Material Locking Assembly

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a material locking assembly and, more particularly, to a material locking assembly for securing a plurality of materials.

BACKGROUND

In general, pavers are secured to various structures by concrete or mortar. If the owner of the structure wishes to move or remove the pavers. The owner will need to destroy the paver in order to remove the paver from the unwanted location. The process of destroying the pavers provides a wasteful and costly process for the consumer.

It is desirable to both securely position and reuse pavers. Therefore, there is a need for a paver locking system that is designed to complement a plurality of pavers while easily removing the paver and placing the paver in another desired location.

As the foregoing illustrates, the invention provides the material locking assembly.

SUMMARY

A material locking assembly for paver pedestal system is provided and generally includes a cap portion, a base, and a male locking pin. The cap portion is inserted in a material structural slab. The base is positioned against the cap portion and includes a molded receiver with an edge on an inner surface of the base. The male locking pin is positioned on a top plate of a pedestal assembly and includes a head portion interconnecting with the molded receiver of the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the following, the present invention is described in more detail with references to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the material locking assembly;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top, front, left side perspective of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear, bottom, left side perspective view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a top perspective view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom perspective view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates is a cross sectional view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates another cross sectional view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top, front, left side perspective view;

FIG. 9 is a rear, bottom, left side perspective view of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is another cross sectional view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the material locking assembly within the paver;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is another perspective view of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 an enlarged view of the locking assembly and a male lock pin;

FIG. 19 is a cross sectional view of FIG. 18; and

FIG. 20 is another embodiment of the locking assembly and another male lock pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure includes a material locking assembly 1 according to the invention. In the exemplary embodiment, the material locking assembly 1 includes a locking mechanism assembly 2 and a pedestal assembly 4.

The locking mechanism assembly 2 generally includes a cap portion 10 and a base 20.

As shown, the cap portion 10 is a circular disc. The cap portion 10 includes an outer surface 12 and an inner surface 14. The cap portion 10 further includes an indent 16 in a central region of the cap portion 10. The cap portion 10 further includes a downwards sloping circumference 18.

As shown, the base 20 is a cylindrical member. The base 20 further includes an outer surface 22 and an inner surface 24. The outer surface 22 is positioned against the outer surface 12 of the cap portion 10. The inner surface 24 further includes a molded receiver 26. The molded receiver 26 is keyed to a head portion 50 of the male lock pin 40, 40′ which will be discussed further below. The molded receiver 26 further includes an edge 28 on the full circumference of the inner surface 24. The edge 28 extends outwards towards the outer surface 22.

The locking mechanism assembly 2 may include a height of 0.7500″. The cap portion 10 may include a length of 1.2500″. The indent 16 may include a length of 0.1250″. A thickness of the indent 16 may be Ø0.1250″. A thickness of an edge of the cap portion 10 is Ø1.2500″. The chamfer between the cap portion 10 and the base 20 may be 1/16″. The base 20 may include a height of 0.5000″. The base 20 may include a length of 0.7500″ and a width of 0.6250″. A thickness of the base 20 may be 0.0625″. The inner surface 24 may include a length of 0.5938″. A length between the cap portion 10 to the base portion 20 may be Ø0.7500″. One skilled in the art would understand the applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment.

As shown, the pedestal assembly 4 generally includes a top plate 30. The top plate 30 is substantially round with a circumference 32. The top plate 30 further includes a plurality of male lock pins 40.

In the exemplary embodiment, the male lock pin 40 includes a head portion 50, a body portion 60 and an end portion 70.

The head portion 50 of the male lock pin 40 is a cylindrical member. The head portion 50 further includes a top 52. The top 52 is an ascending circular disk on the head portion 50. The head portion 50 further includes a raised ring portion 54 positioned on a central portion of the top 52. The head portion 50 further includes a passageway 56 extending a length of the head portion 50.

The body portion 60 of the male lock pin 40 is an elongated cylindrical member. The body portion 60 includes an ascending circular base 62. The body portion 60 further includes an edge 64 formed between the head portion 50 and the body portion 60. The edge 64 mirrors the edge 28 of the molded receiver 26. The body portion 60 has a circumference greater than a circumference of the head portion 50.

In another embodiment, the body portion 60′ of the male lock pin 40′ is a cylindrical member providing reduced height to the male lock pin 40′. One skilled in the art would understand the applicant's design is not the exclusive embodiment.

The body portion 60 further shares the passageway 56 of the head portion 50.

The end portion 70 of the male lock pin 40 is a raised circular disc where an ascending portion 72 extends and aligns with the ascending circular base 62. The end portion 70 further has a circumference greater than the circumference of the body portion 60.

As assembled, the male lock pins 40,40′ are generally positioned along a pair of crossing diagonals such that the outline of the plurality of male lock pins 40, 40′ is approximately square, as shown. Additionally, the male lock pins 40, 40′, positioned along a bottommost portion of the lower medial portion, intersect with a planar surface of the top plate 30 and are coplanar with the top plate 30 over the entire planar surface of the top plate 30.

As shown, positioned beneath the top plate 30, along a central columnar section of the top plate 30, is the plate extender 80. The plate extender 80, has a threaded surface 82 extending substantially around the plate extender 80 and along a length of the plate extender 80.

The pedestal assembly 4 further includes a pedestal column 90 positioned along a vertical section of the pedestal assembly 4. Extending around a circumference of the pedestal column 90 are a plurality of reinforcement arms 92. At an end of the pedestal column 90 is a circular base 94.

When a user is ready to utilize the material locking assembly 1, the locking mechanism assembly 2 is inserted in a material structure 120. The user will then choose which dimensional male locking pin 40,40′ to insert into the top plate 30. The user will then position the molded receiver 26 over the head portion 50 of the male locking pin 40, 40′. The molded receiver 26 will form and interlock with the male locking pin 40, 40′. Specifically, the head portion 50 will abut with an upper portion of the molded receiver 26. The edge 28 of the molded receiver 26 interconnects with the edge 64 of the body portion 60. The passageway 56 fills with pressure and provides a secure fit to the locking mechanism assembly 2.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. For example, various embodiments of the systems and methods may be provided based on various combinations of the features and functions from the subject matter provided herein.