Patent ID: 7811024
Filing Date: 2010-10-12
Classification: F16B,F41G

Abstract:
1. An alignment and locking system, comprising: a male portion dovetailed in at least one dimension thereof, said male portion having partial female threads formed in a surface thereof; a housing having a female dovetailed notch formed therein for slidingly receiving said male portion wherein a wedge fit is formed therebetween when said notch is nearly fully engaged by said male portion; a screw assembly coupled to said housing, said screw assembly including a rotatable rod having a threaded region that partially extends into said notch, said threaded region including a partially threaded portion and a fully threaded portion with said partially threaded portion being encountered by said male portion before said fully threaded portion as said male portion is slid into said notch, said partially threaded portion defined by (i) a first region that cannot engage said partial female threads of said male portion as said male portion slides in said notch, and (ii) a second region that can engage said partial female threads of said male portion as said male portion slides in said notch, said second region and said fully threaded portion being defined by screw threads for corresponding engagement with said partial female threads; and means for biasing rotational movement of said rod to align said first region of said partially threaded portion with said notch when said male portion is not engaged in said notch.