Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
Disjointable connecting means for securing together a pair of structural elements each having planar surfaces, said connecting means comprising a locking plate secured to one of said elements and disposed in fixed spaced generally parallel relation to the planar surface thereof, and a locking aperture formed in the other of said elements and extending through the planar surface thereof, said locking aperture having an entry portion configured to receive said locking plate and also having a locking portion in communication with said entry portion, said locking portion being configured to prevent passage therethrough of said locking plate in a direction normal to said planar surfaces when said locking plate is moved into registry with said locking portion of said locking aperture, said locking plate being secured to said one element by a pair of oppositely disposed supporting tabs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
Disjointable connecting means for securing together a pair of structural elements each having planar surfaces, said connecting means comprising a locking plate secured to one of said elements and disposed in fixed spaced generally parallel relation to the planar surface thereof, and a locking aperture formed in the other of said elements and extending through the planar surface thereof, said locking aperture having an entry portion configured to receive said locking plate and also having a locking portion in communication with said entry portion, said locking portion being configured to prevent passage therethrough of said locking plate in a direction normal to said planar surfaces when said locking plate is moved into registry with said locking portion of said locking aperture, said locking plate being secured to said one element by a pair of oppositely disposed supporting tabs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
Connecting means according to claim 1 wherein a debossed area interconnects opposite edges of said entry portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
Connecting means according to claim 1 wherein the locking portion of said locking aperture is configured to engage both edges of both of said tabs when said locking plate is in registry with said locking portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Connecting means according to claim 1 wherein said entry portion of said locking aperture comprises at least in part a debossed area generally parallel to the planar surface of said other element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
Disjointable connecting means for securing together a pair of structural elements each having planar surfaces, said connecting means comprising a locking plate secured to one of said elements and disposed in fixed spaced generally parallel relation to the planar surface thereof, and a locking aperture formed in the other of said elements and extending through the planar surface thereof, said locking aperture having an entry portion configured to receive said locking plate and also having a locking portion in communication with said entry portion, said locking portion being configured to prevent passage therethrough of said locking plate in a direction normal to said planar surfaces when said locking plate is moved into registry with said locking portion of said locking aperture, a first part of said locking portion of said locking aperture which is remote from said entry portion of said locking aperture being slightly narrower than a second part of said locking portion of said locking aperture which is adjacent said entry portion thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
165 words
Disjointable connecting means for securing together a pair of structural elements each having planar surfaces, said connecting means comprising a locking plate secured to one of said elements and disposed in fixed spaced generally parallel relation to the planar surface thereof, and a locking aperture formed in the other of said elements and extending through the planar surface thereof, said locking aperture having an entry portion configured to receive said locking plate and also having a locking portion in communication with said entry portion, said locking portion being configured to prevent passage therethrough of said locking plate in a direction normal to said planar surfaces when said locking plate is moved into registry with said locking portion of said locking aperture, a first part of said locking portion of said locking aperture which is remote from said entry portion of said locking aperture being slightly narrower than a second part of said locking portion of said locking aperture which is adjacent said entry portion thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
Connecting means according to claim 5 wherein said locking plate is secured to said one element by a pair of oppositely disposed supporting tabs and wherein the width of one of said supporting tabs is approximately the same as the width of said first part of said locking portion of said locking aperture and wherein the width of the other of said supporting tabs is approximately the same as the width of said second part of said locking portion of said locking aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
218 words
Disjointable connecting means for securing together a pair of structural elements each having planar surfaces, said connecting means comprising a locking plate secured to one of said elements and disposed in fixed spaced generally parallel relation to the planar surface thereof, and a locking aperture formed in the other of said elements and extending through the planar surface thereof, said locking aperture having an entry portion configured to receive said locking plate and also having a locking portion in communication with said entry portion, said locking portion being configured to prevent passage therethrough of said locking plate in a direction normal to said planar surfaces when said locking plate is moved into registry with said locking portion of said locking aperture, a positioning protrusion formed on the planar surface of one of said elements, positioning receptable means formed on the planar surface of the other of said elements and disposed to receive said positioning protrusion when said locking plate is in registry with said locking portion of said locking aperture, said positioning protrusion and said positioning receptacle means being formed on the planar surfaces of said elements respectively, and receiving means formed in said other element and disposed to receive said positioning protrusion when said locking plate is in registry with said entry portion of said locking aperture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
218 words
Disjointable connecting means for securing together a pair of structural elements each having planar surfaces, said connecting means comprising a locking plate secured to one of said elements and disposed in fixed spaced generally parallel relation to the planar surface thereof, and a locking aperture formed in the other of said elements and extending through the planar surface thereof, said locking aperture having an entry portion configured to receive said locking plate and also having a locking portion in communication with said entry portion, said locking portion being configured to prevent passage therethrough of said locking plate in a direction normal to said planar surfaces when said locking plate is moved into registry with said locking portion of said locking aperture, a positioning protrusion formed on the planar surface of one of said elements, positioning receptable means formed on the planar surface of the other of said elements and disposed to receive said positioning protrusion when said locking plate is in registry with said locking portion of said locking aperture, said positioning protrusion and said positioning receptacle means being formed on the planar surfaces of said elements respectively, and receiving means formed in said other element and disposed to receive said positioning protrusion when said locking plate is in registry with said entry portion of said locking aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
Connecting means according to claim 7 wherein said receiving means comprises a debossed area formed in the planar surface of said other element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
Connecting means according to claim 7 wherein said locking plate is secured to said one element by at least one supporting tab.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
Connecting means according to claim 7 wherein said positioning receptacle means comprises an aperture formed in the other of said elements.