Arrangement for interconnecting two objects

• US 5,685,664 A
• Filed: 06/04/1996
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Display Industries LLC
• Original Assignee: MEAD Corporation (Meadwestvaco Corporation)
• Inventors: Reinagel, Edmond B., Parham, Dennis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): GIBSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US08/657,571
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 211/59.3, 211/59.2, 211/175, 211/184, 211/192, 312/42, 312/71, D 6/408, 403/231, 403/245, 403/252, 403/393, 248/222.11
• US Class Current: 403/393
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/126 the pushing device being urged by spring means
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/20 Connections with hook-like parts gripping behind a blind side of an element to be connected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/4602 Corner joint
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7152 Lapped rod ends

Abstract

An arrangement for interconnecting first and second objects, comprises a connector element and an anchoring element which are formed on the first object and a connector aperture and an anchoring aperture defined in the second object. The connector element extends from the first object along a notional line. The anchoring element is disposed at a distance along the notional line from the connector element, and extends parallel to the connector element. The anchoring aperture is disposed at a distance along the notional line from the connector aperture. The connector element is received in the connector aperture and disposed at an engaged position where the connector element engages the periphery of the connector aperture. Within the connector aperture, the connector element is movable along the notional line between the engaged position and a disengaged position. The anchoring element is received in the anchoring aperture and disposed at a retaining position where the anchoring element allows the connector element to be in the engaged position. Within the anchoring aperture, the anchoring element is movable along the notional line between the retaining position and a releasing position. A flexible locking element is joined to the second object and disposed in the anchoring aperture at a position where it takes over the releasing position for the anchoring element.

Claims

1. An arrangement for interconnecting first and second objects disposed next to each other, said arrangement comprising:

a connector element and an anchoring element both formed on said first object, said connector element extending from said first object, said anchoring element being disposed at a distance along a notional line from said connector element and extending from said first object parallel to said connector element;

a wall formed on said second object, said wall having a connector aperture and an anchoring aperture both defined in said wall, said anchoring aperture being disposed at a distance along said notional line from said connector aperture; and

a flexible locking element joined to the second object and disposed in said anchoring aperture,

said connector element being received in said connector aperture and being disposed at an engaged position where said connector element engages a periphery of said connector aperture, said connector element being movable within said connector aperture along said notional line between said engaged position and a disengaged position where said connector element is disengaged from said periphery of said connector aperture, said anchoring element being received in said anchoring aperture and being disposed at a retaining position where said anchoring element allows said connector element to be in said engaged position, said anchoring element being movable within said anchoring aperture along said notional line between said retaining position and a releasing position where said anchoring element allows said connector element to be in said disengaged position, said locking element being normally disposed at a position where said locking element takes over said releasing position for said anchoring element, whereby said anchoring element is locked in said retaining position, said locking element having a sloping surface for abutment against a free end surface of said anchoring element such that when inserted with said free end surface first into said anchoring aperture, said anchoring element abuts said sloping surface and displaces said locking element transversely of an inserting direction of said anchoring element whereby said anchoring element is allowed to enter said anchoring aperture, wherein said free end surface of said anchoring element is bevelled such that when inserted into said anchoring aperture, said anchoring element is brought into abutment at said bevelled free end surface against said sloping surface, whereby said locking element is thrust aside by said anchoring element to allow entrance of said anchoring element into said anchoring aperture.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said locking element is resiliently displaceable to the outside of said releasing position to allow said anchoring element to be moved into said releasing position.

6. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said distance between said connector aperture and said anchoring aperture is generally equal to the distance between said connector element and said anchoring element.

3. An arrangement for interconnecting first and second objects disposed next to each other, said arrangement comprising:

a connector element and an anchoring element both formed on said first object, said connector element extending from said first object, said anchoring element being disposed at a distance along a notional line from said connector element and extending from said first object parallel to said connector element;

a wall formed on said second object, said wall having a connector aperture and an anchoring aperture both defined in said wall, said anchoring aperture being disposed at a distance along said notional line from said connector aperture; and

a flexible locking element joined to the second object and disposed in said anchoring aperture,

said connector element being received in said connector aperture and being disposed at an engaged position where said connector element engages a periphery of said connector aperture, said connector element being movable within said connector aperture along said notional line between said engaged position and a disengaged position where said connector element is disengaged from said periphery of said connector aperture, said anchoring element being received in said anchoring aperture and being disposed at a retaining position where said anchoring element allows said connector element to be in said engaged position, said anchoring element being movable within said anchoring aperture along said notional line between said retaining position and a releasing position where said anchoring element allows said connector element to be in said disengaged position, said locking element being normally disposed at a position where said locking element takes over said releasing position for said anchoring element, whereby said anchoring element is locked in said retaining position, said locking element having a sloping surface for abutment against a free end surface of said anchoring element such that when inserted with said free end surface first into said anchoring aperture, said anchoring element abuts said sloping surface and displaces said locking element transversely of an inserting direction of said anchoring element whereby said anchoring element is allowed to enter said anchoring aperture, wherein said locking element is resiliently displaceable to the outside of said releasing position to allow said anchoring element to be moved into said releasing position, wherein said notional line extends horizontally, and said locking element is vertically displaceable to said outside.

4. An arrangement for interconnecting first and second objects disposed next to each other, said arrangement comprising:

a connector element and an anchoring element both formed on said first object, said connector element extending from said first object, said anchoring element being disposed at a distance along a notional line from said connector element and extending from said first object parallel to said connector element;

a wall formed on said second object, said wall having a connector aperture and an anchoring aperture both defined in said wall, said anchoring aperture being disposed at a distance along said notional line from said connector aperture; and

a flexible locking element joined to the second object and disposed in said anchoring aperture,

said connector element being received in said connector aperture and being disposed at an engaged position where said connector element engages a periphery of said connector aperture, said connector element being movable within said connector aperture along said notional line between said engaged position and a disengaged position where said connector element is disengaged from said periphery of said connector aperture, said anchoring element being received in said anchoring aperture and being disposed at a retaining position where said anchoring element allows said connector element to be in said engaged position, said anchoring element being movable within said anchoring aperture along said notional line between said retaining position and a releasing position where said anchoring element allows said connector element to be in said disengaged position, said locking element being normally disposed at a position where said locking element takes over said releasing position for said anchoring element, whereby said anchoring element is locked in said retaining position, said locking element having a sloping surface for abutment against a free end surface of said anchoring element such that when inserted with said free end surface first into said anchoring aperture, said anchoring element abuts said sloping surface and displaces said locking element transversely of an inserting direction of said anchoring element whereby said anchoring element is allowed to enter said anchoring aperture, wherein said connector element is L-shaped and includes a main portion extending from said first object to a free end, and an engaging portion extending from said free end of said main portion along said notional line.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of said connector elements are formed on said first object and disposed at spacings along the said notional line, and a plurality of said connector apertures are formed in said wall and disposed at spacings along said notional line.

7. An arrangement for interconnecting first and second objects disposed next to each other, said arrangement comprising:

a connector element and an anchoring element both formed on said first object, said connector element extending from said first object, said anchoring element being disposed at a distance along a notional line from said connector element and extending from said first object parallel to said connector element;

a wall formed on said second object, said wall having a connector aperture and an anchoring aperture both defined in said wall, said anchoring aperture being disposed at a distance along said notional line from said connector aperture; and

a flexible locking element joined to the second object and disposed in said anchoring aperture,

said connector element being received in said connector aperture and being disposed at an engaged position where said connector element engages a periphery of said connector aperture, said connector element being movable within said connector aperture along said notional line between said engaged position and a disengaged position where said connector element is disengaged from said periphery of said connector aperture, said anchoring element being received in said anchoring aperture and being disposed at a retaining position where said anchoring element allows said connector element to be in said engaged position, said anchoring element being movable within said anchoring aperture along said notional line between said retaining position and a releasing position where said anchoring element allows said connector element to be in said disengaged position, said locking element being normally disposed at a position where said locking element takes over said releasing position for said anchoring element, whereby said anchoring element is locked in said retaining position, said locking element having a sloping surface for abutment against a free end surface of said anchoring element such that when inserted with said free end surface first into said anchoring aperture, said anchoring element abuts said sloping surface and displaces said locking element transversely of an inserting direction of said anchoring element whereby said anchoring element is allowed to enter said anchoring aperture, wherein said connector element has an engaging rib, a part of the perimeter of said connector aperture being defined by an engaging strip extending along said notional line, said strip being formed with a locking notch for receiving and locking said engaging rib therein when said connector element is in said engaged position, said strip being further formed with a guide notch disposed adjacent to said locking notch to receive said engaging rib when said connector element is in said disengaged position, a perimeter of said guide notch adjacent to said locking notch being defined by a sloping wall for smoothly guiding said engaging rib into said locking notch.

8. An arrangement for interconnecting first and second objects disposed next to each other, said arrangement comprising:

a connector element formed on said first object, said connector element extending outwardly from said first object; and

a wall formed on said second object, said wall having a connector aperture defined in said wall,

said connector element being received in said connector aperture and being disposed at an engaged position where said connector element engages a periphery of said connector aperture, said connector element being movable within said connector aperture along a notional line extending between said engaged position and a disengaged position where said connector element is disengaged from said periphery of said connector aperture, said connector element having an engaging rib, a part of the perimeter of said connector aperture being defined by an engaging strip extending along said notional line, said strip being formed with a locking notch for receiving and locking said engaging rib therein when said connector element is in said engaged position, said strip being further formed with a guide notch disposed adjacent to said locking notch to receive said engaging rib when said connector element is in said disengaged position, a perimeter of said guide notch adjacent to said locking notch being defined by a sloping wall for smoothly guiding said engaging rib into said locking notch.