111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US007367144B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Jones et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,367,144 B2
`May 6, 2008
`
`(54) WEAR MEMBER FOR EXCAVATING
`EQUIPMENT
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: Larren F. Jones, Portland, OR (US);
`Christopher M. Carpenter, Tualatin,
`OR (US); David M. Graf, Scappoose,
`OR (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: ESCO Corporation, Portland, OR (US)
`
`( *) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.c. 154(b) by 22 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 111324,944
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan. 4, 2006
`
`(65)
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2006/0117613 Al
`
`Jun. 8, 2006
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`(60) Division of application No. 101187,446, filed on Jul.
`2,2002, now Pat. No. 6,993,861, which is a continu(cid:173)
`ation-in-part of application No. 09/899,535, filed on
`Jul. 6, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,735,890.
`
`821,215 A
`1,729,889 A
`2,032,875 A
`2,040,085 A
`2,145,663 A
`2,419,677 A
`2,483,032 A
`2,846,790 A
`2,896,345 A
`3,082,555 A
`3,117,386 A
`3,413,740 A
`3,453,756 A
`3,496,656 A
`3,722,932 A
`4,103,442 A
`4,136,469 A
`
`5/1906 Cantlebery et al.
`10/1929 McNinch
`3/1936 Graham
`5/1936 Fykse et al.
`111939 Reynolds
`4/1947 Daniels et al.
`9/1949 Baer
`8/1958 Davis et al.
`7/1959 Peklay
`3/1963 Hill
`111964 Ferwerda
`12/1968 Peterson
`7/1969 Schroeder
`2/1970 Eyolfson
`3/1973 Dougall
`8/1978 Zepf
`111979 Zepf
`
`(Continued)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`DE
`
`2162474
`
`12/1971
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner---Christopher J. Novosad
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Steven P. Schad
`
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/369,846, filed on Apr.
`5,2002.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`A01B 15/00
`(2006.01)
`A01B 15/10
`(2006.01)
`A01B 23/00
`(2006.01)
`A01B 31/00
`(2006.01)
`E02F 9/28
`(52) U.S. Cl. ...................................... 37/456; 1721772.5
`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 37/452,
`37/455-459; 1721772, 772.5
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`A wear assembly provided with a tapered opening and a
`complementary tapered lock wherein the lock can be pried
`into and from the opening to thereby eliminate the need for
`hammering. The lock is formed with a body and a latch that
`is movable between a hold position where the latch is
`engageable with a stop in the opening to releaseably retain
`the lock in the opening and a release position where the latch
`disengages the stop.
`
`37 Claims, 28 Drawing Sheets
`
`41
`
`20
`
`Page 1 of 41
`
`CATERPILLAR EXHIBIT 1007
`
`

`
`US 7,367,144 B2
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`811981 Fletcher et al.
`4,282,665 A
`411982 Ennich
`4,326,348 A
`611982 Hahn et al.
`4,335,532 A
`711983 Smith et al.
`4,391,050 A
`911983 Hahn et al.
`4,404,760 A
`911984 Hahn
`4,470,210 A
`1111984 Mulder et al.
`4,481,728 A
`311986 Hahn
`4,577,423 A
`811988 Ennich
`4,761,900 A
`311989 Ennich
`4,811,505 A
`1011990 Ennich
`4,965,945 A
`511991 Fellner
`5,018,283 A
`1011991 Bierwith
`5,052,134 A
`5,068,986 A * 1211991 Jones .......................... 37/457
`5,074,062 A
`1211991 Hahn et al.
`5,148,616 A
`911992 Maguina-Larco
`5,152,087 A
`1011992 Maguina-Larco
`5,152,088 A
`1011992 Hahn
`111993 Klett
`5,177,886 A
`5,233,770 A
`811993 Robinson
`511994 Ruvang et aI.
`5,311,681 A
`5,325,615 A
`711994 Hutchins et al.
`5,331,754 A
`711994 Ruvang
`5,361,520 A
`1111994 Robinson
`
`5/1995 Itrunel et al.
`5,410,826 A
`1111995 Livesay et al.
`5,465,512 A
`1111995 Jones et al.
`5,469,648 A
`2/1996 Robinson
`5,491,915 A
`5,561,925 A * 10/1996 Livesay ....................... 37/455
`10/1996 Ruvang
`5,564,206 A
`5,638,621 A
`6/1997 Keech et al.
`111998 Jones et al.
`5,709,043 A
`5,718,070 A
`2/1998 Ruvang
`7/1998 Balassa et aI.
`5,784,813 A
`5,802,752 A
`9/1998 Quarfordt
`5,868,518 A
`2/1999 Chesterfield et al.
`5,918,391 A
`7/1999 Vinas Peya
`6,030,143 A
`212000 Kreitzberk
`4/2000 Clendenning
`6,047,487 A
`8/2000 Ruvang et aI.
`6,108,950 A
`6,145,224 A * 1112000 Stickling ..................... 37/458
`12/2000 Wolin et aI.
`6,158,917 A
`6,301,810 Bl
`10/2001 Fidler
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`1048782
`GB
`2 116 616 A
`SE
`469561
`* cited by examiner
`
`1112000
`9/1983
`7/1993
`
`Page 2 of 41
`
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`May 6, 2008
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`US 7,367,144 B2
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`1
`WEAR MEMBER FOR EXCAVATING
`EQUIPMENT
`
`This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 101187,446, filed luI. 2, 2002 now U.S. 5
`Pat. No. 6,993,861, which is a continuation-in-part of u.s.
`provisional application Ser. No. 60/369,846, filed Apr. 5,
`2002, and u.s. patent application Ser. No. 09/899,535, filed
`luI. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,890.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention pertains to a novel construction for
`attaching a wear part to an excavator or the like.
`
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`2
`appreciated, this sliding action of the lock generates signifi(cid:173)
`cant frictional resistance. In the past, a large hammer has
`been needed to force the lock into and out of the passage.
`This tends to be an onerous and time-consuming task for the
`operator in the field.
`The present invention solves the difficulties of inserting
`and removing the lock via a novel construction that enables
`the lock to be inserted into and removed out of the wear
`assembly (e.g., a tooth) without the need for repeated
`10 hammer blows. More specifically, a tapered lock is received
`within a complementary opening whereby the lock can be
`inserted and removed by a prying tool. The use of such a
`cooperative lock and opening can be used to secure different
`types of wear members (e.g., points and shrouds) usable in
`15 excavating operations.
`In one aspect of the invention, the wear assembly has a
`tapered opening that is adapted to receive a complementary
`shaped lock. In one construction, the opening is tapered such
`that the front and rear walls converge as they extend away
`20 from the opening's inlet end. In a preferred embodiment, the
`opening narrows in generally three perpendicular directions.
`The opening also preferably includes a stop to releaseably
`retain the lock in the opening and a notch to better help
`prevent twisting of the lock under load.
`In another aspect of the invention, the lock includes a
`body that generally converges toward one end to define a
`tapered configuration. Due to the tapered shape of the lock,
`as opposed to a lock with generally parallel sidewalls, the
`lock does not slide in face-to-face contact with the sidewalls
`of the passage and generate high frictional resistance as it is
`being placed into and out of the passage. Accordingly, the
`lock can be pried into and out of the passage without the use
`of a hammer. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the
`prying tool is a member that rotates to release the latch of the
`lock and to pull the lock from the opening.
`In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the wear
`member (e.g., a point) has an ear that projects rearwardly
`from the socket defined to receive the adapter nose. The ear
`includes a tapered slot or opening to receive and support the
`tapered lock when fully inserted, but without the frictional
`sliding against the sides of the slot when only partially fit
`into the slot. The full face-to-face engagement between the
`lock and the slot only occurs when the lock has been fully
`inserted. The lock has a latch that cooperates with a forma(cid:173)
`tion in the tooth to hold the lock in place during use of the
`tooth.
`
`The invention in this application is at times described in
`relative terms, such as "up" and "down," for ease of expla(cid:173)
`nation. These terms generally are to be understood in
`relation to the orientation of the wear assembly as illustrated
`in FIG. 1. However, the wear assembly can be placed in all
`kinds of orientations, and the relative terms used to describe
`the invention are not intended to be a limitation of the 25
`invention.
`Wear parts, such as teeth and shrouds, have long been
`secured along the digging edges of various excavators (e.g.,
`the front lip of a bucket for a front end loader) to break up
`the earthen material to be collected and to protect the 30
`digging edge from premature wear. To facilitate replacement
`of the wear parts and reduce the amount of material needing
`frequent replacement, the wear parts are typically composed
`of multiple parts. As an example, the wear parts may include
`an adapter, a wear point or tip, and a lock to removably 35
`secure the wear member to the adapter.
`An adapter is a base that is fixed to the digging edge of an
`excavator by welding, mechanical attachment or being cast
`as an integral portion of the bucket lip. The adapter itself
`may have multiple parts, particularly in larger sized teeth, 40
`but is commonly a single component. In any event, the
`adapter includes a forwardly projecting nose shaped to
`securely hold the wear member in place. In an excavating
`tooth, the wear member is a point or tip that has a generally
`wedge-shaped configuration with top and bottom walls that 45
`converge to a digging edge. The base end of the point
`includes a rearwardly opening socket to receive the adapter
`nose. The lock, typically in the form of a pin, is inserted into
`a passage formed by an opening in the adapter nose that
`aligns with openings in opposite walls of the point. The 50
`passage may extend through a central portion of the nose
`either vertically or horizontally, or be defined externally of
`the nose to receive an external lock, for example, as dis(cid:173)
`closed in u.s. Pat. No. 4,965,945, which is hereby incor(cid:173)
`porated by reference.
`Although the passage receiving the lock may be linear or
`curved, the sides of the lock and the walls of the passage
`receiving the lock have in the past been defined by generally
`parallel surfaces. As a result, the sides of the lock slide
`against the walls of the passage in face-to-face contact as the 60
`lock is being inserted into or removed from the tooth.
`Moreover, it is important to maintain the lock in the defined
`passage so that the point is not lost. Loss of the point not
`only leads to premature wearing of the adapter, but may also
`damage downstream machinery intended to process the 65
`excavated material. Accordingly, the lock is fit tightly within
`the defined passage to inhibit its ejection or loss. As can be
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a tooth in accor(cid:173)
`dance with the present invention with the tooth point shown
`in phantom.
`FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a point in accordance
`with the present invention as looking laterally outward from
`55 the longitudinal axis of the tooth.
`FIG. 3 is a partial side perspective view of the exterior of
`one rear side of the point.
`FIG. 4 is a partial top perspective view looking down into
`the slot defined in the point to receive the lock of the tooth.
`FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a lock in accordance
`with the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the lock of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 7 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 5.
`FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a tooth with another
`embodiment of the lock.
`FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the lock of FIG. 8.
`
`Page 31 of 41
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`

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`US 7,367,144 B2
`
`15
`
`4
`FIG. 29 is a partial perspective view of the tooth with
`another embodiment of the lock and with the point shown in
`phantom.
`FIG. 30 is a front perspective view of the lock of FIG. 29.
`FIG. 31 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 29.
`FIG. 32 is a partial perspective view of a tooth with
`another embodiment of the lock and with the point shown in
`phantom.
`FIG. 33 is a front perspective view of the lock of FIG. 32.
`FIG. 34 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 32.
`FIG. 35 is a partial side view of the lock of FIG. 32 with
`the latch in the latched condition.
`FIG. 36 is a partial side view of the lock of FIG. 32 with
`the latch in the unlatched condition.
`FIG. 37 is a front perspective view of a pry tool.
`FIG. 38 is a rear perspective view of the pry tool.
`FIG. 39 is a side perspective view of another embodiment
`of a lock in accordance with the present invention with the
`pry tool.
`FIG. 40 is a partial perspective view of the wear assembly
`with the nose and all but the latch of the lock omitted, and
`with the pry tool in place for operation.
`FIG. 41 is the same view as FIG. 38 except that the tool
`has been rotated to move the latch to the release position.
`FIG. 42 is a rear perspective view of another embodiment
`of a wear member in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 43 is a partial side view of a wear assembly with a
`30 lock, fit between the wear member and the adapter.
`
`3
`FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the lock of FIG. 8.
`FIG. 11 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 8.
`FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of another embodi-
`ment of the lock with the point shown in phantom.
`FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the lock of FIG. 12.
`FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the lock of FIG. 12.
`FIG. 15 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 12.
`FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of another embodi- 10
`ment of the lock.
`FIG. 17 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 16.
`FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of another embodi-
`ment of the lock with the resilient member omitted.
`FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of the lock of FIG. 18
`with the latch in an unlocked position.
`FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of a tooth with
`another embodiment of the lock and with the point shown in 20
`phantom.
`FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the lock of FIG. 20.
`FIG. 22 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 20.
`FIG. 23 is a partial perspective view of the tooth with 25
`another embodiment of the lock and with the point shown in
`phantom.
`FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the lock of FIG. 23.
`FIG. 25 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 23.
`FIG. 26 is a partial perspective view of the tooth with
`another of the lock and with the point shown in phantom.
`FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the lock of FIG. 26.
`FIG. 28 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 26.
`The present invention pertains to a wear assembly for an
`FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of another embodi-
`excavator, and in particular to a coupling construction for
`securing a wear member to the digging edge of the exca(cid:173)
`ment of the lock with the point shown in phantom.
`vator. In a preferred construction, the inventive coupling
`FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of the lock of FIG. 12.
`comprises an adapter 12, a wear member 14 and a lock to
`FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the lock of FIG. 12.
`hold the wear member to the adapter. Several variations of
`FIG. 15 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of 40
`the lock are disclosed below for use with essentially the
`FIG. 12.
`same adapter 12 and wear member 14 (although some minor
`FIG. 16 is a front perspective view of another embodi-
`ment of the lock.
`variations will be noted for some of the embodiments).
`FIG. 17 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of Many variations in the adapter and wear member are pos-
`45 sible. For convenience, the wear member below will be
`FIG. 16.
`FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of another embodi-
`described as a tip or point for an excavating tooth, though the
`ment of the lock with the resilient member omitted.
`invention pertains to other wear members, such as shrouds,
`FIG. 19 is a front perspective view of the lock of FIG. 18
`as well.
`with the latch in an unlocked position.
`In a first embodiment, tooth 10 includes an adapter 12, a
`FIG. 20 is a partial perspective view of a tooth with 50 point or tip 14 and a lock 16 (FIGS. 1-7). The adapter has
`a mounting end 18 (not fully shown) that is adapted to be
`another embodiment of the lock and with the point shown in
`phantom.
`fixed to the front lip of an excavator by welding, mechanical
`FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the lock of FIG. 20.
`attachment or being cast as a part of the lip. Typically, the
`FIG. 22 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`mounting end includes a pair of bifurcated legs that straddle
`FIG. 20.
`55 the lip and are welded in place. Although a one-piece adapter
`is shown, adapter 12 could also be composed of multiple
`parts with a base component fixed to the lip and a forward
`component defining the forwardly projecting nose. In a
`multi-piece adapter, the components are typically attached to
`60 each other by a removable lock member. In either case, a
`nose 20 of the adapter projects forwardly from the lip to
`support a point 14 (or other wear member). The nose can
`have essentially any configuration needed or desired to
`support a particular point. As an example only, the nose can
`65 have a configuration such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
`5,469,648, which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this
`example, the nose includes a rearwardly facing ledge 22
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`35
`
`FIG. 23 is a partial perspective view of the tooth with
`another embodiment of the lock and with the point shown in
`phantom.
`FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the lock of FIG. 23.
`FIG. 25 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 23.
`FIG. 26 is a partial perspective view of the tooth with
`another of the lock and with the point shown in phantom.
`FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the lock of FIG. 26.
`FIG. 28 is an exploded, perspective view of the lock of
`FIG. 26.
`
`Page 32 of 41
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`

`
`US 7,367,144 B2
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`5
`6
`along one sidewall to abut a front surface of the lock 16 and
`all of the length of the slot are preferred, the walls can
`form an external locking assembly.
`converge over only a part of their lengths. For example, a
`While an external locking assembly is preferred for
`small length of the slot (e.g., at the bottom end of the slot)
`securing a tooth point to an adapter, the opening for receiv(cid:173)
`could have a non-converging configuration provided the
`ing the tapered locks of the invention could extend through 5
`resistance caused by such a non-converging segment does
`central portions of the nose and point either vertically or
`not hinder the ability to pry the lock into and out of the slot.
`horizontally. In this case, the tapered shape of the opening
`Further, portions of the slot could have a wide variety of
`would be fonned primarily in the adapter nose rather than in
`configurations (e.g., linear, downwardly diverging, irregular,
`point. Moreover, the opening could be fonned in other
`or downwardly converging at various angles) that may not
`constructions such as a mounting portion of a shroud or 10
`converge or engage the lock, so long as a sufficient portion
`other wear member fit over a boss or the like fixed to an
`of the slot converges and engages the lock when fully
`excavator. In this type of assembly, the opening could have
`inserted to provide ample support for the lock during use
`a broader construction (i.e., not adapted to receive a pin(cid:173)
`without hindering the lock from being pried into and out of
`shaped lock) and/or have an open inlet end on various
`portions of the wear member by which to receive the lock. 15 the opening.
`Second, the widths of front and rear walls 50, 52 each
`In accordance with one construction of the invention, the
`widen as they extend from the bottom wall 56 to the open top
`point 14 has a generally wedge-shaped configuration with
`end of the slot, so that the front and rear walls 50, 52 are
`top and bottom walls 24, 26 that converge to a digging edge
`27 (see, e.g., FIG. 8), and side walls 28, 29. A socket 30
`wider at the top than the bottom of slot 42. In other words,
`opens in a rear wall 32 to receive nose 20 of adapter 12 20
`sidewall 54 is inclined to the vertical axis 57 so that the
`(FIGS. 1-4). The interior wall 34 of socket 30 is shaped to
`sidewall 54 and vertical axis 57 converge toward bottom
`complement the configuration of the nose. In this example,
`wall 56. In this arrangement, the sidewall 54 of the slot is
`the socket and nose are formed with helical threads such as
`inclined relative to a central plane of the socket 30 that
`disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,532, hereby incorporated by
`bisects side walls 28, 29 of the point and extends along the
`reference. Nevertheless, virtually any nose and socket con- 25
`longitudinal axis of the socket (i.e., the axis of insertion of
`figuration could be used in conjunction with the present
`the nose in the socket), such that the sidewall 54 of the slot
`invention. In this preferred construction, an ear 38 extends
`converges toward the central plane of the socket as the
`rearward of socket 30 beyond rear wall 32. The inner surface
`sidewall 54 extends away from the inlet end 45 of the slot.
`40 of ear 38 includes a slot or opening 42. The slot in
`While a snug engagement is preferred when the lock is fully
`cooperation with ledge 22 and side 43 of the adapter defines 30
`fitted into passage 41, sidewall 54 could extend substantially
`a passage 41 for receiving the lock that holds the point to the
`parallel to axis 57 provided the lock is not tightly held
`adapter.
`between sidewall 54 and the side 43 of adapter 12 such that
`In one preferred construction, slit 42 opens along the top
`the lock could not be pried into and out of passage 41.
`side 44 of ear 38 to define an inlet end 45 to receive the lock.
`Finally, slot 42 also preferably widens from the front wall
`The slot then converges or tapers toward the ear's bottom 35
`50 to the rear wall 52 such that bottom wall 56 expands in
`end 46 (FIGS. 2-4). The bottom end 46 is preferably closed
`the rearward direction and the portions of the rear wall 52
`to prevent fines from pushing up into the slot and applying
`are wider than the corresponding portions of the front wall
`upward pressure on the lock. Nevertheless, slot 42 could
`50. The widening of slot 42 from front to back creates a rear
`continue completely through ear 38 and define an open
`40 wall 52 that is wider than the front wall 50 to provide a larger
`bottom end (not shown). In such an arrangement, slot 42
`surface area with which to resist the greater forces that are
`could taper continuously from top to bottom, or the bottom
`ordinarily applied to this surface in holding the point to the
`end of the slot could be defined by a stem portion extending
`adapter. Front wall 50 is preferably narrower than rear wall
`below the lock in a linear configuration or having virtually
`52 to provide greater strength to the coupling of ear 38 to
`any shape. The slot is further provided with a stop to hold the
`45 body 58 of point 14. While the widening of the slot from
`lock in the slot. In the preferred embodiment, the stop 48 is
`front wall 50 to the rear wall 52 is preferred, it could be
`formed as a projection on point 14 to extend rearward of
`eliminated if desired.
`socket 30 above the top of slot 42 and cooperate with a latch
`A notch 60 is preferably provided in the upper rear corner
`to hold the lock in the slot. While stop 48 is shown as
`extending from the front wall 50 of slot 42, it could
`of slot 42 to increase the bearing surface of rear wall 52
`alternatively extend from the rear wall 52 or sidewall 54 of 50
`without unduly weakening the strength of ear 38 and to
`the point or from the adapter 12 with an appropriately
`prevent rotation of the lock, particularly under heavy load(cid:173)
`structured lock. Moreover, although not illustrated, the stop
`ing. Since the ear is laterally offset from ledge 22, a
`could be a cavity that receives a projection of the latch, or
`forwardly directed force on point 14 can generate a torque
`a latch that projects and fits into an opening in the lock.
`on the lock, which is resisted by the generally rectangular
`In the preferred construction, slot or opening 42 is tapered 55
`cross section of the lock and a protrusion received in notch
`in three directions to receive a comparably shaped lock in
`60, as described more fully below. As with slot 42, notch 60
`order to provide easy insertion and removal for lock 16, and
`is also preferably tapered in three directions such that (1) the
`a greater bearing surface with which to resist loads (FIGS.
`front and rear faces 62, 64 diverge as they extend toward the
`open top end 44 of slot 42, (2) the front and rear faces 62,
`1-4), although tapering in only one direction can provide
`benefits of the invention. First, the front and rear walls 50, 60
`64 widen as they extend toward the open end of the slot, and
`52 converge as they extend toward bottom wall 56. The rear
`(3) the rear face 64 is wider than opposing portions offront
`face 62. Nevertheless, other arrangements for the notch are
`wall 52 is the primary bearing surface that engages the lock
`possible. Rear wall 52 is also preferably provided with an
`and holds the point to the adapter, and is thus preferably flat.
`additional inward extension 66 at its top end to further
`Nevertheless, the front and rear walls 50, 52 can be flat,
`increase the surface area of the rear wall and provide a
`curved, V-shaped or have another configuration, so long as 65
`they converge along the length of the slot adapted to receive
`portion more directly opposed to ledge 22 without hindering
`the mounting of the point on the adapter. While the use of
`the lock. While walls that converge over all or substantially
`
`Page 33 of 41
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`

`
`US 7,367,144 B2
`
`8
`7
`notch 60 is preferred, it could be eliminated for some uses
`ingly, the latch moves about axis 97 between a latched
`or replaced by other means for preventing rotation of the
`condition where the lock is held within slot 42 and an
`lock.
`unlatched condition where the lock can be removed from the
`slot. A shoulder 94 is preferably formed along a mid portion
`In a first embodiment, lock 16 includes a body 70, a latch
`of the latch 72 to engage stop 48 in the latched condition. An
`72 and a resilient member 74 (FIGS. 1 and 5-7). Body 70 has 5
`front and rear surfaces 76, 78 that are preferably shaped to
`opening 95 is defined above shoulder 94 to accommodate
`correspond with and abut against front and rear walls 50, 52
`receipt of stop 48.
`of slot 42 when the lock is fully inserted into the slot, i.e.,
`The upper portion 101 of latch 72 preferably extends
`the front surface 76 of lock 16 abuts front wall 50 and rear
`laterally over the top of body 70. The front face 103 defines
`10 a pry surface whereby latch 72 can be moved to the
`surface 78 abuts rear wall 52. While front and rear surfaces
`76,78 and front and rear walls 50, 52 could be only partially
`unlatched condition. A guide rail 105, formed along the top
`engaged, they are preferably in substantially full bearing
`of body 70, is received in a complementary groove 107 in
`engagement with each other along the length of slot 42. In
`the lower face 109 of upper portion 101. This rail and groove
`this way, the lock is stably supported in the ear of the point
`105, 107 construction stabilizes the movement of the latch
`when under duress, and when looseness and wear develops
`15 on the body, prevents the latch from moving laterally out of
`in the tooth assembly.
`recess 90, and maintains pivot pin 92 in hole 93. The rear
`In the preferred construction, lock 16 is