Fastening device

Abstract

A fastening device including a plug section that is readily manipulated to quickly engage and disengage a socket section. The plug section is provided with a forwardmost elongated plug that is insertable into a bore in the socket section. Guidance and locking together of the two sections or components is achieved through a pin which extends radially from the elongated plug and which is received by a multi-directional slot arrangement associated with the socket section. Short of achieving a fully assembled condition, an axially disposed, compressible member may extend from the face end of the elongated plug to engage a stop or an end wall within the bore of the socket section and thereafter produce a constant biasing force that in addition to assuring a rigid rattle-free attachment and maintain the components in a locked position. Removal of the fastening device requires a positive forward displacement of the plug relative the socket section against the force of the compressible member prior to a compound angular and axial movement between the components. A knurled lock-nut may be used in combination with or independent of a compressible member to provide a constant biasing force as well. The lock-nut is threadably engageable with the plug element and is displaceable to frictionally engages the socket section and present against cooperatively engaging guide and catch elements.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.