Hand-operable self-locking fastener
OwnerJennifer Elisabeth Andersoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener includes a post and a clip. The post is formed with a head and an elongated shank extending therefrom, longitudinally spaced and radially extending ribs being formed at the free end of the shank. The clip is formed with an opening for receiving the shank, a forward split collar section generally surrounding said opening, a resilient center section, and a pair of wings extending rearwardly, from the center section. When the wings are squeezed together, the shoulder sections separate for slipping over and around the free end portion of the post as the shank is received into the opening in the clip. When the wings are released, the shoulder sections resiliently return toward one another to engage the shank between two adjacent ribs for interlocking engagement between the clip and the post.
Claims10
A fastener comprising:
- an elongated shank having a plurality of longitudinally spaced ribs formed with generally forwardly facing shoulders;
- a clip having at least two collar sections connected for movement between first and second positions relative to one another and relative to said shank;
- said collar sections having generally rearwardly facing surfaces sized for rearwardly locking engagement with at least one of said shoulders when in said first position, said collar sections being resiliently biased to said first position and adapted to snap past successive shoulders when said clip is pushed forwardly into engagement with said shank;
- and
- lever means connected to respective ones of said collar sections to effect selective movement of said collar section to said second position.
A fastener comprising:
- a post having a head and having an elongated shank extending rearwardly therefrom, the free end portion of said shank being formed with longitudinally spaced and radially extending ribs;
- and
- a clip having a resilient center section and opposing collar sections connected to said center section for resilient movement between first and second positions, there being an opening extending between said collar sections for receiving the free end of said shank, said collar sections being biased to said first position and being sized to be slidably received between adjacent ones of said ribs for longitudinal engagement therebetween when said first position, said collar sections being in a clearance position radially outwardly of said ribs when in said second position, said clip further having opposing wings connected to said center section for movement inwardly and outwardly relative to one another, said wings being generally aligned with said collar sections and selectively separating said collar sections as said wings are squeezed toward one another for movement of said collar sections outwardly from between said ribs;
- said ribs having a forwardly facing shoulder portion and a rear lead-in portion, said collar sections having a forward chamfer portion and a rear lip portion adapted to engage said shoulder portion for preventing rearward movement of said clip when said collar sections are positioned between adjacent ones of said ribs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.