Method and apparatus for securing a crate fastener to a crate panel
AssigneeKlimp Industries, Inc.
InventorJames R. Bonde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crate fastener and retainer assembly includes a fastener for assembling two adjacent panels of a box or crate, and a retainer for securing the fastener to a panel. L-shaped fasteners assemble two adjacent cleated panels or slotted panels, and retainers mounted on the panel or cleat secure the fasteners to the panel. The retainer includes a plate with a substantially closed loop on one end. The other end of the plate is mounted to the cleat or the panel. The substantially closed loop of the plate is pivotally connected to an end of the L-shaped fastener. When the box or crate is disassembled, the L-shaped fastener remains secured to one of the panels.
Claims3
A fastener assembly for fastening together two adjacent cleated panels of a crate, said fastener assembly comprising:
- a substantially L-shaped fastener having two legs, a first leg extendable along at least the width of a cleat of the first panel, and a second leg extendable along at least the height of the cleat of the first panel and the width of a cleat of the second panel, said first leg having a first tab substantially perpendicular to said first leg and extendable along the interior edge of the cleat of the first panel at an end of said first leg farthest from said second leg, said second leg having a second tab substantially perpendicular to said second leg and extendable along the interior edge of the cleat of the second panel at an end of said second leg farthest from said first leg, at least one of said first and second tabs forming a loop in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the respective leg of said at least one looped tab;
- and
- a retainer comprising a plate having two ends, one end of said plate fixedly mountable between the cleat and the panel nearest to one of said at least one looped tab, the other end of said plate extending from between the cleat and the panel to form a substantially closed loop adjacent to the interior edge of the cleat for pivotally connecting said one of said at least one looped tab.
A fastener assembly for fastening together two adjacent cleated panels of a crate, said fastener assembly comprising:
- a substantially L-shaped fastener having two legs, a first leg extendable along at least the width of a cleat of the first panel, and a second leg extendable along at least the height of the cleat of the first panel and the width of a cleat of the second panel, said first leg having a first tab substantially perpendicular to said first leg and extendable along the interior edge of the cleat of the first panel at an end of said first leg farthest from said second leg, said second leg having a second tab substantially perpendicular to said second leg and extendable along the interior edge of the cleat of the second panel at an end of said second leg farthest from said first leg, at least one of said first and second tabs forming a loop in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the respective leg of said at least one looped tab;
- and
- a retainer comprising a plate having two ends, one end of said plate fixedly mountable on the bottom surface of the cleat nearest to one of said at least one looped tab, the other end of said plate forming a substantially closed loop adjacent to the interior edge of the cleat for pivotally connecting said one of said at least one looped tab.
A fastener assembly for fastening together two adjacent slotted panels of a crate, said fastener assembly comprising:
- a substantially L-shaped fastener having two legs, a first leg extendable along at least the distance between a slot of the first panel and an end of the first panel, and a second leg extendable along at least the height of the first panel and the distance between an end of the second panel adjacent to the end of the first panel and a slot of the second panel, said first leg having a first tab substantially perpendicular to said first leg and extending into the slot of the first panel at an end of said first leg farthest from said second leg, said second leg having a second tab substantially perpendicular to said second leg and extending into the slot of the second panel at an end of said second leg farthest from said first leg, at least one of said first and second tabs forming a loop in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the respective leg of said at least one looped tab;
- and
- a retainer comprising a plate having two ends, one end of said plate fixedly mountable on the interior surface of the panel nearest to one of said at least one looped tab, the other end of said plate forming a substantially closed loop aligned with the panel slot for pivotally connecting said one of said at least one looped tab.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.