Serviceable w-base fastener
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsBrock Cooley, Wayne Hansen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A w-base fastener that may be used in many applications, including numerous applications throughout the automotive industry, combines the functionality of a w-base fastener with the serviceability of other fasteners. The w-base fastener of the invention provides the ability to service the w-base fastener without damaging the panel or hole in which the fastener is inserted. This is accomplished by incorporating a secondary connection into the w-base fastener. This secondary connection permits the fastener to be easily extracted by providing a technique for pulling the legs of the w-base fastener inward prior to extraction of the fastener from the hole.
Claims20
A w-base fastener comprising:
- a fastener body defining a first end and a second end, the first end including a retainer,
- a head formed with the second end of the fastener body,
- a plurality of legs joined at a common end, the common end forming a hole for receiving the retainer, and
- a plurality of tethers connected to the plurality of legs,
- whereby movement of the fastener body causes movement of the plurality of legs.
A w-base fastener comprising:
- a fastener body defining a first end and a second end, the first end including a retainer,
- a head formed with the second end of the fastener body,
- a plurality of legs joined at a common end, the common end forming a hole for receiving the retainer, and
- a plurality of tethers connected to the plurality of legs and to the fastener body,
- whereby movement of the retainer into the hole causes the plurality of legs to move away from the fastener body and movement of the retainer out of the hole causes the legs to move toward the fastener body.
A fastener comprising:
- a fastener body defining a first end and a second end, the first end including a releasable member,
- a head formed with the second end of the fastener body,
- a plurality of legs joined at a common end, the releasable member connected to the common end, and
- a plurality of tethers connected to the plurality of legs and to the fastener body,
- whereby movement of the fastener body causes movement of the plurality of legs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.