Releasable locking hole-engaging mount

Abstract

A mount for engaging a perforated surface includes a locking member and a tine member connected to each other such that they can slide relative to each other. The locking member includes a front surface designed to face the perforated surface when mounted to the perforated surface. The tine member includes a tine that is bent such that it extends substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the locking member at its proximal end and substantially parallel to the front surface of the locking member at its distal end. In use, the distal end of the tine is inserted into a hole of the perforated surface, the locking member is pivoted toward the perforated surface, and the locking member is then slid relative to the tine member so as to prevent extraction of the tine from the hole.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A locking mount for engaging one or more holes in a mounting surface, the mount comprising:
 (a) a locking member comprising a front surface having a top edge and a bottom edge;   (b) a tine member having a first tine comprising a first proximal portion extending substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the locking member and a first distal portion extending substantially parallel to the front surface of the locking member and toward the bottom edge; and   (c) a prismatic joint connecting the locking member to the tine member and configured to allow the tine member to move between the top edge and bottom edge of the locking member.   
     
     
         2 . The locking mount of  claim 1  wherein the prismatic joint is configured to stop movement of the tine member toward the top edge at a top stop position and to stop movement of the tine member toward the bottom edge at a bottom stop position. 
     
     
         3 . The locking mount of  claim 2  wherein the first distal portion of the tine extends beyond the bottom edge of the locking member when the tine member is at the bottom stop position and the first distal portion of the tine does not extend beyond the bottom edge of the locking member when the tine member is at the top stop position. 
     
     
         4 . The locking mount of  claim 2  wherein the first distal portion of the tine extends a first distal-portion length from the first proximal portion of the tine and, when the tine member is at the top stop position, the bottom edge of the locking member extends at least 1.5 times the first distal-portion length past the first proximal portion of the tine. 
     
     
         5 . The locking mount of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the locking member includes two side edges and a slide stop; 
 (b) the prismatic joint includes channels configured to engage the two side edges of the locking member such that the locking member may move within the channels between the top edge and bottom edge of the locking member; and 
 (c) the slide stop is configured to limit the amount that the locking member can move within the channels between the top edge and bottom edge of the locking member. 
 
     
     
         6 . The locking mount of  claim 2  wherein the channels of the prismatic joint are integral to the tine member. 
     
     
         7 . The locking mount of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (a) a guide pin extending from the tine member toward the locking member; and 
 (b) a channel in the locking member extending between the top edge and the bottom edge of the locking member and configured to receive the guide pin of the tine member; 
 (c) wherein the prismatic joint is formed by the engagement of the guide pin and channel.