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US 12,110,916 B2Granted
Engagement verifying fastener
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsJoel Robert Lee, Eric David Kendall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cover includes a housing and a slider. The housing defines a first window. The slider is moveably connected to the housing and defines a second window. The first window and the second window are aligned when the slider is in a first position relative to the housing and misaligned when the slider is in a second position relative to the housing.
Claims20
A cover, comprising:
- a housing that includes a first window and a front wall that is defined between a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;
- and
- a slider that includes a second window defined by a top rail, a bottom rail, a first stile, and a second stile and is moveably connected to the top wall of the housing by a living hinge that extends from the top rail of the slider,
- wherein the first window and the second window are aligned when the slider is in a first position relative to the housing, and
- misaligned when the slider is in a second position relative to the housing.
2 more elements
A fastener system, comprising:
- a fastener;
- and
- a cover comprising:
- a housing that includes a first window and a front wall that is defined between a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;
- and
- a slider that includes a second window defined by a top rail, a bottom rail, a first stile, and a second stile and is moveably connected to the top wall of the housing by a living hinge that extends from the top rail of the slider,
- wherein the first window and the second window are aligned when the slider is in a first position relative to the housing, and
- misaligned when the slider is in a second position relative to the housing, wherein the cover is configured to couple with the fastener,
- wherein the living hinge is a spring including a first arm and a second arm that are partially disposed in the housing, and
- wherein an end of the first arm is only connected to the housing and an end of the second arm is only connected to the slider.
7 more elements
A fastener system, comprising:
- a fastener comprising:
- a mating wall with a first tab and a second tab that extend laterally outward from the mating wall;
- indicia;
- and
- a cover comprising:
- a housing that includes a first window and a front wall that is defined between a top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall;
- a first bracket and a second bracket that are configured to couple with the first and second tabs, respectively;
- and
- a slider that includes a second window defined by a top rail, a bottom rail, a first stile, and a second stile and is moveably connected to the top wall of the housing by
- a spring that is at least partially disposed in the housing and is integrally connected to both the top wall of the housing and the top rail of the slider,
- wherein the first window and the second window are aligned when the slider is in a first position relative to the housing, and misaligned when the slider is in a second position relative to the housing,
- wherein the slider is in the first position relative to the housing when the spring is in a compressed state and in the second position relative to the housing when the spring is in an extended state,
- wherein a portion of the mating wall is visible through both the first window and the second window when the slider is in the first position,
- wherein at least a portion of the indicia is visible through both the first window and the second window when the slider is in the first position and is hidden when the slider is in the second position, and
- wherein the cover is configured to snapably engage with the fastener.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.