Pin locking mechanism

Abstract

A pin locking mechanism selectively permits or resists the rotation of two nested tubular members with respect to each other. The pin has a substantially rectangular cross-section. The pin passes through a pair of holes defined in the outer tubular member, and a pair of slots defined within the inner tubular member. The slots have ends wider than their central portion, so that the pin may only fit within the central portion of the slot when it is substantially parallel to the slot, but may fit within the end portions when it is perpendicular to the slot. The nested tubular members may therefore be rotated with respect to each other when the pin is held substantially parallel with the slot, and rotation is resisted when the pin is held in a perpendicular orientation. A handle at one end of the pin is biased towards the outer tubular member by a spring at the opposite end of the pin. Rotation of the pin is resisted when the handle abuts the outer tubular member, and permitted when the handle is pulled away from the outer tubular member. The pin locking mechanism is particularly suitable for a pivoting base of a crowd control barrier.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a pin locking mechanism for selectively permitting and resisting the rotation of one tubular member with respect to a second tubular member nested therein. The invention is particularly suited to permitting the base of a crowd control barrier to be rotated so that the base is either substantially parallel to the barrier for stacking and shipment, or perpendicular to the barrier for use. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Selectively permitting and resisting rotation of one tubular member with respect to another nested tubular member is required for many purposes, for example, selectively resisting or permitting rotation of a base with respect to the frame of a crowd control barrier. Such bases should generally lie parallel to the barrier for storage or transportation to minimize the amount of space taken up by the barrier, and should lie perpendicular to the barrier duri...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017] It is another object of the invention to provide a pin locking mechanism for rotatably secured nesting tubular members providing for easier rotation of the pin to permit or resist rotation of the nesting tubular members with respect to each other.

[0018] It is a further object of the invention to provide a pin locking mechanism for nesting tubular members having greater durability than other pin locking mechanisms.

[0020] It is a further object of the invention to provide a pin locking mechanism having greater durability than prior pin locking mechanisms.

Problems solved by technology

The base must therefore be held in the desired position with respect to the frame during retightening of the screw, increasing the difficulty of adjustment.

The use of the large perpendicular leg limits the potential applications for this device to those where the perpendicular projection from the wall is acceptable.

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