DK178327B1

DK178327B1 - Interlocking assembly

Info

Publication number: DK178327B1
Application number: DK201500161A
Authority: DK
Inventors: Hugo Grønlund
Original assignee: Hugo Grønlund
Priority date: 2015-03-17
Filing date: 2015-03-17
Publication date: 2015-12-14
Also published as: WO2016146126A1

Abstract

Disclosed is an interlocking assembly comprising a pair of first and second interlocking members that are adapted to be rotably interlocked together. Each interlocking member comprises a horizontal engaging surface comprising a plurality of elongate, oblique projections extending therefrom, the projections pointed toward one common direction either towards right or left, and an open cavity wherein, each projection extends from a longitudinal edge of the cavity. As the first and second interlocking members are pressed against one another such that, the engaging surfaces face one another and the projections of the first and second interlocking members are disposed in opposing directions, rotating the first interlocking member with respect to the second interlocking member in a locking direction causes the projections of the first and second interlocking members to slide into the cavities of the second and first cavities respectively so as to interlock the first and second interlocking members.

Description

INTERLOCKING ASSEMBLY

BACKGROUND

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly, an interlocking assembly teaching a mechanism for interlocking two sliding flat surfaces such that, sliding in one direction beyond this point is restricted.

Cardboard is a generic term for a heavy-duty paper of various strengths, ranging from a simple arrangement of a single thick sheet of paper to complex configurations featuring multiple corrugated and un-corrugated layers. Assembling or manipulating cardboard to fit the products it carries forms the crux of packaging. While, one of the simplest arrangements or manipulations of the cardboards is a simple commonplace cardboard box, complex assemblies of cardboard are known in the art, which cater to different form factors of products including shapes and sizes. Traditionally, packaging, when seen as a product, is rigid in terms various mechanical mechanisms employed therewith. However, today, with all the technological advancement at one's disposal, the kind of packaging that encompasses various mechanical mechanisms as the products they carry is a welcome addition to the art.

SUMMARY

The present invention comprises an interlocking assembly comprising a pair of first and second circular interlocking members, each of which comprising a planar engaging surface whereon are disposed a plurality of open, rectangular cavities. An elongate, oblique projection extends from a longitudinal edge of each cavity whereby, a bottom portion of the projection, in a way, serves as a roof for the cavity. In order to interlock the first and second interlocking members, the first and second interlocking members, while being pressed against each other, are rotated with respect to one another in a locking direction. As the first and second interlocking members are rotated in the locking direction, the projections slide against the abutting engaging surface and eventually enter into the cavity till the projection is stopped either by the longitudinal extremity of the cavity or the length of the projection itself. At this point, the first and second interlocking members are interlocked.

Other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of an interlocking member.

FIG. 2, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a top view of an interlocking member.

FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is an illustration of a perspective view of a projection.

FIGs. 4 through 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention, are sequential illustrations of the top and bottom interlocking members being interlocked with one another.

FIGURES - REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 - Interlocking Member 12 - Projection 14 - Cavity 16 - Engaging Surface 18-Tip 20 - Upper Surface of the Tip 22 - Locking Groove

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments.

The present invention comprises an interlocking assembly, which basically teaches a novel interlocking mechanism employed for rotably and slidably establishing a surface interlock between a pair of first and second interlocking members. Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, each interlocking member 10 comprises a circular member bound by first and second planar surfaces and a circular circumference wherein, the first planar surface will hereinafter be referred to as engaging surface 16. The first and second interlocking members 10 interlock one another by rotably sliding against one another in a locking direction at which point, the first and second interlocking members 10 abut one another about the engaging surfaces 16 thereof. In order to unlock the interlocked interlocking members 10, the interlocking members are rotated in an opposite unlocking direction.

Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, each interlocking member 10 comprises four rectangular open cavities 14 disposed on the engaging surface 16. Each cavity 14 is paired with another cavity 14 such that, each pair of cavities 14 are opposingly-disposed and the lines centrally joining the pair of cavities 14 are mutually perpendicular. As can be appreciated from the referred drawings, the cavities 14 are located closer to the edge of the engaging surface 16. A rectangular opening flush with the engaging surface 16 permits ingress into and egress out of the cavity. Each rectangular opening is defined by a pair of opposingly-disposed lateral and longitudinal edges. More particularly, the pair of lateral edges comprises a pair of proximal and distal lateral edges. The cavity extends between a wall flush with the distal edge and a dead end extending beyond the proximal edge. The floor of the cavity 14 comprises an elongate ledge (not shown) of uniform semi-circular cross-section wherein, the utility of the ledge will become apparent from the following body of text.

Referring to FIGs. 1 through 3, each interlocking member 10 further comprises four elongate projections 12 extending obliquely from a proximal lateral edge of the opening of a cavity 14. The width of the projection 12 is substantially equivalent to that of the cavity 14 for reasons that will be apparent from the following body of text. The tip 18 of the projection 12, which, when viewed from the side thereof, to an extent resembles an arrow head. More particularly, the tip 18 proceeds from a locking groove 22 of uniform semi-circular cross-section disposed on an underside of the projection 12.

Referring to FIGs. 4 through 6, in order to assemble the first and second interlocking members 10, with the engaging surfaces 16 of the first and second interlocking members 10 facing each other, the first and second interlocking members 10 are pressed against one another or, as can be appreciated from the referred drawings, the first interlocking member 10 is placed atop the second engagement member 10. At this point, the top surface 20 of the projections 12 of the first interlocking member 10 abuts the engaging surface of the second interlocking member 10 and the projections 12 of the second interlocking member 10 abuts the engaging surface of the first interlocking member 10. As the first and second interlocking members 10, while being pressed against each other, are rotated with respect to one another in a locking direction, the top surfaces 20 of the projections 12 slide against the abutting engaging surface and eventually snugly enter into the cavity 14 till the projection 12 is stopped either by the longitudinal extremity of the cavity 14 or the length of the projection 12 itself. At this point, the first and second interlocking members 10 are interlocked as the ledges are received within the locking grooves 22. In order to unlock the interlocked first and second interlocking members 10, either the first or the second interlocking member 10 is rotated in the opposite unlocking direction causing the projections 12 to slide out of the cavities 14 thereby rendering the first and second interlocking members 10 unlocked. Notably, while unlocking, a little resistance is offered owing to the assemblage of the locking grooves 22 and the respective ledges.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A locking mechanism consisting of a pair of interlocking devices (10), referred to as first and second sammenlåsningsenhed, each of which comprises a generally planar engagement surface (16), each engaging surface (16) comprises: a) a plurality of elongated, sloping projection (12) emanating therefrom, the projections (12) pointing in a common direction, either right or left, and b) an open cavity (14) disposed therein, wherein the opening of the cavity is located in the same plane as the surface and all the projections (12) emerge from a distal lateral edge of the opening, wherein rotation of the first sammenlåsningsenhed (10) relative to the other sammenlåsningsenhed (10) in a locking direction when the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) are pressed against each other in such a way that the engagement surfaces (16) are oppositely directed relative to each other, and the projections (12) on the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) are oppositely directed, resulting in that the projections (12) on the first and the second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) slide into the cavities (14) on the second and the first sammenlåsningsenhed (10), such that the first and the second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) interlock, and wherein rotation of the first sammenlåsningsenhed (10) relative to the other sammenlåsningsenhed (10) in the opposite, unlocking direction by the interlocking means that the projections (12) on the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) slides out of the cavities (14) in the second and the first sammenlåsningsenhed (10 ), wherein the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) are released from each other.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the projections (12) are arranged in a circular distribution.

3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cavity (14) extending between a proximal edge of the opening, and a dead end, which extends beyond the distal edge of the opening.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each projection (12) is an integral part of the corresponding sammenlåsningsenhed (10).

5. The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the interlocking device (10) consists of a circular device.

6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the tip of each projection (12) comprises a planar surface which abuts the planar engagement surface (16) on the other sammenlåsningsenhed (10) when the second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) is in contact on aforementioned manner, the planar surface of a sammenlåsningsenhed (10) is parallel to the engagement surface (16), from which the corresponding projection (12) emanates.

7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein each projection (12) consists of a locking groove (22) which engages a ledge disposed within the cavity (14) when the projection (12) is locked within the cavity (14).

8. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the locking groove (22) and the raised edge are parallel to the lateral edge.

9. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the number of projections is four.

10. The mechanism of claim 9, wherein the four projections (12) consist of two pairs of oppositely directed projections (12).

11. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the engagement surfaces (16) of the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) abut against each other by interlocking.

12. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein each cavity (14) is rectangular.

13. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the width of each cavity (14) is substantially equivalent to the projection (12) width, so that in the close-fitting manner can record the corresponding projection (12).

14. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the opening is rekangulær.

15. A locking mechanism consisting of a pair of circular interlocking units, referred to as first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10), each consisting ofa generally planar engagement surface (16), the engagement surfaces (16) are adapted so that they butt against one another by interlocking and wherein each engagement surface (16) comprises: a) a plurality of elongate, oblique projection (12) emanating therefrom, the projections (12) pointing in a common direction, either against høj're or left, and are arranged in a circular distribution, and b) an open cavity (14) disposed therein, wherein the opening of the cavity (14) is located in the same plane as the surface, and all of the projections (12) emanate from a longitudinal edge of the opening, a portion of the projection ( 12) serves as a roof for a portion of the cavity (14), wherein rotation of the first sammenlåsningsenhed (10) relative to the other sammenlåsningsenhed (10) in a locking direction when the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) pressed against each other in such a way that the engagement surfaces (16) are oppositely directed relative to each other, and the projections (12) on the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) are oppositely directed, resulting in that the projections (12) on the first and the second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) in close-fitting manner slide into the cavities (14) on the second and the first sammenlåsningsenhed (10), such that the first and the second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) interlock, and wherein rotation of the first sammenlåsningsenhed (10) relative to the other sammenlåsningsenhed (10) in the opposite, unlocking direction by the interlocking means that the projections (12) on the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) slides out of the cavities (14) of respectively the second and the first sammenlåsningsenhed (10 ), wherein the first and second sammenlåsningsenhed (10) are released from each other.