Removable cover assembly for a bracket mounted roller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10287100-B2
Application number	US-201715470457-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2017
Priority date	Mar 27, 2017
Publication date	May 14, 2019
Grant date	May 14, 2019

Abstract

A removable cover assembly for a bracket mounted roller is provided and that includes a cover having a contoured bottom to cover a portion of a bracket mounted roller, a pin slidably disposed on the contoured bottom and a retaining tab configured to be slidably received in a slot on a top portion of the roller bracket. The removable cover assembly further includes a lever having a flanged end pivotally coupled to the cover, being pivotal to cause the flanged end to displace the pin, the latch being pivotal between a latched position in which the pin is displaced to cause the retaining tab to be received within the slot to retain the cover assembly to the bracket, and an unlatched position in which the pin is retracted to withdraw the retaining tab from the slot and permit removal of the cover assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a cover configured to couple to a portion of a bracket mounted roller;
a pin slidably coupled to the cover, wherein the pin comprises a retaining tab configured to be slidably received in a slot on a portion of the bracket mounted roller; and
a lever pivotally coupled to the cover, wherein the lever is configured to pivot between a latched position, wherein the lever is configured to position the pin in a first position while the lever is in the latched position, wherein the lever is configured to position the pin in a second position while the lever is in the unlatched position, wherein the retaining tab is configured to be positioned in the slot while the pin is in the first position, and wherein the retaining tab is configured to be positioned out of the slot while the pin is in the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the pin further comprises a second retaining tab, and wherein the retaining tab and the second retaining tab are configured to have a portion of the bracket mounted roller positioned between retaining tab and the second retaining tab while the pin is in the first position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first position and the second position are along a first axis, and wherein the lever rotates about a second axis while pivoting from the latched position to the unlatched position, the second axis distinct from the first axis.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an axis of the lever is substantially parallel with a surface of the cover in the first position, and wherein the axis of the lever is non-parallel with the surface in the second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover defines an opening, and wherein a portion of the lever is configured to pass through the opening while the lever is in the second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein lever includes a flanged portion, and wherein the flanged portion is configured to cause the pin to move from the first position to the second position responsive to the lever moving from the latched position to the unlatched position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the pin comprises a retaining member, and wherein the flanged portion of the lever is rotatably coupled to the retaining member.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover is shaped to receive the portion of the bracket mounted roller.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bracket mounted roller includes an aircraft cargo roller.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the lever includes a portion sized to receive one or more fingers.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a cutout on a first side and a second side to accommodate a roller axle of the bracket mounted roller.

12. An apparatus comprising:
a cover configured to couple to a portion of a bracket mounted roller; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the cover, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to move a locking pin between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locking pin is configured to couple the cover to the bracket mounted roller by engaging the portion of the bracket mounted roller while in the locked position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the locking pin is configured to slide between the locked position and the unlocked position.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a lever coupled to the locking mechanism and configured to cause the locking pin to move between the locked position and the unlocked position.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the locking pin has a retaining tab that is configured to engage a top portion of the bracket mounted roller.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cover comprises a substantially flat portion adjacent to the locking mechanism, wherein the locking pin moves along a first axis when moving between the locked position and the unlocked position, and wherein the substantially flat portion is parallel with the first axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cover has a portion having an arcuate shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cover is shaped to receive the portion of the bracket mounted roller.

19. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the cover does not directly contact the bracket mounted roller while the locking pin is engaging the portion of the bracket mounted roller.

20. An apparatus comprising:
a cover configured to couple to a roller of an aircraft cargo sill roller assembly; and
a locking mechanism coupled to the cover, the locking mechanism configured to move a locking pin between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locking pin is configured to couple the cover to the aircraft cargo sill roller assembly by engaging a portion of the aircraft cargo sill roller assembly while in the locked position.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Weisfelner Justin L
• Byrd Elizabeth T

Classifications

• B64C1/20

  specially adapted for freight · CPC title

• B64D9/00

  Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like · CPC title

• B64C1/1415 Primary

  Cargo doors, e.g. incorporating ramps · CPC title

• B65G21/08 Primary

  Protective roofs or arch supports therefor · CPC title

• B64D2009/006

  Rollers or drives for pallets of freight containers, e.g. PDU · CPC title