Excavating tooth point/adapter assembly with rotatably lockable connector structure

ABSTRACT

A replaceable excavating tooth point is telescoped onto an adapter nose and releasably retained thereon by an elongated, flat connector member having an untapered side periphery. The connector member longitudinally extends through aligned point and connector openings and blocks forward removal of the point from the adapter nose. A transverse point sidewall abutment surface facing one end of the installed connector member prevents it from moving outwardly through one of the point openings, and a rotatable lock member carried by the other end of the connector member and engageable with a groove in the other point opening releasably prevents the connector member from moving outwardly through the grooved point opening. A detent structure releasably holds the lock member in locking and unlocking orientations in which the lock member is prevented from moving parallel to the length of the connector member.

INFORMATION

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinally foreshortened, horizontally directed cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, through an excavating tooth point/adapter assembly incorporating therein a specially designed rotatably locking connector structure embodying principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, through the assembly taken along line — of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top end elevational view of the connector structure with a rotatable locking portion thereof being in its locking position shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top end elevational view of the connector structure with its rotatable locking portion in its unlocking position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged scale schematic partial cross-sectional view through the connector structure taken along line — of FIG. .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As cross-sectionally illustrated in longitudinally foreshortened form in FIGS. 1 and 2, in an illustrated embodiment thereof, this invention provides an excavating tooth point/adapter assembly that includes a wear member in the form of an elongated hollow replaceable tooth point extending in a front-to-rear direction along a longitudinal axis and having front and rear portions and ; a support structure in the form of an adapter having a base portion from which a smaller cross-section nose portion forwardly projects; and a specially designed rotatably lockable connector assembly used to releasably retain the tooth point on the adapter nose as subsequently described herein.

Representatively, the tooth point and adapter have configurations similar to the tooth point and associated adapter illustrated and described in copending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/843,681 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,482) filed on Apr. 27, 2001 and assigned to the same assignee as the assignee of the present invention. However, the tooth point and the adapter could have a wide variety of alternate shapes without departing from principles of the present invention. Additionally, while the present invention is illustrated and described herein as being used in conjunction with an adapter as a representative support structure and a tooth point as a representative wear member carried by the support structure, it will be readily appreciated by those of ordinary skill in this particular art that different types of support structures and associated wear members could be utilized without departing from principles of the present invention. As an example, but not by way of limitation, the adapter could an intermediate adapter connected at its rear end to a base adapter, and the tooth point could be an intermediate adapter having a front end portion on which a replaceable tooth point was installed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the tooth point has a concavely curved rear end surface portion through which a pocket forwardly extends into the interior of the tooth point . As can best be seen in FIG. 1, from its forward entrance into the tooth point through the curved rear end surface portion , the pocket tapers forwardly and vertically inwardly and has a reduced cross-section stabilizing front end portion with generally horizontal opposite top and bottom side surface portions and .

Pocket defines on the tooth point a pair of opposite top and bottom side walls and , and a pair of opposite vertical side walls and which rearwardly terminate at the curved rear end surface of the tooth point . Rearwardly and vertically divergent rear end portions and of the top and bottom tooth point walls , extend rearwardly past the curved rear tooth point end surface . Aligned connector openings , respectively extend inwardly through the vertical tooth point side walls and into the pocket and are spaced apart along an axis transverse to the axis . As best illustrated in FIG. 2, a portion of the side wall extends rearwardly across the connector opening in a manner reducing its cross-sectional area compared to that of the other connector opening .

For purposes later described herein, side wall portion (see FIG. 2) has an inner side recess which defines on the side wall portion an inner side abutment surface transverse to the axis and facing the pocket area . Additionally, as also shown in FIG. 2, the inner side surface of the side wall opening has a circumferentially extending recess formed therein inwardly of the outer side surface of the side wall . Recess opens inwardly into the pocket and has (at its top side as viewed in FIG. 2) an abutment surface transverse to the axis .

The adapter nose is complementarily and removably received in the tooth point pocket and has a connector opening extending therethrough parallel to the axis and aligned with the tooth point connector openings ,. Adapter base has a convexly curved front surface which circumscribes the rear end of the adapter nose and is complementarily and slidably engageable by the concave rear end surface portion of the tooth point . With the adapter nose removably received in the tooth point pocket as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rear end portions ,of the tooth point protectively overlie top and bottom side surface portions of the adapter base .

With reference now to FIGS. 1-4, the connector assembly includes an elongated flat connector member and a locking member . Connector member has opposite ends and , a tapered cross-section along its length which is elongated in a direction parallel to the axis , opposite front and rear longitudinal side edges and , and corner recess areas extending laterally inwardly from the side edges and and defining in opposite end corner portions of the connector member longitudinally inset end surfaces and . The outer longitudinally extending peripheral side surface of the flat connector member circumscribes the longitudinal axis of the connector member and is parallel thereto as opposed to being tapered with respect thereto.

A circular bore or opening extends longitudinally inwardly through the inset end surface of the connector member and has a detent recess area formed in its interior side surface. Preferably, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, this detent recess area comprises two detent recesses , circumferentially separated by ninety degrees and longitudinally aligned within the opening .

The lock member has an elongated cylindrical body a lower longitudinal portion of which (as viewed in FIG. 2) is coaxially and rotatably received within the connector member opening , with an upper end portion of the body projecting outwardly from the inset connector member end surface portion . A transverse locking tab is anchored to the exposed upper end of the lock member body , and a lower end portion of the body within the opening has a lateral detent recess extending radially inwardly through its outer side surface. As schematically depicted in cross-sectional form in FIG. 5, a detent structure is received in the detent recess and representatively comprises a radially outer metal detent member secured to an elastomeric, radially inner detent portion . The detent member is resiliently biased to project outwardly from the recess , but may be radially forced into recess against the resilient resistance of the elastomeric portion .

A noncircular driving structure (for example, a hex or square head portion) projects upwardly from the locking tab and may be engaged by a suitable driving tool (not shown) used to forcibly rotate the locking member between (1) a locking position in which the locking tab projects laterally outwardly beyond the outer peripheral side surface of the connector member as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and (2) an unlocking position in which the locking tab does not project laterally outwardly beyond the outer peripheral side surface of the connector member as illustrated in FIG. . The driving structure could, of course, have a variety of alternate configurations, such as a noncircular recessed portion, a slotted area, or the like, if desired.

With the lock member rotated to its locking position the detent member snaps into the internal connector member detent recess to thereby bring the elastomeric detent portion to an essentially relaxed orientation and releasably retain the lock member in its locking position. As the lock member is subsequently being rotated from its locking position to its unlocking position, the detent member is depressed into the lock member detent recess and then snaps outwardly into the internal connector member detent recess to thereby bring the elastomeric detent portion back to an essentially relaxed state and releasably retain the lock member in its unlocking position.

The same movement of the detent member , of course, when the lock member is subsequently rotated back to its locking position from its unlocking position. An annular resilient seal member (see FIG. 2) is supported on and coaxially circumscribes the lock member body , between the locking tab and the lock member detent recess , and slidingly engages the interior side surface of the connector member opening to inhibit the entry of dirt and other abrasive material into the interior of the connector member during use of the tooth adapter assembly .

As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the vertical heights of the interior connector member detent recesses , (as viewed in FIG. 2) are substantially identical to the height of the detent member . Accordingly, the interaction between the detent member and these detent recesses , substantially prevents relative longitudinal movement between the connector member and the lock member when the locking member is in either of its locking and unlocking positions.

With the tooth point rearwardly telescoped onto the adapter nose as illustrated in FIG. 2, the connector assembly is operatively Installed by first rotating its lock member to its unlocking position and then inserting the connector assembly , connector end first, downwardly (as viewed in FIG. 2) through the aligned connector openings ,,, with the front edge of the connector member facing forwardly, so that the connector member is complementarily received in the nose connector opening , and the connector member end abutment surface contacts the tooth point abutment surface . In this inserted orientation of the connector assembly , the opposite ends , of the connector member respectively extend into the tooth point connector openings , to thereby block forward removal of the installed tooth point from the adapter nose .

The inserted connector assembly is then releasably locked in this blocking orientation by simply rotating the lock member from its unlocking position to its locking position to cause the locking tab to enter the tooth point recess and face outwardly face its associated abutment surface as may be best seen in FIG. . Thus, the cooperating abutment surfaces , adjacent the connector member end preclude the connector assembly from passing outwardly through the tooth point connector opening , and the cooperating abutment surfaces , prevent the connector assembly from passing outwardly through the tooth point connector opening .

The representatively illustrated abutment surface configuration within the interior of the tooth poinvadapter assembly , namely the abutment surface sets , and ,, may be altered in a variety of manners without departing from the principles of the present invention. For example, but not by way of limitation, the tooth point abutment surface could be relocated to within the adapter nose (and the corresponding connector member abutment surface accordingly relocated to face this adapter nose abutment surface). As another example, but also not by way of limitation, the lower abutment surface set , (as viewed in FIG. 2) could be eliminated, and the tooth point recess modified to have two facing abutment surfaces which face the opposite sides of the locking tab in its locking position and serve to prevent the connector assembly from longitudinally moving outwardly through either of the tooth point connector openings ,.

Because the outer peripheral side surface of the connector member is parallel to the axis , operating loads on the tooth point/adapter assembly do not impose appreciable longitudinally directed loads on the connector member which might tend to expel it from the connector openings ,, and exert substantial forces on the lock member . Moreover, the connector assembly may be installed without the need to pound it into the connector openings. Because of this, two or more of the assemblies may be placed closer together due to the lack of required pounding room. Also, because the detent structure in the connector assembly substantially prevents relative longitudinal movement between the connector member and the lock member during use of the tooth/adapter assembly , entry of dirt and other abrasive material into the interior of the connector member , and associated degradation of the interior resilient seal member , is substantially reduced. Additionally, because the resilient portion of the lock member detent structure is in an essentially relaxed state in the lock member's unlocking position, undesirable “compression set” in this resilient detent portion resulting from lengthy storage periods of the connector assembly with the lock member in its unlocking position is substantially eliminated

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as being given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of the present invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

CLAIMS

1. Apparatus for use in removably coupling a replaceable material displacement wear member to a support structure portion received in an interior pocket area of said wear member, said wear member and said support structure portion having generally alignable connection openings therein, said apparatus comprising an elongated, generally flat connector member insertable into the aligned connection openings and having: first and second ends spaced apart along a first axis; an exterior peripheral surface portion longitudinally extending between said first and second ends, said exterior peripheral surface portion being parallel to and circumscribing said first axis; an opening longitudinally extending inwardly through said first end along a second axis parallel to said first axis; a detent recess area extending radially outwardly from the interior side surface of said opening; and a lock structure operable to releasably retain said connector member in the connection openings.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said connector member has, along at least a major portion of its length, a cross-section which is elongated in a direction transverse to said first axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said elongated cross-section has a tapered, generally wedge-shaped configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said first end has an axially inset area with a surface portion extending transversely to said first axis, and said opening longitudinally extends inwardly through said surface portion of said axially inset area.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: said axially inset area is a notched corner area of said first end.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein: said connector member has a longitudinally extending exterior side edge, and said axially inset area laterally extends inwardly from said exterior side edge.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said detent recess area includes circumferentially spaced first and second detent recesses extending radially outwardly from the interior side surface of said opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: said first and second detent recesses are aligned with one another in a direction parallel to said first axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lock structure comprises a lock member having: a cylindrical body coaxially received in said opening for rotation relative to said connecter member between locking and unlocking positions, said body having an outer end portion disposed externally of said opening and having a transverse locking tab portion projecting outwardly therefrom.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said body has no net axial force thereon in either of said locking and unlocking positions.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said outer end portion of said body has a drive structure thereon which facilitates the driven rotation of said body relative to said connector member between said locking and unlocking positions.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein: said locking tab portion, in said locking position thereof, projects outwardly past exterior peripheral surface portion of said connector member in a direction transverse to said first axis, and said locking tab portion, in said unlocking position thereof, does not project appreciably outwardly past said exterior peripheral surface portion of said connector member in said direction transverse to said first axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: said apparatus further comprises a recess extending laterally into an exterior side surface portion of said lock member body, and a detent member supported on said body and being resiliently biased to project outwardly through said recess, and said detent recess area of said connector member includes a detent recess into which said detent member resiliently snaps, when said lock member is rotated to said locking position, to releasably restrain said lock member in said locking position.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein: when said lock member is in said locking position, said detent member and said detent recess cooperate to preclude appreciable movement of said lock member relative to said connector member parallel to said first axis.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein: said apparatus further comprises a recess extending laterally into an exterior side surface portion of said lock member body, and a detent member supported on said body and being resiliently biased to project outwardly through said recess therein and being resiliently depressible into said recess, said detent recess area in said connector member includes circumferentially spaced first and second detent recesses extending radially outwardly from the interior side surface of said opening in said connector opening, said detent member being resiliently forced into said first and second detent recesses, to releasably restrain said lock member against rotation relative to said connector member, when said lock member is respectively rotated to said locking and unlocking positions thereof.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein: said first and second detent recesses respectively cooperate with said detent member to preclude appreciable movement of said lock member relative to said connector member parallel to said first axis when said lock member is in said locking and unlocking positions.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: an annular resilient seal member coaxially carried by said lock member body between said detent recess area and said first end of said connector member and sealingly engaging the interior side surface of said opening.

18. A replaceable material displacement wear member comprising: a front end; a rear end spaced apart from said front end along a first axis; a pocket area extending forwardly through said rear end; first and second opposite side wall portions partially bounding said pocket; and aligned first and second connector openings spaced apart along a second axis transverse to said first axis and respectively extending inwardly through said first and second side wall portions into said pocket area, said second side wall portion extending into said second connector opening in a manner reducing its cross-sectional area relative to the cross-sectional area of said first connector opening and laterally offsetting an axially outer portion of said second connector opening relative to said second axis, said second side wall portion further having an inwardly facing abutment surface transverse to said second axis.

19. The replaceable material displacement wear member of claim 18 wherein: said abutment surface is formed by an inner side surface recess in said second side wall portion.

20. The replaceable material displacement wear member of claim 18 further comprising: a recess formed in the inner side surface of said first connector opening.

21. The replaceable material displacement wear member of claim 20 wherein: said recess has an open side facing said pocket area.

22. The replaceable material displacement wear member of claim 18 wherein: said replaceable material displacement wear member is a tooth point.

23. A replaceable material displacement tooth point comprising: a front end; a rear end spaced apart from said front end along a first axis; a pocket area extending forwardly through said rear end; first and second opposite side wall portions partially bounding said pocket; and aligned first and second connector openings spaced apart along a second axis transverse to said first axis and respectively extending inwardly through said first and second side wall portions into said pocket area, said second side wall portion extending into said second connector opening in a manner reducing its cross-sectional area relative to the cross-sectional area of said first connector opening, said second side wall portion further having an inwardly facing abutment surface transverse to said second axis, and said tooth point having a curved rear end surface portion through which said pocket area forwardly extends, said first and second opposite side wall portions rearwardly terminate at said curved rear end surface, and said tooth point further has third and fourth opposite side wall portions which are transverse to said first and second opposite side wall portions and extend rearwardly past said curved rear end surface portion.

24. Material displacement apparatus comprising: a support structure having a front portion extending forwardly along a first axis and having a connector opening extending therethrough along a second axis transverse to said first axis; a replaceable wear member rearwardly telescoped onto said front portion and having a pair of opposite first and second side wall connector openings aligned with said front portion connector opening; and a connector assembly releasably retaining said wear member on said front portion, said connector assembly including: an elongated connector member longitudinally extending through and removably received in said front portion connector opening and said first and second wear member connector openings along said second axis and having first and second end portions respectively received in said first and second wear member connector openings and blocking removal of said wear member from said front support structure portion, said connector member having an exterior peripheral surface portion longitudinally extending between said first and second end portions, said exterior peripheral surface portion being parallel to and circumscribing said second axis; a lock member rotatably carried by said connector member first end portion; a first abutment surface disposed within the interior of said material displacement apparatus, extending transversely to said second axis, and blocking passage of said lock member, and thus said connector member, outwardly through said first wear member connector opening; and a second abutment surface disposed within the interior of said material displacement apparatus, extending transversely to said second axis, and blocking passage of said connector member outwardly through said second wear member connector opening.

25. The material displacement apparatus of claim 24 wherein: said support structure is an adapter, and said front portion of said support structure is an adapter nose, and said wear member is a replaceable tooth point.

26. The material displacement apparatus of claim 24 wherein: said connector member has, along at least a major portion of its length, a cross-section which is elongated in a direction transverse to said second axis and parallel to said second axis.

27. The material displacement apparatus of claim 26 wherein: said elongated cross-section has a tapered, generally wedge-shaped configuration.

28. The material displacement apparatus of claim 24 wherein: said lock member has a cylindrical body rotatably received in an opening extending axially inwardly through said first end portion of said connector member, and a transverse locking portion secured to an outer end portion of said body external to said connector member, said lock member being in a locking position wherein said locking portion thereof projects outwardly beyond said exterior peripheral surface portion of said connector member in a direction transverse to said second axis and opposes said first abutment surface to preclude passage of said connector member outwardly through said first wear member connector opening, said lock member being rotatable from said locking position to an unlocking position in which said lock portion does not project appreciably outwardly past said exterior peripheral surface portion of said connector member in said direction and thereby permits removal of said connector member outwardly through said first wear member connector opening.

29. The material displacement apparatus of claim 28 wherein: said lock member body has no resilient axial force thereon in either of said locking and unlocking positions.

30. The material displacement apparatus of claim 28 wherein: said first end portion of said connector member has a longitudinally inset area with a surface portion transverse to said second axis, and said opening extends inwardly through said inset surface and parallel to said second axis.

31. The material displacement apparatus of claim 30 wherein: said inset surface portion is a notched corner area of said first end portion of said connector member.

32. The material displacement apparatus of claim 30 wherein: said connector member has a longitudinally extending exterior side edge, and said longitudinally inset area extends inwardly from said exterior side edge.

33. The material displacement apparatus of claim 28 further comprising: cooperating detent structures, disposed on said connector member and said lock member body, releasably retaining said lock member in either selected one of said locking and unlocking positions thereof.

34. The material displacement apparatus of claim 33 wherein: said cooperating detent structures include a detent recess area extending radially outwardly from the interior side surface of said opening, and a resiliently supported detent member carried by said lock member body and being operatively associated with said detent recess area.

35. The material displacement apparatus of claim 34 wherein: said detent recess area includes circumferentially spaced first and second detent recesses extending radially outwardly from the interior side surface of said opening, and said detent member is receivable in said first detent recess when said lock member is in said locking position, and receivable in said second detent recess is in said unlocking position.

36. The material displacement apparatus of claim 34 wherein: said cooperating detent structures operate to preclude appreciably movement of said lock member relative to said connector member parallel to said second axis when said lock member is in said locking and unlocking positions.

37. The material displacement apparatus of claim 35 wherein: said first and second detent recesses respectively cooperate with said detent member to preclude appreciable movement of said lock member relative to said connector member parallel to said second axis when said lock member is in said locking and unlocking positions.

38. The material displacement apparatus of claim 34 further comprising: an annular resilient seal member coaxially carried by said lock member body between said detent recess area and said first end portion of said connector member and sealingly engaging the interior side surface of said opening.

39. The material displacement apparatus of claim 24 wherein: said support structure has a base portion having a curved front surface from which said front portion forwardly projects, and said wear member has a curved rear end surface portion complementarily engageable with said curved front surface of said base portion and through which a pocket area forwardly extends, said pocket area complementarily receiving said front portion, said wear member having first and second opposite side wall portions through which said first and second wear member connector openings respectively extend, and third and fourth opposite side wall portions transverse to said first and second opposite side wall portions, said third and fourth opposite side wall portions extending rearwardly past said curved rear end surface portion of said wear member.

40. The material displacement apparatus of claim 39 wherein: said front surface of said base portion is convexly curved, and said rear end surface portion of said wear member is concavely curved.

41. The material displacement apparatus of claim 39 wherein: said support structure is an excavating adapter, and said front portion of said support structure is an adapter nose, and said wear member is a replaceable excavating tooth point.

42. The material displacement apparatus of claim 28 wherein: said first wear member connector opening has a circumferentially extending groove disposed therein, receiving said locking portion and defining said first abutment surface.

43. The material displacement apparatus of claim 24 wherein: said second abutment surface is an interior side wall surface of said wear member which faces a surface on said second connector member end portion transverse to said second axis.

44. The material displacement apparatus of claim 24 wherein: the cross-sectional area of said second wear member connector opening is reduced relative to the cross-sectional area of said first wear member connector opening by a side wall portion of said wear member on which said second abutment surface is disposed.

45. The material displacement apparatus of claim 44 wherein: said side wall portion of said wear member has an inner side recess area on which said second abutment surface is disposed.

46. A replaceable material displacement wear member comprising: a front end; a rear end spaced apart from said front end along a first axis; a pocket area extending forwardly through said rear end; first and second opposite side wall portions partially bounding said pocket area; and aligned first and second connector openings spaced apart along a second axis transverse to said first axis and respectively extending inwardly through said first and second side wall portions into said pocket area, said first connector opening having an abutment recess formed in its inner side surface, said wear member having a curved rear end surface portion through which said pocket area forwardly extends, said first and second opposite side wall portions rearwardly terminate at said curved rear end surface, and said tooth point further has third and fourth opposite side wall portions which are transverse to said first and second opposite side wall portions and extend rearwardly past said curved rear end surface portion.

47. The replaceable material displacement wear member of claim 46 wherein: said abutment recess has an open side facing said pocket area.

48. The replaceable material displacement wear member of claim 46 wherein: said replaceable material displacement wear member is a tooth point.

49. A replaceable material displacement wear member comprising: a front end; a rear end spaced apart from said front end along a first axis; a pocket area extending forwardly through said rear end; first and second opposite side wall portions partially bounding said pocket; and aligned first and second connector openings spaced apart along a second axis transverse to said first axis and respectively extending inwardly through said first and second side wall portions into said pocket area, said second side wall portion extending into said second connector opening in a manner reducing its cross-sectional area relative to the-cross-sectional area of said first connector opening, said second side wall portion further having an inwardly facing abutment surface transverse to said second axis, said wear member having a rear end surface portion curved about an axis parallel to said second axis and through which said pocket area forwardly extends, said first and second opposite side wall portions rearwardly terminating at said curved rear end surface.

50. A replaceable material displacement wear member comprising: a front end; a rear end spaced apart from said front end along a first axis; a pocket area extending forwardly through said rear end; first and second opposite side wall portions partially bounding said pocket area; and aligned first and second connector openings spaced apart along a second axis transverse to said first axis and respectively extending inwardly through said first and second side wall portions into said pocket area, said first connector opening having an abutment recess formed in its inner side surface, said wear member having a rear end surface portion curved about an axis parallel to said second axis and through which said pocket area forwardly extends, said first and second opposite side wall portions rearwardly terminating at said curved rear end surface.

51. Material displacement apparatus comprising: a support structure having a front portion extending forwardly along a first axis and having a connector opening extending therethrough along a second axis transverse to said first axis; a replaceable wear member rearwardly telescoped onto said front portion and having a pair of opposite first and second side wall connector openings aligned with said front portion connector opening; and an elongated, generally flat connector member removably received in the aligned connector openings and captively retaining said wear member on said support structure, said connector member having: first and second ends spaced apart along a first axis; an exterior peripheral surface portion longitudinally extending between said first and second ends, said exterior peripheral surface portion being parallel to and circumscribing said first axis; an opening longitudinally extending inwardly through said first end along a second axis parallel to said first axis; a detent recess area extending radially outwardly from the interior side surface of said opening; and a lock structure releasably retaining said connector member in said aligned connector openings.

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