Lockable coupling device
A lockable coupling device comprising: a base member releasably connectable to a release member by interengageble portions, the base and release members configurable between coupled and release configurations; a coupling mechanism for permitting actuation between the coupled and release configurations, and including an actuator operatively connected to at least one of the interengageable portions and moveable between a first state permitting engagement of the interengagable portions in the coupled configuration, and a second state releasing engagement of the interengageable portions; a locking mechanism for locking and releasing the coupled configuration, the locking mechanism comprising: an operator input portion operatively connected to a latch portion and configured to: lock the coupled position by causing the latch portion to engage with the actuator to prevent the actuator moving from the first state to the second state, and unlock the coupled configuration by permitting movement of the actuator from first to second position.
1 . A lockable coupling device for releasably attaching a first item to a second item, the lockable coupling device comprising:
a base member configured to be attachable to the first item, the base member having a front face defining, at least partially, a pocket of the base member;
a release member configured to be attachable to the second item;
the base member being releasably connectable to the release member by interengageable portions, the base member and the release member configurable between:
a coupled configuration in which the base member and the release member are connected to one another, such that at least a portion of the release member is received in the pocket of the base member, at least one of the interengageable portions being positioned within the pocket of the base member, and
a release configuration;
a coupling mechanism for permitting actuation between the coupled configuration and the release configuration, the coupling mechanism including an actuator operatively connected to at least one of the interengageable portions and moveable between a first state configured to permit engagement of the interengageable portions in the coupled configuration, and a second state configured to release the engagement of the interengageable portions in the release configuration;
a locking mechanism for locking and releasing the coupled configuration, the locking mechanism comprising:
an operator input portion positioned on the front face of the base member, the operator input portion operatively connected to a latch portion and configured to:
lock the base member and the release member in the coupled configuration by causing the latch portion to engage with the actuator, such that the latch portion interferes with actuation of the actuator from the first state to the second state, and
unlock the coupled configuration by permitting movement of the actuator from the first state to the second state.
2 . The lockable coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is caused to unlock and/or lock the base member and the release member in the coupled configuration responsive to an input to the operator input portion matching a predetermined input.
3 . The lockable coupling device of claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a security interface through which the input and/or the predetermined input is obtainable.
4 . The lockable coupling device of claim 3 , wherein the security interface is a combination dial.
5 . The lockable coupling device of claim 2 , wherein the input and/or the predetermined input comprises one or more of a numerical input, an alphanumeric input, a symbol, a security code, or a security key.
6 . The lockable coupling device of claim 2 , wherein the operator input portion is configured such that when the input is obtained, a housing of the operator input portion is configured to be rotated to move the latch portion away from the actuator.
7 . The lockable coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the interengageable portions comprise a tongue member and a rim of an opening in a contact face of the release member, wherein in an extended position of the tongue member, the tongue member extends outwardly from the front face to engage with the rim, and in a retracted position of the tongue member, the tongue member is retracted below the front face to disengage from the rim of the release member.
8 . The lockable coupling device of claim 7 , wherein the tongue member is resiliently biased towards the extended position, and is configured to be actuated to the retracted position by the actuation of the actuator.
9 . The lockable coupling device of claim 1 , wherein the base member has:
a contact portion defined by the front face and configured to contact a contact face of the release member;
a shoulder extending around a portion of a periphery of the contact portion to define the pocket for receiving the portion of the release member, the shoulder engageable with a portion of a flange of the release member when the release member is positioned on the base member;
an open access end through which the release member is configured to be slidingly inserted into and removed from the pocket;
a tongue member positioned in a recess within the contact portion and moveable by the coupling mechanism between a first position in which at least a portion of the tongue member extends from the recess and abuts a rim of the release member in the coupled configuration, and a second position in which the tongue member is retracted into the recess;
wherein the tongue member is resiliently biased towards the first position.
10 . The lockable coupling device of claim 9 , wherein the base member comprises a plurality of spring loaded ball bearings partially extending from recesses formed in the front face of the base member and engageable with corresponding recesses defined in the contact face of the release member.
11 . The lockable coupling device of claim 9 , wherein the release member comprises a body with a first side and a second side, the first side defining the contact face, and a collar extending from the second side and positioned inwardly of a perimeter of the release member to define the flange.
12 . The lockable coupling device of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-friction layer attached to the release member.
13 . The lockable coupling device of claim 1 , further comprising a damping member attachable to a back face of the base member and arranged to be positioned between the base member and a surface in use, the damping member being arranged to absorb vibration and/or shock.
14 . The lockable coupling device of claim 1 , further comprising a top plate attachable to the release member.
15 . The lockable coupling device of claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of a body of the release member is circular in shape, a tongue member of the base member is positioned substantially centrally of a contact portion of the base member, and an opening of the release member is positioned substantially centrally of the body of the release member, such that the release member is configured to be rotated within the pocket when the tongue member abuts a rim of the opening of the release member.
16 . The lockable coupling device of claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of a body of the release member has an eccentric shape such that the release member is not rotatable in the pocket of the base member.
17 . A lockable coupling assembly comprising:
a first item having a support surface;
a second item comprising one or more of: medical equipment; a housing for medical equipment; a storage unit; a medicine storage container; a narcotic storage container; or a biohazard container; and
a lockable coupling device having:
a base member configured to be attachable to the first item, the base member having a front face defining, at least partially, a pocket of the base member;
a release member configured to be attachable to the second item;
the base member being releasably connectable to the release member by interengageable portions, the base member and the release member configurable between:
a coupled configuration in which the base member and the release member are connected to one another, such that the release member is received in the pocket of the base member, at least one of the interengageable portions being positioned within the pocket of the base member, and
a release configuration;
a coupling mechanism for permitting actuation between the coupled configuration and the release configuration, the coupling mechanism including an actuator operatively connected to at least one of the interengageable portions and moveable between a first state configured to permit engagement of the interengageable portions in the coupled configuration, and a second state configured to release the engagement of the interengageable portions in the release configuration;
a locking mechanism for locking and releasing the coupled configuration, the locking mechanism comprising:
an operator input portion positioned on the front face of the base member, the operator input portion operatively connected to a latch portion and configured to:
lock the base member and the release member in the coupled configuration by causing the latch portion to engage with the actuator, such that the latch portion interferes with actuation of the actuator from the first state to the second state, and
unlock the coupled configuration by permitting movement of the actuator from the first state to the second state.
18 . The lockable coupling assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first item is a transportation device.