FASTENING AND/OR LOCKING SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening and/or locking system for fastening and/or locking containers to a fastening device, in particular to a carrier such as a luggage rack, wherein at least one fastening element (securing element) is attached to the carrier or an accessory part for the carrier and engages in and is detachably locked to at least one receiving element (1), which is attached to a container and/or is connected to the container, wherein the receiving element (1) has a base plate (2) having a spring-loaded slide (3) that runs between the base plate and a cover plate (4), wherein the cover plate (4) has an upper elevation (11) and a lower elevation (10) [lit., “11”] and has a through-hole (12) from one side of the cover plate (4) to the other. The region for the spring-loaded slide (3) is formed behind the lower elevation (10) of the cover plate (4), and the space behind the upper elevation (11) has an undercut of said upper elevation, which is designed for the engagement of the protrusion or collar of a fastening element (securing element), wherein the spring-loaded slide (3) presses a fastening element (securing element), which can be inserted into the through-hole (12), into a recess (notch) (9) in the upper elevation (11) of the cover plate (4) and fastens said fastening element (securing element).

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A releasable fastening system, for releasable fastening between a supporting device and a supported device, comprising: at least one receiving element attached to said supported device and at least one fastening element attached to said supporting device; said receiving element, further comprising: a base plate having a back surface and front surface supporting a cover plate thereon; a spring-loaded slide member slidably retained between said base plate and said cover plate; at least a first and a second elevated portion on said cover plate projecting away from said front surface of said base plate and defining a throughgoing channel therebetween; said first and said second elevated portions extending from a proximate side to a distal side of said base plate; a receiving region bounded under said first elevated portion above said front surface of said base plate shaped to slidably receive said spring-loaded slide member; an undercut on said second elevated portion proximate said throughgoing channel and partially projecting over said throughgoing channel; said undercut of said second elevated portion shaped to engage a protrusion extending from said fastening element; a recess on said undercut on said second elevated portion proximate said throughgoing channel shaped to receive said protrusion extending from said fastening element; and said spring-loaded urging said protrusion of said fastening element into said undercut and said recess during a use therewith.

11. The releasable fastening system, according to claim 10, wherein: said recess on said undercut having an arcuate shape defining a relatively small concave radius curve; said second elevated portion and said undercut having a relatively larger convex radius curve; said protrusion extending from said fastening element having a complementary shape to fit within said recess and said larger radius curve; said a spring-loaded slide member having a relatively flat flat upper edge facing said undercut and a relatively convex radius curve on a projecting surface facing said recess; and a central portion of said projecting surface of said spring-loaded slide having a concave portion.

12. The releasable fastening system, according to claim 11, further comprising: at least a first and a second engaging element projecting from said upper surface of said base plate and securing a respective first and a second spring element proximate said spring-loaded slide member; at least a first and a second guide element projecting from said upper surface of said base plate and respectively slidably received in a first and a second sliding channel in said spring-loaded slide member; whereby said spring-loaded slide member is slidably guided between a compressed position and an extended position during said use.

13. The releasable fastening system, according to claim 12, further comprising: a guiding element positioned proximate said at least one receiving element attached to said supported device; a recess in said guiding element having a concave arcuate receiving part; and said concave receiving part projecting away from said at least one receiving element.

14. The releasable fastening system, according to claim 13, further comprising: at least a second receiving element attached to said supported device; and said concave receiving part of said guiding element projecting away from said at least second receiving element.

Description

[0024] The invention will be described in more detail hereinbelow by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a rear view of a bag bearing a fastening and/or locking system, in a symbolic depiction;

[0026] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the structure and manner of assembly of a fastening and/or locking element;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a front view of a fastening and/or locking element;

[0028] FIG. 4 is a front view of a guiding element; and

[0029] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the course of movement when a bag with the fastening and/or locking system is mounted (“hung”).

[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates a fastening and/or locking system for releasably attaching a bag 14 or other container, to a support, e.g. a luggage carrier on a vehicle. The symbolically illustrated bag 14 in this embodiment has two fastening and/or locking elements (or receiving elements) 1 and a lower guiding element 15. Preferably, the illustrated receiving elements and the guiding element are each comprised of a base body 2 and at least one cover plate 4, 17. The base body (base plate) 2 is preferably fixedly connected to the bag or container 14, preferably by water-tight means, e.g. welding or adhesive bonding. Preferably the base body extends slightly into the interior of the bag and/or container, in order to provide a maximally planar rear side of the bag or container. The fastening and/or locking means is provided with a cover plate 4 which has upper 11 and lower 10 hollowed out, raised partial regions (to be referred to as “elevations”), behind which a spring-loaded slide 3 is disposed. According to the representation in FIGS. 1 and 2, the slide 3 has a head 13 which projects into an opening 12 of the cover plate between the upper and lower partial “elevations”. The two “elevations” 10, 11 have undercuts, into which the larger diameter of a mushroom shaped fastening element (securing element) engages when it is inserted, whereas the middle member of said mushroom shaped fastening element (securing element), which member has a smaller diameter, enters the opening 12 between the “elevations” 10, 11 and acts against the spring-loaded slide.

[0031] Upon further insertion, against [sic] the spring force of the slide, this [sic] is pushed downward, and the middle member of a [sic] mushroom shaped fastening element (securing element) presses against the lower edge of the upper “elevation” 11. Along and preferably in the middle of this edge, a recess (notch) 9 is provided in the upper region I 1 (upper “elevation”) of the cover plate, into Which recess the middle member of the mushroom shaped fastening element (securing element) is passed and becomes locked there, in the course of the swinging-in of the bag, guided by the force exerted by the spring-loaded slide 3 and conditioned by the weight of the bag and/or container. In this process, the larger diameter of the [“a”] mushroom shaped fastening element (securing element) becomes held behind the wall of the upper region 11 (upper “elevation”) as well as behind the surface of the upper region of the slide, thereby becoming secured against forward movement.

[0032] According to a preferred embodiment, the recess 9 in the upper region 11 (the upper “elevation”) of the cover plate is not evenly shaped but is designed with a preferred direction. For the two cover plates of a right and a left fastening and/or locking means, in addition these recesses are directed in different preferred directions. This also provides an effective means of preventing accidental release of the bag while attached to the luggage carrier, since at least one of the receiving elements will always have a recess 9 which particularly effectively blocks release of the bag by horizontal swinging.

[0033] For deliberate removal of the bag from a luggage carrier, the bag is lifted upward, wherewith first the middle member of the mushroom shaped fastening element (securing element) moves out of [i.e. is freed from] the recess 9, and the bag can be swung out laterally, and said bag can be removed by upward movement of the lower receiving means [(lower guiding element)] 15 from the lower fastening element (securing element), along the slot 16.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows, by way of example, the sequence of movements of the upper receiving points during the attachment and/or removal of the bag and/or container. Whereas the distance A between the receiving points remains the same in any position, the displacements [lit., “mutual displacements”] of the receiving points in the course of the movements during the attachment and/or removal of the bag and/or container are not the same.

[0035] Following the above description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise embodiments, and that various changes and modifications may be made therein by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.