Patent ID: 7850388

Claim:
A coupling module for coupling with a mating coupling module to facilitate the joining of two disjoined structures, each attached to one of the coupling modules, without requiring precise alignment between the disjoined structures during the coupling of the structures, the coupling module comprising: a hollow cylindrical body configured to be rotated about an axis of the cylindrical body, the hollow cylindrical body having at least one internal spiral channel; a drive mechanism operatively connected to the hollow cylindrical body and configured to cause the hollow cylindrical body to rotate about the axis of the cylindrical body; a substantially circular plate within the hollow cylindrical body, configured to rotate within the hollow cylindrical body, and having at least one detent configured to slidably engage the spiral channel in the hollow cylindrical body during rotation of the substantially circular plate with respect to the hollow cylindrical body such that the substantially circular plate slides longitudinally within the spiral channel while rotating; and a connector claw attached to the substantially circular connector plate and configured to protrude outwardly from the coupling module and to engage a corresponding claw on the mating coupling during rotation of the substantially circular plate when brought in close proximity but not necessarily in precise alignment with the mating coupling module.