Patent ID: 8382415

Claim:
A rapid engaging locking screw interface comprising: a threaded fastening member having a male threaded section comprising a threaded body having at least one longitudinal segment devoid of threads and wherein said male threads generally cover one-half of a total surface of said body; a mating threaded fastening member having a female threaded section comprising a hole having female threads formed on a surface defined therein for receiving said screw, said threaded hole further defining at least one longitudinally extending segment devoid of said female threads and wherein said female threads generally cover one-half of a total of said surface; wherein: a first threaded member end surface provided at an end of said threaded fastening member and a second threaded member end surface provided on an end of said mating threaded fastening member, wherein said first threaded member end surface engages with said second threaded member end surface when said threaded fastening member is fully engaged with said mating threaded fastening member; said longitudinal screw segment devoid of male threads and said longitudinal hole segment devoid of female threads are arranged such that said screw body is longitudinally received in said hole without engagement of said male threads with said female threads; multiple ones of said male screw threads and multiple ones of said female threads engage one with said other substantially simultaneously upon rotation of said screw with respect to said mating threaded fastening member; said screw resulting in maximum engagement of said male threads in said female threads via a maximum of one-haft of a rotation; a locking feature comprising a locking ridge disposed at a first location upon said end surface of one of said threaded members; and a mating locking recess formed at a second location within said end surface of said other threaded member; wherein said male thread section is inserted axially into said longitudinally extending segment devoid of said female threads, stopping at a maximum insertion depth then rotated where said locking feature and said locking recess are located to engage with one another to limit said rotation of said thread sections to a maximum of one-half of a rotation respective to one another ensuring the male threads remain engaged with the female threads.