Patent ID: 7707755
Filing Date: 2010-05-04
Classification: E02F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An assembly for attaching two mechanical parts, the assembly comprising: a female part comprising at least one sidewall defining a cavity and a first hole extending through the one sidewall, the first hole comprising a notch and a recess defined in an inner surface of the one sidewall adjacent the notch; a male part comprising a second hole, wherein the first hole of the female part and the second hole are axially aligned when the male part is inserted into the cavity of the female part; a pin removably inserted into the aligned first and second holes and rotatable between an unlocked position and a locked position, the pin comprising a shaft defining a longitudinal direction and a retainer member that protrudes from the shaft in a radial direction transverse to the longitudinal direction; and a resilient tension member retained by an outer surface of the male part, the resilient tension member comprising an outer surface which faces the inner surface of the one sidewall of the female part, the outer surface of the resilient tension member comprising a planar entry surface extending in the radial direction and a projection having a first portion with an inclined surface inclined relative to the entry surface; wherein in the unlocked position, the pin is inserted into the aligned first and second holes such that the retainer member passes through the notch in the first hole and abuts the entry surface of the tension member; wherein when the pin is rotated into the locked position, such that the retainer member is retained within the recess in the female part, the retainer member first runs along the inclined surface, thereby biasing the tension member in the longitudinal direction, and then runs along a second portion of the projection, thereby at least partially releasing the tension member and placing the retainer member in the locked position within the recess of the female part.