Snap lock connector for components such as knock-down furniture components

摘要

A snap lock connector for use in selectively connecting and disconnecting components, such as knock-down furniture components, and being characterized by a construction which provides locking with less force than unlocking, as follows. An elongate male member forms an extension from one of the components to be assembled and has a generally bulbous outer end defining leading and trailing camming surfaces thereon. A female member forms an internal passageway within the other of the components to be assembled and has an inwardly extending projection around at least a portion of the interior thereof defining leading and trailing camming surfaces. One of the male and female members is constructed for rendering that member flexible for expansion and contraction thereof during sliding engagement of the cooperating camming surfaces. The leading camming surface of one of the male and female members comprises a lesser included angle with respect to a longitudinal axis than the trailing camming surface for locking of the members with less force than unlocking. Whereby, the male member may be inserted into and withdrawn from the female member for locking and unlocking of the members by respective forced sliding engagement of the leading and trailing camming surfaces of the male and female members causing movement of the flexible member for allowing passage of the bulbous outer end of the male member past the projection in the female member.