Shackle assembly with locking pin

Abstract

A combination includes a shackle with a pin and a locking ring. The shackle body has a closed geometry defining a primary opening therethrough and includes a first side member with a first aperture, a second side member spaced apart from the first side member and having a second aperture. The second aperture is positioned opposite from and aligned with the first aperture. End portions extend between and connect the first side member and the second side member. A pin has a body portion extending between a head portion and a tip portion. The pin defines an annular slot extending at least partially around the pin. An expandable retaining ring is configured to be installed on the pin and occupy the annular slot, where the retaining ring prevents removal of the pin from the shackle body when the pin is installed in the shackle body.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates locking fasteners and shackle assemblies. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fastener with a locking ring and use of the fastener in a shackle assembly.[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]Traditionally, a shackle has a U-shaped metal bracket (also known as a clevis) with two arms. The ends of the two arms span an opening between them, which is closed with a bolt or clevis pin inserted through openings in the ends of the arms. Shackles are commonly used to connect multiple items together or secure items to a chain or rope. In some cases, the user loops one end of a strap around the clevis or clevis pin with the other end of the strap being secured to a fixed object. Similar to a bolt, one end of the clevis pin often has an enlarged head or cap that prevents the pin from passing completely through openings in the clevis arms. The opposite end of the clevis pin has a ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a shackle assembly that strengthens safety. In one embodiment, the assembly includes a tip slot and a recess with a retaining ring that prevents the pin from being removed from the shackle body. This ensures that the shackle is secure and can safely be used for its intended purpose.

Problems solved by technology

The above-mentioned devices have been used for years, but remain bulky for use with small hand-held objects such as hand tools.

Additionally, retaining or securing the pin to these devices is often done with questionable integrity.

For example, a locking nylon insert of a lock nut may become worn or otherwise fail to lock the nut in place, thereby allowing the nut to loosen and fall off.

A split sleeve used over pins in hammerlock shackles may similarly catch on objects along the split, thereby damaging or opening the sleeve to allow the hammerlock link to open.

Further, a split sleeve is difficult to install without proper tools designed for such installation.

In some cases, failure of the device is a minor inconvenience.

In other cases, a shackle failure can waste valuable time and resources, cause injury and damage due to dropped objects becoming separated from a tether, increase operating costs by necessitating replacement parts and repairs, and introduce foreign material to industrial systems that contaminates a system or requires shut down of the system to retrieve the foreign object.

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