Extrusion interlock assembly

A method for slidably mating interlocking adjacent sides of an extrusion assembly, including the steps of:

• (a) sliding a first flange of a first of the adjacent sides, wherein the first flange includes a first exterior engaging surface, and a first fastening surface, into a second channel of a second of the adjacent sides, wherein the second channel includes a second interior engaging surface and a second fastening surface, such that the first exterior engaging surface is adjacent to the second interior engaging surface and the first fastening surface is adjacent to the second fastening surface;
• (b) sliding, concomitantly with the sliding in step (a), a second flange of the second of the adjacent sides, wherein the second flange includes a second exterior engaging surface, and the second fastening surface into a first channel of the first of the adjacent sides, wherein the first channel that includes a first interior engaging surface and the first fastening surface, such that the second exterior engaging surface is adjacent to the first interior engaging surface and the second fastening surface is adjacent to the first fastening surface;
• and
• (c) interposing a fastener between the first fastening surface and a groove that projects into the second fastening surface so as to mechanically engage the first exterior engaging surface against the second interior engaging surface along a first plane of engagement, and so as to mechanically engage the first interior engaging surface against the second exterior engaging surface along a second plane of engagement.

An apparatus for slidably mating interlocking first and second adjacent parts of an extrusion assembly, including:

• first flange means of the first part for sliding into second channel means of the second part, wherein the first flange means includes a first exterior engaging surface and a first fastening surface, wherein the second channel means includes a second interior engaging surface and a second fastening surface, and wherein the sliding includes positioning the first exterior engaging surface adjacent to the second interior engaging surface and the second fastening surface adjacent to the first fastening surface;
• second flange means of the second part for sliding into first channel means of the first part, wherein the second flange means includes a second exterior engaging surface and the second fastening surface, wherein the first channel means includes a first interior engaging surface and the first fastening surface, and wherein the sliding includes positioning the second exterior engaging surface adjacent to the first interior engaging surface and the first fastening surface adjacent to the second fastening surface;
• and
• fastener means for mechanically engaging the first exterior engaging surface against the second interior engaging surface along a first plane of engagement, and for mechanically engaging the first interior engaging surface against the second exterior engaging surface along a second plane of engagement.

An interlocking joint for adjacent first and second sides of an extrusion assembly enabling the adjacent sides to be slidably mated, including:

• a first flange that is mechanically connected to the first side;
• a second channel that is mechanically connected to the second side, wherein the second channel slidably receives the first flange;
• and
• a fastener that laterally displaces the first flange away from the second channel so as to cause the first flange to frictionally engage the second channel along a first plane of engagement.