CA2357068A1 - Lock for knock-down storage rack - Google Patents

Description

This application is a continuation of application no.2,344,727 filed in the Canadian Intellectual Property Office on April 20, 2001. The subject matter of that application is incorporated into this application by reference.
A second embodiment of the lock of the invention is illustrated in Figures 9 to 13. In the drawings:
Figure 9 is a perspective view, partly in section and enlarged scale, of the lock in a activated or locked position;
Figure 10 is another perspective view of the lock in an unlocked or deactivated position;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the lock, connector and upright;
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the lock in conjunction with a connector, a shelf supporting beam and an upright; and Figure 13 is a perspective view of the connector and upright from the rear;
With reference to Figure 9, the lock includes a pin or plunger 80 having a head or cap 82 at the outer end of a shank 84. The shank is slidingly mounted in a hollow cylindrical housing 86.
The housing has an inner portion 88 having an innermost end 89 which is bent upward from the position illustrated in broken lines in Figure 9 and identified 104.
The end can be bent by conventional means such as a die, until it is within the annular recess 89A
formed in the connector. The inner portion of the housing thus is U-shaped in section and serves to attach the housing to the connector.
The outer end of the housing has a cross-axially extending neck 94.
The shank is stepped outward approximately midway of its ends at 96. Resilient means in the form of a coil spring 98 is received in space 100 defined at its ends by neck 94 and by step 96, and by the inner wall of the housing and the outer wall of the shank. The spring biases the plunger to the activated or locked position illustrated in Figure 9. In that position the inner end 102 of the shank projects through opening 105 of upright 106.
With reference to Figure 10, the plunger is de-activated or unlocked by grasping head or cap 82 and pulling it outward to the position illustrated in that Figure. The inner end of the shank is then fully withdrawn from the opening in the upright.
In some cases, it may not be desirable that the plunger be unlocked or deactivated simply by pulling its head outward. In such cases, the coil spring should be sufficiently strong to resist such pulling but not strong enough to resist prying. To facilitate prying, the head has a somewhat hollow hemispheric cross-section. The central portion 82A is generally flat while the peripheral portion 82B extends radially outward and toward the connector. As illustrated in Figure 9, there is no space between the central portion 82A of the head and neck 94 since the two are in contact with each ocher. There is however a space between the peripheral portion and the housing. That space is sufficient large to receive a prying instrument such as a bottle opener so that the plunger can be pried open by this means.
With reference to Figures 11 to 13, the lock is shown fastened to a connector 90 which

2 serves to connect upright 106 to beam 110. A rivet 112 is beneath the lock and extends through an opening in the connector and terminates at a cylindrical head 114 located on the inside wall of the connector as illustrated in Figure 13. The rivet head serves the same purpose as tab 32 illustrated in Figure 3 of application no. 2,344,727.
Openings 1 OS in upright 106 are in the shape of tear drops and are vertically spaced along the outer wall of the upright for receipt of the lock and rivet heads 114.
The lock described in this application has a number of important features:
first the lock can be retracted by hand and can, as a result, be connected and disconnected quickly. This is to be contrasted with locks where special tools or a significant force is required to open them.
Secondly, the lock described in this application can be constructed of materials of sufficient strength that it will not break when struck violently. When the lock is struck by a fork lift truck, for example, the lock will not open.
It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the lock which is illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims