AU2013100062B4 - Coupling element - Google Patents

Abstract

A coupling element comprising a generally U-shaped support member (10), a locking pin (11), and a tether (12) arranged to connect the pin to the support member is disclosed, the pin capable of engaging an aperture in each of the arms of the support member, such that the pin can be detachably mounted between the arms and close the opening in the support member, wherein the tether is arranged for attachment to the pin by a separate first attachment means (13) and to the support member by a second attachment means (14), the first attachment means comprising a swivel member pivotally mounted on an exterior surface of the locking pin and capable of pivoting about a rotational axis of the pin, the swivel member being arranged to permit the pin to be rotated into position between the arms of the support member.

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Innovation Patent Applicant: Shackles (NZ) Limited Invention Title: COUPLING ELEMENT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to us: - 2 COUPLING ELEMENT [0001] The present invention relates to a coupling element in which a locking pin extends between the spaced apart arms of a generally U-shaped support member in order to secure an elongate object, such as a strap, chain or cable, to the support member. [0002] The generally U-shaped support member need not be exactly U-shaped and may, by way of example, include a support member that is V-shaped, including a shallow V-shape, or one in which the spaced apart arms are perpendicular to a bridging portion between the arms. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION [0003] Coupling elements, such as shackles, have been used for many years to couple objects together, often to allow for lifting and/or moving loads. [0004] One of the problems with conventional shackles is that the locking pin, which is detachably mounted to the shackle usually using a threaded connection, can be easily lost or mislaid when detached from the shackle. The loss of the pin renders the shackle unusable and can result in unnecessary delays and replacement costs. Furthermore, there is a risk that a replacement pin made to engage a different shackle will be less secure than the original pin and cause the shackle to fail in a load-bearing situation. [00051 It is an object of the invention to provide a coupling element that will overcome the above-mentioned problems.

-3 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a coupling element comprising a generally U-shaped support member, a locking pin, and a tether arranged to connect the pin to the support member, the support member comprising two spaced apart elongate arms, each arm connected at a proximal end and extending to a distal end, the distal ends of both arms defining an opening in the support member, the opening arranged to receive one or more objects between the arms of the support member, the locking pin being capable of engaging each of the arms of the support member, such that the pin can be detachably mounted between the arms and close the opening in the support member, wherein the tether is arranged for attachment to the pin by a separate first attachment means and to the support member by a second attachment means, the first attachment means comprising a swivel member pivotally mounted on an exterior surface of the locking pin and capable of pivoting about a rotational axis of the pin, the swivel member being arranged to permit the pin to be rotated into position between the arms of the support member. [0007] Each of the arms of the support member may contain an aperture for engaging the locking pin. [0008] The two arms of the support member may be connected by a bridging portion at the proximal end of each arm. [0009] The tether may be attached to the swivel member. [0010] The swivel member may be any suitable object capable of pivoting about a rotational axis of the locking pin. In one embodiment, the swivel member comprises a circular ring member sized to engage a cylindrical portion of the locking pin. In a preferred aspect of this embodiment, the ring member is sized to fit within a circumferential groove or recess formed in a cylindrical portion of the pin. The swivel member may also include a projection extending outwardly from the ring member, the projection containing an aperture for engagement with the tether. [0011] The second attachment means may be any suitable means of attaching the tether to the support member, such as, an aperture, bolt, screw or weld on the support member. In one embodiment, the second attachment means comprises a projection extending from the body of the support member, the projection containing an aperture for engagement with the tether. [0012] In one embodiment, the locking pin may be screwed into position between the arms of the support member. In this embodiment, at least one of the arms of the support member may contain an aperture with an internal screw thread for cooperation with an external screw thread on the pin. [0013] The tether may be a length of any suitable flexible material, such as a chain, wire, or plastic cord. In one embodiment, the tether is a length of chain. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0014] An embodiment of the coupling element will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a coupling element according to the invention.

- 5 [0015] As shown in Fig. 1, the coupling element comprises a generally U-shaped support member 10, a locking pin 11, and a tether 12 arranged to connect the pin to the support member, the support member comprising two spaced apart elongate arms, 10a and 10b, each arm connected at a proximal end and extending to a distal end, the distal ends of both arms defining an opening in the support member, the opening arranged to receive one or more elongate objects between the arms of the support member, the pin capable of engaging an aperture in each of the arms of the support member, such that the pin can be detachably mounted between the arms and close the opening in the support member, wherein the tether is arranged for attachment to the pin by a separate first attachment means 13 and to the support member by a second attachment means 14, the first attachment means comprising a swivel member 13 pivotally mounted on an exterior surface of the locking pin and capable of pivoting about a rotational axis of the pin, the swivel member being arranged to permit the pin to be rotated into position between the arms of the support member. [0016] As a consequence of the tether 12 connecting the locking pin 11 to the support member 10, the pin cannot be lost or mislaid separately from the support member. This is especially useful in an environment in which the operator is busy or otherwise unable to keep hold of the pin at all times. The tether also reduces the risk that a different and potentially unsecure pin will be used with the support member. [0017] A knot in the tether 12 can shorten the tether and even prevent the locking pin 11 from engaging with the support member 10. Consequently, an important feature of the invention is that the swivel member 13, which connects the - 6 tether to the pin, is arranged so as to permit the pin to be rotated into position between the arms, 10a and 10b, of the support member 10 without the tether becoming knotted. [0018] The individual components of the coupling element, according to one embodiment of the invention, are described in greater detail below. [0019] The support member 10 may be a conventional shackle which has been modified to include the second attachment means 14 connecting the tether 12 to the support member. The second attachment means may either be incorporated during the manufacture of the support member or retrofitted to a pre existing support member. [0020] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the support member 10 has a U-shaped body comprising a first arm 10a, a second arm 10b, and a curved bridging portion 10c between the two arms. The two arms of the support member are parallel and of equal length. At the distal end of each arm of the support member is an integrally formed annular lug, 10d or 10e. Each lug contains a lateral bore hole that passes through the lug. The bore holes are hollow and cylindrical and sized to receive the cylindrical shank lid of the locking pin 11. [0021] The distance between the distal ends of the arms, 10a and 10b, of the support member 10 creates an opening or 'jaw' for the placement of an elongate object, such as a strap, chain or cable, into a securement zone (shown as A) between the arms of the support member. Multiple elongate objects can be placed within the securement zone in order to be coupled together, for example, in order to couple a rigging system with a load to be lifted and/or moved. The support member can also be mounted to an article in order to couple the article with an elongate object in the securement zone of the shackle member, for example, the shackle member may be mounted to the tow bar of a motor vehicle in order to tow a load. [0022] The bore holes are aligned with each other such that the shank lid of the locking pin 11 can be simultaneously received by both bore holes in order to secure the elongate object or objects within the securement zone A to the support member 10. One, or both, of the bore holes may contain an internal screw thread for cooperation with an external screw thread on the shank lid of the locking pin 11 in order to secure the locking pin to the support member 10 in the 'locked' position and prevent the unintended release of the object or objects within the securement zone. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, only one of the bore holes contains an internal screw thread, namely, the bore hole in lug 10e. Consequently, the pin only has an external screw thread on the endmost portion of the shank. [0023] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the second attachment means 14 connecting the support member 10 to the tether 12 is a projection from the support member in which a suitably sized aperture has been formed to allow for the attachment of the tether. However, the second attachment means may be any suitable means of attachment connecting the tether to the support member, such as, a bolt or weld. [0024] The support member 10 may be made from any suitable metal or alloy, such as steel, in particular, galvanised steel.

- 8 [0025] The locking pin 11 is arranged to be detachably mounted between the arms, 10a and 10b, of the support member 10 by means of a threaded connection in one or both bore holes in the lugs, 10d and 10e, of the support member. The function of the locking pin is to secure one or more elongate objects within the securement zone A of the support member. [0026] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the locking pin 11 comprises a head region 11a and an integrally formed, elongate, cylindrical body. The head region is arranged to be gripped by the operator, or by a tool, and rotated about the longitudinal axis of the pin in order for the pin to be screw mounted into the 'locked' position between the arms, 10a and 10b, of the support member 10. The head region may be any shape, such as circular, and may contain an eye. The head region may be shaped to engage with the head of a tool. [0027] The elongate, cylindrical body of the locking pin comprises a neck lib, a shoulder 11c, and a shank lid. The neck of the pin consists of a circumferential groove or recess cut into the body of the pin. The groove or recess is sized to receive the swivel member 13 which, in this embodiment, is a generally circular ring member. However, the swivel member could be any suitable object capable of pivoting about the rotational axis of the pin. The ring member also includes a projection extending outwardly from the ring member, the projection containing an aperture for engagement with the tether 12. [0028] Because the ring member 13 is free to swivel about the circumference of the pin 11, the tether 12 attached to the ring member does not become knotted. This means that the tether will not become progressively shorter and, as a - 9 consequence, the pin potentially unable to be mounted between the arms, 10a and 10b, of the support member 10. [0029] The shoulder lic of the locking pin is of wider diameter than the neck lib or shank lid. The purpose of the shoulder is to abut a lug 10d in the support member 10 in the 'locked' position and thereby act as a locating means for positioning the pin in the proper location for engagement with the support member. [0030] At the free end of the body of the pin is the cylindrical shank lid. The shank may contain an external screw thread for cooperation with the internal screw thread in one or both of the bores of the lugs of the support member in order to secure the pin to the support member in the 'locked' position. [0031] Like the support member, the locking pin 11 may be made from any suitable metal or alloy, such as steel, in particular, galvanised steel. [0032] The tether 12 connects the locking pin 11 to the support member 10 such that the pin cannot be lost or mislaid separately from the support member. The tether is elongate and has a first end and a second end. The first end of the tether is attached to the pin by the first attachment means 13. The second end of the tether is attached to the support member by the second attachment means 14. [0033] The tether 12 may be a length of any suitable flexible material, such as a chain, wire, or plastic cord. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the tether is a length of chain made of metal or alloy, such as, steel, particularly - 10 galvanised steel. The tether is of sufficient length to permit the pin 11 to be easily screwed in place between the two arms, 10a and 10b, of the support member 10, without being so long that the tether is likely to tangle in nearby objects. [0034] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the swivel member 13 is a generally circular ring member which is sized to fit around a cylindrical portion of the locking pin 11, in particular, a circumferential groove or recess formed in a cylindrical portion of the pin. The first end of the tether 12 is attached to the ring member by means of an aperture within a projection extending outwardly from the ring member. The ring member can easily rotate about the cylindrical neck lb of the pin as the pin is screwed into position without the tether becoming knotted. [0035] The ring member 13 may be made of steel welded to form a circle, snugly fitted into the groove in the locking pin or alternatively a split ring made of metal or an alloy such as steel, in particular, galvanised steel. The two overlapping portions of the split ring can be urged apart so that the split ring can be placed around the cylindrical neck lb of the locking pin 11. Alternatively, the ring member may be made of a flexible material, such as plastic. In the embodiment described herein, the ring member is made of steel welded to form a circle, snugly fitted into the groove in the locking pin. [0036] The second attachment means 14 may be any suitable means of attachment connecting the second end of the tether 12 to the support member 10, such as, an aperture, bolt, screw or weld. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the second attachment means is a projection from the body of the support - 11 member in which a suitably sized aperture has been formed to allow for the attachment of the second end of the tether. The projection can either be integrally formed with the support member or, alternatively, be retrofitted to a pre-existing support member. [0037] While some preferred aspects of the invention have been described by way of example, it should be appreciated that modifications and/or improvements can occur without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in this specification. [0038] The terms comprise, comprises, comprising, or comprised, if and when used herein, should be interpreted non exclusively, that is, as conveying "consisting of or including".

Claims (5)

1. A coupling element comprising a generally U-shaped support member, a locking pin, and a tether arranged to connect the pin to the support member, the support member comprising two spaced apart elongate arms, each arm connected at a proximal end and extending to a distal end, the distal ends of both arms defining an opening in the support member, the opening arranged to receive one or more elongate objects between the arms of the support member, the locking pin being capable of engaging each of the arms of the support member, such that the pin can be detachably mounted between the arms and close the opening in the support member, wherein the tether is arranged for attachment to the pin by a separate first attachment means and to the support member by a second attachment means, the first attachment means comprising a swivel member pivotally mounted on an exterior surface of the locking pin and capable of pivoting about a rotational axis of the pin, the swivel member being arranged to permit the pin to be rotated into position between the arms of the support member.

2. A coupling element according to claim 1, wherein the swivel member comprises a circular ring member sized to engage a cylindrical portion of the locking pin.

3. A coupling element according to claim 2, wherein the ring member is sized to fit within a circumferential groove or recess formed in a cylindrical portion of the pin.

4. A coupling element according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the swivel member also includes a projection extending - 13 outwardly from the ring member, the projection containing an aperture for engagement with the tether.

5. A coupling element substantially as herein described or exemplified, with reference to the accompanying drawing.