Lever lock for display structures

Abstract

A lever lock is used for attaching first and second support elements in a display structure. The lever lock includes a body that attaches to a side of the first support element. A shaft extends from the body and is oriented to pass through the slot. A foot is disposed at an end of the shaft that is remote from the body and is configured to operatively engage a side of the second support element so as to provide a clamping force on the second support element against the first support element. A lever is coupled to the body and configured to rotate between first and second positions. A linkage connecting the lever with the shaft converts the rotation of the lever into a movement of the shaft through a translation and axial rotation so as to move the foot between engaging and disengaging positions.

1 . A lever lock for attaching first and second support elements in a display structure, the first support element including a first side having a slot disposed therein and the second support element including a second side having another slot disposed therein, the lever lock comprising:
 a body including an attachment for securing the body to the first side of the first support element;   a shaft extending from the body and oriented with respect to the attachment of the body to pass through the slot of the first support element;   a foot disposed at an end of the shaft that is remote from the body, the foot being configured to operatively engage the second side of the second support element so as to provide a clamping force on the second support element against the first support element;   a lever coupled to the body and configured to rotate between first and second positions; and   a linkage connecting the lever with the shaft, the linkage being operable to convert the rotation of the lever between the first and second positions to a movement of the shaft through a translation along an axis of the shaft and a rotation about the axis of the shaft so as to move the foot between engaging and disengaging positions.   
     
     
         2 . The lever lock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment for securing the body to the first side of the first support element includes:
 a base configured to abut an outside surface of the first side of the first support element, and   first and second arms disposed below the base on opposite sides of the shaft and extending in opposite directions, the first and second arms being offset such that a twisting of the body when the base abuts the outside surface of the first side of the support element moves the first and second arms into an attachment position under opposing flanges on opposite sides of the slot of the first support element.   
     
     
         3 . The lever lock recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible tongue attached to the body and operable to be removably inserted into the slot in the first support element and prevent rotation of the body with respect to the first support element when the body is attached to the first support element. 
     
     
         4 . The lever lock recited in  claim 3 , wherein the body includes a first material and the flexible tongue includes a second material that is more ductile than the first material. 
     
     
         5 . The lever lock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a constraint disposed on at least one of the body and the shaft, and a helical guide disposed on the other of the body and the shaft, the helical guide being configured to cooperate with the constraint so as to guide the shaft through the axial rotation as the shaft is moved along the axial direction. 
     
     
         6 . The lever lock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a scotch yoke operable to convert the rotation of the lever into an axial translation. 
     
     
         7 . The lever lock recited in  claim 6 , wherein the scotch yoke includes:
 a sliding yoke slidably disposed within the body, the sliding yoke including a pin slot extending in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the shaft; and   a pin connected to lever and extending parallel to an axis of rotation of the lever so as to move about an arc with the rotation of the lever, the pin being disposed in the pin slot of the sliding yoke and operable to move the sliding yoke through the translation as the pin moves about the arc.   
     
     
         8 . The lever lock recited in  claim 7 , wherein the sliding yoke includes a holding element that rotatably holds a head of the shaft so as to transfer the translation of the sliding yoke to the shaft while allowing rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The lever lock recited in  claim 8 , wherein the linkage further includes a constraint disposed on at least one of the body and the shaft and a helical guide disposed on the other of the body and the shaft, the helical guide being configured to cooperate with the constraint so as to rotate the shaft as the shaft moves through the translation imposed by the sliding yoke. 
     
     
         10 . The lever lock recited in  claim 1 , wherein the foot of the shaft includes a T-shaped head with a pair of abutments that extend to a width that is greater than a width of the slot of the second side of the second support element, and the T-head having a width that is shorter than the width of the slot of the second side of the support element. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly comprising:
 a first support element including a first surface having a first slot disposed therein;   a second support element including a second surface having a second slot disposed therein; and   a lever lock attaching the first and second support elements, the lever lock including a body with an attachment secured to the first side of the first support element about the first slot, a shaft extending from the body through the first slot of the first support element, a foot disposed at an end of the shaft that engages the second slot of the second support element and provides a clamping force on the second support element against the first support element, and a lever coupled to the body and configured to release the attachment of the second support element to the first support element by rotating the shaft and moving the foot of the shaft away from the second slot of the second support element upon movement of the lever to an open position.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly recited in  claim 11 , wherein the attachment securing the body to the first surface of the first support element includes a base abutting the first surface, and first and second arms disposed below the base on opposite sides of the shaft and extending in opposite directions, the first and second arms being positioned at an offset distance under opposing flanges on opposite sides of the first slot of the first support element. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly recited in  claim 11 , wherein the movement of the shaft caused by the rotation of the lever is provided by a linkage including a constraint disposed on at least one of the body and the shaft, and a helical guide disposed on the other of the body and the shaft, the helical guide being configured to cooperate with the constraint so as to guide the shaft through the rotation as the shaft is moved away from the second slot. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly recited in  claim 13 , wherein the linkage includes a scotch yoke operable to convert the rotation of the lever into a translation. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly recited in  claim 14 , wherein the scotch yoke includes:
 a sliding yoke slidably disposed within the body, the sliding yoke including a pin slot extending in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the shaft; and   a pin connected to lever and extending parallel to an axis of rotation of the lever so as to move about an arc with the rotation of the lever, the pin being disposed in the pin slot of the sliding yoke and operable to move the sliding yoke through the translation as the pin moves about the arc.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly recited in  claim 15 , wherein the sliding yoke includes a holding element that rotatably holds a head of the shaft so as to transfer the translation of the sliding yoke to the shaft while allowing rotation of the shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly recited in  claim 11 , wherein the foot of the shaft includes a T-shaped head with a pair of abutments that extend to a width that is greater than a width of the second slot of the second support element, and the T-head has a width that is shorter than the width of the second slot of the support element. 
     
     
         18 . A method of attaching first and second support elements of a display using a lever lock, the method comprising:
 inserting a shaft of the lever lock through an opening formed by a first slot disposed in a surface of the first support element until a body of the lever lock is in a vicinity of the surface;   connecting the body of the lever lock to the surface of the first support element around the slot using an attachment;   inserting a foot disposed at an end of the shaft that is opposite the body into a second slot disposed in a surface of the second support element;   activating a lever of the lever lock so as to turn and retract the foot in order to move the foot into a position of engagement with a portion of the second support element that surrounds the second slot such that the foot of the lever lock presses the second support element against the first support element and the body of the lever lock presses the second support element against the first support element.   
     
     
         19 . The method recited in  claim 18 , wherein the attachment includes a pair of arms disposed on a base of the body of the lever lock and the connecting of the body to the surface of the first support element includes:
 aligning the arms with the first slot;   inserting the arms through the first slot;   rotating the body so as to position the arms in a friction fit connection with portions of the first support element that surround the slot.   
     
     
         20 . The method recited in  claim 18 , wherein activating the lever includes transforming the rotation of the lever into the retraction and rotation of the foot using a linkage including a scotch yoke that connects the lever to the shaft.