Fastener
OwnerMarcus Toombsinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener (10) for fastening together elongate objects (26), such as scaffolding and other items used in the construction industry, is described. The fastener includes first and second portions (12, 14) which engage with one another by means of male (16) and female (18) members. The first and second portions are relatively rotatable, and may be aligned in a range of positions prior to fastening the device. The male and female members serve to retain the fastener in the closed position, and may use a ratchet arrangement, or may use a friction fastening. Also described is a tool (30) for securing the fastener.
Claims31
A fastener comprising first and second portions, each portion having an elongate engaging means for engaging with items to be fastened;
- the fastener further comprising a male member on one portion and a female member on the other portion, the male and female members having interacting means arranged so as to interact to permit the male member to be inserted into the female member on application of force in a first direction thereby bringing the engaging means of the first and second portions towards one another, and to prevent removal of the male member from the female member on application of force in an opposed direction;
- wherein the male and female members are such that the first and second portions may be oriented in one of a plurality of relative orientations when the members interact.
A method for fastening items together, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fastener comprising first and second portions, each portion having an elongate engaging means for engaging with items to be fastened;
- the fastener further comprising a male member on one portion and a female member on the other portion, the male and female members having interacting means arranged so as to interact to permit the male member to be inserted into the female member on application of force in a first direction thereby bringing the engaging means of the first and second portions towards one another, and to prevent removal of the male member from the female member on application of force in an opposed direction;
- locating the fastener around the items to be fastened;
- and
- applying force to the fastener in a first direction to bring the engaging means of the first and second portions towards one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.