U.S. patent number 3,674,304 [Application Number 05/000,211] was granted by the patent office on 1972-07-04 for releasable automatic fastener for a truck stake and like.
Invention is credited to Raymond W. Swanson.
United States Patent |
3,674,304 |
Swanson |
July 4, 1972 |
RELEASABLE AUTOMATIC FASTENER FOR A TRUCK STAKE AND LIKE
Abstract
For a combination of a stake with an elongated exposed section
and, as a pertinent member, a relatively shorter end section, and,
as another pertinent member, a receptacle for said end section,--an
automatic fastener for the stake end section in the receptacle
which fastener requires a substantially instantaneous double and
forceful action in two different directions for removing the
automatically fastened stake from the receptacle and comprises a
sidewise exposed edge in one of said two pertinent members, a
sidewise protruding clutching means secured with the other of said
two pertinent members for engaging against said edge when
therebelow and pushed sidewise thereagainst, an outwardly resilient
normally sidewise protruding compressible means secured with one of
said two pertinent members for being resiliently compressed when
within the receptacle for pushing said clutching means sidewise
against said edge automatically when said end section is within
said receptacle and the clutching means is below said edge while
the compressible means remains substantially compressed, a means
for removing the clutching means from the edge and, therewhile, the
stake from the receptacle by farther compressing the compressible
means with overcoming contra side pressure applied against the
elongated exposed section of the stake and by therewhile pulling
the latter from the receptacle.
Inventors: |
Swanson; Raymond W. (Whittier,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
21690415 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/000,211 |
Filed: |
January 2, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/43; 403/315;
403/353; 105/382; 256/1; 403/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D
33/0207 (20130101); Y10T 403/58 (20150115); Y10T
403/7015 (20150115); Y10T 403/604 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B62D
33/02 (20060101); B60p 007/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;296/43 ;280/143,147
;105/382,390 ;287/2.5SL,57CT,DIG.9 ;256/1
;52/298,296,297,709,726 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hersh; Benjamin
Assistant Examiner: Pekar; John A.
Claims
The invention claimed here is:
1. For a combination of a stake with an elongated exposed section
and, as a pertinent member, a relatively shorter end section, and,
as another pertinent member, a receptacle for said end section,
an automatic fastener for the stake-end-section in the receptacle
which fastener requires a substantially instantaneous double action
in two different directions for removing the automatically fastened
stake from the receptacle and comprises a sidewise exposed edge in
one of said two pertinent members, a sidewise protruding clutching
means secured with the other of said two pertinent members for
engaging against said edge when therebelow and is pushed sidewise
thereagainst, an outwardly resilient normally sidewise protruding
compressible means secured with one of said two pertinent members
for being resiliently compressed when within the receptacle for
pushing said clutching means sidewise for automatic engagement
against said edge when said end section is within said receptacle
and the clutching means is below said edge while the compressible
means remains substantially compressed;
the stake being removable from the receptacle by pushing the
exposed section of the stake in the direction of the location of
the clutching means with a force sufficient to compress further the
compressible means to the extent where the clutching means becomes
released, and, thereupon, pulling the stake from the receptacle
without reducing the extent of the push which releases the
clutching means.
2. For a combination of a truck-stake end section and a
stake-receptacle with interior side walls having an inwardly
exposed edge,
a fastener securable with the end section of the stake and
comprising a sidewise outwardly resilient compressible first member
for engaging an interior side wall and thereunder a contra-sidewise
outwardly protruding clutching second member for engaging against
the inwardly exposed edge when brought therebelow by inserting the
stake-end-section into the receptacle when the first member is
resiliently compressed against the opposite interior wall of the
receptacle.
3. For a combination of a truck-stake with an elongated exposed
section, and a relatively shorter end section with a bottom having
a sidewise exposed recess of a predetermined depth extended
upwardly to the end section, and a suitably shaped and sized stake
receptacle with side walls, and a lower edge from its sidewall
exposed inwardly, and a means for restricting the extent of the
stake insertion into the receptacle for keeping the exposed edge of
the receptacle below and at a predetermined distance from the stake
bottom when the stake-end-section is substantially fully inserted
into the receptacle,
comprising an automatic fastener for the stake-end-section in the
receptacle including a normally substantially flat pad of a
thickness slightly exceeding the predetermined recess depth in the
bottom section of the stake and the predetermined distance from the
stake bottom to the receptacle exposed edge, and of a resilient and
compressible material, and secured flat against the stake bottom
with a portion thereof protruding sidewise from the exposed recess
and beyond the stake-end-section and compressible into said recess
and resilient against the adjacent receptacle--inner-side-wall when
the end section is inserted into the receptacle, and is adapted for
exercising a continuous sidewise pressure against the end section
towards an opposite receptacle--inner-wall with the exposed edge
when the end section is in the receptacle; a substantially flat
rigid plate secured to the stake bottom under and substantially
flat against said pad, and having a portion thereof protruding
sidewise slightly beyond the side of the end section which is
opposite to the side having the recess, for fastening itself
automatically against the exposed edge when brought immediately
therebelow by the thickness of the pad when the end section is
substantially fully inserted into the receptacle, and while being
pressed sidewise thereagainst by the resiliency of the compressed
portion of the pad.
4. The invention according to claim 3 and a means for fastening the
rigid plate to the bottom of the stake under the flat pad and
comprising a bolt member upwardly protruding from the upper face
side of the plate, a hole through the pad for said bolt member
passage therethrough, a receptacle in the bottom section of the
stake for the loose end section of said bolt member for fastening
the latter to the bottom section of the stake via said bolt
member-receptacle.
5. For a combination of a truck-stake and a stake receptacle, an
automatic fastener for the stake in the receptacle and comprising a
notch with outwardly exposed edge in the side wall of the
stake-end-section, a compressible and resilient member secured to
the inner wall of the receptacle, a clutching member secured to and
protruding inwardly from the opposite inner wall of the receptacle
substantially opposite the compressible member and adapted to
engage in the notch against its exposed edge when the notch is
brought thereagainst and the compressible and resilient member is
compressed by the stake-end-section to exercise pressure
thereagainst towards the clutching member when the end-section of
the stake is inserted into the receptacle.
6. For a combination of a truck-stake and stake-receptacle, an
automatic fastener for the stake in the receptacle and comprising a
notch with outwardly exposed edge in the side wall of the
stake-end-section, a clutching member secured to and protruding
inwardly from the inner wall of the receptacle and adapted to
engage the notch and against its exposed edge when the notch is
brought and pressed thereagainst, a compressible and resilient
member secured to the stake-end-section and protruding from its
side which is opposite to the side having the notch, said
compressible and resilient member adapted to press the notch
towards and against the clutching member when the end section of
the stake is inserted into the receptacle and the resilient member
is thereby compressed against the inner wall of the receptacle
which wall is opposite to its wall having the clutching member.
7. For a combination of a truck-stake and a stake receptacle, an
automatic fastener for the stake in the receptacle and comprising
an inwardly exposed edge in the receptacle, a clutching member
secured to and protruding sidewise from the end-section of the
stake and adapted to engage against the exposed edge when brought
therebelow and pressed sidewise thereagainst, a compressible and
resilient member secured to the inner wall of the receptacle
substantially opposite to its exposed edge and adapted to press
sidewise the clutching member against the exposed edge when the
end-section of the stake is inserted into the receptacle and the
compressible and resilient member is thereby compressed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to trucks and like, their respective
stakes and stake receptacles, and more specifically to fasteners of
the stakes in the stake receptacles.
2. Description of the Prior Arts
There are prior art devices for locking, clamping, bolting and/or
otherwise attempting to secure a truck stake in a stake receptacle
against theft or accidental fall-out. Some of them require a key to
unlock, which key can be easily misplaced or lost; others may need
a screwdriver, a monkey-wrench or other likewise separate suitable
tools to release or remove the locking elements. Some of them have
their locking mechanisms exposed to open view for easier and faster
operation by the truck attendants, and, while they do serve that
purpose and do prevent accidental fall-out of the stake, they are
at the same time a relatively easy prey for a common thief with a
minimum of mechanical experience; likewise mechanisms in less
accessible locations, such, for instance, as under the truck
platform, handicap and delay the truck attendants yet fail to
provide a reasonable insurance against a determined thief once he
locates the lock and can easily observe and understand the
heretofore visibly apparent means of unlocking the same.
There are few basic characteristics common with all heretofore
known devices for locking the stake in the receptacle, i.e. once it
is unlocked the stake may be pulled out or fall out from the
receptacle any time thereafter, thus, if the attendant forgets to
lock the stake the latter may fall out from the receptacle while
the truck is moving over a bumpy road, and a thief needs to be
concerned first only with unlocking the heretofore locks as, once
it is done, his conventional experience tells him that he can pull
the stake out from the receptacle thereafter any time at leisure
and/or convenience; all heretofore stake locking devices require a
separate operation to lock the stake in the receptacle and two
separated from each other operations for removing the stake locked
in the receptacle,-- first-- unlocking the stack, second-- pulling
it out any time thereafter, which is a double work for the truck
attendant, and is a convenience for a thief; and all heretofore
truck stake locking devices, by their very outside appearance,
expose instantly what is required to have them unlocked or
broken.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A first embodiment of the present invention might involve-- for a
combination of a truck stake, its end section, its exposed section
and a stake receptacle with side walls and an exposed edge--a
fastener securable with the end section of the stake and comprising
a sidewise outwardly resilient compressible first means for pushing
the end section of the stake against the side wall of the
receptacle with the exposed edge when the end section of the stake
is inserted into the receptacle while the first means is compressed
against the opposite wall of the receptacle; and a stationary
contra sidewise protruding second means for gripping against the
exposed edge of the receptacle when brought there-below while being
likewise pushed sidewise together with the end section of the stake
by the first means; and a third means for releasing the fastener
and removing the stake from the receptacle and responsive to a
sidewise, the first-means-resiliency overcoming, push against the
exposed section of the stake in the direction of the protrusion of
the second means, and, there-while, to a pull of the stake from the
receptacle.
A second embodiment of this invention may provide, for instance, a
notch in the side wall of the stake-end-section instead of the
exposed edge in the receptacle, and the first means secured with an
inner side wall of the receptacle instead of the stake-end-section
and sidewise resilient inwardly instead of outwardly, and the
second means for gripping against the notch secured to the opposite
inner side wall of the receptacle.
A third embodiment of this invention may provide, for example, the
notch and the second means as in the second embodiment while the
first means secured as in the first embodiment.
In a fourth embodiment of this invention the exposed edge and the
second means may be as in the first embodiment while the first
means as in the second embodiment.
Either one of the above exemplified various embodiments would
achieve the following objects of this invention without departure
from the basic principles thereof as disclosed and thought
herein.
The above are just few examples of many various modifications
possible and obvious to anyone skilled in the art once the present
basic disclosure and teaching are revealed; and the exemplified
four also should demonstrate that, in conceiving this invention,
its reduction to practice was not, is not and should not be limited
to a single embodiment thereof.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide improved
fastener for a stake in a receptacle.
Another object of this invention is to provide such fastener which
will fasten the stake in the receptacle automatically once the
stake is inserted into the receptacle.
A further object of this invention is to provide such fastener with
means for making it practically undetectable to an untrained eye
when the stake-end-section is in the receptacle.
Still another object of this invention is to provide such fastener
with inconspicuous means for unfastening thereof.
Another important object of this invention is to provide
inconspicuous means for rendering separate operation of a mere
unfastening of the fastener ineffective and insufficient for
thereafter separate effort to remove the stake from the
receptacle.
Consequently it is an object of this invention to provide a means
for removing the automatically fastened stake from the receptacle
requiring simultaneous application of two commonly entirely
unrelated physical operations against an exposed section of the
stake with a method, a force and a direction unknown to an
untrained person.
An important object of this invention is to make its reduction to
practice simple and inexpensive to manufacture and substantially
easy to operate but only for a person taught of its concealed
features and the method, a direction and a force required for the
operation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The full nature of the invention will be understood from the
accompanying drawings and the following description and claims. In
the drawing:
FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a truck stake comprising
features of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective side view of a truck stake receptacle
comprising an element for this invention.
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the truck stake end
section partly inserted into the truck stake receptacle with a
feature of this invention engaged.
FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the truck stake end
section fully inserted into the truck stake receptacle with two
features of this invention engaged for automatic fastening of said
end section with said receptacle.
FIG. 5 is a bottom plain view taken at 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a front side plain view of the stake lower section taken
at 6--6 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a relatively enlarged perspective side and top view of a
preferred resilient and compressible element for this
invention.
FIG. 8 is a relatively enlarged perspective side and top view of a
preferred gripping element for this invention, and of an upwardly
protruding bolt secured to the top side of said gripping
element.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a truck-platform-section and a
plain side view of the truck-stake-receptacle stationary secured in
a provided therefore hole in the truck-platform, and a plain side
view of the truck stake in said receptacle manually unfastened in
the process for being pulled out from the receptacle.
FIG. 10 is sectionally plain and sectionally cross-sectional side
view of the modified second embodiment of this invention.
FIG. 11 is sectionally plain and sectionally cross-sectional side
view of the further modified third embodiment of this
invention.
FIG. 12 is sectionally plain and sectionally cross-sectional side
view of the still further modified fourth embodiment of this
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of
this invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments
illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to
describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no
limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such
alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device,
and such further applications of the principles of the invention as
illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to
one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
In reference to the drawings:
In FIG. 1 a truck stake 10 is made of metal and has indicated
hollow sections 10A and 10B and side openings 11, 12 and 13 leading
into the respective hollow sections. The hollow section 10B has a
solid bottom 14 with an edge recess 15 facing opening 13 (FIGS. 1
and 6). Under and adjacent to the bottom 14 is placed a
substantially square rubber-like pad 16 (FIGS. 1,6 and 7) with a
portion 16A thereof normally protruding sidewise outwardly from the
recess 15 and beyond the stake-end-section 17 (FIG. 1). The pad 16
has a relatively small hold 16B (FIG. 7) for a bolt passage
therethrough. Under and adjacent to the pad 16 is placed a likewise
substantially square but strong and rigid metal plate 18 (FIG. 1)
with a relatively small portion 18A thereof slightly protruding
sidewise outwardly beyond the stake 10 sidewall with the opening
12. Thus said protrusion of the plate 18 is in a direction opposite
to the direction of the protrusion of the pad 16. The plate 18
(FIG. 8) has a bolt 19 welded thereto vertically and adapted to be
inserted through the hole 16B in the pad 16 and through and beyond
a corresponding hole in the bottom 14 (FIGS. 1,3,4 and 6) of stake
10 into the hollow section 10B thereof where it is tightened with a
nut 20 to secure firmly the pad 16 and plate 18 in above described
illustrated positions in relation to each other and the stake
10.
In FIG. 2 a metal stake-receptacle 21 has four side walls including
wall 21A, has no top nor bottom whereby its edge 22 is exposed and
may be used as an element in this invention as will be explained
below. Receptacle 21 is of size shape and form adapted to receive
the stake-end-section 17 with the stationary sidewise protruding
portion 18A of plate 18 when the normally sidewise protruding
portion 16A of the rubber-like (resilient and compressible) pad 16
is compressed into the recess 15 (FIGS. 1 and 6) as shown in FIG.
3.
Receptacle 21 may be stationary secured in a provided therefore
hole in a truck loading platform 23 (FIG. 9) with any suitable
means, for instance, if such platform is of metal the receptacle 21
may be welded thereto in said hole, or press-fitted into; if such
platform is of wood, the receptacle 21 may be press-fitted into the
platform hole, or further secured therein from coming out by, for
example, a fish-hook-like acting springy thin bars, like bar 24
(FIGS. 2,3 and 9) having its lower half welded to side wall 21A of
receptacle 21, and its upper half normally extending upwardly and
resiliently sidewise and susceptible of being pressed flat against
sidewall 21A when receptacle 21 is press-fitted into the hole of
wooden platform 23 (FIG. 9) and retaining its sidewise resiliency
against adjacent thereto wooden wall of the hole in the platform 23
for resisting a manual effort of pulling the receptacle 21 out of
the hole in platform 23. The sidewise protruding thickness of bar
24 should not be a great obstacle in a hammer or power
press-fitting of the receptacle 21 into a hole of wooden platform
23, but should suffice to cause adequate resistance to a manual
effort against pushing the receptacle 21 farther or clear through
the hole in wooden platform 23. Of course, a pushing of a
receptacle clear through a hole would by itself be impossible if
their respective walls are bevelled, or the upper edges of a
receptacle are bent sidewise, or any other suitable means is
provided thereagainst. Likewise, any other suitable means for the
basic purpose of this invention may be used, for example, in place
of the rubber-or-neoprene-like pad 16, for instance, a metal
spring, and, in place of the metal plate 18, a suitably shaped
protuberance welded to or otherwise secured to the bottom 14, or
forming a part of the stake itself, instead of bolt 19 a common
bolt may be used through a hole in a plain flat metal plate like
plate 18, etc..
The illustrated embodiment was chosen for its apparent simplicity,
ease to manufacture, susceptibility of application to already
existent stakes and receptacles, proven efficiency and
dependability and insusceptibility of being observed, understood
and overcome by an untrained thief and common tools such as a
screwdriver or a wrench. Its fully concealed inconspicuousness
extends even to the bottom of the engagement as shown in FIG. 5,
and its process of operation cannot be learned from the outside
visible appearance of the engagement as will become apparent from
the below description.
PROCESS OF OPERATION
To insert the end section 17 of stake 10 into receptacle 21 for
having it automatically fastened therein, the stake 10 should be
held slightly tilted in relation to receptacle 21 to allow a lower
portion of the front edge of the thickness of the protuberance 18A
to assume contacting position against the upper inner edge of the
side-wall 21A, then, maintaining said engagement of said edges, the
stake 10 should be straightened in relation to the receptacle 21
and simultaneously forcibly pushed into the latter (FIG. 3) to
overcome the resiliency of the protuberance 16A and force the
latter to bend upwardly and compress itself into and against the
recess 15. The inserting of the end section 17 should continue
until stopped by the outwardly sidewise protruding edge 17A of the
stake 10 colliding against the upper edge of the receptacle 21
side-wall 21B. When such collision occurs the end section 17 will
become fully inserted into the receptacle 21, the outwardly
resilient protrusion 16A of the rubber-like pad 16 still remaining
within the receptacle 21 substantially compressed in the recess 15
by the adjacent receptacle-inner-wall and thus still exercising
sidewise pressure against the plate 18 which by then assumes
position slightly below the receptacle 21 and, being so pressed by
the compressed resiliency of the protrusion 16A, will have its
protrusion 18A snap sidewise under and against the exposed edge 22
of the receptacle 21 thereby automatically fastening the end
section 17 of stake 10 in the receptacle 21 (FIG. 4).
To remove the so fastened stake 10 from the receptacle 21 two,
ordinarily separate, different and unrelated to each other, manual
efforts have to be applied substantially simultaneously as
follows:
with a prior knowledge of a force required to farther compress the
already substantially compressed protrusion 16A between the
receptacle 21 inner wall and the recess 15, and for better leverage
thereagainst a firm manual grip should be applied over an upper
exposed section of the stake 10 (FIG. 9). While in such a grip the
stake 10 should be forcibly pushed sidewise in the same direction
as is the direction of the protrusion 18A of the plate 18 to force
said protrusion 18A in the opposite direction away from its
fastening entanglement with and against the exposed edge 22 of the
receptacle 21 and against the resilient force of compressed
protrusion 16A. Without releasing such push even for a moment the
stake 10 should be substantially simultaneously pulled upwardly to
cause the protrusion 18A to enter the receptacle 21, as, otherwise,
said protrusion 18A will again immediately and automatically snap
back to its prior fastening involvement against said edge 22.
Since most of the truck stakes are stolen by young kids and
juveniles it is recommended that the resilient means in this
invention such, for instance, as the pad 16, be of a resilient
strength susceptible of being compressed by a healthy adult only
and using the full leverage advantage allowed by the exposed length
of the stake.
The illustrated embodiment of this invention indicates that a
pressure of a truck load against the fastened stake would add to
the difficulty of unfastening and removing the stake. Some users,
who have to remove some of the stakes before unloading and while
the load is pressing against said stakes, may resent such
additional handicap in unfastening the stakes. In such cases an
embodiment of this invention obviously may be provided where the
pertinent elements are arranged for allowing the
unfastening-of-the-stake pressure be parallel to the truck load
instead of thereagainst, which, of course, in no way would
jeopardize the basic objects of this invention.
FIG. 10 of the drawings illustrates the heretofore taught and
disclosed second embodiment of this invention, specifically the
notch 12A in the side wall of the end section 17B of stake 10C; a
compressible first means 16C for resiliently pushing said end
section 17B when compressed thereby and secured with inner side
wall of receptacle 21C and is sidewise resilient inwardly; and the
second means 24F for gripping against the notch 12A when brought
there opposite and secured to the inner side wall of receptacle 21C
opposite the first means 16C. It further shows stake receptacle 21C
secured in truck-platform 23A with co-operating prongs 24D and 24E
substantially as receptacle 21 in platform 23 in FIG. 9, and shows
lower end section 17B of stake 10C inserted into receptacle 21C as
far as stop member 17C (similar to 17A in FIG. 1) permits, and
shows the first means 16C resiliently compressed by
stake-end-section 17B, and the second means 24F engaged with notch
12A.
FIG. 11 of the drawings illustrates the heretofore taught and
disclosed third embodiment of the invention, specifically notch 12B
in the sidewall of end section 17E of stake 10D; clutching means
24G for engaging notch 12B is here secured to the inner wall of
receptacle 21D; and the compressible resilient means 16D for
pushing stake-end-section 17E when compressed thereby is here
similar to pad 16 in FIGS. 3,4 and 7, and is secured to the bottom
of stake-end-section 17E as in the first embodiment by, for
instance, the shown suited bolt 19B, plate 18C and nut 20B, and
serves the same purpose and in the same manner as pad 16 in FIGS.
1,3,4,6,7 and 9. It further shows stake-end-section 17E inserted
into receptacle 21D as far as stop member 17D (similar to 17A in
FIG. 1) permits, and shows the compressible means 16D compressed by
stake-end-section 17E, and the clutching means 24G engaged with
notch 12B.
FIG. 12 of the drawings illustrates the heretofore taught and
described fourth embodiment of this invention, specifically the
inwardly exposed edge 22A of receptacle 21E and the gripping means
i.e. the protruding part 18E of plate 18D secured to the bottom
wall of stake-end-section 17G via bolt 19C and nut 20C,
substantially as plate 18 in FIG. 4 and serving here the same
purpose and in the same manner for engaging against said edge 22A
when brought therebelow and pushed thereagainst; and the
compressible resilient means 16E for pushing stake-end-section 17G
when thereby compressed is secured here with inner side wall of
receptacle 21E opposite the wall which has the exposed edge 22A and
is sidewise resilient inwardly; it also shows the end-section 17G
of stake 10E inserted into receptacle 21E as far as stop member 17F
(similar to 17A FIG. 1) permits, end shows the compressible means
16E compressed by said end-section 17G, and the gripping means 18E
engaged against edge 22A.
From the above showing and description it should be apparent that
the release of the respective stakes engaged as shown and described
in the respective receptacles in FIGS. 10,11 and 12 may be
accomplished in the same manner as has been described in reference
to FIGS. 1-9, and as indicated by the arrows similar to arrows
indicating likewise method of release in FIG. 9.
* * * * *