Attachment mechanism

Abstract

According to one or more embodiments, an attachment mechanism adapted for attachment of an armor element to a body to be protected by the armor element is disclosed.

1 . An attachment mechanism adapted for attachment of an armor element to a body to be protected by the armor element, the attachment mechanism comprising:
 a first unit;   a second unit adapted to engage with the first unit to provide the attachment;   wherein the first unit comprises a first static member and the second unit comprises a second static member and a working member, one of the first or second static members adapted for fixed attachment to the armor element and the other one of the first or second static members adapted for fixed attachment to the body to be protected;   wherein the second unit is configured for assuming a first, disengaged position, in which the working member is disengaged from the first unit such that the armor element and the body to be protected are detached from one another and a second, engaged position in which the working member is engaged with the first unit such that the armor element and the body to be protected are fixedly attached to one another; and   wherein the working member further comprises a locking member configured for engagement with the first unit to prevent disengagement of the working member from the first unit, thereby retaining the first unit and the second unit fixedly attached to one another at the second, engaged position.   
     
     
         2 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first unit has an affixing portion for attachment thereof to one of the armor element and body to be protected, and a mounting portion for attachment thereto of the second unit, in the engaged position, the locking member being configured for engagement with the mounting portion. 
     
     
         3 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking member is configured for assuming a first, unlocked position, in which it is disengaged from the mounting portion of the first unit, so that the working member is free to disengage from the first unit, and a second, locked position, in which the working member is prevented from disengaging from the first unit, wherein the second unit comprises a biasing arrangement configured for urging the locking member into the second, locked position. 
     
     
         4 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the mounting portion of the first unit has a first engagement section configured for engagement with the working member and a first locking section configured for engagement with the locking member, and the locking member is formed with a second locking section configured to engage the first locking section at least in the locked position. 
     
     
         5 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 4 , wherein the first unit has a longitudinal axis and the first locking section is disposed at a distance from the affixing portion which is greater than that of the first engagement section. 
     
     
         6 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein in the unlocked position, the locking member is configured for assuming a plurality of different orientations with respect to the working member, whilst in the locked position the locking member can assume only a single orientation that is different of any one of the plurality of orientations. 
     
     
         7 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 6 , wherein in the locked position, the single orientation is visually distinguishable from any one of the plurality of different orientations of the unlocked position. 
     
     
         8 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 7 , wherein the working member is formed with a first indication surface and the locking member is formed with a second indication surface, so that in the locked position, the first indication surface and the second indication surface are aligned to create a visual indication that the locking member is in the second locked position. 
     
     
         9 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein the locking member is externally accessible to an operator, allowing him to grasp and manually displace the locking member between the locked position and the unlocked position. 
     
     
         10 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the first unit further comprises a dynamic member configured for being dynamically displaceable with respect to the first static member. 
     
     
         11 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 10 , wherein the first static member is configured for engagement with the locking member, whilst the dynamic member is configured for engagement with the working member of the second unit. 
     
     
         12 . An attachment mechanism adapted for attachment of an armor element to a body to be protected by the armor element, the attachment mechanism comprising:
 a first unit;   a second unit adapted to engage with the first unit to provide the attachment;   wherein the first unit comprises a first static member and a dynamic member, and the second unit comprises a second static member and a working member, one of the first or second static members adapted for fixed attachment to the armor element, and the other one of the first or second static members adapted for fixed attachment to the body to be protected;   wherein the working member is configured for engagement with the dynamic member and assuming a first, disengaged position, in which it is disengaged from the dynamic member such that the armor element and the body to be protected are detached from one another and a second, engaged position in which the working member is engaged with the dynamic member such that the armor element and the body to be protected are fixedly attached to one another; and   wherein the first unit further comprises a biasing arrangement urging the dynamic unit towards the first static member.   
     
     
         13 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein the first static member is associated with an affixing portion of the first unit, configured for attachment thereof to one of the armor element and body to be protected, and the dynamic member can be associated with a mounting portion of the first unit, configured for attachment thereto of the second unit, in the engaged position. 
     
     
         14 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein in the engaged position, the dynamic member is configured for applying a force to at least a portion of the working member of the second unit, urging it towards the affixing portion of the first unit. 
     
     
         15 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein the dynamic member is configured for assuming a first biased position which corresponds to the position of the dynamic member in the second unit's disengaged position, and a second biased position which corresponds to the position of the dynamic member in the second unit's engaged position, and wherein the dynamic member is formed with at least one restriction element and the first static member is formed with a restriction space having a first abutting end, configured for abutting the restriction element of the dynamic member when it reaches its first biased position and a second abutting end configured for abutting the restriction element of the dynamic member when it reaches its second biased position. 
     
     
         16 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 15 , wherein the dynamic member is configured for performing an axial movement with respect to the first static member, so that in the first biased position, it is located at a first axial distance (D  1 ) from the affixing portion, and in the second biased position it is located at a second axial distance (D 2 ) from the affixing portion, greater than the first axial position, D 2 >D 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the dynamic member or the working member is formed with guide paths, and the other one of the dynamic member or the working members is formed with guide projections configured for being received within the guide paths in order to define a trajectory along which the working member is configured to progress during its displacement between the disengaged position and the engaged position. 
     
     
         18 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 17 , wherein owing to the biasing arrangement, the movement of the dynamic member is biased such that the guide projections are constantly urged towards the armor/body to which the first unit is affixed, to thereby, during engagement with the working member, apply a force on the working member so as to urge it, and consequently the entire second unit, towards the first second unit. 
     
     
         19 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 18 , wherein bringing the working member from the disengaged position into the engaged position is performable by displacement of the working member along a trajectory of the guide paths in a single movement. 
     
     
         20 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein both the first unit and the second unit of the attachment mechanism are manufactured from materials having ballistic resistance properties. 
     
     
         21 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 12 , wherein either or both of the first unit and second unit are configured for fixed attached to the armor element and body to be protected by insertion thereof into respective holes/cavities of the armor element and body to be protected. 
     
     
         22 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 21 , wherein the ballistic nature of the materials from which the attachment mechanism is manufactured is such that the holes/cavities do not deteriorate the ballistic resistance of the armor element and the body to be protected. 
     
     
         23 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 22 , wherein the attachment mechanism is manufactured out of a hard material which hardness ranges from about 30 to about 80 Rockwell C. 
     
     
         24 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein either or both of the first unit and second unit are configured for fixed attached to the armor element and body to be protected by insertion thereof into respective holes/cavities of the armor element and the body to be protected. 
     
     
         25 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 24 , wherein the ballistic nature of the materials from which the attachment mechanism is manufactured is such that the holes/cavities do not deteriorate the ballistic resistance of the armor element and the body to be protected. 
     
     
         26 . The attachment mechanism according to  claim 25 , wherein the attachment mechanism is manufactured out of a hard material which hardness ranges from about 30 to about 80 Rockwell C.