Releasable Attachments

Abstract

The mechanisms described in this category are designed to permit two different structural components to be quickly coupled or uncoupled—although the two parts are held together firmly as long as the connection is maintained. The most secure of such temporary junctions are those in which one element is pushed into another, by the key-and-lock or plug-and-socket principles. The arrangement of various sliding surfaces can prevent certain displacements of the two parts, so that the resulting degree of freedom of relative motion is strictly limited; the partners can only move with respect to one another along a common longitudinal axis. Various safety catches can provide security against unintentional release of the connection.