GB867510A - Improvements relating to releasable connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

867,510. Releasable fastenings. HARLEY PATENTS (INTERNATIONAL) Ltd. April 21, 1958 [April 24, 1957], No. 13084/57. Class 44. A releasable connector comprises two separable members 10 and 12, Figs. 1 and 3 having load bearing parts which can be interengaged to transmit a tensile load from one member to the other but can be separated by relative movement in a direction substantially at right angles to the line of such tension, an abutment in the form of a sleeve 18 surrounding one member and mounted to slide on it parallel to the direction of the load between a locking position and a releasing position, locking means 24, 26, to retain the sleeve in its locking position, and a press member 27 arranged to be manually pressed and extending through an aperture in the sleeve and arranged when pressed, to release the locking means, the press member being biased towards a protruding position by a spring 25 which is inaccessible in all positions of the sleeve 18. As applied to a releasable connector for parachute harness, the member 10 comprises a block having a T-shaped recess 11 therein, to receive a T-shaped tang 13 provided by a plate member 12. The sleeve 18 is slidable on the block 10 between a position in which it covers the head of the tang 13 and a position in which the latter is clear of the recess 11. Pairs of spring-loaded pins 24 at each side of the block 10 engage a slot 26 on that side of the slide when the latter is in the first position and are movable inwardly to permit releasing movement of the sleeve by press-members 27. The interengaging faces 30 and 31 of the recess 11 and tang 13 assists the separation of these parts. In the arrangement according to Figs. 4 and 7, one member 45 is provided with a hook 40 at one end which is adapted to be covered and uncovered by a slide 41. The member 45 is formed with a slot 46 through which passes a spring-loaded plunger 48 having thereon a flange 54 which, in the position of the slide shown in Fig. 4, passes into an enlargement of the slot 46 to lock the slide in that position. The plunger is depressed to unlock the slide by a spring-loaded pressbutton 59. In another arrangement, Fig. 11, a generally cylindrical member 71 and slide 70 co-operate to releasably retain a second member on a peg 74 projecting inwardly of the member 71, the slide being locked in the position shown by a press-button 78.