GB2121094A

GB2121094A - Improvements relating to safety catches

Info

Publication number: GB2121094A
Application number: GB08215494A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Henry Powell
Original assignee: POWELL AND PARTNERS Ltd RI
Current assignee: POWELL AND PARTNERS Ltd RI
Priority date: 1982-05-27
Filing date: 1982-05-27
Publication date: 1983-12-14
Also published as: GB2121094B

Abstract

A safety catch is designed primarily for a fore-and-aft sliding cartridge as used in service vans. Such a cartridge (4) has a frame including a tubular longitudinal member (6) which runs in a channel shaped guide (2). Two arms (10, 14) extend along the inside of this tubular member from a normally accessible rear end, where there is a spring-loaded plunger (7). One of the arms (14) is fixed near this end and forms a resilient bow terminating in a stud (17) able to project through the wall of member (6) to engage an aperture in the channel guide (2). The other arm (10) is movable by the plunger (7) so that when the plunger is pressed against its spring bias the stud (17) is withdrawn into the tubular member and the cartridge is free to move. Release of the plunger automatically reverses the arm movements. A single screw (15) fixes the spring arm (14) and its removal enables the whole catch to be withdrawn. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to safety catches This invention relates to safety catches. It is primarily intended for application to sliding cartridges which carry an array of containers in service vans. These are themselves a new development, and enable the user, after opening the back door(s) of the van to slide out the array to a position where the containers are easily accessible and visible. Thus the need to crawl into a dark and crowded van to try to locate and retrieve a part is removed.

Such a cartridge will normally have some form of catch to stop it being pulled completely clear of its fore-and-aft guides. However, it is desirable also to locate it firmly at various intermediate positions and at its fully retracted position within the van. Otherwise, if the van is stopped on an incline, for example, the cartridge can shoot backwards and upset the contents of the containers, and even injure the person opening the rear door.

The aim of the invention is therefore to provided a catch arrangement capable of performing this function. At the same time it must be easily operable, simple and robust. It might be thought simple and logical to fit a spring catch to one of the guides, to engage detents in the cartridge. However, this is difficuit to operate, since the catch must then perforce be within the van, while the user can move the cartridge only by pushing or pulling the exposed rear end. The catch is then out of reach, or is accessible only with difficulty. It must not, of course, be a catch which can be set at its disengaged position, for it would tend to be forgotten.

According to the present invention there is provided a safety catch comprising a duct, two arms extending along the duct and engaging opposite walls, one arm being sprung, having one end fixed and having a projection at its other end within the duct to extend through the wall engaged by the other arm, this other arm being slidable longitudinally of the duct, being arranged in one direction of movement to engage said one arm to flex the latter against its spring to retract said projection, and being spring biased in the opposite direction.

This other arm is conveniently operated by a plunger projecting from one end of the duct. The spring bias is preferably a coil spring acting between flanged ends of the fixed and slidable arms. The securing of the fixed arm may simply be by a screw through the adjacent wall of the duct, and when this is removed the whole catch assembly can be slid out longitudinally from the plunger end.

There is no specific limit to the length of the arms, but they could easily be a metre or more in length. When applied to the van cartridge system described, this means that the cartridge can be slid out by that metre or more, and then securely retained by the catch, whose projection will still be within the van.

For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a slidable cartridge and supporting frame within a service van, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of part of the cartridge.

The van is equipped with two columns 1 spanned by fore-and-aft horizontal guides 2 and 3, both being of channel form and having rollers as indicated in outline. Their vertical setting on the columns may be adjustable, and the channel of the upper guide 2 opens downwardly and that of the lower guide 3 opens upwardly.

A cartridge 4 slides in the guides 2 and 3. This has a rectangular frame spanned by louvred panels 5 which provide hook formations on which to hang containers. The frame is of box section members and a catch assembly is fitted in the upper longitudinal member 6 which is normally housed within the guide 2.

This member 6 is open at the rear end and is there loosely fitted by a plunger 7 having a stem 8 projecting further into the member. The stem 8 passes through an end flange 9 of an arm 10 which extends along one internal wall of the member 6 to terminate in a curled over end portion 1 The plunger and stem are fixed to the flange 9, and are biased outwardly of the member 6 by a coil spring 12. This acts between the flange 9 and a similar flange 13 at the end of an arm 14 through which the stem 8 freely passes. The arm 14 is fixed against the opposite internal wall by a screw 1 5. A stop 1 6, in the form of a riveted stud on the arm 10, engages the flange 13 to limit outward movement of the plunger.The arm 14 is sprung and bowed so that its remote end well inside the member 6 is biassed against the wall 1 6 associated with the sliding arm 1 0. This end of the arm 14 has a stud 17 which normally projects through the wall 1 6 and can then engage any one of an array of holes 1 8 in a flange of the guide 2. A handle 19 on the rear end of the cartridge is adjacent the plunger, which can be thumb operated from the hand grasping the handle.

For moving the cartridge the plunger 7 is pressed to slide the arm 10 further into the member 6. Its end portion 11 engages the opposite arm 14 and retracts the stud 1 7. The cartridge can then be slid longitudinally. If the plunger is released, the arm 10 returns and the stud 17 will snap into the next hole 1 8. Thus the cartridge can be set at various positions and there is no danger of it sliding accidentally for more than the hole spacing.

It will be appreciated that this catch may have many other applications than in service vans.

1. A safety catch comprising a duct, two arms extending along the duct and co-operating with opposite walls, one arm being sprung, having one end fixed, and having a projection at its other end within the duct to extend through the wall with

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to safety catches This invention relates to safety catches. It is primarily intended for application to sliding cartridges which carry an array of containers in service vans. These are themselves a new development, and enable the user, after opening the back door(s) of the van to slide out the array to a position where the containers are easily accessible and visible. Thus the need to crawl into a dark and crowded van to try to locate and retrieve a part is removed. Such a cartridge will normally have some form of catch to stop it being pulled completely clear of its fore-and-aft guides. However, it is desirable also to locate it firmly at various intermediate positions and at its fully retracted position within the van. Otherwise, if the van is stopped on an incline, for example, the cartridge can shoot backwards and upset the contents of the containers, and even injure the person opening the rear door. The aim of the invention is therefore to provided a catch arrangement capable of performing this function. At the same time it must be easily operable, simple and robust. It might be thought simple and logical to fit a spring catch to one of the guides, to engage detents in the cartridge. However, this is difficuit to operate, since the catch must then perforce be within the van, while the user can move the cartridge only by pushing or pulling the exposed rear end. The catch is then out of reach, or is accessible only with difficulty. It must not, of course, be a catch which can be set at its disengaged position, for it would tend to be forgotten. According to the present invention there is provided a safety catch comprising a duct, two arms extending along the duct and engaging opposite walls, one arm being sprung, having one end fixed and having a projection at its other end within the duct to extend through the wall engaged by the other arm, this other arm being slidable longitudinally of the duct, being arranged in one direction of movement to engage said one arm to flex the latter against its spring to retract said projection, and being spring biased in the opposite direction. This other arm is conveniently operated by a plunger projecting from one end of the duct. The spring bias is preferably a coil spring acting between flanged ends of the fixed and slidable arms. The securing of the fixed arm may simply be by a screw through the adjacent wall of the duct, and when this is removed the whole catch assembly can be slid out longitudinally from the plunger end. There is no specific limit to the length of the arms, but they could easily be a metre or more in length. When applied to the van cartridge system described, this means that the cartridge can be slid out by that metre or more, and then securely retained by the catch, whose projection will still be within the van. For a better understanding of the invention one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of a slidable cartridge and supporting frame within a service van, and Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of part of the cartridge. The van is equipped with two columns 1 spanned by fore-and-aft horizontal guides 2 and 3, both being of channel form and having rollers as indicated in outline. Their vertical setting on the columns may be adjustable, and the channel of the upper guide 2 opens downwardly and that of the lower guide 3 opens upwardly. A cartridge 4 slides in the guides 2 and 3. This has a rectangular frame spanned by louvred panels 5 which provide hook formations on which to hang containers. The frame is of box section members and a catch assembly is fitted in the upper longitudinal member 6 which is normally housed within the guide 2. This member 6 is open at the rear end and is there loosely fitted by a plunger 7 having a stem 8 projecting further into the member. The stem 8 passes through an end flange 9 of an arm 10 which extends along one internal wall of the member 6 to terminate in a curled over end portion 1 The plunger and stem are fixed to the flange 9, and are biased outwardly of the member 6 by a coil spring 12. This acts between the flange 9 and a similar flange 13 at the end of an arm 14 through which the stem 8 freely passes. The arm 14 is fixed against the opposite internal wall by a screw 1 5. A stop 1 6, in the form of a riveted stud on the arm 10, engages the flange 13 to limit outward movement of the plunger.The arm 14 is sprung and bowed so that its remote end well inside the member 6 is biassed against the wall 1 6 associated with the sliding arm 1 0. This end of the arm 14 has a stud 17 which normally projects through the wall 1 6 and can then engage any one of an array of holes 1 8 in a flange of the guide 2. A handle 19 on the rear end of the cartridge is adjacent the plunger, which can be thumb operated from the hand grasping the handle. For moving the cartridge the plunger 7 is pressed to slide the arm 10 further into the member 6. Its end portion 11 engages the opposite arm 14 and retracts the stud 1 7. The cartridge can then be slid longitudinally. If the plunger is released, the arm 10 returns and the stud 17 will snap into the next hole 1 8. Thus the cartridge can be set at various positions and there is no danger of it sliding accidentally for more than the hole spacing. It will be appreciated that this catch may have many other applications than in service vans. CLAIMS

1. A safety catch comprising a duct, two arms extending along the duct and co-operating with opposite walls, one arm being sprung, having one end fixed, and having a projection at its other end within the duct to extend through the wall with which the other arm co-operates, this other arm being slidable longitudinally of the duct, being arranged in one direction of movement to engage said one arm to flex the latter against its spring to retract said projection, and being spring biased in the opposite direction.

2. A catch as claimed in claim 1, wherein a manually operable element accessible at one end of the duct is provided for moving said other arm.

3. A catch as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring bias is provided by a spring acting between the arms adjacent said fixed end.

4. A safety catch as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said one arm is secured by a fastener through the associated wall of the duct, the removal of this fastener enabling both arms to be slid out longitudinally from one end of the duct.

5. A safety catch substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

6. A sliding cartridge having a duct extending in the direction of movement and equipped with a safety catch as claimed in any preceding claim.