Miscellaneous hardware (e.g. – bushing – carpet fastener – caster – Hinge – Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-12-18
Mah, Chuck Y. (Department: 3626)
Miscellaneous hardware (e.g., bushing, carpet fastener, caster,
Hinge
Including means to hold or retard hinged members against...
C016S324000, C016S332000, C403S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06330733
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an articulation or joint, especially for connecting sidepieces of a multi-purpose ladder that can be folded up.
DE 32 11 164 C2 describes a multi-purpose ladder that can be folded together, the sidepieces of which are connected by joints or articulations that are disposed in pairs and can be locked in a number of working positions. Each of these joints has two joint portions that are pivotable about a common joint shaft, whereby one of these joint portions forms a dual-shell locking disk. In the vicinity of its periphery, this locking disk has grooves that are distributed in conformity with the operating positions. Engaging into this grooves is a spring-loaded locking piece that can be raised out of the grooves for the purpose of pivoting the joint portions. This locking piece comprises a locking bar having an essentially rectangular cross-sectional configuration; the height of the locking bar is approximately equal to the width of the second joint portion. The locking piece is guided in a recessed portion in the side walls of the second joint portion, and includes a guide part that adjoins the locking bar, with the height of the guide bar being only slightly less than the height of the second joint portion, whereby the width is greater than the width of the recessed portion. In order to return the locking piece into the locking position, an abutment is provided for the return spring. The locking piece can be raised out of the respective groove of the locking disk by means of a release lever that is pivotably mounted on the second joint portion and is connected with an actuating lever. The release levers of the joints associated with the two sidepieces are interconnected by a rod, so that an unlocking of the locking pieces of the paired joints can be simultaneously activated. The recessed portion has sections of different width, so that a deposition surface is formed in which the locking bar is held in its disengaged position. The locking disk, which is provided with grooves, is provided with projections disposed next to the grooves that serve as abutment surfaces for the locking bar of the locking piece, so that the locking piece is pressed from the deposition surface in the direction of folding-together of the sidepieces, and hence automatically engages in the groove.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a joint or articulation that has a straightforward construction and is economical to produce.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is inventively realized by a joint or articulation having the features: two joint legs that are pivotable relative to one another about a joint shaft, wherein each of the legs comprises a pair of shaped parts, wherein one of the joint legs forms an outer joint portion having outer shells and a joint connector, and the other joint leg is embodied as an inner joint portion having inner disks and joint connectors, and wherein recessed portions are provided in the inner disks; at least one spring-loaded locking member that is movable essentially radially or tangentially relative to the joint shaft, and is engageable in at least one further recessed portion of the one joint leg, wherein the locking member extends transverse to the plane of the inner disks through the recessed portions thereof; and a lever that is pivotable about a journal that is spaced from the joint shaft, wherein the locking member cooperates with the lever.
A number of advantages of the present invention can be seen in that while maintaining all required functions and fulfilling the safety regulations, the joint or articulation comprises an extremely small number of individual parts, and these parts can be manufactured and assembled in a simple manner. Furthermore, the movable elements, such as locking member and lever, as well as the recessed portions required for engagement of the locking member, are disposed in an essentially enclosed region within the outer shell, so that the joint or articulation is well-protected from dirt or contamination. Merely the slots for the locking members are open toward the outside, and a gripping element or activation knob or possibly a rod for activation with one hand at both sides are located as movable elements outside the joint.
Pursuant to one preferred specific embodiment of the basic concept of the present invention, the lever is disposed beyond the contour of the outer shell in a region adjacent to the joint connector between the inner disks, whereby this lever cooperates with one end of a locking slide that carries at least one locking member. In this way, the form of the required parts is further simplified, whereby the locking slide, while comprising a single piece, can also include two locking members that are preferably aligned with one another. In this way, the respective requirements for transmitting forces can be handled not only by the strength of the materials used, but also by the number of locking members. In order to produce an appropriate return force, a spring is preferably provided that is disposed between the inner disks and that acts with one end upon the locking slide. Such a spring is preferably a flat spring or a helical spring, which engages a bent section of the locking slide.
Pursuant to a first modified embodiment, the lever is mounted in the joint connector of the inner joint portion, whereby the pivot axis of the lever extends parallel to the joint shaft. In this connection, it is expedient that the lever includes a cover or guide part that is pivotable between the joint connectors, and at least one actuation element that is carried thereby as well as a journal bushing, whereby the actuating elements project outwardly through an opening in the joint connectors. With such an embodiment, due to the defined spacing of the parts of the joint connector that accommodate the lever between them, and which joint connector corresponds to the thickness of the cover or guide part with appropriate play, a pivoting of the lever that is free of jamming is ensured, and the penetration of dirt is avoided. Between the actuating element and the journal bushing there is provided a cutout in the lever in which the hook of the locking slide is suspended. In this way, a positive connection is provided between the lever and the locking slide.
In another embodiment of the invention, the lever is mounted in a cover secured to the inner joint portion, whereby the pivot axis of the lever extends perpendicular to the joint shaft. In this connection, a pressure or thrust plate that acts upon the lever is provided in the cover; the thrust plate is fixedly connected with a pin that is rotatably journaled in the joint shaft. This thrust plate serves for the unlocking of the joint, whereby the lever converts the movement of the thrust plate into a movement of the locking slide that extends transverse thereto.
In order during unfolding of the sidepieces of the ladder for the locking member to automatically engage or register in the recessed portions, a spring is expediently provided that interacts with the locking slide and biases the latter in the locking direction. The spring can, for example, be a flat or helical spring that is held by one end on the inner disk.
Since for unlocking or locking the locking member is moved essentially radially relative to the joint shaft, the recessed portions in the inner disks also extend essentially radially. In each inner disk such recessed portions include a narrow section as well as a wider section that is disposed closer to the joint shaft, as well as a shoulder that is disposed between the two sections and against which the locking member can be supported. This shoulder serves for holding the locking member in the unlocked position, so that during folding together of the sidepieces of the ladder, the joint portions can be pivoted without the locking members engaging in intermediate recesses. So that this position of the locking member is maintained while the sidepieces of the ladder are folded together, yet is released in the oppo
Becker R. W.
Mah Chuck Y.
R. W. Becker & Associates
Rauschenberger GmbH u. Co.
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