Easy lock safety spring cotter pin

A twist lock insertion and twist release extraction type spring cotter pin having one primary straight end extremity to be inserted through an aperture in a structural element and its opposite adjacent free end extremity consisting of a series of arcuate curves allowing them to partially rotate or counter rotate about the surface of said structural element. And, commensurate with this, an easy grasp handle all made of spring steel type wire. The method of said designed invention allows for a new definition of utility for a spring cotter pin of this particular unique function the extraordinary characteristics of which demonstrate a locking spring pins basic need for a revision of often ignored operational safety features without compromising the new standards it has attained for ease of function yet maintaining its overall convenience, reliability and durability.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention is in reference to a new method for ease of insertion and 
removal of variously designed spring cotter pins used on structural 
element apertures. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This particular concept involves providing a very simple means for 
insertion and extraction of the spring clip cotter key type formations. 
Its exclusive twist lock--twist release concept is very basic and easily 
understood to the extend that it is applicable to universal functions. It 
provides an easy grasp handle for virtually effortless and safe operation. 
All previous attempts to insert and remove cotter pins of the spring clip 
removable type have required varying degrees and combinations of differing 
manuvers and skills resulting in confusion and arduous physical effort 
with soreness or injury to ones hands or fingers. 
To avoid confusion with the teaching of any prior art spring cotter pin or 
locking device of that nature I would care to for example refer to a 
patent entitle "Twist type Locking Pin" issued Jun. 8, 1993 to inventor 
Richard S. Czuber, U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,338 which I find necessary to 
explain. It relates to a completely different proceedure of implementation 
although a twist and lock feature is claimed. Involved in this teaching is 
a semicircular extrimity which is twisted or turned independently from the 
surface of a drilled shaft before it comes to rest in its final position 
against the surface of the shaft in a semi-circular grip requiring 
considerable physical and mental effort. Said operation in no way relates 
to the different method of teaching in my embodiment where a combination 
of twists involving helical curves gripping and rotating about the surface 
of a drilled structural element minimizes any effort required to insert or 
remove a spring cotter pin thus providing a more simple and safe method 
for its insertion and locking, and its release and removal. 
Also, one final distinction must be referred to as found in an early 
example in a United Kingdom patent #123,461 by Arthur Graham France issued 
Feb. 27, 1919; and also a later example of a U.S. Pat. No. 2,399,119 by J. 
S. Howell issued Apr. 23, 1946, whereby the technique required to secure 
the half loop portion of the referred to spring cotter pin firmly against 
the surface of a shaft, stud or bolt requires a designated straight 
forward planar movement the necessary momentum of which is excessively 
cumbersome with no effective grasping means to accompany such a task. 
Such action for insertion to often requires excessive physical effort for 
gripping the spring cotter pin; and the forward thrust needed to provide 
the momentum necessary to actuate the usefulness of this invention exposes 
possible injury to one's hands and fingers. Because this difficulty exists 
the user has a tendency to try to wiggle and jiggle the spring cotter pin 
in an effort to work or push its extrimity over the shaft or bolt to its 
ultimate useful purpose. These excessive repetitive motions have caused 
soreness and injury especially to one's hands and fingers not to mention 
putting the rest of the user's body in an awkward position trying to 
implement this action if the spring cotter pin must be used in a somewhat 
inaccessible location. 
The method I employ differs by involving a series of outward extending 
lateral helical curves which make use of ones natural tendency to twist or 
rotate the spring cotter pin like a key knowing the inherent effort needed 
for application thus providing the much needed additional thrust or pull 
necessary as provided in a simple form to engage or disengage the spring 
cotter pin by the proper rotation and counter rotation of the helical 
curves about the surface of the structural element. 
Along with an easy grasp handle I have taken previous difficult and 
dangerous efforts and converted them to a natural useful and safe method 
of a simple sequence of partial twists or rotations allowing for a much 
simplified effort involving a new common insertion and extraction of the 
spring cotter pin through and about the surface of structural elements. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Involved in the present invention is a twist lock insertion and twist 
release extraction type spring cotter pin having an easy grasp handle 
allowing for a very minimal amount of effort required to insert or remove 
the spring cotter pin in a standardized method allowing for an easy and 
safe proceedure. 
The function of this invention is primarily safety orientated as 
demonstrated by its method of application. All other types and forms of 
spring cotter pin inventions relate their usefulness to an understanding 
of a to often complicated mechanical, mental or physical strategy 
necessary to apply their underlying claims resulting in what they claim is 
a safe, reliable and durable invention. What they fail to realize is that 
it is useless unless it is used and the user feels totally comfortable and 
safe using it. If the invention is not useful, convenient and "friendly" 
the user will fail to use it thus creating a safety hazzard. 
I have adopted my invention to a user friendly atmosphere. Since many hitch 
pins or structural elements needing a spring cotter pin type keeper are 
located in difficult and sometimes hard to find or reach positions it 
becomes difficult to implement their complicated application strategy. My 
twist lock--twist release spring cotter pin key relies on a very simple 
and basic need to apply a simple but effective means of securing a hitch 
pin or shaft to its intended position by relying on a spring cotter pin 
that can be inserted and extracted easily with minimal effort in unusually 
tight or awkward positions with a physical and mental effort quite similar 
to locking a door with a key with no fear of strain or injury to ones 
hands or fingers. Coupling and uncoupling two independent elements in 
today's industry (especially farming) has proven to be a very hazardous 
risk in which using a spring cotter pin locking device is to often 
neglected totally because of the unusual or difficult workmanship needed 
to effectively discipline oneself to use it. It is the sort of task that 
one cares to do in a hurried manner or totally eliminate for difficulty in 
use as previously stated since in many instances one feels the safety 
device is unwarranted but statistics have proven quite the contrary. 
For these and other safety factors of an obvious nature I feel my twist 
lock--twist release spring cotter pin key puts the user at ease knowing 
there is a quick effective user friendly device unmatched in all other 
locking spring pin applications for its new method of usefulness apparant 
in its operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to a more detailed representation of the drawings, FIG. 1 
shows the twist lock--twist release spring cotter pin 10 inserted into an 
aperture of a structural element 40 shown in phantom. Said drilled or 
bored structural element may be commonly used to secure one or more 
elements together at a common location necessitating a securing device or 
spring cotter pin 10 to help maintain their common union against release 
from the structural element. 
In a universal or standardized embodiment, one side of the spring cotter 
pin 10 is formed into a graspable handle 18 consisting of two identical 
directly facing U-shaped curves 14 and 16 joined directly by a straight 
run on one side 15 all lying on the same plane. Of the two remaining 
directly facing independent ends opposite side 15 of the U-shaped curves 
one said end bears a 90.degree. bend 19 with an adjoining primary straight 
run 12 extending perpendicularly away from and on the same plane as side 
15. 
The opposite independent end lying opposite side 15 of the two directly 
facing curves 14 and 16 bears a 90.degree. bend 20 extending 
perpendicularly away from and on the same plane as side 15 and adjacent to 
bend 19 extending to form two helical sections 30 and 34. The first one, 
30, which is adjacently parallel to and on the same plane as its primary 
straight run counterpart 12 and perpendicular to side 15. The second 
helical section 34 extends adjacently parallel and laterally outward in 
relation to straight run counterpart 12. 
FIG. 2 shows a top view of the spring cotter pin 10 at the beginning of its 
twist lock application with 12 partially inserted through an aperture in 
structural element 40 shown in phantom to the point where helical section 
34 is curved partially around surface of structural element 40. The spring 
cotter pin 10 is then turned or twisted counterclockwise in the direction 
of the arrow by use of graspable handle 18 causing helical section 34 to 
grasp structural element 40 and partially rotate about its surface causing 
12 to slide through aperture in structural element 40, corresponding to 
the extent where helical section 30 is to begin its movement across 
surface of structural element 40. 
FIG. 3 is a continuation of the twist lock application of spring cotter pin 
10 as begun in FIG. 2 except that it is positioned to commence its twist 
in a clockwise direction by means of the graspable handle 18 as shown by 
arrow in FIG. 3 reversing the twist of spring cotter pin 10 so that 
helical section 30 is grasping and slides across surface of structural 
element 40 shown in phantom preferably assisted by a minimal push or 
thrust by user, the combined effort of which, causes further insertion of 
12 through aperture of structural element 40 to its final destination of 
insertion as shown in the top view of FIG. 4. 
FIG. 4 represents a top view of the finalization of the twist lock 
proceedure for a simple, effortless and safe application of a spring 
cotter pin insertion into an aperture of a structural element with helical 
section 30 locked about the surface of structural element 40. 
A reversal of the above proceedure beginning with FIG. 4 and ending with 
FIG. 2 would reveal the twist release concept for spring cotter pins. 
Excepting but not necessarily limited to, a distinction must be mentioned. 
An additional function enhancing the application of the spring cotter pin 
lies in an inward compressing V-shaped configuration as formed by the two 
adjacent spring cotter pin legs as the helical curves from one leg rotate 
clockwise and counter clockwise about the axis of the straight leg 
augmenting a combined effort between rotating helical curves and the 
compressive V-shaped effort of the spring cotter pin extrimities across 
the surface and through the aperture of the structural element thus 
supporting its basic ease of operation, thereby not always necessitating 
much additional push or pull to persuade its movement. 
FIGS. 5 and 6 represent a side view of spring cotter pin 10 showing a 
variance of the graspable handle 18 whereby the directing facing U-shaped 
curves 14 and 16 joined by a straight run 15 are exchanged for two 
directly boardering loops 24 and 26, with two corresponding curved 
portions from each connected by a straight run 25, and the corresponding 
free end from each looped portion of which one continues into the primary 
straight run 12 and the opposite free end continues into a series of 
alternating helical curves 30 and 34 lying contiguous to primary straight 
run 12. 
It must be noted that one may be tempted to feel an inherent tendency to 
misuse the embodiments of the present invention for an attempted transfer 
of its teachings to the benefit of the claims in other patented 
inventions. Although efforts may be made to compare the method or 
knowledge of this invention to previous inventions of this type, its 
obvious distinctive properties, as claimed, overrule any attempts 
involving alteration, modifications or variations that attempt to fall 
within the spirit and broad scope of its documented findings.