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Abstract

A locking device includes: a locking body having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and at least one first groove for receiving a rope; and a top rod connected to the locking body at the first sidewall and forming a second groove with the locking body for receiving a second rope. The second groove is open at its distal end. The top rod has a guide rail extending longitudinally through the top rod, wherein the guide rail leads to the second groove. A hook is formed on the second sidewall adjacent to the distal end of the second groove. A spring insert is disposed in the guide rail. The spring insert is positioned around the hook to lock the distal end of the second groove. The spring insert can be released from the hook by pressing the top rod until the spring insert passes over the hook.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 17 / 503,608, filed on October 18, 2021, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology 1. Technical Field

[0004] This invention relates to a device that allows a rope to be releasably attached to or removed from a device or another rope. Specifically, this invention relates to a latch that allows for simple and quick attachment and removal of rope loops from and from a device via a spring-locking system.

[0005] 2. Existing Technology

[0006] Locks with spring-loaded plate locking systems have been used to releasably attach ropes (particularly ropes with closed loop ends) to the lock. These types of locks are used when it may be necessary to remove the rope, or as replacement locks for broken locks already secured with ropes in place. The top bar of the lock has a free end to form an open slot and is locked via a separate spring-loaded plate locking element inserted through one or more holes at the end of the top bar. The locking element is then pressed into place so that it extends around a hook on the lock body, thus locking the open slot and keeping the rope attached to the lock. A drawback of this design is that the spring-loaded plate locking element is typically formed of wire, bent into an L-shape at the end to be inserted through the hole. The wire is unstable under strong force because it can bend, causing the end to slip out of the hole and release the rope. Furthermore, the spring-loaded plate locking element in this design must be bent back to its original shape to be inserted into the lock's hole, which further destabilizes the design. Summary of the Invention

[0007] Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to provide a lock for attaching ropes, wherein the locking element will not be unintentionally removed from the lock during use and under strong force. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a lock in which the locking element can be easily assembled to the lock without deformation.

[0008] These and other objectives are achieved by a latch comprising: a latch body having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and at least one first groove for receiving a rope; and a top rod connected to the latch body at the first sidewall and forming a second groove with the latch body for receiving a second rope. The second groove is open at its distal end. The top rod has a guide rail extending longitudinally through the top rod, wherein the guide rail leads to the second groove. The guide rail extends parallel to the second groove. A hook is formed on the second sidewall adjacent to the distal end of the second groove. A spring insert in the shape of an overlapping loop is disposed in the guide rail. The spring insert is configured to be positioned around the hook to lock the distal end of the second groove. The spring insert can be released from the hook by pressing the top rod until the spring insert passes over the hook. The spring insert can be attached to the top rod by sliding the spring insert from the second groove into the guide rail and moving the spring insert to the distal end of the top rod. The guide rail preferably extends into the second slot at an angle. This allows for simple and easy assembly of the spring insert plate with the guide rail.

[0009] At the distal end of the guide rail, there is at least one protrusion extending into the guide rail, which allows the spring insert to be held at the distal end of the guide rail after passing over the protrusion. By assembling the spring insert to the latch in this manner, the spring insert does not need to be bent or deformed in any way to attach it to the latch. The spring insert is placed onto the latch by rotating it until it rests under the hook, which is preferably in the form of a downward-facing hook. Since the spring insert cannot move within the guide rail due to the protrusion obstructing its movement, the pressure generated by pressing the spring insert deforms the spring. The spring then stores a restoring force, which helps to remove the spring insert from the latch once the top lever is pressed down sufficiently to release the spring insert from the hook.

[0010] The connection between the spring insert and the hook prevents any rope inserted into the second slot from slipping out of the lock through the open end.

[0011] The spring insert is preferably formed of wire bent into loops with overlapping end portions. Each end portion of the spring insert has an extension perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the spring insert and extending in opposite directions to form a substantially Z-shaped profile. These extensions serve to anchor the spring insert in a guide rail when the latch is subjected to force from a pulling rope. To receive the extension, the top rod includes a groove communicating with the guide rail, which receives the extension of the spring insert when the spring insert is positioned at the distal end of the guide rail. Forces on the top rod away from the body press the extension deeper into the groove to prevent the spring insert from opening. Furthermore, this pressure from the rope presses the top rod to compress the guide rail and further anchor the spring insert in place.

[0012] Preferably, a reinforcing protrusion is present on the bottom surface of the guide rail at the opposite end of the protrusion, so that excessive force on the top rod will not damage the part below the guide rail.

[0013] This invention has significant advantages over existing insert-type latches because the spring-loaded insert locking element of this invention does not need to deform during assembly and will not be unintentionally released due to large forces on the ropes connected to the latch. Furthermore, the insert is simply assembled with the latch, and there is no need to form or assemble small holes in the latch. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the drawings are intended to be illustrative only and not to define the scope of the invention.

[0015] In the accompanying drawings, reference characters that appear similar throughout several views denote similar elements:

[0016] Figure 1 Existing locking components are shown;

[0017] Figure 2 A perspective view of a latch according to the invention without a spring-loaded locking element is shown;

[0018] Figure 3 Another view of the latch without a spring-loaded locking element is shown;

[0019] Figure 4 A top view of the spring-loaded locking element is shown;

[0020] Figure 5 A front view of the spring-loaded locking element is shown;

[0021] Figure 6 The spring-loaded locking element is shown assembled into the guide rail of the latch.

[0022] Figure 7 This illustrates a spring-loaded locking element that moves toward the distal end along the guide rail of the latch.

[0023] Figure 8 The spring-loaded locking element is shown in its assembled position within the guide rail.

[0024] Figure 9 The latch is shown in the locked position;

[0025] Figure 10 Show along Figure 9 A cross-sectional view of line XX;

[0026] Figure 10A Show Figure 10 Enlarged view of circle 10A;

[0027] Figure 11 It shows a lock with an attachment rope being pulled in opposite directions; and

[0028] Figure 12 This illustrates a locking element that is released from the latch by pressing down on the top lever of the latch. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Please refer to the attached diagram for details, and Figure 1 A prior art latch 100 is shown, having a body 102 connected to a top rod 101. A spring insert 200 is attached to the free end of the top rod 101 by deforming its ends until they are spaced apart enough to be inserted into holes 201 and 202 of the top rod 101. Once the spring insert 200 is attached to the top rod 101, the opening to the slot 104 can be locked by hooking the spring insert 200 around a latch 103. A drawback of this design is that the deformation of the spring insert 200 results in a degree of unreliability, as it does not always quickly return to its original shape once fully assembled onto the top rod 101. Furthermore, vertical pressure, such as from ropes attached to the latch and to the top rod 101, can force the ends of the spring insert 200 to bend and slip from holes 201, 202, which may then cause the latch to fail and release any attached ropes.

[0030] The latch of the present invention solves this problem by using a novel guide rail in the top rod and a novel insert plate structure. Figures 2 to 12 The latch of the present invention is shown in the figure. In this document, as... Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the latch 10 has a main body consisting of sidewalls 11 and 12 and a first groove 13 for receiving rope. A central post 14 spans the first groove 13 and allows for rope adjustment as needed, and arms 17 and 18 hold the rope in place. A top bar 20 is connected to the sidewall 11 and extends toward but is not connected to the sidewall 12. A second groove 15 is provided between the arms 17 and 18 and the top bar 20. The second groove 15 is open at its end adjacent to the sidewall 12. A hook 16 in the form of a downward-facing hook is provided on the sidewall 12. A guide rail 22 is located inside the top bar 20 and extends parallel to the width of the top bar 20 and the second groove 15. The guide rail 22 is connected to the second groove 15 via a guide slot 23, which is arranged at an angle to the guide rail 22.

[0031] Lower protrusions 25 and upper protrusions 24, facing each other, are arranged at the distal end of the guide rail to create a region of reduced width within the guide rail 22. A groove 26 is formed in the top rod 20, extending into the guide rail 22, and helps to hold the spring insert 30, discussed below, in place. Corresponding grooves are located on opposite surfaces of the top rod 20 (not shown).

[0032] Figure 4 and Figure 5 A spring insert 30 is shown, which is formed of a metal wire or other elongated structure bent into a D-shape with overlapping end portions 31, 32. Each end portion 31, 32 has an extension 33, 34 extending perpendicularly to the plane of the spring insert 30, with each extension facing away from the other, thereby creating a Z-shaped profile.

[0033] Figures 6 to 9 The image shows the assembly of the spring insert 30 and the latch 10. (See image for details.) Figure 6 As shown, the spring insert 30 slides onto the top rod 20 via the open slot 15, then is fed into the guide slot 23 and upwards into the guide rail 22. Then, as... Figure 7 The spring insert 30 shown slides along the guide rail 22 until it reaches its distal end, where the spring insert 30, under increased force, passes through the protrusions 24 and 25 to reach the end of the guide rail 22, as shown. Figure 8 As shown in the diagram, protrusions 24 and 25 prevent the spring insert 30 from sliding back along the guide rail 22 during use of the latch 10. Figure 8 As shown, the extension 33 of the spring insert 30 rests in the groove 26 of the top rod 20, and the corresponding groove 28 on the rear side of the top rod 20 (see...) Figure 10A It also receives extension 34.

[0034] To lock the latch 10, the spring plate 30 is rotated about the top rod 20 until it passes the hook 16. At this point, the hook on the hook 16 locks the spring plate 30 in the appropriate position. Figure 9 As shown in the diagram. In the locked position, the extensions 33 and 34 of the spring insert 30 are firmly pressed into the recesses 26 and 28 by the top lever 20, thereby preventing any movement of the spring insert 30 during use, as shown in the diagram. Figure 10 and Figure 10A It can be seen in the cross-sectional view.

[0035] During use, rope 40 is wrapped around top pole 20 and rope 50 is passed through groove 13 around central post 14 (e.g.) Figure 11 (as shown) to connect two items together. When along... Figure 11 When the arrows in the diagram pull ropes 40 and 50 in opposite directions (which is typical), the force on the bottom side of rope 40 on the top bar 20 causes the bottom side of the top bar 20 to bend slightly and compress the guide rail 22. This compression further secures the spring insert 30 in place on the latch 10. To prevent excessive compression under heavy loads, additional protrusions 29 may be provided in the guide rail 22 adjacent to the guide groove 23, for example... Figure 9 As shown in the image.

[0036] In addition to the compression of the guide rail 22, the upward force of the rope 40 on the top rod 20 pulls the spring insert 30, which forces the extensions 33, 34 of the spring insert 30 to press more tightly against the top rod 20, thereby preventing the spring insert 30 from being unintentionally released from the top rod 20.

[0037] To release the spring insert 30 from the hook 16, the user simply presses down on the top rod 20 (as shown in 12) until the spring insert 30 passes the hook 16. The pressure of the extensions 33, 34 on the walls of the grooves 26, 28 in the top rod 20 creates a restoring force that allows the spring insert 30 to subsequently spring away from the hook 16 to allow entry into the slot 15.

[0038] The present invention provides a simple and robust method for providing a locking system in the form of a latch, in which the spring insert can resist deformation even under large loads.

[0039] Therefore, although only a few embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A latch, characterized in that, include: A locking body having a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and at least one first groove for receiving a first rope; A top bar, which is connected to the latch body at the first sidewall and forms a second groove with the latch body for receiving a second rope, wherein the second groove is open at its distal end, and wherein the top bar has a guide rail extending longitudinally through the top bar and the guide rail leads to the second groove; A latch, the latch being formed on the second sidewall adjacent to the distal end of the second groove; as well as A spring insert plate, the spring insert plate being in the shape of an overlapping ring at the ends, the spring insert plate being configured to be assembled with the latch body by inserting the spring insert plate into the guide rail and sliding the spring insert plate to the far end of the guide rail; The spring insert is configured to be positioned around the hook to lock the distal end of the second slot, and the spring insert can be released from the hook by pressing the top rod.

2. The latch according to claim 1, characterized in that, At the distal end of the guide rail, there is at least one protrusion extending into the guide rail to retain the spring insert at the distal end of the guide rail.

3. The latch according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a reinforcing protrusion located on the bottom surface of the guide rail at the opposite end of the at least one protrusion.

4. The latch according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end portion of the spring insert has an extension that is perpendicular to the circumferential direction of the spring insert and extends in opposite directions.

5. The latch according to claim 4, characterized in that, The top rod includes a groove communicating with the guide rail, the groove being configured to receive the extension of the spring insert when the spring insert is positioned at the distal end of the guide rail, such that a force on the top rod away from the latch body presses the extension deeper into the groove to prevent the spring insert from opening.

6. The latch according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide rail is connected to the second groove via a guide groove, which is arranged at an angle to the guide rail.

7. The latch according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hook is in the form of a hook facing away from the top rod.

8. The latch according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A first rope passes through the first groove and extends around the lock body; And a second rope, which passes through the second groove and extends around the top rod, such that when the first rope and the second rope are pulled in opposite directions, the force of the second rope on the bottom side of the top rod causes the bottom side of the top rod to bend slightly and compress the guide rail.

9. The latch according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spring insert is formed of metal wire.

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