Supports – Props and braces – Automobile
Patent
1994-11-16
1996-03-12
Foss, J. Franklin
Supports
Props and braces
Automobile
2807631, A47F 500
Patent
active
054979692
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to releasable locking apparatus for locking adjacent elongate members together.
The invention has particular but not exclusive application to supporting the drawbar of a motor vehicle trailer in an elevated attitude and particular reference will be made hereinafter to such application. However, the invention also relates to drawbars for towing many types of apparatus. For example, it could be utilized to elevate a boat, a caravan, agricultural or earthmoving equipment.
BACKGROUND ART
A major problem with trailers is that they can be stolen or used by unauthorized persons relatively easily by simply hitching the trailer to a vehicle and driving away. Various devices have been proposed to prevent this theft and unauthorized use such as wheel locking and hitch cover devices. However, many of these known devices are ineffective and are also cumbersome in that they involve storing various loose components of the device, such as chains, covers and fasteners in a garage or in a car boot when the device is not in use. Others are expensive and inefficient in use.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages and to provide a useful alternative releasable locking apparatus which will be reliable and efficient in use. Other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter become apparent.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in one aspect resides broadly in a releasable locking apparatus for locking adjacent elongate members together and including: and the mountings are operatively connected to the respective elongate members.
Preferably the first and second mountings are saddle like members adapted to saddle respective elongate members for non-rotational connection thereto. One of the mountings/saddle members may be adapted to extend beyond the elongate member to which it is connectable for non-rotational engagement with the other mounting/saddle.
One of the mountings/saddle members may be adapted for non-rotatable engagement with the other mounting/saddle member at a plurality of positions whereby the elongate members may be locked to one another at selected angles and complementary engagement means, such as teeth, may be provided on each mounting providing adjustable interlocking.
The saddles or mountings may be adapted to be connected to respective elongate members by a common pin about which they may rotate when disconnected. Preferably the interconnection means is constituted by the pin, prevention of axial separation of the saddles along the pin and overlapped portions of the saddles which abut to provide a non-rotational connection. The pin and saddles may be restrained from axial movement by releasable locking means attached to one end of the pin. The locking means is preferably of the security type, for example, operated by a key, a magnetic card or a combination lock.
In a preferred arrangement one member is a drawbar and the other member is a support post. The support post may include a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures therethrough and through which the pin may selectively extend so that the drawbar can be positioned at any convenient and effective height from the ground. In particular, it may be desirable to raise the level of the drawbar connection so that it is too high for effective coupling with a conventional drawbar connection located at the rear of a vehicle. Preferably the support post includes a ground engaging portion provided with a skid plate, however other suitable ground engaging means may be provided such as a member, designed to hinder forward travel and/or to provide support.
In one arrangement the support post is movable from a support position to a stowed position extending alongside the drawbar.
The saddles may be provided with spacer means to allow for different sized elongated members. In the support post/drawbar arrangement the spacer is preferably located between a drawbar saddle leg and the drawbar. The spacer means may
REFERENCES:
patent: 2162181 (1939-06-01), Skinner
patent: 2571390 (1951-10-01), Strand
patent: 3695631 (1972-10-01), Schwaiger
patent: 3791676 (1974-02-01), Spratlen
patent: 3857575 (1974-12-01), Lee
patent: 4469348 (1984-09-01), Crook
patent: 4589632 (1986-05-01), Smith
patent: 4993677 (1991-02-01), Patterson
patent: 5094423 (1992-03-01), Almquist
patent: 5358204 (1994-10-01), Terada
Bednarek Michael D.
Foss J. Franklin
LandOfFree
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