US2585993A - Rod lock - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1952 l BOLEK 2,585,993

ROD LOCK Filed Aug. 24, 1946 I'll &

E'-E IIE-E Frank .J flak/4 B @mwiw Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROD LOCK Frank J. Bolek, Chicago, 111.

Application August 24, 1946, Serial No. 692,887

' 4 Claims. (01. 2s7-5s) This invention relates to an improved device for locking in relatively adjusted positions a pair of rods having portions which lie in substantially contiguous parallel relation.

While the invention is adapted for general use, it is especially serviceable in connection with adjustable garment stretching frames and the like, wherein the frame comprises rod sections having relatively adjustable portions which lie in substantially contiguous parallel relation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a lock of the above kind which is extremely simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and highly efficient in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lock of the above kind which is easy to install and manipulate and which may be readily and economically manufactured.

More specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view showing parts of the rod sections of an adjustable frame whose substantially contiguous parallel portions are equipped with a lock constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken o line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the lock in released position.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 and B indicate two rod sections of an adjustable frame, which rod sections respectively have portions I and 8 that lie in substantially contiguous parallel relation. The portions 1 and 8 are held in parallel relationship but permitted to slide with respect to each other by guide loops 9 and Ill, the former being provided on the end of portion 1 and embracing the portion 8, and the latter being secured on the end of portion 8 and embracing the portion 1 in a well-known manner.

The lock of the present invention, which is adapted to releasably secure the portions 1 and 8 in relatively adjusted positions, comprises a relatively stiff resilient elongated loop H which is preferably formed of a strip of sheet metal and arranged to embrace the rod portions 1 and 8.

Loop l I has a major axis which is of such length 3. When the loop is in the position of Figures, its major axis is in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the rod portions! and 8. One side portion l2 of the loop II is extended outwardly to increase the Width of the loop at one end, so that the rods are released from tight frictional engagement with each other when said loop is tilted in the direction of the arrow 0 from the position of Figure 3 to the position of Figure 4. When the loop is in the position of Figure 4, its major axis is at an angle to the plane a which intersects the longitudinal axes of the rod portions 1 and '8. The metal of which the loop is formed preferably possesses slight resiliency, and the loop is normally open at one side of its wider end as indicated at l3, for a distance slightly less than the diameter of the rod portions 1 and 8. In this way, the lock is effectively retained on the rod portions 1 and 8 unless the loop is forcibly expanded by separation of its ends. Due to the resiliency of the loop, it may be forced on to the rod portions so as to cause the latter to pass into the loop at the point where the space I3 is provided. In this way, the lock may be readily and quickly installed, although the loop will contact as soon as applied to the rod portions for being effectively retained thereon.

The loop I I has an outwardly projecting finger piece [4 for use in tilting said loop. As shown, this finger piece comprises an integral extension on one end of the loop, or of the strip from which the loop is formed.

In use, the finger piece I [may be pressed to readily tilt the lock to the position of Figure 3 wherein the rod portions 1 and 8 are forced into tight frictional engagement with each other and thereby secured in relatively adjusted position. When it is desired to relatively adjust the rod portions, pressure is applied to the finger piece l4 so as to tilt the lock to the position of Figure 4 wherein the rod portions are released from tight frictional engagement and even permitted to slightly separate for ready relative adjustment.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Minor changes in details of construction are contemplated, such as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A manually operable rod lock of the character described comprising an elongated open loop formed of a strip of relatively stifl resilient metal and adapted to substantially completely embrace contiguous parallel portions of relatively adjustable rods so as to be retained thereon, said loop including two side portions and two end portions and having a major axis of such length that the loop will press the rods into tight frictional engagement with each other when the loop is bodily tilted laterally f the rods in one direction to a position wherein such major axis is in the same plane as the longitudinal axes of the rods, one side portion of the loop being extended laterally outward to increase the width of the loop at one end so that the rods will be released from said frictional engagement when the loop is tilted laterally of the rods in the opposite direction to a position wherein such major axis is at an angle to such plane, and a projecting finger piece on one end of the loop.

2. The construction defined in claim 1, where-' in said one side portion is extended to form with an endportion of the loop an opening at said one end of the loop which is of a size slightly less ,than the diameter of the rods so that the loop will be retained on the rods unless it is forcibly expanded.

3. The construction defined in claim 1, wherein the projecting finger piece is an inte ral extension on one end of the strip.

4. In combination with a pair of adjacent relatively slidable rod sections having overlapped portions, a manually operable lock for said rod sections comprising means including an elongated at least partial loop embracing the overlapped portions of said rod sections so as to be retained thereon for locking said sections together, said loop being bodily tiltable laterally of the rod sections in one direction to clamp said rod sections together against relative movement and being bodily tiltable laterally of said rod sections in the opposite direction to release said rod sections for free relative movement, one end of said loop being of greater width than the other end thereof to permit the lateral tilting of said loop relative to said rod sections with one of said rod sections acting as a fulcrum for the loop.

FRANK J. BOLEK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: i

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 645,756 Puellmann Mar. 20, 1900 2,012,562 Gunn Aug. 27, 1935 2,074,475 Jesser Mar. 23, 1937 2,302,307 Fernberg Nov. 17, 1942 2,332,855 Jones Oct. 26, 1943

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