Panel system connector

Abstract

A panel system connector may be used to connect a system of panels to be used as a structure, such as a temporary roadbed, for example. The panel system connector may include a latch movable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The latch may be biased to the locked position. The connector may include multiple portions with a first portion including the latch and a second portion including a receiver configured to receive the latch in the locked position to secure multiple panels together.

1 . A panel apparatus, comprising: 
 a panel, and    a locking mechanism secured to a perimeter boundary of the panel and extending laterally outwardly from the boundary, the locking mechanism including (i) a latch moveable along the boundary lengthwise relative thereto between first and second positions and (ii) a bias member biasing the latch to the first position.    
   
   
       2 . The panel apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a guide supporting the latch for movement relative thereto.  
   
   
       3 . The panel apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the latch further comprises a flange and the bias member is positioned between the flange and a portion of the guide.  
   
   
       4 . The panel apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the bias member comprises an elastomeric sleeve.  
   
   
       5 . The panel apparatus of  claim 4 , the locking mechanism further comprising a retainer configured to be engaged by the latch to maintain the latch in the second position.  
   
   
       6 . The panel apparatus of  claim 1 , the latch further comprising an oblique surface transverse the length of the latch and extending substantially across the latch.  
   
   
       7 . A panel apparatus, comprising: 
 a first panel,    a bracket secured to a perimeter boundary of the first panel, the bracket including an aperture,    a second panel, and    a locking mechanism secured to perimeter boundary of the second panel, the locking assembly including (i) a latch moveable along the perimeter boundary between a locked position and an unlocked position, and (ii) a bias member biasing the latch to the locked position in which the latch is received by the bracket in the aperture to secure the first and second panels to one another.    
   
   
       8 . The panel apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a guide and a retainer and the guide supports the latch for movement relative thereto and the latch is configured to engage with the retainer to maintain the latch in the unlocked position.  
   
   
       9 . The panel apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the latch translates in a first axis between the locked position and the unlocked position and in a second axis between a position engaging the retainer in the unlocked position and a position disengaged from the retainer.  
   
   
       10 . The panel apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the latch further comprises a cam surface engaged by a surface of the bracket to displace the latch longitudinally.  
   
   
       11 . The panel apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the latch further comprises a flange, and the bias member is positioned between the flange and a portion of the guide to act against the flange to move the flange away from the portion of the guide.  
   
   
       12 . The panel apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a base member secured to the panel, the retainer and guide are secured to the base member, the retainer extends laterally from the base member and defines an aperture therethrough which receives the latch in the unlocked position, the guide extends laterally from the base member, the guide comprises a housing that encloses the bias member and a portion of the latch extending therethrough, and the latch defines (i) a notch which is configured to receive a portion of the retainer when the latch is in the unlocked position to engage with the retainer to maintain the latch in the unlocked position, and (ii) a tool receiving aperture configured to receive a tool to displace the latch relative to the guide.  
   
   
       13 . The panel apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first panel, second panel, locking mechanism, and bracket are included in a mat.  
   
   
       14 . A panel connector assembly, comprising: 
 a first portion configured to be secured to a laterally outwardly facing perimeter boundary of a first panel, the first portion including (i) a latch moveable along the boundary lengthwise relative thereto between a locked position and an unlocked position and (ii) a bias member biasing the latch to the locked position, and    a second portion configured to be secured to a perimeter boundary of a second panel, the second portion including a latch receiver configured to receive the latch of the first portion when the latch is in the locked position to secure the first and second portions together.    
   
   
       15 . The panel connector assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the latch translates along a longitudinal axis of the latch between the locked and unlocked positions.  
   
   
       16 . The panel connector assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the latch further comprises a cam surface configured to be engaged by a portion of the latch receiver of the second portion when the first portion is engaged with the second portion to displace the latch longitudinally.  
   
   
       17 . The panel connector assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the cam surface extends substantially across the latch.  
   
   
       18 . The panel connector assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion further comprises a guide and a retainer, wherein the guide supports the latch and the bias member is positioned between a portion of the latch and the guide permitting the latch to cant relative to the guide and the retainer is configured to be engaged by the latch in the unlocked position.  
   
   
       19 . The panel connector assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the bias member comprises an elastomeric sleeve at least partially surrounding a portion of the latch.  
   
   
       20 . The panel connector assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the bias member comprises rubber.