US2521835A - Adjustable locking device - Google Patents

Description

Sept. l2, 1950 L. DEAL ADJUSTABLE LOCKING DEVICE:

eal

ATTORNEY (im l.

Filed Feb. 19, 1947 Patented Sept. 12, 1950 Louis LDeal, Rye, N.- Y., assigiuir` to Deal `Slide- Loek` Devices, Ine., New York, N. Y., a corporaa tion of NewYork Application February 19, 1947, serial No. '729.572v

17 Claims.-

The present invention relates to adjustable locking devices and more particularly to tiie type disclosed in Patent N0. 2,380,030 granted to' Eras'tus C. Deal. The present invention constii tutes an advance over and further extends' the usefulness of such adjustable locking devices.

It has been found desirable in some instances to adjustabiy support or retain a member or part in position in such manner 'that it may be moved in one direction upon the application of a relatively small amount of force and which 'resists movement in an opposite direction until the ap-a plied force reaches a comparatively greater value. One example of such use is in connection with windows; the window should be readily liftable and yet the lock or retaining means should effectively support the weight of the Window until such time as sunicient additional force is applied to the window in a direction tending to close it. This feature 'is particularly desirable in instances Where it is desi-red to support vehicle windows of busses, railroad coaches, street cars and the like; such windows are subject to a considerable amount of vibration when passing over rough spots in a road or track and vibration incident' to these shocks may be suicient to kgradually jar a window from open to closed position. It is dee sirable to avoid. this accidental closing land to se-A curely hold the Window until such time as it may be desired to close it; applicants present adjust;y able locking device eiectively performs this obejective. Another example of useforthe present adjustable locking device is in those instances where it is desirable to readily move a machine part to take up slack or lost motion and yet to prevent movement of the machine part upon the,

application of excessive force which might other Wise subject the machine part to breakage.

rIhe present invention aims' to provide an im' provement over Patent No. 2,380,030 and toV accomplish the above referred to and other des-irable objectives by providing an adjustable locking device that is adapted to be moved. in one direction by the application of a relatively small force and which requires a comparatively larger force to'move it inan opposite direction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved locking device.

Another `object of the invention is to provide an improved locking device adapted to be moved in` one direction by a relatively small force andin an opposite direction by a vrelatively larger force.

Another object of the invention is to provide an .adjustable locking device particularly adaptable to support a Window.

(Cl. 16e-e193) A further object of the invention is to provide admechanism Which may be incorporated with existing1 adjustable slide locks with minimum revision' thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention Will be obvious upon' an understanding of the iIlus-jv trative embodiment about tobe described, or will beindieated in the appended claims, and variousv advantages not referred to herein will occur t0 one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment or the invention has` been chosen for purposes of illustration-and de`' seription Iand is shown in the accompanying Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view show-l ing a preferred embodiment of the present in-` Fig. 2 is an end View vof the embodiment illustratenin-iiig. 1*;

Fig. 3 is a vfrag'mentary sectional view, partially broken away, illustrating` the' present adjustable locking' Adevice i'nasseiiibled relationship;

Fig. 5 is lari-enlarged fragmentary view' 'showing a bracket modification;

Figi. 6- isa sectional view, partially broken avvay,

showing another formA of the invention; and

Fig. '1 isy an exploded perspective view showing the parts of the adjustable locking device illustrated in Fig'. 6.v

The .present invention will be described einer# n ly with rference to' its us ina vertically movable Window as it is believed that such will more' clearly brine out the' rea-,tures of the invention.

It Wil-11 be clear that the invention is equally` applicable to various other structures.

Referring? more particular-ly to Figs. 1, 2 'and' 3:

of the' drawing tiretsz is shown a portion 'of' a windev/"frame f adapted to carry' a sli-eet of Wine dow .g1ass or other transparent material, the frame lbeing secured to a bracket-like member or 'meansr` 2- by screws, bolts or other suitable means 4. As .'sh'o'tvr'i,` .the bracket or means 2 which is adaptedV to ycarry a load is provided with;

modified form ofv extend through apertures I in the guideway; the guideways or channels 1 may also be secured in position by spot welding or the like. Preferably the guideway is provided with flanged edges I I that project inwardly toward each other from opposite sides of the guideway to form retaining means for maintaining the bracket or load-carrying means 2 `vin assembled relationship with the guideway 1. vided with apertures or slots I3 and I4, through which may extend pins or projections I5 and IB carried by the internal mechanism of the present slide lock.

For purposes of convenience the present adjustable slide lock will be described chiefly with reference to a single bracket and channel, but it is to be understood that in normal use for supporting a window each side of the window opening will be provided with similar mechanisms. The description of the construction and mechanism at one side of thewindow will suffice for that at the other side of the window.

Theinternal mechanism of the present slide lock is adapted to facilitate movement of the window frame or the like I, through the bracket 2, with respect to the guideway 'I and yet to retain the windowframe inany desired position to which it may be opened or adjusted. With a vermechanism illustrated more particularly in Fig. 3

is adapted to eciently perform this task. The locking means illustrated in this latter figure comprises a plurality of wedge-like members I1 and I8 (here shown as two) having complementary inclined faces I1a and Ia, between which passes a flexible ribbon or cable member 20. The latter flexible member may be fastened to the guideway 1 adjacent the ends thereof by spot welds 22 or in any other suitable manner,

Urging together of the wedges causes the complementary surfaces I1a andIa to tend to press the wedges outwardly so that the outer sides `or edges thereof I1b andl Ib engage rmly with the side walls of the channel orv guideway 1. The flexible member facilitates the spreading action of the wedges and tends to generally improve the operation of the mechanism; while a flat ribbon-like member 2U is illustrated in the drawing it will be clear that this member could have round, oval or other suitable shape to co-operate with appropriately shaped faces on the wedges yI1 and I8.

The wedges I1 and I8 are normally urged to.- gether or toward each other by a resilient member or spring 23 shown abuttingagainst a lower tab portion 6 of the bracket 2 and disposed within a lower wedge recess or slot 25 so that it presses the wedge member I1 toward the adjacent upper Wedge member I8. The slot-like recess 25 assists in retaining the spring 23 in operating position. While a spiral or helical spring is shown urging the wedge member I1 toward the wedge member I8, any other form, shape or type of resilient means may be utilized for this purpose.

For purposes of convenience in'description the wedge I1 will be hereinafter referred to as the lower wedge, the wedge I8 as the upper Wedge and the spring 23 as the locking spring.

The locking spring 23 is preferably of relatively weak or light capacity; it is of such nature that it exerts a relatively small effective force on the Thesbracket 2 is also shown pro.

l26 is of greater capacity than the locking spring 23 and is adapted to exert greater effective force than the force exerted by the locking spring 23. The load spring 26 may be a stronger or heavier spring than the locking spring 23 or it may be more highly stressed or compressed, as described below, so that it exerts a greater effective force than does the locking spring. As shown in Fig. 3

the load spring 26 is formed of slightly larger diameter wire than the locking spring and is compressed to a greater extent due to the intermediation betweenit and the upper bracket tab 5 of a slug or spacer element 28, connected with the bracket member 2 by a protuberance or pin 29 in such manner that the spacer element moves to and fro or up and down with the bracket member .2. For minimizing objectionable rattling or noise a felt pad, rubber pad or cushion 3I is preferably inserted intermediate the upper bracket tab 5 and the top cf the spacer element 28.

partially open position, the window frame I is supported by the bracket 2 on the internal locking wedges I1 and I8 through the intermediation of the relatively large capacity load spring 26. If the window is a vehicle window shocks and jars caused by road shocks are absorbed by the load spring 26; the frame I, bracket 2 and spacer element 28 vibrate up and down on the load spring 2B. The load spring 26 thus supports the window inoperative position, being selected of such appropriate capacity or size as to satisfactorily per-Y form this task, If it is `desired to close the window an individual may press downwardly upon the window sufficiently far as to move the upper edge I3a of the bracket slot I3 against the operating pin I5 of the lower wedge I1. This, in effect, compresses the load spring 26 and continrued downward pressure tends to pull the lower wedge memberl I1 away from the upper wedge member I8; the wedges are thus unlocked from and spacer 28 causes the upper wedge I8 to moveA along after the lower wedge member I1 during downward movement of the window. When the window has been moved downwardly sufficiently far the individual may remove his hands from it and the window automatically locks into the position at which it is released; this is due to the immediate locking effect of the co-operating wedges I1 and I8 and walls -of the guideway or channel member 1.

The lload spring 25 'may be of such caliber, capacity or effective characteristics as to support the weight of the window in such manner as to normally maintain the edge I3a of the bracket slot I3 out of contact with the operating pin I5 of the lower wedge I1, yet it is of such characteristics as to be compressed upon the-application of vsuicient additional force to permit closing of the window in the manner described immediately' dow or other part and yet to facilitate movement ofthe window or part fupon the application of manual pressure. yDifferent capacityload springs will generally be utilized with differentr weights of Windows. I

When it is desired to open the window an individual lifting the window moves the frame I and bracket 2 upwardly so that the rlower edge 14a o'f the bracket recess I4 comes into contact with the operating pin I6 carried by the upper wedge I8 and serves to release the lock from its sidewall engagement. Since the locking spring 23 is of relatively Weak capacity compared to the load spring 26 the force required to move the window and bracket upwardly is relatively small. As thel window and bracket move the upper wedge I'B upwardly the lower bracket tabv 6 andlocking spring 23 cause the lower edge I'I to fol low along behind the upper wedge.

In some instances it may be desired to omit the spacer element 28 and to utilize a spring which. extends from the upper wedge I3 into abutting relationship with the upper bracket tab 5. The spacer element 28 permits the use of a shorter length of spring and initially compresses yit so that it exerts a greater resilient effect than does the locking spring 23.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention. In this figure the upper wedge 2l and lower wedge 30 are each shown provided with apertures 32y and 33, respectively, into which extend projecting portions or pins |6a and 15a carried by the bracket 2a. The projections or pins Ic and I5a act as operating pins in a manner similar to the pins I5 and I6 described in connection with Figs. 1 through 3. Upon upward Ymovement of the bracket 2a with a window the upper side of the operating projection Ita moves into contact with and pulls the upper wedge 21 to thus release the lock. Upon downward movement of a window and bracket the lower part of the operating projection lia moves into contact with the bottom edge of the aperture 33 of the lower Wedge 30 to release the lock.

The tab portion 9 carried at the upper part of the bracket 2a, and which is eifective to hold the spacer element 2| down in opposition to the load spring-23a, comprises a flatpiece which may extend into the guideway 1w substantially at right angles to the supporting part of the bracket 2a.

The construction and operation of the modi fied form disclosed in Fig. 4 are generally like that brought out inconnection with Figs. l through 3 but in some instances it may be desirable to provide the operating projections or pins on the bracket member instead of on the wedges; Fig. 4 shows a satisfactory construction embodying these features. While the operating pins IEa and Ilia of this figure .are shown punched outoi the bracket 2a, they may, of course, be provided by attaching suitable pins to the bracket Without punching them out of the bracket niaterial.

Fig. 5 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of a bracket tab I2 which extends around to the inner side of a flange IIb of the guideway lb. This construction facilitates retentionv of the bracket 2b with the guideway 1b. The tab or guideway portion at the opposite end of the bracket v2b may be similar to that loi Figs. 1-

through 4 and may be retained within the guideway Vlb in similar manner.

In Figs. 6 and 7 Vthere is villustrated another form of the present invention. In this former ther-inventiona guideway or channel member 6. is adapted tccontainva lower ,wedge niemberf, similar to that described in cormectionrwith Figs. 1 to 3, and also to 4contain anupper .wedgemember 3,1, the upper wedge member 3ll being generally similar to the. Wedge mem-ber. I8 but provided with a attened. end. ory straight .upper surface in lieu of a recess. A flexible ribbon-L like member 38 of steel or other suitable'material is shown extending betweenA the complementary surfaces of the upper anddlower wedges 36 andv 38. A saddle or cover member 4D having apertures 4I and 42 and tabs 44 and 45 at opposite ends thereof is adapted to be retained in position by oppositely disposed and inwardly: extending flanges of the guideway 35. O1perat ing pins 46 and .41 of the wedge members 36 and 31 project through the apertures 4I and 42 ofthe cover or' saddle member 4D.

The lower saddle tab 44 forms kan abutment for a. relatively weak or small capacity locking spring 48 that nts into a recess in the lower wedgel 36. A load spring 49 rests against the flat endy of the upper inwardly extending saddle tab 45, the latter resting against the upper end of the locking wedge 31.

The load spring 49 is shown of slightly heavier wire and general construction than the locking Spring 48 and as maintained in partially compressed relationship by a-spacer member 53 which rests against the upper end of the load spring 49 and is held in operative position by an inwardly extending ear 52 ofthe bracket member 34. The bracket member 34 may be secured to a window frame (not shown) by screws or bolts 53 and has an aperture or recess 54 adapted to iit around or receive the operating pin or protuberance 4T carried by the upper wedge member 31.

When a window is lifted, the lower edge 54a ofV the bracket recess 54 presses against the operating pin 4'1 of the Lipper wedge 3l and tends to "pul1 the upper wedge slightly away from the:

lower wedge 36; this releases the locking action and permits upward movement of thewindow. When the window is released the mechanism aura tomatically retains the window in adjusted position. When it is desired to close the window,

the individual presses downwardly on. the window and tends to compress the load spring 4Ql sufliciently far to move the lower end 55 of the bracket member 34 into contact with the op'erating pin 43 of the lower wedge member 36; this tends to pull the lower wedge member away` from the upper wedge member 3'! and to allow movement of the lock and window to a, desired y position. The force normally exerted by the load spring 49 is of such Value or eiect as to normally support the window in iixed position since` it carries the weight of the window and'absorbs vibration of the `window due to road shocks or the like. The application of suiicient additionalforce to the window in a direction tending to close it is sufficient to compress the load spring 49 and move the releasing edge 55 of the bracket aga-insty the operating pin 45.

Use of such terminology as load-supporting vice or slide vlock which is adapted to maintain an article or part, such as a window, in adjusted :position at al1 times-'during normal conditions 7. and-yet. which is adapted to facilitate closingvof the Window upon the' application of a slight amount of force in addition to that caused by the weight of the Window; The small capacity locking spring facilitates readyimovement of the mechanism and window. to open or further opened positions. vEasy liftingr of a window is possible and yet danger of the sashraccidentally dropping is minimized; the construction minimizes the possibility of vibration due to road shocks or the like causing accidental dropping of the Window. The device is simple in construction and operation, possesses relatively few parts, and is well adapted to withstand rough usage to which it may be subjected.

, As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement ofthe parts herein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a guideway, a plurality of wedge-like locking members in said guideway, resilient means adapted to normally'urge said wedge-like members into locking engagement with the guideway, a load-carrying member, projecting means operatively interconnecting said Wedge-like members and said load carrying member facilitating adjustment of the device along the guideway and second resilient means operatively interposed between the load carrying member and said projecting means adapted to support said load-carrying member and adapted to exert a greater effective force than said first-mentioned resilient means but adapted to yield to facilitate selective positioning of said device upon the application of suilicient force to said load-carrying member.

2. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination, a guideway, a plurality of locking members in said guideway, load-carrying means, portions connecting With the load-carrying means projecting into said guideWay adjacent opposite ends of said locking members, resilient means intermediate one of said projecting portions and a locking member adapted to urge the locking members into engagement with the guideway, and second resilient means adapted to provide greater effective force than said first resilient means normally maintaining said load-carrying means in a set position but adapted to yield for shifting of the device upon application to the load-carrying means of a force greater than that normally exerted by said second resilient means, and means operatively connecting said locking members and said load-carrying means providing for movement of the device along the guideway.

3. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a guideway, a plurality of locking members in said guideway, load-carrying means, portions connecting with the load-carrying means projecting into said guideway adjacent opposite ends of said locking members, resilient means intermediate one of said projecting portions and a locking member adapted to urge the locking members into engagement with the guide- Way, and second resilient means adapted to exert greater effective force than said first resilient means intermediate another of said projecting portions and a second locking member normally maintaining said load-carrying means in a set position ybut yieldable for Hshifting 4of the device upon application to the `load-carrying means of a force greater than thatnormally exerted by said second resilient meanaand projecting portions operatively interconnecting said locking members and said load-carrying means and facilitating lengthwise movement of the device lengthwise of the guideway.

4. A device of the class described comprising,l in combination, a'guideway, a plurality ci locking members in said guideway, load-carrying means, portions connecting with the load-carrying means projecting into said guideway adjacent opposite ends of said locking members, a small capacity spring intermediate one of said project-4 ing portions and a locking member adapted to urge the locking members into engagement with the guideway, and a second spring of greaterv eifective force than said first spring normally maintaining said load-carrying .means in a set position but adapted to yield for shifting ofthe device upon application to the load-carryingl means of a force greater than that normally exerted by said second spring, and means operatively connecting said locking members and said load-carrying means to facilitate movement of the device along the guideway.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway, a plurality of Wedge-like members in said guidevvay, load-supporting means havingportions extending into the guideway adjacent opposite ends of said Wedge-like members,

relatively small effective capacity resilient means' intermediate one of said extending portions and a portion of a Wedge-like member adapted to urge the wedge-like members into engagementY with the guideway, relatively larger effective' force resilient means intermediate another of` said extending portions and a portion of a wedgei like member adapted to normally maintain said load-supporting means and a load in set position.Av and projections operatively connecting saidwedge-like members and said load-supportingmeans adapted to facilitate selective positioningv the guideway, a spring of comparatively large effective capacity intermediate another of said extending portions and a Wedge-like member= adapted to normally maintain said load-supporting means and a load in set position, and projections operatively connecting said Wedge-like members and said load-supporting means adapted to facilitate selective positioning of the device upon application of forces sufficient to overcome the effective forces of said springs.

7. In a device of the class described, the come f bination of a guideway, a plurality of Wedge-like` members in said guideway, a load-supporting bracket having portions extending into the guide-l way adjacent opposite ends of said Wedge-like members, a relatively Weak spring intermediate.`

one of said extending portions and a'Wedge-like member adapted to urge the wedge-like members into engagement with the guldevvay,y a spacer', member in said guideway and. resting-against' another of said extendingfportions, a spring inter.- mediate said spacer member and a wedge-like member adapted to normally maintain said. loadsupporting bracket and a load in set' position, and projections operatively connecting said' wedgelike members and said load-supporting bracket adapted to facilita-te selective positioning of the device upon application of forces sumcien't to overcome the effective forces of said springs.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a channel member, a plurality of cooperating locking wedges in said channel member, a iiexible ribbon-like member extending between complementary surfaces of said wedges, projections carried by said wedges and extending out of the channel member, a, bracket-like mem'- ber having apertures through which said-projections extend, spaced portions carried by said bracket-like member extending into the channel member adjacent opposite ends of the locking Wedges, resilient means of comparatively small effective force maintained in position by one of said portions and normally urging said wedge members into engagement with the channel member, and resilient means of comparatively large elective Aforce maintained in position by another of said portions and resting against one of said Wedges so that said bracket-like member may be moved in one direction by the application of a small force and movement in an opposite direction requires a comparatively larger force.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a channel member, a plurality of cooperating locking wedges in saidchannel member, a flexible ribbon-like member extending between complementary surfaces of said wedges, projections carried by said Wedges and extending out of the channel member, a plate member having apertures through which said projections extend facilitating shifting of the wedges upon movement of the plate member to a different position, spaced tabs carried by said plate member extending into the channel member adjacentv opposite ends of the locking wedges, resilient means in said channel adapted to exert a comparatively small effective force abutting against one of said tabs and normally urging said wedge members into engagement with the channel member, and resilient means in said channel adapted to exert a comparatively larger effective force maintained in position by another of said tabs and resting against one of said wedges so that said plate member may be moved in one direction by the application of a small force and movement in an opposite direction requires a comparatively larger force.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway, locking wedges in said guideway having projections extending beyond the guideway, a cover extending over said Wedges having apertures through which said projections extend, tabs carried by said cover and extending into the guideway adjacent the ends of the wedges, resilient means intermediate one of said tabs and one of said wedges exerting a relatively small effective force, bracket means operatively associated with said Wedges having a lug projecting into the guideway, and resilient means intermediate said lug and a second tab carried by the cover exerting a relatively larger eiective force than said inst-mentioned resilient means.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway, locking wedges in said guideway having projections extending beyond `the guideway, a cover.

'l0 extending over said' wedges havingapertures through which said projections extend, tabs. carried bysaid cover and extending @into the guideway adjacent ther ends oi the wedges, resilient means intermediate one of said tabs and one. of said wedges exerting. a relatively small eiectiveforce, bracket means operatively associated with said wedges and overlying said cover having a lug projecting into` the guideway, a spacer memberin said guideway, and resilient means intermediate. said? spaced member and a second tab carried by the cover exerting a comparatively larger effectiveiorce than said firstmentioned resilient means. `Y

12. VIn a devicer oi the class described, in combination, a guiding memben. ay plurality ofholding members guided ,by said ,guiding member, resilient means' normally maintaining said holding menrbers in engagement with the guiding. member, a load-carrying memberand yieldable loadsupporting means `capable of normally exerting a comparatively, larger `eiective. force thanfsaid resilient means operatively interposed between said holding members and said load-carryingmember adapted to normallyfsupport a load. in selected position andl yieldable in response to application of a `force in addition to av load elective upon said load-carrying member to facilitate adjustment oi the 'device to a.. diierent, position.

13; In a device of .the class described,l the com- 'bination of a ,-guidewaymvedge-like members in said guidewayattachment means for supporting an object, ylaterally projecting means operatively interconnecting said wedge-like members and said'attachment means to facilitate movement. of the devicealong the guideway, resilient biasing lmeans operatively interposed between said attachment means andv said Wedge-like members adapted to yieldably carry saidA attachment means on said Wedge-like members with a portion of the attachment meansJspaced from said projecting means, said biasing means tending to urgethe attachment vmeansfint one direction along the guidewayy and being yieldable upon movement of the attachment means in an opposite direction to provide contact between a projecting means and said portion of the attachment means for moving` a wedge-like member and unlocking the wedgelike members from engagement `with the guideway, movement of said attachment means in said one direction providing contact between a projecting means and another portion of the attachment means for unlocking the wedge-like Imembers and moving the device in said one direction.l

14. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway, vwedge-like members in said guideway, attachment means adapted to support an object on said wedge-like members, means extending generally transversely of said guideway and interconnecting saidwedge-like members and said attachment means for facilitating release of engagement between the wedgelike members and the guideway and movement of the device to different positions along the guideway, and resilient biasing means in said guideway urging said wedge-like members and a portion of said attachment means apart and tending to urge said attachment means in one direction alo-ng the guideway, movement of the attachment means in said one direction providing a contact between said transversely extending means and said attachment means for releasing said engagement and moving the device along the guideway, movement of the attachment means in hopposition to the eiect of said resilient biasing lmeans providing a contact between said'transversely extending means and said attachment means for releasing said engagement and moving .the device in an opposite direction along .the guideway.

u 15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway having spaced Walls, holding means movable along said Walls and adapted 'to engage with each of said spaced walls, means facilitating engagement of the holding means with each of said spaced walls, attachment means normally retained in position by said holding means, means operatively interconnecting the holding means and the attachment means for adjusting the device along the .guidewayyield able means operatively interposed between said holding means and said attachment means for yieldably supporting a window man lopen'position and normally tending to urge the attachment means upwardly along the guidewayfbnt adapted to yield upon the application to such window of suiicient window-closingforce to provide a contact between said interconnecting means and said attachment means for releasing engagement of the holding members with said spaced walls for closing of such window, movement of the attachment means lupwardly providing a contact between said interconnecting means and said attachment means for releasing said'engagement of the holding members with lsaid'spaced Walls for opening of such window. A

16.` In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway including oppositely spaced walls, holding members in said guide- Way and movable along sad'fwalls adapted to lock into engagement with said oppositely spaced walls, means carried by said holdingmembers and normally retained in position by said holding members adapted to support a window, said holding members and said means having co-acting projections and recesses for facilitating movement ofthe device, and yieldable biasing Ameans operatively interposed between said means and said holding members, said biasingmeans adapted -to normally yieldably support such awindow in an open position and normally tending to urge said first means upwardly along the guideway but adapted to yield under the influence of suicient force to providea contact between a said projection and an edge of a co-acting recess for unlocking said holding members and closing of such a window, movement of said first means upwardly providing a contact between another of said projections and an edge of a co-acting recess for unlocking said holding members and opening of Such a window.

17. In a device of the class described, the combination of, a guideway having oppositely spaced walls, a plurality of overlapping wedge-like holding members in said guideway movable along and engageable with said oppositely spaced walls and provided with means projecting out of said guide- Way adapted to be operatively connected with an object to be held, yieldable means for operative interpcsition between said wedge-like members and the object to be held adapted to yieldably support said object and adapted to normally urge the Wedge-like members into engagement with the guidevvay, movement of said object in one direction compressing said yieldable means and providing a contact between a portion of said object and a projecting means of one wedge-like member for releasing engagement of the wedge-like members with the guideway, and movement of said object in an opposite direction providing a contact between another portion of the object and a projecting 'means of another wedge-like member for releasing engagement of the wedge-like members with the guide- Way.

LOUIS L. DEAL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Deal July 10, 194:5I

Number

Images