A bayonet mount or bayonet connector is a fastening mechanism that relies on mated surfaces; a male side with one or more pins or slots, and a female receptor with matching slots and a spring that maintains a clamping force.
To couple the two surfaces, users are expected to align the pin(s) on the male with the slot(s) on the female and push the two together. Once the pins reach the end of the slot, the two surfaces are turned in opposite directions to guide the pin into a perpendicular slot that prevents it from being removed. The spring then holds the pin in this position to prevent it from backing out. To disconnect the two surfaces the user pushes the two surfaces together to overcome the spring and uses a fraction of a turn to reverse the locking turn.
The strength of the joint relies solely on the shear strength of the pins, however a practiced user can connect them quickly and they are not subject to cross-threading.
