Quick connect and disconnect latch mechanism for mounting accessories on offroad vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11618521-B2
Application number	US-202117332676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 27, 2021
Priority date	Jul 9, 2020
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

A latching mechanism removably attaches an accessory to an offroad vehicle without requiring tools. The latching mechanism includes a body, a shaft extending through the body, and a handle riding on a conical surface of the body for rotating the shaft relative to the body. An oblong head extends on a lower side of the body, rotatable by the handle and shaft to a position where the head extends under a shoulder of a mounting recess. A spring system biases the head axially, such that the head can be moved either upwardly or downwardly from a balanced elevation set by a nut tightenable on a bolt. The mounting recess has an upper portion shaped differently from a lower portion. The body includes a hooking portion which extends significantly above the top of the mounting recess.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A latching mechanism for removably attaching an accessory to an offroad vehicle without requiring tools, the latching mechanism comprising:
a body receivable at least partially in a mounting recess of the offroad vehicle such that the body is held against rotation by the mounting recess;
a shaft extending through the body, pivotable about a rotation axis;
a handle for rotating the shaft relative to the body, the handle extending on an upper side of the body so as to be hand manipulatable by a user while the body is at least partially in the mounting recess;
an oblong head rotatable by the shaft about the rotation axis, the head extending on a lower side of the body and rotatable to a position where the head secures the body relative to the mounting recess; and
a spring system for biasing the head axially, such that the head can be moved either upwardly or downwardly from a balanced elevation against either a downward biasing force or an upward biasing force of the spring system, in which the spring system comprises two compression springs, one above a portion of the head for pushing the head downwardly, and one below a portion of the head for pushing the head upwardly.

2. The latching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a hooking portion extending upwardly above the mounting recess, the hooking portion for mating with the accessory at a location a clamping distance above a surface of the vehicle to which the accessory is mounted.

3. The latching mechanism of claim 2 , in which the hooking portion comprises two prongs.

4. The latching mechanism of claim 1 , in which the shaft comprises an intermediate connecting shaft portion about a bolt, with the oblong head held onto the bolt by a nut.

5. The latching mechanism of claim 4 , in which one of the two compression springs separate the nut from the oblong head, and in which the other of the two compression springs separate the oblong head from the intermediate connecting shaft portion.

6. The latching mechanism of claim 4 , in which the intermediate connecting shaft portion includes a first splined connection to the handle and a second splined connection to the oblong head, with at least one of the first and second splined connections being within the mounting recess while the latching mechanism is in use tightened into the mounting recess.

7. The latching mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the handle contacts the body on a slanted contact surface relative to the rotational axis.

8. A latching mechanism for removably attaching an accessory to an offroad vehicle without requiring tools, the latching mechanism comprising:
a body receivable at least partially in a mounting recess of the offroad vehicle such that the body is held against rotation by the mounting recess, wherein the body comprises a hooking portion extending upwardly above the mounting recess, the hooking portion for mating with the accessory at a location a clamping distance above a surface of the vehicle to which the accessory is mounted, in which the hooking portion comprises two prongs extending about a common prong axis;
a shaft extending through the body, pivotable about a rotation axis, the prong axis being horizontal when the rotational axis is vertical, the prong axis being laterally offset from the rotational axis;
a handle for rotating the shaft relative to the body, the handle extending on an upper side of the body so as to be hand manipulatable by a user while the body is at least partially in the mounting recess;
an oblong head rotatable by the shaft about the rotation axis, the head extending on a lower side of the body and rotatable to a position where the head secures the body relative to the mounting recess; and
a spring system for biasing the head axially, such that the head can be moved either upwardly or downwardly from a balanced elevation against either a downward biasing force or an upward biasing force of the spring system.

9. The latching mechanism of claim 8 , in which the spring system comprises two compression springs, one above a portion of the head for pushing the head downwardly, and one below a portion of the head for pushing the head upwardly.

10. A latching mechanism for removably attaching an accessory to an offroad vehicle without requiring tools, the latching mechanism comprising:
a body receivable at least partially in a mounting recess of the offroad vehicle such that the body is held against rotation by the mounting recess;
a shaft extending through the body, pivotable about a rotation axis;
a handle for rotating the shaft relative to the body, the handle extending on an upper side of the body so as to be hand manipulatable by a user while the body is at least partially in the mounting recess;
an oblong head rotatable by the shaft about the rotation axis, the head extending on a lower side of the body and rotatable to a position where the head secures the body relative to the mounting recess; and
a spring system for biasing the head axially, such that the head can be moved either upwardly or downwardly from a balanced elevation against either a downward biasing force or an upward biasing force of the spring system;

in which the body is generally cylindrical about the rotational axis, with at least one flat of the body mating with a flat of the mounting recess to keep the body from rotating when the handle is moved between a tightened and a loosened position.

11. A latching mechanism for removably attaching an accessory to an offroad vehicle without requiring tools, the latching mechanism comprising:
a body receivable at least partially in a mounting recess of the offroad vehicle such that the body is held against rotation by the mounting recess;
a shaft extending through the body, pivotable about a rotation axis;
a handle for rotating the shaft relative to the body, the handle extending on an upper side of the body so as to be hand manipulatable by a user while the body is at least partially in the mounting recess;
an oblong head rotatable by the shaft about the rotation axis, the head extending on a lower side of the body and rotatable to a position where the head secures the body relative to the mounting recess;
a spring system for biasing the head axially, such that the head can be moved either upwardly or downwardly from a balanced elevation against either a downward biasing force or an upward biasing force of the spring system; and
a set screw received in the body, in which the set screw can be tightened by a tool to prevent the shaft from rotating relative to the body.

12. A latching mechanism for removably attaching an accessory to an offroad vehicle without requiring tools, the latching mechanism comprising:
a body receivable at least partially in a mounting recess of the offroad vehicle such that the body is held against rotation by the mounting recess, the body having a conical upper surface;
a shaft extending through the body, pivotable about a rotation axis;
a handle for rotating the shaft relative to the body, the handle having a conical lower surface contacting the conical upper surface of the body, the conical upper surface of the body being sloped downwardly and outwardly from the rotation axis so as to reduce entry of muddy water and reduce contact surface wear between the handle and the body, the handle being hand manipulatable by a user while the body is at least partially in the mounting recess;
an oblong head rotatable by the shaft about the rotation axis, the head extending on a lower side of the body and rotatable to a position where the head secures the body relative to the mounting recess; wherein the oblong head can adjust its elevation rel

Assignees

• Zhejiang Cfmoto Power Co Ltd

Inventors

• Meng Jinli

Classifications

• F16M2200/024

  by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections · CPC title

• B62J9/24

  on specially adapted racks, e.g. for top or side cases · CPC title

• B62J7/08 Primary

  Equipment for securing luggage on carriers · CPC title

• F16B2/185

  using levers · CPC title

• B62J9/23 Primary

  above or alongside the rear wheel (B62J9/26 takes precedence) · CPC title