Patent ID: 8720710
Filing Date: 2014-05-13
Classification: A63H

Abstract:
1. A coupler for a model railroad car, the coupler comprising: a first shank comprising a distal portion with a first coupler member and a proximal portion with a mounting arrangement for mounting said first shank to the railroad car for rotation about an axis generally transverse to the direction of travel of the model railroad car along a track provided therefor, wherein said proximal portion of said first shank comprises a flat portion having a circular outer surface and a concentric circular opening the center of which coincides with the axis of rotation of said first shank; a second shank comprising a distal portion with a second coupler member and a proximal portion with a mounting arrangement for mounting said second shank to the railroad car along the track, wherein said first and second shanks are rotatable relative to each other about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the model railroad car along the track, said first and second shanks being rotatable between a closed position in which said coupler members cooperate with a coupler on another model railroad car to couple the railroad cars together and an open position in which said coupler members permit the railroad cars to separate, and wherein said proximal portion of said second shank comprises a flat portion having a circular outer surface with a radius substantially the same as the radius of said circular outer surface of said first shank flat portion and a concentric circular opening the center of which coincides with the axis of rotation of said first shank with a radius substantially the same as the radius of said circular opening of said first shank flat portion; and a coil spring with an axis generally parallel to the axes of rotation of said first and second shanks and having a first turn interlocked with said first shank and a second turn interlocked with said second shank, said first and second turns terminating in respective first and second end portions for engaging structure on the railroad car to bias said first and second shanks into their dosed position, wherein said coil spring has a circular planform with said first turn including a first interlocking offset that passes through an opening in said first shank and said second turn including a second interlocking offset that passes through an opening in said second shank, said flat portions of said first and second shanks including spring grooves accepting said coil spring to permit said flat portions to be in face-to-face contact and said coil spring having a radius slightly larger than the radius of said circular outer surfaces of said first and second shanks so that said first and second turns of said coil spring are disposed outside the periphery of said circular outer surfaces.