Patent ID: 9322421
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: E04F,F16B

Claim Text:
1. A connector system comprising a connector element; at least a first and a second structural element, each structural element having a first edge and a second opposite edge, and a corresponding mating groove that is formed in the structural elements extending from the first edge toward the second edge; the connector element comprising a base plate with split-tongue elements protruding from said base plate, each split-tongue element designed to mate with one of said mating grooves and having flexible arms; said flexible arms having outward facing protruding nubs at their distal ends; each mating groove comprising five regions arranged sequentially from the first edge toward the second edge: a recess region for receiving the base plate of the connector element when the connector element is inserted into the respective groove, a converging entry region having sidewalls that converge toward one another, each side wall having an end, a minimum groove width apex region at the ends of the converging sidewalls, a diverging hold region having sidewalls extending away from one another, and a cap or termination region; said diverging hold region and said flexible arms and said nubs disposed such that contact of the nubs with said groove diverging region imposes significant residual arm deflection after the connector element is fully inserted in the mating groove such that the connector element is held in the respective groove.