Snap-fit device for joining two parts together

Claim 2

A firmly joined assembly which comprises two members to be joined, each member having a face to be placed in contact with the corresponding face of the other member, each member having at least one part carrying a retaining projection, said retaining projections being engaged one with the other under elastic restoration of one of said retaining projections with slight resilient deformation of said one of said parts when said member faces are placed in contact with each other, separation means adapted for disengaging said retaining projections from one another against an elastic restoration force of said one of said parts and means for receiving an actuating force for actuating said separation means.

Claim 3

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separation means is an inflatable joint mounted between said retaining projections and connectable to a pressure source for actuating said separation means.

Claim 4

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separation means is formed by a joint retractable when subjected to a vacuum for actuating said separation means.

Claim 5

The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pneumatic actuator for providing said activating force to said separation means.

Claim 6

The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said separation means is formed by a sealed chamber, of which a part at least of one of said retaining projections forms a wall portion and which is disposed so that a difference between the pressure of the chamber and the external pressure causes separation of said retaining projections from the portion on which it is engaged, and a duct provided passing through at least one of the parts to be joined together and emerging, on the one hand, outside and, on the other, in said chamber and permitting connection thereof to a pneumatic machine.

Claim 7

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sealed chamber is formed by tight contact of the retaining projections against a wall of the other part.

Claim 8

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sealed chamber is formed by the projections of one of the parts and of the retaining projections.

Claim 9

A snap-fit device for joining two parts together by fitting, perpendicularly to their junction surfaces, at least one projection element projecting from the junction surface of one of the parts, after deformation thereof, into a recess in the junction surface of the other part, and engagement of said projection element, by resilient return thereof, on a surface portion of said recess, comprising: separation means inside the device operable for separating said projection element from a portion of the other of said parts on which said engagement projection is engaged, against the resilient return force of said projection; actuating means for actuating said separation means from outside the device, said separation means comprising a sealed chamber, of which a part of said projecting element forms a wall portion and which is disposed so that a difference between the pressure of the chamber and an external pressure causes separation of said projection from the portion on which it is engaged; and a duct passing through at least one of the parts to be joined together, having an end emerging outside said chamber and another end emerging inside said chamber, said duct permitting connection thereof to a pneumatic machine, wherein said sealed chamber is formed by the projections of one of the parts and a resilient membrane connecting ends of said projections together.

Claim 10

A snap-fit device for joining two parts together by fitting, perpendicularly to their junction surfaces, at least one projection element projecting from the junction surface of one of the parts, after deformation thereof, into a recess in the junction surface of the other part, and engagement of said projection element, by resilient return thereof, on a surface portion of said recess, comprising: separation means inside the device operable for separating said projection element from a portion of the other of said parts on which said engagement projection is engaged, against the resilient return force of said projection; actuating means for actuating said separation means from outside the device, said separation means comprising a sealed chamber, of which a part of said projecting element forms a wall portion and which is disposed so that a difference between the pressure of the chamber and an external pressure causes separation of said projection from the portion on which it is engaged; and a duct passing through at least one of the parts to be joined together, having an end emerging outside said chamber and another end emerging inside said chamber, said duct permitting connection thereof to a pneumatic machine, wherein said sealed chamber is formed by the projections of one of the parts and a resilient membrane connecting ends of said projections together.

Claim 11

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sealed chamber is formed by the projections of one of the parts and a wall connecting ends of the projections together and integrally formed therewith.

Claim 12

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said sealed chamber is formed between one projection of one of said parts and the wall of the other part on which said projection is engaged.

Claim 13

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said retaining projections of one of the parts and the sealed chamber form part of a separate element housed in a cavity of said part.

Claim 14

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pneumatic machine includes a pressure source.

Claim 15

The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said pneumatic machine includes a vacuum source.

Claim 17

A snap-fit device for joining panels at adjoining end faces thereof, comprising: a first coupling member located in one of said panels at an end face thereof and including first engagement means projecting from said end face of said one panel in a first direction along a major axis of said first engagement means, said first engagement means resiliently maintaining a rest position and elastically displaceable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction into a displaced position; and a second coupling member in an end surface of the other of said panels and including a recess in the other panel for accepting said first engagement means and including second engagement means for (i) engaging said first engagement means upon insertion of said first engagement means into said recess and elastic restoration of said first engagement means into said rest position thereby securing said first coupling member within said recess and for (ii) disengaging said first engagement means when said first engagement means is in said displaced position thereby permitting withdrawal of said first engagement coupling member from said recess, said first and second engagement means adapted to cause said displacement of said first engagement means permitting insertion of said first engagement means into said second coupling member recess and, by elastic restoration of said first engagement means into said rest position when fully positioned in said recess, said first engagement means engaging said second engagement means locking said first coupling member into said second coupling member; and separation means including a sealed chamber, a wall of which is formed by said projecting element, disposed so that a difference in pressure of the chamber and a pressure external to said chamber causes separation of said projection element from the portion on which it is engaged by elastic deformation of said first engagement means into said displaced position.

Claim 18

A snap-fit device for joining panels at adjoining end faces thereof, comprising: a first coupling member located in one of said panels at an end face thereof and including first engagement means projecting from said end face of said one panel in a first direction along a major axis of said first engagement means, said first engagement means resiliently maintaining a rest position and elastically displaceable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to said first direction into a displaced position; and a second coupling member in an end surface of the other of said panels and including a recess in the other panel for accepting said first engagement means and including second engagement means for (i) engaging said first engagement means upon insertion of said first engagement means into said recess and elastic restoration of said first engagement means into said rest position thereby securing said first coupling member within said recess and for (ii) disengaging said first engagement means when said first engagement means is in said displaced position thereby permitting withdrawal of said first engagement coupling member from said recess, said first and second engagement means adapted to cause said displacement of said first engagement means permitting insertion of said first engagement means into said second coupling member recess and, by elastic restoration of said first engagement means into said rest position when fully positioned in said recess, said first engagement means engaging said second engagement means locking said first coupling member into said second coupling member; and separation means including a sealed chamber, a wall of which is formed by said projecting element, disposed so that a difference in pressure of the chamber and a pressure external to said chamber causes separation of said projection element from the portion on which it is engaged by elastic deformation of said first engagement means into said displaced position.

Claim 19

A snap-fit device for joining two parts together by fitting, perpendicularly to their junction surfaces, at least one projection element projecting from the junction surface of one of the parts, after slight deformation thereof, into a recess in the junction surface of the other part, and engagement of said projection element, by resilient return thereof, on a surface portion of said recess, comprising, inside the device, a means adapted, when it is actuated, for separating said projection element from a portion of the other of said parts on which said engagement projection is engaged, against an elastic restoration force of said projection element, said separation means comprising a sealed chamber, of which a part of said projecting element forms a wall portion and which is disposed so that a difference between the pressure of the chamber and the external pressure causes separation of said projection from the portion on which it is engaged, and a duct provided passing through at least one of the parts to be joined together and emerging, on the one hand, outside and, on the other, in said chamber and permitting connection thereof to a pneumatic machine, wherein said sealed chamber is formed by the projections of one of the parts and a resilient membrane connecting ends of said projections together.

Claim 20

A snap-fit device for joining two parts together by fitting, perpendicularly to their junction surfaces, at least one projection element projecting from the junction surface of one of the parts, after slight deformation thereof, into a recess in the junction surface of the other part, and engagement of said projection element, by resilient return thereof, on a surface portion of said recess, comprising, inside the device, a means adapted, when it is actuated, for separating said projection element from a portion of the other of said parts on which said engagement projection is engaged, against an elastic restoration force of said projection element, said separation means comprising a sealed chamber, of which a part of said projecting element forms a wall portion and which is disposed so that a difference between the pressure of the chamber and the external pressure causes separation of said projection from the portion on which it is engaged, and a duct provided passing through at least one of the parts to be joined together and emerging, on the one hand, outside and, on the other, in said chamber and permitting connection thereof to a pneumatic machine, wherein said sealed chamber is formed by the projections of one of the parts and a resilient membrane connecting ends of said projections together.

Claim 23

A modular wall system including a plurality of connectable wall panels, each wall panel comprising: first and second fastening surfaces on opposite ends of each panel, said first fastening surface including an elongate male coupling member mounted on said first fastening surface and projecting from said first fastening surface substantially perpendicular thereto, said first coupling member having a distal end resiliently maintaining a static locking position and elastically displaceable into an unlocked position along a displacement direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said male coupling member in response to application of a deforming force to said distal end, said male coupling member resiliently self biased under elastic restoration following deformation to return to said locking position upon removal of said deforming force, said coupling member including a barb extending in said displacement direction; said second fastening surface including a female coupling member mounted in a cavity in said second fastening surface for accepting said male coupling member of an adjacent one of said wall panels, said female coupling member including barb positioning means for displacing said male coupling member into said unlocked position when said male coupling member is partially inserted into said female coupling member, barb retaining means for engaging said barb in said female coupling member when said male coupling means is fully inserted in said female coupling means and is in said locking position thereby locking said male coupling in said female coupling for securing together said adjacent ones of said wall panels, and barb disengaging means operable in response to a pressure of an externally applied fluid for positioning said male coupling member into said unlocked position when said male coupling member is inserted into said female coupling member thereby unlocking said male coupling from said female coupling and permitting retraction of said male member from said female coupling for separating said adjacent ones of said wall panels; and fluid coupling means for supplying said fluid to said barb disengaging means.

Claim 24

A modular wall system including a plurality of connectable wall panels, each wall panel comprising: first and second fastening surfaces on opposite ends of each panel, said first fastening surface including an elongate male coupling member mounted on said first fastening surface and projecting from said first fastening surface substantially perpendicular thereto, said first coupling member having a distal end resiliently maintaining a static locking position and elastically displaceable into an unlocked position along a displacement direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said male coupling member in response to application of a deforming force to said distal end, said male coupling member resiliently self biased under elastic restoration following deformation to return to said locking position upon removal of said deforming force, said coupling member including a barb extending in said displacement direction; said second fastening surface including a female coupling member mounted in a cavity in said second fastening surface for accepting said male coupling member of an adjacent one of said wall panels, said female coupling member including barb positioning means for displacing said male coupling member into said unlocked position when said male coupling member is partially inserted into said female coupling member, barb retaining means for engaging said barb in said female coupling member when said male coupling means is fully inserted in said female coupling means and is in said locking position thereby locking said male coupling in said female coupling for securing together said adjacent ones of said wall panels, and barb disengaging means operable in response to a pressure of an externally applied fluid for positioning said male coupling member into said unlocked position when said male coupling member is inserted into said female coupling member thereby unlocking said male coupling from said female coupling and permitting retraction of said male member from said female coupling for separating said adjacent ones of said wall panels; and fluid coupling means for supplying said fluid to said barb disengaging means.

Claim 25

An improved system for positively engaging a first member having an opening with a second member having an extending portion shaped to closely fit into said opening when said second member is moved relative to said first member in a first direction, the improvement comprising: a rigid lip provided to said first member to extend inwardly of said opening; a locking part provided to said second member to extend transversely of a longitudinal direction of said extending portion, said extending portion being formed to elastically deform in response to a first force applied in said first direction to enable locking engagement of said locking part with said lip and to deform in response to a transversely applied second force to move said locking part out of locking engagement with said lip; and means for applying said second force.

Claim 26

An improved system for positively engaging a first member having an opening with a second member having an extending portion shaped to closely fit into said opening when said second member is moved relative to said first member in a first direction, the improvement comprising: a rigid lip provided to said first member to extend inwardly of said opening; a locking part provided to said second member to extend transversely of a longitudinal direction of said extending portion, said extending portion being formed to elastically deform in response to a first force applied in said first direction to enable locking engagement of said locking part with said lip and to deform in response to a transversely applied second force to move said locking part out of locking engagement with said lip; and means for applying said second force.

Claim 27

The system according to claim 20, wherein: said extending portion has a distal end defined in part by a surface inclined to said longitudinal direction.

Claim 28

The system according to claim 20, wherein: said means for applying said second force comprises means for receiving a fluid at a predetermined pressure.

Claim 29

The system according to claim 22, wherein: said fluid receiving means comprises a flexible member contacting both the first and the second members.

Claim 30

The system according to claim 22, wherein: said fluid receiving means comprises a flexible member disposed within said extending portion of said second member.

Claim 31

The system according to claim 21 wherein: said fluid pressure is subatmospheric.

Claim 32

The system according to claim 22 wherein: said fluid pressure is subatmospheric.