Locking Connector Assembly

Abstract

A connector having a male component and a female component. The male component includes a midsection with switch mechanism. The female component includes a bearing surface bearing against the midsection of the male component in a first position of the bearing surface of the female component, and spaced from the midsection of the male component in other positions of the female component.

Claims

1. A locking connector assembly comprising: a male component having a midsection with a radially movable switch mechanism; and a female component rotatably engaged with the male component, the female component including at least one radial notch on a bearing surface, in a locked position the radially movable switch mechanism is engaged with a notch to prevent rotational or longitudinal displacement of the male and female components, and in an unlocked position, the radially movable switch mechanism is disengaged from the notch so as to allow rotational and longitudinal movement between the male and female components.

2. The locking connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the female component is connected to one end of the male component upon relative rotational movement between the male component and the female component.

3. The locking connector assembly according to claim 2, wherein the female component is disconnected from the one end of the male component upon relative rotational movement between the male component and the female component in a direction opposite to the direction when the male component and the female component are being connected.

4. The locking connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the male component has an external thread along one end thereof.

5. The locking connector assembly according to claim 4, wherein the female component has an internal thread along a length thereof engaged with the external thread upon relative rotational movement between the male component and the female component.

6. The locking connector assembly according to claim 5, wherein the external thread is a double helix and the internal thread of the female component is a double helix.

7. The locking connector assembly according to claim 6, wherein the bearing surface of the female component includes the notch.

8. The locking connector assembly according to claim 1, wherein the female component has an internal thread along an entire length thereof.

9. The locking connector assembly according to claim 8, wherein the bearing surface of the female component includes the notch, the notch extends through a portion of the internal thread.

10. The locking connector assembly according to claim 8, wherein the bearing surface of the female component includes a plurality of notches.

11. The locking connector assembly according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of notches include a first notch and a second notch, the second notch is spaced 180 from the first notch.

12. The locking connector assembly according to claim 7, wherein the bearing surface of the female component includes a plurality of notches.

13. A locking connector assembly comprising: a first component having: a switch; a catch extending from the switch; and a second component coupling to the first component, the switch positioned within a passageway of the first component, perpendicular to the coupling of the second component to the first component, the catch coupling to both the first component and the second component.

14. The locking connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the switch includes a pair of passageways to secure the switch to the first component by way of a pair of fasteners.

15. The locking connector assembly of claim 14, wherein the switch includes a first position and a second position.

16. The locking connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the first component further includes a resilient device.

17. The locking connector assembly of claim 16, wherein the resilient device, compresses in response to movement of the switch from the first position of the switch to the second position of the switch.

18. The locking connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the resilient device is a spring.

19. The locking connector assembly of claim 17, wherein the catch is positioned outside the first component and the second component in the first position.

20. The locking connector assembly of claim 19, wherein the first position restricts movement of the first component and the second component, the second position allows movement of the first component and the second component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, of which:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention after assembly.

[0009] FIG. 2A is a front view of the male component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0010] FIG. 2B is a cross-section view of the female component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the male component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of the male component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the female component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the male component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0015] FIG. 7A is a cross-section view of the male component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention in a first condition of operation of the locking connector assembly.

[0016] FIG. 7B is a cross-section view of the male component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention in a second condition of operation of the locking connector assembly.

[0017] FIG. 8A is a second cross-section view of the male component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention in the first condition of operation of the locking connector assembly.

[0018] FIG. 8B is a second cross-section view of the male component of a locking connector assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention in the second condition of operation of the locking connector assembly.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a display system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a display system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of portions of a display system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 12 is a front view of a portion of a display system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a base insert catch which is part of a display system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a base insert for of the FIG. 13 base insert catch and which is part of a display system constructed in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 14B is a side view of the FIG. 14A base insert catch.

[0026] FIG. 14C is a sectional view of the FIGS. 14A and 14B base insert catch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to embodiments of a modular display system. The invention, may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and still fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 8B, a locking connector assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention, includes a male component 20 and a female component 22. Male component 20 has a first tubular section 20a, a second tubular section 20b, and a midsection 20c between first tubular section 20a and second tubular section 20b. Second tubular section 20b of male component 20 has an external thread 20d along the length thereof. For the embodiment of the present invention being described, external thread 20d of second tubular section 20b of male component 20 is a double helix

[0029] A locking connector assembly, constructed in accordance with the present invention, also includes a female component 22 connected to second tubular section 20b of male component 20 upon relative rotational movement between the male component and the female component. Female component 22 also is disconnected from second tubular section 20b of male component 20 upon relative rotational movement between the male component and the female component in a direction opposite to the direction when the male component and the female component are being connected. Female component 22 has an internal thread 22a along the length thereof engaged with the external thread 20d of the first tubular section of male component 20 upon relative rotational movement between the male component and the female component. For the embodiment of the present invention being described, internal thread 22a of female component 22 is a double helix.

[0030] Female component 22 has a bearing surface 22b that bears against midsection 20c of male component 20 in a first position of the bearing surface of the female component as shown in FIG. 1 and is spaced from the midsection of the male component in other positions of the female component until female component 22 is connected to male component 20 upon relative rotational movement between the male component and the female component.

[0031] Bearing surface 22b of female component 22 has at least one notch 22c and can have additional notches such as a second notch 22c spaced 180 from the first notch as shown in FIG. 5. As will be explained below, notches 22c serve to lock female component 22 to male component 20 upon relative rotational movement between the male component and the female component.

[0032] Midsection 20c of male component 20 has a switch mechanism that includes a switch 24, a resilient device 26, and a catch 28. Switch 24, for example a pushbutton switch, is movable between a first, at rest, position and a second depressed position. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7A, and 7B, switch 24 can be secured in midsection 20c of male component 20 by a pair of set fasteners 30 and 32, such as bolts, screws, or other known fasteners.

[0033] The resilient device 26, such as a spring, compresses in response to movement of switch 24 from the first position of the switch to the second position of the switch. The resilient device 26 expands in response to movement of switch 24 from the second position of the switch to the first position of the switch.

[0034] The resilient device 26 urges catch 28 to bear against bearing surface 22b of female component 22 and enter the notch in the bearing surface of the female component first encountered upon relative rotational movement between male component 20 and female component 22.

[0035] Catch 28 is movable with switch 24 between: a first position outside a notch 22c in bearing surface 22b of female component 22 and bearing against the bearing surface of the female component and a second position in a notch in the bearing surface of the female component. For the embodiment of the present invention being described, catch 28 is integral with switch 24. Catch 28 enters that notch 22c that is encountered first upon relative rotational movement between male component 20 and the female component 22.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 9 through 14C, a display system, constructed in accordance with the present invention, includes a base 100 and a base insert 102. Base insert 102 has a flange 102a above base 100 and a shank 102b extending through a through-hole opening 100a in base 100.

[0037] A display system, constructed in accordance with the present invention, also includes a locking connector assembly 104, such as the locking connector assembly described above in connection with FIGS. 1 through 8B. Instead of repeating the entirety of the text above that is descriptive of this locking connector assembly, the above description of this connector is incorporated to the extent necessary to provide an understanding of how this locking connector assembly functions with the other components of a display system, constructed in accordance with the present intention, to produce the desired results. When the display system is assembled, the locking connector assembly is secured to base insert 102 by the threaded engagement of external thread 104a of locking connector assembly and internal thread 102c of base insert 102.

[0038] A display system, constructed in accordance with the present invention, also includes a pole 106. When the display system is assembled, a first end 106a of pole 106 is connected to locking connector assembly 104. and a second end 106b connected to the base insert 102.

[0039] A display system constructed in accordance with the present invention further includes a base insert catch 108 beneath base 100 and aligned axially with base insert 102 and fixed to base insert 102 for anti-rotation.

[0040] A display system, constructed in accordance with the present invention, may also include a display panel (not shown).

[0041] The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.