WO2018136496A1 - Interlock system - Google Patents

Abstract

There are at least two parts made of solid material such as plastic or metal that are locking forms which press together face to face on single axis until snapping into a final locked position. To detach the two parts, they may only come apart by sliding along the EXIT-axis which is at a right angle to the engagement axis. An extra securing mechanism may exist to hold the parts in their final resting and locked position until either an exact force is applied or there is a release mechanism that has to be actuated manually in order to releas the locked position allowing the parts to slide freely on the EXIT-axis until apart. These mechanisms can by either built-in detents or a gate system that can be manually actuated or a gate or block that allows movement in one direction only on the EXIT-axis.

Description

DESCRIPTION

The devise is made of solid material such as plastic, metal or combinations, consisting of repeating rows of protruding forms that when 2 or more are pressed together face to face, create temporarily locking fasteners. Unfastening is done by sliding two parts in opposite directions along one axis.

INTERLOCK's protrusions can repeat, scale in size indefinitely as practical on a plane, curved-plane or flexible surface. The essential elements of these protrusions with locking textures can be incorporated with other objects utilizing the the same mechanisms and functionality.

The forms consist of alternating protrusions and negative space, similar in design as the protrusions, such that two parts facing each other can accept the protrusions of the other in between them until they lock together.

Claims

1 ) The devise is made of solid material and or combination of materials such as metal and or plastic made into forms that can act as a mechanical fastener. The design includes a method for creating a flexible portion within a rigid material (5.

FIGURE 1 .3; 10. FIGURE 2.4). which allows for the female aspect of the channel rows (3. FIGURE 1 .1 ; 8. FIGURE 2.4) to accept and engage with the male rows aspect of the design. (5. FIGURE 1 .1 ; 8, FIGURE 2.4) The parts may snap together through a process of flexing the material, a built-in mechanical aspect to the design.

When pressing two or more parts face to face in alignment (FIGURE 2.18; 1 .14) they become temporarily or permanently locked together. When 2 or more parts are locked together, they can no longer detach or disengage on the same axis in which they initially engaged together. (FIGURE 2.18; 1 .14)

2) or more locked parts can detach or disengage by moving on one axis only at a right angle to the axis in which the initially engaged, on the EXIT AXIS. (FIGURE 2.20, 1 .14)

3) In certain embodiments of the design one or both directions of the EXIT AXIS may be entirely blocked, preventing the parts from disengaging in one or both directions of the EXIT AXIS. In one embodiment a detent may be used to encumber and control the movement of the parts disengaging in one or both directions of the EXIT AXIS.

4) In certain embodiments of the design one or both directions of the EXIT AXIS may be temporarily blocked by a mechanical blocking switch which can be placed in locked position or unlocked position by various means such that the parts may freely disengage sliding apart on the EXIT AXIS in the unlocked position, or may preventing the parts from disengaging in one or both directions of the EXIT AXIS in the locked position.

5) If the engagement axis is Y, then the exit axis may be in 2 directions on the Z axis, except that in certain embodiments of the design, one or both Directions on the EXIT AXIS Z may be blocked or temporarily blocked by an EXIT LOCK SWITCH.

(FIGURE 1 .25, 1 .35, 1 .39)

8) The devise may be incorporated into other objects in oder to perform it's same function. FIGURE 1 .15