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Control docking station for a one or two stage locking mechanism

  • US 10,085,520 B2
  • Filed: 06/30/2016
  • Issued: 10/02/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A control docking station for a locking mechanism system comprising:

  • a locking mechanism comprising two or more female members and a male member each configured to be joined together to form a locked engagement between the female members and the male member, the male member releasable from the female members;

    each female member including;

    a receiver base having an upper portion and a lower portion including a pair of spaced apart chocks forming a cavity therebetween;

    a pair of locking tabs, wherein each locking tab includes a first arm and a second arm connected by a center point that is rotatably coupled to the receiver base about a pivot pin such that the first and second arms are positioned relative to the receiver base, so that the first and second arms are able to rotate about the pivot pin within an area of the receiver base;

    the male member including an insert having a key-like projection with a leading edge and a portion opposite the leading edge where the portion has an engagement member;

    the key-like projection of the insert being engageable by the first arms of the locking tabs of the female member within the cavity to form a locked engagement between the insert of the male member within the confines of the cavity of the receiver base and locking tabs of the female members;

    the engagement member of the male member configured to be engageable to a device that is configured to be operably connected coupled to a safety device;

    a first of the two or more female members is operably coupled to the safety device; and

    a controller configured to sense an unsafe interlock signal and to control locking engagement between the male member and the first of the two or more female members that is operably coupled to a safety device when the unsafe interlock signal is no longer sensed;

    the controller incorporated within a container that includes an exterior surface coupled to the receiver base of a second of the two or more female members.

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