Method for attaching extrusions and the like to frame members

A method involving the use of a self-locking pin of predetermined diameter and configuration for securably connecting a pair of like or unlike members, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. forming a cylindrical channel of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of said pin in a first of said members,
• b. forming an aperture of equal or slightly greater diameter than the diameter of said cylindrical channel of said first member in a second of said members,
• c. physically aligning said pair of members such that said aperture formed in said second member is registered with said cylindrical channel formed in said first member,
• d. installing a resilient concave washer on a shank portion of said self-locking pin in abutting relationship with a head portion thereof, said self-locking pin being further characterized by a conically sloping nose portion oppositely disposed of said head portion, a conical recess contiguous to and sloping inversely relative to said conically sloping nose portion, and a compressible and expandable C-shaped spring translatably carried in said conical recess and having an outer diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said shank portion when said spring is disposed in a relaxed state in a discrete position corresponding to the smallest diameter of said conical recess,
• e. inserting said self-locking pin through said aperture formed in said second member and into said cylindrical channel formed in said first member, said insertion being accompanied, nearing the completion thereof, by the application of sufficient force to overcome the resiliency of said washer between said head portion of said pin and said second member, and
• f. releasing said pin to the expelling force applied by said resilient concave washer thereto, said expelling force being effective to translate said pin slightly outwardly of said channel and to thereby translate said C-shaped spring carried in said conical recess to a discrete position therein corresponding to an increased diameter thereof wherein said spring is expandably and grippably impinged against the walls of said cylindrical channel formed in said first member to rigorously resist withdrawal of said pin therefrom and separation of said first and said second members.

A method of connecting a pair of like or unlike members in secure abutting relationship without end-play therebetween and such that the members may not be separated upon the application of variable displacement forces, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. forming a cylindrical channel of predetermined diameter in a first of said members,
• b. forming an aperture of equal or slightly greater diameter than the diameter of said cylindrical channel in a second of said members,
• c. forming a locking pin comprised of a head portion, a nose portion including inclined conical slopes leading in an increasing order of diameter from a leading edge thereof, an interconnecting cylindrical shank portion, and a conical recess disposed contiguous to and sloping inversely relative to said conically sloping nose portion, said shank portion having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said cylindrical channel,
• d. installing a resilient concave washer on the shank portion of said locking pin adjacent the head portion thereof,
• e. disposing a compressible and expandable C-shaped spring in said conical recess of said locking pin, said spring having an outer diameter slightly greater than the diameter of said shank portion when said spring is disposed in a relaxed state in a discrete position of said recess corresponding to the smallest diameter thereof,
• f. inserting said locking pin through said aperture formed in said second member and into said cylindrical channel formed in said first member, said insertion being accompanied, nearing the completion thereof, by the application of sufficient force to overcome the resiliency of said washer between said head portion and said second member, and
• g. releasing said locking pin to the expelling force applied by said resilient washer thereto, said expelling force being effective to translate said pin slightly outwardly of said channel and to thereby expandably translate said C-shaped spring to a discrete position within said conical recess corresponding to an increased diameter thereof wherein said spring is grippably impinged against the walls of said cylindrical channel of said first member to rigorously resist withdrawal of said pin therefrom and separation of said first and said second members.