WO1996010121B1

WO1996010121B1 - Housing and securing device

Info

Publication number: WO1996010121B1
Application number: PCT/US1995/012278
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1995-09-26
Publication date: 1996-05-30

Abstract

A locking device (10) for use with a conventional liftgate support (18) to retain a hatchback of a vehicle in an open position. The locking device of the present invention is for use with a liftgate support to retain a hatchback-type door in an open position even in cold weather or after the liftgate support has worn out. The locking device is defined by a pair of opposed interdigitating body portions (20, 20') which encircle the rod (18). A threaded member (14) locks the two portions together and secures the device to the rod.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 8 April 1996 (08.04.96);

new claims 9-13 added; remaining claims unchanged (3 pages)] each pedestal extends inwardly from the perimeter of each body portion; and

each body portion having a recess formed rearwardly of its associated pedestal and wherein each recess defines a seat for the foot of the other body portion.

5. The device of Claim 4 wherein:

each foot has a threaded notch formed therein, each notch being engageable with the interior terminus of an associated channel and cooperating therewith to form an interior threaded opening for the channel.

6. The device of Claim 1 wherein each body portion is identical.

7. The locking device of Claim 2 wherein:

the channel terminates at an associated recess in each of the first and second body portions.

8. The locking device of Claim 2 wherein the channel in each of the first and second body portions extends normal to both the foot and pedestal of each of the first and second body portions.

9. A locking device comprising:

(a) a body member having two opposite and substantially flat sides, an outer periphery defining the thickness of the locking member, and an aperture substantially centered with respect to the sides and extending through the thickness of the body member defining a longitudinal axis, the aperture adapted for housing and securing an elongated rod, the body member further comprising:

(i) first and second opposedly-arranged, substantially identical body portions, adapted to be freely slidable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aperture, each of the first and second body portions having a male pedestal portion, a male foot portion, a U-shaped recess, and an inner surface, wherein each inner surface defines a first female portion for axially slidably receiving the male foot portion of each opposite body portion in an interdigitating relationship and each U-shaped recess of each body portion defines a second female portion for axially slidably receiving the male pedestal portion of each opposite body portion in an interdigitating relationship, the body portions being prevented from radial disengagement by said interdigitatim of the two body portions/

(ii) a channel extending radially through the body member's outer periphery and into the aperture, the channel extending through each body portion's inner surface and through the interdigitated foot portion of the other body portion thereby defining a notch in the foot portion of the other body member;

(b) a locking member for engaging in said channel when the body portions are assembled onto an elongated shaft, the locking member having two positions: (i) a first portion in which the locking member extends through the inner portion of a first body portion and through the notch of the foot of a second body portion thereby preventing relative axial movement of the body portions but allowing axial sliding movement of the locking device relative to an elongated rod extending through the aperture; and

(ii) a second position in which the locking member is adapted to be further inserted so as to radially enter the aperture and lockingly engage with the elongated rod, thereby preventing axial sliding movement of the locking device relative to the elongated rod.

10. The device of Claim 9, wherein the channel is threaded and wherein the locking member is threaded.

11. The device of Claim 9, wherein the body member is substantially disc shaped.

12. The device of Claim 9, wherein the threaded fastener has a head adapted for turning by hand.

13. The device of Claim 9, wherein the locking device is adapted to be assembled to the lift-gate support of a hatchback-type door of a vehicle to prevent unwanted closing of the door. STATEMENT UNDER ARTICLE 19

New claims 9-13 correspond to a claim indicated by the Examinee in the U.S. application to be allowable over the prior art cited in the International Search Report.