대표
청구항
▼
1. A pawl assembly for use with a latch mechanism having a shaft to which the pawl assembly is to be mounted, the latch mechanism being adapted for mounting to a first member for use in selectively securing the first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the latch mechanism being operable to move the shaft between a latched position and an unlatched position, and the shaft having a longitudinal axis and a length, the pawl assembly comprising: a pawl having an opening through which the shaft can extend; andmeans for preventing relative ...
1. A pawl assembly for use with a latch mechanism having a shaft to which the pawl assembly is to be mounted, the latch mechanism being adapted for mounting to a first member for use in selectively securing the first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the latch mechanism being operable to move the shaft between a latched position and an unlatched position, and the shaft having a longitudinal axis and a length, the pawl assembly comprising: a pawl having an opening through which the shaft can extend; andmeans for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl, said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl preventing movement of said pawl relative to the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the shaft to thereby fix said pawl to the shaft at a desired location along the length of the shaft and preventing rotation of said pawl relative to the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft such that said pawl is securely fastened to the shaft and said pawl and the shaft move as one unit as the shaft is caused to move by the latch mechanism to and from the latched position of the shaft and the unlatched position of the shaft to thereby move said pawl to and from a latched position of said pawl and an unlatched position of said pawl once said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl is installed to the shaft, said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl comprising a clip adapted to be capable of being fastened to said pawl, wherein said clip allows said pawl to be fastened to the shaft without the use of nuts. 2. A pawl assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one tab that can extend into a void between said at least one smooth surface and the at least one flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 3. A pawl assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one tab that can abut the at least one flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 4. A pawl assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one straight edge that can abut the flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 5. A pawl assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one edge that can engage the shaft in order to hold at least a portion of the external threads of the shaft in engagement with said internal threads when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to at least a portion of the external threads of the shaft to thereby fix said pawl to the shaft. 6. A pawl assembly according to claim 5, wherein said clip has at least one tab that can extend into a void between said opening of said pawl and the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 7. A pawl assembly according to claim 1, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, said opening of said pawl has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface; and wherein said clip has at least one key-hole shaped hole having a wide slot portion and a narrow slot portion, said clip includes means for guiding said clip for sliding motion along a portion of said pawl, said clip being rectilinearly movable relative to said pawl between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the shaft extends at least in part through said narrow slot portion and wherein the shaft is prevented from rotation relative to said pawl by interaction with sides of said narrow slot portion when said clip is in said locked position. 8. A pawl assembly according to claim 7, wherein said pawl assembly includes means for retaining said clip in said locked position. 9. A pawl assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clip has at least one slanted tab that can frictionally engage the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl. 10. A pawl assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clip has two slanted tabs that can frictionally engage the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl, said slanted tabs being mirror images of one another and counteracting one another. 11. A pawl assembly according to claim 10, wherein said opening in said pawl has flat sides that engage the flat side of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl. 12. The pawl assembly according to claim 1, wherein said clip has portions located on opposite sides of said pawl when said pawl is fastened to the shaft using said clip. 13. A pawl assembly according to claim 12, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one tab that can extend into a void between said at least one smooth surface and the at least one flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 14. A pawl assembly according to claim 12, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one tab that can abut the at least one flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 15. A pawl assembly according to claim 12, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one straight edge that can abut the flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 16. A pawl assembly according to claim 12, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one edge that can engage the shaft in order to hold at least a portion of the external threads of the shaft in engagement with said internal threads when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to at least a portion of the external threads of the shaft to thereby fix said pawl to the shaft. 17. A pawl assembly according to claim 16, wherein said clip has at least one tab that can extend into a void between said opening of said pawl and the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 18. A pawl assembly according to claim 12, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, said opening of said pawl has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface; and wherein said clip has at least one key-hole shaped hole having a wide slot portion and a narrow slot portion, said clip includes means for guiding said clip for sliding motion along a portion of said pawl, said clip being rectilinearly movable relative to said pawl between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the shaft extends at least in part through said narrow slot portion and wherein the shaft is prevented from rotation relative to said pawl by interaction with sides of said narrow slot portion when said clip is in said locked position. 19. A pawl assembly according to claim 18, wherein said pawl assembly includes means for retaining said clip in said locked position. 20. A pawl assembly according to claim 12, wherein said clip has at least one slanted tab that can frictionally engage the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl. 21. A pawl assembly according to claim 12, wherein said clip has two slanted tabs that can frictionally engage the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl, said slanted tabs being mirror images of one another and counteracting one another. 22. A pawl assembly according to claim 21, wherein said opening in said pawl has flat sides that engage the flat side of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl. 23. A pawl assembly for use with a latch mechanism having a shaft to which the pawl assembly is to be mounted, the latch mechanism being adapted for mounting to a first member for use in selectively securing the first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the latch mechanism being operable to move the shaft between a latched position and an unlatched position, and the shaft having a longitudinal axis and a length, the pawl assembly comprising: a pawl having an opening through which the shaft can extend; andmeans for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl, said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl preventing movement of said pawl relative to the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the shaft to thereby fix said pawl to the shaft at a desired location along the length of the shaft and preventing rotation of said pawl relative to the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft such that said pawl is securely fastened to the shaft and said pawl and the shaft move as one unit as the shaft is caused to move by the latch mechanism to and from the latched position of the shaft and the unlatched position of the shaft to thereby move said pawl to and from a latched position of said pawl and an unlatched position of said pawl once said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl is installed to the shaft, said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl comprising a clip adapted to be capable of being fastened to said pawl, wherein said clip has portions located on opposite sides of said pawl when said pawl is fastened to the shaft using said clip. 24. A pawl assembly according to claim 23, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one tab that can extend into a void between said at least one smooth surface and the at least one flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 25. A pawl assembly according to claim 23, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one tab that can abut the at least one flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 26. A pawl assembly according to claim 23, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one straight edge that can abut the flat surface of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 27. A pawl assembly according to claim 23, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, and wherein said opening has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface, and wherein said clip has at least one edge that can engage the shaft in order to hold at least a portion of the external threads of the shaft in engagement with said internal threads when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to at least a portion of the external threads of the shaft to thereby fix said pawl to the shaft. 28. A pawl assembly according to claim 27, wherein said clip has at least one tab that can extend into a void between said opening of said pawl and the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and said internal threads are engaged to the external threads of the shaft. 29. A pawl assembly according to claim 23, wherein the shaft has external threads interrupted by at least one flat surface, said opening of said pawl has internal threads interrupted by at least one smooth surface; and wherein said clip has at least one key-hole shaped hole having a wide slot portion and a narrow slot portion, said clip includes means for guiding said clip for sliding motion along a portion of said pawl, said clip being rectilinearly movable relative to said pawl between locked and unlocked positions, wherein the shaft extends at least in part through said narrow slot portion and wherein the shaft is prevented from rotation relative to said pawl by interaction with sides of said narrow slot portion when said clip is in said locked position. 30. A pawl assembly according to claim 29, wherein said pawl assembly includes means for retaining said clip in said locked position. 31. A pawl assembly according to claim 23, wherein said clip has at least one slanted tab that can frictionally engage the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl. 32. A pawl assembly according to claim 23, wherein said clip has two slanted tabs that can frictionally engage the shaft in order to prevent relative movement between said pawl and the shaft when said clip is fastened to said pawl and the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl, said slanted tabs being mirror images of one another and counteracting one another. 33. A pawl assembly according to claim 32, wherein said opening in said pawl has flat sides that engage the flat side of the shaft in order to prevent relative rotation between said pawl and the shaft when the shaft extends through said opening of said pawl.
