Bistable member for ejecting snap fastener and spring latch assemblies

An assembly comprising:

• a bistable member including:
• a dish-shaped base portion formed from a resilient material and having opposing first and second surfaces, the first surface including a central apex, and
• an engaging protrusion extending from the first surface;
• and
• a male member including a knob;
• wherein the bistable member is inverted from a first stable form to a second stable form when the knob of the male member is pressed against the central apex of the base portion with a predetermined latching force;
• and
• wherein the knob of the male member is in contact with and is held between the central apex of the base portion and the engaging protrusion when the bistable member is inverted into the second stable form.

A snap fastener assembly comprising:

• a host structure;
• a plurality of bistable members mounted on the host structure, each bistable member including:
• a dish-shaped base portion formed from a resilient material and having opposing first and second surfaces, the first surface including a central apex, and
• an engaging protrusion extending from the first surface;
• and
• a plurality of male members, each male member including a knob;
• wherein each of the plurality of bistable members is inverted from a first stable form to a second stable form when the knob of an associated one of the plurality of male members is pressed against the central apex of the base portion with a predetermined latching force;
• and
• wherein the knob of each male member is in contact with and is held between the central apex of the base portion and the engaging protrusion of an associated bistable member when the associated bistable member is inverted into the second stable form.