Docking system

US7828249B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MICHIGAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Greg Ritter · Hamburg, US
• Anthony Beckman Hays · Jackson, US
• Peter Tchoryk, Jr. · Ann Arbor, US
• Jane Camile Pavlich · Ann Arbor, US
• Gregory Joseph Wassick · Petersburg, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 23, 2009
• Grant date: Nov 9, 2010
• Expiry date: Apr 11, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T24/45262
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

First and second releasably connectable portions of a docking system are moved together. A relatively central concave element of the second portion of the docking system contacts a corresponding relatively central mating convex element of the first portion of the docking system. A plurality of relatively distal coupling elements rigidly connected to one of the first and second portions of the docking system are inserted into a corresponding plurality of relatively distal sockets of the other of the first and second portions of the docking system. The plurality of relatively distal coupling elements are captured with a corresponding plurality of relatively distal latch mechanisms associated with the plurality of relatively distal sockets responsive to inserting the plurality of relatively distal coupling elements into the corresponding plurality of relatively distal sockets.