Patent ID: 6364377
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A lock mechanism releasably securing a first member to a second member;the first member having a male pin member extending therefrom, the pin member having a distal end; the second member having a female socket extending about a socket axis and having an open socket end; the male pin member axially slidable into and out of the female socket via the open socket end between a withdrawn position in which the pin member is withdrawn from the socket and a fully seated position in which the pin member is coaxially received in the socket for locking in the socket against removal; the second member having a lock button receiving bore disposed about a lock axis, the lock button receiving bore having an open forward end and a closed rear end, the lock button receiving bore intersecting with the female socket with the lock axis intersecting the socket axis to extend transversely thereto; a lock button member, the lock button member coaxially slidably received in the lock button receiving bore for movement between a forward position and a rearward position; a slide stop member in the lock button receiving bore engaging an axially forwardly directed shoulder of the lock button member to limit forward movement of the lock button member in the lock button receiving bore to the forward position and prevent removal of the lock button member out of the forward end of the lock button receiving bore and to prevent relative rotation of the lock button member about the lock axis; a lock button opening extending radially through the lock button member providing access to the slide stop member and permitting insertion of the slide stop member through the lock button member for securing the lock button member in the lock button receiving bore during assembly, the lock button opening being coaxially aligned with the female socket when the lock button member is in an assembly position in the lock button receiving bore, the assembly position corresponding to one of the forward position, the rearward position and a position therebetween; wherein with the male pin member withdrawn from the female socket and the lock button member in the assembly position, the female socket and the lock button opening align permitting insertion of the slide stop member into the lock button receiving bore via the female socket and the lock button opening so as to secure the slide stop member in the lock button receiving bore, andwherein the male pin member and lock button member are complementarily configured to provide a pin locking mechanism activatible when the pin member is in the fully seated position to releasably lock the male pin member in the female socket against removal when the lock button member is in the forward position and to permit the male pin member to move in the female socket between the withdrawn position and the fully seated position when the lock button member is in the rearward position.