MXPA06005318A - Quarter turn slide lock assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A quarter turn slide lock assembly having a base (30), a cover (32), a slider (34), a rotator (36), springs (40, 42) and washers (44, 46). The base includes a channel (48) for the slider to move between extended and retracted positions. The slider includes internal (152) and exterior (146) cam follower surfaces. The rotator has a hex head (172) for 90°rotation by a special tool and a cam arm for engaging the internal cam follower surface (152) of the slider. The external cam follower surface (146) is biased by an abutting surface on an object to be locked and the springs bias the slider in an opposite direction to an interference fit with the object. The base includes a smooth, slanted outer surface to avoid snags and the washers reinforce the slide lock so that rivets used to attach the slide lock to an object to be locked are strongly secured. The cover snap fits to the base for a simple and reliable slide lock assembly.

Description

PEDESTAL CLOSURE ASSEMBLY THAT HAS CLOSURE FREE OF IMPEDIMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is concerned with a quarter-turn slide fastener assembly and more in particular with a quarter-turn, non-expensive, corrosion resistant sliding seal assembly suitable for outdoor use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART There are devices that require corrosion resistant closures that are not expensive to prevent most forms of vandalism. For example, outdoor telecommunications glasses are exposed to environmental hazards that include rain, flood, wind, pollutants and the like, as well as tampering and vandalism. Such pedestals are now economically manufactured from synthetic resin material. For security reasons these pedestals are blocked to prevent unauthorized entry, but from time to time the pedestals can be opened for service by an authorized technician. Examples of existing closure structures are disclosed in U.S. Patents 5,345,795 and 5,412,960. From here, a reliable, not expensive and safe closure for severe environmental conditions is very desirable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION What is disclosed is a sliding closure assembly comprising a base having a channel formed therein, a slide mounted in the channel of the base and movable along the channel between an extended position and a retracted position, a rotator mounted to the base and connected to the slide to move the slide to its retracted position, after rotation of approximately 90 ° (a quarter turn) and a driver mounted between the base and the slide to drive the slide to its extended position. There are a variety of advantages, elements and objects obtained from the present invention that are believed not to be available in prior related devices. For example, the sliding closure assembly of the present disclosure has an automatic block element, is automatically operated by cam action and needs only a quarter turn to open. The sliding closure assembly disclosed herein is compact, with a smooth outer surface so as not to impede or interfere with wires or the like, if there is a need to move the closure past such articles. The sliding closure assembly is versatile in that it can be placed in different orientations or positions and includes an alignment element to improve the mounting of the closure to an object to be locked. An example of such an object is a communication pedestal cover that will be blocked to a pedestal base. The slide closure assembly disclosed herein is corrosion resistant and includes internal gates to drain water and other contaminants, if they enter the closing mechanism. In addition, the sliding closure assembly disclosed herein is constructed in a simple manner, relatively inexpensive and is very reliable. A more complete understanding of the present invention and other objects, advantages, and elements thereof will be taken from a consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment read in conjunction with the accompanying figures provided herein. The preferred embodiment represents an example of the invention which is described herein in compliance with the title 35 Ü.S.C. section 112 (first paragraph), but the invention itself is defined by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 is a detailed isometric view of a telecommunication pedestal closure assembly including a dome and a split base and having a sliding closure assembly installed in the dome for coupling with the base.

Figure 2 is an isometric view enlarged front of the sliding closure assembly of the type used in the pedestal assembly shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a rear isometric view of the sliding closure assembly. Figure 4 is a detailed isometric view of the sliding closure assembly. Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the sliding closure assembly. Figure 6 is a rear elevation view of the sliding closure assembly. Figure 7 is a sectional elevation view taken along line 7-7 of Figure 5. Figure 8 is a sectional plan view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 5. Figure 9 is an elevation view of a sliding closure assembly without covering with a slide in an extended position. Figure 10 is an elevation view with that shown in Figure 9 but with the slide in a fully retracted position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODE OF THE INVENTION While the present invention is open to various modifications and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiments shown in the various figures of the drawings will be described herein in detail. However, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular embodiment, form or example disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all the equivalent structural modifications and alternative methods and constructions that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims, in accordance with the title 35 Ü.S.C. section 112 (second paragraph). Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a pedestal closure assembly 10 having a cover or dome 12, a base 14 and a mounting plate 16. The dome is formed to be plugged into an upper section 20 of the base 14 and to automatically lock itself to the base. In a lower portion 22 of the dome there is a protrusion 24 behind which is a sliding closure assembly to be described later herein. The slide fastener assembly includes a slide that moves horizontally and is designed to engage or retain a rib element 26 integrally molded with the base. Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the sliding closure assembly 28 is illustrated. The assembly is mounted within the dome behind the protrusion 24, FIG.

The sliding closure is arranged in a compact unit and includes a base 30, a cover 32, the slide 34, a rotator 36, a pair of springs 40, 42 and a pair of washers 44, 46. As shown in figures 2 -8, the base 30 is a single molded element having a sliding channel 48 formed by opposite side walls 50, 52, a rear wall 54 and a side wall 56. Towards each portion of the end 60, 62 of the base, there is a pair of generally rectangular cylinders 64, 66 and 68, 70 for receiving insertion arms 73, 74, 76, 78 molded with the cover 32. Each insertion arm extends outwardly and includes an elongated extended end to cause an adjustment of interference with the closure base 30. Between each para of rectangular cylinders there is a circular cylinder 80, 82 having an opening 84, 86 for receiving a rivet (not shown). In the upper end portion 60 of the base there is a key groove 90 which receives a tongue connected to the article to be locked, such as the dome of a telecommunication pedestal closure, to facilitate alignment of the sliding closure during assembly of the close with the dome. The co-pending patent application of the applicant No. (attorney's file) is incorporated herein. 560043-620640) entitled "Improved Pedestal Closure Assembly", where details of the pedestal closure are revealed.

The base 30 also includes a first pair of drainage slits 94, 96 in the lower side wall 52 of the slide channel 48 and a second pair of drainage slits 98, 100 in a lower periphery 102 of the base. A pair of small tabs 104, 106 extend from the rear and side walls and are also provided to guide the placement of the compression springs and to keep the springs in place. The back of the base surfaces inclined upper and lower 101, 103 extending from the periphery about forty to forty-five degrees from a horizontal reference. Similarly, the side walls 105, 107 can be. extend vertically and then lean inward at approximately thirty-thirty-five degrees from a horizontal reference. All intersections are rounded as shown. The purpose of sloping surfaces and rounded corners is to eliminate any sharp edges to avoid catching or obstruct any wire or cable that may be attached to the mounting plate 16 inside the pedestal. The dome and the sliding closure assembly must pass through the mounting plate when the dome is removed or installed on the base of the pedestal. The cover 32 includes a panel 110 having an internal shoulder 112 which engages a complementary indentation 114 formed in the periphery of the base. The wall panel is connected to the four extended insert arms 72, 74, 76, 78 and has a central hole 120 with a lock ring 122 and two rivet holes 124, 126. Like the base, the cover also includes a key slot 130 that is aligned with the key slot 90 the base when the cover and the closing base are attached. The slider 34 includes opposite side walls 140, 142, an end wall 144 and an external inclined cam follower wall 146. The slider also includes a central slit hole 150 and an internal inclined cam follower wall 152. The slider it also includes two spring splice walls 160, 162 and two motion limiting projections 164, 166. The springs 40, 42 are located between the splice walls 160, 162 of the slide and the side wall of the base 56 and are restricted by the base tabs 104, 106. The base, the cover and the slide are all made of a suitable synthetic resin, such as Nylon 66 and each is molded as an integral element. The springs are made of corrosion-resistant steel. The sliding closure assembly also includes the rotator 36. The rotator includes a central body 170, a hexagonal head 172 and a cam arm 174. The rotator is constructed of an appropriate metal, such as AG40A zinc alloy according to the standard ASTM B86, also known as Zamak 3.1 finished with Chromate according to the Mil-C-17711 standard and tested according to ASTM 8201. The two reinforcing washers 44, 46 made of stainless steel series 300 are also provided and equipped around the holes of rivet of the base 84, 86 to reinforce the connection between the sliding closure assembly and the pedestal dome for example. The assembly of the sliding closure parts is extremely easy and is carried out easily. The slide is inserted in the sliding channel of the base like the two springs. Then the rotator is positioned through the slider and the base and restricted. After this, the cover is adjusted by insertion to the base of the closure with the hexagonal head extending through the central hole in the cover. In operation, the compression springs push the slide to the right, as shown in figure 9. However, when a technician inserts the appropriate tool, one with a hexagonal hole on the hexagonal head of the rotator and inside the safety ring , a turn of ninety degrees or a quarter turn of the hexagonal head causes the arm 174 of the rotator to act as a cam and push against the internal inclined wall 152 of the slide, forcing the slide to the left to compress the springs as shown in Figure 10. Thus, Figure 9 illustrates the slide in its extended position and Figure 10 illustrates the slide in its fully retracted position. When installed on the pedestal, for example, the external inclined wall 146 of the slide will contact the prominent rib 26 of the base 14 when the dome is connected to the base of the pedestal. The upper surface of the rib acts as a cam to cause the slide to retract as the dome is moved downwardly in engagement. The rib causes the slide to fully retract to allow the sliding seal to pass through the rib. During the coupling, after the slide is retracted, the end wall 144 of the slide will slide against the rib under the influence of the compressed springs which generate a driving return force to the right. Once the slide has passed through the rib, the driving force of the springs will cause the slide to fully extend, thereby creating an interference fit between the slide and the rib to lock the pedestal dome to the base of the pedestal. The release of the dome and base only requires the technician to insert the tool and rotate the tool clockwise to eject the slider from the coupling with the rib and thereby allow the dome to be removed from the base.

It will be understood that the sliding closure assembly can be used in a different orientation. For example, the sliding closure assembly could be oriented in such a way that the slide is facing down or up or to the left. Such a change of position may require redesigning the slide to place the external inclined wall at a site where it will first contact a projection on an object to which a connection is to be made. It should also be understood that the rotator may have a different shape on its head or may even extend outward to be held by the user's fingers if desired. The above specification describes in detail the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Other examples, modalities, modifications and variations, both under the language of the literal claims and of the doctrine of equivalents, will fall within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. For example, the precise shape of the base and the rotator can change but will still be considered equivalent structures. In addition, such changes will enter the literal language of the claims. Still other alternatives will also be equivalent as many new technologies. There is no desire or intention in the present to limit in any way the application of the doctrine of equivalents or to limit the scope of the invention,

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. A pedestal closure assembly, characterized in that it comprises: a dome having a lower portion, a base and a closure, wherein the closure is placed over the dome and adjacent cables, when the cables are installed in the assembly. pedestal closure, wherein the dome is configured to slide on the base and where the closure is free of sharp edges to avoid pinching of the cables when the dome is removed from or installed on the base, with the cables installed in the assembly of pedestal closure.
2. 2. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the external surface includes a plurality of inclined surfaces.
3. 3. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the plurality of inclined surfaces includes an upper surface and a lower surface.
4. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the plurality of inclined surfaces further includes at least two side walls.
5. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the outer surface further includes at least one rounded intersection.
6. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the outer surface further includes at least one rounded corner.
7. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a mounting plate for supporting the cables.
8. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the closure is placed in close proximity to the mounting plate, when the dome is removed from or installed on the base.
9. 9. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that it also comprises the cables and wherein the cables are supported by the mounting plate. The pedestal closure assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that the closure is placed on the lower portion of the dome.