US1952980A

US1952980A - Latching structure

Info

Publication number: US1952980A
Application number: US701387A
Authority: US
Inventors: William L Fox
Original assignee: Polan Katz & Co
Current assignee: Polan Katz & Co
Priority date: 1933-12-07
Filing date: 1933-12-07
Publication date: 1934-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1951-03-27

Description

March 27, 17934. w. L. Fox

LATCHING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 7, 1953 ...w Fb

William L. Fox

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Patented Mar. 27,Y 1934 UNITED STATES 1,952,989 LATCHING STRUCTURE William L. Fox, Baltimore, Md., assigner to Palau,-

' Katz & Company, Baltimore, Md.,`arirm Application December '1, 1933, seal No. 701,387

. 4 claims. V(o1. 19a-46) This invention relates to a latching structure designed primarily for use in connection with umbrellas for detachably connecting the handle and staff thereof together, but it is to be under-` stood that a latching structure in accordance with this invention may be employed in anyconnection for which it may be found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a latching structure arranged relative to an umbrella handle and sta for expeditiously connecting and disconnecting them when occasion requires and when disconnected from each other permittingr of thev sta and cover of the umbrella beingV stored in a space of less limited length than would be the case if the handle was permanently connected to the staff.

A further object of the invention isto provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a latching structure for the purpose referred to which when in latching position relative to an umbrella handle and staff will prevent the turning and arrest the pulling away from one relative to the other, as well as further preventing the accidental separation of the handle and staff.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a latching structure for the purpose referred to, which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently operated, readily installed with respect tothe handle and staff of an umbrella, and inexpensive to manufacture.

To the 'above ends essentially, and to others y which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of such parts, and such combination of parts which fall within thescope of the invention as claimed. Y

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation and partly in section of an umbrella showing the adaptation therewith of the latching structure in latching position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary Viewin vertical-section of an umbrella handle and staff illustrating the adaptation therewith of the latching structure in non-latched position. Y

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the latching element.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the combined guide and keeper element for the latching element.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the combined guide and keeper element looking towards the bottom of the latter.

In the drawing, 1 generally indicates the staff of an umbrella 2. Thestalf 1 comprises a wooden body 3 encased by a metallic tube 4 which is iianged atits inner. end, as at 5. The body 3v extends beyond the flanged end of tube 4 and is formed with a lengthwise extending axially arranged cylindrical socket 6 opening at the inner end 7 thereof. The said inner end 7 is peripherally rabbeted, as at 8. 'Encompassing and seated against rabbet 8 is an axially apertured metallic cap member'lf The aperture in the latter is designated 10 and has vits edge registering with the wall of socket 6. The cap member 9 reinforces the rabbeted inner fend 7 of the body `3. The umbrella cover and ribs are designatedll, l2 respectively. The handle of the umbrella is indicated at 13 and includes a shank portion 14 which, when the staff 1 andA handle v13 are latched together, overlaps the cap member 9. The shank portion 14 .has an axially arranged lengthwise extending socket l5 opening at the free end 16 thereof. The wall ofV socket 15 is upon two dif'- ferentdiameters and at the junction of said diameters a shoulder 17 is formed.V That portion of the wallof socket 15 which is of largest diameter extends from shoulder 17 to the said end 16.

The latching structure includes a tubular latching element 18, a tubular combined guide and keeper element 19 for the latching element 18 and an expelling means 20 for element 18.v The means 20 also functions to maintainthe element 18 in latching engagement with respect to element 19. The element 18 has spaced peripheral cavities 2l and a radially disposed latchingpin or stud 22 intermediate its Vends extending outwardly therefrom.Vv The element 18 is of'greater length than the socket l5 and has a portion of its length positioned in the latter. 4The element 18 projectsbeyond the Vfree end 16 of the shank portion and is alsoencompassed by the wall portion 23 of the portionof largest diameter of socket 15. The wall portion 23, shoulder 17 and element 18 provide a socket 24 for a purpose to bereferred to. The pin or vstud 22 is arranged in permanent spaced relation to and outwardly of the edgerof the free end 16 of the shank portion 14. .That part of the element 18 which is arranged in that portion of smallest diameter of the socket 15 is anchored to the shank portion 15 by a cementitious material 25 interposed between the wall portion 26 of socket'l and element 18. The cementitious material also extends into the peripheral cavities 21 and assists in xedly anchoring handle 13y and element 18 together.

Y The keeper element 19 is of greater length than socket 6 and has a portion thereof secured in the f ico socket 6 and its remaining portion projecting beyond the end 7 of body 3. The periphery of element 19 is formed with a series of annular spaced grooves 27 at its inner end portion. From a point spaced from the outer end of element 19 to the outer groove 27, the periphery of element 19 is knurled as at 28. The periphery of element 19 from the outer end of the knurled portion to the outer end of said element, as indicated at 29, is plane. The periphery of element 19 between grooves 27and below the inner groove 27 is knurled as at 30. The element 19 in that por-V tion thereof having a plane outer periphery is formed with a slot 31 disposed lengthwise there# of. The slot 31 includes a spiral stretch 32 opening at one end at the edge 33 of element. 19. The slot 31 also includes an L-,shaped stretch formed of a horizontal leg 34 and a leg 35 disposed lengthwise of element 19. 'Ihe stretch 32,has its outer end merge into one end of the leg 34. The leg 35 is disposed at right angles to leg 34 and extends in a directionto oppose a part of stretch 32, the .latter being of greater length than that of

legs

34,35. The other end of leg 34 merges into the open end of leg 35. The stretch 32 provides for the rotating of element 18 when .the latter is being latched to element 19 and which willbe presently referred to.

Theexpelling means 20 includes an abutment 36 in theform of va plug, preferably of cork, an-

` sionY spring 37 seated on abutment 36 and arrangedin the path of the outer end of element 18. Theputer diameter of the latter with respect to the inner diameter of element l9`is such as to permitof element 1'8 freely moving in element 19 during thelatching andunlatching operation.

That p'art ofv element 19V withinthe socket 5 is anchored to 'body .2 by cementitious material 38 Whichis interposed between the knurled periphi eral portions of `element 19 and the Wall of socket 5; .Thematerial 38 'also enters into the grooves 27.and'assists ,in'xedly anchoring staif 1 and element.19 together.

. When vthe handle is unlatched from the, staif, thelparts will appear as shown in Figure 2. It Willbe assumed that the handle and staff are to be. connected together. Y.The element 18 is inserted into element 19 in a manner soy pin or stud 22. willenter stretch 32 of slot 31 and the free end of element .18 bear against spring 37, the latter. being .in an expanded condition. At this point,1when elementlS is moved further into element 19, the spring 37 iscompressed and the pin -201will coact withthe walls of stretch 32.to cause vthe handle to automatically rotateand bodily carry pinZUin a direction to enter leg 34 and pass through the latter to the open end ofr leg 35. At this point, the handle is relieved of pressure, then spring 37 will automatically expand, force pin 20 into' leg 35 thereby completing. the latching oper- `ationand will maintain the pin 20 in latching position. ...The'jlatching structure willthen appear as in Figure 1 and function to latch the handle, and staff together. When unlatching, an inward 'movement is applied to the handle until pin 20 lis arrested by4 leg 34; then a slightV counterclockwise turn Vis given the handle; at this point spring 37 willthen act to force the element 18 from-elementv 19YV thereby detaching the handle from the staff. When the handle and staff are connected together the outer end portion ofy ele'-y ment 19 and member 9 extend into the pocket 24.

What I claim is:-

l. A latching structure for detachably connecting the handle and staff of an umbrella together, a latching element adapted to be anchored to and extend from said handle and provided with a laterally extending pin adjacent the latter, a tubular combined guide and keeper element for the reception of the latching element and adapted to be anchored to and extend from said staff, said combined guide and keeper element being providedy with a slot having a stretch of spiral form opening at one end at the free end of the keeper element and an L-shaped stretch formed of a horizontal leg and a longitudinal leg disposed lengthwise of the keeper element, opposing a part 'of the `spiral stretch and having a closed end and an open end, said spiral stretch opening at one end into one end of the horizontal stretch, said horizontal leg opening at its 'other 'end into the open end of the longitudinal leg, said stretch and horizontal leg for the passage of said pin vto the said other leg, said stretchcoacting with the pin for rotating the latching element duringv the travel of the pinto the longitudinal leg, and an expelling means arranged within the combined guide anclkeeper'element andbearing against'the latching element for holding said pinwithinand against the closed-end of the longitudinal leg.

2. The combination with a handle having a shank portion formed'with a socket opening at one end thereof, and a staff provided withfa socket opening at one end thereof, of a latching element anchored in the socketof and extended from said handle, said element being formed on its extended portion with `a laterally disposed pin, a tubular 'keeper element anchored in -the socket of, extended from the staff and 'for the reception'of the extended portion of said latching element, said keeper' element 'being formed `with 'a slot opening at one end ofthe edge of the extended portion thereof and'provided witha spiral stretch and an L-shaped-stretch, the-latter consisting of "a horizontal leg and a leg at'ri'ght angles'tothe latter, opposing inspacedrelation a part of the'y spiral "stretch and having; oneend thereof closed, said horizontal 'leg opening into the other end'of said spiral-*stretch and at'its other end into the other end of the saidother leg, saidpinfand vslot coacting for latching "said elements together whenthe latching element is extended into the keeperelement, andl av resilient expelling means for the handle,`m'ounte`d in the keeper element for' bearing against the latching element to maintain said pin in said L- shaped stretch to releasably hold said elements in latching engagement.

V3. The combination with'a Vhandle=having `a shank portion formed 'with"a"socket openingat one end thereof, and a staff provided withaisocket opening at one'en'd'thereofyof a latching-'element anchored in the: socket of and extended from said handle, said element being formed o'n its extended portion witha 'laterally disposedfpin, a tubular keeper element 'anchored -inv the f socket of, extended from the staff and for the reception 0f the extended portion-'of "saidl'latching element,

said keeper element providedv with means coacting with said pin for latching said elements together and for rotating `the handle 'inadirection -tobe 'latched to the staff; and a resilient'expelling structain said pin in said means to releasably hold said elements in latching engagement.

4. The combination with a' handle having a shank portion formed with a socket opening at one end thereof, and a staff provided with a socket opening at one end thereof, of a latching element anchored in the socket of and extended from said handle, said element being formed on its extended portion with a laterally disposed pin, a tubular keeper element anchored in the socket of, extended from the stai and for the reception of the extended portion of said latching element, said keeper element provided with means coacting with said pin for latching said elements together and for rotating the handle in a direction to be latched to the staff, a resilient expelling structure for the handle mounted inthe keeper elementfor bearing against the latching element to maintain said pin in said means to releasably