# US 6,718,600 B1 · Removable fastener > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,718,600 B1 - Document ID: US6718600B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 10/255,904 - Filed: 2002-09-25 - Published: 2004-03-25 - Granted: 2004-04-13 - Earliest claimed: 2002-09-25 - Assignees: Robert E. Gillis - Inventors: Robert E. Gillis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6718600B1 ## CPC - E04H 15/64: Tent or canopy cover fastenings - Y10T 24/1397: Article held by flexible connector [e.g., chain] - Y10T 24/44034: Dissociable gripping members - Y10T 24/45: Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock] - Y10T 24/4522: Sliding or rotating element - Y10T 24/45225: including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith - Y10T 24/4578: Cavity or projection rotates about axis of cavity to dissociate - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A fastener is provided for removably engaging and holding sections of material, such as a tarp, without piercing the material. One piece of the fastener is a base with one end providing a contact surface for a support structure, and the other forming a substantially elliptical flange. The second piece is a frame having an opening that substantially defines a first ellipse having a first orientation, and a second ellipse having a second orientation. The second elliptical opening is partially occluded at its opposite ends. A section of material to be engaged and held is placed over the elliptical flange. The second piece is oriented to align the first elliptical opening and the elliptical flange, and is inserted over the elliptical flange and section of material to be held. The second piece is then rotated to align the second elliptical opening and elliptical flange. In this position, the occlusions of the second elliptical opening and the ends of the elliptical flange prevent disengagement of the two pieces and hold the section of material therebetween without piercing it. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A removable fastener for holding a material, comprising: a base having a first surface and having a geometrically-shaped protrusion spaced from said first surface; a frame having a geometrically-shaped opening, said geometrically-shaped protrusion being freely moveable at least partially through said opening when said base and frame are in a first orientation and said geometrically-shaped protrusion being blocked from passing through said opening when said base and frame are in a second orientation in which said frame and base are engaged; and a seat formed in said fame adapted to engage said geometrically-shaped protrusion when said base and frame are engaged in said second orientation to prevent relative movement of said frame and base; whereby a section of material may be removably engaged and held between said frame and base without piercing said material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The removable fastener of claim 1 wherein said base includes a shaft for accommodating a fastener to affix said first surface of said base to a support structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The removable fastener of claim 1 wherein said first surface of said base includes a spike for affixing said base to a support structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The removable fastener of claim 1 wherein said geometrically-shaped protrusion comprises a substantially elliptical protrusion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The removable fastener of claim 1 wherein said substantially elliptical protrusion comprises a flange. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The removable fastener of claim 1 wherein said frame includes connecting means. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The removable fastener of claim 1 wherein said geometrically-shaped opening substantially defines a first ellipse having a first orientation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The removable fastener of claim 7 wherein said geometrically-shaped opening substantially defines a second ellipse having a second orientation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The removable fastener of claim 8 wherein said geometrically-shaped openings substantially defining said first and second ellipses are substantially concentric. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The removable fastener of claim 8 wherein said geometrically-shaped opening substantially defining said second ellipse has a partial occlusion to block said geometrically-shaped protrusion from passing through said opening when said geometrically-shaped protrusion is substantially aligned with said geometrically-shaped opening substantially defining said second ellipse. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The removable fastener of claim 10 wherein said partial occlusion is located substantially at opposite elongate ends of said geometrically-shaped opening substantially defining said second ellipse. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The removable fastener of claim 10 wherein said geometrically-shaped protrusion comprises a substantially elliptical flange. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The removable fastener of claim 10 wherein said partial occlusion at least partially forms said seat. ### Claim 14 A removable fastener for holding material, comprising: a base having a first surface and a second surface comprising a substantially elliptical flange spaced apart from said first surface; a frame having an outer frame section surrounding an interior opening, said opening substantially defining a first ellipse having a first orientation and a second ellipse having a second orientation, said second ellipse having a partial occlusion at opposite elongate ends thereof; said substantially elliptical flange being free to pass through said interior opening when said base and frame are in a first orientation wherein said substantially elliptical flange and said opening substantially defining a first ellipse are aligned, and said substantially elliptical flange being blocked from passing through said interior opening when said base and frame are in a second orientation wherein said substantially elliptical flange and said opening substantially defining a second ellipse are aligned, said base and frame being removably engaged in said second orientation; whereby a section of material may be removably engaged and held between said base and said frame without piercing said material when said frame and base are in said second orientation. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The removable fastener of claim 14 wherein said base is substantially cylindrical in shape and wherein said first and second surfaces are located at opposite ends thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The removable fastener of claim 14 wherein said partial occlusion comprises a contiguous portion of said outer frame section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The removable fastener of claim 16 wherein said substantially elliptical flange has a lower surface portion adapted to engage said contiguous portion of said outer frame section when said frame and base are removably engaged. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The removable fastener of claim 14 wherein said base includes a shaft for accommodating a fastener to affix said first surface of said base to a support structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The removable fastener of claim 14 wherein said first surface of said base includes a spike for affixing said base to a support structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The removable fastener of claim 14 wherein said frame includes connecting means. ### Claim 21 A removable fastener for holding a material, comprising: a first piece having a geometrically-shaped protrusion; a second piece having a geometrically-shaped opening corresponding to said protrusion, said opening adapted to receive said protrusion in a first orientation and to cause said first and second pieces to be engaged in a second orientation; and a seat formed in said second piece adapted to engage said protrusion to prevent relative movement of said first and second pieces when engaged; wherein said seat extends inwardly from said geometrically-shaped opening of the second piece of said removable fastener; whereby a section of material may be removably engaged and held between said first and second pieces when engaged without piercing said material. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The removable fastener of claim 21 wherein said seat has a geometric shape substantially corresponding to the geometric shape of said protrusion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The removable fastener of claim 22 wherein said seat has an orientation corresponding to said second orientation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The removable fastener of claim 23 wherein said seat has a first axis and said opening has a second axis and said seat and said opening are oriented so that said first and second axes are substantially perpendicular. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The removable fastener of claim 21 wherein said geometrically-shaped protrusion comprises a substantially elliptical protrusion. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The removable fastener of claim 25 wherein said geometrically-shaped opening has a substantially elliptical shape corresponding to said substantially elliptical protrusion. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The removable fastener of claim 26 wherein said seat has a substantially elliptical shape substantially corresponding to said substantially elliptical shape of said protrusion. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The removable fastener of claim 27 wherein said seat is oriented substantially orthogonally to said first substantially elliptical shape. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The removable fastener of claim 28 wherein said seat overlaps and extends across said opening. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The removable fastener of claim 29 wherein said shapes of said seat and said opening are substantially concentric.