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System and method for assembling blow molded parts without the use of separate fasteners, including a tab-and-slot or dovetail mortise and tenon joint that includes a slide-and-lock tab feature. A retention barb on the tab slides along a ramp to engage with a receptacle within the slot. Tabs and slo

System and method for assembling blow molded parts without the use of separate fasteners, including a tab-and-slot or dovetail mortise and tenon joint that includes a slide-and-lock tab feature. A retention barb on the tab slides along a ramp to engage with a receptacle within the slot. Tabs and slots can have varying widths to create mutual incompatibility with other joint components that are otherwise similarly constructed. An optional stopper on the tab and corresponding notch within the slot can add an additional axis of incompatibility with other joints throughout the assembly. These features prevent incorrect assembly and allow convenient redesigns.

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1. A method of connecting blow molded parts, comprising the steps of: providing a first blow molded part and a second blow molded part;providing a slot formed on the first blow molded part, the slot comprising a receptacle and a ramp, the slot having first and second ends and two sides wherein the f

1. A method of connecting blow molded parts, comprising the steps of: providing a first blow molded part and a second blow molded part;providing a slot formed on the first blow molded part, the slot comprising a receptacle and a ramp, the slot having first and second ends and two sides wherein the first end defines an opening of the slot and the ramp extends from the first end towards the second end and the ramp is recessed into a wall of the slot;providing a tab and a barb formed in the tab, the barb and tab formed on the second blow molded part;wherein the ramp is disposed at a ramp offset from one of the two sides of the slot, and the barb is disposed at a barb offset from a side of the tab corresponding to the ramp offset;inserting the tab into the slot, such that the barb engages the receptacle; andproviding a protrusion extending from the lab;wherein at least one of the two sides includes a sidewall flange and a recess, the recess located between the wall of the slot and the sidewall flange and the protrusion disposed on the tab such that insertion of the tab into the slot causes the protrusion to be located at least partially in the recess and between the sidewall flange and the wall of the slot. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the wall is defined between the first and second ends and the two sides. 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing two protrusions extending from the tab, a first one of the two protrusions extending from a first side of the tab, a second one of the two protrusions extending from a second side of the tab;wherein each of the two sides of the slot includes a sidewall flange and a recess, the recess located between the wall of the slot and the sidewall flange and the two protrusions disposed on the tab such that insertion of the tab into the slot causes the each of the two protrusions to be located at least partially in one of the recesses and between one of the sidewall flanges and the wall of the slot. 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: engaging the barb with the ramp prior to the barb engaging the receptacle. 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: sliding the barb up the ramp toward the receptacle during insertion of the tab into the slot such that a pressure between the tab and the slot increases until the barb reaches the receptacle, whereupon the barb engages the receptacle, causing a reduction in the pressure. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein engaging the barb with the receptacle is perceptible audibly or tactilely. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing a stopper on the tab, and providing a notch within the slot;the stopper comprising a stopper width and a stopper offset from a side of the tab, and the notch comprising a notch width corresponding to the stopper width and an offset from a side of the slot corresponding to the stopper offset;the stopper preventing full insertion of the tab into slots that are not provided with a notch comprising a width and offset that are complimentary to the stopper. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ramp extends and shallows from the first end toward the receptacle. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ramp is of a lesser width than the slot, and the barb is of a width corresponding to the width of the ramp. 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the ramp offset is measured from the closest one of the two sides. 11. A slide-lock joint system comprising: a first blow molded part and a second blow molded part;a slot formed on the first blow molded part, the slot comprising a receptacle and a ramp, the slot having first and second ends and two sides wherein the first end defines an opening of the slot and the ramp extends from the first end towards the second end and the ramp is recessed into a wall of the slot;a tab formed in the second blow molded part;a barb formed in the second blow molded part within the tab;the tab fitting the slot such that the barb engages the receptacle;a stopper on the tab and a notch within the slot;the stopper comprising a stopper width and a stopper offset from a side of the tab, and the notch comprising a notch width corresponding to the stopper width and a notch offset from a side of the slot corresponding to the stopper offset;wherein the stopper prevents full insertion of the tab into an otherwise identical other slot that is not provided with a notch comprising a width and offset that are complimentary to the stopper. 12. The slide-lock joint system of claim 11 wherein the ramp is disposed at a ramp offset from a side of the slot, and the barb is disposed at a barb offset from a side of the tab corresponding to the ramp offset. 13. The slide-lock joint system of claim 12, further comprising: a second tab on the second blow molded part or on a different blow molded part, the second tab comprising a second barb;wherein the second barb is disposed at a second barb offset from a side of the second tab that is different from the barb offset; and,wherein the second tab is incompatible with the slot. 14. The slide-lock joint system of claim 11 wherein the wall is defined between the first and second ends and the two sides. 15. The slide-lock joint system of claim 11, further comprising: a second slot on the first blow molded part or on a different blow molded part, the second slot comprising a second ramp and the second slot extending from a third end towards a fourth end and having two sides wherein the second ramp is open at the third end and extends towards the fourth end;wherein the second ramp is disposed at a second ramp offset from a side of the second slot that is different from the ramp offset; and,wherein the second slot is incompatible with the tab. 16. The slide-lock joint system of claim 11, further comprising: at least one protrusion disposed on the tab, and at least one recess disposed within the slot, such that the protrusion engages the recess when the tab is inserted into the slot;wherein the protrusion, the recess, the barb, and the receptacle retain the tab within the slot. 17. The slide lock joint system of claim 11, wherein insertion of the tab into the slot will increase a pressure between the tab and the slot as the tab is inserted until the barb reaches the receptacle. 18. The slide lock joint system of claim 17, wherein engaging the barb with the receptacle causes a reduction in the pressure between the tab and the slot. 19. The slide lock joint system of claim 11, wherein engaging the barb with the receptacle is perceptible audibly or tactilely. 20. The slide-lock joint system of claim 11, wherein the ramp extends and shallows from the first end of the slot towards the receptacle, the ramp aligning and engaging slidably with the barb. 21. The slide-lock joint system of claim 11, wherein the ramp is of a lesser width than the slot, and the barb is of a width corresponding to the width of the ramp. 22. A method for connecting blow molded parts, comprising the steps of: providing a first blow molded part and a second blow molded part;providing a slot formed on the first blow molded part, the slot comprising a receptacle and a ramp, the slot having first and second ends and two sides wherein the first end defines an opening of the slot and the ramp extends from the first end towards the second end and the ramp is recessed into a wall of the slot;providing a tab formed on the second blow molded part , the tab comprising a barb and at least one protrusion, wherein the barb is formed in the tab and the barb and tab are formed in the second blow molded part;beginning to insert the tab into the slot, such that the barb begins to engage the ramp, and the at least one protrusion engages slidably with a recess in at least one of the two sides of the slot;continuing to insert the tab into the slot such that the barb slides along the ramp toward the receptacle; and,completing insertion of the tab into the slot such that the barb engages the receptable and wherein the engagement is perceptible audibly or tactilely;providing a stopper on the tab, and providing a notch within the slot, the stopper comprising a stopper width and a stopper offset from a side of the tab, and the notch comprising a notch width corresponding to the stopper width and a notch offset from a side of the slot corresponding to the stopper offset, the stopper preventing full insertion of the tab into another slot that is not provided with a notch comprising a width and offset that are complimentary to the stopper. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the tab is retained within the slot by the at least one recess, the at least one protrusion, the barb, and the receptacle. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the ramp is of a lesser width than the slot, and the barb is of a width corresponding to the width of the ramp, and wherein the ramp is disposed at a ramp offset from one of the two sides of the slot, and the barb is disposed at a barb offset from a side of the tab corresponding to the ramp offset. 25. The method of claim 22 wherein the notch is recessed into the wall of the slot. 26. An assembly of blow-molded parts comprising: at least two blow molded parts;at least two slots, each slot formed on one of the blow molded parts, each slot having first and second ends and two sides wherein the first end of each slot defines an opening;a ramp and a receptacle formed in each slot, each ramp extending from the first end towards the second end of its respective slot, each ramp recessed into a wall of its respective slot;at least two tabs, each integrally formed on one of the blow molded parts; a barb integrally formed in each of the at least two tabs, each tab comprising a tab side;each ramp disposed at a ramp offset from one of the two sides of its respective slot, the ramp offset of at least one of the at least two slots is different from the ramp offset of at least one other of the at least two slots;each barb is disposed at a barb offset from the tab side, the barb offset of one of the at least two tabs is different from the barb offset of at least one other of the at least two tabs;a protrusion extending from at least one of the tabs on one of the blow molded parts;wherein at least one of the two sides of at least one of the slots on another one of the blow molded parts includes a sidewall flange and a recess, the recess located between the wall of the slot and the sidewall flange and the protrusion disposed on the at least one tab such that insertion of the tab into the at least one slot causes the protrusion to be located at least partially in the recess and between the sidewall flange and the wall of the slot. 27. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the assembly is a toy house, box, container, table, chair, package, carrying case, enclosure, wheel, or toy. 28. The assembly of claim 26 further comprising: two protrusions extending from each tab;wherein each of the two sides of the each slot includes a sidewall flange and a recess, the recess located between the wall of the slot and the sidewall flange and the two protrusions disposed on the tab such that insertion of the each tab into its respective slot causes: a first one the two protrusions to be located at least partially in one of the recesses and between one of the sidewall flanges and the wall of the respective slot; anda second one the two protrusions to be located at least partially in another one of the recesses and between another one of the sidewall flanges and the wall of the respective slot. 29. The assembly of claim 26 further comprising: a stopper on each tab, and a notch within the each slot;each stopper comprising a stopper width and a stopper offset from a side of the corresponding tab, and each notch comprising a notch width corresponding to one of the stopper widths and an offset corresponding to one of the stopper offsets such and one of the stopper width or stopper offset of one of the tabs is different from another stopper width or stopper offset of another one of the tabs. 30. The assembly of claim 26 wherein the ramp offset is measured from the closest one of the two sides.