Device for releasably engaging a wheel axle or other type of member

Abstract

A releasable wheel assembly for golf cart includes a bracket member attached to lower end of a leg member of a golf cart, a wheel set having a wheel rotatably mounting on an axle mechanism having an axle laterally extending into the bracket member and a locking member extending transversely into the bracket member and being slidably secured therein by means of a rivet for releasable engagement with the axle to secure the wheel set to the bracket.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A releasable wheel assembly comprising: 
       a bracket member having a solid end portion formed with a transverse passage extending from a side wall towards another side wall opposite to the side wall and first and second openings communicating and perpendicular to the transverse passage;  
       means for securing the bracket member to a lower end of a leg of a golf cart;  
       a wheel set including an axle formed with a circumferential groove and extending laterally into the trasverse  transverse passage through the first opening of the bracket member and a wheel rotatably mounting on the axle;  
       a locking member having a plate member adapted to move in a telescopic fashion within the transverse passage including a movement range between a fist position and a second position and a flange member attached to an outer end of the plate member;  
       a first slot formed in the plate member and dimensioned to allow passing through of a rivet member, which extends through the first opening of the bracket member for securing the plate member of the locking member in the transverse passage and enabling the locking member to move with the movement range;  
       a second slot formed in the plate member and having a first side portion dimensioned to allow passing through of the axle through the second opening and a second side portion dimensioned to engage the groove of the axle, said first position of the plate member of the locking member locates the first side portion of the second slot corresponding to the second opening of the bracket member and said second position locates the second side portion of the second slot corresponding to the second opening of the bracket member.  
     
     
       2. A releasable wheel assembly as claimed in claim  1  wherein the bracket member has a mounting slot extending upwardly inwardly for receiving said lower end of the leg of the golf cart. 
     
     
       3. A releasable wheel assembly as claimed in claim  1  wherein the transverse passage in the solid portion of the bracket member has a recess extending from one side of the solid portion so as to form an outwardly facing annular shoulder for accommodating a coil spring between the annular shoulder and the flange of the locking member with a biasing force of the coil spring tending to move the plate member of the locking member from the first position into second position. 
     
     
       4. A releasable engaging device for engaging en engageable member comprising: 
         a )  housing means;    
         b )  locking means coupled to and movable within said housing means; said locking means having a first aperture extending therethrough; said aperture of said locking means being within said housing for receiving therethrough the engageable member; said locking means being movable between a first and a second position with respect to said housing; with said locking means in said first position the engageable member being freely insertable in said first aperture; with said locking means in said second position said locking means engages the engageable member so as to hold the member with respect to said housing;    
         c )  said locking means have a second aperture extending therethrough;    
         d )  joining means, secured to said housing means, for extending through said second aperture so as to retain said locking means slidably within said housing; and    
         e )  resilient means for resiliently urging said locking means from said first position to said second position.   
     
     
       5. The device of claim  4  wherein said housing means having a first passage for receiving the engageable member therein; said first passage intersecting said first aperture. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim  5  wherein said housing means having a second passage; said locking means being movable within said second passage. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim  6  wherein said locking means comprises a locking member slidable within said second passage from between said first position and said second position; said locking member having a free end thereof accessible from outside of said housing means so that the engageable member may be manually moved between said first and second positions. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim  7  wherein said resilient means engages said housing and said locking member so as to urge said locking member into said second position. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim  8  wherein said resilient means comprises a spring. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim  9  wherein said spring is a coiled spring, about said locking member, and within said second passage. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim  10  wherein said joining means comprises a pin- like member secured to said housing means, passing through said second passage and said second aperture to hold said locking member within said second passage.   
     
     
       12. The device of claim  11  wherein said locking member comprises means for retaining said spring within said second passage. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim  12  wherein the engageable member having an indentation for receiving said locking member to thereby lock the engageable member to said housing. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim  4  wherein the engageable member having an indentation for receiving said locking means to thereby lock the engageable member to said housing. 
     
     
       15. The device of claim  13  wherein said first aperture is substantially tear- shaped so that, with said locking member in said first position, the engageable member passes easily through the larger portion of said tear - shaped first aperture and, with said locking member moving into said second position, the narrower portion of said tear - shaped first aperture engaging said indentation to engage said indentation.   
     
     
       16. The device of claim  14  wherein said first aperture is substantially tear- shaped so that, with said locking means in said first position, the engageable member passes easily through he larger portion of said tear - shaped first aperture and, with said locking member moving into said second position, the narrower portion of said tear - shaped first aperture engaging said indentation to engage said indentation.   
     
     
       17. The device of claim  15  wherein said second aperture is elongated so that said pin- like member guides said locking member movement between said first and second position.   
     
     
       18. The device of claim  17  wherein said housing means comprises a housing; said locking member is elongated with said first and second apertures being arranged along said locking member major axis with said second aperture disposed between said first aperture and said free end of said locking member; said locking member being held movably within by at least a part of said second passageway; said free end having a head; said second passageway having a shoulder; said spring being about said locking member and resting upon said shoulder; the opposed end of said spring engaging said head to urge said locking member outwardly such that to remove the engageable member from said housing said locking member is manually depressed, removing said first aperture engagement of said indentation to thereby permit removal of the engageable member from said housing. 
     
     
       19. The device of claim  18  wherein the engageable member is cylindrical and said indentation is a circumferential groove.