Patent ID: 7080430

Claim:
An interlocking attaching system for removably securing an accessory object to a substrate object, the system comprising: a one piece molded substrate adapter including a generally flat base having a bottom side for affixing to the substrate object and a top side having a plurality of raised regions formed thereon at spaced apart locations disposed along a first main axis, the raised regions having slots formed therein defining a first plurality of passages oriented parallel to the first main axis and aligned with one another along a first passage axis; a one piece molded accessory adapter including a generally flat base having a bottom side for affixing to the accessory object and a top side having a plurality of raised regions formed thereon at spaced-apart locations disposed along a second main axis, the raised regions having slots formed therein defining a second plurality of passages oriented parallel to the second main axis and aligned with one another along a second passage axis, the spacing between the locations of the raised regions of the adapters being dimensioned to position at least one of the raised regions of one of the adapters between at least two of the raised regions of the other adapter when the adapters are placed in operational alignment with their respective top sides together and the with the first and second passage axes aligned with one another; a discrete locking member having a leading end and a trailing end and being removably insertable leading-end-first through the passages on the raised regions of both of the adapters when the adapters are in operational alignment; wherein insertion of the locking member through the passages on the raised regions of both of the adapters when the adapters in operational alignment interlocks the accessory object to the substrate object, and withdrawal of the locking member from the passages releases the accessory object from the substrate object; a first component of a latching mechanism for releasably securing the locking member in a predetermined position of engagement with the accessory adapter disposed on the accessory adapter; a second component of the latching mechanism disposed on the locking member; and wherein the first and second components of the latching mechanism are operably engaged when the locking member is fully inserted into the accessory adapter.