Abstract:
A releasable locking device has a housing and an elongated member extending from the housing. The elongated member has an opening extending therethrough. A shaft extends through the opening of the elongated member. An actuator member extends from an end of the shaft and is positioned within an opening of the housing. A biasing member is positioned between the actuator member and a wall of the housing and is completely within an opening of the housing and not in the elongated member.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
   This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No. 60/696,420 filed on Jul. 1, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND 
   This invention relates to release pins. Releasable securing devices, such as ball pins, are commonly used for joining the parts of industrial fixtures releasably together. Such ball pins have a hollow, hardened stem inserted through mating bores in the parts to be joined, the stem terminating in an abutment surface to be pressed against the top side of the parts; and depressible or retractable ball detents near the tip of the pin, to engage the parts on their bottom side. 
   Quick connect ball locking devices generally include a plurality of detents, such as balls, trapped within a tube but protruding out openings therein. A ball actuator is reciprocal within the tube and movable from a first position wherein the balls are retracted substantially within the tube or moved outwardly a sufficient distance to lock the balls within a mating receptacle. An example of such a ball locking device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,594 which is incorporated by reference herein. 
   Referring in particular to  FIG. 1 , in previous fastener devices, a compression spring  1  is mounted within an enlarged bore  2  at one end of the pin shank  3  and this spring normally holds a shoulder  4  on the spindle  6  against an abutment  5  on the pin shank. In this position of the parts the land  6  hold the balls  8  in a projected position. An actuator button  9  on the shank may be moved manually to bring a groove  11  into registry with the balls and thereby permit inward movement of the balls to a release position. 
   A problem with these existing release pins is that the springs are captured within a bore of the pin shank and are not easily accessible from outside of the release pin. Thus it is difficult to change the size of the spring without also changing the cavity size of the pin. A spring being positioned outside of the cavity allows the release pin to be easily reloaded, and also increases the strength of the release pin. 
   Furthermore, existing release pin designs do not have holes or slots for receiving ropes or lanyards to keep the pin attached to the device it is being used with, or to a wall or other support surface. Thus, there is a need for providing holes on the release pin for lanyards so that when the pin is pulled out of engagement, it stays attached by the lanyard connection. 
   Thus, it is desirable to develop a new and improved release pin which has an easily replaceable spring which overcomes the above-mentioned deficiencies and others and produces advantageous overall results. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One of the objects of the present invention is to improve such releasable securing devices by making their length adjustable, to assure a precise tight fit, and to secure a wide range of adjustment whereby to minimize the number of lengths of such securing devices which must be carried in stock. 
   This invention relates to fastener devices and is particularly directed to quick release pin assemblies. Devices of this type employ a spindle movable axially within a longitudinal bore in the shank of a pin. Movement of the spindle acts to cause radial movement of balls outward beyond the outer surface of the pin shank to form a projecting abutment. One or more land portions on the movable spindle holds the balls in a projected position, while a groove in the spindle permits the balls to be moved radially inwardly so that they do not project beyond the outer surface of the shank. The release pin of the present invention has a spring which is mounted within a housing outside of a shank and is easily accessible to be replaced and installed. Various lengths and strengths of springs can be used with the release pin with minimal assembly time required. 
   Slots or holes are provided on a housing to enable lanyards or rope to be secured to the release pin so that it remains attached to a wall or other support surface when removed from the object with which it is being used. The release pin can be used in a wide variety of applications, including in hospitals with drip bags, in military applications, etc. 
   Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a releasable locking device has a housing and an elongated member extending from the housing. The elongated member has an opening extending therethrough. A shaft extends through the opening of the elongated member. An actuator member extends from an end of the shaft and is positioned within an opening of the housing. A biasing member is positioned between the actuator member and a wall of the housing. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a releasable locking device has a handle with first and second portions and a shank extending from the handle. The shank has an opening extending therethrough. A shaft extends through the opening of the shank. An actuator member extends from an end of the shaft and is positioned between the first and second portions of the handle. A biasing member is positioned between the actuator member and a wall of the handle. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a releasable locking device has a housing with first and second portions and a shank extending from the housing. The shank has an opening extending therethrough. A shaft extends through the opening of the shank. An actuator member extends from an end of the shaft and is positioned within an opening of the housing. A biasing member is positioned between the first and second portions of the housing. 
   One aspect of the present invention is the provision of a release pin having a compression spring located outside of the bore of the shank to allow easy access to the spring for replacement. 
   Another aspect of the invention is the provision of providing holes in the housing so that lanyards or ropes can be attached to the release pin to keep the pin attached to the device with which it is being used. 
   Still other aspects of the present invention will become apparent after a reading of the following detailed description of the embodiments. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Further aspects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the detailed description when considered in conjunction with the figures, wherein like reference numbers indicate like elements through the several views, and wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view in cross-section of an existing release pin; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a release pin in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view in cross-section of the release pin of  FIG. 2  in a locked position; 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of the release pin of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevational view in cross-section of the release pin of  FIG. 2  in an unlocked position; 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a release pin in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevational view in cross-section of the release pin of  FIG. 6  in a locked position; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view in partial cross-section of the release pin of  FIG. 6  in an unlocked position; and 
       FIGS. 9A-9C  show an alternative embodiment of the release pin including a side elevational view, a front elevational view and perspective view of the pin assembly. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Referring now to the drawings, in particular  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a quick release pin assembly  10  in accordance with the present invention includes a pin member  12  having a shank  14  and a housing  16 . The housing has a substantially truncated cone-shaped portion  17  and a cylindrical portion  19  extending therefrom. The shank has a central axial bore  18  open at one end  20  and terminating at a shoulder  22  formed within housing  16 . A shaft  24  is mounted within the bore  18  for axial sliding movement and a spindle  26  formed at an end of the shaft constitutes a land or edge  27  which serves to hold a pair of radially movable balls  30  in their fully projected position. The balls are about 180 degrees apart. That is, the balls move radially in lateral bores  32  in shank  14 . The outer ends of the bores  32  can be “staked” to reduce the size of the openings  34  which intersect the outer cylindrical surface  36  of the shank  14 , and this reduced size opening retains each ball from laterally escaping. When the shaft  24  is moved axially to bring a spindle groove  38  into alignment with the balls, the balls  30  move radially inwardly so that they do not extend beyond the outer surface  36  of the shank. 
   An actuator button or knob  40  is fixed to the shaft in a manner described below and the button has a flange  42  which is engaged by a compression spring  44  on an underside  45  of the flange mounted within the enlarged opening  46  of the housing  16 . One end of the spring  44  engages a housing surface  55  of the truncated cone-shaped portion and the other end engages underside  45  of the flange  42  of the actuator knob. The spring is completely outside of the shank and can be easily removed and replaced with springs of different lengths and strengths. In  FIG. 3 , the spring is shown in an extended or non-compressed position and the balls are in bores  32  of shank  14 . This is the locked position of the release pin. 
   The housing is fixed to the shank by any convenient means such as, for example by press fit, brazing, swaging or screw threading. In the particular connection illustrated in the drawings, the shank and housing are connected by means of the threaded fit along the surfaces  50 ,  51 . Cylindrical portion  52  of the actuator knob abuts surface  55  of the housing bore  46  when the knob is depressed as shown in  FIG. 5 . When an exposed end surface  58  of the actuator knob is manually depressed to compress the spring  44 , the “land” portion  27  of the spindle moves along the central axial bore  18  and allows the balls to drop into engagement with the spindle groove  38  and fall out of the openings  34  of the shank. This is the unlocked position of the release pin. Laterally extending wall  60  of the housing  16  can be of various shapes or designs to provide a surface or handle for engagement by fingers of the operator. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , a plurality of openings or slots  62  are formed on wall  60  of the housing. The slots are used to secure the release pin to a lanyard or rope (not shown) so that the release pin is secured to the device it is being used with or to a wall or other support surface. Thus, when the release pin is removed from the device it is securing, it is not loose and can be easily retrieved for re-use. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the shaft is formed of solid cylindrical material such as metal or steel and one end  64  is received within a bore  66  in the actuator button. The shaft may be manufactured in large quantities and cut to the proper length just prior to assembly. After inserting the end of the shaft into the bore of the actuator button a swaging tool (not shown) is brought into engagement with a portion of the actuator button to permanently attach the actuator button to the shaft. 
   The shaft, actuator button, balls, spring and spindle are then assembled with respect to the housing  16  in the manner shown in  FIG. 3 . The surfaces  50 ,  51  are connected together to form a permanent connection between the housing and the shank. Spring  44  is positioned entirely within the opening or cavity  68  of the housing between the housing and button so that the spring can be easily replaced by other springs or various lengths and/or strengths. Since the spring is not actually enclosed in a bore of the housing cylindrical section as shown in the prior art of  FIG. 1 , it is easily removable without disassembly of the entire pin structure. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 6 ,  7  and  8 , an alternate embodiment of the release pin is shown. Pin member  112  has a shank  114  and a housing  116 . The shank has a central bore  118  open at opposite ends  120 ,  122 . A shaft  124  is mounted within the bore for axial sliding movement therein. An end portion  125  of a spindle  126  acts as a “land” which serves to hold a pair of radially movable balls  130  in their fully projected position. A groove  138  of the shaft allows the balls to drop from their projected position when the shaft moves axially along the central bore  118  of the shank. The end of the spindle has a ramped edge  127  which engages a corresponding ramped edge  128  of the shank  114 . 
   An actuator button or knob  140  is fixed to the spindle and has a flange  142  which is engaged on an underside  145  by a spring  144  which is positioned within opening  146  of housing  116 . Spring  144  is extended in the locked position shown in  FIG. 7 . When the button  140  is depressed, the spring compresses and the balls drop from openings in the shank in the unlocked position. 
   The housing  116  for the button  140  has two portions  117 ,  113  having arcuate shapes and having straight edges or portions  119 ,  121  which are angled and adjacent an end surface  155  of the shank  114 . The arcuate portions and linear portions provide easy access to both the spring and the button  140  for both depressing the button and for removing and/or replacing the spring. The housing can serve as a handle for manually gripping the release pin. One end of the spring  144  engages surface  155  and the other end engages the underside  145  of flange  142 . The spring can be easily removed from the housing without complete disassembly of the pin. 
   The housing is fixed to the shank via any convenient means, such as by press fit, brazing, swaging or screw threading.  FIG. 7  illustrates a screw thread engagement at surfaces  150 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the shank and shaft are shown to be of a relatively short length as compared to the shank illustrated in  FIG. 5 . However, various lengths and diameters of the shaft and shank can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     FIGS. 9A-9C  illustrate yet another alternative embodiment of the release pin and associated housing. The shank  114 ′ and shaft  124 ′ and compression spring  144 ′ and knob  140 ′ are the same as described for  FIGS. 6-8  and are not discussed in detail here. 
   The handle  200  has two arcuate-shaped portions  202 ,  204  which are curved to serve as gripping members for manually gripping the handle. A cylindrical portion  206  is formed on the handle from which shank  114 ′ extends. A pair of balls  130 ′ extends through openings in the shank. 
   An opening or throughhole  208  is formed in the handle for allowing the release pin to be secured by a lanyard, rope, etc. to a device with which it is being used. 
   When an exposed portion of the actuator is manually depressed to compress the spring  144 ′, the land portion of the spindle moves along the central axial bore of the shank and away from the position adjacent the balls and allows the balls to drop into engagement with a spindle groove. This is the unlocked position of the release pin. 
   The exemplary embodiment has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the exemplary embodiment be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the embodiments described above.