Construction system having a panel and a panel lock

Abstract

A construction system which includes a first construction element which has a first thickness, and a second construction element which has a second thickness, and the first thickness is different from the second thickness, and each construction element defines at least one passageway extending therethrough; a fastener body telescopingly received in the passageway; a locking member cooperating with the fastener body and which, in a first position allows the fastener body to be received in the passageway, and in a second position, substantially impedes the removal of the fastener body from the passageway.

1 . A construction system comprising:
 a fiat construction panel  350  having a first surface  351  and an opposing second surface  352  with a thickness dimension  357  therebetween, the first construction panel  350  defining a fastener body hole  358  therein, the fastener body hole  358  having a diameter  359 , circumferential edge  360 , an axis  362  and defining a radially enlarged locking notch  361  in the circumferential edge:   a second construction element  11   a  having a top surface  15 , and an opposing bottom surface  20  with a thickness dimension  25  therebetween, and the thickness dimension  25  is greater than the thickness dimension  357  of the first construction panel  350 , the second construction element  11   a  defining a second passageway  30   a  formed therein, and which extends therethrough, and which defines a second plurality of orientation grooves  34   a  which are located in spaced relation one relative to another, and wherein the first construction panel  350  and the second construction element  11   a  are juxtaposed, one relative to the other, such that the fastener body hole  358 , and the second passageway  30   a  are substantially coaxially aligned;   a panel lock  300  having a body  301  that has a length dimension  326 , and defines a longitudinally extending axis  327 , the panel lock  300  further has a resiliently deformable first end portion  302  that has a first end length dimension  302   a , a second end portion  303  that has a second end length dimension  303   a , and a middle portion  304  therebetween that has a middle portion length dimension  304   a , the body  301  having an outer circumferential surface  305  and defining a first end exterior diameter  307  at the resiliently deformable first end portion  302 , defining a middle exterior diameter  304   b  at the middle portion  304 , and defining a second end exterior diameter  306  at the second end portion  303 , and the second end exterior diameter  306  is larger than the first end exterior diameter  307  and the middle exterior diameter  304   b  to prevent the body  301  from being wholly teiescopingly received in the second passageway  30   a  of the second construction element  11   a , the body  301  further defining a medial channel  309  that extends between the second end portion  303  and the resiliently deformable first end portion  302  and along the longitudinally extending axis  327 , the medial channel  309  having an inner circumferential surface  313  and having a first end  310  proximate the resiliently deformable first end portion  302 , and a second end  311  proximate to the second end portion  303 , and the second end  311  of the medial channel  309  has a radially reduced interior shoulder  312 , the body  301  further having an exterior radially enlarged flange  314  at the second end portion  303 , the exterior radially enlarged flange  314  has a side wall  317  and the exterior radially enlarged flange  314  prevents the body  301  from passing completely into and through the fastener body hole  358  defined in the first construction panel  350 , the body  301  further having an axially aligned guide tongue  321  that is integral with the outer circumferential surface  305  of the body  301 , and the axially aligned guide tongue  321  is configured to releasably engage with one of the orality of orientation grooves  34   a  defined in the second passageway  30   a  of the second construction element  11   a , the body  301  further defining a pair of diametrically opposed and axially aligned deformations slots  324  that each communicate at first ends thereof with the deformable first end portion  302  of the body  301 , and each of the pair of axially aligned deformations slots  324  define a locking recess  325  at the first end for releasable engagement with a post  96 ,  176  of a locking member  90 ,  170 ; and   a locking member  90 ,  170  releasably and at least partially telescopingly received within the panel lock body  301  and wherein the locking member  90 ,  170  has a main body  91 ,  171  defined by an exterior facing surface  94 ,  174 , and wherein a post  96 ,  176  extends radially outwardly relative to the exterior facing surface  94 ,  174  of the main body  91 ,  171  and therein each of the pair of axially aligned deformations slots  324  defined in the panel lock body  301  each slidably receive the post  96 ,  176  and facilitate substantially linear movement of the locking member  90 ,  170  from a first position wherein a first end portion  92 ,  172  of the locking member  90 ,  170  extends longitudinally coaxially outwardly relative to the panel lock body  301  to a second position wherein the locking member  90 ,  170  is coaxially received completely within the panel lock body  301 , and wherein the exterior facing surface  94 ,  174  of the main body  91 ,  171  of the locking member  90 ,  170  is substantially immediately adjacent to the inner circumferential surface  313  of the panel lock body  301  medial channel  309 , and wherein the locking member  90 ,  170  is axially moved to a second position without rotation, and is thereat at least partially axially rotatable when located in the second position to facilitate axially rotational movement of the post  96 ,  176  into the locking recess  325  and into a locked position, and wherein the first construction panel  350  and the second construction element  11   a  are affixed together when the locking member  90 ,  170  is in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The construction system as claimed in  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a locking protrusion  318  that is integral with the outer circumferential surface  305  and flush with the side wall  317  of the radially enlarged exterior flange  314 , the locking protrusion  318  configured to releasably engage with the locking notch  361  defined in the circumferential edge of the fastener body hole  358  of the first construction panel  350  and to impede rotation of the first construction panel  350  about the panel lock  300  and relative to the second construction element  11   a.    
 
     
     
         3 . The construction system as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein the first construction panel  350  and the second construction element  11   a  are both oriented in a fixed and locked position with respect to one another at predetermined angular positions which are defined by the respective locking notch  361  and the plurality of orientation grooves  34  that receive the axial guide tongue  321 ,  322  of the panel lock body  301 . 
     
     
         4 . The construction system as claimed in  claim 1  and wherein the first construction panel  350  and the second construction element  11   a  are interconnected to one another by the panel lock body  301 , and at least one of the first construction panel  350  and the second construction element  11   a  are movable, one relative to the other, about the axis  327  of the panel lock body  301 . 
     
     
         5 . The construction system as claimed in  claim 1  and further comprising:
 plural axial guide tongues  321 ,  322  that are integral with the outer circumferential surface  305  of the body  301 , and each of the plural axial guide tongues  321 ,  322  are configured to releasably engage with one of the plurality of orientation grooves  34   a  defined in the second passageway  30   a  of the second construction element  11   a.    
 
     
     
         6 . The construction system as claimed in  claim 1  and further comprising:
 an exterior radially enlarged shoulder  323  at the resiliently deformable first end portion  302  of the panel lock  300 . 
 
     
     
         7 . A construction system comprising:
 a second construction element  11   a  having a top surface  15 , and an opposing bottom surface  20  with a thickness dimension  25  therebetween, the second construction element  11   a  defining a second passageway  30   a  formed therein, and which extends therethrough, and which defines a second plurality of orientation grooves  34   a  which are located in spaced relation one relative to another;   a panel lock  300  having a body  301  that has a length dimension  326 , and defines a longitudinally extending axis  327 , the panel lock  300  further has a resiliently deformable first end portion  302  that has a first end length dimension  302   a , a second end portion  303  that has a second end length dimension  303   a , and a middle portion  304  therebetween that has a middle portion length dimension  304   a , the body  301  having an outer circumferential surface  305  and defining a first end exterior diameter  307  at the resiliently deformable first end portion  302 , defining a middle exterior diameter  304   b  at the middle portion  304 , and defining a second end exterior diameter  306  at the second end portion  303 , and the second end exterior diameter  306  is larger than the first end exterior diameter  307  and the middle exterior diameter  304   b  to prevent the body  301  from being wholly telescopingly received in the second passageway  30   a  of the second construction element  11   a , the body  301  further defining a medial channel  309  that extends between the second end portion  303  and the resiliently deformable first end portion  302  and along the longitudinally extending axis  327 , the medial channel  309  having an inner circumferential surface  313  and having a first end  310  proximate the resiliently deformable first end portion  302 , and a second end  311  proximate to the second end portion  303  and the second end  311  of the medial channel  309  has a radially reduced interior shoulder  12 , the body  301  further having an exterior radially enlarged flange  314  at the second end portion  303 , the exterior radially enlarged flange  314  has a side wall  317 , the body  301  further having an axially aligned guide tongue  321  that is integral with the outer circumferential surface  305  of the body  301 , and the axially aligned guide tongue  321  is configured to releasably engage with one of the plurality of orientation grooves  34   a  defined in the second passageway  30   a  of the second construction element  11   a , the body  301  further defining a pair of diametrically opposed and axially aligned deformations slots  324  that each communicate at first ends thereof with the deformable first end portion  302  of the body  301 , and each of the pair of axially aligned deformations slots  324  define a locking recess  325  at the first end for releasable engagement with a post  96   176  of a locking member  90 ,  170 ; and   a locking member  90 ,  170  releasably and at least partially telescopingly received within the panel lock body  301  and wherein the locking member  90 ,  170  has a main body  91 ,  171  defined by an exterior facing surface  94 ,  174 , and wherein a post  96 ,  176  extends radially outwardly relative to the exterior facing surface  94 ,  174  of the main body  91 ,  171  and wherein each of the pair of axially aligned deformations slots  324  defined in the panel lock body  301  each slidably receive the post  96 ,  176  and facilitate substantially linear movement of the locking member  90 ,  170  from a first position wherein a first end portion  92   172  of the locking member  90 ,  170  extends longitudinally coaxially outwardly relative to the panel lock body  301 , to a second position wherein the locking member  90 ,  170  is coaxially received completely within the panel lock body  301 , and wherein the exterior facing surface  94 ,  174  of the main body  91 ,  171  of the locking member  90 ,  170  is substantially immediately adjacent to the inner circumferential surface  313  of the panel lock body  301  medial channel  309 , and wherein the locking member  90 ,  170  is axially moved to a second position without rotation, and is thereat at least partially axially rotatable when located in the second position to facilitate axially rotational movement of the post  96 ,  176  into the locking recess  325  and into a locked position; and wherein   when the locking member  90 ,  170  is in the locked position, the panel lock body  301  is fixedly secured to the second construction element  11   a  and the first end length dimension  302   a  of the panel lock body  301  extends coaxially outwardly from the second passageway  30   a.