The ABC television series aired its grand finale on Wednesday, with Queensland manufacturer Dean Cameron beating other innovators to the winning post.Cameron developed Joinlox, a mechanical fastening system, enabling large units of any material to be assembled together by a system of interlocking castellated hooks.The hooks are shaped like castle battlements. And once joined, a locking key element wedged into place fastens the two units. Cameron told the New Inventors that in order to make the join gas or watertight, an optional sealing groove is formed in place where the two units are joined.“The edges of the parts are made to fit together so that the castellated lock hooks on the edges of the parts mesh like a clam shell to form a castellated keyway,” the New Inventors reported.“The Joinlox key is first inserted laterally into the space that is formed when the castellated hooks mesh together loosely. As the key is pushed, or drawn, a short distance along the keyway, it wedges the two rows of hooks and tightly locks the joint faces.”Cameron was inspired after inventing an exportable sewerage treatment system, Biolytix. He found the tanks were difficult to transport because of the space they took up, despite not weighing much. Joinlox enabled Cameron to transport the tanks in parts enabling them to be stacked, and many more to be transported at one time.The system eradicates the need for welding, gluing, bolts, nuts, screws and gluing.Cameron said the system could be beneficial in many industries including civil construction, building, marine/aquatic construction, aerospace, automotive, plumbing and ducting, food and agriculture, micro machines, solar, liquid storage, packaging, storage, transport, sports and recreation, consumer and electrical and electronics.Australian government organisation IP Australia congratulated Cameron on his success.“The Joinlox system is extremely versatile allowing the user to attach different materials while maintaining enormous structural integrity,” the agency said.“The invention stood out from competitors because of its commercial applicability to industries as diverse as bridge construction and aerospace engineering.”
