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US 7,832,066 B2Granted
Retractably extendable fastener system
OwnerBradley D. Ehlerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastener which operates to provide retractably extendable fastener elements which allow for attachment and detachment of the fastener to fastenable materials.
Claims14
A fastener, comprising:
- a) a fastener body having a first external surface configured to removably engage a fastenable material and a second external surface disposed in generally opposed relation a distance apart;
- b) a plurality of fastener member pathways which communicate between said first external surface and said second external surface of said fastener body;
- c) a plurality of fastener elements each one providing:
- i) a resiliently flexible fastener member which slidely engages a corresponding one of said plurality of fastener member pathways, wherein said resiliently flexible fastener member terminates in a fastener member end;
- and
- ii) a fastener hook joined to said fastener member slidely engaged in said corresponding one of said plurality of fastener member pathways, wherein said fastener hook provides a configuration which allows hooked engagement of said fastenable material between said fastener hook and said first external surface of said fastener body;
- and
- d) a fastener element retractor assembly coupled to said fastener body which provides a fastener element retractor which operably mates with said fastener body to allow travel of said fastener element retractor between a first fastener element retractor position and a second fastener element retractor position, and wherein said fastener element retractor further provides a plurality of fastener element retainers each of which correspondingly receive one of said resiliently flexible fastener member ends, and wherein each of said plurality of fastener element retainers has a configuration which upon travel of said fastener element retractor from said first fastener element retractor position toward said second fastener element retractor position generates a flexed condition of said resiliently flexible fastener member end to adjust location of said fastener hook.
5 more elements
A method of generating a fastener, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a fastener body having a first external surface configured to removably engage a fastenable material and a second external surface disposed in generally opposed relation a distance apart;
- b) establishing a plurality of fastener member pathways which communicate between said first external surface and said second external surface of said fastener body;
- c) slidely engaging a resiliently flexible fastener member in each of said plurality of fastener member pathways;
- d) joining a fastener hook to each said fastener member slidely engaged in each of said plurality of fastener member pathways said fastener hook configured to allow hooked engagement of said fastenable material;
- and
- e) coupling a fastener element retractor assembly to said fastener body further comprising the steps of:
- i) mating a fastener element retractor with said fastener body which allows travel of said fastener element retractor between a first fastener element retractor position and a second fastener element retractor position;
- and
- ii) providing a plurality of fastener element retainers each of which correspondingly receive one of said resiliently flexible fastener member ends each of said plurality of fastener element retainers having a configuration which upon travel of said fastener element retractor from said first fastener element retractor position toward said second fastener element retractor position generates a flexed condition of said resiliently flexible fastener member end to adjust location of said fastener hook.
6 more elements
A method of fastening a fastener to a fastenable material, comprising the steps of:
- a) engaging a fastener body having first a first external surface and a second external surface to said fastenable material, said fasterner body having a plurality of fastener member pathways which communicated between said first external surface and said second extern surface;
- b) generating travel in a fastener element retractor operably mated with said fastener body from a second fastener element retractor position toward a first fastener element retractor position;
- c) altering flexure in a plurality of resiliently flexible member ends in response to travel of said fastener element retractor from said second fastener retractor position toward said first fastener element retractor position from a flexed condition to an unflexed condition;
- d) sliding a plurality of resiliently flexible members in a corresponding plurality of fastener member pathways in response to altering flexure in said plurality of flexible member ends;
- e) adjusting location of a plurality of fastener hooks one each joined to a corresponding one each of said plurality of resiliently flexible members to extend beyond said first external surface of said fastener body;
- and
- f) fastening said plurality of fastener hooks which extend beyond said first external surface of said fasterner body to said fastenable material.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.