Patent ID: 7441981
Filing Date: 2008-10-28
Classification: E06C,F16B,F16M,G01C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A coupler comprising: a male component including a first portion, a second portion moveable with respect to the first portion, an annular groove defined at least in part by said first and second portions, and a projection extending outward from the first portion; a female component including an interior chamber sized and shaped for receiving at least part of the male component and a projection extending inward into the interior chamber selectively positionable for engagement with the projection of the first portion of the male component to inhibit the female component from rotating with respect to the first portion of the male component; and a catch extending into the interior chamber of the female component co-operable with the groove defined by said first and second portions of the male component to axially connect the second portion of the male component to the female component, the catch including a button, at least one leg extending from the button and at least one ear projecting inwardly from the leg and positioned for engaging the groove defined by said first and second portions of the male component, the button being selectively operable to disengage the ear from the groove to release the male component allowing the male component to be removed from the female component; wherein the coupler is selectively reconfigurable by moving the first portion of the male component relative to the second portion of the male component between a first configuration in which the projection of the female component engages the projection of the male component to inhibit rotation of the female component with respect to the first portion of the male component and a second configuration in which the projection of the female component is disengaged from the projection of the male component permitting rotation of the female component with respect to the first portion of the male component; and wherein the catch selectively connects said female component to said male component in both the first and second configurations of the coupler.