Locking connection system

Abstract

In an example, a mounting apparatus for pivotably securing an item can include a central body defining a raised slot and an aperture on a front face and a locking assembly. The locking assembly can include a pivotable plate insertable within the raised slot of the central body and defining a locking slot and an item receptacle, a locking pin insertable through the aperture of the central body and towards the locking slot of the pivotable plate to limit rotation of the pivotable plate, and a forward biasing member providing a force to bias the locking pin towards the locking slot, wherein the item is coupled to the item receptacle to rotate with the pivotable plate.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mounting apparatus for pivotably securing an item, comprising:
 a central body defining a raised slot and an aperture on a front face; and   a locking assembly comprising:
 a pivotable plate insertable within the raised slot of the central body and defining a locking slot and an item receptacle; 
 a locking pin insertable through the aperture of the central body and towards the locking slot of the pivotable plate to limit rotation of the pivotable plate; and 
 a forward biasing member providing a force to bias the locking pin towards the locking slot, 
   wherein the item is coupled to the item receptacle to rotate with the pivotable plate.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pivotable plate includes a plurality of interior teeth projecting radially inward towards a center of the locking slot. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the locking pin includes a plurality of exterior teeth defined on a tapered surface of the locking pin, and wherein the exterior teeth and the interior teeth angularly interfere to prevent rotation of the locking pin within the locking slot. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the interior teeth are spaced at a greater distance than a width of the exterior teeth to create a clearance around each of the exterior teeth. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking pin includes one or more tapered tabs laterally protruding from the pivotable plate. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 one or more translatable members partially received within the central body and including a protruding tab engageable with the one or more tapered tabs to provide a force opposite to the forward biasing member; and   one or more lateral biasing members providing a lateral force to bias the translatable members away from the locking pin.   
     
     
         7 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein two translatable members are arranged on opposing sides of the locking pin, and wherein two lateral biasing members connect the two translatable members. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the locking pin includes a tapered surface protruding from a front face of the locking pin, and wherein the pivotable plate includes a complementary slanted surface around a rear face of the locking slot. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the forward biasing member is a central spring and provides a spring force sufficient to generate an interference fit between the tapered surface and the complementary slanted surface. 
     
     
         10 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the central body further includes a plurality of elongated side elements defining one or more slots for insertion of a threadable material. 
     
     
         11 . A rotatable mounting system comprising:
 a polygonal protrusion extending laterally from a mount; and   a mounting apparatus comprising:
 a central body defining a raised slot and an aperture on a front face; and 
 a locking assembly comprising:
 a pivotable plate receivable within the raised slot of the central body and defining a locking slot and an item receptacle sized to receive the polygonal protrusion; and 
 a locking pin insertable through the aperture and towards the locking slot to limit rotation of the pivotable plate within the raised slot. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The rotatable mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the pivotable plate further defines a bracket slot interposing the locking slot and item receptacle. 
     
     
         13 . The rotatable mounting system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a locking bracket insertable within bracket slot to generate an interference fit between a rear face of the polygonal protrusion and the pivotable plate.   
     
     
         14 . The rotatable mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the polygonal protrusion and the item receptacle are gear-shaped. 
     
     
         15 . A mounting apparatus for pivotably securing an item, comprising:
 a front plate defining a central aperture and a raised slot;   a rear plate matable to the front plate to define an internal cavity; and   a locking assembly housed at least partially within the internal cavity, the locking assembly comprising:
 a pivotable plate receivable within the raised slot of the front plate and defining a locking slot and an item receptacle; 
 a locking pin insertable through the central aperture and towards the locking slot to prevent rotation of pivotable plate within the raised slot; and 
 a forward biasing member providing a force to bias the locking pin towards the locking slot, 
   wherein the item is coupled to the item receptacle to rotate with the pivotable plate.   
     
     
         16 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the locking pin includes one or more tapered tabs laterally protruding from the pivotable plate within the internal cavity. 
     
     
         17 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 one or more translatable members protruding from the internal cavity and including a protruding tab engageable with the one or more tapered tabs; and   one or more lateral biasing members mated to the one or more translatable members and providing a lateral force to bias the translatable members away from the locking pin.   
     
     
         18 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the translatable members are translatable into the internal cavity upon overcoming the lateral force, and wherein translation of the translatable members counteracts the forward biasing member. 
     
     
         19 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the forward biasing member is a compression spring, and wherein compression of the compression spring disengages the locking pin from the locking slot to enable rotation of the pivotable plate. 
     
     
         20 . The mounting apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a locking bracket receivable within a bracket slot of the pivotable plate and insertable to generate an interference fit between the item and the pivotable plate.