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:
Apr. 11, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 03, 1998
David E Workman, Princeton, NJ (US);
Tumi, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ (US);
Abstract
A releasable lock mechanism includes a base having guideways that carry a pair of lock rods for lateral movement along a drive axis in opposite directions with respect to each other between outward, locking positions in which noses on the distal ends of the lock rods are received in holes in each of the two legs of a U-shaped towing handle and inward, release positions, in which the noses are withdrawn from the holes so that the handle can be moved. A push-button driver plate moves along the base perpendicular to the drive axis and pushes the lock rods in and out along drive axis by cam slots on the driver plate that work against cam posts on the lock rods. A compression spring biases the driver plate to an upward position, in which the lock rods are engaged in, or are biased outwardly in readiness to be engaged in, the holes in the towing handle.