Heddle frame assembly with releasable end

Abstract

A heddle frame has a pair of laterally extending slats and a pair of end braces connected to the slats to form a rectangular heddle frame. Each of the connections between the slats and the end braces includes an elongated opening defined within the end of the slat. The end brace includes an inwardly directed expansion foot configured on and extending essentially perpendicular from the end brace and having a width so as to be slidable within the elongated opening of the slat. A releasable locking member is configured to lock the extension foot within the slat in a locked position and to release the end brace from the slat in a released position, the locking member is disposed through the extreme outward edge of the slat and extends into the elongated opening of the slat. In one embodiment, the end brace is secured directly to the slat by a threaded bolt extending through the extreme outward edge of the slat. In an alternative embodiment, the end brace is indirectly secured to the slat by a threaded bolt and clamp block which is received within the slat. The clamp block defines a recess for receiving the inwardly directed extension foot of the end brace.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A heddle frame having a pair of laterally extending slats and a pair of end braces connected to said slats to form a generally rectangular frame, wherein each of the connections between said slats and said end braces comprises: an elongated opening defined within the end of said slats;   an inwardly directed extension foot configured on and extending essentially perpendicular from said end brace, said extension foot having a width so as to be slidable within said elongated opening of said slat; and   a single releasable locking member operably configured to lock said extension foot within said slat in a locked position and to release said end brace from said slat in a released position, said locking member disposed through an outward edge of said slat and extending into said elongated opening of said slat, said extension foot comprising a hole defined therein for receiving said locking member and further comprising an insert carried therein, said locking member extending through said hole into said insert for locking engagement with said insert.   
     
     
       2. The heddle frame as in claim 1, wherein said locking member comprises a threaded bolt. 
     
     
       3. The heddle frame as in claim 2, wherein said insert comprises a metal insert having a threaded hole defined therein. 
     
     
       4. The heddle frame as in claim 1, further comprising a drive element configured on an extreme end of said end brace. 
     
     
       5. The heddle frame as in claim 1, further comprising a drive element configured along said outward edge of said slat, said locking member also securing said drive element to said slat. 
     
     
       6. A heddle frame having a pair of laterally extending slats and a pair of end braces connected to said slats to form a rectangular frame, wherein each of the connections between said slats and said end braces comprises: an elongated opening defined within the end of said slats;   an inwardly directed extension foot configured on said end brace generally where said end brace meets said slat, said extension foot being sized so as to be slidable within said elongated opening of said slat, said extension foot further comprising an engagement surface;   an independent clamp block having a width so as to be slidable within said elongated opening, said clamp block further defining a locking surface which is mateable with said extension foot engagement surface in such a manner so that when said clamp block is secured within said slat said clamp block locking surface engages with said extension foot engagement surface locking said end brace to said slat; and   at least one securing device disposed through an outward edge of said slat and configured to secure said extension foot within said slat by . .engaging.!. .Iadd.engagingly .Iaddend.drawing said clamp block towards said outward edge of said slat, wherein said end brace is separable from said slat by loosening of said securing device.   
     
     
       7. The heddle frame as in claim 6, wherein said end brace extension foot comprises a shaped element formed integral with said end brace, said extension foot engagement surface comprising an angled side with respect to a horizontal line through said foot, said clamp block locking surface comprising an angled surface generally opposite to said extension foot angled side. 
     
     
       8. The heddle frame as in claim 7, wherein said shaped element is formed as a partial dove-tail element, said clamp block locking surface formed as a matching partial dove-tail recess. 
     
     
       9. The heddle frame as in claim 6, wherein said clamp block comprises a recess formed therein for receiving said extension foot. 
     
     
       10. The heddle frame as in claim 6, wherein said securing device comprises a threaded member extending through the outward edge of said slat end into said clamp block, whereby as said clamp block is drawn towards said outward edge of said slat by way of said threaded member said clamp block locking surface engages said extension foot engagement surface and draws and locks said end brace against said slat. 
     
     
       11. The heddle frame as in claim 10, wherein said clamp block further comprises a rocker point defined along the surface thereof adjacent said outward edge of said slat, said rocker point spaced apart from said threaded member so that said clamp block pivots about said rocker point as it is drawn towards said slat end. 
     
     
       12. The heddle frame as in claim 10, wherein said threaded member includes a removable bolt, said clamp block including a threaded bolt hole defined therein for receiving said bolt. 
     
     
       13. The heddle frame as in claim 6, further comprising a drive element fixed to said end brace. 
     
     
       14. The heddle frame as in claim 13, wherein said drive element is formed integral with said end brace. 
     
     
       15. The heddle frame as in claim 6, further comprising a drive element connected to said slat generally adjacent said end brace, said securing device securing said drive element to said slat and said clamp block. 
     
     
       16. The heddle frame as in claim 15, wherein said clamp block includes an inwardly directed relatively flexible extension member, and a second said securing device configured to secure said drive element to said slat and said flexible extension member, whereby said end brace can be pulled away from said clamp block by releasing of said one securing member while said second securing member maintains said drive element, said slat, and said flexible extension member secured together. 
     
     
       17. The heddle frame as in claim 6, wherein said clamp block is adapted to remain connected to said slate while said securing device is loosened. 
     
     
       18. The heddle frame as in claim 17, wherein said securing device comprises a threaded bolt which engages in a threaded hole defined in said clamp block, whereby upon loosening of said bolt said end brace is separable from said slat with said bolt still engaging said clamp block. 
     
     
       19. The heddle frame as in claim 17, further comprising a second said securing device securing said clamp block to said slat, wherein said clamp block is separable from said end brace by loosening of said one securing device while said clamp block remains connected to said slat through said second securing device. 
     
     
       20. An assembly for connecting together slats and end braces to form a heddle frame, said assembly comprising: an end brace extension adapted to be configured to an end brace and having a width so as to be slidable within a hollow recess defined within a heddle slat;   a releasable locking device adapted to be disposed through an outward edge of the heddle slat; and   a clamp block having a width so as to also slide within said hollow recess, said clamp block comprising a recess defined therein for receiving said end brace extension, said locking device physically engaging with said clamp block wherein said clamp block is configured to be drawn against said slat thereby locking said end brace extension within said recess fixing said end brace relative said slat.   
     
     
       21. The assembly as in claim 20, wherein said clamp block recess defines a slanted surface, said end brace extension defines a matching slanted surface, and said locking device comprises a threaded member for drawing said clamp block against the heddle slat. 
     
     
       22. The assembly as in claim 20, further comprising a drive element configured to be connected to the heddle end brace. 
     
     
       23. The assembly as in claim 20, further comprising a separable drive element configured to be connected to said heddle slat, said locking device securing said drive element and said clamp block to the heddle slat. 
     
     
       24. The assembly as in claim 23, wherein said locking device comprises a threaded bolt, said end brace extension being separable from said clamp block recess by loosening of said threaded bolt. 
     
     
       25. The assembly as in claim 24, further comprising a second threaded bolt configured to secure said drive element and said clamp block to the heddle slat, said end brace extension being separable from said clamp block recess by loosening one of said bolts. 
     
     
       26. The assembly as in claim 20, wherein said clamp block further comprises a rocker point defined on the surface thereof said rocker point defining a protruding pivot point for said clamp block. .Iadd. 
     
     
       27.  A heddle frame having a pair of laterally extending slats and a pair of end braces connected to said slats to form a generally rectangular frame, wherein each of the connections between said slats and said end braces comprises: an elongated opening defined within the end of said slats;   an inwardly directed extension food configured on and extending essentially perpendicular from said end brace, said extension foot having a width so as to be slidable within said elongated opening of said slat; and   at least one releasable locking member operably configured to lock said extension foot within said slat in a locked position and to release said end brace from said slat in a released position, said locking member disposed through an outward edge of said slat and extending into said elongated opening of said slat, said extension foot comprising a hole defined therein for receiving said locking member and further comprising an insert carried therein, said locking member extending through said hole into said insert for locking engagement with said insert. .Iaddend.