FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970 (39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
COUPLING ASSEMBLY;
BLUE STAR LIMITED A COMPANY
INCORPORATED UNDER THE
COMPANIES ACT, 1956, WHOSE ADDRESS IS KASTURI BUILDINGS, MOHAN T. ADVANI CHOWK, JAMSHETJI TATA ROAD, MUMBAI - 400 020, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION
PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a coupling assembly, and more particularly to coupling assembly for air-conditioner panels. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, to couple panels a fastening means like a screw is used. The screw would require a special tool to install the screw for coupling the panels. For e.g. screws have a variety of heads including philips heads, slotted heads, hex heads, square drive heads, etc. Accordingly, each of these screws requires a philips screw driver or a slotted screw driver or a hex screw driver to fasten the screw. This would mean that at site of installation different tools would be required.
Also at some installation sites, it would be difficult to use these screw drivers, especially at blind spots and/or cramped installation sites.
Another available solutions for coupling panels include gluing the panels together. Such a technique requires a special applicator for dispensing glue between surface panels to couple them. Once glue is dispensed, and panels are coupled together, the panels are inaccessible for sometime as the glue takes time to set between the coupled panels. If the panels are accessed during this period, the coupling might weaken.
In view of the above there is a need for a coupling assembly obviating the above mentioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention in one aspect provides coupling assembly for securing at-least two panels, the coupling arrangement comprising a fastening means having a head and a shaft, the shaft extending from the head, the shaft having a plurality of grooves on

the circumferential surface of the shaft; a first panel having a first hole for receiving the fastening means; and a second panel having a second hole for mating with the first hole and receiving the fastening means, the second panel has a plurality of resilient members extending downwardly and projecting inwardly from circumference of the second hole forming an opening, such that when the fastening means is inserted though the first hole and the second hole, the resilient members expand on receiving the shaft of the fastening means, and the resilient members retracts on one of the grooves on the shaft once the head of the fastening means abuts the first hole, thereby securing the two panels.
In one aspect of the present invention, the first hole is a flat-bottomed hole.
In one another aspect of the present invention, the first hole is a counter-bore hole. According to present invention the fastening means may have a collar provided between the head and the shaft to flush head and collar with the counter bore hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a coupling assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2a shows a fastening means of the coupling assembly in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2b shows a first panel of the coupling assembly in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2c shows a second panel of the coupling assembly in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a coupling assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4a shows a fastening means of the coupling assembly in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4b shows a first panel of the coupling assembly in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4c shows a second panel of the coupling assembly in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a coupling assembly for securing two or more panels of an air-conditioning system, wherein the assembly of the panel is tool-less.
Figure 1 and figure 2 show a coupling assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The coupling assembly comprises of a fastening means 110, a first panel 120 and a second panel 130.
In an embodiment of the invention, as shown in figure 2a, the fastening means 110 comprises of a head 112, a shaft 114 extending from the head 112, and a plurality of grooves 116 on the circumferential surface of the shaft 114.
In an embodiment of the invention, as shown in figure 2b, the first panel 120 has a first hole 122. The first hole 122 is a flat-bottomed hole, and the flat-bottomed hole is provided to receiving the shaft 114 of the fastening means. Accordingly, the flat-bottomed hole has a diameter less than the maximum diameter of the head 112 of the fastening means so the head 112 of the fastening means abuts the flat-bottomed hole as the shaft 114 passes through the first hole.
The second panel 130 is shown in detail in figure 2c. The second panel 130 has a second hole 132 and a plurality of resilient members 134. The resilient members 134 are provided around the second hole 132 where they extend downwardly and inwardly from the second panel 130 so as to form an opening 136. The resilient members 134 forming the opening 136 has a diameter less than the maximum diameter of shaft 114 of the fastening means 110.
The second hole 132 is provided for mating with the first hole 122 and receiving the fastening means 110. Accordingly, as the second hole 132 receives the fastening means 110, the fastening means 110 passes through the opening 136. As the fastening means 110 is passed through the opening 136, the shaft 114 of the fastening means 110 expands the resilient members 134, and subsequently the resilient members 134 retracts and clamps one of the

grooves 116 on the shaft 114 once the head 112 of the fastening means abuts the first hole 122, thereby coupling the two panels 120, 130.
Figure 3 and 4 shows a coupling assembly 300 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The coupling assembly 300 comprises of a fastening means 310, a first pane! 320 and a second panel 330.
In an embodiment of the invention, the fastening means 310 is shown in detail in figure 4a. The fastening means 310 comprises of a head 312, a shaft 314 extending from the head 312, a plurality of grooves 316 on the circumferential surface of the shaft 314 and a collar 318 provided between the head 312 and the shaft 314. According to the present invention, the collar 318 is smaller in diameter compared to the head 312 of the fastening means 310.
In an embodiment of the invention, as shown in figure 4b the first panel 320 has a first hole 322. The first hole 322 is a counter-bore hole. The counter-bore hole is provided to mate with the fastening means 310 such that when the panels are secured using the fastening means 310, the head 312 and the collar 318 of the fastening means flush with the counter-bore hole as the shaft 314 passes through the first hole 322.
The second panel 330 is shown in detail in figure 4c. According to the present invention the second panel 330 shown in figure 4c is similar to the panel illustrated in figure 2c. Accordingly, the second panel 330 has a second hole 332 a plurality of resilient members 334 and an opening 336. The resilient members 334 are provided around the second hole 332 where they extend downwardly and inwardly from the second panel 330 so as to form the opening 336. The resilient members 334 forming the opening 336 has a diameter less than the maximum diameter of the shaft 314 of the fastening means 310.
The second hole 332 is provided for mating with the first hole 322 and receiving the fastening means 310. Accordingly, as the second hole 332 receives the fastening means 310, the fastening means 310 passes through the opening 336. As the fastening means 310 is passed through the opening 336, the shaft 314 of the fastening means 310 expands the resilient

members 334, and subsequently the resilient members 334 retracts and clamps one of the grooves 316 on the shaft 314 once the head 312 and the collar 318 of the fastening means 310 flushes with the first hole 322, thereby securing the two panels 320, 330.
According to the present invention, the first panel and the second panel are mutually aligned, and to couple the first panel and the second panel, the fastening means is inserted though the hole on the first panel and the second panel. The shaft of the fastening means passes through the hole of the first panel and the second panel, and expands the segments as it passed through. Once the head of the fastening means abuts the first hole or flushes with the first hole, the segments retracts on one of the grooves of the shaft thereby securing the two panels. The present invention thus obviates from use of any kind of tools at the installation site for coupling two or more panels of the air-conditioning system even though an externa! fastening means is used.
According to the present invention, the fastening means illustrated in figure 2a and 4a can have circular threads or helical threads. In this regard, the fastening means is nonremovable when the threads are circular, and the fastening means is removable when the threads are helical.
The coupling assembly of the present invention is capable of securing more than two panels, wherein the assembly comprises at-least one first panel and a plurality of second panels. Accordingly, the dimensions of the fastening means, the holes and the resilient members will vary depending upon the number of panels being secured/coupled.
The coupling assembly is pre-fabricated and can be made of any suitable material, depending on the size and strength desired. The coupling assembly can be made of plastic or steel, and are formed and shaped according to known techniques. In the case of plastics, they may be molded, and in the case of steel they may be cast, forged, or formed by other known process.

Advantageously, the present invention provides a fast, easy and cost-effective way for coupling panels.
While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

We Claim :
1. A coupling assembly for securing at-least two panels, the coupling arrangement
comprising:
a fastening means having a head and a shaft, the shaft extending from the head, the shaft having a plurality of grooves on the circumferential surface of the shaft; a first panel having a first hole for receiving the fastening means; and a second panel having a second hole for mating with the first hole and receiving the fastening means, the second panel has a plurality of resilient members extending downwardly and projecting inwardly from circumference of the second hole forming an opening, such that when the fastening means is inserted though the first hole and the second hole, the resilient members expand on receiving the shaft of the fastening means, and the resilient members retracts on one of the grooves on the shaft once the head of the fastening means abuts the first hole, thereby securing the two panels.
2. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hole is a flat-bottomed hole.
3. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first hole is a counter-bore hole.
4. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1 and 3, wherein the fastening means further comprises of a collar, the collar provided between the head and the shaft such that when the panels are secured, the head and the collar flush with the counter-bore hole.
5. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening has a diameter less than maximum diameter of the shaft of the fastening means.

6. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grooves of the fastening means are circular.
7. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim1, wherein the first hole is integrally formed with the first panel.
8. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second hole and the resilient segments are integrally formed with the second panel.
9. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling assembly is prefabricated.
10. The coupling assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling assembly can be made of plastic, steel, etc.