Quick disconnect coupling

A quick disconnect system including a matable coupling and post. The coupling includes a base, a pair of pins, a jacket and a biasing means. The base defines a longitudinally extending bore. The pair of pins are radially repositionable relative to the bore and extend tangentially along opposite sides of the bore. The jacket cooperatively engages the base and the pins whereby longitudinal repositioning of the jacket as between a first stop position and a second stop position effects radial repositioning of the pins. The biasing means biases the jacket towards the first stop position. The post has a flanged head on the distal end of a shaft for cooperatively engaging the pins to achieve connection of the coupling and the post.

BACKGROUND

Strength training equipment typically employs an exercise interface unit connected to a means of resistance, such as a weight stack or selecterizable series of leaf springs. Common exercise interface units include specifically, but not exclusively tricep straps, grip handles, tricep press down V bars, stirrup handles, chinning triangles, straight bars, double stirrup handles, curl bars, tricep ropes, straight lat bars, head harnesses, single cable handles, lat pull down bars, ankle cuffs, foot cuffs, and shoulder cuffs.

It is often desirable to provide several different interchangeable exercise interface units for use with a single weight stack for purposes of increasing the versatility of the machine without significantly increasing the cost of the machine. While generally effective, experience has shown that users of such equipment tend to become frustrated with and eventually stop using such machines unless the method of interchanging the exercise interface units is quick, easy and intuitive.

Accordingly, a need exists for an inexpensive yet reliable and intuitively operable device capable of permitting quick and easy connection and disconnection of various exercise interface units to a weight stack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the invention is a quick disconnect coupling. A first embodiment of the quick disconnect coupling includes a base, a pair of pins, a jacket and a biasing means. The base has a longitudinally extending bore defining a longitudinal axis. The pair of pins extend tangentially along opposite sides of the bore, with at least one of the pins radially repositionable relative to the longitudinal axis. The jacket cooperatively engages the base and the pins whereby longitudinal repositioning of the jacket as between a first stop position and a second stop position effects radial repositioning of the at least one repositionable pin from a radial position nearer the longitudinal axis with both pins extending transversely across the bore, to a radial position further from the longitudinal axis. The biasing means biases the jacket towards the first stop position.

A second embodiment of the quick disconnect coupling includes a base, a sleeve, a jacket, a pair of pins and a spring. The base defines a longitudinally extending open-top chamber. The sleeve is fixedly attached to the base within the open-top chamber and has (A) a longitudinally extending bore defining a longitudinal axis from which radial and transverse directions are established, and (B) a pair of diametrically opposed, mirror image, transversely extending, tangential channels extending completely through an upper portion of the sleeve, each in communication with the bore and having a width extending in both the radial and longitudinal directions. The jacket defines a longitudinally extending open-bottom chamber configured and arranged to slidably surround the upper portion of the sleeve, and has (A) an opening through the top of the jacket axially aligned with the bore defined by the sleeve, and (B) a pair of diametrically opposed, mirror image, circumferentially extending slots through the jacket, each in communication with one end of both channels in the sleeve. The pins each extend through one of the channels in the sleeve and into both slots in the jacket, wherein longitudinal repositioning of the jacket as between a first position and a second position effects radial repositioning of the pins from a radial position nearer the longitudinal axis with both pins extending transversely across the bore, to a radial position further from the longitudinal axis. The spring biases the jacket towards the first stop position.

A second aspect of the invention is a quick disconnect system including a matable coupling and post. A first embodiment of the system includes the first embodiment of the quick disconnect coupling described above and a post with a flanged head on the distal end of a shaft configured and arranged to (i) engage and separate the pins on the coupling against the bias of the biasing means when inserted into the bore, (ii) allow the biasing means to return the pins to the radial position nearer the longitudinal axis of the bore and thereby prevent withdrawal of the post from the bore after the flanged head is inserted past the pins, and (iii) permit withdrawal of the post from the bore by repositioning the jacket into the second stop position against the bias of the biasing means.

A second embodiment of the system includes the second embodiment of the quick disconnect coupling described above and a shaft with a mushroom-shaped head on the distal end of the shaft configured and arranged to (i) engage and separate the pins on the coupling against the bias of the biasing means when inserted into the bore, (ii) allow the biasing means to return the pins to the radial position nearer the longitudinal axis of the bore and thereby prevent withdrawal of the post from the bore after the mushroom-shaped head is inserted past the pins, and (iii) permit withdrawal of the post from the bore by repositioning the jacket into the second stop position against the bias of the spring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Nomenclature

10Quick Disconnect System100Coupling110Base111Inner Annular Shoulder112Sidewall112′ Sidewall Extensions118Radial Orifices Through the Base118aFirst Radial Orifice Through the Base118bSecond Radial Orifice Through the Base119Chamber Defined by the Base120Jacket121Inner Annular Shoulder122Sidewall122′ Sidewall Extensions127Slots127aFirst Slot127bSecond Slot128Longitudinal Orifice Through the Jacket129Chamber Defined by the Jacket130Sleeve136Cable End-Cap Retention Channel137Tangential Channels Through the Sleeve137aFirst Tangential Channel Through the Sleeve137bSecond Tangential Channel Through the Sleeve137wWidth of Channel138Threaded Radial Orifices In the Sleeve138aFirst Threaded Radial Orifice In the Sleeve138bSecond Threaded Radial Orifice In the Sleeve139Bore in Sleeve140Pins140aFirst Pin140bSecond Pin150Spring160Machine Screws160aFirst Machine Screw160bSecond Machine Screw200Post201Shaft201pProximal End of Shaft201dDistal End of Shaft210Connection Ring on Proximal End of Shaft220Flanged Head on Distal End of Shaft221Leading Face of Head222Backside of Head300Exercise Interface Unit310Interconnecting Straps320Handgrip400Cable410End Cap on Cable420Weight Stacky Longitudey1First Longitudinal Directiony2Second Longitudinal DirectionyAxisLongitudinal Axis of Bore

DEFINITIONS

As utilized herein, including the claims, the term “tangential” means following a straight line perpendicular to the radius.

Construction

The quick disconnect system10includes a coupling100and a post200capable of providing a strong and reliable connection.

One embodiment of the coupling100, depicted inFIG. 1, includes a base110, a jacket120, a sleeve130, a pair of pins140aand140b(collectively pins140), a spring150, and a pair of machine screws160aand160b(collectively machine screws160).

Referring toFIG. 2, the base110has a sidewall112defining a chamber119open in a first longitudinal direction y1capable of accommodating insertion of a lower portion (unnumbered) of the sleeve130. An inner annular shoulder111is provided for supporting the lower end (unnumbered) of the biasing spring150.

Referring toFIG. 3, in similar fashion the jacket120has a sidewall122defining a chamber129open in a second longitudinal directions y2capable of accommodating insertion of an upper portion (unnumbered) of the sleeve130. An inner annular shoulder121is provided for supporting the upper end (unnumbered) of the biasing spring150.

A longitudinally y extending orifice128is provided through the top of the jacket120and a pair of diametrically opposed, mirror image, circumferentially extending slots127aand127b(collectively slots127) extend through the sidewall122of the jacket120.

The base110and jacket120can each include a pair of diametrically opposed and longitudinally y extending sidewall extensions112′ and122′ respectively. The sidewall extensions112′ on the base110can cooperatively engage recessed areas (unnumbered) on the sidewall122of the jacket, and the sidewall extensions122′ on the jacket120cooperatively engage recessed areas (unnumbered) on the sidewall112of the base110, for providing a fitted longitudinal y sliding engagement of the base110and the jacket120.

Referring toFIG. 4, the sleeve130is configured and arranged for retention within the chambers119and129defined by the base110and jacket120respectively. A longitudinal bore139defining a longitudinal axis yaxisand open in the first longitudinal direction y1is provided in the sleeve130.

Referring toFIG. 1, the sleeve130is attached to the base110by any suitable means so that the sleeve130cannot move in the longitudinal y direction relative to the base110. One such attachment means, depicted inFIG. 1, is a pair of machine screws160, each extending into a radial orifice118aor118b(collectively radial orifices118) provided on either side of the base110and threadably engaged within a corresponding radial orifice138aor138b(collectively radial orifices138) in the sleeve130.

Referring again toFIG. 4, the sleeve130includes a pair of diametrically opposed, mirror image, transversely widened, tangential channels137aand137b(collectively137) extending completely through the upper portion (unnumbered) of the sleeve130. The channels137communicate with the bore139in the sleeve130and have a width137wwith both a radial and a longitudinal y directional component. The slots127in the jacket120and the tangential channels137in the sleeve130are configured and arranged so that each slot127in the jacket120aligns with one end (unnumbered) of both tangential channels137in the sleeve130.

Referring to FIGS.1and6A-E, each pin140extends through one of the tangential channels137in the sleeve130and into both slots127in the jacket120. The pins140are prevented from tangentially sliding out of the tangential channels137by the sidewall extensions112′ on the base110which cover the slots127. The longitudinally y extending component of the tangential channels137permits limited longitudinal repositioning of the pins140and the interconnected jacket120as between a first longitudinal position, shown inFIG. 6Aand a second longitudinal position, shown inFIG. 6E. The radially extending component of the tangential channels137effects a radial repositioning of the pins140from a first radial position nearer the longitudinal axis yAxis, with both pins140extending transversely across the bore139as shown inFIG. 6A, to a second radial position further from the longitudinal axis yAxisas shown inFIG. 6E, as the pins140and interconnected jacket120are longitudinally y repositioned from the first to the second longitudinal position.

The biasing spring150biases the jacket120and the interconnected pins140away from the base110in the first longitudinal direction y1and towards the first position depicted inFIG. 6A. Other customary biasing means can also be used including elastic bands, compression springs, leaf springs, compressible elastic dowels, etc.

One embodiment of the post200, depicted inFIG. 1, includes a shaft201with a connection ring210in the proximal end201pof the shaft201and a flanged head220on the distal end201dof the shaft201, configured and arranged for insertion through the longitudinal orifice128in the jacket120, into the bore139of the sleeve130and into operable engagement with the pins140. The flanged head220has an outwardly and backwardly angled leading face221effective for engaging and radially separating the pins140until the head220is inserted past the pins140. The backside222of the head220is configured and arranged to engage the pins140once the head220has been inserted past the pins140to effect a robust and reliable connection of the post200to the coupling100.

The quick disconnect system10is useful for robustly and reliably connecting items while providing a quick, easy and intuitive method of quickly connecting and disconnecting the items. One such application, shown inFIG. 1, uses the quick disconnect system10to attach an exercise interface unit300to a cable400attached to a source of resistance such as a weight stack420. The exercise interface unit300includes a handgrip320fixedly attached to the post200by interconnecting straps310. The cable400is fixedly attached to the coupling100by an end cap410on the cable400held within a cable end-cap retention channel136in the lower portion (unnumbered) of the sleeve130.

The process involved in connecting and disconnecting the coupling100and the post200is depicted inFIGS. 6A-6D. The fully disconnected coupling100and post200are shown inFIG. 6A. When fully disconnected, the pins140are biased in the first longitudinal directions y1by the spring150into a first position at the top of the tangential channels137in the sleeve130with the pins140nearer one another and extending tangentially across the bore139.

As represented inFIGS. 6B-D, connection of the coupling100and post200is effected by simply inserting the distal end201dof the shaft201through the longitudinal orifice128through the jacket120, thereby effecting a radial separation of the pins140against the bias of the spring150, shown inFIG. 6B, until the head220on the distal end201dof the shaft201completely passes the pins140, shown inFIG. 6C, at which time the pins140are biased by the spring150back towards the first position. Pulling back on the post200causes the backside222of the head220to engage the pins140, thereby preventing withdrawal of the post200from the bore139and effecting a robust and reliable connection of the coupling100and the post200.

Referring toFIGS. 6D and 6E, the coupling100and post200can be quickly, easily and intuitively disconnected by simply pushing the jacket120in the second longitudinal direction y2towards the base110against the bias of the spring150, thereby moving the pins140from the top of the tangential channels137in the sleeve130, as shown inFIG. 6D, to the bottom of the tangential channels137in the sleeve130, as shown inFIG. 6E, where the pins140are positioned further away from one another and no longer extend tangentially across the bore139. The post200may then be pulled out from the bore139and the jacket120, along with the pins140, allowed to return to the first biased position, thereby returning to the disconnected state as shown inFIG. 6A.