US3732659A — Adjustable locking assembly

Claim 1

Independent Claim 209 words

A wall construction, comprising a pair of panels having a pair of adjacent marginal edges disposed in aligned spaced relationship with respect to each other, a splice joint assembly having a splice element and a spline element each extending into said space between said adjacent marginal edges from opposite ends thereof, said splice element having a base portion and a pair of sidewalls extending forwardly from said base portion and cooperating with said base portion to define a forwardly open channel, at least one of said splice element sidewalls each having a plurality of transversely inwardly projecting ribs which divide said sidewall into a plurality of notches, said spline element having a locking portion, a transversely enlarged forwardly disposed head portion and a connecting body portion, said spline element locking portion having at least two transversely angularly forwardly directed resiliently deflectable fins protruding in cantilevered fashion therefrom, the spacing between said transversely inwardly projecting ribs and the spacing between said transversely angularly forwardly directed resiliently deflectable fins each being established by the Vernier principle, at least one said resilient fin having a free end resiliently deflected and engaged within a notch of said splice element, and said head portion in contact with a forwardly facing surface of said panels.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 209 words

A wall construction, comprising a pair of panels having a pair of adjacent marginal edges disposed in aligned spaced relationship with respect to each other, a splice joint assembly having a splice element and a spline element each extending into said space between said adjacent marginal edges from opposite ends thereof, said splice element having a base portion and a pair of sidewalls extending forwardly from said base portion and cooperating with said base portion to define a forwardly open channel, at least one of said splice element sidewalls each having a plurality of transversely inwardly projecting ribs which divide said sidewall into a plurality of notches, said spline element having a locking portion, a transversely enlarged forwardly disposed head portion and a connecting body portion, said spline element locking portion having at least two transversely angularly forwardly directed resiliently deflectable fins protruding in cantilevered fashion therefrom, the spacing between said transversely inwardly projecting ribs and the spacing between said transversely angularly forwardly directed resiliently deflectable fins each being established by the Vernier principle, at least one said resilient fin having a free end resiliently deflected and engaged within a notch of said splice element, and said head portion in contact with a forwardly facing surface of said panels.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 168 words

The wall construction of claim 1, including both said sidewalls having said inwardly projecting ribs, at least two said resilient fins projecting from each side of locking portion, said splice element being substantially rigid, said splice element sidewalls are substantially parallel and are of substantially uniform thickness except at locations of said ribs, each said notch defining rib of said splice element having a rearward surface which is disposed generally perpendicular to said generally parallel sidewalls and a forward surface which extends from the innermost portion of said rearward surface transversely angularly forwardly, each said notch defining rib is spaced longitudinally within said splice element with respect to adjacent ribs, said spline element body portion being of substantially uniform thickness, the portion of said spline element locking portion from which said resiliently deformable fins protrude being formed as a web-like extension of said body portion, sand the smaller of the two angles between said fins and said web-like portion from which they project being about 35* to 60*.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 72 words

The wall construction of claim 2, including said splice element base being generally v-shaped, the minimum transverse distance between said gEnerally parallel sidewalls of said splice element taken from the transverse innermost portions the two lines of ribs is less than the uncompressed maximum width of said locking portion of said spline element, said splice element is an aluminum extrusion, and said spline element is composed of a resiliently deformable plastic material.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

The wall construction of claim 2, including said splice joint assembly is longitudinally substantially coextensive with said adjacent marginal panel edges, a rearwardly open generally channel shaped panel joining element integrally formed with said splice element and having its base disposed closely adjacent the base of said splice element, and a pair of panel edges secured within said rearwardly open panel joining element.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 189 words

The wall construction of claim 4, including each said panel consisting of a rearward panel section having a rearwardly facing metal skin and an insulating material panel section and a forwardly disposed panel section in face to face adjacency with respect to said insulating material, the spacing between transversely inwardly directed ribs of said sidewalls and between said resilient fin elements of said locking portion is determined by the relationship NS1 (N + 1) S2 where N the number of fins or ribs provided on the spline or splice element which has the lesser number of fins or ribs S1 the distance between the closest two ribs or fins (be they on the same side or opposite sides) of the element having the lesser number with the distance being measured between free ends thereof, and S2 the distance between the closest two ribs or fins (be they on the same side or opposite sides) of the element having the greater number, with the distance being measured between free ends thereof, and said head portion of said spline element in contact with the forward face of each said adjacent panel.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 148 words

The wall construction of claim 4, including each said panel consisting of a rearwardly disposed section having a rearwardly facing skin and an insulating material panel section and a forwardly disposed panel section disposed adjacent the forward surface of said insulating material, the head of said spline element interposed between said forwardly disposed panel section and said insulating material, the body portion of said spline element having an enlarged generally channel shaped forwardly open recess provided with sidewalls having resilient transversely angularly rearwardly directed fin portions, and a second spline element having a head portion, a substantially rigid body portion extending into said forwardly open channel of said spline body portion and having transversely projecting ribs emerging from opposed sides thereof, at least one said rib on each side of said second spline element in resilient fin deflecting engagement with the free end of one said deflected fin.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 49 words

The wall construction of claim 6, including said head portion of said first spline element having a web-like section interposed between said insulating material and said forwardly disposed panel section, and fastener means extending through each said forward panel section and into said head portion of said second spline.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 59 words

The wall construction of claim 7, including a pair of web-like flanges extending transversely outwardly from said generally parallel sidewalls of said first splice element at a position rearward of the forwardmost portion of said splice element and forward of the base thereof, and said flanges disposed rearwardly of said insulating material and in surface to surface engagement therewith.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 180 words

A splice assembly, comprising a splice element having a base portion and a pair of spaced forwardly directed generally parallel sidewalls emerging from said base and cooperating therewith to define a forwardly open channel, said sPlice element composed of a substantially rigid material, at least one said sidewall having an inner surface provided with a plurality of transversely inwardly directed ribs which divide said sidewall into a series of transversely inwardly open notches, a spline element having a body portion, a locking portion at one end thereof and a transversely extending head portion at the other end thereof, said locking portion of said spline element having at least one transversely angularly forwardly extending resiliently deflectable fin element having a free end engaged within a notch of said splice element, whereby relative separation of said splice element and said spline element is resisted by the resilient interengagement between said notches and said fins, and the spacing between said transversely inwardly directed ribs and the spacing between said transversely angularly forwardly extending resiliently deflectable fins each being established by the Vernier principle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 180 words

A splice assembly, comprising a splice element having a base portion and a pair of spaced forwardly directed generally parallel sidewalls emerging from said base and cooperating therewith to define a forwardly open channel, said sPlice element composed of a substantially rigid material, at least one said sidewall having an inner surface provided with a plurality of transversely inwardly directed ribs which divide said sidewall into a series of transversely inwardly open notches, a spline element having a body portion, a locking portion at one end thereof and a transversely extending head portion at the other end thereof, said locking portion of said spline element having at least one transversely angularly forwardly extending resiliently deflectable fin element having a free end engaged within a notch of said splice element, whereby relative separation of said splice element and said spline element is resisted by the resilient interengagement between said notches and said fins, and the spacing between said transversely inwardly directed ribs and the spacing between said transversely angularly forwardly extending resiliently deflectable fins each being established by the Vernier principle.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 207 words

The splice assembly of claim 9, including both said sidewalls have said notch defining ribs, said locking portion having two said fin elements on each side thereof, said uncompressed maximum width of said locking portion of said spline element is greater than the minimum distance between said generally parallel sidewalls of said splice element taken between the transverser inner extremities of the two rows of ribs, said ribs of said generally parallel sidewalls having an angularly forwardly disposed pilot surface which facilitates smooth movement of said fin thereover during insertion of said spline element into said splice element, at least one of said splice element and said spline element having its said ribs or fins disposed on one side thereof positioned in relative staggered relationship with respect to said ribs or fins disposed on the other side thereof, and the other of said splice element and said spline element having its said rib or fins disposed on one side thereof positioned in relative aligned relationship with respect to said ribs or fins disposed on the other side thereof, whereby one said element will have staggered positioning of its said fins or ribs and the other said element will have aligned positioning of its said fins or ribs.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 132 words

The splice assembly of claim 9, including the spacing between transversely inwardly directed ribs of said sidewalls and between said resilient fin elements of said locking portion is determined by the relationship NS1 (N + 1) S2 wherein N the number of fins or ribs providing on the spline or splice element which has the lesser number of fins or ribs S1 the distance between the closest two ribs or fins (be they on the same side or opposite sides) of the element having the lesser number with the distance being measured between free ends thereof, and S2 the distance between the closest two ribs or fins (be they on the same side or opposite sides) of the element having the greater number, with the distance being measured between free ends thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 131 words

The splice assembly of claim 11, including said ribs on each said sidewall disposed in spaced relationship with respect to adjacent ribs on said sidewall, the body portion of said spline element having a web-shaped portion and adjacent said head portion having a forwardly open channel defined by an enlarged base portion and parallel spaced sidewalls, said body portion channel having rearwardly and transversely inwardly directed resiliently deformable fins cantilevered from each said channel defining sidewall, a second spline element composed of a substantially rigid material having a head portion and a body portion provided with transversely outwardly directed ribs, and said body portion of said second spline element disposed at least in part within said body portion channel and said ribs in resilient interlocking Engagement with said resilient channel fins.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 41 words

The splice assembly of claim 12, including a pair of transversely outwardly directed flanges extending from said sidewalls of said first splice element, said splice element composed of aluminum, and said first spline element composed of a resiliently deformable plastic material.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 33 words

The splice assembly of claim 13, including said spline element locking portion having fins which have a length greater than the width of that sector of said spline element from which they emerge.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 166 words

An adjustable locking assembly, comprising a female element having a base portion and a pair of spaced forwardly directed generally parallel sidewalls emerging from said base and cooperating therewith to define a forwardly open channel, a male element having a body portion and a locking portion at one end of said body portion, one of said male element and female element having transversely angularly oriented resiliently deflectable fin elements and the other of said elements having a number of substantially rigid generally transversely oriented ribs defining a plurality of notches, said male element extending into said forwardly open channel, at least one transversely angularly extending resiliently deflectable fin element having a free end engaged within a notch, whereby relative separation of said female element and said male element is resisted by the resilient interengagement between said notches and said fins, and the spacing between said transversely angularly resiliently deflectable fin elements and the spacing between said transversely oriented ribs each being established by the Vernier principle.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 166 words

An adjustable locking assembly, comprising a female element having a base portion and a pair of spaced forwardly directed generally parallel sidewalls emerging from said base and cooperating therewith to define a forwardly open channel, a male element having a body portion and a locking portion at one end of said body portion, one of said male element and female element having transversely angularly oriented resiliently deflectable fin elements and the other of said elements having a number of substantially rigid generally transversely oriented ribs defining a plurality of notches, said male element extending into said forwardly open channel, at least one transversely angularly extending resiliently deflectable fin element having a free end engaged within a notch, whereby relative separation of said female element and said male element is resisted by the resilient interengagement between said notches and said fins, and the spacing between said transversely angularly resiliently deflectable fin elements and the spacing between said transversely oriented ribs each being established by the Vernier principle.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 58 words

The adjustable locking assembly of claim 15 including said resilient fins are disposed on said male element and are directed transversely angularly forwardly, said ribs are disposed on at least one said female element sidewalls and extend transversely inwardly dividing said sidewall into a plurality of notches, and said female element is composed of a substantially rigid material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 212 words

The adjustable locking assembly of claim 15 including both said sidewalls have said notch defining ribs, said locking portion of said male element having two said fin elements on each side thereof, said uncompressed maximum width of said locking portion of said male element is greater than the minimum distance between said generally parallel sidewalls of said female element taken between the transverse inner extremities of the two rows of ribs, said ribs of said generally parallel sidewalls having an angularly forwardly disposed pilot surface which facilitates smooth movement of said fin thereover during insertion of said male element into said female element, at least one of said female element and said male element having its said ribs or fins disposed on one side thereof positioned in relative staggered relationship with respect to said ribs or fins disposed on the other side thereof, and the other of said female element and said male element having its said ribs or fins disposed on one side thereof positioned in relative aligned relationship with respect to said ribs or fins disposed on the other side thereof, whereby one said element will have staggered positioning of its said fins or ribs and the other said element will have aligned positioning of its said fins or ribs.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 133 words

The adjustable locking assembly of claim 16 including the spacing between transversely inwardly directed ribs of said sidewalls and between said resilient fin elements of said locking portion is determined by the relationship NS1 (N + 1) S2 wherein N the number of fins or ribs provided on the male or female element which has the lesser number of fins or ribs S1 the distance between the closest two ribs or fins (be they on the same side or opposite sides) of the element having The lesser number with the distance being measured between free ends thereof, and S2 the distance between the closest two ribs or fins (be they on the same side or opposite sides) of the element having the greater number, with the distance being measured between free ends thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 157 words

The adjustable locking assembly of claim 18 including said ribs on each said sidewall disposed in spaced relationship with respect to adjacent ribs on said sidewall, a transversely enlarged head portion disposed on said male element disposed on the opposite side of said body portion with respect to said locking portion, the body portion of said male element having a web-shaped portion and adjacent said head portion having a forwardly open channel defined by an enlarged base portion and parallel spaced sidewalls, said body portion channel having rearwardly and transversely inwardly directed resiliently deformable fins cantilevered from each said channel defining sidewall, a second male element composed of a substantially rigid material having a head portion and a body portion provided with transversely outwardly directed ribs, and said body portion of said second male element disposed at least in part within said body portion channel and said ribs in resilient interlocking engagement with said resilient channel fins.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1976-05-14	1976-11-13	1977-05-15	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1980-05-14	1980-11-13	1981-05-15	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1984-05-14	1984-11-13	1985-05-15	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Adjustable locking assembly

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