WO2006100454A1

WO2006100454A1 - Locking mechanism

Info

Publication number: WO2006100454A1
Application number: PCT/GB2006/000997
Authority: WO
Inventors: Philip Ash
Original assignee: Philip Ash
Priority date: 2005-03-19
Filing date: 2006-03-20
Publication date: 2006-09-28
Also published as: GB0505804D0; GB2424242A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking member (12) , and in particular a load bearing locking arrangement for removably fixing a flexible cable to an object. Such an arrangement may, in particular, be found in multi-gyms. The invention comprises a connector comprising a fixing member (4) having a head (8) , and a locking member (12) having a recess(14) for receiving the head (8) and further defining a shoulder portion (18) . The connector is arranged for selective operation in two configurations, one wherein the fixing member may be removed from the locking member, and a second configuration when the head of the fixing member bears against the shoulder of the locking member to prevent removal of the fixing member from the locking member.

Description

Locking Mechanism

The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for an elongate member, and in particular a load bearing locking arrangement for removably fixing a flexible cable to an 5 object.

In multi-gyms, for example, it is common for a metal rope to connect to a load and then pass through a set of pulleys to the item of apparatus a user wishes to pull or push. Therefore, each end of the metal rope must in some way connect to the required load and l o the apparatus a user wishes to use, which can often be selected in multi-gym arrangements depending on the exercise required. The most common technique for releasably connecting a piece of apparatus to a metal rope is by utilising a loop made in the wire rope, the free end of which is then connected to itself such that a loop is formed by some sort of crimping or welding method. A piece of apparatus with which a user wishes to exercise is

15 then connected to the loop in the rope by a split ring or carabina type mechanism, and the exercise is carried out. This method of connecting a piece of apparatus to a load bearing metal rope is unreliable as forces are placed through the metal rope at angles other than in a longitudinal direction to the length of the rope. Furthermore, crimping or welding together two pieces of metal rope is difficult and produces a join of relatively low strength

20 compared to the strength of the rope itself.

The present invention overcomes the abovementioned problems.

According to the present invention, there is a connector for connecting a load bearing 25 elongate member to a load, said connector comprising a fixing member having a head, said connector further comprising a locking member having a recess for receiving said head and further defining a shoulder portion, said connector being arranged for selective operation in first and second configurations, wherein in said first configuration said fixing member is removable from said locking member, and in said second configuration, said head of said 30 fixing member bears against the shoulder of said locking member so as to prevent removal of the fixing member from said locking member. There is preferably further provided a fixing member for use in said connector comprising a head and a body portion wherein said body portion is arranged and configured to be compressed onto said elongate member.

There is further provided a locking member for use in said connector having a recess and further defining a shoulder portion.

The fixing member is preferably fixedly attached to said elongate member. The fixing member is even more preferably fixedly attached to an elongate member by a hex lock. This utilises a crimping method such that the fixing member is crushed onto the wire rope to provide a strong join.

The elongate member is preferably flexible, and is preferably fabricated of wire rope.

The locking member preferably further comprises means for maintaining the head of said fixing member in said second configuration. The means for maintaining the fixing member in the second configuration preferably comprises a pin arranged and configured to prevent movement of said fixing member in a substantially longitudinal direction to said elongate member. The pin preferably comprises a threaded surface for co-operation with a corresponding thread on the inner surface of said locking member. This enables movement in a screwing motion of the pin from the first configuration to the second configuration and back.

In one embodiment, there is provided a spacing means between the shoulder portion of said collar and the head of said fixing member. The spacing means is preferably a washer, and even more preferably comprises a polymeric material. The polymeric material is preferably PTFE. This provides the benefit that the fixing member may rotate within the locking member, whilst movement in a substantially longitudinal direction to the elongate member is prevented. According to the present invention, there is a method of connecting a load bearing elongate member to a load, the method comprising the steps of providing a connector comprising a fixing member having a head, said connector further comprising a locking member having a recess for receiving said head and further defining a shoulder portion, said connector being arranged for selective operation in first and second configurations, wherein in said first configuration said fixing member is removable from said locking member, and in said second configuration, said head of said fixing member bears against the shoulder of said locking member so as to prevent removal of the fixing member from said locking member.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the wire rope and fixing member. Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the locking member. Figure 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of the fixing member maintained in the locking member.

Referring to Figure 1, a wire rope 2 is shown with the fixing member 4 fixedly attached thereto. The fixing member 4 defines a hollow core, and is slid over the end of the wire rope 2. The main body of the fixing member 4 is then crushed onto the rope 2 using a hex lock press, creating a join that is at least as strong as the wire rope 2 itself. The opposing end of the fixing member 4 comprises a neck portion 6 and a head portion 8. The neck portion 6 has a reduced diameter to the head portion 8 and is machined to the specified diameter.

Referring to Figure 2, the locking member 12 is generally shown in a perspective view. The locking member 12 is generally shown as a hexagonal shape, however may by incorporated into a structural member such as an exercise bar, or into a load. Alternatively, it may be permanently or temporarily attached to the desired location. In any event, there is provided a recess 14 into which the head portion 8 of the fixing member 4 may locate. The recess 14 for the head portion 8 is shaped such that the head portion may be inserted in a specific orientation, allowing rotation about its longitudinal axis only. The neck portion 6 -A- of the fixing member 4 locates through an interjoined recess 16 of sufficient width to enable the neck portion 6 to slot therethrough. This position, where the fixing member 4 is removable from the locking member 12 is defined as the first configuration. The portion of the locking member 12 adjacent the recess 16 has a cutaway section providing a shoulder 18. The shape of the cutaway section must be of sufficient width to enable the head 8 of the fixing member 2 to rest against the shoulder 18. The head 8 enters this second configuration by slotting into the recess 14, and then moving in a longitudinal direction to the body of the locking member 12 to bear against the shoulder 12 of the cutaway section. In this configuration, the fixing member 2 must be moved longitudinally away from the shoulder 18 and lifted through the recess 14 to enable removal.

Additionally, there may be provided an elastically deformable spacer between the shoulder 12 and the head 8, fabricated of a polymer material. A particular example is PTFE. This material (not shown), may be a washer and may be added over the neck 6 before insertion into the locking portion 12. Alternatively, it may be provided adjacent the shoulder 18. In any event, this spacer enables the fixing member 2 to rotate within the locking member 12, which may be beneficial when utilising certain exercises in a multi gym for example.

Referring to Figure 3, a cross sectional schematic view is shown with the fixing member 4 inserted into the locking member 12 and prevented from longitudinal movement relative to the locking member 12 by a means for maintaining the fixing member 4 in the second configuration. In one embodiment (as indicated in Figure 3) this means may be a threaded nut 20. The thread of the nut 20 co-operates with a corresponding thread 22 in the aperture through the opposing side of the locking member 12 to the recess 16 for receiving the neck 6 of the fixing member 4. The nut 20 is then be screwed into the thread 22 once the head 8 of the fixing element 4 is in place thereby maintaining the fixing element 4 in position. The nut 20 may then be unscrewed for release of the fixing member 4 from the locking member 12. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that any suitable means to maintain the fixing member 4 in position may be utilised. For example, a sprung mechanism is envisaged whereby the 'nut' is withdrawn against a spring mechanism such that the fixing element may be released or inserted, and released to maintain the fixing element in position. Alternatively, the means for maintaining the fixing element in the second configuration may be not enter the locking member 12 parallel to the longitudinal length of the fixing element, but may comprise a nut entering the locking member 12 at substantially 90° to the longitudinal direction of the fixing element 4 for example.

The present invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims. For example, the invention has been described with reference to a multi-gym arrangement, however the connector may be used for any load bearing application.

Claims

Claims:

1. A connector for connecting a load bearing elongate member to a load, said connector comprising a fixing member having a head, said connector further comprising a locking member having a recess for receiving said head and further defining a shoulder portion, said connector being arranged for selective operation in first and second configurations, wherein in said first configuration said fixing member is removable from said locking member, and in said second configuration, said head of said fixing member bears against the shoulder of said locking member so as to prevent removal of the fixing member from said locking member.

2. A fixing member for use according to claim 1 comprising a head and a body portion wherein said body portion is arranged and configured to be compressed onto said elongate member.

3. A locking member for use according to claim 1 having a recess and further defining a shoulder portion.

4. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said fixing member is fixedly attached to said elongate member.

5. A connector according to claim 4 wherein said fixing member is fixedly attached to an elongate member by a hex lock.

6. A connector according to any of claims 1 or claims 4-5 wherein said elongate member is flexible.

7. A connector according to claim 6 wherein said elongate member is fabricated from wire rope.

8. A connector according to claim 1 wherein said locking member further comprises means for maintaining the head of said fixing member in said second configuration.

9. A connector according to claim 8 wherein said means for maintaining the fixing member in the second configuration comprises a pin, arranged and configured to prevent movement of said fixing member in a substantially longitudinal direction to said elongate member.

10. A connector according to claim 9 Wherein said pin comprises a threaded surface for co-operation with a corresponding thread on the inner surface of said locking member.

11. A connector according to claim 1 further comprising a spacing means between the shoulder portion of said collar and the head of said fixing member.

12. A connector according to claim 11 wherein said spacing means is a washer.

13. A connector according to claim 11 or 12 wherein said spacing means comprises a polymeric material.

14. A method of connecting a load bearing elongate member to a load, the method comprising the steps of providing a connector comprising a fixing member having a head, said connector further comprising a locking member comprising a collar having a recess for receiving said head and further defining a shoulder portion, said connector being arranged for selective operation in first and second configurations, wherein in said first configuration said fixing member is removable from said locking member, and in said second configuration, said head of said fixing member bears against the shoulder of said locking member so as to prevent removal of the fixing member from said locking member.

15. A connector as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.