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US 6,318,940 B1Granted
Fastener for self-locking securement within a panel opening
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorRichard K. Mitts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener (10) for locking receipt in an opening (34) of panel (36) has an upper end portion (16), a flange (18), and a locking insert (24) for receipt in the opening (34) and forcibly distended to prevent removal of the fastener from the opening. A number of gripping means (22) formed in a surface of the flange (18) each include a knifelike edge (32) with a slot (33) at each side thereof. The gripping means bite into the panel providing purchase resisting rotation of the fastener relative to the panel.
Claims6
A fastener for immovable securement within a panel opening, comprising:
- a body having a first end portion, a second end portion transversely distensible to form locking means, and an outwardly extending circular band flange separating the first and second end portions;
- and
- a plurality of gripping means formed in surface of the flange facing generally along the body second portion and angularly spaced apart about said body second portion, each corner edge including a corner edge projecting outwardly away from said surface along a radius line of the circular band flange and a slot being formed at each side of each gripping means in the flange surface and extending below the flange outer surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.