Releasable coupling device
AssigneeMake Ideas, LLC
InventorsKeith MULLIN, Christopher TADDEI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A releasable coupling device comprises a body comprising an aperture and a sleeve positioned at least partially around, and moveable relative to, at least a portion of the body. The sleeve is moveable between an open position in which at least a portion of the aperture is at least partially unoccluded so as to permit coupling of the device to an attachment receivable within the aperture, and a closed position in which at least a portion of the aperture is at least partially occluded so as to resist decoupling of the of the device by removal of an attachment from the aperture. The device defines a track configured to guide an attachment receivable within the aperture along a movement path.
Claims33
A releasable coupling device comprising:
- a body comprising an aperture;
- a sleeve positioned at least partially around, and moveable relative to, at least a portion of the body, the sleeve being moveable between an open position in which at least a portion of the aperture is at least partially unoccluded so as to permit coupling of the device to an attachment receivable within the aperture, and a closed position in which at least a portion of the aperture is at least partially occluded so as to resist decoupling of the of the device by removal of an attachment from the aperture;
- the device defining a track configured to guide an attachment receivable within the aperture along a movement path.
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A releasable coupling device, comprising:
- (a) an elongated body with an aperture, penetrating transversely through the elongated body, disposed at a distal end thereof and having an opening to a side of the elongated body in a direction generally perpendicular to a primary axis of the elongated body, wherein the aperture and distal end of the elongated body define a hook;
- and
- (b) a structural retaining sleeve system including a sleeve, wherein the sleeve has an open distal end with slots opening toward the distal end, and wherein the sleeve fits around the elongated body and is longitudinally adjustable between a closed position, wherein the sleeve is disposed around the hook, the slots are transversely aligned with the aperture, and the covering portion of the sleeve fully covers the opening to the aperture in the side of the elongated body, and an open position, wherein the sleeve is retracted to uncover the opening to the aperture in the side of the elongated body;
- (c) wherein, in the closed position, a track is defined by the aperture and the slots such that when viewed from a side, the track includes at least two distinct regions or lobes, each defining a respective primary ring retention area, that are separated by a step or protrusion;
- (d) wherein an attachment may be inserted into the aperture while the sleeve is in the open position but retained in the track while the sleeve is in the closed position;
- and
- (e) wherein, while retained in the track while the sleeve is in the closed position, the attachment tends to remain in a particular one of the at least two regions or lobes thereof with the step or protrusion providing a physical obstacle to the attachment moving from the particular one of the at least two through-hole regions or lobes to another of the at least two through-hole regions or lobes.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.