Self-locating mechanically activated fastener
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorPeter Vullings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fasteners are generally described. In some examples, a fastener may include at least one latch. The at least one latch may include an arcuate portion and a linking portion. The arcuate portion may be connected by the linking portion to a pivot point. The pivot point may be located with respect to the first member so that, as the linking portion pivots around the pivot point, the arcuate portion moves along an arcuate path between a non-fastening position and a fastening position. In the fastening position the arcuate portion may extend beyond the first member to engage with the second member to secure it to the first member.
Claims31
A fastener able to be mounted or incorporated with respect to a first member to enable the first member to be secured to a second member, the fastener comprising at least one latch, the at least one latch comprising an arcuate portion and a linking portion, the arcuate portion being connected by the linking portion to a pivot point that is able to be located with respect to the first member so that, as the linking portion pivots around the pivot point, the arcuate portion moves along an arcuate path between a non-fastening position and a fastening position in which the arcuate portion extends beyond the first member to engage with the second member to secure it to the first member.
A first member comprising a fastener able to be mounted or incorporated with respect to the first member to enable the first member to be secured to a second member, the fastener comprising at least one latch, the at least one latch comprising an arcuate portion and a linking portion, the arcuate portion being connected by the linking portion to a pivot point that is able to be located with respect to the first member so that, as the linking portion pivots around the pivot point, the arcuate portion moves along an arcuate path between a non-fastening position and a fastening position in which the arcuate portion extends beyond the first member to engage with the second member to secure it to the first member, wherein the fastener is mounted to or incorporated within the first member.
A second member comprising a passage arranged to receive the arcuate portion of the at least one latch of a fastener able to be mounted or incorporated with respect to a first member to enable the first member to be secured to the second member, the fastener comprising at least one latch, the at least one latch comprising an arcuate portion and a linking portion, the arcuate portion being connected by the linking portion to a pivot point that is able to be located with respect to the first member so that, as the linking portion pivots around the pivot point, the arcuate portion moves along an arcuate path between a non-fastening position and a fastening position in which the arcuate portion extends beyond the first member to engage with the second member to secure it to the first member.
A fastener system comprising:
- a fastener able to be mounted or incorporated with respect to a first member to enable the first member to be secured to a second member, the fastener comprising at least one latch, the at least one latch comprising an arcuate portion and a linking portion, the arcuate portion being connected by the linking portion to a pivot point that is able to be located with respect to the first member so that, as the linking portion pivots around the pivot point, the arcuate portion moves along an arcuate path between a non-fastening position and a fastening position in which the arcuate portion extends beyond the first member to engage with the second member to secure it to the first member;
- the first member to which the fastener is able to be mounted or in which it is able to be incorporated;
- and
- the second member comprising a passage for receiving the arcuate portion of the at least one latch of the fastener.
A method of fastening a first member to a second member using a fastener able to be mounted or incorporated with respect to the first member to enable the first member to be secured to the second member, the fastener comprising at least one latch, the at least one latch comprising an arcuate portion and a linking portion, the arcuate portion being connected by the linking portion to a pivot point that is able to be located with respect to the first member so that, as the linking portion pivots around the pivot point, the arcuate portion moves along an arcuate path between a non-fastening position and a fastening position in which the arcuate portion extends beyond the first member to engage with the second member to secure it to the first member, the method comprising:
- mounting the fastener to or incorporating the fastener in the first member, whereby the arcuate portion of the at least one latch is in the non-fastening position;
- aligning the fastener with a passage in the second member that is arranged to receive the arcuate portion of the at least one latch in the fastening position;
- and
- causing the at least one latch to pivot to the fastening position to thereby fasten the first member to the second member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.