초록 ▼

A locking assembly is disclosed which is suitable for releasably locking two articulated pivoting members in a fixed position with respect to each other. The locking assembly comprises a spring biased reciprocating latch, a plunger attached to the latch, and a catch plate adapted to rotate into lock

A locking assembly is disclosed which is suitable for releasably locking two articulated pivoting members in a fixed position with respect to each other. The locking assembly comprises a spring biased reciprocating latch, a plunger attached to the latch, and a catch plate adapted to rotate into locking engagement therewith. The plunger and latch are preferably integral with each other, so that the latch contains a minimum number of moving parts. The latch is designed so that simple palm pressure will cause it to disengage from the catch plate, to permit the pivoting members to move with respect to each other. The present locking assembly is of simple design and inexpensive manufacture, and is durable in use. The locking assembly is particularly applicable for use in invalid appliances such as collapsible walkers, where the users have limited manual dexterity. The simple design of the present locking assembly assures a minimum of mechanical breakdown in use, that is particularly important in the instance where the user of the device is infirm or elderly. The present invention also includes a collapsible walker utilizing the present locking assembly.

대표청구항 ▼

A collapsible walker for the elderly and the infirm, comprising: A. a cross brace having a bearing at each of its extremities; B. a pair of gate legs, with one of said gate legs pivotally mounted in each of said bearings for rotation between an opened position, wherein said gate legs are positioned

A collapsible walker for the elderly and the infirm, comprising: A. a cross brace having a bearing at each of its extremities; B. a pair of gate legs, with one of said gate legs pivotally mounted in each of said bearings for rotation between an opened position, wherein said gate legs are positioned generally transverse to said cross brace, and a collapsed position wherein said gate legs are folded against said cross brace; and C. a releasable locking assembly mounted on each gate leg and said cross brace adjacent the extremities thereof, each said locking assembly adapted to releasably lock the respective gate leg in the opened position with respect to said cross brace; each said locking assembly comprising: (a) a spring biased reciprocating latch; (b) a plunger attached to said latch; (c) an open ended catch plate adapted to releasably engage said latch; (d) said spring biased latch reciprocably mounted within said cross brace and comprising a longitudinally extended locking bolt adapted for retractable protrusion from said cross brace, a reduced diameter guide rod extending from said locking bolt external to said cross brace, and a cam surface located between said locking bolt and said guide rod, and adapted to slidably engage said catch plate; (e) said catch plate mounted external to the respective gate leg and substantially parallel to said cross brace when said gate leg is in said opened position and substantially transverse to said cross brace when in said collapsed position, said catch plate comprising a collar adapted to releasably retain said locking bolt, and a track communicating with said collar defining an access way for said latch to enter and escape from said collar; and (f) said plunger mounted on said guide rod on the free end thereof, to receive and transmit pressure against said locking bolt to urge said locking bolt into the retracted position, for release from said collar.