Coupling systems having repeatable positioning precision
AssigneeSafran Defense & Space, Inc.
InventorsRoss Barber, Michael Blundell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Coupling systems that each include a pivot connector set and a locking connector set. First and second parts of each coupling system are coupled to one another by engaging components of the pivot connector set with one another and then at least one of the first and second parts is pivoted relative to the other of the first and second parts so as to engage components of the locking connector set with one another. In some embodiments, a coupling system of the present disclosure may be deployed with a pair of hot shoe connectors, with a pivoting action of the coupling system providing a straight-in type engagement of the hot shoe connectors with one another.
Claims24
A coupling system for removably coupling first and second objects to one another, the coupling system comprising:
- a first coupling part corresponding to the first object;
- and
- a second coupling part corresponding to the second object and designed and configured to engage the second coupling part and to couple with the first coupling part so as to removably couple the first and second objects to one another when the first and second objects are present;
- wherein:
- the first and second coupling parts include a pivot connector set and a locking connector set spaced from the pivot connector set along a separation axis extending between the pivot connector set and the locking connector set when the first and second coupling parts are coupled with one another;
- the pivot connector set includes a first head and a first receiver located, respectively, on differing ones of the first and second coupling parts, the first receiver including:
- a head-receiving region for receiving the first head therethrough when the first head is first engaged with the first receiver;
- and
- a head-capture region for capturing the first head in the first receiver after the first head has been engaged with the head-receiving region;
- the locking connector set includes:
- a second head and a second receiver located, respectively, on differing ones of the first and second coupling parts, wherein the second head is engageable with the second receiver when the first head of the pivot connector set is engaged with the head-capture region of the first receiver;
- and
- a locking mechanism for locking the second head in the second receiver when the first head is captured in the head-capture region of the first receiver and the second head is in the second receiver.
A hot-shoe assembly for communicating electrical signals between a first and a second objects, the hot-shoe assembly comprising:
- a first hot-shoe connector designed and configured to be operationally engaged by a second hot-shoe connector having a first set of electrical contacts, the first hot-shoe connector including:
- a body;
- and
- a second set of electrical contacts fixedly located on the body;
- a swappable component removably coupled to the body and including:
- a third set of electrical contacts for contactingly engaging the first set of electrical contacts when the first and second hot-shoe connectors are coupled with one another;
- and
- a fourth set of electrical contacts in electrical communications with the third set of electrical contacts and contacting the second set of electrical contacts;
- and
- a securement means removably securing the swappable component to the body.
A coupling system for removably coupling first and second objects to one another, the coupling system comprising:
- a first coupling part designed and configured to be mechanically coupled to a second coupling part, wherein the first and second coupling parts are configured to be deployed, respectively, on the first and second objects and the first coupling part includes:
- a body;
- at least one first coupling component engaged with the body and designed and configured to cooperate with at least one second coupling component located on the second coupling part so as to removable mechanically fix the first and second coupling parts together;
- and
- a hot-shoe assembly for communicating electrical signals between the first and second objects, the hot-shoe assembly including:
- a first hot-shoe connector designed and configured to be operationally engaged by a second hot-shoe connector having a first set of electrical contacts, the first hot-shoe connector including a second set of electrical contacts fixedly located on the body;
- a swappable component removably coupled to the body and including:
- a third set of electrical contacts for contactingly engaging the first set of electrical contacts when the first and second hot-shoe connectors are coupled with one another;
- and
- a fourth set of electrical contacts in electrical communications with the third set of electrical contacts and contacting the second set of electrical contacts;
- and
- a securing means removably securing the swappable passthrough insert to the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.