Abstract:
A connector for use with a remote controlled apparatus comprising a base adapted to receive a control member and a contact surface adapted to slidingly receive a latch. Two fingers extend outwardly from the base and the latch has opposingly located deformable prongs which engage a pin and two arms which engage a contact surface found on the base. The latch is slidingly operable on the contact surface of the base between a locked and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the fingers of the base and the pin form a closed, unopenable structure. In the unlocked position, the fingers and the pin form an openable structure.

Description:
This is a Continuation-in-Part of application Ser. No. 09/072,426, filed Sep. 28, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,566 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a universal connector that is used to link various components of a remote controlled vehicle such as hobby aircraft together. More specifically, the present invention concerns a U-shaped connector that includes a self-contained latch which coacts with a pin. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In remote control aircraft, as well as other hobby vehicles, a number of moving parts need to be linked together in order to operate the device. To do this, connectors are often used which link moving parts such as a servo arm to the control horn of a flap. 
     However, by design, the parts of a remote control vehicle are often reduced in size, and as a result, the components are often difficult to manually manipulate and are difficult to keep from losing. This is especially true with respect to retaining pins and locking clips. 
     The present invention is designed to provide a more user friendly connector in which the latch or locking clip forms part of the connector. This makes the device easier to use and reduces incidence of losing the small sized clips during use. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in several views, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention showing the latch in a locked and unlocked position; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a pin used with the invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a side of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the latch shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the latch shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; 
     FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the latch shown in FIGS. 6 and 7; and 
     FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of the latch shown in FIGS.  6  and  7 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Set forth below is a description of what are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to the preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any alternates or modifications in which insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention includes a base  10 , which includes an aperture  12  which is sized to receive a control rod (not shown). Typically, the control rod is self-tapping, and thus, locks into position within aperture  12 . 
     Extending outwardly from base  10  are fingers  14  and  16 . As shown in FIG. 3 channel  18  is formed in finger  16  by L-shaped walls  20  and  22 . Of course, channel  18  may be located on finger  14  as well. Since base  10  may be made of plastic, its components may be simply created as a single molded unit. However, as shown in FIG. 4, angled or radius portions  202 A and  202 B may be added to the juncture where the fingers joint the base. Increasing the material or mass used in this location reduces unwanted breakage during the use of the fingers. 
     Located within channel  18  is a latch  24  having a handle  26 . Latch  24  also includes a slit  28  and aperture  30  which separates opposingly located prongs  32  and  34 . As shown in FIG. 1, latch  24  is also operable between a locked and unlocked position. Latch  24  may also include on it imprinted identification  203  which identifies the size of the control rod which would fit within aperture  30 . 
     Located on fingers  14  and  16  are apertures  40  and  42 . The apertures are aligned so that pin  50  may be inserted into the apertures. As is also shown in FIG. 2, the diameter of the aperture located on finger  14  is larger than the aperture located on finger  16 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, pin  50  includes a head  52 , a first portion  54  which is sized to fit within aperture  42 . Also included is an internal stop  56  and second portion  58  which is sized to fit within aperture  40 . Pin  50  also has a terminal end  62  which includes an annular groove  60 . 
     In use, the aircraft piece to be connected is inserted between fingers  14  and  16  so that pin  50  may be inserted through an aperture in the aircraft component. To do this pin  50  is inserted into apertures  40  and  42 . As shown in FIG. 2, head  52  engages wall  51  of finger  14  and acts as a stop when pin  50  is fully inserted. 
     Internal stop  56  is also positioned to engage inner surface or wall  53  of finger  16 . This engagement assists in properly aligning groove  60  by causing lower edge  63  of groove  60  to be flush with wall  55  of finger  16 . 
     Once groove  60  is properly positioned, latch  24  may be slidingly moved from an unlocked position into a locked position. When operated to secure pin  50 , the first portion to engage pin  50  is V-shaped notch  61 . As latch  24  is pressed against pin  50 , the engagement forces prongs  32  and  34  to spread apart so that pin  50  may be received by aperture  30 . Slit  28  permits this spreading or deformation to occur. Once aperture  30  is positioned around groove  60  of pin  50 , prongs  32  and  34  snap inwardly resulting in the upper and lower surfaces  70  and  71 , respectively, to seat within groove  60 . This engagement prevents pin  50  from disengaging latch  24  which locks the pin into position. To unlock this pin, the opposite steps are used. 
     Latch  24  is also frictionally fitted within channel  18  and slidingly engaged by walls  20  and  22 . This arrangement permits latch  24  to articulate within channel  18  while still being secured to base  10 . This makes the latch easier to use and reduces the incidence of losing a free-standing clip or latch. 
     Also making the device easier to use are the two different sized apertures in the fingers and two stops,  52  and  56 , on the pin. This arrangement acts to consistently place the groove in a proper alignment so as to receive latch  24 . Again, when dealing with small parts, this ability to achieve proper alignment makes the device easier to operate. Thus, not only may the present invention be beneficially used with remote-controlled aircraft, the invention is also useful with other hobby type vehicles such as cars, boats, sailboats, and helicopters as well. 
     Another way to make the device is to employ latch  124  as shown in FIGS. 6-10. In this embodiment, base  100  includes rounded distal end portion  102 , which defines a contact surface that is adapted to receive control rod  103 . Base  100  also includes opposingly located arms  200  and  201  and pin  205  as shown in FIGS. 6 and 11. Pin  205  is stepped in configuration and may be permanently mounted to one of arms  200  or  201 . In the embodiment shown, pin  205  is mounted to arm  201  and arm  200  includes an aperture  210  which receives pin  205 . 
     Arm  200  is movable so that it may be lifted off of pin  205  to allow pin  205  to be placed inside an object to be connected. The arm and pin arrangement forms a clip-like structure which is designed to releasably engage other objects. In a locked position, the clip-like structure cannot be opened. In an unlocked position, the clip-like structure may be opened by lifting one of the arms off of the pin. 
     Latch  124  is of a similar design as described above but includes two opposingly located curved arms  130  and  131 . Each arm extends inwardly and together form a circular-like arc which is about 320 degrees. That the arms do not form a complete circle leaves aperture  105 . As will be described in more detail below, this arrangement allows latch  124  to engage rod  103 . 
     In operation, latch  124  is affixed by locating rod  103  in aperture  105 . Next latch  124  is mounted to base  100  by sliding it into engagement with portion  102  as shown in FIG.  7  through the use of handle  158 . Because the inner contact surface  150  defined by arms  130 ,  131  and latch  124  forms a shape which releasably mates with the shape of distal portion  102  of base  100 , the latch is held in place on the device and able to engage pin  133 . Once pin  133  is engaged, the arm and pin engagement is locked in place and the resulting clip cannot be opened. While circular shapes are shown, other contact surfaces having shapes which would produce a snug or friction fit would be equally suitable. By configuring the latch and base in this manner, the incidence of losing the latch during use is reduced. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that changes and other modifications can be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Various features of the present invention are set forth in the following claims.