Body quick release

Abstract

The present invention provides a body quick release mechanism for R/C model cars and trucks. The quick release mechanism comprises of a stem, a retainer, a ball, a push-pin, a spring, and a spring retainer. It is at the heart of the present invention that the retainer and the car body are allowed to be removed and replaced quickly and easily by depressing a push-pin. The car body has a hole that is fitted around the stem diameter. The said car body is trapped between the retainer surface and the stem surface in the installation.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to R/C Model Cars and Trucks and their body mounting system and attachment method. The present invention allows for easy and quick attachment and removal of the plastic body with a push button release fixture.

Prior known techniques in design are typically utilize pins that extend through the body with a single hole through which a wire clip is attached. The problem with this type of design is that wire clips are difficult to install and remove and are easily lost They also tend to cause damage to the finish on the plastic body as the R/C vehicle is operated.

It would be beneficial to provide a body attaching method that allows the user to more quickly and securely install and remove the body. The advantage of the design of the preferred embodiment of the invention is that the retaining ring that holds the body down can be removed with one hand. The prior art required that on had to hold the body with one hand and remove the wire clip with the other hand. Another advantage of the preferred embodiment of the invention is the speed with which the retaining rings can be removed. Because only one hand is needed to remove the push button release retainer, the amount of physical effort is greatly reduced and the plastic body can be removed more quickly. Yet another advantage is that, the preferred embodiment's design of the retaining ring has a hole such that it can be wire retained to the body. This ensures that the retaining ring will not be lost during the removal of the body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention provides a mechanism to firmly attach and easily remove an R/C car body. The quick release mechanism comprises a lower stem that contains a retention ball, the upper retainer and the car body that is contained between the lower stem and the upper retainer. The lower stem provides a surface on which the car body rests. The lower stem also has a lower diameter that is used to fit the quick release mechanism to the main vehicle. This lower diameter fits onto a shaft that is part of the body. A wire clip is used to fix the stem to the vehicles shaft through a hole provided in the lower stem. The lower stem contains a ball bearing, a pin, a spring and an inner plug. The ball bearing is contained in a hole in the outer diameter of the stem. When the pin is in its normal position the larger diameter of pin is biasing the ball to its most outward position. This outward position of the ball bearing is protruding through the surface of the stem. The spring and the inner plug normally bias the pin to its upper normal position. The upper retainer has a mating diameter to that of the stem. It also has an undercut in this diameter that accepts the protrusion of the ball bearing from the stem. The upper retainer is firmly secured to the lower stem by the protrusion of the ball bearing out of the lower stem.

In order to remove the body from the vehicle the user must push down on the pin in the lower stem. Once the pin is its lower position or removal position the ball is allowed to retract into the stem. A smaller diameter in the stem allows for the retraction of the ball bearing. Once the ball bearing is retracted the upper retainer can then be easily be removed. Once the upper retainer is removed the pin can be released and it and the ball bearing return to its normal position. By releasing the pin the spring biases the pin back to its upper normal position. With the upper retainer removed the car body can then be removed from the lower stem. In order install and secure the car body the user reverses the said above procedure.

The method of manufacturing for the body quick release mechanism comprises of the following: The lower stem is a machined component that can be made out of aluminum or steel. The pin can be machined form aluminum or steel or be molded of plastic. The spring is steel and is constructed using normal wire winding. The ball is a bearing. The inner plug is a molded plastic part but it could also be machined metal. The upper retainer is machined aluminum or steel. The retaining feature of the stem on the ball bearing is done by spinning the surface creating a smaller diameter at outer edge of the hole. This ball retention method is defined in U.S. Pat. No. 2,399,581. The assembly of the stem is the following: the ball is place into the hole of the stem after the outer surface is spun. The pin is loading into the stem and a step in the upper surface of the stem retains the pin. The spring is loaded into the stem then the inner plug is pressed into the stem.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view, in section, of the body quick release mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view, in section, of the body quick release mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the pin biased in the release position.

FIG. 3 is a front view, in section, of the body quick release mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating upper retainer and the car body removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the R/C car and truck industry, the vehicle typically is covered by a poly-carbonate or Lexan body. The body is frequently vacuum formed into the desired body shape. In prior art, the body is affixed to the frame with pins, which protrude through the car's body. Wire retainer clips affix the body to the said frame pins. The preferred embodiment is an improvement to the attachment with a quick release mechanism.

As used herein, like numerals indicate like elements throughout. Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown, in cross section, the quick release mechanism 10, according to the preferred embodiment. The quick release mechanism 10 is comprised of a stem 11, a retainer 12, a ball 13, a push-pin 14, a spring 15, and a spring retainer 16. It is at the heart of the present invention that the retainer 12 and the car body 17 are allowed to be removed and replaced easily and quickly by depressing the push-pin 14. The quick release mechanism 10 is attached to the car frame at the diameter 21 and is held in place with a wire retainer (not shown) through hole 22, which passes through the whole stem 11. The car body 17 has a hole 23 that is fitted around the stem 11 diameter 24. The said car body 17 is trapped between the retainer 12 surface 25 and the stem 11 surface 26 in the installation. The retainer 12 and the stem 11 are both larger than that of the hole 23 in the car body 17. The stem 11 surface 26 is angled to accept various car body 17 geometries. The retainer 12 is symmetrical such that it can be installed with either surface 25 or surface 27 down against the car body 17. The retainer 12 has a lip 28 that is used to grip the said retainer 12 during removal and installation. In the retainer 12 a hole 29 is drilled to install a wire (not illustrated) to affix the retainer 12 to the car body 17. This wire is used to keep the retainer 12 with the car body 17 when they are removed from the vehicle. The retainer 12 has a recessed surface 30 that accepts the ball 13. In the installation the ball 13 has a diametrical interference with the retainer 12 edges 31 and 32 respectively. As stated earlier the retainer 12 is symmetrical such that depending on which side is down toward the car body 17 either edge 31 or edge 32 is used in retention.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown, in cross section, the quick release mechanism 10, according to a preferred embodiment with the push-pin 14 depressed allowing the ball 13 to retract into the stem 11. Diameter 34 is relieved such that the ball 13 is able to be below the diameter 35 of the stem 11. In FIG. 2 the pin is compressing the spring 15.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown, in cross section, the quick release mechanism 10, according to a preferred embodiment with the retainer 14 and the car body 17 removed from the stem 11.

A method of manufacturing the quick release mechanism 10 will now be described. The stem 11, the retainer 12, and the push-pin 14, are machined components. Those skilled in the art will recognize the type of material used to construct the stem 11, the retainer 12, and the push-pin 14 could include aluminum, steel, brass, plastic or any other malleable material. The ball 13 is a ball bearing. The spring 15 is made of wound wire spring. The spring retainer 16 is made of molded plastic. The stem 11 is deformed, such that it retains the ball at the outer surface. This is done by spinning the surface 24 across the ball hole as defined in U.S. Pat. No. 2,399,581.

The method of manufacturing the quick release mechanism 10 further includes placing the push-pin 14 into the stem 11, placing the spring 15 behind the push-pin 14 then pressing the spring retainer 16 into the stem 11. The ball 13 is then placed into the stem 11. Those skilled in the art also understand the methods of making such a press.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiment described without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A R/C model car and truck body quick release mechanism that comprising:

a stem that attached to the vehicle

a retainer that traps the car body to the stem

a ball

a push pin

a spring

a spring retainer

2. A R/C model car and truck body quick release mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a recessed surface of the retainer to affix it via the ball to the stem.

3. A R/C model car and truck body quick release mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a recessed surface of the push-pin allowing the ball to retract once the push pin is depressed.

4. A R/C model car and truck body quick release mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a retainer that is removable.

5. A R/C model car and truck body quick release mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a retainer that has a hole for affixing it to the car body by wire.

6. A R/C model car and truck body quick release mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a spring retainer that is pressed into the stem.