The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 01, 1997
Filed:
Aug. 30, 1996
Phillippi Randsome Pierce, Canton, OH (US);
Scott Allen Dilling, Canton, OH (US);
John Edward Ramsey, Canton, OH (US);
The Boler Company, Itasca, IL (US);
Abstract
A movable subframe for tractor-trailers, commonly referred to as a slider, includes a retractable pin mechanism having improved locking pins for locking the movable subframe in a selected position relative to the tractor-trailer body. The improved pin includes a tapered or truncated conical-shaped portion which nests in a tapered enclosure when the pins are in the fully extended or locked position. When one or more of the pins of the retractable pin mechanism become jammed in the locked position due to slight misalignment between the respective slider and trailer body openings through which each pin extends when in the locked position, a generally uniformly distributed contact surface pressure exists between the truncated conical-shaped portion of the pin and the tapered enclosure. Other parts of the pin are subjected to relatively intense contact point pressures. Such pressures in turn cause shear forces which resist retraction of the jammed pins. However, a vehicle operator attempting to free the pins need only to slightly retract the pin mechanism and clearance is created between the tapered portion of each jammed pin and the tapered enclosure, much like pulling two tapered cups apart when one is stored within the other. Once clearance occurs, the areas of contact point pressure on the pin at other locations also are relieved. The retraction of the jammed pins of the present invention is achieved without overexertion on the part of the vehicle operator and/or damage to the retractable pin mechanism.