Reverse cam release mechanism
AssigneeMethode Electronics, Inc.
InventorAlexandros Pirillis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A releasable locking mechanism is provided that includes a carrier, at least one projection and an actuator. The projection extends from the carrier and is rotatable along a rotational axis between a locked state and an unlocked state. The actuator is operably coupled to the projection and is movable along a first axis between a first position and a second position whereby in the first position the projection is rotated to the locked state and in the second position the projection is rotated to the unlocked state, the first axis being substantially perpendicular with the rotational axis.
Claims27
A releasable locking mechanism comprising:
- a carrier;
- at least one projection extending from the carrier, the at least one projection being rotatable along a rotational axis between a locked state and an unlocked state;
- and
- an actuator operably coupled to the at least one projection and movable along a first plane between a first position and a second position whereby in the first position the at least one projection is rotated to the locked state and in the second position the at least one projection is rotated to the unlocked state.
A releasable locking mechanism and assembly comprising:
- a carrier;
- a receptacle sized to receive at least a portion of the carrier;
- an engagement surface located on one of the carrier and the receptacle;
- and
- at least one projection extending from the other of the carrier and the receptacle, the at least one projection having an engagement face and a sliding face, the engagement face engaging the engagement surface in a locked state thereby retaining the carrier relative to the receptacle, the sliding face engaging the engagement surface in an unlocked state thereby permitting the carrier to be removed from the receptacle, the at least one projection rotatable between the locked state and the unlocked state.
A releasable fastener and assembly comprising:
- a carrier;
- a receptacle sized to receive at least a portion of the carrier;
- an engagement surface located on one of the carrier and the receptacle;
- at least one projection extending from the other of the carrier and the receptacle, the at least one projection being rotatable along a rotational axis between a locked state thereby retaining the carrier relative to the receptacle and an unlocked state thereby permitting the carrier to be removed from the receptacle;
- and
- an actuator operably coupled to the at least one projection and movable along a first plane between a first position and a second position whereby in the first position the at least one projection is rotated to the locked state and in the second position the at least one projection is rotated to the unlocked state, the first plane being substantially parallel with the rotational axis.
A method of removing a carrier from a receptacle, the method comprising the steps of:
- manipulating an actuator in a first direction along a first axis;
- rotating a projection operably coupled to the actuator about a rotational axis which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis;
- manipulating the carrier in the first direction;
- and
- retracting the projection, at least partially, such that the projection disengages an engagement surface, whereby the carrier can be removed from the receptacle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.