Latch And Receiving Part For A Releasable Connection Means

Abstract

The present invention discloses two key interrelated elements, which work together synergistically namely: a latch and a receiving part of a load-bearing panel. The latch and receiving part together provide a releasable connection means for providing a releasable connection between two load-bearing panels.

1 . A latch suitable for use with a corresponding receiving part of a load-bearing panel,
 the latch having a body comprising an upper plate having a front edge from which extends at least one latch clip, the latch clip having an engagement surface suitable for engagement with a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel, the upper plate having a rear edge from which extends an elongate flange suitable for engagement with a corresponding elongate flange engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel, the latch further comprising a retainer extending into the body from an under side of the upper plate, and at least one upper plate stop extending into the body from the under side of the upper plate;   wherein at least one indent is formed in the under side of the upper plate adjacent to the at least one stop extending into the body;   and wherein the latch comprises two side plates extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper plate and substantially parallel with each other, each side plate having a rod extending substantially perpendicularly from the respective side plate and away from the body, with the rods each being co-axial with one another and with an axis of rotation of the latch, at least one side plate having a side plate stop extending substantially perpendicularly from the respective side plate and into the body approximately in parallel with the said axis but non co-axially thereto.   
     
     
         2 . A latch according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper plate comprises a contiguous portion with substantially uniform width from said front edge to said rear edge. 
     
     
         3 . A latch according to  claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a curved transition portion between the rear edge of the upper plate and the elongate flange. 
     
     
         4 . A latch according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one upper plate stop comprises a portion with a substantially uniform cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . A latch according to  claim 1 , wherein an indent is provided in the under side of the upper plate adjacent to the at least one upper plate stop. 
     
     
         6 . A latch according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one latch clip comprises an “L” shaped portion, having an approximately vertical portion attached to the upper plate and an approximately horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion from the upper plate away from the front edge thereof. 
     
     
         7 . A latch according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the front edge of the upper plate has a rounded surface. 
     
     
         8 . A latch according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more latch clip comprises latch clip slots at each side of the latch clip. 
     
     
         9 . A latch according to  claim 1 , wherein one or both rods comprises a tapered portion at an end furthest away from the body of the latch. 
     
     
         10 . A receiving part of a load-bearing panel comprising a recess, and within the recess comprising a bolt retainer having an approximately vertical wall portion from which extends at least one bolt retainer clip, the bolt retainer further having a curved lower portion extending from a front part of the wall portion and joining to the load-bearing panel, the lower portion being shorter in length than the wall portion so that the recess can accommodate one or more stops of a corresponding latch in use, and the length of the wall portion being shorter in length than the recess to provide wall slots to accommodate side plates of such a corresponding latch in use; the recess further comprising pivot holes sized to accommodate rods of such a corresponding latch in use; the receiving part further comprising at least one latch clip engagement surface suitable for engagement with an engagement surface of a corresponding latch clip in use and an elongate flange engagement surface suitable for engagement with an elongate flange of a corresponding latch in use. 
     
     
         11 . A releasable connection means for providing a releasable connection between two load-bearing panels wherein a part of a load-bearing panel comprises a recess according to  claim 10  and a latch having a body comprising an upper plate having a front edge from which extends at least one latch clip, the latch clip having an engagement surface suitable for engagement with a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel, the upper plate having a rear edge from which extends an elongate flange suitable for engagement with a corresponding elongate flange engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel, the latch further comprising a retainer extending into the body from an under side of the upper plate, and at least one upper plate stop extending into the body from the under side of the upper plate; wherein at least one indent is formed in the under side of the upper plate adjacent to the at least one stop extending into the body; and wherein the latch comprises two side plates extending substantially perpendicularly from the upper plate and substantially parallel with each other, each side plate having a rod extending substantially perpendicularly from the respective side plate and away from the body, with the rods each being co-axial with one another and with an axis of rotation of the latch, at least one side plate having a side plate stop extending substantially perpendicularly from the respective side plate and into the body approximately in parallel with the said axis but non co-axially thereto, the latch adapted to engage with a bolt of another load-bearing panel. 
     
     
         12 . A load-bearing panel comprising a removably attachable bolt device, the removably attachable bolt device having a bolt attached to a bolt support which is in turn attached to a locking member, wherein the locking member is adapted to removably attach to a load-bearing panel. 
     
     
         13 . A removably attachable bolt device according to  claim 12 , therein the locking member comprises tabs extending radially from an approximately cylindrical sleeve, the tabs sized and shaped to fit through corresponding openings of a load-bearing panel. 
     
     
         14 . A load-bearing panel comprising a removably attachable bolt device.