Claims
- 1. A wedge bar locking mechanism comprising a locking pin, a wedge bar and a bracket,
said locking pin comprising a reduced diameter portion and a threaded portion, said threaded portion having a continuous helical groove disposed circumferentially about and extending longitudinally of said threaded portion, said wedge bar comprising first and second longitudinally extending portions at a proximal end thereof, said first and second longitudinally extending portions defining a locking pin receiving space therebetween, at least one of said first and second longitudinally extending portions having at least one tooth extending into said pin receiving space, said tooth being dimensioned to extend into and be accommodated within said helical groove when said threaded portion is received in said pin receiving space, said bracket defining a longitudinally extending slot adapted to accommodate said wedge bar therein, and a longitudinally extending cylindrical portion defining a longitudinal cylindrical pathway adapted to accommodate said locking pin therein, wherein said slot is effective to prevent said wedge bar from rotating as a result of torque supplied to said locking pin when said locking pin and said wedge bar are received, respectively, in said longitudinal cylindrical pathway and said slot.
- 2. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 1, said bracket further comprising at least one retaining tab extending radially inward of said cylindrical portion into said longitudinal cylindrical pathway of said bracket, said retaining tab being received and accommodated within said reduced diameter portion of said locking pin when said locking pin is received in said longitudinal cylindrical pathway of said bracket.
- 3. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 2, said retaining tab being formed by punching through a wall of said cylindrical portion such that a punched portion of said wall extends radially inward of the cylindrical portion, still attached to the wall, to provide said retaining tab.
- 4. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 2, said retaining tab being integral with said bracket.
- 5. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of said retaining tabs, each of said plurality of retaining tabs being received and accommodated within said reduced diameter portion of said locking pin when said locking pin is received in said longitudinal cylindrical pathway of said bracket.
- 6. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 3, comprising a plurality of said retaining tabs formed by punching through said wall of said cylindrical portion, each of said plurality of retaining tabs being received and accommodated within said reduced diameter portion of said locking pin when said locking pin is received in said longitudinal cylindrical pathway of said bracket.
- 7. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 1, at least one of said first and second longitudinally extending portions having a plurality of said teeth disposed at spaced intervals thereof and extending into said pin receiving space, the spacing of said teeth corresponding to a pitch of said helical groove of said threaded portion of said locking pin.
- 8. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 1, said threaded portion being in the form of an Acme threaded rod.
- 9. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 1, said locking pin further comprising means for engagement by a tool or by hand so that the locking pin can be turned to lock or unlock a casket equipped with said locking mechanism.
- 10. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 9, said engagement means comprising an Allen key receptacle, adapted to receive an Allen key therein.
- 11. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 9, said engagement means comprising a key receptacle adapted to receive a correspondingly shaped key therein.
- 12. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 1, said helical groove terminating respectively at proximal and distal hard stops located respectively adjacent either end of the threaded portion.
- 13. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 1, said cylindrical portion being provided substantially centrally relative to a vertical extent of said slot.
- 14. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 1, consisting essentially of said locking pin, said wedge bar and said bracket.
- 15. A wedge bar locking mechanism comprising a locking pin, a wedge bar and a bracket,
said locking pin comprising a reduced diameter portion and a threaded portion, said threaded portion having a continuous helical groove disposed circumferentially about and extending longitudinally of said threaded portion, said wedge bar comprising a longitudinally extending portion at a proximal end thereof, said longitudinally extending portion having at least one tooth dimensioned to extend into and be accommodated within said helical groove disposed in said threaded portion of said locking pin, said bracket defining a longitudinally extending slot adapted to accommodate said wedge bar therein, and a longitudinally extending cylindrical portion defining a longitudinal cylindrical pathway adapted to accommodate said locking pin therein.
- 16. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 15, said bracket further comprising at least one retaining tab extending radially inward of said cylindrical portion into said longitudinal cylindrical pathway of said bracket, said retaining tab being received and accommodated within said reduced diameter portion of said locking pin when said locking pin is received in said longitudinal cylindrical pathway of said bracket.
- 17. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 16, said retaining tab being formed by punching through a wall of said cylindrical portion such that a punched portion of said wall extends radially inward of the cylindrical portion, still attached to the wall, to provide said retaining tab.
- 18. A wedge bar locking mechanism according to claim 16, said retaining tab being integral with said bracket.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/469,104 filed May 9, 2003.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60469104 |
May 2003 |
US |