Cam action locking assembly
AssigneeBerkeley Forge & Tool, Inc.
InventorRobert Bierwith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking assembly is disclosed. The locking assembly is for coupling a first member including a receiving area, and a second member having a receiving region. The locking system includes an interference element including an interfering portion that is received within the receiving area of the first member when the locking system couples the first member and the second member together, a biasing element, a cam, wherein the cam is adapted to cause the biasing element to be in a biased position or an unbiased position, and a wedge shaped structure.
Claims18
A locking assembly for coupling a first member including a receiving area, and a second member having a receiving region, the locking system comprising:
- (a) an interference element including an interfering portion that is received within the receiving area of the first member when the locking system couples the first member and the second member together;
- (b) a biasing element;
- (c) a cam, wherein the cam is adapted to cause the biasing element to be in a biased position or an unbiased position;
- and
- (d) a wedge shaped structure, wherein the wedge shaped structure is configured to be received in the receiving region of the second member, and wherein movement of the wedge shaped structure in a first direction moves the interfering portion of the interference element into the receiving area of the first member and wherein movement of the wedge shaped structure in a second direction causes the interfering portion of the interference element to move out of the receiving area of the first member.
A locking system comprising:
- (a) a first member including a receiving area;
- (b) a second member including a receiving region;
- and
- (c) a locking assembly for coupling the first member and the second member having a receiving region, wherein the locking system comprises (i) an interference element including an interfering portion that is received within the receiving area of the first member when the locking assembly couples the first member and the second member together, (ii) a biasing element, (iii) a cam, wherein the cam is adapted to cause the biasing element to be in a biased position or an unbiased position, and (iv) a wedge shaped structure, wherein the wedge shaped structure is configured to be received in the receiving region of the second member, and wherein movement of the wedge shaped structure in a first direction moves the interfering portion of the interference element into the receiving area of the first member and wherein movement of the wedge shaped structure in a second direction causes the interfering portion of the interference element to move out of the receiving area of the first member.
A method of using a locking system comprising:
- (a) obtaining a first member including a receiving area;
- (b) obtaining a second member including a receiving region;
- and
- (c) using a locking assembly to couple the first and second members together, wherein the locking assembly comprises (i) an interference element including an interfering portion that is received within the receiving area of the first member when the locking system couples the first member and the second member together, (ii) a biasing element, (iii) a cam, wherein the cam is adapted to cause the biasing element to be in a biased position or an unbiased position, and (iv) a wedge shaped structure, wherein the wedge shaped structure is configured to be received in the receiving region of the second member, and wherein movement of the wedge shaped structure in a first direction moves the interfering portion of the interference element into the receiving area of the first member and wherein movement of the wedge shaped structure in a second direction causes the interfering portion of the interference element to move out of the receiving area of the first member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.