Device and method for fastening

A method of fastening and unfastening comprising the steps of:

• providing a first component including an aperture, a base with a post of a size appropriate to be inserted into the aperture, a sprung latch that includes a flange and a spring, wherein the sprung latch is coupled to the base, and a rotating actuator hinged to the base and coupled to the sprung latch;
• attaching the base, sprung latch, and rotating actuator to a first surface and the aperture to a second surface that is relatively stationary wherein the first surface is to be fastened to the second surface;
• allowing the flange to engage the surface behind the aperture upon insertion of the post into the aperture and the spring to maintain the engaged position of the flange;
• and
• allowing the rotating actuator to rotate from a first actuator position to a second actuator position when the user lifts the first surface away from the second surface with a peeling motion, subsequently displacing the flange on the latch from a first flange position to a second flange position to disengage the base from the aperture.

A fastener assembly with a fastened mode and an unfastened mode comprising:

• a first component including an aperture;
• a second component including:
• a base with a sprung latch holder and a perpendicular post of a size appropriate to be inserted into the aperture in the fastened mode of the fastener and removed from the aperture in the unfastened mode, wherein the post defines a plurality of niches positioned equally distant around the perimeter of the post;
• a sprung latch supported by the sprung latch holder, wherein the sprung latch includes an integrated spring and a plurality of levers that each fit into one niche of the post, each lever including angular flanges, a hole, follower geometry, and a flange, wherein the flange in a first lever position extends beyond the perimeter of the post engages the surface of the first component underneath the aperture and locks the first component and the second component into the fastened mode, wherein the levers are integrated with the spring into a unitary piece;
• a rotating actuator that includes integrated cam geometry that is in contact with the follower geometry at a plurality of contact points, wherein the rotating actuator is coupled to the base and rotates about an axis on the base from a first actuator position to a second actuator position;
• an axle that couples the rotating actuator and the levers to the base and that forms the axis of rotation for the rotating actuator;
• wherein the insertion of the post into the aperture and rotation of the rotating actuator from a first actuator position to a second actuator position cause the levers to rotate from a first lever position to a rotated lever position along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the rotating actuator, wherein the flange at the rotated lever position is interior to the flange at the first lever position and allows the extraction of the post, wherein the completion of insertion and return of the rotating actuator to the first actuator position allow the spring to return the lever to the first lever position, wherein the angular flanges of the levers prevent rotation of each lever beyond the rotated lever position, and wherein the holes of the levers allow the rotation of each lever from the first lever position to the rotated lever position while coupled to the axle.

A fastener assembly with a fastened mode and an unfastened mode comprising:

• a first component including an aperture;
• a second component including:
• a base with a perpendicular post of a size appropriate to be inserted into the aperture in the fastened mode of the fastener and removed from the aperture in the unfastened mode, wherein the post defines a niche positioned along the perimeter of the post;
• a sprung latch that includes an integrated spring and a lever that fits into the niche of the post, wherein the lever includes a hole and a flange, wherein the flange in a first lever position extends beyond the perimeter of the post and engages the surface of the first component underneath the aperture and locks the first component and the second component into the fastened mode, wherein the lever is integrated with the spring into a unitary piece;
• a rotating actuator that includes a sprung latch holder to support and prevent rotation of the sprung latch relative to the rotating actuator, wherein the rotating actuator is coupled to the base and rotates about an axis on the base from a first actuator position to a second actuator position;
• an axle that couples the rotating actuator and the lever to the base and that forms the axis of rotation for the rotating actuator;
• wherein the rotation of the rotating actuator from the first actuator position to the second actuator position causes rotation of the lever from the first lever position to a rotated lever position along the axis of the rotating actuator, wherein the flange at the rotated lever position is interior to the flange at the first lever position and allows the extraction of the post;
• and
• wherein the insertion of the post into the aperture displaces the lever from the first lever position to a second lever position, wherein the flange at the second lever position is interior to the flange at the first lever position, wherein the spring returns the lever from the second lever position to the first lever position upon completion of insertion into the aperture, and wherein the hole of the lever allows the displacement of the lever from the first lever position to the second lever position while coupled to the axle.