ANTI-REVERSE DEVICE FOR THE MOTION BETWEEN TWO COMPONENTS, EITHER MALE OR FEMALE, OF WHICH ONE IS ACTUATED MANUALLY

摘要

An apparatus and method for preventing a reversal in the relative displacement of male and female components when these components reach a particular position. One component is adapted to be displaced by hand relative to the other component in a first direction to couple the components and in a second direction opposite from the first direction to disengage the components. A support is rigidly attached to one of the components. A stud is mounted in the support to be displaceable away from an initial position in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. A guide ramp extending parallel to the first and second directions is positioned on the other component. The ramp has an abutment surface extending perpendicular to the first direction. One of the components is first displaced in the first direction, which causes a first surface of the ramp to displace the stud perpendicular to the first direction. Further displacement in the first direction disengages the stud from the first surface of the ramp and returns the stud to its initial position. Next, one of the components is displaced in the second direction causes the stud to move over a second surface of the ramp. Further displacement in the second direction causes the stud to abut the abutment surface, thereby preventing a reverse displacement of the components in the first direction.