Abstract:
The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for joining sections to enable plates to be separated, then reconnected and securely interlocked. A variety of plate configurations may be utilized with the locking mechanism in applications such as cable pass-through, electrical wiring, or any application in which the engagement of structures is desired. The locking mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention includes outwardly extending finger detents adjacent to the cantilever tabs of each plate that slideably engage the bottom surface of an opposing plate section and create resistive forces between the interlocked cantilever tabs. The addition of the finger detents increases the inter-mating strength of the locked plate by providing a resistive moment arm to resist outward forces acting to separate the plate sections. The cantilever tabs further include a locking lip that engages a locking means of an opposing plate section to resist lateral forces acting to separate the plate.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for joining sections to enable plates to be separated, then reconnected and securely interlocked. A variety of plate configurations may be utilized with the locking mechanism in applications such as cable pass-through, electrical wiring, or any application in which the engagement of structures is desired. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Locking mechanisms for joining plate sections are known in the art, and include plates joined by cantilever tab elements that extend from the ends of each plate section to join the plates. The Following examples of designs by this inventor include applications of plate locking mechanisms for cable pass-through and electrical wiring. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,744 entitled Sectional Plate For Wall Port, is an example of the utilization of a cantilever tab mechanism for joining plates. The cantilever tab mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,744 is incorporated into various sectional plate designs issued to this inventor including Design Application No. 29/294,960 (Sectional Plate With Grommet and Recessed Receptacle), Utility application Ser. No. 12/070,082 (Sectional Plate for Wall Port Incorporating recessed Scoop for Wire Management), Provisional Application No. 61/007,939 (Sectional Plate for Wall Port Incorporating Dual Use Opening For an Angularly Positionable Connector or a Plurality of Non-Angularly Positionable Connectors), and Design Pat. No. D548,572 (Two-Piece Single Gang Cable Pass Through Plate). 
     There exists a need for a locking mechanism that provides increased stiffness and inter-mating strength to a locked plate or structure. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other problems are overcome, and other advantages are realized, in accordance with the disclosed, alternative embodiments of these teachings. 
     The present invention relates to a locking mechanism for joining sections to enable plates or structures to be separated, then reconnected and securely interlocked. A variety of plate configurations may be utilized with the locking mechanism in applications such as cable pass-through, electrical wiring, piping, tubing and cable management. 
     In one embodiment in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, utilizing the Sectional Plate Locking Mechanism such as a wall plate for electrical wiring, the sectional wall plates include indentations at their ends to form an opening when the plates are mated together. The form of the opening may include any geometry necessary for the passage of oversized connectors or fittings to be passed therethrough prior to the plate being reconnected and mounted. In another embodiment taught by the present invention the locking mechanism may be utilized with sectional plates including an inward extended opening for the passage of cables and the like. 
     An embodiment employing the principles of the present invention comprises a first plate section and second plate section that are mateable for easy separation and attachment. Both first and second plate sections include cantilever tab elements that extend from the ends of each plate section to join the plates. The catilever tab elements of subject invention are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,744 entitled Sectional Plate For Wall Port, issued to this inventor on Sep. 26, 2006. 
     A locking mechanism employing the principles of the present invention includes outwardly extending finger detents adjacent to the cantilever tabs of each plate that slideably engage the bottom surface of an opposing plate section and create resistive forces between the interlocked cantilever tabs. The addition of the finger detents increases the inter-mating strength of the locked plate by providing a resistive moment arm to resist outward forces acting to separate the plate sections. The cantilever tabs further include a locking lip that engages a locking means of an opposing plate section to resist lateral forces acting to separate the plate. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features of the present invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the principles of subject invention depicting a front perspective view of separated plate halves incorporating the locking mechanism of the present invention, each plate half being the mirror image of the other. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the drawing of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a plate half of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a plate half of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the drawing of  FIG. 1  with the separated plate halves mated together. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the drawing of  FIG. 2  with the separated plate halves mated together. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     When reading this section which describes exemplary embodiments, one should keep in mind several points. First, the following exemplary embodiments are what the inventor believes to be the best mode for practicing the invention at the time this patent was filed. Thus, since one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize from the following exemplary embodiments that substantially equivalent structures or substantially equivalent acts may be used to achieve the same results in exactly the same way, or to achieve the same results in a not dissimilar way, the following exemplary embodiments should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of just the embodiments described. 
     Second, aspects of the invention, including elements, acts, functions, and relationships (shown or described) should not be interpreted as being essential unless they are explicitly described and identified as being essential. Third, a function or an act should be interpreted as incorporating all modes of doing that function or act, unless otherwise explicitly stated (e.g., one recognizes that “tacking” may be done by nailing, stapling, gluing, hot gunning, riveting, etc., and so a use of the word tacking invokes stapling, gluing, etc., and all other modes of that word and similar words, such as “attaching”). Fourth, unless explicitly stated otherwise, conjunctive words (such as “or”, “and”, “including”, or “comprising” for example) should be interpreted in the inclusive, not the exclusive, sense. 
     While certain embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, the present invention should not be limited to such illustrations and descriptions. It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied as part of the present invention and are within the scope of the claims. Particularly, the drawings of subject invention illustrate a particular type of plate including an interior angular cutout  50 B. It is understood that the locking mechanism  80  of the present invention can be utilized to join any type of sections, plates or structures. 
     Referring to the drawings ( FIGS. 1-6 ) of the invention in detail,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment employing the principles of the present invention separated into a first plate section  10  and second plate section  20 . These first and second plate sections are constructed for easy separation and engagement with each other. Plate sections  10  and  20 , in this preferred embodiment, are identical in construction but are referred to separately to describe the separation and engagement of the plates. It is understood that any description of plate  10  applies to plate  20  and vice versa. 
     Both first and second plate sections include cantilever tab-like elements  40 B and  40 C that extend from the ends of each plate section to join the plates. Referring to  FIG. 2 , Plate sections  10  and  20  include a bottom surface  25  that may include a sidewall extension  22 . Extension  22  projects outward from bottom surface  25  extending around the periphery of the plate sections  10  and  20  forming a lip thereround. 
     Referring to the drawings ( FIGS. 1-6 ) of the invention in detail,  FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment employing the principles of the present invention separated into a first plate section  10  and second plate section  20 . These first and second plate sections are constructed for easy separation and engagement with each other, and oppose each other. Plate sections  10  and  20 , in this preferred embodiment, are identical in construction but are referred to separately to describe the separation and engagement of the plates. It is understood that any description of plate  10  applies to plate  20  and vice versa. 
     Tab element  40 B includes an extended lip portion  40 B 3  ( FIG. 4 ) that slideably engages protuberance  40 C 4  ( FIG. 2 ,  3 ) of an opposing plate section when the plates are mated together (see  FIGS. 2 ,  6 ). Tab  40 B is stiffly resilient to allow portion  40 B 3  to flex over and rest behind protuberance  40 C 4  when plate sections  10  and  20  are fully engaged. 
     Lip portion  40 B 3  is angled with respect to protuberance  40 C 4  to provide sufficient contact to resist lateral forces acting to separate plate sections  10  and  20 . Locking means  45  other than protuberance  40 C 4  may include a recess or multiple recesses in the bottom surface  25  to engage lip portion  40 B 3 . Alternatively, tab top surface  40 B 2  could include a recess or multiple recesses which would engage one or more protuberance  40 C 4 . Furthermore, base portion  40 C 2  could also include either a recess and/or protuberance that could engage and lock an opposing recess and/or protuberance located within recess  55 A or bottom surface  25  of an opposing plate in a similar manner as described above. 
     Referring to FIGS.  2 , 4  and  6  each plate section  10  and  20  further includes at least one outwardly extending finger detent  50  ridgedly connected at one end to plate sections  10  and  20  bottom surfaces  25  between tab  40 B and  40 C. The other end of detent  50  extends longitudinally outward from end sections  10 A and  20 A and includes a substantially planer support surface  50 A that is substantially coextensive with bottom surface  25 . Support surface  50 A slideably engages an opposing plate bottom surface  25  ( FIG. 2 ) up to a point when the plates  10  and  20  are fully engaged ( FIG. 6 ). 
     The longitudinally extending, substantially planar support surfaces  50 A in combination with cantilever tab-like elements  40 B and  40 C interlocking means provides a structurally ridged mated plate having a resistive moment arm to resist outward and lateral forces acting to separate the plate sections. The detents  50  are stiffly resilient and provide equal and opposite forces to tabs  40 B and  40 C, and respective plate sections  10  and  20 . The equal and opposite forces ensure the plate bottom surfaces remain engaged coplanar to each other. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , Tab  40 B projects outward from end section  20 A at a fixed end  40 D that is affixed to bottom surface  25 . In the preferred embodiment tab  40 B is positioned adjacent to sidewall extension  22  to maximize space in the center of the plate. An area of fixed end  40 D is secured to and rests planar against an area of bottom surface  25 . The area of fixed end  40 D that is secured to bottom surface  25  is determined according to desired resistance requirements to bending or pulling forces. 
     The thickness of fixed end  40 D and tab  40 B is determined to allow for structural integrity, but in the preferred embodiment should not extend beyond sidewall extension bottom surface  22 A. In the disclosed preferred embodiment, referring to  FIG. 2 , sidewall extension bottom surface  22 A is raised above fixed end bottom surface  40 D 1  and tab bottom surface  40 B 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , top surface  28  of plate sections  10  and  20  includes a cutout  55  extending the length/of fixed end  40 D and the width w of tab  40 B. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 ,  4  tab  40 C comprises a stepped shaped member with an outwardly extending end portion  40 C 2  and generally perpendicular base portion  40 C 1 . 
     Tab  40 C extends outward from end section  20 A at a position adjacent to sidewall extension  22  to maximize space in the center of the plate. Tab  40 C is integral to bottom surface  25  such that sidewall extension bottom surface  22 A extends beyond tab bottom surface  40 C 3 . Referring to  FIGS. 1-6 , and for illustrative purposes an angular cutout  50 B provides an opening when the plates are mated together. 
     It is understood that any dimensioned cutout  50 B, or no cutout, or any structure located at the center of the plate may be utilized with the locking mechanism of subject invention. It is further understood that the position of tabs  40 B and  40 C, and the detent  50  may be changed to accommodate various geometric openings for a particular application. Cutout  55  provides an opening above tab top surface  4082  for insertion of base portion  40 C 2  ( FIG. 1 ,  4 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , a recess  55 A extends from the periphery of fixed end  40 D into bottom surface  25 . The recess  55 A is of sufficient dimension to allow for base portion  40 C 2  to slideably engage recess  55 A of bottom surface  25  when plates  10  and  20  are mated together. 
     Referring to FIGS.  3 , 5 , and  6  first plate section  10  and second plate section  20  are brought together such that tabs  40 B and  40 C of each plate section engage the complete plate. End portion  40 C 2  slideably engages recess  55 A of bottom surface  25  up to a point where base portion  40 C 1  is secured into cutout  55 . Tab  40 B inserts below tab  40 C with tab  40 B top surface  40 B 2  slideably engaging tab  40 C bottom surface  40 C 3 . 
     Tab  40 B is stiffly resilient to allow portion  40 B 3  to flex over and rest behind protuberance  40 C 4  when plate sections  10  and  20  are fully engaged. Lip portion  40 B 3  is angled with respect to protuberance  40 C 4  to provide sufficient contact to resist lateral forces acting to separate plate sections  10  and  20 . Support surface  50 A of detent  50  slideably engages an opposing plate bottom surface  25  ( FIG. 2 ) up to a point when the plates  10  and  20  are fully engaged ( FIG. 6 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a top view of a connected plate illustrates base portions  40 C 1  secured into cutouts  55 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , a bottom view of a connected plate illustrates tab  40 B bottom surfaces  40 B 1  and fixed end  40 D placement along bottom surface  25 .  FIG. 4  further illustrates bottom surface  40 C 3  of end portion  40 C 2 , which is secured within recess  55 A, and detents  50  engaging opposing plates  10  and  20 . A Pass through apertures  60 B allow screws to secure the sectional plate to an electrical box when the locking mechanism is embodied in an electrical application. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiment but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments. For example, the size of the plate section openings  50 B, finger detents  50 , Tabs  40 B and  40 C, Tab lip portion  40 B 3 , protuberance  40 C 4 , and plate sections  10  and  20  may be may be altered as to position and dimension and still be within the scope of the present invention.