Patent Application
20090095577
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a brake and, more particularly, to a brake to retain a mobile carriage, such as used with a storage facility, in a fixed location.
2. Prior Art
The need to conserve space along with the increasing need for storage facilities has resulted in the widespread use of mobile storage facilities. Such mobile storage facilities are built to roll on a track. To avoid injury to persons using the storage facilities, it is essential that such storage facilities be positively secured in place.
In an earlier patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,332, a brake for retaining mobile storage facilities is disclosed. That brake provides the desired retention as well as ready release for mobile storage facilities. However, that brake is comparatively complicated and, therefore has a more significant cost and includes a spring which ultimately will weaken and require replacement.
It is an object of the invention to provide a brake for mobile storage facilities that positively secures the storage facilities while providing increased durability and reduced cost.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a brake that is simple in construction and easy to use.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a brake that is maintenance free.
A brake is provided for use on a mobile carriage. The mobile carriage is mounted on a platform with a track on which the mobile carriage rolls. A pivot member has a locking end and a release end. The pivot member is mounted to pivot generally midway between the locking end and the release end. A claw is mounted on the pivot member at the locking end. Means are provided adjacent the release end of the pivot member and means are secured to the means for mounting the pivot member for limiting the release end of the pivot member from being depressed below the horizontal.
Referring now to
A channel 23 which is parallel to the tracks 21 is located in a spaced relationship to the tracks 21. A slotted member 25 is secured within the channel 23. A chain may be used as the slotted member 25 but other forms of slotted members 25 may also exist. The brake includes a back plate 27 which is secured to the storage facility 15 by means of bolts 29. Mounted on the back plate 27 is a pivot member 31. Between the back plate and the pivot member 31 there is a brake pad 32. The brake pad 32 (
The back plate 27 and the pivot member 31 are preferably both rectangular plates of substantially the same size and are mounted with their larger edges in a generally horizontal position. The pivot member 31 has both a top edge 33 and a bottom edge 35 but the top edge 33 includes a top section 37 which extends at substantially right angles away from the storage facilities 15 from the pivot member 31 for a short distance. The top section 37 serves as a foot rest for actuating the pivot member 31 to secure and to release the brake to and from the platform 19.
A center bolt 39 is secured to the back plate 27 while extending outwardly from the back plate 27 so that the pivot member 31 can rotate on the center bolt 39. The pivot member 31 has two ends, namely a locking end 41 and a release end 43. Affixed to the locking end 41 is a claw 45 which includes a series of teeth 47. The claw 45 is a rectangular plate with the teeth 47 along its base. The claw 45 is affixed to the pivot member 31 at a slight acute angle which slopes downwardly toward the center of the pivot member 31. As a result of this acute angle, when the locking end 41 of the pivot member 31 is depressed, the claw 45 is horizontal so as properly to engage the slotted member 25.
The claw 45 has teeth 47 and the configuration of claw 45 assures a secure engagement of the claw 45 with the slotted member 25. The configuration of the claw 45 must be compatible with the design of the slotted member 25.
At the release end 43 of the pivot member 31 is a vertical opening 49. A stop bolt 51 extends outwardly from the back plate 37. The vertical opening 49 extends from the bottom edge 35 of the pivot member 31 slightly more than halfway up to the top edge 33 of the pivot member 31. The vertical opening 49 slides on the stop bolt 51 and when the release end 43 is forced downwardly so that the pivot member 31 is essentially horizontal, the stop bolt 51 prevents further downward movement of the release end 43.
The operation of the brake is simple. By stepping on the locking end 41 of the pivot member 31, the claw 45 is forced into the slotted member 25 thereby securing the storage facility 15 in a fixed location. By stepping on the release end 43 of the pivot member 31, the pivot member 31 is returned to the horizontal position with the claw 45 removed from the slotted member 25 thereby permitting movement of the storage facility 15.
It is to be understood that the drawings and description are in all cases to be interpreted as merely illustrative of the principles of the invention, rather than as limiting the same in any way, since it is contemplated that various changes may be made in various elements to achieve like results without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
