CA2249145A1 - Spring-loaded coupling mechanism - Google Patents

Spring-loaded coupling mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2249145A1
CA2249145A1 CA 2249145 CA2249145A CA2249145A1 CA 2249145 A1 CA2249145 A1 CA 2249145A1 CA 2249145 CA2249145 CA 2249145 CA 2249145 A CA2249145 A CA 2249145A CA 2249145 A1 CA2249145 A1 CA 2249145A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
housing
elongate support
catch
coupling mechanism
support member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2249145
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Karen D. Dwyer
Benjamin T. Dwyer
Aaron P. Dwyer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2249145A1 publication Critical patent/CA2249145A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

A spring-loaded coupling mechanism includes a tubular housing having an internal cavity, a forward end, a rearward end, and a tapered forward portion and further includes a catch member which is connected to a first elongate support member and is biasedly seated in said tapered portion of said housing, the first elongate support member being attached to an object, and also includes a connecting member which is attached to a second elongate support member and which is extendable and releasably securable inside the housing with the second elongate support member being substantially taut and being attached to another object. This spring-loaded coupling mechanism easily and conveniently ties at least two objects together such as a boat being moored to a dock or on a trailer.

Description

CA 0224914~ 1998-09-29 . ' ~ .

PATENT APPLICATION
SPRING-LOADED COUPLING MECHANISM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a spring-loaded coupling mechanism which is capable of coupling together two objects such as mooring a boat to a dock or on a trailer.
Most objects which are hingedly coupled to other complimentary objects are essentially permanently coupled to each other such as lids being coupled to containers. Those objects which are not permanently coupled together are coupled together with rope or with a hook and loop. For example, coupling or mooring a boat to a dock includes using a rope having a loop at one end and being tied to the boat at the other end with the loop being adapted to slip over the top o~
a post on the dock. Securing a boat on a trailer includes a rope having a hook at one end which is adapted to clip or hook about a loop connected to the boat. Other types o~ coupling means includes the ~ollowing:
One known prior art is an EMERGENCY OPENING LATCH, U.S.
PAT. NO. 3,338,609, issued on August 29, 1967 and invented by H.C. Banas, which comprises a central coupling section, an outer section pivotally connected to the central coupling section, an arm member pivotally secured to the central coupling section, and a releasing means being secured to the arm member ~or disengaging the outer section ~rom the central -CA 0224914~ 1998-09-29 coupling section.
Another known prior art is a RELEASABLE HINGE FOR
SWINGABLE PORTIONS OF A CONTAINER, U.S. PAT. NO. 4,302,866, issued on December 1, 1981 and invented by Ronald D. Irvin, which comprises a pair of spring fingers and a blind notch on the cover and bottom walls of a container for receiving the spring fingers.
Another known prior art is a HINGE HAVING A LATERALLY
OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLAT SPRING, U.S. PAT. NO. 4,455,711, issued on June 26, 1984 and invented by John P. Anderson, which comprises a housing having a first tube thereon, a pin for sliding in the first tube, and a flat spring having a first end and a second end fixed to the pin.
None o~ the prior art discloses or suggests the present invention which allows the user to quickly and easily couple two objects together by simply inserting a connecting member inside a housing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a spring-loaded coupling mechanism which comprises a tubular housing having a hole through the rearward end and a hole through the forward end with the forward portion of the cavity being tapered inwardly and toward the forward end, and further comprises a catch member fixedly attached to a first elongate support member which extends through the hole in the rearward end and which supports a spring member which rests against the rearward end . CA 0224914~ 1998-09-29 , and biases the catch member into contact with the tapered portion of the cavity. A substantially round connecting member being conventionally connected to a second elongate support member is extendable and securable inside the housing though the forward end and is engageable between the catch member and the interior o~ the housing. A first stop member is fixedly attached to the second elongate support member at a selected distance from the connecting member, and a second stop member is movably disposed between the first stop member and the connecting member and is attached to an end of a compression spring means whlch has another end resting against the first stop member. This spring-loaded coupling mechanism is ideal for conveniently and easily coupling two objects together. The first elongate support member is essentially connected to a one object such as a post disposed on a dock, and the second elongate support member is connected to a another object such as a boat and to couple the two objects together, the user inserts the connecting member into the housing so that the connecting member releasably engages between the catch member and the wall o~ the housing.
One objective of the present invention is to provide a spring-loaded coupling mechanism which allows the user to easily and conveniently couple two objects together.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a spring-loaded coupling mechanism which eliminates the user having to tie two objects together with a rope such as mooring CA 0224914~ 1998-09-29 a boat to a dock or on a trailer.
Yet, another objective o~ the present invention is to provide a spring-loaded coupling mechanism which allows the user to quickly couple and de-couple two objects together by simply inserting the connecting member inside the housing until it becomes securely engaged therein.
Further objectives and advantages o~ the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view o~ the spring-loaded coupling mechanism.
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view o~ the spring-loaded coupling mechanism showing, in particular, a longitudinal cross-sectional view o~ the housing and the connecting member engaged therein.
FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view o~ the catch member.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Re~erring to the drawings in FIGS. 1-3, in particular, the spring-loaded coupling mechanism comprises a tubular housing 15 having a ~orward end 15A and a rearward end 15B
with each end having a hole 15Al-Bl therethrough into an internal cavity 15C o~ the housing 15, a ~orward portion o~
the cavity 15C being tapered inwardly and toward the ~orward CA 0224914~ 1998-09-29 end 15A of the housing 15. A catch member 20, at least a portion of which has a generally right angle longitudinal cross-section, is movably disposed inside the internal cavity 15C of the housing 15 and is fixedly attached by conventional means to a first elongate support member 21 which movably extends through the hole 15Bl in the rearward end 15B of the housing 15; wherein, the catch member 20 is positioned inside the housing 15 such that the right angle longitudinal cross-section faces toward the tapered portion 15D of the cavity 15C
and toward the forward end 15A of the housing 15. As shown in FIG. 2, a spring member 22 is disposed inside the housing 15 and is mounted about the ~irst elongate support member 21 and has an end which rests against the inner side of the rearward end 15B of the housing 15 and biasedly seats the catch member 20 in the tapered portion i5D of the housing 15. The portion of the first elongate support member 21 not extendable inside the housing 15 is attached or connected by conventional means to an object which is capable o~ being coupled to another object which is attached to a second elongate support member 26 which has an end fixedly attached by conventional means to a substantially round connecting member 25 which is extendable and releasably securable inside the housing 15 through the hole 15Al in the forward end 15A. A first stop member 27A is fixedly mounted by conventional means about the second elongate support member 26 a selected distance ~rom the connecting member 25, and a second stop member 27B is movably CA 0224914~ 1998-09-29 mounted about the second elongate support member 26 between the connecting member 25 and the first stop member 27A. A
compression spring means 28 is mounted about the second elongate support member 26 and has one end resting against the ~irst stop member 27A and has the other end ~ixedly attached or welded to the second stop member 27B and biases the second stop member 27B into contact with the outerside of the forward end 15A of the housing 15 when the connecting member 25 is securely engaged inside thereof. Once the connecting member 25 is secured inside the housing 15, the spring means 28 urges against the ~irst stop member 27A with the second stop member 27B being in contactable relationship with the forward end 15A
of the housing 15 to substantially tighten the second elongate support member 26 which essentially insures that the connecting member 25 remain securely engaged either between the catch member 20 and the wall of the housing 15 or behind the catch member 20.
To use the spring-loaded coupling mechanism, the user ties one end of the first elongate support member 21 which is not extendable inside the housing 15 to an object such as a dock and ties one end o~ the second elongate support member 26 which is also not extendable inside the housing 15 to another object such as the bow of a boat; and then moves the first elongate support member 21 rearwardly relative to the housing 15 so as to unseat the catch member 20 from the tapered portion 15D of the housing 15, the catch member 20 being CA 0224914~ 1998-09-29 seated in the tapered portion 15D o~ the cavity 15C; and then extends the round connecting member 25 through the hole 15Al in the ~orward end 15A o~ the housing 15 beyond the tapered portion 15D; and then releases the ~irst elongate support member 21 to allow the catch member 20 to move into engagement with the connecting member 25 which is either received in the right angle longitudinal cross-section o~ the catch member 20 and securely engaged between the catch member 20 and the interior o~ the housing 15 or engaged behind the catch member 20 between the catch member 20 and the rearward end 15B o~ the housing 15; wherein the catch member 20 prevents the connecting member 25 ~rom exiting the housing 15 through the hole 15Al in the ~orward end 15A either by blocking the passage through the housing 15 with the connecting member 25 being to the rearward side o~ the catch member 20 which is biasedly seated in the tapered portion 15D o~ the housing 15 or by receiving the connecting member 25 in the right angle cross section and engaging the connecting member 25 between the catch member 20 and the wall o~ the housing 15, in particular, the tapered portion 15D o~ the cavity 15C. By the connecting member 25 being releasably secured inside the housing 15 by the catch member 20, the objects which are attached to the respective lines are coupled together.
Optionally, a ~unnel-like member 18 is conventionally and ~ixedly attached to and extending ~rom the ~orward end 15A o~
the housing 15 to ~acilitate the coupling or extending o~ the CA 0224914~ 1998-09-29 connecting member 25 through the hole 15Al in the forward end 15A of the housing 15 by funneling the connecting member 25 toward the hole 15Al in the forward end 15A o~ the housing 15.
To de-couple the objects, the user urges the first elongate support member 21 rearwardly relative to the housing 15, which un-seats the catch member 20 from the tapered portion 15D and disengages the catch member 20 from the connecting member 25 which, because of the force of the spring means 28 on the second elongate support member 26, exits the housing 15 through the hole 15Al in the forward end 15A
thereof. The user only has to momentarily move the first elongate support member 21 rearwardly sufficient to disengage the catch member 20 from the connecting member 25. Many objects can be easily and conveniently coupled together by using this spring-loaded coupling mechanism.
Various changes and departures may be made to the invention without departing ~rom the spirit and scope thereof.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited to that specifically described in the speci~ication or as illustrated in the drawings but only as set forth in the claims.

Claims (11)

1. A coupling mechanism comprising:
a tubular housing having an internal cavity, a forward end, a rearward end and at least two holes extending in said internal cavity, said internal cavity having a tapered forward portion;
a connecting means being extendable and securable in said tubular housing, said connecting means being attachable to an object; and a catch means for releasably and securably retaining said connecting means inside said tubular housing, said catch means being attachable to another object.
2 A coupling mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein said tapered forward portion is tapered inwardly of said internal cavity and toward said forward end of said housing.
3. A coupling mechanism as described in claim 1, wherein said catch means includes a first elongate support member, a catch member movably disposed in said internal cavity and attached to said first elongate support member, and a spring member mounted about said first elongate support member and biasedly seating said catch member in said tapered portion.
4. A coupling mechanism as described in claim 3, wherein said first elongate support member movably extends through one of said holes and is attachable to said object.
5. A coupling mechanism as described in claim 4, wherein said first elongate support member movably extends through one of said at least two holes which extends through said rearward end and is attachable to said object.
6. A coupling mechanism as described in claim 4, wherein said catch member has a substantially right angle longitudinal cross-section.
7. A coupling mechanism as described in claim 6, wherein said connecting means includes a second elongate support member extendable through another of said at least two holes, a connecting member being attached to said second elongate support member and being extendable and releasably securable inside said housing, a first stop member attached to said second elongate support member at a selected distance from said catch member, a second stop member movably mounted about said second elongate support member between said first stop member and said catch member, and a spring means mounted about said second elongate support member between said first stop member and said second stop member for keeping said second elongate support member substantially taut when said catch member is secured inside said housing.
8. A coupling mechanism as described in claim 7, wherein said connecting member is structured to be retained by said right angle longitudinal cross-section of said catch member.
9. A coupling mechanism as described in claim 8, wherein said connecting member is substantially round and is adapted to be releasably engaged between said catch member and said housing.
10. A coupling mechanism as described in claim 7, wherein said catch member is dimensioned to allow said connecting member to move beyond said catch member when said catch member is unseated from said tapered portion of said housing such that when said catch member is reseated in said tapered portion, said connecting member is prevented from exiting said housing.
11
CA 2249145 1997-09-29 1998-09-29 Spring-loaded coupling mechanism Abandoned CA2249145A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US10001997A 1997-09-29 1997-09-29
US09/100,019 1997-09-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2249145A1 true CA2249145A1 (en) 1999-03-29

Family

ID=22277717

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2249145 Abandoned CA2249145A1 (en) 1997-09-29 1998-09-29 Spring-loaded coupling mechanism

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2249145A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102464213A (en) * 2010-11-04 2012-05-23 韩国科学技术院 Mooring system for a vessel, floating body and quay wall including the same

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN102464213A (en) * 2010-11-04 2012-05-23 韩国科学技术院 Mooring system for a vessel, floating body and quay wall including the same
CN102464213B (en) * 2010-11-04 2014-09-10 韩国科学技术院 Mooring system for a vessel, floating body and quay wall including the same

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