Latch And Receiving Part For A Releasable Connection Means

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to releasable connection means for load-bearing panels.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Load bearing panels are used for a wide variety of purposes, most relevantly to the provision of a temporary surface such as a roadway or flooring for a concert or the like.

A key challenge is to provide robust load-bearing panels which can be relatively quickly connected together to form a matrix of panels to cover a large area, which stay connected together under significant loading and load-movement across and between the panels until it is desired to disconnect them from one another-and ideally this should be possible relatively quickly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, 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. The latch will be described first, followed by the receiving part, followed by a combination thereof. The skilled reader will appreciate that the latch and receiving part can be provided separately and are designed to work together.

The present invention also discloses a panel comprising at least one receiving part; a panel comprising at least one receiving part and at least one latch; and also a panel comprising at least one receiving part, at least one bolt for connection to another panel, and optionally at least one latch.

The present invention provides 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.

The skilled reader will appreciate that terms such as “upper”, “under”, “away”, “into”, “front”, “rear” and the like are used to describe the relative orientation of elements to one another and are not limited to their absolute orientation. The skilled reader will appreciate that in use the absolute orientation of some of the elements may vary without affecting the functionality of the invention as described.

The upper plate may comprise a contiguous portion with substantially uniform width from said front edge to said rear edge. The upper plate may comprise a substantially rectangular portion.

The latch may comprise a curved transition portion between the rear edge of the upper plate and the elongate flange.

One or more upper plate stop may comprise a portion with a substantially uniform cross-section. One or more upper plate stop may comprise a quadrilateral cross-section. One or more upper plate stop may comprise a trapezoidal cross-section. One or more upper plate stop may comprise a stop surface facing towards the front edge of the upper plate and which is approximately perpendicular to the under side of the upper plate.

An indent may be provided in the under side of the upper plate adjacent to one or more upper plate stop. An indent can accommodate a bolt retainer clip of a corresponding receiving part. The retainer may comprise a portion with a substantially uniform cross-section. The retainer may comprise a sloped portion having a retaining surface facing towards the front edge of the upper plate which is angled at approximately 45°to the under side of the upper plate. The retainer may further comprise a cap portion in a region of the retainer furthest away from the under side of the upper plate having a surface facing towards the front edge of the upper plate and which is approximately perpendicular to the under side of the upper plate. The retainer may further comprise a base portion in a region of the retainer adjacent to the under side of the upper plate having a surface facing towards the front edge of the upper plate and which is approximately perpendicular to the under side of the upper plate.

Another way of describing a possible shape of the retainer could be that it has an irregular trapezoidal cross-section combined with a base portion of rectangular cross-section.

Optionally the retainer may further comprise a sloped portion having a surface facing away from the front edge of the upper plate which is angled away from the vertical-in the orientation of the description.

One or more side plate stop may have a cross-section of approximately oval shape; said cross-section may be approximately flat upper and lower surfaces and rounded side surfaces.

One or more latch clip may comprise 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. This can provide a form which requires a force to push the engagement surface into position against a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel; once the latch clip is in that position, due to the shape of the latch clip it is much harder to dislodge the latch clip away from that position.

As described above, each latch clip has an engagement surface suitable for engagement with a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel. The engagement surface may be substantially parallel to the upper plate and vertically offset therefrom. Preferably the engagement surface faces upwards, the in orientation of the description. Preferably the engagement surface is below an upper side of the upper plate, in the orientation of the description.

At least some of the front edge of the upper plate may have a rounded surface. One or more latch clip may have a rounded surface corresponding to that of the front edge of the upper plate, so that that part of the front edge is relatively uniform in surface shape.

One or more latch clip may comprise latch clip slots at each side of the latch clip. The latch clip slots can provide a degree of flexibility for the latch clip to move—for example when engaging and disengaging with a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel in use. As described above, the clip can have a form which requires a force to push the engagement surface into position against a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel; the latch clip slots provide a degree of flexibility to allow the latch clip to move slightly independently from the upper plate to move to an engaged position.

An approximately vertical portion of one or more latch clip may have a region near the front edge of the upper plate and facing inwards to the latch having a surface which is at an angle to the vertical. This surface can provide for additional engagement with a bolt in use.

The latch may have two latch clips arranged spaced apart along the front edge of the upper plate, with a central portion of the front edge of the upper plate between the two latch clips. If the latch clips have corresponding latch slots then the central section can also benefit from a degree of flexibility as described.

One or more rod may comprise a portion of substantially circular cross-section. This provides for ease of rotation within a corresponding pivot hole of a corresponding receiving part of a panel in use.

One or more rod may comprise a tapered portion at an end furthest away from the body of the latch. A tapered portion provides for improved insertion into a corresponding pivot hole of a corresponding receiving part of a panel in use. The tapered portion may comprise a partial bevel, or cutaway portion. A partial bevel or cutaway arrangement provides for improved insertion but it is nonetheless difficult to remove the latch from a receiving part once inserted.

One or more side plate may comprise a rod slot formed within it. A rod slot can provide a degree of flexibility for improved insertion of the rod into a corresponding pivot hole of a corresponding receiving part of a panel in use. A rod slot may be “C” shaped around the rod. Thus, the rod is joined to the side plate only in one place.

The features of the latch as described are synergistic with one another, so that a good balance between strength, flexibility and light weight can be achieved.

The present invention also provides 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.

The recess may have a front, rear, sides and a base-using the same orientation language as above—and be open at its top. The recess may have an approximately rectangular cross-section, being longer from side-to-side than front-to-rear.

The receiving part may have an upper surface aligned with an upper surface of the load-bearing panel of which it is part. Thus the overall load-bearing panel would have a flush or substantially continuous upper surface.

One or more latch clip engagement surface may be located at that front of the recess towards the upper surface of the receiving part. One or more latch clip engagement surface may be formed as an upper edge of an opening in the front of the recess. In use, a latch clip may enter such an opening during a rotation of the latch, and when the engagement surface of the latch clip is under the latch clip engagement surface of the receiving part an engagement is formed therebetween.

The pivot holes may be located on either side of the recess at a depth below the upper surface of the receiving part selected so that the upper plate of a corresponding latch is aligned with the upper surface of the receiving part. The recess may further comprise at least on insertion channel above a corresponding pivot hole, to aid insertion of a corresponding latch in use.

One or more bolt retainer clip may have an approximately trapezoidal cross section. One or more bolt retainer clip may have a bolt retainer clip surface which faces partially towards the front of the recess and partially downwards towards the base of the recess. This bolt retainer clip surface provides a surface for engagement of a bolt in use. A further surface of the bolt retainer clip may face partially towards the front of the recess and partially upwards. This further surface provides for engagement with a bolt of another load-bearing panel during insertion thereof into the recess. This further surface also provides clearance for the under side of the upper plate of a corresponding latch in use. The further surface can align with an indent in the said under side of the upper plate, if present.

One or more bolt retainer clip may be located towards an end of the wall portion. The receiving part may comprise two bolt retainer clips, one located toward each end of the wall portion.

The receiving part may further comprise an opening channel between the front of the recess and an edge of the receiving part. An opening channel can accommodate a bolt support of another load-bearing panel. Said opening channel may be sized to be slightly longer than such a bolt support.

One or more latch clip engagement surface may be located adjacent the opening channel.

The receiving part may form a trapezoidal element extending from a main body of a load bearing panel.

The features of the receiving part as described are synergistic with one another, so that a good balance between strength, flexibility and light weight can be achieved. The dimensions of the latch and corresponding features can vary according to the load for which the panels are designed to be used. In practice the arrangements as described have been found to be most effective with a latch at least 60 mm in length, i.e. with at least approximately 60 mm between the side plates.

In use, the said latch may be located within the recess of the said receiving part with the rods of the latch located within the pivot holes of the receiving part. The latch can rotate within the recess of the receiving part, around the said axis of rotation of the latch.

The latch can be rotated to be in a closed position, in which the upper plate is aligned with the upper surface of the receiving part, and with the at least one latch clip in engagement with a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of the receiving part. With the latch clip in engagement with the latch clip engagement surface, the latch cannot easily be rotated out of the closed position. Also when in the closed position, the elongate flange is in engagement with the corresponding elongate flange engagement surface of the receiving part; furthermore, the side plate stops of the latch abut one side of the wall portion of the bolt retainer and the at least one upper plate stop abuts the other side of the wall portion of the bolt retainer. This arrangement prevents the latch from further rotation. Thus in the closed position a considerable rotational force would be needed to rotate the latch out of the closed position.

If the latch is in a closed position, the latch can retain a bolt of another load-bearing panel to form a connection between two load-bearing panels. The latch cannot easily be displaced by a force applied to the bolt from its closed position; thus the bolt cannot easily be removed, providing a strong and stable connection between load-bearing panels.

In an open position, the upper plate of the latch is positioned away from alignment with the upper surface of the receiving part, i.e. somewhere between the horizontal and the vertical in the orientation described. The upper plate of the latch is prevented from rotating “backwards”in the recess by back of the recess.

If the latch is in such an open position, the latch may release a bolt of another load-beaning panel for withdrawal from the recess of the receiving part so that panels are not connected to one another—or accept such a bolt into the said recess. Thus an array of panels can be assembled by connection therebetween and disassembled when needed.

The present invention also provides 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 as described and a latch as described, adapted to engage with a bolt of another load-bearing panel.

The latch and the recess are preferably sized relative to one another so that the latch fits within the recess with only minimal “play”. For example, the distance between the side plates of the latch may be slightly less than the side-to-side length of the recess.

A central portion of the front edge of the upper plate of the latch may be approximately the same length as an opening channel of the receiving portion. A central portion of the front edge of the upper plate of the latch may be slightly longer than an opening channel of the receiving portion.

The features of the latch and receiving part as described are synergistic with one another, so that a good balance between strength, flexibility and light weight can be achieved.

In use, to form a connection between a bolt of a load-bearing panel and a releasable connection means, the said bolt can be inserted approximately vertically downwards into the recess while the latch is in the said open position.

During such an action of insertion, the bolt would be inserted in an approximately downward motion into the recess of the receiving part; the bolt would engage with one or more bolt retainer clip of the receiving part, the force of insertion causing a slight deformation of the bolt retainer clip to allow the bolt to descend into the recess. Once the bolt is past the bolt retainer clip, the bolt retainer clip can return to its previous state—with the bolt retainer clip surface holding the bolt in place within the recess. As the bolt descends it also engages with the side plate stops of the latch, pushing the side plate stops initially downwards into the recess, causing the latch to rotate-with the rotational movement moving the upper plate of the latch towards the horizontal. As the bolt is inserted fully into the recess, the latch is rotated so that the latch clip or clips engage with the corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part. A user may also press the latch into position at this stage, to assist. The latch is now in the closed position. When the latch clip is in engagement with the receiving part in this way, it is difficult to dislodge the latch out of its closed position—an upward force on the bolt must be quite large to force the latch to move out of its closed position. The engagement between the respective engagement surfaces of the latch clip or clips and the corresponding latch clip engagement surface or surfaces of the receiving part contributes to the difficulty in forcing the latch to move out of its closed position.

If disassembly of the panels is required, as mentioned above, a straightforward vertical upward movement of the bolt would need a large force to dislodge the latch from a closed position into an open position for removal of the bolt. However, a much smaller force is needed to rotate the latch from a closed position if a force is applied having a horizontal and vertical aspect on a central portion of the front edge of the upper plate of the latch. Such a force can sufficiently release one or more latch clip from engagement with a latch clip engagement surface of the receiving part to allow for the latch to rotate towards an open position. Such a force may be provided, for example, by a movement of a bolt support of another load-bearing panel pushing against said central portion—which could be facilitated by a rotational motion of such a bolt support, with the bolt acting as a pivot.

Thus the present invention provides for connection between two load-bearing panels which is straightforward to effect. During use of the panels, in connection with one another, it is difficult to disconnect them. However, when disconnection is needed it is relatively straightforward to do so. Thus a collection of such panels can be put together and taken apart readily when needed, but which can maintain connection therebetween until it is desired to take the panels apart.

As described, a load-bearing panel may have a bolt extending therefrom with which the aspects described above are adapted to engage and disengage with as required. Typically and traditionally such a bolt is formed integrally with a load-bearing panel.

The present disclosure also provides for a load-bearing panel comprising a removably attachable bolt device. A removably attachable bolt device can offer additional potential uses for the load-bearing panels of the type described, for example in different situations. Furthermore, a removably attachable bolt device can be replaced if worn or broken through use.

A removably attachable bolt device may have a bolt attached to a bolt support which is in turn attached to a locking member, wherein the locking member is adapted to attach to a load-bearing panel.

The locking member may comprise locking tabs extending radially from an approximately cylindrical sleeve, the tabs sized and shaped to fit through corresponding openings of a load-bearing panel.

The openings may be formed in one or more support member extending from a surface of the load-bearing panel. Said support member may be a brace extending from an under side of the load-bearing panel.

The locking member may comprise locking tabs extending radially from more than one axial position along the cylindrical sleeve.

A corresponding load-bearing panel portion may have one or more opening sized and shaped to accommodate a sleeve and tabs of a locking member. In use the locking member sleeve can be inserted into a corresponding opening of the load-bearing panel and then rotated so that the locking member cannot be removed from the opening.

There may also be provided an insertable clip sized and shaped to be inserted into a frame formed in a load-bearing panel, the insertable clip having one or more support members adapted to engage with locking tabs of a locking member and prevent rotation of said locking member when in situ. A frame formed in a load-bearing panel may comprise a rectangle formed by support members extending from a surface of the load-bearing panel. The insertable clip may have an approximately semicircular opening of slightly larger diameter than that of said cylindrical sleeve of said locking member. Once the locking member is in place with the bolt in its desired position, the insertable clip can be inserted into said frame and the support members engage with locking tabs of the locking member to prevent rotation of the locking member. Thus, the locking member cannot easily be removed (and thus the bolt cannot easily be displaced) while the insertable clip is in place.

The locking member may comprise an end stop located which is sized to be larger than the or each opening. The end stop prevents the locking member from being inserted into the opening(s) further than appropriate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary latch;

FIG. 2 shows the same exemplary latch as FIG. 1, in perspective from a rear angle;

FIG. 3 shows the same exemplary latch as FIGS. 1 and 2, in perspective from an angle below the latch;

FIG. 4 shows another exemplary latch, in perspective from an angle below the latch.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an exemplary receiving part;

FIG. 6 shows the same receiving part as FIG. 4, from another perspective;

FIG. 7 shows parts of two load-bearing panels, one of which has a latch in a recess and the other of which has a bolt, with the load-bearing panels separated from one another;

FIG. 8 shows the same parts of load-bearing panels as FIG. 6, with the load-bearing panels connected to one another;

FIG. 9 shows a cutaway view of parts of load-bearing panels connected to one another;

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an exemplary bolt with a bolt support and locking member;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an insertable clip adapted to engage with locking tabs of a locking member; and

FIG. 12 shows a plan view of the insertable clip shown in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

In FIG. 1 an exemplary latch 100 has a body comprising an upper plate 102 which has a front edge 104 from which two latch clips 106 extend, the latch clips 106 each having an “L” shaped portion, having an approximately vertical portion attached to the upper plate 102 and an approximately horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion from the upper plate 102 away from the front edge 104 thereof. The approximately horizontal portion forms an engagement surface 108 suitable for engagement with a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel, the engagement surface 108 being substantially parallel to the upper plate 102 and vertically offset therefrom and facing upwards, the in orientation of the description.

This shape provides a latch clip 106 which requires a force to push an engagement surface 108 thereof into position against a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel; once the latch clip 106 is in that position, due to the shape of the latch clip 106 it is much harder to dislodge the latch clip 106 away from that position.

The latch clips 106 also have a region near the front edge 104 of the upper plate 102 and facing inwards to the latch 100 having a surface which is at an angle to the vertical, although this is not clearly seen in FIG. 1 due to the perspective thereof.

Either side of each latch clip 106 is a latch clip slot 126.

The front edge 104 of the upper plate 102 has a rounded surface and the latch clips 106 have a rounded surface corresponding to that of the front edge 104, so that that part of the front edge 104 is relatively uniform in surface shape.

Two side plates 120 extend from the upper plate 102 and substantially perpendicular thereto, and substantially parallel with one another. Each side plate 120 has a rod 130 extending away from the body substantially perpendicularly from the side plate 120, and a side plate stop 124 extending into the body substantially perpendicularly thereto. The side plate stops 124 each have a cross-section of approximately oval shape with approximately flat upper and lower surfaces and rounded side surfaces.

The rods 130 comprise a tapered portion at an end furthest away from the body of the latch 100, although this is not clearly seen in FIG. 1 due to the perspective thereof. The tapered portion comprises a partial bevel, or cutaway portion.

The side plates 120 each have a “C” shaped rod slot 134 formed within them, so that the respective rod 130 is joined to the side plate 120 only in one place.

From a rear edge 110 of the latch 100 extends an elongate flange 112, the flange 112 having a elongate flange engagement surface 132. The latch 100 also has a retainer 134 extending from an under side of the upper plate 102 approximately halfway along. The retainer 134 has a sloped portion having a retaining surface facing towards the front edge 104 of the upper plate 102 which is angled at approximately 45°to the under side of the upper plate 102, and in a region of the retainer 134 furthest away from the under side of the upper plate 102, a surface facing towards the front edge 104 of the upper plate 102 which is approximately perpendicular to the under side of the upper plate 102. The retainer 134 also has a region of the retainer 134 adjacent to the under side of the upper plate 102 having a surface facing towards the front edge 104 of the upper plate 102 and which is approximately perpendicular to the under side of the upper plate 102, although this is not clearly seen in FIG. 1 due to the perspective thereof.

In FIG. 2, some of the previously described features of the latch 100 can be seen and will not be further described in detail here. However in FIG. 2 further features can be seen more clearly, especially the rear edge 110 from which extends an elongate flange 112, the flange 112 having a elongate flange engagement surface 132. The rear edge 110 has a curved portion to transition between a contiguous portion of the upper plate 102 which has a substantially uniform width from said front edge to said rear edge-which can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, the tapered portion of the rods 130 can be seen.

In FIG. 3, some of the previously described features of the latch 100 can be seen and will not be further described in detail here. However in FIG. 3 further features can be seen more clearly, especially the retainer 134 and upper plate stops 116 extending from an under side of the body and located towards each respective side plate 120 and towards the rear of the latch 100. The upper plate stops 116 have an approximately trapezoidal cross-section with a stop surface facing towards the front edge of the upper plate and which is approximately perpendicular to the under side of the upper plate. Between the upper plate stops 116 and the front edge of the upper plate there are indents 140 formed in the under side of the upper plate.

This shape provides a latch clip 106 which requires a force to push an engagement surface 108 thereof into position against a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel; once the latch clip 106 is in that position, due to the shape of the latch clip 106 it is much harder to dislodge the latch clip 106 away from that position.

In FIG. 4, the general configuration of the latch 100 is similar to that of the previously-described exemplary embodiment. In FIG. 4 the latch clip 106 can be seen from a different angle which should aid understanding of its shape. As in the exemplary embodiment described above, the latch clips (only one of which is visible in FIG. 4) have an “L” shaped portion, having an approximately vertical portion attached to the upper plate 102 and an approximately horizontal portion extending from the vertical portion from the upper plate 102 away from the front edge 104 thereof. The approximately horizontal portion forms an engagement surface 108 suitable for engagement with a corresponding latch clip engagement surface of a corresponding receiving part of a panel, the engagement surface 108 being substantially parallel to the upper plate 102 and vertically offset therefrom and facing downwards, the in orientation of FIG. 4 (which would be upwards in use and as described above). FIG. 4 also shows a partial bevel 136 formed at the end of rod 130.

Turning to FIG. 5, an exemplary receiving part 200 of a load-bearing panel has an upper surface S which in use is aligned with an upper surface of the load-bearing panel of which it is part. The receiving part 200 has a recess 210, which has a front, rear, sides and a base-using the same orientation language as set out previously—and is open at its top. The recess 210 has an approximately rectangular cross-section, being longer from side-to-side than front-to-rear.

Within the recess 210 is a bolt retainer 220 having an approximately vertical wall portion 222 from which extend two bolt retainer clips 224—one at approximately each end of the bolt retainer 220, the bolt retainer 220 further having a curved lower portion 226 extending from a front part of the wall portion 222 and joining to the load-bearing panel, the lower portion 226 being shorter in length (across the width of the receiving part 200 in the sense shown in FIG. 4) than the wall portion 222 so that the recess 210 can accommodate one or more stops of a corresponding latch in use (not shown in this Figure), and the length of the wall portion 222 being shorter in length than the recess 210 to provide wall slots 228 to accommodate side plates of such a corresponding latch in use (again, not shown here); the recess 210 further comprising pivot holes 230 sized to accommodate rods of such a corresponding latch in use (again, not shown here) and located on either side of the recess 210 at a depth below the upper surface S of the receiving part 200 selected so that the upper plate of a corresponding latch (not shown) is aligned with the upper surface of the receiving part 200 when in use. Above each pivot hole 230 is an insertion channel 232, to aid insertion of a corresponding latch (not shown) in use.

The bolt retainer clips 224 have an approximately trapezoidal cross section and a bolt retainer clip surface 225 which faces partially towards the front of the recess 210 and partially downwards towards the base of the recess 210. Each bolt retainer clip surface 225 provides a surface for engagement of a bolt in use. A further surface 227 of each bolt retainer clip 224 may face partially towards the front of the recess and partially upwards. This further surface 227 provides for engagement with a bolt of another load-bearing panel during insertion thereof into the recess.

The receiving part 200 also has latch clip engagement surfaces (although not seen in FIG. 5 due to the perspective thereof) suitable for engagement with an engagement surface of a corresponding latch clip in use (again, not shown here) and an elongate flange engagement surface 234 underneath the surface S at the rear of the recess 210, and suitable for engagement with an elongate flange of a corresponding latch in use.

FIG. 6 shows the same receiving part 200 from a different perspective than in FIG. 5, with many of the same features labelled and some of the features less visible due to the perspective; in FIG. 6 the latch clip engagement surfaces 240 are shown in addition.

FIG. 7 shows parts of two load-bearing panels, one of which 200 has a latch 100 in a recess and the other of which 300 has a bolt 310, with the load-bearing panels 200, 300 separated from one another. Certain other parts of the panel 200 and latch 100 are also shown and labelled as described above. The panel 300 has a bolt 310 arranged approximately horizontally in the orientation as shown. The bolt 310 is attached to a bolt support 312 which is in turn attached to the panel 300.

FIG. 8 shows the same parts of load-bearing panels 200, 300 as FIG. 6, with the load-bearing panels connected to one another, with the latch 100 in a closed position so that the upper plate 102 is approximately horizontal.

In FIG. 9, a cutaway view is shown with the latch 100 in the open position with the upper plate 102 close to the vertical. Other features labelled in this example are labelled as in the previously-described examples.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of an exemplary bolt 310 with a bolt support 312 and locking member 314. The locking member 314 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 316 from which extend radially two locking tabs 318. The locking tabs 318 extend from the sleeve 316 at different points axially along it. The bolt 310 also has an end stop 320 located between the bolt support 312 and the cylindrical sleeve 316.

In FIGS. 11 and 12 an insertable clip 400 is shown, which is sized and shaped to be inserted into a frame formed in a load-bearing pane. The insertable clip 400 has support members 402 which are adapted to engage with locking tabs of a locking member and prevent rotation of said locking member when in situ. The insertable clip 400 has approximately semicircular openings 404 on both sides of the clip 400. The openings 404 are of slightly larger diameter than that of said cylindrical sleeve of said locking member.