Patent ID: 6431516
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: B60N,B64D

Abstract:
A hot cup apparatus including a locking device for locking a hot cup into the hot cup apparatus, and comprising:(a) a mounting bracket for being mounted to a support surface; (b) a glide block mounted on said mounting bracket and extending outwardly therefrom in partially-surrounding relation to the hot cup, said glide block including a space therein, wherein said glide block further comprises upper and lower vertically spaced-apart glide block elements defining the space therebetween; (c) an arcuate retaining lever mounted for movement in the space in the glide block between: (i) a removal position wherein the retaining lever is retracted into the space in the glide block sufficiently to allow the hot cup to be positioned into and removed from the position adjacent the mounting bracket; and (ii) a retention position wherein the retaining lever is extended around the hot cup sufficiently to retain the hot cup in the position adjacent the mounting bracket; and (d) a mechanical locking device cooperating with the glide block and the retaining lever for locking the lever into the removal position and the retention position when the retaining lever is positioned in the removal and retention positions, respectively, said mechanical locking device including: (i) a first lock element comprising a spring-loaded ball carried by one of the upper or lower glide block elements and biased onto the retaining lever, and a complementary second lock element cooperating with the biasing element for locking the retaining lever into a predetermined one of the removal and retention positions; and (ii) first and second spaced-apart detents for receiving the spring-loaded ball and thereby locking the lever into the removal position and the retention position when the retaining lever is positioned in the removal and retention positions, respectively.