Fastener

A fastener for inserting into a hole of at least one item, said fastener comprising:

• a body comprising a longitudinally extending first body portion for insertion into the hole and a laterally extending second body portion integral to and extending laterally outward from the first body portion for contacting one of the at least one item peripheral to the proximal end of the hole;
• said first body portion having at least one laterally facing opening;
• and
• at least one retractable member movably connected to the body;
• wherein
• said retractable member is movable between a retracted position in which at least a portion of the retractable member is disposed in said opening, and an extended position in which at least a portion of the retractable member extends out of the opening;
• said retractable member having a contact surface for contacting one of the at least one item peripheral to the distal end of the hole so as to hold the at least one item between said contact surface and said second body portion;
• wherein the at least one retractable member is spring biased toward the extended position;
• and
• the contact surface has surface features comprising knurls, striations, corrugation, ridges, grooves, dimples, or coarse roughness.

A fastener for fastening to at least one item, said fastener comprising:

• a body comprising a longitudinally extending shaft and a laterally extending body portion integral to and extending laterally outward from the shaft;
• at least one movable member having a contact surface, said movable member rotatably connected to the body at a first pivot connection a distance from the contact surface;
• said pivot connection being at a fixed distance from the laterally extending body portion;
• said movable member rotatable about said pivot connection between a first position and second position, wherein the contact surface is disposed further laterally outward from the shaft in the second position than in the first position;
• wherein the contact surface is disposed a longitudinal distance from said laterally extending body portion so as to form a space between said contact surface and the said laterally extending body portion for receiving the at least one item;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of said contact surface is sloped away from the laterally extending body portion so that at least a portion of said space is a tapered space and further extension of the member tends to maintain tightness between the fastener and at least one item.

A fastener for inserting into a hole of at least one item, said fastener comprising:

• a longitudinally extending first body portion for insertion into the hole and a laterally extending second body portion extending laterally outward from the first body portion for contacting one of the at least one item peripheral to the proximal end of the hole;
• said first body portion having at least one laterally facing opening;
• and
• at least one retractable member movably connected to the body;
• wherein
• said retractable member is movable between a retracted position in which at least a portion of the retractable member is disposed in said opening, and an extended position in which at least a portion of the retractable member extends out of the opening;
• said retractable member comprising a contact surface for contacting one of the at least one item peripheral to the distal end of the hole so as to hold the at least one item between said contact surface and said second body portion;
• said contact surface being sloped so as to protrude a longitudinal distance into the distal end of the hole when in contact with the at least one item.

A fastener for inserting into a hole of at least one item, said fastener comprising:

• a shaft with at least one laterally facing opening;
• at least one retractable blade disposed in said laterally facing opening, said blade being movable to an extended position in which at least a portion of the blade extends laterally outward from the shaft;
• a blade retainer statically disposed around the shaft at a first longitudinal position along the shaft so as to hold said blade in a retracted position before insertion of the fastener into the hole;
• said retainer being slidably movable to a second longitudinal position along the shaft during fastener insertion into the hole so as to allow extension of the blades;
• and
• wherein upon full insertion of the fastener in the hole the blade is in an extended position in which at least a portion of the blade extends laterally outward beyond a periphery of the hole so that at least a portion of the blade contacts the item peripheral to the hole and prevents the fastener from reversing out of the hole.

A fastener for inserting into a hole of at least one item, said fastener comprising:

• a longitudinal shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one laterally facing opening;
• at least one retractable blade disposed in said laterally facing opening, said blade being movable between a retracted position and an extended position;
• and said blade comprising a sloped contact surface for contacting the item peripheral to the hole when the blade is in an extended position;
• wherein a longitudinal distance between the proximal end of the shaft and the contact surface measured at a distance laterally outward from the shaft decreases as the retractable blade moves in a direction from a retracted position toward an extended position;
• wherein the blade is rotatably connected to the fastener at a first pivot connection and is rotatable between said retracted and said extended positions;
• and
• a longitudinal distance between the proximal end of the shaft and a point on the contact surface increases as the retractable blade rotates in a direction from a retracted position toward an extended position.