Patent ID: 6908252

Claim:
An integrated joint assembly fastener ( 10 ) for releasably securing two adjoining parts ( 11 - 12 ) together along flat mating surfaces ( 11 ′- 12 ′) thereof, said fastener assembly comprising a housing ( 13 ) having an axially off-center bore ( 15 ) of circular cross-section extending from a top wall ( 30 ) of said housing, an opening ( 23 ) offset from a side wall ( 22 ) of said housing leading to said bore, a rotatable element ( 16 ) having a circular sidewall ( 41 ) for close rotational fit in said bore ( 15 ), means ( 45 ) to maintain said rotatable element in said bore, an offset connecting post ( 42 ) projecting from a lower end ( 43 ) of said rotatable element and disposed adjacent said opening ( 23 ) when said rotatable element is in said bore, stationary wedge means ( 27 - 27 ′) projecting from said sidewall ( 22 ) at a predetermined location adjacent said opening, characterized in that a pair of connecting dowel head sections ( 50 ) project from said opening and have an engageable end ( 52 ) for attachment about said offset connecting post ( 42 ), said dowel head sections ( 50 ) having a gripping head section ( 51 ) at a free end thereof and an inclined abutment formation ( 62 ) for sliding engagement against said wedge means ( 27 - 27 ′) when said dowel head sections are axially displaced by said offset connecting post ( 42 ) when said rotatable element ( 16 ) is rotated in a predetermined direction ( 34 ) to retract said dowel head sections ( 50 ) to cause their inclined abutment formation to be displaced against said wedge means and urging said respective gripping head sections ( 51 ) outwardly to an engaging position; said rotatable element ( 16 ) when rotated in an opposite direction when said gripping head sections are engaged, forcing said gripping head sections to move inwardly to a disengaged position, thereby disconnecting two adjoining parts ( 11 - 12 ), said engageable end ( 52 ) of said connecting dowel head sections ( 50 ) being constituted by a flat ring formation ( 53 ) formed in said flat connecting body portion, said ring having a through bore ( 54 ) for loosely receiving said offset connecting post ( 42 ) therethrough said gripping head section ( 51 ) of each said pair of connecting dowel head sections ( 50 ) being disposed on a respective side of a central longitudinal axis ( 68 ) passing through said wedge means ( 27 - 27 ′) whereby said flat ring formation ( 53 ) of each dowel head section of said pair can be disposed in facial contact on a contact face ( 53 ′) about said offset connecting post ( 42 ).