High performance sealing fastener
AssigneeWTPA, Incorporated
InventorsKanubhai Manibhai Patel, Michael Walter Smith, Edward John Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sealing fastener, which expands by the insertion of preferably a screw. The fastener comprises a substantially flat head and two expandable legs. The fastener has further an elastic body, especially a thermoplastic elastomer, molded at least on the lower side of the head by insert injection molding. The elastic body does not contain plasticizers which may be harmful to other plastics (such as polycarbonate and ABS for example) coming in contact with the fastener, all its surfaces are well defined, has well defined properties, and its dimensions are characterized by narrow tolerances.
Claims30
A fastener comprising:
- (a) a substantially flat head portion having an upper side, and a lower side, the upper side having a first hole, the first hole having a first axis, the first axis being substantially perpendicular to the substantially flat head portion;
- (b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions, the neck extending from the lower side of the substantially flat head portion at a substantially right angle with respect to the substantially flat head portion;
- (c) two substantially flat legs extending from the neck, each leg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two legs being at an initial proximity with each other, the legs being expandable in opposite directions upon inserting through and engaging to the first hole an expansion member;
- (d) a funnel configuration at a leg region where the legs start extending from the neck, the funnel configuration being substantially co-axial with the first engageable hole;
- and
- (e) an elastic body integrally molded by insert injection molding, at the lower side of the substantially flat head portion.
A vehicle comprising two parts connected with a fastener, the fastener comprising:
- (a) a substantially flat head portion having an upper side, and a lower side, the upper side having a first hole, the first hole having a first axis, the first axis being substantially perpendicular to the substantially flat head portion;
- (b) a neck having an opening and two side neck portions, the neck extending from the lower side of the substantially flat head portion at a substantially right angle with respect to the substantially flat head portion;
- (c) two substantially flat legs extending from the neck, each leg having an inner surface, the two inner surfaces of the two legs being at an initial proximity with each other, the legs being expandable in opposite directions upon inserting through and engaging to the first hole an expansion member;
- (d) a funnel configuration at a leg region where the legs start extending from the neck, the funnel configuration being substantially co-axial with the first engageable hole;
- and
- (e) an elastic body integrally molded by insert injection molding, at the lower side of the substantially flat head portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.