Vehicle scale coupling device

A vehicle scale weigh platform coupling device, comprising:

• a first coupling element having a vertical leg for attachment to an associated one of an adjacent pair of vehicle scale weigh platform modules, and a horizontal leg adapted to support a second coupling element;
• a corresponding second coupling element having a vertical leg for attachment to an associated one of an adjacent pair of vehicle scale weigh platform modules, a horizontal leg adapted to rest on said horizontal leg of said first coupling element, and a receiving pocket in said second coupling element for accommodating at least a portion of said horizontal leg of said first coupling element when said coupling elements are mated;
• a fastener assembly receiving cavity section located in a top face of each of said first and second coupling elements so as to form a fastener assembly receiving cavity in said coupling device when said first and second coupling elements are properly mated, said fastener assembly receiving cavity including a head retention slot for receiving a head of a threaded fastener, a nut retention slot for receiving a nut, and a fastener body passage slot connecting said head retention slot and said nut retention and adapted to receive a body portion of said threaded fastener, said fastener assembly receiving cavity accessible from above said vehicle scale weigh platform modules when said coupling device is located therebetween;
• and
• a fastener assembly located in said fastener assembly receiving cavity, said fastener assembly operative to secure a mated arrangement of said first and second coupling elements such that said adjacent vehicle scale weigh platform modules are rigidly connected.

A method of coupling adjacent vehicle scale weigh platform modules, comprising:

• attaching a first coupling element, by a vertical leg thereof, to one of said adjacent pair of vehicle scale weigh platform modules, said first coupling element further including a horizontal leg adapted to support a second coupling element;
• attaching a corresponding second coupling element, by a vertical leg thereof, to the other of said adjacent pair of vehicle scale weigh platform modules, said second coupling element further including a horizontal leg adapted to rest on said horizontal leg of said first coupling element;
• providing a fastener assembly receiving cavity section in a top face of each of said first and second coupling elements so as to form a fastener assembly receiving cavity in said coupling device when said first and second coupling elements are properly mated, said fastener assembly receiving cavity including a head retention slot for receiving a head of a threaded fastener, a nut retention slot for receiving a nut, and a fastener body passage slot connecting said head retention slot and said nut retention slot and adapted to receive a body portion of said threaded fastener, said fastener assembly receiving cavity accessible from above said vehicle scale weigh platform modules when said coupling device is located therebetween;
• positioning said vehicle scale weigh platform modules so that said first and second coupling elements are placed into mating contact;
• installing a fastener assembly in said fastener assembly receiving cavity, said fastener assembly including at least a threaded fastener and a like-threaded nut;
• and
• tightening said nut onto said threaded fastener while said nut resides in said nut retention slot, thereby securing a mated arrangement of said first and second coupling elements and rigidly connecting said adjacent vehicle scale weigh platform modules.