extending top opening and an annular notch in an outer surface of the body tube;

a latch mounted to the bottom portion of each accessory pole, each latch comprising;

a latch housing having an outer wall having a first cavity, a neck longitudinally extending from the latch housing, and an annular channel defined between the outer wall and the neck, the neck being received in the top opening of a corresponding body tube and the body tube being received in the annular channel in an engaged position of the latch to secure the accessory to the wagon bed;

a first latch finger pivotally mounted within the first housing cavity, the first latch finger having a button portion and a jaw portion positioned entirely within the first housing cavity, the jaw portion engaging the annular notch of the body tube in the engaged position;

a first spring urging the first latch finger to pivot in a direction wherein the jaw portion of the first latch finger engages the annular notch of the body tube; and

wherein the latch may be disengaged from the annular notch of the body tube by pressing the button portion of the first latch finger so that the accessory may be removed from the wagon bed.

2. The wagon of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a canopy.

3. The wagon of claim 1 wherein the spring is a leaf spring.

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

5. The wagon of claim 1, wherein the latch housing includes a second cavity and the latch further comprises:

a second latch finger pivotally mounted in the second housing cavity, the second latch finger including a button portion and a jaw portion, the jaw portion of the second latch finger adapted to cooperate with the jaw portion of the first latch finger engaging the annular notch of the body tube in the engaged position; and

a second spring urging the second latch finger to pivot in a direction where the jaw portion of the second latch finger engages the annular notch of the body tube, and

wherein the latch may be disengaged from the annular notch of the body tube by pressing the button portions of the first and second latch fingers so that the accessory may be removed from the wagon bed.

6. The wagon of claim 1, wherein the accessory comprises a flag.

7. A wagon comprising:

a wagon bed comprising a body having a generally vertical molded plastic sidewall extending along the periphery of the body to define an enclosed area for the transport of children and cargo, the sidewall having a top edge having a plurality of holes;

a plurality of accessory poles having a top portion supporting an accessory and a bottom portion attachable to the wagon bed; and

an accessory latching assembly for removably attaching the accessory poles to the wagon bed, the accessory latching assembly comprising;

a body tube fastened within each hole in the top edge of the sidewall, the body tube having a longitudinally extending top opening and having an annular notch and a circumferential indentation in an outer surface of the body tube, the body tube positioned through the top edge of the sidewall with at least a portion of the body tube positioned within the sidewall so that the circumferential indentation engages the opening of the top edge of the sidewall;

a latch mounted to the bottom portion of each accessory pole, each latch comprising;

a latch housing having an outer wall having a pair of cavities therein, a neck longitudinally extending from the latch housing, and an annular channel defined between the outer wall and the neck, the neck being received in the top opening of a corresponding body tube and the body tube being received in the annular channel in an engaged position of the latch to secure the accessory to the wagon bed;

a pair of latch fingers each pivotally mounted within one of the cavities, each of the latch fingers having a button portion and a jaw portion positioned entirely within the housing cavities, the jaw portion engaging the annular notch of the body tube in the engaged position;

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

the jaw portions disengaging the annular notch of the body tube when the button portions are squeezed towards one another so that the accessory may be removed from the wagon bed.

8. The wagon of claim 7, wherein the accessory comprises a canopy.

9. The wagon of claim 7 wherein the pair of springs are leaf springs.

10. The wagon of claim 7 wherein the body tube includes a pair of spaced annular ridges that define the annular notch.

11. The wagon of claim 7 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 body of the wagon bed.

12. The wagon of claim 8 wherein the latch fingers are pivotally mounted within the cavities by hinge pins.

13. The wagon of claim 7, wherein the accessory comprises a flag.